Fixing Silent Forks in Multi-Agent Systems with Architecture, Not Prompts
__hymn · reddit · 2026-08-27
The author shares engineering practices to fix 'silent forks' where multiple agents working on the same file created divergent versions without warnings. The core insight is that rules only survive when moved from prompts into the architecture. Four key rules:
- Reviewers return notes, never files: Remove write access to prevent unauthoritative forks.
- One owner per file: Name the owner in the file; others must request changes via notes.
- Supersedes field on handoffs: Detect forks immediately if two envelopes claim to replace the same ID.
- Harness prepends the inbox: Move 'read before acting' from a prompt rule to a system constraint.
Conclusion: When running multiple agents over shared state, restrict what they are unable to do rather than just telling them what to do.
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