improve task guardrails to address issue #2177

src/crewai/agent.py

@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ class Agent(BaseAgent):
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def post_init_setup(self):
+        self._set_knowledge()
         self.agent_ops_agent_name = self.role
 
         self.llm = create_llm(self.llm)
@@ -133,11 +134,8 @@ class Agent(BaseAgent):
             self.cache_handler = CacheHandler()
         self.set_cache_handler(self.cache_handler)
 
-    def set_knowledge(self, crew_embedder: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None):
+    def _set_knowledge(self):
         try:
-            if self.embedder is None and crew_embedder:
-                self.embedder = crew_embedder
-
             if self.knowledge_sources:
                 full_pattern = re.compile(r"[^a-zA-Z0-9\-_\r\n]|(\.\.)")
                 knowledge_agent_name = f"{re.sub(full_pattern, '_', self.role)}"

src/crewai/agents/agent_builder/base_agent.py

@@ -351,6 +351,3 @@ class BaseAgent(ABC, BaseModel):
         if not self._rpm_controller:
             self._rpm_controller = rpm_controller
             self.create_agent_executor()
-
-    def set_knowledge(self, crew_embedder: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None):
-        pass

src/crewai/crew.py

@@ -600,7 +600,6 @@ class Crew(BaseModel):
                 agent.i18n = i18n
                 # type: ignore[attr-defined] # Argument 1 to "_interpolate_inputs" of "Crew" has incompatible type "dict[str, Any] | None"; expected "dict[str, Any]"
                 agent.crew = self  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
-                agent.set_knowledge(crew_embedder=self.embedder)
                 # TODO: Create an AgentFunctionCalling protocol for future refactoring
                 if not agent.function_calling_llm:  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "function_calling_llm"
                     agent.function_calling_llm = self.function_calling_llm  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "function_calling_llm"

src/crewai/flow/persistence/sqlite.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ SQLite-based implementation of flow state persistence.
 
 import json
 import sqlite3
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Union
 
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ class SQLiteFlowPersistence(FlowPersistence):
             ValueError: If db_path is invalid
         """
         from crewai.utilities.paths import db_storage_path
-
         # Get path from argument or default location
         path = db_path or str(Path(db_storage_path()) / "flow_states.db")
 
@@ -47,8 +46,7 @@ class SQLiteFlowPersistence(FlowPersistence):
     def init_db(self) -> None:
         """Create the necessary tables if they don't exist."""
         with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
-            conn.execute(
-                """
+            conn.execute("""
             CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS flow_states (
                 id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
                 flow_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
@@ -56,15 +54,12 @@ class SQLiteFlowPersistence(FlowPersistence):
                 timestamp DATETIME NOT NULL,
                 state_json TEXT NOT NULL
             )
-            """
-            )
+            """)
             # Add index for faster UUID lookups
-            conn.execute(
-                """
+            conn.execute("""
             CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_flow_states_uuid
             ON flow_states(flow_uuid)
-            """
-            )
+            """)
 
     def save_state(
         self,
@@ -90,22 +85,19 @@ class SQLiteFlowPersistence(FlowPersistence):
             )
 
         with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
-            conn.execute(
-                """
+            conn.execute("""
             INSERT INTO flow_states (
                 flow_uuid,
                 method_name,
                 timestamp,
                 state_json
             ) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)
-            """,
-                (
-                    flow_uuid,
-                    method_name,
-                    datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
-                    json.dumps(state_dict),
-                ),
-            )
+            """, (
+                flow_uuid,
+                method_name,
+                datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
+                json.dumps(state_dict),
+            ))
 
     def load_state(self, flow_uuid: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
         """Load the most recent state for a given flow UUID.
@@ -117,16 +109,13 @@ class SQLiteFlowPersistence(FlowPersistence):
             The most recent state as a dictionary, or None if no state exists
         """
         with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
-            cursor = conn.execute(
-                """
+            cursor = conn.execute("""
             SELECT state_json
             FROM flow_states
             WHERE flow_uuid = ?
             ORDER BY id DESC
             LIMIT 1
-            """,
-                (flow_uuid,),
-            )
+            """, (flow_uuid,))
             row = cursor.fetchone()
 
         if row:

src/crewai/task.py

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ from typing import (
     Tuple,
     Type,
     Union,
+    get_args,
+    get_origin,
 )
 
 from pydantic import (
@@ -172,15 +174,29 @@ class Task(BaseModel):
         """
         if v is not None:
             sig = inspect.signature(v)
-            if len(sig.parameters) != 1:
+            positional_args = [
+                param
+                for param in sig.parameters.values()
+                if param.default is inspect.Parameter.empty
+            ]
+            if len(positional_args) != 1:
                 raise ValueError("Guardrail function must accept exactly one parameter")
 
