tropius: detect AI tropes in prose

# desertthunder.dev/tropius Source: [https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius) `tropius`is a CLI to detect AI tropes in prose\. ## How[\#](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius#how) We use a pattern dictionary in TOML based on a[trope list](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius/tree/main/meta/tropes.md)from[Tropes\.fyi](https://tropes.fyi/) ``` Text ↓ Aho-Corasick phrase matcher ↓ Structural, repetition, and character-class detectors ↓ Findings report ``` ## Usage[\#](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius#usage) Scan text from stdin: ``` printf 'Let us delve into this robust ecosystem.' | cargo run -q -p tropius-cli ``` Scan article text extracted from a live URL with[lectito](https://lectito.stormlightlabs.org/): ``` # Install lectito cargo install lectito-cli lectito 'https://www.solo.io/blog/what-is-agent-identity-human-workload-a-new-layer' \ --format text \ | cargo run -q -p tropius-cli ``` The CLI exits`0`when no findings are found and`1`when it finds trope signals\. It exits`2`for usage or configuration errors\. Color output respects[`NO\_COLOR`](https://no-color.org/)\. ## Coverage[\#](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius#coverage) - an implementation path for every source section in[`tropes\.md`](https://tropes.fyi/tropes-md) - phrase patterns for literal trope signals - structural detectors for sentence and paragraph shape - repetition detectors for repeated metaphor terms and duplicated content - markdown\-aware detection for bold\-first bullets - character\-class detection for Unicode decoration ## Inspiration[\#](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius#inspiration) I got nerd\-sniped on[BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/samuel.fm/post/3mp3l3cxg622y) > [Samuel \- @samuel\.fm](https://bsky.app/profile/samuel.fm)**2026\-06\-25 04:16** “Claudesmell” labeller for[standard\.site](https://standard.site/)records wen > [owais \- @desertthunder\.dev](https://bsky.app/profile/desertthunder.dev)**2026\-06\-25 04:18** what does claudesmell mean here > [Samuel \- @samuel\.fm](https://bsky.app/profile/samuel.fm)**2026\-06\-25 04:22** smells of claude, e\.g\. short, punchy yet needlessly florid prose, excessive claudeisms, it’s not just x it’s y etc > [owais \- @desertthunder\.dev](https://bsky.app/profile/desertthunder.dev)**2026\-06\-25 04:26** You know that feeling of nerd\-sniping about to happen? I gotta use aho\-corasick \+[tropes\.fyi](https://tropes.fyi/)in some way ## Further Reading[\#](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius#further-reading) [Wikipedia Article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia%3ASigns_of_AI_writing) [Directory of tropes](https://tropes.fyi/directory) ## License[\#](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius#license) [unlicense](https://tangled.org/desertthunder.dev/tropius/tree/main/LICENSE)