Two files, one repository

danielvm-git/bigpowers ships 4 formats across 40 indexed files. The question worth asking is whether the second one says anything the first does not.

CompareCLAUDE.md ↔ GEMINI.md CLAUDE.md ↔ AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md ↔ Cursor rules GEMINI.md ↔ AGENTS.md GEMINI.md ↔ Cursor rules AGENTS.md ↔ Cursor rules

A · CLAUDE.md · 2837 words B · GEMINI.md · 580 words

What each file covers, counted
Dimension	Shared	Only in A	Only in B	Overlap
Sections	8	32	1	20%
Commands	1	9	0	10%
Section tags	4	7	0	36%

What each file covers

Sections

8 shared · 32 only in A · 1 only in B

− story: e38s08
− story: e51s05
− story: e45s22
− story: e45s23
− story: e55s03
− bigpowers — Claude Code
− Context Routing
− Learned User Preferences
− Workspace Facts
− Pre-Merge Checklist
− Session Start
− sqz — Context Compression (READ FIRST)
− Preferred tools (MCP)
− Bash commands (hooked automatically)
− Escape hatch — when you see a `§ref:HASH§` token
− When NOT to use sqz tools
− RTK (Rust Token Killer) - Token-Optimized Commands
− Golden Rule
− ❌ Wrong
− ✅ Correct
− RTK Commands by Workflow
− Build & Compile (80-90% savings)
− Test (60-99% savings)
− Git (59-80% savings)
− GitHub (26-87% savings)
− JavaScript/TypeScript Tooling (70-90% savings)
− Files & Search (60-75% savings)
− Analysis & Debug (70-90% savings)
− Infrastructure (85% savings)
− Network (65-70% savings)
− Meta Commands
− Token Savings Overview
+ bigpowers — Gemini CLI
Project
Commands
Architecture
Conventions
Never
Token Management
Agent Rules
bts toolchain

Commands

1 shared · 9 only in A · 0 only in B

− npm run compliance && bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh
− git status
− cargo test
− docker ps
− kubectl get pods
− git add . && git commit -m "msg" && git push
− npm run compliance
− gh pr checks
− python
npm install -g bigpowers && bigpowers setup

Section tags

4 shared · 7 only in A · 0 only in B

− build
− test
− lint-format
− architecture
− types
− git-pr
− monorepo
setup
code-style
do-not
agent-behaviour

Line diff

+7 added−331 removed69 unchanged17.3% identical

danielvm-git/bigpowers · CLAUDE.md

@@ −1 @@

1# story: e38s08

2# story: e51s05

3# story: e45s22

4# story: e45s23

5# story: e55s03

7# bigpowers — Claude Code

9Read CONVENTIONS.md before any GitHub or git operation.

11[`constitution.md`](constitution.md) is a consolidated entry point synthesizing

12this project's doctrine (this file, CONVENTIONS.md, docs/PRINCIPLES.md,

13docs/references/*.md) into bigspec's B0-B10 + Capstone blocks, with citations

14back to the fuller text. It's a starting point for a reader, not a

15replacement — this file remains fully authoritative for its own content today.

17

18## Context Routing

20Load subdirectory context **by file glob** — do not read the full doc tree up front.

22| Glob / trigger | Load first | Fallback |

23|----------------|------------|----------|

24| `skills/**` | Active skill's `SKILL.md` + sibling `REFERENCE.md` if linked | `SKILL-INDEX.md` |

25| `specs/epics/**` | Capsule `epic.yaml` + active story `-tasks.yaml` | `specs/release-plan.yaml` |

26| `specs/product/**` | `SCOPE_LATEST.yaml`, `VISION_LATEST.yaml` | `specs/README.md` |

27| `specs/tech-architecture/**` | `tech-stack.md` + epic `eNN-TEST_PLAN_LATEST.md` if present | `CONVENTIONS.md` |

28| `scripts/**` | `CONVENTIONS.md` § Generated artifact targets | This file § Commands |

29| `website/**` | `website/README.md` if present | Never edit `website/src/content/docs/` (generated) |

30| `docs/**` | Matching doc under `docs/` | `docs/references/` |

31| Default / session start | This file → `CONVENTIONS.md` → `specs/state.yaml` | `survey-context` |

33Sub-AGENTS.md files (when present in consumer projects) override this table for their directory only.

34

36

37## Learned User Preferences

39_Durable preferences discovered across sessions. Update via `session-state` — do not infer from chat alone._

41- Prefer `rtk`-prefixed shell commands for git, test, and build output (token savings).

42- Run Preflight before forward work; never dismiss red gates as pre-existing.

43- Edit `skills/*/SKILL.md` sources only — never `.cursor/rules/` or `.gemini/` artifacts.

45## Workspace Facts

47_Stable repo facts — prefer these over re-discovery._

49- Stack: Markdown / Bash documentation project; skills sync via `bash scripts/sync-skills.sh`.

50- Planning SoT: `specs/state.yaml`, `specs/release-plan.yaml`, `specs/execution-status.yaml`.

51- Story traceability: `# story: eNNsNN` tags in implementing files; `bash scripts/trace-stories.sh --strict` in CI.

52- Rule matrix: `bash scripts/compile-rule-matrix.sh` → `specs/rule-matrix.json` (P0–P3 tiers from CONVENTIONS.md).

53

55## Project

57bigpowers — agent skills for spec-driven, test-first software development by solo developers (skill count and catalog are auto-generated in `SKILL-INDEX.md`; never hardcode the count in docs).

