Substack MCP Server
Manage a Substack publication from an AI assistant or terminal: read posts, subscribers, tags, and analytics; create and review private drafts; upload images; add consented free subscribers; and publish short-form Notes (which go live immediately).
Subscriber reads: get subscriber count (exact/approximate/unavailable), page through private subscriber records, and look up a subscriber by exact email.
Publication & archive reads: view publication settings, published posts, drafts, scheduled posts, full post/draft content, comments, sections, and tags (including hidden tags).
Search: search the archive by query and status (published/drafts/scheduled) with pagination.
Draft workflow (private, no publishing): create drafts from Markdown, export drafts as Markdown/JSON, run read-only preflight checks, plan reviewed changes, and apply updates with best-effort stale detection. Long-form posts are never published, deleted, or scheduled by this server.
Analytics: get per-post stats (views, opens, signups, subscribes, reactions, estimated value) and rank posts by multiple metrics.
Image upload: upload from a local path, base64 data URI, or public HTTPS URL, returning a publicly fetchable (unlisted) CDN URL.
Subscriber management: add explicitly consented free subscribers (dry-run by default, requires consent evidence; never grants paid access or overrides suppression).
Notes (publish immediately): create a Note or a Note with a link card — these post to the public Notes feed instantly, with no draft state or undo from the server.
Allows AI assistants to interact with Substack publications to retrieve subscriber counts, list and read published posts or drafts, and manage draft content by creating or updating posts from Markdown, including support for image uploads.
substack-mcp
Create and manage your Substack newsletter from your AI assistant or terminal. Prepare rich drafts, search your archive, publish Notes, inspect analytics, and manage explicitly consented free subscribers across publications. Review and publish long-form posts in Substack.

The demo runs actual MCP handlers against offline sample data. No live API calls or publication occur. Follow the draft workflow to create, find, export and review a post.
Safe by design — with one loud exception: This server cannot publish or delete long-form posts. Post tools create and edit drafts only; you review and publish manually through Substack's editor. The exception is Substack Notes: create_note and create_note_with_link publish short-form Notes immediately, because Notes have no draft state on Substack. Treat the Note tools as public-publish actions — there is no preview step and no undo from this server. The split is proportionate review, the piece of trust infrastructure for agents this server cares most about: the high-stakes surface gets a human gate, and the exception is stated loudly.
This server imposes no Bestseller-status check. Use an authenticated account with permission to manage the publication; individual operations depend on your Substack access. Connect through local stdio or self-hosted HTTP.
For 1.0 setup coverage and account eligibility, see compatibility. Maintainers can use the release checklist and distribution inventory.
Contents: Quick start · Setup · Tools · Operator CLI · Draft workflow · Export · Markdown · Multiple publications · Transports · Compatibility
Quick start
Install and sign in. Browser login needs the optional Playwright dependency:
npm install @conorbronsdon/substack-mcp playwright npx playwright install chromium npx substack-mcp login https://yourblog.substack.com --user-id 12345Use your own account's user ID. The session is saved only after a bounded authenticated read succeeds. To paste credentials instead, see Option B.
Verify a read.
npx substack-mcp doctor --json --check-authmakes one bounded read per publication. It confirms read access, not your user ID or write permission.Connect your MCP client. Add the server to Claude Desktop or Claude Code, or use the Codex plugin. Environment variables take precedence; omit them to use the stored browser-login session. Then ask your assistant: "How many Substack subscribers do I have?"
Prepare a draft for review. Follow the draft workflow:
create_draft,search_posts,export_draft,preflight_draft, thenplan_draft_updateandupdate_draft. Long-form posts stay unpublished drafts until you publish them in Substack's editor.create_noteandcreate_note_with_linkpublish immediately.
Related MCP server: substack-mcp
Community walkthrough
Jonathan Price's I used Codex to connect ChatGPT to Substack. Then it drafted this post. walks through using Codex to install the MCP locally, connecting ChatGPT through OpenAI's Secure MCP Tunnel, and creating a private draft for manual publication. He used the connection to create the draft of the guide itself.
The guide documents his September 18, 2026 setup with version 1.2.0. Its reported
get_post 404 is fixed in 1.2.1. Client interfaces and access requirements can
change; use the setup instructions below for this package's current
configuration. This is a community walkthrough, not a hosted service provided
by this project.
Setup
Requires Node.js 22 or newer (CI covers Node 22 and 24). Browser login additionally requires Playwright.
You can supply credentials two ways: paste them as env vars (below), or run the optional browser login which captures and stores them for you.
Option A — Browser login (optional, no manual cookie copying)
Install the server and optional Playwright dependency together in a local tools directory, then sign in:
npm install @conorbronsdon/substack-mcp playwright
npx playwright install chromium
npx substack-mcp login https://yourblog.substack.com --user-id 12345substack-mcp-login remains a supported alias. Missing publication URL and user
ID are prompted. Supply your own account's user ID; a post author's byline does
not verify your identity. The browser opens for sign-in, including any CAPTCHA.
Only a cookie applicable to the publication API is captured, and a bounded
authenticated read must succeed before saving. This verifies read access, not
the configured user ID or permission to write.
Without --profile, login saves ~/.substack-mcp/session.json (directory override:
SUBSTACK_MCP_HOME). The server uses this legacy session when publication
credential environment variables and SUBSTACK_PROFILES are unset.
Storage: sessions use AES-256-GCM with a key derived from the OS account and
machine. File permissions request 0600; Windows access also depends on directory
ACLs. This is a machine-bound file, not an OS keychain or secret vault. Code
running as your OS user can derive the key. Use environment credentials if your
MCP client manages secrets for you.
Named profiles and migration
npx substack-mcp login https://yourblog.substack.com --user-id 12345 --profile work
npx substack-mcp profiles list
# Copy an existing legacy session without changing its file:
npx substack-mcp profiles migrate --name personalKeys start with a lowercase ASCII letter and contain only lowercase letters,
digits and hyphens, up to 64 characters. Existing profiles require explicit
--force to replace. List output contains keys, readability status, publication origins and file save
times; it excludes cookies and user IDs. Unreadable profiles remain visible but
cannot be selected. Save time records local persistence, including migration; it
is not token issuance or expiration time. Listing is bounded to 32 profiles.
Profile storage requires a local filesystem supporting hard links (such as NTFS
or a typical Linux filesystem), so creation can install a complete encrypted file
without overwriting an existing name. FAT/exFAT and some network mounts are not
supported: set SUBSTACK_MCP_HOME to a suitable local directory. Do not use
--force to work around an unsupported filesystem.
Set SUBSTACK_PROFILES=work,personal in your MCP client's environment to select
up to 32 distinct profiles. Remove all publication credential variables first:
combining profile selection with legacy or named credential variables is an
error, including empty variables. Missing, corrupt or invalid selected profiles
stop startup; they never fall back to another account. Profiles on disk are
never activated by discovery. With multiple profiles, tools require an explicit
publication key and CLI reads require --publication.
To roll back, unset SUBSTACK_PROFILES and restore your previous environment
configuration. Migration preserves the legacy session byte-for-byte. These files
use the existing encryption format; an OS keychain is not currently supported.
Run substack-mcp status --json for offline configuration diagnostics or
substack-mcp doctor --check-auth --json for a bounded read per selected account.
Option B — Get your credentials manually
Open your Substack in a browser, then:
Session token: Navigate to your publication, open DevTools → Application → Cookies → copy the value of
connect.sid(URL-encoded string starting withs%3A)User ID: Use the numeric ID of your signed-in Substack account from your authenticated account data. Do not use a publication post's byline ID: publications can have multiple authors. This server does not independently verify the supplied ID.
Publication URL: Your Substack URL, including custom domain if you have one (e.g.,
https://newsletter.yourdomain.comorhttps://yourblog.substack.com)
2. Configure your MCP client
Claude Desktop
Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"substack": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@conorbronsdon/substack-mcp"],
"env": {
"SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL": "https://yourblog.substack.com",
"SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKEN": "your-session-token",
"SUBSTACK_USER_ID": "your-user-id"
}
}
}
}Claude Code and Codex plugin setup is available alongside manual MCP configuration. The repository marketplace and local plugin are separate from curated-directory acceptance or hosted ChatGPT support.
Claude Code
Add to your .mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"substack": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@conorbronsdon/substack-mcp"],
"env": {
"SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL": "https://yourblog.substack.com",
"SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKEN": "your-session-token",
"SUBSTACK_USER_ID": "your-user-id"
}
}
}
}3. Verify
Ask your AI assistant: "How many Substack subscribers do I have?"
Tool output compatibility, response limits and versioning are documented in the tool contract.
Operator diagnostics
The CLI exposes operator commands and configuration checks through the same MCP
handlers and credential resolution as the server. drafts create writes one
private draft; the other operator commands read:
substack-mcp status --json
substack-mcp doctor --json --check-auth
substack-mcp drafts list --limit 10Commands, the JSON envelope, exit codes, request deadlines and response limits are documented in operator CLI and diagnostics.
Tools
Every tool declares explicit MCP side-effect annotations; see tool annotations. Tool descriptions carry the authoritative wording.
