Using Reference Dependencies in Team Instructions

This example demonstrates how to use reference dependencies by defining them in the team constructor and referencing them directly in team instructions. This approach allows dependencies to be automatically injected into the team's context and referenced using template variables in instructions.

Create a Python file

1from datetime import datetime
2
3from kern.agent import Agent
4from kern.models.openai import OpenAIResponses
5from kern.team import Team
6
7
8def get_user_profile(user_id: str = "john_doe") -> dict:
9    """Get user profile information that can be referenced in responses."""
10    profiles = {
11        "john_doe": {
12            "name": "John Doe",
13            "preferences": {
14                "communication_style": "professional",
15                "topics_of_interest": ["AI/ML", "Software Engineering", "Finance"],
16                "experience_level": "senior",
17            },
18            "location": "San Francisco, CA",
19            "role": "Senior Software Engineer",
20        }
21    }
22
23    return profiles.get(user_id, {"name": "Unknown User"})
24
25
26def get_current_context() -> dict:
27    """Get current contextual information like time, weather, etc."""
28    return {
29        "current_time": datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
30        "timezone": "PST",
31        "day_of_week": datetime.now().strftime("%A"),
32    }
33
34
35profile_agent = Agent(
36    name="ProfileAnalyst",
37    model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.2"),
38    instructions="You analyze user profiles and provide personalized recommendations.",
39)
40
41context_agent = Agent(
42    name="ContextAnalyst",
43    model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.2"),
44    instructions="You analyze current context and timing to provide relevant insights.",
45)
46
47team = Team(
48    name="PersonalizationTeam",
49    model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.2"),
50    members=[profile_agent, context_agent],
51    dependencies={
52        "user_profile": get_user_profile,
53        "current_context": get_current_context,
54    },
55    instructions=[
56        "You are a personalization team that provides personalized recommendations based on the user's profile and context.",
57        "Here is the user profile: {user_profile}",
58        "Here is the current context: {current_context}",
59    ],
60    debug_mode=True,
61    markdown=True,
62)
63
64response = team.run(
65    "Please provide me with a personalized summary of today's priorities based on my profile and interests.",
66)
67
68print(response.content)

Set up your virtual environment

1uv venv --python 3.12
2source .venv/bin/activate

1uv venv --python 3.12
2.venv\Scripts\activate

Install dependencies

1uv pip install -U kern-ai openai

Export your OpenAI API key

1export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

Run Team

1python reference_dependencies.py