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Web Research MCP

A high-quality, multi-source web research MCP server for AI agents. Plug it into Claude Desktop, Hermes, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client and get production-grade search + page-fetching across Wikipedia, arXiv, Hacker News, Stack Exchange, Crossref, Brave, Tavily, and any URL on the web.

MCP Python License: MIT GitHub stars CI

# One-line install (anywhere on disk)
git clone https://github.com/infinit3labs/web-research-mcp.git
hermes mcp add web-research --command "$(pwd)/web-research-mcp/bin/web-research-mcp"
# 9 of 10 tools work with zero API keys. Add Brave or Tavily to unlock general web search.

Why this exists

Most "web search" MCP servers try to scrape Google through a headless browser with randomized fingerprints. That approach is a losing arms race — search engines detect and ban scrapers within days, and even when it works, you get DOM soup that your LLM has to clean up.

This server takes a different approach — it talks to APIs that are built for agents:

What it does

How

Real web search

Brave Search API, Tavily API (whitelisted, ranked, structured JSON)

Reads any URL

Jina Reader (handles JS rendering + anti-bot, returns clean markdown)

Encyclopedic lookup

Wikipedia MediaWiki API

Academic preprints

arXiv API

Peer-reviewed papers

Crossref API

Tech signal

Hacker News Algolia API

Code Q&A

Stack Exchange API (any site)

The six vertical providers work without any API keys; Brave and Tavily keys unlock real-time general web search. That's the highest-quality approach — you get better results than scraping because real web-index APIs use signals (click models, freshness, link analysis) that no scraper can replicate.


Related MCP server: web-browser-mcp

Quick start

Option A — pip install (when published)

pip install deep-web-research-mcp
hermes mcp add web-research --command "$(which web-research-mcp)"

Note on naming. The PyPI distribution name is deep-web-research-mcp (so pip install deep-web-research-mcp), but the binary on your PATH after install is web-research-mcp (defined by [project.scripts] in pyproject.toml). That's intentional — the binary matches the local launcher bin/web-research-mcp and the MCP registration name web-research. Same package, two names.

Option B — Clone from source

git clone https://github.com/infinit3labs/web-research-mcp.git
hermes mcp add web-research \
  --command "$(pwd)/bin/web-research-mcp"

When prompted, accept all 10 tools. Done.

Option C — Install with Claude Desktop

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "web-research": {
      "command": "/Users/code/mcp-servers/web-research/bin/web-research-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Option D — Install with Cursor / any stdio MCP client

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "web-research": {
      "command": "/absolute/path/to/web-research-mcp/bin/web-research-mcp"
    }
  }
}

The launcher script auto-creates a venv on first run, installs dependencies from pyproject.toml, and sources web-research.env for any API keys you've configured.

cp web-research.env.example web-research.env
$EDITOR web-research.env

Key

What it unlocks

Free tier

BRAVE_API_KEY

search_web real general-web index

2,000 queries/month

TAVILY_API_KEY

search_web + research-optimized snippets, Tavily News in search_news, Tavily Extract fallback for fetch_url

1,000 queries/month

JINA_API_KEY

Higher fetch rate for fetch_url

1M tokens/month

The launcher picks up keys from web-research.env on every invocation — no restart of your MCP client needed.

3. Use it

Ask your agent things like:

"Search Hacker News and Stack Overflow for the best MCP servers released in 2026"

"Use pro_mode to research the current state of small language models"

"Fetch https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.06962 and summarize the methodology"

"Cross-reference this claim against Wikipedia and arXiv"


Upgrading & rollback

pip install:

pip install --upgrade deep-web-research-mcp   # upgrade to latest
pip install deep-web-research-mcp==0.1.0      # roll back to a specific version

Restart your MCP client after changing versions so it re-spawns the server process.

Source checkout (bin/web-research-mcp launcher):

git pull                              # upgrade to latest main
git checkout v0.1.0                   # roll back to a tagged release

The launcher re-syncs .venv from pyproject.toml on every invocation, so no manual venv rebuild is needed either way. See CHANGELOG.md for what changed between versions.


Tools

All 10 tools registered in tools/list. Tools fall into two layers:

  • Search & fetch (7 tools) — single-shot lookups. One tool, one API, one result.

  • Deep research (3 tools) — multi-step pipelines that plan, gather, and structure evidence. Use these when a single search isn't enough.

