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MCP Avantage

by MissionSquad

commodities_aluminum

Retrieve aluminum commodity price data for monthly, quarterly, or annual intervals in JSON or CSV format to support financial analysis and market tracking.

Instructions

Retrieves aluminum prices.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
intervalNoTime interval for the data.
datatypeNoResponse data format.

Implementation Reference

  • src/index.ts:248-259 (registration)
    Registration of the 'commodities_aluminum' MCP tool. Defines name, description, input parameters schema, and the execute handler which delegates to the generic executeAvantageTool wrapper that calls av.commodities.aluminum(params) from the AVantage library.
    server.addTool({
      name: "commodities_aluminum",
      description: "Retrieves aluminum prices.",
      parameters: schemas.CommoditiesMonthlyQuarterlyAnnualParamsSchema,
      execute: (
        args,
        context // Let type be inferred
      ) =>
        executeAvantageTool("commodities_aluminum", args, context, (av, params) =>
          av.commodities.aluminum(params)
        ),
    });
  • Zod schema defining the input parameters for the commodities_aluminum tool: optional 'interval' (monthly, quarterly, annual) and 'datatype' (json, csv).
    export const CommoditiesMonthlyQuarterlyAnnualParamsSchema = z.object({
      interval: MonthlyQuarterlyAnnualSchema.optional().describe('Time interval for the data.'),
      datatype: DatatypeSchema.optional().describe('Response data format.'),
    }).describe('Parameters for monthly/quarterly/annual commodity data.')
  • Generic helper function used by all tools, including commodities_aluminum. Manages authentication, AVantage client lifecycle via resourceManager, executes the provided library method, handles errors, and returns stringified data.
    async function executeAvantageTool<TArgs, TResult>(
      toolName: string,
      args: TArgs,
      context: Context<Record<string, unknown> | undefined>, // Use the imported Context type directly
      avantageMethod: (
        av: AVantage,
        args: TArgs
      ) => Promise<{ error?: boolean; reason?: string; data?: TResult }>
    ): Promise<string> {
      logger.info(`Executing '${toolName}' tool for request ID: ${context}`);
      logger.debug(`Args for ${toolName}: ${JSON.stringify(args)}`);
    
      // --- Authentication & Resource Management ---
      // Access extraArgs safely - it might be null or undefined
      const extraArgsApiKey = context.extraArgs?.apiKey as string | undefined;
      const apiKey = extraArgsApiKey || config.apiKey;
    
      if (!apiKey) {
        logger.error(`'${toolName}' failed: Alpha Vantage API key missing.`);
        throw new UserError(apiKeyErrorMessage);
      }
      logger.debug(
        `Using AV API key (source: ${extraArgsApiKey ? "extraArgs" : "environment"}) for ${toolName}`
      );
    
      try {
        // Get or create AVantage instance managed by ResourceManager
        const av = await resourceManager.getResource<AVantage>(
          apiKey, // Cache key is the resolved API key
          "avantage_client", // Type identifier for logging
          async (key) => {
            // Factory Function
            logger.info(
              `Creating new AVantage instance for key ending ...${key.slice(-4)}`
            );
            // AVantage library reads AV_PREMIUM from process.env internally
            return new AVantage(key);
          },
          async (avInstance) => {
            // Cleanup Function (no-op needed for AVantage)
            logger.debug(`Destroying AVantage instance (no-op)`);
          }
        );
    
        // --- Library Call ---
        const result = await avantageMethod(av, args);
    
        // --- Response Handling ---
        if (result.error) {
          logger.warn(
            `'${toolName}' failed. Reason from avantage: ${result.reason}`
          );
          throw new UserError(result.reason || `Tool '${toolName}' failed.`);
        }
    
        if (result.data === undefined || result.data === null) {
          logger.warn(`'${toolName}' completed successfully but returned no data.`);
          return "null"; // Return string "null" for empty data
        }
    
        logger.info(`'${toolName}' completed successfully.`);
        // Stringify the data part of the response
        return JSON.stringify(result.data);
      } catch (error: any) {
        logger.error(
          `Error during execution of '${toolName}': ${error.message}`,
          error
        );
        // If it's already a UserError, rethrow it
        if (error instanceof UserError) {
          throw error;
        }
        // Otherwise, wrap it in a UserError
        throw new UserError(
          `An unexpected error occurred while executing tool '${toolName}': ${error.message}`
        );
      }
    }
Behavior2/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. 'Retrieves' implies a read-only operation, but it doesn't disclose important behavioral aspects: whether this requires API keys/authentication, rate limits, data sources, historical depth, or what the output looks like (structure, units, timestamps). For a financial data tool with zero annotation coverage, this is insufficient.

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?

The description is a single, efficient sentence with zero wasted words. It's appropriately sized for a simple retrieval tool and front-loads the core purpose immediately.

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

Completeness2/5

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

For a tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description is inadequate. It doesn't explain what 'prices' means (e.g., spot prices, futures, averages), time coverage, data freshness, or response format. Given the complexity of financial data and lack of structured metadata, more context is needed for effective use.

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%, with both parameters (interval, datatype) fully documented with enums and descriptions. The description adds no parameter information beyond what the schema provides, but since the schema does the heavy lifting, the baseline 3 is appropriate.

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

Purpose4/5

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

The description 'Retrieves aluminum prices' clearly states the action (retrieves) and resource (aluminum prices), making the purpose immediately understandable. However, it doesn't differentiate from sibling commodity tools like commodities_copper or commodities_brentCrudeOil beyond specifying aluminum, which are similar price retrieval tools for different commodities.

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

Usage Guidelines2/5

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

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives. With many sibling tools for different commodities and data types (e.g., commodities_copper, coreStock_daily), there's no indication of whether this is for historical prices, real-time data, or how it differs from other commodity tools beyond the specific metal.

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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