Matt Van Horn
6d5acb9121
Add --save-dir flag to last30days.py that saves raw research output during the existing script run. Remove entire "Save Research to Documents" section from SKILL.md (~45 lines). No more extra tool calls, no (No output), no multi-minute cogitation after invitation. Tested: --mock confirms file creation and duplicate date suffixing. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
84 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
84 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "fix: Eliminate save-related output noise after research"
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type: fix
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status: active
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date: 2026-03-06
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---
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# fix: Eliminate save-related output noise after research
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## Problem Statement
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After research completes, the auto-save feature adds 3-5 lines of unwanted output below the clean invitation block. Every approach tried so far has made things worse:
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| Version | Approach | Lines added | Side effects |
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|---------|----------|-------------|--------------|
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| v2.9.1 | `Write` tool | ~5 | Shows "Wrote 43 lines to..." |
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| v2.9.2 | `run_in_background: true` | ~5 | Background callback triggers 2-4 min cogitation, model hallucinates fake "Human:" messages and generates unsolicited multi-paragraph responses |
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| v2.9.3 | Foreground `cat >` heredoc | ~3 | Shows `(No output)`, still triggers 2-4 min cogitation |
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**Current v2.9.3 noise (3 lines):**
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```
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⏺ Bash(mkdir -p ~/Documents/Last30Days && cat > ...)
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⎿ (No output)
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✻ Churned for 2m 38s
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```
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The root cause is that ANY tool call after the invitation creates unavoidable Claude Code UI chrome, and the model cogitates for minutes regardless of foreground vs background.
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## Proposed Solutions
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### Option A: Remove auto-save entirely (Recommended)
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Remove the entire "Save Research to Documents" section from SKILL.md. The research lives in the conversation. Zero extra tool calls, zero extra lines, zero cogitation.
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**Changes to `SKILL.md`:**
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- Delete the "Save Research to Documents" section (~45 lines)
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- Update agent mode reference (line 126) - remove save mention
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- Update security section (line 612) - change "Saves research briefings" to past tense or conditional
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- Remove `📎` footer line from invitation format
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- Simplify "WAIT FOR USER'S RESPONSE" section
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**What users lose:** Auto-saved .md files in `~/Documents/Last30Days/`
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**What users gain:** Clean output ending exactly at the invitation block
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### Option B: Move save into Python script
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Add `--save-dir` flag to `last30days.py`. The script saves its raw output during its existing Bash call (which already runs). Zero extra tool calls.
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**Changes:**
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- `scripts/last30days.py` - add `--save-dir` argument, write raw output to file at end of execution
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- `SKILL.md` - add `--save-dir=~/Documents/Last30Days` to the script invocation, remove save section
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**What users lose:** Saved file contains raw research data, not Claude's synthesis
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**What users gain:** Zero extra lines, data is still preserved
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### Option C: Opt-in save via follow-up command
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Remove auto-save. Add a note to the invitation: "Say 'save' to save this research." When user says "save", run the Bash heredoc then.
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**Changes to `SKILL.md`:**
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- Delete auto-save section
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- Add "save" as a recognized intent in "WHEN USER RESPONDS" section
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- Save logic only runs when explicitly requested
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**What users lose:** Nothing - save is still available on demand
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**What users gain:** Clean output by default, save when they want it
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## Acceptance Criteria
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- [ ] Research output ends at the invitation block with zero tool calls after it
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- [ ] No `(No output)` line visible after invitation
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- [ ] No multi-minute cogitation after invitation
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- [ ] No hallucinated fake user messages
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- [ ] Version bumped to v2.9.4
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- [ ] CHANGELOG updated
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- [ ] Synced to ~/.claude, ~/.agents, ~/.codex via sync.sh
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## Context
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- Source: `/Users/mvanhorn/last30days-skill-private/SKILL.md`
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- Deployed to: `~/.claude/skills/last30days/SKILL.md`
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- Sync command: `bash scripts/sync.sh`
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- Current version: v2.9.3
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