Process Orchestration

Run every command in this guide through Shell on target gsv. Keep CodeMode for scripted tool workflows inside the current process; it is not the delegation mechanism.

Choose the Mechanism

• Use proc delegate for bounded work in a new child process when its result must return to the current process.
• Use proc call for bounded work in an existing process.
• Use proc send to send an asynchronous message to an existing process when no reply is required.
• Use proc spawn to start a new fire-and-forget process. Its answer remains in the child process history.
• Use sched add --here when a future or recurring prompt should re-enter the current process conversation.
• Use sched add --to for future or recurring direct text delivery that must not run an agent.
• Use crontab for recurring shell commands or true fire-and-forget background automation.

Delegate or Start a Process

Name the work so the user can recognize its subject and purpose without opening the process. Use ordinary words and spaces.

Ship selects the Crew account named in ~/context.d/10-delegation.md for general delegated work. Replace ACCOUNT with that name or another owned account suited to the task:

proc delegate --as ACCOUNT --label 'Compare backup options' --check-after 10m 'Compare backup options and recommend one.'

Delegation creates a non-interactive child, returns an in-progress task handle immediately, and sends its result back as a process event. The check interval is a supervision checkpoint, not a work deadline. It requires a process-backed caller, so never put proc delegate in a crontab or top-level scheduled shell command.

Without --as, a child inherits the parent's identity and account context. List the accounts available for running processes when choosing a different identity:

proc agents
proc delegate --as ACCOUNT --label 'Review hosting costs' 'Review hosting costs and identify savings.'

Use the other process commands according to their reply contract:

proc spawn --label "Check last night's backup" "Verify that last night's backup completed successfully."
proc call <pid> --timeout 60s 'Complete this bounded task.'
proc send <pid> 'Handle this without replying.'

Pass --non-interactive to proc spawn for scheduled background work. Inspect a child process when necessary:

proc history --pid <pid> --tail --limit 20

Add --full or --json only when untruncated content is needed.

Schedule Work

Use --here when each firing should run the current process:

sched add --here --name <name> \
  (--every <duration> | --cron <expr> [--timezone <zone>] | --after <duration> | --at <time> [--timezone <zone>]) \
  --message <prompt> [--conversation <id>]

When created during an adapter run, --here preserves the current authorized reply destination so the future final answer returns there. Otherwise, the answer remains in the GSV process conversation. The schedule stays bound to that process id; recreate it after killing the process.

Use --to for direct delivery without an agent run:

sched add --to <destination> --name <name> \
  (--every <duration> | --cron <expr> [--timezone <zone>] | --after <duration> | --at <time> [--timezone <zone>]) \
  --message <text>

Choose exactly one time expression. An --at value is a future local time such as 2026-10-26T10:00, read in --timezone or your own timezone, or an ISO timestamp with Z or a UTC offset. Prefer the local form: it applies the offset in force on that date.

Inspect and control schedules with:

sched list
sched list --all
sched run <id> [--force]
sched enable <id>
sched disable <id>
sched remove <id>

sched list --all includes disabled schedules, not other users' schedules. A successful process-event firing means the event was admitted, not that the model turn or reply completed.

Schedule Shell Commands

Use crontab -l to inspect the current table and crontab FILE to install one. A per-user table is also available at /var/spool/cron/<username>. Each job is a five-field cron expression followed by a shell command:

0 9 * * * proc spawn --non-interactive --label 'Refresh search index' "Refresh the search index."

The crontab file is desired state, so reinstalling it regenerates its Kernel schedule ids. A schedule status of ok for proc spawn means dispatch and spawn acceptance, not child completion or delivery. The answer remains in the child process history.

Use man proc, man sched, man crontab, or each command's --help output for exact syntax.