packx

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

```

```bash

packx --version # Verify installed

npm install -g packx # If not installed

```

```bash

packx --limit 49k [filters] [output] [paths]

```

Always start with --limit 49k, then add filters and output options.

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 > instead of --output 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

```

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

```

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

| Problem | Solution |

|---------|----------|

| Too many tokens | Add -i "*.ts", -x "test", or --strip-comments |

| Missing files | Check globs, use --preview |

| Over 49k needed | Split with -M 49k -o output (creates numbered files) |

| WriteFile hook error | Use --stdout > file.md instead of --output file.md |