05 Tools and Actions

Phase 2 - Agent Core
Stage 5 of 14. Previous: Stage 4 - Agent Fundamentals. Next: Stage 6 - MCP.

Goal

Learn how to design safe, reliable tools that an agent can call.

Learn

• Tool Definition
• Tool Schemas
• Function Calling
• Tool Error Handling
• Common Agent Tools
• Permission boundaries for read, write, and destructive tools

Build

Build a tool-calling agent with calculator, web/API, and file-safe tools.

Exit Criteria

• You can write a tool schema that is easy for an LLM to use.
• You can validate tool inputs and outputs.
• You can classify tools as read-only, write, or destructive.
• You can explain the risk of excessive agency.

Checkpoint

Use the Stage 5 checkpoint before moving on.