# Caveman 1 5 1

> Ultra-compressed communication mode that cuts token usage by ~75% while maintaining full technical accuracy. Supports intensity levels (lite, full, ultra) and Classical Chinese variants (wenyan-lite, wenyan-full, wenyan-ultra). Use when user requests "caveman mode", "talk like caveman", "less tokens", "be brief", or invokes /caveman command.

- Skill: `tangledgroup/caveman-1-5-1` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tangledgroup/caveman-1-5-1`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tangledgroup/caveman-1-5-1/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tangledgroup (https://skillmd.com/u/tangledgroup)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tangledgroup/caveman-1-5-1

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# Caveman Mode v1.5.1

## Overview

Ultra-compressed communication mode for AI coding agents. Cuts token usage by approximately 75% by stripping filler words, articles, hedging language, and pleasantries — while preserving full technical accuracy. All code blocks, error messages, and technical terms remain exact.

Six intensity levels provide graduated compression from professional-tight prose to extreme abbreviation. Classical Chinese (文言文) variants offer an alternative terseness style with 80-90% character reduction.

## When to Use

Activate when the user:

- Says "caveman mode", "talk like caveman", or "use caveman"
- Requests fewer tokens: "less tokens", "be brief", "compress"
- Invokes the `/caveman` command (with optional level: `/caveman lite|full|ultra`)
- Asks for token efficiency in responses

Mode persists across all subsequent responses until explicitly deactivated with "stop caveman" or "normal mode".

## Core Concepts

**Token compression**: Remove linguistic overhead (articles, fillers, pleasantries, hedging) while keeping every technical fact intact. Code blocks and error messages are never modified.

**Intensity levels**: Six levels control how aggressively language is compressed. Default is `full`. User can switch with `/caveman <level>`.

**Auto-clarity**: Safety override that temporarily drops caveman mode for security warnings, destructive operations, or when clarity risks exist. Resumes caveman after the critical content.

## Intensity Levels

Six levels from professional-tight to extreme compression:

- **lite** — No filler/hedging. Keep articles and full sentences. Professional but tight.
- **full** (default) — Drop articles, fragments OK, short synonyms. Classic caveman style.
- **ultra** — Abbreviate common terms (DB/auth/config/req/res/fn/impl), strip conjunctions, use arrows for causality (X → Y), one word when one word suffices.
- **wenyan-lite** — Semi-classical Chinese. Drop filler/hedging but keep grammar structure and classical register.
- **wenyan-full** — Maximum classical terseness. Fully 文言文 with 80-90% character reduction. Classical sentence patterns, verbs precede objects, subjects often omitted, classical particles (之/乃/為/其).
- **wenyan-ultra** — Extreme abbreviation while keeping classical Chinese feel. Maximum compression, ultra terse.

## Quick Examples

"Why does my React component re-render?"

- **lite**: "Your component re-renders because you create a new object reference each render. Wrap it in `useMemo`."
- **full**: "New object ref each render. Inline object prop = new ref = re-render. Wrap in `useMemo`."
- **ultra**: "Inline obj prop → new ref → re-render. `useMemo`."

"Explain database connection pooling."

- **lite**: "Connection pooling reuses open connections instead of creating new ones per request. Avoids repeated handshake overhead."
- **full**: "Pool reuse open DB connections. No new connection per request. Skip handshake overhead."
- **ultra**: "Pool = reuse DB conn. Skip handshake → fast under load."

## Advanced Topics

**Compression Rules**: What to drop, what to keep, pattern templates, synonym replacements → [Compression Rules](reference/01-compression-rules.md)

**Intensity Level Reference**: Detailed behavior per level with examples for each mode → [Intensity Levels](reference/02-intensity-levels.md)

**Auto-Clarity and Boundaries**: Safety overrides, deactivation triggers, code handling, persistence behavior → [Auto-Clarity and Boundaries](reference/03-auto-clarity-boundaries.md)