| name | economy-mode |
| description | Shifts model selection to cost-optimized alternatives when economy mode is active |
| domain | model-selection |
| confidence | medium |
| source | adapted from squad-sdk |
Economy Mode
Reduces model costs across the squad without sacrificing critical migration quality.
SCOPE
✅ THIS SKILL PRODUCES:
- A modified model selection table applied when economy mode is active
economyMode: true written to .squad/config.json when activated persistently
- Spawn acknowledgments with
💰 indicator when economy mode is active
❌ THIS SKILL DOES NOT PRODUCE:
- Code, tests, or documentation
- Cost reports or billing artifacts
- Changes to explicit user model overrides (user intent always wins)
Activation Methods
| Method | How |
|---|
| Session phrase | "use economy mode", "save costs", "go cheap", "reduce costs" |
| Persistent config | "economyMode": true in .squad/config.json |
Deactivation: "turn off economy mode", "disable economy mode", or remove economyMode from config.json.
Economy Model Selection Table
When economy mode is active, auto-selection shifts down one tier:
| Task Type | Normal Model | Economy Model |
|---|
| Code migration | claude-sonnet-4.6 | claude-haiku-4.5 |
| Architecture | claude-opus-4.6 | claude-sonnet-4.6 |
| Documentation | claude-haiku-4.5 | claude-haiku-4.5 |
| Security review | claude-sonnet-4.6 | claude-haiku-4.5 |
| Infrastructure | claude-sonnet-4.6 | claude-haiku-4.5 |
| Cost analysis | claude-haiku-4.5 | claude-haiku-4.5 |
| Discovery | claude-sonnet-4.6 | claude-haiku-4.5 |
When NOT to Use Economy Mode
- During security hardening phases (precision matters)
- For complex multi-service architecture decisions
- When Discovery confidence is low and re-classification is needed