Provable Coordination for LLM Agents via Message Sequence Charts
On the map: LLM agents and tool use → General LLM agent frameworks and benchmarks
Abstract (arXiv)
Multi-agent systems built on large language models (LLMs) are difficult to reason about. Coordination errors such as deadlocks or type-mismatched messages are often hard to detect through testing. We introduce a domain-specific language for specifying agent coordination based on message sequence charts (MSCs). The language separates message-passing structure from LLM calls, tool calls, and human control points, whose outcomes remain unpredictable. We define the syntax and semantics of the language and present a syntax-directed projection that generates deadlock-free local agent programs from global coordination specifications. We illustrate the approach with a diagnosis consensus protocol and show how coordination properties can be established independently of LLM nondeterminism. We also describe a runtime planning extension in which an LLM dynamically generates a coordination workflow for which the same structural guarantees apply. An open-source Python implementation of our framework is available as ZipperGen.
Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in General LLM agent frameworks and benchmarks, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use. Builds on 8 of its 42 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 19 Apr 2026.
Builds on
8 of 42 references.
References · 8
- 2026A Trace-Based Assurance Framework for Agentic AI Orchestration: Contracts, Testing, and Governancecited by 8
- 2023HasChor: Functional Choreographic Programming for All (Functional Pearl)cited by 3
- 2021Pirouette: Higher-Order Typed Functional Choreographiescited by 2
- 2020Statically Verified Refinements for Multiparty Protocolscited by 1
- 2023Asynchronous Multiparty Session Type Implementability is Decidable -- Lessons Learned from Message Sequence Chartscited by 1
- 2023Complete Multiparty Session Type Projection with Automatacited by 1
- 2024Characterizing Implementability of Global Protocols with Infinite States and Datacited by 1
- 2025High-Level Message Sequence Charts: Satisfiability and Realizability Revisitedcited by 1
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Citing papers per year: 2026: 1.
1 paper.
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- 2025LLMs Working in Harmony: A Survey on the Technological Aspects of Building Effective LLM-Based Multi Agent Systems
- 2026Coordination as an Architectural Layer for LLM-Based Multi-Agent Systems
- 2024Large Language Model based Multi-Agents: A Survey of Progress and Challenges
- 2026SyncPlan: Long-Horizon LLM Coordination with Explicit Synchronization and Adaptive Correction
- 2026Inference-Time Graph Engineering for Multi-Agent LLM Workflows