Get Announcements

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint and openWorldHint, so the safety profile is covered and the bar is lower. The description adds only that results are "recent" with an optional course scope, without disclosing ordering, what "recent" means, pagination, or how a course-less call behaves at scale.

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?

Three tight sentences, purpose front-loaded, then scope, then triggers. The middle sentence partly duplicates what the schema already states about courseId being optional, but the text is still economical with no padding.

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 zero-required-parameter read tool with a 100%-documented schema and annotations covering the safety profile, the description covers what, when, and scope. The only real omissions (ordering, recency window, pagination) are minor for a simple list tool with no output schema.

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 coverage is 100%, so both parameters (count, courseId) are already fully documented in the schema, including the omitted-courseId behavior. The description restates the courseId semantics but adds no format, default, or constraint detail beyond the schema.

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 gives a specific verb+resource ("Fetch recent announcements") and states the scope (your courses, optionally one course). It stops short of distinguishing itself from adjacent retrieval siblings like get_discussions or get_whats_new, and the phrase "recent posts" slightly blurs the announcements-vs-discussions line.

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?

It gives concrete user-intent triggers ("announcements, news, updates from instructors, recent posts, or what professors said"), which is clear usage context. It names no exclusions or alternative tools (e.g., when to prefer get_whats_new or get_discussions), so it falls short of a 5.

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