chore!: set Agent property load_tools_from_directory to default to False

src/strands/agent/agent.py

@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def __init__(
         ] = _DEFAULT_CALLBACK_HANDLER,
         conversation_manager: Optional[ConversationManager] = None,
         record_direct_tool_call: bool = True,
-        load_tools_from_directory: bool = True,
+        load_tools_from_directory: bool = False,
         trace_attributes: Optional[Mapping[str, AttributeValue]] = None,
         *,
         agent_id: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ def __init__(
             record_direct_tool_call: Whether to record direct tool calls in message history.
                 Defaults to True.
             load_tools_from_directory: Whether to load and automatically reload tools in the `./tools/` directory.
-                Defaults to True.
+                Defaults to False.
             trace_attributes: Custom trace attributes to apply to the agent's trace span.
             agent_id: Optional ID for the agent, useful for multi-agent scenarios.
                 If None, a UUID is generated.

src/strands/tools/registry.py

@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ def reload_tool(self, tool_name: str) -> None:
             logger.exception("tool_name=<%s> | failed to reload tool", tool_name)
             raise
 
-    def initialize_tools(self, load_tools_from_directory: bool = True) -> None:
+    def initialize_tools(self, load_tools_from_directory: bool = False) -> None:
         """Initialize all tools by discovering and loading them dynamically from all tool directories.
 
         Args:

tests_integ/test_hot_tool_reload_decorator.py

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def test_hot_reload_decorator():
 
     try:
         # Create an Agent instance without any tools
-        agent = Agent()
+        agent = Agent(load_tools_from_directory=True)
 
         # Create a test tool using @tool decorator
         with open(test_tool_path, "w") as f:
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def test_hot_reload_decorator_update():
 
     try:
         # Create an Agent instance
-        agent = Agent()
+        agent = Agent(load_tools_from_directory=True)
 
         # Create the initial version of the tool
         with open(test_tool_path, "w") as f: