TokenCap: Compress Your Codebase for AI Handoffs

TokenCap is a tool designed to optimize the process of handing off codebases to AI agents. It compresses your workspace into structured, AI-ready prompts, incorporating files, imports, Git context, and invariants. By doing so, it significantly reduces the tokens required for context, saving costs and improving efficiency.

Benefits

TokenCap provides several key advantages for developers working with AI tools. It offers a unified command for the entire handoff process, eliminating the need for manual context gathering. The tool converts your workspace into a concise, structured format suitable for AI consumption. It automatically detects and includes Git branch states and file changes. TokenCap also walks the dependency tree to ensure all relevant files are included. A major benefit is its local execution, which means it operates entirely on your machine without needing a cloud connection. This ensures data privacy and allows for offline use. The tool demonstrates significant cost savings compared to naive methods. It reduces token usage by approximately 94.3 percent and lowers costs by a factor of 12.2 times. Developers can compile snapshots in under 80 milliseconds. The system includes invariants and dependency trees for better AI understanding. Automation allows teams to build projects ten times faster. By using TokenCap, developers can stop wasting tokens on irrelevant code and focus on efficient AI-driven development workflows.

Use Cases

TokenCap is ideal for developers who want to integrate AI agents into their coding workflow. It is useful when a team needs to hand off a complex project to an AI assistant for review or modification. The tool is perfect for scenarios where context switching and token costs are major concerns. It works well for teams that value data privacy and prefer to keep their code local. Developers can use it to create a snapshot of their current work state quickly. The process involves hitting Ctrl+S in the editor to trigger a background watcher. The incremental parser then checks the workspace tree for dirty files. It compiles a fresh TOKENCAP.md file in under 80 milliseconds. Users can copy the output markdown path or feed the local stdio MCP server endpoint directly to their IDE agent. This workflow simplifies the handoff process into three straightforward steps. It is suitable for any project that relies on AI for code analysis or generation.

Pricing

TokenCap is a free, open-source tool available for installation via npm. There are no subscription fees or hidden costs associated with using the software. The tool is designed to be accessible to all developers without financial barriers.

Vibes

Developers appreciate the speed and accuracy of TokenCap. The ability to compile snapshots in under 80 milliseconds is a major win for productivity. Users value the local execution model for its privacy benefits. The significant reduction in token costs makes it an attractive option for teams on a budget. The automated approach to context packaging is seen as a game-changer for AI-driven development. The tool has received positive feedback for its ability to streamline the handoff process. Users note that it eliminates the frustration of manual context gathering. The clear output format and detailed logs provide confidence in the generated snapshots.

Additional Information

TokenCap is installed globally using npm with a simple command. The installation process is straightforward and requires no complex setup. The tool includes a balanced profile option for creating snapshots. The output includes both a main snapshot file and an outline graph file. The system detects Git branch states and file changes automatically. It rebuilds dirty nodes selectively to ensure efficiency. The tool is actively maintained and updated to support new development practices.