The live BidSwarm Board: rank, bidder, current bid in USD, one line, link. Every row is paid advertising, not a quality ranking.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | Rows to return, 1 to 500. Default 25. |
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries the behavioral burden. It discloses a critical, non-obvious behavior: the leaderboard is paid placements, not an objective quality ranking. It also signals liveness, though it does not detail pagination or refresh behavior.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two short sentences deliver the core purpose, row composition, and an important caveat with no redundancy. The description is front-loaded and every phrase adds value.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
For a simple read-only tool with one optional parameter and no output schema, the description covers the row structure and a key behavioral caveat. Minor omissions like default ordering are minor given the schema covers the limit parameter.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100% for the sole 'limit' parameter, so the schema fully documents it. The description adds no extra meaning about how limit behaves, placing it at the baseline 3.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly identifies the resource ('live BidSwarm Board') and the information shown per row (rank, bidder, current bid in USD, one line, link). It distinguishes the tool from siblings by framing it as the board view, though the verb 'get' is implied rather than explicit.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description provides helpful context by warning that rows are paid advertising, which implicitly says not to use it as a quality ranking. However, it does not explicitly state when to use this tool versus alternatives like get_bid_price or bid_for_rank.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Add one secure layer between your agents and this server.
get_bid_price and bid_for_rank both provide pricing information, and dry_run and draft_rank both create a board row, so tools can be confused based on names. The descriptions clarify the differences, but the overlap is still a real trap for an agent selecting quickly.
get_leaderboard and get_bid_price follow a consistent get_ pattern, and draft_rank is a clean verb_noun, but bid_for_rank sounds like a bidding action rather than a price lookup, and dry_run breaks the naming convention. Mixed phrasing makes the API less predictable.
Five tools is well-scoped for a niche paid-rank board: read the leaderboard, check pricing, run a free preview, and create a paid draft. No tool feels redundant, and the count is not overwhelming.
The core lifecycle is covered: view the board, check prices, dry-run a row, then create a paid draft that publishes via payment link. The only notable gap is no way to verify or manage an existing draft's status after link creation, but that may be intentionally outside the server's scope.