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Traverse the capability spine (books · guides · KSAO elements · jobs)

list_capabilities
Read-only

Traverse the capability spine joining books, guides (capability packages), KSAO-grade elements and jobs. Use min_guides=2 for the cross-cutting capabilities that span many guides, role= for what a job requires, capability_detail= for one package with its elements and books hydrated. ksao_type/canon_component_id are null by design where unresolved — treat null as 'not yet joined', never as 'no link'.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
qNoSubstring match on the element label.
roleNoElements required by this job role, e.g. compensation-analyst.
limitNoCap the rows returned (default 200). `total` always reports the true count.
has_jobNoOnly elements that some job requires (via a career guide).
ksao_typeNoknowledge | skill | ability | other — from a panel validated at 95.1% on gold O*NET labels. 'other' is UNVALIDATED (no gold labels existed for it).
capabilityNoElements taught by this capability (guide slug).
min_guidesNoOnly elements taught by >= N capabilities. 2 gives the cross-cutting spine.
conflictingNoOnly elements where 2+ non-career guides define the same label differently — these need a ruling.
construct_classNoperson-attribute (knowledge/skill/ability — what a JOB requires and a learner develops) | condition-or-outcome (what a capability PRODUCES, e.g. 'Retention & Workforce Stability'). Only ~30% of elements are person attributes — filter to these for 'what does this role need'.
capability_detailNoReturn ONE capability with its elements and books hydrated, instead of querying elements.
has_canon_identityNotrue = only elements resolved to a JobFrame canon component (an IDENTITY, panel-adjudicated). false = only unresolved.
canon_promotion_candidateNotrue = only elements the JobFrame canon has NO component for. This is a real answer, not a failed lookup — these are the constructs to PROMOTE into the canon.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
totalNo
elementsNo
returnedNo
capabilityNo
spine_metaYes
api_versionYes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. First observed

TDQS

A4.6/5.0
Behavior5/5

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

The annotations already mark this as read-only, and the description adds significant behavioral context beyond that: nulls mean 'not yet joined' rather than 'no link', and capability_detail returns one capability with books hydrated rather than a normal element query. This prevents common misinterpretations when the agent inspects results.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three sentences front-load the core purpose, then give targeted usage guidance, then close with a crucial null-handling caveat. Every sentence earns its place and there is no filler or redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With 12 optional parameters, an output schema, and 100% schema description coverage, the description orients the agent to the main modes and a subtle null semantics trap. It does not summarize every filter, but the schema descriptions already cover those details adequately.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3. The description adds meaning beyond the schema by explaining that min_guides=2 selects the cross-cutting spine and that capability_detail switches the query mode to hydrated package retrieval, which the raw schema descriptions do not emphasize.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb ('Traverse') and a specific resource ('the capability spine joining books, guides ... KSAO-grade elements and jobs'), making the tool's cross-entity purpose immediately clear. This distinguishes it from siblings like list_guides (guides only) and get_guide (single guide), so an agent can infer the intended scope without opening the schema.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives explicit usage modes: min_guides=2 for cross-cutting capabilities, role=<role> for job requirements, and capability_detail=<slug> for a hydrated package. It does not explicitly name alternatives or state when not to use this tool, so it stops short of a full 5.

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

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