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redshift-utils-mcp

Redshift Utils MCP Server

Overview

This project implements a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server designed specifically to interact with Amazon Redshift databases.

It bridges the gap between Large Language Models (LLMs) or AI assistants (like those in Claude, Cursor, or custom applications) and your Redshift data warehouse, enabling secure, standardized data access and interaction. This allows users to query data, understand database structure, and monitoring/diagnostic operations using natural language or AI-driven prompts.

This server is for developers, data analysts, or teams looking to integrate LLM capabilities directly with their Amazon Redshift data environment in a structured and secure manner.

Related MCP server: Redshift MCP Server

Table of Contents

Features

  • Secure Redshift Connection (via Data API): Connects to your Amazon Redshift cluster using the AWS Redshift Data API via Boto3, leveraging AWS Secrets Manager for credentials managed securely via environment variables.

  • 🔍 Schema Discovery: Exposes MCP resources for listing schemas and tables within a specified schema.

  • 📊 Metadata & Statistics: Provides a tool (handle_inspect_table) to gather detailed table metadata, statistics (like size, row counts, skew, stats staleness), and maintenance status.

  • 📝 Read-Only Query Execution: Offers a secure MCP tool (handle_execute_ad_hoc_query) to execute arbitrary SELECT queries against the Redshift database, enabling data retrieval based on LLM requests.

  • 📈 Query Performance Analysis: Includes a tool (handle_diagnose_query_performance) to retrieve and analyze the execution plan, metrics, and historical data for a specific query ID.

  • 🔍 Table Inspection: Provides a tool (handle_inspect_table) to perform a comprehensive inspection of a table, including design, storage, health, and usage.

  • 🩺 Cluster Health Check: Offers a tool (handle_check_cluster_health) to perform a basic or full health assessment of the cluster using various diagnostic queries.

  • 🔒 Lock Diagnosis: Provides a tool (handle_diagnose_locks) to identify and report on current lock contention and blocking sessions.

  • 📊 Workload Monitoring: Includes a tool (handle_monitor_workload) to analyze cluster workload patterns over a time window, covering WLM, top queries, and resource usage.

  • 📝 DDL Retrieval: Offers a tool (handle_get_table_definition) to retrieve the SHOW TABLE output (DDL) for a specified table.

  • 🛡️ Input Sanitization: Utilizes parameterized queries via the Boto3 Redshift Data API client where applicable to mitigate SQL injection risks.

  • 🧩 Standardized MCP Interface: Adheres to the Model Context Protocol specification for seamless integration with compatible clients (e.g., Claude Desktop, Cursor IDE, custom applications).

Prerequisites

Software:

  • Python 3.10+

  • uv (recommended package manager) or pip

Infrastructure & Access:

  • Access to an Amazon Redshift cluster.

  • An AWS account with permissions to use the Redshift Data API (redshift-data:*) and access the specified Secrets Manager secret (secretsmanager:GetSecretValue).

  • A Redshift user account whose credentials are stored in AWS Secrets Manager. This user needs the necessary permissions within Redshift to perform the actions enabled by this server (e.g., CONNECT to the database, SELECT on target tables, SELECT on relevant system views like pg_class, pg_namespace, svv_all_schemas, svv_tables, `svv_table_info``). Using a role with the principle of least privilege is strongly recommended. See Security Considerations.

Credentials:

Your Redshift connection details are managed via AWS Secrets Manager, and the server connects using the Redshift Data API. You need:

  • The Redshift cluster identifier.

  • The database name within the cluster.

  • The ARN of the AWS Secrets Manager secret containing the database credentials (username and password).

  • The AWS region where the cluster and secret reside.

  • Optionally, an AWS profile name if not using default credentials/region.

These details will be configured via environment variables as detailed in the Configuration section.

Installation

The easiest way to install the Redshift Utils MCP Server is directly from PyPI:

# Using pip
pip install redshift-utils-mcp

# Using uv (recommended)
uv pip install redshift-utils-mcp

Install from Source

Alternatively, you can install from the source repository:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/vinodismyname/redshift-utils-mcp.git
cd redshift-utils-mcp

# Install using uv (recommended)
uv sync

# Or install using pip
pip install -e .

Configuration

Set Environment Variables: This server requires the following environment variables to connect to your Redshift cluster via the AWS Data API. You can set these directly in your shell, using a systemd service file, a Docker environment file, or by creating a .env file in the project's root directory (if using a tool like uv or python-dotenv that supports loading from .env).

