shell-agent-file-workflow

name	shell-agent-file-workflow
description	Delegate file generation to shell_agent when direct tools fail, with systematic file location and retrieval

Shell Agent File Generation Workflow

When direct document or file generation approaches fail, delegate the task to shell_agent which can autonomously write code, execute it, and retry on errors. Generated files may appear in nested workspace directories.

When to Use

• Direct file generation tools or create_file functions fail for complex formats
• Complex file creation requiring multiple steps, libraries, or error recovery
• When you need an autonomous agent to figure out how to accomplish a goal
• File generation that requires iteration and automatic error fixing

Workflow Steps

Step 1: Delegate File Generation to shell_agent

Use shell_agent with a clear, specific task description:

shell_agent(task="Create a [file type] with [specific content/structure requirements]")

The agent will:

• Decide whether to use Python or Bash
• Write and execute code
• Inspect output and iterate
• Automatically retry and fix errors (up to several rounds)

Step 2: Locate Generated Files

Files may be created in nested directories within the workspace. Use find to locate them:

find . -name "*.extension" -type f

For multiple file types:

find . -type f \( -name "*.pptx" -o -name "*.docx" -o -name "*.pdf" \)

For recently modified files (last 10 minutes):