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Agents and Tool-Using AI Systems

Free

Learn how to build AI agents that call tools, orchestrate multi-step workflows, and handle failures gracefully. This course covers tool calling, agent patterns, orchestration boundaries, failure modes, and debugging. Built for software engineers and AI engineers who have basic LLM experience and want to add tool use and agent capabilities. Each tutorial includes step-by-step instructions with direct links to the tools and frameworks you will use.

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Complete lessons in order to unlock the next — structured progression.

Agents vs Chains: Choosing the Right Pattern

Understand the difference between simple LLM chains and autonomous agents. Learn when each pattern is the right fit, and when agents add unnecessary complexity.

  1. 1What Is An Ai AgentTutorial
  2. 2When Agents Are OverkillTutorial
  3. 3Your First Tool Calling AgentTutorial
  4. 4When to Use Agents vs ChainsContent
  5. 5Agents Vs Chains CheckQuiz

Designing Tools for AI Agents

Learn how to define tools so the model can use them correctly. Write clear tool descriptions, handle input validation, and return structured results the model can work with.

  1. 6How To Define Tools For LlmsTutorial
  2. 7Tool Input Validation And Error HandlingTutorial
  3. 8Building A Multi Tool AgentTutorial
  4. 9Build Better Tools for Your AgentsContent
  5. 10Tool Design CheckQuiz

Orchestration: Multi-Step Agent Workflows

Build agents that handle multi-step workflows. Learn orchestration patterns, state management, handoff boundaries, and when to let code take over from the model.

  1. 11Orchestration Patterns For AgentsTutorial
  2. 12State Management In Agent LoopsTutorial
  3. 13Handoff Boundaries: Agent Vs CodeTutorial
  4. 14Three Core Orchestration PatternsContent
  5. 15Orchestration CheckQuiz

Failure Modes and Debugging

Learn what goes wrong with AI agents and how to fix it. Cover wrong tool selection, infinite loops, cost blowups, hallucinated tool calls, and systematic debugging strategies.

  1. 16Common Agent Failure ModesTutorial
  2. 17Systematic Debugging For AgentsTutorial
  3. 18Adding Guardrails And Safety LimitsTutorial
  4. 19Agent Debugging ChecklistContent
  5. 20Quiz: Failure Modes And DebuggingQuiz

Capstone: Build a Production-Ready Agent

Put everything together. Build an agent with multiple tools, orchestration logic, error handling, and guardrails. Walk through the full process from design to testing.

  1. 21Designing Your Agent ArchitectureTutorial
  2. 22Building The Agent End To EndTutorial
  3. 23Testing And Evaluating AgentsTutorial
  4. 24Agent Architecture TemplateContent
  5. 25Quiz: Building Production Ready AgentsQuiz

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