@vanillagreen/pi-caveman

Native Pi caveman communication mode with session persistence, slash command control, status badge, and settings-manager integration.

Packages

Package details

extension

Install @vanillagreen/pi-caveman from npm and Pi will load the resources declared by the package manifest.

npm repohome report
$ pi install npm:@vanillagreen/pi-caveman
Package
@vanillagreen/pi-caveman
Version
3.0.0
Published
Sep 6, 2026
Downloads
500/mo · 210/wk
Author
vanillagreencom
License
MIT
Types
extension
Size
128.8 KB
Dependencies
0 dependencies · 1 peer
Pi manifest JSON
{
  "image": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vanillagreencom/kendex/main/pi-extensions/pi-caveman/assets/command-autocomplete.png",
  "extensions": [
    "./extensions/caveman.ts"
  ]
}

Security note

Pi packages can execute code and influence agent behavior. Review the source before installing third-party packages.

README

@vanillagreen/pi-caveman

A Pi extension that asks the model to use shorter replies. Users can choose a response style for the session or set a default.

/caveman command autocomplete

Install

  • npm: pi install npm:@vanillagreen/pi-caveman.
  • kendex: add the declaration below to the project's kendex.toml, or to ~/.config/kendex/kendex.toml for user scope. Run kendex update-pi.
[pi-extensions."@vanillagreen/pi-caveman"]
source = "kendex"

Restart Pi after installation. Use kendex update-pi --check to preview the installation.

Features

  • Select lite, full, ultra or micro response styles.
  • Toggle the style with the caveman command.
  • Keep a session's selected style when it resumes.
  • Configure which kinds of output use normal English.

How it works

You select a style in the settings or with a session command. Before the next model turn, the extension adds that style's instructions to the system prompt. The model uses those instructions when it writes a reply. The extension saves the session choice for later resumes.

Settings

The settings editor writes project values to .pi/settings.json. The default user file is ~/.pi/agent/settings.json. PI_CODING_AGENT_DIR changes the user directory. Package values are stored under kendex.extensionManager.config["@vanillagreen/pi-caveman"].

Open /extensions:settings; settings appear under the Caveman tab. Project settings in .pi/settings.json apply only after Pi marks the workspace trusted.

  • mode: the default mode for new sessions.
  • showStatusBadge, sessionOverrideAllowed: the statusline badge and whether /caveman commands may override the default.
  • autoClarityEscape, resumeAfterClarityEscape: the plain-English reply for destructive operations and the return to caveman afterwards.
  • boundaryNormalForCode, boundaryNormalForCommits, boundaryNormalForReviews, boundaryNormalForExternalWrites: which outputs stay normal English.
  • customPromptSuffix: project-specific guidance appended to the directive.

With pi-claude-bridge as the provider the directive reaches Claude only when the bridge's includeCavemanHook setting is on; it is off by default, and caveman warns once at session start while it is off. Native Pi providers need nothing.

Maintainer notes are in DEVELOPMENT.md.