58Stack: Markdown / Bash (documentation-based; skills integrate with Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI)

60## Commands

@@ −66 @@

66| Test | N/A (documentation project) |

67| Build | `bash scripts/install.sh` (from source) |

68| Lint | `bash scripts/sync-skills.sh` (validates SKILL.md syntax) |

69| Validate specs YAML | `bash scripts/validate-specs-yaml.sh` |

70| Typecheck | N/A (Markdown / Bash project) |

71| CI platform | GitHub Actions (`.github/workflows/publish.yml`, `sync-skills.yml`, `golden-suite.yml`) |

72| Compliance | `npm run compliance` |

73| Verification Gates | `bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh` |

74| Traceability | `bash scripts/trace-stories.sh --strict` | grep for story tags (traceability check) |

75| Preflight | `npm run compliance && bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh && bash scripts/sync-skills.sh && bash scripts/trace-stories.sh --strict` | Full local green stack before forward work. Chain ends on `--strict` traceability — no trailing always-exit-0 step. |

76| Catalog drift (advisory) | `bash scripts/check-catalog-drift.sh` | e54s02 Confirm gate during catalog freeze — always exits 0; run manually when changing skills, not part of Preflight. |

77| CI | `gh pr checks` | Remote CI green when a PR is open |

79### Pre-Merge Checklist

81Before opening a PR or landing a branch, run:

83```bash

84npm run compliance && bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh

85```

87If any gate fails, fix before merging. Run `--baseline` after any intentional increase in skill count or structure.

89**BCP Plus:** For stories sized with the 13-dimension BCP Plus methodology, confirm the `bcp_plus_breakdown` is present in the epic YAML and carried into `state.yaml` as `epic_cycle.bcp_plus`. See `docs/references/bcp-plus.md` for the NFR Gate pattern.

91## Architecture

93Collection of verb-noun skills under `skills/`, each with a SKILL.md source file and supporting documentation. Runtime specs live in `specs/state.yaml`, `specs/release-plan.yaml`, and `specs/execution-status.yaml`; intent in `specs/product/`; epic shards in `specs/epics/`. The sync-skills.sh script auto-generates artifacts for Cursor (.cursor/rules) and Gemini CLI (.gemini/extensions/bigpowers/) from SKILL.md sources. All planning output goes to specs/ at the project root.

95## Conventions

97- Skill directories under `skills/` use verb-noun naming (two words, kebab-case)

98- Every skill has a single SKILL.md file as its source of truth

99- All planning/spec output goes to specs/ at project root

100- Artifacts in .cursor/rules and .gemini/ are auto-generated; edit SKILL.md, not artifacts

101- Run sync-skills.sh after any SKILL.md changes to regenerate artifacts

102- Website content in website/src/content/docs/ is auto-generated by prebuild; edit repo sources, not site files

103

104## Never

105

106- Never edit .cursor/rules or .gemini/extensions/ directly — these are generated files

107- Never edit website/src/content/docs/ directly — these are generated files; website/ is the fourth generated artifact target (alongside .cursor/, .gemini/, .pi/)

108- Never create a skill without a SKILL.md file and proper verb-noun naming

109- Never push changes without running sync-skills.sh first

110

111## Token Management

112

113**Mechanical backstop (e45s03):** `scripts/hooks/token-mgmt-pre-tool-use.sh` blocks oversized tool calls when prose rules are ignored. Wire as a `PreToolUse` hook for `Read`, `Grep`, and `Bash` (alongside `hooks/pre-tool-use.sh` for git safety). Thresholds: Read >100KB, Grep >200 matches without `head_limit`, Bash commands likely to exceed 500 output lines without `rtk`/`sqz compress`. Install snippet:

114

115```json

116{

117 "hooks": {

118 "PreToolUse": [

119 { "matcher": "Read|Grep|Bash", "hooks": [{ "type": "command", "command": "bash scripts/hooks/token-mgmt-pre-tool-use.sh" }] }

120 ]

121 }

122}

123```

124

125Context engineering (write/select/compress/isolate — see `docs/references/context-engineering.md`):

126

127- **Write (token-efficient content):** Short functions (4-20 lines), unique symbol names, headless tests. Don't restate code in comments.

128- **Select (include only what's relevant):** Use `bts_map` for ranked file lists, `survey-context` for phase bootstrap. Don't read files you don't need.

129- **Compress (reduce without losing structure):** Use `bts_compress` or pipe through `sqz compress`. Use `rtk` for build/test/git output (60-99% savings). Prefer `terse-mode` when context is heavy.

130- **Isolate (partition work):** Use `kickoff-branch` for isolated worktrees, `dispatch-agents` for parallel tasks with disjoint scopes, `session-state` for cold-start handoff.

131

132**Effort classification:** Skills carry an `effort:` frontmatter field (`light` | `standard` | `heavy`). Prefer `light` skills for bootstrap/status checks; reserve `heavy` for epic builds and multi-phase planning.

133

134- **Auto-Terse**: When a session exceeds 20 turns or the context window feels "heavy" (latency increasing), you MUST switch to `terse-mode` to save tokens.

135- **Context Compaction**: Every 10 turns, summarize the current session state and implementation decisions into a short, high-density note.

136- **Minimal Output**: Prefer text-only output for simple status; use `web_fetch` or `run_shell_command` only for evidence.

137- **Stream Stability**: When writing large files or long documents, output continuously in chunks of ~200 lines. Do not pause. If you need time to process, emit a placeholder comment rather than going silent.

138

139## Session Start

140

141Before any task, run this sequence — not optional:

142

1431. Read `CLAUDE.md` (this file)

1442. Read `CONVENTIONS.md`

1453. Read `specs/state.yaml` if it exists — current session and active epic

1464. Read `specs/release-plan.yaml` if it exists — active release context

147

148## Agent Rules

149

150- **Workflow Mandate:** You MUST use the bigpowers skills (e.g., `plan-work`, `develop-tdd`, `craft-skill`) to perform tasks. DO NOT write code directly in response to a user prompt like "build this feature".

