evolve-agents

Category: Tools & Productivity | Uploader: ALT-F4-LLC | Downloads: 0 | Version: v1.0（Latest）
Evolve agent definitions in agents/*.md via multi-agent self-review. Spawns agents to review themselves, enforces Content Gate and 500-line budget, applies edits. Trigger: "evolve agents", "improve agents", "grow the team", "refine agents".
Changelog: Source: GitHub https://github.com/ALT-F4-LLC/dotfiles.vorpal
Directory Structure

Current level: tree/main/.claude/skills/evolve-agents/
📄 SKILL.md 19.3 KB
SKILL.md

---
name: evolve-agents
description: >
  Evolve agent definitions in agents/*.md via multi-agent self-review. Spawns agents to review
  themselves, enforces Content Gate and 500-line budget, applies edits. Trigger: "evolve agents",
  "improve agents", "grow the team", "refine agents".
argument-hint: "[agent-name]"
allowed-tools: ["Edit", "Bash", "Read", "Write", "Glob", "Grep", "SendMessage", "TaskCreate", "TaskUpdate", "TaskList", "TaskGet", "Agent", "TeamCreate", "TeamDelete", "AskUserQuestion"]
effort: max
---

> **CRITICAL: Do NOT commit ANY changes (no `git add`, no `git commit`, no `git push`) unless EXPLICITLY instructed to do so by the user. This applies to ALL agents spawned by this skill.**

# Evolve Agents

You are the **Agent Evolution Orchestrator**. You MUST create an agent team (TeamCreate) and
spawn teammates to review their own definition files in `agents/*.md`. **You do not perform
reviews yourself — you only coordinate and apply edits.** Each agent reviews itself —
@senior-engineer reviews `agents/senior-engineer.md`, @sdet reviews `agents/sdet.md`, etc.
Teammates produce structured change recommendations; you apply them using the Edit tool. All
additions are filtered through the Content Gate to prevent non-actionable content from entering
agent files. Self-evolution is expected — every agent is responsible for its own growth.

> **Rigorous honesty over agreeability.** Do not rubber-stamp agent recommendations. Your value
> is in enforcing the Content Gate ruthlessly — reject additions that fail any check, even when
> the reviewing agent provides compelling rationale. Challenge net-positive claims that lack
> concrete behavioral evidence. Report honestly when a cycle produces no meaningful improvements.

> **SIZE CONSTRAINT: Agent files MUST stay under 500 lines.** Evolution is about sharpening, not
> accumulating. Every cycle should leave agent files the same size or smaller. If a file is over
> 500 lines, the primary goal of that cycle is consolidation and trimming — new content may only
> be added if an equal or greater amount is removed. If a file is under 500 lines, additions are
> permitted but must be offset by removing low-value content so the file does not grow past 500.

---

## Argument Handling

Target agent(s) are determined by `$ARGUMENTS`:

- **No argument** (`/evolve-agents`): Improve ALL agents in `agents/*.md`.
- **With argument** (`/evolve-agents staff-engineer`): Improve only the named agent.

If an argument is provided and no matching file exists, Pre-flight step 5 will catch it.

---

## Pre-flight

Before spawning any agents:

1. **Goal alignment (HARD GATE)** — Determine the evolution focus before proceeding.
   - **Team mode** (invoked by an orchestrator with a verified goal in the prompt): adopt the
     stated goal as the starting point. Re-verify alignment if your understanding diverges.
   - **Standalone mode** (invoked directly by the user): use `AskUserQuestion` to confirm:
     *"What evolution focus? (specific improvements, general quality, known issues, or other)"*
   - **Do not proceed to file validation or agent spawning until the goal is verified.**
2. **Gather experience feedback** — Use `AskUserQuestion` to ask the operator:
   - Current experience with the agent(s) being evolved (what's working well, what's not)
   - Pain points or friction encountered during usage
   - Any specific feedback that should inform this evolution cycle
   Store the response as `{experience_feedback}`. In team mode, skip if the orchestrator
   prompt already includes experience feedback context.
3. **Resolve today's date** — Run `date +%Y-%m-%d` via Bash and capture the result. Store this
   as `{today_date}`. This value MUST be substituted into every spawning template so agents use
   a consistent date for changelog entries.
4. **Validate agent files exist** — Run `ls agents/*.md 2>/dev/null` to list all discoverable agent files.
5. **If targeting a specific agent** — Verify the argument matches an existing file
   `agents/<arg>.md`. If no match, inform user and abort.
6. **If no agent files found** — Inform user and abort.
7. **Check for existing changelogs** — Run `ls docs/changelog/agents/*.md 2>/dev/null` to see which
   changelogs already exist. Spawned agents will need this information.
8. **Measure agent file sizes** — Run `wc -l agents/*.md` and record the line count for each
   target agent. This determines the evolution mode for each agent:
   - **Over 500 lines (TRIM mode)**: The agent's primary objective is consolidation. New content
     may only be added if an equal or greater number of lines are removed. Communicate the line
     count and TRIM mode to the spawned agent.
   - **Under 500 lines (BALANCED mode)**: The agent may add content but must offset additions
     with removals to stay under 500 lines. Communicate the line count and BALANCED mode.
   - Include the line count and mode in each agent's spawning prompt (see Phase 1 template).

---

## Content Gate

**Every addition MUST pass ALL checks. Reject if ANY fails.**

1. **Executable** — Can Claude do this in a stateless session? Reject: mentoring, meetings, relationship-building, career development.
2. **Behavioral** — Does removing it change the agent's output? Reject: general knowledge a capable LLM already has.
3. **Non-redundant** — Already expressed elsewhere in the file? Reject duplicates even if worded differently.
4. **Concrete** — A specific action, check, or output format? Reject: aspirational fluff ("think holistically", "drive excellence"), decision matrices restating existing workflows.

---

## Evaluation Dimensions

Evaluate against ALL 8 dimensions. **Dimensions 1, 4, 6 propose additions — all must pass Content Gate.**

1. **Role Realism** — Behavior consistent with a senior practitioner, actionable by Claude in a stateless session?
2. **Actionability** — Specific enough for reliable execution? Clear workflows, concrete steps, defined outputs?
3. **Boundary Clarity** — Non-overlapping with other roles? "What You Are NOT" accurate? Handoff patterns defined?
4. **Completeness** — Gaps causing poor output? New Claude Code capabilities to leverage? Additions must pass Gate.
5. **Consolidation & Trimming (HIGHEST PRIORITY)** — Merge repeats, delete generic content, shorten verbose
   sections, remove LLM-innate knowledge. **Every addition from other dimensions MUST be offset here.**
6. **Capability Growth & Cross-Communication** — New patterns improving output? No human career development.
   Evaluate proactive SendMessage triggers ("notify X when Y" / "consult X before Y") — flag definitions
   lacking them. Check: agent team lifecycle, self-verification, course-correction, context efficiency.
7. **Spec Alignment** — Alignment with `docs/spec/` project patterns and conventions?
8. **Rename Consideration** — Only if compelling — stability has value.

---

## Changelog Format

All changes tracked in `docs/changelog/agents/<agent-name>.md` (create directory if needed).

**Exact format — no deviations:** `# Changelog: <agent-name>` (kebab-case) > `## YYYY-MM-DD` (no suffixes) > exactly 4 H3 sections in order: `### Summary` (1-2 sentences), `### Changes` (bulleted with reasoning), `### Dimensions Evaluated`, `### Rename` (details or "No rename.").

**Rules:** Max 20 lines per entry. Prepend new entries (most recent first). Read only the latest entry in existing changelogs. Report honestly if no improvements found. After applying changes, the orchestrator normalizes: fixes H1, strips H2 suffixes, renames non-standard H3s, deletes extra sections, truncates over 20 lines.

