<!--
name: 'Data: Managed Agents reference — Java'
description: Reference guide for using the Anthropic Java SDK to create and manage agents, environments, and sessions
ccVersion: 2.1.182
-->
# Managed Agents — Java

> **Bindings not shown here:** This README covers the most common managed-agents flows for Java. If you need a class, method, namespace, field, or behavior that isn't shown, WebFetch the Java SDK repo **or the relevant docs page** from `shared/live-sources.md` rather than guess. Do not extrapolate from cURL shapes or another language's SDK.

> **Agents are persistent — create once, reference by ID.** Store the agent ID returned by `client.beta().agents().create` and pass it to every subsequent `client.beta().sessions().create`; do not call `agents().create` in the request path. The Anthropic CLI is one convenient way to create agents and environments from version-controlled YAML — its URL is in `shared/live-sources.md`. The examples below show in-code creation for completeness; in production the create call belongs in setup, not in the request path.

## Installation

```xml
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.anthropic</groupId>
    <artifactId>anthropic-java</artifactId>
</dependency>
```

## Client Initialization

```java
import com.anthropic.client.okhttp.AnthropicOkHttpClient;

// Default (uses ANTHROPIC_API_KEY env var)
var client = AnthropicOkHttpClient.fromEnv();
```

---

## Create an Environment

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.environments.BetaCloudConfigParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.environments.BetaUnrestrictedNetwork;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.environments.EnvironmentCreateParams;

var environment = client.beta().environments().create(EnvironmentCreateParams.builder()
    .name("my-dev-env")
    .config(BetaCloudConfigParams.builder()
        .networking(BetaUnrestrictedNetwork.builder().build())
        .build())
    .build());
System.out.println("Environment ID: " + environment.id()); // env_...
```

---

## Create an Agent (required first step)

> ⚠️ **There is no inline agent config.** Model, system, and tools live on the agent object, not the session. Always start with `client.beta().agents().create()` — the session takes either `.agent(agent.id())` or the typed `BetaManagedAgentsAgentParams.builder()...build()`.

### Minimal

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.agents.AgentCreateParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.agents.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.BetaManagedAgentsAgentParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.SessionCreateParams;

// 1. Create the agent (reusable, versioned)
var agent = client.beta().agents().create(AgentCreateParams.builder()
    .name("Coding Assistant")
    .model("{{OPUS_ID}}")
    .system("You are a helpful coding assistant.")
    .addTool(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.Type.AGENT_TOOLSET_20260401)
        .build())
    .build());

// 2. Start a session
var session = client.beta().sessions().create(SessionCreateParams.builder()
    .agent(BetaManagedAgentsAgentParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsAgentParams.Type.AGENT)
        .id(agent.id())
        .version(agent.version())
        .build())
    .environmentId(environment.id())
    .title("Quickstart session")
    .build());
System.out.println("Session ID: " + session.id());
```

### Updating an Agent

Updates create new versions; the agent object is immutable per version.

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.agents.AgentUpdateParams;

var updatedAgent = client.beta().agents().update(agent.id(), AgentUpdateParams.builder()
    .version(agent.version())
    .system("You are a helpful coding agent. Always write tests.")
    .build());
System.out.println("New version: " + updatedAgent.version());

// List all versions
for (var version : client.beta().agents().versions().list(agent.id()).autoPager()) {
    System.out.println("Version " + version.version() + ": " + version.updatedAt());
}

// Archive the agent
var archived = client.beta().agents().archive(agent.id());
System.out.println("Archived at: " + archived.archivedAt().orElseThrow());
```

---

## Send a User Message

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.events.BetaManagedAgentsUserMessageEventParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.events.EventSendParams;

client.beta().sessions().events().send(session.id(), EventSendParams.builder()
    .addEvent(BetaManagedAgentsUserMessageEventParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsUserMessageEventParams.Type.USER_MESSAGE)
        .addTextContent("Review the auth module")
        .build())
    .build());
```

> 💡 **Stream-first:** Open the stream *before* (or concurrently with) sending the message. The stream only delivers events that occur after it opens — stream-after-send means early events arrive buffered in one batch. See [Steering Patterns](../../shared/managed-agents-events.md#steering-patterns).

