# Implementation Best Practices

## Overview

This guide outlines best practices for implementing and using Ralph Orchestrator in production environments.

## Architecture Best Practices

### 1. Modular Design
- Keep agent implementations separate and modular
- Use dependency injection for flexibility
- Implement clear interfaces between components

### 2. Error Handling
```python
# Good practice: Comprehensive error handling
try:
    response = await agent.process(prompt)
except AgentTimeoutError as e:
    logger.error(f"Agent timeout: {e}")
    return fallback_response()
except AgentAPIError as e:
    logger.error(f"API error: {e}")
    return handle_api_error(e)
```

### 3. Configuration Management
- Use environment variables for sensitive data
- Implement configuration validation
- Support multiple configuration profiles

## Performance Optimization

### 1. Caching Strategies
```python
# Implement intelligent caching
from functools import lru_cache

@lru_cache(maxsize=128)
def get_agent_response(prompt_hash):
    return agent.process(prompt)
```

### 2. Connection Pooling
- Reuse HTTP connections
- Implement connection limits
- Use async operations where possible

### 3. Rate Limiting
```python
# Implement rate limiting
from asyncio import Semaphore

rate_limiter = Semaphore(10)  # Max 10 concurrent requests

async def make_request():
    async with rate_limiter:
        return await agent.process(prompt)
```

## Security Best Practices

### 1. API Key Management
- Never hardcode API keys
- Use secure key storage solutions
- Rotate keys regularly

### 2. Input Validation
```python
# Always validate and sanitize inputs
def validate_prompt(prompt: str) -> str:
    if len(prompt) > MAX_PROMPT_LENGTH:
        raise ValueError("Prompt too long")
    
    # Remove potentially harmful content
    sanitized = sanitize_input(prompt)
    return sanitized
```

### 3. Output Filtering
- Filter sensitive information from responses
- Implement content moderation
- Log security events

## Monitoring and Observability

### 1. Structured Logging
```python
import structlog

logger = structlog.get_logger()

logger.info("agent_request", 
    agent_type="claude",
    prompt_length=len(prompt),
    user_id=user_id,
    timestamp=datetime.utcnow()
)
```

### 2. Metrics Collection
- Track response times
- Monitor error rates
- Measure token usage

### 3. Health Checks
```python
# Implement health check endpoints
async def health_check():
    checks = {
        "database": await check_db_connection(),
        "agents": await check_agent_availability(),
        "cache": await check_cache_status()
    }
    return all(checks.values())
```

## Testing Strategies

### 1. Unit Testing
```python
# Test individual components
def test_prompt_validation():
    valid_prompt = "Calculate 2+2"
    assert validate_prompt(valid_prompt) == valid_prompt
    
    invalid_prompt = "x" * (MAX_PROMPT_LENGTH + 1)
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
        validate_prompt(invalid_prompt)
```

### 2. Integration Testing
- Test agent interactions
- Verify error handling
- Test edge cases

### 3. Load Testing
```bash
# Use tools like locust for load testing
locust -f load_test.py --host=http://localhost:8000
```

## Deployment Best Practices

### 1. Container Strategy
```dockerfile
# Multi-stage build for smaller images
FROM python:3.11 as builder
WORKDIR /app
COPY requirements.txt .
RUN pip install --user -r requirements.txt

FROM python:3.11-slim
COPY --from=builder /root/.local /root/.local
COPY . .
CMD ["python", "-m", "ralph_orchestrator"]
```

### 2. Scaling Considerations
- Implement horizontal scaling
- Use load balancers
- Consider serverless options

### 3. Blue-Green Deployments
- Minimize downtime
- Enable quick rollbacks
- Test in production-like environments

## Common Pitfalls to Avoid

### 1. Over-Engineering
- Start simple and iterate
- Don't optimize prematurely
- Focus on core functionality first

### 2. Ignoring Rate Limits
- Always respect API rate limits
- Implement exponential backoff
- Monitor quota usage

### 3. Poor Error Messages
```python
# Bad
except Exception:
    return "Error occurred"

# Good
except ValueError as e:
    return f"Invalid input: {e}"
```

## Maintenance Guidelines

### 1. Regular Updates
- Keep dependencies updated
- Monitor security advisories
- Test updates in staging first

### 2. Documentation
- Maintain up-to-date documentation
- Document configuration changes
- Keep runbooks current

### 3. Backup and Recovery
- Implement regular backups
- Test recovery procedures
- Document disaster recovery plans

## Conclusion

Following these best practices will help ensure your Ralph Orchestrator implementation is:
- Reliable and performant
- Secure and maintainable
- Scalable and observable

Remember to adapt these practices to your specific use case and requirements.

## See Also

- [Configuration Guide](../guide/configuration.md)
- [Security Documentation](../advanced/security.md)
- [Context Management](../advanced/context-management.md)