Search & fetch

search_web — multi-source general web search

search_web(
    query: str,                  # search query
    max_results: int = 10,       # per source, before dedup (1–30)
    pro_mode: bool = False,      # also fetch top 3 URLs and append excerpts
) -> str

Backed by Brave + Tavily with URL-canonicalization dedup and cross-source score boosting. Requires BRAVE_API_KEY and/or TAVILY_API_KEY. With no keys, returns a clear message telling you how to enable it. Tavily runs at advanced search depth with chunks_per_source=3 (multiple relevant excerpts per source) and supports up to 20 results per query.

pro_mode: true is the research-killer feature — it runs a normal search, fetches the top 3 results via Jina, and appends the content as the snippet. One call does what would otherwise be search_web + 3 × fetch_url.

fetch_url — clean markdown of any page

fetch_url(url: str) -> str

Goes through Jina Reader, which:

  • renders JS-heavy pages (SPAs, React apps)

  • bypasses most bot-detection (Jina is whitelisted)

  • returns clean markdown with metadata block (Title:, URL Source:, Published Time:)

  • truncates to ~20k chars to protect your context window

Tavily Extract fallback: with TAVILY_API_KEY configured, pages that fail via Jina (hard bot walls, paywalls) are automatically retried through Tavily Extract at advanced depth with markdown formatting. If both paths fail, you get a combined error naming both providers.

search_wikipedia — encyclopedic grounding

search_wikipedia(query: str, max_results: int = 5) -> str

Wikipedia MediaWiki API. Keyless. Fast. Best for definitions and historical context.

search_academic — arXiv preprints

search_academic(query: str, max_results: int = 5) -> str

Returns title, authors, abstract snippet, published date, PDF URL. Keyless. Best for CS, physics, math, bio.

search_news — Hacker News + mainstream news signal

search_news(query: str, max_results: int = 10) -> str

Searches Hacker News (keyless) and — when TAVILY_API_KEY is configured — blends in Tavily's news-topic results from the last week, merged and deduplicated with HN. Best for what's trending in tech right now plus its mainstream coverage.

search_stackexchange — Q&A from 180+ sites

search_stackexchange(query: str, max_results: int = 5, site: str = "stackoverflow") -> str

Set site to any SE community: serverfault, superuser, askubuntu, math, tex, datascience, ai, etc. Keyless.

search_scholar_meta — peer-reviewed papers via Crossref

search_scholar_meta(query: str, max_results: int = 5) -> str

Returns title, DOI, citation count, publisher, publication date, abstract. Covers papers arXiv doesn't (Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, IEEE, ACM). Keyless.

Deep research

These three tools compose the search/fetch primitives above into multi-step research workflows. They never call an LLM themselves — the calling model stays in charge of writing the final narrative; the server's job is to plan, gather, and structure evidence with verifiable citations.

plan_research — structured plan only (no fetches)

plan_research(question: str, depth: str = "standard") -> str  # JSON

Returns a JSON research plan: sub-questions, recommended sources per sub-question, rationale, queries to run, and estimated searches + fetches. Use this when you want to inspect or modify the plan before committing to the full pipeline.

  • depth: "quick" (2-3 sub-questions), "standard" (4-6), "deep" (6-8)

extract_evidence — targeted quotes from one URL

extract_evidence(
    url: str,
    question: str,
    max_passages: int = 5,
) -> str  # JSON

Fetches the URL via Jina, splits into paragraphs, scores each for relevance to your question, and returns the top passages. Each passage includes before / quote / after context, a relevance score (0-1), and a offset (character position in the source) so citations are independently verifiable.

Use this when you already have a specific source and want to drill into it for evidence on a narrow claim.

research — full deep-research pipeline

research(question: str, depth: str = "standard") -> str  # markdown + JSON

End-to-end research workflow:

  1. Plan — builds the sub-question plan

  2. Fan out — searches across the recommended sources for each sub-question in parallel

  3. Rank — deduplicates URLs across the whole plan, ranks them with source-aware composite scoring (Wikipedia/arXiv/Crossref 2.0×, Stack Exchange 1.7×, web search 1.5×, Hacker News 1.0×)

  4. Fetch — pulls the top URLs via Jina Reader

  5. Extract — scores paragraphs for relevance with a quality floor (filters out nav menus, link-only paragraphs, footer cruft)

  6. Return — emits a structured ResearchReport:

{
  "question": "What is retrieval augmented generation?",
  "depth": "quick",
  "plan": { "sub_questions": [...], "estimated_searches": 4, ... },
  "citations": [
    { "id": 1, "url": "...", "title": "...", "source": "wikipedia", "quotes": 2 }
  ],
  "evidence": {
    "sq_def": [
      { "citation_id": 1, "relevance": 0.78, "offset": 1234,
        "before": "...", "quote": "...", "after": "..." }
    ]
  },
  "synthesis_template": "# Research Report: ..."
}

The synthesis_template is a Markdown skeleton with one section per sub-question plus a Sources table. You (the model) fill in the narrative, citing each [n] marker against the corresponding entry in citations. Every quoted passage carries a character offset so a reader can verify the citation against the original page.

depth controls breadth:

