---

description: context-mode routing rules — context window protection

alwaysApply: true

---

# context-mode

Raw tool output floods your context window. Use context-mode MCP tools to keep raw data in the sandbox.

## Tool Selection

1. **GATHER**: `ctx_batch_execute(commands, queries)` — Primary tool for research. Runs all commands, auto-indexes, and searches. ONE call replaces many individual steps.

2. **FOLLOW-UP**: `ctx_search(queries: ["q1", "q2", ...])` — Use for all follow-up questions. ONE call, many queries.

3. **PROCESSING**: `ctx_execute(language, code)` or `ctx_execute_file(path, language, code)` — Use for API calls, log analysis, and data processing.

4. **WEB**: `ctx_fetch_and_index(url)` then `ctx_search(queries)` — Fetch, index, then query. Never dump raw HTML.

## Rules

- DO NOT use Bash for commands producing >20 lines of output — use `ctx_execute` or `ctx_batch_execute`.

- DO NOT use Read for analysis — use `ctx_execute_file`. Read IS correct for files you intend to Edit.

- DO NOT use curl/wget in terminal — use `ctx_fetch_and_index`.

- Bash is ONLY for git, mkdir, rm, mv, navigation, and short commands.

## Output

- Keep responses under 500 words.

- Write artifacts (code, configs) to FILES — never return them as inline text.