01 / Workflow or agent?

Workflow or agent?

Both use language models. The difference is who decides what happens next.

Workflow: you define the steps

A workflow follows a path written in code. The model handles specific tasks along the way.

01 / WORKFLOW

A fixed path

You define the order. The model works inside the steps.

Use a workflow when the steps are predictable and you want clear control over the process.

An agent decides what to do next based on the task and what it has found. It can choose tools, inspect results, and adjust its approach.

02 / AGENT

A decision loop

Goal: investigate a bug

Decide next stepChoose a tool, or stop

Use a toolSearch code or run a test

Inspect result

Result → next decision

Finish or ask for helpDone, blocked, or limit reached

The result informs the next decision. Stop when done, blocked, or a limit is reached.

Use an agent when you cannot define the full path in advance.

Start with a workflow. Add an agent when the task needs decisions that fixed rules cannot handle well.

You can also combine them: a workflow controls the overall process, while an agent handles one uncertain step.

In either case, define what the system can access, which actions need approval, and when it must stop.