What Is the Function of the doctor.py Module in Agent Reach?

The doctor.py module serves as the environment health-checker for Agent Reach, inspecting every supported platform channel and presenting a formatted diagnostic report.

The doctor.py module in Agent Reach acts as the central diagnostic system that validates whether all configured platform channels are properly installed and ready for use. Located at agent_reach/doctor.py, this module provides the underlying functionality for the agent-reach doctor CLI command, enabling users to verify their environment before executing search operations. It aggregates status checks from every registered channel and renders them into human-readable reports using Rich markup.

Core Health-Checking Functions in doctor.py

The module implements three primary functions that work together to diagnose the Agent Reach environment.

check_all(config)

The check_all() function, implemented in agent_reach/doctor.py at lines 12-35, serves as the main inspection engine. It iterates over all registered channels via get_all_channels() and calls each channel's check(config) method.

When a channel check raises an exception, check_all normalizes the error into a status "error" with a descriptive message. The function returns a dictionary keyed by channel name, containing:

• status: The health state (e.g., "ok", "error", or configuration warnings)
• description: A human-readable explanation of the channel
• message: Any error or warning details
• tier: The service tier classification
• backends: A list of available back-end options
• active_backend: The currently selected back-end

_name_msg(r, escape)

This helper function at lines 38-44 in doctor.py constructs individual report lines. It handles the display logic for channels with multiple back-ends, optionally appending the active back-end name to provide context about which specific tool is being used (e.g., opencli, yt-dlp, or twurl).

format_report(results)

The format_report() function, spanning lines 47-100 in agent_reach/doctor.py, transforms the raw dictionary from check_all into a visually structured console output. Using Rich markup, it generates a color-coded, tier-grouped text report that indicates:

• ✅ Ready channels (status ok)
• ! Channels needing configuration
• X Missing or error states

The function also calculates an overall health summary showing the count of operational channels versus the total.

How to Use the Agent Reach Doctor Module

Programmatic API

You can invoke the doctor module directly within Python scripts to verify environment health before running operations:

from agent_reach.doctor import check_all, format_report
from agent_reach.config import Config

cfg = Config()                     # loads user config (YAML / env)

report_data = check_all(cfg)       # → dict of per‑channel statuses

print(format_report(report_data))  # pretty Rich‑styled text

This returns the same colorful console output available through the CLI, useful for embedding in management scripts or administrative tools.

Command Line Interface

The most common usage is through the agent-reach doctor command, which delegates to check_all and format_report (see cli.py::_cmd_doctor):

# Basic health check with formatted output

$ agent-reach doctor

# JSON-friendly output for scripting

$ agent-reach doctor --json

The CLI automatically loads the configuration via agent_reach/config.py and passes it to the underlying check functions.

Custom Integration

For CI pipelines or installation scripts that require boolean validation, wrap the doctor check to return a simple pass/fail result:

def health_summary():
    from agent_reach.doctor import check_all, format_report
    from agent_reach.config import Config
    results = check_all(Config())
    # Return brief boolean for automation

    return all(v["status"] == "ok" for v in results.values())

This allows automated systems to verify that all required back-ends are available before proceeding with deployments or tests.

Key Files in the Doctor Workflow

The diagnostic system spans several files in the Agent Reach codebase:

• agent_reach/doctor.py: Contains the core health-checking logic (check_all, format_report) and helper functions.
• agent_reach/channels/__init__.py: Provides get_all_channels(), the registry that the doctor iterates over to discover available platforms.
• agent_reach/core.py: Implements the high-level API (AgentReach.doctor()) that calls the doctor module for programmatic use.
• agent_reach/cli.py: Parses the agent-reach doctor command and prints the formatted report.
• agent_reach/config.py: Loads user configuration that the doctor passes to each channel's check method.

Summary

The doctor.py module functions as Agent Reach's diagnostic engine, providing clear visibility into platform readiness:

• check_all(config) inspects every registered channel and aggregates status reports.
• format_report(results) renders diagnostic data into color-coded console output using Rich markup.
• The module supports both CLI invocation (agent-reach doctor) and programmatic integration for automation scripts.
• It validates back-end availability (such as opencli, yt-dlp, or twurl) without performing actual searches or reads.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does doctor.py determine if a channel is healthy?

The module delegates health checks to each channel's own check(config) method. According to the source code in agent_reach/doctor.py (lines 12-35), check_all iterates through all channels retrieved via get_all_channels() and captures any exceptions, converting them into standardized error statuses. This architecture ensures that doctor.py remains agnostic about specific platform requirements while providing uniform reporting.

Can I use the doctor module without the CLI?

Yes. The doctor.py module is designed for programmatic use. You can import check_all and format_report directly from agent_reach.doctor, instantiate a Config object from agent_reach.config, and generate reports within your own Python applications. This is particularly useful for embedding health checks into deployment scripts or monitoring systems.

What information does the doctor report include?

The report generated by format_report (lines 47-100 in doctor.py) includes each channel's operational status, description, error messages, service tier, available back-ends, and currently active back-end. The output uses Rich markup to provide visual indicators (✅ for ready, ! for configuration needed, X for missing) and summarizes overall health with an ok/total count.

Where does doctor.py get the list of channels to check?

The module imports the channel registry from agent_reach/channels/__init__.py via the get_all_channels() function. This registry contains all supported platform channels (such as those wrapping opencli, yt-dlp, or twurl), allowing the doctor to dynamically inspect whatever platforms are installed in the current Agent Reach environment.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
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}