splunk_search_preview

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden. 'Preliminary/preview' usefully signals partial or provisional data, but it omits what happens if the job has already completed, whether an empty set is normal before preview generation, and any permission or rate constraints.

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 front-loaded sentences plus a terse Args block. Nothing is wasted, though the Args block largely restates the schema titles rather than adding information.

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 tool is simple (2 params, one required) and an output schema exists, so return values needn't be explained. Still, for a job-lifecycle tool the description lacks the state context an agent needs — what job states preview is valid in and how it relates to results/cancel siblings.

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 minimally by glossing both params (sid = Search Job ID, count = number of preview results). However, it gives no format guidance for sid (which ID — presumably the one from splunk_search_async) and no upper bound or default note for count.

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 states a specific verb and resource: 'Retrieve preliminary preview results for an in-progress search job.' This clearly separates it from a plain results fetch, though it never names the sibling it is not (e.g. splunk_search_results for completed jobs), leaving that distinction implicit.

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?

'For an in-progress search job' implies the usage window, but there is no explicit when-to-use/when-not guidance and no mention of splunk_search_results as the alternative once the job finishes. The agent must infer the routing rule from the word 'in-progress' alone.

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