Magic Keywords Documentation Updates - v2.8.0
Summary
Updated all protocol command and magic keyword documentation to reflect the modernized Ecomode model router that separates model selection from reasoning effort levels.
Breaking Changes
fast: Keyword Behavior Change
Before (v2.7):
fast:forced Haiku model- Used for speed priority tasks
After (v2.8):
fast:sets medium effort level- Auto-selects model based on complexity
- No longer forces Haiku
Migration:
# To force Haiku model (old fast: behavior)
/protocol haiku: fix bug
# For low effort + cost optimization
/protocol eco: quick task
# For balanced reasoning (new fast: behavior)
/protocol fast: standard work
New Features
max: Keyword
New keyword for maximum reasoning depth:
- Auto-selects model based on complexity
- Sets effort level to "max" for deepest reasoning
- Use for architecture design, complex optimization, security analysis
Example:
/protocol max: design authentication architecture
Keyword Semantics
Effort-Level Keywords (Auto-Select Model)
| Keyword | Effort | Description |
|---|---|---|
eco: |
low | Minimal reasoning, fast response, cost-optimized |
fast: |
medium | Balanced reasoning (BREAKING: was haiku model) |
max: |
max | Maximum reasoning depth (NEW) |
auto: |
(complexity-based) | Auto-select model and effort |
ralph: |
(complexity-based) | Auto-select model and effort |
Model-Selection Keywords (Force Specific Model)
| Keyword | Model | Description |
|---|---|---|
opus: |
Opus | Force Opus, effort from task complexity |
sonnet: |
Sonnet | Force Sonnet, effort from task complexity |
haiku: |
Haiku | Force Haiku, effort from task complexity |
Effort Level Mapping
Effort levels control reasoning depth independently of model selection:
| Effort | Complexity Score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| low | < 0.3 | Trivial tasks, quick responses |
| medium | Reserved for explicit overrides | Future use |
| high | 0.3-0.7 | Standard tasks, default reasoning |
| max | > 0.7 | Complex architecture/design |
Files Updated
Documentation Files
docs/50-features/magic-keywords.md
- Updated modifier keywords table with effort levels
- Added breaking change warnings
- Updated all examples to show new semantics
- Added migration guide section
- Updated decision guide and quick reference
docs/50-features/ecomode.md
- Updated modifier keywords table
- Added breaking change notices
- Updated routing examples with effort levels
docs/70-reference/01-usage-guide.md
- Updated model selection table
- Updated workflow cheat sheet
docs/30-operations/03-agent-guide.md
- Updated complexity scoring section
- Replaced magic keywords table with effort vs model split
- Updated examples with breaking change notices
- Updated best practices and cost optimization strategies
CLAUDE_REFERENCE.md
- Updated Ecomode usage examples
- Added breaking change notices
- Updated modifier keyword combinations
Command Files
.claude/commands/protocol.md
- Updated modifier keywords section with effort/model split
- Updated keyword examples
- Added effort level display to keyword detection output
- Updated all flow examples with new keyword semantics
.claude/commands/config.md
- Updated keyword lists to include
max: - Updated examples to reflect new semantics
- Updated keyword lists to include
Key Concepts Documented
Separation of Concerns
Model Selection:
- Determined by complexity scoring OR explicit keyword
- Controls which Claude model (haiku/sonnet/opus) executes the task
Effort Level:
- Determined by complexity scoring OR explicit keyword
- Controls reasoning depth (low/medium/high/max)
- Independent of model selection
Example Combinations
# Low effort, auto-select model
/protocol eco: fix typo
→ Model: haiku (from complexity)
→ Effort: low (from eco: keyword)
# Medium effort, auto-select model
/protocol fast: refactor module
→ Model: sonnet (from complexity)
→ Effort: medium (from fast: keyword)
# Max effort, auto-select model
/protocol max: design architecture
→ Model: opus (from complexity)
→ Effort: max (from max: keyword)
# Force model, effort from complexity
/protocol opus: simple task
→ Model: opus (from opus: keyword - forced)
→ Effort: low (from complexity score)
User Communication
Breaking Change Notice
All updated documentation includes:
- ⚠️ BREAKING markers on
fast:keyword changes - ✨ NEW markers on
max:keyword - Clear migration guidance
- Before/after comparison tables
Migration Guidance
Users upgrading from v2.7 should:
- Review usages of
fast:keyword - Replace with
haiku:if model forcing was intended - Replace with
eco:if low effort was intended - Keep
fast:if medium effort is appropriate - Consider new
max:keyword for complex tasks
Implementation Reference
The implementation in /Volumes/Dev/Sites/COPILOT/claude-copilot/mcp-servers/task-copilot/src/ecomode/model-router.ts shows:
- Effort-level keywords set
effortLevelfield - Model-selection keywords set
targetModelfield - Complexity scoring determines defaults for both
- Keywords can override either independently
Testing Recommendations
When testing keyword changes:
- Verify
eco:produces low effort - Verify
fast:produces medium effort (NOT haiku model) - Verify
max:produces max effort - Verify model keywords (opus:, sonnet:, haiku:) force models
- Verify effort levels display correctly in keyword detection output
- Test combinations (e.g., no keywords = auto for both)
Related Files
- Implementation:
mcp-servers/task-copilot/src/ecomode/model-router.ts - Types:
mcp-servers/task-copilot/src/types/omc-features.ts - Parser:
.claude/commands/keyword-parser.ts