# Context Audit

> Context health monitoring. Analyzes include loading trends from context-metrics.log, audits CLAUDE.md/rules/settings for bloat, scores setup health. Modes: trend (default), full (with /context data), baseline (save snapshot).

- Skill: `greglas75/context-audit` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add greglas75/context-audit`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/greglas75/context-audit/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security
- Author: greglas75 (https://skillmd.com/u/greglas75)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/greglas75/context-audit

---


# zuvo:context-audit — Context Health Monitor

Tracks what fills your context window over time and flags waste. Two data sources:
1. **Auto-collected** — `~/.zuvo/runs.log` field 12 (`name:bytes` pairs, populated by `track-includes.sh` hook on every Read)
2. **Manual** — `/context` output (optional, for full system-level audit)

## Argument Parsing

| Flag | Effect |
|------|--------|
| `--full` | Full audit: requires `/context` data. Audits MCP, CLAUDE.md, settings, permissions |
| `--baseline` | Save current state as baseline for future delta comparisons |
| `--since N` | Show trend for last N days (default: 7) |
| _(no flags)_ | Trend mode: analyze context-metrics.log, show include loading patterns |

## Mandatory File Loading

Read these files:

```
CORE FILES LOADED:
  1. ../../shared/includes/run-logger.md       -- READ
  2. ../../shared/includes/retrospective.md    -- READ
```

## Phase 0: Collect Data

### Metrics data (from runs.log)

Read `~/.zuvo/runs.log` — the single source of truth for all skill run data:

```bash
RUNS_LOG="$HOME/.zuvo/runs.log"
```

Filter entries that have INCLUDES data (field 12 contains `:`). These are v3+ entries with `name:bytes` format.

```bash
# Extract v3 entries (field 12 has name:bytes pairs)
awk -F'\t' 'NF>=12 && $12 ~ /:/' "$RUNS_LOG"
```

If fewer than 3 entries with INCLUDES data: print "Not enough data yet. Run a few zuvo skills first — the `track-includes.sh` hook captures include sizes automatically." and exit.

Parse field 12 as `name:bytes|name:bytes` pairs. Calculate per-include sizes and cumulative costs directly from this field. No separate metrics file needed.

### /context data (--full mode only)

Check conversation history for `/context` output. If not found:

"Run `/context` in this session and let me know when you're done. I need the token breakdown to audit your full setup."

**STOP HERE in --full mode.** Do not proceed until the user provides /context data.

In default trend mode: skip this step entirely, proceed with metrics data.

## Phase 1: Trend Analysis (default mode)

Parse `context-metrics.log` for the `--since` period (default 7 days).

### 1.1 Include Loading Frequency

Count how many times each include was loaded across all skill runs:

```
TOP INCLUDES (last 7 days, N skill runs)

  # INCLUDE              LOADS   AVG_SIZE   CUMULATIVE
  1 env-compat.md        N/N     1.5K       NK
  2 codesift-setup.md    N/N     1.5K       NK
  3 run-logger.md        N/N     4.4K       NK
  4 cq-patterns.md       N/N     27.0K      NK
  ...
```

Flag includes with cumulative >100K as `⚠ HIGH CUMULATIVE COST`.

### 1.2 Heaviest Runs

Find the top 3 skill runs by `INCLUDES_BYTES`:

```
HEAVIEST RUNS

  1. refactor @ project — 14 includes / 82K
  2. review @ project — 10 includes / 58K
  3. execute @ project — 12 includes / 71K
```

### 1.3 Tier Distribution

Per-skill breakdown of tier usage (from TIER field):

```
TIER DISTRIBUTION

  review:      tier-0: 5  tier-1: 3  tier-2: 8  tier-3: 2
  write-tests: LIGHT: 4  STANDARD: 8  HEAVY: 2
  build:       LIGHT: 3  STANDARD: 5  DEEP: 1
```

### 1.4 Week-over-Week Delta

If enough data exists (>14 days), compare this week vs last week:

```
TREND (this week vs last)

  Avg includes/run:  7.2 → 6.8  ↓ 6%
  Avg bytes/run:     42K → 38K  ↓ 10%
  Total skill runs:  23 → 19    ↓ 17%
```

