Research agent

Research is a good first durable agent because it can run after the caller disconnects and can use bounded read-only tools in parallel.

Agent definition

import { defineFlaryAgent } from "flary/flue";

export default defineFlaryAgent<Env>({
  resolveContext: ({ env, id }) => env.RUN_BINDINGS.read(id),

  resolveAgent: ({ trusted }) => ({
    agentId: "research",
    revisionId: trusted.revisionId,
    instructions: [
      "Research only from approved sources.",
      "Cite every material claim.",
      "Ask for clarification when the scope is not clear.",
    ].join("\n"),
    model: {
      provider: "openai",
      model: "gpt-5.6",
      cacheRetention: "short",
    },
    thinkingLevel: "high",
    mode: "ask",
    limits: {
      maxSteps: 20,
      maxToolCalls: 40,
      maxDurationMs: 600_000,
    },
  }),

  resolveModel: ({ env, agent, trusted }) =>
    env.MODELS.resolve(trusted, agent.model),

  resolveTools: ({ env, trusted }) =>
    env.RESEARCH_TOOLS.forThread(trusted),
});

The research tool set should expose source search, source open, and Recall. Keep it read-only. If the agent must save a report, grant only artifact.plan.write or a dedicated report artifact capability.

Prompt

---
model: inherit
thinking: high
tools:
  - sources.search
  - sources.open
  - recall.search
  - recall.open
input:
  question: string
  scope: string
limits:
  steps: 20
  tools: 40
---

Research {{question}} within this scope:
{{scope}}

Return:
1. A short answer.
2. Evidence with source titles and links.
3. Any uncertainty or missing evidence.

Run it from a product

const run = await runs.create({
  requestId: crypto.randomUUID(),
  channelId: "research:customer-42",
  input: {
    question: "Which vendors support SCIM provisioning?",
    scope: "Only the approved security and vendor documentation.",
  },
  idempotencyKey: "research:customer-42:scim:v1",
});

for await (const event of runs.observe(run.runId)) {
  researchPanel.append(event);
}

For a large question, spawn bounded ask-mode subagents for independent source groups. The parent should validate and cite their results before returning the final answer.