call_subordinate.py DOX

Purpose

• Own the call_subordinate.py agent tool.
• This module delegates work to a subordinate Agent Zero profile and returns its result.
• Keep this file-level DOX profile synchronized with call_subordinate.py because this directory is intentionally flat.

Ownership

• call_subordinate.py owns the runtime implementation.
• call_subordinate.py.dox.md owns durable notes about responsibilities, contracts, side effects, and verification for that implementation.
• Classes:
• Delegation (Tool)
  • async execute(self, message=..., reset=..., **kwargs)
  • get_log_object(self)
• Top-level functions:
• _subordinate_profile_labels(agent: Agent) -> dict[str, str]
• _validate_subordinate_profile(agent: Agent, profile: str) -> str

Runtime Contracts

• Tool modules must define helpers.tool.Tool subclasses and return helpers.tool.Response from execute(...).
• Update this file whenever tool arguments, output shape, break_loop behavior, intervention handling, prompt instructions, or side effects change.
• Delegation is a Tool.
• Delegation defines execute(...).
• Observed side-effect areas: filesystem writes, settings/state persistence.
• profile/agent_profile values are validated against available profile keys before use; unknown profiles raise RepairableException so the agent can retry with a real profile.
• Supplying a different profile for an existing subordinate without reset=true raises RepairableException instead of silently continuing the old subordinate.
• Imported dependency areas include: agent, extensions.python.hist_add_tool_result, helpers, helpers.errors, helpers.tool.

Key Concepts

• Important called helpers/classes observed in the source: self.agent.get_data, projects.get_context_project_name, subagents.get_available_agents_dict, RepairableException, initialize_agent, subordinate.hist_add_user_message, subordinate.history.new_topic, Response, self.agent.context.log.log, Agent, sub.set_data, self.agent.set_data, UserMessage, subordinate.monologue, self.agent.read_prompt, str.lower.strip, str.lower.
• Keep request/response, tool, or helper semantics documented here at the same time as source changes.

Work Guidance

• Keep tool output concise, model-readable, and safe for history persistence.
• Coordinate argument or behavior changes with prompt tool instructions and skill guidance.
• Respect intervention flow for long-running, external, or user-visible operations.

Verification

• Run targeted tool and prompt-contract tests for changed behavior; smoke-test agent execution when no focused test exists.
• Related tests observed by source search:
  • tests/test_default_prompt_budget.py
  • tests/test_subagent_profiles.py

Child DOX Index

No child DOX files.