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Canvas LMS MCP – Remote Edition

by Fireiscoolsolo
OverviewSchemaSourceRelated ServersDiscussionsAdmin
JavaScript
Remote

List Entry Replies

list_entry_replies
Read-onlyIdempotent

Lists replies under one Canvas discussion entry in oldest-first order, so you can review a single comment thread without loading the whole topic. Read-only; reply bodies are fenced as untrusted text.

Instructions

List the replies under one discussion entry, oldest first. Read-only. Bodies are fenced as untrusted text. To read a whole thread at once, use get_full_topic_view instead.

Input Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNoMaximum number of items to return. Smaller is faster.
entry_idYesDiscussion entry ID (numeric string). Get it from get_full_topic_view or list_entries.
topic_idYesDiscussion topic ID (numeric string). Get it from list_topics.
course_idYesCanvas course ID, a numeric string such as "12345". Get it from list_courses.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed4 schema fields changedv1.1.3
    • changedInput schema / properties / course_id / description
      Previous value: -"Canvas course ID"New value: +"Canvas course ID, a numeric string such as \"12345\". Get it from list_courses."
    • changedInput schema / properties / entry_id / description
      Previous value: -"Canvas ID (numeric string)"New value: +"Discussion entry ID (numeric string). Get it from get_full_topic_view or list_entries."
    • changedInput schema / properties / limit / description
      Previous value: -"Max items to return"New value: +"Maximum number of items to return. Smaller is faster."
    • changedInput schema / properties / topic_id / description
      Previous value: -"Canvas ID (numeric string)"New value: +"Discussion topic ID (numeric string). Get it from list_topics."
  2. First observedv0.1.0

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnly/idempotent/non-destructive, yet the description still earns credit by adding ordering ('oldest first') and a prompt-injection warning that reply bodies are fenced as untrusted text — context no annotation conveys. It stops short of saying whether nested replies are flattened or how results are paginated.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Four short sentences, zero filler, with the core purpose and ordering front-loaded before the safety note and the sibling pointer. Nothing is repeated from the schema or annotations.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a read-only, fully documented four-parameter list tool with no output schema, the description supplies exactly the missing pieces: ordering, untrusted-content handling, and the alternative for whole-thread reads. Nothing an agent needs to invoke it correctly is absent.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so all four parameters already carry descriptions and retrieval guidance (course_id from list_courses, entry_id from get_full_topic_view or list_entries). The description only implies the entry_id anchor via 'under one discussion entry' and adds no syntax or format detail, so baseline 3 applies.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and resource ('List the replies under one discussion entry') plus ordering ('oldest first'), which immediately separates it from list_entries (entries, not replies) and get_full_topic_view (whole thread). The scope is unambiguous without opening the schema.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly routes the agent away from this tool when the goal is a whole thread: 'To read a whole thread at once, use get_full_topic_view instead.' It does not address when to prefer list_entries or how the optional limit interacts with paging, but the main alternative is named with its selecting condition.

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

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