# When Main Claude Should Use {AgentName}

> The ## Input section should clearly specify what the agent expects to receive.

- Skill: `tools-only/when-main-claude-should-use-agentname-5` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tools-only/when-main-claude-should-use-agentname-5`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tools-only/when-main-claude-should-use-agentname-5/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tools-only (https://skillmd.com/u/tools-only)
- Updated: 2026-09-29
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tools-only/when-main-claude-should-use-agentname-5

---

# Agents

Specialized subagent definitions for Task tool delegation.

## Structure

Each agent is a markdown file with YAML frontmatter:

```markdown
---
model: inherit
permissionMode: default           # Optional: default, plan, acceptEdits, dontAsk, bypassPermissions
maxTokens: 4000                   # Optional: limit output length
description: "Role phrase. Capability summary."
tools:
  - ToolName
  - Bash(command:pattern)
hooks:                            # Optional: inject prompts at execution points
  Stop:
    - matcher: "*"
      hooks:
        - type: prompt
          prompt: "Final validation prompt"
---

# AgentName

{Tagline}

## Purpose
## When Main Claude Should Use {AgentName}
## Decision Table
## Input
## Output Format
## Rules
## What {AgentName} Does NOT Do
```

## Input Format Section

The `## Input` section should clearly specify what the agent expects to receive.

**Template:**
```markdown
## Input

You'll receive a specific {task type}. Examples:
- "{Example input 1}"
- "{Example input 2}"
- "{Example input 3}"

**Required context:**
- {What must be provided}
- {Paths, specs, constraints}

**Optional context:**
- {Nice-to-have information}
```

**Good input specifications:**
- Concrete examples showing expected format
- Clear distinction between required and optional context
- Explicit about what makes a task well-formed vs poorly-formed

**Example (from worker.md):**
```markdown
## Input

You'll receive a specific implementation task. Examples:
- "Create the UserAuth class in src/auth/UserAuth.ts with login, logout, and validateSession methods"
- "Fix the race condition in src/api/cache.ts by adding mutex locks"
- "Add input validation to all POST endpoints in src/routes/users.ts"
```

## Required Fields

| Field | Value | Notes |
|-------|-------|-------|
| `model` | `inherit` | Uses session's model |
| `description` | string | 1-2 sentences, quoted |
| `tools` | list | Permissions array |

## Model Inheritance (CRITICAL)

**NEVER pass `model: "haiku"` or `model: "sonnet"` when spawning agents.**

The Task tool's default description suggests "prefer haiku for quick tasks" - IGNORE THIS.
This plugin overrides that guidance. All oh-my-claude agents are defined with `model: inherit`
in their frontmatter, and the parent session should NEVER override this with a downgrade.

**Why this matters:**
- The user pays for their model tier (opus, sonnet, etc.) and expects that intelligence level
- Downgrading to haiku "to save tokens" defeats the purpose of using a premium tier
- Agent quality directly impacts task success - use maximum available intelligence

**When spawning agents:**
```yaml
# CORRECT - inherits parent model
Task(subagent_type="oh-my-claude:critic", prompt="...")

# CORRECT - explicit inherit
Task(subagent_type="oh-my-claude:librarian", model="inherit", prompt="...")

# WRONG - NEVER DO THIS
Task(subagent_type="oh-my-claude:critic", model="haiku", prompt="...")
Task(subagent_type="oh-my-claude:validator", model="sonnet", prompt="...")
```

## Permission Modes

Control how the agent handles permission prompts via the `permissionMode` frontmatter field.

| Mode | Behavior | Use Case |
|------|----------|----------|
| `default` | Standard permission checking | General-purpose agents, balanced safety |
| `plan` | Read-only exploration mode | Read-only agents - information gathering only |
| `acceptEdits` | Auto-accept file edits | Worker - trusted implementation agent |
| `dontAsk` | Auto-deny permission prompts | Strict read-only agents, reviewers |
| `bypassPermissions` | Skip all permission checks | Dangerous - use only for fully trusted automation |

**Guidelines:**
- Read-only agents (librarian): use `plan` or `dontAsk`
- Review agents (advisor, critic): use `plan` to prevent accidental changes
- Validation agents (validator): use `plan` for safety, full Bash for test execution
- Never use `bypassPermissions` unless explicitly required by workflow

```yaml
---
model: inherit
permissionMode: plan
description: "Read-only reconnaissance agent."
tools:
  - Read
  - Glob
  - Grep
---
```

## Hooks Patterns

Agents can define hooks to inject prompts or validation at specific execution points.

