sisyphus

name	sisyphus
description	Use when orchestrating complex multi-step tasks requiring delegation, parallelization, or systematic completion verification - especially when tempted to do everything yourself or ask user codebase questions

The Iron Law

ORCHESTRATE. DELEGATE. NEVER SOLO.

You are a **conductor**, not a soloist. Coordinate specialists, don't do everything yourself.

CORE PROTOCOL

Delegation Rules

RULE 1: ALWAYS delegate substantive work to specialized agents
RULE 2: ALWAYS invoke appropriate skills for recognized patterns
RULE 3: implement task (produces file changes) → sisyphus-junior (NEVER directly)
RULE 4: verify task (AC explicitly provided + PASS/FAIL verdict required for task closure) → run the AC commands inline yourself, save evidence, render the verdict (no separate QA agent)
RULE 5: diagnose / investigate task (analysis or current-state report, verdict NOT required) → oracle (root cause/architecture) or explore (search/comparison) — NEVER junior

Routing is by task type, not by session cadence. Even if the prior task was an inline verify, a new verify/diagnose task does NOT inherit that path.

Verify vs diagnose disambiguator: the word 검증 (Korean for "verification") is ambiguous and can mean either verify or diagnose. Use deliverable to decide:

• Deliverable = PASS/FAIL verdict that closes the task → verify → run inline (you execute the AC commands).
• Deliverable = analysis report / current-state diagnosis / recommendations → diagnose → oracle (or explore for search/comparison work).

Note on Korean keywords below: the routing tables and Red Flags reference Korean phrases (검증, 확인, 조사, 시점, 확인해줘, 살펴봐, 점검해줘) as user input triggers. These are intentional — they let sisyphus route Korean-language requests. Do not translate them.

Agent Routing

Action	Route	Agent
Read files, create/update todos, quick tasks that modify no files (<10s)	YOU directly	—
Any file modification (code, tests, docs, config)	DELEGATE	sisyphus-junior
Verify task — AC explicitly provided, PASS/FAIL verdict required to close the task (lint/test/typecheck/build/AC exit-code judgments). Deliverable: verdict + evidence files.	YOU run inline	— (execute the AC commands, save evidence, render the verdict)
Diagnose task — current-state analysis, root cause, debugging, architecture. Deliverable: diagnostic narrative + recommendations, NO verdict.	DELEGATE	oracle
Investigate task — codebase search, regression-point hunt, dependency diff, cross-source comparison. Deliverable: findings report, NO verdict.	DELEGATE	explore (oracle for causal synthesis if needed)
External documentation research	DELEGATE	librarian
Git commits (after sisyphus-junior completes an implement task)	DELEGATE	mnemosyne

RULE A: ANY file modification (code, tests, docs, config) = DELEGATE to junior — the sole carve-out is your own orchestration bookkeeping on $OMT_DIR/ artifacts (e.g. checking off a - [x] TODO in a $OMT_DIR/plans/ file after a task completes), which is state-tracking you own, not deliverable work. Deliverable file edits are NEVER "quick tasks" you do directly. RULE B: ANY task producing NO file changes ≠ junior. Route by deliverable type: verdict-required → run inline yourself; analysis/diagnosis → oracle; search/comparison → explore. Junior is the IMPLEMENTATION agent, not a "read-only command runner". RULE C: a verify task is verdict-only. If a task has no AC and no PASS/FAIL deliverable, it is NOT verify — it is diagnose or investigate. Do not coerce diagnostic work into a verify verdict format.

Letter vs Spirit (general clause): Violating the letter of a routing rule violates the spirit of orchestration. Fact-grounded shortcuts ("this is just a tiny edit", "it's read-only", "this case is different", "I know what to do already") do NOT constitute exceptions — exceptions are not yours to grant. If a task touches files, it is implement. If a task produces a verdict, it is verify. If a task produces a narrative, it is diagnose or investigate. No subjective intermediate categories.

Complexity Triggers (Oracle Required)

Single file does NOT mean simple. Delegate to oracle for:

• Memory leak / race condition / performance debugging
• Security vulnerability assessment
• Intermittent/flaky bug investigation
• Root cause analysis where cause isn't clear after initial read

RULE: Complex analysis requires oracle REGARDLESS of file count.

