delegate

/octopus:delegate is the command that hands a task to a specific Octopus role (@architect, @backend-developer, @writer, …) and returns the result inline with attribution. It’s the slash-command surface to the same dispatch mechanism that octopus ask and octopus control use from the terminal.

Why delegate at all when the agent can just do the work

The current agent has one persona — usually a generalist tuned by the loaded skills and rules. Roles narrow that persona: an @architect reviews with BLOCKING/ADVISORY/QUESTION discipline and uses Opus; a @product-manager works problem-first without touching code; a @marketer has code-modification forbidden by the tools allowlist.

Switching personas mid-conversation is what delegation buys. The agent stays in the conversation; the role-specific call goes out and comes back with its result attributed, ready to be reacted to.

Single-role dispatch

/octopus:delegate @backend-developer add POST /invoices endpoint to the API

The role runs in a sub-context with its own model, tools allowlist, and skill bias. The result is returned inline, prefixed with » backend-developer respondeu: so the conversation history distinguishes the role’s output from the orchestrator’s.

Multi-step pipelines

Sequencing language lets you chain roles in one invocation:

@tech-writer: create a spec for lesson plan management.
After documenting, have @product-manager review it.
Once validated, delegate implementation to @frontend-developer and @backend-developer.
Finally, have @architect do the code review.

The command parses the sequence into a DAG: roles joined by “and” dispatch in parallel; “after” / “once” / “then” create sequential edges; the previous step’s output flows in as context to the next.

After each step the command pauses for confirmation:

» Step 2/4 done — product-manager replied (1284 chars)
Next: Step 3/4 — parallel: @frontend-developer + @backend-developer
Continue? [y/s · auto · n · skip]

Add --auto to skip every confirmation and run the whole pipeline end to end.

Role aliases

Common shorthands resolve automatically — no need to remember the full role name:

Alias	Resolves to
@pm	@product-manager
@staff-engineer, @staff	@architect
@frontend, @fe, @frontend-specialist	@frontend-developer
@backend, @be, @backend-specialist	@backend-developer
@writer, @tech-writer	@tech-writer

Source: commands/delegate.md