Fix exclude tools docs #7117

[samanyugoyal2010]

Summary

Details

Related Issues

How to Validate

Pre-Merge Checklist

• Updated relevant documentation and README (if needed)
• Added/updated tests (if needed)
• Noted breaking changes (if any)
• Validated on required platforms/methods:
  • MacOS
    • npm run
    • npx
    • Docker
    • Podman
    • Seatbelt
  • Windows
    • npm run
    • npx
    • Docker
  • Linux
    • npm run
    • npx
    • Docker

[gemini-code-assist]

Summary of Changes

Hello, I'm Gemini Code Assist¹! I'm currently reviewing this pull request and will post my feedback shortly. In the meantime, here's a summary to help you and other reviewers quickly get up to speed!

This pull request addresses a long-standing ambiguity in how tool exclusions were handled. Previously, users could provide strings like 'run_shell_command(rm -rf)' in configuration files, which were not actually valid tool names. This change formalizes the handling of these entries by automatically converting them into proper Policy Engine deny rules, while simultaneously deprecating the old syntax and updating documentation to guide users toward the supported Policy Engine approach.

Highlights

• Legacy Tool Exclusion Syntax: Deprecated the use of toolName(args) syntax in tools.exclude and excludeTools settings, as these were not valid tool names but rather command-level restrictions.
• Policy Engine Integration: Implemented automatic conversion of legacy parenthesized exclusion entries into formal Policy Engine deny rules to ensure security restrictions are correctly applied.
• Documentation Updates: Updated CLI and extension documentation to recommend the Policy Engine for command-level restrictions instead of the deprecated exclusion syntax.

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[github-actions]

📊 PR Size: size/L

• Lines changed: 434
• Additions: +377
• Deletions: -57
• Files changed: 13

[google-cla]

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[gemini-code-assist]

Code Review

This pull request deprecates the legacy parenthesized toolName(args) syntax in tools.exclude and extension excludeTools configurations, transitioning command-level restrictions to the Policy Engine. It introduces backward compatibility by automatically converting legacy parenthesized entries into Policy Engine deny rules, and updates the documentation, examples, and loaders accordingly. I have no feedback to provide as there are no review comments.

[samanyugoyal2010]

@dtedesco1-at-google can this PR Please be approved

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