create_automation

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

With no annotations, the description fully covers behavioral traits: safety mechanisms like depth- and budget-capped cascades, no self-reactivity, skipping mutations on live claims, and allowing comments. It also notes admin-only restriction, providing a complete picture of the tool's behavior.

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 at five sentences, with a clear structure: purpose, example, safety notes. Every sentence adds value, and there is 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?

While the description covers input and behavior well, it lacks information about the return value (e.g., the created automation object) since there is no output schema. Additional context like rate limits or prerequisites beyond 'admin only' is also missing, making it slightly incomplete for a create 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?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, so the baseline is 3. The description adds an example and behavioral context but does not significantly enhance parameter meanings beyond the schema's detailed 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 clearly states 'Create an automation rule' and provides a concrete example. It distinguishes from sibling tools like list_automations, update_automation, delete_automation by focusing on creation, and differentiates from webhook tools by noting 'no webhook receiver needed'.

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 explains when to use the tool: when an event fires and conditions match, with an example. It specifies 'admin only' and implies the alternative of webhooks for external triggers, though it doesn't explicitly name alternatives like 'create_webhook'.

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