Read
Tool | Description |
| Get your publication's current subscriber count |
| Read a bounded page of private subscriber records |
| Look up membership by exact email; reconcile pending additions |
| List published posts with pagination |
| Read projected publication identity/settings, verify the configured host, and report missing fields; does not verify account identity or role |
| Read tag definitions, including hidden tags by default, with bounded local pagination |
| Resolve post tag associations; preserves unresolved IDs and reports empty-result identity uncertainty. Draft coverage is currently live-verified only for empty responses |
| Search a publication archive by query and status; bounded pages with continuation metadata |
| Review proposed changes, preflight and a receipt for best-effort stale detection; no writes |
| Editable Markdown, exact original body, conversion diagnostics, preflight and editor link |
| Read-only checks for title, audience, body structure, images, and paywalls, with an editor link |
| List draft posts |
| Get full content of a published post by ID |
| Get full content of a draft by ID |
| Get comments on a published post |
| List your publication's sections (categories) with their IDs |
| Get a published post's stats (views, opens, signups, subscribes, reactions) by ID |
| Rank posts by views, opens, sends, rates, signups, subscribes, estimated value or date, keeping null and missing values distinct |
| List posts scheduled for future publication (read-only; scheduling stays in Substack's editor) |
Archive search and draft review
search_posts accepts query (1–500 characters), status (published, drafts,
or scheduled, default published), offset (default 0), and limit (1–50,
default 25). It makes one authenticated archive request and returns projected
metadata, returned, total, has_more, and next_offset. Continue with
next_offset and the same query/status. When Substack omits the total and a
page is full, has_more is null (unknown); another page may be empty. Substack
controls matching and indexing: this is not a guaranteed full-text scan. Use
get_post or get_draft to retrieve full content. Pagination is not a snapshot;
concurrent edits can move results between pages.
preflight_draft accepts draft_id, reads it once, and returns checks_passed,
findings with severity/code/message, content counts and an editor link. It checks title,
audience, JSON/body shape, image wrappers and HTTPS sources, and paywall count
and edge placement. Unknown nodes and external images produce review warnings.
Bodies over two million characters, 10,000 nodes, or depth 100 are not fully
checked; counts.complete is false and aggregate checks are skipped after a
scan limit. Unknown-node warnings name up to five types for editor review.
This is a focused static check, not full ProseMirror validation or
publish approval. It does not fetch links/images, verify access settings, or
prove final rendering. Review the draft in Substack; no content is modified.
Both tools require publication when multiple publications are configured.
Write (private drafts; image upload returns a public URL)
Tool | Description |
| Create a new draft from markdown (private) |
| Apply a reviewed change receipt; recheck unpublished state and report readback outcomes |
| Upload an image to Substack's CDN from a file, data URI or public HTTPS URL — returns a publicly-fetchable (unlisted) URL |
Review before changing a draft
In 0.9, call plan_draft_update, review its output, then call update_draft with
the same fields and returned receipt. Published or known stale drafts are
rejected. The read/write race remains; check readback outcomes and review in
Substack. The CLI shares this flow through drafts plan and drafts apply.
See draft changes and migration for examples and limits.
Publish (Notes — public immediately)
Tool | Description |
| Publish a Substack Note (short-form, publishes immediately) |
| Publish a Note with a link card attachment (publishes immediately) |
Notes have no draft state on Substack, so there is no draft-first option for these two tools.
Subscriber management
add_free_subscriber adds one consenting reader to the free newsletter. It is
a distribution change: that reader may receive future newsletter emails. It
can request a welcome email with send_welcome_email: true (off by default).
It never grants paid access or overrides Substack's
suppression of previously unsubscribed addresses. Its MCP annotations identify
it as an external write (readOnlyHint: false, openWorldHint: true).
{"email":"reader@example.org","consent_confirmed":true,"consent_evidence":{"source":"booking:message-id","recorded_at":"2026-09-01T00:00:00Z"},"dry_run":true}Dry-run is the default. After checking actual newsletter consent, set
dry_run: false to execute. Live adds require the source reference and timestamp
in consent_evidence; this attestation is echoed with the publication key for
auditing and does not replace checking the underlying consent record.
Multi-publication configurations also require the
publication selector, just like every other tool.
Results distinguish existing, dry_run, verified, blocked, and
unverified, busy, and retryable. busy performs no write; wait for the
other operation. retryable means authentication or rate limiting refused the
request; resolve that condition before explicitly retrying. An empty API acknowledgement is not proof of addition.
verified means an exact membership lookup succeeded after the request; it
does not prove that this request originally created the membership. Dashboard
data can lag. A missing reader may also have previously unsubscribed.
For unverified, recheck with get_subscriber; never automatically repeat the
add. For blocked, review in Substack without bypassing suppression. Automated
callers must persist an attempt ledger before sending each live request.
The client's in-memory duplicate guard does not survive restarts or separate
HTTP sessions. Keep subscriber identities and consent evidence out of shared
repositories, prompts to unapproved public services, and routine logs.
Implementation and live verification notes: subscriber API.
For Google Calendar booking opt-ins, the calendar sync helper provides a bounded Gmail scan, latest-answer selection, a private durable attempt ledger, and read-only reconciliation after uncertain writes. Scheduling is an explicit local setup step; installing the MCP does not start a background job.
Intentionally excluded
Publish posts — Publishing long-form posts should be a deliberate human action (Notes are the documented exception above)
Delete — Too destructive for an AI tool
Schedule — Use Substack's editor for scheduling. (
list_scheduled_postsreads what you've queued there, but this server never creates, edits, or cancels a schedule.)
For an always-on scheduler with durable cloud state and weekly email reports, see Cloud Calendar sync.
Multiple publications
Running more than one publication behind a single server? Set a SUBSTACK_PUB_<KEY>_* triplet per publication instead of the plain SUBSTACK_* vars. <KEY> is any name you choose (letters, digits, underscores) — it becomes the publication's lowercase, hyphenated key, e.g. KEVIN_MULDOON → kevin-muldoon.
"env": {
"SUBSTACK_PUB_KEVIN_MULDOON_PUBLICATION_URL": "https://kevinmuldoon.substack.com",
"SUBSTACK_PUB_KEVIN_MULDOON_SESSION_TOKEN": "token-1",
"SUBSTACK_PUB_KEVIN_MULDOON_USER_ID": "111",
"SUBSTACK_PUB_SAPERE_PUBLICATION_URL": "https://sapere.substack.com",
"SUBSTACK_PUB_SAPERE_SESSION_TOKEN": "token-2",
"SUBSTACK_PUB_SAPERE_USER_ID": "222"
}Each triplet is independent, and setting any SUBSTACK_PUB_<KEY>_* variable declares that publication. An incomplete triplet — a missing variable, an empty value, or a whitespace-only value — fails startup with an error naming the key, rather than silently dropping that publication. That matters because a dropped publication is not "one fewer publication": drop the only one and the server falls back to your stored browser-login session; drop one of two and every tool loses its publication parameter, so a call meant for the dropped publication routes silently to the surviving one.
Keys are compared case-insensitively, with _ folded to -. Two names that resolve to the same key (SUBSTACK_PUB_ALPHA_* and SUBSTACK_PUB_Alpha_*) are a startup error too — merging them silently would let one publication's URL pair with another's session token.
<KEY> accepts ASCII letters, digits, and underscores; the three suffixes must be uppercase and the whole name must have no stray whitespace. Anything that begins with SUBSTACK_PUB_ but does not fit that shape — a hyphen in the key, a lowercase suffix, an accented character, a trailing space — is a startup error naming the variable, not a variable that gets quietly ignored. For the same reason as above: an ignored publication is not one fewer publication, it is a silent reroute to a different one.
With two or more publications configured, every tool gains a required publication parameter — one of your configured keys (e.g. kevin-muldoon, sapere above). The calling model must specify one on every call; an unrecognized value is rejected before any Substack API call is made, so a stray write can't land on the wrong publication. With exactly one publication configured — the common case, whether via plain SUBSTACK_* vars or a single SUBSTACK_PUB_<KEY>_* triplet — no publication parameter is added at all; every tool's schema is unchanged from single-publication mode.
Don't mix the two styles: if any SUBSTACK_PUB_<KEY>_* var is set, the plain SUBSTACK_* vars are ignored (with a startup warning) rather than treated as an unnamed extra publication.
SUBSTACK_USER_AGENT and SUBSTACK_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS apply to every configured publication — they are not per-publication. Browser login also supports explicit named profiles; see Named profiles and migration.
Token expiration
Substack session tokens expire periodically (typically ~90 days). If you get authentication errors, grab a fresh connect.sid cookie from your browser and update the env var (make sure ad blockers are disabled when copying the cookie) — or, if you used the browser login, just re-run substack-mcp-login to refresh the stored session.
Custom domains & Cloudflare
Substack publications served on a custom domain (e.g. blog.example.com) sit behind Cloudflare, which can reject non-browser requests with 403 error code: 1010. To avoid this, the server sends a browser User-Agent and a Referer by default, and addresses the publication by its canonical *.substack.com host.
Use the canonical host. Set
SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URLto the publication's*.substack.comaddress rather than the custom domain. Calls to the canonical host are served directly; custom-domain calls may 301-redirect and then 401.Override the User-Agent (optional) via
SUBSTACK_USER_AGENTif you need a different browser signature:
"env": {
"SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL": "https://yourblog.substack.com",
"SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKEN": "your-session-token",
"SUBSTACK_USER_ID": "your-user-id",
"SUBSTACK_USER_AGENT": "Mozilla/5.0 ..."
}Request timeout
Every request to Substack is bounded by a 30-second deadline. Node applies no request timeout of its own — only a 10-second connect timeout — so a host that accepts the connection and then goes silent (a proxy that drops packets rather than refusing them) would otherwise hang a tool call indefinitely. A request that hits the deadline fails with a TimeoutError naming the endpoint and the limit.
Raise or lower it with SUBSTACK_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS (milliseconds; a non-numeric or non-positive value is ignored with a warning and the default is used):
"env": {
"SUBSTACK_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS": "60000"
}Transports
By default the server speaks MCP over stdio, which the client configurations
above assume. Set MCP_TRANSPORT=http for a stateless Streamable HTTP server
(POST /mcp, GET /health) in a persistent, self-hosted deployment. Setup,
listener variables and the security model are in HTTP transport.
What this listener will accept
The HTTP listener starts closed: loopback Host and Origin allowlists by
default, an optional bearer token (MCP_HTTP_TOKEN) and a 10 MiB body cap. Host
and Origin checks are not authentication; set a token wherever other processes
can reach the port. See the listener policy.
Versioned GHCR images and transport verification: container distribution.
