attac-t Skill: Context Management
"Context is RAM. Filesystem is external memory—unlimited, persistent, operable." — Manus
When
Before context becomes a constraint. The kernel monitors automatically.
The Thresholds
| Usage | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 60% | Run /compact |
Prevent drift before it starts |
| 80% | Delegate to sub-agent | Preserve parent for orchestration |
| 90% | Emergency compress | Summarize aggressively |
The Protocol
- At 60%: Compact. Preserve: objective, ADRs, failures.
- At 80%: Spawn sub-agent for current task. Parent orchestrates.
- Always: Write to files, not context. Files survive. Context doesn't.
The Key Insight
Compaction is continuation, not termination.
Auto-compaction enables infinite work. Your objective survives if you keep working.md current — the system loads it on resume.
Don't wrap up early to "fit" in context. Don't cut corners. Let compaction happen. Work continues on the other side.
The Anti-Patterns
| Don't | Do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hoard context | Write to files | Files are unlimited |
| Wait until 90% | Compact at 60% | Late compaction loses objectives |
| Orphan sub-agents | Handoff before delegating | Context must transfer |
| Wrap up early | Trust the system | Compaction continues work |
| Cut corners | Maintain quality | Scope doesn't shrink to fit |
The Output
State: "Context at [X]%. Action: [compact/delegate/continue]."