Introspection & Raw GraphQL
Schema discovery, organization info, and a fallback executor. 7 MCP tools.
This is Tier 2 in the resolution strategy: when a dedicated MCP tool fails or doesn't exist, use introspection to understand the API, then execute_graphql to run the operation directly.
Tier 1: dedicated MCP tool exists — use it.
Tier 2: use introspection + execute_graphql (this skill).
Tier 3: direct curl/httpx fallback — see skills/api-troubleshoot/pipefy-api-fallback/SKILL.md.
Tools
| Tool (MCP) | CLI | Read-only | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
introspect_type |
pipefy introspect type |
Yes | Type shape: fields, inputFields, enumValues. Optional max_depth. |
introspect_query |
pipefy introspect query |
Yes | Root query arguments and return type. Optional max_depth. |
introspect_mutation |
pipefy introspect mutation |
Yes | Root mutation arguments and return type. Optional max_depth. |
search_schema |
pipefy introspect schema search |
Yes | Keyword search on type names/descriptions. Optional kind filter. |
execute_graphql |
pipefy graphql exec |
No | Execute arbitrary GraphQL. Queries ungated. Mutations: MCP two-step with confirmation_token; CLI --yes. |
get_organization |
pipefy org get |
Yes | Load organization info (name, plan, UUID, member count, pipe count). |
list_organizations |
pipefy org list |
Yes | List organizations the caller can access — no id required. The zero-knowledge entry point for org discovery. |
The include_parsed flag
execute_graphql, introspect_type, introspect_mutation, introspect_query, and get_organization all accept an optional include_parsed: bool (default false).
- Default (
false): response is{ success, result }whereresultis the raw GraphQL JSON as a string. true: response includes bothresult(the raw JSON string) ANDdata(the parsed dict). Drill intodataprogrammatically; keepresultto forward verbatim.
Use include_parsed=true whenever you plan to read nested fields (e.g. iterating over phases[].fields[]). Leave it off for one-shot reads where the raw string is sufficient.
max_depth (introspect_type / query / mutation)
MCP tools accept max_depth (default 1). CLI: --max-depth.
1— type/field info only (no inlined sub-types).2+— resolves referenced input/output types inline (resolvedType), so one call can replace introspecting the mutation then each input type separately.
Example (CLI):
pipefy introspect mutation createCard --max-depth 2 --json
Example (MCP):
introspect_mutation mutation_name="createCard" max_depth=2 include_parsed=true
Scalars (ID, String, Int, …) are never expanded.
kind on search_schema
Optional filter: OBJECT, INPUT_OBJECT, ENUM, SCALAR, INTERFACE, UNION.
search_schema keyword="automation" kind="INPUT_OBJECT"
pipefy introspect schema search automation --kind INPUT_OBJECT --json
When to use introspection
- A dedicated tool returned an error and you need to understand why — introspect the input type to check argument names/types.
- Before creating fields:
introspect_type('CreatePhaseFieldInput')to discover validtypeenum values. - Before using
extra_input: introspect the corresponding input type to find optional keys. - Unknown mutation signature:
introspect_mutation('createSomething')beforeexecute_graphql. - Schema exploration:
search_schema('automation')to find related types and inputs.
When to use execute_graphql
- No dedicated MCP tool exists for the operation.
- A dedicated tool failed and you've used introspection to understand the correct payload.
- Ad-hoc queries like resolving an org UUID via
pipe(id: $id) { organization { uuid } }. - Complex nested queries that no single tool covers.
Always prefer dedicated MCP tools. They validate inputs, handle pagination, and format errors consistently. execute_graphql is the fallback when dedicated tools can't solve the problem. Queries are ungated; MCP mutations need the two-step confirmation_token.
Steps — discover a mutation signature
Search for the mutation by keyword:
search_schema keyword="label"Get the full mutation signature:
introspect_mutation mutation_name="createLabel"Discover input type fields:
introspect_type type_name="CreateLabelInput"Execute the mutation (CLI):
pipefy graphql exec --query "mutation …" --vars '{"input":{…}}' --yes --jsonMutations: the CLI exits with code 2 unless
--yesis passed (guardrail for agents and scripts). It also exits 2, with or without--yes, when the document is too deeply nested to parse: nothing is sent, because a document that cannot be classified could carry an unconfirmed mutation.execute_graphqlrefuses the same document with an error payload.Execute the mutation (MCP): two-step. The first call returns a preview with
confirmation_tokenand does not mutate. The preview names the mutation; it does not claim the write is irreversible, because this server cannot tell create from delete. Resend the call unchanged withconfirm=trueand the token; if the document changed, the response is a fresh preview whose token is bound to the new document.execute_graphql query="mutation CreateLabel($input: CreateLabelInput!) { createLabel(input: $input) { label { id name } } }" variables='{"input": {"pipe_id": 67890, "name": "Urgent", "color": "#FF0000"}}'Then after the preview:
execute_graphql query="mutation CreateLabel($input: CreateLabelInput!) { createLabel(input: $input) { label { id name } } }" variables='{"input": {"pipe_id": 67890, "name": "Urgent", "color": "#FF0000"}}' confirm=true confirmation_token="<token from preview>"
Common fallback recipes
Ready-to-use patterns for situations where dedicated tools are insufficient.