Example using shell export:

export REDSHIFT_CLUSTER_ID="your-cluster-id"
export REDSHIFT_DATABASE="your_database_name"
export REDSHIFT_SECRET_ARN="arn:aws:secretsmanager:us-east-1:123456789012:secret:your-redshift-secret-XXXXXX"
export AWS_REGION="us-east-1" # Or AWS_DEFAULT_REGION
# export AWS_PROFILE="your-aws-profile-name" # Optional

Example .env file (see .env.example):

# .env file for Redshift MCP Server configuration
# Ensure this file is NOT committed to version control if it contains secrets. Add it to .gitignore.

REDSHIFT_CLUSTER_ID="your-cluster-id"
REDSHIFT_DATABASE="your_database_name"
REDSHIFT_SECRET_ARN="arn:aws:secretsmanager:us-east-1:123456789012:secret:your-redshift-secret-XXXXXX"
AWS_REGION="us-east-1" # Or AWS_DEFAULT_REGION
# AWS_PROFILE="your-aws-profile-name" # Optional

Required Variables Table:

Variable Name

Required

Description

Example Value

REDSHIFT_CLUSTER_ID

Yes

Your Redshift cluster identifier.

my-redshift-cluster

REDSHIFT_DATABASE

Yes

The name of the database to connect to.

mydatabase

REDSHIFT_SECRET_ARN

Yes

AWS Secrets Manager ARN for Redshift credentials.

arn:aws:secretsmanager:us-east-1:123456789012:secret:mysecret-abcdef

AWS_REGION

Yes

AWS region for Data API and Secrets Manager.

us-east-1

AWS_DEFAULT_REGION

No

Alternative to AWS_REGION for specifying the AWS region.

us-west-2

AWS_PROFILE

No

AWS profile name to use from your credentials file (~/.aws/...).

my-redshift-profile

Note: Ensure the AWS credentials used by Boto3 (via environment, profile, or IAM role) have permissions to access the specified REDSHIFT_SECRET_ARN and use the Redshift Data API (redshift-data:*).

Usage

After installation, you can run the server directly from the command line:

# If installed from PyPI
redshift-utils-mcp

# Or using uvx (no installation required)
uvx redshift-utils-mcp

Connecting with Claude Desktop / Anthropic Console:

Add the following configuration block to your mcp.json file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "redshift-utils-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["redshift-utils-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "REDSHIFT_CLUSTER_ID":"your-cluster-id",
        "REDSHIFT_DATABASE":"your_database_name",
        "REDSHIFT_SECRET_ARN":"arn:aws:secretsmanager:...",
        "AWS_REGION": "us-east-1"
      }
  }
}

Connecting with Claude Code CLI:

Use the Claude CLI to add the server configuration:

claude mcp add redshift-utils-mcp \
  -e REDSHIFT_CLUSTER_ID="your-cluster-id" \
  -e REDSHIFT_DATABASE="your_database_name" \
  -e REDSHIFT_SECRET_ARN="arn:aws:secretsmanager:..." \
  -e AWS_REGION="us-east-1" \
  -- uvx redshift-utils-mcp

Connecting with Cursor IDE:

  1. Start the MCP server locally using the instructions in the Usage / Quickstart section.

  2. In Cursor, open the Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P).

  3. Type "Connect to MCP Server" or navigate to the MCP settings.

  4. Add a new server connection.

  5. Choose the stdio transport type.

  6. Enter the command and arguments required to start your server (uvx run redshift_utils_mcp). Ensure any necessary environment variables are available to the command being run.

  7. Cursor should detect the server and its available tools/resources.

Available MCP Resources

Resource URI Pattern

Description

Example URI

/scripts/{script_path}

Retrieves the raw content of a SQL script file from the server's sql_scripts directory.

