Practical overview
When it fits
Use Embabel when developing an agent application for the JVM and you want a planning framework to coordinate language-model calls with application code, typed domain objects and reusable actions.
Who it is for
- JVM developers building AI agent applications in Kotlin or Java.
- Teams that want to combine LLM interactions with typed application code and domain models.
- Developers extending agent capabilities through reusable actions, goals and domain objects.
Documented uses
- Create JVM agent projects from Java or Kotlin templates.
- Model agent workflows as actions and goals with conditions informed by domain objects.
- Let the framework formulate and revise action plans as results and information change.
- Configure supported LLM integrations and add tracing and metrics through documented dependencies.
Requirements & limits
The project is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. The repository links a Maven Central artifact and provides Maven and Gradle dependency examples.
- The implementation is Kotlin-based, while the repository also describes a natural Java usage model.
- The README’s quick-start path requires an OpenAI API key and Maven; other model integrations have their own setup requirements.
- The framework’s central distinction is dynamic planning and replanning, rather than a developer-authored fixed state-machine sequence.
- Observability is configured by adding an Embabel starter, an exporter and application settings.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Create an Embabel agent project from a template
Set up a Java or Kotlin project using Embabel’s documented template path.
Before you start
- A GitHub account or access to use the Java or Kotlin template repository.
- An OpenAI API key and Maven for the README’s quick-start running path.
Steps
Choose the Java or Kotlin agent template linked from the Embabel repository.
Use the template’s “Use this template” option to create an agent project.
Set the required OPENAI_API_KEY and install Maven before following the template’s run instructions.
Expected outcome
A project based on an Embabel Java or Kotlin agent template, with the documented prerequisites for running it.
Guide limitations
- The cited instructions do not provide the complete run commands or project-specific configuration steps.
Add agent tracing with Zipkin
Configure the documented observability starter and Zipkin exporter for an Embabel application.
Before you start
- An Embabel application using Maven.
- Docker available to start Zipkin.
Steps
Add the embabel-agent-starter-observability dependency.
Add the OpenTelemetry Zipkin exporter dependency.
Enable Embabel observability and Spring Boot tracing in application configuration, using the documented Zipkin endpoint.
Start Zipkin with the documented Docker command and run the application with the Maven wrapper.
Expected outcome
The README describes viewing agent traces in Zipkin at localhost:9411.
Guide limitations
- The configuration and commands are the repository’s documented example; project-specific dependency versions and configuration may need adjustment.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 10 October 2026
- Original website title
- embabel/embabel-agent · Official homepage title · retained in its source language