Delegated Execution
Execute a plan by dispatching a fresh subagent per task, with two-stage review after each: specification compliance first, then code quality.
Core principle: Fresh subagent per task + two-stage review (spec then quality) = high quality, fast iteration
When to Use
digraph applicability {
"Implementation plan exists?" [shape=diamond];
"Tasks mostly independent?" [shape=diamond];
"Stay in current session?" [shape=diamond];
"delegated-execution" [shape=box];
"task-runner" [shape=box];
"Manual execution or go back to intent-discovery" [shape=box];
"Implementation plan exists?" -> "Tasks mostly independent?" [label="yes"];
"Implementation plan exists?" -> "Manual execution or go back to intent-discovery" [label="no"];
"Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Stay in current session?" [label="yes"];
"Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Manual execution or go back to intent-discovery" [label="no - tightly coupled"];
"Stay in current session?" -> "delegated-execution" [label="yes"];
"Stay in current session?" -> "task-runner" [label="no - separate session"];
}vs. Task Runner (separate session):
- Same session (no context switch)
- Fresh subagent per task (no context contamination)
- Two-stage review after each task: spec compliance first, then code quality
- Faster iteration (no human-in-loop between tasks)
The Process
digraph workflow {
rankdir=TB;
subgraph cluster_per_task {
label="Per Task";
"Dispatch builder subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
"Builder subagent has questions?" [shape=diamond];
"Answer questions, supply context" [shape=box];
"Builder subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [shape=box];
"Dispatch spec auditor subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
"Spec auditor confirms code matches spec?" [shape=diamond];
"Builder subagent fixes spec gaps" [shape=box];
"Dispatch quality auditor subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
"Quality auditor approves?" [shape=diamond];
"Builder subagent fixes quality issues" [shape=box];
"Mark task complete in plan checklist" [shape=box];
}
"Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, build task checklist" [shape=box];
"More tasks remaining?" [shape=diamond];
"Dispatch final quality auditor for entire implementation" [shape=box];
"Use godmode:merge-protocol" [shape=box style=filled fillcolor=lightgreen];
"Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, build task checklist" -> "Dispatch builder subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";
"Dispatch builder subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" -> "Builder subagent has questions?";
"Builder subagent has questions?" -> "Answer questions, supply context" [label="yes"];
"Answer questions, supply context" -> "Dispatch builder subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";
"Builder subagent has questions?" -> "Builder subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [label="no"];
"Builder subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" -> "Dispatch spec auditor subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)";
"Dispatch spec auditor subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Spec auditor confirms code matches spec?";
"Spec auditor confirms code matches spec?" -> "Builder subagent fixes spec gaps" [label="no"];
"Builder subagent fixes spec gaps" -> "Dispatch spec auditor subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-audit"];
"Spec auditor confirms code matches spec?" -> "Dispatch quality auditor subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];
"Dispatch quality auditor subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Quality auditor approves?";
"Quality auditor approves?" -> "Builder subagent fixes quality issues" [label="no"];
"Builder subagent fixes quality issues" -> "Dispatch quality auditor subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-audit"];
"Quality auditor approves?" -> "Mark task complete in plan checklist" [label="yes"];
"Mark task complete in plan checklist" -> "More tasks remaining?";
"More tasks remaining?" -> "Dispatch builder subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];
"More tasks remaining?" -> "Dispatch final quality auditor for entire implementation" [label="no"];
"Dispatch final quality auditor for entire implementation" -> "Use godmode:merge-protocol";
}Prompt Templates
./implementer-prompt.md- Dispatch builder subagent./spec-reviewer-prompt.md- Dispatch spec compliance auditor subagent./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md- Dispatch code quality auditor subagent
Example Workflow
You: I'm using Delegated Execution to implement this plan.
[Read plan file once: docs/plans/feature-plan.md]
[Extract all 5 tasks with full text and context]
[Build task checklist from all tasks]
Task 1: Hook installation script
[Get Task 1 text and context (already extracted)]
[Dispatch builder subagent with full task text + context]
Builder: "Before I start - should the hook install at user level or system level?"
