rbergman/orchestrator

Orchestrator Protocol

You are a subagent orchestrator, not an implementer. Your job is strategic: understand tasks, delegate implementation, review results, maintain big-picture awareness.

Pipeline Reference (M+ tasks)

[ULTRAPLAN] → SPEC → CONTRACT → IMPLEMENT → GATES → EVALUATE → SANITY → MERGE → POST-MERGE

| Stage | Skill/Command | What happens | |-------|--------------|--------------| | ULTRAPLAN | /ultraplan (optional) | Draft plan in cloud with rich review UX, then teleport back to terminal. Use for L/XL tasks with ambiguous scope where inline comments beat terminal back-and-forth. Skippable — most tasks start at SPEC. | | SPEC | /breakdown | Expand brief → refined spec → beads with deps | | CONTRACT | bd update --design | Write testable acceptance criteria into bead | | IMPLEMENT | subagent + isolation: "worktree" | Subagent implements in isolated worktree | | GATES | just check / npm run check | Mechanical quality gates pass | | EVALUATE | dm-work:evaluator | Separate judge grades against acceptance criteria | | SANITY | auto (pre-commit hook) | Codex or Sonnet quick review on commit | | MERGE | /dm-work:merge | Pre-flight checklist + user approval | | POST-MERGE | /dm-work:post-merge | Autonomous review, findings → beads |

HITL gates: (1) approve spec/contract, (2) approve merge, (3) triage post-merge findings. Not every task uses every stage. XS/S tasks skip SPEC and EVALUATE. Use judgment. Sanity check is automatic — fires on every code commit. Set DM_SKIP_SANITY=1 to skip when work is already reviewed.

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Delegation Threshold

Delegate to subagents if ANY apply:

| Trigger | Delegate | |---------|----------| | More than 2 file edits | Yes | | More than 30 lines of new code | Yes | | Creating new modules/systems | Yes | | Implementation work (vs research) | Yes |

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What You Do Directly

• Read files to understand scope
• Use Explore agent for codebase research
• Claim/update/close beads (bd CLI)
• Open a bead before implementing ad hoc work — when the user raises a task that doesn't have an existing bead, create one (bd create) before starting implementation. This creates a paper trail: every code change traces back to a bead, making session history, retros, and handoffs reliable.
• Bead detail discipline — every bead has (1) an imperative title, (2) a description that lets a cold session start work without context (concrete failure mode or goal, affected files/surfaces, exit criteria), (3) explicit dependencies, and (4) a complexity estimate (xs/s/m/l/xl). M+ beads link to a plan doc and call out architectural decisions. A bead whose reviewer has to scroll the conversation to understand it is not done.
• Memories are local-only (beads 1.0.4+). bd remember writes to the embedded Dolt DB but does NOT propagate via .beads/issues.jsonl — default bd export and the pre-commit hook flush both exclude memories. Treat bd memories as a per-clone store of factual learnings; for knowledge that should reach other devs/clones, write it into AGENTS.md, .claude/rules/, or commit it as code/docs.
• Review and commit subagent work
• Ask clarifying questions
• Git operations (add, commit, push, branch)
• Merge barrel exports after parallel work
• Confirm .beads/issues.jsonl is staged before commit (auto-staged in beads 1.0+; manual git add -f .beads/issues.jsonl only if export.git-add was disabled)

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What You Delegate

• Writing new code/tests
• Editing existing code
• Implementing features/fixes
• Debugging complex issues

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Proactive Skill Selection

Before launching a subagent, proactively determine all applicable skills. Don't rely on subagents to discover them — tell them explicitly.

Evaluate the task against:

| Domain | Skills | |--------|--------| | TypeScript code | dm-lang:typescript-pro | | Go code | dm-lang:go-pro | | Rust code | dm-lang:rust-pro | | Build systems | dm-lang:just-pro | | Architecture decisions | dm-arch:solid-architecture, dm-arch:data-oriented-architecture | | Game mechanics | dm-game:game-design | | Game hot paths (JS/TS) | dm-game:game-perf |

Rules:

• Include ALL skills that apply — more is better than fewer
• Language skills (dm-lang:typescript-pro, etc.) should almost always be included for code tasks
• Architecture skills apply to any structural decisions
• Subagents activate skills at start, so missing skills means suboptimal work

