# rtk

Installs and wires RTK (Rust Token Killer) so shell command output reaches your agent in compact form. Useful when logs and diffs eat the context window.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 671 installs · ★ 50
- Author: akillness
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/akillness/jeo-skills/tree/HEAD/.agent-skills/rtk/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/rtk

## What it does

RTK is a CLI proxy that rewrites ordinary shell commands into token-optimized equivalents before their output reaches an AI agent. The skill walks through it in order: check which binary is installed, install or repair it, then pick the right `rtk init` mode for your agent.

Three scripts do the work — `scripts/check-status.sh`, `scripts/install.sh`, `scripts/init-agent.sh`. Installation goes one of three ways: Homebrew, the repository `install.sh`, or Cargo. Whatever path you take, verify with `rtk gain` afterwards. That command is the real test. If `rtk --version` answers but `rtk gain` fails, you almost certainly have the wrong package under that name, Rust Type Kit, and it needs to go.

Automatic rewriting only kicks in where the agent runs shell commands through a supported hook or plugin. Codex, Windsurf and Cline are prompt-only integrations, so built-in file tools are not intercepted there — you call `rtk read`, `rtk grep` or `rtk test cargo test` directly instead. On Windows the author recommends RTK `0.23.1+`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add akillness/jeo-skills --skill rtk -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/rtk/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/rtk/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add akillness/jeo-skills --skill rtk -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/rtk/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add akillness/jeo-skills --skill rtk -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/rtk/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install akillness/jeo-skills rtk
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/rtk/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add akillness/jeo-skills --skill rtk -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/akillness/jeo-skills --path .agent-skills/rtk
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/rtk/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add akillness/jeo-skills --skill rtk -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/akillness/jeo-skills/tree/HEAD/.agent-skills/rtk/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- shrink git status and diff output before the agent reads it
- fix an install where the wrong package sits under the rtk name
- wire the RTK hook into Claude or Codex
- get compact test and lint output
- find out why automatic rewriting never fires

## Example prompts
- Check which rtk I have installed and show me the status
- Install RTK with Homebrew and set up the global hook for Claude
- rtk --version works but rtk gain fails — figure it out and reinstall the right package

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: afbe5a468689c669.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE afbe5a468689c669
````text
---
name: rtk
description: >
  Install, initialize, verify, and troubleshoot RTK (Rust Token Killer) for AI
  coding agents. Use when you need to reduce shell-command token output, confirm
  that the correct `rtk` binary is installed, choose between Homebrew, install.sh,
  or Cargo installation, wire `rtk init` for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI,
  Cursor, Copilot, Windsurf, Cline, or OpenCode, or use compact wrappers such as
  `rtk git status`, `rtk read`, `rtk grep`, `rtk test`, `rtk lint`, and
  `rtk gain`. Triggers on: rtk, rust token killer, token saver cli, rtk init,
  rtk gain, codex rtk, gemini rtk, opencode rtk, claude hook token reduction.
allowed-tools: Bash Read Write Edit Glob Grep WebFetch
license: MIT
metadata:
  tags: rtk, rust-token-killer, token-optimization, claude-code, codex, gemini, opencode, cursor, copilot, shell-hooks
  version: "1.0"
  source: https://github.com/akillness/rtk
---

# rtk - Rust Token Killer for AI Coding Agents

> **Keyword**: `rtk` · `rust token killer` · `rtk init` · `rtk gain`
>
> The target repository is the `akillness/rtk` fork of `rtk-ai/rtk`. The fork tracks upstream code, while the bundled `install.sh` still downloads release artifacts from `rtk-ai/rtk`.

RTK is a high-performance CLI proxy that rewrites common shell commands into token-optimized equivalents before their output reaches an AI agent. Use this skill to verify the right RTK binary, install or repair it, choose the correct `rtk init` mode for the user's agent, and fall back to direct `rtk` commands when no automatic hook exists.

## When to use this skill

- Verify whether RTK is already installed and whether it is the correct project
- Repair the common `cargo install rtk` name-collision mistake
- Install RTK with Homebrew, the repository `install.sh`, or Cargo
- Initialize RTK for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Copilot, Windsurf, Cline, or OpenCode
- Explain when `rtk init -g` is better than local project setup
- Use direct `rtk` wrappers such as `rtk git status`, `rtk read`, `rtk grep`, `rtk test`, or `rtk lint`
- Diagnose why automatic rewriting is not happening
- Explain why built-in file tools do not pass through shell hooks and when to use direct `rtk` commands instead

## Instructions

### Step 1: Verify the current installation before reinstalling anything

Run the local status helper first:

```bash
bash scripts/check-status.sh --show
```

Interpret the result in this order:

1. If `rtk gain` works, the correct RTK is already installed. Do not reinstall unless the user wants an upgrade.
2. If `rtk --version` works but `rtk gain` fails, the user likely has the wrong `rtk` package, usually Rust Type Kit.
3. If `rtk` is missing entirely, move to installation.

The install and verification decision tree lives in [references/install-and-verify.md](references/install-and-verify.md).
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE afbe5a468689c669

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