---

## Stream Events (SSE)

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.events.StreamEvents;

// Open the stream first, then send the user message
try (var stream = client.beta().sessions().events().streamStreaming(session.id())) {
    client.beta().sessions().events().send(session.id(), EventSendParams.builder()
        .addEvent(BetaManagedAgentsUserMessageEventParams.builder()
            .type(BetaManagedAgentsUserMessageEventParams.Type.USER_MESSAGE)
            .addTextContent("Summarize the repo README")
            .build())
        .build());

    for (var event : (Iterable<StreamEvents>) stream.stream()::iterator) {
        if (event.isAgentMessage()) {
            event.asAgentMessage().content().forEach(block -> System.out.print(block.text()));
        } else if (event.isAgentToolUse()) {
            System.out.println("\
[Using tool: " + event.asAgentToolUse().name() + "]");
        } else if (event.isSessionStatusIdle()) {
            break;
        } else if (event.isSessionError()) {
            System.out.println("\
[Error]");
            break;
        }
    }
}
```

### Reconnecting and Tailing

When reconnecting mid-session, list past events first to dedupe, then tail live events. The cross-variant `id` field is read from the raw `_json()` value:

```java
import com.anthropic.core.JsonValue;
import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Optional;

try (var stream = client.beta().sessions().events().streamStreaming(session.id())) {
    // Stream is open and buffering. List history before tailing live.
    var seenEventIds = new HashSet<String>();
    for (var past : client.beta().sessions().events().list(session.id()).autoPager()) {
        Optional<Map<String, JsonValue>> obj = past._json().orElseThrow().asObject();
        seenEventIds.add(obj.orElseThrow().get("id").asStringOrThrow());
    }

    // Tail live events, skipping anything already seen
    for (var event : (Iterable<StreamEvents>) stream.stream()::iterator) {
        Optional<Map<String, JsonValue>> obj = event._json().orElseThrow().asObject();
        if (!seenEventIds.add(obj.orElseThrow().get("id").asStringOrThrow())) continue;
        if (event.isAgentMessage()) {
            event.asAgentMessage().content().forEach(block -> System.out.print(block.text()));
        } else if (event.isSessionStatusIdle()) {
            break;
        }
    }
}
```

---

## Provide Custom Tool Result

> ℹ️ The Java managed-agents bindings for `user.custom_tool_result` are not yet documented in this skill or in the apps source examples. Refer to `shared/managed-agents-events.md` for the wire format and the `anthropic-java` repository for the corresponding params types.

---

## Poll Events

```java
for (var event : client.beta().sessions().events().list(session.id()).autoPager()) {
    System.out.println(event.type() + ": " + event);
}
```

---

## Upload a File

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.files.FileUploadParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.BetaManagedAgentsFileResourceParams;
import java.nio.file.Path;

var dataCsv = Path.of("data.csv");

var file = client.beta().files().upload(FileUploadParams.builder()
    .file(dataCsv)
    .build());
System.out.println("File ID: " + file.id());

// Mount in a session
var session = client.beta().sessions().create(SessionCreateParams.builder()
    .agent(agent.id())
    .environmentId(environment.id())
    .addResource(BetaManagedAgentsFileResourceParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsFileResourceParams.Type.FILE)
        .fileId(file.id())
        .mountPath("/workspace/data.csv")
        .build())
    .build());
```

### Add and Manage Resources on an Existing Session

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.resources.ResourceAddParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.resources.ResourceDeleteParams;

// Attach an additional file to an open session
var resource = client.beta().sessions().resources().add(session.id(), ResourceAddParams.builder()
    .betaManagedAgentsFileResourceParams(BetaManagedAgentsFileResourceParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsFileResourceParams.Type.FILE)
        .fileId(file.id())
        .build())
    .build());
System.out.println(resource.id()); // "sesrsc_01ABC..."

// List resources on the session — entries are a discriminated union
var listed = client.beta().sessions().resources().list(session.id());
for (var entry : listed.data()) {
    if (entry.isFile()) {
        var fileResource = entry.asFile();
        System.out.println(fileResource.id() + " " + fileResource.type());
    } else if (entry.isGitHubRepository()) {
        var repoResource = entry.asGitHubRepository();
        System.out.println(repoResource.id() + " " + repoResource.type());
    }
}

// Detach a resource
client.beta().sessions().resources().delete(resource.id(), ResourceDeleteParams.builder()
    .sessionId(session.id())
    .build());
```

---

## List and Download Session Files

> ℹ️ Listing and downloading files an agent wrote during a session is not yet documented for Java in this skill or in the apps source examples. See `shared/managed-agents-events.md` and the `anthropic-java` repository for the file list/download bindings.

---

## Session Management

```java
// List environments
var environments = client.beta().environments().list();

// Retrieve a specific environment
var env = client.beta().environments().retrieve(environment.id());

// Archive an environment (read-only, existing sessions continue)
client.beta().environments().archive(environment.id());

// Delete an environment (only if no sessions reference it)
client.beta().environments().delete(environment.id());

