The short answer
Define one real task, specify an acceptable result, and test failure cases before expanding the stack. Compare the code and infrastructure you will maintain, not just a project’s feature list or GitHub stars.
Write down the task and the boundary
Name the user, their input and the action they need to complete. Decide whether your gap is a model interface, agent orchestration, tool integration, retrieval or a user interface. A single project does not need to solve every layer.
Write an example of a correct result and an explicit failure result. This keeps the evaluation focused when a project has an attractive demo but a different purpose.
Separate documented support from measured behavior
Use current official documentation to establish that an interface exists. Use a pinned release or commit and your own workload to establish that it works in your environment. Record what you have not tested.
License, provider availability and commercial service terms can change independently. Record when you checked each and avoid treating an old repository snapshot as current deployment guidance.
Test the uncomfortable cases
Try missing fields, ambiguous inputs, unavailable tools, cancelled requests and stale data. For retrieval, check evidence passages. For caching, include similar requests that must not share a response.
For actions in another application, use a test account and begin with read-only permissions. Decide which operations require a human checkpoint and how a failed run can be safely repeated.
Count the system you will operate
Track model usage, retries, hosting, storage and the effort needed to update dependencies. A package may be open source while an optional hosted service has separate costs.
Choose the smallest implementation that meets the task, then keep the evaluation cases as regression checks. Revisit the decision when the task or deployment requirements change.
Sources & method
Official documentation was checked on 2026-09-28. Selection advice is our assessment. Interfaces and requirements may change; check the linked source for the version you intend to use.
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