| 1 | --- |
| 2 | name: "economy-mode" |
| 3 | description: "Shifts Layer 3 model selection to cost-optimized alternatives when economy mode is active." |
| 4 | domain: "model-selection" |
| 5 | confidence: "low" |
| 6 | source: "manual" |
| 7 | --- |
| 8 | |
| 9 | ## SCOPE |
| 10 | |
| 11 | ✅ THIS SKILL PRODUCES: |
| 12 | - A modified Layer 3 model selection table applied when economy mode is active |
| 13 | - `economyMode: true` written to `.squad/config.json` when activated persistently |
| 14 | - Spawn acknowledgments with `💰` indicator when economy mode is active |
| 15 | |
| 16 | ❌ THIS SKILL DOES NOT PRODUCE: |
| 17 | - Code, tests, or documentation |
| 18 | - Cost reports or billing artifacts |
| 19 | - Changes to Layer 0, Layer 1, or Layer 2 resolution (user intent always wins) |
| 20 | |
| 21 | ## Context |
| 22 | |
| 23 | Economy mode shifts Layer 3 (Task-Aware Auto-Selection) to lower-cost alternatives. It does NOT override persistent config (`defaultModel`, `agentModelOverrides`) or per-agent charter preferences — those represent explicit user intent and always take priority. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Use this skill when the user wants to reduce costs across an entire session or permanently, without manually specifying models for each agent. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | ## Activation Methods |
| 28 | |
| 29 | | Method | How | |
| 30 | |--------|-----| |
| 31 | | Session phrase | "use economy mode", "save costs", "go cheap", "reduce costs" | |
| 32 | | Persistent config | `"economyMode": true` in `.squad/config.json` | |
| 33 | | CLI flag | `squad --economy` | |
| 34 | |
| 35 | **Deactivation:** "turn off economy mode", "disable economy mode", or remove `economyMode` from `config.json`. |
| 36 | |
| 37 | ## Economy Model Selection Table |
| 38 | |
| 39 | When economy mode is **active**, Layer 3 auto-selection uses this table instead of the normal defaults: |
| 40 | |
| 41 | | Task Output | Normal Mode | Economy Mode | |
| 42 | |-------------|-------------|--------------| |
| 43 | | Writing code (implementation, refactoring, bug fixes) | `claude-sonnet-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` or `gpt-5-mini` | |
| 44 | | Writing prompts or agent designs | `claude-sonnet-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` or `gpt-5-mini` | |
| 45 | | Docs, planning, triage, changelogs, mechanical ops | `claude-haiku-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` or `gpt-5-mini` | |
| 46 | | Architecture, code review, security audits | `claude-opus-4.5` | `claude-sonnet-4.5` | |
| 47 | | Scribe / logger / mechanical file ops | `claude-haiku-4.5` | `gpt-4.1` | |
| 48 | |
| 49 | **Prefer `gpt-4.1` over `gpt-5-mini`** when the task involves structured output or agentic tool use. Prefer `gpt-5-mini` for pure text generation tasks where latency matters. |
| 50 | |
| 51 | ## AGENT WORKFLOW |
| 52 | |
| 53 | ### On Session Start |
| 54 | |
| 55 | 1. READ `.squad/config.json` |
| 56 | 2. CHECK for `economyMode: true` — if present, activate economy mode for the session |
| 57 | 3. STORE economy mode state in session context |
| 58 | |
| 59 | ### On User Phrase Trigger |
| 60 | |
| 61 | **Session-only (no config change):** "use economy mode", "save costs", "go cheap" |
| 62 | |
| 63 | 1. SET economy mode active for this session |
| 64 | 2. ACKNOWLEDGE: `✅ Economy mode active — using cost-optimized models this session. (Layer 0 and Layer 2 preferences still apply)` |
| 65 | |
| 66 | **Persistent:** "always use economy mode", "save economy mode" |
| 67 | |
| 68 | 1. WRITE `economyMode: true` to `.squad/config.json` (merge, don't overwrite other fields) |
| 69 | 2. ACKNOWLEDGE: `✅ Economy mode saved — cost-optimized models will be used until disabled.` |
| 70 | |
| 71 | ### On Every Agent Spawn (Economy Mode Active) |
| 72 | |
| 73 | 1. CHECK Layer 0a/0b first (agentModelOverrides, defaultModel) — if set, use that. Economy mode does NOT override Layer 0. |
| 74 | 2. CHECK Layer 1 (session directive for a specific model) — if set, use that. Economy mode does NOT override explicit session directives. |
| 75 | 3. CHECK Layer 2 (charter preference) — if set, use that. Economy mode does NOT override charter preferences. |
| 76 | 4. APPLY economy table at Layer 3 instead of normal table. |
| 77 | 5. INCLUDE `💰` in spawn acknowledgment: `🔧 {Name} ({model} · 💰 economy) — {task}` |
| 78 | |
| 79 | ### On Deactivation |
| 80 | |
| 81 | **Trigger phrases:** "turn off economy mode", "disable economy mode", "use normal models" |
| 82 | |
| 83 | 1. REMOVE `economyMode` from `.squad/config.json` (if it was persisted) |
| 84 | 2. CLEAR session economy mode state |
| 85 | 3. ACKNOWLEDGE: `✅ Economy mode disabled — returning to standard model selection.` |
| 86 | |
| 87 | ### STOP |
| 88 | |
| 89 | After updating economy mode state and including the `💰` indicator in spawn acknowledgments, this skill is done. Do NOT: |
| 90 | - Change Layer 0, Layer 1, or Layer 2 model choices |
| 91 | - Override charter-specified models |
| 92 | - Generate cost reports or comparisons |
| 93 | - Fall back to premium models via economy mode (economy mode never bumps UP) |
| 94 | |
| 95 | ## Config Schema |
| 96 | |
| 97 | `.squad/config.json` economy-related fields: |
| 98 | |
| 99 | ```json |
| 100 | { |
| 101 | "version": 1, |
| 102 | "economyMode": true |
| 103 | } |
| 104 | ``` |
| 105 | |
| 106 | - `economyMode` — when `true`, Layer 3 uses the economy table. Optional; absent = economy mode off. |
| 107 | - Combines with `defaultModel` and `agentModelOverrides` — Layer 0 always wins. |
| 108 | |
| 109 | ## Anti-Patterns |
| 110 | |
| 111 | - **Don't override Layer 0 in economy mode.** If the user set `defaultModel: "claude-opus-4.6"`, they want quality. Economy mode only affects Layer 3 auto-selection. |
| 112 | - **Don't silently apply economy mode.** Always acknowledge when activated or deactivated. |
| 113 | - **Don't treat economy mode as permanent by default.** Session phrases activate session-only; only "always" or `config.json` persist it. |
| 114 | - **Don't bump premium tasks down too far.** Architecture and security reviews shift from opus to sonnet in economy mode — they do NOT go to fast/cheap models. |