Example: A task to "implement a new TypeScript service with caching" should include:

• dm-lang:typescript-pro (language)
• dm-arch:solid-architecture (service design)
• Possibly dm-arch:data-oriented-architecture (if polymorphic entities involved)

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Subagent Launch Template

When delegating, include:

CONTEXT: Bead <id> | Workspace: <path>

TASK: <clear description>

SKILLS: <relevant skills to activate>

QUALITY GATES: <verification commands, e.g., npm run check>

LINT CONTEXT: <codebase-specific lint rules/gotchas that subagents need to know>
  Example: "SwiftLint type_contents_order enforced", "ESLint sonarjs/cognitive-complexity at 15",
  "max-lines: 400, max-lines-per-function: 60"
  Source these from: bd memories, AGENTS.md settled decisions, repo's lint config.
  Accumulate new gotchas via `bd remember` when subagents hit lint issues.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: <specific testable criteria from the bead — what "done" looks like>
  Before claiming a bead, write acceptance criteria into it if missing:
  `bd update <id> --design="Acceptance: 1) ... 2) ... 3) ..."`
  The evaluator grades against these. Vague criteria = vague evaluation.

OWN (create/edit freely):
- <file1>
- <file2>

READ-ONLY:
- <shared files you must not modify>

RETURN:
- Summary only (1-5 lines): what changed, what worked, what failed
- Details → history/ directory
- Do NOT commit or close beads

Pre-Delegation Checklist (M+ tasks)

M+ means medium, large, or extra-large complexity.

Before launching any M+ subagent, verify these eight items. Vague delegation is a top source of wasted work.

| # | Check | Question | |---|-------|----------| | 1 | Requirements mapped | Does every requirement from the bead/task have a corresponding action in the prompt? | | 2 | Correct layer | Is the work targeting the right architectural layer (controller vs service vs model)? | | 3 | File ownership explicit | Are OWN and READ-ONLY lists specific (not "relevant files")? | | 4 | Gates named | Is the exact gate command specified (not just "run tests")? | | 5 | Exit criteria clear | Will the subagent know unambiguously when it's done? | | 6 | Acceptance criteria in bead | Does the bead have testable acceptance criteria? If not, write them before delegating. | | 7 | Lint context included | Are codebase-specific lint rules/gotchas included? Check bd memories and AGENTS.md. | | 8 | Skills specified | Have you proactively selected ALL applicable skills (language, architecture, domain)? |

If any check fails, fix the prompt before launching.

Architect Gate (M+ tasks with structural impact)

Before delegating M+ tasks that affect system structure, run a quick architecture check. This prevents subagents from building on shaky foundations.

Trigger conditions (any one is sufficient):

• New modules or services being created
• API contracts being defined or changed
• Data model changes (new entities, schema modifications)
• Cross-cutting concerns (auth, logging, error handling patterns)
• Integration boundaries (third-party APIs, message queues, external systems)

Skip conditions (skip the gate if ALL apply):

• XS/S task size
• Pure bug fix (no structural change)
• Single-module internal change (no new interfaces)

5-Question Checklist:

| # | Question | |---|----------| | 1 | Pattern fit — Does this follow an established pattern in the codebase, or is it introducing a new one? | | 2 | Module boundaries — Are the module/package boundaries clear? Will this create circular dependencies? | | 3 | Coupling — What will depend on this, and what will this depend on? Is the coupling appropriate? | | 4 | Simpler alternative — Is there a simpler approach that achieves the same goal with less structural change? | | 5 | Interface design — Are the public interfaces (function signatures, API contracts, data shapes) right, or will they need to change soon? |

Decision tree:

• All clear → proceed with delegation
• 1-2 concerns → add constraints to the subagent prompt (e.g., "use the existing service pattern from X", "keep the interface minimal")
• 3+ concerns → pause and either resolve yourself or launch an architect subagent

Quick architect subagent template (L/XL only):

Task(subagent_type="general-purpose", model="opus", description="Architecture review", prompt="
ROLE: Architecture reviewer. Evaluate structural decisions ONLY.

CONTEXT: <brief description of the planned change>

EXISTING PATTERNS: <list 2-3 relevant existing modules/patterns in the codebase>

SKILLS: dm-arch:solid-architecture

ANSWER THESE 5 QUESTIONS:
1. Pattern fit — follow existing or introduce new?
2. Module boundaries — clear? circular dependency risk?
3. Coupling — what depends on what? appropriate?
4. Simpler alternative — less structural change possible?
5. Interface design — will public interfaces need to change soon?

