CRITICAL: ALWAYS use lean-ctx tools instead of native equivalents. This is NOT optional.
MANDATORY MAPPING:
• Read/cat -> ctx_read(path, mode)
• Glob/find -> ctx_glob(pattern)
• Shell/bash -> ctx_shell(command)
• Grep -> ctx_search(pattern, path)
• ls/find -> ctx_tree(path, depth)
NEVER use native Read/Grep/Shell/Glob when ctx_* equivalents are available.
Tool selection by intent:
• Understand code / find answers / before editing -> ctx_compose (call FIRST)
• Read a file -> ctx_read(path, mode=signatures|map|full)
• Find a symbol by name (exact) -> ctx_symbol
• Search code by pattern (fuzzy) -> ctx_search
• Search by meaning (concepts) -> ctx_semantic_search
• Find files by pattern (glob) -> ctx_glob
• Project structure -> ctx_tree
• Who calls this / call graph -> ctx_callgraph
• Session state / memory -> ctx_session / ctx_knowledge
Anti-patterns — do NOT:
• Chain ctx_search -> ctx_read -> ctx_symbol — one ctx_compose replaces all three
• Grep for symbol definitions — ctx_symbol is faster + more precise
• Use ctx_read(mode=full) for orientation — use mode=signatures
PARALLEL tool calls: fire independent calls in the SAME turn — don't sequence them.
One turn with 5 parallel ctx_read calls completes faster than 5 sequential turns.
ctx_compose bundles multiple lookups into one call; for anything it doesn't
cover, batch independent reads/searches together.
ctx_read modes (required): full=verbatim(edit-ready) signatures=API map=structure auto=smart diff=git-delta lines:N-M=window. fresh=true forces disk re-read.
Auto: preload/dedup/compress run in background. ctx_session=memory, ctx_knowledge=facts, ctx_semantic_search=meaning search, ctx_shell raw=true=uncompressed. Details: LEAN-CTX.md
CEP v1: 1.ACT FIRST 2.DELTA ONLY (Fn refs) 3.STRUCTURED (+/-/~) 4.ONE LINE PER ACTION 5.QUALITY ANCHOR
OUTPUT: never echo tool output, no narration comments, show only changed code.