The loop in six lines, the five details providers insist on, and how to stop it running forever.
messages = [ user question ]
for step in range ( max_steps ):
reply = model ( messages , tool_schemas )
if no tool calls : return the text # done
append the assistant message ( with its tool calls )
for each call : run it , append a tool message with the call 's id and the result
return "stopped: too many steps"
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The conversation after one run (real output of the example code) user What is the weather in Pune and what is 12 * 7? assistant requests: get_weather [call_1_0], calculate [call_1_1] tool [call_1_0] {"city": "pune", "temp_c": 29, "sky": "clear"} tool [call_1_1] 84 assistant Result: {"city": "pune", "temp_c": 29, "sky": "clear"} | 84 Each tool message carries the id of the request it answers. Two requests in one turn, two results. The message list after one run of "weather in Pune and 12 * 7". Real output of the example code.
Details that must be exactly right, or providers will usually reject the request:
Append the assistant message that contains the tool calls , before the results.
Every call gets a result message with the same id. The order may differ, but none may be missing. A test checks that the ids match one to one.
A model may request several calls at once. The example asks for the weather and a sum together. They are independent, so you may run them concurrently (Level 0, module 4).
Give the model the results and call it again. Only a reply with no tool calls is a final answer.
Cap the number of steps. A test uses a model that never stops asking. The loop ends after max_steps and reports stopped = "max_steps" instead of spending money forever.
A step cap is the simplest stop. Real agents also cap total tokens, cost and elapsed time (module 6, and Level 11).
Check yourself
A run makes three single tool calls one after another and then answers. How many messages are in the list? (8: the user message, then an assistant and a tool message three times, then the final assistant message.)