You do not need a complex architecture on day one. Start with one constrained workflow, measure behavior, and add complexity only when you can explain failures clearly.
Step 1: define one job
Example: classify inbound requests and suggest one next action. Keep scope tight to reduce debugging variables.
Step 2: keep tools minimal
If a task only needs two tools, expose two. More tools increase branching and failure surface.
Step 3: configure safety controls
Timeouts per call.
Retry caps with exponential backoff.
Guardrails for sensitive actions.
Step 4: run 20-50 real tasks
Synthetic demos hide edge cases. Use production-like tasks and log each failure reason.
Step 5: iterate by metrics
Success rate per workflow step.
Average latency and p95.
Most common failure classes and recovery effectiveness.