Typed errors
API failures map to typed errors (AuthenticationError, RateLimitError,
ValidationError, NotFoundError, ServerError, TimeoutError, and the base
SubstackAPIError). The status mapping and error-body parsing are documented in
typed errors.
Draft export
Use export_draft for a read-only Markdown/JSON bundle, or run:
substack-mcp export 42 --output draft-export.json
substack-mcp export 42 --format markdown --output draft.mdMarkdown exports retain the exact original body in a .source.json sidecar.
Inspect unsupported_nodes before reuse. Existing files require --force.
See export and CLI behavior for publication selection, limits,
partial exports and file recovery.
Markdown support
Drafts accept CommonMark/GFM Markdown: headings, nested bold/italic/strikethrough,
links and reference links, images with captions and linked destinations, nested
lists with starting numbers, code, blockquotes, rules and hard breaks. A standalone
<!-- paywall --> block adds one paywall to a long-form draft.
Unsupported content returns unsupported_nodes before a write. After reviewing
those diagnostics, draft callers can explicitly set allow_unsupported: true
to retain literal fallbacks. Tables remain Markdown inside code blocks; native
tables, callouts and arbitrary embeds are not advertised as supported. Footnotes
in top-level paragraphs map to the editor's native footnotes in long-form drafts.
Notes reject unsupported conversion before either publication or attachment
creation and have no fallback override.
See Markdown authoring for mappings, limits, compatibility changes and the distinction between offline fixtures and live editor checks.
Important notes
This server uses Substack's unofficial API. It may break if Substack changes their endpoints.
Session tokens are sent as cookies. Keep your
SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKENsecure.The server checks your credentials on startup, after the MCP handshake completes, and only warns — it never blocks startup on a network call. Tools still error individually if the token is expired, which is where the failure is actionable.
SIGTERMandSIGINTare handled: the server closes its transport and exits 0, sodocker stopreturns promptly instead of waiting out the grace period.
Development
For opt-in live read checks, see live contract evidence. The probe is disabled in ordinary CI and never publishes or writes.
Before releasing, run npm run test:package. It installs the built tarball with production dependencies in a clean temporary directory, checks both executable entrypoints, and verifies the MCP version and the complete registered tool catalog without real credentials.
git clone https://github.com/conorbronsdon/substack-mcp.git
cd substack-mcp
npm install
npm run buildRun locally:
SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL=https://yourblog.substack.com \
SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKEN=your-token \
SUBSTACK_USER_ID=your-id \
npm startContributing
Issues and pull requests are welcome. Because this server uses Substack's unofficial API, the most useful contributions are fixes when an endpoint changes. If a tool stops working, open an issue with the tool name and the error. The safe-by-design boundary stays: no publish, no delete, no schedule for long-form posts. Notes publish immediately by design and must keep saying so loudly in their descriptions.
About
Built and maintained by Conor Bronsdon for the Chain of Thought podcast production workflow, where it drafts and reviews newsletter posts before a human hits publish. Conor hosts Chain of Thought, a show about AI infrastructure and how practitioners actually build with it. More tools for creators live in ai-tools-for-creators. Find Conor on X at @ConorBronsdon.
Companion tools:
Transistor-MCP: manage podcast episodes, analytics, and transcripts on Transistor.fm
podcastindex-mcp: search the Podcast Index and track guest appearances
op3-mcp: report downloads, listener geography, and apps from OP3
apple-podcasts-mcp: pull plays, followers, and per-episode listening from Apple Podcasts Connect
gsc-mcp: query search performance, keywords, and sitemaps in Google Search Console
podcast-benchmark: benchmark a show against its peers using only public data
Disclaimer
This is an independent personal project, not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any company. All views expressed are my own.
Codex plugin
The repository includes a Codex manifest at .codex-plugin/plugin.json and an
MCP configuration at .mcp.json. It runs the published npm package over stdio
using npx; Node.js and npm must be available. The package version is pinned
in .mcp.json, so upgrading the plugin's server is an explicit change.
Configure your Substack credentials outside the plugin using the environment variables or browser-login session described above. Never commit a session token. Installation does not authenticate an account or grant approval to post. Long-form posts remain drafts; Notes publish immediately.
License
MIT
Available Tools
25 toolsadd_free_subscriberA
Add one explicitly opted-in reader to this publication's free newsletter. Changes email distribution: future newsletter emails may be delivered. Requires verified newsletter consent; never infer consent from a meeting alone. Dry-run by default; set dry_run=false to write. Set send_welcome_email=true to request Substack's welcome email for a new addition; delivery is not verified. Never grants paid access or overrides suppression. Existing members are skipped. An unverified result MUST be reconciled using get_subscriber, not automatically retried. Automated callers must persist an attempt ledger BEFORE invoking this tool; in-memory duplicate protection does not survive restarts or separate HTTP sessions.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | |||
| dry_run | No | ||
| consent_evidence | No | Required for a live add: the source reference and timestamp of this email address's explicit newsletter opt-in. Retain the underlying evidence privately; this field records caller attestation, not independent proof. | |
| consent_confirmed | Yes | ||
| send_welcome_email | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| note | Yes | |
| Yes | ||
| status | Yes | |
| subscriber | No | |
| publication | Yes | |
| consent_evidence | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description adds substantial behavioral context beyond the annotations: it changes future email distribution, default dry-run behavior, welcome email delivery is unverified, it never grants paid access or overrides suppression, existing members are skipped, and automated callers must persist an attempt ledger before invoking. These are non-obvious effects an agent could not infer from readOnlyHint or destructiveHint alone.
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 dense but every sentence earns its place: it opens with the core operation, then covers side effects, consent requirements, dry-run behavior, failure handling, and cross-session persistence. There is no filler or repetition.
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?
Given the tool has an output schema and five parameters including nested consent evidence, the description is complete: it covers prerequisites, side effects, reconciliation, duplicate protection, and non-idempotency. Nothing needed for safe invocation 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?
Schema description coverage is only 20%, and the description compensates by explaining dry_run, send_welcome_email, and the consent requirement. consent_evidence already has its own schema description, and email is self-explanatory. The description therefore adds meaning to the most behavior-critical parameters even though not every parameter is individually discussed.
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 precise verb and resource: 'Add one explicitly opted-in reader to this publication's free newsletter.' It also scopes the operation to free access and explicitly says it 'Never grants paid access,' which distinguishes it from any subscription or payment-related sibling tool.
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 concrete usage rules: requires verified newsletter consent, never infer consent from a meeting, dry-run by default with dry_run=false to write, and existing members are skipped. It also names the right reconciliation path: 'An unverified result MUST be reconciled using get_subscriber, not automatically retried.'
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
create_draftA
Create a new draft post. Accepts markdown body which is converted to Substack's format. Does NOT publish — creates a draft only.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| body | No | Post body in markdown format | |
| title | Yes | Post title | |
| audience | No | Who can see this post | everyone |
| subtitle | No | Post subtitle | |
| allow_unsupported | No | Acknowledge conversion diagnostics and retain unsupported Markdown literally in this private draft |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | Yes | |
| title | No | |
| message | Yes | |
| unsupported_nodes | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations only indicate readOnlyHint=false, destructiveHint=false, and openWorldHint=false. The description adds meaningful behavioral context beyond that: it accepts markdown and converts it to Substack's format, and it creates a draft without publishing. This helps the agent understand side effects and scope without contradicting the 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?
Two tight sentences with no filler. The primary action and the most important caveat ('Does NOT publish') are front-loaded, and the markdown conversion detail 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?
For a create tool with five parameters, a full output schema, and annotations covering the safety profile, the description is sufficient: it names the resource, the format conversion, and the non-publishing behavior. It could be slightly more complete by explicitly distinguishing from update_draft, but that gap is minor.
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 baseline is 3. The description adds extra meaning to the body parameter ('converted to Substack's format'), which enriches what the schema says. It doesn't detail every parameter, but the schema already covers those well.
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 action ('Create a new draft post') on a specific resource, and explicitly distinguishes it from publishing by saying 'Does NOT publish — creates a draft only.' The word 'new' also differentiates it from sibling tools like update_draft and export_draft.
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 clearly implies when to use the tool: to create a draft rather than publish. It also states an explicit exclusion ('Does NOT publish'). However, it does not explicitly name alternatives such as update_draft for existing drafts or create_note for notes, so it stops short of full routing guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
create_noteA
Create a Substack Note (short-form content). Accepts markdown text. PUBLISHES IMMEDIATELY to your public Notes feed — Notes have no draft state on Substack, and this server has no delete tools, so there is no undo from here.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| body | Yes | Note content in markdown format |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | Yes | |
| body | No | |
| date | No | |
| message | Yes | |
| attachment_id | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Beyond the annotations, the description discloses critical behavioral traits: it PUBLISHES IMMEDIATELY, Notes have no draft state, and this server has no delete tools, making the action irreversible. This is valuable context that annotations alone do not provide.
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 two focused sentences: the first states the core action, and the second delivers the essential consequence (immediate, irreversible publishing). Every phrase earns its place and the key warning is 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?
For a single-parameter tool with an output schema and annotations present, the description covers the essential decision factors: what it creates, that it publishes publicly, that there is no draft or undo path, and that markdown is supported. No critical calling information 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 already fully documents the only parameter 'body' with 'Note content in markdown format'. The description adds only 'Accepts markdown text,' which does not meaningfully expand on the schema. With 100% schema coverage, a baseline of 3 is appropriate.
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 uses a specific verb and resource: 'Create a Substack Note (short-form content).' It also distinguishes the tool from draft creation by emphasizing immediate publication, and from note-with-link by focusing on markdown text.
