Agent Orchestration Rules
When the user asks to implement something, use implementation agents to preserve main context.
The Pattern
Wrong - burns context:
Main: Read files → Understand → Make edits → Report
(2000+ tokens consumed in main context)
Right - preserves context:
Main: Spawn agent("implement X per plan")
↓
Agent: Reads files → Understands → Edits → Tests
↓
Main: Gets summary (~200 tokens)
When to Use Agents
| Task Type | Use Agent? | Reason | |-----------|------------|--------| | Multi-file implementation | Yes | Agent handles complexity internally | | Following a plan phase | Yes | Agent reads plan, implements | | New feature with tests | Yes | Agent can run tests | | Single-line fix | No | Faster to do directly | | Quick config change | No | Overhead not worth it |
Key Insight
Agents read their own context. Don't read files in main chat just to understand what to pass to an agent - give them the task and they figure it out.
Example Prompt
Implement Phase 4: Outcome Marking Hook from the Artifact Index plan.
**Plan location:** thoughts/shared/plans/2025-12-24-artifact-index.md (search for "Phase 4")
**What to create:**
1. TypeScript hook
2. Shell wrapper
3. Python script
4. Register in settings.json
When done, provide a summary of files created and any issues.
Trigger Words
When user says these, consider using an agent:
- "implement", "build", "create feature"
- "follow the plan", "do phase X"
- "use implementation agents"