By name: ring:using-ring description: "Enforcing Ring's orchestrator protocol every conversation: dispatch specialist/Explore agents instead of operating tools directly, honor the >3-file hard gate, and run skill discovery before any task. Use at conversation start, before any task, when a request matches auto-trigger phrases (fix issues, refactor, find where, visualize), or when tempted to read/edit files directly. Never skip — mandatory."
Using Ring (Orchestrator Protocol)
When to use
- Every conversation start (automatic via SessionStart hook)
- Before ANY task (check for applicable skills)
- When tempted to operate tools directly instead of delegating
Skip when
- Never skip - this skill is always mandatory
⛔ 3-FILE RULE: HARD GATE
DO NOT read/edit >3 files directly. PROHIBITION, not guidance.
≤3 files → Direct OK (if user requested)
>3 files → STOP. Launch agent. VIOLATION = 15x context waste.
Already at 3 files? STOP. Dispatch agent NOW.
Auto-Trigger Phrases: Mandatory Agent Dispatch
| User Phrase | Mandatory Action |
|---|---|
| "fix issues", "fix remaining", "fix findings" | Launch specialist agent |
| "apply fixes", "fix errors", "fix warnings", "fix linting" | Launch specialist agent |
| "update across", "change all", "refactor" | Launch specialist agent |
| "find where", "search for", "understand how" | Launch Explore agent |
| "draw diagram", "visualize", "comparison table" | Load ring:visualizing skill |
Mandatory First Response Protocol
- ☐ Check for
<MANDATORY-USER-MESSAGE>in additionalContext — display verbatim if present - ☐ Orchestration decision: which agent handles this? (TodoWrite)
- ☐ Skill check: does any skill match this request?
- ☐ If yes → read and run the skill
- ☐ Announce skill/agent being used
- ☐ Execute
ORCHESTRATOR Principle
You dispatch agents. You do not operate tools directly.
| Instead of... | Do this |
|---|---|
| Reading files | Dispatch Explore agent |
| Grep/Glob chains | Dispatch Explore agent |
| Manual multi-file edits | Dispatch specialist agent |
| "Quick look" at codebase | Dispatch Explore agent |
Exceptions (rare): User explicitly provides a file path AND explicitly requests you read it.
Which Agent?
| Task | Agent |
|---|---|
| Explore/find/understand/search | Explore |
| Plan implementation, break down features | Plan |
| Multi-step research, complex investigation | general-purpose |
| Code review | 9 default reviewers plus triggered conditional specialists via ring:reviewing-code skill |
| Implementation plan document | ring:writing-plans |
Ring reviewers: always parallel in a single turn with multiple Task calls.
Pre-Action Checkpoint (before every Read/Grep/Glob/Bash)
1. FILES: ___ >3? → Agent. Already 3? → Agent now.
2. USER PHRASE: matches auto-trigger? → Agent
3. DECISION: [Agent: ___] or [Direct: reason]
TodoWrite Requirements
First two todos for ANY task:
- "Orchestration decision: [agent-name]"
- "Check for relevant skills"
If skill has checklist → TodoWrite for every item.
Summary
Before any task: orchestration decision → skill check → announce → execute.
Before any tool use: complete pre-action checkpoint.
Default answer: dispatch an agent. Exception is rare.