Subagent Creator

Create specialized subagents that run in isolated contexts via the Task tool.

Core Principles

1. Isolated Context - Each subagent has its own context window
2. Specialized Role - One clear responsibility per subagent
3. Minimal Tools - Grant only necessary tool access
4. Clear Trigger - Description must indicate when to use

Subagent Structure

.claude/agents/
├── code-reviewer.md      # Project-level
├── test-runner.md
└── domain-expert.md

User-level agents go in ~/.claude/agents/.

File Format

---
name: agent-name
description: What this agent does. Use proactively when [triggers].
tools: Read, Grep, Glob, Bash
model: sonnet
skills: skill1, skill2
permissionMode: default
---

System prompt for the agent.

## Role
[Clear description of the agent's role]

## Process
[Steps the agent should follow]

## Output Format
[Expected output structure]

Configuration Fields

Field	Required	Description
name	Yes	Lowercase with hyphens: code-reviewer
description	Yes	Include "Use proactively when..." for auto-invoke
tools	No	CSV list; omit to inherit all tools
model	No	sonnet, opus, haiku, or inherit
skills	No	Auto-load skills when invoked
permissionMode	No	default, acceptEdits, bypassPermissions, plan

Model Selection

Model	Use Case
haiku	Fast exploration, simple tasks
sonnet	Balanced capability (default)
opus	Complex reasoning, architecture
inherit	Use main conversation's model

Tool Recommendations

Subagent Type	Recommended Tools
Code reviewer	Read, Grep, Glob, Bash
Test runner	Read, Bash, Grep
Explorer	Read, Glob, Grep, Bash
Writer	Read, Edit, Write, Bash

Trigger Patterns

For automatic invocation, include in description:

• "Use proactively when..."
• "Use immediately after..."
• "MUST BE USED when..."

For manual invocation, omit proactive triggers.

Validation Checklist

• [ ] Name is lowercase with hyphens
• [ ] Description has clear trigger
• [ ] Tools are minimal and appropriate
• [ ] No overlapping responsibility with other agents
• [ ] System prompt is focused and actionable

References

• examples.md - Subagent templates
• tools.md - Available tools reference