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djwmarcx

Better Mealie MCP

by djwmarcx
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Remote

Patch Recipes

patch_recipes

Update multiple recipes at once by applying partial changes to each. Ideal for batch-editing recipe details, ingredients, or instructions.

Instructions

Patch Many

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
bodyYes
accept-languageNo

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed1 schema field changedv3.28.0
    • changedInput schema / $defs / RecipeCommentOut-Input / required
      Previous value: -[
-  "recipeId",
-  "text",
-  "id",
-  "createdAt",
-  "update_at",
-  "userId",
-  "user"
-]New value: +[
+  "id",
+  "recipeId",
+  "text",
+  "createdAt",
+  "update_at",
+  "userId",
+  "user"
+]
  2. Changed10 schema fields changedv3.26.0
    • addedInput schema / $defs / CreateIngredientFood / properties / substitutions
      Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/CreateIngredientFoodSubstitution"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / CreateIngredientFoodSubstitution
      Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "note": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "substituteFoodId": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "format": "uuid",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / IngredientFood-Input / properties / substitutions
      Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/IngredientFoodSubstitution"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / IngredientFoodSubstitution
      Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "note": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "substituteFood": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/IngredientFoodSummary"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "substituteFoodId": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "format": "uuid",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / IngredientFoodSummary
      Added value: +{
+  "description": "A trimmed projection of a food, with nothing on it that can recurse.\n\nSubstitutions reference this rather than the full IngredientFood, which would make\nPydantic walk food -> substitutions -> food forever and generate an equally circular\nTypeScript type.",
+  "properties": {
+    "id": {
+      "format": "uuid",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "name": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "pluralName": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "id",
+    "name"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / NoteReference
      Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "referenceId": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "format": "uuid",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / RecipeIngredient-Input / properties / substitutions
      Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/RecipeIngredientSubstitution"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / RecipeIngredientSubstitution
      Added value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "note": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "substituteFood": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/IngredientFoodSummary"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "substituteFoodId": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "format": "uuid",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "null"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "type": "object"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / RecipeNote / properties / referenceId
      Added value: +{
+  "format": "uuid",
+  "type": "string"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / RecipeStep / properties / noteReferences
      Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "$ref": "#/$defs/NoteReference"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}
  3. Changed3 schema fields changedv3.25.1
    • addedInput schema / $defs / RecipeCategory / properties / recipeCount
      Added value: +{
+  "type": "integer"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / RecipeTag / properties / recipeCount
      Added value: +{
+  "type": "integer"
+}
    • addedInput schema / $defs / RecipeTool / properties / recipeCount
      Added value: +{
+  "type": "integer"
+}
  4. First observedv3.20.1

TDQS

D1.5/5.0
Behavior1/5

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

With no annotations and no output schema, the description carries the full burden of disclosing behavior, and it discloses nothing: not whether this is a partial (merge) patch or a full overwrite, whether existing fields are cleared, whether it requires specific permissions, or what the response contains. For a mutation over an array of richly nested Recipe-Input objects, this is a serious omission.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness2/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The two-word fragment is short, but this is under-specification rather than conciseness. Nothing is front-loaded because nothing of substance is provided; every reader must fall back on the name and schema to infer intent.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness1/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given a bulk mutation tool with a very large nested input schema, no annotations, no output schema, and 0% parameter documentation, the description is completely inadequate. An agent lacks the information needed to safely and correctly construct or invoke this call.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters1/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate, and it does not. The required 'body' is an array of Recipe-Input with dozens of nested fields (nutrition, tags, ingredients, instructions, settings, etc.) and 'accept-language' is completely undocumented in both the schema and the description.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose2/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

'Patch Many' names a verb but not the resource it patches, and 'Many' is ambiguous (many recipes, many fields, batch of updates?). Only the tool name/title ('patch_recipes') reveals that the target is recipes. It is close to a restatement of the name rather than an explanation of what the tool does.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

There is no when-to-use guidance, no differentiation from siblings like update_recipes or patch_recipes_by_slug, and no stated prerequisites. An agent cannot tell from the description why it would pick this bulk patch over single-recipe patching or a full update.

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

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