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  1. Skills Directory
  2. Agent Building

Agent Building

Basic

These concepts cover the basic building blocks of an agent: how it receives a goal, follows instructions, works through steps, calls a tool, and returns a result. The focus is on agents that complete one clear task. The learner should be able to set up a basic agent loop, connect a simple tool, produce structured output, and add stop and confirmation rules.

Key Concepts and Activities

  1. The Agent Loop and Task Flow
    • Activities: Trace how a request moves through goal, instructions, steps, tool call, and output in a simple agent loop.
    • Reason: An agent is a loop around the model, not a single call.
    • Example task: Given a 30-line agent loop, mark where the model is called, where the tool runs, and where the loop ends.
  2. Goals and Instructions
    • Activities: Write a clear goal, a testable success condition, and system instructions with dos and don'ts, then test them for consistency.
    • Reason: A clear goal and tested instructions keep the agent focused and predictable.
    • Example task: Write goal and instructions for a support reply agent, run 3 sample tickets, and note where behavior broke the rules.
  3. Structured Input and Output
    • Activities: Define required inputs, a fixed output structure, such as JSON with status, result, and reason, and a check that prompts the user when inputs are missing.
    • Reason: Agents fail when they act on missing info or return output that nothing can parse.
    • Example task: Define a JSON output schema for a travel planning agent, plus the input check that stops when destination or dates are missing.
  4. Tool Calling
    • Activities: Define a tool with a name, description, and input fields, connect it to a real function, and return the result to the model.
    • Reason: Tool calling is the core skill; without it, the agent can't actually do anything.
    • Example task: Build a get_availability tool for a calendar agent that connects to a function that returns free slots, and have the agent use it instead of guessing.
  5. Stopping Conditions and Confirmation
    • Activities: Add a max step limit, a stop condition for the final answer, and a confirmation pause before actions like sending or submitting.
    • Reason: Limits stop infinite loops; confirmation stops action without approval.
    • Example task: Add a 5-step limit to a form-filling agent and a pause that shows the filled form before submitting.