getFirmwareInfo

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds useful behavioral context by specifying the exact return payload (current version, latest version, upgrade availability) in the absence of an output schema. It stops short of mentioning pagination, freshness of the 'latest' data source, or error behavior for unknown MACs.

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?

Three short sentences, front-loaded with the action and return values, then the prerequisite hint. The only redundancy is the listDevices pointer, which duplicates the deviceMac schema 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?

For a two-parameter read-only tool with no output schema, the description adequately covers purpose, return contents, and how to source the required MAC. The remaining gap is sibling differentiation within the crowded firmware/upgrade tool family, which matters given several similarly named neighbors.

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 100%, with both siteId and deviceMac documented including format and discovery hints. The description's 'use listDevices to get deviceMac values' merely restates what the schema already says, adding no new syntactic or semantic detail, so the baseline 3 applies.

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 names a specific verb and resource (get firmware info for a device) and enumerates the three returned values, so the agent knows exactly what the tool produces. It is clear but does not distinguish itself from firmware-adjacent siblings such as getFirmwareUpgradePlan or listUpgradeFirmwares.

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 points the agent to listDevices to obtain deviceMac, which is a concrete prerequisite. However, it gives no guidance on when to use this per-device tool versus getFirmwareUpgradePlan or the listUpgrade* siblings, so sibling selection is left to inference.

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