  • "quick" — 2-3 sub-questions, ~6 fetches, ~2 minutes

  • "standard" — 4-6 sub-questions, ~20 fetches, ~3 minutes

  • "deep" — 6-8 sub-questions, ~32 fetches, ~5 minutes


Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    MCP Client                            │
│  (Claude Desktop, Hermes, Cursor, custom agent)          │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┘
                     │ JSON-RPC over stdio
                     ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              bin/web-research-mcp                         │
│  • Boots venv (or reuses cached one)                     │
│  • Sources web-research.env for API keys                 │
│  • Execs python -m web_research.server                   │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┘
                     ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           web_research.server (MCPServer)                 │
│  10 tool functions registered via @app.tool() decorator   │
│  • Pydantic-driven JSON schemas from type hints           │
│  • Single shared httpx.AsyncClient per call              │
│  • Graceful degradation: one bad source ≠ failed call    │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┘
                     │ asyncio.gather for parallel fan-out
                     ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│          web_research.providers (7 backends)              │
│  ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌─────────────┐               │
│  │ brave    │ │ tavily   │ │ jina_fetch  │  ← general web│
│  └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └─────────────┘               │
│  ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌─────────────┐               │
│  │ wikipedia│ │ arxiv    │ │ crossref    │  ← academic   │
│  └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └─────────────┘               │
│  ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐                                │
│  │ hn_algolia│ │stackex   │  ← tech signal               │
│  └──────────┘ └──────────┘                                │
│  + merge_results() with URL-canonical dedup               │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key design decisions

API-first, not scrape-first. This is the core thesis. Every source is an official API designed for programmatic access. You get clean structured data, no IP bans, no maintenance burden when sites redesign.

Per-source error isolation. Each provider wraps its HTTP call in try/except. A 429 from one source never sinks the whole search — you get partial results plus a clear message about which source failed.

URL canonicalization. merge_results() strips tracking params (utm_*, fbclid, gclid, ref) before dedup, normalizes case on host, drops fragments. When Brave and Tavily return the same article, you see it once with also_found_in: [brave, tavily] and a boosted score.

Shared HTTP client per call. httpx.AsyncClient with connection pooling (max_connections=20), sane timeouts (30s default, 45s for fetch_url), and automatic redirect following. New client per call because stdio MCP servers process one request at a time and we want clean state.

Bounded fan-out + result caching. Every search/fetch call — plain tool calls and the deep-research pipeline alike — goes through providers.cached_search/cached_fetch. A per-provider semaphore caps concurrent in-flight requests (WEB_RESEARCH_MAX_CONCURRENCY, default 4), so a depth="deep" research run can't fan out into dozens of simultaneous requests against one upstream. A short-TTL in-memory cache (WEB_RESEARCH_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS, default 300s) avoids repeating identical search/fetch calls within one run; failures and empty results are never cached, so a rate-limited provider still gets retried on the next call instead of being "stuck empty" for the TTL window.

No headless browsers. Zero Playwright, Selenium, Puppeteer, or proxy rotation. Smaller attack surface, smaller dependencies, no JVM/Chrome footprint. Jina does the heavy lifting on the few sites that need JS rendering.


Comparison with alternatives

Feature

This server

SerpAPI MCP

Google scraping MCPs

Local search MCPs

General web index

✅ Brave/Tavily

✅ Google

⚠️ Fragile

API-only (no scraping)

JS rendering handled

✅ via Jina

⚠️ Varies

Academic sources

✅ arXiv + Crossref

⚠️

Tech/Q&A sources

✅ HN + StackExchange

Encyclopedic

✅ Wikipedia

⚠️

Works without API keys

✅ (9/10 tools)

Citation-friendly output

⚠️

⚠️

MIT-licensed

⚠️

⚠️

⚠️


Testing

.venv/bin/python tests/e2e_protocol.py

This launches the actual server, performs a real MCP initialize + tools/list handshake, then makes live JSON-RPC calls against every tool and verifies that:

  • Real APIs return real data (not stubs)

  • Each tool's response has the expected shape

  • Error states are handled gracefully

  • search_web without keys returns a clear "set API keys" message

The live subprocess check exercises all 10 registered tools. The deterministic matrix runs separately and covers provider fixtures, failure degradation, generated schemas, and MCP tool-call content contracts without network access:

.venv/bin/python -m unittest discover -s tests -p 'test_*.py'

Troubleshooting

Server starts but tools don't show in my MCP client

Check hermes mcp list (or equivalent). The server is registered with --command, which means Hermes will exec the launcher directly. Make sure the launcher is executable:

chmod +x bin/web-research-mcp

fetch_url returns truncated content

By design — 20k char cap protects your context window. For longer reads, fetch the page yourself and pass excerpts to search_web for follow-up questions, or split into sections via multiple calls.

search_web returns "No web results. This is likely because no API key is configured"

You need at least one of BRAVE_API_KEY or TAVILY_API_KEY set in web-research.env for general web search. The other 9 tools (including the six vertical providers, fetch_url, and the three deep-research tools) work without those keys; JINA_API_KEY is optional for higher fetch limits.

