A guide to managing context windows effectively in Claude Code, covering the new 1M token context window and the /usage command. Explains context rot, when to start new sessions vs. continue existing ones, how to use /rewind to correct mistakes without polluting context, the difference between /compact and /clear, what causes
Table of contents
A quick primer on context, compaction and context rotEvery turn as a branching pointWhen to start a new sessionRewinding instead of correctingCompacting vs. launching a fresh sessionWhat causes a bad autocompact?Subagents and fresh context windowsSort: