capability-map.md

Capability Map

A reference mapping the capabilities an AI agent runtime needs to the Agents API primitive that provides each one. Use it to see at a glance what the substrate already provides and where each contract lives.

Each row names a capability, the primitive(s) that provide it, the contract in the source tree, and the topic page with method-level detail. "Capability" is phrased the way a custom runtime usually thinks about it, so a team evaluating the substrate can match their own components against it.

Runtime and loop

Capability	Agents API primitive	Contract	Detail
Multi-turn orchestration loop	WP_Agent_Conversation_Loop	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-conversation-loop.php	Runtime and Tools
Normalized message envelope	WP_Agent_Message	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-message.php	Runtime and Tools
Request / result value objects	WP_Agent_Conversation_Request, WP_Agent_Conversation_Result	src/Runtime/	Runtime and Tools
Completion / continuation policy	WP_Agent_Conversation_Completion_Policy	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-conversation-completion-policy.php	Runtime and Tools
Long-conversation trimming	WP_Agent_Conversation_Compaction, markdown-section adapter	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-conversation-compaction.php	Runtime and Tools
Iteration / runaway limits	WP_Agent_Iteration_Budget	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-iteration-budget.php	Runtime and Tools
Transcript persistence hook	WP_Agent_Transcript_Persister	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-transcript-persister.php	Runtime and Tools
Lifecycle events / observability	agents_api_loop_event action + on_event sink	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-conversation-loop.php	Runtime and Tools
Task execution target plumbing	agents/run-task, task run-control helpers, executor target filters	src/Tasks/	Runtime and Tools

Tools

Capability	Agents API primitive	Contract	Detail
Tool-call execution / dispatch	WP_Agent_Tool_Execution_Core + WP_Agent_Tool_Executor	src/Tools/class-wp-agent-tool-execution-core.php, class-wp-agent-tool-executor.php	Runtime and Tools
Tool declarations / parameters	WP_Agent_Tool_Declaration, WP_Agent_Tool_Parameters	src/Tools/	Runtime and Tools
Tool visibility policy	WP_Agent_Tool_Policy	src/Tools/class-wp-agent-tool-policy.php	Runtime and Tools
Action gating (direct/preview/forbidden)	WP_Agent_Action_Policy_Resolver	src/Tools/class-wp-agent-action-policy-resolver.php	Runtime and Tools
Tool-call/result pairing repair	WP_Agent_Tool_Pair_Validator	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-tool-pair-validator.php	Runtime and Tools
Abilities API lifecycle integration	Ability lifecycle bridge	src/Abilities/class-wp-agent-ability-lifecycle-bridge.php	Runtime and Tools

Transcripts and sessions

Capability	Agents API primitive	Contract	Detail
Session / transcript storage	WP_Agent_Conversation_Store	src/Transcripts/class-wp-agent-conversation-store.php	Channels, Workflows, and Operations
Non-user (principal) owned sessions	WP_Agent_Principal_Conversation_Store	src/Transcripts/class-wp-agent-principal-conversation-store.php	Channels, Workflows, and Operations
Single-writer transcript lock	WP_Agent_Conversation_Lock	src/Transcripts/class-wp-agent-conversation-lock.php	Channels, Workflows, and Operations
Built-in WordPress-native store	WP_Agent_Cpt_Conversation_Store (opt-in)	src/Transcripts/class-wp-agent-cpt-conversation-store.php	Default Stores Companion Proposal

Memory and context

Capability	Agents API primitive	Contract	Detail
Agent memory store	WP_Agent_Memory_Store + value objects	src/Memory/	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory
Memory / context source registry	WP_Agent_Memory_Registry	src/Context/class-wp-agent-memory-registry.php	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory
Composable context assembly	WP_Agent_Context_Section_Registry, WP_Agent_Composable_Context	src/Context/	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory
Retrieved-context authority / conflict	WP_Agent_Context_Item, conflict resolver	src/Context/	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory

Identity and auth

Capability	Agents API primitive	Contract	Detail
Acting-user / agent identity	WP_Agent_Execution_Principal	src/Runtime/class-wp-agent-execution-principal.php	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory
Bearer-token authentication	WP_Agent_Token_Authenticator, WP_Agent_Token_Store	src/Auth/class-wp-agent-token-authenticator.php	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory
Capability ceiling / authorization	WP_Agent_Capability_Ceiling, WP_Agent_Authorization_Policy	src/Auth/class-wp-agent-capability-ceiling.php, class-wp-agent-authorization-policy.php	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory
Access grants	WP_Agent_Access_Grant, WP_Agent_Access_Store	src/Auth/	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory
Cross-agent (A2A) caller context	WP_Agent_Caller_Context	src/Auth/class-wp-agent-caller-context.php	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory

Approvals and consent

Capability	Agents API primitive	Contract	Detail
Human-in-the-loop approvals	Pending action primitives (WP_Agent_Pending_Action, store, resolver, handler)	src/Approvals/	Channels, Workflows, and Operations
Consent decisions	WP_Agent_Consent_Policy	src/Consent/class-wp-agent-consent-policy.php	Auth, Consent, Context, and Memory

Orchestration and registration

Capability	Agents API primitive	Contract	Detail
Workflows (multi-step)	Workflow spec / validator / runner	src/Workflows/	Channels, Workflows, and Operations
Scheduled / recurring runs	WP_Agent_Routine + Action Scheduler bridge	src/Routines/class-wp-agent-routine.php	Channels, Workflows, and Operations
External channels / bridges	WP_Agent_Channel, bridge primitives	src/Channels/	Channels, Workflows, and Operations
Agent registration / lookup	WP_Agent, WP_Agents_Registry	src/Registry/class-wp-agent.php, class-wp-agents-registry.php	Registry and Packages
Packaging / artifacts	WP_Agent_Package, artifact registry	src/Packages/	Registry and Packages

Extension points

Each store/policy the substrate offers a default for is reachable through a filter, so a consumer plugs in its own backend without forking:

Filter	Replaces
wp_agent_conversation_store	Transcript / session backend
wp_agent_memory_store	Memory backend
wp_agent_pending_action_store	Approval queue backend
wp_agent_execution_targets	Task executor target declarations
wp_agent_task_handler	Task executor dispatch handler
wp_agent_task_run_status_handler	Task run status backend
wp_agent_task_run_cancel_handler	Task cancellation backend
agents_api_execution_principal	How the current principal is resolved
agents_api_enable_default_conversation_store	Opt in to the built-in WordPress-native conversation store