Authorization must cover the full network. Consenting to the orchestrator is not consenting to every subagent it may spawn. The topology preview is mandatory before any multi-agent run begins, and it must remain accessible during execution.
Agent Topology Preview is a persistent node graph that gives humans a legible model of who is running on their behalf. It operates across two modes controlled by an explicit toggle — Pre-run for authorization, Live for situational awareness during execution. Neither mode is optional: the Pre-run view cannot be skipped, and the Live view must remain accessible throughout the run.
The graph uses a two-layer encoding system: primary encoding (always visible on the node face) communicates state via color fill and role via node size and shape. Secondary encoding appears on hover and in the detail panel only — authorization source as a small icon, data access level in detail panel text. No more than two attributes are encoded on the node face at once.
Pre-run mode (default): The graph is static. All nodes are in the planned/idle state. The human reviews the full network — agents, relationships, scope — and explicitly authorizes it before execution starts. The authorization control is provided by HC04 Consent & Scope Gates, which sits adjacent to this component.
Live mode: Node states update as execution proceeds. Active handoff edges animate. Completed handoff edges become inspectable by clicking. A "● Live" badge appears in the header. The graph is the primary real-time network view — it does not replace HC03 Agent State Indicators for individual agent detail, but it adds the network relationship layer that Agent State Indicators lack.
Every node state has both a color fill and a non-color backup — text label in the detail panel, icon for terminal states. Color is never the sole encoding.
| State | Color fill | Stroke | Icon backup | When applied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idle / Planned | Neutral dark (#1a1a1f) | White 20% | None | Pre-run; agent not yet active |
| Active | Teal 12% fill | #2ab5a3 | Pulsing stroke (Live mode) | Agent is currently executing |
| Waiting | Amber 12% fill | #D97706 | "WAITING" label in detail panel | Blocked on upstream dependency |
| Complete | Sage 10% fill | #059669 | ✓ icon on node face | Agent finished successfully |
| Failed | Coral 10% fill | #DC2626 | ✗ icon on node face | Agent errored; run may be blocked |
| Blocked | Coral 8% fill | #DC2626 50% | "BLOCKED" label in detail panel | Cannot proceed; dependency failed |
| Type | Visual | When used |
|---|---|---|
| Planned delegation | Solid line, white 20%, directed arrow | Orchestrator → subagent; known at run start |
| Planned handoff | Solid line, white 10%, directed arrow | Data flows between subagents; known at run start |
| Dynamic spawn | Dashed line, violet, directed arrow | Orchestrator or subagent spawns a new agent mid-run |
| Active handoff | Animated pulse dot traveling along edge | Handoff is in progress between two agents |
| Completed handoff | Solid, dimmed, inspectable on click | Handoff finished; receipt available in detail panel |
All edges are directed (arrows show handoff direction). Clicking a completed handoff edge opens the Agent Handoff Receipt (AG05) in the detail panel.
Human-authorized 🔒 or Orchestrator-delegated 🔗 with delegating agent nameThe default graph view shows two levels: orchestrator and direct subagents. Deeper nesting is collapsed. Collapsed subagents show a count badge on their parent node (+N agents). Clicking the parent node in Pre-run mode expands it, revealing the nested level with a connecting dashed edge.
In Live mode, nested subagents appear automatically when they are spawned — collapse state does not prevent a nested agent from becoming visible when it activates. The spawn edge animates at the moment of spawning.
Collapsed state never hides an agent that is currently active, failed, or blocked. Collapsing is a display affordance for idle planned agents, not a way to suppress live state information.
role="button" tabindex="0" and keyboard activatable with Enter or Space. Tab order follows visual top-to-bottom, left-to-right reading order.<desc> element listing all agents and relationships as a text alternative. The graph does not rely on visual topology alone.aria-live="polite" on the simulation label bar.role="region" with aria-label. When opened, focus moves to the panel header. When closed, focus returns to the triggering node.role="group" with aria-label. Each button carries aria-pressed reflecting its active state.aria-live="polite" so screen readers are notified when the mode changes.:focus-visible outlines (2px, #147060).RAD is the original work of Jackie Curry. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced, adapted, or incorporated into any product or system without express written permission.
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© 2025 Jackie Curry. All rights reserved. Publication date: 2025.
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