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Choose Your Path

Different readers should not start from the same page.

This page does not walk you through every module. Instead, it helps you decide first:

  • Which main track you should enter from
  • What that track will explain first
  • At what point you should branch off into a deeper topic tree

1. If you are not sure yet, take the default track​

The recommended default order is:

  1. Why AI4J
  2. Architecture at a Glance
  3. Quickstart for Java or Quickstart for Spring Boot
  4. First Tool Call
  5. Core SDK / Overview

This track is best suited for:

  • First-time AI4J adopters
  • Anyone who has not yet decided whether to stop at the SDK, Spring Boot, Agent, or Coding Agent
  • Readers who want to build a complete, stable mental model first

2. Pick an entry point by goal​

2.1 I just want to send a model call first​

Start here:

  1. Quickstart for Java
  2. Core SDK / Model Access

This track helps you confirm three things first:

  • Whether the dependencies are wired correctly
  • Whether the provider configuration is in effect
  • Whether your first Chat model call runs end to end

2.2 I am on a Spring Boot project​

Start here:

  1. Quickstart for Spring Boot
  2. Spring Boot / Overview
  3. Spring Boot / Auto Configuration

This track answers first:

  • What the starter is responsible for in your project
  • How AiService enters the Spring container
  • Where the boundaries of auto-configuration, configuration prefixes, and Bean extensions lie

2.3 I want to understand Tool / Function Call / Skill / MCP​

Start here:

  1. First Tool Call
  2. Core SDK / Tools
  3. Core SDK / Skills
  4. MCP

If you often conflate these concepts, prioritize this track.

2.4 I want to integrate MCP​

Start here:

  1. MCP Overview
  2. MCP Use Cases and Paths
  3. Client Integration

This track fits if you already know:

  • You care about protocol-based external capability integration
  • You are not doing local function calls first
  • You are not building a general-purpose Agent runtime first

2.5 I want to build an Agent​

Start here:

  1. Agent / Overview
  2. Agent / Why Agent
  3. Agent / Quickstart

You will see first:

  • What problem the Agent runtime solves
  • Where its boundary with the Core SDK lies
  • How runtime, memory, tool loop, orchestration, and trace fit together

2.6 I want to use the Coding Agent directly​

Start here:

  1. Coding Agent / Overview
  2. Coding Agent / Quickstart
  3. Coding Agent / CLI / TUI

This track fits if:

  • You have already decided to work with a local code repository
  • You mainly care about CLI / TUI / ACP, sessions, approvals, and workspace-aware tools
  • You are not trying to learn a general-purpose Agent framework first

2.7 I want to build a workflow platform​

Start here:

  1. FlowGram / Overview
  2. FlowGram / Why FlowGram
  3. FlowGram / Quickstart

This track explains first:

  • Where FlowGram sits in the AI4J ecosystem
  • How it differs from Agent and Coding Agent
  • How the backend runtime, nodes, and front-end/back-end integration work together

2.8 I want to build a systematic understanding first​

Read in this order:

  1. Why AI4J
  2. Architecture at a Glance
  3. Core SDK / Overview
  4. Core SDK / Strengths and Differentiators
  5. Then fill in Spring Boot / Agent / Coding Agent / FlowGram based on your focus

This track is best suited for:

  • Readers who need to clarify "what AI4J is" first
  • Then clarify "how the modules are layered"
  • And finally clarify "why layering this way is an advantage"

3. One simple principle for reading the docs​

Read the canonical page before the deep page.

That is, read these first:

  • overview
  • why
  • architecture
  • quickstart

Then move on to:

  • Capability pages
  • API/reference pages
  • Solution and case-study pages

This keeps you from getting scattered by details at the very start.