Module 2: Expand Your Agent Fleet
Add a second coding agent with different capabilities and behavior patterns
Module Summary
- Goal: Create a second specialized coding agent and understand agent differentiation
- Estimated Time: 20-25 minutes
- Prerequisites: Completed Module 1, working first coding agent
🔥 In this module, you’ll create a second coding agent with different specializations and capabilities. You’ll learn how to design complementary agents that work together effectively, setting the foundation for Agent-to-Agent (A2A) communication patterns that we’ll implement in Module 3.
🎯 Agent Specialization Strategy
Why Multiple Agents?
Instead of creating one agent that does everything, specialized agents offer several advantages:
- Focus and Expertise - Each agent excels in specific areas
- Scalability - Distribute workload across multiple agents
- Reliability - If one agent fails, others can continue working
- Maintainability - Easier to update and optimize specific capabilities
- Parallel Processing - Multiple agents can work simultaneously
Agent Fleet Architecture
🛠️ Creating Your QA Specialist Agent
Step 1: Design the Second Agent
Let’s create a Quality Assurance (QA) specialist agent that complements your Senior Developer Agent:
- In the xpander.ai platform, go to Agents
- Click + New Agent to create your second agent
- Skip the agent builder to create manually
Step 2: Configure QA Agent Identity
Configure your QA agent with a specialized role:
Step 3: Add Specialized QA Tools
Add tools that complement the QA specialist role:
- Click + in your agent canvas
- Add GitHub Issues Manager for issue tracking and bug reporting
- Add GitHub Actions Manager for CI/CD pipeline management
- Configure the integrations with your GitHub account
Notice how we’re adding different tools than the first agent. This specialization helps each agent excel in their specific domain while avoiding overlap.
đź§Ş Implementing QA-Focused Local Functions
Step 4: Create Code Review Function
Create a specialized function for automated code review:
- Go to Cloud Functions and click New
- Create this comprehensive code review function:
- Name this function Code Review Analyzer and save it
- Add it to your QA agent canvas
Step 5: Create Test Generator Function
Create a function for generating test cases:
- Name this function Test Generator and save it
- Add it to your QA agent canvas
đź”— Understanding Agent Differentiation
Step 6: Compare Your Two Agents
Now you have two specialized agents with different capabilities:
Aspect | Senior Developer Agent | QA Specialist Agent |
---|---|---|
Primary Role | Code creation and architecture | Quality assurance and testing |
Tools | GitHub Search, Repository ops | GitHub Issues, Actions (CI/CD) |
Local Functions | Repository analysis, Code generation | Code review, Test generation |
Focus Areas | Implementation, Design patterns | Quality, Security, Performance |
Output Style | Creates and builds | Reviews and validates |
Step 7: Test Agent Specialization
Test both agents with the same request to see how their specializations affect their responses:
Test with Senior Developer Agent:
Test with QA Specialist Agent:
Notice how each agent approaches the same code from their specialized perspective.
🤝 Preparing for Agent Collaboration
Step 8: Design Collaboration Patterns
Your agents are now ready to work together. Here are key collaboration patterns we’ll implement in Module 3:
- Sequential Workflow: Developer creates → QA reviews → Developer refines
- Parallel Processing: Both agents work on different parts simultaneously
- Peer Review: Agents review each other’s work
- Escalation: QA agent requests developer input for complex issues
Step 9: Agent Communication Readiness
Prepare your agents for A2A communication:
- Shared Context: Both agents understand the same project structure
- Compatible Outputs: Developer output works as QA input
- Clear Handoffs: Defined points where agents pass work to each other
- Feedback Loops: Mechanisms for iterative improvement
Example collaboration flow:
âś… Module Checkpoint
By completing this module, you should have:
- Created a Second Specialized Agent (QA Specialist) with distinct capabilities
- Implemented QA-Focused Local Functions for code review and test generation
- Understanding Agent Differentiation - how agents complement each other
- Prepared for A2A Communication with compatible interfaces and workflows
- Tested Agent Specialization to see how role affects behavior
Key Concepts Learned
- Agent Specialization - Creating focused, expert agents
- Complementary Capabilities - How agents support each other
- Local Function Design - Building domain-specific capabilities
- Collaboration Patterns - Designing agent-to-agent workflows
- Quality Assurance Automation - Systematic code review and testing
🔄 Next Steps
You now have two specialized coding agents ready to collaborate! In Module 3, you’ll:
- Create a Manager Agent to orchestrate your agent fleet
- Implement Agent-to-Agent (A2A) communication protocols
- Build automated workflows that coordinate multiple agents
- See your agents work together on complex multi-step tasks
Ready to build the orchestration layer? Let’s continue to Module 3!