transport_play_region

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

With no annotations, the description carries the burden of explaining side effects. It only states that a region is played, but does not clarify whether playback stops automatically, if the current playback is interrupted, or if any selection is modified. This lack of detail could lead to unexpected 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 extremely concise and structured, using only two sentences to state the purpose and parameters. There is no unnecessary information, and it is easy to parse.

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 playback command, the description is fairly complete, but it omits details about return values or side effects. Since there is no output schema, it is not clear if the tool returns any status or error information. Additionally, it does not explain the relationship to the current cursor position or selection.

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 description adds 'time in seconds' to each parameter, which is not present in the schema. It clearly defines start and end as absolute timestamps, though it does not specify whether they are project-relative or selection-relative, which is a minor gap.

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 action ('Play') and the resource ('a specific time region'), which distinguishes it from transport_play that plays the whole project. However, it does not explicitly mention that it plays only the given interval and stops at the end, which could be ambiguous.

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 to use this tool versus alternatives like transport_play, transport_stop, or selection-based playback. It does not mention typical use cases, prerequisites, or relationships to other transport commands.

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