Build custom tools for Vizra ADK agents - includes patterns for database, API, file, and email tools
Scanned 9/5/2026
Install to Claude Code
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---
name: "Vizra ADK Tool Creation"
description: "Build custom tools for Vizra ADK agents - includes patterns for database, API, file, and email tools"
---
# Building Vizra ADK Tools
Tools extend agent capabilities by allowing them to interact with databases, APIs, files, and external services.
## Tool Class Structure
Every tool MUST implement `ToolInterface`:
```php
<?php
namespace App\Tools;
use Vizra\VizraADK\Contracts\ToolInterface;
use Vizra\VizraADK\Agents\AgentContext;
class {{ ToolName }}Tool implements ToolInterface
{
/**
* Define the tool's schema for the LLM
*/
public function definition(): array
{
return [
'name' => '{{ tool_name }}',
'description' => '{{ What this tool does - be specific }}',
'parameters' => [
'type' => 'object',
'properties' => [
'param1' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => '{{ Parameter description }}'
],
'param2' => [
'type' => 'integer',
'description' => '{{ Parameter description }}'
],
],
'required' => ['param1'],
],
];
}
/**
* Execute the tool with given arguments
*/
public function execute(array $arguments, AgentContext $context): string
{
// Tool logic here
return json_encode([
'status' => 'success',
'data' => $result
]);
}
}
```
## Key Rules
1. **Naming Convention**:
- Class name MUST end with `Tool`
- The `name` in definition should be snake_case
2. **Definition Requirements**:
- `name`: Unique identifier for the tool
- `description`: Clear description of what the tool does (LLM uses this to decide when to use the tool)
- `parameters`: JSON Schema format describing expected inputs
3. **Return Format**:
- Always return JSON-encoded strings
- Include status indicators for success/error
- Provide meaningful error messages
## Parameter Types
```php
'parameters' => [
'type' => 'object',
'properties' => [
// String parameter
'name' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'The user name'
],
// Integer parameter
'count' => [
'type' => 'integer',
'description' => 'Number of items'
],
// Boolean parameter
'active' => [
'type' => 'boolean',
'description' => 'Whether the item is active'
],
// Enum parameter
'status' => [
'type' => 'string',
'enum' => ['pending', 'approved', 'rejected'],
'description' => 'Current status'
],
// Array parameter
'tags' => [
'type' => 'array',
'items' => ['type' => 'string'],
'description' => 'List of tags'
],
// Object parameter
'metadata' => [
'type' => 'object',
'properties' => [
'key' => ['type' => 'string'],
'value' => ['type' => 'string']
],
'description' => 'Additional metadata'
],
],
'required' => ['name', 'count'],
]
```
## Common Tool Patterns
### Database Query Tool
```php
class DatabaseQueryTool implements ToolInterface
{
public function definition(): array
{
return [
'name' => 'query_database',
'description' => 'Execute a read-only database query to retrieve information',
'parameters' => [
'type' => 'object',
'properties' => [
'table' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'The table to query'
],
'conditions' => [
'type' => 'object',
'description' => 'WHERE conditions as key-value pairs'
],
'limit' => [
'type' => 'integer',
'description' => 'Maximum number of results'
],
],
'required' => ['table'],
],
];
}
public function execute(array $arguments, AgentContext $context): string
{
$allowedTables = ['users', 'orders', 'products'];
if (!in_array($arguments['table'], $allowedTables)) {
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'message' => 'Table not allowed'
]);
}
$query = DB::table($arguments['table']);
if (isset($arguments['conditions'])) {
foreach ($arguments['conditions'] as $key => $value) {
$query->where($key, $value);
}
}
$results = $query->limit($arguments['limit'] ?? 10)->get();
return json_encode([
'status' => 'success',
'data' => $results,
'count' => $results->count()
]);
}
}
```
### API Integration Tool
```php
class ExternalApiTool implements ToolInterface
{
public function definition(): array
{
return [
'name' => 'call_external_api',
'description' => 'Make requests to the external service API',
'parameters' => [
'type' => 'object',
'properties' => [
'endpoint' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'API endpoint path'
],
'method' => [
'type' => 'string',
'enum' => ['GET', 'POST'],
'description' => 'HTTP method'
],
'data' => [
'type' => 'object',
'description' => 'Request payload for POST requests'
],
],
'required' => ['endpoint', 'method'],
],
];
}
public function execute(array $arguments, AgentContext $context): string
{
try {
$response = Http::withToken(config('services.external.api_key'))
->baseUrl(config('services.external.base_url'))
->{strtolower($arguments['method'])}(
