dispatch

name	dispatch
description	Send a message/command to a specific session by ID. This skill is for the Manager session inside Workstation app. If you are in a standalone agent session, suggest the user open the Workstation app and use this skill from the Manager terminal.
arguments	<session-id> <message>

/dispatch

Agent Compatibility

This skill can run in Claude Code or Pi. Before running Workstation helper scripts, read ../_shared/agent-compatibility.md and resolve:

• WORKSTATION_DISPATCH → scripts/workstation-dispatch
• WORKSTATION_NOTIFY → scripts/workstation-notify

Use CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT when it is set; otherwise resolve the script path relative to this skill directory.

Send a message directly to a specific session.

Context: This skill is designed for the Manager session inside Workstation. If the agent detects it's not in a Manager context (no workstation socket responding), inform the user:

• "This skill works from the Manager session in Workstation."
• "Open the Workstation app and use /dispatch from the Manager terminal."

When to Use

• When you have the exact session ID (from /work-sessions)
• When you want precise control over which session receives the message
• For follow-up messages to a session you've already identified

For fuzzy matching by repo name or task, use /route instead.

Arguments

• <session-id> - The session ID (from /work-sessions output)
• <message> - The message to send to the session's terminal

Implementation

1. Send dispatch command

"$WORKSTATION_DISPATCH" dispatch "<session-id>" "<message>"

2. Handle the response

Success response:

{
  "status": "ok",
  "received": "dispatch",
  "targetSessionId": "abc123"
}

Error responses:

{"status": "error", "message": "Session not found: xyz789"}
{"status": "error", "message": "Cannot dispatch to external session"}

3. Report result to user

On success:

Dispatched to session abc123.
Message sent: "<first 50 chars of message>..."

On error:

Failed to dispatch: <error message>

Use /work-sessions to see available sessions.

Example Usage

User: "Send 'check the API status' to session abc123"

Manager runs:
  "$WORKSTATION_DISPATCH" dispatch "abc123" "check the API status"

Response:
  Dispatched to session abc123.
  Message sent: "check the API status"

Creating New Sessions

/dispatch only sends to existing sessions. If you need to create a new session, you have two options:

1. /route — Auto-creates a first session on a repo if none exists
2. create-worker — Explicitly creates a session (use for additional sessions on a repo that already has one)

"$WORKSTATION_DISPATCH" create-worker <repo> <repo-path> <task-name>

Always provide a task name when creating additional sessions so they can be differentiated.

Notes

• The message is written to the session's terminal as if typed by a user
• The target agent session will process it as a new prompt
• Use /work-sessions first to find valid session IDs
• For auto-routing, use /route instead
• Session permission mode is set at creation time. To configure default permissions for new sessions, use /workstation skip-permissions on/off.