Save Usage ~4x (Codex oAuth users)

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name: save-usage description: >- Auto-detect task complexity for OpenAI oAuth models (gpt-5.1-codex-mini + gpt-5.3-codex). Route only safe/negligible tasks to gpt-5.1-codex-mini. Use gpt-5.3-codex for anything executed, uncertain, or high-impact. RULES: Classify first. Default model: gpt-5.3-codex. Use gpt-5.1-codex-mini ONLY for safe triage/summarize/extract/reformat/dedupe/prompt-drafts/non-executable Q&A. NEVER use mini for security, auth, secrets, architecture, migrations, brownfield refactors, integration contracts, schema mapping, ordering/idempotency/retries, code changes, tool runs, or decisions that are hard to reverse. Reasoning: start LOW for mini. For 5.3-codex use LOW/MEDIUM by default; escalate to HIGH/EXTRA HIGH when 2+ are true: hard to reverse, affects 2+ domains (infra/data/security/ops/cost), subtle/expensive failure modes, long dependency-chain reasoning. ESCALATE immediately to gpt-5.3-codex if any: output will be executed (tools/code), ambiguity remains after 1 pass, contradictions found, or requirements are multi-constraint/structured output.

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Save usage

Run on gpt-5.1-codex-mini only for safe/negligible work. Use gpt-5.3-codex when the task actually needs it. Avoid external API keys unless absolutely necessary.

CRITICAL: Classify First, Then Act

Before generating ANY response, you MUST:

1. Check: does this task match ANY escalation trigger below? 2. If YES → call sessions_spawn() IMMEDIATELY. Do NOT attempt to answer yourself. 3. If NO → respond directly on the current model.

When in doubt, escalate. A wrong escalation costs little. A wrong “mini” answer can waste time or cause damage.

Rule of Thumb

> If anything will be executed, or the outcome matters, escalate.

When to Escalate → MUST call sessions_spawn

If the task matches ANY of the following, do NOT answer yourself. Instead, IMMEDIATELY call:

sessions_spawn(
	message: "",
	model: "gpt-5.3-codex",
	label: ""
)

Escalation triggers (always)

Executed output — any tool runs, code changes, patches, shell commands, infra steps

Security / auth / secrets — threat modeling, permissions, tokens, keys, access control

Architecture & migrations — multi-epic plans, brownfield refactors, infra+product coupling

Integration/contract work — schema mapping, ordering, idempotency, retries, consistency

Uncertainty remains — ambiguity after 1 pass, contradictions, missing constraints

High-impact decisions — hard to reverse, expensive/subtle failure modes, 2+ domains affected

Complex reasoning — long dependency chains, multi-step analysis, nontrivial trade-offs

Structured deliverables — tables, outlines, reports/proposals, long writing, specs

Reasoning escalation (within gpt-5.3-codex)

Default: LOW/MEDIUM

Escalate to HIGH/EXTRA HIGH if 2+ are true:

- decision is hard to reverse - affects 2+ domains (infra/data/security/ops/cost) - failure modes are subtle/expensive - requires long dependency-chain reasoning

NEVER do this on gpt-5.1-codex-mini

NEVER output steps that will be executed (tools, code, commands) — escalate

NEVER do security/auth/secrets — escalate

NEVER do architecture, migrations, brownfield refactors — escalate

NEVER do integration contracts or schema choreography — escalate

NEVER produce structured deliverables (tables/outlines/reports/specs) — escalate

NEVER make high-impact decisions or complex reasoning chains — escalate

If you catch yourself taking responsibility for correctness or safety, STOP and call sessions_spawn instead.

When to Stay on gpt-5.1-codex-mini

Only if safe/negligible and non-executable:

Intent routing / triage — classify, choose agent/model/reasoning

Summaries & extraction — key points, action items, fields, dedupe

Reformatting — convert to markdown/YAML/JSON templates (non-executable)

Prompt drafts — write a prompt for a stronger agent/model to run

Simple Q&A — definitions, short explanations, short translations, unit conversions

Casual chat — greetings, short acknowledgments

Keep mini replies concise.

Save even more: de-escalate

If a conversation was escalated to gpt-5.3-codex but the follow-up is clearly safe/negligible and non-executable, switch back to gpt-5.1-codex-mini.

Return the result directly. Do NOT mention the model switch unless the user asks.

Why the description field is so long

The Clawdbot skill system only injects the frontmatter description field into the system prompt — the body of SKILL.md is not automatically included. The model may optionally read the full file, but it is not guaranteed. Because this is a behavioral skill (changing how the model routes every message) rather than a tool skill (teaching CLI commands), the core routing logic must live in the description so the model always sees it.

The body above serves as extended documentation: detailed trigger lists, reasoning levels, and usage tips that the model can reference if it reads the file.

TL;DR: description = what the model always sees. body = reference docs.

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