@ax-llm/ax 25.4.0 → 25.4.2

package/skills/references/quickstart.md

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+# Ax Library (@ax-llm/ax) Quick Reference
+
+Ax is a TypeScript library for building LLM-powered applications with type-safe signatures, streaming support, and multi-provider compatibility.
+
+
+## Imports & Factories
+
+```typescript
+// Prefer factory functions: ax(), ai(), agent(), flow(); avoid class constructors.
+import { ax, ai, f, s, fn, agent, flow, AxMemory, AxMCPClient } from '@ax-llm/ax';
+import { z } from 'zod'; // optional — any Standard Schema v1 library works
+
+// AI provider
+const llm = ai({ name: 'openai', apiKey: process.env.OPENAI_APIKEY });
+
+// Generator (from string signature)
+const gen = ax('question:string -> answer:string');
+
+// Generator (from fluent signature)
+const fluentGen = ax(
+  f()
+    .input('question', f.string('User question'))
+    .output('answer', f.string('AI response'))
+    .build()
+);
+
+// Generator (from zod — Standard Schema v1, also works with valibot/arktype)
+const zodGen = ax(
+  f()
+    .input(z.object({ question: z.string().describe('User question') }))
+    .output(z.object({ answer: z.string().describe('AI response') }))
+    .build()
+);
+
+// Reusable signature
+const sig = s('question:string, context:string[] -> answer:string');
+
+// Agent
+const myAgent = agent('userInput:string -> response:string', {
+  agentIdentity: {
+    name: 'helper',
+    description: 'A helpful assistant',
+  },
+});
+
+// Flow
+const wf = flow<{ input: string }, { output: string }>()
+  .node('step1', 'input:string -> output:string')
+  .execute('step1', (state) => ({ input: state.input }))
+  .returns((state) => ({ output: state.step1Result.output }));
+
+// Function tool — native fluent
+const tool = fn('search')
+  .description('Search the web')
+  .arg('query', f.string('Search query'))
+  .returns(f.string('Search results'))
+  .handler(({ query }) => searchWeb(query))
+  .build();
+
+// Function tool — zod schema (Standard Schema v1: also works with valibot, arktype)
+const zodTool = fn('calculateTax')
+  .description('Calculate tax for an amount')
+  .arg(z.object({
+    amount: z.number().positive().describe('Pre-tax amount in USD'),
+    region: z.enum(['US', 'EU', 'UK']).describe('Tax region'),
+  }))
+  .returns(z.object({ tax: z.number(), total: z.number() }))
+  .handler(async ({ amount }) => ({ tax: amount * 0.1, total: amount * 1.1 }))
+  .build();
+```
+
+## Running
+
+```typescript
+// Forward (blocking)
+const result = await gen.forward(llm, { question: 'What is 2+2?' });
+
+// Streaming
+for await (const chunk of gen.streamingForward(llm, { question: 'Tell a story' })) {
+  if (chunk.delta.answer) process.stdout.write(chunk.delta.answer);
+}
+```
+
+## Forward Options Quick Reference
+
+Provider capabilities determine which outputs and options apply. Typesafe/Jev
+and OpenAI Decisions support required boolean/class/rubric score signatures.
+Use `(evidence)` or `.withEvidence()` for probabilities, scores, and native
+confidence through AxGen; provenance distinguishes native and elicited evidence.
+Use native clients for advanced request shapes, and generative providers for
+prose or tools. See
+the [ax-typesafe skill](https://github.com/ax-llm/ax/blob/main/src/ax/skills/ax-typesafe.md)
+before applying the general generation options below to Jev.
+
+| Goal | Option | Example |
+|------|--------|---------|
+| Model override | `model` | `{ model: 'gpt-5.4-mini' }` |
+| Temperature | `modelConfig.temperature` | `{ modelConfig: { temperature: 0.8 } }` |
+| Max tokens | `modelConfig.maxTokens` | `{ modelConfig: { maxTokens: 500 } }` |
+| Retry on failure | `maxRetries` | `{ maxRetries: 3 }` |
+| Max agent steps | `maxSteps` | `{ maxSteps: 10 }` |
+| Fail fast | `fastFail` | `{ fastFail: true }` |
+| Thinking budget | `thinkingTokenBudget` | `{ thinkingTokenBudget: 'medium' }` |
+| Show thoughts | `showThoughts` | `{ showThoughts: true }` |
+| Context caching | `contextCache` | `{ contextCache: { cacheBreakpoint: 'after-examples' } }` |
+| Multi-sampling | `sampleCount` | `{ sampleCount: 5 }` |
+| Debug logging | `debug` | `{ debug: true }` |
+| Abort signal | `abortSignal` | `{ abortSignal: controller.signal }` |
+| Memory | `mem` | `{ mem: new AxMemory() }` |
+| Stop function | `stopFunction` | `{ stopFunction: 'finalAnswer' }` |
+| Function mode | `functionCallMode` | `{ functionCallMode: 'auto' }` |
+
+Global runtime defaults can be set with `axGlobals` and are read live by future AI, AxGen, and AxFlow calls:
+
+```typescript
+import { axGlobals, axCreateDefaultColorLogger } from '@ax-llm/ax';
+import { metrics, trace } from '@opentelemetry/api';
+
+axGlobals.rateLimiter = async (next, info) => next();
+axGlobals.tracer = trace.getTracer('my-app');
+axGlobals.meter = metrics.getMeter('my-app');
+axGlobals.debug = true;
+axGlobals.logger = axCreateDefaultColorLogger();
+```
+
+Runtime hooks resolve as: forward/direct-call hooks, enclosing program defaults, child-program defaults, AI-service hooks, then globals snapshotted at operation start. They are native run-scoped values and never enter AxIR JSON state, cache keys, exported state, traces, or optimizer artifacts. Agent and flow forwards carry them through every internal generator and model call without mutating children or leaking across concurrent runs. Limiter failures propagate; tracer, meter, and usage-observer failures are fail-open. `customLabels` merge by precedence, and `abortSignal` values are combined so either global or local cancellation works.
