# Core Context Management Response Format Rules

> Sub-skill of core-context-management: Response Format Rules (+3).

- Skill: `vamseeachanta/core-context-management-response-format-rules` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add vamseeachanta/core-context-management-response-format-rules`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vamseeachanta/core-context-management-response-format-rules/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: vamseeachanta (https://skillmd.com/u/vamseeachanta)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vamseeachanta/core-context-management-response-format-rules

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# Response Format Rules (+3)

## Response Format Rules


#### Output Constraints
- **Tables**: Maximum 10 rows, summarize remainder
- **Code blocks**: Maximum 50 lines, split larger into files
- **Lists**: Maximum 15 items, aggregate beyond
- **Large outputs**: Write to `.Codex/outputs/`, return path only

#### Mandatory Response Ending
```
STATUS: [complete|in_progress|blocked] | NEXT: [action] | KEY: [metrics]
```

## Prohibited Actions


1. **No Echo**: Never repeat input data back
2. **No Redundancy**: Don't repeat previous findings
3. **No Over-Explanation**: Keep explanations ≤3 sentences
4. **No Raw Content**: Use file paths instead of pasting
5. **No Unbounded Lists**: Always cap with "and N more..."

## Context Health Indicators


| %ctx | Status | Action |
|------|--------|--------|
| 0-40% | 🟢 Healthy | Normal operation |
| 40-60% | 🟡 Elevated | Consider summarizing |
| 60-80% | 🟠 High | Archive older exchanges |
| 80-100% | 🔴 Critical | Trim to essentials |

## Recovery Patterns


When context exceeds threshold:
1. Create checkpoint with current state
2. Write to `.Codex/outputs/session-state.json`
3. Clear verbose history
4. Continue with checkpoint reference only

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