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After creating an agent with a domain template, you can customize every aspect of its behavior. This page covers the key configuration options.

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Reference scope

The reference scope controls which indexes the agent can search. This is the most important configuration decision, as it determines what knowledge the agent has access to.
Give the agent access to a small number of focused indexes.Pros: Faster searches, more relevant results, fewer off-topic citations.Best for: Specialized agents like a field support agent that only needs product manuals and troubleshooting guides.
Start narrow and expand. It’s easier to add indexes to an agent’s scope than to debug why it’s returning irrelevant results from a scope that’s too broad.

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Tools

Tools define what actions the agent can take when answering a question. A few of the most common ones:
ToolWhat it does
SearchQueries indexes to find relevant content.
ReadReads specific document sections for deeper context after finding them via search.
WriteGenerates structured output like reports, summaries, or draft documents.
WebFetchRetrieves content from external URLs. Useful for agents that need to reference public information.
The domain template sets reasonable defaults, and you can add or remove tools based on what the agent needs to do. For the full catalog of tools Circuit supports, including data analytics, business-system integrations, and construction-specific tools, see the agent tools reference.

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Agent instructions

You can provide custom instructions that shape the agent’s behavior. These instructions tell the agent:
  • How to structure its responses
  • What tone to use (formal, conversational, technical)
  • What to prioritize when multiple documents are relevant
  • Any domain-specific rules or constraints
For example, a customer service agent might include: “Always suggest the customer contact support if the issue requires hands-on service. Never recommend the customer perform electrical work themselves.”

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Skills

Skills are reusable instruction sets that give an agent specialized capabilities. Each skill includes:
  • Custom instructions for a specific task type
  • Optional reference files the agent can use
Skills let you add capabilities without changing the agent’s core configuration. For example, you might add a “warranty lookup” skill to a support agent.

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Actions

Actions define structured workflows an agent can perform. For example, an action might present a structured form that guides a user through a troubleshooting procedure or a parts-ordering request. Circuit supports many action types. The available actions depend on the agent’s domain and configuration.

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Dashboard configuration

Some agents support a dashboard: a customized landing page that users see when they open the agent. This can include pinned documents, quick-action buttons, or a welcome message.
Changes to agent configuration take effect immediately. Users chatting with the agent will see the updated behavior on their next message.