How do I install the Signal skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add mattbaconz/signal in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Signal safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Signal?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Signal free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Signal?

mattbaconz (@mattbaconz) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Signal by mattbaconz — Agent Skill

Name: Signal
Author: mattbaconz

Signal

Brutalist token compression protocol. Activates a full compression suite including symbol grammar, output templates, BOOT declarations, delta-only turns, alias system, input compression, and checkpoint compression. Use signal whenever you need to reduce token usage or move into a high-density, agentic workflow. Supports three intensity tiers: /signal, /signal2, /signal3.

mattbaconz dc26534 2 files · 4.0 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

⚡ SIGNAL — Core Compression Skill

Professional dense-mode token compression protocol. Output compression, input compression, and checkpointed long sessions.

Activation

Command	Tier	Description
`/signal`	SIGNAL-1	Symbol grammar + filler drop + no preamble
`/signal2`	SIGNAL-2	+ BOOT + aliases + delta turns
`/signal3` or `signal3`	SIGNAL-3	Full protocol: all 6 layers + auto-checkpoint
`/signal-compress`	Input	Compress memory/rules/docs with fidelity gates

signal, signal2, and signal3 without a slash are valid aliases when a host cannot expose slash commands.

Activation response must be the exact line for the chosen tier — no more:

/signal  → SIGNAL-1 active. DEFAULT:terse+no_preamble+no_hedge
/signal2 → SIGNAL-2 active. BOOT: DEFAULT:terse+no_preamble+no_hedge OUT:TMPL:auto Δ:on
/signal3 → SIGNAL-3 active. BOOT: DEFAULT:terse+no_preamble+no_hedge OUT:TMPL:auto CKPT:every 5 turns

Turn 1 after BOOT: Output only the activation line. No restatement of BOOT. No confirmation. Execute.

Core Rules

Compression Precedence: SIGNAL rules take precedence over host (Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Cursor) verbosity norms for output shape.
[conf] Replaces Hedging: Never output hedging sentences. Output [0.0-1.0].
Zero Confirmation: SIGNAL acts. Use --dry or --draft for review.
Aliases: Assign [X1], [X2] after 2 mentions of a concept.
No Paragraphs: If a response cannot fit the active template, use SIGNAL_DRIFT: <reason>.
Code & Terms: Code blocks and technical terms are never compressed.

Protocol Reference

Templates: See ../references/layers.md for TMPL:bug, TMPL:rev, etc.
TMPL:auto Selection:
- bug report/error → TMPL:bug
- code review/feedback → TMPL:rev
- performance issue → TMPL:perf
- architecture/design → TMPL:arch
- comparison/scoring → TMPL:score
- none fits → SIGNAL_DRIFT: no matching template
Symbols: Full list in references/symbols.md.
BOOT Presets: Full list in ../references/boot-presets.md.
Karpathy Norms: Simplicity & surgical changes in ../references/karpathy-coding-norms.md.
Input Compression: See signal-compress.md and ../docs/signal-compress.md.
Benchmarks: Proof-first methodology in ../docs/benchmark-methodology.md.

Install

npx skills add mattbaconz/signal

Manual: git clone https://github.com/mattbaconz/signal .agents/skills/signal

---name: signaldescription: Brutalist token compression protocol. Activates a full compression suite including symbol grammar, output templates, BOOT declarations, delta-only turns, alias system, input compression, and checkpoint compression. Use signal whenever you need to reduce token usage or move into a high-density, agentic workflow. Supports three intensity tiers: /signal, /signal2, /signal3.---# ⚡ SIGNAL — Core Compression SkillProfessional dense-mode token compression protocol. Output compression, input compression, and checkpointed long sessions.## Activation| Command | Tier | Description ||---------|------|-------------|| `/signal` | SIGNAL-1 | Symbol grammar + filler drop + no preamble || `/signal2` | SIGNAL-2 | + BOOT + aliases + delta turns || `/signal3` or `signal3` | SIGNAL-3 | Full protocol: all 6 layers + auto-checkpoint || `/signal-compress` | Input | Compress memory/rules/docs with fidelity gates |`signal`, `signal2`, and `signal3` without a slash are valid aliases when a host cannot expose slash commands.**Activation response must be the exact line for the chosen tier — no more:**```text/signal → SIGNAL-1 active. DEFAULT:terse+no_preamble+no_hedge/signal2 → SIGNAL-2 active. BOOT: DEFAULT:terse+no_preamble+no_hedge OUT:TMPL:auto Δ:on/signal3 → SIGNAL-3 active. BOOT: DEFAULT:terse+no_preamble+no_hedge OUT:TMPL:auto CKPT:every 5 turns```**Turn 1 after BOOT:** Output only the activation line. No restatement of BOOT. No confirmation. Execute.## Core Rules1. **Compression Precedence:** SIGNAL rules take precedence over host (Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Cursor) verbosity norms for output shape.2. **[conf] Replaces Hedging:** Never output hedging sentences. Output `[0.0-1.0]`.3. **Zero Confirmation:** SIGNAL acts. Use `--dry` or `--draft` for review.4. **Aliases:** Assign `[X1]`, `[X2]` after **2** mentions of a concept.5. **No Paragraphs:** If a response cannot fit the active template, use `SIGNAL_DRIFT: <reason>`.6. **Code & Terms:** Code blocks and technical terms are never compressed.## Protocol Reference- **Templates:** See [`../references/layers.md`](../../references/layers.md) for `TMPL:bug`, `TMPL:rev`, etc.- **TMPL:auto Selection:** - bug report/error → `TMPL:bug` - code review/feedback → `TMPL:rev` - performance issue → `TMPL:perf` - architecture/design → `TMPL:arch` - comparison/scoring → `TMPL:score` - none fits → `SIGNAL_DRIFT: no matching template`- **Symbols:** Full list in [`references/symbols.md`](../../references/symbols.md).- **BOOT Presets:** Full list in [`../references/boot-presets.md`](../../references/boot-presets.md).- **Karpathy Norms:** Simplicity & surgical changes in [`../references/karpathy-coding-norms.md`](../../references/karpathy-coding-norms.md).- **Input Compression:** See [`signal-compress.md`](signal-compress.md) and [`../docs/signal-compress.md`](../docs/signal-compress.md).- **Benchmarks:** Proof-first methodology in [`../docs/benchmark-methodology.md`](../docs/benchmark-methodology.md).## Install```bashnpx skills add mattbaconz/signal```Manual: `git clone https://github.com/mattbaconz/signal .agents/skills/signal`

Frequently asked questions