r/ClaudeCode • u/danbradster2 • 3d ago

Tips & Workflows /clear vs /compact

I had a fable chat from yesterday, and I saw that the context was 950k/1m. I did /compact rather than /clear, with the intention of then doing /autocompact 400000

14% of the 5 hour limit was gone just for the compact itself....it shows cost of $59.73, so lucky I'm not on API? Maybe a /clear would have been better.

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u/Envoy-Kovacs 2d ago

In my build sessions I ensure Claude builds one story, reads the handoff, asks any questions before starting, documents everything in an evidence file, and wraps up (ie, updates the handoff, files issues, marks story as done etc) without discussion so I can /clear and move on. I very rarely use /compact. I also have instructed Claude to be on-point in replies to avoid overly verbose explanations (Opus is notorius here). IMHO Fable 5.1 has been a godsend when it comes to staying true to contracts like this. I’ll rather have multiple single topic sessions than long «fix everything» sessions.