SeniorMode

SeniorMode is a behavior package for AI coding agents.

It makes agents work more like a practical senior developer:

• Reuse existing code.
• Prefer small focused changes.
• Avoid unnecessary abstractions.
• Avoid new dependencies unless they clearly pay for themselves.
• Fix root causes instead of symptoms.
• Keep safeguards around security, validation, data loss, accessibility, and explicit requirements.

Install

npm install -D seniormode
npx seniormode init

For Claude Code or Codex-style plugin installs, use:

hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json

For OpenCode, add:

{
  "plugin": ["seniormode/opencode/plugin"]
}

For instruction-only agents, copy or reference AGENTS.md, .cursor/rules, .windsurf/rules, .clinerules, or .github/copilot-instructions.md.

Commands

npx seniormode status
npx seniormode mode full
npx seniormode mode strict
npx seniormode off
npx seniormode doctor
npx seniormode instructions

Agent slash commands:

/seniormode
/seniormode lite
/seniormode full
/seniormode strict
/seniormode off
/seniormode review
/seniormode audit
/seniormode debt
/seniormode gain

Aliases such as /seniormode-review and /seniormode-audit are also shipped as command adapter files.

Modes

| Mode | Purpose | |------|---------| | off | Disable SeniorMode | | lite | Build what was asked and mention the simpler option | | full | Default senior-dev behavior | | strict | Stronger anti-overengineering mode | | review | Review-only mode | | audit | Project complexity audit | | debt | Inspect intentional simplifications | | gain | Summarize complexity avoided |

Config

Project config:

{
  "defaultMode": "full",
  "stateFile": ".seniormode-active",
  "enableSubagents": true,
  "enableReviewCommand": true,
  "enableAuditCommand": true
}

Resolution order:

1. Explicit command input
2. SENIORMODE_MODE or SENIORMODE_DEFAULT_MODE
3. Project .seniormoderc.json or seniormode.config.json
4. User config at ~/.config/seniormode/config.json
5. Fallback full

Development

npm install
npm test

The runtime package has no production dependencies.