Cline autoApprove for Sume: list only the read-only tools

Cline's remote MCP entry supports an autoApprove array. Put Sume's read tools in it and keep paid creates such as generate_image on manual approval.

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Add autoApprove to your Sume entry and list only tools that cannot spend money: mcp_health, tools_list, tools_schema, account_me, balance_get, catalog_list and jobs_list. Leave every create tool off the list so Cline asks before it runs.

Cline's remote server page (read 2026-10-07) documents the streamableHttp type and an autoApprove array. The tool names come from Sume's docs.

The config entry

Cline stores MCP servers as JSON. A remote server uses the streamableHttp type with a URL, and autoApprove holds the names of tools it may run without asking. How you authenticate depends on your Cline version, so follow Cline's page for sign-in or headers and keep keys out of the file.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sume": {
      "type": "streamableHttp",
      "url": "https://mcp.sume.com/mcp",
      "autoApprove": [
        "mcp_health",
        "tools_list",
        "tools_schema",
        "account_me",
        "balance_get",
        "catalog_list",
        "jobs_list"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Why those seven

Each is a read tool in Sume's tools-and-gates docs. mcp_health, tools_list and tools_schema describe the server. account_me and balance_get describe the workspace and wallet. catalog_list lists public capabilities and jobs_list lists work already submitted.

None of them change data or start a paid job, so an automatic approval cannot cost anything.

Tools to keep manual

Paid tools and tools that change data need your eyes. Sume requires an idempotency_key on each of them. That key is for deduplication and is not a person's approval, so approval must come from Cline.

autoApprove choices for Sume tools (read 2026-10-07)
ToolPut in autoApprove?
mcp_health, tools_list, tools_schemaYes
account_me, balance_get, catalog_listYes
jobs_list, jobs_get, jobs_resultYes
jobs_waitYes; it only reads status
jobs_cancel, assets_createNo
generate_image, generate_video, tts_create, music_createNo

Combine it with OAuth read scope

The strongest setup uses both layers. Sign in with Sume OAuth and leave Write off, so paid tools are not even listed. Then autoApprove removes prompts for the read tools. When you need generation, reconnect with Write on, but keep the creates off autoApprove.

Add dry_run to the first paid call each session, and put a max_spend_usd in your instructions.

Sume's tool list can grow. Do not copy a list from a blog post and leave it for a year. Call tools_list now and then, compare it with your autoApprove entries, and add only new tools that the live metadata marks as read-only. A tool you do not recognise stays manual until you have read its schema with tools_schema.

Treat a rename the same way: an entry that names a retired tool does nothing, and a new name is not approved until you add it.

What autoApprove does not protect

It only decides when Cline asks you. It does not cap spend. If you later add a create tool to the list, the agent can run it without a prompt, and the only remaining brakes are the wallet and the arguments you gave. For that reason keep max_spend_usd in every paid call, and do not add generate_video to the list for convenience.

Check it worked

Ask Cline to call balance_get and watch for no prompt. Then ask it to preview one generate_image with dry_run. It should ask first, or, on a read-only session, report that the tool is not available.

Sources

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