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Better Mealie MCP

by djwmarcx
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Remote

Update Recipes

update_recipes

Bulk update recipes in Mealie. Modify multiple recipes simultaneously to change details, ingredients, or instructions.

Instructions

Update 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

D1.3/5.0
Behavior1/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full behavioral burden, and it discloses nothing. For a bulk mutation of recipe records it says nothing about permissions, whether omitted fields are preserved or wiped, partial-failure behavior, or rate limits.

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?

Two words is short but this is under-specification, not conciseness. Nothing is front-loaded because nothing of substance is present.

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 very large nested input schema, no annotations, and no output schema, the description is completely inadequate. An agent has no basis on which to construct a correct bulk-update 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% and the schema is a deeply nested Recipe-Input structure. The description does not mention the required `body` array, the `accept-language` header, or any field semantics, so it adds zero meaning beyond the raw schema.

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?

"Update Many" supplies a verb but no resource, no scope, and no indication of what "many" refers to. It essentially restates the tool name's verb without telling the agent that this bulk-updates recipe records via a body array, and it does not distinguish itself from siblings like update_recipes_by_slug or patch_recipes.

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

Usage Guidelines1/5

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

There is no when-to-use guidance at all. With numerous near-neighbors (update_recipes_by_slug, patch_recipes, patch_recipes_by_slug, create_recipes_bulk_actions_*), the agent is given nothing to decide when this bulk update is the right call versus a per-slug 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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