Define the job, then the tool list
Write the agent’s job in one sentence. Then list only the tools required for that job. Extra tools increase failure paths and make debugging harder.
- One primary outcome per agent.
- Explicit allow-list for tools and data stores.
- Hard stop when confidence or evidence is low.
- Human approval for irreversible actions.
Operate like production software
Treat agents as services: version them, log every tool call, and monitor cost and latency. The useful agent is the one the team can inspect after something goes wrong.