---
name: agent-dispatch
description: Guide for selecting the right model (opus/sonnet/haiku) when launching subagents. Apply this before EVERY Agent tool call.
user-invocable: false
---

# Subagent Model Selection Guide

Before launching ANY Agent, evaluate the task and select the appropriate model. Default to sonnet unless the task clearly requires opus.

## Decision Matrix

### Use OPUS when:
- Reading technical documentation and making architectural decisions
- Auditing code for logical/business errors (not just syntax)
- Designing new features with multiple valid approaches
- Cross-referencing multiple data sources to find inconsistencies
- Writing code that requires deep domain knowledge (e.g., ACI class hierarchy, EVPN semantics)
- Evaluating trade-offs between approaches
- Any task where getting it wrong is expensive to fix

### Use SONNET when:
- Writing code following an established pattern (e.g., new plugin matching existing plugin structure)
- Fixing a known bug with clear instructions (file, line, what to change)
- Running tests (executing curl commands, comparing results)
- CSS/UI styling adjustments
- File operations (git, cleanup, rename, copy)
- Simple search-and-replace across files
- Building frontend components with clear specs
- Installing dependencies
- Any task where the "what" is clear and only the "how" needs execution

### Use HAIKU when:
- Quick file searches (grep, glob)
- Counting things (plugin count, line count)
- Simple data extraction (parse JSON, extract field)
- Status checks (is server running, what's the file size)

## Examples from autoACI development

| Task | Model | Why |
|------|-------|-----|
| Read Cisco ACI Multi-Site Design Guide | opus | Deep technical comprehension needed |
| Audit 60 plugins for ACI terminology accuracy | opus | Domain expertise required to judge correctness |
| Design EP Tunnel Trace 3-segment path | opus | Novel architecture decision |
| Create fabric_isis plugin (follows routing_state pattern) | sonnet | Clear pattern to follow |
| Fix contract scope context→VRF | sonnet | One-line mapping change |
| Reorder columns in 7 plugins | sonnet | Repetitive mechanical edits |
| Run 5-agent production test | sonnet | Execute curl, compare results |
| Beautify CSS (fonts, colors, spacing) | sonnet | Style-only, no logic |
| Evaluate external GitHub project | sonnet | Web search + summarize |
| Verify topology data against APIC | sonnet | Execute queries, compare numbers |

## How to apply

When about to call the Agent tool:
1. Classify the task using the matrix above
2. Set `model: "opus"` only if the task matches OPUS criteria
3. Default to `model: "sonnet"` for everything else
4. Never use opus "just to be safe" — sonnet handles 70% of tasks equally well
5. For mixed tasks (e.g., "read docs then write code"), split into two agents: opus for research, sonnet for implementation