Multitask Using /fork to Launch Background AI Agents
Delegate sub-tasks to background agents to maintain flow.
Use the /fork command to launch background agents for specific sub-tasks while you continue working on your main project.
The Scenario
You are in the middle of a deep coding session but notice a minor bug or a repetitive task like linting that needs to be addressed without stopping your current flow.
Before & after
You stop your current feature work to open a new terminal or branch to fix a bug, context-switching manually. This usually adds 15–20 minutes of overhead and distraction.
Run /fork to spin up a background agent that works on the fix while you continue primary development. This reduces active wait time to under 1 minute.
The Prompt
/fork [TASK_FOR_BACKGROUND_AGENT_E_G_RUN_LINTER_AND_FIX_FORMATTING_ERRORS]
The /fork feature allows for background execution, meaning you can delegate a sub-task to an agent without losing your current terminal focus or slowing down your main workflow.
Source
Qwen Code Blog: AI Coding Updates and Guides | Qwen Code Docs"v0.18.0-preview launches /fork background agents, /skills visual skill management, user-level cross-project memory."