/scripts/health/disk_usage.sql

redshift://schemas

Lists all accessible user-defined schemas in the connected database.

redshift://schemas

redshift://wlm/configuration

Retrieves the current Workload Management (WLM) configuration details.

redshift://wlm/configuration

redshift://schema/{schema_name}/tables

Lists all accessible tables and views within the specified {schema_name}.

redshift://schema/public/tables

Replace {script_path} and {schema_name} with the actual values when making requests. Accessibility of schemas/tables depends on the permissions granted to the Redshift user configured via REDSHIFT_SECRET_ARN.

Available MCP Tools

Tool Name

Description

Key Parameters (Required*)

Example Invocation

handle_check_cluster_health

Performs a health assessment of the Redshift cluster using a set of diagnostic SQL scripts.

level (optional), time_window_days (optional)

use_mcp_tool("redshift-admin", "handle_check_cluster_health", {"level": "full"})

handle_diagnose_locks

Identifies active lock contention and blocking sessions in the cluster.

min_wait_seconds (optional)

use_mcp_tool("redshift-admin", "handle_diagnose_locks", {"min_wait_seconds": 10})

handle_diagnose_query_performance

Analyzes a specific query's execution performance, including plan, metrics, and historical data.

query_id*

use_mcp_tool("redshift-admin", "handle_diagnose_query_performance", {"query_id": 12345})

handle_execute_ad_hoc_query

Executes an arbitrary SQL query provided by the user via Redshift Data API. Designed as an escape hatch.

sql_query*

use_mcp_tool("redshift-admin", "handle_execute_ad_hoc_query", {"sql_query": "SELECT ..."})

handle_get_table_definition

Retrieves the DDL (Data Definition Language) statement (SHOW TABLE) for a specific table.

schema_name, table_name

use_mcp_tool("redshift-admin", "handle_get_table_definition", {"schema_name": "public", ...})

handle_inspect_table

Retrieves detailed information about a specific Redshift table, covering design, storage, health, and usage.

schema_name, table_name

use_mcp_tool("redshift-admin", "handle_inspect_table", {"schema_name": "analytics", ...})

handle_monitor_workload

Analyzes cluster workload patterns over a specified time window using various diagnostic scripts.

time_window_days (optional), top_n_queries (optional)

use_mcp_tool("redshift-admin", "handle_monitor_workload", {"time_window_days": 7})

TO DO

  • Improve Prompt Options

  • Add support for more credential methods

  • Add Support for Redshift Serverless

References

Available Tools

7 tools
handle_check_cluster_healthA

Performs a health assessment of the Redshift cluster.

Executes a series of diagnostic SQL scripts concurrently based on the
specified level ('basic' or 'full'). Aggregates raw results or errors
from each script into a dictionary.

Args:
    ctx: The MCP context object.
    level: Level of detail: 'basic' for operational status, 'full' for
           comprehensive table design/maintenance checks. Defaults to 'basic'.
    time_window_days: Lookback period in days for time-sensitive checks
                      (e.g., queue waits, commit waits). Defaults to 1.

Returns:
    A dictionary where keys are script names and values are either the raw
    list of dictionary results from the SQL query or an Exception object
    if that specific script failed.

Raises:
    DataApiError: If a critical error occurs during script execution that
                  prevents gathering results (e.g., config error). Individual
                  script errors are captured within the returned dictionary.
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
levelNobasic
time_window_daysNo

TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden and does well by disclosing key behavioral traits: concurrent execution of scripts, aggregation of results into a dictionary, error handling approach (individual script errors captured in dictionary vs. critical errors raised as DataApiError), and the distinction between basic and full diagnostic levels.

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 clear sections (purpose, execution behavior, args, returns, raises) and front-loaded with the core purpose. While comprehensive, some sentences could be more concise, such as the detailed explanation of the return dictionary which is slightly verbose.

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?

For a tool with no annotations, no output schema, and 0% schema description coverage, the description provides substantial context including purpose, parameters, return format, and error handling. However, it doesn't mention authentication requirements, rate limits, or potential side effects on the cluster, which would be helpful given the diagnostic nature.

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

Parameters5/5

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

The schema has 0% description coverage, so the description fully compensates by providing detailed semantic explanations for both parameters: 'level' options ('basic' for operational status, 'full' for comprehensive checks) and 'time_window_days' purpose (lookback period for time-sensitive checks like queue waits). It also mentions default values and provides concrete examples.

