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API Architecture

The Swarms API provides a comprehensive multi-tier architecture for building collaborative agentic systems.

Swarms API Architecture

The Swarms API provides a comprehensive multi-tier architecture for building intelligent AI systems. The platform is designed around three distinct agent paradigms, each optimized for different types of tasks and complexity levels.

Architecture Tiers

Tier
Name
Agent Count
Complexity
Primary Use
Example Use Cases
API Endpoint

Tier 1

Individual Agents

1

Low-Medium

Focused tasks

Content generation, data analysis, Q&A

/v1/agent/completions

Tier 2

Reasoning Agents

1-2 (internal)

Medium-High

Complex reasoning

Mathematical proofs, logical validation, research

/v1/reasoning-agent/completions

Tier 3

Multi-Agent Swarms

3-10,000+

High

Enterprise workflows

Process automation, large-scale systems, R&D

/v1/swarm/completions

Tier 1: Individual Agents

Single-purpose AI agents for focused tasks

Individual agents are the foundation of the Swarms ecosystem. These are custom-built, single-purpose AI agents designed to handle specific tasks with high precision and efficiency.

Key Characteristics

  • Single Agent: One AI model per agent

  • Focused Purpose: Specialized for specific tasks

  • Customizable: Full control over system prompts, tools, and behavior

  • Efficient: Optimized for direct task execution

  • Scalable: Can be combined into larger systems

Use Cases

  • Content generation (articles, code, reports)

  • Data analysis and processing

  • Customer service responses

  • Creative tasks (writing, design)

  • Simple Q&A and information retrieval

  • Tool execution and automation

Example Implementation

import requests

payload = {
    "agent_config": {
        "agent_name": "content-writer",
        "description": "Professional content writer for technical articles",
        "system_prompt": "You are an expert technical writer...",
        "model_name": "gpt-4o",
        "max_tokens": 4000,
        "temperature": 0.7
    },
    "task": "Write a comprehensive guide on API security best practices"
}

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.swarms.world/v1/agent/completions",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your-api-key"},
    json=payload
)

Tier 2: Reasoning Agents

Advanced reasoning systems for complex problem-solving

Reasoning agents leverage sophisticated reasoning techniques to solve complex problems that require deep analysis, multiple perspectives, and systematic thinking. These agents may internally use 1-2 specialized sub-agents to achieve their reasoning goals.

Key Characteristics

  • Reasoning-Focused: Built for complex logical and analytical tasks

  • Multi-Perspective: Can approach problems from different angles

  • Iterative: Capable of refinement and improvement cycles

  • Specialized Types: 7 different reasoning agent types available

  • Internal Coordination: May use sub-agents for specialized reasoning

Available Reasoning Agent Types

Agent Type
Description
Best For

reasoning-duo

Dual-agent system with perspective synthesis

Mathematical problems, logical proofs

self-consistency

Multiple reasoning paths with validation

Complex logical problems, consistency checking

ire

Iterative refinement approach

Complex analysis, research problems

reasoning-agent

General-purpose systematic reasoning

Step-by-step problem solving

consistency-agent

Logical consistency and contradiction detection

Argument validation

ReflexionAgent

Self-reflection and bias detection

Meta-cognitive tasks

GKPAgent

Cross-domain knowledge synthesis

Interdisciplinary problems

Use Cases

  • Mathematical proofs and complex calculations

  • Logical consistency validation

  • Research and analysis tasks

  • Cross-domain problem solving

  • Bias detection and ethical analysis

  • Iterative improvement scenarios

Example Implementation

payload = {
    "agent_name": "math-reasoner",
    "description": "Mathematical problem solver using dual perspectives",
    "model_name": "claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620",
    "system_prompt": "You are an expert mathematical reasoning agent...",
    "max_loops": 1,
    "swarm_type": "reasoning-duo",
    "task": "Prove that the sum of any three consecutive integers is divisible by 3"
}

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.swarms.world/v1/reasoning-agent/completions",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your-api-key"},
    json=payload
)

📖 Complete Reasoning Agents Documentation

Tier 3: Multi-Agent Swarms

Large-scale agent systems for complex workflows

Multi-agent swarms represent the most sophisticated tier, capable of orchestrating anywhere from 3 to 10,000+ agents working together in coordinated workflows. These systems are designed for enterprise-scale applications and complex business processes.

