fred_series

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, and it discloses only the auth prerequisite ('requires FRED_API_KEY'). It says nothing about rate limits, pagination, data freshness, or error behavior for what is a read of an external API.

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?

It is a single tight sentence with zero waste and the auth caveat is front-loaded, but brevity here shades into under-specification rather than efficient structure.

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?

With no annotations, no output schema, and one of two parameters undocumented, the description is too thin for an external-data-fetch tool. An agent can call it but cannot predict return shape, pagination, or limits.

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 50%: seriesId has an example list in the schema while 'limit' is undocumented in both places. The description adds no meaning to either parameter and does not compensate for the coverage gap.

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 states the resource (FRED economic series observations), which tells an agent it returns time-series data, but there is no verb and no differentiation from a similar sibling such as world_bank_indicator. It is identifiable but generic.

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 only guidance is the API-key requirement. There is no when-to-use, no when-not-to-use, and no routing against siblings like world_bank_indicator or hkma that also serve economic data. The agent must infer everything about selection.

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