Search MCP Harbor

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=false, so the safety profile is covered and consistent with a read-only registry query. The description adds genuinely new behavioral context by disclosing the ranking method ('best matches ranked by relevance and GitHub stars'), which the annotations and schema do not provide.

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 tightly written sentences with zero filler; the core action is front-loaded and the optional filter and return behavior follow in a logical order.

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?

No output schema exists, and the description only partly compensates by mentioning ranking; it does not describe the shape of a result (name, URL, description, stars) or how limit affects the response. Combined with annotations that already cover safety, the definition is adequate but leaves a real gap for result interpretation.

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 coverage is 67% (query and category are described, limit is only bounded by defaults/min/max). The description's 'by keyword, optionally filtered by category' essentially restates the documented parameters and adds no format, syntax, or limit-scoping detail beyond the schema.

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: 'Search the MCP Harbor directory of MCP servers, clients and SDKs'. It clearly conveys the target corpus, but it never mentions the sibling get_tool, so the agent must infer that this is the discovery path versus the direct-lookup path.

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?

Keyword search with an optional category filter implies the discovery use case, and the phrase 'optionally filtered by category' gives some context, but there is no explicit when-to-use or when-not-to-use guidance and no reference to the sibling get_tool as the alternative for known-name lookups.

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