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ni-c

woodpecker-ci-mcp

by ni-c

Update a cron job

update_cron
DestructiveIdempotent

Update selected fields of an existing cron job—name, branch, schedule, timezone, or enabled status—to pause or adjust automated pipelines without recreating the job.

Instructions

Changes a cron job. Only the fields you pass are touched — including "enabled", which is how a schedule is paused without losing it.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
nameNoName of the cron job, shown in the UI and on the pipelines it starts.
branchNoBranch name.
cron_idYesNumeric cron job id.
enabledNoSet false to stop the schedule without deleting it.
repo_idYesNumeric repository id. lookup_repository turns an "owner/name" pair into one; list_repositories shows both.
scheduleNoSchedule as a five-field cron expression ("0 4 * * *" is 04:00 daily), a descriptor (@yearly, @annually, @monthly, @weekly, @daily, @midnight, @hourly), or "@every <duration>" such as "@every 30m". No seconds field.
timezoneNoIANA time zone the schedule is interpreted in. Defaults to UTC. Note that the official Woodpecker container image carries no time zone database, so on a stock Docker deployment anything but "UTC" is rejected with "unknown time zone" — that is the server missing tzdata, not a wrong name.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
truncatedNoPresent only when the answer was shortened to fit the budget.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. First observedv0.2.0

TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already signal idempotent and destructive behavior, and the description adds meaningful context beyond them by disclosing that updates are partial — untouched fields are not modified. It also explains the 'enabled' field's role in pausing instead of deleting. It does not contradict the annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences with no filler. The action is stated first, then the most important behavioral nuance follows immediately. Every part of the description earns its place.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the strong schema, annotations, and output schema, the description covers the essential behavioral contract. It could go slightly further by explicitly noting this applies to an existing cron job, but the name, required cron_id parameter, and sibling context make that reasonably inferable.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, and parameter descriptions are already rich. The description's key added value is the cross-parameter semantic that only passed fields are touched, which clarifies that omitted optional parameters retain their current values. This goes beyond the individual property descriptions.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific action and resource: 'Changes a cron job.' The added detail about partial updates and pausing via 'enabled' distinguishes it from sibling tools like delete_cron and create_cron, so an agent can immediately understand what this tool does and what it is not for.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives clear usage context: pass only the fields to change, and disable a schedule with 'enabled' rather than losing it by deleting. It does not explicitly enumerate alternatives such as create_cron or run_cron, but the guidance is clear enough for practical selection among the cron siblings.

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

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