Budget-weighted prompt execution. depth_probe frames thinking. plan_prompt budgets effort. Per-phase pauses enable midstream metathinking. audit_probe catches gaps.
Surfaces interpretations before answering. Use when user appends #? or when question has multiple valid readings. Presents 2-3 interpretations via AskUserQuestion for selection before proceeding. For deep investigation, use mode-think.
Side-by-side comparison of options. Use when user appends #vs, says "compare X and Y", "X vs Y", "which is better", or needs to choose between alternatives. For honest yes/no verdicts, use mode-judge instead.
Save comprehensive context to a handoff file for future sessions. Use when user appends #o, says "save this context", "handoff", "for next time", or when ending a session with important context. Creates a persistent record.
Gives honest evaluation without cheerleading. Use when user appends #j, asks "good idea?", "should we", "worth it?", or needs unbiased assessment. No validation theater. For challenging approaches specifically, use mode-challenge instead.
Triple-checks proposals and claims before execution. Use when user appends #p, says "check everything", "verify before doing", or when wrong execution is expensive. Three passes: facts, completeness, consequences. For post-hoc evidence proving, use mode-verify instead.
Ruthless clarification context. Use when #qh prefix detected. Interrogates assumptions and forces explicit answers before proceeding. For lighter touch, use mode-question-light.
Light clarification context. Use when #ql prefix detected. Adds thoughtful questions without aggressive interrogation. For ruthless clarification, use mode-question-heavy.