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Add a record of the decision that "opt-in breaking changes" being acceptable from an SDK evolution strategy.


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Strict semver adherence can slow SDK development when the breaking change only affects users who explicitly adopt new functionality. If existing code paths remain unaffected, the practical impact on users is minimal.

For example, converting a `TypedDict` to `total=False` is technically breaking if existing implementations don't provide the new optional members. However, if the only way to encounter those new members is by adding a new tool that uses the new format, the change is effectively "pay for play." Users who don't adopt the new tool never observe the break.
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Up until this point, I was just thinking "that's how backwards compatibility works" :P

But this makes sense. We have done something similar with Bidirectional Agents and tool context for example. We have started to pass in Bidi Agent as Agent. This is "technically" backwards compatible, but it's pay for play

mkmeral
mkmeral previously approved these changes Jan 28, 2026
yonib05
yonib05 previously approved these changes Jan 28, 2026

Strict semver adherence can slow SDK development when the breaking change only affects users who explicitly adopt new functionality. If existing code paths remain unaffected, the practical impact on users is minimal.

For example, converting a `TypedDict` to `total=False` is technically breaking if existing implementations don't provide the new optional members. However, if the only way to encounter those new members is by adding a new tool that uses the new format, the change is effectively "pay for play." Users who don't adopt the new tool never observe the break.
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It might just be me but I feel this explanation is slightly confusing.

For example, converting a TypedDict to total=False is technically breaking if existing implementations don't provide the new optional members

I think I understand that you mean to say if a previously required field now becomes optional, existing code paths expecting the field would break if not provided. I just wonder if there is a more direct way to say this.

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I concur; the example isn't clear at all; the problem is on the reading side, not the producing side. Updating the example

@zastrowm zastrowm dismissed stale reviews from yonib05 and mkmeral via f52b1c1 January 28, 2026 17:24
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Documentation Deployment Complete

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Preview URL: https://d3ehv1nix5p99z.cloudfront.net/pr-491/

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6 participants