Tools are currently in private alpha and subject to change. If you would like to use them, please reach out to re-factor Support.

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Background

Tools are a fundamental building block in re-factor that enable LLMs to interact with external systems and perform real-world actions. Tools enable LLMs to go beyond generating text and perform real work on your behalf.

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Tool Examples

A tool is an interface that defines how an LLM can interact with an external system or resource. Tools can, subject to your permissions, provide a means for your LLM to:
  • Query databases or APIs
  • Read from or write to files
  • Use a browser or sandboxed computer
  • Execute code or scripts

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Tool Registry

The Tool Registry is a central repository where all tools you want to expose to your LLMs can be registered and managed. Each tool in the registry includes:
  • Name and description
  • Input/output schema
  • Authentication requirements
  • Usage permissions
  • Performance metrics

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Tool Designer

The Tool Designer provides a visual interface for creating and modifying tools. Key features include:
  • Visual schema builder
  • Authentication configuration
  • Permission management
  • Testing interface
  • Version control

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Using Tools

Tools can be used in several ways within re-factor:
  1. Direct Invocation: Call tools directly from your code using our SDK
  2. Flow Integration: Include tools as steps in automated workflows
  3. Agent Access: Give agents access to tool sets for autonomous operation

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Best Practices

When working with tools:
  • Define clear input/output schemas
  • Include descriptive documentation
  • Implement proper error handling
  • Monitor performance and usage
  • Regularly test and validate
  • Control access permissions

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Examples

Here are some common tool patterns: 
// Example tool definition
const databaseTool = {
  name: 'query_database',
  description: 'Query the application database',
  parameters: {
    query: 'string',
    limit: 'number'
  },
  returns: 'array'
};

// Example tool usage in a prompt
const prompt = `
You have access to a database query tool. 
To use it, call query_database with a SQL query and limit.
`;

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Next Steps