List issues with optional filters to find open work by team and state, or narrow results by assignee, project, label, priority, and dates.
List issues, optionally filtered. Conditions on one filter object combine with AND. To find a team's open work, filter on team.key and state.type.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| variables | No | Paging and filtering. |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v0.1.0Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, and openWorldHint, so the safety profile is covered by structured data. The description's contribution is the AND-combination rule for filters, but that same rule is already documented in the schema's filter field, so added value is minimal beyond confirming the semantics.
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?
Three short sentences, zero filler, with the core purpose front-loaded and the practical example last. Every sentence earns its place.
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?
For a read-only list tool with a fully documented filter schema and no output schema, the description covers purpose, filter semantics, and a usage pattern. Slightly short on pagination/ordering behavior, though that is documented in the schema's variables object.
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% and the nested comparators are fully documented, so the schema does the heavy lifting. The description's filter guidance (AND combination, team.key/state.type paths) largely repeats what the schema already states, making 3 the appropriate baseline.
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 ('issues') with scope note 'optionally filtered'. It distinguishes itself from the sibling write tool linear_issue_create implicitly, but never names a sibling or explicitly rule out other Linear 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?
Gives a concrete when-to-use example: 'To find a team's open work, filter on team.key and state.type.' It provides clear positive usage context but no when-not guidance or named alternative for other listing scenarios.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.