trust-tools

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

The description clearly discloses key behavioral traits: it is 'deterministic', a 'pure function', and 'no data is read'. With no annotations provided, the description carries full responsibility for transparency, and it fully meets that burden by revealing the tool is safe, idempotent, and side-effect-free.

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?

The description is extremely concise (two sentences) and front-loaded: the first sentence immediately states the tool's purpose and what it covers, the second adds a critical behavioral qualifier. Every sentence is essential with zero waste.

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?

Given the tool's simplicity (one parameter, no output schema, low complexity), the description is complete. It fully explains what the tool does, what it covers, and its side-effect-free nature. No additional information is needed for this deterministic explanation tool.

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?

The input schema already describes the rating parameter with 100% coverage (type, range, and examples). The description adds value by explaining the semantics of the output (trust band, scan scores, movers) and reinforcing that the number is a 0-100 Obelisk Rating, which complements the schema's examples.

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 states the verb 'explain', the resource 'Obelisk Rating number', and what the explanation covers: its trust band, public scan scores, and what moves a score. It distinguishes itself from siblings like get_org_rating and scan_trust by emphasizing that this is a pure, deterministic explanation of the rating value itself.

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 explicitly states 'Pure function of the number — no data is read', indicating when to use this tool (to understand a rating number without side effects or data retrieval) and implicitly that alternatives like scan_trust or get_org_rating should be used when actual data reads are needed.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. It discloses that it reads public data (non-destructive) and specifies exact fields, which gives good transparency. However, it doesn't mention rate limits, authorization needs, or what happens if the gate is unreachable. A score of 3 is appropriate for providing clear scope but lacking deeper behavioral details.

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 sentences, no wasted words. The first sentence front-loads the verb and resource with specifics, and the second sentence clearly delineates the boundary. Every word serves a purpose.

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?

Given the tool has no parameters, no output schema, and no annotations, the description is quite complete for a read-only facts tool. It lists all key data points and sets clear boundaries. It slightly lacks mention of error cases or availability patterns, but for the complexity level, this is adequate.

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?

The input schema has 0 parameters, and schema coverage is 100%, so no parameters need documentation. The description adds meaning beyond the schema by explaining the tool's purpose and what data it returns. Baseline for 0 parameters is 4, and the description provides clarity on the return content.

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 states the tool reads the Gate's public liveness facts and lists specific data points (issuer, served code revision, OIDC availability, supported protocols). The verb 'Read' and resource 'Gate's public liveness facts' are specific, and the scope is well-defined. The sibling tools like 'scan_trust' and 'verify_token' have different purposes, so this stands out.

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 implies usage for checking public liveness facts (e.g., OIDC status) without analyzing internal posture. It also states 'No posture internals,' which hints at what it doesn't do, but it doesn't explicitly name when-not-to-use or compare to siblings. The sibling set is diverse, so differentiation is somewhat inherent.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. It clearly discloses the return includes a score (0-100), trust band, and trend, which informs the agent about the structure of the response. It does not explicitly state that it is read-only, but the verb 'Read' implies no destructive action. The description adds value beyond the schema by detailing the output components.

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?

The description is a single, focused sentence that conveys the exact purpose and output without redundancy. Every word is relevant and valuable.

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?

Given the tool has only 1 required parameter, no nested objects, no output schema, and no annotations, the description provides sufficient context for an agent to invoke it correctly. The sibling tools like 'explain_rating' may offer alternative explanations, but the description's clarity on the public nature and output format makes it complete for this simple tool.

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?

The schema has 1 parameter with 100% coverage via its description, so baseline is 3. The description adds that the slug is for a 'registered organization' and provides an example ('acme'), giving context about what a slug represents and its format. This adds value beyond the schema's description alone.

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 specifies the verb 'Read', the resource 'public Obelisk Rating', and distinguishes from siblings like 'explain_rating' which likely explains the rating rather than reading it. The mention of 'public' also differentiates it from tools like 'gate_status' or 'scan_trust' which may involve private or scanning operations.

