fix(dev-auto): require synchronous subagent invocation (#2543)

The dev-auto workflow runs unattended with no event loop to resume a
yielded turn. If a subagent is launched detached/backgrounded (e.g.
run_in_background: true) or the turn ends to await a completion
notification, control is never handed back and the run stalls.

Make the contract explicit: invoke every subagent synchronously and
await it within the same turn. Clarify that 'in parallel' means several
blocking calls awaited together, not detached execution. The only
sanctioned way to end a turn remains the HALT protocol with a terminal
status.

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
This commit is contained in:
PinkyD
2026-07-02 22:55:26 -07:00
committed by GitHub
co-authored by Claude Opus 4.8
parent 67f4499e31
commit e772c42d00
2 changed files with 3 additions and 1 deletions
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ To HALT with a final status and optional blocking condition:
Using subagents when instructed is mandatory. If you cannot, HALT with status `blocked` and blocking condition `no subagents`.
Invoke every subagent **synchronously**: launch it, wait for it to return within the same turn, then continue with its result. When a step says to run subagents "in parallel" (e.g. the reviewers), that means several **blocking** calls awaited together in one turn — not detached execution. Never run a subagent in the background / detached / async (e.g. `run_in_background: true`), and never end your turn to "await a completion notification." This workflow runs unattended: there is no event loop to resume a yielded turn, so a backgrounded subagent never hands control back and the run stalls. The only sanctioned way to end a turn is the HALT protocol above with an explicit terminal `status`.
## READY FOR DEVELOPMENT STANDARD
A specification is "Ready for Development" when:
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Change `{spec_file}` status to `in-progress` in the frontmatter before starting
If `{spec_file}` has a non-empty `context:` list in its frontmatter, load those files before implementation begins. When handing to a subagent, include them in the subagent prompt so it has access to the referenced context.
Hand `{spec_file}` to an implementation subagent.
Hand `{spec_file}` to an implementation subagent. Invoke it **synchronously** and wait for it to return in this same turn — do not background/detach it (`run_in_background`) or end your turn to await a notification (see SKILL.md → Subagents). Resume at "Tasks & Acceptance Verification" only after it returns.
**Path formatting rule:** Any markdown links written into `{spec_file}` must use paths relative to `{spec_file}`'s directory so they are clickable in VS Code. Any file paths displayed in terminal/conversation output must use CWD-relative format with `:line` notation (e.g., `src/path/file.ts:42`) for terminal clickability. No leading `/` in either case.