Engineering: Using State Machines to Manage Long-Running Agent Tasks
blaizedsouza · x · 2026-08-22
To address the issue of long-running agent tasks getting stuck with invisible progress, it is recommended to use explicit state machines. The core principle is: "If you cannot name the state, you cannot operate the task." Implementation tips include: 1. Define a small set of states; 2. Allow only legal transitions; 3. Store current state outside the prompt; 4. Attach deadlines to waiting states; 5. Make failure a first-class state; 6. Emit events on transitions. A key tip is to store state in a database rather than the prompt to prevent model forgetfulness.
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