Token Economy
Optimize text for AI context: docs, changelogs, MCP tasks, subtasks.
Principle: Quality first. Never sacrifice essential info.
15 Techniques
| # | Technique | Use | Example |
|---|-----------|-----|---------|
| 1 | Tables over prose | Comparisons | Function params → table |
| 2 | Bullets with pipes | Multi-part | Part1 \| Part2 \| Part3 |
| 3 | Numbered steps | Workflows | 1. Step → 2. Step |
| 4 | One example | Code samples | Keep best, remove rest |
| 5 | Pattern statements | Repetition | **Pattern**: All X do Y |
| 6 | Add "Why" | Decisions | **Why**: [reason] |
| 7 | Concrete errors | Debugging | **Error**: \exact message`` |
| 8 | No fluff | Decorations | Remove ASCII art, emojis |
| 9 | Scannable | Structure | Headers, bullets, tables |
| 10 | Consolidate | Duplicates | Merge similar sections |
| 11 | Compact code | Examples | 3-5 key lines only |
| 12 | Quick lists | Reference | Command/param tables |
| 13 | Inverted pyramid | Info order | Critical → Details → Context |
| 14 | Conditional verbosity | Complexity | High for complex, low for simple |
| 15 | No teaching | Reference | State facts, skip basics |
Quick Workflow
- Identify: Prose → tables? Multiple examples → one? ASCII → numbered? Teaching → facts?
- Apply: Convert, consolidate, compact
- Check: Essential info preserved? Scannable? No fluff?
MCP Templates
Task:
Requirements: [WHAT] | Files: [PATH:LINES] (action) | Acceptance: [CRITERIA] | Why: [CONTEXT]
progress_notes: [ACTION] [WHAT]. [NEXT]
completion_summary: [DONE]. [TECH]. Files: [PATHS]. [IMPACT]
Examples
Before (prose):
This function validates user input. Takes string input_text, returns bool.
If valid returns true, otherwise false. Checks empty, special chars, length ≤100.
After (compact):
**validate_input(input_text: str) → bool**: True if valid (non-empty, no special chars, ≤100)
Before (ASCII art - 180 tokens):
┌─────────┐
│ Auth? │
└────┬────┘
▼
┌─────────┐
│ Valid? │
└──┬───┬──┘
Y N
After (numbered - 36 tokens):
1. Check auth
2. Valid → YES: Process | NO: Reject
Common Fixes
| Issue | Fix | |-------|-----| | Multiple examples | Keep 1 (#4) | | Prose comparison | Table (#1) | | Teaching | Facts only (#15) | | ASCII art | Numbered (#3) | | No "why" | Add context (#6) |
See TEMPLATES.md for copy-paste templates.