Agents and workflows

Workflows and Agents

• Definition: Workflows and agents are strategies used to handle user tasks that cannot be completed by Claude in a single request.
• Agent Example: Relying on Claude to determine how to complete a task using provided tools.
• Workflow Definition: A series of calls to Claude designed to solve a very specific problem where the exact steps are known ahead of time.

Deciding Between Workflows and Agents

• Use a Workflow if:
• You have a very precise idea of the task.
• You know the exact series of steps required to complete it.
• Use an Agent if:
• You are unsure about the details of the task.
• You need Claude to figure out the solution path.

Workflow Structure: The Evaluator Optimizer

• Concept: A cyclical process where output is continuously refined until it meets specific criteria.
• Process Flow:
• Input → Producer (e. g. , Claude using a tool like CADquery to create a model)
• Output (e. g. , a rendering of the model) → Grader (Checks if the output meets criteria)
• Decision:
• If the output meets criteria: Workflow succeeds.
• If the output fails: Feedback is given back to the Producer to improve the output.
• Iteration: The cycle repeats until the Grader accepts the output.

Key Takeaway

• Identifying a workflow is a conceptual design phase; actual implementation requires writing the necessary code.
• These patterns are shared among engineers to provide successful blueprints for new projects.

Takeaways

• Workflows and agents are strategies used to handle user tasks that cannot be completed by Claude in a single request.
• Use a Workflow when the exact series of steps is known; use an Agent when Claude must determine the solution path.
• A common workflow structure involves a cyclical process where a Producer generates output, and a Grader checks it, providing feedback for iteration until criteria are met.
• Identifying a workflow is a conceptual design phase that requires writing the necessary code for actual implementation.