151- **Always Green / fix-or-log:** Preflight and CI must be green before forward work. Any reproducible gate failure during unrelated work requires **quick-fix** or **fix-bug** — see CONVENTIONS § Discovered Defects. Never dismiss failures as pre-existing or out of scope.

152- Read specs/ and CONVENTIONS.md before writing code.

153- Write the minimum code that solves the stated problem. Nothing extra.

154- Run tests after every change. Show evidence before declaring done.

155- One clarifying question beats a wrong assumption baked into 200 lines.

156- All written output (plans, specs, investigations) goes in specs/.

@@ −173 @@

173- Search with `bts find` before opening files to locate a symbol or pattern.

174- Pipe anything > 200 lines through `bts compress` before adding to context.

175- Run `bts map` when asked for a repo overview.

176- Use `bts docs <lib>` before answering questions about library APIs. Doc fetches use `scripts/lib/doc-fetch-cache.sh` (ETag-revalidated, 300s TTL — see `context7-mcp` skill, e45s20).

177- If a tool is missing, say so and run `bts doctor` — do not silently substitute.

178

179

180

181**RTK hook (installed):** `scripts/hooks/rtk-rewrite.sh` is symlinked into `~/.claude/hooks/` by `bash scripts/install.sh` and registered as a Bash `PreToolUse` hook. It delegates to `rtk hook claude` — prose rules below are a fallback only when the hook is absent.

182

183

184

185

186

187## sqz — Context Compression (READ FIRST)

188

189sqz is installed in this project. It compresses tool output so large

190files, long logs, and verbose command output cost far fewer tokens.

191There are **two ways** sqz is wired in, and you should prefer each

192one in the situations below.

193

194### Preferred tools (MCP)

195

196The `sqz-mcp` server is registered in this project's MCP config. It

197exposes three read-only tools that compress their output through the

198sqz pipeline:

199

200- **`sqz_read_file`** — read a file from disk and return a compressed

201 view. **PREFER this over the built-in `Read` tool** for any file

202 larger than ~2KB or any file you might read more than once in the

203 same session. Repeat reads return a 13-token `§ref:HASH§` reference

204 instead of the full content.

205

206- **`sqz_grep`** — search files for a literal string or regex.

207 **PREFER this over the built-in `Grep`** for anything that might

208 match more than a handful of lines. Caps at 200 matches by default;

209 raise with `max_matches` if needed.

210

211- **`sqz_list_dir`** — list a directory. Skips `.git`, `node_modules`,

212 `target`, `dist`, `build`, `vendor`, `__pycache__` so the output

213 stays focused. **PREFER this over `ls -la` via Bash** when you want

214 to see a project layout.

215

216The built-in `Read`, `Grep`, `Glob` tools remain available. Use them for:

217- Tiny config files (<1KB) where compression can't help.

218- Byte-exact reads you'll hash or diff (lockfiles, signatures).

219- Globbing (sqz has no glob tool; `Glob` is still the right choice).

220

221### Bash commands (hooked automatically)

222

223When you run a shell command through the `Bash` tool, a PreToolUse hook

224rewrites it to pipe output through `sqz compress`. This is transparent:

225you don't need to remember to add anything, but it's useful to know

226that these commands get compressed automatically:

227

228```bash

229git status # → git status 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd git

230cargo test # → cargo test 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd cargo

231docker ps # → docker ps 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd docker

232kubectl get pods # → kubectl get pods 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd kubectl

233```

234

235The rewrite is skipped for interactive commands (`vim`, `ssh`,

236`python`), compound commands (`a && b`, `a > file.txt`), and anything

237already going through sqz.

238

239### Escape hatch — when you see a `§ref:HASH§` token

240

241If tool output contains a `§ref:a1b2c3d4§` token and you need the full

242content it points at, resolve it. Three equivalent ways:

243

244- Shell: `/Users/danielvm/.local/bin/sqz expand a1b2c3d4` (or paste the whole token

245 `/Users/danielvm/.local/bin/sqz expand §ref:a1b2c3d4§`).

246- MCP tool: call `expand` with `{ "prefix": "a1b2c3d4" }`.

247- To get uncompressed output for one command: prefix it with

248 `SQZ_NO_DEDUP=1` (e.g. `SQZ_NO_DEDUP=1 git log | sqz compress`).

249

250If the compressed output is actively making the task harder (looping

251on refs, small retries replacing one big read), call the `passthrough`

252MCP tool to get raw text.

253

254### When NOT to use sqz tools

255

256- Writing or editing files — use the built-in `Write`/`Edit` tools.

257 sqz has no write tools (by design; see issue #5 follow-up).

258- Running commands interactively or in watch mode.

259- Reading very small files (<1KB) where compression can't help.

260

261

262

263

264# RTK (Rust Token Killer) - Token-Optimized Commands

265

266## Golden Rule

267

268**Always prefix commands with `rtk`**. If RTK has a dedicated filter, it uses it. If not, it passes through unchanged. This means RTK is always safe to use.