---

## Orchestration Workflow

### Team Setup

Before spawning any agents, create an Agent Team to coordinate the evolution cycle:

1. **Create the team** — `TeamCreate(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}", ...)`
2. **Create Phase 0 tasks** — `TaskCreate(subject="Docs Research", description="Research latest Claude Code documentation for new capabilities")` and `TaskCreate(subject="Docket CLI Audit", description="Audit docket CLI for new/changed commands relevant to agents")`
3. **Create Phase 1 tasks** — one per target agent
4. **Create Phase 2 task** — Coherence & Renames (sequenced after all Phase 1 by orchestrator)

### Phase 0: Documentation Research & Docket CLI Audit

Spawn TWO teammates in parallel — a `claude-code-guide` for docs research and a `senior-engineer`
for docket CLI audit (needs Bash access):

```
Agent(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}", name="docs-researcher", subagent_type="claude-code-guide", prompt="...")
Agent(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}", name="docket-auditor", subagent_type="senior-engineer", prompt="...")
```

Assign Phase 0 tasks via `TaskUpdate`. After both complete, capture outputs as
`{docs_research_findings}` and `{docket_audit_findings}` — both are passed to Phase 1 agents.

Wait for both Phase 0 agents to complete. **Immediately shut down Phase 0 agents** via
`SendMessage(to="docs-researcher", message={type: "shutdown_request"})` and
`SendMessage(to="docket-auditor", message={type: "shutdown_request"})` before starting Phase 1.

### Phase 1: Review & Improve (parallel)

Spawn one teammate per target, using the **matching agent type** (e.g., spawn @senior-engineer to
review `agents/senior-engineer.md`). **Spawn all teammates in the same turn** to maximize
parallelism. If targeting a single agent, spawn one.

Spawn each as `Agent(name="review-<name>", subagent_type="<name>", team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}")` and assign the corresponding task via `TaskUpdate`.

Each self-reviewing teammate (read-only) follows the Phase 1 spawning template: reads its own
agent file, recent changelog, relevant specs, other agents' first ~80 lines, evaluates all 8
dimensions (prioritizing dimension 5), then reports structured recommendations. Use ultrathink
for deep analysis.

**After each Phase 1 teammate completes**, the orchestrator:

1. Reviews the teammate's change recommendations **against the Content Gate** — reject any
   addition that fails any gate check, even if the agent provides a rationale
2. Applies each approved change to `agents/<name>.md` using the Edit tool
3. Writes/updates the changelog entry in `docs/changelog/agents/<name>.md`
4. **Normalizes the changelog** per the Changelog Format rules above
5. Tracks rename recommendations and coherence issues for Phase 2
6. **Log cross-communication**: record any SendMessage exchanges between agents (sender, recipient, topic) for the wrap-up observability report
7. **Verify edits against codebase reality**: run `wc -l` for budget compliance, validate
   frontmatter intact and sections in order, check for broken cross-references to other
   agents/skills/specs. Spot-check that any newly introduced references, file paths, or CLI
   commands are accurate — verify claims, don't trust them.
8. **Self-correct on mediocre results**: if applied changes make an agent file less clear or
   more verbose without behavioral improvement, revert and try a different approach rather
   than compounding. The clean version written with full context beats patching.

Use `TaskList()` to check overall Phase 1 progress.

**If a Phase 1 agent reports cross-cutting findings via SendMessage**, route them to other
in-flight Phase 1 agents and aggregate for Phase 2.

**Shut down each Phase 1 agent immediately after applying its changes** — do not wait for all Phase 1 agents to complete before shutting down finished ones.

### Phase 2: Coherence & Renames (sequential)

After ALL Phase 1 teammates complete and the orchestrator has applied their changes, spawn a
single @staff-engineer teammate (read-only) to review coherence and recommend fixes.

Spawn as `Agent(name="coherence-reviewer", subagent_type="staff-engineer", team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}")` and assign the Phase 2 task.

