get_alarm

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

No annotations are provided, so the description bears full responsibility for behavioral disclosure. It only states 'Get a single alarm', without explaining what data is returned, whether it's read-only, error scenarios, or performance characteristics. This is insufficient for an agent to anticipate tool 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 a single, front-loaded sentence with no unnecessary words. It efficiently conveys the core purpose.

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 no output schema and no annotations, the description fails to provide enough context about return values, expected errors, or operational constraints. For a simple retrieval tool, an agent would benefit from knowing the response structure or common pitfalls, which are absent.

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 0%, so the description must explain parameter meaning. It mentions 'box gid and alarm id' but does not elaborate on which parameter corresponds to which (gid vs aid) or their format/constraints. The description adds minimal value over the schema property names.

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 'Get a single alarm by box gid and alarm id', clearly indicating the verb (Get), resource (alarm), and identifying attributes (box gid, alarm id). This distinguishes it from sibling tools like list_alarms (list multiple) and delete_alarm (delete).

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 implies that the tool is used when you need a specific alarm identified by gid and aid, but it provides no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives (e.g., list_alarms for browsing, get_alarm_trends for trends). No exclusion criteria or context are given.

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