Testing Approach
1
Start with simple cases
Test basic functionality before complex scenarios.
2
Review activity logs
Check how the agent interpreted your request.
3
Test edge cases
What happens with unusual inputs?
4
Iterate on instructions
Refine based on observed behavior.
What to Test
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Happy path | Normal inputs with expected results |
| Edge cases | Empty inputs, unusual formats, missing data |
| Error handling | API failures, rate limits, timeouts |
| Boundaries | Does the agent respect its limits? |
| Escalation | Does it ask for help when it should? |
Using Activity Logs
The activity log shows exactly what happened:- Trigger — What started the agent?
- Interpretation — How did it understand the request?
- Plan — What did it decide to do?
- Execution — What actions were taken?
- Result — What was the outcome?
Iteration Process
Identify the issue
Identify the issue
What behavior was unexpected? Was it wrong, or just different from what you wanted?
Find the root cause
Find the root cause
Check the activity log. Did the agent misunderstand? Lack context? Have wrong tools?
Update instructions
Update instructions
Add clarification, examples, or rules to address the issue.
Test again
Test again
Verify the fix works and doesn’t break other cases.
Common Issues and Fixes
| Issue | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong interpretation | Ambiguous instructions | Add specific examples |
| Missing context | Agent doesn’t know enough | Provide additional documents |
| Wrong tool used | Unclear when to use what | Specify tool usage in instructions |
| Over-eager action | Missing boundaries | Add “never” rules |
| Stuck / confused | No escalation path | Define when to ask for help |
Gradual Rollout
For important agents:1
Test in isolation
Use test data in a sandbox environment.
2
Shadow mode
Run alongside manual process, compare results.
3
Limited deployment
Handle subset of real traffic with monitoring.
4
Full deployment
Expand to full scope with ongoing monitoring.