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 'performs a health assessment of the Redshift cluster' with specific verbs ('executes diagnostic SQL scripts', 'aggregates results') and distinguishes it from siblings by focusing on comprehensive cluster health rather than specific issues like locks, query performance, or table inspection.

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 provides clear context about when to use different levels ('basic' for operational status, 'full' for comprehensive checks) and mentions time-sensitive checks, but doesn't explicitly state when to choose this tool over sibling tools like handle_diagnose_query_performance or handle_monitor_workload for similar health-related tasks.

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

handle_diagnose_locksA

Identifies active lock contention in the cluster.

Fetches all current lock information and then filters it based on the
optional target PID, target table name, and minimum wait time.
Formats the results into a list of contention details and a summary.

Args:
    ctx: The MCP context object.
    target_pid: Optional: Filter results to show locks held by or waited
                for by this specific process ID (PID).
    target_table_name: Optional: Filter results for locks specifically on
                       this table name (schema qualification recommended
                       if ambiguous).
    min_wait_seconds: Minimum seconds a lock must be in a waiting state
                      to be included. Defaults to 5.

Returns:
    A list of dictionaries, where each dictionary represents a row
    from the lock contention query result.

Raises:
    DataApiError: If fetching the initial lock information fails.
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
min_wait_secondsNo
target_pidNo
target_table_nameNo

TDQS

A4.2/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden and does well by explaining the tool's multi-step behavior: fetching all lock information, applying optional filters, formatting results into list+summary structure, and potential error conditions (DataApiError). It doesn't mention permissions, rate limits, or side effects, leaving some behavioral gaps.

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 appropriately sized and well-structured with clear sections (purpose, args, returns, raises). While efficient, the parameter explanations could be slightly more concise, and the purpose statement could be more front-loaded before diving into implementation details.

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?

For a diagnostic tool with 3 parameters, no annotations, and no output schema, the description provides good coverage: clear purpose, parameter semantics, return format (list of dictionaries), and error conditions. It could improve by explaining the summary structure or providing example output, but overall it's reasonably complete given the context.

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

Parameters5/5

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

With 0% schema description coverage, the description fully compensates by providing detailed semantic explanations for all three parameters: target_pid (filter by process ID), target_table_name (filter by table with schema qualification note), and min_wait_seconds (minimum waiting time with default). The descriptions add meaningful context beyond basic schema types.

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's purpose with specific verbs ('identifies', 'fetches', 'filters', 'formats') and resource ('active lock contention in the cluster'). It distinguishes itself from siblings by focusing specifically on lock diagnostics rather than general health, performance, or table operations.

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

Usage Guidelines3/5

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

The description implies usage context through parameter explanations (filtering by PID, table name, wait time) but doesn't explicitly state when to use this tool versus alternatives like handle_check_cluster_health or handle_diagnose_query_performance. No explicit when-not-to-use guidance or named alternatives are provided.

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

handle_diagnose_query_performanceA

Analyzes a specific query's execution performance.

Fetches query text, execution plan, metrics, alerts, compilation info,
skew details, and optionally historical run data. Uses a formatting
utility to synthesize this into a structured report with potential issues
and recommendations.

Args:
    ctx: The MCP context object.
    query_id: The numeric ID of the Redshift query to analyze.
    compare_historical: Fetch performance data for previous runs of the
                       same query text. Defaults to True.

Returns:
    A dictionary conforming to DiagnoseQueryPerformanceResult structure:
    - On success: Contains detailed performance breakdown, issues, recommendations.
    - On query not found: Raises QueryNotFound exception.
    - On other errors: Raises DataApiError or similar for FastMCP to handle.

Raises:
    DataApiError: If a critical error occurs during script execution or parsing.
    QueryNotFound: If the specified query_id cannot be found in key tables.
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
compare_historicalNo
query_idYes

TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Behavior4/5

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 and does so well. It describes what data gets fetched, how it's synthesized into a structured report, and documents specific error conditions (QueryNotFound, DataApiError). It also mentions the formatting utility and the tool's ability to optionally fetch historical data. While it doesn't mention rate limits or authentication needs, it provides substantial behavioral context for a diagnostic tool.

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 appropriately sized and well-structured with clear sections: purpose statement, what it fetches, how it processes data, args documentation, returns documentation, and raises documentation. Every sentence earns its place, though the returns section could be slightly more concise. The information is front-loaded with the core purpose stated first.

