Micro Agent

What is Micro Agent?

Micro Agent is an open-source AI agent developed by BuilderIO that writes and fixes code for you. It's designed to generate a test case and then iterate on code until all test cases pass, making the process of getting functional code more efficient.

How does Micro Agent differ from other AI coding agents?

Micro Agent is a "micro" agent, meaning it's small, focused, and specializes in one task: writing a test and then producing code that passes that test. Unlike general-purpose coding agents that can sometimes go "haywire" with compounding errors, Micro Agent aims for reliability by focusing on a specific, iterative process. It does not attempt to be an end-to-end developer, install modules, or manage multiple files.

What are the key features of Micro Agent?

Micro Agent offers:

• Test-Driven Development

  It generates a test and then iterates on code until the tests pass.

• Interactive Mode

  Provides an interactive experience where it asks questions and uses your feedback to improve generated code.

• LLM API Key Support

  Works with various LLMs including Claude, OpenAI, Ollama, or any OpenAI compatible provider.

• Unit Test Matching

  Can run on a file and iterate code until a specified test script passes.

• Visual Matching (Experimental)

  Can generate code to match a design by comparing rendered output to a screenshot (requires Anthropic API key).

• Figma Integration

  Can integrate with Visual Copilot for high-fidelity design-to-code conversion, reusing components and design tokens.

• Configurable

  Allows setting API keys, models, and maximum runs via CLI commands or environment variables.

What are the system requirements for Micro Agent?

Micro Agent requires Node.js v18 or later.

How do I install Micro Agent?

You can install Micro Agent globally using npm: npm install -g @builder.io/micro-agent

How do I get started with Micro Agent?

The easiest way to start is by running Micro Agent in interactive mode: micro-agent This will guide you through the process and use your feedback to improve the generated code.

How do I configure my LLM API key for Micro Agent?

You can set your API key using the config set command. For OpenAI: micro-agent config set OPENAI_KEY=<your token> For Anthropic: micro-agent config set ANTHROPIC_KEY=<your token> You can also set a custom OpenAI API endpoint for providers like Ollama or Groq.

Can I use Micro Agent for visual design matching?

Yes, Micro Agent has an experimental visual matching feature. You provide a design (as a screenshot) and a local URL to your rendered code, and Micro Agent will generate code to match the design. This feature currently requires an Anthropic API key for optimal performance.

How can I contribute to the Micro Agent project?

Micro Agent is open source, and contributions are welcome. You can find guidelines in the CONTRIBUTING.md file within the GitHub repository. Look for issues labeled "good first issue" if you're new to contributing.

Where can I find more information or provide feedback?

You can find more details on the project's GitHub page: https://github.com/BuilderIO/micro-agent For feedback, you can open an issue on the GitHub repository or reach out to @steve8708 on Twitter.

Product Features of Micro Agent

Overview

Micro Agent is an open-source AI agent developed by BuilderIO, designed to automate the process of writing and fixing code. Unlike general-purpose AI coding agents that can be prone to compounding errors, Micro Agent is a "micro" agent, meaning it is small, focused, and specializes in a specific task: generating and iterating on code until it passes defined test cases. It aims to streamline the development workflow by handling the iterative process of code generation and correction, allowing developers to focus on higher-level tasks.

Main Purpose and Target User Group

• Main Purpose: To generate and iteratively refine code based on a given prompt and test cases until all tests pass. It automates the often tedious process of fixing broken code generated by LLMs.

• Target User Group:

  • Software developers and engineers who want to accelerate their coding process.
  • Teams looking to implement test-driven development (TDD) more efficiently.
  • Users of large language models (LLMs) for code generation who need a reliable way to ensure the generated code is functional and correct.
  • Individuals and organizations interested in leveraging AI for code automation in a controlled and focused manner.

Function Details and Operations

• Test-Driven Code Generation: Micro Agent's core functionality revolves around generating code and then iterating on it until it passes a provided test script.

• Interactive Mode: Users can run Micro Agent in an interactive mode (micro-agent), where it asks questions and uses user feedback to improve code generation.

• Unit Test Matching:

  • Takes a file to edit and a test script (e.g., npm test).
  • Assumes a default test file naming convention (e.g., .test.ts for .ts files).
  • Allows specifying custom test file paths (-f) and prompt files (-p).

• Visual Matching (Experimental):

  • Enables matching code to a design by providing a local URL to rendered code and a screenshot file.
  • Requires an Anthropic API key for optimal performance, as it leverages Anthropic Claude Opus for visual feedback and OpenAI for code generation.

• LLM API Key Configuration: Supports integration with various LLMs including Claude, OpenAI, Ollama, or any OpenAI-compatible provider. Users can configure API keys and select models (e.g., gpt-4o, claude) via the micro-agent config set command or environment variables.

• Custom OpenAI API Endpoint: Allows setting a custom endpoint for use with local LLMs like Ollama or other providers like Groq.

• Integration with Figma (via Visual Copilot): Can integrate with Visual Copilot to connect directly with Figma, enabling high-fidelity design-to-code conversion, precise design token mapping, and component reuse. Micro Agent then refines the output to ensure it passes tests and matches the design.

• Configuration Options:

  • --max-runs (-m): Sets the maximum number of attempts for code generation and testing.
  • config command: Provides a CLI for setting API keys, models, and other configurations, including an interactive UI.
  • Environment Variables: All config options can be overridden using environment variables.

• Update Mechanism: Includes a command (micro-agent update) to easily upgrade to the latest version.

User Benefits

• Increased Productivity: Automates the iterative process of code correction, saving developers significant time and effort.

• Higher Code Quality: Ensures generated code meets specified test criteria, leading to more robust and reliable applications.

• Reduced Manual Debugging: Minimizes the need for manual debugging of AI-generated code by automatically iterating until tests pass.

• Focused AI Application: By being a "micro" agent, it avoids the common pitfalls of overly ambitious AI agents, providing reliable results for its specific task.

• Flexibility: Supports various LLMs and offers extensive configuration options to fit different development environments and preferences.

• Test-Driven Development (TDD) Facilitation: Naturally integrates with and enhances TDD workflows.

Compatibility and Integration

• Node.js: Requires Node.js v18 or later.

• LLMs: Compatible with OpenAI (e.g., GPT-4o, GPT-3.5-turbo), Anthropic (e.g., Claude, Claude-3-5-Sonnet), Ollama, and other OpenAI-compatible providers.

• Development Environments: Designed to work within typical software development workflows, integrating with existing test scripts (e.g., npm test).

• Figma: Integrates with Figma through Visual Copilot for design-to-code workflows.

• Operating Systems: Works across various operating systems where Node.js is supported.

Customer Feedback and Case Studies

• Community Engagement

  • GitHub Stars: 4.1k stars on GitHub, indicating strong community interest and adoption.
  • Forks: 371 forks, suggesting active community engagement and potential for contributions.
  • Issues: 40 open issues, demonstrating ongoing development and community interaction for improvements and bug fixes.
  • Blog Post: Further details and insights into its existence and purpose are available on the Builder.io blog.
  • Community Contributions: Welcomes contributions, with a good first issue label for new contributors.

Access and Activation Method

• Installation: Available as an npm package. Users can install it globally using npm install -g @builder.io/micro-agent.

• Execution: Run from the command line using micro-agent for interactive mode or with specific flags for unit test or visual matching.

• API Key Configuration: Requires users to set up API keys for their chosen LLM providers (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic) using the micro-agent config set command.