Tool Building Resources

Introduction

Creating custom tools for allmates.ai doesn't have to be a complex endeavor. The platform provides specialized resources and intelligent assistants designed to streamline the tool development process. Whether you're looking to create a simple integration or a sophisticated multi-endpoint tool, these resources will help you build, document, and optimize your tools efficiently.

Specialized Mates for Tool Creation

allmates.ai offers dedicated intelligent agents specifically designed to assist with tool creation and documentation. These specialized Mates serve as your virtual collaborators throughout the development process.

@Tool Builder

@Tool Builder is your expert companion for creating new tool instances, particularly for the powerful REST API Tool. This specialized Mate helps you:

• Analyze API documentation to understand endpoints and parameters

• Generate OpenAPI YAML schemas from API specifications

• Structure your schema for optimal LLM interaction

• Validate your schema for errors or inconsistencies

• Test endpoints to ensure proper functionality

Working with Tool Builder is like having an API integration specialist on your team. Simply share the API documentation you want to integrate with, and Tool Builder will guide you through the process of creating a well-structured OpenAPI schema that follows best practices.

Example Interaction:

"I need to create a REST API Tool for the Salesforce Marketing Cloud API. Can you help me generate the OpenAPI schema?"

Tool Builder can analyze the Salesforce documentation, identify key endpoints, and generate a structured schema with proper parameter descriptions and response formats.

@Tool Doc Writer

Once your tool is created, @Tool Doc Writer helps you create comprehensive, user-friendly documentation. This specialized Mate:

• Creates clear usage instructions for your tools

• Develops examples that showcase common use cases

• Documents parameters and their expected values

• Explains authentication requirements

• Outlines limitations and best practices

Good documentation is crucial for tool adoption, and @Tool Doc Writer ensures that anyone using your tool will understand how to leverage it effectively. The documentation follows a consistent format that balances technical accuracy with accessibility.

Example Interaction:

"I've created a new REST API Tool for our internal CRM system. Can you help me write user documentation for it?"

Tool Doc Writer can analyze your tool's OpenAPI schema and create comprehensive documentation that explains how to use the tool, what parameters to provide, and what results to expect.

Working with Tool Creation Mates

To get the most out of these specialized Mates, follow these best practices:

Preparation Before Engagement

Before working with Tool Builder or Tool Doc Writer, gather these materials:

• API Documentation: Official documentation for the service you want to integrate

• Authentication Details: Understanding of the authentication method required

• Use Cases: Clear examples of how you want to use the tool

• Parameter Examples: Sample values for required parameters

Having this information ready will help the Mates provide more accurate and useful assistance.

Collaborative Development Process

The tool creation process works best as a collaborative effort:

1. Initial Request: Share your integration goal with Tool Builder

2. Schema Development: Work with Tool Builder to refine the OpenAPI schema

3. Testing and Validation: Verify the schema works as expected

4. Documentation Creation: Engage Tool Doc Writer to create user guides

5. Review and Refinement: Iterate on both the schema and documentation

This iterative approach ensures that both the technical implementation and the documentation meet your needs.

Enhanced Capabilities

To make these Mates even more effective, they can be equipped with additional tools:

Web Search

The Web Search tool allows these Mates to research API documentation, best practices, and examples online. This is particularly valuable when working with public APIs or when documentation is available on the web.

URL Scraper

The URL Scraper tool enables the Mates to analyze and extract information from web-based documentation. This helps them understand API structures, parameter requirements, and authentication methods directly from the source.

With these additional capabilities, Tool Builder and Tool Doc Writer can work more autonomously, gathering the information they need to assist you effectively.

REST API Tool Examples Library

To further support your tool creation efforts, allmates.ai provides a growing library of REST API Tool examples that serve as valuable references and starting points.

Examples Library Overview

The Examples Library contains real-world implementations of the REST API Tool across various services and use cases. Each example includes:

• Complete OpenAPI YAML schema

• Credential configuration templates (with placeholders)

• Documentation of common use cases

• Implementation notes and best practices

These examples demonstrate effective schema design, proper parameter descriptions, and LLM-friendly formatting.

Browsing the Examples

You can find these examples in the "REST API Examples" subcategory within the Tools & Integrations collection. This dedicated section provides a curated set of implementation references organized by category and complexity.

Learning from Examples

The examples serve multiple purposes:

• Starting Points: Use them as templates for similar integrations

• Best Practices: Learn effective schema design patterns

• Parameter Formatting: See how to structure parameter descriptions for LLMs

• Authentication Patterns: Understand different authentication implementations

Even if you don't find an example that exactly matches your needs, studying similar implementations can provide valuable insights for your own development.

Creating Your First Tool

Ready to create your first custom tool? Here's a streamlined process:

1. Identify the API: Choose the external service you want to integrate

2. Consult Tool Builder: Share the API documentation and get assistance creating the schema

3. Configure the Tool: Create a new REST API Tool instance with your schema

4. Set Up Credentials: Configure the authentication following security best practices

5. Test the Integration: Verify that the tool works as expected

6. Document with Tool Doc Writer: Create comprehensive documentation for users

7. Share with Your Team: Make the tool available to appropriate Mates

Remember that tool creation is an iterative process. Start with a minimal viable implementation and expand as you gain confidence and experience.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Even with specialized assistance, you may encounter challenges during tool development:

Complex Authentication Flows

Challenge: Some APIs use complex authentication methods like OAuth 2.0 with token refresh.
Solution: Focus on APIs with simpler authentication methods like API keys or static tokens for your first implementations. OAuth 2.0 will be supported later in S1-2025.

Extensive API Surface

Challenge: APIs with hundreds of endpoints can be overwhelming to implement.
Solution: Start by implementing only the most critical endpoints you need, then expand incrementally.

Rate Limiting and Quotas

Challenge: Many APIs impose rate limits that can affect tool performance.
Solution: Document these limitations and implement appropriate error handling in your schema.

Schema Validation Errors

Challenge: OpenAPI schemas must follow strict formatting rules.
Solution: Use Tool Builder to help identify and correct validation issues in your schema.

Next Steps

As you become more comfortable with tool creation, consider these advanced topics:

1. Explore Template Variables: Learn how to use Jinja templating for dynamic values

2. Implement Error Handling: Design your schema to gracefully handle API errors

3. Create Multi-Service Tools: Combine multiple APIs into comprehensive tools

4. Share Your Expertise: Contribute your successful implementations to the examples library

By leveraging the specialized Mates and resources available on allmates.ai, you can create powerful, well-documented tools that enhance your organization's capabilities and streamline your workflows.