Building effective agents requires more than code—it’s about orchestration and resilience. From crafting precise instructions and selecting the right tool types (data, action, or orchestration) to choosing the proper design pattern (single-agent loop or multi-agent delegation), thoughtful architecture ensures agents perform well in production. Guardrails act as layered defenses against edge cases, prompt attacks, or unsafe tool use—while fallback mechanisms like human-in-the-loop ensure oversight for high-risk or ambiguous scenarios. As you scale from prototype to production, a phased deployment strategy helps teams validate with real users, coordinate tool usage, and automate workflows with confidence. Agents aren’t just automating—they’re reasoning, adapting, and delivering real-world value. OpenAI – A Practical Guide to…