search_servers

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full behavioral burden. It usefully discloses sort order ('sorted by GitHub stars') and the return shape ('matching servers'), but says nothing about pagination, result limits, auth requirements, or what happens on zero matches.

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 dense sentences, front-loaded with the verb and resource, and the parenthetical hardware examples serve a real disambiguation purpose rather than padding. No wasted words.

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, so the description does well to state that it returns matching servers sorted by GitHub stars. For a 3-parameter search tool this is nearly complete; only pagination and result limits are unaddressed.

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%, and the schema itself already documents all three parameters with examples. The description's hardware list ('ESP32, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Bambu/Prusa/Klipper/OctoPrint, cameras, Zigbee, serial') adds useful domain vocabulary that hints at valid query terms, but does not clarify the free-text vs. filter distinction. Baseline 3 is appropriate.

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?

Names a specific verb and resource ('Search the HardwareMCP catalog of MCP servers') and enumerates the hardware domains it covers, which makes it clearly distinguishable from get_server or list_devices. It never explicitly contrasts itself with those siblings, so it falls just short of a 5.

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 gives device vocabulary but no when-to-use versus when-not-to-use guidance, and never names an alternative tool such as list_devices or recommend_for_device. The only usage hint ('Use '' with a device/category filter to list all') lives in the schema, not the description.

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