Build AI agents that persist, think, and act. Agents run on Cloudflare's global network, maintain state across requests, and connect to clients in real-time via WebSockets.
What you will build: A counter agent with persistent state that syncs to a React frontend in real-time.
Time: ~10 minutes
npm
create cloudflare@latest -- --template cloudflare/agents-starter
yarn
create cloudflare --template cloudflare/agents-starter
pnpm
create cloudflare@latest --template cloudflare/agents-starter
bun
create cloudflare@latest --template cloudflare/agents-starter
Then install dependencies and start the dev server:
cd agents-starter
npm install
npm run devThis creates a project with:
src/server.ts— Your agent codesrc/client.tsx— React frontendwrangler.jsonc— Cloudflare configurationtsconfig.json— Extendsagents/tsconfigfor correct decorator and module settingsvite.config.ts— Includes theagents/viteplugin for decorator support
The starter template includes two important SDK integrations. If you are setting up a project manually, add both:
tsconfig.json — extends agents/tsconfig, which sets target: "ES2021" and other recommended options:
{
"extends": "agents/tsconfig"
}vite.config.ts — includes the agents() plugin, which handles TC39 decorator transforms (required for @callable() in Vite 8):
import { cloudflare } from "@cloudflare/vite-plugin";
import react from "@vitejs/plugin-react";
import agents from "agents/vite";
import { defineConfig } from "vite";
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [agents(), react(), cloudflare()],
});Open http://localhost:5173 ↗ to see your agent in action.
Build a simple counter agent from scratch. Replace src/server.ts:
import { Agent, routeAgentRequest, callable } from "agents";
// Define the state shape
// Create the agent
export class CounterAgent extends Agent {
// Initial state for new instances
initialState = { count: 0 };
// Methods marked with @callable can be called from the client
@callable()
increment() {
this.setState({ count: this.state.count + 1 });
return this.state.count;
}
@callable()
decrement() {
this.setState({ count: this.state.count - 1 });
return this.state.count;
}
@callable()
reset() {
this.setState({ count: 0 });
}
}
// Route requests to agents
export default {
async fetch(request, env, ctx) {
return (
(await routeAgentRequest(request, env)) ??
new Response("Not found", { status: 404 })
);
},
};import { Agent, routeAgentRequest, callable } from "agents";
// Define the state shape
export type CounterState = {
count: number;
};
// Create the agent
export class CounterAgent extends Agent<Env, CounterState> {
// Initial state for new instances
initialState: CounterState = { count: 0 };
// Methods marked with @callable can be called from the client
@callable()
increment() {
this.setState({ count: this.state.count + 1 });
return this.state.count;
}
@callable()
decrement() {
this.setState({ count: this.state.count - 1 });
return this.state.count;
}
@callable()
reset() {
this.setState({ count: 0 });
}
}
// Route requests to agents
export default {
async fetch(request: Request, env: Env, ctx: ExecutionContext) {
return (
(await routeAgentRequest(request, env)) ??
new Response("Not found", { status: 404 })
);
},
} satisfies ExportedHandler<Env>;Update wrangler.jsonc to register the agent:
{
"name": "my-agent",
"main": "src/server.ts",
// Set this to today's date
"compatibility_date": "2026-07-20",
"compatibility_flags": ["nodejs_compat"],
"durable_objects": {
"bindings": [
{
"name": "CounterAgent",
"class_name": "CounterAgent",
},
],
},
"migrations": [
{
"tag": "v1",
"new_sqlite_classes": ["CounterAgent"],
},
],
}name = "my-agent"
main = "src/server.ts"
# Set this to today's date
compatibility_date = "2026-07-20"
compatibility_flags = [ "nodejs_compat" ]
[[durable_objects.bindings]]
name = "CounterAgent"
class_name = "CounterAgent"
[[migrations]]
tag = "v1"
new_sqlite_classes = [ "CounterAgent" ]Key points:
namein bindings becomes the property onenv(for example,env.CounterAgent)class_namemust exactly match your exported class namenew_sqlite_classesenables SQLite storage for state persistencenodejs_compatflag is required for the agents package
Replace src/client.tsx:
import "./styles.css";
import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
import { useState } from "react";
import { useAgent } from "agents/react";
import type { CounterAgent, CounterState } from "./server";
export default function App() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
