get-budget-month

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

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden. It uses 'Retrieve' to indicate a read operation and lists the data included. It does not mention response format, pagination, or authentication, but these are less critical for a simple month-scoped lookup.

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?

One sentence, front-loaded with the verb and resource, and every word adds value. 'Budgeted amounts, spending, and balances per category' is precise and free of filler.

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 tool with one parameter, full schema coverage, and no output schema, the description adequately explains what is returned. It misses only a note on how this differs from overlapping siblings, which is covered by the usage dimension.

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%: the only parameter 'month' is already described with format and example. The description adds no extra parameter semantics beyond confirming the month scope.

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 retrieves budget data for a specific month with category-level budgeted amounts, spending, and balances. It is specific about the resource and scope, though it does not explicitly differentiate from siblings like monthly-summary or get-budget-months.

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?

Usage is implied by the description: to get monthly budget data per category. However, there is no guidance on when to choose this over similar siblings such as monthly-summary, spending-by-category, or get-budget-months.

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