compare_lanes

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

With no annotations, the description must carry the full burden; it does disclose the computation basis (cost per delivered request) and the 3-lane cap, which implies a pure read-only ranking. It never states that nothing is persisted, how ties or invalid lanes are handled, or what the ranking result contains.

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 compact sentence that front-loads the verb, the object, and the limit, with zero filler. Nothing in it is redundant within its own text.

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 annotations and no output schema, so the description needed to explain return shape (ordered ranking with cost figures?) and the semantics of the nested lane fields. For a comparison tool taking a structured array of objects, a single sentence leaves the agent guessing on units and result format.

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 0%, so the description must compensate. It mentions the mode values and the lane count, but both are already enforced by the schema enum and maxItems; it adds nothing about what 'rate' is per (monthly?), how 'months' and 'requests' combine into delivered cost, or what 'bid'/'salary'/'flat' actually mean.

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 (Rank) and resource (payment lanes) with explicit scope (up to three) and the modes it accepts. An agent can tell what it computes, though the description never names the sibling cost_per_request to clarify the boundary.

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?

Implicit guidance only: the 'up to three lanes' comparison framing suggests use when several lanes must be ranked against each other. There is no explicit when-to-use, when-not-to-use, or pointer to cost_per_request for the single-lane case.

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