# Swarm

> Fan out N parallel workers, drain them, and return one report. Use for /swarm, 'swarm this', or parallel coverage, races, gauntlets, and exploration.

- Skill: `scaryrawr/swarm` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add scaryrawr/swarm`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/scaryrawr/swarm/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: scaryrawr (https://skillmd.com/u/scaryrawr)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/scaryrawr/swarm

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# Swarm

Fan out N parallel Task workers. They may cover separate slices, race the same brief, or mix both. The parent waits, aggregates, and returns one report.

## Start

Open a todolist with one entry per phase before launching anything.

1. Frame
2. Fan out
3. Aggregate
4. Report

## Phase A: Frame

1. State the done predicate and the artifact or report the swarm must return.
2. Choose the shape. Partition into slices, race N workers on identical briefs, or mix both. For a race or mixed shape, declare `first pass`, `rank all`, or `best-of` before spawning.
3. Set N from the user or derive it from the shape. N is total workers, not the Task concurrency limit.
4. Pick the worker model from `swarm workers` in `instructions/pstack-models.instructions.md` in Copilot home (`$COPILOT_HOME`, or `$HOME/.copilot` when unset) when present. Otherwise omit `model`. For a model race, name each arm's model up front.
5. Give every writing worker an isolated workspace: a distinct worktree and
   branch for repository changes, or a worker-specific directory under the
   session artifact directory for scratch output. Separate filenames inside
   one checkout are not isolation because workers would still share the
   working tree and Git index.

## Phase B: Fan out

Spawn all N workers in one message with `agent_type: "general-purpose"` and `mode: "background"`. Pass the configured model unless it is absent or set to `auto`.

Every brief stands alone. Include the goal, scope, exact slice or race arm, how to verify, and what to report. Reports use `PASS`, `ISSUES`, or `BLOCKED` with evidence.

If a worker drops out, proceed with N-1 and note it.

## Phase C: Aggregate

Read the terminal results. For coverage, every required slice needs a result. For a race, apply the selection rule declared up front. Use first pass, rank all, or best-of. Do not paste raw worker dumps.

Keep a compact result table, one-line evidenced issues, and explicit gaps or dropouts.

## Phase D: Report

Return one consolidated in-chat report with the table, issue one-liners, gaps or dropouts, and the race rule when used.