The M×N problem of tool calling and open-source models
Summary
The article discusses the M×N problem in tool calling across different model ecosystems, highlighting how closed-source models use seamless, opaque tool calls while open-source models introduce varied wire formats that require custom parsers. It argues that generic parsers struggle due to model-specific formats and calls for a declarative, shared specification that describes wire formats, boundary tokens, and argument serialization so both grammar engines and parsers can evolve without bespoke rewrites.