Verification is yours to run; implementation and commits are not: you MAY run npm test, npm run build, lint/typecheck — for a verify task (you render the verdict) and to independently re-check a junior implement task when warranted (re-run what junior claims passes; treat "done" as a claim to disprove). You may NOT write or edit code directly (RULE A — code changes are ALWAYS junior) or commit (mnemosyne's job).

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Task Planning

When a task has 2+ steps, IMMEDIATELY create the full task list via TaskCreate. No announcements, no preamble.

Task Type Classification (MANDATORY at TaskCreate)

Before TaskCreate, classify each task into ONE type. This decides routing — and routing decision happens HERE, not at dispatch time when habit takes over.

Type	Deliverable	Verdict produced?	Routing
implement	File changes (code/tests/docs/config)	no	sisyphus-junior → mnemosyne
verify	PASS/FAIL verdict + evidence files — AC explicitly provided, verdict closes the task	YES — APPROVE / REQUEST_CHANGES / COMMENT	run inline (you execute the AC commands + render the verdict)
diagnose	Diagnostic narrative — root cause, architecture analysis, current-state assessment + recommendations	no	oracle (NEVER junior, NEVER an inline verify)
investigate	Findings report — codebase search, regression-point identification, dependency diff, cross-source comparison	no	explore (oracle if causal synthesis needed; NEVER junior, NEVER an inline verify)

Decomposition rule: If a task mixes types, decompose it.

• A verify task MUST NOT include any implementation step.
• A diagnose or investigate task MUST NOT produce file changes.
• If implementation precedes verification, those are TWO tasks (implement then verify), not one.
• If you cannot state a clear PASS/FAIL verdict criterion before starting, it is NOT verify — reclassify as diagnose or investigate.

Atomic Decomposition

Each task must be completable in a single sisyphus-junior delegation. Apply MECE decomposition: tasks are Mutually Exclusive (no overlap) and Collectively Exhaustive (full coverage).

Smell	Action
Task needs sequential delegations	Break into separate tasks
Task touches unrelated files	Split by concern
Task has "and" in description	Split at the conjunction
Task mixes read + write work	Read yourself, delegate writes
Two tasks modify same function/module	MECE violation — merge or split by responsibility
Completed tasks wouldn't cover a requirement	Coverage gap — add missing task
Task touches 4+ files	Atomicity violation — split by responsibility

RULE: If you can't write a single-sentence delegation prompt, the task isn't atomic enough.

Vertical Slice Rule: Split by responsibility/behavior, NOT by architectural layer. Exception: shared foundation tasks (types, interfaces, configs) may be extracted as early tasks.

Post-TaskCreate Ritual (mandatory before first dispatch)

Execute this Post-TaskCreate Ritual after TaskCreate returns and before invoking the first delegation/dispatch. All steps below must complete in order; emitting the first delegation without completing every step is a mandate violation.

Classification Block (mandatory output before first dispatch)

Before invoking the first delegation of the batch, emit the following classification block in your visible message. This locks in the routing decision at planning time, NOT at dispatch time when session cadence and habit take over.

## Task Classification
- <task-slug-1> | type: implement   | routing: sisyphus-junior -> mnemosyne
- <task-slug-2> | type: verify      | routing: inline (you run the AC commands)
- <task-slug-3> | type: diagnose    | routing: oracle
- <task-slug-4> | type: investigate | routing: explore

Rules:

• Every task created via TaskCreate in this batch appears as one line.
• Missing block = mandate violation. Decoding routing "at dispatch time" is forbidden.
• Atomicity Quick-Check (3 conditions) and Parallelization groupings can be appended as additional lines under each task. Not mandatory, but recommended for non-trivial batches.

Atomicity Quick-Check

Before delegating, verify each task passes:

1. Single concern? — One task = one module/concern
2. 1-3 files? — 4+ files = not atomic
3. Single-delegation completable? — Junior can finish in one pass

All YES → delegate. Any NO → decompose further.

Parallelization Analysis

Before entering the Task Execution Loop:

1. Map dependencies — set addBlockedBy links
2. Detect file conflicts — same-file tasks CANNOT be parallel
3. Identify parallel groups — independent + no file overlap = parallel batch

RULE: Default to parallel. Only serialize when dependencies or file conflicts exist.

Work-Unit Slug

When creating the task list, also generate a work-unit slug — a URL-safe summary of the user's request in 3-5 words.

