Manage Apps

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the burden. It mentions that some changes may require Splunk restart, which is useful behavioral info. However, it doesn't disclose other potential side effects like downtime, permission requirements, or whether operations are synchronous.

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 core purpose. Four sentences with information density, but the middle sentence about 'maintaining Splunk environments' is generic filler that could be trimmed. Still well-structured overall.

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 schema covers parameters well and there's no output schema, the description is adequate but not thorough. It misses potential caveats like permissions required or impact on running search heads. The restart note helps, but more behavioral context would improve completeness.

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% - both parameters have rich descriptions including enum values and examples. The description adds little beyond restating the actions. Baseline 3 is appropriate since the schema does the heavy lifting.

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 'Manage Splunk application lifecycle operations' with specific actions (enable, disable, restart, reload), making the tool's purpose immediately obvious and distinguishing it from sibling tools like list_apps or get_configurations.

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 'Use this tool when you need to change the state of a Splunk app' and gives examples. It implies when not to use (i.e., for listing or viewing) but doesn't name alternative tools. Good context, could be more explicit about exclusions.

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