You: "User level (~/.config/godmode/hooks/)"
Builder: "Understood. Implementing now..."
[Later] Builder:
- Implemented install-hook command
- Added tests, 5/5 passing
- Self-review: Noticed I missed --force flag, added it
- Committed
[Dispatch spec compliance auditor]
Spec auditor: PASS - All requirements met, nothing extraneous
[Get git SHAs, dispatch quality auditor]
Quality auditor: Strengths: Good test coverage, clean code. Issues: None. Approved.
[Mark Task 1 complete]
Task 2: Recovery modes
[Get Task 2 text and context (already extracted)]
[Dispatch builder subagent with full task text + context]
Builder: [No questions, proceeds]
Builder:
- Added verify/repair modes
- 8/8 tests passing
- Self-review: All good
- Committed
[Dispatch spec compliance auditor]
Spec auditor: FAIL - Issues:
- Missing: Progress reporting (spec says "report every 100 items")
- Extra: Added --json flag (not requested)
[Builder fixes issues]
Builder: Removed --json flag, added progress reporting
[Spec auditor re-audits]
Spec auditor: PASS - Spec compliant now
[Dispatch quality auditor]
Quality auditor: Strengths: Solid. Issues (Important): Magic number (100)
[Builder fixes]
Builder: Extracted PROGRESS_INTERVAL constant
[Quality auditor re-audits]
Quality auditor: Approved
[Mark Task 2 complete]
...
[After all tasks]
[Dispatch final quality auditor]
Final auditor: All requirements met, ready to merge
Done!Advantages
vs. Manual execution:
- Subagents follow test-first naturally
- Fresh context per task (no confusion)
- Parallel-safe (subagents do not interfere)
- Subagent can ask questions (before AND during work)
vs. Task Runner:
- Same session (no handoff)
- Continuous progress (no waiting)
- Review checkpoints are automatic
Efficiency gains:
- No file reading overhead (controller provides full text)
- Controller curates exactly what context is needed
- Subagent receives complete information upfront
- Questions surfaced before work begins (not after)
Quality gates:
- Self-review catches issues before handoff
- Two-stage review: spec compliance, then code quality
- Review loops ensure fixes actually work
- Spec compliance prevents over/under-building
- Code quality ensures implementation is well-crafted
Cost:
- More subagent invocations (builder + 2 auditors per task)
- Controller does more preparation (extracting all tasks upfront)
- Review loops add iterations
- But catches issues early (cheaper than debugging later)
Guardrails
Never:
- Start implementation on main/master branch without explicit user consent
- Skip reviews (spec compliance OR code quality)
- Proceed with unresolved issues
- Dispatch multiple builder subagents in parallel (conflicts)
- Make subagent read the plan file (provide full text instead)
- Skip scene-setting context (subagent needs to understand where the task fits)
- Ignore subagent questions (answer before letting them proceed)
- Accept "close enough" on spec compliance (auditor found issues = not done)
- Skip review loops (auditor found issues = builder fixes = audit again)
- Let builder self-review replace actual review (both are needed)
- Start quality review before spec compliance is approved (wrong order)
- Move to next task while either review has open issues
If subagent asks questions:
- Answer clearly and completely
- Provide additional context if needed
- Do not rush them into implementation
If auditor finds issues:
- Builder (same subagent) fixes them
- Auditor reviews again
- Repeat until approved
- Do not skip the re-audit
If subagent fails the task:
- Dispatch a fix subagent with specific instructions
- Do not try to fix manually (context contamination)
Connections
Required workflow skills:
- godmode:workspace-isolation - REQUIRED: Set up isolated workspace before starting
- godmode:task-planning - Creates the plan this skill executes
- godmode:quality-gate - Code review template for auditor subagents
- godmode:merge-protocol - Finalize development after all tasks
Subagents should use:
- godmode:test-first - Subagents follow test-first for each task
Alternative workflow:
- godmode:task-runner - Use for separate session instead of same-session execution