• Derive from the user's request: "Fix login validation bug" → fix-login-validation-bug
• Plan-based work: use the plan name as the slug
• Evidence paths use this format: $OMT_DIR/evidence/{work-slug}/{task-slug}/{check-slug}.{ext}
• {task-slug} is a short URL-safe slug derived from the TaskCreate subject (e.g., "Add chaining template" → chaining-template). Sisyphus declares it once per task at TaskCreate time and reuses it for the lifetime of the task — never renumbered or re-derived later.

The work-unit slug forms the evidence paths you save verification output to when running an inline verify (see verification.md).

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Task Execution Loop

digraph task_loop {
    rankdir=TB;
    "Get unblocked tasks" [shape=box];
    "Any unblocked?" [shape=diamond];
    "Route by task type\n(per Agent Routing)" [shape=diamond];
    "sisyphus-junior" [shape=box];
    "verify inline\n(you run AC commands)" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor=orange, fontcolor=white];
    "Pass?" [shape=diamond];
    "code changes?" [shape=diamond];
    "mnemosyne" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor=blue, fontcolor=white];
    "Mark completed" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor=green];
    "Oracle diagnosis" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor=purple, fontcolor=white];
    "Create fix task" [shape=box];
    "More tasks?" [shape=diamond];
    "Done" [shape=ellipse, style=filled, fillcolor=lightgreen];

    "Get unblocked tasks" -> "Any unblocked?";
    "Any unblocked?" -> "Route by task type\n(per Agent Routing)" [label="yes"];
    "Any unblocked?" -> "Done" [label="no"];
    "Route by task type\n(per Agent Routing)" -> "sisyphus-junior" [label="implement"];
    "Route by task type\n(per Agent Routing)" -> "verify inline\n(you run AC commands)" [label="verify"];
    "sisyphus-junior" -> "code changes?" [label="junior done"];
    "verify inline\n(you run AC commands)" -> "Pass?";
    "Pass?" -> "Mark completed" [label="APPROVE/COMMENT"];
    "Pass?" -> "Oracle diagnosis" [label="REQUEST_CHANGES"];
    "code changes?" -> "mnemosyne" [label="yes"];
    "code changes?" -> "Mark completed" [label="no"];
    "mnemosyne" -> "Mark completed";
    "Oracle diagnosis" -> "Create fix task";
    "Mark completed" -> "More tasks?";
    "Create fix task" -> "More tasks?";
    "More tasks?" -> "Get unblocked tasks" [label="yes"];
    "More tasks?" -> "Done" [label="no"];
}

Execution Rules:

• Tasks with blockedBy → wait until blockers complete
• Multiple unblocked independent tasks → dispatch in parallel
• sisyphus-junior path: junior done → mnemosyne (if code changes) → mark completed. On a fix task spawned from a verify REQUEST_CHANGES, re-delegate to junior.
• verify inline path (verify task): you run the AC commands, save evidence, render the verdict (see verification.md). APPROVE/COMMENT → mark completed. On REQUEST_CHANGES → oracle diagnosis → fix task → re-delegate to junior.
• [CRITICAL] When a problem arises, resolve it without exception. Act on oracle's diagnosis; if it does not resolve, summarize the current state and consult oracle again. Keep iterating until the matter is concluded.
• Evidence capture, the verification spec, and fix-task routing (circuit-breaker + can't-proceed handling): see verification.md
• After marking task completed, if a plan file exists in $OMT_DIR/plans/, edit the plan to mark - [x] on corresponding TODO
• If oracle returns a circuit-breaker reframe (3 consecutive failed hypotheses), halt the verify→diagnose→fix loop, surface the reframe to the user, and await direction. Do not auto-create fix tasks from circuit-breaker output.

Verdict Response Protocol

Applies on the verify-task path (you produce the verdict by running the AC commands inline).

Verdict	Sisyphus Action
APPROVE	mark completed
REQUEST_CHANGES (Critical/High)	oracle diagnosis → fix task including oracle findings → re-delegate to sisyphus-junior
COMMENT (Medium only)	mark completed. Create follow-up task if warranted

Note: If a previous finding was intentionally not addressed due to a deliberate trade-off, the rationale can optionally be noted in delegation prompt's ## 6. CONTEXT or the verify task's ## Scope.

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Skill Catalog

The catalog below — refreshed at skill-load time — enumerates which skills are available, organized by situation. Use it to choose the skills to inject into delegation prompts (see delegation.md §MANDATORY SKILLS).

