Build AI Apps with Python: Multiple Tools — Claude Learns to Choose | Episode 8

Three tools, one AI. In this episode, Claude gets a currency converter, a weather lookup, and a time zone checker — and decides which one to call based on your question. The key pattern: a dispatch dictionary that maps tool names to Python functions. No if-else chains. Claude reads the tool descriptions, picks the right one, and we execute it with a single dictionary lookup. Three questions, three correct tool choices. Student code: https://github.com/GoCelesteAI/build-ai-apps-python/tree/main/episode08 Every keystroke is shown on screen with 3-second pauses so you can follow along at your own pace. What You'll Learn: • Registering multiple tools in one list • How Claude reads descriptions to choose the right tool • The dispatch dictionary pattern (tool names → functions) • Building a reusable ask() function for the tool loop • Currency converter, weather lookup, and time zone tools • Mock data patterns for development • System prompt for plain text output (no markdown) • Three questions, three different tools — Claude picks correctly • Running Python scripts with :!python % Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:12 - Why Multiple Tools? (Preview) 0:44 - Creating multiple_tools.py 1:00 - Imports and setup 2:08 - Tool 1: Currency converter (from Episode 7) 4:35 - Tool 2: Weather lookup — new capability 6:55 - Tool 3: Time zone lookup 8:45 - Save progress 9:12 - The dispatch dictionary — maps names to functions 10:05 - Tool definitions — three JSON schemas 14:40 - Save tool definitions 14:55 - The ask() function — wraps the tool loop 16:45 - Tool handling and dispatch lookup 17:53 - Sending results back to Claude 20:20 - Three questions: currency, weather, time 20:55 - Save and run 21:12 - Claude picks the right tool every time! 21:48 - Code review 22:08 - Recap: 3 Key Takeaways 22:40 - End Screen Key Takeaways: 1. Register multiple tools in one list — Claude reads all descriptions to choose 2. The dispatch dictionary maps tool names to functions — no if-else chains needed 3. Wrap the tool loop in a function — one line per question, any number of tools