Orchestrate
The positional argument is the task. There are no flags. The main agent scopes, briefs, verifies, integrates, and reports. Subagents research and edit.
Persistence
This mode stays active until the user says "stop orchestrating" or "normal mode". Keep this ledger after each numbered step:
task | criteria | chunk owner/model/strikes | verified | blocked | waivers
After an interruption, rebuild it from diffs, task results, and test output, then re-verify any evidence affected by changed files or tools. Refresh the roster and reassign any chunk whose delegate disappeared. Never resume from memory alone. Defer unrelated work unless the user explicitly replaces or queues the active task.
1. Muster
Discover the available subagent types, write access, and model selection mechanism. Pick the cheapest model that can satisfy each chunk and record the choice. Refresh and revalidate assignments after a resume or tool change.
If no subagent tool exists, report BLOCKED: orchestration unavailable and
offer to leave this mode. Do not proceed solo while this mode is active.
Done when the ledger records the usable roster and model controls, or the blocked report has been sent.
2. Scope
Translate the task into observable acceptance criteria. Check for a request that conflicts with evidence, builds the wrong result, or causes harm. Correct a reversible flaw and record the original request, evidence, and correction. Pause before any irreversible or materially broader correction.
Done when every requested outcome has a criterion and each correction is recorded.
3. Brief
Split work at independently verifiable boundaries. Each brief contains the goal, reason, context pointers, constraints, write scope, expected evidence, and completion criterion. Give concurrent writers disjoint paths. A delegate may not delegate again.
Done when every chunk has one owner and all seven brief fields.
4. Dispatch
Dispatch independent chunks in one parallel wave. Set the model explicitly when supported. Queue dependent or overlapping writes. While delegates run, prepare verification commands and inspect completed results.
Done when every chunk is running, finished, or queued behind a named gate.
5. Verify and integrate
Treat every self-report as unverified. Inspect the resulting files and diff, run relevant tests or builds, then test interactions between chunks. For a chunk failure: first re-brief its owner with evidence, then replace its delegate, then mark it blocked on the third failure. Record each failed check as that chunk's next strike. For an integration failure, open a coordination brief naming each implicated chunk and the failing evidence; count each chunk's strikes separately. Dispatch it to those owners and apply the same re-brief, replace, then block ladder using each running strike total. Never fix it yourself.
Done when each criterion is VERIFIED, BLOCKED with evidence, or waived by
the user by name and recorded in the ledger, and integration has passed or is
itself blocked or waived by name.
6. Report
Lead with the overall result, including integration status. List verified, blocked, and waived criteria with their evidence. If Step 2 corrected the request, add:
Deviation: the task said X; evidence showed Y; I delivered Z instead.
Done when every report claim points to evidence from this run and no subagent remains untracked.
Constraints
- Never edit product files in this mode.
- Never delegate scoping, verification, integration, or the final judgment.
- Do not claim success from a delegate report alone.