SKILL.md
Token Economy
Optimize text for AI context: docs, changelogs, MCP tasks, subtasks.
Principle: Quality first. Never sacrifice essential info.
15 Techniques
| # | Technique | Use | Example | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tables over prose | Comparisons | Function params → table | ||
| 2 | Bullets with pipes | Multi-part | `Part1 \ | Part2 \ | Part3` |
| 3 | Numbered steps | Workflows | 1. Step → 2. Step |
||
| 4 | One example | Code samples | Keep best, remove rest | ||
| 5 | Pattern statements | Repetition | Pattern: All X do Y |
||
| 6 | Add "Why" | Decisions | Why: [reason] |
||
| 7 | Concrete errors | Debugging | Error: \exact message\`` |
||
| 8 | No fluff | Decorations | Remove ASCII art, emojis | ||
| 9 | Scannable | Structure | Headers, bullets, tables | ||
| 10 | Consolidate | Duplicates | Merge similar sections | ||
| 11 | Compact code | Examples | 3-5 key lines only | ||
| 12 | Quick lists | Reference | Command/param tables | ||
| 13 | Inverted pyramid | Info order | Critical → Details → Context | ||
| 14 | Conditional verbosity | Complexity | High for complex, low for simple | ||
| 15 | No teaching | Reference | State facts, skip basics |
Quick Workflow
- Identify: Prose → tables? Multiple examples → one? ASCII → numbered? Teaching → facts?
- Apply: Convert, consolidate, compact
- Check: Essential info preserved? Scannable? No fluff?
MCP Templates
Task:
Requirements: [WHAT] | Files: [PATH:LINES] (action) | Acceptance: [CRITERIA] | Why: [CONTEXT]progress_notes: [ACTION] [WHAT]. [NEXT]
completion_summary: [DONE]. [TECH]. Files: [PATHS]. [IMPACT]
Examples
Before (prose):
This function validates user input. Takes string input_text, returns bool.
If valid returns true, otherwise false. Checks empty, special chars, length ≤100.After (compact):
**validate_input(input_text: str) → bool**: True if valid (non-empty, no special chars, ≤100)Before (ASCII art - 180 tokens):
┌─────────┐
│ Auth? │
└────┬────┘
▼
┌─────────┐
│ Valid? │
└──┬───┬──┘
Y NAfter (numbered - 36 tokens):
1. Check auth
2. Valid → YES: Process | NO: RejectCommon Fixes
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Multiple examples | Keep 1 (#4) |
| Prose comparison | Table (#1) |
| Teaching | Facts only (#15) |
| ASCII art | Numbered (#3) |
| No "why" | Add context (#6) |
See [TEMPLATES.md](TEMPLATES.md) for copy-paste templates.