Establish a serial connection to a board by specifying its board_id. Verifies the gateway is running and ready for commands, logs, and transactional exchanges.
Ensure the Serial Gateway is running and connected for the specified board.
Args: board_id: The identifier of the board (e.g. 'board_a')
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| board_id | Yes |
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.
v0.1.0Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries full responsibility for disclosing side effects. It implies starting a gateway process and establishing a connection but does not specify whether the tool is idempotent, what state changes occur, or what happens on failure.
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 extremely concise, consisting of a single purpose statement and a brief parameter explanation. Every word adds value, with no redundancy or filler.
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 description omits expected outcome details (e.g., return values or success indicators) and does not address error scenarios. Given no output schema is provided, the agent lacks information about what the tool returns or how to interpret failures.
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 only parameter, board_id, is described as 'the identifier of the board' with an example. This is minimal but functional; it clarifies the parameter's purpose but does not explain how to obtain the identifier or any format constraints beyond the example.
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 tool's function: ensuring the Serial Gateway is running and connected for a specified board. It is specific enough to distinguish from serial data transfer tools like serial_write and serial_read, though it does not explicitly name alternatives.
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 provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus other connection tools (e.g., ssh_connect) or serial operations. It does not mention prerequisites or ordering, leaving the agent to infer usage context from the tool name alone.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.