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Enhancement: Document --agent mode requirement and generate shell alias for orchestrator #11

@Cpicon

Description

@Cpicon

Summary

The orchestrator agent generated by /generate-debugger can only dispatch specialist subagents when run via claude --agent <name> (main thread mode). When dispatched as a subagent from a normal conversation, it cannot spawn sub-subagents — Claude Code enforces a maximum nesting depth of 1.

This is not a bug in the plugin, but users are not told about this constraint and naturally try to use the orchestrator as a subagent, which silently fails to delegate.

Evidence

Official Claude Code documentation (code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents):

"Subagents cannot spawn other subagents. If your workflow requires nested delegation, use Skills or chain subagents from the main conversation."

"Agent(agent_type) has no effect in subagent definitions."

Current Behavior

  1. User generates agents with /generate-debugger
  2. User tries to use the orchestrator from a normal Claude Code session (dispatched as subagent)
  3. Orchestrator cannot dispatch specialists (nesting blocked)
  4. Orchestrator falls back to investigating directly
  5. User doesn't understand why specialists aren't being used

Recommended Changes

1. Document the --agent mode requirement

Add clear documentation in the generated orchestrator's system prompt and in the command output:

The orchestrator must be run via: claude --agent project-debugger
It CANNOT dispatch specialists when run as a subagent from a normal session.

2. Generate a shell alias

After generating the orchestrator, offer to create a shell alias:

alias claudebug='claude --agent project-debugger'

And prompt the user to add it to their .zshrc/.bashrc.

3. Update the orchestrator's description

The description should clarify that the agent is designed for --agent mode:

description: |
  Debugging orchestrator for [project]. Run via 'claude --agent project-debugger'
  to enable specialist subagent dispatching. Cannot dispatch specialists when
  run as a subagent from a normal session.

4. Consider generating a Skill as alternative entry point

Skills run in the main conversation context and CAN dispatch subagents. A /debug skill could serve as an alternative entry point that:

  • Reads the user's problem description
  • Dispatches the appropriate specialists directly from the main session
  • Follows the orchestration patterns defined in the debugger's system prompt

This would give users two options:

  • claude --agent project-debugger for dedicated debugging sessions
  • /debug for quick debugging within an existing session

Impact

Users who don't know about --agent mode will never see the multi-agent orchestration working. The feature silently degrades to single-agent behavior.

Environment: Claude Code v2.1.79, macOS
Related: Split from #8

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