SubAgent Manager

VS Code Extension for managing AI Sub-Agents across CLI tools (Codex CLI, Claude Code CLI).

Overview

SubAgent Manager lets you create, organize, and deploy specialized AI assistants (Sub-Agents) that work within your existing AI CLI tools. Define an agent once, deploy it everywhere.

Key Features

• Visual Editor — Create and edit SubAgents with a rich UI
• Library — Personal collection of reusable SubAgents
• Deploy — One-click deploy to Project or Global scope
• Multi-CLI — Works with Codex CLI and Claude Code CLI as Main Orchestrator Agents. Creates SubAgents for either Codex CLI or Claude Code CLI.
• Interactive Conversation — SubAgents support full interactive dialogue, not just one-shot responses
• Focused Execution — Sub-Agents are launched ONLY with their specific, narrow instructions. This ensures they stay focused on the task without the distraction of general chat history or conflicting directives.
• Real-time Logging (Codex) — When a Codex SubAgent runs, a Terminal window automatically opens showing full verbose output (thinking, tool calls, exec logs). The Orchestrator receives only the final answer to save tokens, while you can observe the full work in real-time.
• Full Autonomy — SubAgents run with maximum permissions: Codex uses --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox, Claude uses --dangerously-skip-permissions.
• Slash Commands — Auto-generated slash commands for manual SubAgent invocation:
  • Codex CLI: /prompts:subagent-{name} (e.g., /prompts:subagent-translator)
  • Claude Code: /subagent-{name} (e.g., /subagent-translator)
• Auto-Select Command — Automatically creates /subagent-auto command that reminds the Orchestrator Agent to read the manifest and select the appropriate SubAgent
• Auto-Routing — The Main Orchestrator Agent receives a workspace-level instruction (in AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md under the project root) to review the SubAgents Manifest and automatically delegate tasks to the most suitable SubAgent based on its specialization
• Import/Export — Share SubAgents between users via .subagent files

Prerequisites

Before using this extension, ensure you have the following installed and authenticated:

• Codex CLI: Required if you plan to use Codex-based Sub-Agents.
• Claude Code CLI: Required if you plan to use Claude-based Sub-Agents.

Both tools must be available in your system PATH and fully authenticated (logged in).

Installation

Download the latest .vsix release from Releases and install in VS Code:

1. In VS Code: Extensions → ... → Install from VSIX...
2. Select the downloaded .vsix file

Quick Start

1. Open SubAgent Manager from the Activity Bar (MsA icon)
2. Create a new SubAgent with name, description, and instructions
   • Select Vendor: Codex or Claude
3. Deploy to Project (current workspace) or Global (all projects)
4. Use the SubAgent:
   • Auto: Just describe a task matching the SubAgent's description → the Orchestrator will route it
   • Manual: Use the generated slash command (e.g., /subagent-translator)

Example: Translator SubAgent

Name: translator
Vendor: Codex
Triggers: Translates text and/or files to the specified language
Instructions: |
  You are a professional translator.
  Translate the given text to the requested language.
  Preserve formatting and technical terms.
  Save translations next to the original files with a language prefix.

Workflow:

1. You ask the Orchestrator: "Translate README.md to Russian".
2. The Orchestrator reads the manifest and finds the translator agent.
3. The Orchestrator delegates the task.
4. The Sub-Agent starts with only the translator instructions, ensuring focused execution.

Architecture

~/.subagents/                  # Global SubAgents storage
├── manifest.json              # Registry of deployed agents
├── start.sh                   # Universal start script
├── resume.sh                  # Universal resume script
├── subagent.log               # Real-time log (Codex only)
└── {agent}/                   # Agent directory
    └── {agent}.md             # Agent instructions

~/.codex/prompts/              # Codex slash commands
└── subagent-{name}.md         # Individual agent command

~/.claude/commands/            # Claude slash commands  
└── subagent-{name}.md         # Individual agent command

<workspace-root>/              # Per-project routing and commands
├── AGENTS.md                  # Workspace routing instructions for Codex Orchestrator
├── CLAUDE.md                  # Workspace routing instructions for Claude Orchestrator
└── .subagents/ (optional)     # Project-local SubAgents storage (same layout as ~/.subagents/)

Documentation

• Changelog

License

MIT