optimize-context

Optimize Context Usage

Analyzes context window usage and provides optimization recommendations based on Maximum Effective Context Window (MECW) principles.

Usage

# Analyze current session context
/optimize-context

# Analyze specific skill or directory
/optimize-context skills/my-skill

# Deep analysis with recommendations
/optimize-context --detailed

What It Does

1. Context Pressure Assessment: Evaluates current context utilization
2. MECW Compliance Check: Validates against MECW principles
3. Optimization Recommendations: Suggests specific improvements
4. Token Budget Analysis: Breaks down token usage by component

MECW Thresholds

Utilization	Status	Action
< 30%	Optimal	No action needed
30-50%	Good	Monitor growth
50-70%	Warning	Consider optimization
> 70%	Critical	Immediate action required

Examples

/optimize-context
# Output:
# Context Optimization Report
# ==========================
# Current Usage: 45% (Good)
# Estimated Tokens: 12,500
#
# Recommendations:
# - Consider extracting code examples to scripts/
# - 3 skills exceed recommended token budget

/optimize-context skills/context-optimization --detailed
# Full breakdown with per-module analysis

Headless Mode (Non-Interactive)

For reading context in headless/automated Claude Code sessions:

# Get context breakdown with JSON output
claude -p "run /context" --verbose --output-format json

# Two-call pattern for reliable execution
# (Claude doesn't always execute /context on first prompt)
SESSION_ID=$(claude -p "ready" --output-format json | jq -r '.session_id')
claude --continue "$SESSION_ID" -p "/context" --verbose --output-format json

Key flags:

• --verbose: Includes categorical token breakdown
• --output-format json: Machine-parseable output
• --continue: Resumes existing session for reliable command execution

Example JSON output:

{
  "context": {
    "total_tokens": 45000,
    "usage_percent": 22.5,
    "breakdown": {
      "system": 8000,
      "conversation": 32000,
      "tools": 5000
    }
  }
}