Key Characteristics

  • Massive Scale: 3 to 10,000+ agents per swarm

  • Coordinated Workflows: Agents work together in structured processes

  • Multiple Swarm Types: 12+ different swarm architectures available

  • Enterprise-Grade: Built for complex business applications

  • Dynamic Routing: Intelligent task distribution and agent selection

Available Swarm Types

Swarm Type
Description
Agent Count
Best For

SequentialWorkflow

Linear task progression

3-50

Process automation, step-by-step workflows

ConcurrentWorkflow

Parallel task execution

5-100

Parallel processing, independent tasks

GroupChat

Interactive agent discussions

3-20

Collaborative problem solving, brainstorming

MixtureOfAgents

Specialized agent selection

5-200

Complex tasks requiring multiple expertise areas

MajorityVoting

Consensus-based decision making

5-50

Decision making, validation tasks

CouncilAsAJudge

Expert panel with final judge

5-30

Expert evaluation, quality assessment

InteractiveGroupChat

Real-time agent interactions

3-15

Dynamic problem solving, real-time collaboration

AgentRearrange

Dynamic agent reordering

3-100

Adaptive workflows, optimization

MultiAgentRouter

Intelligent task routing

10-500

Large-scale task distribution

HiearchicalSwarm

Nested agent hierarchies

10-1000

Complex organizational structures

AutoSwarmBuilder

Automatic swarm construction

5-200

Dynamic swarm creation, optimization

MALT

Multi-agent learning and training

10-10000+

Large-scale learning systems

Use Cases

  • Enterprise process automation

  • Large-scale data processing

  • Complex decision-making systems

  • Research and development workflows

  • Customer service automation

  • Content creation pipelines

  • Quality assurance systems

  • Dynamic resource allocation

Example Implementation

payload = {
    "name": "Enterprise Content Pipeline",
    "description": "Multi-stage content creation and review system",
    "agents": [
        {
            "agent_name": "researcher",
            "description": "Research and gather information",
            "model_name": "gpt-4o",
            "role": "researcher"
        },
        {
            "agent_name": "writer",
            "description": "Create initial content",
            "model_name": "claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620",
            "role": "writer"
        },
        {
            "agent_name": "editor",
            "description": "Review and improve content",
            "model_name": "gpt-4o",
            "role": "editor"
        },
        {
            "agent_name": "fact-checker",
            "description": "Verify accuracy and sources",
            "model_name": "claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620",
            "role": "validator"
        }
    ],
    "max_loops": 2,
    "swarm_type": "SequentialWorkflow",
    "task": "Create a comprehensive industry report on AI trends in 2024"
}

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.swarms.world/v1/swarm/completions",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your-api-key"},
    json=payload
)

Architecture Comparison

Aspect
Individual Agents
Reasoning Agents
Multi-Agent Swarms

Agent Count

1

1-2 (internal)

3-10,000+

Complexity

Low-Medium

Medium-High

High-Extreme

Use Case

Focused tasks

Complex reasoning

Enterprise workflows

Setup Time

Minutes

Minutes-Hours

Hours-Days

Resource Usage

Low

Medium

High

Scalability

Individual

Limited

Massive

Cost

Low

Medium

High

Maintenance

Simple

Moderate

Complex

Choosing the Right Architecture

When to Use Individual Agents

  • ✅ Single, well-defined tasks

  • ✅ Quick prototyping and testing

  • ✅ Resource-constrained environments

  • ✅ Simple automation needs

  • ✅ Cost-sensitive applications

When to Use Reasoning Agents

  • ✅ Complex problem-solving tasks

  • ✅ Tasks requiring multiple perspectives

  • ✅ Logical consistency validation

  • ✅ Research and analysis work

  • ✅ Tasks requiring iterative improvement

When to Use Multi-Agent Swarms

  • ✅ Complex business processes

  • ✅ Large-scale automation

  • ✅ Multi-step workflows

  • ✅ Enterprise applications

  • ✅ Tasks requiring multiple expertise areas

  • ✅ Dynamic, adaptive systems

Integration Patterns

Hybrid Approaches

You can combine different tiers for optimal results:

  1. Individual + Reasoning: Use individual agents for data collection, reasoning agents for analysis

  2. Reasoning + Swarms: Use reasoning agents within swarms for complex decision-making

  3. All Three Tiers: Individual agents for data processing, reasoning agents for analysis, swarms for orchestration

Migration Paths

  • Start Simple: Begin with individual agents, upgrade to reasoning agents for complex tasks

  • Scale Up: Move from reasoning agents to swarms for enterprise needs

  • Optimize: Use reasoning agents within swarms for enhanced decision-making

Performance Considerations

Individual Agents

  • Latency: 1-5 seconds

  • Throughput: High (1000+ requests/minute)

  • Cost: $0.01-0.10 per request

  • Memory: Minimal

Reasoning Agents

  • Latency: 5-30 seconds

  • Throughput: Medium (100-500 requests/minute)

  • Cost: $0.05-0.50 per request

  • Memory: Moderate

Multi-Agent Swarms

  • Latency: 30 seconds - 10 minutes

  • Throughput: Variable (10-100 requests/minute)

  • Cost: $0.10-5.00 per request

  • Memory: High

Best Practices

1. Start with the Right Tier

  • Begin with individual agents for simple tasks

  • Upgrade to reasoning agents when complexity increases

  • Use swarms only when necessary for scale

2. Optimize for Your Use Case

  • Match agent capabilities to task requirements

  • Consider cost vs. performance trade-offs

  • Plan for scalability from the start

3. Monitor and Iterate

  • Track performance metrics across all tiers

  • Optimize based on usage patterns

  • Consider hybrid approaches for complex needs

Getting Started

Quick Start Guide

  1. Choose Your Tier: Start with individual agents for simple tasks

  2. Build and Test: Create your first agent and test functionality

  3. Scale Up: Move to reasoning agents or swarms as needed

Documentation Resources

Support and Community

For enterprise deployments and custom solutions, contact our team for dedicated support and consultation.

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