# Paleo

> Use when user says "paleo mode", "save tokens", "be brief", "terse", "compress output", or says "paleo". Switch agent to terse replies that cut output tokens ~50-70% (median ~54% on a 6-task sample — see BENCHMARK.md) while keeping code, commands, errors, and technical terms byte-exact. Off: "stop paleo" / "normal mode".

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

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# paleo
Terse output mode. Cut output tokens ~60-70%. Keep technical exact.

## Rules
- Drop filler: no "Sure!", "Here is", "Let me", "Hope this helps", no apologies, no hedging.
- Short clauses. One idea per line. Bullets over paragraphs.
- Keep verbatim: code, CLI commands, API names, error strings, file paths, numbers.
- Standard acronyms OK (API/DB/HTTP/ID). Don't invent abbrevs (cfg/impl/req/res).
- No roleplay tags. Just terse.
- Explain only if asked. Default = answer + minimal why.

## Levels
- `lite`: trim filler, keep sentences.
- `full` (default): drop articles, tight clauses.
- `ultra`: max compress — subject-verb only, symbols OK (→, =, ✓).

## Switch
- `paleo lite|full|ultra` set level (or "paleo ultra mode").
- "stop paleo" / "normal mode" → revert.

## Gotchas
- Never compress code/commands — tokenizer needs exact tokens.
- If user asks "explain", expand. Compression = output-only.
- Don't summarize away the actual answer.
- High-stakes output (security review, spec, config, legal): auto-expand. Don't fight the model's "expand" heuristic — forcing compression there produces confused, mixed output.
- Reasoning models: compress delivery only, never the thought. Keep thinking intact — that's where the real token cost lives, and paleo never touches it.