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 explicitly states that this is for reading a *public* rating for a *registered* organization by its slug. It does not mention when not to use it, but the context of 'public' implies it is for general queries, and siblings like 'explain_rating' may be alternatives for explanation. No explicit exclusions are provided, but the clarity of the public nature and requirement of a slug provides good context.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It explicitly declares the tool is read-only and SSRF-guarded, which is excellent transparency for a security scanning tool. The only minor gap is not specifying output size or timeout behavior, but the terms 'Read-only' and 'SSRF-guarded' are sufficient for safe invocation.

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?

The description is extremely concise, single sentence with a dash and two additional attributes. Every element adds meaning: action (run scan), target (https URL), subject (TLS/security-header posture), result (Obelisk Rating), and safety flags (read-only, SSRF-guarded). Zero waste.

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?

The tool is simple with one param, good schema coverage, and no output schema. The description covers purpose, scope, and safety but lacks return format details (e.g., whether rating is a string/number/range). However, given with sibling tools like explain_rating, the agent can infer the rating is a defined type. Sufficient for a straightforward scan tool.

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%, meaning the schema already documents the one parameter (url). The description adds the constraint 'https URL' and provides a concrete example, which is useful but not extensive. Baseline 3 is appropriate since the schema already does the primary documentation work.

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 states the tool performs an Obelisk public trust scan on an https URL, assessing TLS and security-header posture and scoring it as an Obelisk Rating. This specific verb+resource combination ('run Obelisk's public trust scan') effectively distinguishes it from sibling tools which cover explaining ratings, gate status, organization ratings, etc.

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 indicates when to use the tool (on https URLs for trust scanning) but does not explicitly state when not to use it. While alternatives are implied through sibling tools like explain_rating, no direct exclusions or comparative guidance is provided.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description must carry the full behavioral burden. It discloses the tool is read-only ('Read'), references a public endpoint ('same data as /.well-known/obelisk-transparency.json'), and explains the verification purpose. A minor gap is not mentioning if any auth or rate limits apply, but the description provides strong transparency given no annotations.

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?

The description is two sentences with no wasted words. It front-loads the action ('Read the current signed transparency head') and immediately provides the use case and a reference to the public endpoint.

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 parameterless, no-output-schema tool, the description is remarkably complete. It explains what the tool returns (signed transparency head), why to use it (verification), and where equivalent data lives. The only minor gap is not stating the return format (e.g., JSON object details) which would be helpful but not critical given the public endpoint reference.

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?

The tool has zero parameters and the schema has 100% coverage (empty). There is nothing to document, so the description cannot add extra meaning; baseline 3 is appropriate as the tool requires no input.

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 states the tool reads the current signed transparency head of Obelisk's tamper-evident receipt ledger. It specifies the verb 'read', the resource ('transparency head'), and the unique purpose (proving history only extends), which distinguishes it from siblings that deal with ratings, tokens, or scans.

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 implies this tool is for verification use cases ('pin it and compare later to prove history only extends'), giving clear context. However, it does not explicitly say when NOT to use it or list alternative tools, though the sibling tools are different enough that confusion is unlikely.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Since no annotations are provided, the description carries the full burden. It clearly communicates that the tool verifies token origin, signing algorithm, and issuer, and explicitly states it never returns secrets (addressing security transparency). No contradictory statements exist.

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?

The description is a single, dense sentence that conveys purpose, verification criteria, output types, and a critical security guarantee. No filler words or redundancy. The information is front-loaded and every part earns its place.

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 single-parameter verification tool with 100% schema coverage and no output schema, the description is nearly complete. It covers what is verified, what is never returned, and the output constituents. Minor gap: it does not mention whether the tool returns a simple boolean, a data object, or an error message on failure.

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%, so the baseline starts at 3. The description adds meaningful context beyond the schema: it specifies the token format ('compact-serialized JWT'), acceptable token types ('id_token or access token'), and the issuer ('issued by Obelisk'). This provides concrete usage guidance.

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 uses specific verbs ('Verify that a JSON Web Token was minted') and clearly identifies the resource ('this Obelisk Gate') along with key verification criteria (ES256, correct issuer). It also lists the outputs (type, subject, assurance, principal), effectively distinguishing it from sibling tools like explain_rating or gate_status.

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 explicitly states what the tool does (verify token from Obelisk Gate) and what it does not do ('Never returns secrets'). It implies when to use it (whenever a token needs validation against the Obelisk Gate) but does not explicitly specify when not to use it or mention alternatives among siblings.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.