hdhomerun_check_device_authChecks whether an HDHomeRun tuner is authenticated, optionally validating cloud access, to diagnose access or authorization issues.
Invoke the check_device_auth operation.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| info | No | ||
| validate_cloud | No |
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v1.3.6Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations declare readOnlyHint=false and openWorldHint=true, so the description should explain that this is a non-read-only, network-touching operation (and why, e.g. cloud validation). It says nothing beyond the operation name, leaving the agent with no behavioral context.
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?
It is brief, but brevity here is under-specification rather than conciseness — one empty sentence that could not be shorter without vanishing.
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?
An output schema exists so return values need not be described, but purpose, the meaning of both parameters, and the cloud-vs-device auth distinction are entirely absent, making the definition unusable for correct 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?
Schema description coverage is 0% for two parameters (info, validate_cloud) with opaque names, and the description adds no explanation of what 'info' should contain or what 'validate_cloud' triggers. Full compensation was required here and none was given.
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 is a tautology: 'Invoke the check_device_auth operation' merely restates the tool name and title without saying what device auth checking entails, what it inspects, or how it relates to siblings like hdhomerun_check_device_reachable or hdhomerun_get_lockkey.
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 when-to-use guidance at all: nothing about when to check device auth, when to prefer the many check_* / get_* siblings, or any prerequisites. The single sentence offers no decision criteria.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.