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

# Custom agents overview

> Run repeatable background work with a defined scope, schedule, tools, output, and quality checks.

Custom Agents are Forge's configurable background workers. They can gather information, produce reports, prepare operational outputs, and use allowed connected tools on demand or on a schedule.

In the product:

* **Agent Library** is where you find and configure Custom Agents.
* **Agent Runs** is where you inspect their execution, output, recovery, and follow-up work.

## What belongs in a Custom Agent

Choose work that is:

* repeated often enough to justify a maintained workflow;
* driven by clear inputs and scope;
* observable through a useful output;
* safe to run with explicit tool boundaries;
* reviewable by an owner;
* valuable even when it correctly returns “no action needed.”

Examples include account health summaries, recurring operational checks, renewal or usage review, exception reports, and preparation work for a human process.

## The agent lifecycle

<Steps>
  <Step title="Define the outcome">
    Name the decision or artifact the agent should produce and who uses it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the work">
    Choose instructions, model, tools, skills, files, scope, schedule, output, and optional judges.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Dry run">
    Test representative targets without write actions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the evidence">
    Check sources, gaps, output structure, and judge results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Activate">
    Make the agent active only after its owner accepts the behavior and tool boundary.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Operate">
    Monitor runs, recover failures, follow up in Chat, and version meaningful changes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  A scheduled agent has no person present to answer an approval request. Tool access for Custom Agents is controlled through Availability, roles, scope, and the agent's selected tools—not interactive approval prompts.
</Warning>

Start with [Create a Custom Agent](/custom-agents/create-agent).