atbash_cipher

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

No annotations exist, so the description must disclose behavior. It only mentions cost, not the transformation operation, input handling, or any side effects. The cost information is a minor behavioral detail but does not describe the tool's core action.

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 extremely short, but brevity is not conciseness when it omits essential information. The cost mention is useful but does not compensate for the lack of a functional description.

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?

With no output schema and a generic input schema, the description needed to explain the tool's purpose and parameters. It does neither, making it completely inadequate for correct invocation.

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 schema has one generic 'params' object with 100% description coverage, earning a baseline of 3. The description adds no information about what keys to provide (e.g., 'text'), leaving the agent to guess.

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 only names the tool and categorizes it as 'Other Utilities,' without stating that it applies the Atbash cipher to input text. This is a tautology of the tool name, not an explanation of function.

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?

No guidance is provided on when to use this tool versus sibling cipher tools like caesar_cipher or vigenere_cipher. There is no mention of use cases, such as decoding simple substitution ciphers.

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