From f39cc1b954cc4c55dc5b15084d44e2462f93c775 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bastien Chanot Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:06:11 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] chore(memory): capitalize LRN-030 (Opus 4.8 under-delegation) Add LRN-030 documenting Opus 4.8's tendency to under-delegate subagents/memory/custom-tools by default and the CLAUDE.md fan-out rule that counters it; log the session in journal.md under 2026-06-18. Co-Authored-By: Claude --- .claude/memory/journal.md | 6 ++++++ .claude/memory/learnings.md | 12 ++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 18 insertions(+) diff --git a/.claude/memory/journal.md b/.claude/memory/journal.md index 7b99993..be385c5 100644 --- a/.claude/memory/journal.md +++ b/.claude/memory/journal.md @@ -158,3 +158,9 @@ rules: ## 2026-06-12 - Fable 5 audit global CLAUDE.md → refactor e7e9dac: 4 contradictions (graphify x2 stale, plan-skip, deviations, append-only), 3 dead refs, restructure (Tooling & skills + This-repo-only sections), routing +8 skills + gstack-OFF rule, caveman compress non-critical only (-1471 chars net). Security/Architecture verbatim by design. BDR-021. + +## 2026-06-18 + +- Explained `claude-agent-sdk` = lib to build YOUR own agent programs (NOT a powers-boost for the running Claude Code); pipx `--include-deps` wrong for a library (polluted PATH w/ 6 CLIs + jsonschema collision), venv is right home. Install deferred pending user's intended use. +- Added CLAUDE.md `## Workflow` subagent-delegation rule (fan-out → delegate, not serial) countering Opus 4.8 under-delegate trait. 2 commits: bc7f657 (settings model-pin removal), 02a0ba0 (CLAUDE.md). LRN-030 capitalized. +- Note: learnings.md Index missing LRN-028/029 rows (pre-existing gap, left untouched — out of scope). diff --git a/.claude/memory/learnings.md b/.claude/memory/learnings.md index 46f9688..c0ca1f2 100644 --- a/.claude/memory/learnings.md +++ b/.claude/memory/learnings.md @@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ rules: | LRN-025 | 2026-06-02 | `.gitignore` gstack allowlist must cover ALL toggleable skills (incl. parked) — else enabling one = untracked git noise | any toggle that moves local-symlink skills into a tracked dir; post-submodule-bump reconcile | | LRN-026 | 2026-06-09 | `disable-model-invocation: false` = ENABLED not blocking; only `true` blocks (model + orchestrator); binary, no per-caller | Claude Code skill frontmatter; deciding self-route/chain vs human-only entry point | | LRN-027 | 2026-06-11 | Agents improvise audit boundaries from file dates when no machine state — periodic skills need machine-readable state file, never inference | any recurring/periodic skill needing "since last run" semantics | +| LRN-030 | 2026-06-18 | Opus 4.8 under-delegates subagents/memory/custom-tools by default — counter via explicit CLAUDE.md fan-out rule | any Opus 4.8 session; tuning delegation; inline-vs-subagent decision | --- @@ -428,3 +429,14 @@ rules: - **Why matters**: improvement edits create inconsistency debt invisible to author in same context (darwin blacklist #1). - **Applies to**: skill/doc/spec edits adding branches; any self-modified artifact scoring. - **Reference**: commits 0d2ece7 (introduced), 9fc93fa (fixed). Linked to LRN-027. + +--- + +## LRN-030 — Opus 4.8 under-delegates subagents/memory/custom-tools by default — counter with explicit fan-out rule in CLAUDE.md + +- **Date**: 2026-06-18 +- **Context**: User noticed Claude rarely spawns subagents. Real cause = Opus 4.8 documented behavioral trait (Anthropic migration notes, surfaced via claude-api skill): conservative reaching for capabilities needing explicit "decide-to-use" step — subagent delegation, file-based memory, custom tools — won't reach unless reasonably sure needed. Less than 4.6/4.7. Session was partly correct task-sizing (1-2 file reads → inline right), partly real under-reach. +- **Pattern**: model-level under-delegation steerable via explicit prompt/config, NOT hard hook. Counter = CLAUDE.md `## Workflow` rule: task fans out across independent items (many files, parallel searches, multi-point checks) → delegate to subagents, don't iterate serially; default to delegation for multi-file exploration. +- **Why matters**: long sessions grind serially + fill main context when 3 parallel agents (cavecrew-investigator / Explore) would map at once. Default tendency wastes the agents the config already defines. +- **Applies to**: any Opus 4.8 session; tuning delegation behavior; deciding inline vs subagent. Same trait drives memory + custom-tool under-use — same counter. +- **Reference**: commit 02a0ba0 (CLAUDE.md `## Workflow` edit).