Posts tagged "tools"
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Structured output for agents: schemas, contracts and ownership
Structured output agents hand over typed data, not free text. Define JSON schemas for tool results and outputs, version them and name an owner per contract.
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Code execution agents or direct tool calls? Trade-offs for builders
Code execution agents can cut token use sharply by filtering data in a sandbox, but need isolation. Compared with direct tool calls on cost, safety and audit.
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LLM cost optimization for agents: caching, code execution and budgets
LLM cost optimization for agents: where prompt caching pays off, when code execution beats tool calls, and why hard per-run token budgets protect security too.
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Context engineering: the smallest set of tokens that does the job
Context engineering treats the context window as a finite budget. Practical ways to keep it small: compaction, sub-tasks with own context, notes.
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Writing tools agents can actually use: names, schemas and errors
Tool design for AI agents is interface design for a model reader. A checklist for names, namespaces, narrow schemas and errors, and how small tools ease policy.
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Tool, skill or prompt? Three ways to give an agent what it needs
Agent skills vs tools vs prompts: a tool acts, a skill packages know-how loaded on demand, a prompt is standing text. Includes a decision table.