// Connect to the Counter agent
const agent = useAgent<CounterAgent, CounterState>({
agent: "CounterAgent",
onStateUpdate: (state) => setCount(state.count),
});
return (
<div style={{ padding: "2rem", fontFamily: "system-ui" }}>
<h1>Counter Agent</h1>
<p style={{ fontSize: "3rem" }}>{count}</p>
<div style={{ display: "flex", gap: "1rem" }}>
<button onClick={() => agent.stub.decrement()}>-</button>
<button onClick={() => agent.stub.reset()}>Reset</button>
<button onClick={() => agent.stub.increment()}>+</button>
</div>
</div>
);
}
const root = createRoot(document.getElementById("root")!);
root.render(<App />);Key points:
useAgentconnects to your agent via WebSocketonStateUpdatefires whenever the agent's state changesagent.stub.methodName()calls methods marked with@callable()on your agent
When you clicked the button:
- Client called
agent.stub.increment()over WebSocket - Agent ran
increment(), updated state withsetState() - State persisted to SQLite automatically
- Broadcast sent to all connected clients
- React updated via
onStateUpdate
flowchart LR
A["Browser<br/>(React)"] <-->|WebSocket| B["Agent<br/>(Counter)"]
B --> C["SQLite<br/>(State)"]
| Concept | What it means |
|---|---|
| Agent instance | Each unique name gets its own agent. CounterAgent:user-123 is separate from CounterAgent:user-456 |
| Persistent state | State survives restarts, deploys, and hibernation. It is stored in SQLite |
| Real-time sync | All clients connected to the same agent receive state updates instantly |
| Hibernation | When no clients are connected, the agent hibernates (no cost). It wakes on the next request |
If you are not using React:
import { AgentClient } from "agents/client";
const agent = new AgentClient({
agent: "CounterAgent",
name: "my-counter", // optional, defaults to "default"
onStateUpdate: (state) => {
console.log("New count:", state.count);
},
});
// Call methods
await agent.call("increment");
await agent.call("reset");import { AgentClient } from "agents/client";
const agent = new AgentClient({
agent: "CounterAgent",
name: "my-counter", // optional, defaults to "default"
onStateUpdate: (state) => {
console.log("New count:", state.count);
},
});
// Call methods
await agent.call("increment");
await agent.call("reset");npm run deployYour agent is now live on Cloudflare's global network, running close to your users.
Check auth before routing to agents:
export default {
async fetch(request, env) {
// Check auth for agent routes
if (request.url.includes("/agents/")) {
const authResult = await checkAuth(request, env);
if (!authResult.valid) {
return new Response("Unauthorized", { status: 401 });
}
}
const agentResponse = await routeAgentRequest(request, env);
if (agentResponse) return agentResponse;
// ... rest of routing
},
};export default {
async fetch(request: Request, env: Env) {
// Check auth for agent routes
if (request.url.includes("/agents/")) {
const authResult = await checkAuth(request, env);
if (!authResult.valid) {
return new Response("Unauthorized", { status: 401 });
}
}
const agentResponse = await routeAgentRequest(request, env);
if (agentResponse) return agentResponse;
// ... rest of routing
},
} satisfies ExportedHandler<Env>;By default, agents are routed at /agents/{agent-name}/{instance-name}. You can customize this:
import { routeAgentRequest } from "agents";
const agentResponse = await routeAgentRequest(request, env, {
prefix: "/api/agents", // Now routes at /api/agents/{agent-name}/{instance-name}
});import { routeAgentRequest } from "agents";
const agentResponse = await routeAgentRequest(request, env, {
prefix: "/api/agents", // Now routes at /api/agents/{agent-name}/{instance-name}
});Refer to Routing for more options including CORS, custom instance naming, and location hints.
You can interact with agents directly from your Worker code:
import { getAgentByName } from "agents";
export default {
async fetch(request, env) {
if (request.url.endsWith("/api/increment")) {
// Get a specific agent instance
const counter = await getAgentByName(env.CounterAgent, "shared-counter");
const newCount = await counter.increment();
return Response.json({ count: newCount });
}
// ...
},
};import { getAgentByName } from "agents";
export default {
async fetch(request: Request, env: Env) {
if (request.url.endsWith("/api/increment")) {
// Get a specific agent instance
const counter = await getAgentByName(env.CounterAgent, "shared-counter");
const newCount = await counter.increment();
return Response.json({ count: newCount });
}
// ...
