Using Ring (Orchestrator Protocol)

When to use

• Every conversation start (automatic via SessionStart hook)
• Before ANY task (check for applicable skills)
• When tempted to operate tools directly instead of delegating

Skip when

• Never skip - this skill is always mandatory

<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT> If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST read the skill. IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT. </EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>

⛔ 3-FILE RULE: HARD GATE

DO NOT read/edit >3 files directly. PROHIBITION, not guidance.

≤3 files → Direct OK (if user requested)
>3 files → STOP. Launch agent. VIOLATION = 15x context waste.

Already at 3 files? STOP. Dispatch agent NOW.

Auto-Trigger Phrases: Mandatory Agent Dispatch

| User Phrase | Mandatory Action | |-------------|-----------------| | "fix issues", "fix remaining", "fix findings" | Launch specialist agent | | "apply fixes", "fix errors", "fix warnings", "fix linting" | Launch specialist agent | | "update across", "change all", "refactor" | Launch specialist agent | | "find where", "search for", "understand how" | Launch Explore agent | | "draw diagram", "visualize", "comparison table" | Load ring:visualizing skill |

Mandatory First Response Protocol

1. ☐ Check for <MANDATORY-USER-MESSAGE> in additionalContext — display verbatim if present
2. ☐ Orchestration decision: which agent handles this? (TodoWrite)
3. ☐ Skill check: does any skill match this request?
4. ☐ If yes → read and run the skill
5. ☐ Announce skill/agent being used
6. ☐ Execute

ORCHESTRATOR Principle

You dispatch agents. You do not operate tools directly.

| Instead of... | Do this | |---------------|---------| | Reading files | Dispatch Explore agent | | Grep/Glob chains | Dispatch Explore agent | | Manual multi-file edits | Dispatch specialist agent | | "Quick look" at codebase | Dispatch Explore agent |

Exceptions (rare): User explicitly provides a file path AND explicitly requests you read it.

Which Agent?

| Task | Agent | |------|-------| | Explore/find/understand/search | Explore | | Plan implementation, break down features | Plan | | Multi-step research, complex investigation | general-purpose | | Code review | 9 default reviewers plus triggered conditional specialists via ring:reviewing-code skill | | Implementation plan document | ring:writing-plans |

Ring reviewers: always parallel in a single turn with multiple Task calls.

Pre-Action Checkpoint (before every Read/Grep/Glob/Bash)

1. FILES: ___ >3? → Agent. Already 3? → Agent now.
2. USER PHRASE: matches auto-trigger? → Agent
3. DECISION: [Agent: ___] or [Direct: reason]

TodoWrite Requirements

First two todos for ANY task:

1. "Orchestration decision: [agent-name]"
2. "Check for relevant skills"

If skill has checklist → TodoWrite for every item.

Summary

Before any task: orchestration decision → skill check → announce → execute.
Before any tool use: complete pre-action checkpoint.
Default answer: dispatch an agent. Exception is rare.