# First Agent

This is the smallest runnable service-backed agent in the repository. It sits
between `micro new helloworld` and the full [`examples/support`](../support/)
0→hero reference.

It runs with a deterministic mock model, so you do not need `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`,
`OPENAI_API_KEY`, or any other provider secret.

```bash
go run ./examples/first-agent
```

Expected transcript:

```text
First agent (provider: mock, no API key)
> Summarize my next steps
  [notes] listed starter notes
assistant: Your first agent read the notes service and found three steps: install the CLI, run a service, then chat with an agent.
✓ service-backed agent completed without provider secrets
```

## What it demonstrates

- `notes` is a normal Go Micro service with one RPC method.
- `assistant` is an agent scoped to that service via `agent.Services("notes")`.
- The mock model requests the service tool through the normal agent tool handler.
- The final answer proves the service → agent path without a live model key.

CI keeps this path runnable with:

```bash
go test ./examples/first-agent
```

## Next chat, inspect, and debug breadcrumbs

This example exits after one in-process `assistant.Ask` call so it stays tiny and
provider-free. When you move from this transcript to a long-running agent, keep
these commands nearby:

```bash
micro run
micro chat assistant --prompt "Summarize my next steps"
micro inspect agent assistant
micro agent doctor assistant
```

Use the [no-secret first-agent guide](../../internal/website/docs/guides/no-secret-first-agent.md)
to compare this transcript with the CLI demo, then keep the
[debugging guide](../../internal/website/docs/guides/debugging-agents.md) open for
preflight, doctor, inspect, and history checks. After that, continue to
[`examples/support`](../support/) for the full services → agents → workflows
lifecycle with a flow trigger and an approval gate.