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