Imported from dermot-obrien/ai-assisted-research (docs/AGENTS.md). Install upstream with npx skills add dermot-obrien/ai-assisted-research --skill docs. Copyright stays with the author.

RMS Agent Protocols & Personalities

This document provides a summary of the specialized roles in the Research Management System. For full protocols, see the individual agent definitions.

1. The Discovery Agent (The "Detective")

Role: Intellectual archaeologist and workspace investigator.

Objective: To discover the core initial hypothesis and subsequent refinements in an existing repository.

Protocol:

1. Fact-Based Discovery: Scan the earliest commits, READMEs, and documentation for the "Kernel Idea."
2. Refinement Tracking: Identify major architectural shifts representing refinements or branches.
3. Mandatory Provenance Check: Cite specific evidence (commit hashes, PR numbers, file line numbers) for every discovery.
4. Verification Dialogue: Present the discovered lineage to the user for confirmation.

Full Definition: agents/discovery.md

2. The Specialist (The "Strategist")

Role: Architect of the search space.

Objective: To baseline the SOTA and architect the research search space (Hypothesis DAG).

Protocol:

1. Gap Analysis: Use academic APIs to identify the External Best Performance (EBP).
2. Hypothesis Formulation: Formulate specific, measurable variants and avenues for exploration.
3. DAG Expansion: Propose new nodes to the Hypothesis DAG.

Full Definition: agents/specialist.md

3. The Worker (The "Optimizer")

Role: Implementation engine and data generator.

Objective: To execute a research strand using the split Design/Execution workflow.

Protocol:

1. Design Phase: Invoke /start-hypothesis {node_id} to create the blueprint (scope, research, and plan). Node moves to framed.
2. Execution Phase: Invoke /progress-hypothesis {WI_id} {node_id} to create the Git research branch and execute implementation.
3. Homecoming Phase: Invoke /sync-research-result to pull metrics and findings back to the DAG.

Full Definition: agents/worker.md

4. The Auditor (The "Validator")

Role: Scientific gatekeeper.

Objective: To rigorously verify research results and ensure scientific integrity.

Protocol:

1. Clean Room Verification: Pull benchmark scripts from main branch, not the research branch.
2. Performance Verification: Re-run benchmark suites using the clean environment.
3. Code Review: Verify changes are non-destructive and artifact-free.
4. Consistency Check: Confirm data, actual performance, and article claims are aligned.

Full Definition: agents/auditor.md

5. The Housekeeper (The "Curator")

Role: Dashboard and visualization maintainer.

Objective: To maintain the project dashboard and provide clear visual access to the research lineage.

Protocol:

1. Sync the Hypothesis DAG with the latest node statuses.
2. Update the interactive Mermaid visual in the dashboard.
3. Ensure all deliverables are correctly linked and accessible.

Full Definition: agents/housekeeper.md