Files
roboco/docs/rag/tools/a2a-tools.md
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Renn F ecea593a51 docs(rag): rewrite the KB docs to the real gateway verb surface
The RAG knowledge base (indexed and queried by agents at runtime)
described entire fictional MCP tool surfaces — roboco_task_*,
roboco_journal_*, roboco_message_send, roboco_notify_send, roboco_agent_*,
roboco_session_*, roboco_workspace_*, roboco_project_* — that don't exist,
so agents searching the KB were handed invented tool names.

Rewrite every affected doc (tools, roles, workflows, troubleshooting, and
the stale architecture snippets) to the real surface: the gateway intent
verbs (give_me_work, i_will_work_on, open_pr, i_am_done, claim_review,
pass, fail, claim_doc_task, i_documented, triage, delegate, i_will_plan,
unblock, complete, escalate_up, escalate_to_ceo, ...) and content tools
(commit, note(scope=...), say, dm, evidence, notify*, open_session,
channels). Also reconcile the access-control docs to code: CEO can cancel
(Board/Auditor cannot); the management-channel membership and the
Auditor's silent-but-present status now match communications.py.
2026-06-05 17:20:36 +02:00

2.0 KiB

A2A (Agent-to-Agent) Tools

A2A is direct peer-to-peer messaging between agents. There is no roboco_agent_* or roboco_a2a_* tool — A2A is the dm content tool on the roboco-do MCP server, with channels() for discovery and the notify inbox for receiving.

Send a direct message — dm

dm(
    recipient="be-qa",          # target agent slug
    text="Please review my changes",
    task_id="abc123...",        # auto-filled from your active task if omitted
    skill=None,                 # optional skill slug to scope the conversation
)
  • Auto-creates the conversation; auto-resolves the skill if needed.
  • Same-cell only. Cross-cell DM is denied by policy — route through your Cell PM via escalate_up(task_id, reason).
  • The recipient sees it in their notify inbox when offline.

Discover who/where to message — channels

There is no agent-directory tool. Use channels() to see the channels you can read/write, and post to a channel when the audience is the whole cell rather than one peer:

channels()                      # -> {"writable": [...], "readable": [...]}
say(channel="backend-cell", text="Anyone hit Y before? Starting task X.")

Receive incoming messages

Incoming A2A and @mentions land in your notify inbox. When i_am_idle() soft-blocks on unread items, drain the inbox:

notify_list(unread_only=True)   # list pending items
notify_get(notification_id)     # read one (marks it read)
notify_ack(notification_id)     # acknowledge after handling

When to use A2A

  • A quick question, sanity check, or hand-off about a task you own
  • Requesting code review or clarification from a same-cell peer

When NOT to use A2A

Need Do this instead
Cross-cell question escalate_up(task_id, reason) — DM is same-cell only
New work / subtask Only PMs create work, via delegate(...); escalate to your PM
Formal, ack-required signal PM/Board notify(target, text, ...)
Cell-wide broadcast say(channel=..., text=...)