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Core Concepts

Learn the fundamental concepts behind Intent Kit's DAG-based architecture.

Architecture Overview

Key Concepts

DAG-Based Workflows

Intent Kit uses Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to structure intelligent workflows:

  • Nodes represent decision points, extractors, or actions
  • Edges define the flow between nodes with optional labels
  • Entrypoints are starting nodes for user input
  • Flexible Routing allows complex workflow patterns

Node Types

  • Classifier Nodes - Determine user intent and route to appropriate paths
  • Extractor Nodes - Extract parameters from natural language using LLM
  • Action Nodes - Execute specific actions and produce outputs
  • Clarification Nodes - Handle unclear intent by asking for clarification

Context Management

The context system provides:

  • State Persistence - Maintain data across multiple interactions
  • Type Safety - Validate and coerce data types
  • Audit Trails - Track context modifications
  • Namespace Protection - Protect system keys from conflicts

Design Principles

Separation of Concerns

Each node type has a specific responsibility: - Classification is separate from parameter extraction - Actions focus on execution, not understanding - Context management is handled independently

Flexibility

The DAG approach provides: - Scalable Architecture - Add new nodes and paths easily - Reusable Components - Share nodes across different DAGs - Complex Workflows - Support sophisticated routing patterns - Error Handling - Graceful degradation with clarification

Reliability

Built-in features ensure robust operation: - Validation - DAG structure and node configuration validation - Error Recovery - Automatic routing to clarification nodes - Context Safety - Protected namespaces and type validation - Execution Tracing - Detailed logs for debugging and monitoring