Recipe 1 — Discover valid field types for create_phase_field
introspect_type('CreatePhaseFieldInput')
Look for the type field; it references an enum. Introspect the enum to get all valid values.
Recipe 2 — Get full behavior config of an AI agent
get_ai_agent returns behavior headers only. To inspect the full config (event_params, actionParams, actionsAttributes):
execute_graphql query='query($uuid: ID!) { aiAgent(uuid: $uuid) { uuid name instruction behaviors { id name active event_id event_params { to_phase_id triggerFieldIds fromPhaseId } action_params { aiBehaviorParams { instruction referencedFieldIds actionsAttributes { name actionType referenceId metadata { destinationPhaseId pipeId fieldsAttributes { fieldId inputMode value } } } } } } } }' variables='{"uuid":"<agent-uuid>"}'
Recipe 3 — Find a card by title (not possible with find_cards)
find_cards only searches custom field values. To search by title:
execute_graphql query='query($pipeId: ID!, $first: Int) { cards(pipe_id: $pipeId, first: $first) { edges { node { id title current_phase { name } } } } }' variables='{"pipeId":"<pipe-id>","first":50}'
Filter by title client-side. For large pipes, paginate with after.
Recipe 4 — Discover what extra_input accepts for any mutation
When a tool accepts extra_input (e.g. create_automation, update_label), discover all optional keys:
introspect_mutation('createAutomation') # find the input type name
introspect_type('CreateAutomationInput') # see all inputFields
Compare with the tool's primary arguments to know which keys are additive via extra_input.
Recipe 5 — Discover organization IDs
To answer "which organizations do I have access to?" with nothing in hand, call list_organizations — it needs no id and returns each org's id, uuid, name, and your role. That is the entry point; reach for the GraphQL fallbacks below only when you already have a pipe.
When the user only has a pipe ID and needs its organization_id:
execute_graphql query='query($id: ID!) { pipe(id: $id) { organization { id uuid name } } }' variables='{"id":"<pipe-id>"}'
Recipe 6 — Update a select field's options after creation
create_phase_field does not accept options. Create first, then update. MCP mutations are two-step: preview, then confirm=true plus confirmation_token. Resend the call unchanged with confirm=true and the token; if the document changed, the response is a fresh preview whose token is bound to the new document. CLI --yes can stay one-shot.
execute_graphql query='mutation($id: ID!, $options: [String!]) { updatePhaseField(input: { id: $id, options: $options }) { phase_field { id label options } } }' variables='{"id":"<field-id>","options":["High","Medium","Low"]}'
Then after the preview:
execute_graphql query='mutation($id: ID!, $options: [String!]) { updatePhaseField(input: { id: $id, options: $options }) { phase_field { id label options } } }' variables='{"id":"<field-id>","options":["High","Medium","Low"]}' confirm=true confirmation_token="<token from preview>"
Recipe 7 — Check phase transition rules
When move_card_to_phase fails with "not a valid target phase":
execute_graphql query='query($id: ID!) { phase(id: $id) { id name cards_can_be_moved_to_phases { id name } } }' variables='{"id":"<current-phase-id>"}'
Returns the valid destination phases from the current phase.
Optional schema cache
For long-running agent sessions, the MCP can reuse the fetched GraphQL schema across requests instead of re-introspecting on every call. Enable via the gql_reuse_fetched_graphql_schema setting (env or settings file). Off by default. After a breaking Pipefy schema change, the process must be restarted to pick up the new schema. Single-session agents rarely benefit — leave it off unless you measure real improvement.
Success criteria
introspect_typereturns the complete field list for the input type.execute_graphqlreturns the expected data without errors.
Failure modes
introspect_typereturnsnull— type name is case-sensitive; try PascalCase (e.g.,CreateLabelInput, notcreate_label_input).search_schemareturns many hits — case-insensitive substring matching; broad keywords like"card"flood results. Prefer specific names like"AiAgent","FieldCondition".introspect_mutationis expensive — fetches all root mutation fields and filters client-side (single large query). Preferintrospect_typeon the specific input type when you already know the mutation name.execute_graphqlreturns GraphQL errors — checkpathandmessage; passdebug=trueon the next call to surface thecorrelation_id.- Endpoint confusion — introspection uses
app.pipefy.com/graphql; real operations useapi.pipefy.com/graphql. The MCP server handles this automatically; raw-API users must distinguish (see api-fallback).
See also
- docs/mcp/tools/introspection.md — MCP parameters, query/mutation mismatch hints on
execute_graphql. - skills/api-troubleshoot/pipefy-api-fallback/SKILL.md — Tier 3: direct HTTP fallback when MCP is unavailable.
- skills/pipes-and-cards/pipefy-pipes-and-cards/SKILL.md — most common dedicated tools (prefer over
execute_graphql).