Fetch fresh headlines from any 9to5Mac topic guide, such as iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch. Use it to track current Apple news for a chosen section.
Get 9to5Mac section headlines. Returns fresh headlines from one public 9to5Mac topic guide RSS feed.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| section | Yes | 9to5Mac guide slug |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v1.17.5Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations are present, so the description carries the behavioral disclosure burden. It discloses that the tool returns fresh headlines from one public RSS feed, implying a read-only, no-auth operation, but it does not describe output structure, pagination, or error 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?
Two short sentences, front-loaded with the action, with no filler. Every clause adds useful information about what the tool returns and where it gets it.
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 simple one-parameter read tool with a complete enum schema, the description is largely sufficient: it states the source, output type, and freshness. The absence of an output schema is partially mitigated by 'Returns fresh headlines', though the exact return shape is unspecified.
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% with an enum and a '9to5Mac guide slug' description. The tool description reinforces that the section parameter selects a topic guide RSS feed, but it adds no format or syntax details beyond what the schema already provides.
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 opens with 'Get 9to5Mac section headlines', a specific verb and resource, and clarifies that it returns headlines from a topic guide RSS feed. It is clear, but it does not explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like ninetofivemac_news or other headlines tools, so it stops short of a 5.
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 implies use for fresh section headlines, but it gives no explicit when-to-use guidance, exclusions, or alternatives. An agent must infer that ninetofivemac_article is for full articles and ninetofivemac_sections for section listings.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.