269

270**Important**: Even in command chains with `&&`, use `rtk`:

271```bash

272# ❌ Wrong

273git add . && git commit -m "msg" && git push

274

275# ✅ Correct

276rtk git add . && rtk git commit -m "msg" && rtk git push

277```

278

279## RTK Commands by Workflow

280

281### Build & Compile (80-90% savings)

282```bash

283rtk cargo build # Cargo build output

284rtk cargo check # Cargo check output

285rtk cargo clippy # Clippy warnings grouped by file (80%)

286rtk tsc # TypeScript errors grouped by file/code (83%)

287rtk lint # ESLint/Biome violations grouped (84%)

288rtk prettier --check # Files needing format only (70%)

289rtk next build # Next.js build with route metrics (87%)

290```

291

292### Test (60-99% savings)

293```bash

294rtk cargo test # Cargo test failures only (90%)

295rtk go test # Go test failures only (90%)

296rtk jest # Jest failures only (99.5%)

297rtk vitest # Vitest failures only (99.5%)

298rtk playwright test # Playwright failures only (94%)

299rtk pytest # Python test failures only (90%)

300rtk rake test # Ruby test failures only (90%)

301rtk rspec # RSpec test failures only (60%)

302rtk test <cmd> # Generic test wrapper - failures only

303```

304

305### Git (59-80% savings)

306```bash

307rtk git status # Compact status

308rtk git log # Compact log (works with all git flags)

309rtk git diff # Compact diff (80%)

310rtk git show # Compact show (80%)

311rtk git add # Ultra-compact confirmations (59%)

312rtk git commit # Ultra-compact confirmations (59%)

313rtk git push # Ultra-compact confirmations

314rtk git pull # Ultra-compact confirmations

315rtk git branch # Compact branch list

316rtk git fetch # Compact fetch

317rtk git stash # Compact stash

318rtk git worktree # Compact worktree

319```

320

321Note: Git passthrough works for ALL subcommands, even those not explicitly listed.

322

323### GitHub (26-87% savings)

324```bash

325rtk gh pr view <num> # Compact PR view (87%)

326rtk gh pr checks # Compact PR checks (79%)

327rtk gh run list # Compact workflow runs (82%)

328rtk gh issue list # Compact issue list (80%)

329rtk gh api # Compact API responses (26%)

330```

331

332### JavaScript/TypeScript Tooling (70-90% savings)

333```bash

334rtk pnpm list # Compact dependency tree (70%)

335rtk pnpm outdated # Compact outdated packages (80%)

336rtk pnpm install # Compact install output (90%)

337rtk npm run <script> # Compact npm script output

338rtk npx <cmd> # Compact npx command output

339rtk prisma # Prisma without ASCII art (88%)

340```

341

342### Files & Search (60-75% savings)

343```bash

344rtk ls <path> # Tree format, compact (65%)

345rtk read <file> # Code reading with filtering (60%)

346rtk grep <pattern> # Search grouped by file (75%). Format flags (-c, -l, -L, -o, -Z) run raw.

347rtk find <pattern> # Find grouped by directory (70%)

348```

349

350### Analysis & Debug (70-90% savings)

351```bash

352rtk err <cmd> # Filter errors only from any command

353rtk log <file> # Deduplicated logs with counts

354rtk json <file> # JSON structure without values

355rtk deps # Dependency overview

356rtk env # Environment variables compact

357rtk summary <cmd> # Smart summary of command output

358rtk diff # Ultra-compact diffs

359```

360

361### Infrastructure (85% savings)

362```bash

363rtk docker ps # Compact container list

364rtk docker images # Compact image list

365rtk docker logs <c> # Deduplicated logs

366rtk kubectl get # Compact resource list

367rtk kubectl logs # Deduplicated pod logs

368```

369

370### Network (65-70% savings)

371```bash

372rtk curl <url> # Compact HTTP responses (70%)

373rtk wget <url> # Compact download output (65%)

374```

375

376### Meta Commands

377```bash

378rtk gain # View token savings statistics

379rtk gain --history # View command history with savings

380rtk discover # Analyze Claude Code sessions for missed RTK usage

381rtk proxy <cmd> # Run command without filtering (for debugging)

382rtk init # Add RTK instructions to CLAUDE.md

383rtk init --global # Add RTK to ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md

384```

385

386## Token Savings Overview

387

388| Category | Commands | Typical Savings |

389|----------|----------|-----------------|

390| Tests | vitest, playwright, cargo test | 90-99% |

391| Build | next, tsc, lint, prettier | 70-87% |

392| Git | status, log, diff, add, commit | 59-80% |

393| GitHub | gh pr, gh run, gh issue | 26-87% |

394| Package Managers | pnpm, npm, npx | 70-90% |

395| Files | ls, read, grep, find | 60-75% |

396| Infrastructure | docker, kubectl | 85% |

397| Network | curl, wget | 65-70% |

398

399Overall average: **60-90% token reduction** on common development operations.

400

danielvm-git/bigpowers · GEMINI.md

@@ +1 @@

1# bigpowers — Gemini CLI

3> **Auto-generated** by `sync-skills.sh` from `CLAUDE.md`. Edit CLAUDE.md, not this file.

5Read CONVENTIONS.md before any GitHub or git operation.

7## Project

9bigpowers — 58 agent skills for spec-driven, test-first software development by solo developers.

10Stack: Markdown / Bash (documentation-based; skills integrate with Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI)

12## Commands

@@ +18 @@

18| Test | N/A (documentation project) |

19| Build | `bash scripts/install.sh` (from source) |

20| Lint | `bash scripts/sync-skills.sh` (validates SKILL.md syntax) |

22## Architecture

24Collection of 58 verb-noun skills, each with a SKILL.md source file and supporting documentation. Includes Verify phase and profiles/. The sync-skills.sh script auto-generates artifacts for Cursor (.cursor/rules) and Gemini CLI (.gemini/extensions/bigpowers/) from SKILL.md sources. All planning and spec output goes to specs/ at the project root.

