Andrew Yim
81afe587ce
- Add new 00-claude-code-setting skill for token usage optimization - Includes audit scripts for MCP servers, CLAUDE.md, and extensions - Auto-fix capability with backup for serverInstructions and frontmatter - Add YAML frontmatter to 17 command files - Target: keep baseline under 30% of 200K context limit Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
160 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
160 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
# Token Optimization Best Practices
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## Context Window Budget
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**Total Available:** 200,000 tokens
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### Budget Allocation
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| Component | Target | Max | Notes |
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|-----------|--------|-----|-------|
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| System prompt | ~5,000 | Fixed | Claude Code internal |
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| CLAUDE.md | 2,000 | 3,000 | Under your control |
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| MCP Servers | 5,000 | 10,000 | With Tool Search enabled |
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| Skills metadata | 500 | 1,000 | Description + frontmatter only |
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| **Working space** | **>140,000** | — | **Goal: 70%+ available** |
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### Why 70%+ Available?
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- Complex tasks need context for code, files, conversation
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- Long sessions accumulate context
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- Safety buffer prevents truncation
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## MCP Server Optimization
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### serverInstructions (CRITICAL)
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Every MCP server MUST have `serverInstructions` for Tool Search to work:
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```json
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{
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"mcpServers": {
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"playwright": {
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"command": "npx",
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"args": ["@anthropic-ai/mcp-playwright"],
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"serverInstructions": "Browser automation. Use for: SEO audits, screenshots, page analysis. Keywords: browser, page, DOM, screenshot"
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}
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}
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}
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```
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**Pattern:** `[What it does]. Use for: [use case 1], [use case 2]. Keywords: [keyword1], [keyword2]`
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### Load Strategies
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| Strategy | When to Use | Example Servers |
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|----------|-------------|-----------------|
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| **always** | Essential for daily work | Playwright, Notion, Filesystem |
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| **lazy** | Occasionally needed | GitHub, PostgreSQL, Slack |
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| **disable** | Rarely used or token-heavy | Zapier (25K+ tokens) |
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### Token Estimates by Server
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| Server | Approx. Tokens | Strategy |
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|--------|----------------|----------|
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| Playwright | 13,500 | always |
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| Notion | 5,000 | always |
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| GitHub | 18,000 | lazy |
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| PostgreSQL | 8,000 | lazy |
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| Zapier | 25,000+ | disable |
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| Memory | 3,000 | lazy |
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| Filesystem | 4,000 | always |
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## CLAUDE.md Optimization
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### Size Limits
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- **Lines:** Under 200
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- **Tokens:** Under 3,000 (~2,300 words)
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### What to Include
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1. **Role context** (1-2 sentences)
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2. **Output preferences** (format, language)
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3. **Domain standards** (brief, essential only)
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4. **Available commands** (reference list)
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5. **Quality checklist** (3-5 items)
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### What to Exclude
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- Self-descriptions ("You are Claude...")
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- Information Claude already knows
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- Verbose explanations
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- Long code examples (use skills instead)
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- Duplicate information
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### Optimal Structure
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```markdown
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# Project Context
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## Role
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[1-2 sentences]
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## Preferences
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- Output: [format]
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- Language: [preference]
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## Standards
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### Domain 1
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- [Key point 1]
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- [Key point 2]
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## Commands
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- /command1: [brief description]
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- /command2: [brief description]
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## Checklist
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- [ ] Item 1
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- [ ] Item 2
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```
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## Session Management
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### During Work
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1. **Check context:** Run `/context` before complex tasks
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2. **Compact early:** Run `/compact` at 70% usage
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3. **Clear between tasks:** Run `/clear` for unrelated work
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### Weekly Maintenance
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1. Run `/doctor` for MCP health
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2. Review command usage patterns
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3. Update CLAUDE.md with new patterns
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4. Check for unused extensions
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### Monthly Audit
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1. Run full settings audit
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2. Review and prune unused MCP servers
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3. Update serverInstructions
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4. Check for new optimization opportunities
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## Quick Diagnostics
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### High Token Usage Signs
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- Slow response times
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- Context getting truncated
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- Claude "forgetting" earlier context
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### Common Fixes
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| Issue | Fix |
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|-------|-----|
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| CLAUDE.md too long | Move details to skills/references |
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| MCP missing instructions | Add serverInstructions |
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| Too many always-loaded MCPs | Switch some to lazy |
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| Unused extensions | Remove or disable |
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## Commands Reference
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| Command | Purpose |
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|---------|---------|
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| `/context` | Check current context usage |
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| `/compact` | Compress context |
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| `/clear` | Clear conversation |
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| `/doctor` | Check MCP server health |
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| `/settings-audit` | Run this skill's audit |
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