### Hook Types

| Hook | Trigger | Purpose |
|------|---------|---------|
| `PreToolUse` | Before tool execution | Validate inputs, inject guidance |
| `PostToolUse` | After tool execution | Process results, extract data |
| `Stop` | Agent completion | Enforce output format, final validation |

### PreToolUse Example

Inject verification before file modifications:

```yaml
hooks:
  PreToolUse:
    - matcher: "Edit|Write"
      hooks:
        - type: prompt
          prompt: "Verify this change aligns with the task scope before proceeding."
```

### PostToolUse Example

Process tool output for specific patterns:

```yaml
hooks:
  PostToolUse:
    - matcher: "Bash"
      hooks:
        - type: prompt
          prompt: "Check for errors in command output. If errors found, document them."
```

### Stop Example

Enforce structured output format:

```yaml
hooks:
  Stop:
    - matcher: "*"
      hooks:
        - type: prompt
          prompt: |
            Before completing, ensure your response includes:
            1. A VERDICT line (PASS/FAIL/NEEDS_REVIEW)
            2. Summary of findings
            3. Specific file paths for any issues found
```

### Matcher Patterns

| Pattern | Matches |
|---------|---------|
| `*` | All tools |
| `Edit` | Edit tool only |
| `Edit\|Write` | Edit OR Write tools |
| `Bash` | Bash tool |

## Output Constraints

Control token limits via `maxTokens` in frontmatter for agents with specific output requirements.

| Agent Type | Recommended Limit | Rationale |
|------------|-------------------|-----------|
| Explore | 2000-4000 | Returns locations, not content |
| Librarian | 4000-8000 | Summaries should be concise |
| Critic | 4000-6000 | Focused feedback, not rewrites |
| Worker | No limit | Implementation varies widely |
| Validator | 4000-6000 | Results + brief explanation |
| Advisor | 4000-6000 | Guidance should be concise |

**When to use output constraints:**
- Agents that tend to over-explain or dump content
- Read-only agents returning locations instead of content
- Review agents that should give feedback, not implementations

```yaml
---
model: inherit
maxTokens: 4000
description: "Concise reconnaissance agent."
tools:
  - Glob
  - Grep
---
```

## Tool Permissions

**Unrestricted:**
```yaml
- Read
- Glob
- Grep
```

**Restricted Bash:**
```yaml
- Bash(git log:*)    # Only git log
- Bash(find:*)       # Only find
- Bash(wc:*)         # Only wc
```

**Full access:**
```yaml
- Bash              # Unrestricted shell
```

## Description Pattern

Format: `"{Adjective} {role} agent. {Action verbs} {capabilities}. {Limitations}."`

Examples:
- "Quick reconnaissance agent. Finds files, locates definitions. Returns locations, not content."
- "Focused implementation agent. Executes ONE specific task completely."

## Agent Tiers

| Tier | Agents | Bash Access |
|------|--------|-------------|
| Read-only | librarian | Restricted |
| Review | critic, advisor | Restricted |
| Execution | validator, worker | Full |

**Note:** Use Claude Code's built-in agents for common tasks:
- **Explore** - File/definition discovery
- **Plan** - Complex task decomposition
- **general-purpose** - Implementation tasks

## Adding New Agent

1. Create `agents/{name}.md`
2. Add YAML frontmatter (model, description, tools)
3. Document purpose, use cases, output format
4. Define explicit scope boundaries

## Task System Integration (Optional)

Agents can participate in Task-based orchestration workflows. This is optional - agents work fine standalone.

### When to Add Task Integration

Add Task integration to agents that:
- Run long-running discovery or implementation work
- Can be parallelized (multiple instances of same agent type)
- Benefit from self-discovery via owner field

Skip Task integration for advisory agents (advisor, critic) that are called on-demand.

### Standard Pattern

Add this section to agent system prompts that should support Task workflows:

```markdown
## Task System Integration (Optional)

If assigned via owner field in a task workflow:
1. Call TaskList to find tasks where owner matches your role
2. TaskUpdate(status='in_progress') when starting
3. Perform your work
4. TaskUpdate(status='completed') when done
5. Check TaskList for newly unblocked tasks
```

### Category-Specific Templates

**Read agents (librarian):**
- Report findings (summaries, extracted content, observations)
- May spawn follow-up tasks based on discoveries

**Review agents (advisor, critic):**
- Provide analysis and feedback
- Do not make changes directly

**Validation agents (validator):**
- Run checks/tests as described
- Report pass/fail with specific results

### Edge Case Handling

Instruct agents to handle:
- No tasks found: Report "No tasks assigned to {role}" and exit
- Task already in_progress: Skip (another agent may have claimed it)
- Task blocked: Skip and check for unblocked tasks

Claude Code has built-in Task API documentation. Focus on small, validateable tasks.

## Anti-Patterns

- Don't give read-only agents write tools
- Don't omit "What Agent Does NOT Do" section
- Don't use vague descriptions
- Don't grant Bash without scoping when possible