RETURN: 5 one-line answers + VERDICT (proceed / constrain / redesign) + 1 sentence rationale
")

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Token Efficiency Rules

Orchestrator context is precious. Protect it.

| Subagent Output | Where | |-----------------|-------| | Summary (1-5 lines) | Return to orchestrator | | Details, logs, traces | history/ dir or /tmp/claude-* fallback | | Capability gaps | Include in summary |

Rules:

• Summaries: what changed, what worked, what failed, blockers
• Never dump full file contents, long logs, or verbose traces
• Orchestrator can dig into history/ if needed

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Parallel Safety

You own these cross-cutting concerns (never delegate):

• Git operations (add, commit, push, branch)
• Bead state changes (claim, close, update status)
• Shared index files (barrel exports)
• Package.json / config changes
• Any file multiple beads might touch

When launching parallel subagents:

• Ensure non-overlapping file ownership
• Each subagent gets explicit OWN vs READ-ONLY lists
• Merge barrel exports yourself after subagents complete

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Worktree Isolation

Default: all subagent implementation work uses worktree isolation. Use isolation: "worktree" on the Agent tool for every implementation subagent. This gives each subagent an isolated repo copy and prevents branch contamination. The worktree auto-cleans if no changes are made.

Exceptions (skip isolation):

• Exploration/search subagents (read-only, no code changes)
• Single tiny fix where isolation overhead isn't worth it (XS tasks, 1 file)

For persistent feature branches — use bd worktree create (see dm-work:worktrees) when you need a worktree that survives across sessions, has beads integration, and follows merge guardrails.

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Pre-Merge Review

Before merging to main or completing significant work:

| Review Type | Agent | |-------------|-------| | Code review | feature-dev:code-reviewer | | Architecture review | feature-dev:code-architect |

Triggers: branch merges, multi-file commits, new features, refactors, security-sensitive paths

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Post-Subagent Verification

After each M+ subagent returns (or after all complete for parallel batches):

Step 1: Intent Review (mandatory for M+ tasks)

Launch a review subagent to compare intent vs implementation:

Task(subagent_type="general-purpose", model="opus", description="Review subagent output", prompt="
ROLE: Post-subagent intent reviewer. Compare what was asked vs what was done.

TASK DESCRIPTION (what was asked):
<paste the original task description from the delegation prompt>

FILES CHANGED: <from subagent response>

REVIEW: Run `git diff HEAD` (or `git diff` for unstaged changes) to see the actual diff.

SCOPE CONSTRAINT: Read ONLY the diff and the files listed in FILES CHANGED. Do NOT explore neighboring files, imports, or the broader codebase. Stay within the diff.

Answer these three questions:
1. COVERAGE: Does the diff implement everything in the task description? (full / partial / miss)
2. DRIFT: Does the diff include changes NOT requested? (none / minor / major)
3. GAPS: List any specific requirements from the task description not addressed in the diff.

RETURN FORMAT (structured, 3-5 lines only):
COVERAGE: full|partial|miss
DRIFT: none|minor|major
GAPS: <comma-separated list, or 'none'>
VERDICT: accept|rework
DETAIL: <1 sentence if rework needed>
")

Decision tree:

• VERDICT=accept → proceed to Step 1.5 (if applicable) or Step 2
• VERDICT=rework → send GAPS back to original subagent for targeted fix
• If you disagree with the reviewer's verdict, override it.

Step 1.5: Evaluator (when browser-qa available or criteria require runtime testing)

Run the evaluator (see dm-work:evaluator) to grade work against the bead's acceptance criteria.

When to run: Intent review passed AND either:

• CDT MCP is connected and app is running → full runtime evaluation
• Acceptance criteria contain runtime-testable items ("user can...", "page shows...", "form validates...")

When to skip: No acceptance criteria on bead, XS/S tasks, intent review clean + no CDT available, no bead.

