agent-halter
Set session budgets for AI coding agents to control time and conversation turns.
Install & Use
Copy this prompt and send it to your AI assistant (Claude / Cursor / TRAE / Codex / WorkBuddy etc.) to auto-install:
Help me install this AI Skill: agent-halter. It is used for: Set session budgets for AI coding agents to control time and conversation turns. Full Skill content: https://321skill.com/skills/agent-halter/raw/index.md Read that page and install it.
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This Skill addresses the issue where AI coding agent sessions can extend indefinitely, consuming excessive time and tokens. In real-world development, developers often engage in multi-turn conversations with AI agents to complete complex tasks, but the lack of effective controls for session duration and turn count can lead to unpredictable costs or inefficient dialogues.
Usage is straightforward: simply use the /timebox command within a pi-coding-agent session to set a time budget (e.g., 15 minutes) or a turn budget (e.g., 5 turns). The system then displays the remaining budget in real-time in the status bar, issues a soft reminder before the budget is exhausted, automatically stops the agent's responses once the budget is depleted, and can trigger custom shell commands (such as sending a desktop notification).
It is particularly suitable for teams or individuals who need precise control over AI agent session costs. This includes developers and project managers who frequently use AI coding agents for project development, code review, or automated testing and wish to optimize token usage and manage project timelines.
It is recommended to use this tool consistently when initiating long-running or highly complex AI-assisted coding tasks. Note that it primarily functions as an extension for pi-coding-agent; its soft reminders may be ignored by certain AI models, and current support is mainly tailored for pi-coding-agent, with adaptation for other AI agents (e.g., Claude Code) still in the planning stages.
Key Features
Unlike tools that simply set timeouts, it supports dual-dimensional budget control based on both clock time and conversation turns, and the budget state can be restored after a session reload, offering more granular and persistent session management.
Limitations
Currently, it is only available as an official extension for pi-coding-agent; adaptation for other AI coding agents (e.g., Claude Code) is not yet complete, and soft reminders (nudges) may be ignored by certain AI models.
FAQ
How can I check the current remaining budget?
Enter the `/timebox status` command in the session to view the remaining time and turns.
Can the conversation continue after the budget is exhausted?
Yes. Budget exhaustion only prevents the AI agent's next response; users can still enter commands or set a new budget.
Installation guide for AI assistants
If your AI coding assistant (Claude Code, Cursor, TRAE etc.) can see this page, send it this message to auto-install:
Visit https://321skill.com/skills/agent-halter/raw/index.md to read the original Skill definition (Markdown format) for agent-halter, and install it according to the instructions.
Raw Markdown URL for AI: /skills/agent-halter/raw/index.md