mute-monitor

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

No annotations are provided, so the description must disclose behavioral traits. It states that muting silences notifications and supports a scope and optional duration, but does not explain whether it overrides existing mutes, whether it is reversible, or what the response looks like. This is adequate but not fully transparent for a mutation operation.

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?

The description is a single 15-word sentence that front-loads the verb and resource. It contains no redundant information and is highly efficient.

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?

For a mutation tool with no output schema and no annotations, the description covers the basic operation but lacks details about return value, side effects, or edge cases (e.g., muting an already muted monitor). It is minimally adequate but not fully 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 coverage is 100% with clear descriptions for each parameter. The description adds the phrase 'optional duration' which correlates with the 'end' parameter but does not significantly augment the schema. Given high coverage, a score of 3 is appropriate as baseline.

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 uses the specific verb 'Mute' and identifies the resource as 'Datadog monitor' with a clarifying parenthetical '(silence notifications)'. This clearly distinguishes the tool from siblings like 'update-monitor' or 'create-monitor' which have different purposes.

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 implies usage for silencing monitor notifications but provides no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'create-downtime' or 'update-monitor'. It also does not mention prerequisites (e.g., monitor must exist) or scenarios where mute is inappropriate.

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