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?

For a diagnostic tool with 2 parameters, no annotations, and no output schema, the description provides substantial context. It explains what data gets collected, how it's processed, parameter meanings, and error conditions. The main gap is the lack of detail about the exact structure of the returned dictionary or what specific metrics/alerts are examined, but given the tool's complexity, this is reasonably complete.

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

Parameters5/5

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

With 0% schema description coverage, the description fully compensates by providing detailed parameter semantics. It explains that query_id is 'the numeric ID of the Redshift query to analyze' and that compare_historical controls whether to 'fetch performance data for previous runs of the same query text' with its default value. This adds crucial meaning beyond the bare schema types (integer, boolean).

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's purpose with specific verbs ('analyzes', 'fetches', 'synthesizes') and resources ('query's execution performance', 'query text, execution plan, metrics, alerts, compilation info, skew details, historical run data'). It distinguishes from sibling tools like handle_check_cluster_health or handle_diagnose_locks by focusing specifically on query performance analysis rather than cluster health or lock diagnosis.

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 provides clear context for when to use this tool: when you need to analyze a specific query's performance with detailed metrics and recommendations. It doesn't explicitly state when NOT to use it or name specific alternatives among siblings, but the context is sufficiently clear for an agent to understand this is for query performance diagnosis rather than general cluster monitoring or table inspection.

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

handle_execute_ad_hoc_queryA

Executes an arbitrary SQL query provided by the user via Redshift Data API.

Designed as an escape hatch for advanced users or queries not covered by
specialized tools. Returns a structured dictionary indicating success
(with results) or failure (with error details).

Args:
    ctx: The MCP context object.
    sql_query: The exact SQL query string to execute.

Returns:
    A dictionary conforming to ExecuteAdHocQueryResult structure:
    - On success: {"status": "success", "columns": [...], "rows": [...], "row_count": ...}
    - On error: {"status": "error", "error_message": "...", "error_type": "..."}
    (Note: Actual return might be handled by FastMCP error handling for raised exceptions)

Raises:
    DataApiConfigError: If configuration is invalid.
    SqlExecutionError: If the SQL execution itself fails.
    DataApiTimeoutError: If the Data API call times out.
    DataApiError: For other Data API related errors or unexpected issues.
    ClientError: For AWS client-side errors.
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
sql_queryYes

TDQS

A4.5/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden and does an excellent job disclosing behavioral traits. It describes the return structure in detail (success vs error cases), mentions potential exceptions raised (DataApiConfigError, SqlExecutionError, etc.), and notes that 'Actual return might be handled by FastMCP error handling for raised exceptions.' This provides comprehensive behavioral context beyond basic functionality.

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 and appropriately sized. It begins with the core purpose, then provides usage context, followed by parameter documentation, return value details, and exception information. Every section adds value, though the detailed exception list could be slightly condensed. Overall, it's efficiently organized with clear sections.

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?

Given the tool's complexity (executing arbitrary SQL queries via Redshift Data API) and the absence of both annotations and output schema, the description provides substantial context. It covers purpose, usage guidelines, parameter semantics, return structure, and potential exceptions. The main gap is lack of information about query limitations, performance implications, or security considerations for arbitrary SQL execution.

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?

The description adds significant meaning beyond the input schema. With 0% schema description coverage (schema only shows sql_query is a required string), the description explains that 'sql_query: The exact SQL query string to execute.' This clarifies the parameter's purpose and format. While it doesn't provide SQL syntax guidance, it adequately compensates for the schema's lack of documentation.

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's purpose: 'Executes an arbitrary SQL query provided by the user via Redshift Data API.' It specifies the exact action (execute SQL query), the mechanism (Redshift Data API), and distinguishes it from specialized tools by calling it an 'escape hatch for advanced users or queries not covered by specialized tools.' This differentiates it from sibling tools like handle_get_table_definition or handle_inspect_table.

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 explicitly states when to use this tool: 'Designed as an escape hatch for advanced users or queries not covered by specialized tools.' This provides clear guidance that this tool should be used when other specialized tools (the siblings listed) don't cover the needed functionality, establishing clear alternatives and usage context.

