Multitask Efficiently Using Background Agents with /fork
Spawn background agents to handle side tasks without stopping your workflow.
Use the /fork command to initiate background agents for parallel task execution, such as running tests or data processing, while you continue coding.
The Scenario
You are deep in a coding session but realize you need to run a full test suite or a background script without interrupting your current terminal workflow.
Before & after
Developers often have to stop their current task, switch context, and manually run tests or scripts, which ruins deep focus and adds 15-20 minutes of overhead.
Type `/fork` to spin up a background agent that handles the side task, finishing it in 5-10 minutes while you stay focused on your primary file.
The Prompt
/fork "Run all unit tests in the [DIRECTORY_NAME] folder and provide a summary of any failures in the background."
The `/fork` command allows you to spawn background agents that can handle secondary tasks like running tests or performing minor fixes while you continue active work in the main terminal session.
Source
Qwen Code Blog: AI Coding Updates and Guides | Qwen Code Docs"Qwen Code v0.18.0-preview launches /fork background agents... parallel agents now have a visual panel with keyboard navigation."