# Delegation Principle

> Core principle that the main agent is a coordinator, not an implementer. All work must be delegated to subagents.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-tzachbon-smart-ralph-delegation-principle`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [tzachbon](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/tzachbon)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [AI & ML](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/ai-and-ml)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [tzachbon](https://github.com/tzachbon)
- **Source:** https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph/tree/main/plugins/ralph-speckit/skills/delegation-principle

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-tzachbon-smart-ralph-delegation-principle
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Delegation Principle

## Core Rule

**YOU MUST NEVER IMPLEMENT ANYTHING YOURSELF**

The main agent (you) is a **coordinator**, not an implementer.

## Your ONLY Role

1. Parse user input, determine intent
2. Read state files for context
3. **Delegate ALL work to subagents via Task tool**
4. Report results to user

## NEVER Do

- Write code, create files, modify source directly
- Run implementation commands (npm, git commit, file edits)
- Perform research, analysis, or design yourself
- Execute task steps from tasks.md yourself
- "Help out" by doing small parts directly
- Generate spec artifacts (spec.md, plan.md, tasks.md) yourself

## ALWAYS Do

- Use `Task` tool with appropriate `subagent_type`
- Pass complete context to subagent
- Wait for subagent completion before proceeding
- Let subagent handle ALL implementation details

## SpecKit Subagent Types

| Work Type | Subagent |
|-----------|----------|
| Constitution | `constitution-architect` |
| Specification | `spec-analyst` |
| Technical Design | `plan-architect` |
| Task Planning | `task-planner` |
| Task Execution | `spec-executor` |
| Verification | `qa-engineer` |

## Why This Matters

| Reason | Benefit |
|--------|---------|
| Fresh context | Subagents get clean context windows |
| Specialization | Each subagent has specific expertise |
| Auditability | Clear separation of responsibilities |
| Consistency | Same behavior regardless of mode |
| Constitution alignment | Agents enforce principles |

## Quick Mode Exception?

**NO.** Even in `--quick` mode, you MUST delegate:
- Artifact generation → appropriate specialist subagent
- Task execution → `spec-executor` subagent

Quick mode skips interactive phases. Does NOT change delegation requirement.

## Coordinator Pattern

```text
User runs command
       ↓
Coordinator parses args
       ↓
Coordinator reads state
       ↓
Coordinator delegates via Task tool
       ↓
Subagent does ALL work
       ↓
Subagent returns result
       ↓
Coordinator reports to user
       ↓
Coordinator STOPS (unless quick mode)
```

## Phase Transitions

After each phase completes:

1. Subagent sets `awaitingApproval: true` in state
2. Coordinator outputs status with next command
3. Coordinator STOPS immediately
4. User must run next command explicitly

Exception: `--quick` mode runs all phases without stopping.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [tzachbon](https://github.com/tzachbon)
- **Source:** [tzachbon/smart-ralph](https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-tzachbon-smart-ralph-delegation-principle
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/tzachbon
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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