Iterative Verification in Agent Loops

Adding a Quick Test Step

I've learned that giving an agent a way to test partial results before finalizing them is a game-changer. At first, I would just run a single pass—hand the model some instructions, watch it produce an outcome, and hope for the best. But inevitably, small errors crept in: malformed queries, incomplete code blocks, or confusing logic.

The simple fix was to add a lightweight "trial run" step in the middle of the loop. For instance, if the agent needs to craft a database query, it first attempts a test version, collects feedback about errors or table schemas, and only then produces the final query. In other words, it actively checks its own work.

What I found most effective is to keep the verification step as short and clear as possible. If it returns too much noise or tries to do half a dozen different checks, the original problem just gets buried. But with a focused test, the agent can refine its approach and avoid repeated dead ends. This little tweak not only tightened reliability but also cut down on wasted compute and time.