26## Conventions

28- Skill directories use verb-noun naming (two words, kebab-case)

29- Every skill has a single SKILL.md file as its source of truth

30- All planning/spec output goes to specs/ at project root

31- Artifacts in .cursor/rules and .gemini/ are auto-generated; edit SKILL.md, not artifacts

32- Run sync-skills.sh after any SKILL.md changes to regenerate artifacts

34## Never

36- Never edit .cursor/rules or .gemini/extensions/ directly — these are generated files

37- Never create a skill without a SKILL.md file and proper verb-noun naming

38- Never push changes without running sync-skills.sh first

40## Token Management

42- **Auto-Terse**: When a session exceeds 20 turns or the context window feels "heavy" (latency increasing), you MUST switch to `terse-mode` to save tokens.

43- **Context Compaction**: Every 10 turns, summarize the current session state and implementation decisions into a short, high-density note.

44- **Minimal Output**: Prefer text-only output for simple status; use `web_fetch` or `run_shell_command` only for evidence.

46## Agent Rules

48- **Workflow Mandate:** You MUST use the bigpowers skills (e.g., `plan-work`, `develop-tdd`, `craft-skill`) to perform tasks. DO NOT write code directly in response to a user prompt like "build this feature".

49- Read specs/ and CONVENTIONS.md before writing code.

50- Write the minimum code that solves the stated problem. Nothing extra.

51- Never refactor, rename, or reorganize code outside the task scope.

52- Run tests after every change. Show evidence before declaring done.

53- One clarifying question beats a wrong assumption baked into 200 lines.

54- All written output (plans, specs, investigations) goes in specs/.

@@ +71 @@

71- Search with `bts find` before opening files to locate a symbol or pattern.

72- Pipe anything > 200 lines through `bts compress` before adding to context.

73- Run `bts map` when asked for a repo overview.

74- Use `bts docs <lib>` before answering questions about library APIs.

75- If a tool is missing, say so and run `bts doctor` — do not silently substitute.

@@ −1 +1 @@

1−# story: e38s08

2−# story: e51s05

3−# story: e45s22

4−# story: e45s23

5−# story: e55s03

1+# bigpowers — Gemini CLI

7−# bigpowers — Claude Code

3+> **Auto-generated** by `sync-skills.sh` from `CLAUDE.md`. Edit CLAUDE.md, not this file.

95 Read CONVENTIONS.md before any GitHub or git operation.

106

11−[`constitution.md`](constitution.md) is a consolidated entry point synthesizing

12−this project's doctrine (this file, CONVENTIONS.md, docs/PRINCIPLES.md,

13−docs/references/*.md) into bigspec's B0-B10 + Capstone blocks, with citations

14−back to the fuller text. It's a starting point for a reader, not a

15−replacement — this file remains fully authoritative for its own content today.

16−

17−

18−## Context Routing

19−

20−Load subdirectory context **by file glob** — do not read the full doc tree up front.

21−

22−| Glob / trigger | Load first | Fallback |

23−|----------------|------------|----------|

24−| `skills/**` | Active skill's `SKILL.md` + sibling `REFERENCE.md` if linked | `SKILL-INDEX.md` |

25−| `specs/epics/**` | Capsule `epic.yaml` + active story `-tasks.yaml` | `specs/release-plan.yaml` |

26−| `specs/product/**` | `SCOPE_LATEST.yaml`, `VISION_LATEST.yaml` | `specs/README.md` |

27−| `specs/tech-architecture/**` | `tech-stack.md` + epic `eNN-TEST_PLAN_LATEST.md` if present | `CONVENTIONS.md` |

28−| `scripts/**` | `CONVENTIONS.md` § Generated artifact targets | This file § Commands |

29−| `website/**` | `website/README.md` if present | Never edit `website/src/content/docs/` (generated) |

30−| `docs/**` | Matching doc under `docs/` | `docs/references/` |

31−| Default / session start | This file → `CONVENTIONS.md` → `specs/state.yaml` | `survey-context` |

32−

33−Sub-AGENTS.md files (when present in consumer projects) override this table for their directory only.

34−

35−

36−

37−## Learned User Preferences

38−

39−_Durable preferences discovered across sessions. Update via `session-state` — do not infer from chat alone._

40−

41−- Prefer `rtk`-prefixed shell commands for git, test, and build output (token savings).

42−- Run Preflight before forward work; never dismiss red gates as pre-existing.

43−- Edit `skills/*/SKILL.md` sources only — never `.cursor/rules/` or `.gemini/` artifacts.

44−

45−## Workspace Facts

46−

47−_Stable repo facts — prefer these over re-discovery._

48−

49−- Stack: Markdown / Bash documentation project; skills sync via `bash scripts/sync-skills.sh`.

50−- Planning SoT: `specs/state.yaml`, `specs/release-plan.yaml`, `specs/execution-status.yaml`.

51−- Story traceability: `# story: eNNsNN` tags in implementing files; `bash scripts/trace-stories.sh --strict` in CI.

52−- Rule matrix: `bash scripts/compile-rule-matrix.sh` → `specs/rule-matrix.json` (P0–P3 tiers from CONVENTIONS.md).

53−

54−

557 ## Project

568

57−bigpowers — agent skills for spec-driven, test-first software development by solo developers (skill count and catalog are auto-generated in `SKILL-INDEX.md`; never hardcode the count in docs).

9+bigpowers — 58 agent skills for spec-driven, test-first software development by solo developers.

