translation/source/documents/course/01-first-agent/01-introduction-to-mastra.md

Getting Started with Mastra

Welcome to the first step of building your first Mastra agent! In this lesson, you'll learn how to create a simple agent that can read data from a public Google Sheet using a custom tool function.

What is an Agent?

An agent is software with non-deterministic code that can make autonomous decisions based on inputs and environment rather than following fixed, predictable instructions every time.

Agents are AI systems that can:

• Perceive their environment through various inputs
• Make decisions based on those inputs
• Take actions to accomplish specific goals
• Learn and adapt their behavior over time

The best agents use several important features:

1. Memory: They remember past interactions and learn from them
2. Planning: They can break down complex tasks into smaller steps
3. Tool use: They can leverage external tools and APIs to expand their capabilities
4. Feedback loops: They can evaluate their own performance and adjust accordingly