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

handle_get_table_definitionA

Retrieves the DDL (Data Definition Language) statement for a specific table.

Executes a SQL script designed to generate or retrieve the CREATE TABLE
statement for the given table.

Args:
    ctx: The MCP context object.
    schema_name: The schema name of the table.
    table_name: The name of the table.

Returns:
    A dictionary conforming to GetTableDefinitionResult structure:
    - On success: {"status": "success", "ddl": "<CREATE TABLE statement>"}
    - On table not found or DDL retrieval error:
      {"status": "error", "error_message": "...", "error_type": "..."}

Raises:
    TableNotFound: If the specified table is not found.
    DataApiError: If a critical, unexpected error occurs during execution.
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
schema_nameYes
table_nameYes

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden and does well by detailing success/error return structures, specific exception types (TableNotFound, DataApiError), and the SQL script execution behavior. However, it doesn't mention performance characteristics, rate limits, or authentication requirements that would be helpful for a database tool.

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 well-structured with clear sections (purpose, execution details, Args, Returns, Raises) and every sentence adds value. It's appropriately sized for a tool with 2 parameters and complex return behavior, with no redundant information.

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?

For a tool with 2 parameters, no annotations, and no output schema, the description provides excellent coverage of parameters, return values, and exceptions. The main gap is lack of guidance on when to use versus sibling tools, but otherwise it's quite complete for the tool's complexity level.

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

Parameters5/5

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

The description provides explicit parameter documentation in the Args section, clearly explaining what schema_name and table_name represent. With 0% schema description coverage, this comprehensive parameter documentation fully compensates and adds significant value beyond the bare input schema.

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 specific action ('Retrieves the DDL statement') and resource ('for a specific table'), distinguishing it from sibling tools like handle_execute_ad_hoc_query or handle_inspect_table. It explicitly mentions the SQL script execution aspect, providing precise functional context.

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

Usage Guidelines3/5

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

The description implies usage when needing table DDL, but doesn't explicitly state when to use this tool versus alternatives like handle_inspect_table or handle_execute_ad_hoc_query. No guidance is provided on prerequisites, error handling expectations, or specific scenarios where this tool is preferred over siblings.

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

handle_inspect_tableA

Retrieves detailed information about a specific Redshift table.

Fetches table OID, then concurrently executes various inspection scripts
covering design, storage, health, usage, and encoding.

Args:
    ctx: The MCP context object.
    schema_name: The schema name of the table.
    table_name: The name of the table.

Returns:
    A dictionary where keys are script names and values are either the raw
    list of dictionary results from the SQL query, the extracted DDL string,
    or an Exception object if that specific script failed.
    - On success: Dictionary containing raw results or Exception objects for each script.
    - On table not found: Raises TableNotFound exception.
    - On critical errors (e.g., OID lookup failure): Raises DataApiError or similar.

Raises:
    DataApiError: If a critical error occurs during script execution.
    TableNotFound: If the specified table cannot be found via its OID.
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
schema_nameYes
table_nameYes

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden and does so effectively. It discloses the concurrent execution of multiple scripts, the mixed return types (raw results, DDL strings, or Exception objects), and specific error conditions (TableNotFound, DataApiError). However, it omits details like rate limits, authentication needs, or performance implications.

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 clear sections (purpose, Args, Returns, Raises) and front-loaded key information. It avoids redundancy, but the Returns section is slightly verbose in detailing success/error cases; some details could be condensed without losing clarity.

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?

Given no annotations and no output schema, the description provides substantial context: purpose, parameters, return structure, and error handling. It adequately covers the tool's complexity (2 params, mixed outputs). However, it lacks examples of return values or script names, which would enhance completeness for an agent.

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 description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It explicitly lists and explains the two parameters (schema_name and table_name) in the Args section, clarifying their roles in identifying the Redshift table. This adds meaningful context beyond the bare schema, though it could elaborate on format constraints (e.g., case sensitivity).

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 specific action ('Retrieves detailed information') and resource ('about a specific Redshift table'), distinguishing it from siblings like handle_get_table_definition (which likely fetches only DDL) and handle_diagnose_query_performance (which focuses on queries rather than table metadata). The mention of 'various inspection scripts covering design, storage, health, usage, and encoding' provides concrete scope.

