Provider Options

Provider options let you enable provider-specific features like Anthropic's built-in tools and skills. These features run server-side on the provider's infrastructure.

Note: For provider-agnostic code execution, use Octavus Skills instead. Octavus Skills work with any LLM provider and run in isolated sandbox environments.

Anthropic Options

Configure Anthropic-specific features when using anthropic/* models:

yaml

Note: Provider options are validated against the model provider. Using anthropic: options with non-Anthropic models will result in a validation error.

Provider Tools

Provider tools are executed server-side by the provider (Anthropic). Unlike external tools that you implement, provider tools are built-in capabilities.

Available Tools

ToolDescription
web-searchSearch the web for current information
code-executionExecute Python/Bash in a sandboxed container

Tool Configuration

yaml
FieldRequiredDescription
displayNohidden, name, description, or stream (default: description)
descriptionNoCustom text shown to users during execution

Allows the agent to search the web for current information:

yaml

Use cases:

  • Current events and news
  • Real-time data (prices, weather)
  • Fact verification
  • Documentation lookups

Code Execution

Enables Python and Bash execution in a sandboxed container:

yaml

Use cases:

  • Data analysis and calculations
  • File processing
  • Chart generation
  • Script execution

Note: Code execution is automatically enabled when skills are configured (skills require the container environment).

Skills

Important: This section covers Anthropic's built-in skills (provider-specific). For provider-agnostic skills that work with any LLM, see Octavus Skills.

Anthropic skills are knowledge packages that give the agent specialized capabilities. They're loaded into Anthropic's code execution container at /skills/{skill-id}/ and only work with Anthropic models.

Skill Configuration

yaml
FieldRequiredDescription
typeYesanthropic (built-in) or custom (uploaded)
versionNoSkill version (default: latest)
displayNohidden, name, description, or stream (default: description)
descriptionNoCustom text shown to users

Built-in Skills

Anthropic provides several built-in skills:

Skill IDPurpose
pdfPDF manipulation, text extraction, form filling
xlsxExcel spreadsheet operations and analysis
docxWord document creation and editing
pptxPowerPoint presentation creation

Using Skills

yaml

When skills are configured:

  1. Code execution is automatically enabled
  2. Skill files are loaded into the container
  3. The agent can read skill instructions and execute scripts

Custom Skills

You can create and upload custom skills to Anthropic:

yaml

Custom skills follow the Agent Skills standard and contain:

  • SKILL.md with instructions and metadata
  • Optional scripts/, references/, and assets/ directories

Octavus Skills vs Anthropic Skills

FeatureAnthropic SkillsOctavus Skills
ProviderAnthropic onlyAny (agnostic)
ExecutionAnthropic's containerIsolated sandbox
Configurationagent.anthropic.skillsagent.skills
Definitionanthropic: sectionskills: section
Use CaseClaude-specific featuresCross-provider code execution

For provider-agnostic code execution, use Octavus Skills defined in the protocol's skills: section and enabled via agent.skills. See Skills for details.

Display Modes

Both tools and skills support display modes:

ModeBehavior
hiddenNot shown to users
nameShows the tool/skill name
descriptionShows the description (default)
streamStreams progress if available

Full Example

yaml

Validation

The protocol validator enforces:

  1. Model match: Provider options must match the model provider

    • anthropic: options require anthropic/* model
    • Using mismatched options results in a validation error
  2. Valid tool types: Only recognized tools are accepted

    • web-search and code-execution for Anthropic
  3. Valid skill types: Only anthropic or custom are accepted

Error Example

yaml

Error: "anthropic" options require an anthropic model. Current model provider: "openai"