Agent Tool Builder

Tools are how AI agents interact with the world. A well-designed tool is the difference between an agent that works and one that hallucinates, fails silently, or wastes tokens.

This skill covers tool design from schema to error handling. JSON Schema best practices, description writing that actually helps the LLM, validation, and the emerging MCP standard that's becoming the lingua franca for AI tools.

Descriptions guide selection, but implementations enforce correctness, authorization and safety. Both require testing; the model may also inspect exposed code/results.

Detailed Guide

Read the detailed guide before executing this skill. It retains the complete procedure and reference material. Treat its safety, prerequisites, and validation requirements as mandatory. For focused work, load the relevant sections; for end-to-end work, read the guide completely.

Historical Python SDK sketch

Mock only: fixed weather is synthetic, not a current forecast. Pin/verify SDK beta API and an account-accessible model before any billed call. Tools need bounded execution/approval policies; the runner does not authorize external effects.

import json
import anthropic
from anthropic import beta_tool

client = anthropic.Anthropic()

@beta_tool
def get_weather(location: str, unit: str = "fahrenheit") -> str:
    '''Get the current weather in a given location.

    Args:
        location: The city and state, e.g. San Francisco, CA
        unit: Temperature unit, either 'celsius' or 'fahrenheit'
    '''
    # Implementation
    return json.dumps({"temperature": "72°F", "conditions": "Sunny"})

@beta_tool
def search_web(query: str) -> str:
    '''Search the web for information.

    Args:
        query: The search query
    '''
    # Implementation
    return json.dumps({"results": [], "mock": True})

# Tool runner handles the loop
runner = client.beta.messages.tool_runner(
    model="claude-sonnet-4-5",
    max_tokens=1024,
    tools=[get_weather, search_web],
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "What's the weather in Paris?"}
    ]
)

# Process each message
for message in runner:
    for block in message.content:
        if getattr(block, "type", None) == "text":
            print(block.text)

# Or just get final result
final = runner.until_done()

When to Use

User mentions or implies: agent tool
User mentions or implies: function calling
User mentions or implies: tool schema
User mentions or implies: tool design
User mentions or implies: mcp server
User mentions or implies: mcp tool
User mentions or implies: tool use
User mentions or implies: build tool for agent
User mentions or implies: define function
User mentions or implies: input_schema
User mentions or implies: tool_use
User mentions or implies: tool_result

Limitations

Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.