Describe an action

Returns everything needed to call one action: input and output JSON Schemas, effect class, MCP annotations and tool definition, and the connections it needs. A reference with `@<major>` resolves to the newest matching release; the response shows the exact version.

GET /v1/actions/describe

Authentication

Bearer Token (b3os_sk_ API key or b3os_pat_ token) API Key (cookie: __Host-b3os_session)

Query Parameters

ref string required query

`<namespace>/<name>/<action>@<version>`; the version may be exact (`1.2.0`) or a major (`1`).

Example: "io.b3os/github/create-issue@1"

Responses

200 The action.

application/json

object string REQUIRED

Enum: action

ref string REQUIRED

pack string REQUIRED

version string REQUIRED

key string REQUIRED

title string REQUIRED

description string REQUIRED

input_schema object | boolean REQUIRED

A JSON Schema (draft 2020-12) document, such as a routine's `inputs` or an action's `inputSchema`. B3OS checks it against the meta-schema when it is published. References to the meta-schema in `schemas/*.json` resolve here.

Any of:

Option 1object

Option 2boolean

output_schema object | boolean REQUIRED

Any of:

Option 1object

Option 2boolean

effects string REQUIRED

`pure` computes from input only; `read` reads from the world; `write` changes it; `irreversible` changes it and cannot be undone (never retried automatically). Drives MCP annotations and retries.

Enum: pure, read, write, irreversible

annotations object REQUIRED

MCP tool annotations derived from the effect class.

readOnlyHint boolean

destructiveHint boolean

idempotentHint boolean

openWorldHint boolean

connections object[] REQUIRED

Array of:

key string REQUIRED

The connection key in the pack.

type string REQUIRED

Enum: api_key, basic, bearer, oauth2, none

label string REQUIRED

required boolean

Whether this action needs it.

mcp object REQUIRED

The action as an MCP tool definition.

name string REQUIRED

title string

description string REQUIRED

inputSchema object | boolean REQUIRED

Any of:

Option 1object

Option 2boolean

outputSchema object | boolean

Any of:

Option 1object

Option 2boolean

400 The reference is malformed (`action_ref_invalid`).

application/problem+json

type string (uri) REQUIRED

`https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#<code>`.

title string REQUIRED

Short summary of the problem type.

status integer REQUIRED

The HTTP status code, repeated for convenience.

code string REQUIRED

Stable machine-readable error code from the errors catalog.

detail string REQUIRED

Explanation of this occurrence. Never contains secrets.

instance string

The request ID (`req_…`) of the request that failed. Include it when you contact support.

errors object[]

Validation problems, one per field (`invalid_request` and the other codes that list `errors`).

Array of:

pointer string REQUIRED

Where the problem is: a JSON pointer into the request body (`/url`, `/steps/0/uses`), or `#query/<name>`, `#path/<name>` or `#header/<name>` for parameters.

detail string REQUIRED

What is wrong there.

reason string

Finer-grained cause for codes that document one (`unauthorized`, `forbidden`, `egress_denied`, `upstream_unreachable`, …).

required_scope string

The scope that was missing (`forbidden` with `reason: scope`).

retry_after_s integer

Same value as the `Retry-After` header, for clients that only read the body.

limit object

The limit an error refers to. IDs and current values are listed by `GET /v1/limits`.

id string REQUIRED

Limit ID, such as `vision.scrape.rpm` or `sandboxes.concurrent`.

limit number REQUIRED

The limit's value.

unit string REQUIRED

What the limit counts, such as `requests`, `sandboxes`, `vcpu` or `MiB`.

window_s integer

Window length in seconds for rate limits and quotas.

current number

Current usage against the limit, when known.

current_status string

The object's current status, for state conflicts such as `sandbox_not_running`.

upstream_status integer

The HTTP status the upstream returned (`upstream_error`, `action_output_invalid`).

step string

The failed step, as a step ID (routines), an index (`act`) or a path such as `beats/2/do/0` (render).

pack_error object

The error a pack's error mapping chose (`upstream_error` from pack actions).

code string REQUIRED

message string REQUIRED

retryable boolean REQUIRED

401 Missing, malformed, expired or revoked credentials (`unauthorized`).

application/problem+json

type string (uri) REQUIRED

`https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#<code>`.

title string REQUIRED

Short summary of the problem type.

status integer REQUIRED

The HTTP status code, repeated for convenience.

code string REQUIRED

Stable machine-readable error code from the errors catalog.

detail string REQUIRED

Explanation of this occurrence. Never contains secrets.

instance string

The request ID (`req_…`) of the request that failed. Include it when you contact support.

errors object[]

Validation problems, one per field (`invalid_request` and the other codes that list `errors`).

