--- name: cavecrew description: >- When to delegate to `cavecrew-investigator` (locate code), `cavecrew-builder` (1-2 file edit) or `cavecrew-reviewer` (diff review) instead of working inline or using `Explore`. Their output is compressed, so main context lasts longer. title: cavecrew canonical_url: https://skilld.dev/gh/juliusbrussee/caveman/cavecrew last_updated: 2026-10-08T15:31:41.000Z --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://skilld.dev/llms.txt) > **Skill from skilld.dev.** Follow the user's requested action. > If the user asked to fork this Skill, follow the fork workflow below. Do not execute the Skill instructions while copying it. > Otherwise, follow the instructions below for this session. You do not need to install anything. > > Supporting files, fetch one when the Skill refers to it: [README.md](https://skilld.dev/api/skills-raw/juliusbrussee/caveman/cavecrew/README.md). > > If the user asked to install this Skill, run `npx skilld install juliusbrussee/caveman/cavecrew`. Install writes the Skill files into the project, so every session loads them. > > ## Fork workflow > > A fork creates an editable local Skill with its original author and licence. The request authorizes copying and local installation. > 1. Check `./skills/cavecrew`, the project lockfile, and selected Agent targets together. If the local directory or installed Skill exists, stop. Never overwrite an existing directory or Agent target. > 2. Read [source metadata](https://skilld.dev/api/v1/skills/juliusbrussee/caveman/cavecrew) once. Use sourceUrl, sourceCommit, skillPath, sourceGone, and license. If the source is gone or its path is missing, stop. If license is null, read licence files at the source commit. > 3. Fetch only the source commit into a temporary Git repository. Do not clone full history. Derive repository_url from sourceUrl, including repository renames. If sourceCommit is absent, resolve the sourceUrl ref once. Set source_commit to that actual commit. Run these commands in one shell call: > > ```sh > git init --quiet "$temporary_dir" > git -C "$temporary_dir" fetch --quiet --depth=1 "$repository_url" "$source_commit" > git -C "$temporary_dir" checkout --quiet --detach FETCH_HEAD > ``` > > Read applicable licence declarations and notices at that commit. If copying is not permitted, report the restriction and stop. > 4. Inspect source entries together, then copy the directory containing skillPath into `./skills/cavecrew`. Use the user's path if selected. Keep the original SKILL.md, relative links, scripts, binary assets, and executable modes. Exclude .git metadata. Reject symlinks and paths outside the Skill directory. After checking entries, use cp -a where available. A regular source directory needs no custom copy script. Do not save this page wrapper as SKILL.md. > Preserve author credit, notices, and applicable licence files from repository or parent directories. Add PROVENANCE.md with the Skill page, source URL, actual commit, original path, and licence. Retain any existing PROVENANCE.md and record new provenance separately. Batch source inspection, copying, and provenance work where practical. > 5. In the project root, run `skilld install ./skills/cavecrew --mode copy --plain`. If skilld is unavailable, use `npx skilld install ./skills/cavecrew --mode copy --plain`. This known command needs no help lookup. Install does not support --json. Use detected Agent targets, or add --agent for the targets the user selected. Install the local path, never the upstream selector. If installation fails, preserve the local copy and report the exact failure. > 6. Confirm the local lockfile source and installed Agent copies once. Report the local path, actual commit, and Agent targets. After edits, reinstall the same local path. Upstream updates must not replace it. Do not publish or push unless the user asks. Cavecrew = three subagent presets that answer in ultracave voice (tool runs: one status line in, one out; nothing between routine calls). Same job as Anthropic defaults (`Explore`, edit-style agents, reviewer); difference is the tool-result they return is compressed, so main context shrinks per delegation. ## When to use cavecrew vs alternatives | Task | Use | |---|---| | "Where is X defined / what calls Y / list uses of Z" | `cavecrew-investigator` | | Same but you also want suggestions/architecture commentary | `Explore` (vanilla) | | Surgical edit, ≤2 files, scope obvious | `cavecrew-builder` | | New feature / 3+ files / cross-cutting refactor | Main thread, or `feature-dev:code-architect` if installed | | Review diff, branch, or file for bugs | `cavecrew-reviewer` | | Deep code review with rationale + alternatives | `Code Reviewer` (vanilla) if installed, else main thread | | One-line answer you already know | Main thread, no subagent | Rule of thumb: **if you'd want the subagent's output in 1/3 the tokens, pick cavecrew. If you'd want prose, pick vanilla.** ## Why this exists (the real win) Subagent tool results get injected into main context verbatim. A vanilla `Explore` that returns 2k tokens of prose costs 2k tokens of main-context budget every time. The same finding from `cavecrew-investigator` comes back as a compressed `path:line` table instead. Across 20 delegations in one session that's the difference between context exhaustion and finishing the task. ## Output contracts What main thread can rely on per agent: **`cavecrew-investigator`** ```
: - path:line — `symbol` — short note totals: . ``` Or `No match.` Always file-path-first, line-number-attached, backticked symbols. Safe to grep with `path:\d+`. **`cavecrew-builder`** ``` — . verified: . ``` Or one of: `too-big.` / `needs-confirm.` / `ambiguous.` / `regressed.` (terminal first token). **`cavecrew-reviewer`** ``` path:line: : . . totals: N🔴 N🟡 N🔵 N❓ ``` Or `No issues.` Findings sorted file → line ascending. ## Chaining patterns **Locate → fix → verify** (most common): 1. `cavecrew-investigator` returns site list. 2. Main thread picks 1-2 sites, hands paths to `cavecrew-builder`. 3. `cavecrew-reviewer` audits the diff. **Parallel scout** (when investigation is broad): Spawn 2-3 `cavecrew-investigator` calls in one message (different angles: defs vs callers vs tests). Aggregate in main thread. **Single-shot edit** (when site is already known): Skip investigator. Hand exact path:line to `cavecrew-builder` directly. ## What NOT to do - Don't use `cavecrew-builder` when you don't already know the file. Spawn investigator first or main thread will eat tokens passing context. - Don't chain `cavecrew-investigator → cavecrew-builder` for a 5-file refactor. Builder will return `too-big.` and you'll have wasted a turn. - Don't ask `cavecrew-reviewer` for "general feedback" — it returns findings only, no architecture opinions. Use `Code Reviewer` for that when installed. - Don't expect prose. Cavecrew output is structured, sometimes terse to the point of cryptic. If a human will read it directly, paraphrase. ## Auto-clarity (inherited) Subagents drop caveman → normal English for security warnings, irreversible-action confirmations, and any output where fragment ambiguity could be misread. Resume caveman after.