---
name: principle-guard-the-context-window
description: Route bulk exploration to isolated workers or files and bring back compact evidence summaries, not raw floods. Use when when reads, logs, fan-out, or generated output threatens to dominate context.
---
# Guard the Context Window

## Trigger

When reads, logs, fan-out, or generated output threatens to dominate context.

## Rule

Route bulk exploration to isolated workers or files and bring back compact evidence summaries, not raw floods.

## Application

1. Name the concrete decision this principle changes.
2. Apply the rule to that decision, not as a decorative citation.
3. Prefer evidence from the current repository/runtime over generic preference.
4. If the principle conflicts with an explicit user constraint, keep the constraint and state the tradeoff.