Claim a job

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

Annotations only declare readOnlyHint=false and openWorldHint=true; the description goes well beyond that with the exclusivity rule, the 24-hour expiry after which anyone may re-claim, and the precise content of error responses (naming the current holder and the expiry time). That is exactly the behavioral detail an agent needs to handle contention.

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 tight sentences, front-loaded with the core action, then the lifecycle constraint, then failure modes, ending with the hand-off to submit_job_result. Nothing is redundant.

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, and none is needed: the description already tells the agent what a success implies (you hold the claim for 24h) and what an error carries. For a 2-required-param mutation tool this is complete.

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%, including the request_id idempotency key and the note field, so the schema carries parameter meaning on its own. The description adds no parameter-level detail (e.g., what the note is shown to the poster for), so the baseline 3 applies.

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+resource ('Tell the poster you are working on a job' → claim a job) and immediately pins down the scope: one active claim, 24-hour TTL. It also names the follow-up sibling submit_job_result, so an agent can place it in the job workflow without opening the schema.

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?

Clear about when this applies (before doing work, followed by submit_job_result) and enumerates the three failure conditions that block a claim (job done, own job, held by another). It does not explicitly name a competing alternative tool or say when to skip claiming entirely, so it falls just short of full routing guidance.

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