Stack Exchange returns 400 Bad Request

If you've configured a custom filter parameter, the API rejects unknown filter IDs. Use the default filter (omit the param) — it returns more fields than you need but everything works. This server uses the default.

Server crashes on first launch

Check stderr for the actual traceback. Common cause: Python <3.10. Check with python3 --version.

Rate limits

Provider calls use bounded retries for transient network errors, HTTP 5xx responses, and HTTP 429 responses. A provider that remains unavailable is isolated and returns no results, so other sources and deep-research phases can still complete. Configure the behavior with WEB_RESEARCH_TIMEOUT_SECONDS, provider-specific overrides such as WEB_RESEARCH_TIMEOUT_WIKIPEDIA_SECONDS or WEB_RESEARCH_TIMEOUT_JINA_SECONDS, WEB_RESEARCH_MAX_RETRIES, WEB_RESEARCH_RETRY_BACKOFF_SECONDS, and WEB_RESEARCH_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS. Exhausted 429s are reported as rate-limited; multi-source responses identify unavailable providers when partial results remain.

Concurrent fan-out per provider is capped by WEB_RESEARCH_MAX_CONCURRENCY (default 4), with per-provider overrides such as WEB_RESEARCH_MAX_CONCURRENCY_JINA. Search/fetch results are cached in-memory for WEB_RESEARCH_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS (default 300, set to 0 to disable) up to WEB_RESEARCH_CACHE_MAX_ENTRIES (default 256) entries; set either to 0 to turn caching off entirely.

Each keyless API has its own limits. If you hit them:

  • Wikipedia: ~200 req/min, identify yourself with a real User-Agent (this server sends one)

  • arXiv: ~1 req/3s for unauthenticated, please back off

  • Hacker News Algolia: 10k req/hour with API key, 5k without

  • Stack Exchange: 300 req/day without key (plenty for research sessions)

  • Crossref: please add mailto in User-Agent (this server does), then it's polite-pool unlimited


Development

Project layout

web-research-mcp/
├── bin/
│   └── web-research-mcp          # Launcher: venv bootstrap + exec
├── src/web_research/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── server.py                  # MCPServer + 10 @app.tool functions
│   └── providers.py               # 7 search backends + Result dataclass
├── tests/
│   └── e2e_protocol.py            # Real subprocess JSON-RPC test
├── web-research.env.example       # API key template
├── pyproject.toml                 # PEP 621, uv-installable
├── README.md
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── LICENSE
└── .gitignore

Adding a new tool

  1. Add an async function to providers.py:

    async def search_my_source(query: str, max_results: int, client: httpx.AsyncClient) -> list[Result]:
        try:
            # ... your HTTP call ...
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"[my_source] error: {e}", flush=True)
            return []
        return [Result(title=..., url=..., snippet=..., source="my_source")]
  2. Register it in server.py:

    @app.tool(name="search_my_source", description="...", annotations=ToolAnnotations(readOnlyHint=True, openWorldHint=True))
    async def search_my_source(query: Annotated[str, Field(description="Search query")], max_results: Annotated[int, Field(ge=1, le=10, default=5)] = 5) -> str:
        async with await _new_client() as client:
            res = await providers.search_my_source(query, max_results, client)
        return _format_results(query, res, "my_source") if res else f"No my_source results for: {query}"
  3. Add a live test case in tests/e2e_protocol.py.

  4. Update the README's Tools section.

Coding style

  • Python 3.10+, async-first

  • Type hints everywhere; let Pydantic derive the MCP JSON schema

  • Every provider wraps its network call in try/except and degrades to []

  • Per-call HTTP client (_new_client()) — don't share across calls in stdio mode


Contributing

PRs welcome. Before opening one:

  1. Run the e2e test against a live install: .venv/bin/python tests/e2e_protocol.py

  2. Add a test case for any new tool

  3. Keep providers.py independent of MCP-specific types — it should be reusable as a plain Python module

  4. Don't add dependencies on headless browsers or proxy rotation — that violates the project's thesis

For major changes, open an issue first.


License

MIT — see LICENSE.

