This is an editorial relationship map, not a mandatory dependency tree . It shows selected useful connections rather than every possible combination. Arrowheads run from a base to its specialization, or from a supporting component to what it supports.
Inspect a patternDirect response Single agent with tools Retrieval-augmented generation Prompt chaining Routing Parallelization Bounded loop Iterative refinement Custom workflow Orchestrator–workers Subagents as tools Hierarchical delegation Agent handoffs Group discussion Structured debate Swarm collaboration Adaptive orchestration Role-based cooperation Goal clarification Proactive goal proposal One-shot planning Incremental planning Single-path plan Multi-path planning Reason–act–observe Self-reflection Cross-reflection Evaluator–optimizer Voting & ensembles Human-in-the-loop Guardrails Agent evaluation On-demand skills Prompt & response adaptation Tool & agent registry Agent adapter All relationships
FOUNDATIONS 3 approaches WORKFLOWS 6 approaches COORDINATION 9 approaches PLANNING 7 approaches QUALITY 7 approaches CAPABILITIES 4 approaches Orchestrator–workers → Parallelization: Run independent worker assignments concurrently. Orchestrator–workers → Subagents as tools: Use call/return specialists for bounded assignments. Orchestrator–workers → Hierarchical delegation: Allow delegated work to split into another bounded level. Orchestrator–workers → Adaptive orchestration: Add a changing task ledger and stall-aware replanning. Orchestrator–workers → Evaluator–optimizer: Review and revise the integrated output. Swarm collaboration → Orchestrator–workers: Peer coordination versus centralized task ownership. Role-based cooperation → Orchestrator–workers: Define clear responsibilities for delegated work. Agent evaluation → Orchestrator–workers: Test task completion and delegation failure behavior. Direct response Single agent with tools Retrieval-augmented generation Prompt chaining Routing Parallelization Bounded loop Iterative refinement Custom workflow Orchestrator–workers Subagents as tools Hierarchical delegation Agent handoffs Group discussion Structured debate Swarm collaboration Adaptive orchestration Role-based cooperation Goal clarification Proactive goal proposal One-shot planning Incremental planning Single-path plan Multi-path planning Reason–act–observe Self-reflection Cross-reflection Evaluator–optimizer Voting & ensembles Human-in-the-loop Guardrails Agent evaluation On-demand skills Prompt & response adaptation Tool & agent registry Agent adapter Select a node or use the selector above. On smaller screens, scroll the map horizontally. Every approach has its own page.
Orchestrator–workers A central agent decomposes, delegates, and synthesizes the task.
Open pattern 8 CONNECTIONS COMPOSES WITH Parallelization Run independent worker assignments concurrently.
SUPPORTED BY Agent evaluation Test task completion and delegation failure behavior.