ModelRefs / Batch Agent — Agent Pattern
Batch Agent — Agent Pattern
Run the agent over a queue of tasks with idempotency, retries, and per-task cost budgets. Production deployment shape for non-interactive workloads.
Overview
Production deployment shape for non-interactive workloads. Tasks arrive on a queue; a worker pool dequeues, runs the agent with idempotency keys, and writes results to durable storage with retries and cost caps.
When to use it: You have many independent tasks (enrichment, triage, scoring) and need throughput, not latency.
Pattern details
| Pattern class | deployment |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | intermediate |
| Autonomy | autonomous |
| Also known as | queue-driven agent, worker pool agent |
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-07 |
Known failure modes
- Retry storm — Bad tasks retry forever and drain budget. Mitigation: Cap retries; route persistent failures to DLQ.
- Cost blowup — One runaway task burns the day's budget. Mitigation: Per-task cost cap and per-day budget alert.
When not to use it
- Running interactive agents on a batch queue.
Continue your research
Use these connected ModelRefs sections to compare alternatives, inspect implementation paths, and review the evidence and governance boundaries relevant to Batch Agent — Agent Pattern.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use the Batch Agent agent pattern?
You have many independent tasks (enrichment, triage, scoring) and need throughput, not latency.
What are common failure modes of Batch Agent?
Retry storm • Cost blowup
Is Batch Agent production-ready?
Yes when paired with the safety controls and observability hooks documented on the pattern page.