List Active Services

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and idempotentHint=true, covering the safety profile. The description adds useful behavior context such as 'currently executing' and 'sorted by elapsed time descending', but does not go beyond that. No contradiction with annotations.

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 exactly two sentences, front-loaded with the core purpose and immediate usage guidance. Every word earns its place with no filler or redundancy.

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, the description does state the return behavior: 'Returns active services sorted by elapsed time descending'. This covers the main return aspect. It lacks detail on return fields or pagination, but for a simple read-only list tool with well-documented parameters, it is sufficiently complete.

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 all four parameters (obj_hash, obj_type, thread_id, min_elapsed_ms) having clear descriptions. The tool description does not add additional parameter-level meaning, but the baseline of 3 is appropriate since the schema carries the full burden.

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 clearly states what the tool does: 'Show all currently executing requests (in-flight transactions)' with a specific verb and resource. It also distinguishes itself from siblings by emphasizing 'currently executing' and 'sorted by elapsed time descending', which differentiates it from historical search or thread dump tools.

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?

Explicit guidance is provided: 'Use when investigating hangs, slow conditions, or asking "what is running right now"'. This gives clear context for when to use the tool. However, it does not mention alternatives or exclusions, so it falls short of a 5.

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