List Managed Resources

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It does convey the read-only listing intent and the optional unmanaged-scan behavior, which is genuinely useful context beyond the name. However, it does not disclose what the scan entails, what the return payload looks like, or what 'unmanaged' means concretely — meaningful gaps given there is zero annotation coverage.

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?

A single front-loaded sentence with zero filler. The primary purpose leads, and the optional behavior is appended as a second clause. Nothing is wasted and every word earns its place.

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?

Complexity is low — one optional boolean parameter, no output schema, no nested structures. For a simple list tool the description is largely sufficient: it states the main function and the one behavioral toggle. Minor omissions (return format, definition of 'unmanaged') are tolerable against the low complexity, though they keep it from being fully complete.

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 description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It partially does: 'optionally scan for unmanaged ones' maps semantically to the includeUnmanaged boolean (which defaults to true), giving the parameter purpose. But the description never names the parameter or explains the true-default implication, leaving the agent to infer the connection. It adds value but does not fully bridge the 0% coverage 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?

States a specific verb ('List') and a precise resource ('manifest-managed resources'), plus an optional secondary behavior ('scan for unmanaged ones'). It is clearly distinguishable from its siblings (scaffold_resource, delete_resource, add_field, preview_scaffold), all of which are mutation tools, so an agent can separate read from write intent immediately.

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 read-versus-mutate distinction against the sibling tools is implied by the verb and resource, but the description never explicitly says 'use this when you need to enumerate resources, not when you need to modify them.' No alternatives are named, and no conditions selecting this tool over another are given. Adequate but left to inference.

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