SKILL.md (5258B)
1 --- 2 name: "economy-mode" 3 description: "Shifts Layer 3 model selection to cost-optimized alternatives when economy mode is active." 4 domain: "model-selection" 5 confidence: "low" 6 source: "manual" 7 --- 8 9 ## SCOPE 10 11 ✅ THIS SKILL PRODUCES: 12 - A modified Layer 3 model selection table applied when economy mode is active 13 - `economyMode: true` written to `.squad/config.json` when activated persistently 14 - Spawn acknowledgments with `💰` indicator when economy mode is active 15 16 ❌ THIS SKILL DOES NOT PRODUCE: 17 - Code, tests, or documentation 18 - Cost reports or billing artifacts 19 - Changes to Layer 0, Layer 1, or Layer 2 resolution (user intent always wins) 20 21 ## Context 22 23 Economy mode shifts Layer 3 (Task-Aware Auto-Selection) to lower-cost alternatives. It does NOT override persistent config (`defaultModel`, `agentModelOverrides`) or per-agent charter preferences — those represent explicit user intent and always take priority. 24 25 Use this skill when the user wants to reduce costs across an entire session or permanently, without manually specifying models for each agent. 26 27 ## Activation Methods 28 29 | Method | How | 30 |--------|-----| 31 | Session phrase | "use economy mode", "save costs", "go cheap", "reduce costs" | 32 | Persistent config | `"economyMode": true` in `.squad/config.json` | 33 | CLI flag | `squad --economy` | 34 35 **Deactivation:** "turn off economy mode", "disable economy mode", or remove `economyMode` from `config.json`. 36 37 ## Economy Model Selection Table 38 39 When economy mode is **active**, Layer 3 auto-selection uses this table instead of the normal defaults: 40 41 | Task Output | Normal Mode | Economy Mode | 42 |-------------|-------------|--------------| 43 | Writing code (implementation, refactoring, bug fixes) | `claude-sonnet-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` or `gpt-5-mini` | 44 | Writing prompts or agent designs | `claude-sonnet-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` or `gpt-5-mini` | 45 | Docs, planning, triage, changelogs, mechanical ops | `claude-haiku-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` or `gpt-5-mini` | 46 | Architecture, code review, security audits | `claude-opus-4.5` | `claude-sonnet-4.5` | 47 | Scribe / logger / mechanical file ops | `claude-haiku-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` | 48 49 **Prefer `gpt-4.1` over `gpt-5-mini`** when the task involves structured output or agentic tool use. Prefer `gpt-5-mini` for pure text generation tasks where latency matters. 50 51 ## AGENT WORKFLOW 52 53 ### On Session Start 54 55 1. READ `.squad/config.json` 56 2. CHECK for `economyMode: true` — if present, activate economy mode for the session 57 3. STORE economy mode state in session context 58 59 ### On User Phrase Trigger 60 61 **Session-only (no config change):** "use economy mode", "save costs", "go cheap" 62 63 1. SET economy mode active for this session 64 2. ACKNOWLEDGE: `✅ Economy mode active — using cost-optimized models this session. (Layer 0 and Layer 2 preferences still apply)` 65 66 **Persistent:** "always use economy mode", "save economy mode" 67 68 1. WRITE `economyMode: true` to `.squad/config.json` (merge, don't overwrite other fields) 69 2. ACKNOWLEDGE: `✅ Economy mode saved — cost-optimized models will be used until disabled.` 70 71 ### On Every Agent Spawn (Economy Mode Active) 72 73 1. CHECK Layer 0a/0b first (agentModelOverrides, defaultModel) — if set, use that. Economy mode does NOT override Layer 0. 74 2. CHECK Layer 1 (session directive for a specific model) — if set, use that. Economy mode does NOT override explicit session directives. 75 3. CHECK Layer 2 (charter preference) — if set, use that. Economy mode does NOT override charter preferences. 76 4. APPLY economy table at Layer 3 instead of normal table. 77 5. INCLUDE `💰` in spawn acknowledgment: `🔧 {Name} ({model} · 💰 economy) — {task}` 78 79 ### On Deactivation 80 81 **Trigger phrases:** "turn off economy mode", "disable economy mode", "use normal models" 82 83 1. REMOVE `economyMode` from `.squad/config.json` (if it was persisted) 84 2. CLEAR session economy mode state 85 3. ACKNOWLEDGE: `✅ Economy mode disabled — returning to standard model selection.` 86 87 ### STOP 88 89 After updating economy mode state and including the `💰` indicator in spawn acknowledgments, this skill is done. Do NOT: 90 - Change Layer 0, Layer 1, or Layer 2 model choices 91 - Override charter-specified models 92 - Generate cost reports or comparisons 93 - Fall back to premium models via economy mode (economy mode never bumps UP) 94 95 ## Config Schema 96 97 `.squad/config.json` economy-related fields: 98 99 ```json 100 { 101 "version": 1, 102 "economyMode": true 103 } 104 ``` 105 106 - `economyMode` — when `true`, Layer 3 uses the economy table. Optional; absent = economy mode off. 107 - Combines with `defaultModel` and `agentModelOverrides` — Layer 0 always wins. 108 109 ## Anti-Patterns 110 111 - **Don't override Layer 0 in economy mode.** If the user set `defaultModel: "claude-opus-4.6"`, they want quality. Economy mode only affects Layer 3 auto-selection. 112 - **Don't silently apply economy mode.** Always acknowledge when activated or deactivated. 113 - **Don't treat economy mode as permanent by default.** Session phrases activate session-only; only "always" or `config.json` persist it. 114 - **Don't bump premium tasks down too far.** Architecture and security reviews shift from opus to sonnet in economy mode — they do NOT go to fast/cheap models.