How do I install the Redline skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add modbender/redline 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 Redline safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: CAUTION, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: reads secrets. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Redline?

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 Redline free to use?

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

Who published Redline?

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

Redline by modbender — Agent Skill

Name: Redline
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: modbender

Redline

Live rate-limit awareness for Claude.ai (Max/Pro) and OpenAI (Plus/Pro/Codex). Never hit the red line again — your agent checks remaining budget every heartbeat and automatically throttles from full-send to conservation mode. Two CLI scripts + a 4-tier pacing strategy (GREEN/YELLOW/ORANGE/RED) that keeps you running at maximum token efficiency 24/7.

modbender Updated Sep 9, 2026 12 repo stars

File contents

Usage Pacing

Check live rate-limit usage for Claude.ai and OpenAI/Codex plans, then apply pacing tiers to avoid hitting limits.

Scripts

`claude-usage`

Reads the Claude Code OAuth token from macOS Keychain and calls the Anthropic usage API.

# Human-readable output with color bars
scripts/claude-usage

# JSON output (for programmatic use)
scripts/claude-usage --json

Requirements:

macOS with security CLI (Keychain access)
Claude Code OAuth token in Keychain (run claude login to set up)
Token needs user:profile scope (standard Claude Code login provides this)

Token location: macOS Keychain, service Claude Code-credentials, account = your macOS username.

`openai-usage`

Reads the OpenAI OAuth token from OpenClaw's auth-profiles and calls the ChatGPT usage API.

# Human-readable output with color bars
scripts/openai-usage

# JSON output
scripts/openai-usage --json

Requirements:

OpenClaw with an authenticated openai-codex profile (run openclaw auth openai-codex)
Auth profiles at ~/.openclaw/agents/main/agent/auth-profiles.json

Pacing Tiers

Wire both scripts into your heartbeat to automatically pace work based on remaining budget:

Tier	Remaining	Behavior
🟢 GREEN	>50%	Normal operations
🟡 YELLOW	25-50%	Skip sub-agents, defer non-urgent research
🟠 ORANGE	10-25%	Essential replies only, no proactive checks
🔴 RED	<10%	Critical only, warn user

Heartbeat integration

Add to your HEARTBEAT.md:

## Usage pacing (every heartbeat)
- Run `scripts/claude-usage --json` and `scripts/openai-usage --json` to check rate limits.
- Store readings in memory/heartbeat-state.json under "usage.claude" and "usage.openai".
- Apply pacing tiers:
  - GREEN (>50% left): normal ops
  - YELLOW (25-50%): skip sub-agents, defer non-urgent research
  - ORANGE (10-25%): essential replies only, no proactive checks
  - RED (<10%): critical only, warn user
- If entering YELLOW or worse, mention it briefly when next messaging.

JSON output format

Claude (--json):

{
  "five_hour": {"utilization": 39.0, "resets_at": "2026-02-18T04:00:00Z"},
  "seven_day": {"utilization": 12.0, "resets_at": "2026-02-24T03:00:00Z"},
  "extra_usage": {"is_enabled": true, "used_credits": 5044, "monthly_limit": 5000}
}

OpenAI (--json):

{
  "plan_type": "plus",
  "rate_limit": {
    "primary_window": {"used_percent": 0, "limit_window_seconds": 10800, "reset_at": 1771556400},
    "secondary_window": {"used_percent": 34, "limit_window_seconds": 86400, "reset_at": 1771556400}
  },
  "credits": {"balance": "882.99"}
}

---name: redlinedescription: Live rate-limit awareness for Claude.ai (Max/Pro) and OpenAI (Plus/Pro/Codex). Never hit the red line again — your agent checks remaining budget every heartbeat and automatically throttles from full-send to conservation mode. Two CLI scripts + a 4-tier pacing strategy (GREEN/YELLOW/ORANGE/RED) that keeps you running at maximum token efficiency 24/7.--- # Usage Pacing Check live rate-limit usage for **Claude.ai** and **OpenAI/Codex** plans, then apply pacing tiers to avoid hitting limits. ## Scripts ### `claude-usage` Reads the Claude Code OAuth token from macOS Keychain and calls the Anthropic usage API. ```bash # Human-readable output with color bars scripts/claude-usage # JSON output (for programmatic use) scripts/claude-usage --json ``` **Requirements:** - macOS with `security` CLI (Keychain access) - Claude Code OAuth token in Keychain (run `claude login` to set up) - Token needs `user:profile` scope (standard Claude Code login provides this) **Token location:** macOS Keychain, service `Claude Code-credentials`, account = your macOS username. ### `openai-usage` Reads the OpenAI OAuth token from OpenClaw's auth-profiles and calls the ChatGPT usage API. ```bash # Human-readable output with color bars scripts/openai-usage # JSON output scripts/openai-usage --json ``` **Requirements:** - OpenClaw with an authenticated `openai-codex` profile (run `openclaw auth openai-codex`) - Auth profiles at `~/.openclaw/agents/main/agent/auth-profiles.json` ## Pacing Tiers Wire both scripts into your heartbeat to automatically pace work based on remaining budget: | Tier | Remaining | Behavior | |------|-----------|----------| | 🟢 GREEN | >50% | Normal operations | | 🟡 YELLOW | 25-50% | Skip sub-agents, defer non-urgent research | | 🟠 ORANGE | 10-25% | Essential replies only, no proactive checks | | 🔴 RED | <10% | Critical only, warn user | ### Heartbeat integration Add to your `HEARTBEAT.md`: ```markdown ## Usage pacing (every heartbeat) - Run `scripts/claude-usage --json` and `scripts/openai-usage --json` to check rate limits. - Store readings in memory/heartbeat-state.json under "usage.claude" and "usage.openai". - Apply pacing tiers: - GREEN (>50% left): normal ops - YELLOW (25-50%): skip sub-agents, defer non-urgent research - ORANGE (10-25%): essential replies only, no proactive checks - RED (<10%): critical only, warn user - If entering YELLOW or worse, mention it briefly when next messaging. ``` ### JSON output format **Claude (`--json`):** ```json { "five_hour": {"utilization": 39.0, "resets_at": "2026-02-18T04:00:00Z"}, "seven_day": {"utilization": 12.0, "resets_at": "2026-02-24T03:00:00Z"}, "extra_usage": {"is_enabled": true, "used_credits": 5044, "monthly_limit": 5000} } ``` **OpenAI (`--json`):** ```json { "plan_type": "plus", "rate_limit": { "primary_window": {"used_percent": 0, "limit_window_seconds": 10800, "reset_at": 1771556400}, "secondary_window": {"used_percent": 34, "limit_window_seconds": 86400, "reset_at": 1771556400} }, "credits": {"balance": "882.99"} } ```

Frequently asked questions