erc8004-agent-liveness

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden, and it does so thoroughly. It discloses that the tool performs a real outbound MCP initialize handshake against the endpoint the agent declares, revealing network-dependent behavior. It also enumerates all six possible verdicts, giving the agent a complete picture of success, failure, and ambiguity outcomes.

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 dense but well-structured, with the core purpose front-loaded before the mechanism details. The verdict list is efficiently packed into a single sentence, and every clause adds necessary information such as registry, network, handshake, and outcomes. There is 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?

Given the single parameter, no output schema, and no sibling tools, this description is complete enough for an agent to select and invoke the tool correctly. It explains the verification flow, the deployment context, and all possible verdict values. The reference to the module docstring also provides an optional deeper trail without bloating the description.

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 0% description coverage, so the description must compensate for the lone agent_id parameter. It connects agent_id to the agent registered in the on-chain ERC-8004 registry, making it clear what the integer identifies. It could be more explicit by stating 'agent_id' as the registry identifier, but the one-parameter context makes the meaning sufficiently recoverable.

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 opens with a specific verb ('Checks') and a clear resource: whether an agent registered in the ERC-8004 Identity Registry is alive. It then details the actual verification mechanism, including resolving the on-chain registration file and performing an MCP initialize handshake. This makes the tool's purpose unambiguous and distinct, even without sibling tools.

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 clearly conveys when to use this tool: to determine if a registered agent is currently alive rather than merely registered. It names the deployment context (Base mainnet) and points to a module docstring for the verification trail, which helps the agent understand the appropriate context. There are no explicit exclusions or alternative tool references, but with no siblings this is a minor gap.

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