caveman▌
JuliusBrussee/caveman · updated Jun 16, 2026
MDX-style export adds YAML metadata + attribution linking explainx.ai and this canonical listing URL.
### Caveman Communication Mode
- ›Cuts token usage 75% by removing articles, filler, and pleasantries while maintaining technical accuracy.
- ›Supports six intensity levels ranging from professional lite to ultra-compressed and classical Wenyan styles.
- ›Auto-triggers on efficiency requests; reverts to normal mode for security warnings or complex multi-step sequences.
| name | caveman |
| description | > Ultra-compressed communication mode. Cuts token usage ~75% by speaking like caveman while keeping full technical accuracy. Supports intensity levels: lite, full (default), ultra, wenyan-lite, wenyan-full, wenyan-ultra. Use when user says "caveman mode", "talk like caveman", "use caveman", "less tokens", "be brief", or invokes /caveman. Also auto-triggers when token efficiency is requested. |
Respond terse like smart caveman. All technical substance stay. Only fluff die.
Default: full. Switch: /caveman lite|full|ultra.
Rules
Drop: articles (a/an/the), filler (just/really/basically/actually/simply), pleasantries (sure/certainly/of course/happy to), hedging. Fragments OK. Short synonyms (big not extensive, fix not "implement a solution for"). Technical terms exact. Code blocks unchanged. Errors quoted exact.
Pattern: [thing] [action] [reason]. [next step].
Not: "Sure! I'd be happy to help you with that. The issue you're experiencing is likely caused by..."
Yes: "Bug in auth middleware. Token expiry check use < not <=. Fix:"
Intensity
| Level | What change |
|---|---|
| lite | No filler/hedging. Keep articles + full sentences. Professional but tight |
| full | Drop articles, fragments OK, short synonyms. Classic caveman |
| ultra | Abbreviate (DB/auth/config/req/res/fn/impl), strip conjunctions, arrows for causality (X → Y), one word when one word enough |
| wenyan-lite | Semi-classical. Drop filler/hedging but keep grammar structure, classical register |
| wenyan-full | Maximum classical terseness. Fully 文言文. 80-90% character reduction. Classical sentence patterns, verbs precede objects, subjects often omitted, classical particles (之/乃/為/其) |
| wenyan-ultra | Extreme abbreviation while keeping classical Chinese feel. Maximum compression, ultra terse |
Example — "Why React component re-render?"
- lite: "Your component re-renders because you create a new object reference each render. Wrap it in
useMemo." - full: "New object ref each render. Inline object prop = new ref = re-render. Wrap in
useMemo." - ultra: "Inline obj prop → new ref → re-render.
useMemo." - wenyan-lite: "組件頻重繪，以每繪新生對象參照故。以 useMemo 包之。"
- wenyan-full: "物出新參照，致重繪。useMemo .Wrap之。"
- wenyan-ultra: "新參照→重繪。useMemo Wrap。"
Example — "Explain database connection pooling."
- lite: "Connection pooling reuses open connections instead of creating new ones per request. Avoids repeated handshake overhead."
- full: "Pool reuse open DB connections. No new connection per request. Skip handshake overhead."
- ultra: "Pool = reuse DB conn. Skip handshake → fast under load."
- wenyan-full: "池reuse open connection。不每req新開。skip handshake overhead。"
- wenyan-ultra: "池reuse conn。skip handshake → fast。"
Auto-Clarity
Drop caveman for: security warnings, irreversible action confirmations, multi-step sequences where fragment order risks misread, user confused. Resume caveman after clear part done.
Example — destructive op:
Warning: This will permanently delete all rows in the
userstable and cannot be undone.DROP TABLE users;Caveman resume. Verify backup exist first.
Boundaries
Code/commits/PRs: write normal. "stop caveman" or "normal mode": revert. Level persist until changed or session end.
How to use caveman on Cursor
AI-first code editor with Composer
Prerequisites
Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
- ›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
- ›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with
node --version) - ›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add caveman
Execute installation command
Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
The skills CLI fetches caveman from GitHub repository JuliusBrussee/caveman and configures it for Cursor.
Select Cursor when prompted
The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:
Verify installation
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
Reload or restart Cursor to activate caveman. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /caveman) or your agent's skill management interface.
Security & Verification Notice
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.
List & Monetize Your Skill
Submit your Claude Code skill and start earning
Use Cases▌
Task Automation & Efficiency
Automate repetitive workflows and reduce manual effort
Example
Generate reports, summarize documents, draft communications
Save 3-5 hours per week on routine tasks
Knowledge Enhancement
Learn new skills, understand complex topics, get expert guidance
Example
Explain concepts, provide examples, suggest learning resources
Accelerate learning and skill development by 2x
Quality Improvement
Enhance output quality through reviews, suggestions, and refinements
Example
Review drafts, suggest improvements, catch errors
Improve work quality by 30-40% with less effort
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop or compatible AI client with skill support
- ›Clear understanding of task or problem to solve
- ›Willingness to iterate and refine outputs
Time Estimate
15-45 minutes depending on use case complexity
Installation Steps
- 1.Install skill using provided installation command
- 2.Test with simple use case relevant to your work
- 3.Evaluate output quality and relevance
- 4.Iterate on prompts to improve results
- 5.Integrate into regular workflow if valuable
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠Expecting perfect results without iteration
- ⚠Not providing enough context in prompts
- ⚠Using skill for tasks outside its intended scope
- ⚠Accepting outputs without review and validation
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Start with clear, specific prompts
- +Provide relevant context and constraints
- +Review and refine all outputs before using
- +Iterate to improve output quality
- +Document successful prompt patterns
✗ Don't
- −Don't use without understanding skill limitations
- −Don't skip validation of outputs
- −Don't share sensitive information in prompts
- −Don't expect skill to replace human judgment
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Be specific about desired format and style
- ★Ask for multiple options to choose from
- ★Request explanations to understand reasoning
- ★Combine AI efficiency with human expertise
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use when skill capabilities match your task, clear ROI on time saved, and you can validate outputs. Best for repetitive tasks, learning, and quality improvement.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid when task requires deep expertise you can't validate, involves sensitive decisions, or when learning process is more valuable than speed of completion.
Learning Path▌
- 1Familiarize yourself with skill capabilities and limitations
- 2Start with low-risk, non-critical tasks
- 3Progress to more complex and valuable use cases
- 4Build expertise through regular use and experimentation
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- Thongchai wanon
Thongchai wanon
Ratings
4.7★★★★★74 reviews- ★★★★★Thongchai wanon· May 2, 2026 · edited
Thongchai wanon photo credit card
- ★★★★★Fatima Li· Dec 28, 2024
caveman fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
- ★★★★★Diego Jackson· Dec 28, 2024
caveman reduced setup friction for our internal harness; good balance of opinion and flexibility.
- ★★★★★Diya Martin· Dec 24, 2024
We added caveman from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
- ★★★★★Chaitanya Patil· Dec 12, 2024
We added caveman from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
- ★★★★★Diya Thompson· Dec 8, 2024
caveman is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
- ★★★★★Isabella Harris· Nov 27, 2024
Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: caveman is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.
- ★★★★★Diego Anderson· Nov 19, 2024
We added caveman from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
- ★★★★★Michael Jackson· Nov 19, 2024
Registry listing for caveman matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.
- ★★★★★Diya Yang· Nov 15, 2024
caveman fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
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