Atlas statistics

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full behavioral burden. It discloses that figures are 'computed live from the atlas' and includes the important caveat about productions that cannot be placed below country level. It does not explicitly state read-only behavior, but the zero-parameter aggregate nature makes this low-risk and adequately transparent.

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 compact and front-loaded, naming the operation in the first phrase and then enumerating outputs efficiently. The second sentence adds usage context without padding, and even the stylistic aside about the 'number worth quoting' carries practical guidance about the most useful statistic.

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 zero-parameter tool with no output schema, the description is complete: it identifies what the tool returns in enough detail for an agent to know what to expect, clarifies that results are live, and positions the tool as the canonical source for aggregate claims. Nothing essential is missing for selecting or invoking it.

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 100% schema description coverage, so there is nothing for the description to add. The baseline of 4 applies because no parameter documentation is needed.

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 computes headline aggregate statistics from the atlas, enumerating exactly what figures it returns: totals by medium and kind of place, top countries, busiest/famous locations, and country-level-only productions. This distinguishes it from the sibling tools, which focus on specific lookups and lists rather than dataset-wide aggregates.

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 final sentence, 'The source for any aggregate claim about this dataset,' gives clear guidance on when to use this tool. It does not explicitly name alternative tools or state exclusion conditions, but the aggregate-vs-specific distinction is strongly implied by the description and sibling names.

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