Agents

Agents are specialized assistants with custom prompts and tool rules.

Create an agent

arctic agent create

Agents are stored as markdown files with frontmatter in:

• Project: .arctic/agent/*.md
• Global: ~/.config/arctic/agent/*.md

Import from Claude Code

Arctic can import agents from Claude Code on first launch:

• Project agents: .claude/agents/ → .arctic/agent/claude/
• Global agents: ~/.claude/agents/ → ~/.config/arctic/agent/claude/

You'll be prompted once. Imported agents work immediately and can be selected via Ctrl+X A or @agent-name in prompts.

Agent file format

---
description: "Writes backend APIs"
mode: primary
model: "provider/model"
tools:
  bash: true
  edit: true
  write: true
  webfetch: false
permission:
  edit: ask
  bash:
    "*": ask
---

You are a backend assistant. Focus on services, data, and API design.

Modes

• primary: main assistant
• subagent: callable via task tool
• all: both primary and subagent

Use an agent

• TUI: Ctrl+X A
• CLI: arctic run --agent <name> "..."

Remove an agent

Delete the file from .arctic/agent (project) or ~/.config/arctic/agent (global).