delegate

Delegate

Use the delegate tool for self-contained work that does not need the conversation history. The child runs with an operator-approved model, a bounded tool profile, and no persistent Pi session.

Model restriction

Delegate can use only models listed under Settings → Delegate → Approved delegate models. No providers are approved by default. The approved list requires an operator-approved provider, an ordered classified model ID, exact child-CLI executability, and no matching exclusion.

This restriction applies to automatic selection, explicit model arguments, fallback attempts, and disclosed provider response models. Delegate tool arguments and prompts cannot add models or bypass the list.

Good delegation candidates

• File, note, or code summaries
• Formatting, translation, extraction, and factual questions
• Mechanical code generation or refactoring
• Focused repository exploration and debugging
• A second-opinion review using judge

Do not delegate when the task depends on conversation history, needs user interaction, requires frontier capability, or is simpler than describing a complete standalone prompt.

Call shape

delegate({
  prompt: "Read src/client.ts. Summarize its public API in five bullets and identify compatibility risks.",
  files: ["src/client.ts"],
  task_category: "summarize",
  tools: "read_only"
})

Categories

Category	Target	Use for
quick	Tier 2	Formatting, extraction, translation, factual Q&A
summarize	Tier 2	File, note, and code summaries
code	Tier 3	Code generation and refactoring
analyze	Tier 3	Review, architecture, and debugging
reason	Tier 3	Complex planning and multi-step logic
judge	Tier 3	Critical review from another family when available

Automatic selection is capped at the verified tier of the current model. If the current model is unknown to Delegate policy, automatic selection fails closed.

Explicit model selection