Agents and workflows

Core Definitions

• Workflows and agents are strategies for handling user tasks that cannot be completed by Claude in a single request
• You have already been creating these throughout the course (e. g. , when using tools)

Decision Rule: Workflow vs. Agent

• Use a workflow if you have a precise idea of the task and know the exact series of steps needed
• Use an agent if you're unsure about task details and need Claude to figure out the approach

Workflow Example: 3D Model from Image

The process:

• User uploads an image of a metal part
• Feed image to Claude → get detailed description
• Feed description to Claude → use cadquery library to create 3D model
• Generate rendering from the model
• Feed rendering back to Claude → evaluate accuracy against original
• If issues found, loop back to step 3; otherwise, output step file (industry standard 3D format)

Evaluator-Optimizer Pattern

• A common workflow structure with two components:
• Producer: generates output (Claude using cadquery to model and render)
• Grader: evaluates if output meets criteria
• If grader accepts output → workflow ends
• If not → feedback loops back to producer for improvement
• Cycle repeats until grader accepts the result

Important Clarification

• Identifying workflows doesn't automatically do anything
• You must still write code to implement them
• Workflows are discussed because many engineers have found success using these established patterns
• Learning these patterns helps you apply them to your own projects

Takeaways

• Use workflows when you know the exact steps needed; use agents when you're unsure and need Claude to figure out the approach
• The evaluator-optimizer pattern is a common workflow structure where a producer generates output and a grader evaluates it, looping until criteria are met
• Workflows and agents handle tasks that cannot be completed by Claude in a single request
• Identifying a workflow pattern doesn't automatically implement it — you must still write code to execute it
• These established patterns help engineers solve problems systematically in their own projects