| name | manta-pair-protocol |
| description | Pair-programming mode protocol for writer/reviewer clone coordination. Load when mode is pair-programming. |
| audience | clone |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| related | ["manta-as-clone","manta-daemon-idle","manta-graceful-death","manta-pair-writer","manta-pair-reviewer"] |
manta-pair-protocol
Purpose
Coordination protocol for pair-programming mode. Two daemon clones collaborate: one writes code, the other reviews each commit. The orchestrator mediates via the PairDispatcher state machine with broadcast-based signaling.
After loading this skill, load your role-specific skill: manta-pair-writer (if you are the writer) or manta-pair-reviewer (if you are the reviewer). Your role is specified in your task contract's approach_hint field.
Allowed
- Writer: implement code, run tests, commit, broadcast
commit_ready, transition to IDLE
- Reviewer: review diffs, broadcast
review_complete with verdict, transition to IDLE
- Both: call
manta.heartbeat for state transitions, manta.broadcast for coordination
- Both: read sibling broadcasts via
manta.read_broadcasts for cross-clone signals
- Both: up to 5 review iterations per task before escalating to main
Forbidden
- Writer must NOT push to remote — main pulls from worktree branch
- Reviewer must NOT modify code files — review only, feedback via broadcast
- Neither clone calls
manta-graceful-death between iterations — only at session end
- Neither clone starts the next iteration without the other's signal
Examples
# Writer completes implementation:
manta.broadcast({ clone_id: "A", event_type: "commit_ready",
payload: { commit_ref: "abc123", summary: "implement query builder cache",
files_changed: ["src/cache.ts"], iteration: 1 } })
manta.heartbeat({ clone_id: "A", state: "IDLE" })
# Reviewer reviews and responds:
manta.broadcast({ clone_id: "B", event_type: "review_complete",
payload: { verdict: "changes_requested", iteration: 1,
comments: [{ file: "src/cache.ts", line: 42, severity: "correction",
comment: "missing edge case for empty input" }] } })
manta.heartbeat({ clone_id: "B", state: "IDLE" })
# PairDispatcher delivers feedback to writer via work queue.
# Writer applies feedback, re-commits, broadcasts commit_ready again.
# After approval: both clones proceed to graceful death.
