a_semantic_search

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, and destructiveHint, covering the safety profile. The description adds meaningful behavioral context beyond annotations: hybrid matching, tolerance to typos/variations, and the return shape. No contradiction with annotations.

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?

Three concise sentences with no filler. The main action is front-loaded, the use case is stated in the second sentence, and the output behavior is summarized in the third. Every sentence earns its place.

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 no output schema, the description appropriately explains what the tool returns. It could have mentioned any dependency on a pre-built index or relationship to b_index_codebase, but that is inferable from the sibling set and is not a major gap for a two-parameter search tool.

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%, so the description does not need to re-document parameters. It adds value by explaining that the query can be natural language or specific terms and that semantic matching tolerates typos and variations, which directly informs how to set the query parameter.

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 states a specific verb and resource: 'Performs intelligent hybrid code search' on code, and clarifies the distinguishing mechanism ('semantic understanding with exact text matching'). It is immediately distinguishable from siblings like b_index_codebase and f_get_status. It also tells the agent what the tool returns: relevant code snippets with locations and line numbers.

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 gives clear usage context: use for finding code by meaning, even with typos or variations, with relevant natural language examples. It does not explicitly name alternatives or state when not to use this tool, so it falls just short of a 5.

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