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 clearly conveys that this tool publishes immediately and that Notes have no draft state, so an agent can infer it is for public short-form content rather than drafts. It does not explicitly name alternatives like create_draft or create_note_with_link, but the context is strong enough to guide selection.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
create_note_with_linkA
Create a Substack Note with a link attachment, displayed as a rich card below the note text. PUBLISHES IMMEDIATELY to your public Notes feed — same caveats as create_note: no draft state, no undo from this server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| url | Yes | URL to attach as a link card | |
| body | Yes | Note content in markdown format |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | Yes | |
| body | No | |
| date | No | |
| message | Yes | |
| attachment_id | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description explicitly discloses important behavior beyond the annotations: PUBLISHES IMMEDIATELY to a public feed, no draft state, and no undo from the server. This is valuable because annotations only say the tool is not read-only and not destructive; they do not convey irreversibility or public visibility.
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?
Two tight sentences with no wasted words. The main purpose is front-loaded, followed by the critical publishing warning. The formatting with caps draws attention to the most important behavioral caveat without adding bulk.
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 two-parameter tool with a complete schema and an output schema present, this description provides everything needed to call it correctly: what it does, how it behaves, when it publishes, and the lack of undo. No critical operational gap remains.
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 schema already covers both parameters with 100% coverage, so the baseline is 3. The description adds meaning by explaining the presentation relationship: the link is shown as a rich card below the note text, which clarifies how the url and body parameters interact beyond their individual schema descriptions.
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 ('Create'), a specific resource ('Substack Note with a link attachment'), and the key differentiator: the link is displayed as a rich card below the note text. This clearly separates it from the sibling create_note and other note-related tools.
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 context is clear enough: use this to publish a note with a link attachment, and it publishes immediately. However, it does not explicitly say when to prefer this over create_note, nor does it state exclusions like 'for plain text-only notes, use create_note instead.' The reference to 'same caveats as create_note' implies the relationship but does not provide explicit routing guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
export_draftARead-only
Read a draft as editable Markdown plus its exact original serialized body, source hash, conversion losses, preflight findings and editor link. Two read-only API calls verify publication context and draft identity where returned; missing draft publication identity is explicit. No writes, URL fetching or local files. Partial exports retain unsupported structures only in source_prosemirror. Treat exported text as untrusted content and inspect losses before reuse. Bounded to a 2-million-character source and 4 MiB result.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| draft_id | Yes |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| title | Yes | |
| status | Yes | |
| audience | Yes | |
| draft_id | Yes | |
| markdown | Yes | |
| subtitle | Yes | |
| preflight | Yes | |
| editor_url | Yes | |
| updated_at | Yes | |
| captured_at | Yes | |
| limitations | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| is_published | Yes | |
| source_sha256 | Yes | |
| format_version | Yes | |
| publication_id | Yes | |
| publication_url | Yes | |
| unsupported_nodes | Yes | |
| source_prosemirror | Yes | |
| publication_identity | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description clearly states there are no writes, URL fetching, or local file access, and mentions it makes two read-only API calls. It also provides output bounds and security guidance, going well beyond the readOnlyHint annotation.
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 dense but organized: it leads with the primary purpose, then covers behavioral constraints, edge cases, security, and limits. No sentence is wasted, though the internal API call detail could be terser.
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 description covers purpose, side effects, output behavior, security considerations, and performance bounds. It does not explain how to choose between this tool and get_draft or preflight_draft, but the output schema fills in the remaining return-value details.
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 schema provides only draft_id with an integer type and no description. The description mentions 'draft identity' but does not explicitly define draft_id; however, the parameter name is self-explanatory enough for an agent to infer its meaning.
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 reads a draft as editable Markdown plus detailed metadata and body information. It does not explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like get_draft, but the purpose is specific enough.
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?
It gives useful guidance about read-only behavior, partial export behavior, and treating exported text as untrusted, but it does not explicitly say when to use this tool instead of alternatives like get_draft or preflight_draft.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_draftARead-only
Get the full content of a draft post by ID. Returns title, body, metadata.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| draft_id | Yes | The draft ID to retrieve |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | Yes | |
| body | No | |
| title | No | |
| audience | No | |
| subtitle | No | |
| created_at | No | |
| updated_at | No | |
| word_count | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, and the description's 'Get' is consistent with that. The description adds limited behavioral context by mentioning return contents, but it does not disclose behavior for missing drafts, authorization needs, or any additional side effects. 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?
The description is one concise sentence with no wasted words. It front-loads the verb and resource, then provides the useful scope ('full content') and return fields, making it easy to scan.
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 simple read-only tool with one fully documented required parameter and an output schema present, the description is almost complete. It lacks an explicit pointer about when to choose this over closely related siblings like export_draft or list_drafts, but that gap is minor given the clarity of the rest.
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 schema has 100% description coverage for the single parameter, already stating 'The draft ID to retrieve'. The description's 'by ID' adds no new semantic meaning beyond the schema, so the baseline of 3 is appropriate.
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 specific verb ('Get'), resource ('draft post'), and selection criterion ('by ID'), and further specifies 'full content' with return fields ('title, body, metadata'). This distinguishes it from siblings like list_drafts, get_post, and export_draft.
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 when to use the tool: when the agent has a draft_id and needs the full content of a specific draft. However, it does not explicitly name alternatives or exclusions, such as when to prefer list_drafts or export_draft, so guidance is only implicit.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_postARead-only
Get the full content of a published post by ID. Returns title, body HTML, metadata.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| post_id | Yes | The post ID to retrieve |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | Yes | |
| url | No | |
| slug | No | |
| title | No | |
| audience | No | |
| subtitle | No | |
| body_html | No | |
| post_date | No | |
| word_count | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The annotation indicates readOnlyHint, which covers the read-only nature. The description adds a constraint that the post must be published, but does not disclose other behavioral aspects such as error handling or side effects. Given the presence of the annotation, this is adequate but not exceptional.
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 concise, consisting of a single sentence that states the action and the expected return data. It is well-structured and front-loaded, making it easy to parse.
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 simple retrieval operation, the description is sufficiently complete: it names the input and output content. It does not address error cases or edge conditions, but given the simplicity and the presence of an output schema, this is not a significant gap.
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 describes the only parameter (post_id) with a clear description. The tool description does not add any additional meaning to this parameter, so a baseline score of 3 is appropriate.
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's function: retrieving the full content of a published post by ID, and explicitly mentions the returned data (title, body HTML, metadata). It distinguishes itself from sibling tools by specifying 'published post', making its purpose unambiguous.
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 implicitly provides usage guidance by specifying that it operates on published posts, which contrasts with draft-related tools. However, it does not explicitly mention alternatives or when to prefer this tool over others, so it falls 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.
get_post_analyticsARead-only
Get performance stats (views, emails sent/delivered/opened, signups, subscribes, estimated value, comments, reactions) for a published post by ID. Substack has no per-post stats endpoint, so this searches your 500 most recent published posts for the ID; returns a not-found note if it isn't among them, saying whether the search reached the end of the feed, reached its bound, or found the feed's pages incomplete or inconsistent. Pages are separate reads, so concurrent publishing or deletion can hide a post. stats_available is false when a found post has no statistics.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| post_id | Yes | The published post ID to get stats for |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | No | |
| note | No | |
| sent | No | |
| found | Yes | |
| title | No | |
| views | No | |
| opened | No | |
| post_id | No | |
| scanned | No | |
| signups | No | |
| delivered | No | |
| post_date | No | |
| subscribes | No | |
| feed_capped | No | |
| comment_count | No | |
| search_result | No | |
| reaction_count | No | |
| estimated_value | No | |
| stats_available | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description goes far beyond the readOnlyHint annotation by disclosing the lack of a native per-post stats endpoint, the 500-post search behavior, the not-found note variants, and the concurrency caveat ('concurrent publishing or deletion can hide a post'). It also explains the stats_available false case, giving the agent a realistic model of failure modes and edge cases.
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 front-loaded with the core action and resource, then adds only high-value behavioral caveats and edge cases. Every sentence earns its place: the metrics list, the search workaround, the concurrency warning, and the stats_available clarification. It is dense but not bloated.
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?
Given the tool's complexity and the presence of an output schema, the description is remarkably complete. It covers the operation, the underlying limitation, the search bound, failure conditions, concurrency risks, and the meaning of stats_available. An agent has enough information to invoke it correctly and interpret unusual outcomes.
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 already documents post_id with a clear description and 100% coverage. The description adds no new parameter-specific meaning beyond referring to 'by ID', so the baseline of 3 applies. There is no gap for the description to fill.
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: 'Get performance stats (views, emails sent/delivered/opened, signups, subscribes, estimated value, comments, reactions) for a published post by ID.' This unambiguously states what the tool does and lists the metrics. It also clearly distinguishes itself from siblings like get_post and get_post_comments by focusing on analytics rather than content or comments.
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 clearly establishes when to use the tool: when you need performance stats for a published post by ID. It does not explicitly name alternatives or state when not to use it, but the context is unambiguous. The mention of 'published post' helps differentiate it from draft-related siblings.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_post_commentsARead-only
Get comments on a published post. Returns commenter name, comment body, date, and reaction counts.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | Max comments to return (default 20) | |
| post_id | Yes | The post ID to get comments for |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The readOnlyHint annotation already covers the safety profile, and the description mentions returned data rather than side effects. However, it does not disclose behaviors such as pagination, ordering, or possible empty results, so transparency is adequate but not detailed.
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 compact and information-dense, with exactly two sentences and no redundant phrasing. Every word contributes to understanding the tool's purpose or output.
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 simple read operation, the description sufficiently identifies the required post_id and the returned fields. The absence of an output schema is partially mitigated by listing expected fields, though details like sorting or pagination behavior are not mentioned.
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 both parameters, including constraints, defaults, and descriptions. The tool description adds no additional semantic nuance beyond what the schema already provides, so this dimension is at baseline.
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?
Clearly states the action ('Get'), the resource ('comments on a published post'), and the returned fields. The qualifier 'published' helps distinguish from draft-related sibling tools, making the purpose immediately identifiable.
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?
