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---
name: strategic-compact
description: Suggests manual context compaction at logical intervals to preserve context through task phases rather than arbitrary auto-compaction.
---
# Strategic Compact Skill
Suggests manual `/compact` at strategic points in your workflow rather than relying on arbitrary auto-compaction.
## Why Strategic Compaction?
Auto-compaction triggers at arbitrary points:
- Often mid-task, losing important context
- No awareness of logical task boundaries
- Can interrupt complex multi-step operations
Strategic compaction at logical boundaries:
- **After exploration, before execution** - Compact research context, keep implementation plan
- **After completing a milestone** - Fresh start for next phase
- **Before major context shifts** - Clear exploration context before different task
## How It Works
The `suggest-compact.sh` script runs on PreToolUse (Edit/Write) and:
1. **Tracks tool calls** - Counts tool invocations in session
2. **Threshold detection** - Suggests at configurable threshold (default: 50 calls)
3. **Periodic reminders** - Reminds every 25 calls after threshold
## Hook Setup
Add to your `~/.claude/settings.json`:
```json
{
"hooks": {
"PreToolUse": [{
"matcher": "tool == \"Edit\" || tool == \"Write\"",
"hooks": [{
"type": "command",
"command": "~/.claude/skills/strategic-compact/suggest-compact.sh"
}]
}]
}
}
```
## Configuration
Environment variables:
- `COMPACT_THRESHOLD` - Tool calls before first suggestion (default: 50)
## Best Practices
1. **Compact after planning** - Once plan is finalized, compact to start fresh
2. **Compact after debugging** - Clear error-resolution context before continuing
3. **Don't compact mid-implementation** - Preserve context for related changes
4. **Read the suggestion** - The hook tells you *when*, you decide *if*
## Related
- [The Longform Guide](https://x.com/affaanmustafa/status/2014040193557471352) - Token optimization section
- Memory persistence hooks - For state that survives compaction
