Designing Agents Handbook: Practical Patterns for LLM-Based Agent Systems

This booklet is designed for those who would like to follow current trends and start designing agentic systems. It provides the fundamentals of agent design. The level of the book is intermediate, even though the first chapter presents the basics of LLMs. This booklet guides you to better understand that process both theoretically and practically. PART I: Foundations; Chapters 1 and 2 are introductory chapters that provide background information. The first chapter briefly covers LLM basics. Chapter 2 describes the main agent concept. PART II: Building Single Agents; Chapters 3 and 4 present the core principles of agents. Chapter 3 explains minimal prompting methods for agents, and Chapter 4 teaches how to design a single-agent blueprint, including the main elements, core components, and tests. PART III: Advanced Agent Systems; Chapters 5-13 cover advanced, applied aspects of agent systems. Chapter 5 explores context and memory mechanisms and how to provide agents with the right information. In Chapter 6, we discuss agent workflows and how to transform tasks into structured execution flows. In Chapter 7, we present core patterns of LLM-based agent systems and their practical design implications. Chapter 8 covers the design of multi-agent systems and coordination strategies among agents. Chapter 9 describes monitoring, evaluation, and improvement techniques to maintain system performance over time. Chapter 10 addresses the safety, reliability, and ethics of agentic systems. Chapter 11 contains case studies with short, concrete examples that illustrate real-world applications. Chapter 12 presents exercises and mini-projects for hands-on practice. Chapter 13 concludes with suggestions for further reading and relevant tools for continued learning.

Pagina's: 87, Paperback, Independently published