Vehicle Database MCP Server

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. It mentions the API's coverage (1999-2023 manufacturers) and general data types (battery capacity, range, etc.), but doesn't disclose critical behavioral traits: what happens if parameters don't match existing vehicles (error behavior), whether this is a read-only operation, authentication requirements, rate limits, or what the output format looks like. The description is too generic about the API rather than specific to this tool's behavior.

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 reasonably concise (two sentences) but poorly structured. The first sentence is overly broad about the API rather than this specific tool. The second sentence repeats coverage information. It's not front-loaded with the tool's specific purpose, and some content (like 'Apart from basic specifications...') doesn't directly help the agent understand how to use this tool effectively.

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 complexity (4 required parameters, no output schema, no annotations, and many similar sibling tools), the description is incomplete. It doesn't explain what this tool returns, how it differs from other decode tools, what happens when parameters don't match, or provide enough context for the agent to use it correctly among alternatives. The description focuses on API capabilities rather than tool-specific implementation details.

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 100%, with all parameters documented in the schema (year, make, model, trim). The description adds no parameter-specific information beyond what's already in the schema - it doesn't explain how these parameters work together to identify a vehicle, what format they should be in, or provide examples beyond the schema's basic examples. With high schema coverage, the baseline is 3 even without additional param info in the description.

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 provides a general overview of what the API does ('gives detailed specifications on any electric car') but doesn't specify what the 'decode' tool itself does. It doesn't clearly state the verb+resource combination (e.g., 'retrieve specifications for a specific EV configuration') and doesn't distinguish this tool from its many siblings (like decode_by_vin, decode_by_ymmt, etc.). The description is more about the API's capabilities than this specific tool's function.

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 mentions coverage (manufacturers from 1999-2023) but provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like decode_by_vin, decode_by_ymmt, or other decode variants. There's no explicit when/when-not usage advice or comparison to sibling tools, leaving the agent to guess which tool is appropriate for which scenario.

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