Credits

Available Tools

10 tools
extract_evidenceA
Read-only

Fetch a URL and extract the passages most relevant to a specific question. Returns each passage with a short context window before/after, a relevance score, and a character offset into the original page so citations are verifiable. Use this when you want to drill into a specific source for evidence on a narrow claim.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
urlYesHTTP(S) URL to read
questionYesWhat you're looking for on this page
max_passagesNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4.2/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint and openWorldHint, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds useful behavioral detail: each passage includes a context window, relevance score, and character offset for verifiable citations. It does not discuss failure modes or rate limits, but the annotations lower that burden.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three sentences with no filler: the first states the action, the second describes the output, and the third gives usage guidance. Information is front-loaded and every sentence earns its place.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

An output schema exists, so return values need not be fully described, and annotations cover safety. The description covers purpose, output behavior, and usage. It could be more complete by naming sibling alternatives or elaborating on max_passages, but those are minor gaps.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 67%, with url and question already described and max_passages constrained by min/max/default. The description adds the notion of relevance and passage context but does not clarify max_passages behavior beyond what the schema provides. This is a baseline 3 situation.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific action ('Fetch a URL and extract the passages most relevant to a specific question') and a clear resource. It differentiates itself from sibling tools like fetch_url and search_web by emphasizing evidence extraction with context windows and verifiable citation offsets.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The final sentence gives an explicit trigger condition: 'Use this when you want to drill into a specific source for evidence on a narrow claim.' This clearly indicates when the tool is appropriate, though it does not explicitly name alternatives or state when not to use it.

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

fetch_urlA
Read-only

Fetch any URL and return clean markdown content. Uses Jina Reader which handles JS rendering and bot detection on your behalf, returning readable text. Ideal for reading articles, papers, docs, or blog posts.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
urlYesHTTP(S) URL to fetch

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

The annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, and the description adds meaningful behavioral detail: it uses Jina Reader, handles JS rendering and bot detection, and returns readable markdown text. This goes beyond the schema and annotations without contradicting them.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is three concise sentences, each serving a purpose: declaring the core function, explaining the underlying mechanism, and listing suitable use cases. There is no filler or redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a single-parameter tool with annotations and an output schema, the description is sufficiently complete. It covers the intended use, the behavior of the underlying reader, and the return format, leaving no critical gap for an agent deciding to invoke it.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, with the 'url' parameter described as 'HTTP(S) URL to fetch.' The description adds little beyond this, only generalizing to 'any URL,' so it provides no significant additional parameter semantics beyond the schema baseline.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb and resource: 'Fetch any URL and return clean markdown content.' This clearly differentiates fetch_url from the search-oriented siblings by describing a direct retrieval action on an explicit input.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides clear context, noting it is 'Ideal for reading articles, papers, docs, or blog posts,' and explains that Jina Reader handles JS rendering and bot detection on the user's behalf. It does not explicitly name alternative tools or state when not to use it, but the contrast with search siblings is implicit.

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

plan_researchA
Read-only

Build a structured research plan for a complex question without executing it. Returns the planned sub-questions, the sources recommended for each, and estimated cost (searches + fetches). Use this when you want to review or edit the plan before committing to the full deep-research pipeline. Returns JSON; pass it back to the research tool to execute.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
depthNoPlan breadth: 'quick' (2-3 sub-questions), 'standard' (4-6), or 'deep' (6-8).standard
questionYesThe research question

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4.5/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, so the description's 'without executing it' aligns with that. Beyond annotations, it adds that the tool returns JSON with sub-questions, recommended sources, and cost estimates, and explains the workflow of passing the result to 'research'. This adds meaningful behavioral context without contradicting the annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is four sentences with no filler. The primary purpose is stated first, followed by the return value, the usage scenario, and the follow-up action. Each sentence earns its place and the structure is front-loaded for quick comprehension.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The tool is read-only, has a simple two-parameter schema, and an output schema exists, so the description doesn't need to detail the return structure. It explains the full workflow (plan → review → execute with 'research') and is consistent with the sibling tool set. Nothing essential is missing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100% – both 'question' and 'depth' have descriptions, and 'depth' includes enumerations. The tool description does not introduce any additional parameter semantics beyond that, so it meets the baseline for a fully described schema. It does add a hint that the question should be 'complex', but that's not a parameter-level detail.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description names a specific verb ('Build'), a clear resource ('structured research plan'), and explicitly states it does NOT execute the research. It contrasts with siblings like 'research' by noting it returns a plan for review, differentiating it unambiguously.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

It explicitly states when to use it ('when you want to review or edit the plan before committing') and implicitly when not to use it (when you want execution) by directing the agent to pass the returned JSON to the 'research' tool. This provides clear routing to the correct sibling.