Array of:

pointer string REQUIRED

Where the problem is: a JSON pointer into the request body (`/url`, `/steps/0/uses`), or `#query/<name>`, `#path/<name>` or `#header/<name>` for parameters.

detail string REQUIRED

What is wrong there.

reason string

Finer-grained cause for codes that document one (`unauthorized`, `forbidden`, `egress_denied`, `upstream_unreachable`, …).

required_scope string

The scope that was missing (`forbidden` with `reason: scope`).

retry_after_s integer

Same value as the `Retry-After` header, for clients that only read the body.

limit object

The limit an error refers to. IDs and current values are listed by `GET /v1/limits`.

id string REQUIRED

Limit ID, such as `vision.scrape.rpm` or `sandboxes.concurrent`.

limit number REQUIRED

The limit's value.

unit string REQUIRED

What the limit counts, such as `requests`, `sandboxes`, `vcpu` or `MiB`.

window_s integer

Window length in seconds for rate limits and quotas.

current number

Current usage against the limit, when known.

current_status string

The object's current status, for state conflicts such as `sandbox_not_running`.

upstream_status integer

The HTTP status the upstream returned (`upstream_error`, `action_output_invalid`).

step string

The failed step, as a step ID (routines), an index (`act`) or a path such as `beats/2/do/0` (render).

pack_error object

The error a pack's error mapping chose (`upstream_error` from pack actions).

code string REQUIRED

message string REQUIRED

retryable boolean REQUIRED

403 Authenticated but not allowed (`forbidden`, `egress_denied`).

application/problem+json

type string (uri) REQUIRED

`https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#<code>`.

title string REQUIRED

Short summary of the problem type.

status integer REQUIRED

The HTTP status code, repeated for convenience.

code string REQUIRED

Stable machine-readable error code from the errors catalog.

detail string REQUIRED

Explanation of this occurrence. Never contains secrets.

instance string

The request ID (`req_…`) of the request that failed. Include it when you contact support.

errors object[]

Validation problems, one per field (`invalid_request` and the other codes that list `errors`).

Array of:

pointer string REQUIRED

Where the problem is: a JSON pointer into the request body (`/url`, `/steps/0/uses`), or `#query/<name>`, `#path/<name>` or `#header/<name>` for parameters.

detail string REQUIRED

What is wrong there.

reason string

Finer-grained cause for codes that document one (`unauthorized`, `forbidden`, `egress_denied`, `upstream_unreachable`, …).

required_scope string

The scope that was missing (`forbidden` with `reason: scope`).

retry_after_s integer

Same value as the `Retry-After` header, for clients that only read the body.

limit object

The limit an error refers to. IDs and current values are listed by `GET /v1/limits`.

id string REQUIRED

Limit ID, such as `vision.scrape.rpm` or `sandboxes.concurrent`.

limit number REQUIRED

The limit's value.

unit string REQUIRED

What the limit counts, such as `requests`, `sandboxes`, `vcpu` or `MiB`.

window_s integer

Window length in seconds for rate limits and quotas.

current number

Current usage against the limit, when known.

current_status string

The object's current status, for state conflicts such as `sandbox_not_running`.

upstream_status integer

The HTTP status the upstream returned (`upstream_error`, `action_output_invalid`).

step string

The failed step, as a step ID (routines), an index (`act`) or a path such as `beats/2/do/0` (render).

pack_error object

The error a pack's error mapping chose (`upstream_error` from pack actions).

code string REQUIRED

message string REQUIRED

retryable boolean REQUIRED

404 The pack, version or action does not exist (`pack_not_found`, `pack_version_not_found`, `action_not_found`).

application/problem+json

type string (uri) REQUIRED

`https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#<code>`.

title string REQUIRED

Short summary of the problem type.

status integer REQUIRED

The HTTP status code, repeated for convenience.

code string REQUIRED

Stable machine-readable error code from the errors catalog.

detail string REQUIRED

Explanation of this occurrence. Never contains secrets.

instance string

The request ID (`req_…`) of the request that failed. Include it when you contact support.

errors object[]

Validation problems, one per field (`invalid_request` and the other codes that list `errors`).

