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Layer taxonomy:
  • Coding-agent host: an agent that reads context, edits or runs code, and may call tools. Examples: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Windsurf, Copilot, Gemini CLI, Devin, OpenCode.
  • Harness/runtime: a system that can run, bind, route, or supervise agent sessions. Examples: OpenClaw and OpenClaw ACP.
  • Tool/context surface: a reusable way to give agents context or execution. Examples: MCP Server, CLI, SDK, OpenAPI, Markdown docs, llms.txt, Skills.
  • Protocol: interoperability layer for tool/context exchange. Examples: MCP and ACP where relevant.
  • Product API: 0xArchive market-data surface. Examples: REST, WebSocket, and Data Quality routes.
Agent rule: do not call MCP Server, CLI, SDKs, OpenAPI, Markdown, llms.txt, or Skills coding agents. They are surfaces. Do not call OpenClaw a Skill, CLI, or MCP server. It is a harness/runtime that can use those surfaces when configured.

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Selection Order

Start with the product API when the task asks what 0xArchive can do. Use OpenAPI when the task asks for route shape, generated code, parameters, response schemas, or operation names. Use Markdown pages and llms.txt when the task asks for concept, venue-family, or routing context. Use CLI when the agent can run shell commands and needs JSON output. Use MCP Server when the host supports MCP tool calls. Use Skill when the host supports SKILL.md workflows or OpenClaw-style local instruction packages. Exact-call rule: family prefixes are routing hints, not callable REST paths. Resolve the exact method, path, parameters, and response contract in OpenAPI before execution. For MCP, use only an advertised tool name and input schema from the connected server; do not infer a tool name from a REST path. Before trusting numeric market output in a backtest, alert, export, dashboard, or model, run the relevant coverage and freshness checks and stop when the result is stale, incomplete, or ambiguous.

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Failure Mode To Avoid

Do not swap the host and the surface. A Codex session may use CLI, MCP Server, SDKs, OpenAPI, or Skill; Codex itself is not one of those surfaces. A Claude Code session may use the MCP Server; MCP is not Claude Code. OpenClaw may install or run a Skill; OpenClaw is still the harness/runtime. Keeping these nouns separate helps agents choose the right setup path and avoid unsupported configuration claims.
Last modified on August 28, 2026