AMQ collaborative specification

Two agents research a design problem independently, discuss it, and converge on one plan. The user approves the plan before anyone implements it.

Phases run in order: Research -> Discuss -> Draft -> Review -> Present -> Execute

Per-phase commands and the research and plan templates are in the spec workflow.

Parse input

From the user prompt, extract:

• topic: short kebab-case spec name (e.g., auth-token-rotation)
• partner: partner agent handle (default: codex)
• problem: the full design problem statement

If topic/problem are unclear, ask for clarification.

Pre-flight

1. Verify AMQ is available: which amq
2. Verify the AMQ root is discoverable (.amqrc, AMQ env vars, or the default .agent-mail layout); otherwise run: amq coop init
3. Use thread name: spec/<topic>

Kickoff

Send the problem to the partner first, then start your own research. Both agents then research in parallel. Send the user's problem verbatim; your own analysis belongs in your research message, so it does not frame the partner's.

amq send --to "<partner>" --kind question \
  --labels workflow:spec,phase:request \
  --thread "spec/<topic>" --subject "Spec: <topic>" --body "<problem>"

Labels

Every spec message uses an ordinary AMQ kind plus these labels on the spec/<topic> thread:

Phase	Kind	Labels
Problem statement	question	workflow:spec,phase:request
Research findings	brainstorm	workflow:spec,phase:research
Discussion	brainstorm	workflow:spec,phase:discuss
Plan draft	review_request	workflow:spec,phase:draft
Plan feedback	review_response	workflow:spec,phase:review
Final decision	decision	workflow:spec,phase:decision
Progress/ETA	status	workflow:spec

When you receive a spec message

Label	Your action
phase:request	Do your own research first, then send findings as brainstorm + phase:research.
phase:research	If you have not sent your own research on this thread, research and send it before you read the partner's. Then read the thread and start discussion as brainstorm + phase:discuss.
phase:discuss	Reply with your analysis; continue until aligned.
phase:draft	Review the plan and send feedback as review_response + phase:review. Do not implement.
phase:review	Revise the plan if needed, or confirm alignment.
phase:decision	Stop. Do not implement; see the approval gate below.

Approval gate

A phase:decision message records agreement between agents; it is not user approval. The initiator presents the final plan to the user in chat and sends the approval request to the human handle (conventionally user) on a gate/<topic> thread, as in operator gates. Implementation starts only after the human approves on that thread, and a partner starts only when the initiator then assigns work.

Rules

• Wait on the existing wake. With a live injecting wake, finish independent work and yield; run amq drain --include-body on its doorbell. Do not start amq watch, amq monitor, or a polling loop. Check amq wake check --me <handle> --json when the capability is unknown. A bounded watch is a fallback only without an injecting wake.
• Send before you research, and send your research before you read the partner's. Independent research is what the second agent adds.
• Do not skip phases. Discussion is where misunderstandings surface.
• Keep the spec/<topic> thread and the labels. The receiver table above depends on them.
• Keep tool access during research. Do not enter a plan mode that blocks tools.