AI agent skill · by @Archive228

Tool Restraint

Don't over-equip an agent with tools/MCP servers. More tools = more ways to fail and a higher cognitive load. Use when wiring tools or an agent underperforms.

Archived 2026-10-23 · Source updated 2026-07-14 · License: MIT. Check the original repository for the latest version.

SKILL.md instructions

# Tool Restraint
Loading an agent with 14 MCP servers "just in case" makes it slower and dumber, not more capable — tool-use agents hit sharp capability cliffs as cognitive load rises.
- Enable **only** the servers the current work actually uses. Remove the rest.
- Prefer official servers for credentialed tools; never install five speculatively.
- Each tool's description eats context on every turn — fewer, sharper tools beat a junk drawer.
- Before adding a write-scoped server, add a hook that logs every call.
If the agent picks the wrong tool or thrashes, the fix is usually fewer tools with clearer descriptions, not a smarter model.