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vendors.estimateCost

Read-onlyIdempotent

Produces directional monthly cost estimates from BuyAPI pricing data and explicit workload inputs.

Use this only when the user asks for cost math and provides explicit workload inputs. Missing workload fields are returned as assumptions or unknowns instead of being hallucinated. Treat results as BuyAPI claim-based estimate math; verify exact billing in first-party docs, vendor CLIs, or vendor MCPs before purchase or production decisions.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
categoryNoOptional category to estimate across the current corpus
workloadYesExplicit workload assumptions for directional cost estimates. Missing fields become assumptions, not fabricated precision.
vendorIdsNoOptional vendor IDs to estimate directly

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
kindNo
queryNo
claimsNo
messageNo
coverageNo
estimatesNo
suggestedNextStepsNo
availableCategoriesNo

Schema Changelog

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

  1. Changed3 schema fields changed
    • changedInput schema / properties / workload / description
      Previous value: -"Explicit workload assumptions for deterministic cost estimates. Missing fields become assumptions, not fabricated precision."New value: +"Explicit workload assumptions for directional cost estimates. Missing fields become assumptions, not fabricated precision."
    • addedOutput schema / properties / claims
      Added value: +{
      +  "items": {},
      +  "type": "array"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / coverage
      Added value: +{
      +  "additionalProperties": {},
      +  "propertyNames": {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  "type": "object"
      +}
  2. Changed1 schema field changed
    • changedOutput schema / (root)
      Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
      +  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
      +  "additionalProperties": {},
      +  "properties": {
      +    "availableCategories": {
      +      "items": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "type": "array"
      +    },
      +    "estimates": {
      +      "items": {},
      +      "type": "array"
      +    },
      +    "kind": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "message": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "query": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "suggestedNextSteps": {
      +      "items": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "type": "array"
      +    }
      +  },
      +  "type": "object"
      +}
  3. First observed

TDQS

A4.9/5.0
Behavior5/5

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

The description adds behavioral context beyond the annotations, such as 'Missing workload fields are returned as assumptions or unknowns instead of being hallucinated' and 'Treat results as BuyAPI claim-based estimate math.' This alerts the agent to the tool's honesty mechanism and the need for verification, which annotations do not convey.

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?

The description is concise and front-loaded. The first sentence states the core purpose, and subsequent sentences provide essential caveats without redundancy. Every sentence adds value, and there is no filler.

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

Completeness5/5

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

Despite not detailing the output schema, the description provides sufficient context for correct tool invocation: purpose, usage conditions, behavioral caveats, and verification guidance. The complexity is moderate, and the description covers all necessary aspects.

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 parameters are already well-documented. The description adds contextual meaning by emphasizing 'explicit workload inputs' and clarifying that missing fields become assumptions, which reinforces the intended use of the workload object. This slightly exceeds the baseline of 3.

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 clearly states the tool 'Produces directional monthly cost estimates from BuyAPI pricing data and explicit workload inputs.' This identifies a specific verb (produces), resource (cost estimates), and source (BuyAPI pricing + workload). It distinguishes itself from sibling tools, none of which focus on cost estimation.

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

Usage Guidelines5/5

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

The description provides explicit usage guidance: 'Use this only when the user asks for cost math and provides explicit workload inputs.' This tells the agent exactly when to invoke the tool and implies when not to use it. It also adds a caveat to verify exact billing with other sources, offering clear boundaries.

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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TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

Every tool targets a distinct purpose: stack examples vs. recommendation, vendor discovery vs. comparison vs. details vs. cost estimation vs. evidence. There is no functional overlap, and the descriptions clearly delineate boundaries.

Naming Consistency4/5

Tools follow a domain.action pattern (stacks.*, vendors.*), which is predictable. However, action names mix camelCase (findSimilar, estimateCost) with lowercase (recommend, compare), a minor inconsistency that doesn't hinder understanding.

Tool Count5/5

Seven tools cover the vendor and stack selection domain without being overwhelming or sparse. Each tool earns its place by addressing a distinct step in the workflow.

Completeness5/5

The tool set covers the complete workflow: initial vendor discovery (resolve), comparison (compare), detailed info (details), cost estimation (estimateCost), evidence retrieval (evidence), and stack examples/recommendations (findSimilar, recommend). No obvious gaps.