get_vehicle_status

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

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden for behavioral disclosure. It only lists possible return values, but does not state whether the call is read-only, whether it may wake the vehicle, or whether it returns cached or live data. For a tool interacting with vehicle state, this is a significant gap.

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 a single sentence that conveys the core purpose with no redundant words. It is well-structured and front-loaded.

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 tool is simple with one optional parameter and no output schema, so the description is almost sufficient. However, it lacks behavioral context such as whether the call has side effects (e.g., waking the vehicle) or response format details. Given the absence of annotations, this would benefit from a note clarifying it is a non-mutating status check.

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 input schema fully documents the 'vin' parameter including its default behavior via environment variable, so schema coverage is 100%. The description adds no additional parameter details, which is acceptable since the schema already handles it.

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 returns a vehicle's sleep status with three specific possible values (awake, asleep, waiting_for_sleep). It is a specific verb+resource combination. However, it does not distinguish itself from the sibling tool 'get_vehicle_state', which could plausibly overlap in function.

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?

No guidance is given on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'get_vehicle_state' or 'get_full_status'. There is no mention of prerequisites, context, or exclusions. The intended use case is implied but not explicitly stated.

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