What helps most to detect that two agents overlap?
Why C is the answer
Comparing the files each one changes, in branches and pull requests
Overlaps show up in changed files, which are visible in branches and pull requests before merging.
In detail
- Changed files show overlap directly.
- Check for overlap during a run, not only at the end.
Use case
An illustrative scenario, not a real incident.
Comparing changed files across two branches shows that both agents touched the same module, so the team stops one early.
See it in different ways
flowchart TD A["Coordinator"] --> B["Agent 1 on branch a"] A --> C["Agent 2 on branch b"] B --> D["Pull request a"] C --> E["Pull request b"] D --> F["Review and merge in order"] E --> F
stateDiagram-v2 [*] --> CheckDependencies CheckDependencies --> Sequential: one step needs another CheckDependencies --> Parallel: work is independent Sequential --> Handoff: clear artifact Parallel --> Isolated: own branch or workspace Handoff --> [*] Isolated --> [*]
flowchart LR S0["Agent branches"] --> S1["Compare changed files"] --> S2["Find overlap"] --> S3["Reassign work"]
Key point: Changed files show overlap.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Giving both agents the same instructions at the very start of the task
- The same instructions make overlap more likely.
- B. Checking the agents' names against the list of team members
- Names do not show what changed.
- D. Asking each agent to describe how well it thinks the work is going
- A self-report is not evidence.