set_parameter

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure but only states 'create or replace.' It does not disclose side effects, permissions required, behavior when the parameter already exists, error handling, or whether the optional unit is preserved or reset.

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 a single front-loaded sentence with no wasted words. Its brevity is appropriate in form, though the missing detail is a completeness issue rather than a conciseness flaw.

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?

For a mutation tool with no annotations, no output schema, and three undocumented parameters, the definition is substantially incomplete. It lacks sibling routing (update_parameter), parameter explanations for value and unit, and any behavioral context about replacing existing parameters.

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 0% across three parameters, so the description must compensate. It only hints at the 'name' parameter via 'named' and says nothing about the required 'value' parameter or the optional 'unit' parameter, leaving their meaning entirely undocumented.

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 states a specific verb+resource ('Create or replace a named parameter') and implies upsert semantics, which distinguishes it from a pure create or pure update. However, it does not explicitly name or differentiate from siblings like update_parameter, get_parameter, or list_parameters, so sibling differentiation is left to inference.

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?

There is no when-to-use guidance, no mention of alternatives, and no prerequisites. The description simply states what the tool does, leaving the agent to infer when set_parameter should be chosen over update_parameter or other parameter tools.

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