build_code_agent: Build an R Code-Generation Agent

In LLMAgentR: Language Model Agents in R for AI Workflows and Research

Build an R Code-Generation Agent

Description

Constructs an LLM-powered agent for generating, debugging, explaining, or optimizing R code. **Two calling patterns are supported**:

• **Builder pattern** – omit 'user_input'. The function returns a reusable coder-agent closure. Call that closure with different queries whenever you need code help.

• **One-shot pattern** – provide 'user_input'. The function executes immediately and returns the result once.

Arguments

llm	A function that accepts a character 'prompt' and returns an LLM response (optionally accepts 'verbose').
system_prompt	Optional system-level instructions that override the built-in default prompt.
user_input	The coding task/query (e.g., '"Write function to filter NAs"'). **Default 'NULL'** – omit to obtain a reusable agent.
max_tries	Maximum LLM retry attempts (default '3').
backoff	Seconds to wait between retries (default '2').
verbose	Logical flag to show progress messages (default 'TRUE').

Details

The agent automatically retries failed LLM calls (with exponential back-off) and always returns a structured result.

Value

• If 'user_input' is 'NULL': a function (the coder-agent closure).

• Otherwise: a list with the fields

  input

  The original user query.

  llm_response

  The LLM output (or error message).

  system_prompt

  Prompt actually sent.

  success

  Logical; did the call succeed?

  attempts

  Number of attempts made.

Examples

## Not run: 
## ------------------------------------------------------------------
## 1)  Builder pattern – create a reusable coder agent
## ------------------------------------------------------------------
coder <- build_code_agent(
  llm       = my_llm_wrapper,   # your own wrapper around the LLM API
  max_tries = 3,
  backoff   = 2,
  verbose   = FALSE
)

# Use the agent multiple times
res1 <- coder("Write an R function that z-score–standardises all numeric columns.")
res2 <- coder("Explain what `%>%` does in tidyverse pipelines.")

## ------------------------------------------------------------------
## 2)  One-shot pattern – run a single request immediately
## ------------------------------------------------------------------
one_shot <- build_code_agent(
  llm        = my_llm_wrapper,
  user_input = "Create a ggplot2 bar chart of mpg by cyl in mtcars.",
  max_tries  = 3,
  backoff    = 2,
  verbose    = FALSE
)

## End(Not run)

LLMAgentR documentation built on June 8, 2025, 10:02 a.m.