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+# RFC-001: Multi-Agent Visual Indicator for Active Sessions
+
+**Status**: Draft
+**Author**: Feature Request (via Community)
+**Created**: 2026-09-08
+**Related Issue**: #817
+
+## Summary
+
+Add a persistent visual indicator in the Command Code CLI that shows users when multiple agents are running concurrently within a session. This provides real-time awareness of active subagent work — similar to implementations in T3 Code (by Theo) and Codex.
+
+## Motivation
+
+When Command Code delegates work to multiple subagents via the `agent` tool, users currently have no visibility into:
+
+- Which agents are running
+- How many are active
+- What each agent is working on
+- Their current status (running, completed, failed)
+
+This makes the main session appear idle while invisible work happens in the background, and makes debugging failed agents difficult.
+
+## Design
+
+### Component Architecture
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│                     Session UI (Ink/React)                   │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│  ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐  │
+│  │              AgentStatusBar (new)                      │  │
+│  │  ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐                 │  │
+│  │  │AgentBadge│ │AgentBadge│ │AgentBadge│  +2 more...    │  │
+│  │  └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘                 │  │
+│  └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘  │
+│                                                             │
+│  ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐  │
+│  │              Main Conversation Area                    │  │
+│  │                                                       │  │
+│  └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘  │
+└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+### TypeScript Interfaces
+
+```typescript
+// ─── Agent Status Types ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+type AgentStatus = 'queued' | 'running' | 'completed' | 'failed' | 'killed';
+
+interface AgentIdentity {
+  /** Unique agent identifier (from agent_id returned by agent tool) */
+  id: string;
+  /** Agent name/type: 'general' | 'explore' | 'plan' | custom name */
+  name: string;
+  /** Optional custom color for the badge (hex or ansi color) */
+  color?: string;
+}
+
+interface AgentTask {
+  /** Short description of what the agent is doing */
+  description: string;
+  /** Timestamp when the agent started */
+  startedAt: number;
+  /** Optional: estimated completion (for progress indication) */
+  progress?: number; // 0-100
+}
+
+interface ActiveAgent extends AgentIdentity, AgentTask {
+  status: AgentStatus;
+  /** Error message if status is 'failed' */
+  error?: string;
+  /** Token usage stats (populated on completion) */
+  usage?: {
+    inputTokens: number;
+    outputTokens: number;
+    cost: number;
+  };
+}
+
+// ─── AgentStatusBar Configuration ─────────────────────────────────────
+
+interface AgentIndicatorConfig {
+  /** Whether the indicator is visible */
+  enabled: boolean;
+  /** Display style */
+  style: 'compact' | 'detailed' | 'minimal';
+  /** Maximum number of badges to show before collapsing */
+  maxVisible: number;
+  /** Show token usage on completion */
+  showUsage: boolean;
+  /** Animation enabled for running state */
+  animate: boolean;
+}
+
+// ─── Default Configuration ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const DEFAULT_CONFIG: AgentIndicatorConfig = {
+  enabled: true,
+  style: 'compact',
+  maxVisible: 5,
+  showUsage: true,
+  animate: true,
+};
+```
+
+### Status Badge Component
+
+```typescript
+// ─── AgentBadge Component ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+import React from 'react';
+import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
+
+interface AgentBadgeProps {
+  agent: ActiveAgent;
+  compact?: boolean;
+}
+
+const STATUS_ICONS: Record<AgentStatus, string> = {
+  queued: '◌',
+  running: '●', // Spinner in practice
+  completed: '✓',
+  failed: '✗',
+  killed: '⊘',
+};
+
+const STATUS_COLORS: Record<AgentStatus, string> = {
+  queued: 'gray',
+  running: 'cyan',
+  completed: 'green',
+  failed: 'red',
+  killed: 'yellow',
+};
+
+export function AgentBadge({ agent, compact }: AgentBadgeProps) {
+  const icon = STATUS_ICONS[agent.status];
+  const color = STATUS_COLORS[agent.status];
+
+  if (compact) {
+    return (
+      <Box marginRight={1}>
+        <Text color={color}>{icon} </Text>
+        <Text bold>{agent.name}</Text>
+      </Box>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <Box borderStyle="round" borderColor={color} paddingX={1} marginRight={1}>
+      <Text color={color}>{icon} </Text>
+      <Text bold>{agent.name}</Text>
+      <Text dimColor> — {truncate(agent.description, 40)}</Text>
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
+```
+
+### Status Bar Component
+
+```typescript
+// ─── AgentStatusBar Component ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+interface AgentStatusBarProps {
+  agents: ActiveAgent[];
+  config: AgentIndicatorConfig;
+}
+
+export function AgentStatusBar({ agents, config }: AgentStatusBarProps) {
