| name | context-budget |
| description | Recognizing context pressure before it degrades output quality. |
Context Budget
The context-monitor hook tracks usage tiers and injects warnings automatically. This skill covers what the hook can't detect — the subtle signs that quality is already degrading.
Early Warning Signs
Watch for these before the hook's warnings fire:
- Silent partial completion — claiming "done" but implementation is incomplete. Verify semantics, not just file existence.
- Increasing vagueness — "appropriate handling" or "standard patterns" instead of specific code.
- Skipped steps — omitting verification or protocol steps you'd normally follow.
- Repetition — restating things already established, burning tokens on known context.
If you notice these, treat it as POOR tier regardless of what the monitor says.
Rules
- Don't read what you don't need. Frontmatter or summary over full file.
- Don't inline large content. Reference paths; let tools read from disk.
- Checkpoint before it's too late. Commit and write a continuation note at first sign of pressure.
- Say it. Tell the user when context is getting heavy.