list_app_about_startup_infoGet helpful startup information to understand the Mealie app's current setup, available guidance, and configuration details.
returns helpful startup information
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
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No arguments | |||
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
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No arguments | |||
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v3.20.1Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. 'Returns helpful startup information' implies a read-only operation, but it does not disclose authentication requirements, data freshness, potential failure modes, or what kind of information is actually returned. This is too thin for an unannotated tool.
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 very short and front-loaded, with no wasted sentences. However, it is under-specified rather than usefully concise, and the word 'helpful' is a filler descriptor that does not convey operational meaning.
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 zero-parameter endpoint with an output schema present, the description does not need to enumerate return values. Still, it lacks enough context to help an agent choose this endpoint over related siblings such as list_app_about, list_app_about_theme, or list_admin_about_statistics. The tool is easy to invoke, but the selection context is incomplete.
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 zero parameters and the schema description coverage is 100%, so there is no parameter information the description needs to add. The baseline for a zero-parameter tool is 4, and the description does not need to compensate for anything here.
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 verb and a resource ('returns helpful startup information'), so it is not a pure tautology. However, 'startup information' is vague and does not specify what the agent can expect (version, status, configuration, etc.). It also does not clearly distinguish this from closely named siblings like list_app_about or list_app_about_theme.
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 no guidance on when to use this tool versus the many similar information endpoints in the sibling list. There are no alternative conditions, no exclusions, and no context about whether this is the right endpoint for app-level, admin-level, or startup-specific information.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.