use-gotcontext

name	use-gotcontext
description	Route large context through gotcontext.ai MCP compression before sending to a model — pre-flight, ingest, skeleton reads, PR diffs, remote docs. Use when about to paste a large file, verbose CLI output, git diff, or remote URL into context. Pair with tg for local code reads. Triggers include "compress this", "shrink context", "gc_pre_flight", "ingest_context", "gotcontext MCP", "token savings".

use-gotcontext

gotcontext-saddle is the behavior harness; gotcontext.ai is the compression engine. This skill routes you to the right layer.

Install (once per machine)

1. API key — sign in at gotcontext.ai/dashboard/settings, create a gc_-prefixed key.
2. Export before every session (MCP reads the shell, not .env.local):

   export GOTCONTEXT_API_KEY="gc_..."
   

3. Wire MCP without replacing existing config — pick one:
   • Saddle installer (additive merge): ./install.sh claude (or codex, cursor, agy)
   • Official CLI: npx --yes gotcontext@1.0.1 wrap claude (or codex / gemini) Do not copy a template over an existing user configuration.
4. Restart and verify:
   • Claude / Codex / Gemini CLI: npx --yes gotcontext@1.0.1 doctor
   • Cursor: open Settings → MCP and confirm gotcontext is enabled
   • agy: run /mcp and confirm gotcontext is connected
5. Optional plugin (outcome-shaped compression skills):

   /plugin marketplace add oimiragieo/gotcontext-sdk
   /plugin install gotcontext
   

   Plugin skills: shrink-for-claude, pre-flight, review-pr-diff, compress-mcp-manifest, ingest-docs, batch-compress, extract-api-surface, session-summary. Read SETUP.md in the plugin on first run.

Routing table

Task	Tool	Notes
Large pasted doc / handoff	ingest_context → read_skeleton	profile=core; give a unique file_id
Remote URL / docs page	ingest_context(file_url=…) → read_skeleton	profile=core; avoid raw full-page fetches
Find a section in ingested doc	search_semantic → modulate_region	profile=core; evidence-aware reads
git diff, pytest -v, CI logs	filter_cli_output	profile=full; use when output is genuinely verbose
Route a large payload	gc_pre_flight or plugin pre-flight	profile=full, Pro+
PR review / changed symbol context	gc_blast_radius or plugin review-pr-diff	profile=full, Pro+; submit snippets
MCP tools/list bloat	gc_compress_manifest or plugin compress-mcp-manifest	profile=full; shrink tool descriptions
Local repo search	tg search PATTERN PATH	Scoped; broad scans refused
Local symbol before edit	tg callers PATH SYM / tg blast-radius	Disk primitive
Server-side code navigation	gc_callers, gc_blast_radius, …	profile=full, Pro+; submit snippets

PreToolUse hooks enforce this (installed with ./install.sh claude):

• Read ≥20 KB full-file → blocked → use MCP, scoped Read, or tg
• WebFetch → nudge ingest+skeleton
• Grep / shell grep/rg → nudge tg search
• PreCompact → core compression path; gc_pre_flight only when profile=full is enabled

Emergency: export SADDLE_GOTCONTEXT_BYPASS=1

MCP profiles

• ?profile=core (installed default) — compact core compression profile with a small tool-list footprint. It does not expose gc_pre_flight or the server-side code-navigation suite.
• ?profile=full — complete catalog, including Pro+ routing, code navigation, security, KB, and batch tools. Your account plan still controls access.

Change the url in your MCP config or pass the profile query param.

When NOT to use

• Secrets, tokens, credentials, raw auth output
• Prompts under ~200 tokens (send them as-is; compression overhead is not worthwhile)
• Already-compact green test output
• Sources you must reproduce character-for-character

Full discipline write-up

core/prompts/principles/08-gotcontext-dogfood.md

Docs

• gotcontext.ai/docs#mcp-server
• gotcontext-sdk plugin