# Hello World: Your First Conjure Agent
Get Conjure running in 10 minutes with a simple Echo skill.
**Time:** 10 minutes
## What You'll Build
A minimal agent that:
1. Loads an Echo skill
2. Connects to Claude API
3. Runs a conversation where Claude uses the skill
## Prerequisites
- **Elixir 1.14+** and **Erlang/OTP 25+**
- **Anthropic API key** from [console.anthropic.com](https://console.anthropic.com)
- **Python 3.8+** (for the Echo skill script)
Verify your setup:
```bash
elixir --version
# Elixir 1.16.0 (compiled with Erlang/OTP 26)
python3 --version
# Python 3.11.0
```
## Step 1: Create a New Project
```bash
mix new hello_conjure --sup
cd hello_conjure
```
## Step 2: Add Dependencies
Edit `mix.exs`:
```elixir
defp deps do
[
{:conjure, "~> 0.1.0"},
{:req, "~> 0.4"}
]
end
```
Fetch dependencies:
```bash
mix deps.get
```
## Step 3: Configure Your API Key
Create `config/config.exs`:
```elixir
import Config
config :hello_conjure,
anthropic_api_key: System.get_env("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY")
```
Set your API key:
```bash
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
```
## Step 4: Create the Echo Skill
Create the skill directory:
```bash
mkdir -p priv/skills/echo/scripts
```
Create `priv/skills/echo/SKILL.md`:
```markdown
---
name: echo
description: |
A simple echo skill for testing. Use this when asked to echo or repeat messages.
license: MIT
compatibility: python3
allowed-tools: Bash(python3:*) Read
---
# Echo Skill
To echo a message, run:
\`\`\`bash
python3 scripts/echo.py "Your message here"
\`\`\`
```
Create `priv/skills/echo/scripts/echo.py`:
```python
#!/usr/bin/env python3
import sys
from datetime import datetime
def main():
if len(sys.argv) < 2:
print("Usage: echo.py <message>")
sys.exit(1)
message = " ".join(sys.argv[1:])
timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
print(f"[{timestamp}] Echo: {message}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
```
Make it executable:
```bash
chmod +x priv/skills/echo/scripts/echo.py
```
Test the skill manually:
```bash
python3 priv/skills/echo/scripts/echo.py "Hello, World!"
# [2024-01-15 10:30:00] Echo: Hello, World!
```
## Step 5: Create the Agent Module
Create `lib/hello_conjure/agent.ex`:
```elixir
defmodule HelloConjure.Agent do
@moduledoc """
A simple agent that uses the Echo skill.
"""
@api_url "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages"
def chat(message) do
# Load skills
{:ok, skills} = Conjure.load("priv/skills")
IO.puts("Loaded #{length(skills)} skill(s)")
# Create a session
session = Conjure.Session.new_local(skills)
# Chat with Claude
case Conjure.Session.chat(session, message, &api_callback/1) do
{:ok, response, _session} ->
text = extract_text(response)
IO.puts("\nClaude: #{text}")
{:ok, text}
{:error, error} ->
IO.puts("Error: #{inspect(error)}")
{:error, error}
end
end
defp api_callback(messages) do
body = %{
model: "claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929",
max_tokens: 1024,
system: system_prompt(),
messages: messages,
tools: Conjure.tool_definitions()
}
headers = [
{"x-api-key", api_key()},
{"anthropic-version", "2023-06-01"},
{"content-type", "application/json"}
]
case Req.post(@api_url, json: body, headers: headers) do
{:ok, %{status: 200, body: response}} -> {:ok, response}
{:ok, %{body: body}} -> {:error, body}
{:error, reason} -> {:error, reason}
end
end
defp system_prompt do
{:ok, skills} = Conjure.load("priv/skills")
"""
You are a helpful assistant with access to skills.
#{Conjure.system_prompt(skills)}
"""
end
defp extract_text(%{"content" => content}) do
content
|> Enum.filter(&(&1["type"] == "text"))
|> Enum.map_join("\n", & &1["text"])
end
defp api_key do
Application.get_env(:hello_conjure, :anthropic_api_key) ||
System.get_env("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY") ||
raise "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY not set"
end
end
```
## Step 6: Run Your First Conversation
Start IEx:
```bash
iex -S mix
```
Chat with your agent:
```elixir
HelloConjure.Agent.chat("Please echo 'Hello from Conjure!'")
```
You should see output like:
```
Loaded 1 skill(s)
Claude: I'll use the echo skill to echo your message.
[Tool call: bash_tool with command: python3 scripts/echo.py "Hello from Conjure!"]
The echo skill returned:
[2024-01-15 10:35:00] Echo: Hello from Conjure!
```
## What Just Happened?
1. **Skill Loading**: Conjure loaded the Echo skill from `priv/skills/`
2. **System Prompt**: The skills section was added to Claude's system prompt
3. **Skill Discovery**: Claude read the SKILL.md to understand capabilities
4. **Tool Execution**: Claude used `bash_tool` to run the echo script
5. **Response**: Claude formatted and returned the result
## Next Steps
You've built your first Conjure agent! Continue learning:
- **[Local Skills with Claude](using_local_skills_via_claude_api.md)** - Build a production log analyzer
- **[Anthropic Skills API](using_claude_skill_with_elixir_host.md)** - Generate documents with hosted execution
- **[Native Elixir Skills](using_elixir_native_skill.md)** - Build type-safe skills in pure Elixir
## Troubleshooting
### "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY not set"
Ensure your API key is exported:
```bash
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
```
### "Skill not found"
Check the skill directory exists:
```bash
ls priv/skills/echo/SKILL.md
```
### Python script errors
Ensure Python 3 is installed and the script is executable:
```bash
python3 --version
chmod +x priv/skills/echo/scripts/echo.py
```
### Tool execution fails
Try running the script manually:
```bash
cd priv/skills/echo
python3 scripts/echo.py "test"
```
