> *Build AI in Rails* > > *Now Agents are Controllers* > > *Makes code [TonsOfFun](https://tonsoffun.github.io)!* # Active Agent Active Agent provides that missing AI layer in the Rails framework, offering a structured approach to building AI-powered applications through Agent Oriented Programming. **Now Agents are Controllers!** Designing applications using agents allows developers to create modular, reusable components that can be easily integrated into existing systems. This approach promotes code reusability, maintainability, and scalability, making it easier to build complex AI-driven applications with the Object Oriented Ruby code you already use today. ## Documentation [docs.activeagents.ai](https://docs.activeagents.ai) - The official documentation site for Active Agent. ## Getting Started ### Installation Use bundler to add activeagent to your Gemfile and install: ```bash bundle add activeagent ``` Add the generation provider gem you want to use: ```bash # OpenAI bundle add openai # Anthropic bundle add anthropic # Ollama (uses OpenAI-compatible API) bundle add openai # OpenRouter (uses OpenAI-compatible API) bundle add openai # RubyLLM (unified API for 15+ providers) bundle add ruby_llm ``` ### Setup Run the install generator to create the necessary configuration files: ```bash rails generate active_agent:install ``` This creates: - `config/active_agent.yml`: Configuration file for generation providers - `app/agents/application_agent.rb`: Base agent class ### Quick Example Define an application agent: ```ruby class ApplicationAgent < ActiveAgent::Base generate_with :openai, model: "gpt-4o-mini" end ``` Use your agent: ```ruby response = ApplicationAgent.prompt(message: "Hello, world!").generate_now puts response.message # => "Hello! How can I help you today?" ``` ### Your First Agent Generate a new agent: ```bash rails generate active_agent:agent TravelAgent search book confirm ``` This creates an agent with actions that can be called: ```ruby class TravelAgent < ApplicationAgent def search # Your search logic here prompt end def book # Your booking logic here prompt end def confirm # Your confirmation logic here prompt end end ``` ## Configuration Configure generation providers in `config/active_agent.yml`: ```yaml development: openai: service: "OpenAI" access_token: <%= Rails.application.credentials.dig(:openai, :access_token) %> model: "gpt-4o-mini" anthropic: service: "Anthropic" access_token: <%= Rails.application.credentials.dig(:anthropic, :access_token) %> model: "claude-sonnet-4.5" ollama: service: "Ollama" model: "llama3.2" ruby_llm: service: "RubyLLM" ``` ## Dev Console & Observability Active Agent includes a local dev console — traces with span waterfalls, token usage, and per-agent metrics — as a mountable Rails engine, so you can watch your agents while you build: ```bash rails generate active_agent:dashboard:install rails db:migrate ``` ```yaml # config/active_agent.yml telemetry: enabled: true local_storage: true ``` Open `/active_agent` and every generation appears as a trace. See [docs/framework/dashboard.md](docs/framework/dashboard.md) for authentication, remote ingestion, and multi-tenant mode. For production monitoring — evaluations, cost estimates, retention, team workspaces — point telemetry at the hosted platform at [activeagents.ai](https://activeagents.ai); every workspace starts with a free low-volume trial. ## Features - **Agent-Oriented Programming**: Build AI applications using familiar Rails patterns - **Multiple Provider Support**: Works with OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, RubyLLM, and more - **Action-Based Design**: Define agent capabilities through actions - **View Templates**: Use ERB templates for prompts (text, JSON, HTML) - **Streaming Support**: Real-time response streaming with ActionCable - **Tool/Function Calling**: Agents can use tools to interact with external services - **Context Management**: Maintain conversation history across interactions - **Structured Output**: Define JSON schemas for predictable responses ## Examples ### Data Extraction Extract structured data from images, PDFs, and text: ```ruby prompt = DataExtractionAgent.with( image_path: Rails.root.join("sales_chart.png") ).parse_content.generate_now ``` ### Translation Translate text between languages: ```ruby response = TranslationAgent.with( message: "Hi, I'm Justin", locale: "japanese" ).translate.generate_now ``` ### Tool Usage Agents can use tools to perform actions: ```ruby # Agent with tool support prompt = SupportAgent.prompt(message: "Show me a cat") response = prompt.generate_now # Response includes tool call results ``` ## Learn More - [Documentation](https://docs.activeagents.ai) - [Getting Started Guide](https://docs.activeagents.ai/getting_started) - [API Reference](https://docs.activeagents.ai/docs/framework) - [Examples](https://docs.activeagents.ai/docs/agents) ## Contributing We welcome contributions! Please see our [Contributing Guide](CONTRIBUTING.md) for details. ## License Active Agent is released under the [MIT License](LICENSE).