context-manager

Context Manager

Overview

Keeps sessions inside a healthy context window. The wiki is long-term memory; the chat is working memory that must be renewed BEFORE quality degrades (context rot).

Core principle: hand off proactively at the threshold, never reactively at the limit.

Threshold Check (after every completed task)

• Threshold: 300k tokens by default — configurable via the "Context threshold" line in the project CLAUDE.md.
• Estimate consumption from: system context warnings, number/size of files read this session, conversation length. When in doubt, assume you are CLOSER to the threshold than you think.
• Below threshold → continue normally.
• Above threshold → no new activities. Finish the current activity if nearly done, then run the Handoff Procedure.

Handoff Procedure

1. Update wiki/handoff.md (≤80 lines): done, in progress, next, files to read.
2. Update wiki/priorities.md (≤100 lines): checkbox states current.
3. Generate the Continuation Prompt (template below, ≤40 lines) and print it as the final message so the user can paste it into a fresh chat.
4. Update daily-log/YYYY-MM-DD.md.

Continuation Prompt Template

# Continue: {project} — Phase {N}

Read in order (nothing else):
1. CLAUDE.md
2. wiki/handoff.md
3. docs/phases/PHASE-{N}-execution.md

State: activities {list} DONE; activity {n} IN PROGRESS at {exact point}.
Next: activity {n} — {description}. VERIFY: {criterion}.
Mode: {Normal/Autopilot/Autonomous}. Context threshold: {X}k.
Do NOT re-read: {stable files already processed}.

Context Minimalism Rules

Injected into every generated CLAUDE.md:

1. Wrong path → /rewind + re-prompt with the lesson learned. Never pile inline corrections on a polluted context.
2. Between large tasks → /clear + written brief (the Execution Doc activity is the brief).
3. /compact always with a hint ("keep decisions and current activity state").
4. Inject the minimum: link wiki pages instead of pasting them; excerpts over full files.