# Delegate > Run parallel or isolated subagents for independent subtasks (research, parallel analysis, one-shot transforms) to avoid bloating the main context. - Skill: `av/delegate` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add av/delegate` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/av/delegate/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Research & Search - Author: av (https://skillmd.com/u/av) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/av/delegate --- Use when the work is self-contained and iteration isn't needed: codebase exploration, bulk research across many files, independent subtasks that can run in parallel, one-shot refactors with a clear spec. Do not use for iterative work needing back-and-forth, or for tasks already mid-flight in the main context. The subprocess inherits `OPENAI_API_KEY`, `MODEL`, `OPENAI_BASE_URL` and has no prior history. The prompt must be fully self-contained: - Absolute paths to every relevant file or directory - The goal stated in one line - Constraints (what not to touch, style, scope limits) - Expected output format (e.g. "print a bulleted list of file:line references", "write results to /tmp/mi-.out and print its path") **Spawning subagents:** use `node "$MI_PATH"` — the harness sets `MI_PATH` automatically: ``` node "$MI_PATH" -p '' ``` Sequential (one task, wait for result): ``` node "$MI_PATH" -p 'Read /abs/path/foo.py and list every function that touches the database. Print one per line as file:line name.' ``` stdout becomes the tool result. Use `timeout=` on the bash call if the task could hang. Parallel (multiple independent tasks): ``` node "$MI_PATH" -p '' # with bg=truthy -> pid:A log:/tmp/mi-A.log node "$MI_PATH" -p '' # with bg=truthy -> pid:B log:/tmp/mi-B.log ``` Collect each `pid` and `log`. Background children are detached (the harness calls `unref`) so `wait` will not find them — poll with `kill -0 2>/dev/null` instead (exit 0 = still running, exit 1 = finished). Reading long logs: subagent logs grow large. Do NOT `cat` the full log blindly — instead: - `tail -n 50 /tmp/mi-A.log` to see the final output and whether the agent concluded - `grep -n "RESULT\|ERROR\|DONE\|Traceback" /tmp/mi-A.log` to surface key lines quickly - `wc -l /tmp/mi-A.log` to know total size before committing to a full read - If the agent wrote a compact result file (e.g. `/tmp/mi-A.out`), read that instead — it's why you ask for one Always prefer telling each subprocess to write a compact result file under `/tmp/mi-*` so you don't have to parse transcript noise. Keep prompts short and specific. A vague delegation wastes a whole subprocess.