### 1.5 Recommendations

Based on the data, generate actionable recommendations:

| Condition | Recommendation |
|-----------|----------------|
| Any include with cumulative >200K | "Consider splitting [file] — loaded N times at XK each" |
| Any run with >100K includes bytes | "[skill] runs are heavy — check if all includes are necessary at its tier" |
| Same include loaded by >80% of runs | "Consider inlining [file] essentials into env-compat or making it a hook" |
| Include that grew >20% since baseline | "[file] grew from XK to YK — review recent additions" |

## Phase 2: Full Audit (--full mode only)

Only runs when `--full` flag is provided AND /context data is available.

### 2.1 MCP Servers

From `/context` output, count MCP servers and their tool counts. Flag:
- Servers with >30 tools (high token cost per definition)
- Servers with CLI alternatives (playwright → npx playwright, github → gh)

### 2.2 Memory Files

Read all files listed in `/context` Memory section. For each, apply 5 filters:

| Filter | Flag when... |
|--------|-------------|
| Default | Claude already does this without being told |
| Contradiction | Conflicts with another rule in same or different file |
| Redundancy | Repeats something already covered elsewhere |
| Bandaid | Added to fix one bad output, not improve outputs generally |
| Vague | Interpreted differently every time ("be natural") |

Count total lines. Flag if >200 lines combined.

### 2.3 Skills

From `/context` Skills section, for each skill >120 tokens:
- Flag as "consider trimming description"
- Check for restated goals or synonymous instructions

### 2.4 Settings

Check the global and project settings files (e.g., `settings.json`):

| Setting | Flag if | Recommended |
|---------|---------|-------------|
| autocompact_percentage_override | Missing or >80 | 75 |

### 2.5 File Permissions

Check `settings.json` for `permissions.deny` rules. If missing, check whether bloat directories exist:

| If exists... | Should deny... |
|--------------|---------------|
| package.json | node_modules, dist, build, .next, coverage |
| Cargo.toml | target |
| go.mod | vendor |
| pyproject.toml | __pycache__, .venv |

### 2.6 Retro-gate bypass check

Surface every `ZUVO_SKIP_RETRO_GATE=1` use recorded by `append-runlog` to
`$ZUVO_HOME/skip-retro-gate.log` (default `~/.zuvo/skip-retro-gate.log`).
Schema: `# v1 SKIP\tDATE\tSKILL\tPROJECT\tNOTE`. Run this and fold the count
into the report (each bypass skipped a durability gate = an unverified run):

```bash
# >>> zuvo:skip-audit  (plan Task 9 — surface retro-gate bypasses)
_SL="${ZUVO_HOME:-$HOME/.zuvo}/skip-retro-gate.log"
if [ -f "$_SL" ]; then
  _n=$(grep -c '^SKIP:' "$_SL" 2>/dev/null) || true; _n=${_n:-0}
  echo "Retro-gate bypasses (ZUVO_SKIP_RETRO_GATE): $_n"
  if [ "$_n" -gt 0 ]; then
    echo "  recent (skill / project / date):"
    grep '^SKIP:' "$_SL" | tail -5 | awk -F'\t' '{printf "  - %s / %s / %s\n",$3,$4,$2}'
  fi
else
  echo "Retro-gate bypasses: 0 (no skip-retro-gate.log)"
fi
# <<< zuvo:skip-audit
```

Cross-reference any nonzero skill/project against missing retros in retros.log.

## Phase 3: Score and Report

### Scoring (--full mode)

Score starts at 100. Deduct per issue:

| Issue | Points |
|-------|--------|
| Memory files >200 lines total | -10 |
| Memory files >500 lines total | -20 |
| Per 5 rules flagged by filters | -5 |
| Contradictions between files | -10 |
| Missing autocompact override | -10 |
| Skill >120 tokens | -3 each |
| Per MCP server | -3 each |
| No deny rules + bloat dirs exist | -10 |

Floor at 0. Labels: 90-100 `CLEAN`, 70-89 `NEEDS WORK`, 50-69 `BLOATED`, 0-49 `CRITICAL`.

