I Scored Retry Loops. Boundedness Was Optional.
Boundedness failed first. Not the model. Not the schema. The ceiling. I stopped asking whether an agent was "actually thinking" and started asking a dumber question that still draws blood. Does this while ever stop if the tool hangs? That question is unromantic. It is also the one that keeps a shared box from turning into a heat lamp. I wanted a number I could re-run on Monday, not a vibe from a…
The story begins with the realization that boundedness failed first, not the model or the schema. The author transitioned from questioning whether an agent was actually thinking to asking if a loop would ever stop if the tool hung. This question is practical and essential for preventing a shared box from turning into a heat lamp.
The author aimed to create a number that could be re-run on Monday, rather than relying on a vague vibe from a chat transcript. The majority of agent retry code read is a loop accompanied by a trench coat, featuring try, except, sleep, continue, and a comment stating "be resilient." The author emphasizes that resilience without a budget is simply an unbounded bill.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