+  if (!config.enabled || agents.length === 0) return null;
+
+  const running = agents.filter(a => a.status === 'running');
+  const completed = agents.filter(a => a.status === 'completed');
+  const failed = agents.filter(a => a.status === 'failed');
+  const queued = agents.filter(a => a.status === 'queued');
+
+  const visibleAgents = agents.slice(0, config.maxVisible);
+  const remaining = agents.length - config.maxVisible;
+
+  return (
+    <Box flexDirection="column" marginBottom={1}>
+      {/* Summary line */}
+      <Box>
+        <Text bold>🤖 </Text>
+        <Text>{agents.length} agent{agents.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''} </Text>
+        {running.length > 0 && <Text color="cyan">● {running.length} running </Text>}
+        {completed.length > 0 && <Text color="green">✓ {completed.length} done </Text>}
+        {failed.length > 0 && <Text color="red">✗ {failed.length} failed </Text>}
+        {queued.length > 0 && <Text color="gray">◌ {queued.length} queued</Text>}
+      </Box>
+
+      {/* Detailed badges (if style is 'detailed') */}
+      {config.style === 'detailed' && (
+        <Box marginTop={1} flexWrap="wrap">
+          {visibleAgents.map(agent => (
+            <AgentBadge key={agent.id} agent={agent} />
+          ))}
+          {remaining > 0 && <Text dimColor>+{remaining} more</Text>}
+        </Box>
+      )}
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
+```
+
+### Session Integration
+
+```typescript
+// ─── Integration with Session State ────────────────────────────────────
+
+// In the main session state store:
+interface SessionState {
+  // ... existing state
+  activeAgents: Map<string, ActiveAgent>;
+}
+
+// When agent tool is called:
+function handleAgentStart(params: AgentStartParams): string {
+  const agentId = generateId();
+  const activeAgent: ActiveAgent = {
+    id: agentId,
+    name: params.agentName,
+    description: params.taskDescription,
+    status: 'running',
+    startedAt: Date.now(),
+  };
+  sessionState.activeAgents.set(agentId, activeAgent);
+  renderAgentStatusBar(); // Trigger re-render
+  return agentId;
+}
+
+// When agent completes (via agent_output):
+function handleAgentComplete(agentId: string, result: AgentResult): void {
+  const agent = sessionState.activeAgents.get(agentId);
+  if (agent) {
+    agent.status = result.success ? 'completed' : 'failed';
+    agent.error = result.error;
+    agent.usage = result.usage;
+    renderAgentStatusBar();
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Settings Schema
+
+```json
+{
+  "agentIndicator": {
+    "enabled": true,
+    "style": "compact",
+    "maxVisible": 5,
+    "showUsage": true,
+    "animate": true
+  }
+}
+```
+
+## Visual Mockups
+
+### Compact Style (Default)
+```
+  🤖 3 agents ● 2 running ✓ 1 done
+
+  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+  │  User: Can you refactor the auth module?               │
+  │  Assistant: I'll delegate this to multiple agents...   │
+  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+### Detailed Style
+```
+  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+  │  🤖 4 agents ● 2 running ✓ 1 done ✗ 1 failed         │
+  │                                                        │
+  │  ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐  │
+  │  │● Explore │ │● General │ │✓ Plan    │ │✗ Tester  │  │
+  │  │ searching│ │ refactor │ │ design   │ │ timeout  │  │
+  │  └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘  │
+  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+### Minimal Style
+```
+  🤖 ●●●○  (running dots + queued)
+```
+
+## Behavior
+
+### Lifecycle
+1. **Agent Started** → Badge appears with spinner
+2. **Agent Running** → Spinner animates, optional progress %
+3. **Agent Completed** → Badge turns green with ✓, shows token usage
+4. **Agent Failed** → Badge turns red with ✗, shows error on hover/expand
+5. **Session Ends** → All agents cleared from display
+
+### Auto-Cleanup
+- Completed/failed badges fade after 30s (configurable)
+- Or persist until next user message
+- User can manually dismiss with keypress
+
+### Interaction
+- Press `Tab` to cycle through active agents
+- Press `A` to toggle agent panel (detailed view)
+- Click/tap badge to see full output (in supported terminals)
+
+## Migration Path
+
+### Phase 1: Passive Indicator
+- Show agent status without interaction
+- Read-only display, no controls
+- Behind feature flag `agentIndicator.enabled`
+
+### Phase 2: Interactive Controls
+- Expand/collapse agent details
+- Kill running agents from UI
+- View agent output inline
+
+### Phase 3: Advanced Features
+- Agent timeline visualization
+- Performance metrics per agent
+- Agent output streaming in real-time
+
+## Open Questions
+
+1. **Position**: Status bar at top vs bottom of terminal?
+2. **Persistence**: Should completed agents persist or auto-dismiss?
+3. **Streaming**: Should we stream agent output live or only on completion?
+4. **Theming**: Should badge colors follow terminal theme or be fixed?
+5. **Mobile**: How does this render in mobile/remote terminal setups?
+
+## References
+
+- T3 Code agent indicator (Theo)
+- Codex multi-agent UI
+- GitHub issue #817