5810 Stack: Markdown / Bash (documentation-based; skills integrate with Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI)

5911

6012 ## Commands

@@ −66 +18 @@

6618 | Test | N/A (documentation project) |

6719 | Build | `bash scripts/install.sh` (from source) |

6820 | Lint | `bash scripts/sync-skills.sh` (validates SKILL.md syntax) |

69−| Validate specs YAML | `bash scripts/validate-specs-yaml.sh` |

70−| Typecheck | N/A (Markdown / Bash project) |

71−| CI platform | GitHub Actions (`.github/workflows/publish.yml`, `sync-skills.yml`, `golden-suite.yml`) |

72−| Compliance | `npm run compliance` |

73−| Verification Gates | `bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh` |

74−| Traceability | `bash scripts/trace-stories.sh --strict` | grep for story tags (traceability check) |

75−| Preflight | `npm run compliance && bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh && bash scripts/sync-skills.sh && bash scripts/trace-stories.sh --strict` | Full local green stack before forward work. Chain ends on `--strict` traceability — no trailing always-exit-0 step. |

76−| Catalog drift (advisory) | `bash scripts/check-catalog-drift.sh` | e54s02 Confirm gate during catalog freeze — always exits 0; run manually when changing skills, not part of Preflight. |

77−| CI | `gh pr checks` | Remote CI green when a PR is open |

7821

79−### Pre-Merge Checklist

80−

81−Before opening a PR or landing a branch, run:

82−

83−```bash

84−npm run compliance && bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh

85−```

86−

87−If any gate fails, fix before merging. Run `--baseline` after any intentional increase in skill count or structure.

88−

89−**BCP Plus:** For stories sized with the 13-dimension BCP Plus methodology, confirm the `bcp_plus_breakdown` is present in the epic YAML and carried into `state.yaml` as `epic_cycle.bcp_plus`. See `docs/references/bcp-plus.md` for the NFR Gate pattern.

90−

9122 ## Architecture

9223

93−Collection of verb-noun skills under `skills/`, each with a SKILL.md source file and supporting documentation. Runtime specs live in `specs/state.yaml`, `specs/release-plan.yaml`, and `specs/execution-status.yaml`; intent in `specs/product/`; epic shards in `specs/epics/`. The sync-skills.sh script auto-generates artifacts for Cursor (.cursor/rules) and Gemini CLI (.gemini/extensions/bigpowers/) from SKILL.md sources. All planning output goes to specs/ at the project root.

24+Collection of 58 verb-noun skills, each with a SKILL.md source file and supporting documentation. Includes Verify phase and profiles/. The sync-skills.sh script auto-generates artifacts for Cursor (.cursor/rules) and Gemini CLI (.gemini/extensions/bigpowers/) from SKILL.md sources. All planning and spec output goes to specs/ at the project root.

9425

9526 ## Conventions

9627

97−- Skill directories under `skills/` use verb-noun naming (two words, kebab-case)

28+- Skill directories use verb-noun naming (two words, kebab-case)

9829 - Every skill has a single SKILL.md file as its source of truth

9930 - All planning/spec output goes to specs/ at project root

10031 - Artifacts in .cursor/rules and .gemini/ are auto-generated; edit SKILL.md, not artifacts

10132 - Run sync-skills.sh after any SKILL.md changes to regenerate artifacts

102−- Website content in website/src/content/docs/ is auto-generated by prebuild; edit repo sources, not site files

10333

10434 ## Never

10535

10636 - Never edit .cursor/rules or .gemini/extensions/ directly — these are generated files

107−- Never edit website/src/content/docs/ directly — these are generated files; website/ is the fourth generated artifact target (alongside .cursor/, .gemini/, .pi/)

10837 - Never create a skill without a SKILL.md file and proper verb-noun naming

10938 - Never push changes without running sync-skills.sh first

11039

11140 ## Token Management

11241

113−**Mechanical backstop (e45s03):** `scripts/hooks/token-mgmt-pre-tool-use.sh` blocks oversized tool calls when prose rules are ignored. Wire as a `PreToolUse` hook for `Read`, `Grep`, and `Bash` (alongside `hooks/pre-tool-use.sh` for git safety). Thresholds: Read >100KB, Grep >200 matches without `head_limit`, Bash commands likely to exceed 500 output lines without `rtk`/`sqz compress`. Install snippet:

114−

115−```json

116−{

117− "hooks": {

118− "PreToolUse": [

119− { "matcher": "Read|Grep|Bash", "hooks": [{ "type": "command", "command": "bash scripts/hooks/token-mgmt-pre-tool-use.sh" }] }

120− ]

121− }

122−}

123−```

124−

125−Context engineering (write/select/compress/isolate — see `docs/references/context-engineering.md`):

126−

127−- **Write (token-efficient content):** Short functions (4-20 lines), unique symbol names, headless tests. Don't restate code in comments.

128−- **Select (include only what's relevant):** Use `bts_map` for ranked file lists, `survey-context` for phase bootstrap. Don't read files you don't need.

129−- **Compress (reduce without losing structure):** Use `bts_compress` or pipe through `sqz compress`. Use `rtk` for build/test/git output (60-99% savings). Prefer `terse-mode` when context is heavy.

130−- **Isolate (partition work):** Use `kickoff-branch` for isolated worktrees, `dispatch-agents` for parallel tasks with disjoint scopes, `session-state` for cold-start handoff.

131−

132−**Effort classification:** Skills carry an `effort:` frontmatter field (`light` | `standard` | `heavy`). Prefer `light` skills for bootstrap/status checks; reserve `heavy` for epic builds and multi-phase planning.

133−

13442 - **Auto-Terse**: When a session exceeds 20 turns or the context window feels "heavy" (latency increasing), you MUST switch to `terse-mode` to save tokens.

13543 - **Context Compaction**: Every 10 turns, summarize the current session state and implementation decisions into a short, high-density note.

13644 - **Minimal Output**: Prefer text-only output for simple status; use `web_fetch` or `run_shell_command` only for evidence.

