Core system prompt
1. Role + objective. 2. Available tools + when to use each. 3. Behavior rules (verify, cite, ask when unsure). 4. Termination criteria.
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Loop control
Max steps cap. Convergence check ('same answer 2x in a row → stop'). Explicit 'submit final answer' tool.
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Failure recovery
Tell agent it can retry, use different tools, ask user for clarification. Recovery instructions in system prompt.
Memory
Scratchpad in context. Summarize on rollover. External store (vector DB, key-value) for durable memory.