Current time in a named IANA timezone.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| url | No | HTTPS URL to normalize or cite | |
| host | No | Public hostname | |
| json | No | JSON text to validate; discarded after the check | |
| zone | No | IANA timezone name |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations are provided, so the description must carry the full behavioral burden. It only says 'current time in a named IANA timezone' and does not disclose output format, invalid-zone behavior, or whether the zone parameter is the only relevant input. This is a thin behavioral contract.
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 scannable phrase with no filler and front-loads the key qualifier 'IANA timezone.' It is appropriately short for a simple read-style tool, though the fragment style and lack of an example keep it from being a 5.
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?
With four optional parameters, no output schema, and no annotations, this description is incomplete. An agent cannot confidently tell which parameter to populate, what the response format will be, or how this tool operationally differs from utc-time and iana-zones.
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 input schema already covers 100% of parameters, so the baseline is 3. The description adds only that the timezone is IANA, which maps to the zone parameter, but it does not add examples or clarify why url, host, and json are also present as optional fields.
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 clearly names the resource ('current time') and scope ('named IANA timezone'), which distinguishes it from siblings like utc-time and iana-zones. It lacks an explicit verb and the schema's unrelated url/host/json parameters add ambiguity, so it is not a 5.
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 guidance about when to use this tool versus siblings such as utc-time or iana-zones, and no mention of what inputs are needed in practice. The only usage context comes from the description's purpose statement, not from explicit selection guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Add one secure layer between your agents and this server.
Most tools have distinct outputs, but the URL-related tools (citation, normalize-url, domain-shape) and time-related tools (utc-time, timezone, iana-zones) form overlapping clusters that an agent could misselect. Descriptions clarify the differences, but the boundaries are not immediately obvious.
All names use lowercase hyphenation, but the set mixes imperative verb_noun names (inspect-robots, normalize-url, validate-json) with noun/adjective names (citation, compatibility, timezone, base64-ok). This is readable but not a consistent naming pattern.
Eleven tools is a reasonable size for a general-purpose utility server and none seem redundant enough to cut. A few could be consolidated, such as timezone and utc-time, but the count is not excessive.
The server covers several utility categories, including URL analysis, time, JSON validation, HTTP status, and base64, but has noticeable gaps such as no base64 decode, no timezone conversion, and no URL encoding/decoding. These missing operations limit what an agent can accomplish without another server.