| name | context-compress |
| description | Guide for using /compact (Claude Code built-in) with the pre-compact save pipeline. Shows what gets saved before compression and what gets reinjected after. |
| short_desc | /compact pipeline pre-save context guidance |
| keywords | ["compact context","/compact","context window","/compact context","compress context","before compact","context too large","save context state"] |
| argument-hint | [focus-topic] |
| model | haiku |
/compact [focus]
Compress the current conversation context to free up space, optionally focusing on a topic.
Note: /compact is a Claude Code built-in command — type it directly to trigger compression.
This skill (/context-compress) is documentation for the pipeline around it.
Usage
/compact # Compress with default summary
/compact auth module # Focus summary on authentication work
/compact tests and recent fixes # Focus on testing and bug fixes
What This Does
- Summarizes all prior conversation into a concise state snapshot
- Retains the most important context for continuing work
- Focus (optional): emphasizes the specified topic in the summary
When to Use
- Context window is filling up (> 60% used)
- Switching focus to a different part of the codebase
- After completing a major phase of work
- Before a long implementation session
Automatic Pre-Compact Save
The pre-compact-save.sh hook automatically runs before compaction:
- Saves git status and recently modified files to
.claude/context/pre-compact-snapshot.md
After compaction, compact-context-reinject.sh re-injects:
CONTEXT_STATE.md (current task state)- Recent git commits (last 10)
- Active plan summary (first 30 lines from
.claude/context/plans/)
- The pre-compaction snapshot
Tips
- Include the file or module name in the focus:
/compact auth/jwt.py
- After compaction, CONTEXT_STATE.md is automatically re-injected
- Active plans (
.claude/context/plans/) are re-injected from the first 30 lines
