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Add snippet about error handling being removed from primary context #46

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Add snippet about error handling being removed from primary context
Sypherd Jun 6, 2025
576afef
Merge branch 'humanlayer:main' into main
Sypherd Jul 15, 2025
a64208d
Combine suggestion with prior paragraph
Sypherd Jul 15, 2025
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2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion content/factor-09-compact-errors.md
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Expand Up @@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Benefits:

I'm sure you will find that if you do this TOO much, your agent will start to spin out and might repeat the same error over and over again.

That's where [factor 8 - own your control flow](https://github.com/humanlayer/12-factor-agents/blob/main/content/factor-08-own-your-control-flow.md) and [factor 3 - own your context building](https://github.com/humanlayer/12-factor-agents/blob/main/content/factor-03-own-your-context-window.md) come in - you don't need to just put the raw error back on, you can completely restructure how it's represented, remove previous events from the context window, or whatever deterministic thing you find works to get an agent back on track.
That's where [factor 8 - own your control flow](https://github.com/humanlayer/12-factor-agents/blob/main/content/factor-08-own-your-control-flow.md) and [factor 3 - own your context building](https://github.com/humanlayer/12-factor-agents/blob/main/content/factor-03-own-your-context-window.md) come in - you don't need to just put the raw error back on, you can completely restructure how it's represented, remove previous events from the context window, or whatever deterministic thing you find works to get an agent back on track. Often, error handling calls can be completely removed from the primary control flow and context window. This can help keep context usage down and reduce the risk of the agent getting distracted from the main goal.

But the number one way to prevent error spin-outs is to embrace [factor 10 - small, focused agents](https://github.com/humanlayer/12-factor-agents/blob/main/content/factor-10-small-focused-agents.md).

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