Persist Agent State Runtime Between Runs on Your Backend

Persist Agent State Runtime Between Runs on Your Backend

Your agents often need to resume work after a runtime backend restart or scheduled pause. Without explicit state handling, each new run starts from a blank slate and loses prior context.

Key takeaways

• Store agent state inside the single versioned config object.
• Route any external write through the approvals inbox.
• Stream token usage and logs to verify continuity after each restart.

Define State Fields in the Config Object

Place persistent fields directly in the config object that governs every agent you run. This keeps prompts, tools, and memory variables under one traceable version.

• Role prompt baseline
• Tool whitelist with call limits
• Autonomy level and schedule rules
• Accumulated intermediate outputs
• Last approved model parameters

Update these fields only through the control plane so history remains intact.

Choose Storage Backed by Your Runtime

Map the state fields to a durable store that survives restarts on your agent runtime backend. Common options include a managed database or an attached volume.

1. Provision a PostgreSQL instance reachable from the runtime.
2. Create a table keyed by agent identifier and config version.
3. Serialize state as JSON columns for quick retrieval.
4. Add indexes on last updated timestamp.

Compare hosted versus self-hosted options before committing to a store.

Load State at the Start of Each Run

On every execution the agent reads the latest approved state before processing new work. This step prevents duplicate effort after a restart.

• Query the store using the agent identifier from the config object.
• Merge loaded values into the current prompt context.
• Log token counts for the load operation.
• Reject the run if state checksum fails.

Write State Only After Approval

Every change that touches external systems must pass through the approvals inbox. This rule applies even when state is written back to the same store.

• Draft the updated state object.
• Submit it for human review with cost estimates.
• Apply changes only after explicit approval.
• Record the approver identifier and timestamp.

See how single config object setups handle approvals.

Monitor Continuity After Restarts

Use live visibility features to confirm that state loaded correctly following a runtime backend restart.

Audit these metrics from the dashboard described in the control plane regulated agent fleets guide.

Handle Partial Failures

When a run fails mid-execution, preserve the state that was already approved. Roll back only unapproved changes.

• Capture the last successful checkpoint.
• Store the failure reason alongside token usage.
• Allow the next run to resume from the checkpoint.
• Require fresh approval for any retry that changes external data.

Rollback procedures keep version history and approvals inbox records intact.

Test State Persistence Regularly

Schedule periodic sandbox executions that verify load and save behavior.

• Run a 10-minute agent with known state changes.
• Restart the runtime backend midway.
• Confirm the agent resumes at the correct step.
• Measure added cost estimates for the recovery path.

Document results against the current config object version.

Conclusion

State persistence works when every agent you run follows the same rules stored in one config object. Keep the following next steps in mind.

• Review your current config object for state fields.
• Add an approvals rule for any external write.
• Enable log streaming for restart verification.
• Schedule a sandbox test this week.

FAQ

How long does state survive a runtime backend restart?

State stored in the approved config object and linked database survives restarts as long as the store itself remains available.

Can I version state separately from the config object?

No. All persistent fields must live inside the single versioned config object so changes stay traceable.

What happens to pending approvals after a restart?

Pending items remain in the approvals inbox until a human reviews them; the next run waits for that decision.

Do I need to mask state data before approval?

Yes. Use the masking rules described for the approvals inbox whenever state contains sensitive values.

How do I audit state changes across multiple agents?

Query the single dashboard that tracks every config object update, approval decision, and token count on your agent runtime backend.