tool-design-for-agents
Installation
SKILL.md
Tool Design for Agents
A tool is a function an AI agent can call to interact with the outside world. Search a CRM, enrich a contact, send an email, query a database. The agent reads the tool's name, description, and parameters, then decides when to call it and what arguments to pass. Good tool design means the agent calls the right tool with the right arguments on the first try. Bad tool design means the agent calls the wrong tool, passes garbage arguments, or ignores the tool entirely.
The principle: design tools from the agent's perspective. The agent sees a name, a one-sentence description, and a parameter list. If those three things aren't crystal clear, the agent will guess. Agents that guess produce inconsistent results.
Tool Anatomy
The three elements an agent sees
| Element | What the agent uses it for | Design goal |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Deciding whether this tool might be relevant | Verb-noun. Unambiguous. Instantly clear what it does |
| Description | Deciding whether to call this tool vs another | One sentence. States what the tool does AND what it returns |
| Parameters | Filling in the arguments | Clear types, clear descriptions, minimal required fields |