splunk_get_alert_history

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden. It implies a read operation but says nothing about permissions required, pagination or result caps, whether the window implicitly ends 'now' (there is no latest_time), or ordering of returned events. The only behavioral hint is the default window '-7d@d'.

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?

Two lines of purpose followed by a terse Args block; every sentence pays for itself and the core purpose is front-loaded. Nothing is padded or restated unnecessarily.

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 return shape needn't be explained, and all three parameters are at least named. But with no annotations and no required parameters, the description should still cover the time-window boundary semantics, result limits, and how this differs from listing configured alerts.

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%, so the description must compensate, and it does list all three parameters with brief meaning plus defaults. However the semantics are thin: 'count: Maximum history events' doesn't say whether it's total events or per-alert, and no time-syntax or range guidance is given beyond the '-7d@d' example.

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 a specific verb and resource: 'Retrieve historical fired alert events over a time window.' That is clearly distinct from configuration-oriented siblings like splunk_list_alerts or splunk_get_saved_search, though it never names those siblings explicitly. An agent can tell what it returns, just not the boundary against related alert 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?

There is no when-to-use statement and no alternatives offered. In a sibling set containing splunk_list_alerts, splunk_get_security_alerts, splunk_acknowledge_alert and splunk_manage_alert_suppression, the agent is left to infer on its own that this tool is for past firing events rather than alert configuration or triage workflows.

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