add_printer

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

No annotations are present, so the description carries the transparency burden. It discloses the upsert side effect, the automatic first-printer activation, and that luckprinter is currently the only driver. It does not address permissions, failure modes, return values, or whether updating an existing profile resets its other settings.

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: the core upsert behavior comes first, the active-printer rule second, and only the necessary driver detail last. Every sentence earns its place with no 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 3-parameter configuration tool with no output schema and no annotations, the description covers the main behavior and the optional driver parameter well. It omits the address format and does not clarify the boundary with set_printer_address, so an agent lacks some situational and invocation detail.

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 adds strong semantics for the driver parameter, including its default value, protocol family, and rebrand examples, and it implies name is the identity key via 'if the name already exists'. The required address parameter, however, gets no format or example, so parameter coverage remains partial.

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 operation ('Add (or update...)') and resource ('named printer profile'), so an agent knows what the tool does. It explicitly contrasts with select_printer for switching active printers, but it does not clarify the overlap with set_printer_address, which also modifies an existing printer's address.

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 provides useful context: the first configured printer becomes active automatically, and select_printer is the tool for switching afterward. However, it does not state when to use add_printer versus set_printer_address or set_printer_options, especially since the upsert behavior overlaps with those more targeted sibling tools.

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