Nope it isn’t. I did it as a joke initially (I also had a version where every 2 stories there was a meeting and if a someone underperformed it would get fired). I think there are multiple reasons why it actually works so well:

- I built a system where context (+ the current state + goal) is properly structured and coding agents only get the information they actually need and nothing more. You wouldn’t let your product manager develop your backend and I gave the backend dev only do the things it is supposed to and nothing more. If an agent crashes (or quota limits are reached), the agents can continue exactly where the other agents left off.

- Agents are ”fighting against” each other to some extend? The Architect tries to design while the CAB tries to reject.

- Granular control. I wouldn’t call “the manager” _a deterministic state machine that is calling probabilistic functions_ but that’s to some extent what it is? The manager has clearly defined tasks (like “if file is in 01_design —> Call Architect)

Here’s one example of an agent log after a feature has been implemented from one of the older codebases: https://pastebin.com/7ySJL5Rg

It's not satire but I see where you're coming from.

Applying distributed human team concepts to a porting task squeezes extra performance from LLMs much further up the diminishing returns curve. That matters because porting projects are actually well-suited for autonomous agents: existing code provides context, objective criteria catch more LLM-grade bugs than greenfield work, and established unit tests offer clear targets.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the setup seems absurd because it is. Though it also carries real utility for this specific use case. Apply the same approach to running a startup or writing a paid service from scratch and you'd get very different results.

why would it be? It's a creative setup.

I think many people really like the gamification and complex role playing. That is how GitHub got popular, that is how Rube Goldberg agent/swarm/cult setups get popular.

It attracts the gamers and LARPers. Unfortunately, management is on their side until they find out after four years or so that it is all a scam.

I don't think so.