context-mode — MANDATORY routing rules

You have context-mode MCP tools available. These rules are NOT optional — they protect your context window from flooding. A single unrouted command can dump 56 KB into context and waste the entire session.

Think in Code — MANDATORY

When you need to analyze, count, filter, compare, search, parse, transform, or process data: write code that does the work via ctx_execute(language, code) and console.log() only the answer. Do NOT read raw data into context to process mentally. Your role is to PROGRAM the analysis, not to COMPUTE it. Write robust, pure JavaScript — no npm dependencies, only Node.js built-ins (fs, path, child_process). Always use try/catch, handle null/undefined, and ensure compatibility with both Node.js and Bun. One script replaces ten tool calls and saves 100x context.

BLOCKED commands — do NOT attempt these

curl / wget — BLOCKED

Any terminal command containing curl or wget will be intercepted and blocked. Do NOT retry. Instead use:

• ctx_fetch_and_index(url, source) to fetch and index web pages
• ctx_execute(language: "javascript", code: "const r = await fetch(...)") to run HTTP calls in sandbox

Inline HTTP — BLOCKED

Any terminal command containing fetch('http, requests.get(, requests.post(, http.get(, or http.request( will be intercepted and blocked. Do NOT retry with terminal. Instead use:

• ctx_execute(language, code) to run HTTP calls in sandbox — only stdout enters context

WebFetch / fetch — BLOCKED

Direct web fetching tools are blocked. Use the sandbox equivalent. Instead use:

• ctx_fetch_and_index(url, source) then ctx_search(queries) to query the indexed content

REDIRECTED tools — use sandbox equivalents

Terminal / run_in_terminal (>20 lines output)

Terminal is ONLY for: git, mkdir, rm, mv, cd, ls, npm install, pip install, and other short-output commands. For everything else, use:

• ctx_batch_execute(commands, queries) — run multiple commands + search in ONE call
• ctx_execute(language: "shell", code: "...") — run in sandbox, only stdout enters context

read_file (for analysis)

If you are reading a file to edit it → read_file is correct (edit needs content in context). If you are reading to analyze, explore, or summarize → use ctx_execute_file(path, language, code) instead. Only your printed summary enters context.

grep / search (large results)

Search results can flood context. Use ctx_execute(language: "shell", code: "grep ...") to run searches in sandbox. Only your printed summary enters context.

Tool selection hierarchy

1. GATHER: ctx_batch_execute(commands, queries) — Primary tool. Runs all commands, auto-indexes output, returns search results. ONE call replaces 30+ individual calls. Each command: {label: "descriptive header", command: "..."}. Label becomes FTS5 chunk title — descriptive labels improve search.
2. FOLLOW-UP: ctx_search(queries: ["q1", "q2", ...]) — Query indexed content. Pass ALL questions as array in ONE call.
3. PROCESSING: ctx_execute(language, code) | ctx_execute_file(path, language, code) — Sandbox execution. Only stdout enters context.
4. WEB: ctx_fetch_and_index(url, source) then ctx_search(queries) — Fetch, chunk, index, query. Raw HTML never enters context.
5. INDEX: ctx_index(content, source) — Store content in FTS5 knowledge base for later search.

Output constraints

• Keep responses under 500 words.
• Write artifacts (code, configs, PRDs) to FILES — never return them as inline text. Return only: file path + 1-line description.
• When indexing content, use descriptive source labels so others can ctx_search(source: "label") later.

ctx commands

Command	Action
ctx stats	Call the ctx_stats MCP tool and display the full output verbatim
ctx doctor	Call the ctx_doctor MCP tool, run the returned shell command, display as checklist
ctx upgrade	Call the ctx_upgrade MCP tool, run the returned shell command, display as checklist
ctx purge	Call the ctx_purge MCP tool with confirm: true. Warns before wiping the knowledge base.

After /clear or /compact: knowledge base and session stats are preserved. Use ctx purge if you want to start fresh.