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LangGraph
AI
Python

Building Multi-Agent Systems with LangGraph

A deep dive into creating sophisticated AI systems using LangGraph, including state management, tool calling, and agent orchestration.

Jorge Luiz Gomes
February 1, 2024
12 min read

Introduction


Multi-agent systems represent a paradigm shift in how we build AI applications. Instead of monolithic models trying to do everything, we orchestrate specialized agents that excel at specific tasks. LangGraph provides the perfect framework for building these systems.


Why Multi-Agent Systems?


Traditional single-agent approaches have limitations:


  • **Context window constraints** - One agent can't hold all necessary information
  • **Specialization challenges** - Different tasks require different prompting strategies
  • **Error propagation** - A single point of failure affects the entire system

  • Multi-agent systems solve these by distributing responsibilities across specialized agents.


    LangGraph Fundamentals


    LangGraph builds on LangChain to provide:


    State Management


    from langgraph.graph import StateGraph

    from typing import TypedDict


    class AgentState(TypedDict):

    messages: list

    current_agent: str

    task_complete: bool


    Graph Definition


    The power of LangGraph lies in defining agent interactions as a graph:


    workflow = StateGraph(AgentState)

    workflow.add_node("researcher", researcher_agent)

    workflow.add_node("writer", writer_agent)

    workflow.add_node("reviewer", reviewer_agent)


    Conditional Routing


    Agents can make decisions about which agent should act next:


    def route_decision(state: AgentState) -> str:

    if state["needs_research"]:

    return "researcher"

    elif state["needs_review"]:

    return "reviewer"

    return "writer"


    Building a Research Assistant


    Let's build a practical multi-agent system for research:


    Agent 1: Query Analyzer

    Understands the user's intent and breaks down complex queries.


    Agent 2: Web Researcher

    Searches the web and retrieves relevant information.


    Agent 3: Synthesizer

    Combines findings into coherent answers.


    Agent 4: Quality Checker

    Validates accuracy and completeness.


    Best Practices


  • **Keep agents focused** - Each agent should have a clear, single responsibility
  • **Design clear interfaces** - State schema should be well-defined
  • **Implement fallbacks** - Handle failures gracefully
  • **Monitor and log** - Track agent interactions for debugging
  • **Test agent interactions** - Unit test individual agents and integration test the graph

  • Conclusion


    Multi-agent systems with LangGraph enable building sophisticated AI applications that are more maintainable, scalable, and capable than single-agent approaches. Start small, iterate, and let the graph grow with your needs.


    Resources


  • [LangGraph Documentation](https://python.langchain.com/docs/langgraph)
  • [Multi-Agent Patterns](https://blog.langchain.dev/multi-agent-collaboration/)
  • [State Management Best Practices](https://python.langchain.com/docs/langgraph/concepts)

  • Discuss

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