patterns

name	patterns
description	Common agent patterns and templates for Claude Code. Use when implementing agents to follow proven patterns for proxy mode, TodoWrite integration, and quality checks.

Agent Patterns

Proxy Mode Pattern

Enable agents to delegate to external AI models via Claudish.

<critical_constraints>
  <proxy_mode_support>
    **FIRST STEP: Check for Proxy Mode Directive**

    Before executing, check if the incoming prompt starts with:
    ```
    PROXY_MODE: {model_name}
    ```

    If you see this directive:

    1. **Extract model name** (e.g., "x-ai/grok-code-fast-1")
    2. **Extract actual task** (everything after PROXY_MODE line)
    3. **Construct agent invocation**:
       ```bash
       AGENT_PROMPT="Use the Task tool to launch the '{agent-name}' agent:

{actual_task}"
       ```
    4. **Delegate via Claudish**:
       ```bash
       printf '%s' "$AGENT_PROMPT" | npx claudish --stdin --model {model_name} --quiet --auto-approve
       ```
    5. **Return attributed response**:
       ```markdown
       ## {Task Type} via External AI: {model_name}

       {EXTERNAL_AI_RESPONSE}

       ---
       *Generated by: {model_name} via Claudish*
       ```
    6. **STOP** - Do not execute locally

    **If NO PROXY_MODE directive**: Proceed with normal workflow
  </proxy_mode_support>
</critical_constraints>

Key Elements:

• Check for directive first
• Use --auto-approve flag
• Clear attribution in response
• STOP after proxy (don't continue locally)

---

TodoWrite Integration Pattern

Every agent must track workflow progress.

<critical_constraints>
  <todowrite_requirement>
    You MUST use TodoWrite to track your workflow.

    **Before starting**, create todo list:
    1. Phase 1 description
    2. Phase 2 description
    3. Phase 3 description

    **Update continuously**:
    - Mark "in_progress" when starting
    - Mark "completed" immediately after finishing
    - Keep only ONE task "in_progress" at a time
  </todowrite_requirement>
</critical_constraints>

<workflow>
  <phase number="1" name="Phase Name">
    <step>Initialize TodoWrite with all phases</step>
    <step>Mark PHASE 1 as in_progress</step>
    <step>... perform work ...</step>
    <step>Mark PHASE 1 as completed</step>
    <step>Mark PHASE 2 as in_progress</step>
  </phase>
</workflow>

---

Quality Checks Pattern (Implementers)

<implementation_standards>
  <quality_checks mandatory="true">
    Before presenting code, perform these checks in order:

    <check name="formatting" order="1">
      <tool>Biome.js</tool>
      <command>bun run format</command>
      <requirement>Must pass</requirement>
      <on_failure>Fix and retry</on_failure>
    </check>

    <check name="linting" order="2">
      <tool>Biome.js</tool>
      <command>bun run lint</command>
      <requirement>All errors resolved</requirement>
      <on_failure>Fix errors, retry</on_failure>
    </check>

    <check name="type_checking" order="3">
      <tool>TypeScript</tool>
      <command>bun run typecheck</command>
      <requirement>Zero type errors</requirement>
      <on_failure>Resolve errors, retry</on_failure>
    </check>

    <check name="testing" order="4">
      <tool>Vitest</tool>
      <command>bun test</command>
      <requirement>All tests pass</requirement>
      <on_failure>Fix failing tests</on_failure>
    </check>
  </quality_checks>
</implementation_standards>

---

Review Feedback Pattern (Reviewers)

<review_criteria>
  <feedback_format>
    ## Review: {name}

    **Status**: PASS | CONDITIONAL | FAIL
    **Reviewer**: {model}

    **Issue Summary**:
    - CRITICAL: {count}
    - HIGH: {count}
    - MEDIUM: {count}
    - LOW: {count}

    ### CRITICAL Issues
    #### Issue 1: {Title}
    - **Category**: YAML | XML | Security | Completeness
    - **Description**: What's wrong
    - **Impact**: Why it matters
    - **Fix**: How to fix it
    - **Location**: Section/line reference

    ### HIGH Priority Issues
    [Same format]

    ### Approval Decision
    **Status**: PASS | CONDITIONAL | FAIL
    **Rationale**: Why this status
  </feedback_format>
</review_criteria>

<approval_criteria>
  <status name="PASS">
    - 0 CRITICAL issues
    - 0-2 HIGH issues
    - All core sections present
  </status>
  <status name="CONDITIONAL">
    - 0 CRITICAL issues
    - 3-5 HIGH issues
    - Core functionality works
  </status>
  <status name="FAIL">
    - 1+ CRITICAL issues
    - OR 6+ HIGH issues
    - Blocks functionality
  </status>
</approval_criteria>

---

Orchestrator Phase Pattern (Commands)

<phases>
  <phase number="1" name="Descriptive Name">
    <objective>Clear statement of what this phase achieves</objective>

    <steps>
      <step>Mark PHASE 1 as in_progress in TodoWrite</step>
      <step>Detailed action step</step>
      <step>Detailed action step</step>
      <step>Mark PHASE 1 as completed</step>
    </steps>

    <quality_gate>
      Exit criteria - what must be true to proceed
    </quality_gate>
  </phase>
</phases>

<delegation_rules>
  <rule scope="design">ALL design → architect agent</rule>
  <rule scope="implementation">ALL implementation → developer agent</rule>
  <rule scope="review">ALL reviews → reviewer agent</rule>
</delegation_rules>

---

Agent Templates

Planner Template

---
name: {domain}-architect
description: |
  Plans {domain} features with comprehensive design.
  Examples: (1) "Design X" (2) "Plan Y" (3) "Architect Z"
model: sonnet
color: purple
tools: TodoWrite, Read, Write, Glob, Grep, Bash
---

Implementer Template

---
name: {domain}-developer
description: |
  Implements {domain} features with quality checks.
  Examples: (1) "Create X" (2) "Build Y" (3) "Implement Z"
model: sonnet
color: green
tools: TodoWrite, Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep
---

Reviewer Template

---
name: {domain}-reviewer
description: |
  Reviews {domain} code for quality and standards.
  Examples: (1) "Review X" (2) "Validate Y" (3) "Check Z"
model: sonnet
color: cyan
tools: TodoWrite, Read, Glob, Grep, Bash
---

Orchestrator Template

---
description: |
  Orchestrates {workflow} with multi-agent coordination.
  Workflow: PHASE 1 → PHASE 2 → PHASE 3
allowed-tools: Task, AskUserQuestion, Bash, Read, TodoWrite, Glob, Grep
---