Provides no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives, no named sibling tools, and no conditions or exclusions. The only contextual hint is 'published post', which is implicit rather than actionable guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_post_tagsARead-only
Read tag associations by post ID, resolving names from this publication's tag definitions. Includes hidden tags and preserves unresolved IDs. Returns 25 rows by default, at most 100, with local snapshot pagination. Each call makes up to three reads, including the full association and definition arrays; they are not an atomic snapshot. Empty associations do not verify post existence. Nonempty draft associations are not yet live-verified. Never assigns or removes tags.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | ||
| offset | No | ||
| post_id | Yes |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| tags | Yes | |
| limit | Yes | |
| total | Yes | |
| offset | Yes | |
| post_id | Yes | |
| has_more | Yes | |
| returned | Yes | |
| pagination | Yes | |
| next_offset | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| post_identity | Yes | |
| publication_id | Yes | |
| pagination_note | Yes | |
| resolution_note | Yes | |
| resolution_scope | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations only provide readOnlyHint: true, so the description carries the behavioral disclosure burden. It goes far beyond that by revealing hidden tag inclusion, unresolved ID preservation, pagination limits, non-atomic multi-read behavior, and the caveat that empty or draft associations have verification limits. This is exemplary transparency.
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 dense but efficient: every sentence adds a distinct piece of actionable information, and the core action is front-loaded. Caveats are packed without redundancy.
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?
Given an output schema exists to describe return values and annotations declare read-only safety, the description fills the remaining gaps: pagination semantics, transactional behavior, hidden tags, and edge-case verification limits. An agent has enough context to correctly invoke this tool and interpret unusual behavior.
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 0%, so the description must compensate. It adds meaning to limit and offset with 'Returns 25 rows by default, at most 100, with local snapshot pagination', and post_id is implied by 'by post ID'. It does not exhaustively bind every parameter, but it covers the non-obvious runtime semantics.
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-resource pair: 'Read tag associations by post ID', and clarifies it resolves names from tag definitions, includes hidden tags, and preserves unresolved IDs. This clearly differentiates it from siblings like list_publication_tags or get_post.
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 makes the usage context clear: call this when you need tag associations for a specific post. It also states what the tool will not do ('Never assigns or removes tags'), which helps avoid using it for mutations, though it does not name alternative sibling tools explicitly.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_publicationARead-only
Read projected identity and selected settings for this publication. Verifies the returned publication host; does not verify your account identity or admin role. Missing API fields are named explicitly. No changes are made.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No parameters | |||
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| data | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| identity_scope | Yes | |
| publication_url | Yes | |
| fields_not_returned_by_api | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The annotation indicates readOnlyHint, and the description reinforces this by stating 'No changes are made.' It additionally reveals verification behavior and how missing API fields are handled, providing useful behavioral context beyond the annotation.
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 brief and to the point, consisting of two sentences that cover the purpose, verification, and read-only nature without unnecessary detail.
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?
Given the simple nature of the tool (no parameters, read-only), the description provides enough context about what it reads and how it behaves. It could mention the output format, but the description already notes that missing fields are named explicitly, which is helpful. Overall, it is complete for its complexity.
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 schema has no parameters, so all parameters are documented (none). The description does not add parameter-specific information, but this is not needed. Baseline of 3 is appropriate.
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's function: reading projected identity and selected settings for the publication. It uses a specific verb ('read') and identifies the resource ('publication'), distinguishing it from sibling tools that deal with posts, drafts, or notes.
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 does not explicitly mention when to use this tool over alternatives, but it provides context about what it verifies (host) and what it does not (account identity, admin role). This gives some implicit guidance, but lacks explicit comparison to sibling tools.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_sectionsARead-only
List your publication's sections (categories). Returns each section's id and name. Use a section id as section_id when creating or updating a draft to file it under that section.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No parameters | |||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The annotation already declares readOnlyHint=true, and the description adds that it returns id and name, which is consistent and sufficient. No contradictions.
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?
Two concise sentences: first states purpose and output, second gives usage guidance. No unnecessary words.
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 simple list tool with no parameters and no output schema, the description fully covers what the tool does, returns, and how to use it.
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?
No parameters exist, so schema coverage is 100%. The description does not need to add parameter explanations, meeting the baseline for 0 parameters.
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 verb 'list' and the resource 'sections', and it distinguishes itself from sibling tools by focusing on listing categories.
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?
It provides explicit guidance on using the section ID for drafts, which is the primary use case. However, it does not mention when not to use it, but that is acceptable for a simple list tool.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_subscriberARead-only
Look up a subscriber by exact email address. A listed free subscriber is a member even without paid access. Absence does not prove the address is eligible: Substack may suppress previous unsubscribes, and dashboard data can lag. Read-only; use to reconcile uncertain adds.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| note | Yes | |
| Yes | ||
| last_sync | Yes | |
| subscriber | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations declare readOnlyHint, and the description adds material behavioral caveats: a listed free subscriber counts as a member, absence may be due to suppression or lag, and absence does not prove ineligibility. These go well beyond the annotation and help the agent interpret results correctly.
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?
Four sentences, each earning its place: core lookup, membership semantics, data caveats, and usage. The main action is front-loaded; only the word 'Read-only' is redundant with the annotation, which is negligible.
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?
Complete for a one-parameter read-only lookup. Output schema covers return shape, and the description covers matching behavior, data reliability caveats, and the intended reconciliation use case. Nothing needed to call it 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?
With 0% schema description coverage, the description compensates by specifying 'exact email address,' which clarifies matching semantics beyond the schema's email format and maxLength. For a single self-describing parameter, this is sufficient.
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 action ('Look up a subscriber') with an exact-match criterion on email address, which distinguishes it from sibling listing tools like list_subscribers and get_subscriber_count. The resource and lookup semantics are unambiguous.
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?
Gives a clear usage context: 'use to reconcile uncertain adds.' It does not explicitly name alternatives or state when not to use it, but the exact-email lookup and reconciliation purpose are enough for an agent to select it appropriately.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
get_subscriber_countARead-only
Get the current subscriber count for your Substack publication. Returns precision: 'exact' when the API reports a true count, 'approximate' when only Substack's rounded value is available (the real number is that or higher — render it hedged, e.g. '1,000+'), or 'unavailable' with count -1. Never treat an approximate value as exact.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No parameters | |||
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| note | Yes | |
| count | Yes | |
| precision | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The readOnlyHint annotation already indicates this is a read-only operation. The description adds valuable behavioral context by explaining the precision field (exact/approximate/unavailable) and the explicit warning 'Never treat an approximate value as exact.' This goes beyond the basic annotation.
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 concise and front-loaded with the primary purpose. It includes necessary detail about precision handling but is slightly verbose with the example and repeated caution. However, it remains focused and easy to parse.
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 description sufficiently covers the return value nuances, including all possible precision values and the meaning of count -1. While an output schema is indicated as present, the description alone provides enough context for typical usage. It does not mention error cases or edge conditions beyond the precision, but these are minor gaps.
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 tool has zero parameters, and the input schema is an empty object. There are no parameter semantics to explain, so the description is fully sufficient. Schema coverage is 100% by definition.
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 action: 'Get the current subscriber count for your Substack publication.' It also explains the output precision semantics, making the purpose unambiguous. It distinguishes itself from sibling tools like list_subscribers or get_subscriber by focusing specifically on the aggregate count.
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 does not provide any guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives. It does not mention any conditions or contrasts with sibling tools like list_subscribers or get_subscriber, leaving the decision to the agent to infer.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
list_draftsBRead-only
List draft posts. Returns title, creation date, and audience for each draft.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | Max drafts to return (1-50; Substack rejects anything higher, so larger values are clamped) | |
| offset | No | Number of drafts to skip |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, and the description adds useful context by specifying the returned fields, which matters since there is no output schema. However, it does not disclose behavioral details like ordering, whether draft content/body is omitted, or pagination effects beyond what the schema already covers.
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 two short sentences with no filler. The first sentence gives verb and resource, and the second states the output shape. Every word contributes information.
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 simple read-only list tool with fully documented optional parameters, this description is largely complete: it names the return fields even though no output schema exists. It could mention ordering or the lack of full draft content, but those are not essential for basic correct invocation.
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 100% description coverage: both limit and offset have meaningful descriptions. The tool description itself adds no parameter-level semantics, so the baseline of 3 applies.
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 ('List draft posts') and enumerates the returned fields (title, creation date, audience). It is distinguishable from list_scheduled_posts by the word 'drafts', but it does not explicitly contrast itself with get_draft or export_draft.
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 guidance on when to use list_drafts versus siblings like list_scheduled_posts, get_draft, or export_draft. The description only says what the tool does, with no conditions, exclusions, or alternative routing.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
list_publication_tagsARead-only
Read this publication's tag definitions. Includes hidden tags by default. Returns 25 rows by default, at most 100. Each call makes two reads (publication context and the full tag array), then paginates locally; results can change between calls. Validates publication identity and rejects malformed or oversized responses. Never creates or assigns tags.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | ||
| offset | No | ||
| include_hidden | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| tags | Yes | |
| limit | Yes | |
| total | Yes | |
| offset | Yes | |
| has_more | Yes | |
| returned | Yes | |
| pagination | Yes | |
| next_offset | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| include_hidden | Yes | |
| publication_id | Yes | |
| pagination_note | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description goes well beyond the readOnlyHint annotation by disclosing default row counts, maximum rows, local pagination behavior, the two reads per call, potential inconsistency between calls, validation behavior, and the explicit guarantee that it never creates or assigns tags. This is exemplary transparency.
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 compact and front-loaded with the core purpose, then adds behavioral details in a logical order. Every sentence carries useful information with no filler or redundancy.
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?
Given the output schema exists and the annotations provide the read-only guarantee, the description covers defaults, limits, pagination semantics, consistency caveats, validation, and side-effect absence. Nothing critical is missing for an agent to invoke this tool correctly.
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 description explains default row counts and maximum rows, which map to limit, and mentions hidden tags by default, which maps to include_hidden. However, offset is not explicitly described; the mention of local pagination and changing results implies its behavior but does not fully compensate for the 0% schema description coverage.