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

researchA
Read-only

Run a full deep-research pipeline on a complex question. Decomposes the question into sub-questions, fans out across multiple sources (Wikipedia, arXiv, Hacker News, Stack Exchange, Crossref, plus Brave/Tavily if keys are configured), fetches the top URLs, extracts the most relevant passages, and returns a structured ResearchReport containing: the plan, a numbered citation manifest, per-sub-question evidence with quotes + character offsets, and a Markdown synthesis template for you to fill in. You (the model) should write the narrative synthesis citing the [n] markers; the server does the gathering, not the writing. Use depth='quick' for fast overviews, 'standard' for normal research, 'deep' for thorough multi-source investigations.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
depthNoResearch depth: 'quick' (2-3 sub-questions, ~10 fetches), 'standard' (4-6, ~20 fetches), or 'deep' (6-8, ~32 fetches).standard
questionYesThe research question to investigate

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4.6/5.0
Behavior5/5

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

The annotations are minimal (readOnlyHint, openWorldHint), so the description must carry the behavioral burden — and it does. It names the specific upstream sources (Wikipedia, arXiv, Hacker News, Stack Exchange, Crossref, Brave/Tavily), explains the config-dependent availability of some, describes the decomposition and evidence-extraction pipeline steps, details the exact ResearchReport structure, and explicitly assigns the synthesis-writing responsibility to the model ('the server does the gathering, not the writing'). This goes well beyond the annotations without contradicting them.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is long, but every component earns its place: operation → pipeline mechanism → sources → return structure → model's responsibility → depth guidance. The front-loading of the core 'run a pipeline' phrase followed by progressive detail creates a logical, scannable flow. Minor stylistic blemishes (the semicolon-heavy middle and parenthetical digression about keys) are the only reason it doesn't get a 5; it could be slightly tightened without losing information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's complexity — multi-step orchestration across 6+ external sources, configurable depth with nonlinear cost implications, and a rich structured output — the description covers all critical dimensions explicitly. It addresses dependencies ('if keys are configured'), delineates agent vs. server responsibility, enumerates the output contract, and offers per-level trade-offs. The output schema presumably details the ResearchReport shape, so the description's lack of that detail is acceptable. No meaningful gap left for an agent deciding whether and how to invoke this.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100% and the schema already documents both parameters well, establishing a baseline of 3. The description adds semantic value on top by re-framing the depth values by intent ('fast overviews,' 'normal research,' 'thorough multi-source investigations') and by showing how the parameter's granularity maps to pipeline trade-offs. It reinforces rather than merely restates the schema's mechanical counts (sub-questions, fetches).

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description opens with a precise verb+object pair ('Run a full deep-research pipeline on a complex question') and immediately unpacks what 'pipeline' means: decompose, fan out, fetch, extract, return structured output. It distinguishes itself from the search_* siblings by being the full orchestrated pipeline versus point lookups, and from plan_research/extract_evidence by stating that gathering and planning happen server-side while the model handles synthesis. An agent could confidently discriminate this from its siblings without opening the schema.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives explicit, actionable when-to-use guidance via the depth parameter: "Use `depth='quick'` for fast overviews, 'standard' for normal research, 'deep' for thorough multi-source investigations." It also clarifies the model's post-call responsibilities (write the synthesis). However, it never explicitly says when NOT to use this tool versus calling one of the many search siblings directly (e.g., 'for a single fact check, prefer search_web'), which given 9 siblings would be the crowning touch.

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

search_academicA
Read-only

Search arXiv for academic preprints across all fields (CS, physics, math, bio, etc.). Returns title, authors, abstract snippet, and PDF URL. No API key required.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryYesSearch query
max_resultsNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A3.5/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

Annotations already indicate read-only and open-world behavior MAP. The description adds the useful fact that no API key is required # and clarifies the output fields. However, it does not mention potential rate limits, pagination, or that results are limited to arXiv only, which would be additional transparency value.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is two concise sentences. The first immediately states the tool's purpose and scope; the second lists the output fields and notes no API key is needed. Information is front-loaded and there is no extraneous text.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the presence of an output schema and a simple search use case, the description covers the essential aspects: what is searched, what is returned, and that no key is required. It does not detail search operators or pagination, but for a straightforward query on arxiv, the provided context is sufficient for an agent to make a reasonable call.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

With schema description coverage at 50% (only 'query' has a description, max_results does not), the description fails to compensate. It does not explain query syntax or the behavior of max_results beyond what the schema implicitly provides (a bounded default integer). This leaves the agent under-informed about parameter usage.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the resource (arXiv), the action (search), and the scope (academic preprints across all fields). This immediately distinguishes it from sibling search tools like search_web or search_news, and the inclusion of return fields (title, authors, abstract, PDF URL) further clarifies its role.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage for academic literature but does not explicitly compare against alternatives like search_scholar_meta or mention when not to use this tool. No guidance on query formatting or result limits is provided, so an agent would need to rely on external knowledge.

