Multi-agent management workflow — task delegation, progress monitoring, quality verification with regression testing, feedback delivery, and cross-review orchestration. Use this skill when coordinating multiple agents on a shared task, monitoring delegated work, ensuring quality across agent outputs, or implementing a multi-phase plan (3+ phases or 10+ file changes).
Multi-agent management workflow — task delegation, progress monitoring, quality verification with regression testing, feedback delivery, and cross-review orchestration. Use this skill when coordinating multiple agents on a shared task, monitoring delegated work, ensuring quality across agent outputs, or implementing a multi-phase plan (3+ phases or 10+ file changes).
Synapse Manager
Orchestrate multi-agent work with structured delegation, monitoring, and quality gates.
Sending targeted feedback with error details and fix guidance
Orchestrating cross-review between agents
Implementing a multi-phase plan (3+ phases or 10+ file changes)
Planning agent assignment for multi-file changes
Workflow (7 Steps)
Step 1: Plan, Spec, and Setup
Prefer test-first when the scope is clear: create tests -> present/confirm spec -> then implement. For exploratory work, prototypes, or trivial fixes, writing tests after implementation is acceptable.
Edit plugins/synapse-a2a/skills/ first, then sync generated copies with sync-plugin-skills.
Check existing agents before spawning — reuse is faster (avoids startup overhead,
instruction injection, and readiness wait):
synapse list --json
Review WORKING_DIR, ROLE, STATUS, TYPE. Only READY agents can accept work immediately.
Other relevant statuses: SENDING_REPLY (brief outbound A2A send/reply POST;
wait for the previous status to return), (busy),
(permission prompt — use /),
(#538 — task paused asking for input, reply via or
), (#561 — LLM
provider rate limit hit; wait for the window to reset before re-sending),
(demotes to READY ~10s later), (do not send).
PROCESSING
WAITING
synapse approve
synapse reject
WAITING_FOR_INPUT
synapse reply "<message>"
synapse reply "<message>" --to <sender_id>
RATE_LIMITED
DONE
SHUTTING_DOWN
Spawn only when no existing agent can handle the task:
Cross-model spawning (Claude spawns Gemini, etc.) provides diverse strengths and
distributes token usage across providers, avoiding rate limits.
Wait for readiness using the helper script. Resolve it from the skill root so the
command works from any working directory, whether you are in the plugin source or a
synced copy:
See references/auto-approve-flags.md for per-CLI permission skip flags.
Step 2: Create Tests and Confirm the Spec
Assign the test/spec task and confirm scope before implementation starts:
synapse send Tester "Write the tests first and confirm the spec for auth module.
- Cover valid login, invalid credentials, token expiry, refresh flow
- Report any scope gaps before implementation starts" --attach synapse/server.py --force --wait
Use --attach to send reference files the agent should study.
Use --wait while confirming tests/spec, then --silent or --notify once execution is unblocked.
Step 3: Delegate Implementation and Monitor
After tests/spec are confirmed, delegate the implementation task:
Run the tests created in Step 2 first for fast feedback, then consider broader regression
coverage if the changes touch shared modules or public interfaces:
# New tests first (fast feedback)
pytest tests/test_auth.py -v
# Full regression (catches cross-module breakage)
pytest --tb=short -q
Regression triage — distinguish new breakage from pre-existing issues:
cd plugins/synapse-a2a/skills/synapse-manager && scripts/regression_triage.sh tests/test_failing_module.py -v
Killing spawned agents frees ports, memory, and PTY sessions. Orphaned agents
may accidentally accept future tasks intended for other agents.
Decision Table
Situation
Action
Agent stuck PROCESSING >5min
synapse interrupt <name> "Status?"
Agent blocked on a CLI/TUI dialog (codex edit-confirmation, model picker, rate-limit prompt)
synapse send-keys <name> <keys> — programmatic dialog response that writes to the PTY without synapse jump (e.g. a for codex "don't ask again", \r for Enter) (#695)
Agent in WAITING_FOR_INPUT
synapse reply <task_id> "<answer>"
Agent in RATE_LIMITED
Wait for LLM provider window to reset, then re-send
Check all agents at once
synapse broadcast "Status check" -p 4
New test fails
Feedback with error + suggested fix (Step 6)
Regression test fails
scripts/regression_triage.sh to classify
Agent READY but no output
Check git diff, re-send if needed
Agent submits a plan
synapse approve or synapse reject --reason "..."
Discovered a reusable pattern
synapse memory save <key> "<pattern>" --notify
Cross-review finds issue
Send fix request with --attach, re-verify
All tests pass, reviews clean
Kill agents, report done
References
Reference
Contents
references/auto-approve-flags.md
Per-CLI permission skip flags
references/worker-guide.md
Worker agent responsibilities and communication patterns
references/features-table.md
A2A features with commands
references/commands-quick-ref.md
All manager-relevant commands
scripts/wait_ready.sh
Poll until agent reaches READY status
scripts/check_team_status.sh
Aggregate team status
scripts/regression_triage.sh
Classify test failure as regression or pre-existing
