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start_course_sniper

Automatically grab a course by waiting for its open time or watching for vacancies, with retries and self-healing on errors.

Instructions

Start an automated course-grab job (restrained; hard frequency floors).

mode="open_time": wait until open_time_iso (ISO 8601), then submit, retrying every retry_interval_seconds (>=3s) for up to total_duration_seconds (<=30 min). Page timeouts are shortened during the window so a crashed portal costs ~12s per probe. With then_watch=true, an unsuccessful open window falls through to vacancy watching instead of giving up. mode="watch_vacancy": poll every watch_interval_seconds (>=30s) until a vacancy is grabbed. Sub-floor intervals are rejected.

Jobs self-heal: an expired session re-authenticates automatically and a crashed browser is relaunched. A job only ends early on rejected credentials, 5 consecutive page-structure errors (portal redesign), or the portal staying unreachable for 30+ minutes straight. Terminal events raise a macOS notification.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
actionsYes
modeNowatch_vacancy
open_time_isoNo
retry_interval_secondsNo
total_duration_secondsNo
watch_interval_secondsNo
then_watchNo

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault

No arguments

Behavior5/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. It thoroughly discloses self-healing (re-authentication, browser relaunch), terminal conditions (rejected credentials, page-structure errors, unreachable portal), and the macOS notification. This is exemplary transparency.

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

Conciseness4/5

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

The description is well-structured with a front-loaded overview, separate mode explanations, and behavioral details. It is slightly verbose but each sentence adds value. Could be more concise, but acceptable.

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

Completeness3/5

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

Given the complexity (7 parameters, no schema descriptions, has output schema), the description is fairly complete for behavioral aspects but critically missing the definition of 'actions', which is the only required parameter. The output schema presumably covers return values, but the input gap reduces completeness.

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

Parameters2/5

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

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It explains mode, open_time_iso, retry_interval_seconds, total_duration_seconds, watch_interval_seconds, and then_watch, but the required 'actions' parameter (an array of objects) is not described at all. This is a significant gap.

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 starts an automated course-grab job with two specific modes (open_time and watch_vacancy). It distinguishes itself from sibling tools like sniper_status (which likely only checks status) by describing the job execution behavior.

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 explains when to use each mode (open_time for timed submission, watch_vacancy for polling) and mentions constraints like minimum intervals. It does not explicitly contrast with siblings, but the usage context is clear enough for an agent.

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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