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:
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
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
web-search | Search the web for current information |
code-execution | Execute Python/Bash in a sandboxed container |
Tool Configuration
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
display | No | hidden, name, description, or stream (default: description) |
description | No | Custom text shown to users during execution |
Web Search
Allows the agent to search the web for current information:
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:
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
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
type | Yes | anthropic (built-in) or custom (uploaded) |
version | No | Skill version (default: latest) |
display | No | hidden, name, description, or stream (default: description) |
description | No | Custom text shown to users |
Built-in Skills
Anthropic provides several built-in skills:
| Skill ID | Purpose |
|---|---|
pdf | PDF manipulation, text extraction, form filling |
xlsx | Excel spreadsheet operations and analysis |
docx | Word document creation and editing |
pptx | PowerPoint presentation creation |
Using Skills
When skills are configured:
- Code execution is automatically enabled
- Skill files are loaded into the container
- The agent can read skill instructions and execute scripts
Custom Skills
You can create and upload custom skills to Anthropic:
Custom skills follow the Agent Skills standard and contain:
SKILL.mdwith instructions and metadata- Optional
scripts/,references/, andassets/directories
Octavus Skills vs Anthropic Skills
| Feature | Anthropic Skills | Octavus Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Anthropic only | Any (agnostic) |
| Execution | Anthropic's container | Isolated sandbox |
| Configuration | agent.anthropic.skills | agent.skills |
| Definition | anthropic: section | skills: section |
| Use Case | Claude-specific features | Cross-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:
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
hidden | Not shown to users |
name | Shows the tool/skill name |
description | Shows the description (default) |
stream | Streams progress if available |
Full Example
Validation
The protocol validator enforces:
-
Model match: Provider options must match the model provider
anthropic:options requireanthropic/*model- Using mismatched options results in a validation error
-
Valid tool types: Only recognized tools are accepted
web-searchandcode-executionfor Anthropic
-
Valid skill types: Only
anthropicorcustomare accepted
Error Example
Error: "anthropic" options require an anthropic model. Current model provider: "openai"