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: 'Read this publication's tag definitions.' It clearly identifies the operation and scope, and the detail about including hidden tags by default differentiates it from related tag tools like get_post_tags.
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 phrase 'this publication's tag definitions' gives clear context for when to use the tool, and the sibling list confirms there is a distinct get_post_tags tool for post-level tags. It does not explicitly name alternatives or exclusions, but the resource distinction is clear enough.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
list_published_postsARead-only
List published posts with pagination. Returns title, date, slug, and URL for each post.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | Max posts to return (1-50; Substack rejects anything higher, so larger values are clamped) | |
| offset | No | Number of posts to skip |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| posts | Yes | |
| total | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The readOnlyHint annotation already covers safety; the description adds output details but does not go beyond that, so limited additional transparency.
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?
Two concise sentences, no fluff, and the key purpose is 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?
With an output schema present and a clear mention of return fields, the description is complete for the intended use.
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?
Both parameters (limit and offset) have clear, detailed descriptions including clamping behavior, with full schema coverage.
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?
Clearly states the action ('List published posts') and resource, distinguishing it from similar tools like list_scheduled_posts.
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?
Provides clear context on pagination and return fields, but does not explicitly mention alternatives or when to prefer this over search_posts.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
list_scheduled_postsARead-only
List posts scheduled for future publication, soonest first. Read-only visibility into what's queued — scheduling itself is done in Substack's editor (this server does not schedule, publish, or delete long-form posts). Returns id, title, audience, and scheduled time (trigger_at).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | Max posts to return (1-50; Substack rejects anything higher, so larger values are clamped) | |
| offset | No | Number of posts to skip |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The readOnlyHint annotation is true and the description reinforces it by stating the tool does not schedule, publish, or delete posts. This fully discloses the tool's side effects (none).
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 concise and front-loaded with purpose and read-only nature. It avoids fluff and clearly states the return fields, making every sentence valuable.
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?
Even without an output schema, the description lists what is returned (id, title, audience, scheduled time). Combined with the read-only note and parameter descriptions, an agent has enough context to invoke the tool correctly.
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 schema provides complete descriptions for both parameters (limit and offset), so the baseline is 3. The description adds no extra parameter-specific information beyond the schema.
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?
Clearly states the verb 'List' and resource 'posts scheduled for publication', with the ordering 'soonest first'. The read-only note and reference to scheduling in the editor distinguish it from sibling tools like list_published_posts and list_drafts.
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?
Explicitly says 'Read-only visibility into what's queued' and that scheduling itself is done in Substack's editor, clarifying when not to use this tool. It also mentions no publishing or deletion, providing clear boundaries.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
list_subscribersARead-only
Read a page of private subscriber email addresses and subscription IDs. Dashboard data may lag recent changes. Use get_subscriber for exact membership checks.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | ||
| offset | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| count | Yes | |
| lastSync | No | |
| subscribers | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The readOnlyHint annotation is reinforced by the non-destructive 'Read' wording. The description adds useful behavioral context about privacy and potential lag without contradicting the annotation.
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?
Two short, focused sentences with no redundant wording. Every clause adds value: the action, the data privacy, the lag caveat, and the alternative tool.
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?
Output schema exists, so output fields need no description. The privacy warning, lag caveat, and alternative-tool pointer give sufficient operational context for a straightforward paginated read operation.
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?
limit and offset are not explicitly described, but the phrase 'Read a page' combined with the schema's defaults and bounds makes their pagination role clear enough. Slight extra explanation would be needed for full clarity, but the intent is unambiguous.
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?
Description clearly states the operation ('Read a page'), the resource ('subscriber email addresses and subscription IDs'), and the privacy scope. It also distinguishes this from get_subscriber by directing exact membership checks there.
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?
Explicitly tells agents when not to use this tool ('Use get_subscriber for exact membership checks') and warns about data lag, giving practical context for approximate/bulk membership listing.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
plan_draft_updateARead-only
Read an unpublished draft and review proposed Markdown/metadata changes, bounded previews, conversion losses and preflight. Returns a receipt binding the observed state and exact payload for update_draft. No writes. Hashes check consistency, not human approval; stale detection is best-effort, not atomic.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| body | No | ||
| title | No | ||
| audience | No | ||
| draft_id | Yes | ||
| subtitle | No | ||
| allow_unsupported | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| changes | Yes | |
| receipt | Yes | |
| preflight | Yes | |
| editor_url | Yes | |
| limitations | Yes | |
| changed_fields | Yes | |
| format_version | Yes | |
| scheduling_policy | Yes | |
| unsupported_nodes | Yes | |
| proposed_markdown_preview | Yes | |
| markdown_preview_truncated | Yes | |
| scheduling_fields_not_returned | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description goes well beyond the readOnlyHint annotation by adding 'No writes,' explaining the receipt binding observed state, and disclosing limitations: 'Hashes check consistency, not human approval; stale detection is best-effort, not atomic.' This is strong behavioral context that helps an agent trust and interpret the result.
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 compact and front-loaded with the core purpose in the first sentence. Each sentence adds value, though the list 'bounded previews, conversion losses and preflight' is jargon-heavy and slightly awkward.
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 safety profile, no-write guarantee, receipt semantics, and consistency caveats are well covered, and an output schema exists to describe return values. However, with 6 parameters and zero schema descriptions, the lack of parameter guidance is a real gap, and the relationship to preflight_draft is left implicit.
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 0%, so the description carries the burden of explaining parameters, but it never mentions draft_id, allow_unsupported, audience, or subtitle. 'Markdown/metadata changes' loosely hints at body/title/subtitle but doesn't clarify the important flags or defaults.
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 it reads/reviews an unpublished draft and proposed Markdown/metadata changes, and it distinguishes itself from update_draft by explicitly saying 'No writes' and returning a receipt for update_draft. However, the word 'preflight' overlaps with the sibling preflight_draft, so it doesn't fully separate itself from that tool.
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 phrase 'exact payload for update_draft' plus 'No writes' establishes clear context that this is a planning/preview step before updating a draft. It doesn't provide explicit when-not guidance or name alternatives such as preflight_draft or get_draft.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
preflight_draftARead-only
Read a draft and check title, audience, body structure, images and paywalls. Static review aid only: never modifies or publishes; does not guarantee rendering, link availability or publish readiness. Review the findings in Substack.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| draft_id | Yes |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| counts | Yes | |
| draft_id | Yes | |
| findings | Yes | |
| editor_url | Yes | |
| limitations | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| checks_passed | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description fully discloses that the tool is read-only and non-destructive, aligning with the readOnlyHint annotation and adding concrete details about what it does not guarantee.
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 concise, well-structured in three sentences, and covers the essential aspects without unnecessary verbosity.
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?
It provides sufficient context about what the tool does, its limitations, and where to review results (Substack), making it complete given the output schema exists.
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 only parameter, draft_id, is not described in the schema (0% coverage) and the description does not explicitly explain it beyond the tool's context, so it only partially compensates for the missing schema documentation.
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 reads a draft and checks specific aspects (title, audience, body structure, images, paywalls), making its purpose unambiguous.
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?
It explicitly notes it is a static review aid that never modifies or publishes, and it clarifies limitations (no rendering/link/publish guarantees), guiding appropriate usage.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
rank_postsARead-only
Rank posts by one metric from Substack's dashboard email statistics: views, opened, sent, open_rate, click_through_rate, signups, subscribes, estimated_value or post_date, descending or ascending. Returns 10 rows by default, at most 20 (Substack's page limit), with total and next_offset for continuation. One read; nothing is changed. Values are passed through as Substack reports them: this server does not recompute, fill in or estimate metrics, and Substack does not document rate denominators. Each row marks the ranked value as reported, null or absent; null and absent are not zero, and null rates can appear among numeric rows. For one post's stats by ID, use get_post_analytics.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | ||
| metric | No | views | |
| offset | No | ||
| direction | No | desc |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| rows | Yes | |
| limit | Yes | |
| total | Yes | |
| metric | Yes | |
| offset | Yes | |
| source | Yes | |
| has_more | Yes | |
| ordering | Yes | |
| returned | Yes | |
| direction | Yes | |
| semantics | Yes | |
| next_offset | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| unreported_in_page | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Beyond the readOnlyHint annotation, the description adds critical behavior: it returns default/max rows, supports pagination via total and next_offset, passes values through unmodified, does not recompute metrics, and explains that null/absent are distinct from zero. These details prevent an agent from assuming the tool cleans or infers data.
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 information-dense and front-loaded with the core purposeable immediately actionable. Every sentence contributes substantive value—purpose, pagination, read safety, data fidelity, null semantics, and sibling routing. The only minor redundancy is "One read; nothing is changed," which is short and reinforces rather than bloats.
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?
Given the output schema exists for return valuesстоит, the description covers everything needed to call the tool correctly: parameter meanings, defaults, limits, pagination, behavioral caveats, and alternative tool routing. It is complete enough for agent invocation without further inference.
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?
With 0% schema description coverage, the description carries the full burden. It enumerates every metric enum value, explains the limit default and maximum, conveys offset continuation semantics through next_offset, and clarifies sort direction. It also provides important caveats about rate denominators and null handling that the schema alone could not convey.
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: "Rank posts by one metric from Substack's dashboard email statistics." It enumerates the exact metrics and sort directions, making the tool's purpose unambiguous. The final sentence explicitly distinguishes it from get_post_analytics, which is the closely related sibling for single-post stats.
