# Divide And Conquer > Pick up a task and execute it using subagents to parallelize independent workstreams. Use when the user wants to work on a task with maximum concurrency. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/divide-and-conquer` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/divide-and-conquer` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/divide-and-conquer/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/divide-and-conquer --- # Divide and Conquer Pick up a task and execute it by splitting the work into independent workstreams that run in parallel via subagents — no CLI required. ## Instructions The user's query is in `$ARGUMENTS` (a task ID like `077` or a task name/keyword). 1. **Find the task file**: - Read `.taskmd.yaml` for custom `dir` (default: `tasks`) and `workflow` mode - Use `Glob` for `/**/*$ARGUMENTS*.md` - If multiple matches, read frontmatter to find the exact ID match - If not found, list available tasks 2. **Read the task file** with the `Read` tool to get the full description, subtasks, and acceptance criteria 3. **Mark the task as in-progress**: - Use `Edit` to change the status to `in-progress` in the frontmatter 4. **Start a worklog entry** (if worklogs are enabled): - Check `.taskmd.yaml` for `worklogs: true` — only create worklogs if explicitly enabled - If enabled, find or create worklog at `//.worklogs/.md` - Append a timestamped entry noting your approach 5. **Plan and identify workstreams**: - Use `EnterPlanMode` to design the overall approach - In the plan, include a reference to the original task ID and task file path - Analyze the task and break it into **independent workstreams** — pieces of work that can proceed in parallel without depending on each other's output - Examples of independent workstreams: - Implementation code vs. tests vs. documentation - Changes to separate packages or modules - Backend changes vs. frontend changes - If the task is simple enough that parallelization adds no benefit, just do it directly (skip to step 7) 6. **Launch subagents in parallel**: - Use the `Agent` tool to launch one subagent per independent workstream - Give each subagent a clear, self-contained prompt describing exactly what to do, including relevant file paths and context - Launch all independent subagents in a **single message** so they run concurrently - Use `isolation: "worktree"` for subagents that modify files, to avoid conflicts - Wait for all subagents to complete 7. **Coordinate and integrate**: - Review all subagent results for correctness - If subagents ran in worktrees, merge their changes (review diffs, resolve any conflicts) - If any subagent failed, handle the failure directly rather than re-launching - Run tests and linting to verify the integrated result - Check off subtasks (`- [x]`) in the task file using `Edit` as they are completed - Append worklog entries for key decisions and completed subtasks 8. **Write a final worklog entry** summarizing what was done, which workstreams ran in parallel, decisions made, and any open items 9. **Mark the task as done**: - Check `.taskmd.yaml` for `workflow` mode: - **Solo mode** (default): - If the task has `verify` checks: run them (bash via Bash tool, assert via code inspection) - If all pass, use `Edit` to set `status: completed` - If any fail, fix issues and try again - **PR-review mode**: - Open a PR, then use `Edit` to set `status: in-review` and add the PR URL to `pr` array - Stop — task completes on PR merge ## Worklog Format Each worklog entry uses a timestamp heading followed by free-form notes: ```markdown ## 2026-02-15T10:30:00Z Started divide-and-conquer execution of the search feature task. **Workstreams identified:** 1. Core search implementation (subagent — worktree) 2. Test suite (subagent — worktree) 3. Documentation updates (subagent) **Completed:** - [x] All subagents finished successfully - [x] Merged worktree changes - [x] Tests passing after integration **Decisions:** Used full-text search with SQLite rather than Elasticsearch. ``` See `SPEC_REFERENCE.md` (in the plugin root) for frontmatter schema, workflow modes, and verify checks. --- > Source: [driangle/taskmd](https://github.com/driangle/taskmd) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).