packx

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Bundle code context for AI. ALWAYS use --limit 49k unless user explicitly requests otherwise. Use for creating shareable code bundles and preparing context for LLMs.

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Sourcejohnlindquist/claude
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NPX Install

npx skill4agent add johnlindquist/claude packx

Tags

Translated version includes tags in frontmatter
ai-context-bundlingpackx-clillm-utilitiesgit-integrationcode-filtering

SKILL.md Content

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PACKX - AI Context Bundler

Bundle and filter code files for AI context.

CRITICAL: Always Use 
--limit 49k

MANDATORY: Every packx command MUST include 
--limit 49k
unless the user explicitly requests a different limit. This is non-negotiable. Using 49k instead of 50k provides a safety buffer.
bash
# CORRECT - always include --limit 49k
packx --limit 49k -c src/
packx --limit 49k -s "pattern" -i "*.ts" -c

# WRONG - never omit the limit
packx -c src/                        # NO! Missing --limit
packx -s "pattern" -i "*.ts" -c      # NO! Missing --limit

Prerequisites

bash
packx --version    # Verify installed
npm install -g packx   # If not installed

Standard Command Pattern

bash
packx --limit 49k [filters] [output] [paths]
Always start with 
--limit 49k
, then add filters and output options.

CLI Reference

Token Budget (Required)

bash
# Standard (default for all commands)
packx --limit 49k -c src/

# Only use different limits if user explicitly requests
packx --limit 32k -c src/            # User said "32k"
packx --limit 128k -c src/           # User said "large context"

# Split into chunks if content exceeds limit (requires -o for numbered files)
packx -M 49k -o context src/         # Creates context-1.xml, context-2.xml
Limit formats: 
8k
=8,000 | 
32K
=32,768 | 
50000
=50,000

Search & Filter

bash
# Find files containing text
packx --limit 49k -s "TODO" -c
packx --limit 49k -s "useState" -i "*.tsx" -c
packx --limit 49k -s "error" -s "warning" -c

# Exclude content
packx --limit 49k -S "test" -S "mock" -c

# Filter by glob patterns
packx --limit 49k -i "*.ts" -c
packx --limit 49k -i "src/**/*.tsx" -c
packx --limit 49k -x "*.test.ts" -x "*.spec.ts" -c

# Regex patterns
packx --limit 49k -R -s "function\s+\w+" -c

# Case-sensitive
packx --limit 49k -C -s "Error" -c

Git Integration

bash
packx --limit 49k --staged -c        # Staged files
packx --limit 49k --diff -c          # Changed from main
packx --limit 49k --dirty -c         # Modified/untracked

Processing Options

bash
# Strip comments (reduces tokens)
packx --limit 49k --strip-comments -c src/

# Minify (remove empty lines)
packx --limit 49k --minify -c src/

# Both (maximum token efficiency)
packx --limit 49k --strip-comments --minify -c src/

# Context lines around matches
packx --limit 49k -s "TODO" -l 5 -c

# Follow imports
packx --limit 49k --follow-imports src/index.ts -c

# Related files (tests, stories)
packx --limit 49k -r src/utils.ts -c

Output Options

bash
# Copy to clipboard (most common)
packx --limit 49k -c src/

# Save to file (use --stdout > to avoid WriteFile hook limits)
packx --limit 49k --stdout src/ > context.md

# Output formats
packx --limit 49k -f xml -c src/         # XML (default)
packx --limit 49k -f markdown -c src/    # Markdown
packx --limit 49k -f plain -c src/       # Plain text
packx --limit 49k -f jsonl -c src/       # JSONL
IMPORTANT: Always use 
--stdout > <file>
instead of 
--output <file>
to avoid triggering WriteFile hook size limits on large bundles.

Preview (Check Before Packing)

bash
# Preview matching files without packing
packx --limit 49k --preview src/
packx --limit 49k -s "pattern" --preview

Interactive Mode

bash
packx --limit 49k -I src/            # Interactive selection
packx --limit 49k --no-interactive src/  # Scripting mode
Controls: Tab=preview focus | PgUp/PgDn=scroll | Enter=confirm

Bundles (Saved Configs)

bash
packx -b api                         # Load .pack/bundles/api

Common Workflows

Default: Feature Context

bash
# Most common - search for feature, copy to clipboard
packx --limit 49k -s "auth" -i "*.ts" -c

PR Review Context

bash
packx --limit 49k --diff -c
packx --limit 49k --staged -f markdown --stdout > pr.md

Debug Context

bash
packx --limit 49k --follow-imports src/problem.ts -c
packx --limit 49k -r src/problem.ts -c    # Include tests

Minimal Context (Max Efficiency)

bash
packx --limit 49k --strip-comments --minify -i "*.ts" -c src/

Specific Files

bash
# List specific files directly
packx --limit 49k src/auth.ts src/user.ts src/api.ts -c

Best Practices

  1. ALWAYS use 
    --limit 49k
     - No exceptions unless user specifies
  2. Use 
    -c
    for clipboard     - Most common output method
  3. Preview first - 
    --preview
    to check file selection
  4. Strip noise - 
    --strip-comments --minify
    when token-tight
  5. Be specific - Use 
    -s
    search and 
    -i
    globs to narrow scope
  6. Check git state - 
    --diff
    and 
    --staged
    for PR context

Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
Too many tokensAdd 
-i "*.ts"
, 
-x "test"
, or 
--strip-comments
Missing filesCheck globs, use 
--preview
Over 49k neededSplit with 
-M 49k -o output
(creates numbered files)
WriteFile hook errorUse 
--stdout > file.md
instead of 
--output file.md