What are the specific subagent types available?

SpecKit includes specialists such as the constitution-architect for rules, spec-analyst for requirements, plan-architect for design, task-planner for steps, spec-executor for coding, and qa-engineer for verification.

What happens if I try to force the coordinator to run a command?

The Delegation Principle is a core rule that prohibits direct execution. The coordinator will decline direct implementation tasks and instead use the Task tool to assign the work to the appropriate specialist subagent.

Does the Delegation Principle work in quick mode?

Yes. Even in --quick mode, the coordinator must delegate all work to subagents. Quick mode simply removes the requirement for the coordinator to stop and wait for manual user approval between phases.

Why can't the main agent just write the code itself?

Delegation ensures that implementation is handled by specialized subagents with fresh context windows. This prevents context bloat in the main agent and improves the precision and quality of the generated code.

Delegation Principle for SpecKit

Name: Delegation Principle for SpecKit
Author: tzachbon

bytzachbon

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144

Productivity & Workflow

Enforces a strict coordinator-subagent architecture to ensure clean context and specialized execution during AI-driven development.

About

The Delegation Principle is a foundational skill for the Ralph-SpecKit ecosystem that redefines the role of the primary Claude Code agent as a pure coordinator. By prohibiting the main agent from performing direct implementation, research, or file modifications, it forces a structured delegation pattern where specialized subagents handle specific lifecycle phases—from technical design to QA. This approach ensures maximum context hygiene, promotes consistent architectural patterns, and utilizes specialized AI personas for every step of the software development lifecycle, resulting in more robust and maintainable code.

Key Features

Context Optimization: Ensures subagents receive clean, task-specific context windows for higher-quality output.
Specialized Subagent Routing: Automatically delegates tasks to domain experts like the plan-architect or spec-executor.
Phase Management: Controls transitions between specification, planning, execution, and verification with clear audit trails.
144 GitHub stars
Standardized Workflow: Enforces a consistent step-by-step process across all development tasks from design to verification.
Strict Coordinator Pattern: Prevents the main agent from performing direct code modifications or command execution.

Use Cases

Ensuring an auditable and structured AI development workflow for team-based repositories.
Implementing large-scale feature sets that require distinct phases for analysis, planning, and execution.
Managing complex software projects where architectural consistency and modularity are critical.

About

Key Features

Context Optimization: Ensures subagents receive clean, task-specific context windows for higher-quality output.
Specialized Subagent Routing: Automatically delegates tasks to domain experts like the plan-architect or spec-executor.
Phase Management: Controls transitions between specification, planning, execution, and verification with clear audit trails.
144 GitHub stars
Standardized Workflow: Enforces a consistent step-by-step process across all development tasks from design to verification.
Strict Coordinator Pattern: Prevents the main agent from performing direct code modifications or command execution.

Use Cases

Ensuring an auditable and structured AI development workflow for team-based repositories.
Implementing large-scale feature sets that require distinct phases for analysis, planning, and execution.
Managing complex software projects where architectural consistency and modularity are critical.