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

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden. 'List' implies a safe read, and it usefully discloses that staging/production snapshots are automatic at 03:00 UTC and retained 7 days. However, it omits auth/permission requirements, pagination behavior, and whether preview environments also have snapshots.

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 tight sentences, with the core action front-loaded and the lifecycle context placed second. No filler or repetition.

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 description covers purpose and snapshot retention, which is helpful for a simple list tool. But with no output schema and no annotations, it should say more about the return shape (e.g., fields, ordering) and any pagination or permission constraints to be fully complete.

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 both parameters are already documented. The description adds no syntax, format, or filtering detail beyond what the schema provides, making the baseline score of 3 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?

States a specific verb ('List') and resource ('snapshots') scoped to an environment. It does not explicitly distinguish itself from the singular sibling 'db.snapshot', which likely creates a snapshot, so an agent must infer the difference from the plural noun.

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?

Gives no when-to-use guidance, no prerequisites, and no routing to alternatives such as db.snapshot (create) or db.restore. The note about automatic nightly snapshots is contextual background, not usage direction.

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