A simple “agent”: a program that picks a tool

Beginner level · lesson 5 · about 14 min

An agent is a program that splits a task into steps and, when needed, uses tools (a calculator, search, a file). A typical loop: the model looks at the task and decides which tool to call and with which arguments (often as JSON); the program runs the tool and returns the result to the model; the model builds its answer from that result.

In this lesson there is no model itself: a ready-made “call” dictionary stands in for it, and we write the program part: running the matching function according to the tool name in the call. This is a simplified example; real agents also have error handling, several steps, permissions and more.

def kvadrat(son):
    return son * son

VOSITALAR = {"kvadrat": kvadrat}

def agent(chaqiriq):
    nom = chaqiriq["vosita"]
    if nom in VOSITALAR:
        return VOSITALAR[nom](chaqiriq["son"])
    return "vosita topilmadi"

print(agent({"vosita": "kvadrat", "son": 7}))
print(agent({"vosita": "qidiruv", "son": 7}))

Output49
vosita topilmadi

A safety rule: give an agent only the tools it needs and check the results. An unknown or wrong call must not crash the program: the “vosita topilmadi” case above is an example.

Remember

Agent = model + tools + a program that runs the tools.
The tool name and arguments are passed as a dictionary (JSON).
Handle an unknown call without crashing.

Exercise

Who performs exact arithmetic in an agent system?

Answer and explanation

A tool (function) in the program: the model calls it and gets the result back. (correct answer)that way the calculation is done exactly by checkable code.
Only the model, by generating text.that raises the chance of errors in long calculations.
The user, by hand.the point of an agent is to automate exactly this kind of work.

Code exercises

Write the function kalkulyator(a, b, amal): if amal is +, -, * or /, it returns the matching result.
Hint: For each operation write a condition like if amal == "+": and return.
Write the function agent(chaqiriq): if the value of vosita is kalkulyator, call the calculator with a, b, amal and return the result; for any other tool return the text vosita topilmadi.
Hint: Check chaqiriq["vosita"]; give the calculator chaqiriq["a"], chaqiriq["b"] and chaqiriq["amal"].

Do the exercise in the app.

Practical task

Add a divide-by-zero case to the kalkulyator function: instead of an error it should return a clear message.

I wrote the divide-by-zero condition
I tested it with the / operation

Glossary

Open in the app

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