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

search_newsA
Read-only

Search Hacker News for tech news, discussions, and trending links. Returns title, URL, points, comments, and dates. No API key required.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryYesSearch query
max_resultsNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already provide readOnlyHint and openWorldHint; the description adds the useful behavioral fact that no API key is required and discloses the return fields. It does not discuss rate limits or result ordering, but the annotation coverage lowers the burden.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two tight sentences with no filler; the core action and resource are front-loaded, and the return fields and auth note each add value.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With an output schema present, return value details are already structured. The description covers the key selection signal (Hacker News source), simplicity, and auth. It could mention that it only searches Hacker News rather than the general web, but the tool name already conveys that.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 50%: 'query' is minimally described and 'max_results' lacks a description. The tool description adds no parameter-specific meaning beyond the schema, and does not compensate for the undocumented max_results parameter.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Description states a specific verb ('Search') and resource ('Hacker News') with a scope ('tech news, discussions, and trending links'), and lists the returned fields. This clearly distinguishes it from sibling search tools like search_web or search_wikipedia.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Usage context is implied by the Hacker News resource and the 'No API key required' note, but there is no explicit guidance on when to choose this over search_web or other search siblings, nor any when-not-to-use conditions.

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

search_scholar_metaA
Read-only

Search Crossref for scholarly metadata across publishers (Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, IEEE, ACM, etc.). Returns DOI, citation count, publication date, and abstract. Covers peer-reviewed papers that arXiv may not. No API key required.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryYesSearch query
max_resultsNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4.1/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so the tool's safety profile is already known. The description adds valuable behavioral characteristics, such as 'No API key required' (lowering barriers) and specifying the coverage of publishers. It also implies the tool returns DOI, citation count, publication date, and abstract, which is useful but somewhat redundant with the output schema. No contradiction with annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single concise sentence with no waste. It front-loads the primary purpose and includes key differentiators (coverage of publishers, returns fields, no API key). It is structured well for an agent to quickly grasp the tool's function.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The tool is relatively simple with two parameters, both documented, and it has an output schema that presumably describes return fields. The description covers the key aspects: what it searches, what it returns, and the fact that no API key is required. It could mention pagination or result formats, but given the output schema likely handles that, the description is reasonably complete. The comparison to arXiv adds helpful context.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 50%: both query and max_results have descriptions, but they are minimal ('Search query' and default/max/min values). The description does not add much detail on what constitutes a good query or how max_results affects results. However, it does mention typical query types (e.g., searching for scholarly metadata) and implies that max_results controls result count. Given the schema already handles the basics, a baseline 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool performs a search on Crossref for scholarly metadata across multiple named publishers. It specifies the resource (Crossref) and the purpose (searching scholarly metadata), which differentiates it from siblings like search_web and search_wikipedia. The mention of 'peer-reviewed papers that arXiv may not' further distinguishes it from potential academic search tools.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides clear context for when to use this tool, such as when searching for scholarly metadata with DOIs, citation counts, and abstracts. It notes that it covers peer-reviewed papers that arXiv may not, implying a comparison with other academic sources. However, it does not explicitly state when not to use it or name specific alternatives like search_academic, which could be more explicit. Still, the context is useful enough.

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

search_stackexchangeA
Read-only

Search Stack Exchange sites (default: Stack Overflow) for high-quality technical Q&A. Set the 'site' parameter to search other SE communities (e.g. 'serverfault', 'superuser', 'askubuntu', 'math', 'tex'). No API key required.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
siteNoStack Exchange site slug (default: stackoverflow)stackoverflow
queryYesSearch query
max_resultsNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A3.8/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

Annotations already indicate readOnlyHint=true, so the agent knows this is a safe read operation. The description adds that no API key is required, which is useful context. It does not mention rate limits or result format, but given the readOnlyHint, the baseline for transparency is met. The description doesn't contradict annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is concise, two sentences, with the most important information (what it searches, default site) front-loaded. The examples of alternative sites are useful and efficiently stated. No filler or redundant content.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The tool is a simple search with a clear output schema (not provided but implied from signal). The description covers the core purpose, site parameter usage, and the no-API-key requirement. It lacks mention of result format or rate limits, but for a read-only search tool with a straightforward purpose, this is acceptable. The output schema likely covers return values, so the description doesn't need to.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 67%: 'query' and 'site' have descriptions, but 'max_results' has no description in the schema. The description mentions the 'site' parameter and its examples, adding value beyond the schema. However, it doesn't explain the 'max_results' parameter semantics, leaving a gap. Since coverage is moderate, the description partially compensates but not fully.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's purpose: searching Stack Exchange sites for technical Q&A, with a default of Stack Overflow. It distinguishes itself from siblings like search_web by specifying the platform. However, it doesn't explicitly differentiate from search_academic or other specialized search tools, but the platform specificity is clear.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives clear context on when to use this tool: when you need technical Q&A from Stack Exchange. It also provides examples of alternative sites via the 'site' parameter. It doesn't explicitly state when not to use it (e.g., for general web searches), but the focus on Stack Exchange is inferable from the description.

