token-economy

name	token-economy
description	Apply token optimization when writing docs, changelogs, MCP tasks. Quality

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

1. Identify: Prose → tables? Multiple examples → one? ASCII → numbered? Teaching → facts?
2. Apply: Convert, consolidate, compact
3. 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.