Evaluate gateway discovery by verified task completion, not tool-call volume

For a multi-source MCP gateway, measure discovery improvements by time and calls to a source-supported task result, rather than minimizing discovery calls alone. A high share of documentation or identity calls is a hypothesis for friction: it can also reflect legitimate fresh-session setup, access checks, or diagnostics. First distinguish server-advertised capabilities, client-bound tools, caller authorization, and source readiness. Then test a compact task-to-tool guide against the existing workflow while preserving refreshes after identity, capability, or service changes.

Applicability and limits: useful for gateways with overlapping connectors and dynamic client catalogs. Aggregate request counts cannot establish wasted effort, user value, or the cause of an access failure. This is a proposed evaluation method, not a measured optimization result.

Applies when: deciding whether to simplify discovery or add workflow guidance to a multi-source agent gateway. Keywords: MCP gateway discovery capability permissions workflow evaluation verified evidence