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

search_webA
Read-only

Multi-source web search. Aggregates results from Brave Search and/or Tavily (whichever has a key configured) with dedup and cross-source scoring. Returns title, URL, snippet, and source for each result. Use as the default 'search the web' tool.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryYesSearch query
pro_modeNoIf true, also fetch top 3 results via Jina Reader and append their content snippets.
max_resultsNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4.2/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

The description discloses meaningful behavior beyond the annotations: results are aggregated from Brave Search and/or Tavily based on configured keys, deduplicated, cross-source scored, and returned with title, URL, snippet, and source. The readOnlyHint and openWorldHint are consistent with a read-only multi-source search tool, and the extra aggregation detail adds useful context.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is three tightly packed sentences with no filler. The core purpose is front-loaded, followed by useful behavioral details and a clear default-use instruction, making each sentence valuable.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The description covers purpose, output shape, behavior with multiple sources, and default usage context. Combined with the output schema and annotations, it provides enough for an agent to use the tool correctly, though it could slightly improve by noting what happens if no API key is configured.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 67%, with query and pro_mode described in the schema, but the description itself adds no parameter-specific meaning. The max_results parameter is self-evident by its name and schema constraints, so this is adequate but the description could have clarified that max_results applies after deduplication.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description opens with a specific verb and resource: 'Multi-source web search.' It clearly states the aggregation behavior and return fields, making it easy to distinguish from specialized siblings like search_wikipedia and search_academic, even though those siblings are not explicitly named.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description explicitly says 'Use as the default "search the web" tool,' which gives clear direction on when to choose it. It does not explicitly list what it should not be used for, but the 'default web search' framing strongly implies it is the broad general-purpose option among the more domain-specific siblings.

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

search_wikipediaA
Read-only

Search Wikipedia. Returns titles, URLs, and snippets. No API key required.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryYesSearch query
max_resultsNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

The description shows the return data format (titles, URLs, snippets) and the 'No API key required' note is a useful practical detail about usage friction. Annotations carry weight here and are not contradicted.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three short sentences, each carrying unique information: what it does, what comes back, and a friction detail. Nothing is wasted.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a simple search tool with a small parameter surface and a defined response shape, the description covers the essentials. The main shortfall is lack of explicit routing guidance, which is common and minor here. An explicit 'if you need scholarly sources, use search_scholar_meta' would push this to 5.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

With 50% schema description coverage, the description partially compensates by naming the return type and surfaces an important detail ('No API key required') that isn't in the schema. However, it doesn't add details about query format or semantics beyond what 'Search query' already states, so it doesn't fully cover the gap.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb+resource action ('Search Wikipedia') and lists the return payload contents. It doesn't explicitly distinguish itself from siblings like search_web or search_news, but its focus on the Wikipedia domain is enough to generally separate it.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description states a clear benefit ('No API key required') that helps determine when to use it, but there's no explicit when-not-to-use guidance or alternative tool naming. The sibling list and scoping might be clear enough for some agents, but explicit exclusions (like 'for general web, use search_web') would strengthen it.

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

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. 10 tool updatesv0.2.0
    • First observedextract_evidence
    • First observedfetch_url
    • First observedplan_research
    • First observedresearch
    • First observedsearch_academic
    • First observedsearch_news
    • First observedsearch_scholar_meta
    • First observedsearch_stackexchange
    • First observedsearch_web
    • First observedsearch_wikipedia

TDQS

A4/5.0
Disambiguation4/5

Most tools have clear, distinct purposes: general web, Wikipedia, arXiv, Hacker News, StackExchange, Crossref metadata, and evidence extraction are clearly separate. Minor overlap exists between search_academic (arXiv preprints) and search_scholar_meta (Crossref metadata), since both find scholarly papers, but their descriptions make the distinction clear enough. The plan_research and research tools are also clearly separated as planning vs. execution.

Naming Consistency4/5

Tools mostly follow verb_noun naming (search_web, fetch_url, search_wikipedia, plan_research, extract_evidence), but some are slightly off: search_scholar_meta uses a noun descriptor for a source rather than a clean object; research is a standalone verb, and fetch_url/extract_evidence are both verb_noun but diverge in verb choice. No mixed casing or chaotic naming, so overall predictable and readable.

Tool Count5/5

10 tools is within the ideal 3-15 range and appropriate for a research server: search methods for multiple sources, plus a planner, an executor, and a fetcher/extractor. Each tool serves a distinct role without redundancy, and the scale is not too heavy to handle.

Completeness4/5

The server covers the core research pipeline fairly well: plan, search, extract, synthesize. Minor gaps: no full-text search on Crossref tokens or thousands; abstracts only for arXiv; no search by author/full-text Google Scholar type search; PDF retrieval across fetch_url may not work; no citation graph or retrieval. Useful but not complete.

Maintenance

ActivityMaintained
ResponsivenessNo issues

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