Workbench token context discipline

Workbench Token Context Discipline

Use this skill when a task may pull large docs, long issue histories, many skills, big logs, or expensive model context.

Context Budget Rules

• Start with indexes, file lists, IDs, summaries, and targeted searches.
• Read the smallest slice that can answer the current question.
• Prefer rg, jq, concise table output, and explicit IDs over dumping entire histories.
• Summarize large sources before passing them to another agent.
• Attach only role-relevant skills; more skills are not automatically better.
• Stop and report if two consecutive reads are too large or mostly irrelevant.

SDD Handoff Compact Mode

When entering an SDD-gated issue:

1. Check whether the prior stage comment includes HANDOFF_SUMMARY.
2. If it exists, read the summary header and the listed SCOPED_EVIDENCE before reading any wider history.
3. If no handoff exists, read at most the latest three relevant comments, request or create a compact handoff, then stop broad scanning.
4. Never read full issue lists, full agent rosters, or unrelated repo docs for a single-stage task unless the stage explains why.
5. Output must fit in one reviewable comment. If it does not, compress rather than split.

Cache And Quota Awareness

• Distinguish fresh input, output, cache read, and cache write when usage is under investigation.
• Do not assume dashboard usage is wrong without local/request-level evidence.
• Avoid repeated full-context reruns when a comment ID, file path, or artifact can be cited instead.
• Keep Workbench Max and existing private agents out of broad binding changes unless explicitly assigned.

Output Contract

Return:

• CONTEXT_USED: exact files, comments, commands, or IDs read.
• SKIPPED: intentionally avoided broad reads and why.
• SUMMARY: compact facts needed for the next step.
• NEXT_SMALL_READ: the next targeted evidence query, if any.
• TOKEN_RISK: normal / elevated / blocked.