sandgardenhq/sgai/subagent-return-protocol

Subagent Return Protocol

Use this skill when a Task subagent reports completion, concerns, missing context, review findings, or blockers to the agent that invoked it.

Core Rules

• Return exactly one envelope as the final answer.
• Do not call workflow-state tools unless your prompt explicitly permits them.
• Read TASK_PACKET paths first when a packet is provided.
• If context is insufficient, return the missing path, evidence item, decision, or question through NEEDS_CONTEXT.
• Use NEXT_OWNER: invoking agent when the caller should reconcile the result.
• Use NEXT_OWNER: coordinator only when the coordinator must decide or route the next step.
• Use a concrete owner such as project-critic only when your prompt names that wrapper as the caller.

Execution Envelope

Use this for implementation, deployment, writing, cleanup, and other work-producing subagents:

STATUS: DONE | DONE_WITH_CONCERNS | NEEDS_CONTEXT | BLOCKED
TASK: ...
READ_PATHS:
-...
CHANGED_PATHS:
-...
VERIFICATION:
-command: ...
  result: ...
EVIDENCE:
-...
REVIEW_SCOPE:
-...
CONCERNS:
-...
NEXT_OWNER: invoking agent | coordinator

Review Envelope

Use this for reviewer, verifier, safety-review, and project-critic subagents:

REVIEW_STATUS: PASS | NEEDS_WORK | NEEDS_CONTEXT | BLOCKED
SCOPE_REVIEWED:
-...
EVIDENCE_REVIEWED:
-...
FINDINGS:
-file:line - required fix
BLOCKERS:
-...
NEXT_OWNER: invoking agent | developer | coordinator

Status Meanings

• DONE: completed the task with required verification.
• DONE_WITH_CONCERNS: completed the task, but caller must consider listed concerns.
• PASS: reviewed scope has no required fixes.
• NEEDS_WORK: caller must route listed findings for fixes.
• NEEDS_CONTEXT: caller must provide only the missing context listed.
• BLOCKED: caller must resolve the blocker before this work can complete.

Reconciliation Guidance

• Put required fixes in FINDINGS, not prose outside the envelope.
• Put unknowns or unavailable resources in BLOCKERS.
• Put command output, screenshots, docs, and files read in evidence fields.
• Keep NEXT_OWNER about routing, not blame.