# Show HN: Zkit – Go libraries for building agents, not a framework

> Source: <https://zarldev.github.io/zarlmono/>
> Published: 2026-06-17 16:06:41+00:00

# zkit

# zkit

Go packages for building agents: a streaming loop, tool dispatch, guardrails, compaction, and provider adapters.

```
go get github.com/zarldev/zarlmono/zkit
```

Import what you need. Compose the rest.

## What is zkit?

[Section titled “What is zkit?”](#what-is-zkit)

zkit is a set of small Go packages for building agents. Take the pieces you need and ignore the rest. Each package has a narrow interface and no framework ceremony.

The **runner** is the streaming, tool-calling agent loop. Around it are tools,
guardrails, compaction, providers, verified completion, and the foundation
packages underneath.

Core packages

[zkit/agent](/zarlmono/runner/)

### Runner

Streaming loop with tool calls, steering, compaction hooks, and per-call timeouts.

[zkit/ai](/zarlmono/tools/)

### Tools

Registry, two-method Tool interface, reflection schemas, JSON repair, MCP.

[zkit/agent](/zarlmono/guardrails/)

### Guardrails

Middleware around tool dispatch: schema repair, shell policy, repetition detection, verifier feedback.

[zkit/agent](/zarlmono/compaction/)

### Compaction

History-shrinking strategies behind one interface, with budget-driven triggers.

[zkit/ai](/zarlmono/providers/)

### Providers

OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, llama.cpp, Ollama, and OAuth backends behind one contract.

[zkit/agent](/zarlmono/pursue/)

### Verified completion

Re-drive attempts against real-world state — tests passing, files present — not the transcript.

Built with zkit

These products share the same repo and the same packages.

[TUI agent](/zarlmono/zarlcode/)

### zarlcode

A terminal coding agent: runner, guardrails, sandboxed shell, sub-agents, SQLite sessions.

[Local assistant](/zarlmono/zarlai/)

### zarlai

A local multimodal assistant: speech, vision, home automation, autonomous tasks.

[Evaluation](/zarlmono/swebench-eval/)

### swebench-eval

A SWE-bench driver built from the same packages as the TUI.

## Where to go next

[Section titled “Where to go next”](#where-to-go-next)

— install zkit and run your first agent.**Getting started**— see how the packages layer.** Architecture**— understand the loop.** Runner**