Array of:

pointer string REQUIRED

Where the problem is: a JSON pointer into the request body (`/url`, `/steps/0/uses`), or `#query/<name>`, `#path/<name>` or `#header/<name>` for parameters.

detail string REQUIRED

What is wrong there.

reason string

Finer-grained cause for codes that document one (`unauthorized`, `forbidden`, `egress_denied`, `upstream_unreachable`, …).

required_scope string

The scope that was missing (`forbidden` with `reason: scope`).

retry_after_s integer

Same value as the `Retry-After` header, for clients that only read the body.

limit object

The limit an error refers to. IDs and current values are listed by `GET /v1/limits`.

id string REQUIRED

Limit ID, such as `vision.scrape.rpm` or `sandboxes.concurrent`.

limit number REQUIRED

The limit's value.

unit string REQUIRED

What the limit counts, such as `requests`, `sandboxes`, `vcpu` or `MiB`.

window_s integer

Window length in seconds for rate limits and quotas.

current number

Current usage against the limit, when known.

current_status string

The object's current status, for state conflicts such as `sandbox_not_running`.

upstream_status integer

The HTTP status the upstream returned (`upstream_error`, `action_output_invalid`).

step string

The failed step, as a step ID (routines), an index (`act`) or a path such as `beats/2/do/0` (render).

pack_error object

The error a pack's error mapping chose (`upstream_error` from pack actions).

code string REQUIRED

message string REQUIRED

retryable boolean REQUIRED

429 A rate, concurrency or quota limit applies (`rate_limited`, `concurrency_limited`, `quota_exceeded`).

application/problem+json

type string (uri) REQUIRED

`https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#<code>`.

title string REQUIRED

Short summary of the problem type.

status integer REQUIRED

The HTTP status code, repeated for convenience.

code string REQUIRED

Stable machine-readable error code from the errors catalog.

detail string REQUIRED

Explanation of this occurrence. Never contains secrets.

instance string

The request ID (`req_…`) of the request that failed. Include it when you contact support.

errors object[]

Validation problems, one per field (`invalid_request` and the other codes that list `errors`).

Array of:

pointer string REQUIRED

Where the problem is: a JSON pointer into the request body (`/url`, `/steps/0/uses`), or `#query/<name>`, `#path/<name>` or `#header/<name>` for parameters.

detail string REQUIRED

What is wrong there.

reason string

Finer-grained cause for codes that document one (`unauthorized`, `forbidden`, `egress_denied`, `upstream_unreachable`, …).

required_scope string

The scope that was missing (`forbidden` with `reason: scope`).

retry_after_s integer

Same value as the `Retry-After` header, for clients that only read the body.

limit object

The limit an error refers to. IDs and current values are listed by `GET /v1/limits`.

id string REQUIRED

Limit ID, such as `vision.scrape.rpm` or `sandboxes.concurrent`.

limit number REQUIRED

The limit's value.

unit string REQUIRED

What the limit counts, such as `requests`, `sandboxes`, `vcpu` or `MiB`.

window_s integer

Window length in seconds for rate limits and quotas.

current number

Current usage against the limit, when known.

current_status string

The object's current status, for state conflicts such as `sandbox_not_running`.

upstream_status integer

The HTTP status the upstream returned (`upstream_error`, `action_output_invalid`).

step string

The failed step, as a step ID (routines), an index (`act`) or a path such as `beats/2/do/0` (render).

pack_error object

The error a pack's error mapping chose (`upstream_error` from pack actions).

code string REQUIRED

message string REQUIRED

retryable boolean REQUIRED

500 Something failed inside B3OS (`internal`). Retry with backoff.

application/problem+json

type string (uri) REQUIRED

`https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#<code>`.

title string REQUIRED

Short summary of the problem type.

status integer REQUIRED

The HTTP status code, repeated for convenience.

code string REQUIRED

Stable machine-readable error code from the errors catalog.

detail string REQUIRED

Explanation of this occurrence. Never contains secrets.

instance string

The request ID (`req_…`) of the request that failed. Include it when you contact support.

errors object[]

Validation problems, one per field (`invalid_request` and the other codes that list `errors`).

