Project 5: Automated Trip Planner
Build a multi-step agent that plans a trip with constraints, budgets, and day-by-day itineraries.
Quick Reference
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 3: Advanced |
| Time Estimate | 12-18 hours |
| Language | Python or JavaScript |
| Prerequisites | Tool calling, planning basics |
| Key Topics | planning, constraint handling, itinerary generation |
1. Learning Objectives
By completing this project, you will:
- Gather constraints (dates, budget, preferences).
- Plan activities with ordering and time windows.
- Use tools for data lookup (maps, weather, events).
- Generate a day-by-day itinerary.
- Explain tradeoffs when constraints conflict.
2. Theoretical Foundation
2.1 Constraint Satisfaction
Trip planning is a constraint optimization problem: cost, time, distance, and preferences must be balanced.
3. Project Specification
3.1 What You Will Build
A trip planner agent that asks questions, uses tools, and outputs a structured itinerary with budgets.
3.2 Functional Requirements
- Constraint capture for dates, budget, preferences.
- Planning logic to order activities.
- Tool calls for location and event data.
- Itinerary output in structured format.
- Conflict resolution explanations.
3.3 Non-Functional Requirements
- Deterministic planning for same inputs.
- Safe tool usage with allowlists.
- Fallback when tools fail.
4. Solution Architecture
4.1 Components
| Component | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Constraint Collector | Gather user inputs |
| Planner | Build itinerary |
| Tools | Fetch maps/events/weather |
| Formatter | Output itinerary |
5. Implementation Guide
5.1 Project Structure
LEARN_LANGCHAIN_PROJECTS/P05-trip-planner/
├── src/
│ ├── constraints.py
│ ├── planner.py
│ ├── tools.py
│ ├── formatter.py
│ └── chat.py
5.2 Implementation Phases
Phase 1: Constraints (3-4h)
- Capture dates, budget, preferences.
- Checkpoint: missing constraints prompt follow-ups.
Phase 2: Planning (4-6h)
- Build itinerary with ordering.
- Checkpoint: itinerary respects time windows.
Phase 3: Output + conflict resolution (3-5h)
- Add structured output and tradeoff notes.
- Checkpoint: conflicts explained clearly.
6. Testing Strategy
6.1 Test Categories
| Category | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Unit | constraint checks | missing budget |
| Integration | itinerary | ordered activities |
| Regression | conflicts | consistent resolutions |
6.2 Critical Test Cases
- Missing dates triggers follow-up questions.
- Budget too low produces alternative plan.
- Tool failure yields partial itinerary.
7. Common Pitfalls & Debugging
| Pitfall | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Overloaded day | too many activities | enforce time caps |
| Missing costs | budget ignored | add cost estimates |
| Tool errors | no itinerary | add fallback defaults |
8. Extensions & Challenges
Beginner
- Add PDF export.
- Add packing checklist.
Intermediate
- Add collaborative planning for groups.
- Add map visualizations.
Advanced
- Add optimization (shortest travel times).
- Add price monitoring alerts.
9. Real-World Connections
- Travel assistants require constraint-aware planning.
- Event planners balance budgets and schedules.
10. Resources
- LangChain agent docs
- Constraint satisfaction references
- Travel API documentation
11. Self-Assessment Checklist
- I can gather and validate constraints.
- I can generate ordered itineraries.
- I can explain tradeoffs clearly.
12. Submission / Completion Criteria
Minimum Completion:
- Constraint capture + itinerary
Full Completion:
- Tool integration
- Conflict resolution logic
Excellence:
- Optimization and alerts
- Visual itinerary outputs
This guide was generated from project_based_ideas/AI_AGENTS_LLM_RAG/LEARN_LANGCHAIN_PROJECTS.md.