},
} satisfies ExportedHandler<Env>;Add more agents by extending the configuration:
// src/agents/chat.ts
export class Chat extends Agent {
// ...
}
// src/agents/scheduler.ts
export class Scheduler extends Agent {
// ...
}// src/agents/chat.ts
export class Chat extends Agent {
// ...
}
// src/agents/scheduler.ts
export class Scheduler extends Agent {
// ...
}Update the Wrangler configuration file:
{
"$schema": "./node_modules/wrangler/config-schema.json",
"durable_objects": {
"bindings": [
{
"name": "CounterAgent",
"class_name": "CounterAgent"
},
{
"name": "Chat",
"class_name": "Chat"
},
{
"name": "Scheduler",
"class_name": "Scheduler"
}
]
},
"migrations": [
{
"tag": "v1",
"new_sqlite_classes": [
"CounterAgent",
"Chat",
"Scheduler"
]
}
]
}[[durable_objects.bindings]]
name = "CounterAgent"
class_name = "CounterAgent"
[[durable_objects.bindings]]
name = "Chat"
class_name = "Chat"
[[durable_objects.bindings]]
name = "Scheduler"
class_name = "Scheduler"
[[migrations]]
tag = "v1"
new_sqlite_classes = ["CounterAgent", "Chat", "Scheduler"]Export all agents from your entry point:
export { CounterAgent } from "./agents/counter";
export { Chat } from "./agents/chat";
export { Scheduler } from "./agents/scheduler";export { CounterAgent } from "./agents/counter";
export { Chat } from "./agents/chat";
export { Scheduler } from "./agents/scheduler";- Check the export - Agent class must be exported from your main entry point.
- Check the binding -
class_namein the Wrangler configuration file must exactly match the exported class name. - Check the route - Default route is
/agents/{'{agent-name}'}/{'{instance-name}'}. Agent name in client matches the class name (case-insensitive).
Add the migration to the Wrangler configuration file:
{
"$schema": "./node_modules/wrangler/config-schema.json",
"migrations": [
{
"tag": "v1",
"new_sqlite_classes": [
"YourAgentClass"
]
}
]
}[[migrations]]
tag = "v1"
new_sqlite_classes = ["YourAgentClass"]Ensure your routing passes the response unchanged:
// Correct - return the response directly
const agentResponse = await routeAgentRequest(request, env);
if (agentResponse) return agentResponse;
// Wrong - this breaks WebSocket connections
if (agentResponse) return new Response(agentResponse.body);// Correct - return the response directly
const agentResponse = await routeAgentRequest(request, env);
if (agentResponse) return agentResponse;
// Wrong - this breaks WebSocket connections
if (agentResponse) return new Response(agentResponse.body);Check that:
- You are calling
this.setState(), not mutatingthis.statedirectly. - The agent class is in
new_sqlite_classesin migrations. - You are connecting to the same agent instance name.
- The
onStateUpdatecallback is wired up in your client. - WebSocket connection is established (check browser dev tools).
Make sure your methods are decorated with @callable():
import { Agent, callable } from "agents";
export class MyAgent extends Agent {
@callable()
increment() {
// ...
}
}import { Agent, callable } from "agents";
export class MyAgent extends Agent {
@callable()
increment() {
// ...
}
}Add the agent and state type parameters:
import { useAgent } from "agents/react";
// Pass the agent and state types to useAgent
const agent = useAgent({
agent: "CounterAgent",
onStateUpdate: (state) => setCount(state.count),
});
// Now agent.stub is fully typed
agent.stub.increment();import { useAgent } from "agents/react";
import type { CounterAgent, CounterState } from "./server";
// Pass the agent and state types to useAgent
const agent = useAgent<CounterAgent, CounterState>({
agent: "CounterAgent",
onStateUpdate: (state) => setCount(state.count),
});
// Now agent.stub is fully typed
agent.stub.increment();If your dev server fails with SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token, set "target": "ES2021" in your tsconfig.json. This ensures that Vite's esbuild transpiler downlevels TC39 decorators instead of passing them through as native syntax.
{
"compilerOptions": {
"target": "ES2021"
}
}Now that you have a working agent, explore these topics:
| Learn how to | Refer to |
|---|---|
| Add AI/LLM capabilities | Using AI models |
| Expose tools via MCP | MCP servers |
| Run background tasks | Schedule tasks |
| Handle emails | Email routing |
| Use Cloudflare Workflows | Run Workflows |