mcp-drill

Read File (Deprecated)

read_file

Read-only

Reads a file's full text content, with optional head or tail parameters to view only the first or last N lines.

Instructions

Read the complete contents of a file as text. DEPRECATED: Use read_text_file instead.

Tool call template

Replace each placeholder with a value matching the input schema. Only required parameters are included; add optional parameters as needed.

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "arguments": {
      "path": "<path>"
    },
    "name": "read_file"
  }
}

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`head`	No	If provided, returns only the first N lines of the file
`path`	Yes
`tail`	No	If provided, returns only the last N lines of the file

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`content`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

First observedv0.0.1Sep 8, 2026

TDQS

A4.5/5.0

Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already provide readOnlyHint and openWorldHint, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds useful non-annotation context: the tool is deprecated and returns file contents as text. This goes beyond what the structured annotations alone communicate.

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?

Two short sentences contain the core operation and the deprecation directive. The critical information is front-loaded, and there is no filler or repetition of schema details.

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

Completeness5/5

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

For a deprecated read-only tool with an output schema present, this description is complete: it states the operation, the return type, the deprecation status, and the replacement tool. Remaining behavioral details such as partial reads are already present in the schema, so nothing critical is missing.

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 67%; head and tail are documented in the schema, and path is self-evident from its name and type. The description adds no further parameter-level meaning, but the existing schema coverage is adequate enough that the description does not need to compensate.

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

Purpose5/5

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

States a specific verb and resource: 'Read the complete contents of a file as text.' The DEPRECATED label and pointer to read_text_file make the differentiation from sibling tools explicit. There is no ambiguity about what this tool does.

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

Usage Guidelines5/5

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

The description explicitly says 'DEPRECATED: Use read_text_file instead.' This is direct when-not-to-use guidance and names the exact alternative. An agent can immediately route to the correct tool without needing sibling-tool inference.

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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