Docs/patterns/hotfix pattern/subagents

Hotfix Pattern — Subagents

Pattern: Hotfix
Component: subagents.md
Version: 1.1 | Updated: 2026-07-16


Subagent Role When invoked Output
Impact Assessor Quantifies who/what is hurt After SEV declare Impact statement + success metric
Containment Advisor Orders flag/route/LKG options Immediately Ranked containment table
Minimal Diff Scout Finds smallest safe code change If code required Allowed path list + patch sketch
Verification Runner Runs probes and abort watches After each action Pass/fail with timestamps

Impact Assessor contract

  • Prefer numbers: error rate, users, regions, $ if known
  • Define the metric that means “contained”
  • Separate confirmed impact from speculation

Containment Advisor contract

  • Prefer faster reversible actions over clever fixes
  • Always include flag-off and LKG redeploy if they exist
  • Estimate ETA honestly; escalate if ETA > SEV budget

Minimal Diff Scout contract

  • Allowed paths only; explicit forbidden list (fmt, deps, refactors)
  • No drive-by tests unrelated to the failure unless required to unlock CI
  • Call out if minimal patch is unsafe — recommend contain-only

Verification Runner contract

  • Use pre-agreed probes; do not invent success
  • Watch abort criteria for the hotfix deploy
  • On fail, recommend return to containment, not another speculative patch