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chrischall

splitwise-mcp

by chrischall

sw_list_friends

Read-only

Lists all Splitwise friends to resolve a friend's name to their user ID before adding them to a group or creating a custom expense split.

Instructions

List all Splitwise friends. Use this to resolve a friend's name to a user_id before adding them to a group or building a custom expense split. The compact default returns id, name (first_name + last_name joined), email, registration_status and any non-empty balance per friend; pass view:'full' for Splitwise's raw records, which keep first_name and last_name separate.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
viewNoResponse shape: "compact" (default) drops fields the response already carries elsewhere; "full" returns every field this server understands. compact returns {id, name, email, registration_status, balance} per person — `name` is first_name + last_name joined, so the separate fields are on "full" only; "full" returns Splitwise's whole record.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed1 schema field changedv3.0.0
    • changedInput schema / $schema
      Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"
  2. Changed2 schema fields changedv2.4.0
    • addedInput schema / $schema
      Added value: +"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
    • addedInput schema / properties / view
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Response shape: \"compact\" (default) drops fields the response already carries elsewhere; \"full\" returns every field this server understands. compact returns {id, name, email, registration_status, balance} per person — `name` is first_name + last_name joined, so the separate fields are on \"full\" only; \"full\" returns Splitwise's whole record.",
      +  "enum": [
      +    "compact",
      +    "full"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
  3. First observedv2.1.5

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already mark readOnlyHint=true, signaling a safe read operation. The description adds value by disclosing the default response shape, the fields returned, the non-empty balance behavior, and the difference between compact and full views.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three sentences with no filler: purpose, use case, and view semantics are each front-loaded and each sentence carries distinct information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a zero-required-parameter read-only list tool, the definition fully explains what an agent needs: why to call it, what the default returns, and how to get the fuller representation. The absence of an output schema is compensated by the descriptive coverage.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The single parameter 'view' is already fully documented in the schema with enum values and exact response differences, so the description adds only marginal value beyond the schema. This matches the baseline for high schema coverage.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

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: 'List all Splitwise friends.' It also states the practical purpose, resolving a friend's name to a user_id, and is clearly distinct from sibling list_* tools by naming the friends resource.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description explicitly says when to use it: before adding a friend to a group or building a custom expense split. It does not name excluded alternatives, but the intended context is unambiguous.

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