# Implement Sub Agents > Create and validate Claude sub-agent definitions with correct frontmatter, tool permissions, and delegation boundaries. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/implement-sub-agents` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/implement-sub-agents` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/implement-sub-agents/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: AI & ML - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/implement-sub-agents --- # Implement Sub-Agents Create or update agent files under `agents/` with explicit role boundaries, model/tool settings, and delegation patterns. ## Workflow 1. **Assess complexity**: Verify that sub-agent is needed (score 7-8). If simpler approach works, use skill instead. 2. **Define role**: Clear purpose, responsibilities, and explicit boundaries 3. **Set decision authority**: What agent can/cannot do autonomously 4. **Configure tools**: Least privilege access to required tools only 5. **Author/update**: Agent markdown with valid frontmatter 6. **Context strategy**: Define how agent manages context (retrieval, summarization, state) 7. **Plan evaluations**: Identify 20-50 test scenarios covering success and failure modes 8. **Validate**: Check frontmatter and agent file structure 9. **Connect selectively**: Link related skills/hooks only when required ## Progressive Disclosure ### Best Practices (Anthropic Guidelines) - **Complexity decision framework**: `../implement-claude-extensions/references/decision-framework.md` - **Context management patterns**: `../implement-claude-extensions/references/context-management.md` - **Evaluation strategy**: `../implement-claude-extensions/references/evaluation-strategy.md` ### Sub-Agent Design - Agent frontmatter rules: `references/subagent-frontmatter.md` - Tool access strategy: `references/subagent-tools.md` - Model selection guidance: `references/subagent-models.md` - Permission boundaries: `references/subagent-permissions.md` - Delegation patterns: `references/subagent-delegation.md` ### Validation Tools - Agent file validator: `scripts/validate-subagent.sh` - Frontmatter checker: `scripts/check-subagent-frontmatter.sh` ### Templates (by Complexity) - **Level 3 - Autonomous Agent** (Score 7-8): `assets/templates/subagent-autonomous.md` - Base sub-agent template: `assets/templates/subagent-template.md` - Read-only sub-agent example: `assets/templates/subagent-readonly.md` - Sub-agent with skills example: `assets/templates/subagent-with-skills.md` - Sub-agent with hooks example: `assets/templates/subagent-with-hooks.md` ## Related Skills - Umbrella routing and architecture: `../implement-claude-extensions/SKILL.md` - Agent team coordination: `../implement-agent-teams/SKILL.md` ## Sources - https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents - https://code.claude.com/docs/en/plugins --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/yu-iskw) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.