Read File (Kilo-Kit Safe Workspace I/O)

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds useful detail beyond annotations (line-range support, 512KB byte cap, workspace-boundary safety), but does not clarify what 'safely across workspace boundaries' enforces or how it behaves on missing/oversized files.

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 that leads with the core action and appends the key constraints. Nothing is wasted, though the parenthetical could be tightened.

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?

With annotations covering safety and 88% schema coverage plus no output schema, the description is mostly adequate. However, with 8 parameters including three overlapping path aliases and a sessionId, the description leaves the alias/selection ambiguity and error behavior unexplained.

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 description coverage is high (88%), so the schema already documents parameters well. The description echoes line ranges (startLine/endLine) and byte capping (maxBytes) but adds no format or default details beyond the schema, and importantly does not clarify the file/path/filePath alias ambiguity.

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?

States a specific verb (Read) and resource (file content) with scope qualifier ('across workspace boundaries'). It is clear what the tool does, though it does not explicitly distinguish itself from siblings like kilo_search_files or kilo_grep_code.

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?

There is no when-to-use guidance, no articulation of when to prefer this over kilo_search_files, kilo_grep_code, or the write/edit siblings, and no mention of prerequisites such as sessionId requirements. Usage is only vaguely implied by the word 'Read'.

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