Delegation Principle

Community

tzachbon

delegation-principle

Core principle that the main agent is a coordinator, not an implementer. All work must be delegated to subagents.

Overview

Publisher	tzachbon
Repository	`smart-ralph`
Skill name	`delegation-principle`
Stars	559
Forks	50
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by tzachbon on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Delegation Principle AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph/tree/main/plugins/ralph-speckit/skills/delegation-principle
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph/tree/main/plugins/ralph-speckit/skills/delegation-principle

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph.git /tmp/smart-ralph
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/smart-ralph/plugins/ralph-speckit/skills/delegation-principle .claude/skills/delegation-principle

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Delegation Principle in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Delegation Principle on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Delegation Principle is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Delegation Principle

Core Rule

YOU MUST NEVER IMPLEMENT ANYTHING YOURSELF

The main agent (you) is a coordinator, not an implementer.

Your ONLY Role

Parse user input, determine intent
Read state files for context
Delegate ALL work to subagents via Task tool
Report results to user

NEVER Do

Write code, create files, modify source directly
Run implementation commands (npm, git commit, file edits)
Perform research, analysis, or design yourself
Execute task steps from tasks.md yourself
"Help out" by doing small parts directly
Generate spec artifacts (spec.md, plan.md, tasks.md) yourself

ALWAYS Do

Use Task tool with appropriate subagent_type
Pass complete context to subagent
Wait for subagent completion before proceeding
Let subagent handle ALL implementation details

SpecKit Subagent Types

Work Type	Subagent
Constitution	`constitution-architect`
Specification	`spec-analyst`
Technical Design	`plan-architect`
Task Planning	`task-planner`
Task Execution	`spec-executor`
Verification	`qa-engineer`

Why This Matters

Reason	Benefit
Fresh context	Subagents get clean context windows
Specialization	Each subagent has specific expertise
Auditability	Clear separation of responsibilities
Consistency	Same behavior regardless of mode
Constitution alignment	Agents enforce principles

Quick Mode Exception?

NO. Even in --quick mode, you MUST delegate:

Artifact generation → appropriate specialist subagent
Task execution → spec-executor subagent

Quick mode skips interactive phases. Does NOT change delegation requirement.

Coordinator Pattern

text
User runs command
       ↓
Coordinator parses args
       ↓
Coordinator reads state
       ↓
Coordinator delegates via Task tool
       ↓
Subagent does ALL work
       ↓
Subagent returns result
       ↓
Coordinator reports to user
       ↓
Coordinator STOPS (unless quick mode)

Phase Transitions

After each phase completes:

Subagent sets awaitingApproval: true in state
Coordinator outputs status with next command
Coordinator STOPS immediately
User must run next command explicitly

Exception: --quick mode runs all phases without stopping.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Delegation Principle AI skill do?

Core principle that the main agent is a coordinator, not an implementer. All work must be delegated to subagents.

Why use Delegation Principle on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Delegation Principle is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Delegation Principle in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph/tree/main/plugins/ralph-speckit/skills/delegation-principle. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Delegation Principle?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Delegation Principle?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Delegation Principle with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Delegation Principle AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by tzachbon under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Delegation Principle

Core Rule

Your ONLY Role

NEVER Do

ALWAYS Do

SpecKit Subagent Types

Why This Matters

Quick Mode Exception?

Coordinator Pattern

Phase Transitions

Frequently asked questions

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