Core system prompt
1. Role + objective. 2. Available tools + when to use each. 3. Behavior rules (verify, cite, ask when unsure). 4. Termination criteria.
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Loop control
Max steps cap. Convergence check ('same answer 2x in a row → stop'). Explicit 'submit final answer' tool.
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Failure recovery
Tell agent it can retry, use different tools, ask user for clarification. Recovery instructions in system prompt.