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Deprecating tools on conversation nodes — use subagent nodes instead

The tools and tool_ids fields on conversation nodes are deprecated in favor of the new subagent node type. The conversation node type itself is not deprecated — it continues to work for nodes that don’t use tools. The new subagent node type provides the same conversation-with-tools functionality — the agent converses with the user while being able to call tools — but as a dedicated node type. Affected APIs: Deprecated fields on type: "conversation" nodes:
  • tools
  • tool_ids
Use instead: Set type: "subagent" on nodes that need tools. What’s changing on 04/18/2026:
  1. Existing conversation nodes with tools will be automatically migrated to type: "subagent" — API responses will return the new type for these nodes.
  2. Conversation nodes with tools that use static text instructions will be converted to subagent nodes with prompt text instructions.
  3. The API will stop accepting tools or tool_ids fields on type: "conversation" nodes.
Migration:
  • For conversation nodes with tools: change type from "conversation" to "subagent". If the node uses a static_text instruction, change it to prompt. All other fields remain the same.
  • For conversation nodes without tools: no changes needed — these remain type: "conversation".
Example:
  • Before: 
    {
  "id": "handle_order",
  "type": "conversation",
  "instruction": {
    "text": "Help the user check their order status.",
    "type": "prompt"
  },
  "tools": [
    {
      "type": "custom_function",
      "name": "check_order_status",
      "description": "Look up order by order number",
      "parameters": { "type": "object", "properties": { "order_number": { "type": "string" } } }
    }
  ]
}
  • After: 
    {
  "id": "handle_order",
  "type": "subagent",
  "instruction": {
    "text": "Help the user check their order status.",
    "type": "prompt"
  },
  "tools": [
    {
      "type": "custom_function",
      "name": "check_order_status",
      "description": "Look up order by order number",
      "parameters": { "type": "object", "properties": { "order_number": { "type": "string" } } }
    }
  ]
}
Effective date: After 04/18/2026, the API will no longer accept tools or tool_ids on type: "conversation" nodes. Use type: "subagent" instead.