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🦄 The Augmented LLM

TL;DR: The foundation of ALL agentic systems — an LLM enhanced with retrieval, tools, and memory. Every workflow builds on this.

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Diagram

%%{init: {'theme': 'base', 'themeVariables': {'lineColor': '#64748b'}}}%%
flowchart TB
    classDef retrieval fill:#3b82f6,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef tools fill:#8b5cf6,stroke:#7c3aed,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef memory fill:#06b6d4,stroke:#0891b2,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef llm fill:#f59e0b,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff

    R[("Retrieval<br/>RAG, search")]:::retrieval
    T{{"Tools<br/>MCP, Bash"}}:::tools
    M[/"Memory<br/>Context"/]:::memory

    LLM(["LLM<br/>Generates • Selects • Decides"]):::llm

    R --> LLM
    T --> LLM
    M --> LLM

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Key Components

Component	Description	Examples
Retrieval	Access to external knowledge	RAG, docs, search
Tools	Ability to take actions	MCP, Bash, API calls
Memory	Context persistence	Conversation history, state
LLM	Core reasoning engine	Claude, GPT, etc.

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Key Insight

Focus on tailoring capabilities to your specific use case and ensuring they provide an easy, well-documented interface for the LLM.

All workflows assume each LLM call has access to these augmented capabilities.

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Key Distinction

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    🦄 BUILDING BLOCK = AUGMENTED LLM                        │
│                       (foundation for ALL workflows)                        │
├───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┬─────────────────────────────┤
│   Retrieval   │    Tools      │    Memory     │            LLM              │
│   (RAG/docs)  │   (actions)   │   (context)   │           (core)            │
└───────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘

• 🦄 Building Block = Augmented LLM (Anthropic's foundation concept)
• Components = Claude Code abstractions (🐦 Subagent, 🦴 Slash Command, 📚 Skill, 🪝 Hook)
• Layers = Architectural organization (User → Main Agent → Delegation → Execution → State)

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Terminology

Symbol	Term	Description
🐔	Main Agent	Claude Code orchestrator (the hen that coordinates)
🐦	Subagent	Delegated worker spawned via Task (the bird)
🪺	Spawn (Task)	Action to create 🐦 subagents (via Task built-in tool)
📚	Skill	Loaded knowledge that enhances 🐔 capabilities
🚧	Gate	Checkpoint that validates output before proceeding

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Hierarchy

%%{init: {'theme': 'base', 'themeVariables': {'lineColor': '#64748b'}}}%%
flowchart LR
    classDef user fill:#6366f1,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef main fill:#f59e0b,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef sub fill:#ec4899,stroke:#db2777,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef blocked fill:#ef4444,stroke:#dc2626,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff

    U1["🙋‍♀️📥 User"]:::user
    MA["🐔 Main Agent"]:::main
    SA["🐦 Subagent"]:::sub
    U2["💁‍♀️📤 User"]:::user

    U1 -->|request| MA
    MA -->|"🪺 spawn"| SA
    SA -->|result| MA
    MA -->|response| U2

    SA x-.-x|"❌ cannot spawn"| SA2["🐦 Subagent"]:::blocked

Critical Rule: 🐦 Subagents CANNOT spawn other 🐦 subagents (flat hierarchy)

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