Managing context in long-run agentic applications
To balance continuity and creativity in long-run agentic applications, Slack Engineering employed three context channels: the Director's Journal (structured working memory), the Critic's Review (annotated findings report with credibility scores), and the Critic's Timeline (consolidated chronological findings with credibility scores). The channels provide the context each agent needs without overwhelming them. The Director's Journal serves as the common narrative that keeps other agents on track, while the Critic's Review and Timeline provide a more detailed view of the investigation state. These context channels enabled the agents to maintain alignment and coherent reasoning in complex, long-running investigations, solving the problem of managing context in agentic applications. This solution maintains the delicate balance between sharing information and encouraging creativity among agents.