Restricting Write Operations with write_tools
Context providers expose ``write_tools`` to customize or restrict what write operations an agent can perform.
The write_tools parameter accepts a list of tools that replace the default write toolkit. Pass a pre-configured toolkit with specific operations disabled, or pass completely custom tools.
The default main function only constructs the timeout demo; it does not run the Gmail, Calendar, or database tasks. The Gmail configurations disable sending but leave other mailbox-management tools enabled, so they are not draft-only allowlists. Human review and manual sending are an external practice, not an approval workflow in this code. query_timeout limits read queries only; it does not time out writes or roll back changes.
The database function below uses unsupported PostgresTools flags and db_url constructor arguments. Use the current insert-only example after the source listing when you want to run that lane.
"""
Restricting Write Operations with write_tools
==============================================
Context providers expose ``write_tools`` to customize or restrict what
write operations an agent can perform. This is useful for:
- Safety: Prevent agents from deleting data
- Compliance: Limit agents to draft-only (human reviews before sending)
- Scoping: Restrict agents to specific operations
This example demonstrates:
1. Gmail: Draft-only mode (no sending)
2. Calendar: Create-only mode (no updates or deletes)
3. Database: Insert-only mode (no updates or deletes)
The ``write_tools`` parameter accepts a list of tools that replace the
default write toolkit. Pass a pre-configured toolkit with specific
operations disabled, or pass completely custom tools.
Requires: OPENAI_API_KEY + provider-specific credentials (see individual
provider cookbooks: 18_gmail.py, 19_calendar.py, 04_database_read_write.py)
"""
from __future__ import annotations
import asyncio
from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.context.calendar import GoogleCalendarContextProvider
from agno.context.database import DatabaseContextProvider
from agno.context.gmail import GmailContextProvider
from agno.models.openai import OpenAIResponses
from agno.tools.google.calendar import GoogleCalendarTools
from agno.tools.google.gmail import GmailTools
from agno.tools.postgres import PostgresTools
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Example 1: Gmail - Draft Only (No Sending)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Agents can create and manage drafts but cannot send emails.
# A human reviews drafts before manually sending.
async def demo_gmail_draft_only():
print("\n" + "=" * 60)
print("DEMO 1: Gmail Draft-Only Mode")
print("=" * 60)
draft_only_tools = GmailTools(
send_email=False,
send_email_reply=False,
create_draft_email=True,
get_draft=True,
list_drafts=True,
search_emails=True,
get_thread=True,
)
gmail = GmailContextProvider(
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4-mini"),
read=True,
write=True,
write_tools=[draft_only_tools],
)
agent = Agent(
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4"),
tools=gmail.get_tools(),
instructions=gmail.instructions(),
markdown=True,
)
print(f"\nProvider status: {gmail.status()}")
print("\n--- Agent can draft but NOT send ---\n")
await agent.aprint_response(
"Find recent emails about meetings. Draft a polite follow-up "
"asking for an update on any action items. Save as draft only.",
stream=True,
)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Example 2: Calendar - Create Only (No Deletes)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Agents can create events but cannot update or delete existing ones.
# Prevents accidental deletion of important meetings.
async def demo_calendar_create_only():
print("\n" + "=" * 60)
print("DEMO 2: Calendar Create-Only Mode")
print("=" * 60)
create_only_tools = GoogleCalendarTools(
create_event=True,
update_event=False,
delete_event=False,
search_events=True,
get_event=True,
list_calendars=True,
)
calendar = GoogleCalendarContextProvider(
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4-mini"),
read=True,
write=True,
write_tools=[create_only_tools],
)
agent = Agent(
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4"),
tools=calendar.get_tools(),
instructions=calendar.instructions(),
markdown=True,
)
print(f"\nProvider status: {calendar.status()}")
print("\n--- Agent can create but NOT delete events ---\n")
await agent.aprint_response(
"Check my calendar for next week. If there's no 1:1 meeting "
"scheduled, create a 30-minute placeholder on Tuesday at 2pm.",
stream=True,
)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Example 3: Database - Insert Only (No Updates/Deletes)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Agents can insert new records but cannot modify or delete existing ones.
