Optimize Agent Context

Optimize Agent Context

Enforce the Band-Aid Philosophy: an agent context file should only contain rules that fix mistakes the agent is actively making. Everything else is bloat that degrades performance and increases cost.

Core Rules (Non-Negotiable)

1. NO BLOAT — Never include directory structures, file trees, dependency lists, or package inventories. The agent has tools to discover these.
2. NO SUMMARIES — Never include vague app descriptions ("This is a video sharing app"). This distracts the model and triggers hallucinations.
3. ONLY FIX KNOWN FAILURES — Every line must correct a specific, observed agent mistake or enforce an architectural constraint the agent cannot guess.
4. USE NEGATIVE CONSTRAINTS — When the agent uses the wrong tool/library, explicitly state what NOT to use, then what TO use.
5. BE MINIMAL — Target under 20 lines. Bullet points preferred. If a rule can be removed without the agent breaking, remove it.

Why This Matters

Studies show bloated, AI-generated context files:

• Degrade agent performance by ~3%
• Increase token costs by 20%+
• Trigger hallucinations by surfacing legacy code the agent then tries to use ("pink elephants" effect)

Workflow

Mode A: Create New Agent File (Interview)

When the user wants to create a new context file from scratch:

1. Ask these questions one at a time (do not dump all at once):

   • "What specific mistakes has the AI agent been making repeatedly?" (e.g., wrong imports, forgetting to format, modifying wrong files)
   • "Are there legacy tools/libraries the agent keeps using but shouldn't?" (e.g., "We have Redux but use Zustand for new features")
   • "Any build/test/env quirks the agent can't figure out on its own?" (e.g., special env vars, non-standard test commands)

2. Synthesize answers into a ruthlessly minimal bulleted markdown file.

3. Validate the output against the Core Rules above. Strip anything that violates them.

4. Present the file and ask: "Does this capture the mistakes? Anything to add or remove?"

Mode B: Audit Existing Agent File

When the user has an existing agent.md / claude.md / cursorrules and wants it optimized:

1. Read the file using view_file.
2. Classify every line into one of:
   • ✅ KEEP — Fixes a known failure or states an ungessable constraint
   • ❌ BLOAT — Directory trees, dependency lists, file structures
   • ❌ SUMMARY — Vague app descriptions, project overviews
   • ❌ OBVIOUS — Things the agent can discover via tools (package.json, tsconfig, etc.)
   • ⚠️ MAYBE — Potentially useful but needs user confirmation
3. Present the audit as a table showing each section and its classification.
4. Generate the optimized version with only ✅ KEEP and confirmed ⚠️ MAYBE lines.
5. Show before/after line count to demonstrate the reduction.

Mode C: Add a Band-Aid

When the user reports a specific agent mistake mid-session:

1. Ask: "What did the agent do wrong?"
2. Write a single, precise negative constraint: Do NOT [wrong thing]. Instead, [correct thing].
3. Suggest appending it to the existing context file.

Output Format

The generated file should follow this structure:

# Agent Rules

- [Negative constraint or correction]
- [Negative constraint or correction]
- [Build/test quirk]
- [Architectural constraint]

No headers beyond the title. No explanations. No examples. Just rules.

Anti-Patterns to Reject

If the user or another agent tries to include any of these, push back: