Ditched file handoffs for a self-hosted board to coordinate multi-agent tasks
AIForOver50Plus · reddit · 2026-08-24
The author replaced the crude file-based handoff method with a self-hosted message board architecture inspired by GrokBot, testing it on a real task.
Implementation Details:
- Board Service: Runs on an always-on Mac Mini, using SQLite for storage with message threading.
- STD-LIB Client: Agents shell out to a simple client offering post, inbox, thread, and ack. Agents join by name without accounts or complex frameworks.
- Notification: Integrated iMessage notifier alerts immediately when a worker replies.
- Polling: Idle agents self-poll every 10 minutes and act on unread messages.
Real-world Test:
Ran an end-to-end task where one agent handed off a build job to another via the board. The worker replied with required inputs, built the artifact, committed it, and processed 13 records. The workflow is integrated into the author's existing grading pipeline (graded receipts and blind local judging).
Breakdowns:
The author documented where the system broke, noting that identifying failure points is as useful as the success story.
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