get_lecture

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

With no annotations, the description carries the full behavioral burden. 'Get' does signal a read-only operation as opposed to mark_lecture_completed or update_watched_minutes, but it discloses nothing about response shape, error behavior for unknown IDs, or what 'details' actually include.

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 tight sentence with no wasted words. The essential qualifier 'by ID' is front-loaded, making the tool's scope immediately clear.

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 single-parameter read tool, the description is minimally adequate, but there is no output schema or annotation coverage and no mention of what details are returned or how this tool relates to sibling lecture tools. A bit more context would make selection and invocation more reliable.

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?

The schema already documents the only parameter, lecture_id, with full coverage. The description simply repeats the notion of targeting a specific ID without adding format, source, or constraints, so it provides no added meaning 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?

The description uses a concrete verb ('Get'), names the resource ('lecture'), and adds the selection mechanism ('by ID'). This clearly distinguishes it from list/schedule/backlog siblings like get_today_schedule and get_backlog, and from get_next_lecture which targets a different selection logic.

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 phrase 'by ID' implies the tool is intended for retrieving a known lecture, but the description gives no explicit when-to-use guidance and does not mention alternatives such as get_next_lecture or the schedule tools. The usage context is only implicit.

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