Step 1: Introduction to cagent#

In this step we will start small, we will see how to create simple agents with cagent.

Your First Agent#

Let's create the simplest possible agent:

basic_hello.yaml

agents:
  root:
    model: openai/gpt-4o
    instruction: You talk like a pirate

Let's run this amazing agent now.

cagent run basic_hello.yaml

If everything is setup correctly, you should see the TUI and be able to ask a question to your agent and it should answer in pirate speak like so:

If you don't have access to OpenAI, go to models.dev and look for the models that exist for openai, anthropic or google provider IDs, and swap for one which you have a key for.

cagent supports these providers:

• openai
• anthropic
• google
• dmr: Use any local Docker Model Runner model that you alrady have pulled locally.

Next Steps#

In Step 2, we'll dive deeper into agent configuration, add more personality, and learn about agent properties like add_date and add_environment_info.