SmolAgents

SmolAgents is Hugging Face's deliberately minimal agent library, built around one idea: let the model write and run Python code as its primary way of acting, rather than calling a catalogue of predefined tools.

Why the code-first approach

A model that can write code can compose actions — loop, branch, transform data — in ways a fixed tool list cannot. For tasks that are genuinely computational, that is more flexible and often more reliable than chaining tool calls.

The trade-offs

• Python only.
• Minimal by design — there is little scaffolding for memory, orchestration or human-in-the-loop, so you build those yourself.
• Running model-written code needs a real sandbox; do not skip that.

Who should use it

Developers who want a lightweight, code-generating agent and are comfortable providing their own structure around it. If you need a batteries-included framework with orchestration and observability, look at a heavier option.