updateMonthCategory

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden. It discloses that the tool updates only the budgeted field and operates on a specific month, which is helpful. However, it does not mention side effects, idempotency, auth requirements, or error conditions.

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?

The description is two sentences, no unnecessary words, and the key information is front-loaded. Every sentence serves a purpose: stating the action and the constraint.

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?

Given the tool's simplicity (update with 4 params, no output schema), the description covers the essential information. It lacks details on month format constraints or possible error responses, but these may be implied by schema or context. Slightly above average for its class.

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 75%, so the schema already documents most parameters. The description adds no new information about parameters beyond stating that only budgeted can be updated, which is already implied by the schema. It meets the baseline but adds little value.

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 clearly states the tool updates a category for a specific month, and specifies that only the budgeted (assigned) amount can be updated. This differentiates it from sibling tools like updateCategory (which updates category definitions) and getMonthCategoryById (read-only).

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?

The description implies usage for updating monthly budget assignments but does not explicitly guide when to use this tool vs alternatives (e.g., getMonthCategoryById for reading, updateCategory for category settings). No when-not-to-use or prerequisites are mentioned.

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