Array of:

pointer string REQUIRED

Where the problem is: a JSON pointer into the request body (`/url`, `/steps/0/uses`), or `#query/<name>`, `#path/<name>` or `#header/<name>` for parameters.

detail string REQUIRED

What is wrong there.

reason string

Finer-grained cause for codes that document one (`unauthorized`, `forbidden`, `egress_denied`, `upstream_unreachable`, …).

required_scope string

The scope that was missing (`forbidden` with `reason: scope`).

retry_after_s integer

Same value as the `Retry-After` header, for clients that only read the body.

limit object

The limit an error refers to. IDs and current values are listed by `GET /v1/limits`.

id string REQUIRED

Limit ID, such as `vision.scrape.rpm` or `sandboxes.concurrent`.

limit number REQUIRED

The limit's value.

unit string REQUIRED

What the limit counts, such as `requests`, `sandboxes`, `vcpu` or `MiB`.

window_s integer

Window length in seconds for rate limits and quotas.

current number

Current usage against the limit, when known.

current_status string

The object's current status, for state conflicts such as `sandbox_not_running`.

upstream_status integer

The HTTP status the upstream returned (`upstream_error`, `action_output_invalid`).

step string

The failed step, as a step ID (routines), an index (`act`) or a path such as `beats/2/do/0` (render).

pack_error object

The error a pack's error mapping chose (`upstream_error` from pack actions).

code string REQUIRED

message string REQUIRED

retryable boolean REQUIRED

503 The node or the product is not available right now (`node_unavailable`, `product_unavailable`, `capacity_unavailable`).

application/problem+json

type string (uri) REQUIRED

`https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#<code>`.

title string REQUIRED

Short summary of the problem type.

status integer REQUIRED

The HTTP status code, repeated for convenience.

code string REQUIRED

Stable machine-readable error code from the errors catalog.

detail string REQUIRED

Explanation of this occurrence. Never contains secrets.

instance string

The request ID (`req_…`) of the request that failed. Include it when you contact support.

errors object[]

Validation problems, one per field (`invalid_request` and the other codes that list `errors`).

Array of:

pointer string REQUIRED

Where the problem is: a JSON pointer into the request body (`/url`, `/steps/0/uses`), or `#query/<name>`, `#path/<name>` or `#header/<name>` for parameters.

detail string REQUIRED

What is wrong there.

reason string

Finer-grained cause for codes that document one (`unauthorized`, `forbidden`, `egress_denied`, `upstream_unreachable`, …).

required_scope string

The scope that was missing (`forbidden` with `reason: scope`).

retry_after_s integer

Same value as the `Retry-After` header, for clients that only read the body.

limit object

The limit an error refers to. IDs and current values are listed by `GET /v1/limits`.

id string REQUIRED

Limit ID, such as `vision.scrape.rpm` or `sandboxes.concurrent`.

limit number REQUIRED

The limit's value.

unit string REQUIRED

What the limit counts, such as `requests`, `sandboxes`, `vcpu` or `MiB`.

window_s integer

Window length in seconds for rate limits and quotas.

current number

Current usage against the limit, when known.

current_status string

The object's current status, for state conflicts such as `sandbox_not_running`.

upstream_status integer

The HTTP status the upstream returned (`upstream_error`, `action_output_invalid`).

step string

The failed step, as a step ID (routines), an index (`act`) or a path such as `beats/2/do/0` (render).

pack_error object

The error a pack's error mapping chose (`upstream_error` from pack actions).

