> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.askfutures.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# MCP tools
> The complete reference for every AskFutures MCP tool — what it does, its key inputs, and what it returns — grouped by sessions, strategies, backtest & optimize, reference, and utility.
The AskFutures MCP server registers **16 tools**. They fall into five groups:
manage [sessions](#sessions), build and read [strategies](#strategies), run
[backtests & optimizations](#backtests-amp-optimizations), look up
[reference data](#reference-data), and a couple of [utilities](#utility).
Two patterns run through every tool. First, almost everything takes a
`session_id` — create or list a session before anything else. Second, building,
backtesting, and optimizing are **asynchronous**: the kickoff tool returns an
id, and you call `wait_for_completion` to learn the result. See
[developer concepts](/developers/concepts) for the model.
## Sessions
| Tool | What it does | Key inputs | Output |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `create_session` | Create a workspace for strategy work. | `title` *(optional)* | New `session_id` + `app_url`. |
| `list_sessions` | List sessions you own. | `status` (`active` \| `archived` \| `all`, default `active`), `limit` (1–100, default 20), `cursor` | Array of sessions, each with an `app_url`, plus pagination. |
| `get_session` | Fetch one session by id. | `session_id` | The session + `app_url`. |
## Strategies
| Tool | What it does | Key inputs | Output |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `list_strategies` | List the strategy artifacts in a session, including the **canonical parameters** needed to optimize. | `session_id` | Summaries (`artifact_id`, `version`, `ticker`, `backtestStatus`, `canonicalParameters`, …) + `app_url`. |
| `inspect_strategy` | Fetch one strategy in full. | `session_id`, `artifact_id` | Entry/exit rules, exit conditions, parameters, extraction plan, and backtest status. |
| `create_strategy` | **Start** building a new strategy from a plain-English description. Asynchronous. | `session_id`, `description`, `backtest` *(default `true`)*, `provider` *(optional)*, `idempotency_key` *(optional)* | An `operation_id` — call `wait_for_completion` next. |
| `update_strategy` | **Start** modifying an existing strategy. Asynchronous; saves a new version. | `session_id`, `artifact_id`, `changes`, `provider` *(optional)* | An `operation_id` — call `wait_for_completion` next. |
| `delete_strategy` | Delete a draft strategy artifact. Refuses unless confirmed. | `session_id`, `artifact_id`, `confirm` *(must be `true`)* | Deletion result. |
`create_strategy` and `update_strategy` return **before** the strategy is
ready. The artifact is `creating` until `wait_for_completion` reports
`succeeded`. Don't backtest or optimize against it before then.
## Backtests & optimizations
| Tool | What it does | Key inputs | Output |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `backtest_existing_strategy` | Run (or re-run) a backtest on an existing artifact. No fork. | `session_id`, `artifact_id` | Backtest started — poll with `wait_for_completion` (`task='backtest'`). |
| `setup_optimization` | Configure a parameter sweep on a backtested strategy. | `session_id`, `artifact_id`, `parameters` (array of `{ name, min, max, step }`) | An `optimization_id` (batch is configured, not yet running). |
| `run_optimization` | Promote a configured sweep to running — one backtest per combination. | `session_id`, `artifact_id`, `optimization_id` | Run started — poll with `wait_for_completion` (`task='optimization'`). |
| `wait_for_completion` | Poll any async task until it finishes or times out. | `session_id`, `task` (`strategy_op` \| `backtest` \| `optimization`), plus the matching ids, `timeout_seconds` (1–300, default 45) | The finished result, or a `timed_out` status to poll again. |
| `cancel_task` | Request cancellation of an in-flight task. Idempotent. | `session_id`, `task`, plus the matching ids | Cancel acknowledged. |
`create_strategy` runs a backtest by default, so most new strategies arrive
already tested. Reach for `backtest_existing_strategy` only when the strategy
was created with `backtest=false`, when its `backtestStatus` is `not_tested`
or `failed`, or when you want a deliberate re-run.
### Picking the right `task` and ids
`wait_for_completion` and `cancel_task` are keyed by `task`. Match the id(s) to
the task:
| `task` | Required id(s) | Polls / cancels |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| `strategy_op` | `operation_id` | A `create_strategy` / `update_strategy` operation. |
| `backtest` | `artifact_id` | The artifact's `backtestStatus`. |
| `optimization` | `artifact_id` **and** `optimization_id` | The batch's status. |
**Cancellation is best-effort and differs by task.** For an optimization, the
session's single running sweep stops between combinations and partial results
are kept. For a backtest or a strategy create/update, cancel only takes effect
if the worker hasn't started — short in-flight tasks are allowed to finish.
## Reference data
| Tool | What it does | Key inputs | Output |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| `list_symbols` | List every tradable CME Group symbol (CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX). | *(none)* | `count` + `symbols`, each with ticker, name, and sector. |
| `get_reference_data` | Look up one contract's specs. | `symbol` | Tick size, tick value, margin, session hours, and more. |
Call `list_symbols` to discover what you can trade, then `get_reference_data`
for the exact tick math before you size stops and targets. The same specs are
on the [contract specs](/reference/contract-specs) and
[supported symbols](/reference/supported-symbols) reference pages.
## Utility
| Tool | What it does | Key inputs | Output |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
| `write_todos` | Replace the session's task list (full-replace — send the whole list every call). Useful when an async wait spans turns. | `session_id`, `todos` (array of `{ id, content, status }`; `status` is `pending` \| `in_progress` \| `completed`) | Updated plan. |
`write_todos` has full-replace semantics: each call overwrites the entire list,
so always send every todo. Keep exactly one `in_progress` while working, and
mark items `completed` as you finish.
## A note on hypothetical results
Any metrics these tools return — P\&L, win rate, drawdown, Sharpe — come from
a fixed, deterministic simulator over real historical prices, net of modeled
slippage and commission. The AI never invents them.
Backtest and optimization results are **hypothetical and simulated**, not
advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always test before
you trade.
## Next steps
Worked end-to-end flows that chain these tools together.
Sessions, operations, status fields, and the async model.
Add AskFutures to Claude, Cursor, or Codex.
Get MCP access enabled and authorized.