3 Ways to Use Google Opal to Build Mini Apps Without Coding

After trying Agent Step, it's time to use dynamic routing. This is a fundamental development concept where code can go in multiple directions based on current parameters, instead of remaining on a fixed path. It allows you to consider multiple outcomes when developing a mini-application with Opal. Since we're not working with any code here, dynamic routing uses if-then statements. These text-based statements tell the AI agent what to do in one or more cases.

Of course, you can go in many different directions with dynamic routing in Opal. Instead of building a rigid sequence of actions in your workflow, let the agent do the work by specifying conditional (if-then) statements that tell the AI what to do depending on the situation.

Utilize Memory to Avoid Repetition

You Can Use Memory to Help Opal Remember Previous Interactions

The most frustrating thing about using Opal mini-apps before was the lack of memory support. Every time you restarted a session, your mini-app would forget everything that happened before. Now, Agent Step has a memory function that can record interactions from previous conversations to use as context for future conversations. Here's how Google uses memory to notify the agent in the Opal Video Hooks Brainstormer mini-app prompt:

Use memory tools to check existing brand context. Chat with users to confirm or refine their social media channel descriptions and brand identity using the provided Channel Descriptions as a basis. Save the confirmed brand identity and descriptions to a memory sheet to maintain context.

You should utilize in-memory in any Opal mini-app that requires personalized context. Doing so will save you the hassle of having to reset the mini-app every time you use it. Some mini-app ideas might benefit from starting from scratch, but generally, in-memory allows the app to maintain context without repetition.

Answer the Following Questions Through Interactive Conversations

Multiple-turn Conversations Are an Easy Way to Provide Context for Opal Mini-apps

In terms of context, Agent Step can take user input actions to a new level with multi-turn conversations. With a single user input action, you only have one chance to enter the information the Opal mini-app needs to produce its output. If there's more to say, you'd need multiple user input actions chained together as part of a larger workflow. However, AI agents now have the ability to initiate an interactive conversation with the end user, allowing them to gather all the necessary contextual information in a single action.

When building Opal mini-apps, you should use Agent Step and interactive chat whenever the output isn't what you expect. With basic user input, the AI model might not receive the necessary information to generate accurate output. By using multi-step chat, you can let the mini-app decide for itself how much context is needed. In one case, the agent might only need to ask one or two questions to build its knowledge base. In another case, it might be a much longer conversation to gather the appropriate context for your mini-app.