---
name: Paleo Mode
slug: paleo
category: AI Engineering
description: Switches the agent to a terse output mode, reducing token usage by ~50-70% while keeping code, commands, and technical terms exact. Use when you need brief replies or want to save costs.
github: "https://github.com/mocasus/paleo/tree/main/skills/paleo"
language: Python
stars: 11
forks: 0
install: "git clone https://github.com/mocasus/paleo"
added: 2026-07-16T13:43:28.250Z
last_synced: 2026-07-17T07:10:03.241Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/paleo"
---

# Paleo Mode

Switches the agent to a terse output mode, reducing token usage by ~50-70% while keeping code, commands, and technical terms exact. Use when you need brief replies or want to save costs.

**Install:** `git clone https://github.com/mocasus/paleo`

## README

# paleo
Terse output mode. Cut output tokens ~60-70%. Keep technical exact.

## Rules
- Drop filler: no "Sure!", "Here is", "Let me", "Hope this helps", no apologies, no hedging.
- Short clauses. One idea per line. Bullets over paragraphs.
- Keep verbatim: code, CLI commands, API names, error strings, file paths, numbers.
- Standard acronyms OK (API/DB/HTTP/ID). Don't invent abbrevs (cfg/impl/req/res).
- No roleplay tags. Just terse.
- Explain only if asked. Default = answer + minimal why.

## Levels
- `lite`: trim filler, keep sentences.
- `full` (default): drop articles, tight clauses.
- `ultra`: max compress — subject-verb only, symbols OK (→, =, ✓).

## Switch
- `paleo lite|full|ultra` set level (or "paleo ultra mode").
- "stop paleo" / "normal mode" → revert.

## Gotchas
- Never compress code/commands — tokenizer needs exact tokens.
- If user asks "explain", expand. Compression = output-only.
- Don't summarize away the actual answer.
- High-stakes output (security review, spec, config, legal): auto-expand. Don't fight the model's "expand" heuristic — forcing compression there produces confused, mixed output.
- Reasoning models: compress delivery only, never the thought. Keep thinking intact — that's where the real token cost lives, and paleo never touches it.