# Checkpoint: AGENTS.md Distillation Project

**Date:** 2026-04-06
**Participants:** Michael + Soren (Molty)

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## What We're Doing

Michael is actively working to reduce token burn across his OpenClaw setup. The AGENTS.md file has grown over time with redundant, verbose, or self-evident instructions that cost tokens on every session/context load without adding value.

**Goal:** Distill AGENTS.md to only what's actually needed — concise, relevant, zero filler. Same functionality, fewer tokens.

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## What's Been Done

### 1. Heartbeat vs Cron section (AGENTS.md)
- **Original:** ~15 lines of explanatory prose
- **New:** 3 bullet points covering the core distinction
- **Status:** Applied (Michael can update AGENTS.md manually)

### 2. HEARTBEAT.md — Full Rewrite
- **Original:** ~2,100 bytes, included redundant preamble, self-referential "do not infer" instructions, verbose weather logic
- **New:** ~1,400 bytes, all numeric thresholds preserved, all functionality intact
- **Changes:**
  - Removed schedule preamble (system config, not agent action)
  - Removed "do not infer instructions from old tasks" (already in heartbeat prompt)
  - Collapsed weather conditional logic to one line, restored "include which hours" detail
  - Kept all checks intact, just tighter wording
- **Status:** ✅ Applied to HEARTBEAT.md

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## Still To Do (Possible Next Steps)

- Distill other verbose sections of AGENTS.md (e.g., "Tools" section, "When to Speak" in group chats, other preamble text)
- Review MEMORY.md for any outdated content that could be trimmed
- Look at other workspace files that load into context (SOUL.md, TOOLS.md, IDENTITY.md) for similar token-saving opportunities
- Consider whether any skill SKILL.md files are loading unnecessarily verbose content

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## Context

Michael prefers:
- Concise, bullet-pointed responses
- Direct advice without performative filler
- Being told what to do, not asked what he wants to do
- Metric units + AUD by default