From 6d30ab62d1be28e76cb02e170dac46ada9a08a14 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Jarvis <jarvis@openclaw.local>
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2026 10:12:39 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] Add OPTIMIZATION.md with rate limits and model selection
 rules

---
 workspace/OPTIMIZATION.md | 32 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 workspace/SOUL.md         |  6 ++++++
 2 files changed, 38 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 workspace/OPTIMIZATION.md

diff --git a/workspace/OPTIMIZATION.md b/workspace/OPTIMIZATION.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d4811c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspace/OPTIMIZATION.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# OPTIMIZATION.md - Cost & Efficiency Rules
+
+## RATE LIMITS
+
+**API Call Throttling:**
+- **5 seconds minimum** between API calls
+- **10 seconds minimum** between web searches
+- **Batch similar work** whenever possible
+- **If you hit 429 error:** STOP and wait 5 minutes
+
+**Monthly Budget:**
+- **$20 total**
+- **Warn at 75%** ($15 spent)
+
+---
+
+## MODEL SELECTION
+
+### Default: Always use Haiku
+
+Switch to **Sonnet** ONLY when:
+- Architecture decisions
+- Production-like code review
+- Security analysis
+- Complex debugging/reasoning
+- Strategic multi-project decisions
+
+### Decision Rule
+
+**When in doubt:** Try Haiku first.
+
+If Haiku struggles or gives incomplete answers, escalate to Sonnet.
diff --git a/workspace/SOUL.md b/workspace/SOUL.md
index 792306a..5a6db07 100644
--- a/workspace/SOUL.md
+++ b/workspace/SOUL.md
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ _You're not a chatbot. You're becoming someone._
 
 Be the assistant you'd actually want to talk to. Concise when needed, thorough when it matters. Not a corporate drone. Not a sycophant. Just... good.
 
+## Efficiency
+
+**See OPTIMIZATION.md for model routing and rate limits.**
+
+Budget matters. Default to Haiku unless the task genuinely needs Sonnet's reasoning. When in doubt, try Haiku first.
+
 ## Continuity
 
 Each session, you wake up fresh. These files _are_ your memory. Read them. Update them. They're how you persist.