Syslog Grep Tool

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full behavioral burden. It implies a read-only regex search but discloses nothing about auth requirements, rate limits, result ordering, or the case-insensitive matching behavior, all of which the agent must infer or read from the schema.

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?

It is a single, front-loaded sentence with no wasted words. The brevity is appropriate for the core action, though for a five-parameter tool with no annotations it borders on under-specification.

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 output schema covers return values and the input schema fully documents parameters, so those needs are met. The remaining gap is behavioral and sibling-routing context, which the one-sentence description does not supply for an unannotated search tool.

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

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

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3. The description reinforces the source parameter by mentioning 'one named source', but adds no syntax, format, or default-value detail beyond what the schema already documents.

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 ('Regex search') and resource ('sources' / 'named source'), which is clear enough. However, it does not distinguish this tool from the sibling syslog_search_tool, leaving an agent to guess which search tool applies.

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 'across all sources, or within one named source' implies a scope choice, but there is no explicit when-to-use, when-not-to-use, or named alternative. With a sibling search tool present, the lack of routing guidance is a clear gap.

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