Sep 10 (edited) • 💬 Discussion
SUMMARY OF TIPS FROM TODAYS CALL 09/10/2025
AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY:1. What are some common issues users encounter when installing and configuring Agent Zero, particularly regarding API keys and model selection?
Users often face challenges during Agent Zero installation related to API keys and model configuration. A common mistake, as experienced by Julio, is confusing API keys between different providers, such as using an OpenAI key where an OpenRouter key is required, or vice-versa. Additionally, users might mistakenly leave OpenRouter as the default provider while attempting to use OpenAI as the brain, leading to errors. It's crucial to ensure you have sufficient credits on your chosen provider (e.g., OpenRouter) and to correctly specify the model name. If issues persist, switching to a free model on OpenRouter can help diagnose whether the problem is with the model itself or the API key setup. It's recommended to set OpenAI as the explicit provider if that's the intention, and to verify the correct API key is entered for that specific provider.
2. How can users customize Agent Zero to specialize it for specific tasks, like creating a "software engineer specialist" agent?
Agent Zero allows for significant customization to create specialized agents. This is primarily achieved by creating a new agent's profile in the agents directory and then selecting this profile in the settings. While the main prompts directory exists, the key is to create a new, specialized set of prompts within the agents folder. This process involves copying relevant prompts from the default prompts directory into your new agent's profile and then modifying them. For instance, if you want a software engineer specialist, you would craft prompts tailored to software development tasks. However, it's important to note that simply taking prompts from other projects (like Cloud Code's sub-agents) and dropping them into Agent Zero might not work directly, as Agent Zero uses a slightly different system. Users should be prepared to "play around with that a lot" to adapt prompts for Agent Zero's specific tool sections and architecture.
3. What are MCPs (Multi-Channel Platforms) and how do they integrate with Agent Zero?
MCPs (Multi-Channel Platforms) in the context of Agent Zero refer to integrations that extend the agent's capabilities by providing access to external tools and functionalities. When integrating an MCP, it generally "works out of the box" because MCPs have their own tools that are automatically called by the agent. Users typically don't need to modify the prompt for basic MCP functionality, unless the agent struggles to understand the MCP tool due to poorly written descriptions. However, a significant consideration with MCPs is their potential to consume a large amount of context tokens. For example, the GitHub MCP tool can take up to 45,000 tokens, and some BigQuery MCP servers can use 100,000 tokens. Due to this high context usage, it's often more efficient and beneficial for a project to develop custom tools rather than relying heavily on numerous MCPs.
4. What are some recommended strategies for developing custom tools over using MCPs, especially concerning context usage?
The primary strategy for developing custom tools over using MCPs is to improve efficiency and reduce context token consumption. As highlighted, MCPs can be "very heavy" and utilize a significant number of tokens, which can impact performance and cost. By developing a dedicated tool for a specific function, users can create a more streamlined and context-aware solution that is tailored precisely to their needs, rather than relying on a generalized MCP. This approach minimizes unnecessary context, making the agent more efficient. For instance, instead of using a broad BigQuery MCP server, one might develop a specific tool to query only the necessary data. This not only reduces token usage but also provides greater control over the agent's functionality and resource consumption.
5. Can Agent Zero be deployed on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) environment, and what are the typical methods for doing so?
Yes, Agent Zero can be deployed on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) environment. Users like Chadwick have successfully set it up on Hostinger VPS. The process is made considerably easier when the VPS provider already has Docker loaded and set up. Users can install Agent Zero through Docker, and some providers even offer simple methods to point a URL to the deployed application. While some users prefer doing it through the terminal, the availability of pre-configured Docker environments on VPS platforms significantly simplifies the installation. If assistance is needed, community members are often willing to help guide others through the process.
6. What advice is given for optimizing prompts in Agent Zero, particularly regarding specific tools like code execution?
Optimizing prompts in Agent Zero, especially for tools like code execution, is crucial for better performance. One key piece of advice is to explicitly guide the agent when a tool encounters common issues. For example, if the Kimi K2 code execution tool frequently errors because it forgets runtime arguments, modifying the prompt to tell Kimi to "please remember the runtime argument" can resolve the issue. Similarly, if code execution tools time out frequently (e.g., the default 15 seconds), users can prompt the agent to "wait longer" or investigate if there's a way to natively adjust the tool's timeout duration. The general rule of thumb is to touch prompts when the agent exhibits specific, recurring problems with a tool, using the prompt to "remind" the agent of necessary parameters or behaviors.
7. What are some valuable external resources or tools recommended by the Agent Zero community for improving development and prompting?
The Agent Zero community recommends several valuable external resources and tools. For general prompting and context engineering, IndieDevDan's YouTube channel is highly praised, with his videos on these topics being "very, very good." For development agents, particularly when working with Agent Zero, "MCP Serena" is strongly suggested. It's a tool created by German developers that excels in planning and checking code, utilizing unique symbols that aid in development workflows. It can be used effectively in conjunction with DeepWiki, which is useful for asking "how-to" questions. These resources offer insights into best practices for prompt construction and provide specialized functionalities that can significantly enhance an agent's capabilities in development tasks.
8. How does the Agent Zero community facilitate knowledge sharing and feedback, and what future improvements are planned for this?
The Agent Zero community actively facilitates knowledge sharing through regular calls, discussions on platforms like School and Discord, and shared transcripts. Valuable "gold nuggets" and "wisdom" are exchanged during these calls, often regarding troubleshooting, optimization techniques, and new tools. Currently, information is primarily posted on School with timestamps and transcripts. Future improvements include creating a dedicated "demo category" for users to showcase their projects and share their experiences, making it easier for others to find and learn from successful implementations (like Stirling's pen testing agent). There's also a strong desire to consolidate these valuable pieces of information, perhaps by putting all transcripts somewhere like a DeepWiki or a knowledge graph, making it easier for users to query and access the collective wisdom of the community.
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SUMMARY OF TIPS FROM TODAYS CALL 09/10/2025
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