Sift setup and settings

Compact output when requested

Use ctx sift when you want output compaction or an existing project or user instruction opts in. Installing ctx alone does not opt ordinary commands into wrapping; run those commands directly.

ctx sift -- cargo test
ctx sift compact output.txt
ctx sift compact --protocol=json-v1 < requests.jsonl
ctx sift restore --encoding text-runs-v1 compacted.txt

ctx sift executes the command once, inheriting stdin, environment and working directory. It preserves stdout/stderr separation and returns the child's exit status. Arguments after -- belong to the child; pass an explicit shell when you intend a pipeline or other shell syntax.

By default, terminal input or output passes through. Otherwise, short complete output can be compacted. Buffering switches to raw streaming at the runner's size or time limit so ongoing progress remains visible. --capture waits for complete output up to the size limit and can delay prompts; use it for finite commands. --raw preserves streams and takes precedence over capture.

Install an optional hook

ctx integrations install sift --agent claude-code
ctx integrations status sift
ctx integrations remove sift --agent claude-code

Supported hosts include Claude Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, and Codex on POSIX. With no --agent, the install command selects detected supported hosts. Hook installation never runs as part of the ordinary binary or skill installer. A standalone Sift hook is reported as a conflict and must be removed explicitly before installing a ctx hook.

Configuration and original output

ctx sift config show
ctx recall --list
ctx recall ID

Original output can be recovered only when retention was enabled and a complete capture was saved; streamed output is not a recoverable transcript. CTX_OUTPUT_CONFIG_DIR and CTX_OUTPUT_STATE_DIR select ctx's configuration and state directories. Existing nonempty SIFT_CONFIG_DIR and SIFT_STATE_DIR remain fallbacks when the corresponding ctx override is unset or empty. ctx does not move or delete Sift's data. Use ctx sift config --help for the default directory locations and ctx sift --help for output settings.

For full source and compatibility details, see the ctx sift guide.