Agents
Understand AI agents in BeeAI
Understanding Agents
Agents are at the core of the BeeAI platform. They represent autonomous components that can perform specific tasks, process information, or interact with users. This document explains agent concepts, their structure, and how they function within the BeeAI ecosystem.
What are Agents?
In BeeAI, an agent is a self-contained module that:
- Implements the Agent Communication Protocol (ACP)
- Has clearly defined inputs and outputs
- Performs a specific function or set of related functions
- Can operate independently or as part of a composition
- Is packaged as a Docker container
Conceptually, agents can be thought of as specialized “workers” that excel at specific tasks, from simple operations like text summarization to complex workflows like research, content generation, or data analysis.
Agent Architecture
Every agent in BeeAI has these common components:
1. Agent Interface
The interface defines how the agent communicates with the outside world through:
- Input Schema: Defines the expected input format
- Output Schema: Specifies the structure of the agent’s response
- Metadata: Information about the agent’s capabilities, requirements, and usage
2. Agent Logic
The core functionality of the agent, which can include:
- Processing input data
- Making API calls to external services
- Using language models for text generation
- Utilizing specialized tools (search, weather, etc.)
- Performing computations or data analysis
3. Container Runtime
All agents run in containerized environments (Docker), ensuring:
- Consistent execution across different platforms
- Isolation from the host system and other agents
- Dependency management
- Scalability and reproducibility
Agent Types
BeeAI supports various types of agents:
By Interaction Pattern
- Chat Agents: Conversational agents designed for back-and-forth interaction with users
- Hands-Off Agents: Single-purpose agents that process input and produce output without intermediate steps
- Custom UI Agents: Agents with specialized interfaces for specific use cases
By Framework
- BeeAI Framework Agents: Built using the official BeeAI Framework
- Community Framework Agents: Built with frameworks like LangChain, CrewAI, LlamaIndex, etc.
- Custom Agents: An agent implementation that implements ACP protocol built with potentialy any framework
By Purpose
- Tool Agents: Perform specific operations like search, data processing, or code generation
- Assistant Agents: Provide conversational help and information to users
- Composer Agents: Coordinate the execution of multiple agents (like sequential_workflow)
- Domain-Specific Agents: Specialized for particular fields like legal, medical, or financial tasks
Agent Metadata
Agent metadata provides essential information about an agent, including:
- Name: Unique identifier for the agent
- Description: Brief summary of the agent’s purpose
- Documentation: Detailed explanation of how the agent works
- Framework: The framework or technology used to build the agent
- Examples: Sample usage and expected outputs
- Environment Variables: Configuration options for the agent
- UI Type: How the agent should be presented in the user interface
- Links: References to source code, documentation, etc.
Here’s an example of agent metadata:
Standardized Agent Interfaces
BeeAI provides standardized UI patterns for agent interaction:
Chat Interface
Designed for conversational agents:
- Full conversation history and context
- Message-by-message interaction
- Streaming responses
- Suitable for assistants and complex interaction flows
Hands-Off Interface
For single-input, single-output agents:
- One input field for the user request
- Processes the request and returns a complete response
- No intermediate interaction
- Suitable for transformation, generation, or analysis tasks
Custom Interfaces
For specialized agent requirements:
- JSON input interface for complex data structures
- Custom visualizations
- Application-specific UI elements
Agent Lifecycle
The lifecycle of a BeeAI agent includes these stages:
- Discovery: Agents are found in the registry or from custom sources
- Installation: Agents are downloaded and installed locally
- Configuration: Required environment variables are set
- Execution: The agent runs in response to user requests
- Updating: Agents are updated to newer versions as needed
- Removal: Agents can be uninstalled when no longer needed
Agent Management
BeeAI provides tools for managing agents:
- Listing Agents:
beeai list
shows all available agents - Installing:
beeai install <name>
installs an agent - Running:
beeai run <name> [input]
executes an agent - Inspecting:
beeai info <name>
shows agent details - Viewing Logs:
beeai logs <name>
displays agent logs - Removing:
beeai remove <name>
uninstalls an agent
Creating Agents
To create your own agent:
- Choose a development framework (BeeAI Framework, LangChain, etc.)
- Implement the agent logic following the ACP standard
- Package the agent as a Docker container
- Test the agent locally
- Share the agent with others
See Building Agents for detailed instructions.
Next Steps
- Run agents locally
- Compose agents into workflows
- Explore the agent catalog
- Build your own agents
description: “Understand AI agents in BeeAI: types, capabilities, lifecycle management, and how they work across different frameworks through the ACP protocol.”
Agents
In BeeAI, agents are self-contained AI programs that can perform specific tasks or engage in conversations. What makes BeeAI unique is that agents from any framework - CrewAI, LangChain, AutoGen, or custom implementations - all work seamlessly together through the Agent Communication Protocol (ACP).
What Are Agents?
An agent in BeeAI is an AI program that:
- Accepts input in natural language or structured formats
- Processes requests using AI models and custom logic
- Produces output such as text, files, or structured data
- Runs independently in its own containerized environment
- Communicates through the standardized ACP protocol
Agent vs. Traditional Software
Traditional Software | BeeAI Agents |
---|---|
Fixed, programmed responses | Dynamic, AI-powered responses |
Rigid input/output formats | Natural language interaction |
Single-purpose functions | Adaptable task handling |
Manual integration required | Universal ACP compatibility |
Agent Types by Interface
Chat Agents
Interactive agents that maintain conversation context and support back-and-forth dialogue.
