prompt-compress

name	prompt-compress
description	Compress a system prompt or skill body while preserving semantic content. More aggressive than caveman:compress — targets system prompts and tool descriptions, validates with eval set. Triggers on "compress this prompt", "shrink system prompt", "reduce prompt tokens".

prompt-compress

Workflow

1. Read target prompt + eval set (REQUIRED — refuse without one).
2. Baseline: run eval, record score + token count.
3. Apply compressions iteratively (caveman style):
   • Drop articles, fillers, pleasantries.
   • Merge redundant rules.
   • Convert prose lists → bullet lists.
   • Inline examples if they replace explanation.
   • Replace verbose phrasing with technical terms.
4. Re-run eval after each pass. Stop if score drops >2%.
5. Output diff + new prompt + score+token deltas.

Refuse to compress

• Safety / refusal instructions (those stay verbose).
• Examples (they're cheap calibration).
• Anything user marks <keep>.

Output

Original:  4,820 tokens, eval 0.87
Pass 1:    3,100 tokens, eval 0.87  (-36%)
Pass 2:    2,400 tokens, eval 0.85  (-50%)  ← chose this
Pass 3:    1,900 tokens, eval 0.78  ✗ regression

Saved 50%. New eval within tolerance.

Companion

caveman:compress (memory files), eval-first (gate).