user-input-protocol

Pause subagents to request user input and resume with saved state.

Updated Jul 1, 2026

Search Tags:#subagents #AskUserQuestion #pause-resume #agent-resumption #structured-question #state-preservation

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/jwilger/claude-code-plugins --skill user-input-protocol

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: user-input-protocol
Source: https://github.com/jwilger/claude-code-plugins/tree/main/sdlc/skills/user-input-protocol
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jwilger/claude-code-plugins --skill user-input-protocol

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Pattern for subagents (background tasks, delegated agents) to request user input when they cannot directly call AskUserQuestion.

Core Features & Use Cases

Pause-and-resume pattern to handle user input without failing subagents.
State preservation and clean resumption to continue work seamlessly.
Structured question format with context, options, and constraints.

Quick Start

Pause the subagent when input is needed, save all relevant state, signal the main conversation with a structured question, have the main conversation ask the user via AskUserQuestion, then resume the subagent with the user's answer.

Frequently Asked Questions about user-input-protocol

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I get user input from a background subagent when it can't call AskUserQuestion directly?▼

Subagents can request user input by pausing their task, saving all relevant state, and signaling the main conversation with a structured question. The main conversation then asks the user and resumes the subagent with the answer.

What is the pause-and-resume pattern for agent state preservation?▼

The pause-and-resume pattern is a structured workflow where a subagent pauses execution, saves its current state, waits for user input via the main conversation, and then resumes seamlessly with the user's decision without failing.

How do I structure user clarification prompts for long-running background tasks?▼

You structure user clarification prompts by formatting the question with clear context, deterministic options, and constraints before signaling the main conversation to present it via AskUserQuestion.

Can I use structured user-input prompts for mutation testing workflows?▼

Yes, structured user-input prompts are designed for mutation testing workflows and domain agents needing user clarification, allowing them to pause with saved context and resume after a user decision.

Does this pause-resume pattern work without direct access to AskUserQuestion?▼

Yes, this pattern is specifically built for subagents that cannot directly call AskUserQuestion, routing the structured question through the main conversation instead.

When should I not use a subagent resumption pattern for user input?▼

You should not use this pause-resume pattern if your agent can directly call AskUserQuestion, as it is specifically designed for background tasks and delegated agents lacking that direct capability.