+
+## Memory and Context
+
+```typescript
+import { AxMemory } from '@ax-llm/ax';
+
+const memory = new AxMemory();
+
+// Multi-turn conversation
+await gen.forward(llm, { userMessage: 'My name is Alice' }, { mem: memory });
+const r = await gen.forward(llm, { userMessage: 'What is my name?' }, { mem: memory });
+```
+
+## Few-Shot Examples
+
+```typescript
+const classifier = ax('reviewText:string -> sentiment:class "positive, negative, neutral"');
+
+classifier.setExamples([
+  { reviewText: 'I love this!', sentiment: 'positive' },
+  { reviewText: 'Terrible.', sentiment: 'negative' },
+  { reviewText: 'It works.', sentiment: 'neutral' },
+]);
+```
+
+## Common Patterns
+
+### Classification
+
+```typescript
+const classifier = ax(
+  f()
+    .input('text', f.string())
+    .output('category', f.class(['spam', 'ham', 'uncertain']))
+    .output('confidence', f.number().min(0).max(1))
+    .build()
+);
+```
+
+### Extraction
+
+```typescript
+const extractor = ax(
+  f()
+    .input('text', f.string())
+    .output('entities', f.object({
+      people: f.string().array(),
+      organizations: f.string().array(),
+      locations: f.string().array()
+    }))
+    .build()
+);
+```
+
+### Multi-modal (Images)
+
+```typescript
+const analyzer = ax(
+  f()
+    .input('image', f.image('Image to analyze'))
+    .input('question', f.string('Question').optional())
+    .output('description', f.string())
+    .output('objects', f.string().array())
+    .build()
+);
+
+const result = await analyzer.forward(llm, {
+  image: { mimeType: 'image/jpeg', data: base64Data },
+  question: 'What objects are in this image?'
+});
+```
+
+### Chaining Generators
+
+```typescript
+const researcher = ax('topic:string -> research:string, keyFacts:string[]');
+const writer = ax('research:string, keyFacts:string[] -> article:string');
+
+const research = await researcher.forward(llm, { topic: 'AGI' });
+const draft = await writer.forward(llm, { research: research.research, keyFacts: research.keyFacts });
+```
+
+## Error Handling
+
+```typescript
+import { AxGenerateError, AxAIServiceError, AxAIServiceAbortedError } from '@ax-llm/ax';
+
+try {
+  const result = await gen.forward(llm, { input: 'test' });
+} catch (error) {
+  if (error instanceof AxGenerateError) {
+    console.error('Generation failed:', error.details.model, error.details.signature);
+  } else if (error instanceof AxAIServiceAbortedError) {
+    console.log('Request was aborted');
+  } else if (error instanceof AxAIServiceError) {
+    console.error('AI service error:', error.message);
+  }
+}
+```
+
+## Debugging
+
+```typescript
+import { axCreateDefaultColorLogger, axGlobals } from '@ax-llm/ax';
+
+const result = await gen.forward(llm, { input: 'test' }, {
+  debug: true,
+  logger: axCreateDefaultColorLogger(),
+  // OpenTelemetry
+  tracer: openTelemetryTracer,
+  meter: openTelemetryMeter,
+});
+
+// Or set live app-wide defaults for future calls:
+axGlobals.tracer = openTelemetryTracer;
+axGlobals.meter = openTelemetryMeter;
+```
+
+## MCP Integration
+
+Use the `ax-mcp` skill for the complete native client, transport,
+authentication, catalog, task, subscription, event, and replay workflow.
