Extending TAI

TAI is designed to be extended with custom tools, channels, and providers.

Adding a new tool (code)

1. Create packages/core/src/tools/<name>.ts implementing the Tool interface:

import type { Tool } from "./interface.js";

export function createMyTool(config: any): Tool {
  return {
    name: "my_tool",
    description: "Does something useful",
    parameters: {
      type: "object",
      properties: {
        input: { type: "string", description: "The input" },
      },
      required: ["input"],
    },
    execute: async (args) => {
      return `Result: ${args.input}`;
    },
  };
}

2. Add config type in packages/core/src/config.ts under AgentConfig.tools

3. Wire it up in packages/core/src/factories.ts in the createTools() function

4. Export from packages/core/src/index.ts

Adding a custom tool (config-only)

No code needed — add an entry under custom_tools in config.yaml:

custom_tools:
  hello:
    description: "Say hello to someone"
    parameters:
      name: { type: "string", description: "Name to greet" }
    command: "echo Hello {{name}}"
    timeout_ms: 5000

Custom tools are rebuilt on every runtime reload, so adding one makes it available immediately.

Adding a new channel

1. Create packages/core/src/channels/<name>.ts implementing Channel:

import type { Channel } from "./interface.js";

export class MyChannel implements Channel {
  async start(): Promise<void> { /* ... */ }
  async stop(): Promise<void> { /* ... */ }
}

2. Add config type in packages/core/src/config.ts under AgentConfig.channels

3. Wire it up in packages/cli/src/index.ts in the runServe() function

4. Export from packages/core/src/index.ts

5. Sessions are keyed per-user: use findOrCreateSession(db, "channelname:userId", model, provider)

Adding a new provider

1. Create packages/core/src/providers/<name>.ts implementing AIProvider:

import type { AIProvider, ChatParams, Message } from "./interface.js";

export class MyProvider implements AIProvider {
  async chat(params: ChatParams): Promise<Message> {
    // Call your LLM API
  }
}

2. Add config type in packages/core/src/config.ts under AgentConfig.providers

3. Add provider creation in packages/core/src/factories.ts in the createProvider() function

4. Export from packages/core/src/index.ts

Conventions

• Tool descriptions: 1-2 sentences max (for local model compatibility)
• ESM imports: Use relative .js extensions within packages
• Cross-package imports: Use @agent/* workspace specifiers
• Config defaults: Use DEFAULT_CONFIG in config.ts as the single source of truth
• All configurable values go in config.yaml / AgentConfig
• Node.js built-ins: Prefer node: prefixed imports