Architecture & engineering6 MIN READ
A CTO’s checklist before an agent reaches production
Production readiness for an AI agent spans workflow requirements, system identity, evaluation, recovery and operations—not just a working model endpoint.
THE SOFTLANDER BLOG
Agent architecture
System boundaries, components and technical design choices for agentic AI.
In Agent architecture
8 articlesArchitecture & engineering6 MIN READ
When open-source agent infrastructure is the responsible choice
Openness can improve inspectability, control and portability, but only when an organisation can own the supply chain, operation and evidence it inherits.
Architecture & engineering7 MIN READ
An AI feature, an AI agent and an agentic system are not the same thing
Classify AI by the action path it creates, not the label on the product. The distinction determines ownership, controls, evaluation and release evidence.
Architecture & engineering6 MIN READ
Where smaller models can strengthen agent architecture
Smaller models are not merely budget substitutes. Used behind explicit routing and escalation rules, they can improve latency, locality and architectural control.
Architecture & engineering6 MIN READ
Why durable agent workflows need explicit state
Long-running agent work cannot rely on a transcript and hopeful retries. Explicit state makes progress, authority, recovery and completion inspectable across failures.
Architecture & engineering6 MIN READ
Context is not memory: why the distinction matters
Context is the information available for one inference. Memory is a governed process for retaining, changing and recalling information across time. Confusing them creates silent risk.
Architecture & engineering6 MIN READ
The anatomy of a tool-using AI agent
A tool-using agent is a controlled system around a model, not a model with an API key. Map its runtime layers before deciding what to test, trust or release.
Architecture & engineering6 MIN READ
The foundation model is only one dependency in an agentic system
Model selection matters, but production behaviour emerges from an entire dependency graph. Review the system that turns model output into business effects.
KEEP EXPLORING
Take the thinking
into your next discussion.
Read the method, assumptions and questions to ask.