/talk-to - Agent Messaging

Send messages to agents via Oracle threads. Each agent has a persistent channel thread.

Usage

/talk-to arthur "What's your status?" # one-shot message /talk-to arthur --new "Hey, starting fresh" # skip lookup, create new thread /talk-to arthur loop ask about their work # autonomous conversation /talk-to #42 "follow up on this" # post to thread by ID /talk-to --list # show channels

Mode 0: No arguments

If ARGUMENTS is empty, show usage help then run --list.

Routing

Pattern Use

channel:{agent}

Persistent per-agent channel

topic:{agent}:{slug}

Topic-specific thread (with --topic )

#{id}

Direct thread reference by ID

Mode 1: --list

• oracle_threads() (no status filter)

• Filter titles starting with channel: or topic: , exclude closed

• Display: channel:arthur (#42) pending — 12 msgs

Mode 2: --new (fast create)

Skip lookup. One MCP call.

• Compose message from intent

• oracle_thread({ title: "channel:{agent}", message, role: "human" })

• Confirm: Created channel:{agent} (thread #{id})

Mode 3: One-shot (default)

• Compose message from intent

• If first arg is #{id} → post directly to that thread ID

• Otherwise: oracle_threads() → find channel:{agent} , create if missing

• Post message to thread

• oracle_thread_read({ threadId }) → show any agent responses

• Confirm: Posted to channel:{agent} (thread #{id})

Mode 4: loop (autonomous conversation)

Like Ralph loop — AI drives the conversation autonomously. No user prompts between turns.

• Find or create thread (channel:{agent} , or --new to skip lookup)

• Compose opening message from user's intent and post it

• Autonomous loop (max 10 iterations): a. oracle_thread_read({ threadId }) — check for new messages b. If agent responded: read their response, compose a thoughtful follow-up, post it c. If no new response: compose a follow-up question or probe deeper, post it d. After each exchange, briefly note what you learned e. Stop when: enough insight gathered, conversation circling, or 10 iterations hit

• Show summary: Conversation with {agent} (thread #{id}) — {n} messages, {iterations} turns

Key insights:

• [insight 1]

• [insight 2]

• Leave thread open for future use

The goal is insight extraction. You are having a conversation on behalf of the human to learn something useful.

Parsing Rules

• First arg = agent name (lowercase), #id (thread ref), or --list

• --new = skip lookup, create fresh

• loop = autonomous conversation (AI drives, no user prompts)

• --topic "slug" = use topic:{agent}:{slug} instead of channel:{agent}

• Everything else = the message/intent

Message Composition

CRITICAL: You are the composer. The user gives intent, you write the message.

• Compose a clear, natural message from the user's intent

• Post immediately — do NOT ask the user what to say

• Do NOT use AskUserQuestion for message content

• Show what you posted after sending

If the message already reads like a direct message (e.g. "What's your status?" ), post as-is.

Important Notes

• Agent names are always lowercase

• Thread titles are the routing key — never modify existing thread titles

• One channel thread per agent (reuse, don't recreate)

• #{id} lets users reference any thread directly — no lookup needed

• All messages attributed with role: "human"

ARGUMENTS: $ARGUMENTS