Subagent Task Execution
Overview
This skill is used to execute a set of tasks (typically from a task breakdown or plan). It focuses on high-quality execution by dispatching specialized subagents for each task, ensuring each task is performed correctly and verified before moving to the next.
Core Principle
One Task, One Subagent, Multi-Stage Review. By isolating each task and applying a structured review process, we ensure high quality and prevent context pollution.
The Process
- Preparation:
- Read the entire plan or task breakdown. - Extract all tasks with their full context. - Create a structured todo list using the TodoWrite tool.
- Per-Task Execution Loop:
- Skill Discovery: Before starting a task, identify which specialized skill(s) are needed for its execution (e.g., coding, brainstorming, or any project-specific skills). - Dispatch Implementer: Dispatch a subagent to perform the task. Provide the subagent with the full task description, any identified skills, and the necessary context. - Interactive Clarification: If the subagent has questions, answer them clearly before they proceed with implementation. - Task Implementation: The subagent performs the task, following the identified best practices and skills. - Verification & Review: - Spec Compliance Review: A separate subagent verifies that the result exactly matches the task requirements (no more, no less). - Quality Review: A final review stage to ensure the output meets the highest standards of the domain (e.g., code quality, documentation clarity, etc.). - Completion: Mark the task as completed in the todo list.
- Finalization:
- Once all tasks are complete, perform a final holistic review of the entire body of work to ensure consistency and overall quality.
Key Principles
- Discovery First: Always look for and apply the most relevant skills for the specific task at hand.
- Isolation: Each task should be treated as a distinct unit of work.
- Review Loops: Never move to the next task if the current one has open issues from either the spec or quality reviews.
- Subagent Specialization: Use subagents as specialized workers, providing them with all the context they need upfront.
Red Flags
- Skipping the skill discovery phase.
- Combining multiple tasks into a single subagent invocation.
- Proceeding with a task while reviews are still pending or failing.
- Ignoring subagent questions or providing vague answers.
- Failing to update the todo list as progress is made.