Question 1

How do I choose between a workflow and an autonomous agent for my project?

Accepted Answer

Use the project's decision flowchart in the README: if your task has predictable steps, use a workflow like prompt chaining; if it's open-ended with unknown steps, opt for an autonomous agent. The quick decision guide lists specific scenarios for each pattern.

Question 2

Can I implement these patterns with OpenAI's API instead of Claude Code?

Accepted Answer

While the conceptual patterns are transferable, the implementation components like subagents and slash commands are specific to Claude Code's file structure. You'd need to adapt the architecture to other platforms, which may require significant customization.

Question 3

What's the difference between prompt chaining and the orchestrator-worker pattern?

Accepted Answer

Prompt chaining is for sequential, dependent steps, while orchestrator-worker involves a main agent delegating to specialist subagents for parallel or expert handling. The workflows section details each with use cases, such as simple sequences vs. complex delegation.

Question 4

How to handle errors or timeouts in agentic systems using these patterns?

Accepted Answer

The framework doesn't explicitly cover error handling; you'd need to implement custom logic, such as using hooks in Claude Code or adding retry mechanisms in your code. It focuses on pattern selection rather than operational robustness.

Question 5

Agentic workflow patterns vs LangChain: which is better for building AI agents?

Accepted Answer

Agentic Workflow Patterns is a conceptual framework with Claude Code integration, ideal for structured pattern selection and clear taxonomy. LangChain is a broader toolkit with more built-in components. Choose based on whether you need a guided architecture (this project) or a flexible library (LangChain).

Question 6

How to set up a multi-window autonomous agent for long-running tasks?

Accepted Answer

Refer to the multi-window variant in the agents/ directory, which explains handling cross-session state. This involves managing context persistence through Claude Code's settings or external storage, as outlined in the documentation for extended sessions.

Agentic Workflow Patterns

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