getCurrentDate

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

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It only says 'Get todays date' and does not disclose whether the date is local or UTC, whether it includes time, or what format is returned. For a read-only tool this is minimally transparent but lacks important behavioral details.

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 short sentence with no filler. It is front-loaded and easy to read. However, the typo 'todays' and the lack of any elaboration prevent a perfect score for structure, though brevity is a plus.

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?

The tool is extremely simple, so the description is minimally adequate, but without an output schema, the agent does not know what return shape to expect. Key contextual details like date format and timezone are missing, making it insufficient for full autonomous invocation.

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?

The tool has zero parameters, and per the baseline, 0 params gets a score of 4. The description does not need to explain parameters that do not exist, and the schema already confirms an empty object. No additional parameter information is required.

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 clearly states the tool gets today's date using a specific verb and resource. It distinguishes from the sibling tool (nasaPicOfDayTool) since that is obviously about NASA pictures, not dates. However, it is vague about what format or timezone the date is in, which keeps it from a perfect score.

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?

No guidance is provided on when this tool should be used over alternatives. There is no mention of alternatives or exclusionary conditions. The sibling tool is unrelated but no explicit comparison is made.

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