estimate_cost

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

With no annotations supplied, the description carries the full behavioral burden. It usefully discloses that the local implementation does not invent prices and only returns an official estimate when one is available, but it omits whether the call is read-only, what happens when no estimate exists, and whether authentication or rate limits apply.

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 two short sentences with no obvious filler, and the conditional estimate behavior is front-loaded. It is compact, though its brevity leaves important details unstated rather than explained efficiently.

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 four parameters, 0% schema description coverage, no annotations and no output schema, the description is not complete enough. It does not explain the operation enum, how text/model_id/duration_seconds affect the estimate, or what the return value looks like when an estimate is unavailable.

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 0%, so the description must compensate for four undocumented parameters. It hints at per-character, per-second and per-generation pricing, but it does not map those concepts to text, duration_seconds, model_id or the required operation enum values.

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 says to return an official estimate only when available and mentions per-character, per-second or per-generation prices, implying a cost estimate. However, it never explicitly states that it estimates cost for the requested operation, and it does not distinguish itself from siblings such as get_budget_status or get_usage_report.

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?

There is no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives, nor when not to use it. The conditional availability statement is a behavioral constraint, not usage guidance, so an agent must infer that this should be called before generation operations.

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