| name | agent-test-delegation |
| description | Test agent delegation patterns to verify hierarchy and escalation paths. Use after modifying agent structure. |
| mcp_fallback | none |
| category | agent |
Agent Delegation Testing
Verify agent hierarchy, delegation chains, and escalation paths.
When to Use
- After modifying agent hierarchy
- Verifying escalation paths work correctly
- Troubleshooting delegation issues
- CI/CD validation before merge
Quick Reference
# Test all delegation patterns
python3 tests/agents/test_delegation.py .claude/agents/
# Test specific agent delegation
./scripts/test_agent_delegation.sh implementation-specialist
# Visualize delegation tree
./scripts/visualize_delegation.sh
What Gets Tested
Hierarchy levels: Agents delegate to lower levels, escalate to higher levels
Delegation chains: L0 → L1 → L2 → L3 → L4 (proper tree structure)
Circular dependencies: Detect A → B → C → A patterns
Reference validity: All delegates_to/escalates_to targets exist
Level consistency: Level values correct and levels don't skip improperly
Validation Rules
| Rule | Example ✅ | Wrong ❌ |
|---|---|---|
| Delegate downward | L2 → L3 | L3 → L2 |
| Escalate upward | L3 → L2 | L3 → L4 |
| No circles | A → B, A → C | A → B → A |
| Valid refs | Existing agent | Nonexistent agent |
Common Issues
Circular dependency: Agent A → Agent B → Agent A
- Fix: Break circle by restructuring delegation
Skip-level delegation: L2 → L4 (skips L3)
- Fix: Document exception in agent description
Orphaned agent: No other agent delegates to it
- Fix: Add delegation or remove if unused
References
/agents/delegation-rules.md- Complete delegation guidelines.claude/agents/- All agent configurationsCLAUDE.md- Hierarchy documentation