$arguments['endpoint'],
$arguments['data'] ?? []
);
return json_encode([
'status' => 'success',
'data' => $response->json(),
'http_status' => $response->status()
]);
} catch (\Exception $e) {
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'message' => $e->getMessage()
]);
}
}
}
```
### File Operations Tool
```php
class FileOperationsTool implements ToolInterface
{
public function definition(): array
{
return [
'name' => 'file_operations',
'description' => 'Read or write files in the allowed storage directory',
'parameters' => [
'type' => 'object',
'properties' => [
'operation' => [
'type' => 'string',
'enum' => ['read', 'write', 'list'],
'description' => 'Operation to perform'
],
'path' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'File path relative to storage'
],
'content' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'Content to write (for write operation)'
],
],
'required' => ['operation', 'path'],
],
];
}
public function execute(array $arguments, AgentContext $context): string
{
// Sanitize path to prevent directory traversal
$safePath = str_replace(['..', '//'], '', $arguments['path']);
$fullPath = storage_path('app/agent-files/' . $safePath);
switch ($arguments['operation']) {
case 'read':
if (!file_exists($fullPath)) {
return json_encode(['status' => 'error', 'message' => 'File not found']);
}
return json_encode([
'status' => 'success',
'content' => file_get_contents($fullPath)
]);
case 'write':
file_put_contents($fullPath, $arguments['content'] ?? '');
return json_encode(['status' => 'success', 'message' => 'File written']);
case 'list':
$files = glob($fullPath . '/*');
return json_encode([
'status' => 'success',
'files' => array_map('basename', $files)
]);
}
}
}
```
### Email Tool
```php
class EmailTool implements ToolInterface
{
public function definition(): array
{
return [
'name' => 'send_email',
'description' => 'Send an email to a recipient',
'parameters' => [
'type' => 'object',
'properties' => [
'to' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'Recipient email address'
],
'subject' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'Email subject line'
],
'body' => [
'type' => 'string',
'description' => 'Email body content'
],
],
'required' => ['to', 'subject', 'body'],
],
];
}
public function execute(array $arguments, AgentContext $context): string
{
try {
// Validate email
if (!filter_var($arguments['to'], FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'message' => 'Invalid email address'
]);
}
Mail::raw($arguments['body'], function ($message) use ($arguments) {
$message->to($arguments['to'])
->subject($arguments['subject']);
});
return json_encode([
'status' => 'success',
'message' => 'Email sent successfully'
]);
} catch (\Exception $e) {
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'message' => 'Failed to send email: ' . $e->getMessage()
]);
}
}
}
```
## Error Handling Best Practices
```php
public function execute(array $arguments, AgentContext $context): string
{
try {
// Validate inputs
if (empty($arguments['required_field'])) {
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'error_type' => 'validation',
'message' => 'required_field is missing'
]);
}
// Perform operation
$result = $this->performOperation($arguments);
return json_encode([
'status' => 'success',
'data' => $result
]);
} catch (\InvalidArgumentException $e) {
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'error_type' => 'validation',
'message' => $e->getMessage()
]);
} catch (\Exception $e) {
Log::error('Tool execution failed', [
'tool' => static::class,
'error' => $e->getMessage()
]);
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'error_type' => 'execution',
'message' => 'Operation failed: ' . $e->getMessage()
]);
}
}
```
## Security Best Practices
1. **Validate all inputs** using Laravel's validator
2. **Sanitize file paths** to prevent directory traversal
3. **Whitelist allowed operations** instead of blacklisting
4. **Use environment variables** for API keys and secrets
5. **Check user permissions** via AgentContext when needed
```php
public function execute(array $arguments, AgentContext $context): string
{
// Check user permissions
$user = $context->getUser();
if (!$user->can('perform-action')) {
return json_encode([
'status' => 'error',
'message' => 'Unauthorized'
]);
}
// Validate inputs
$validated = validator($arguments, [
'email' => 'required|email',
'amount' => 'required|numeric|min:0|max:10000',
])->validate();
// Proceed with validated data
}
```
## Adding Tools to Agents
```php
class MyAgent extends BaseLlmAgent
{
protected array $tools = [
DatabaseQueryTool::class,
EmailTool::class,
FileOperationsTool::class,
];
}
```
## Artisan Commands
```bash
# Create new tool
php artisan vizra:make:tool MyTool
```
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