             # Check return annotation if present, but don't require it
             return_annotation = sig.return_annotation
             if return_annotation != inspect.Signature.empty:
+
+                return_annotation_args = get_args(return_annotation)
                 if not (
-                    return_annotation == Tuple[bool, Any]
-                    or str(return_annotation) == "Tuple[bool, Any]"
+                    get_origin(return_annotation) is tuple
+                    and len(return_annotation_args) == 2
+                    and return_annotation_args[0] is bool
+                    and (
+                        return_annotation_args[1] is Any
+                        or return_annotation_args[1] is str
+                        or return_annotation_args[1] is TaskOutput
+                        or return_annotation_args[1] == Union[str, TaskOutput]
+                    )
                 ):
                     raise ValueError(
                         "If return type is annotated, it must be Tuple[bool, Any]"
@@ -435,9 +451,9 @@ class Task(BaseModel):
                 content = (
                     json_output
                     if json_output
-                    else pydantic_output.model_dump_json()
-                    if pydantic_output
-                    else result
+                    else (
+                        pydantic_output.model_dump_json() if pydantic_output else result
+                    )
                 )
                 self._save_file(content)
             crewai_event_bus.emit(self, TaskCompletedEvent(output=task_output))

tests/task_test.py

@@ -1283,3 +1283,109 @@ def test_interpolate_valid_types():
     assert parsed["optional"] is None
     assert parsed["nested"]["flag"] is True
     assert parsed["nested"]["empty"] is None
+
+
+def test_guardrail_with_new_style_annotations():
+    """Test that guardrails with new-style type annotations work correctly."""
+
+    # Define a guardrail with new-style annotation
+    def guardrail(result: TaskOutput) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+        return (True, result.raw.upper())
+
+    agent = MagicMock()
+    agent.role = "test_agent"
+    agent.execute_task.return_value = "test result"
+    agent.crew = None
+
+    task = Task(description="Test task", expected_output="Output", guardrail=guardrail)
+
+    result = task.execute_sync(agent=agent)
+    assert isinstance(result, TaskOutput)
+    assert result.raw == "TEST RESULT"
+
+
+def test_guardrail_with_specific_return_type():
+    """Test that guardrails with specific return types work correctly."""
+
+    # Define a guardrail with specific return type
+    def guardrail(result: TaskOutput) -> tuple[bool, TaskOutput]:
+        if "error" in result.raw.lower():
+            return (False, "Contains error")
+        return (True, result)
+
+    agent = MagicMock()
+    agent.role = "test_agent"
+    agent.execute_task.return_value = "success result"
+    agent.crew = None
+
+    task = Task(description="Test task", expected_output="Output", guardrail=guardrail)
+
+    result = task.execute_sync(agent=agent)
+    assert isinstance(result, TaskOutput)
+    assert result.raw == "success result"
+
+
+def test_guardrail_with_positional_and_default_args():
+    """Test that guardrails with positional and default arguments work correctly."""
+
+    # Define a guardrail with a positional argument and a default argument
+    def guardrail(result: TaskOutput, optional_arg=None) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+        return (True, result.raw.upper())
+
+    agent = MagicMock()
+    agent.role = "test_agent"
+    agent.execute_task.return_value = "test result"
+    agent.crew = None
+
+    # This should now work with the updated validator
+    task = Task(description="Test task", expected_output="Output", guardrail=guardrail)
+
+    result = task.execute_sync(agent=agent)
+    assert isinstance(result, TaskOutput)
+    assert result.raw == "TEST RESULT"
+
+
+def test_guardrail_with_multiple_positional_args():
+    """Test that guardrails with multiple positional arguments are rejected."""
+
+    # Define a guardrail with multiple positional arguments
+    def guardrail(result: TaskOutput, another_required_arg) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+        return (True, result.raw.upper())
+
+    agent = MagicMock()
+    agent.role = "test_agent"
+    agent.execute_task.return_value = "test result"
+    agent.crew = None
+
+    # This should raise a ValueError because guardrail must accept exactly one positional parameter
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
+        Task(description="Test task", expected_output="Output", guardrail=guardrail)
+
+    assert "Guardrail function must accept exactly one parameter" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+
+def test_guardrail_with_positional_and_default_args():
+    """Validate that the guardrail function has the correct signature and behavior.
+
+    While type hints provide static checking, this validator ensures runtime safety by:
+    1. Verifying the function accepts exactly one required parameter (the TaskOutput)
+       (additional parameters with default values are allowed)
+    2. Checking return type annotations match Tuple[bool, Any] or tuple[bool, Any] if present
+    3. Providing clear, immediate error messages for debugging
+    """
+
+    # Define a guardrail with a positional argument and a default argument
+    def guardrail(result: TaskOutput, optional_arg=None) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+        return (True, result.raw.upper())
+
+    agent = MagicMock()
+    agent.role = "test_agent"
+    agent.execute_task.return_value = "test result"
+    agent.crew = None
+
+    # This should now work with the updated validator
+    task = Task(description="Test task", expected_output="Output", guardrail=guardrail)
+
+    result = task.execute_sync(agent=agent)
+    assert isinstance(result, TaskOutput)
+    assert result.raw == "TEST RESULT"