Delegation Core

Table of Contents

• Overview
• When to Use
• Philosophy
• Delegation Flow
• Quick Decision Matrix
• Detailed Workflow Steps
• 1. Task Assessment (delegation-core:task-assessed)
• 2. Suitability Evaluation (delegation-core:delegation-suitability)
• 3. Handoff Planning (delegation-core:handoff-planned)
• 4. Execution & Integration (delegation-core:results-integrated)
• Leyline Infrastructure
• Service-Specific Skills
• Module Reference
• Exit Criteria

Delegation Core Framework

Overview

A method for deciding when and how to delegate tasks to external LLM services. Core principle: delegate execution, retain high-level reasoning.

When To Use

• Before invoking external LLMs for task assistance.
• When operations are token-heavy and exceed local context limits.
• When batch processing benefits from different model characteristics.
• When tasks require routing between models.

When NOT To Use

• Task requires reasoning by Claude

Philosophy

Delegate execution, retain reasoning. Claude handles architecture, strategy, design, and review. External LLMs perform data processing, pattern extraction, bulk operations, and summarization.

Delegation Flow

• Task Assessment: Classify task by complexity and context size.
• Suitability Evaluation: Check prerequisites and service fit.
• Handoff Planning: Formulate request and document plan.
• Execution & Integration: Run delegation, validate, and integrate results.

Quick Decision Matrix

| Complexity | Context | Recommendation |

|------------|---------|----------------|

| High | Any | Keep local |

| Low | Large | Delegate |

| Low | Small | Either |

High Complexity: Architecture, design decisions, trade-offs, creative problem solving.

Low Complexity: Pattern counting, bulk extraction, boilerplate generation, summarization.

Detailed Workflow Steps

1. Task Assessment (delegation-core:task-assessed)

Classify the task:

• See modules/task-assessment.md for classification criteria.
• Use token estimates to determine thresholds.
• Apply the decision matrix.

Exit Criteria: Task classified with complexity level, context size, and delegation recommendation.

2. Suitability Evaluation (delegation-core:delegation-suitability)

Verify prerequisites:

• See modules/handoff-patterns.md for checklist.
• Evaluate cost-benefit ratio using modules/cost-estimation.md.
• Check for red flags (security, real-time iteration).

Exit Criteria: Service authenticated, quotas verified, cost justified.

3. Handoff Planning (delegation-core:handoff-planned)

Create a delegation plan:

• See modules/handoff-patterns.md for request template.
• Document service, command, input context, expected output.
• Define validation method.

Exit Criteria: Delegation plan documented.

4. Execution & Integration (delegation-core:results-integrated)

Execute and validate results:

• Run delegation and capture output.
• Validate format and correctness.
• Integrate only after validation passes.
• Log usage.

Exit Criteria: Results validated and integrated, usage logged.

MCP Authentication

OAuth Client Credentials (Claude Code 2.1.30+)

For MCP servers that don't support Dynamic Client Registration (e.g., Slack), pre-configured OAuth client credentials can be provided:

claude mcp add <server-name> --client-id <id> --client-secret <secret>

This enables delegation workflows through MCP servers that require pre-configured OAuth, expanding the range of external services available for task delegation.

Claude.ai MCP Connectors (Claude Code 2.1.46+)

As an alternative to manual OAuth setup, users can configure MCP servers directly in claude.ai at claude.ai/settings/connectors. These connectors are automatically available in Claude Code when logged in with a claude.ai account: no claude mcp add or credential management required. This provides a browser-based auth flow that may be simpler for services with complex OAuth requirements.

Worktree Isolation for File-Modifying Delegations (Claude Code 2.1.49+)

When delegating tasks that modify files to subagents, use isolation: worktree in the agent frontmatter to run each agent in a temporary git worktree. This prevents file conflicts when multiple delegated agents operate in parallel on overlapping paths. The worktree is auto-cleaned if no changes are made; preserved with commits if the agent produces changes.

# Agent frontmatter for isolated delegation
isolation: worktree

Leyline Infrastructure

Conjure uses leyline infrastructure:

| Leyline Skill | Used For |

|---------------|----------|

| quota-management | Track service quotas and thresholds. |

| usage-logging | Session-aware audit trails. |

| service-registry | Unified service configuration. |

| error-patterns | Consistent error handling. |

| authentication-patterns | Auth verification. |

See modules/cost-estimation.md for leyline integration examples.

Service-Specific Skills

For detailed service workflows:

• Skill(conjure:gemini-delegation): Gemini CLI specifics.
• Skill(conjure:qwen-delegation): Qwen MCP specifics.

Execution Modes

When delegating to multiple agents, choose the appropriate

execution mode:

| Mode | When to Use | How It Works |

|------|-------------|--------------|

| single-session | Sequential tasks, same-file edits | Claude works through tasks in order |

| subagents | Parallel independent tasks | Agents work independently, report back |

| agent-team | Parallel coordinated tasks | Agents can communicate with each other |

See references/execution-modes.md for the selection decision

matrix, mode compatibility notes, and anti-patterns to avoid.

Module Reference

• task-assessment.md: Complexity classification, decision matrix.
• cost-estimation.md: Pricing, budgets, cost tracking.
• handoff-patterns.md: Request templates, workflows.
• troubleshooting.md: Common problems, service failures.

Exit Criteria

• [ ] Task assessed and classified.
• [ ] Delegation decision justified.
• [ ] Results validated before integration.
• [ ] Lessons captured.