tool-design
Build tools that agents can use effectively, including architectural reduction patterns. Use when creating new tools for agent systems, debugging tool-related failures or misuse, or optimizing existing tool sets for better agent performance.
Best for Agent system developersWorks with GitHubLow risk
⌘source
- author
@sickn33- language
- Python
★34kstars
5.7kforks
Apr 22, 2026
✦overview.md
Key Features
- ·Principles for agent tool design
- ·Architectural reduction patterns
- ·Debugging tool-related failures
- ·Optimizing tool sets for agents
Use Cases
- →Creating new tools for agent systems
- →Debugging tool-related failures or misuse
- →Optimizing existing tool sets for better agent performance
- →Designing tool APIs from scratch
- →Evaluating third-party tool compatibility
Best for
- ✓Agent system developers
- ✓Tool API designers
Not ideal for
- !Traditional software API design
- !Non-agent systems
name
tool-design
description
Build tools that agents can use effectively, including architectural reduction patterns. Use when creating new tools for agent systems, debugging tool-related failures or misuse, or optimizing existing tool sets for better agent performance.
risk:safe
source:https://github.com/muratcankoylan/Agent-Skills-for-Context-Engineering/tree/main/skills/tool-design
date_added:2026-02-27
When to Use This Skill
Build tools that agents can use effectively, including architectural reduction patterns
Use this skill when working with build tools that agents can use effectively, including architectural reduction patterns.
Tool Design for Agents
Tools are the primary mechanism through which agents interact with the world. They define the contract between deterministic systems and non-deterministic agents. Unlike traditional software APIs designed for developers, tool APIs must be designed for language models that reason about intent, infer parameter values, and generate calls from natural language requests. Poor tool design creates failure modes that no amount of prompt engineering can fix. Effective tool design follows specific principles that account for how agents perceive and use tools.
When to Use
Activate this skill when:
- Creating new tools for agent systems
- Debugging tool-related failures or misuse
- Optimizing existing tool sets for better agent performance
- Designing tool APIs from scratch
- Evaluating third-party tools for agent integration
- Standardizing tool conventions across a codebase
Core Concepts
$install
1-click copynpx skills add sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills --skill tool-designSafety assessment
★
Clarity score
How clear and easy to understand the SKILL.md instructions are, rated from 1 to 5.
2/ 5
fairThe main idea is there, but the wording is messy and easy to misinterpret.
◎
Actionability score
How directly an agent can act on the SKILL.md instructions, rated from 1 to 5.
2/ 5
lowSome hints are present, but an agent still has to guess many steps.