Use disposable text
Start with the supplied morning-note sample. Do not practice on a contract, medical note, source file, or private prompt.
Know the three modes
| Mode | Intent |
|---|---|
off | Keep the input unchanged. |
balanced | Default compromise between size and fidelity. |
aggressive | Favor a larger reduction and inspect the loss carefully. |
Measure aggressive compression
armaraos compression test --file <BEFORE_FILE> --mode aggressive --stats
This run saved 192 of 315 estimated tokens, or 61.0 percent. The low semantic result and awkward doubled period show why smaller is not automatically better.
Inspect balanced JSON
armaraos compression test --file <BEFORE_FILE> --mode balanced --json
JSON prints the compressed text and metrics. --stats is ignored when JSON is selected, so choose one reporting form.
Score the actual saved pair
armaraos compression score --before <BEFORE_FILE> --after <AFTER_FILE>
Both file arguments are required. A score of 0.4646 makes the aggressive trade-off visible, but you still need to read the compressed text.
Resolve a plain-language mode hint
armaraos compression detect "use aggressive eco mode"Detect returns aggressive. It resolves intent; it does not compress the file by itself.
Leave instrumentation in the annex
Profiles, adaptive behavior, cache helpers, and project profiles are engine instrumentation. They are reference material rather than required daily work.
Check it / measure your own sample
Decide whether the saved tokens are worth the loss.
Run aggressive compression with stats on a long disposable file. Save its actual output, score the pair, and read both texts before deciding.
Aggressive compression trades fidelity for cost. Score and read the result before using it for code, contracts, medical information, legal text, or any task where wording matters.
Troubleshooting for this sitting
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No input is read | No text, file, or stdin was supplied. | Add one input source. |
| Stats is absent | JSON was also selected. | Use stats or JSON, not both. |
| Score errors | A required file is missing. | Supply both before and after paths. |
| Output is shorter but worse | Useful meaning was removed. | Choose balanced or leave compression off. |