Subrecipes For Specialized Tasks - Goose

Subrecipes are recipes that are used by another recipe to perform specific tasks. They enable:

Multi-step workflows - Break complex tasks into distinct phases with specialized expertise
Reusable components - Create common tasks that can be used in various workflows

:::warning Experimental Feature Subrecipes are an experimental feature in active development. Behavior and configuration may change in future releases. :::

How Subrecipes Work

The "main recipe" registers its subrecipes in the sub_recipes field, which contains the following fields:

name: Unique identifier for the subrecipe, used to generate the tool name
path: File path to the subrecipe file (relative or absolute)
values: (Optional) Pre-configured parameter values that are always passed to the subrecipe

When the main recipe is run, goose generates a tool for each subrecipe that:

Accepts parameters defined by the subrecipe
Executes the subrecipe in a separate session with its own context
Returns output to the main recipe

Sub-recipe sessions run in isolation - they don't share conversation history, memory, or state with the main recipe or other subrecipes. Additionally, subrecipes cannot define their own subrecipes (no nesting allowed).

:::note Recipes that define sub_recipes automatically get the summon platform extension injected, so the delegate tool is available without needing to list it in extensions. :::

Parameter Handling

Parameters received by subrecipes can be used in prompts and instructions using {{ parameter_name }} syntax. Subrecipes receive parameters in two ways:

Pre-set values: Fixed parameter values defined in the values field are automatically provided and cannot be overridden at runtime
Context-based parameters: The AI agent can extract parameter values from the conversation context, including results from previous subrecipes

Pre-set values take precedence over context-based parameters. If both the conversation context and values field provide the same parameter, the values version is used.

:::tip Use the indent() filter to maintain valid YAML format when passing multi-line parameter values to subrecipes, for example: {{ content | indent(2) }}. See Template Support for more details. :::

Examples

Sequential Processing

This Code Review Pipeline example shows a main recipe that uses two subrecipes to perform a comprehensive code review:

Usage:

bash

goose run --recipe code-review-pipeline.yaml --params repository_path=/path/to/repo

Main Recipe:

yaml

# code-review-pipeline.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
title: "Code Review Pipeline"
description: "Automated code review using subrecipes"
instructions: |
  Perform a code review using the available subrecipe tools.
  Run security analysis first, then code quality analysis.

parameters:
  - key: repository_path
    input_type: string
    requirement: required
    description: "Path to the repository to review"

sub_recipes:
  - name: "security_scan"
    path: "./subrecipes/security-analysis.yaml"
    values:
      scan_level: "comprehensive"
  
  - name: "quality_check"
    path: "./subrecipes/quality-analysis.yaml"

extensions:
  - type: builtin
    name: developer
    timeout: 300
    bundled: true

prompt: |
  Review the code at {{ repository_path }} using the subrecipe tools.
  Run security scan first, then quality analysis.

Subrecipes:

<details> <summary>security_scan</summary> ```yaml # subrecipes/security-analysis.yaml version: "1.0.0" title: "Security Scanner" description: "Analyze code for security vulnerabilities" instructions: | You are a security expert. Analyze the provided code for security issues. Focus on common vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and authentication flaws.

parameters: - key: repository_path input_type: string requirement: required description: "Path to the code to analyze"

- key: scan_level
  input_type: string
  requirement: optional
  default: "standard"
  description: "Depth of security scan (basic, standard, comprehensive)"

extensions: - type: builtin name: developer timeout: 300 bundled: true

prompt: | Perform a {{ scan_level }} security analysis on the code at {{ repository_path }}. Report any security vulnerabilities found with severity levels and recommendations.

</details>

<details>
<summary>quality_check</summary>
```yaml
# subrecipes/quality-analysis.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
title: "Code Quality Analyzer"
description: "Analyze code quality and best practices"
instructions: |
  You are a code quality expert. Review code for maintainability, 
  readability, and adherence to best practices.

parameters:
  - key: repository_path
    input_type: string
    requirement: required
    description: "Path to the code to analyze"

extensions:
  - type: builtin
    name: developer
    timeout: 300
    bundled: true

prompt: |
  Analyze the code quality at {{ repository_path }}.
  Check for code smells, complexity issues, and suggest improvements.

</details>

:::tip For faster execution when subrecipes are independent, see Running Subrecipes In Parallel to execute multiple subrecipes concurrently. :::

Conditional Processing

This Smart Project Analyzer example shows conditional logic that chooses between different subrecipes based on analysis:

Usage:

bash

goose run --recipe smart-analyzer.yaml --params repository_path=/path/to/project

Main Recipe:

yaml

# smart-analyzer.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
title: "Smart Project Analyzer"
description: "Analyze project and choose appropriate processing based on type"
instructions: |
  First examine the repository to determine the project type (web app, CLI tool, library, etc.).
  Based on what you find:
  - If it's a web application, use the web_security_audit subrecipe
  - If it's a CLI tool or library, use the api_documentation subrecipe
  Only run one subrecipe based on your analysis.

parameters:
  - key: repository_path
    input_type: string
    requirement: required
    description: "Path to the repository to analyze"

sub_recipes:
  - name: "web_security_audit"
    path: "./subrecipes/web-security.yaml"
    values:
      check_cors: "true"
      check_csrf: "true"
  
  - name: "api_documentation"
    path: "./subrecipes/api-docs.yaml"
    values:
      format: "markdown"

extensions:
  - type: builtin
    name: developer
    timeout: 300
    bundled: true

prompt: |
  Analyze the project at {{ repository_path }} and determine its type.
  Then run the appropriate subrecipe tool based on your findings.

Subrecipes:

<details> <summary>web_security_audit</summary> ```yaml # subrecipes/web-security.yaml version: "1.0.0" title: "Web Security Auditor" description: "Security audit for web applications" instructions: | You are a web security specialist. Audit web applications for security vulnerabilities specific to web technologies.

parameters: - key: repository_path input_type: string requirement: required description: "Path to the web application code"

- key: check_cors
  input_type: string
  requirement: optional
  default: "false"
  description: "Whether to check CORS configuration"

- key: check_csrf
  input_type: string
  requirement: optional
  default: "false"
  description: "Whether to check CSRF protection"

extensions: - type: builtin name: developer timeout: 300 bundled: true

prompt: | Perform a web security audit on {{ repository_path }}. {% if check_cors == "true" %}Check CORS configuration for security issues.{% endif %} {% if check_csrf == "true" %}Verify CSRF protection is properly implemented.{% endif %} Focus on web-specific vulnerabilities like XSS, authentication flaws, and session management.

</details>

<details>
<summary>api_documentation</summary>
```yaml
# subrecipes/api-docs.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
title: "API Documentation Generator"
description: "Generate documentation for APIs and libraries"
instructions: |
  You are a technical writer specializing in API documentation.
  Create comprehensive documentation for code libraries and APIs.

