scan_licenses

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

No annotations provided. Description discloses detection capabilities and supported ecosystems, but lacks details on permissions needed, runtime behavior, or whether the tool makes modifications. Provides moderate transparency.

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 sentences, no redundancy. Front-loaded with purpose. Could be improved by structuring guidelines separately.

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?

Given no output schema and limited parameters, the description adequately covers the tool's purpose, detection types, and supported ecosystems. Lacks examples or explicit output details.

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 covers 100% of parameters with descriptions. The tool description adds context about supported project types (npm, requirements.txt) that relates to the path parameter, but does not provide additional semantic detail beyond the schema.

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?

Clearly states it scans dependencies for license compliance issues and lists specific detections (copyleft conflicts, unknown licenses, proprietary risks). Mentions supported ecosystems (npm, Python), but does not explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like classify_license or find_copyleft.

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?

No explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives. Does not mention prerequisites or limitations. Only implicit usage from the description.

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