137−- **Stream Stability**: When writing large files or long documents, output continuously in chunks of ~200 lines. Do not pause. If you need time to process, emit a placeholder comment rather than going silent.

13845

139−## Session Start

140−

141−Before any task, run this sequence — not optional:

142−

143−1. Read `CLAUDE.md` (this file)

144−2. Read `CONVENTIONS.md`

145−3. Read `specs/state.yaml` if it exists — current session and active epic

146−4. Read `specs/release-plan.yaml` if it exists — active release context

147−

14846 ## Agent Rules

14947

15048 - **Workflow Mandate:** You MUST use the bigpowers skills (e.g., `plan-work`, `develop-tdd`, `craft-skill`) to perform tasks. DO NOT write code directly in response to a user prompt like "build this feature".

151−- **Always Green / fix-or-log:** Preflight and CI must be green before forward work. Any reproducible gate failure during unrelated work requires **quick-fix** or **fix-bug** — see CONVENTIONS § Discovered Defects. Never dismiss failures as pre-existing or out of scope.

15249 - Read specs/ and CONVENTIONS.md before writing code.

15350 - Write the minimum code that solves the stated problem. Nothing extra.

51+- Never refactor, rename, or reorganize code outside the task scope.

15452 - Run tests after every change. Show evidence before declaring done.

15553 - One clarifying question beats a wrong assumption baked into 200 lines.

15654 - All written output (plans, specs, investigations) goes in specs/.

@@ −173 +71 @@

17371 - Search with `bts find` before opening files to locate a symbol or pattern.

17472 - Pipe anything > 200 lines through `bts compress` before adding to context.

17573 - Run `bts map` when asked for a repo overview.

176−- Use `bts docs <lib>` before answering questions about library APIs. Doc fetches use `scripts/lib/doc-fetch-cache.sh` (ETag-revalidated, 300s TTL — see `context7-mcp` skill, e45s20).

74+- Use `bts docs <lib>` before answering questions about library APIs.

17775 - If a tool is missing, say so and run `bts doctor` — do not silently substitute.

17876

179−

180−

181−**RTK hook (installed):** `scripts/hooks/rtk-rewrite.sh` is symlinked into `~/.claude/hooks/` by `bash scripts/install.sh` and registered as a Bash `PreToolUse` hook. It delegates to `rtk hook claude` — prose rules below are a fallback only when the hook is absent.

182−

183−

184−

185−

186−

187−## sqz — Context Compression (READ FIRST)

188−

189−sqz is installed in this project. It compresses tool output so large

190−files, long logs, and verbose command output cost far fewer tokens.

191−There are **two ways** sqz is wired in, and you should prefer each

192−one in the situations below.

193−

194−### Preferred tools (MCP)

195−

196−The `sqz-mcp` server is registered in this project's MCP config. It

197−exposes three read-only tools that compress their output through the

198−sqz pipeline:

199−

200−- **`sqz_read_file`** — read a file from disk and return a compressed

201− view. **PREFER this over the built-in `Read` tool** for any file

202− larger than ~2KB or any file you might read more than once in the

203− same session. Repeat reads return a 13-token `§ref:HASH§` reference

204− instead of the full content.

205−

206−- **`sqz_grep`** — search files for a literal string or regex.

207− **PREFER this over the built-in `Grep`** for anything that might

208− match more than a handful of lines. Caps at 200 matches by default;

209− raise with `max_matches` if needed.

210−

211−- **`sqz_list_dir`** — list a directory. Skips `.git`, `node_modules`,

212− `target`, `dist`, `build`, `vendor`, `__pycache__` so the output

213− stays focused. **PREFER this over `ls -la` via Bash** when you want

214− to see a project layout.

215−

216−The built-in `Read`, `Grep`, `Glob` tools remain available. Use them for:

217−- Tiny config files (<1KB) where compression can't help.

218−- Byte-exact reads you'll hash or diff (lockfiles, signatures).

219−- Globbing (sqz has no glob tool; `Glob` is still the right choice).

220−

221−### Bash commands (hooked automatically)

222−

223−When you run a shell command through the `Bash` tool, a PreToolUse hook

224−rewrites it to pipe output through `sqz compress`. This is transparent:

225−you don't need to remember to add anything, but it's useful to know

226−that these commands get compressed automatically:

227−

228−```bash

229−git status # → git status 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd git

230−cargo test # → cargo test 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd cargo

231−docker ps # → docker ps 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd docker

232−kubectl get pods # → kubectl get pods 2>&1 | sqz compress --cmd kubectl

233−```

234−

235−The rewrite is skipped for interactive commands (`vim`, `ssh`,

236−`python`), compound commands (`a && b`, `a > file.txt`), and anything

237−already going through sqz.

238−

239−### Escape hatch — when you see a `§ref:HASH§` token

240−

241−If tool output contains a `§ref:a1b2c3d4§` token and you need the full

242−content it points at, resolve it. Three equivalent ways:

243−

244−- Shell: `/Users/danielvm/.local/bin/sqz expand a1b2c3d4` (or paste the whole token

245− `/Users/danielvm/.local/bin/sqz expand §ref:a1b2c3d4§`).

246−- MCP tool: call `expand` with `{ "prefix": "a1b2c3d4" }`.

247−- To get uncompressed output for one command: prefix it with

248− `SQZ_NO_DEDUP=1` (e.g. `SQZ_NO_DEDUP=1 git log | sqz compress`).

249−

250−If the compressed output is actively making the task harder (looping

251−on refs, small retries replacing one big read), call the `passthrough`

252−MCP tool to get raw text.

253−

254−### When NOT to use sqz tools

255−

256−- Writing or editing files — use the built-in `Write`/`Edit` tools.

257− sqz has no write tools (by design; see issue #5 follow-up).

