Agent Deck

The active coding mesh has three LLM-capable agents:

Architect
Explorer
Coder

Guide is separate and only answers usage help questions.

Deck Assembly

agents/deck.py creates the deck:

{
    "explorer": create_explorer_agent(...),
    "coder": create_coder_agent(...),
    "architect": create_architect_agent(...),
}

Every LLM-capable agent receives a separate ProtoLink LLM instance configured with the selected provider and model. Separate instances keep prompts and histories isolated.

Shared Agent Helpers

agents/common.py provides:

Helper	Purpose
`create_selected_llm()`	Create a ProtoLink LLM from the active provider/model.
`conversation_storage(agent_name)`	SQLite storage in `~/.protoagent/conversations.sqlite`, namespace `protoagent-<agent>`.
`resolve_agent_url()`	Explicit URL, environment URL, or default local URL.
`set_transport_timeout()`	Apply long timeouts across ProtoLink transports.
`with_workspace_contract()`	Attach active project path and file-write rules to each system prompt.

Architect

Source: core/protoagent_core/agents/architect.py

Architect receives the user-facing task from the CLI. It owns intent classification, routing, delegation, and final answers.

Capabilities:

Capability	Effect
`agent.delegate`	allow
`llm.history.compact`	allow
`state.compact`	allow
`state.describe`	allow
`state.reset`	allow
default	deny

Architect has no direct workspace read or write tools. It should delegate to Explorer for evidence and Coder for file changes.

Explorer

Source: core/protoagent_core/agents/explorer.py

Explorer is read-only. It builds context maps, reads files, searches, checks git status, and can request a focused Context Loom pack.

Tools:

Tool	Capability	Purpose
`read_file(path)`	`workspace.read`	Read UTF-8 text with line numbers.
`list_directory(path=".")`	`workspace.read`	List workspace files and folders.
`search_regex(pattern, path=".", file_filter=".*")`	`workspace.read`	Regex search over text files.
`get_git_status()`	`workspace.read`	Return `git status --short`.
`build_context_pack(query)`	`workspace.read`	Build source-cited Context Loom evidence.

Policy:

Capability	Effect
`workspace.read`	allow
state and history compaction capabilities	allow
default	deny

Coder

Source: core/protoagent_core/agents/coder.py

Coder is the only agent that can prepare file modifications. It does not get Explorer's broad read/search tools. It is expected to receive enough context from Architect and Explorer.

Tools:

Tool	Capability	Purpose
`generate_unified_diff(path, updated_content, original_content=None)`	`workspace.write`	Replace a file after preview and approval.
`create_new_file(path, content)`	`workspace.write`	Create a file after preview and approval.

Policy:

Capability	Effect
`workspace.write`	require approval
state and history compaction capabilities	allow
default	deny

The action builder creates a RunAction with a text/x-diff preview artifact. The write helper only executes after ProtoLink receives an approving ApprovalDecision.

Guide

Source: core/protoagent_core/help_agent.py

Guide is not part of the coding mesh. It is used by /help QUESTION and has:

Setting	Value
Registry	none
Tools	none
Delegation	false
Storage	none
State	empty
Policy	deny by default

Guide receives a static manual and a redacted current-settings snapshot. It answers ProtoAgent usage questions, not project coding questions.

Agent Manifest

The CLI doctor and fallback paths use agent_manifest():

Agent	Role	Memory namespace	Tools
Architect	orchestrator	`protoagent-architect`	none
Explorer	context	`protoagent-explorer`	Context/read/search/git tools
Coder	synthesis	`protoagent-coder`	diff/create tools

Update this manifest when the visible topology changes.

Deck Assembly​

Shared Agent Helpers​

Architect​

Explorer​

Coder​

Guide​

Agent Manifest​