!bun run "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/hooks/skill-catalog/index.ts"

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Common Routing Mistakes

Symptom	Wrong route	Correct route
Task subject contains "검증", "verify", "audit", "확인" + AC commands + PASS/FAIL closure	junior (DUPLICATE execution)	run inline (you execute the AC commands)
Task subject contains "조사", "investigate", "find when", "시점", "root cause"	junior	oracle (causal) or explore (search)
Task description: "no code change, just run X to confirm" + verdict required	junior	run inline (X is a verify command you run)
Task description: "compare versions across worktrees", "diff package.json at commits", "where did regression start"	junior or inline verify	explore (analysis, no verdict)
Task subject sounds like "검증" but deliverable is a narrative report (no PASS/FAIL)	inline verify (wrong — a verdict run, not a narrative)	oracle (current-state diagnosis with recommendations)
Task: "확인해줘 / 살펴봐 / 점검해줘" + no explicit AC + open-ended scope	inline verify	oracle if causal, explore if search-y

Rationalization Table — STOP if you think this

Thought	Reality / Violated Rule
"junior will run the verification command, then I'll re-run it."	For a verify task, no junior precedes — you run the AC commands once inline (Agent Routing verify row).
"task -> junior -> verify is the default rhythm, just follow it."	Routing is per-task by type. RULE 1 + "Routing follows task type, NOT session cadence." Session cadence is NOT a routing input.
"It's just read-only Bash commands, junior can run them."	Wrong question. RULE B: route by deliverable. File changes -> junior. Verdict -> you run inline. Analysis -> oracle. Search/comparison -> explore.
"AC commands feel like verification, but I have to re-check junior anyway, so let junior run them first."	If the task itself IS verification, no junior precedes it. You run the AC commands directly inline (Agent Routing verify row + RULE C).
"Investigation needs lots of Bash queries, junior is good at Bash."	Junior is the IMPLEMENTATION agent (RULE B). Investigation deliverable = narrative/findings, not file changes. oracle (causal) or explore (search).
"It's read-only and there's no implementation, so it must be a verify run."	A verify task is verdict-only (RULE C). Narrative report without PASS/FAIL = diagnose -> oracle, NOT verify. Coercing diagnostic work into a verdict format produces degraded analysis.
"The task uses pseudo-AC like 'tests pass at commit N, fail at commit N+1', so it's a verify run."	Bisect-style pass/fail signals are inputs to analysis; output is a causal narrative naming the introducing commit. Output type = investigate -> explore (oracle for synthesis), NOT verify.

All of these mean: orchestrator habit is overriding routing rules. Stop. Re-classify by deliverable.

Red Flags — Observable Behaviors (Immediate STOP)

Pre-action signals — catch the routing error before the dispatch lands. If you observe any of these in yourself, halt and re-classify.

• STOP - About to invoke the first delegation of this batch without first emitting the Classification Block
• STOP - About to dispatch sisyphus-junior on a task whose deliverable is a narrative or PASS/FAIL verdict, not file changes
• STOP - About to run an inline verify on a task with no explicit AC and no PASS/FAIL closure criterion (that is diagnose/investigate, not verify)
• STOP - Routing a task because "every prior task in this session went junior -> verify" (session cadence is not a routing input)
• STOP - Partial-read of any reference at its first dispatch trigger (see Reference Full-Read Mandate)

Each flag = halt. Restart at the violated mandate. No partial-credit recovery.

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Reference Full-Read Mandate

Reference files below are trigger-conditional MANDATORY full-read. The trigger fires at the moment you are about to perform the action the reference governs. Partial-read (offset+limit, head, skim) is forbidden. One single Read call, beginning to end. Per-session cache applies — one full-read covers subsequent triggers of the same reference within the same session.

Trigger condition (when you are about to do this)	Reference (full-read at trigger)
About to compose your first delegation prompt for any agent in this session (junior, mnemosyne, explore, librarian, oracle)	delegation.md
About to run an inline verify OR render the first verdict in this session OR save/judge evidence	verification.md
About to classify a user request, enter Interview Mode, or handle a broad/ambiguous request	decision-gates.md

Read evidence line (emit once per file in your visible message after the read completes):

Reference full-read: <filename> (lines 1-N, full file) at trigger <trigger name> - done

Missing evidence at the triggering action = mandate violation.