add_table_column

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

With no annotations present, the description carries the full behavioral disclosure burden. It identifies the mutation ('Add a column') and the insert position behavior, but it does not disclose side effects, irreversibility, constraints, or what happens if the table index is invalid.

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 optimally sized: a one-line purpose statement followed by a compact Args list. There is no filler, and the parameter documentation is easy to scan.

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?

The description is adequate for a simple operation, and the output schema covers return values, so the lack of return documentation is acceptable. However, it omits edge-case behavior and mutability warnings, which matter for a table-modifying tool with no annotations.

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?

Although the JSON schema properties lack descriptions, the natural-language Args block documents all three parameters with useful meaning: doc_id as 'from open_document', table_index as the table's index, and col_index as the insertion position with the append-at-end default. This fully compensates for the 0% schema description coverage.

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 opens with 'Add a column to a table,' a specific verb-resource pair that unambiguously states the operation. It also differentiates itself from the sibling add_table_row and delete_table_column by clarifying it inserts a column, not a row.

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 provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like add_table_row or split_table_cell. It does not state prerequisites, exclusions, or conditions under which adding a column would be preferred.

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