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 implicitly suggests usage when detailed table metadata is needed, but lacks explicit guidance on when to choose this over alternatives like handle_get_table_definition or handle_monitor_workload. It does not specify prerequisites or exclusions, though the error conditions hint at when-not scenarios (e.g., table not found).

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

handle_monitor_workloadA

Analyzes cluster workload patterns over a specified time window.

Executes various SQL scripts concurrently to gather data on resource usage,
WLM performance, top queries, queuing, COPY performance, and disk-based
queries. Returns a dictionary containing the raw results (or Exceptions)
keyed by the script name.

Args:
    ctx: The MCP context object.
    time_window_days: Lookback period in days for the workload analysis.
                      Defaults to 2.
    top_n_queries: Number of top queries (by total execution time) to
                   consider for the 'top_queries.sql' script. Defaults to 10.

Returns:
    A dictionary where keys are script names (e.g., 'workload/top_queries.sql')
    and values are either a list of result rows (as dictionaries) or the
    Exception object if that script failed.

Raises:
    DataApiError: If a critical error occurs during configuration loading.
                  (Note: Individual script errors are returned in the result dict).
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
time_window_daysNo
top_n_queriesNo

TDQS

A4.2/5.0
Behavior4/5

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. It effectively describes that the tool executes SQL scripts concurrently, returns a dictionary with raw results or exceptions, and handles individual script failures gracefully by including exceptions in the result dict. It also mentions that critical configuration errors raise DataApiError. However, it doesn't specify performance characteristics, rate limits, or authentication requirements.

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 clear sections (purpose, execution details, args, returns, raises) and front-loaded with the core functionality. While comprehensive, some sentences could be more concise, such as the detailed explanation of the return dictionary structure which is somewhat verbose.

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?

Given the complexity of a workload analysis tool with 2 parameters, no annotations, and no output schema, the description provides substantial context about behavior, parameters, return format, and error handling. It explains the concurrent execution of SQL scripts, the dictionary return structure with success/failure results, and different error scenarios. The main gap is lack of information about what specific workload metrics are analyzed beyond the general categories mentioned.

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

Parameters5/5

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

The description provides excellent parameter semantics beyond the basic schema. While schema description coverage is 0%, the description clearly explains that time_window_days is the 'lookback period in days for workload analysis' with a default of 2, and top_n_queries determines 'number of top queries to consider' with a default of 10. This adds meaningful context about what these parameters control in the analysis.

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 'analyzes cluster workload patterns over a specified time window' with specific verbs (analyzes, executes, gathers) and resources (cluster workload, SQL scripts). It distinguishes from siblings like handle_check_cluster_health or handle_diagnose_query_performance by focusing on comprehensive workload analysis rather than specific health checks or query diagnostics.

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

Usage Guidelines3/5

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

The description implies usage for analyzing workload patterns over time, but doesn't explicitly state when to use this tool versus alternatives like handle_diagnose_query_performance or handle_execute_ad_hoc_query. There's no guidance on prerequisites, exclusions, or specific scenarios where this tool is preferred over sibling tools.

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

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

Each tool has a distinct purpose with clear boundaries: cluster health assessment, lock diagnosis, query performance analysis, ad-hoc query execution, table definition retrieval, table inspection, and workload monitoring. There is no functional overlap between tools, and the descriptions clearly differentiate their specific use cases.

Naming Consistency3/5

All tools follow a 'handle_verb_noun' prefix pattern, which provides some consistency. However, the verb choices are mixed ('check', 'diagnose', 'execute', 'get', 'inspect', 'monitor'), making the naming somewhat inconsistent in terms of action semantics. The structure is predictable but the verb selection lacks uniformity.

Tool Count5/5

With 7 tools, this server is well-scoped for Redshift cluster diagnostics and management. Each tool serves a specific, valuable function in the domain, and there are no redundant or trivial tools. The count is appropriate for covering key operational and troubleshooting tasks without being overwhelming.

Completeness4/5

The toolset covers essential diagnostic and operational areas for Redshift: health checks, lock analysis, query performance, ad-hoc queries, table definitions, table inspection, and workload monitoring. Minor gaps exist, such as lack of tools for cluster configuration changes, user/role management, or backup operations, but core diagnostic workflows are well-covered.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessSyncing

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