Debate

Think with one independent peer

Use one subagent as a peer, not as an opponent, judge, or worker. Seek the best next action, not a win. Keep the main agent responsible for the question, the dialogue, the decision, and the result.

Hold one main rule:

Use a debate because the user asks, or because one independent view could realistically change the next meaningful action enough to justify another agent.

Do not debate for ceremony or use dialogue in place of a direct check. Debate an open choice, assumption, tradeoff, or frame. Keep goals, limits, and values that the user has already settled out of dispute.

Keep one question and two agents

• Treat the agent that owns the current task and will act after the debate as the main agent. A spawned agent can hold this role. Do not confuse being a subagent in a larger workflow with being the debate peer.
• Start exactly one subagent. Name it as the only debate peer in its brief and tell it not to delegate. Do not add fixed sides, a judge, a panel, or a vote.
• Keep both agents in study mode until the decision is resolved. Do not begin the disputed implementation while the dialogue is open.
• Let the subagent inspect sources and run safe, read-only checks. Do not let it edit artifacts, send messages to people, take external actions, or make the disputed change.
• If the current brief names you as the debate peer, do not start another debate or delegate any work. Form your own view and return it to the main agent.