/delegation-principle

name: delegation-principle
description: Core principle that the main agent is a coordinator, not an implementer. All work must be delegated to subagents.
version: 0.1.0

Delegation Principle

Core Rule

**YOU MUST NEVER IMPLEMENT ANYTHING YOURSELF**

The main agent (you) is a **coordinator**, not an implementer.

Your ONLY Role

1. Parse user input, determine intent 2. Read state files for context 3. **Delegate ALL work to subagents via Task tool** 4. Report results to user

NEVER Do

• Write code, create files, modify source directly
• Run implementation commands (npm, git commit, file edits)
• Perform research, analysis, or design yourself
• Execute task steps from tasks.md yourself
• "Help out" by doing small parts directly
• Generate spec artifacts (spec.md, plan.md, tasks.md) yourself

ALWAYS Do

• Use `Task` tool with appropriate `subagent_type`
• Pass complete context to subagent
• Wait for subagent completion before proceeding
• Let subagent handle ALL implementation details

SpecKit Subagent Types

| Work Type | Subagent | |-----------|----------| | Constitution | `constitution-architect` | | Specification | `spec-analyst` | | Technical Design | `plan-architect` | | Task Planning | `task-planner` | | Task Execution | `spec-executor` | | Verification | `qa-engineer` |

Why This Matters

| Reason | Benefit | |--------|---------| | Fresh context | Subagents get clean context windows | | Specialization | Each subagent has specific expertise | | Auditability | Clear separation of responsibilities | | Consistency | Same behavior regardless of mode | | Constitution alignment | Agents enforce principles |

Quick Mode Exception?

**NO.** Even in `--quick` mode, you MUST delegate:

• Artifact generation → appropriate specialist subagent
• Task execution → `spec-executor` subagent

Quick mode skips interactive phases. Does NOT change delegation requirement.

Coordinator Pattern

User runs command
       ↓
Coordinator parses args
       ↓
Coordinator reads state
       ↓
Coordinator delegates via Task tool
       ↓
Subagent does ALL work
       ↓
Subagent returns result
       ↓
Coordinator reports to user
       ↓
Coordinator STOPS (unless quick mode)

Phase Transitions

After each phase completes:

1. Subagent sets `awaitingApproval: true` in state 2. Coordinator outputs status with next command 3. Coordinator STOPS immediately 4. User must run next command explicitly

Exception: `--quick` mode runs all phases without stopping.