LLM, Token, Agent — They're All the Same Thing
Episode Summary
LLM. Token. Context. Prompt. Function Calling. MCP. Agent. Skill — 8 concepts that confuse every engineer, until you realize they’re all the same thing.
An LLM can only output text. It can’t browse the web, call APIs, or take any action. The program around it does everything else. LLM talks, program walks. That loop is how the entire AI world runs.
What We Cover
- LLM — A word prediction machine. No thinking, no understanding.
- Context — A genius with no memory. The program stitches history every time.
- Prompt — User Prompt + System Prompt. Just what you say to the LLM.
- Function Calling — The LLM outputs JSON text. The program executes it.
- MCP — USB-C for AI tools. Build once, run everywhere.
- Agent — The talks-and-walks loop on repeat.
- Skill — Pre-written rules with progressive disclosure.
- Two Questions — The buzzword shield that makes any concept transparent.