# Complete List of Caveman Slash Commands in Claude Code

> Discover all Caveman slash commands for Claude Code. Explore file operations, compression, and utility functions invoked with a leading /.

- Repository: [Julius Brussee/caveman](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-09-06

---

**All Caveman slash commands are invoked with a leading `/` and defined in the opencode plugin, supporting compression levels, classical Chinese modes, file operations, and utility functions.**

The **Caveman** plugin for Claude Code provides a terse, token-efficient communication mode inspired by primitive speech patterns. According to the JuliusBrussee/caveman source code, all functionality is exposed through slash commands that compress or transform text output. Below is the complete reference of available commands.

## Core Caveman Mode Commands

These commands control the active compression level. The parser lives in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman.md).

- **`/caveman`** — Activates Caveman mode at **full** strength (default). Drops non-essential tokens aggressively.
- **`/caveman lite`** — Light compression, reducing output tokens by approximately **30%**.
- **`/caveman ultra`** — Maximum compression; removes as many tokens as possible while preserving meaning.
- **`/caveman off`** — Deactivates Caveman mode and returns to standard language output.

## Wen-Yan (Classical Chinese) Variants

Caveman supports **Wen-Yan** compression using classical Chinese grammar and vocabulary. Three strength levels mirror the standard modes:

- **`/caveman wenyan-lite`** — Light classical Chinese compression.
- **`/caveman wenyan-full`** — Standard classical Chinese compression.
- **`/caveman wenyan-ultra`** — Maximum classical Chinese compression.

These variants are enumerated in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-help.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-help.md) alongside the core commands.

## Utility and Workflow Commands

Beyond mode switching, Caveman provides specialized slash commands for common development tasks. Each command has its own implementation file in the `src/plugins/opencode/commands/` directory.

### /caveman-commit

**Generates a terse commit message following Caveman style conventions.**

Implemented in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-commit.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-commit.md), this command analyzes staged changes and produces a one-line summary using compressed, high-information-density language.

```markdown

# Example usage

/caveman-commit

```

### /caveman-review

**Runs a one-line code review with severity indicators.**

The `caveman-review` command (source: [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-review.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-review.md)) scans the current diff and emits findings using emoji-based severity markers (e.g., 🔴 for critical, 🟡 for warnings, 🟢 for suggestions).

```markdown

# Example usage

/caveman-review

```

### /caveman-compress

**Compresses a Markdown file by dropping filler text.**

This command accepts a filename argument and applies the currently active Caveman compression level. The implementation in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-compress.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-compress.md) handles file I/O and token pruning.

```markdown

# Compress notes.md using active Caveman level

/caveman-compress notes.md

```

### /caveman-stats

**Displays lifetime token-savings statistics.**

Sourced from [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-stats.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-stats.md), this command reads the persistent history log and reports:

- Total tokens saved across all sessions
- Number of Caveman sessions
- Average compression ratio

```markdown

# Example usage

/caveman-stats

```

## Quick Reference: All Slash Commands

| Slash Command | Purpose | Source File |
|-------------|---------|-------------|
| `/caveman` | Activate full Caveman mode | [`caveman.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman.md) |
| `/caveman lite` | ~30% token reduction | [`caveman.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman.md) |
| `/caveman ultra` | Maximum token removal | [`caveman.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman.md) |
| `/caveman wenyan-lite` | Light classical Chinese | [`caveman-help.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman-help.md) |
| `/caveman wenyan-full` | Standard classical Chinese | [`caveman-help.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman-help.md) |
| `/caveman wenyan-ultra` | Maximum classical Chinese | [`caveman-help.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman-help.md) |
| `/caveman off` | Return to normal language | [`caveman.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman.md) |
| `/caveman-commit` | Terse commit message | [`caveman-commit.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman-commit.md) |
| `/caveman-review` | One-line code review | [`caveman-review.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman-review.md) |
| `/caveman-compress <file>` | File compression | [`caveman-compress.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman-compress.md) |
| `/caveman-stats` | Token savings report | [`caveman-stats.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman-stats.md) |

## Natural Language Alternatives

The parser in [`caveman.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/caveman.md) also recognizes natural language equivalents. While the slash syntax is canonical in Claude Code, you may use phrases like "turn on caveman", "stop caveman", or "normal mode" to trigger the same behaviors.

## Summary

- **Nine slash commands** control Caveman functionality in Claude Code, ranging from `/caveman` (mode activation) to `/caveman-stats` (analytics).
- **Three compression tiers** exist for both standard and Wen-Yan modes: **lite**, **full** (default), and **ultra**.
- **Four utility commands** handle commit messages, code reviews, file compression, and statistics—each implemented in separate files under `src/plugins/opencode/commands/`.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I deactivate Caveman mode in Claude Code?

Use **`/caveman off`** to exit Caveman mode and restore normal language output. The command parser in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman.md) handles this state transition and clears any active compression flags.

### What is the difference between `/caveman ultra` and `/caveman wenyan-ultra`?

Both apply maximum compression, but **`/caveman ultra`** uses abbreviated English/Universal grammar while **`/caveman wenyan-ultra`** compresses into Classical Chinese (Wen-Yan) constructs. The Wen-Yan variants are documented in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-help.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-help.md) as distinct command families.

### Can I compress existing files with Caveman?

Yes. The **`/caveman-compress <file>`** command reads a Markdown file and writes a compressed version using your currently selected Caveman level. The implementation in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-compress.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-compress.md) preserves structural elements (headers, lists, code blocks) while removing filler words and redundant phrases.

### Where are Caveman token statistics stored?

The **`/caveman-stats`** command reads from a persistent history log maintained by the plugin. As implemented in [`src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-stats.md`](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman/blob/main/src/plugins/opencode/commands/caveman-stats.md), it aggregates total tokens saved, session counts, and compression ratios across all historical Caveman usage sessions.