layer_list

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

With no annotations at all, the description carries the full behavioral burden, and it discloses almost nothing: ordering of returned layers, whether hidden/locked layers are included, and result shape are unstated. The phrase 'active document' also sits awkwardly next to a document_id parameter that the schema says can target any open document.

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?

A single front-loaded sentence with no filler or redundant restatement. It is efficient, though so terse that it lacks the detail a read tool usually needs.

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?

There is no output schema and no annotations, so the description should describe what a listing returns (layer names, indices, visibility/lock state) and how to consume it. For a query tool with zero structured support, the one-line description leaves the agent guessing about the return value.

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% for the single document_id parameter, so the schema already explains name-or-index addressing and the front-document default. The description adds no additional parameter meaning, which is the expected baseline when the schema does the work.

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?

States a specific verb (List) and resource (layers) scoped to a document, which separates it from the sibling mutation tools layer_create, layer_delete, layer_reorder, and layer_setProperties. It is clear but contains no explicit sibling differentiation or statement of what a layer listing contains.

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 guidance on when to use this versus layer_setProperties/layer_reorder, no prerequisites, and no mention of what an agent should do next with the results. Usage is only broadly implied by the verb.

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