Slack Get Thread Replies

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

Annotations declare readOnlyHint=true, so the safety profile is covered, but the description adds nothing beyond that: no disclosure that the result is paginated (limit/cursor), whether the parent message is included, or the ordering of replies. For a paginated list tool this leaves real behavioral questions unanswered.

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?

A single front-loaded sentence with no filler, but it is terse to the point of omitting useful context (pagination, parent-message inclusion) rather than optimizing information density.

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?

An output schema exists, so return-value explanation is not required, and the schema covers all 7 parameters. However, for a tool with pagination and time-boundary filtering, the description could reasonably note the paged nature and thread-message scope; it is minimally viable rather than complete.

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 100%, with every parameter including limit, cursor, oldest/latest, and inclusive fully documented inline. The description adds no parameter meaning beyond the schema, so the baseline 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 ('Get replies in a Slack message thread'), which clearly delimits it from siblings like slack_get_channel_history or slack_search_messages. It does not name the closest alternative (channel history) to sharpen the distinction, keeping it below a 5.

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 this instead of slack_get_channel_history or slack_search_messages, nor any prerequisites (e.g., needing a parent message timestamp). Usage is only implied by the phrase 'in a Slack message thread'.

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