initiate_issuance

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full behavioral burden and does so thoroughly. It discloses immediate token exchange for pre-authorized grants, terminal states ready_for_credential_request or failed, the waiting_for_user_authorization state for the authorization code grant, the unimplemented redirect, and the out-of-band nature of tx_code.

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 focused sentences, front-loaded with the action and then expanding only into necessary flow-specific behavior. Every sentence adds operational value, with no filler or repetition of schema types.

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?

For a complex issuance flow, the description covers the two grant types, their outcomes, the current implementation limitation, and the tx_code input. Since an output schema exists, return-value details are already handled outside the description, and nothing essential to invoking the tool correctly is missing.

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 has no descriptions, so the description must compensate. It explains tx_code well ('transaction code obtained from the user out-of-band, if the offer requires one'), but credential_offer remains only implicitly defined as the offer that starts the session, with no format or origin details.

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 opens with a specific verb and resource: 'Start an issuance session for a Credential Offer.' It further clarifies the operation by describing distinct grant-type behaviors and resulting session states, making it unmistakable from siblings like get_issuance_status or request_credential.

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 implies usage by saying 'Start an issuance session' and details what happens for each grant type, but it never explicitly contrasts with sibling tools or states when not to use it. The guidance is mostly behavioral rather than decision-oriented, leaving alternatives unmentioned.

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