Pull top trending stories from Hacker News (Y Combinator community). Returns submission title, original URL, Hacker News discussion link, upvote count, comment count, and user who submitted. Use for tech news, startup stories, and developer-relevant content. Ranked by community engagement.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| max_results | No | Number of top stories to fetch (default 20, captures trending and popular items) |
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, lowering the bar. The description adds meaningful context by explaining the output fields and that results are 'Ranked by community engagement.' This goes beyond the annotations without contradicting them.
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, front-loaded with the core action and result, followed by usage guidance. No filler or redundant repetition of the name or annotations. Every sentence provides 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 tool with one optional parameter, the description is complete. It explains what data is returned (six specific fields) and the ranking principle, compensating for the lack of an output schema. Annotations cover safety, and the usage note completes the picture.
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% (the only parameter, max_results, is fully described with default and behavior). The tool description does not add any additional meaning about the parameter, so the baseline score of 3 is appropriate.
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 a specific verb ('Pull') and clearly identifies the resource ('top trending stories from Hacker News (Y Combinator community)'). It distinguishes this tool from sibling news tools by focusing on a specific source and content type, and enumerates the exact return fields.
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 clear usage context: 'Use for tech news, startup stories, and developer-relevant content.' This tells the agent when to select this tool over other news sources. It does not mention exclusions or explicitly name alternatives, so it stops short of a 5.
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.
Each tool targets a distinct news source or search functionality. The four get_* tools are differentiated by provider, and search_google_news complements them with cross-source search, eliminating ambiguity.
All tool names follow a clear verb_source pattern: get_ or search_ followed by the source identifier. This consistent convention makes the tool's function predictable from its name alone.
With five tools covering four major news providers plus a global search, the count is well-scoped for a news fetching server. Neither too sparse nor overwhelming.
The surface covers both source-specific top stories and keyword-based cross-source search, meeting the core needs of news retrieval. No critical gaps are apparent for the stated purpose.