The Phase 2 teammate follows the Phase 2 spawning template: reads all agent files, verifies
renames, checks cross-agent coherence (boundaries, references, gaps, overlaps, terminology,
handoffs), then reports structured recommendations.

**After the Phase 2 teammate completes**, the orchestrator:

1. Executes any renames (`mv`, frontmatter updates, reference updates across codebase)
2. Applies coherence fixes using the Edit tool
3. Updates `docs/changelog/agents/<name>.md` for any agent that received coherence fixes

### Wrap-up & Team Cleanup

After Phase 2 completes:

1. **Shut down the Phase 2 agent** (Phase 0 and Phase 1 agents were shut down in their phases), then `TeamDelete(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}")`.
2. Run `wc -l agents/*.md`. Consolidate any over 500 lines.
3. Report: files modified, before/after line counts, improvements made, renames/coherence fixes,
   cross-communication log (who messaged whom and why), and reminder that NO changes have been committed.

---

## Spawning Templates

### Phase 0: @claude-code-guide (Documentation Research)

```
Agent(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}", name="docs-researcher", subagent_type="claude-code-guide", prompt="...")

MISSION: Research Claude Code documentation for capabilities relevant to writing agent definition files (agents/*.md). Report NEW or CHANGED features only — skip well-known existing behavior.

FOCUS AREAS: Sub-agents, Agent Teams, Hooks, Skills, Changelog (recent releases, breaking changes), Settings, MCP, Tools, Memory, Permissions.

OUTPUT: `- **<capability/change>**: <agent definition relevance>` grouped under:
New Capabilities, Changed Features, Deprecated/Removed, Recommendations.
```

### Phase 0: Docket CLI Audit

Spawn one docket-auditor agent using `subagent_type: "senior-engineer"` (needs Bash access).

```
Agent(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}", name="docket-auditor", subagent_type="senior-engineer", prompt="...")

Audit the docket CLI for agent evolution reviewers.

1. Run `--help` on every docket command and subcommand.
2. Grep for `docket ` across `agents/` and `.claude/skills/` for current usage.
3. Cross-reference: new/changed/deprecated commands vs. codebase usage.

Output: New, Changed, Deprecated commands (with synopsis) plus full CLI reference tree.
```

### Phase 1: Self-Review & Improve

Spawn one teammate per target using `team_name`, `name`, and `subagent_type` matching the agent
name (e.g., `subagent_type: "senior-engineer"` for `agents/senior-engineer.md`). Substitute
`<name>`, `{today_date}` (from pre-flight step 3), `{verified_goal}` (from step 1),
and `{experience_feedback}` (from step 2) for each.

```
Agent(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}", name="review-<name>", subagent_type="<name>", prompt="...")

Read agents/<name>.md — this is YOUR definition. You are reviewing yourself to evolve.

Target: agents/<name>.md | Size: {line_count} lines | Mode: {mode}
Verified goal: {verified_goal} (pre-verified — re-verify if your understanding diverges)
Experience feedback: {experience_feedback}

## Size Budget

500-line hard limit. **TRIM** (over 500): consolidation primary — removals must exceed additions.
**BALANCED** (under 500): additions allowed but offset by removals. Report NET_LINES per change.

## Context

- Date: {today_date} (for changelog). Read latest changelog entry from docs/changelog/agents/<name>.md.
- Read docs/spec/ selectively, other agent files first ~80 lines only. Skip WebFetch.
- Review operator experience feedback below — prioritize addressing reported pain points and friction.
- Review docs/Claude Code research and docket audit findings below — reflect new capabilities
  and verify docket commands/flags are current.

## Claude Code Documentation Research
{docs_research_findings}

## Docket CLI Audit Findings
{docket_audit_findings}

## Operator Experience Feedback
{experience_feedback}

## Content Gate (ALL additions must pass — reject if ANY fails)

Apply 4-check gate (Executable, Behavioral, Non-redundant, Concrete) — reject additions failing ANY check.

## Task: Evaluate ALL 8 dimensions. Over-Engineering is HIGHEST PRIORITY — every addition MUST be offset by a removal. Do not default to approval.

1. **Role Realism**: Senior practitioner behavior, actionable by Claude?
2. **Actionability**: Specific workflows, concrete steps, defined outputs?
3. **Boundary Clarity**: Non-overlapping roles, accurate "What You Are NOT", handoff patterns?
4. **Completeness**: Gaps or new capabilities to leverage?
5. **Consolidation & Trimming (HIGHEST PRIORITY)**: Remove, shorten, merge. Every addition offset here.
6. **Capability Growth & Cross-Communication**: New patterns? Proactive SendMessage triggers ("notify X
   when Y")? Agent team patterns (shutdown, lifecycle, task coordination)? Flag gaps.
7. **Spec Alignment**: Aligned with docs/spec/?
8. **Rename**: Only if compelling.

## Rules

- **Read-only** — analyze and recommend, do not edit files. Build on strengths, don't rewrite.
- **Minimize context**: first 80 lines of other agents, relevant specs only.
- **Course-correct**: SendMessage orchestrator immediately for cross-cutting issues, universal patterns,
  or scope expansion beyond target agent.

## Output Format

`### Summary` (1-2 sentences + net line change) > `### Recommended Changes` (per change:
CHANGE/DIMENSION/CONTEXT/NET_LINES/OLD_STRING/NEW_STRING — use `<REMOVE>` to delete,
`<INSERT_AFTER>` to add) > `### Changelog Entry` (under 20 lines, 4 sections: Summary, Changes,
Dimensions Evaluated, Rename) > `### Rename Recommendation` > `### Coherence Issues`
```

