In one embodiment, a device in a network receives a path computation agent configured to determine a path in the network that satisfies an objective function. The device executes the path computation agent to update state information regarding the network maintained by the path computation agent. The device selects a neighbor of the device in the network to execute the path computation agent based on the updated state information regarding the network. The device instructs the selected neighbor to execute the path computation agent with the updated state information regarding the network. The device unloads the path computation agent from the device after selecting the neighbor of the device to execute the path computation agent.