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A role defines agent behavior, model configuration, and task specialization. Roles depend on skills (for instructions) and optionally on other roles (for delegation).

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Format

Every role is a directory containing a ROLE.md file: 
---
name: implementer
description: "Writes code to implement features and fix bugs"
metadata:
  strawpot:
    dependencies:
      skills:
        - git-workflow>=1.0.0
        - code-review
        - python-testing^2.0.0
      roles:
        - reviewer
    default_model:
      provider: claude_session
      id: claude-opus-4-6
---

# Implementer

Role instructions for the agent...

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Required Fields

FieldDescription
namePackage slug (unique identifier)
descriptionOne-line summary

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Optional Fields

FieldDescription
metadata.strawpot.dependencies.skillsList of skill dependencies
metadata.strawpot.dependencies.rolesList of role dependencies
metadata.strawpot.default_modelDefault model configuration
metadata.strawpot.toolsSystem tool requirements

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Dependencies

Roles use a structured object with skills and roles sub-keys: 
metadata:
  strawpot:
    dependencies:
      skills:
        - git-workflow>=1.0.0
        - code-review
      roles:
        - reviewer
  • Skill dependencies provide instructions the agent follows
  • Role dependencies define other roles the agent can delegate to
See Dependencies for version specifier details.

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Model Configuration

Roles can specify a default model: 
metadata:
  strawpot:
    default_model:
      provider: claude_session
      id: claude-opus-4-6
This can be overridden by the user’s [agents.<name>] config in their StrawPot configuration.

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How Roles Are Used

When StrawPot receives a delegation request:
  1. Resolve — Fetch the role from StrawHub with all transitive dependencies
  2. Stage — Place role and skill files in the agent’s workspace
  3. Build prompt — The ROLE.md body becomes the system prompt, with skill instructions appended
  4. Spawn — Launch a sub-agent with the assembled context
The agent sees: 
<agent-workspace>/
├── skills/
│   ├── git-workflow/SKILL.md
│   └── code-review/SKILL.md
└── roles/
    └── implementer/ROLE.md

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Roles vs Skills

SkillsRoles
PurposeInstructions and workflowsAgent behavior definition
Can depend onOther skillsSkills and other roles
Model configNoYes
Used byLoaded into agent contextAssigned to agents during delegation
NamespaceSeparate from rolesSeparate from skills