get_vault_tree

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the behavioral transparency burden. It clearly marks the operation as read-only ('Retrieve') and states what is returned, but it does not disclose traversal defaults, pagination, size limits, or any side-effect caveats.

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?

A single front-loaded sentence delivers the verb, object, scope, and purpose with no filler. Every word earns its place.

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 simple two-parameter getter with no output schema, the description adequately conveys core intent and the return concept. It could go slightly further by describing the shape of tree nodes, but the schema already covers parameter behavior, so nothing essential is missing.

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 100%, so maxDepth and subfolder are already documented in the schema. The description adds only the conceptual context of a tree/overview and does not meaningfully enrich the parameter semantics beyond the 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 opens with a specific verb ('Retrieve') and a precise resource ('hierarchical directory tree of folders and notes in the vault'). The phrase 'for workspace overview' signals an aggregate, structural view, which distinguishes it from flat list_folders and query-based search_vault even without naming them.

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?

It explicitly states the intended context ('for workspace overview'), so an agent can infer when this tool is appropriate. However, it provides no explicit exclusions or alternative routing guidance relative to sibling tools.

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