sonos_play

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

With no annotations, the description must disclose behavioral traits. It explains continuation from current queue position and grouping interaction, which adds value. However, it lacks details on error conditions (e.g., empty queue) or permissions needed, which would be important for a mutation tool.

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 three concise sentences, front-loading the key action and providing additional context efficiently. No wasted words.

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?

Given the tool's simplicity and the sibling tool set, the description covers the core operation, grouping behavior, and continuation from queue. It is mostly complete but could be improved by noting what happens if the queue is empty, which is not mentioned.

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?

Schema coverage is 100% with the deviceId parameter described as 'Room name, UUID, or IP address.' The description adds no further meaning beyond this, so it meets the baseline for high coverage.

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 'Start or resume playback on a Sonos device,' specifying the action and resource. It distinguishes from siblings like sonos_pause and sonos_stop by explicitly describing the behavior.

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 mentions that playback continues from current queue position and that grouping affects the entire group, giving some usage context. However, it does not explicitly state when to use this over alternatives like sonos_play_from_queue, nor does it provide exclusion criteria.

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