get_most_popular

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

No annotations are provided, so the description must carry the full behavioral burden. It implicitly signals a read-only fetch and ties each popularity_type to a real metric, but says nothing about rate limits, auth, or ordering behavior; the return format is delegated to the output schema.

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?

Front-loaded purpose sentence followed by compact Args/Returns blocks. The scaffolding is mildly boilerplate but every line carries information an agent needs.

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?

An output schema exists, so the description need not explain the return payload. It covers parameters adequately but omits usage guidance relative to siblings and any behavioral caveats, leaving the definition merely workable for a tool with five overlapping siblings.

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% and the schema declares no enums, so the description is the only source of parameter meaning. It fully compensates by spelling out the allowed values for popularity_type ('emailed', 'shared', 'viewed') and the valid period values (1, 7, 30), plus noting ctx is auto-injected.

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?

States a specific verb and resource (get the most popular NYT articles) and enumerates the three popularity dimensions, so the agent knows exactly what data it returns. It does not, however, distinguish itself from siblings like get_top_stories, leaving that routing to inference.

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 never says when to reach for this tool versus search_articles, get_top_stories, or get_newswire. The agent gets a purpose statement but no usage context or exclusions.

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