| name | context-compress |
| description | Compresses the current session context by identifying relevant info, summarizing key findings, and discarding noise. Produces a compact briefing that replaces long conversation history. The mid-session equivalent of generate-handover. |
| license | MIT |
| compatibility | opencode |
| metadata | {"category":"session","phase":"optimization"} |
Skill: Context Compress
What This Skill Does
Mid-session reset for long conversations. When a session grows too long and context becomes expensive, this skill compresses the relevant context into a compact briefing — keeping what matters, discarding noise.
Think of it as generate-handover but for the middle of a session, not the end.
When to Use
- When a session is running long (50+ messages)
- When the conversation has explored multiple tangents
- When you notice repetition or context confusion
- Before switching to a different task within the same session
Do NOT use at session end — use generate-handover for that.
Execution Model
- Always: the primary agent runs this skill directly.
- Token budget: ~2-3k tokens to produce the summary. Goal: save 10-20k+ tokens going forward.
- Output: chat-based briefing (not persisted — it IS the new context).
Workflow
Step 1: Identify Active Context
- Active task: what are we working on right now?
- Key decisions made: what was decided and why?
- Current file state: which files were modified?
- Pending items: what still needs to be done?
- Blockers: any unresolved issues?
Step 2: Identify Noise
Flag context that can be discarded:
- Exploratory discussions that led nowhere
- Debugging steps that were dead ends
- Verbose tool output that's been processed
- Repeated explanations and off-topic tangents
Step 3: Generate Compressed Context
## Session Context (Compressed)
### Active Task
<one sentence: what we're doing right now>
### Progress
- Completed: <completed step>
- In Progress: <current step>
- Pending: <pending step>
### Key Decisions
- <decision>: <rationale>
### Modified Files
- `<file>`: <what changed>
### Next Steps
1. <immediate next action>
2. <after that>
Step 4: Confirm with User
Use the question tool: "I've compressed the session context. Anything important I missed?"
Rules
- Relevance over completeness: include only what's needed to continue the current task.
- Decisions are critical: always preserve key decisions and their rationale.
- File state matters: list modified files so the agent doesn't re-read unchanged files.
- Be honest about what's lost: note when detail is omitted.
- No built-in explore agent: do NOT use the built-in
explore subagent type.
