Prompts

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What Are Prompts?

• system instructions (prompt)
• model (model)
• available tools (tools)
• optional context controls and validation

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Basic Example

import { definePrompt } from '@standardagents/builder';

export default definePrompt({
  name: 'orchestrator_prompt',
  toolDescription: 'Orchestrates specialized work.',
  prompt: 'Delegate tasks to the right tools and summarize outcomes.',
  model: 'base_model',
  includeChat: true,
  tools: ['search_docs'],
});

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Tool Types in tools

• string callable name
• SubpromptConfig for prompt-tool options
• PromptToolConfig for tool-level options
• SubagentToolConfig for dual_ai subagent relationships

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Subagent Tool Configuration

tools: [
  {
    name: 'topdown_asset_subagent',
    blocking: false,
    immediate: {
      nameEnv: 'ASSET_INSTANCE_NAME',
      descriptionEnv: 'ASSET_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION',
      scopedEnv: ['ASSET_API_KEY'],
    },
    initUserMessageProperty: 'message',
    initAttachmentsProperty: 'attachments',
    initAgentNameProperty: 'name',
    resumable: {
      receives_messages: 'side_a',
      maxInstances: 20,
    },
  },
],

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Important Fields

• blocking: wait for child completion or return immediately
• resumable: persistent child instances with message routing
• initUserMessageProperty: map args to child initial message
• initAttachmentsProperty: map args to child initial attachment paths
• initAgentNameProperty: map args to child thread display name
• immediate: true for default immediate boot, or an object when you want explicit nameEnv / descriptionEnv hints and runtime-only scopedEnv transfer

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Resumable Runtime Tools

• subagent_create
• subagent_message

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Context and Validation

• includeChat
• includePastTools
• toolChoice
• requiredSchema
• reasoning
• hooks

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Best Practices

• Keep orchestrator prompts focused on delegation + synthesis
• Put strict production/QA logic into the child dual_ai agent
• Use explicit init*Property mappings for predictable payloads
• Use the object form of immediate when per-instance boot should derive from safe name/description envs without exposing secrets
• Set reasonable maxInstances on resumable children

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Related Docs

• Subagents
• Agents
• definePrompt