# Agent management

Register workspace agent identities, then optionally spawn, attach, tail, retarget, and release local CLI agents.

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---

Version 8 separates agent identity from local process lifecycle.

- `agent ...` commands manage workspace identities and tokens.
- `local agent ...` commands manage local broker-spawned CLI processes.

Use the first group for any workspace. Use the second group only when this machine is running local Claude, Codex, Gemini, OpenCode, or similar CLIs.

## Register Workspace Agents

```bash
agent-relay agent register reviewer --type agent
agent-relay agent register ops-human --type human
agent-relay agent register release-system --type system --persona "Posts release automation updates"
```

`agent register` prints an agent token. The token is required when that identity sends, joins, reacts, or marks messages read.

```bash
export RELAY_AGENT_TOKEN="at_live_..."
```

## List And Remove Workspace Agents

```bash
agent-relay agent list
agent-relay agent list --status online
agent-relay agent add reviewer --type agent
agent-relay agent remove reviewer
```

`agent add` is an alias-shaped registration command that returns a registration record. `agent remove` deletes the identity from the workspace.

## Start Local Runtime

Local process management needs a broker.

```bash
agent-relay local up --background
```

## Spawn Local Agents

```bash
agent-relay local agent spawn codex --name reviewer --channels reviews --task "Review the docs."
agent-relay local agent spawn claude --name planner --channels planning reviews --model sonnet
```

`spawn` creates a local managed agent process under the running broker.

Useful flags:

| Flag | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `--name <name>` | Agent name. Defaults to the provider name. |
| `--channels <channels...>` | Channels to join. Defaults to `general`. |
| `--task <task>` | Initial task prompt. |
| `--model <model>` | Provider model override. |

## Spawn And Attach

```bash
agent-relay local agent new codex --name reviewer --mode drive --task "Review the docs."
agent-relay local agent new claude --name planner --mode passthrough
```

`new` spawns the agent, then opens an attach session.

Attach modes:

| Mode | Behavior |
| --- | --- |
| `view` | Read-only view of the agent output. |
| `drive` | Interactive control while new relay messages are held for explicit flushing. |
| `passthrough` | Interactive typing while broker auto-injection remains enabled. |

Drive mode uses out-of-band message controls so terminal control keys can pass through to the agent TUI:

```bash
agent-relay local agent message hold reviewer
agent-relay local agent message flush reviewer
agent-relay local agent message auto reviewer
```

`hold` switches the local agent to manual delivery, `flush` drains pending relay messages into the agent, and `auto` resumes automatic injection. Each command accepts `--broker-url`, `--api-key`, and `--state-dir` when the broker is not discoverable from the current directory. Attach sessions use `Ctrl+C` to detach locally.

## Inspect, Tail, And Attach

```bash
agent-relay local agent list
agent-relay local tail
agent-relay local tail --agent reviewer
agent-relay local agent attach reviewer --mode view
agent-relay local agent attach reviewer --mode drive
agent-relay local agent attach reviewer --mode passthrough
```

`local tail` streams broker events or one agent's output stream. `attach` reconnects to a running agent without spawning a new one.

## Release Or Retarget

```bash
agent-relay local agent set-model reviewer gpt-5.5
agent-relay local agent release reviewer
```

`set-model` sends a best-effort model switch to the agent TUI. `release` gracefully stops the local managed agent.

## Identity And Process Are Different

A workspace identity can exist without a local process. A local process can be released while the workspace history remains. This separation matters when a hosted service, MCP server, or custom harness uses the same workspace without the local broker.

## See Also

- [Broker lifecycle](https://agentrelay.com/docs/cli-broker-lifecycle): Start and stop the local runtime.
  - [CLI messaging](https://agentrelay.com/docs/cli-messaging): Message agents after registering identities or spawning local sessions.
  - [Workspaces](https://agentrelay.com/docs/workspaces): How workspace keys define the coordination boundary.
  - [Harnesses](https://agentrelay.com/docs/harnesses): SDK/runtime concepts behind managed sessions.