// Delete a session
client.beta().sessions().delete(session.id());
```

---

## MCP Server Integration

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.agents.BetaManagedAgentsMcpToolsetParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.agents.BetaManagedAgentsUrlMcpServerParams;

// Agent declares MCP server (no auth here — auth goes in a vault)
var agent = client.beta().agents().create(AgentCreateParams.builder()
    .name("GitHub Assistant")
    .model("{{OPUS_ID}}")
    .addMcpServer(BetaManagedAgentsUrlMcpServerParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsUrlMcpServerParams.Type.URL)
        .name("github")
        .url("https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/")
        .build())
    .addTool(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.Type.AGENT_TOOLSET_20260401)
        .build())
    .addTool(BetaManagedAgentsMcpToolsetParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsMcpToolsetParams.Type.MCP_TOOLSET)
        .mcpServerName("github")
        .build())
    .build());

// Session attaches vault(s) containing credentials for those MCP server URLs
var session = client.beta().sessions().create(SessionCreateParams.builder()
    .agent(BetaManagedAgentsAgentParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsAgentParams.Type.AGENT)
        .id(agent.id())
        .version(agent.version())
        .build())
    .environmentId(environment.id())
    .addVaultId(vault.id())
    .build());
```

See `shared/managed-agents-tools.md` §Vaults for creating vaults and adding credentials.

---

## Vaults

```java
import com.anthropic.core.JsonValue;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.vaults.VaultCreateParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.vaults.credentials.BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthCreateParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.vaults.credentials.BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthRefreshParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.vaults.credentials.BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthRefreshUpdateParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.vaults.credentials.BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthUpdateParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.vaults.credentials.CredentialCreateParams;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.vaults.credentials.CredentialUpdateParams;
import java.time.OffsetDateTime;

// Create a vault
var vault = client.beta().vaults().create(VaultCreateParams.builder()
    .displayName("Alice")
    .metadata(VaultCreateParams.Metadata.builder()
        .putAdditionalProperty("external_user_id", JsonValue.from("usr_abc123"))
        .build())
    .build());
System.out.println(vault.id()); // "vlt_01ABC..."

// Add an OAuth credential
var credential = client.beta().vaults().credentials().create(vault.id(),
    CredentialCreateParams.builder()
        .displayName("Alice's Slack")
        .auth(BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthCreateParams.builder()
            .type(BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthCreateParams.Type.MCP_OAUTH)
            .mcpServerUrl("https://mcp.slack.com/mcp")
            .accessToken("xoxp-...")
            .expiresAt(OffsetDateTime.parse("2026-04-15T00:00:00Z"))
            .refresh(BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthRefreshParams.builder()
                .tokenEndpoint("https://slack.com/api/oauth.v2.access")
                .clientId("1234567890.0987654321")
                .scope("channels:read chat:write")
                .refreshToken("xoxe-1-...")
                .clientSecretPostTokenEndpointAuth("abc123...")
                .build())
            .build())
        .build());

// Rotate the credential (e.g., after a token refresh)
client.beta().vaults().credentials().update(credential.id(),
    CredentialUpdateParams.builder()
        .vaultId(vault.id())
        .auth(BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthUpdateParams.builder()
            .type(BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthUpdateParams.Type.MCP_OAUTH)
            .accessToken("xoxp-new-...")
            .expiresAt(OffsetDateTime.parse("2026-05-15T00:00:00Z"))
            .refresh(BetaManagedAgentsMcpOAuthRefreshUpdateParams.builder()
                .refreshToken("xoxe-1-new-...")
                .build())
            .build())
        .build());

// Archive a vault
client.beta().vaults().archive(vault.id());
```

---

## GitHub Repository Integration

Mount a GitHub repository as a session resource (a vault holds the GitHub MCP credential):

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.BetaManagedAgentsGitHubRepositoryResourceParams;

var session = client.beta().sessions().create(SessionCreateParams.builder()
    .agent(agent.id())
    .environmentId(environment.id())
    .addVaultId(vault.id())
    .addResource(BetaManagedAgentsGitHubRepositoryResourceParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsGitHubRepositoryResourceParams.Type.GITHUB_REPOSITORY)
        .url("https://github.com/org/repo")
        .mountPath("/workspace/repo")
        .authorizationToken("ghp_your_github_token")
        .build())
    .build());
```

Multiple repositories on the same session:

```java
import java.util.List;

var resources = List.of(
    BetaManagedAgentsGitHubRepositoryResourceParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsGitHubRepositoryResourceParams.Type.GITHUB_REPOSITORY)
        .url("https://github.com/org/frontend")
        .mountPath("/workspace/frontend")
        .authorizationToken("ghp_your_github_token")
        .build(),
    BetaManagedAgentsGitHubRepositoryResourceParams.builder()
        .type(BetaManagedAgentsGitHubRepositoryResourceParams.Type.GITHUB_REPOSITORY)
        .url("https://github.com/org/backend")
        .mountPath("/workspace/backend")
        .authorizationToken("ghp_your_github_token")
        .build());
```

Rotating a repository's authorization token:

```java
import com.anthropic.models.beta.sessions.resources.ResourceUpdateParams;

var listed = client.beta().sessions().resources().list(session.id());
var repoResourceId = listed.data().get(0).asGitHubRepository().id();

client.beta().sessions().resources().update(repoResourceId, ResourceUpdateParams.builder()
    .sessionId(session.id())
    .authorizationToken("ghp_your_new_github_token")
    .build());
```