Gated Agent Pipeline
A gated pipeline structures agent workflows with explicit quality checkpoints between stages, ensuring outputs meet criteria before advancing.
What This Workflow Is
A gated agent pipeline organizes workflow stages with explicit quality gates between them. Each gate evaluates the preceding stage's output against defined criteria before allowing progression to the next stage.
Unlike linear pipelines where output flows automatically, gated pipelines ensure quality at each transition. Failures at gates trigger revision, alternative processing, or escalation rather than propagating errors downstream.
Inputs and Outputs
Inputs: - Task specification (what the workflow should accomplish) - Stage definitions (what each stage does) - Gate criteria (what quality means at each transition) - Failure policies (what happens when gates fail)
Outputs: - Final processed result (if all gates pass) - Stage-by-stage audit trail - Quality scores at each gate - Failure reports with specific issues (if workflow fails)
Workflow Steps
1. Stage Execution Each stage performs its designated task: research, analysis, writing, formatting, etc.
2. Gate Evaluation After each stage, a gate evaluates output against criteria specific to that stage. Gates may use rules, models, or human review.
3. Decision Point Based on evaluation: - Pass: Output advances to next stage - Conditional: Output advances with noted concerns for later review - Fail → Revise: Stage re-executes with feedback from gate - Fail → Escalate: Human review required before proceeding
4. Progression Successful outputs move through stages sequentially until final gate produces accepted output.
5. Audit All gate decisions, scores, and any revisions are logged for transparency.
Cost and Safety Considerations
Costs: - Gates add latency (evaluation takes time) - Revisions add compute cost - Complex gates may require specialized evaluators
Safety benefits: - Errors caught early don't propagate - Quality is guaranteed at each stage - Audit trails support accountability - Graceful degradation through escalation
Trade-offs: Adjust gate strictness based on task criticality. High-stakes outputs warrant stricter gates; routine tasks may use lighter evaluation.