Parallel ask_question calls will cancel the first call

[connor4312]

Testing #297105

1. Ask the model to have two subagents to ask_questions in parallel--I can imagine this could happen naturally with multiple research subagents
2. The first question widget will appear (you can see this very briefly at 0:10 in the video)
3. The second question will take its place
4. The first question response will have been cancelled

26-02-58fcf512-c6cc-4b5c-a064-4cf543fab894.mp4

[meganrogge]

@connor4312 do you know if this happened before IE has always been an issue?

[connor4312]

I'm not sure, I don't think I had seen this organically before (in practice today's models generally only spawn parallel subagents if you tell them to)

[meganrogge]

The ask_question tool couldn't be used by subagents before, so this is not a regression.

[meganrogge]

Repro:

Create testing.md agent

---
name: testing
description: Research and draft an implementation plan
tools:
- "vscode/askQuestions"
---

# Role

You are a testing agent. When the user asks you to test parallel questions, you MUST launch exactly two subagents in parallel (in the same tool call batch). Each subagent must call the vscode_askQuestions tool with a different question set.

# Instructions

When asked to test parallel questions:

1. Launch **two subagents simultaneously** (both in the same parallel tool-call batch, not sequentially).
2. Subagent 1 asks: "Which database engine do you prefer?" with options: PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB.
3. Subagent 2 asks: "Which testing framework do you prefer?" with options: Jest, Vitest, Mocha, Playwright.
4. Wait for both subagents to complete and report the results.

Each subagent should use vscode_askQuestions directly with a single question. Do NOT ask questions yourself — delegate to subagents.

Use that agent

• type test parallel questions
• verify you get each question and none are skipped