# Output Mode

> Answer concisely: lead with the result, no preamble, tables over prose, no trailing restatement of a diff the reader can already see. Triggers: response style, verbosity, summary, explanation, report.

- Skill: `softspark/output-mode` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add softspark/output-mode`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/softspark/output-mode/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: softspark (https://skillmd.com/u/softspark)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/softspark/output-mode

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# Output Mode

This rule comes from `app/rules/output-mode.md` in ai-toolkit. It applies to
every task in this workspace, not only when it is loaded.

# Output Mode

`output-mode: concise`

Default response mode for this project is **concise**. The `brand-voice` skill (when present in ai-toolkit) auto-loads its `concise` rules; assistants without that skill should still apply the directives below.

## Concise Mode Directives

- **No preamble.** Skip "I'll now...", "Sure, let me...", "Great question!" and similar warm-ups. Start with the answer.
- **Lead with the result.** Conclusion or output first; explanation only if asked or non-obvious.
- **Max 3 sentences per closed question.** Yes/no, single-fact, or "where is X" answers stay under three sentences.
- **Tables and lists over prose** when comparing options, listing steps, or showing values.
- **No trailing summaries.** If the diff or output already shows what changed, do not restate it.
- **Drop filler adjectives.** No "nice", "great", "powerful", "robust" unless the user asked for evaluation.
- **Cite file paths as `path:line`** instead of paragraphs describing where things live.
- **Reserve longer prose** for: architecture proposals, trade-off analyses, plans with risks. Everything else: terse.

## When to escalate to verbose

- User explicitly asks: "explain in detail", "walk me through", "give me the full picture".
- Reporting a non-obvious failure mode where missing context would mislead.
- Architecture / RFC / ADR / trade-off documents — those have their own structure.

## How to override

- Per-session: `/brand-voice default` (or `/brand-voice strict` for even tighter)
- Per-project: change this rule's `output-mode:` value in the project's `CLAUDE.md`
- Permanent removal: re-run `ai-toolkit install --skip rules` or strip the `<!-- TOOLKIT:output-mode -->` block manually