Skip to the next item in a VLC Media Player playlist to advance playback when needed.
Skip to the next item in the VLC playlist.
This tool declares no required parameters. Add optional parameters from the input schema as needed.
{
"id": 1,
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"arguments": {},
"name": "vlc_next"
}
}| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v0.1.2Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations declare this is not read-only, not idempotent, and not destructive, which fits a transport skip. The description adds nothing about what happens at the last track (wrap, stop, or error) or whether playback state carries over – the kind of context an agent would want for a non-idempotent control. Adequate, but adds no behavioral value over annotations.
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 no wasted words; exactly right for a no-arg control tool.
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 trivial zero-parameter transport action this is near sufficient, but with no output schema the description doesn't indicate the result (new track info or confirmation) or the edge-case behavior at playlist boundaries, which is the only remaining gap for a non-idempotent command.
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?
There are zero parameters, so the baseline is 4. The description correctly implies no arguments are needed beyond the implicit target of the operation.
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?
Specific verb ('skip to next') plus a precise resource ('VLC playlist item'). It is unmistakable against siblings like vlc_previous, vlc_play, and vlc_list_playlist without opening any schema.
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 description implies the context clearly: advancing to the next item in the queue, in contrast to vlc_previous. It doesn't spell out exclusions (e.g., behavior at the end of the playlist, or use when nothing is playing), but the operation itself is self-routing.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.