+
+```typescript
+import { AxMCPClient, agent } from '@ax-llm/ax';
+import { AxMCPStdioTransport } from '@ax-llm/ax-tools';
+
+// Stdio transport (local MCP server)
+const transport = new AxMCPStdioTransport({
+  command: 'npx',
+  args: ['-y', '@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory'],
+});
+
+const mcpClient = new AxMCPClient(transport, { namespace: 'memory' });
+
+// Native MCP context is initialized once and inherited by all agent stages.
+const myAgent = agent('userMessage:string -> response:string', {
+  mcp: mcpClient,
+  functionDiscovery: true,
+  contextFields: [],
+});
+
+const result = await myAgent.forward(llm, { userMessage: 'Remember this.' });
+await mcpClient.close(); // caller-owned clients remain caller-owned
+```
+
+### HTTP Transport (Remote MCP)
+
+```typescript
+import { AxMCPStreamableHTTPTransport } from '@ax-llm/ax';
+
+const transport = new AxMCPStreamableHTTPTransport('https://remote.example/mcp', {
+  headers: { 'x-pd-project-id': projectId },
+  authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}`,
+});
+```
+
+### Native MCP and UCP behavior
+
+- Pass `mcp` and `ucp` to AxGen, streaming AxGen, chat, AxAgent, AxFlow, optimization, or evaluation options.
+- Use `mcpContext` to inject attributed prompts/resources before the first model call.
+- Use `mcpInheritance: 'all' | 'none' | string[]` to restrict child programs.
+- Tool calls retain raw MCP content, metadata, errors, tasks, and protocol provenance in memory.
+- AxAgent exposes native modules as `mcp.<namespace>` and `ucp.<namespace>`.
+- `inspectCatalog()` discovers tool/prompt names, concrete resources, and URI
+  templates from only an endpoint. Resource event sources default to no
+  subscriptions and require an explicit all/URI/selector policy.
+- `toFunction()` remains a compatibility adapter only; native Ax execution never uses it.
+- Live optimization is rejected by default. Use recording/replay or explicitly opt into live MCP evaluation.
+
+```typescript
+const catalog = await mcpClient.inspectCatalog();
+const tools = catalog.tools;
+const prompts = await mcpClient.listPrompts();
+const resource = await mcpClient.readResource('docs://guide');
+const tasks = await mcpClient.listTasks();
+```
+
+### Function Overrides
+
+```typescript
+const mcpClient = new AxMCPClient(transport, {
+  functionOverrides: [
+    { name: 'search_documents', updates: { name: 'findDocs', description: 'Search docs' } }
+  ]
+});
+```
+
+## Type Reference
+
+All programs use `forward(ai, values, options?)` and
+`streamingForward(ai, values, options?)`. For an AI service type `T`, use the
+exported option types below instead of constructor options:
+
+| Program | Forward options | Streaming options |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `AxGen` | `AxProgramForwardOptionsWithModels<T>` | `AxProgramStreamingForwardOptionsWithModels<T>` |
+| `AxAgent` | `AxAgentForwardOptions<T>` | `AxAgentStreamingForwardOptions<T>` |
+| `AxFlow` | `AxFlowForwardOptions<T>` | `AxProgramStreamingForwardOptionsWithModels<T>` |
+
+`forward()` returns `Promise<OUT>`. `streamingForward()` returns
+`AxGenStreamingOut<OUT>` with `{ version, index, delta }` chunks. Agent input
+values can also include a per-run `memories` array. `AxAgentOptions<IN>` is for
+constructing an agent, not for its forward call.
+
+- `AxGen`: `setExamples(...)`, `addAssert(...)`, `addStreamingAssert(...)`,
+  `addFieldProcessor(...)`, `addStreamingFieldProcessor(...)`, and `stop()`.
+  See `ax-gen` for their callback contracts.
+- `AxAgent`: `getFunction()` exposes a child-agent tool and requires
+  `agentIdentity` at construction. See `ax-agent`.
+- `AxFlow`: define nodes with `.node(...)`, execute them with `.execute(...)`,
+  and select outputs with `.returns(...)`. See `ax-flow`.
+
+## Event-Driven Programs
+
+Use `eventRuntime()` when notifications, webhooks, timers, or remote tasks
+should wake or resume an Ax program. Sources publish into an inbox; explicit
+routes choose `observe`, `invalidate`, `wake`, or `resume`. Event payloads are
+never inserted as user messages automatically. See `ax-event-runtime.md`.
+
+## Examples
+
+Fetch these for full working code:
+
+- [Standard Schema (zod)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ax-llm/ax/refs/heads/main/src/examples/standard-schema.ts) — zod with f() and fn()
+- [Chat Log](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ax-llm/ax/refs/heads/main/src/examples/chat-log.ts) — inspect conversation history and multi-step tool calls
+- [Marketing](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ax-llm/ax/refs/heads/main/src/examples/marketing.ts) — product use case
+- [MCP Integration](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ax-llm/ax/refs/heads/main/src/examples/mcp-client-memory.ts) — MCP integration