91 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
91 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
# Multi-Agent Patterns
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Distribute work across multiple context windows for isolation and scale.
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## Core Insight
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Sub-agents exist to **isolate context**, not anthropomorphize roles.
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## Token Economics
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| Architecture | Multiplier | Use Case |
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|--------------|------------|----------|
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| Single agent | 1x | Simple tasks |
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| Single + tools | ~4x | Moderate complexity |
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| Multi-agent | ~15x | Context isolation needed |
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**Key**: Token usage explains 80% of performance variance.
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## Patterns
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### Supervisor/Orchestrator
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```python
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class Supervisor:
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def process(self, task):
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subtasks = self.decompose(task)
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results = [worker.execute(st, clean_context=True) for st in subtasks]
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return self.aggregate(results)
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```
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**Pros**: Control, human-in-loop | **Cons**: Bottleneck, telephone game
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### Peer-to-Peer/Swarm
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```python
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def process_with_handoff(agent, task):
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result = agent.process(task)
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if "handoff" in result:
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return process_with_handoff(select_agent(result["to"]), result["state"])
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return result
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```
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**Pros**: No SPOF, scales | **Cons**: Complex coordination
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### Hierarchical
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Strategy → Planning → Execution layers
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**Pros**: Separation of concerns | **Cons**: Coordination overhead
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## Context Isolation Patterns
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| Pattern | Isolation | Use Case |
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|---------|-----------|----------|
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| Full delegation | None | Max capability |
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| Instruction passing | High | Simple tasks |
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| File coordination | Medium | Shared state |
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## Consensus Mechanisms
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```python
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def weighted_consensus(responses):
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scores = {}
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for r in responses:
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weight = r["confidence"] * r["expertise"]
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scores[r["answer"]] = scores.get(r["answer"], 0) + weight
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return max(scores, key=scores.get)
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```
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## Failure Recovery
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| Failure | Mitigation |
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|---------|------------|
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| Bottleneck | Output schemas, checkpointing |
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| Overhead | Clear handoffs, batching |
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| Divergence | Boundaries, convergence checks |
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| Errors | Validation, circuit breakers |
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## Guidelines
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1. Use multi-agent for context isolation, not role-play
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2. Accept ~15x token cost for benefits
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3. Implement circuit breakers
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4. Use files for shared state
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5. Design clear handoffs
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6. Validate between agents
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## Related
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- [Context Optimization](./context-optimization.md)
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- [Evaluation](./evaluation.md)
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