Create Client Tool
Scaffolds an AtlasTool for an already-approved in-app useAtlasChat UI. For EOS sidebar tools, use integrate-fusion-agent (createAgentAction) instead. Triggers: AtlasTool, useAtlasChat tool, in-app atlas client tool.
- Skill ID
- cognitedata/builder-skills/create-client-tool
- Publisher
- cognitedata
- Repository
- builder-skills
- Installs
- 0
- Files
- 1
- Synced
- Sep 23, 2026
Open any RiverX project, open the Skills panel in the chat, and search for this identifier. The files are fetched from the source repository at install time.
cognitedata/builder-skills/create-client-toolInstalls these files- SKILL.md
What this skill tells the agent
Create a Client Tool
Scaffold an AtlasTool named $ARGUMENTS. If the app has no approved in-app useAtlasChat, implement a Fusion action via `integrate-fusion-agent` instead.
Prerequisite: vendored src/atlas-agent/ and @sinclair/typebox from integrate-atlas-chat.
Background
Client tools let the Atlas Agent invoke browser-side logic — charts, local state, UI panels, navigation. The agent decides when to call; the app executes and returns a result.
- Agent responds with a
clientToolaction - TypeBox validates the arguments
execute()runs in the browser and returns{ output, details }output(string) is sent back to the agentdetailsis available onmessage.toolCallsfor the UI to render
Step 1 — Understand the codebase
Before writing anything, read:
- The file where
useAtlasChatis called (oftensrc/App.tsxor a chat hook) to find wheretoolsis passed — imports are typically from./atlas-agent/reactafter `integrate-atlas-chat` - Any existing tool definitions to match the file/naming conventions
Step 2 — Define the tool
Use Type from @sinclair/typebox for the parameters schema (compile-time types + runtime validation).
import { Type } from "@sinclair/typebox";
import type { AtlasTool } from "./atlas-agent/types";
export const myTool: AtlasTool = {
name: "my_tool", // snake_case — this is what the agent uses to invoke it
description:
"One sentence describing what this tool does and when the agent should call it.",
parameters: Type.Object({
exampleParam: Type.String({ description: "What this param is for" }),
optionalNum: Type.Optional(Type.Number({ description: "..." })),
}),
execute: async (args) => {
return {
output: "Plain text summary sent back to the agent",
details: {
// Any structured data you want available in the UI via message.toolCalls
},
};
},
};Adjust the ./atlas-agent/... path if the tool file is not directly under src/ next to the atlas-agent folder (for example ../atlas-agent/types from src/tools/).
TypeBox quick reference
| Schema | Usage |
|---|---|
Type.String() | string |
Type.Number() | number |
Type.Boolean() | boolean |
Type.Literal("foo") | exact value |
Type.Union([Type.Literal("a"), Type.Literal("b")]) | enum |
Type.Array(Type.String()) | string[] |
Type.Object({ ... }) | object |
Type.Optional(...) | mark any field optional |
Always add a description on the tool and on each parameter — the agent uses those strings.
Step 3 — Wire into useAtlasChat
Find the useAtlasChat call and add the tool to the tools array:
const { messages, send, ... } = useAtlasChat({
client: isLoading ? null : sdk,
agentExternalId: AGENT_EXTERNAL_ID,
tools: [myTool], // add here
});Step 4 — Render tool results (if needed)
If the tool returns structured details, render them in the message list. message.toolCalls is a ToolCall[] — one entry per tool call (client-side and server-side) in call order.
{msg.toolCalls?.map((tc, i) => (
// tc.name — tool name
// tc.output — the string sent back to the agent
// tc.details — your structured data (cast to your known shape)
<MyToolOutput key={i} data={tc.details as MyToolDetails} />
))}More from cognitedata
Use this skill in a project
Open any RiverX project, search the Skills panel for cognitedata/builder-skills/create-client-tool, and install it in one click.
