Function search

A required list of one to six unmet external capabilities returns only compact function_id + description candidates, grouped by worker. Choose the needed ids, then fetch their contracts in one batched engine::functions::info call.

When to Use

• directory::search_functions: call once with { "capabilities": ["", ""] }. Provide one to six short, non-overlapping capabilities derived from the goal and current execution state, omitting work already satisfied. Include every unmet external capability once in the same call. Write every capability in English, translating non-English requests while preserving proper names, URLs, and function IDs. Exclude intrinsic reasoning, summarization, planning, and formatting; requests to summarize provided text or content are ignored. Each capability ranks independently and candidates merge round-robin. The result contains at most six workers and twelve compact candidates, never request schemas or a whole worker surface. Choose the smallest needed id set and call engine::functions::info once with { "function_ids": [...] } before using them. Repeat queries in one session omit candidates already delivered.
• The response may also carry an installable section: workers from the public registry (verified authors only) whose functions match but are NOT installed. Those functions are not callable yet — confirm with the user, install with worker::add ({ "source": { "kind": "registry", "name": "" }, "wait": false }, then poll worker::status), and only then search again, batch the selected ids through engine::functions::info, and then call them. The registry_search configuration knob turns the section off.
• The pre-generate hint is automatic (configurable: inject_hint in the iii-directory configuration entry binds/unbinds the hook hot): at most once per turn, and only when discovery is plausibly needed — it skips when search_functions is not in the surface, a search result is already in the current task window, the surface spans fewer than hint_min_workers workers, the current task is already calling real functions, or it already names a callable function id.

directory::pre-generate, directory::on-functions-change, and directory::hint-preview are internal handlers, not direct tools.

Safety and privacy

A search result adds candidate metadata only; it neither executes a function nor grants new authority — normal policy and approval still apply. Suggested installable workers are vetted only by registry author verification; installing remains a stack mutation that deserves explicit confirmation. The hook's transcript rows carry only coarse outcome/reason and counts: no prompts, messages, tool contracts, arguments, session ids, or timings.