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 clearly states the intended use case—ranking multiple posts by a dashboard metric—and explicitly routes single-post stats to get_post_analytics. This gives the agent a direct decision rule for choosing between the two most similar tools.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
search_postsARead-only
Search this publication's published, draft, or scheduled archive using Substack's server-side query. One page per call, at most 50 results; use next_offset to continue. Matching/indexing is controlled by Substack, not a guaranteed full-text scan. Returns metadata only; get_post/get_draft fetch full content.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | ||
| query | Yes | ||
| offset | No | ||
| status | No | published |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| limit | Yes | |
| posts | Yes | |
| query | Yes | |
| total | Yes | |
| offset | Yes | |
| status | Yes | |
| has_more | Yes | |
| returned | Yes | |
| next_offset | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| search_scope | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Beyond the readOnlyHint annotation, the description discloses pagination behavior ('One page per call, at most 50 results'), continuation via 'next_offset', server-controlled indexing limitations, and metadata-only return values. These details set accurate expectations about how the search behaves and what it cannot guarantee.
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 tight sentences with no filler. The main scoping is front-loaded, followed by pagination caveats and the metadata-only/content-fetching distinction.
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?
Given the presence of an output schema and readOnly annotations, the description covers everything needed to call the tool correctly: scope, statuses, pagination limits, continuation mechanism, and search-quality caveats. The minor offset/next_offset wording ambiguity is resolvable from the input schema.
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?
With 0% schema description coverage, the description compensates by explaining page size, pagination continuation, and the published/draft/scheduled statuses. However, it references 'next_offset' without explicitly mapping it to the schema's 'offset' parameter, and it leaves limit defaults to the schema's own constraints.
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 names a specific action ('Search'), a precise resource ('this publication's published, draft, or scheduled archive'), and the mechanism ('Substack's server-side query'). It also explicitly distinguishes itself from content-fetching tools by stating 'Returns metadata only; get_post/get_draft fetch full content.'
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 routes full-content needs to get_post/get_draft and clarifies that search is not a guaranteed full-text scan. It does not explicitly contrast search_posts with the list_* siblings, so an agent must infer when to choose query-based search over simple enumeration.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
update_draftADestructive
Apply the exact changes reviewed with plan_draft_update; requires its unsigned consistency receipt, not proof of human approval. Rechecks publication, unpublished state and fingerprint before one PUT, then reads back. Rejects known stale or changed payloads. A read/write race remains. Inspect unverified/conflict outcomes in Substack; never automatically retry. Accepts Markdown; does not publish or schedule.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| body | No | ||
| title | No | ||
| receipt | Yes | ||
| audience | No | ||
| draft_id | Yes | ||
| subtitle | No | ||
| allow_unsupported | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| code | Yes | |
| status | Yes | |
| message | Yes | |
| draft_id | Yes | |
| editor_url | Yes | |
| limitations | Yes | |
| publication | Yes | |
| changed_fields | Yes | |
| format_version | Yes | |
| publication_id | Yes | |
| request_status | Yes | |
| write_attempts | Yes | |
| mismatched_fields | Yes | |
| unsupported_nodes | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Beyond the annotations' destructive/read-only flags, it discloses the pre-PUT recheck, single PUT plus read-back, stale/changed-payload rejection, the remaining read/write race, and the need to inspect conflict outcomes manually. 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?
Every sentence carries distinct operational information: precondition, verification, mutation, race, retry policy, format, and non-side-effects. No filler or redundancy.
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 destructive, race-prone update tool, the description covers preconditions, safety checks, failure behavior, retry prohibition, and side-effect boundaries. Output schema handles the return shape, so nothing needed for correct invocation 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?
With 0% schema description coverage, the text explains the crucial receipt contract (unsigned consistency receipt, not approval), ties all editable fields to 'exact changes reviewed' in the plan, and notes Markdown support. It leaves audience and allow_unsupported implicit, but the plan-dependency makes their meaning recoverable.
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 names a precise action ('apply exact changes reviewed with plan_draft_update') and resource (draft), and explicitly excludes publishing/scheduling. This makes it immediately distinguishable from create_draft, plan_draft_update, and scheduling siblings.
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?
It states the required precondition (receipt from plan_draft_update), clarifies that the receipt is not human approval, and tells the agent never to auto-retry. This is concrete when-to-use and when-not-to-act guidance tied to a named sibling.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
upload_imageA
Upload an image to Substack's CDN. Provide exactly one of image_base64 (a base64 data URI), image_path (a local file path) or image_url (a public HTTPS image to download first). Returns a hosted image URL that is publicly fetchable by anyone with the link (an unlisted asset — not attributed to you or added to your feed).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| image_url | No | HTTPS URL of a PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP or AVIF image to download and upload. Sent without Substack cookies; private, loopback, link-local, metadata and reserved destinations are refused at connection time and on every redirect (at most 3). Limits: 5 MB and 15 seconds; the bytes must match the declared type. Not available on every deployment. Mutually exclusive with image_base64 and image_path. | |
| image_path | No | Absolute path to a local image file (e.g., "/Users/me/pic.png"). Read and encoded automatically; MIME type inferred from the extension. Mutually exclusive with image_base64 and image_url. | |
| image_base64 | No | Base64-encoded image with data URI prefix (e.g., "data:image/png;base64,..."). Mutually exclusive with image_path and image_url. |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| image_url | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations only set flags (readOnlyHint=false, destructiveHint=false, openWorldHint=true). The description adds substantial behavioral context: the hosted URL is 'publicly fetchable by anyone with the link' and 'an unlisted asset — not attributed to you or added to your feed'. It also discloses important security details for `image_url` (sent without cookies, refusal of private/loopback destinations, redirect limit of 3). This goes well beyond what annotations provide.
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 compact but information-dense. The main action and the 'exactly one' rule appear in the first sentence, followed by necessary clarifications in parentheses. No fluff, but the parenthetical about `image_url` security is a slight digression; still, it's essential context. Overall well-structured.
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 has three mutually exclusive parameters, security constraints, and an output schema (which describes the return value). The description covers the input requirements, behavior, and return (hosted URL) sufficiently. There is no missing information that would prevent an agent from invoking it correctly.
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 schema already describes each parameter at 100% coverage. The description reinforces mutual exclusivity and adds practical constraints for `image_url` (5 MB, 15 seconds, type matching) and for `image_path` (MIME inferred from extension). This adds value beyond the schema without redundancy.
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?
Description states a specific verb ('Upload') and resource ('image to Substack's CDN'), which is clear and distinct from all sibling tools (export, get, list, create, etc.). No ambiguity about what this tool accomplishes.
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 explicitly mandates 'Provide exactly one of' the three input modes, which is a clear usage rule. It also notes that `image_url` is 'Not available on every deployment' and includes mutual-exclusivity language. However, it does not explicitly state when to prefer this tool over alternatives, though no sibling upload tool exists, so that gap is minor.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Tool Schema Changelog
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
3 tool updates
v1.2.0- Changed
get_post_analytics4 fields changed- added
Output schema / properties / feed_cappedAdded value: +{ + "type": [ + "boolean", + "null" + ] +} - added
Output schema / properties / scannedAdded value: +{ + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "minimum": 0, + "type": "integer" +} - added
Output schema / properties / search_resultAdded value: +{ + "enum": [ + "archive_exhausted", + "scan_bound_reached", + "feed_incomplete" + ], + "type": "string" +} - added
Output schema / properties / stats_availableAdded value: +{ + "type": "boolean" +}
- Added
rank_posts - Changed
upload_image3 fields changed- changed
Input schema / properties / image_base64 / descriptionPrevious value: -"Base64-encoded image with data URI prefix (e.g., \"data:image/png;base64,...\"). Mutually exclusive with image_path."New value: +"Base64-encoded image with data URI prefix (e.g., \"data:image/png;base64,...\"). Mutually exclusive with image_path and image_url." - changed
Input schema / properties / image_path / descriptionPrevious value: -"Absolute path to a local image file (e.g., \"/Users/me/pic.png\"). Read and encoded automatically; MIME type inferred from the extension. Mutually exclusive with image_base64."New value: +"Absolute path to a local image file (e.g., \"/Users/me/pic.png\"). Read and encoded automatically; MIME type inferred from the extension. Mutually exclusive with image_base64 and image_url." - added
Input schema / properties / image_urlAdded value: +{ + "description": "HTTPS URL of a PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP or AVIF image to download and upload. Sent without Substack cookies; private, loopback, link-local, metadata and reserved destinations are refused at connection time and on every redirect (at most 3). Limits: 5 MB and 15 seconds; the bytes must match the declared type. Not available on every deployment. Mutually exclusive with image_base64 and image_path.", + "maxLength": 2048, + "type": "string" +}
23 tool updates
- Added
add_free_subscriber - Changed
create_draft2 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / allow_unsupportedAdded value: +{ + "default": false, + "description": "Acknowledge conversion diagnostics and retain unsupported Markdown literally in this private draft", + "type": "boolean" +} - changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "message": { + "type": "string" + }, + "title": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "unsupported_nodes": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": true, + "properties": {}, + "type": "object" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "id", + "unsupported_nodes", + "message" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
create_note1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "attachment_id": { + "$ref": "#/properties/message" + }, + "body": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "date": { + "$ref": "#/properties/body" + }, + "id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "message": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "id", + "message" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
create_note_with_link1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "attachment_id": { + "$ref": "#/properties/message" + }, + "body": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "date": { + "$ref": "#/properties/body" + }, + "id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "message": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "id", + "message", + "attachment_id" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Added
export_draft - Changed
get_draft4 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / draft_id / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / draft_id / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / draft_id / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "audience": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "body": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "created_at": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "subtitle": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "title": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "updated_at": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "word_count": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "minimum": 0, + "type": "integer" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "id" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
