An agent tasked with generating a database migration script consistently produces scripts that are syntactically valid but target the wrong table. Traces show the agent correctly calls the schema-inspection tool, but interprets the results incorrectly. How should this failure be classified for remediation purposes?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
If the schema tool gives you the right data but you keep picking the wrong table, the problem isn't the tool — it's how your instructions tell you to read it. When a tool returns correct data and the agent acts incorrectly, classify it as instruction failure. Fix the instructions, not the tool.
Full Explanation
Root cause classification determines where the remediation effort goes. The traces tell us the schema-inspection tool is being called and returning data, but the agent misinterprets that data. This is an instruction failure: the agent's instructions or prompt do not clearly specify how to parse and use the tool's output to identify the correct target table. The fix is to revise the instructions with clearer guidance on interpreting schema output — for example, specifying naming conventions, which fields indicate primary vs. secondary tables, or what disambiguation steps to take when multiple tables match.
The tool failure classification — the schema-inspection tool is returning incorrect data — is ruled out by the traces, which confirm the tool is returning data correctly. If the tool itself were returning wrong data, the fix would be in the tool layer — adding validation, correcting the query, or replacing the tool. But the trace shows correct tool behavior.
The context failure classification — the agent lacks sufficient repository context to determine the correct table — would apply if the agent lacked access to necessary information, for example if it couldn't see which migration was currently active or what the database topology looked like. But the trace shows it has access to the schema data; it just misuses it.
The environment failure classification — the database schema environment is misconfigured — would apply if the database schema environment itself were misconfigured, with wrong tables present, incorrect permissions, or stale schema. But the traces confirm schema data is available and the agent can retrieve it, ruling out environment issues as the root cause.