def get_tools(whitelist, known_plugins):
    """
    Filter all known plugins by a whitelist specified. If the whitelist is
    empty, default to all plugins.
    """
    def getpath(c):
        return "%s:%s" % (c.__module__, c.__class__.__name__)

    tools = [x for x in known_plugins if getpath(x) in whitelist]

    if not tools:
        if whitelist:
            raise UnknownTools(map(getpath, known_plugins))
        tools = known_plugins
    return tools