### Scoring (trend mode)

Score based on metrics data:

| Condition | Points |
|-----------|--------|
| Avg bytes/run <30K | +20 |
| Avg bytes/run 30-60K | +10 |
| Avg bytes/run >60K | 0 |
| Week-over-week improving (↓) | +10 |
| Week-over-week stable | +5 |
| Week-over-week degrading (↑ >10%) | -10 |
| No include >200K cumulative | +10 |
| Any include >200K cumulative | -5 per file |

Base 50 + adjustments. Same labels.

### Output Format

```
# Context Audit

Score: {N}/100 [{CLEAN|NEEDS WORK|BLOATED|CRITICAL}]
Mode: {trend|full}
Period: {last N days} ({M skill runs})

## Include Loading

{Phase 1.1 table}

## Heaviest Runs

{Phase 1.2 table}

## Tier Distribution

{Phase 1.3 table}

## Trend

{Phase 1.4 delta, or "Not enough data for trend"}

## Issues Found

### [{CRITICAL|WARNING|INFO}] {Category}
{What's wrong}
Fix: {One-line actionable fix}

## Recommendations

{Phase 1.5 or Phase 2 recommendations, ranked by impact}

## Top 3 Fixes

1. {Highest-impact fix}
2. {Second}
3. {Third}
```

## Phase 4: Baseline (--baseline mode)

Save current metrics snapshot to `~/.zuvo/context-baseline.json`:

```json
{
  "date": "2026-04-12",
  "avg_includes_per_run": 7.2,
  "avg_bytes_per_run": 38000,
  "total_runs": 23,
  "top_includes": {
    "env-compat": {"loads": 23, "size": 1500},
    "cq-patterns": {"loads": 8, "size": 27000}
  },
  "include_sizes": {
    "env-compat.md": 1500,
    "codesift-setup.md": 1500,
    "cq-patterns.md": 27000
  }
}
```

Print: "Baseline saved. Run `zuvo:context-audit` again after your next changes to see the delta."

## Phase 5: Offer to Fix (--full mode only)

After the report:

"Want me to fix any of these? I can:
- Show you a cleaned-up CLAUDE.md with the flagged rules removed
- Add the missing settings.json configs
- Add permissions.deny rules for build artifacts"

Auto-apply settings.json and permissions.deny (safe, reversible).
Show diffs for CLAUDE.md — let the user confirm before modifying instruction files.

### Retrospective (REQUIRED)

Follow the retrospective protocol from `retrospective.md`.
Gate check → structured questions → TSV emit → markdown append.
If gate check skips: print "RETRO: skipped (trivial session)" and proceed.

## Output

```
Run: <ISO-8601-Z>	context-audit	<project>	-	-	<VERDICT>	-	<mode>	<NOTES>	<BRANCH>	<SHA7>	<INCLUDES>	<TIER>
```

**Append via wrapper (REQUIRED).** Never `>>` directly to `~/.zuvo/runs.log` — the wrapper is the gate that verifies a retro entry exists for this run. Order: retro bash executed → wrapper invoked → completion claimed.

```bash
printf '%b\n' "$RUN_LINE" | ~/.zuvo/append-runlog
```

Expected stdout: `OK: appended to runs.log (retro verified for <skill> on <project>)`. If exit 2 with `RETRO_REQUIRED` — go execute the retro bash from `retrospective.md` first; never bypass with `ZUVO_SKIP_RETRO_GATE=1`. After the wrapper succeeds, print a `Logs:` evidence line (`tail -1 ~/.zuvo/retros.log`, `grep -c "^<!-- RETRO -->" ~/.zuvo/retros.md`, `tail -1 ~/.zuvo/runs.log`) before claiming completion. Printing the markdown retro section without executing the bash leaves all three log files empty.

Include sizes are captured automatically by the `track-includes.sh` PostToolUse hook and written to runs.log field 12 as `name:bytes` pairs. No separate metrics file or manual collection needed.