docs: add tool prompt override documentation #9315
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Adds a `tools` array to config that allows users to override tool
descriptions at the repo level, following the existing pattern for
models, contextProviders, and slashCommands.
This enables teams to customize tool prompts (e.g., standardizing
path format instructions) without forking the codebase.
Example .continuerc.json:
```json
{
"tools": [
{
"name": "read_file",
"description": "Custom description here"
}
]
}
```
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <[email protected]>
Fixes #9312, Fixes #9313 Two bugs were preventing workspace .continuerc.json files from working: 1. loadRcConfigs.ts: `rcFiles.map(ide.readFile)` lost `this` binding, causing silent failures when reading .continuerc.json files. Fixed by using `rcFiles.map((uri) => ide.readFile(uri))`. 2. doLoadConfig.ts: YAML config path never loaded workspace configs. Added conditional loading of workspace .continuerc.json files for tool overrides when using config.yaml. Debugging notes: - Added file-based tracing to /tmp/continue_debug.txt in installed extension to trace config loading path - Discovered JSON path was taken but getWorkspaceRcConfigs returned [] - Found listDir found the file but readFile failed silently - Wrapping readFile in try-catch revealed the this binding issue 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <[email protected]>
Document the new tool override feature that allows customizing built-in tool prompts at the workspace level. This includes: - Overriding tool descriptions - Disabling specific tools - Customizing system message prompts - Overriding display titles and action phrases This feature is particularly useful for local models that struggle with default tool prompts. Generated with [Continue](https://continue.dev) Co-Authored-By: Continue <[email protected]> Co-authored-by: nate <[email protected]>
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Summary
Adds documentation for the new tool prompt override feature introduced in #9314.
Note: This PR contains the same code changes as PR #9314 plus documentation updates. It is intended to provide documentation for that feature. If #9314 is merged first, this PR can be rebased to only include the documentation changes.
Changes
.continuerc.jsondocumentation indocs/customize/deep-dives/configuration.mdxWhy
The tool override feature is a significant new capability that allows users to customize built-in tool prompts at the workspace level, particularly useful for local models. This documentation ensures users can discover and effectively use this feature.
Related
This task was co-authored by nate and Continue.
Summary by cubic
Adds workspace-level tool prompt overrides via .continuerc.json and documents how to use them. You can customize built-in tool prompts (descriptions, titles, action phrases, system message) or disable tools.
New Features
Bug Fixes
Written for commit 39303e0. Summary will update automatically on new commits.