get_post4 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / post_id / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / post_id / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / post_id / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "audience": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "body_html": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "post_date": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "slug": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "subtitle": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "title": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "url": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "word_count": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "minimum": 0, + "type": "integer" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "id" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
get_post_analytics4 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / post_id / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / post_id / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / post_id / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "comment_count": { + "$ref": "#/properties/views" + }, + "delivered": { + "$ref": "#/properties/views" + }, + "estimated_value": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "type": "number" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + }, + "found": { + "type": "boolean" + }, + "id": { + "$ref": "#/properties/post_id" + }, + "note": { + "type": "string" + }, + "opened": { + "$ref": "#/properties/views" + }, + "post_date": { + "$ref": "#/properties/title" + }, + "post_id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "reaction_count": { + "$ref": "#/properties/views" + }, + "sent": { + "$ref": "#/properties/views" + }, + "signups": { + "$ref": "#/properties/views" + }, + "subscribes": { + "$ref": "#/properties/views" + }, + "title": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "views": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "minimum": 0, + "type": "integer" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "found" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
get_post_comments6 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / limit / maximumAdded value: +100 - added
Input schema / properties / limit / minimumAdded value: +1 - changed
Input schema / properties / limit / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - added
Input schema / properties / post_id / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / post_id / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / post_id / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
- Added
get_post_tags - Added
get_publication - Added
get_subscriber - Changed
get_subscriber_count1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "count": { + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "minimum": -1, + "type": "integer" + }, + "note": { + "type": "string" + }, + "precision": { + "enum": [ + "exact", + "approximate", + "unavailable" + ], + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "count", + "precision", + "note" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
list_drafts6 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / limit / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / limit / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / limit / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - added
Input schema / properties / offset / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740941 - added
Input schema / properties / offset / minimumAdded value: +0 - changed
Input schema / properties / offset / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
- Added
list_publication_tags - Changed
list_published_posts7 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / limit / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / limit / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / limit / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - added
Input schema / properties / offset / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740941 - added
Input schema / properties / offset / minimumAdded value: +0 - changed
Input schema / properties / offset / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "posts": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "audience": { + "$ref": "#/properties/posts/items/properties/title" + }, + "id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "post_date": { + "$ref": "#/properties/posts/items/properties/title" + }, + "slug": { + "$ref": "#/properties/posts/items/properties/title" + }, + "subtitle": { + "$ref": "#/properties/posts/items/properties/title" + }, + "title": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "url": { + "$ref": "#/properties/posts/items/properties/title" + }, + "word_count": { + "$ref": "#/properties/total" + } + }, + "required": [ + "id" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "maxItems": 50, + "type": "array" + }, + "total": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "minimum": 0, + "type": "integer" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "posts" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
list_scheduled_posts6 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / limit / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / limit / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / limit / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - added
Input schema / properties / offset / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740941 - added
Input schema / properties / offset / minimumAdded value: +0 - changed
Input schema / properties / offset / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
- Added
list_subscribers - Added
plan_draft_update - Added
preflight_draft - Added
search_posts - Changed
update_draft16 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / allow_unsupportedAdded value: +{ + "default": false, + "type": "boolean" +} - removed
Input schema / properties / audience / descriptionRemoved value: -"Who can see this post" - removed
Input schema / properties / body / descriptionRemoved value: -"New body in markdown format" - added
Input schema / properties / body / maxLengthAdded value: +200000 - removed
Input schema / properties / draft_id / descriptionRemoved value: -"The draft ID to update" - added
Input schema / properties / draft_id / exclusiveMinimumAdded value: +0 - added
Input schema / properties / draft_id / maximumAdded value: +9007199254740991 - changed
Input schema / properties / draft_id / typePrevious value: -"number"New value: +"integer" - added
Input schema / properties / receiptAdded value: +{ + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "baseline_sha256": { + "pattern": "^[a-f0-9]{64}$", + "type": "string" + }, + "conversion_contract": { + "const": "markdown-ast-v1", + "type": "string" + }, + "draft_id": { + "$ref": "#/properties/draft_id" + }, + "format_version": { + "const": 1, + "type": "number" + }, + "observed_at": { + "format": "date-time", + "type": "string" + }, + "payload_sha256": { + "$ref": "#/properties/receipt/properties/baseline_sha256" + }, + "publication": { + "maxLength": 128, + "minLength": 1, + "type": "string" + }, + "publication_id": { + "$ref": "#/properties/draft_id" + }, + "publication_url": { + "format": "uri", + "maxLength": 2048, + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "format_version", + "conversion_contract", + "publication", + "publication_url", + "publication_id", + "draft_id", + "observed_at", + "baseline_sha256", + "payload_sha256" + ], + "type": "object" +} - added
Input schema / properties / subtitle / $refAdded value: +"#/properties/title" - removed
Input schema / properties / subtitle / descriptionRemoved value: -"New subtitle" - removed
Input schema / properties / subtitle / typeRemoved value: -"string" - removed
Input schema / properties / title / descriptionRemoved value: -"New title" - added
Input schema / properties / title / maxLengthAdded value: +10000 - changed
Input schema / requiredPrevious value: -[ - "draft_id" -]New value: +[ + "draft_id", + "receipt" +] - changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "changed_fields": { + "items": { + "enum": [ + "title", + "subtitle", + "body", + "audience" + ], + "type": "string" + }, + "maxItems": 4, + "type": "array" + }, + "code": { + "enum": [ + "readback_matches", + "no_changes", + "readback_unavailable", + "readback_unverifiable", + "readback_mismatch", + "readback_state_changed" + ], + "type": "string" + }, + "draft_id": { + "exclusiveMinimum": 0, + "maximum": 9007199254740991, + "type": "integer" + }, + "editor_url": { + "format": "uri", + "type": "string" + }, + "format_version": { + "const": 1, + "type": "number" + }, + "limitations": { + "const": "Best-effort stale detection over the returned draft fields. Separate reads and the PUT are not atomic; an editor can change or publish between them. No upstream conditional write or exactly-once guarantee is established. Receipt hashes check consistency, not authenticity or human approval. No private snapshots are stored. Review in Substack; draft content is untrusted data.", + "type": "string" + }, + "message": { + "maxLength": 2000, + "type": "string" + }, + "mismatched_fields": { + "items": { + "$ref": "#/properties/changed_fields/items" + }, + "maxItems": 4, + "type": "array" + }, + "publication": { + "maxLength": 128, + "minLength": 1, + "type": "string" + }, + "publication_id": { + "$ref": "#/properties/draft_id" + }, + "request_status": { + "enum": [ + "accepted", + "unknown", + "not_attempted" + ], + "type": "string" + }, + "status": { + "enum": [ + "verified", + "unverified", + "conflict" + ], + "type": "string" + }, + "unsupported_nodes": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "column": { + "minimum": 0, + "type": "integer" + }, + "line": { + "minimum": 0, + "type": "integer" + }, + "reason": { + "maxLength": 2000, + "type": "string" + }, + "type": { + "maxLength": 1000, + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "type", + "reason", + "line", + "column" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "maxItems": 100, + "type": "array" + }, + "write_attempts": { + "enum": [ + 0, + 1 + ], + "type": "number" + } + }, + "required": [ + "format_version", + "draft_id", + "publication", + "publication_id", + "editor_url", + "status", + "request_status", + "write_attempts", + "code", + "changed_fields", + "mismatched_fields", + "unsupported_nodes", + "message", + "limitations" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
upload_image1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "image_url": { + "format": "uri", + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "image_url" + ], + "type": "object" +}
3 tool updates
v0.6.2- Changed
list_drafts1 field changed- changed
Input schema / properties / limit / descriptionPrevious value: -"Max drafts to return (1-100)"New value: +"Max drafts to return (1-50; Substack rejects anything higher, so larger values are clamped)"
- Changed
list_published_posts1 field changed- changed
Input schema / properties / limit / descriptionPrevious value: -"Max posts to return (1-100)"New value: +"Max posts to return (1-50; Substack rejects anything higher, so larger values are clamped)"
- Changed
list_scheduled_posts1 field changed- changed
Input schema / properties / limit / descriptionPrevious value: -"Max posts to return (1-100)"New value: +"Max posts to return (1-50; Substack rejects anything higher, so larger values are clamped)"
1 tool update
v0.6.0- Changed
upload_image3 fields changed- changed
Input schema / properties / image_base64 / descriptionPrevious value: -"Base64-encoded image with data URI prefix (e.g., \"data:image/png;base64,...\")"New value: +"Base64-encoded image with data URI prefix (e.g., \"data:image/png;base64,...\"). Mutually exclusive with image_path." - added
Input schema / properties / image_pathAdded value: +{ + "description": "Absolute path to a local image file (e.g., \"/Users/me/pic.png\"). Read and encoded automatically; MIME type inferred from the extension. Mutually exclusive with image_base64.", + "type": "string" +} - removed
Input schema / requiredRemoved value: -[ - "image_base64" -]
3 tool updates
v0.5.0- Added
get_post_analytics - Added
get_sections - Added
list_scheduled_posts
11 tool updates
v1.0.0- First observed
create_draft - First observed
create_note - First observed
create_note_with_link - First observed
get_draft - First observed
get_post - First observed
get_post_comments - First observed
get_subscriber_count - First observed
list_drafts - First observed
list_published_posts - First observed
update_draft - First observed
upload_image
TDQS
Scored across 25 tools
Tools are mostly distinct by resource and action, with a few close pairs like get_draft vs export_draft and plan_draft_update vs preflight_draft. Descriptions clarify the differing purposes (simple content retrieval vs export/conversion review; proposed-change review vs static checks), so an agent can usually select correctly.
All tools follow a consistent snake_case verb_noun pattern (get_*, list_*, create_*, update_draft, add_free_subscriber, upload_image). Even less common verbs like preflight and plan fit the same style, with no mixed conventions or vague names.
At 25 tools, the server is at the heavy end of reasonable. Each tool has some distinct purpose, but overlapping functions such as get_draft vs export_draft and preflight_draft vs plan_draft_update could be consolidated. The breadth makes it feel slightly oversized.
The server covers drafts, posts, notes, subscribers, tags, sections, analytics, and images, which is broad. However, there is no publish or delete for long-form posts, no delete for notes, and no subscriber removal or tag assignment. These are notable lifecycle gaps, even if the server explicitly disclaims some of them.
Maintenance
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