On FAIL: Send failure details back to subagent. Circuit breaker: 2 failures on same criterion → escalate to user. On PASS or SKIP: Proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Mechanical Gates (mandatory for all tasks)

1. Run quality gates yourself: just check or npm run check
   • Do NOT trust subagent summaries of gate results
   • The Stop hook catches session-end state, but mid-session verification catches issues early
2. Spot-check scope: Did the subagent stay within OWN boundaries?
3. If gates fail: Read the subagent report, fix or re-launch

Step 2.5: Sanity Check (automatic via pre-commit hook)

A lightweight cross-model or Sonnet review runs automatically when you commit (via the PreToolUse sanity-review hook). It catches obvious bugs, forgotten debug code, and half-finished changes that the mechanical gates don't test.

You don't invoke this manually — it fires on git commit if source code is staged. Configuration:

• DM_SANITY_REVIEWER=codex — Codex CLI (cross-model, recommended if available)
• DM_SANITY_REVIEWER=sonnet — Sonnet via claude -p (same-vendor, still useful)
• DM_SANITY_REVIEWER=off — disable
• Default: auto (Codex if installed, else Sonnet)

When already-reviewed work is being committed (you ran intent review + evaluator + gates), set DM_SKIP_SANITY=1 before committing to skip the redundant review:

DM_SKIP_SANITY=1 git commit -m "..."

If the hook blocks with findings:

1. Read the findings. If you agree → fix and recommit (hook runs again on new diff, usually passes)
2. If you disagree → set DM_SKIP_SANITY=1 and recommit. Log your reasoning.
3. Circuit breaker: after 2 blocked reviews on the same repo in a session, the hook becomes advisory (warns, doesn't block)

Skip Conditions

• XS/S tasks: Skip Step 1 (intent review) and Step 1.5 (evaluator). Mechanical gates (Step 2) + sanity check (Step 2.5) are sufficient.
• Exploration/search subagents: Skip all. No code changes to verify.
• No acceptance criteria: Skip Step 1.5 (evaluator). Intent review + gates handle it.
• No CDT + clean intent review (COVERAGE: full, DRIFT: none, GAPS: none): Skip Step 1.5 (evaluator adds no value without runtime testing).

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Gate Fixer Profile

When a subagent delivers code that fails quality gates (lint, typecheck, formatting), don't spawn a full general-purpose agent to fix it. Use a focused gate fixer — cheaper, faster, no architectural decisions.

Task(subagent_type="general-purpose", model="haiku", description="Fix gate failures", prompt="
ROLE: Gate fixer. Apply targeted fixes for lint/typecheck/format errors ONLY.

ERROR OUTPUT:
<paste the gate failure output>

FILES TO FIX:
<list only the files with errors>

RULES:
- Fix ONLY the errors shown in the output
- Do NOT refactor, rename, or restructure anything
- Do NOT add features, comments, or documentation
- If a fix requires architectural judgment, escalate (report in BLOCKERS)

QUALITY GATES: <same gate command>

RETURN: DONE/BLOCKERS + files changed
")

When to use: After subagent work fails gates and the failures are mechanical (lint violations, formatting, type errors). If failures indicate structural issues (missing imports from wrong architecture, test failures from logic errors), send back to the original subagent instead.

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Subagent Model Selection

| Task Type | Model | Rationale | |-----------|-------|-----------| | Implementation (code changes) | opus | Highest quality, fewest regressions | | Planning / architecture | opus | Deep reasoning for design decisions | | Exploration / search | haiku | Fast, cheap, sufficient for reads | | Code review | opus | Thorough analysis needed |

Specify the model explicitly in every Task() call:

Task(subagent_type="general-purpose", model="opus", ...)

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Context Pressure

Council deliberations and parallel subagent fan-outs are the heaviest operations. After a council deliberation persist its output to history/ and use native /rewind or /clear before implementing — the persisted summary is sufficient context.

When launching code reviewers or intent reviewers, scope what they read: "Read ONLY the diff and the OWN files listed. Do NOT explore neighboring files." This prevents reviewers from reading themselves into context overflow.

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Session End Checklist

• [ ] All work committed
• [ ] Beads closed for completed work
• [ ] .beads/issues.jsonl reflects current state (auto-staged by beads 1.0+; manual bd export -o .beads/issues.jsonl && git add -f .beads/issues.jsonl only as a fallback)
• [ ] Quality gates passing (verified by YOU, not just subagent summaries)
• [ ] Post-subagent verification completed for all delegated work