> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.praison.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Your First Agent

> A step-by-step guide to building your first AI agent

Let's build your first AI agent in 5 minutes! Follow along step by step.

```mermaid theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
graph LR
    subgraph "What We'll Build"
        You[👤 You] --> Agent[🤖 Research Assistant]
        Agent --> Answer[✅ Helpful Answers]
    end
    
    classDef user fill:#8B0000,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef agent fill:#189AB4,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef result fill:#2E8B57,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    
    class You user
    class Agent agent
    class Answer result
```

***

## Step-by-Step Guide

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install PraisonAI">
    Open your terminal and run:

    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
    pip install praisonaiagents
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Your API Key">
    Set your OpenAI API key:

    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
    export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here
    ```

    <Note>
      Get your API key from [platform.openai.com](https://platform.openai.com/api-keys)
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Your Agent File">
    Create a new file called `my_agent.py`:

    ```python theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
    from praisonaiagents import Agent

    # Create your first agent
    agent = Agent(
        name="ResearchAssistant",
        instructions="You are a helpful research assistant. Explain things simply and clearly."
    )

    # Ask it a question
    agent.start("Explain how solar panels work in simple terms")
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run Your Agent">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
    python my_agent.py
    ```

    You should see the agent's response explaining solar panels!
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## How It Works

```mermaid theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
graph LR
    subgraph "Agent Flow"
        Instructions[📋 Instructions] --> Agent[🤖 Agent]
        Question[❓ Question] --> Agent
        Agent --> LLM[🧠 LLM]
        LLM --> Response[💬 Response]
    end
    
    classDef input fill:#8B0000,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef agent fill:#189AB4,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef output fill:#2E8B57,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    
    class Instructions,Question input
    class Agent,LLM agent
    class Response output
```

| Step             | What Happens                               |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Instructions** | Tell the agent who it is and how to behave |
| **Question**     | Your message or task                       |
| **LLM**          | AI model processes everything              |
| **Response**     | Agent returns the answer                   |

***

## Try Different Agents

### Coding Helper

```python theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
from praisonaiagents import Agent

coder = Agent(
    name="CodeHelper",
    instructions="You are a Python expert. Explain code simply and provide working examples."
)

coder.start("How do I read a CSV file in Python?")
```

### Creative Writer

```python theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
from praisonaiagents import Agent

writer = Agent(
    name="StoryWriter",
    instructions="You write short, engaging stories with vivid descriptions."
)

writer.start("Write a short story about a robot learning to paint")
```

### Math Tutor

```python theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
from praisonaiagents import Agent

tutor = Agent(
    name="MathTutor",
    instructions="You explain math concepts step by step. Use simple language."
)

tutor.start("Explain how percentages work")
```

***

## Complete Example

```python theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
from praisonaiagents import Agent

# Create a research assistant
assistant = Agent(
    name="ResearchAssistant",
    instructions="""You are a helpful research assistant.

When answering:
- Be concise and clear
- Use bullet points when helpful
- Explain complex topics simply
- Admit when you don't know something"""
)

# Ask multiple questions
assistant.start("What are the benefits of exercise?")
assistant.start("How does the internet work?")
assistant.start("Explain climate change in simple terms")
```

***

## Troubleshooting

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API Key Error" icon="key">
    Make sure `OPENAI_API_KEY` is set correctly
  </Card>

  <Card title="Module Not Found" icon="box">
    Run `pip install praisonaiagents` again
  </Card>

  <Card title="No Response" icon="wifi">
    Check your internet connection
  </Card>

  <Card title="Slow Response" icon="clock">
    First request may take a few seconds
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## What's Next?

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Add Tools">
    Give your agent superpowers like web search and calculations
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Add Memory">
    Let your agent remember conversations
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Add Knowledge">
    Give your agent access to your documents
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Build Teams">
    Create multiple agents that work together
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

<Card title="Next: Adding Tools to Agents" icon="arrow-right" href="/course/agents/12-adding-tools-to-agents">
  Learn how to give your agents superpowers with tools.
</Card>