/context-optimizer

/context-optimizer - Optimize Token Usage

Diagnose and fix context window problems.

Process

1. **Check current usage:**

• If > 70% → compact now before quality degrades
• If > 90% → compact immediately, you're in the "dumb zone"

2. **Run optimization checks:**

**MCP audit:**

   /mcp

• Keep <10 MCPs enabled, <80 tools total
• Disable what you're not actively using

**CLAUDE.md size:**

• Root CLAUDE.md should be < 60 lines, < 150 max
• Move package-specific info to package-level files
• Move personal preferences to CLAUDE.local.md

3. **Apply fixes based on findings:**

| Problem | Fix | |---------|-----| | High context usage | `/compact` with focus on current task | | Too many MCPs | Disable unused servers | | Bloated CLAUDE.md | Split into modular files | | Heavy exploration in main session | Delegate to subagents | | Vague prompts causing broad searches | Scope prompts with paths and constraints |

4. **Set proactive auto-compaction** if not already configured:

   {
     "env": {
       "CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE": "50"
     }
   }

5. **Report** current state and what was optimized.

Signs of Degraded Context

• Claude repeats itself or forgets earlier decisions
• Responses become generic, lose project-specific knowledge
• Tool calls fail for reasons that worked earlier

Quick Fixes

| Action | Saves | When | |--------|-------|------| | `/compact` | 30-50% context | Task boundaries | | Disable unused MCPs | ~5% per MCP | Switching domains | | Subagent delegation | Keeps main clean | Heavy search/read tasks | | Fresh session via `/resume` | 100% reset | Unrelated work |

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**Trigger:** Use when sessions feel slow, context is degraded, running out of budget, or before starting a long task.