---

name: tree-of-thoughts description: "Use the tree-of-thoughts Python package to configure TotAgent model callers and run DFS/BFS Tree-of-Thoughts reasoning workflows." disable-model-invocation: true metadata: disco-role: operating license: Apache 2.0

tree-of-thoughts

Use this repo skill when a task involves the tree-of-thoughts / tree_of_thoughts Python package, TotAgent, ToTDFSAgent, BFSWithTotAgent, Tree-of-Thoughts prompt orchestration, thought/evaluation output contracts, DFS pruning, BFS breadth limits, or package-specific install/import troubleshooting.

Do not use this skill for the Princeton reference implementation unless the user is specifically porting concepts into this package. Do not use it for generic prompt engineering with no package/API work.

Fast orientation

• Package distribution: tree-of-thoughts.
• Import package: tree_of_thoughts.
• Verified source version: 0.6.5.
• Python: use Python 3.10+.
• Root exports: TotAgent, ToTDFSAgent.
• BFS class: import BFSWithTotAgent from tree_of_thoughts.bfs.
• Default real model path: requires OPENAI_API_KEY and external service access.
• Safe verification path: use deterministic fake/custom agents that return {"thought": str, "evaluation": float}.

Install and import check

python -m pip install -U tree-of-thoughts==0.6.5
# If imports fail through swarm-models/LangChain split packages:
python -m pip install -U langchain-community==0.3.31

Minimal import probe:

python - <<'PY'
from tree_of_thoughts import TotAgent, ToTDFSAgent
from tree_of_thoughts.bfs import BFSWithTotAgent
print(TotAgent.__name__, ToTDFSAgent.__name__, BFSWithTotAgent.__name__)
PY

Expected signal: TotAgent ToTDFSAgent BFSWithTotAgent.

For a fuller no-network check, run scripts/check_tree_of_thoughts_env.py; it verifies package metadata, public imports, and the root/BFS API split without calling a provider.

Route map

If the task asks about...	Read
Installing/importing the package, package purpose, public API map, prompt-template caveats	references/package-overview.md
Configuring TotAgent, choosing OpenAI vs custom/fake model callers, validating Thought outputs, or handling OPENAI_API_KEY	sub-skills/agents-and-models/SKILL.md
Running DFS, running BFS, choosing thresholds/loop/breadth settings, parsing JSON results, autosave behavior, or offline smoke tests	sub-skills/search-workflows/SKILL.md
Import errors, dependency compatibility, unsafe parsing, real-model failures, or autosave surprises	references/troubleshooting.md
Repository scripts, packaging/release facts, stale maintainer automation, or source maintenance caveats	references/maintainer-notes.md
Checking whether this skill matches a checkout/commit	references/repo-provenance.md

Operating workflow

1. Start with the import probe above or scripts/check_tree_of_thoughts_env.py --json.
2. If model setup is involved, enter agents-and-models first. Validate the model output contract before passing model results into search.
3. If traversal is involved, enter search-workflows. Keep max_loops, number_of_agents, and BFS breadth_limit small until the deterministic fake-agent helper passes.
4. Parse DFS/BFS .run(...) return values with json.loads; both return JSON strings.
5. For live OpenAI-backed experiments, confirm OPENAI_API_KEY and network/provider permission before running TotAgent(use_openai_caller=True).

Safety and correctness notes

• TotAgent.run converts model text to a dict using Python eval; never treat arbitrary or user-controlled model output as safe.
• The DFS implementation sorts thoughts ascending by evaluation; the highest-rated final thought is the last item and is also exposed as highest_rated_thought.
• DFS autosave writes under tree_of_thoughts_runs/ relative to the process working directory when autosave_on=True; disable autosave for tests.
• Some repository scripts are stale or destructive; do not run original source scripts as runtime helpers unless a maintainer task explicitly calls for updating them.