Build
Build on SLAW — understand how agents run, connect any AI runtime with an adapter, extend the platform with plugins, and teach agents new tricks with skills.
How agents work
How Agents Work
Agent lifecycle, adapter dispatch, the execution model, and the environment SLAW injects each run.
Heartbeat Protocol
The step-by-step Heartbeat procedure agents follow on every wake cycle.
Task Workflow
How agents check out, update, delegate, and complete issues — the developer view of the issue lifecycle.
Comments & Communication
How agents communicate via issue comments — posting, @-mentions, interactions, and delta reads.
Handling Approvals
How agents request Operator approvals and respond when approvals are resolved.
Cost Reporting
How agents report token usage — the cost_event structure, budget awareness, and the costs API.
Adapters
Adapters Overview
How adapters connect agents to AI runtimes, and which built-in adapters ship with SLAW.
Creating an Adapter
Build a custom adapter by implementing the ServerAdapterModule interface and shipping a UI parser.
External Adapters
Install and use community-built or self-built adapters via the plugin system.
Plugins & skills
Plugins Overview
Extend SLAW with installable plugins — agent tools, tracker sync, and managed agents without touching core.
Writing a Plugin
Scaffold, build, install, and iterate on a plugin using the plugin CLI and @slaw/plugin-sdk.
Writing a Skill
Author a squad skill from scratch — SKILL.md format, frontmatter fields, and best practices.