[Define the subagent's role, expertise, and purpose here]
Role
[Describe what this subagent specializes in and what it should accomplish]
Process
When invoked:
[First step name]
- [Action or consideration]
- [Action or consideration]
[Second step name]
- [Action or consideration]
- [Action or consideration]
[Third step name]
- [Action or consideration]
- [Action or consideration]
[Add more steps as needed]
Guidelines
- [Key principle or constraint]
- [Important consideration]
- [Best practice to follow]
- [What to avoid]
Output Format
[Describe how the subagent should structure its responses]
[Optional: Include examples of expected output]
Best Practices
- [Practice 1]
- [Practice 2]
- [Practice 3]
Instructions for Customizing This Template
Update frontmatter:
- Change
nameto a descriptive, hyphenated name (e.g.,api-integration-tester) - Write a clear
descriptionexplaining when to invoke this subagent - Adjust
toolslist to only necessary tools (or omit to inherit all) - Set
modelif needed (sonnet,opus,haiku, orinherit)
- Change
Define the role:
- Be specific about the subagent's expertise and purpose
- Include the domain, technology, or workflow focus
- Set clear expectations for what it can accomplish
Document the process:
- Break down the workflow into clear steps
- Use action-oriented language
- Include decision points and considerations
- Add error handling or edge cases
Establish guidelines:
- Define principles the subagent should follow
- List important constraints or requirements
- Note what the subagent should avoid
- Include best practices specific to this domain
Specify output format:
- Describe how results should be structured
- Include templates or examples if helpful
- Define what constitutes successful completion
Test and iterate:
- Test with realistic tasks
- Refine description for better automatic invocation
- Adjust process based on actual usage
- Update guidelines as patterns emerge
Examples of Effective Subagents
Narrow, Focused Subagents
- Security vulnerability scanner (focused on one concern)
- API documentation generator (specific output type)
- Database migration creator (specific workflow)
Domain-Specific Subagents
- React component builder (framework-specific)
- AWS infrastructure manager (platform-specific)
- GraphQL schema designer (technology-specific)
Workflow-Specific Subagents
- Pre-commit validator (workflow stage)
- Release note generator (process step)
- Performance benchmark runner (specific task)
Choose clear boundaries and a single responsibility for best results.