Characteristics:
- Persistent conversation memory
- Interactive user interface
- Real-time streaming responses
- Context-aware responses
Example Usage:
Use Cases:
- General assistance and Q&A
- Interactive problem-solving
- Educational conversations
- Customer support scenarios
Hands-off Agents
Task-focused agents that take a single instruction and work autonomously to complete it.
Characteristics:
- Single input, complete output
- Autonomous task execution
- Progress indicators during work
- Comprehensive final results
Example Usage:
Use Cases:
- Research and analysis tasks
- Content generation
- Code review and analysis
- Report creation
Workflow Agents
Meta-agents that orchestrate multiple other agents to complete complex, multi-step tasks.
Characteristics:
- Orchestrates multiple agents
- Manages data flow between steps
- Handles different completion times
- Combines outputs intelligently
Example Usage:
Use Cases:
- Complex business processes
- Multi-stage content creation
- Data processing pipelines
- Automated reporting workflows
Agent Types by Framework
CrewAI Agents
Agents built using the CrewAI framework, designed for collaborative multi-agent workflows.
Example Agent:
Strengths:
- Multi-agent collaboration
- Role-based agent design
- Built-in task management
- Hierarchical workflows
LangChain Agents
Agents leveraging LangChain’s extensive ecosystem of tools and integrations.
Example Agent:
Strengths:
- Extensive tool ecosystem
- Memory management
- Chain composition
- Vector database integration
AutoGen Agents
Agents built with Microsoft’s AutoGen for multi-agent conversations.
Example Agent:
Strengths:
- Multi-agent conversations
- Human-in-the-loop capabilities
- Code execution environment
- Group chat coordination
Custom Framework Agents
Agents built with custom frameworks or from scratch, tailored for specific use cases.
Example Agent:
Strengths:
- Complete control over behavior
- Optimized for specific tasks
- Minimal dependencies
- Custom integration capabilities
Agent Lifecycle
Discovery Phase
Agents become available through various discovery mechanisms:
Sources:
- Official Registry: Curated agents from BeeAI team
- Community Registry: Community-contributed agents
- Docker Registries: Public and private container registries
- GitHub Repositories: Source code repositories with agent definitions
- Custom Registries: Enterprise and organizational agent repositories
Installation and Deployment
When an agent is first requested, BeeAI handles the complete deployment process:
Resource Management
Automatic Scaling:
- Scale Up: Agents start when first requested
- Scale Out: Multiple instances for high demand
- Scale Down: Automatic shutdown after idle period
- Resource Limits: CPU, memory, and storage quotas
Health Monitoring:
- Liveness Probes: Detect unresponsive agents
- Readiness Probes: Ensure agents are ready for requests
- Performance Metrics: Response times and success rates
- Automatic Recovery: Restart failed agents
Agent Configuration
Environment Variables
Agents require configuration for external services and behavior:
Common Variables:
Security:
- Variables stored encrypted in Kubernetes secrets
- Automatic injection into agent containers
- No hardcoded credentials in agent images
- Support for external secret management systems
Agent Metadata
Every agent includes comprehensive metadata describing its capabilities:
Agent Communication
Input Formats
Agents accept various input formats through the ACP protocol:
Simple Text:
Structured Input:
Multi-modal Input:
Output Formats
Agents produce various types of output:
Text Responses:
File Artifacts:
Progress Updates:
Agent Development Best Practices
Design Principles
Single Responsibility:
- Each agent should have a clear, focused purpose
- Avoid creating “do-everything” agents
- Compose complex workflows from specialized agents
User-Centric Design:
- Clear, helpful descriptions and examples
- Intuitive input expectations
- Meaningful progress indicators
- Comprehensive error messages
Reliability:
- Graceful error handling
- Appropriate timeouts
- Resource usage optimization
- Consistent output quality
Performance Optimization
Efficient Resource Usage:
Memory Management:
Error Handling
User-Friendly Errors:
Agent Security
Input Validation
Sanitize Inputs:
Secret Management
Never Hardcode Secrets:
Container Security
Run as Non-Root User:
Agent Monitoring and Observability
Health Checks
Every agent implements health endpoints:
Metrics Collection
Performance Metrics:
- Request/response times
- Success/failure rates
- Resource utilization
- Concurrent request handling
Business Metrics:
- Popular agent features
- User satisfaction indicators
- Task completion rates
- Error patterns and causes
Logging
Structured Logging:
Future Agent Capabilities
Planned Enhancements
Multi-Agent Collaboration:
- Direct agent-to-agent communication
- Shared working memory
- Coordinated task execution
- Conflict resolution mechanisms
Advanced Interfaces:
- Voice input/output support
- Real-time collaboration features
- Mobile-optimized interfaces
- AR/VR integration capabilities
Enhanced AI Capabilities:
- Multi-modal processing (text, image, audio, video)
- Long-term memory and learning
- Personalization and adaptation
- Reasoning chain visualization
Enterprise Features:
- Advanced access controls
- Audit trails and compliance
- Custom deployment policies
- Integration with enterprise systems
Agents in BeeAI represent a new paradigm where AI capabilities from any framework can be shared, discovered, and orchestrated through standardized interfaces, creating a rich ecosystem of specialized AI tools that work seamlessly together.