258−- Running commands interactively or in watch mode.

259−- Reading very small files (<1KB) where compression can't help.

260−

261−

262−

263−

264−# RTK (Rust Token Killer) - Token-Optimized Commands

265−

266−## Golden Rule

267−

268−**Always prefix commands with `rtk`**. If RTK has a dedicated filter, it uses it. If not, it passes through unchanged. This means RTK is always safe to use.

269−

270−**Important**: Even in command chains with `&&`, use `rtk`:

271−```bash

272−# ❌ Wrong

273−git add . && git commit -m "msg" && git push

274−

275−# ✅ Correct

276−rtk git add . && rtk git commit -m "msg" && rtk git push

277−```

278−

279−## RTK Commands by Workflow

280−

281−### Build & Compile (80-90% savings)

282−```bash

283−rtk cargo build # Cargo build output

284−rtk cargo check # Cargo check output

285−rtk cargo clippy # Clippy warnings grouped by file (80%)

286−rtk tsc # TypeScript errors grouped by file/code (83%)

287−rtk lint # ESLint/Biome violations grouped (84%)

288−rtk prettier --check # Files needing format only (70%)

289−rtk next build # Next.js build with route metrics (87%)

290−```

291−

292−### Test (60-99% savings)

293−```bash

294−rtk cargo test # Cargo test failures only (90%)

295−rtk go test # Go test failures only (90%)

296−rtk jest # Jest failures only (99.5%)

297−rtk vitest # Vitest failures only (99.5%)

298−rtk playwright test # Playwright failures only (94%)

299−rtk pytest # Python test failures only (90%)

300−rtk rake test # Ruby test failures only (90%)

301−rtk rspec # RSpec test failures only (60%)

302−rtk test <cmd> # Generic test wrapper - failures only

303−```

304−

305−### Git (59-80% savings)

306−```bash

307−rtk git status # Compact status

308−rtk git log # Compact log (works with all git flags)

309−rtk git diff # Compact diff (80%)

310−rtk git show # Compact show (80%)

311−rtk git add # Ultra-compact confirmations (59%)

312−rtk git commit # Ultra-compact confirmations (59%)

313−rtk git push # Ultra-compact confirmations

314−rtk git pull # Ultra-compact confirmations

315−rtk git branch # Compact branch list

316−rtk git fetch # Compact fetch

317−rtk git stash # Compact stash

318−rtk git worktree # Compact worktree

319−```

320−

321−Note: Git passthrough works for ALL subcommands, even those not explicitly listed.

322−

323−### GitHub (26-87% savings)

324−```bash

325−rtk gh pr view <num> # Compact PR view (87%)

326−rtk gh pr checks # Compact PR checks (79%)

327−rtk gh run list # Compact workflow runs (82%)

328−rtk gh issue list # Compact issue list (80%)

329−rtk gh api # Compact API responses (26%)

330−```

331−

332−### JavaScript/TypeScript Tooling (70-90% savings)

333−```bash

334−rtk pnpm list # Compact dependency tree (70%)

335−rtk pnpm outdated # Compact outdated packages (80%)

336−rtk pnpm install # Compact install output (90%)

337−rtk npm run <script> # Compact npm script output

338−rtk npx <cmd> # Compact npx command output

339−rtk prisma # Prisma without ASCII art (88%)

340−```

341−

342−### Files & Search (60-75% savings)

343−```bash

344−rtk ls <path> # Tree format, compact (65%)

345−rtk read <file> # Code reading with filtering (60%)

346−rtk grep <pattern> # Search grouped by file (75%). Format flags (-c, -l, -L, -o, -Z) run raw.

347−rtk find <pattern> # Find grouped by directory (70%)

348−```

349−

350−### Analysis & Debug (70-90% savings)

351−```bash

352−rtk err <cmd> # Filter errors only from any command

353−rtk log <file> # Deduplicated logs with counts

354−rtk json <file> # JSON structure without values

355−rtk deps # Dependency overview

356−rtk env # Environment variables compact

357−rtk summary <cmd> # Smart summary of command output

358−rtk diff # Ultra-compact diffs

359−```

360−

361−### Infrastructure (85% savings)

362−```bash

363−rtk docker ps # Compact container list

364−rtk docker images # Compact image list

365−rtk docker logs <c> # Deduplicated logs

366−rtk kubectl get # Compact resource list

367−rtk kubectl logs # Deduplicated pod logs

368−```

369−

370−### Network (65-70% savings)

371−```bash

372−rtk curl <url> # Compact HTTP responses (70%)

373−rtk wget <url> # Compact download output (65%)

374−```

375−

376−### Meta Commands

377−```bash

378−rtk gain # View token savings statistics

379−rtk gain --history # View command history with savings

380−rtk discover # Analyze Claude Code sessions for missed RTK usage

381−rtk proxy <cmd> # Run command without filtering (for debugging)

382−rtk init # Add RTK instructions to CLAUDE.md

383−rtk init --global # Add RTK to ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md

384−```

385−

386−## Token Savings Overview

387−

388−| Category | Commands | Typical Savings |

389−|----------|----------|-----------------|

390−| Tests | vitest, playwright, cargo test | 90-99% |

391−| Build | next, tsc, lint, prettier | 70-87% |

392−| Git | status, log, diff, add, commit | 59-80% |

393−| GitHub | gh pr, gh run, gh issue | 26-87% |

394−| Package Managers | pnpm, npm, npx | 70-90% |

395−| Files | ls, read, grep, find | 60-75% |

396−| Infrastructure | docker, kubectl | 85% |

397−| Network | curl, wget | 65-70% |

398−

399−Overall average: **60-90% token reduction** on common development operations.

400−