### Phase 2: @staff-engineer (Coherence & Renames)

Read-only cross-cutting coherence review. Orchestrator applies all edits. Substitute `{today_date}`.

```
Agent(team_name="evolve-agents-{today_date}", name="coherence-reviewer", subagent_type="staff-engineer", prompt="...")

Check cross-agent coherence and recommend fixes. Date: {today_date}. **Read-only — do not edit files.**

## Renames to Execute
<list recommended renames, or "No renames were recommended.">

## Phase 1 Coherence Issues
<list issues from Phase 1, or "None reported.">

## Task

1. Read ALL agent files in agents/*.md
2. If renames listed, verify and prepare rename instructions (file, frontmatter, references, changelog)
3. Check coherence: "What You Are NOT" accuracy, bidirectional cross-references, no gaps/overlaps,
   consistent terminology, handoff patterns work both ways
4. Check cross-communication: enumerate SendMessage trigger pairs, identify missing triggers between
   dependent agents, flag hub-and-spoke patterns (>50% through one agent), verify bidirectionality

## Output

`### Renames` (RENAME/FRONTMATTER_UPDATE/REFERENCES_TO_UPDATE/CHANGELOG_RENAME or "No renames needed")
> `### Coherence Fixes` (FIX/FILE/OLD_STRING/NEW_STRING/REASON or "No issues found") >
`### Changelog Entries` (4 sections, max 20 lines per agent) > `### Remaining Issues`
```

---

## Rules

1. **Pre-flight before spawning.** Validate files exist and arguments resolve.
2. **TeamCreate → TaskCreate before any Agent calls.** Phase 0 → Phase 1 (parallel) → Phase 2.
3. **Always run Phase 2** — even for single-agent improvements.
4. **Orchestrator-only edits.** Teammates are read-only. Never commit.
5. **Enforce Content Gate, 500-line budget, and changelog format** per their sections above.
6. **Fail loud.** Report failures immediately. On timeout, re-spawn once; after two failures, orchestrator reviews directly.
7. **Clean up.** Shutdown all teammates and `TeamDelete` after wrap-up.
8. **Preserve context across compaction.** In long evolution sessions, context compaction may
   occur. After compaction, re-read the verified goal, current phase, and pending tasks before
   continuing orchestration.
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