| name | parallel-agents |
| description | Multi-agent orchestration patterns. Use when multiple independent tasks can run with different domain expertise or when comprehensive analysis requires multiple perspectives. |
| allowed-tools | Read, Glob, Grep |
| risk | unknown |
| source | community |
Native Parallel Agents
Orchestration through Claude Code's built-in Agent Tool
Overview
This skill enables coordinating multiple specialized agents through Claude Code's native agent system. Unlike external scripts, this approach keeps all orchestration within Claude's control.
When to Use Orchestration
✅ Good for:
- Complex tasks requiring multiple expertise domains
- Code analysis from security, performance, and quality perspectives
- Comprehensive reviews (architecture + security + testing)
- Feature implementation needing backend + frontend + database work
❌ Not for:
- Simple, single-domain tasks
- Quick fixes or small changes
- Tasks where one agent suffices
Native Agent Invocation
Single Agent
Use the security-auditor agent to review authentication
Sequential Chain
First, use the explorer-agent to discover project structure.
Then, use the backend-specialist to review API endpoints.
Finally, use the test-engineer to identify test gaps.
With Context Passing
Use the frontend-specialist to analyze React components.
Based on those findings, have the test-engineer generate component tests.
Resume Previous Work
Resume agent [agentId] and continue with additional requirements.
Orchestration Patterns
Pattern 1: Comprehensive Analysis
Agents: explorer-agent → [domain-agents] → synthesis
1. explorer-agent: Map codebase structure
2. security-auditor: Security posture
3. backend-specialist: API quality
4. frontend-specialist: UI/UX patterns
5. test-engineer: Test coverage
6. Synthesize all findings
Pattern 2: Feature Review
Agents: affected-domain-agents → test-engineer
1. Identify affected domains (backend? frontend? both?)
2. Invoke relevant domain agents
3. test-engineer verifies changes
4. Synthesize recommendations
Pattern 3: Security Audit
Agents: security-auditor → penetration-tester → synthesis
1. security-auditor: Configuration and code review
2. penetration-tester: Active vulnerability testing
3. Synthesize with prioritized remediation
Available Agents
| Agent | Expertise | Trigger Phrases |
|---|
orchestrator | Coordination | "comprehensive", "multi-perspective" |
security-auditor | Security | "security", "auth", "vulnerabilities" |
penetration-tester | Security Testing | "pentest", "red team", "exploit" |
backend-specialist | Backend | "API", "server", "Node.js", "Express" |
frontend-specialist | Frontend | "React", "UI", "components", "Next.js" |
test-engineer | Testing | "tests", "coverage", "TDD" |
devops-engineer | DevOps | "deploy", "CI/CD", "infrastructure" |
database-architect | Database | "schema", "Prisma", "migrations" |
mobile-developer | Mobile | "React Native", "Flutter", "mobile" |
api-designer | API Design | "REST", "GraphQL", "OpenAPI" |
debugger | Debugging | "bug", "error", "not working" |
explorer-agent | Discovery | "explore", "map", "structure" |
documentation-writer | Documentation | "write docs", "create README", "generate API docs" |
performance-optimizer | Performance | "slow", "optimize", "profiling" |
project-planner | Planning | "plan", "roadmap", "milestones" |
seo-specialist | SEO | "SEO", "meta tags", "search ranking" |
game-developer | Game Development | "game", "Unity", "Godot", "Phaser" |
Claude Code Built-in Agents
These work alongside custom agents:
| Agent | Model | Purpose |
|---|
| Explore | Haiku | Fast read-only codebase search |
| Plan | Sonnet | Research during plan mode |
| General-purpose | Sonnet | Complex multi-step modifications |
Use Explore for quick searches, custom agents for domain expertise.
Synthesis Protocol
After all agents complete, synthesize:
## Orchestration Synthesis
### Task Summary
[What was accomplished]
### Agent Contributions
| Agent | Finding |
|-------|---------|
| security-auditor | Found X |
| backend-specialist | Identified Y |
### Consolidated Recommendations
1. **Critical**: [Issue from Agent A]
2. **Important**: [Issue from Agent B]
3. **Nice-to-have**: [Enhancement from Agent C]
### Action Items
- [ ] Fix critical security issue
- [ ] Refactor API endpoint
- [ ] Add missing tests
Best Practices
- Available agents - 17 specialized agents can be orchestrated
- Logical order - Discovery → Analysis → Implementation → Testing
- Share context - Pass relevant findings to subsequent agents
- Single synthesis - One unified report, not separate outputs
- Verify changes - Always include test-engineer for code modifications
Key Benefits
- ✅ Single session - All agents share context
- ✅ AI-controlled - Claude orchestrates autonomously
- ✅ Native integration - Works with built-in Explore, Plan agents
- ✅ Resume support - Can continue previous agent work
- ✅ Context passing - Findings flow between agents
