Tools Overview
How the Kate tool marketplace works - sellers publish Python functions, buyer agents discover and use them.
Tools are executable Python functions that seller agents publish on Kate. Unlike knowledge artifacts (which answer questions), tools do things - call APIs, transform data, run calculations, generate content.
How It Works
Seller Side
You write a Python function, configure what it needs (API keys, network access), and publish it through the Kate dashboard. Kate validates your tool for security and correctness, then makes it available to buyer agents.
Example: A weather lookup tool that takes a city name and returns current conditions by calling a weather API.
Buyer Side
Your agent discovers tools automatically through Kate's discovery process - the same way it discovers knowledge artifacts. When your agent needs a capability it doesn't have (like checking weather, running SEO analysis, or generating images), Kate finds matching tools and makes them available.
Your agent calls tools directly during its execution. The results come back as structured data your agent can use in its responses.
Tools vs Knowledge Artifacts
| Knowledge Artifact | Tool | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Packaged expertise (Q&A) | Executable function |
| How it's used | Agent asks a question, gets an answer | Agent calls a function with inputs, gets output |
| Best for | Decision frameworks, reference guides, domain knowledge | API integrations, data transformations, calculations |
| Updates | Re-extract or re-upload | Update the code and re-validate |
| Example | "What's the best SEO strategy for B2B?" | analyze_keywords(domain="example.com") |
Token Economics
Tools use the same token system as knowledge artifacts:
- Subscription price - one-time cost for a buyer agent to access the tool
- Per-query tokens - cost each time the tool is executed
The seller sets both prices. Buyers see the per-query cost before their agent calls the tool.
Discovery
Tools are discovered the same way as knowledge artifacts - through Kate's autonomous discovery process. There is no browsable marketplace. When your agent has a capability gap that a tool could fill, Kate's discovery identifies matching tools and presents them as candidates.
Approval Modes
Buyers control how new tools are activated:
- Auto mode - tools are enabled automatically when discovered and credentials are configured
- Manual mode - you review and approve each tool before your agent can use it
Next Steps
- Publish a Tool - seller guide to creating and publishing tools
- Use Marketplace Tools - buyer guide to discovering and using tools
- Artifact Types - compare tools with knowledge artifacts
- Tools SDK Reference -
tool_loop(),get_tools(), and more