Ensemble Problem Solving

Generate multiple solutions in parallel by spawning 3 subagents with different approaches, then evaluate and select the best result.

When to Use

Activation phrases:

• "Give me options for..."
• "What's the best way to..."
• "Explore different approaches..."
• "I want to see alternatives..."
• "Compare approaches for..."
• "Which approach should I use..."

Good candidates:

• Architecture decisions with trade-offs
• Code generation with multiple valid implementations
• API design with different philosophies
• Naming, branding, documentation style
• Refactoring strategies
• Algorithm selection

Skip ensemble for:

• Simple lookups or syntax questions
• Single-cause bug fixes
• File operations, git commands
• Deterministic configuration changes
• Tasks with one obvious solution

What It Does

1. Analyzes the task to determine if ensemble approach is valuable
2. Generates 3 distinct prompts using appropriate diversification strategy
3. Spawns 3 parallel subagents to develop solutions independently
4. Evaluates all solutions using weighted criteria
5. Returns the best solution with explanation and alternatives summary

Approach

Step 1: Classify Task Type

Determine which category fits:

• Code Generation: Functions, classes, APIs, algorithms
• Architecture/Design: System design, data models, patterns
• Creative: Writing, naming, documentation

Step 2: Invoke Ensemble Orchestrator

Task tool with:
- subagent_type: 'ensemble-orchestrator'
- description: 'Generate and evaluate 3 parallel solutions'
- prompt: [User's original task with full context]

The orchestrator handles:

• Prompt diversification
• Parallel execution
• Solution evaluation
• Winner selection

Step 3: Present Result

The orchestrator returns:

• The winning solution (in full)
• Evaluation scores for all 3 approaches
• Why the winner was selected
• When alternatives might be preferred