analyze_commit

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

No annotations are present, so the description carries the full burden. It only says 'explain intent and impact' without disclosing whether the analysis is AI-generated, static, or requires external calls. It does not state if the tool is read-only or if it has side effects. The description adds minimal behavioral context beyond the tool name.

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 a single sentence of 6 words, which is efficient but at the cost of critical information. While it avoids redundancy, it does not earn its place because it omits parameter details and usage guidance. For a tool with one parameter and no annotations, a slightly longer but more informative description would be better.

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?

The tool has an output schema (not shown), so return values need not be described. However, with a single parameter and no parameter description, the description is incomplete. The agent can infer the parameter's purpose from the tool name, but the lack of any parameter guidance makes it minimally adequate. Sibling tools are listed but not referenced.

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 input schema has one parameter 'sha' with no description (0% schema coverage). The description does not mention this parameter, leaving the agent to infer that 'sha' is a commit hash. No format, examples, or constraints are provided. The description adds no value beyond the schema, which already lacks detail.

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 ('explain') and the resource ('a specific commit'), and specifies the scope ('intent and impact'). It distinguishes from sibling tools like 'changelog' (list changes) and 'search_commits' (multiple commits) by focusing on a single commit's reasoning. However, it could explicitly mention the SHA parameter to reinforce the single-commit scope.

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. Siblings like 'blame_file' or 'repo_health' serve different purposes, but the description does not explicitly state when to prefer 'analyze_commit' over 'changelog' or 'search_commits' for understanding a commit. The agent must infer usage from the name alone.

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