code string REQUIRED

message string REQUIRED

retryable boolean REQUIRED

curl -X GET 'https://beta-api.b3os.org/v1/actions/describe?ref=io.b3os%2Fgithub%2Fcreate-issue%401' \  -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN'

const response = await fetch('https://beta-api.b3os.org/v1/actions/describe?ref=io.b3os%2Fgithub%2Fcreate-issue%401', {  method: 'GET',  headers: {      "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"  }});const data = await response.json();console.log(data);

import requestsheaders = {    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN'}response = requests.get('https://beta-api.b3os.org/v1/actions/describe?ref=io.b3os%2Fgithub%2Fcreate-issue%401', headers=headers)print(response.json())

200 Response

{  "object": "action",  "ref": "io.b3os/github/create-issue@1.2.0",  "pack": "io.b3os/github",  "version": "1.2.0",  "key": "create-issue",  "title": "Create an issue",  "description": "Open an issue in a repository. Returns the issue number and URL.",  "input_schema": {    "type": "object",    "required": [      "owner",      "repo",      "title"    ],    "properties": {      "owner": {        "type": "string"      },      "repo": {        "type": "string"      },      "title": {        "type": "string"      },      "body": {        "type": "string"      }    },    "additionalProperties": false  },  "output_schema": {    "type": "object",    "required": [      "number",      "url"    ],    "properties": {      "number": {        "type": "integer"      },      "url": {        "type": "string"      }    }  },  "effects": "write",  "annotations": {    "readOnlyHint": false,    "destructiveHint": false,    "idempotentHint": false,    "openWorldHint": true  },  "connections": [    {      "key": "api",      "type": "bearer",      "label": "GitHub token",      "required": true    }  ],  "mcp": {    "name": "github__create-issue",    "title": "Create an issue",    "description": "Open an issue in a repository. Returns the issue number and URL.",    "inputSchema": {      "type": "object",      "required": [        "owner",        "repo",        "title"      ],      "properties": {        "owner": {          "type": "string"        },        "repo": {          "type": "string"        },        "title": {          "type": "string"        },        "body": {          "type": "string"        }      }    }  }}

400 Response

{  "type": "https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#action_ref_invalid",  "title": "Invalid action reference",  "status": 400,  "code": "action_ref_invalid",  "detail": "github/create-issue lacks a namespace; use io.b3os/github/create-issue@1",  "instance": "req_01m5t4yg394wegr3j4y01qb363"}

401 Response

{  "type": "https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#unauthorized",  "title": "Unauthorized",  "status": 401,  "code": "unauthorized",  "detail": "API key checksum does not match; check that the whole key was copied",  "instance": "req_01m5t4yg394wegr3j4y01qb363",  "reason": "malformed"}

403 Response

{  "type": "https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#forbidden",  "title": "Forbidden",  "status": 403,  "code": "forbidden",  "detail": "This key lacks the scope sandboxes:write",  "instance": "req_01m5t4yg394wegr3j4y01qb363",  "reason": "scope",  "required_scope": "sandboxes:write"}

404 Response

{  "type": "https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#action_not_found",  "title": "Action not found",  "status": 404,  "code": "action_not_found",  "detail": "io.b3os/github@1.2.0 has no action create-issues",  "instance": "req_01m5t4yg394wegr3j4y01qb363"}

429 Response

{  "type": "https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#rate_limited",  "title": "Rate limited",  "status": 429,  "code": "rate_limited",  "detail": "60 scrapes per minute allowed; retry in 12 seconds",  "instance": "req_01m5t4yg394wegr3j4y01qb363",  "retry_after_s": 12,  "limit": {    "id": "vision.scrape.rpm",    "limit": 60,    "unit": "requests",    "window_s": 60,    "current": 60  }}

500 Response

{  "type": "https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#internal",  "title": "Internal error",  "status": 500,  "code": "internal",  "detail": "internal error",  "instance": "req_01m5t4yg394wegr3j4y01qb363"}

503 Response

{  "type": "https://docs.beta.b3os.org/errors#node_unavailable",  "title": "Node unavailable",  "status": 503,  "code": "node_unavailable",  "detail": "Node n1 is not reachable; retry in 5 seconds",  "instance": "req_01m5t4yg394wegr3j4y01qb363",  "retry_after_s": 5}

GET /v1/actions/describe

Base URL

Bearer Token

Query Parameters

ref string required

Response

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