Assignment 02: Creating and Using Tools
Overview
Move beyond single-turn web chat interfaces by building bespoke creative computation tools. Leveraging AI-assisted coding, Model Context Protocol (MCP), command-line environments (VSCode, OpenCode, Codex), or custom scripts, design an operational tool or workflow bridge that expands your creative toolkit.
Objectives
- Tool Building: Implement a functioning script, CLI utility, custom MCP server, or API pipeline that automates, filters, connects, or transforms creative assets.
- Protocol & Context Engineering: Structure system prompts, input schemas, and tool definitions to reliably execute multi-step workflows.
- Centaur vs. Cyborg Workflow Analysis: Demonstrate how the tool creates either a modular division of labor (Centaur) or an interactive continuous dialogue (Cyborg) between human and machine.
- Safety & Boundary Definition: Implement verification constraints and input/output sanitation.
Deliverables
- Functional Tool / Code Repository: Cleanly documented code with installation and execution instructions.
- Workflow Demonstration: A screen recording or live demo showcasing the tool in a realistic creative production scenario.
- Technical Rationale & Architecture Note (400–600 words): Documenting the design choices, prompt structure, API/MCP integration, and failure modes encountered during development.
- Sample Output Artifacts: Creative outputs generated using the newly created tool.