principle-guard-the-context-window

Guard the context window

The active context is finite. Spend it on decisions, constraints, and evidence—not raw payload that can stay in files or worker contexts.

Situation	Preferred handling	Fallback when delegation is unavailable
Large file or log	Search first, then read relevant ranges	Save/filter locally and read the compact result
Many independent inputs	Give authorized workers non-overlapping slices and a strict return schema	Process slices sequentially and keep a rolling summary
Verbose tool output	Write it to an artifact and extract findings	Re-run with narrower filters or output limits
Repeated reference	Keep the small, frequently used contract inline	Link branch-specific detail behind a precise context pointer

Do not delegate unless current user and system policy permit it. Keep raw transcripts, screenshots, and bulk source outside the coordinating thread; bring back conclusions, evidence pointers, disagreements, and gaps.

Before each read, ask what decision it can change. Stop when the scoped question is answered. At phase boundaries, restate the current goal, verified state, open risks, and next action so later compaction preserves the throughline.

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