# Useful for audit logs, append-only data patterns.
async def demo_database_insert_only():
print("\n" + "=" * 60)
print("DEMO 3: Database Insert-Only Mode")
print("=" * 60)
insert_only_tools = PostgresTools(
db_url="postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/mydb",
enable_run_query=True,
enable_insert_row=True,
enable_update_row=False,
enable_delete_row=False,
enable_list_tables=True,
enable_describe_table=True,
)
database = DatabaseContextProvider(
db_url="postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/mydb",
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4-mini"),
read=True,
write=True,
write_tools=[insert_only_tools],
)
agent = Agent(
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4"),
tools=database.get_tools(),
instructions=database.instructions(),
markdown=True,
)
print(f"\nProvider status: {database.status()}")
print("\n--- Agent can insert but NOT update/delete ---\n")
await agent.aprint_response(
"Add a new entry to the audit_log table recording that "
"the daily report was generated at the current timestamp.",
stream=True,
)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Example 4: Using query_timeout for Safety
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Combine write_tools with query_timeout to add time bounds.
async def demo_with_timeout():
print("\n" + "=" * 60)
print("DEMO 4: Restricted Tools + Timeout")
print("=" * 60)
draft_only_tools = GmailTools(
send_email=False,
send_email_reply=False,
create_draft_email=True,
)
gmail = GmailContextProvider(
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4-mini"),
read=True,
write=True,
write_tools=[draft_only_tools],
query_timeout=30.0,
)
print("\n--- Draft-only + 30s timeout ---\n")
print("Gmail provider configured with:")
print(" - write_tools: draft-only (no send)")
print(" - query_timeout: 30s")
print(" - Tools available:", [t.name for t in gmail.get_tools()])
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Run Demos
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
async def main():
print("NOTE: These demos require provider credentials to be configured.")
print("See individual provider cookbooks for setup instructions.")
print("\nRunning demo_with_timeout (no credentials needed for setup check)...")
await demo_with_timeout()
if __name__ == "__main__":
asyncio.run(main())Run an insert-only database example
Save this standalone replacement as database_insert_only.py. It creates a disposable SQLite database, supplies both required engines, and gives the write sub-agent one parameterized insert function. The read engine opens the database in SQLite read-only mode. Install agno, openai, and sqlalchemy, export OPENAI_API_KEY, then run python database_insert_only.py.
import asyncio
import sqlite3
from pathlib import Path
from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.context.database import DatabaseContextProvider
from agno.models.openai import OpenAIResponses
from sqlalchemy import create_engine, text
async def main():
with TemporaryDirectory(prefix="agno-insert-only-") as directory:
path = Path(directory) / "audit.sqlite"
writable = create_engine(f"sqlite:///{path}")
with writable.begin() as connection:
connection.execute(text(
"CREATE TABLE audit_log (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, message TEXT NOT NULL)"
))
readonly = create_engine(
"sqlite://",
creator=lambda: sqlite3.connect(
f"{path.as_uri()}?mode=ro", uri=True, check_same_thread=False
),
)
def append_audit_entry(message: str) -> str:
"""Append one message to the audit log."""
with writable.begin() as connection:
connection.execute(
text("INSERT INTO audit_log (message) VALUES (:message)"),
{"message": message},
)
return "Audit entry added."
try:
database = DatabaseContextProvider(
sql_engine=writable,
readonly_engine=readonly,
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.6-luna"),
write_tools=[append_audit_entry],
)
agent = Agent(
model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.6-luna"),
tools=database.get_tools(),
instructions=database.instructions(),
)
await agent.aprint_response(
"Add 'Daily report generated' to the audit log, then read it back."
)
finally:
readonly.dispose()
writable.dispose()
if __name__ == "__main__":
asyncio.run(main())Run the original setup check
Set up your virtual environment
uv venv --python 3.12
source .venv/bin/activateInstall dependencies
uv pip install -U agno google-api-python-client google-auth google-auth-httplib2 google-auth-oauthlib openai psycopg psycopg-binary sqlalchemyExport environment variables
export GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID="your_google_client_id_here"
export GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET="your_google_client_secret_here"
export GOOGLE_PROJECT_ID="your_google_project_id_here"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"Run the example
Save the code above as write_tools_restriction.py, then run:
python write_tools_restriction.pyFull source: cookbook/12_context/25_write_tools_restriction.py