ctx_shell Core Tools Run shell command (compressed output, 95+ patterns). Use raw=true to skip compression. cwd sets working directory (persists across calls via cd tracking). Output redaction is on by default for non-admin roles (admin can disable).
Parameters
3
Required
1
Token Impact
60-95% output compression for common tools (git, npm, cargo, docker, etc.)
✓ When to Use
Running any shell command with automatic output compression. Replaces native terminal tools.
✗ When Not to Use
For long-running processes (dev servers) - those should be run natively. Also skip for simple file reads (use ctx_read).
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
command | string | Yes | Shell command to execute |
cwd | string | No | Working directory for the command. If omitted, uses last cd target or project root. |
raw | boolean | No | Skip compression, return full uncompressed output. Redaction still applies by default for non-admin roles. |
Examples
Git status with compression
ctx_shell command="git status"Output is automatically compressed by the git pattern module.
Raw output (skip compression)
ctx_shell command="cat package.json" raw=trueReturns uncompressed output. Use when you need exact formatting.
CLI Equivalent
This tool is also available via the CLI:
lean-ctx -c <command>Related Tools
Schema MD5:
ffeb1f06fdeb7c9a59cfede26a0593ef ← Back to all tools