jarvis/workspace/OPTIMIZATION.md

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)
• Ollama tasks are free — prioritize for routine work

---

MODEL SELECTION

Tier 1: Ollama (Free Local)

Use for:

• File checking and organization
• Heartbeat tasks (status checks, log review)
• Simple templating/formatting
• Non-critical analysis

Advantage: Free, instant, zero API cost

Tier 2: Default - Haiku

Switch to Sonnet ONLY when:

• Architecture decisions
• Production-like code review
• Security analysis
• Complex debugging/reasoning
• Strategic multi-project decisions

Decision Rule

• Ollama first for routine/repetitive work
• Haiku second for most other tasks
• Sonnet last for genuinely complex thinking

When in doubt: Try Ollama first, escalate if needed.