{
  "schema": "vedokrok.public-item.v1",
  "release_id": "MHC-RPUB-20260920-75ad787a",
  "url": "/knowledge/let-subagents-write-durable-artifacts-instead-of-relaying-everything-through-the-coordinator",
  "id": "MHC-D-RESEARCH-0954",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "title": "Let subagents write durable artifacts instead of relaying everything through the coordinator",
  "summary": "Every relay is another chance to lose detail.",
  "kind": "protocol",
  "body": "When a subagent creates structured work—code, report, dataset, analysis—store it directly in the shared artifact system and pass a lightweight reference to the coordinator. The coordinator should synthesize or validate the artifact without forcing the full content through multiple conversational summaries.",
  "limits": [
    "Shared artifact stores need access control, provenance and conflict handling when multiple agents write concurrently."
  ],
  "topics": [
    "union-agent-loop-reliability"
  ],
  "intents": [],
  "source_ids": [
    "RS-6479FBCFE4AB9C97"
  ],
  "evidence": [
    {
      "claim": "Anthropic's multi-agent research architecture uses direct artifact persistence to reduce information loss and token overhead across subagent handoffs.",
      "source_id": "RS-6479FBCFE4AB9C97",
      "role": "supports",
      "note": "Shared artifact stores need access control, provenance and conflict handling when multiple agents write concurrently.",
      "locator": "See source record"
    }
  ],
  "use_when": [
    "Specialist subagents produce large outputs that are summarized through several agents before reaching the final artifact."
  ],
  "avoid_when": [
    "Shared artifact stores need access control, provenance and conflict handling when multiple agents write concurrently."
  ],
  "example": "A research subagent writes `market_scan.json`; the lead receives the path and summary instead of a rewritten copy of every source note.",
  "check": "Large specialist output can reach final production without a game of telephone through agent summaries.",
  "steps": [
    "Give the subagent an explicit artifact destination.",
    "Persist the output with a stable identity.",
    "Return a concise result plus artifact reference.",
    "Have the coordinator inspect or validate the artifact directly when needed."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "RS-6479FBCFE4AB9C97",
      "title": "How we built our multi-agent research system",
      "url": "https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/multi-agent-research-system"
    }
  ],
  "relations": [
    {
      "from": "MHC-D-RESEARCH-0954",
      "to": "MHC-D-RESEARCH-0365",
      "type": "useful_with",
      "url": "/knowledge/use-one-handoff-shape-for-recurring-transitions"
    }
  ],
  "collections": [
    {
      "id": "RC-043A908C9263BF6A",
      "title": "Make the agent loop finish, recover and stay inspectable",
      "url": "/collections/make-the-agent-loop-finish-recover-and-stay-inspectable"
    }
  ]
}