parameters:
  - key: repository_path
    input_type: string
    requirement: required
    description: "Path to the code to document"
  
  - key: format
    input_type: string
    requirement: optional
    default: "markdown"
    description: "Output format for documentation (markdown, html, rst)"

extensions:
  - type: builtin
    name: developer
    timeout: 300
    bundled: true

prompt: |
  Generate {{ format }} documentation for the code at {{ repository_path }}.
  Include API endpoints, function signatures, usage examples, and installation instructions.
  Focus on making it easy for developers to understand and use this code.

</details>

Context-Based Parameter Passing

This Travel Planner example shows how subrecipes can receive parameters from conversation context, including results from previous subrecipes:

Usage:

bash

goose run --recipe travel-planner.yaml

Main Recipe:

yaml

# travel-planner.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
title: "Travel Activity Planner"
description: "Get weather data and suggest appropriate activities"
instructions: |
  Plan activities by first getting weather data, then suggesting activities based on conditions.

prompt: |
  Plan activities for Sydney by first getting weather data, then suggesting activities based on the weather conditions we receive.

sub_recipes:
  - name: weather_data
    path: "./subrecipes/weather-data.yaml"
    # No values - location parameter comes from prompt context
  
  - name: activity_suggestions
    path: "./subrecipes/activity-suggestions.yaml"
    # weather_conditions parameter comes from conversation context

extensions:
  - type: builtin
    name: developer
    timeout: 300
    bundled: true

Subrecipes:

<details> <summary>weather_data</summary> ```yaml # subrecipes/weather-data.yaml version: "1.0.0" title: "Weather Data Collector" description: "Fetch current weather conditions for a location" instructions: | You are a weather data specialist. Gather current weather information including temperature, conditions, and seasonal context.

parameters: - key: location input_type: string requirement: required description: "City or location to get weather data for"

extensions: - type: stdio name: weather cmd: uvx args: - mcp_weather@latest timeout: 300 description: "Weather data for trip planning" - type: builtin name: developer timeout: 300 bundled: true

prompt: | Get the current weather conditions for {{ location }}. Include temperature, weather conditions (sunny, rainy, etc.), and any relevant seasonal information.

</details>

<details>
<summary>activity_suggestions</summary>
```yaml
# subrecipes/activity-suggestions.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
title: "Activity Recommender"
description: "Suggest activities based on weather conditions"
instructions: |
  You are a travel expert. Recommend appropriate activities and attractions
  based on current weather conditions.

parameters:
  - key: weather_conditions
    input_type: string
    requirement: required
    description: "Current weather conditions to base recommendations on"

extensions:
  - type: builtin
    name: developer
    timeout: 300
    bundled: true

prompt: |
  Based on these weather conditions: {{ weather_conditions }}, 
  suggest appropriate activities, attractions, and travel tips.
  Include both indoor and outdoor options as relevant.

</details>

In this example:

The weather_data subrecipe gets the location from the prompt context (the AI extracts "Sydney" from the natural language prompt)
The activity_suggestions subrecipe gets weather conditions from the conversation context (the AI uses the weather results from the first subrecipe)

Best Practices

Single responsibility: Each subrecipe should have one clear purpose
Clear parameters: Use descriptive names and descriptions
Pre-set fixed values: Use values for parameters that don't change
Test independently: Verify subrecipes work alone before combining

:::tip Controlling Subrecipe Execution Each subrecipe can specify its own settings.max_turns value to control execution limits. If not specified, the subrecipe inherits the parent recipe's max_turns setting. See Recipe Settings for details.

yaml

# subrecipes/quick-scan.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
title: "Quick Security Scan"
settings:
  max_turns: 10  # Limit this subrecipe to 10 turns
instructions: "Perform a quick security scan"
prompt: "Scan for common vulnerabilities"

:::

Learn More

Check out the Recipes guide for more docs, tools, and resources to help you master goose recipes.