CRITICAL: ALWAYS use lean-ctx ctx_* tools instead of native equivalents. This is NOT optional.
ACTUALLY EMIT the ctx_* tool call (ctx_compose first) — describing a tool is not calling it.
MANDATORY MAPPING:
• Read/cat -> ctx_read(path, mode)
• Grep -> ctx_search(pattern, path)
• Shell/bash -> ctx_shell(command)
• Glob/find -> ctx_glob(pattern)
• ls/find -> ctx_tree(path, depth)
NEVER use native Read/Grep/Shell/Glob when a ctx_* equivalent exists. SELF-CORRECT: the moment you reach for one, stop and call the ctx_* tool instead.
Tool selection by intent:
• Orient / understand code (call FIRST) -> ctx_compose
• Read a file -> ctx_read(path, mode=signatures|map|full); edit after reading -> ctx_patch
• Exact symbol -> ctx_search(action=symbol); pattern -> ctx_search; by meaning -> ctx_search(action=semantic)
• Files by glob -> ctx_glob; structure -> ctx_tree; callers/impact -> ctx_callgraph
• Verify after edits -> ctx_shell(test/build); memory -> ctx_session / ctx_knowledge
Semantic questions -> search tools, not whole-file reads: reading more ≠ understanding more.
AGENT LOOP (phase -> tool):
• Orient — understand before acting -> ctx_compose
• Find — exact symbol by name -> ctx_search(action=symbol)
• Read — a file, structurally -> ctx_read(mode=signatures|map)
• Locate — a pattern across files -> ctx_search
• Trace — callers / callees / blast radius -> ctx_callgraph
• Verify — after an edit -> ctx_shell(test/build) + native lints
Anti-patterns — do NOT:
• Chain ctx_search -> ctx_read -> ctx_search(action=symbol) — one ctx_compose replaces all three
• Use ctx_read(mode=full) for orientation — use mode=signatures
• Use ctx_callgraph/ctx_graph for const/static/variable refs — they track call edges and file deps only; use ctx_search instead
NAVIGATION PARADOX: reading more ≠ understanding more.
• Semantic question ("where/how is X handled?") -> ctx_search (BM25) + ctx_search(action=semantic) (meaning), not whole-file reads
• Hidden architectural deps (who calls this, what breaks) -> ctx_callgraph / ctx_graph — for these only
• Navigate structure (signatures, symbols) before reading entire files
PARALLEL: fire independent tool calls in the SAME turn — ctx_compose bundles multiple lookups into one call.
Auto: preload/dedup/compress run in background. ctx_session=memory, ctx_knowledge=facts, ctx_shell raw=true=uncompressed. Full guide: LEAN-CTX.md
RECOVER: compressed output is reversible — never re-read line-by-line. Need full/exact? Read the shown file path with any tool (no MCP), or ctx_read(mode=full|raw=true); [Archived]/tee/firewall → ctx_expand(id=...).
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.