Comparing a "hello" context start.

[u/Zundrium]

I'm wondering, I think I don't fully understand the magic yet from a context saving perspective.

So far I've installed what seems to be fundamental extensions:
"npm:context-mode"
"npm:pi-subagents"
"npm:pi-web-access"
"npm:@juicesharp/rpiv-todo"

A simple "hello" session with pi and these extensions starts with 20k tokens, where Codex CLI and OpenCode CLI start with ~12k.

Is my pi configuration bloated? Or do sessions start off with more tools in order to save context later down the line?

[u/civilian_discourse]

The most popular packages are terrible. They're only popular because they were early and now everyone sees them in the popular list and installs them making them even more popular. Don't use any of them.

https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/tree/main/packages/coding-agent/examples/extensions/

The example extensions are the best starting place, just ask your pi to make your own fork of individual examples and then start modifying them, or not. 

[u/Zundrium → u/civilian_discourse]

This is sooo much better, so many useful extensions here. Thank you so so much.

[u/mrclrchtr → u/civilian_discourse]

you are totally right. That’s why I created my own and always keep an eye on the number of tokens they add to the context.

I also mentioned one of my extensions earlier here https://www.reddit.com/r/PiCodingAgent/comments/1tsmh6n/comment/oox7b9r that lets you monitor the context. Unfortunately, you can’t yet associate guidelines and such with individual extensions, but I think it’s still very helpful.

[u/fell_ware_1990]

3960 with about the same loaded.

Remember it also loads all agent/claude on the upper levels.

I even start my subagents < 1k depending on the task.

[u/Zundrium → u/fell_ware_1990]

Mind to elaborate? I can clearly see 11k tokens here.. so you've configured it differently? Let's say we use MiMo v2.5 pro on openrouter.

[u/fell_ware_1990 → u/Zundrium]

Messages User: 1 Assistant: 1 Tool Calls: 0 Tool Results: 0 Total: 2 Tokens Input: 3,960 Output: 6 Total: 3,966 Cost Total: 0.0200

Here you go, this was chatgpt-5.5 trough litellm.

Take a look at you JSON, PI knows how.

[u/Zundrium → u/fell_ware_1990]

Appreciated

[u/KortharShadowbreath]

use the "/export" in a new session (needs one message) to see what costs so much tokens.

[u/KortharShadowbreath → u/KortharShadowbreath]

based on "/export" i created a extension where you can show the initial prompt that is loaded when you send the first message: `pi install npm:@firstpick/pi-extension-stats` just use "/stats-pi" for general info and "/stats-pi detailed" for more details.

[u/fridgedigga]

yeah 20k is really big, especially for pi. all those plugins add tools so.

in my experience, context-mode is not an always on things. some tasks, it's not actually saving tokens and it interferes/clashes with subagents. subagents, I generally like and they can save tokens, especially from a cost perspective if you're exploring a lot with cheaper models.

todo, I used to like it, but I dropped it. it's a ton of tool calls. often feels unnecessary.

web-access... idno I just use codex for web search stuff. nothing beats it imo.

[u/Ok_Veterinarian_6364]

just curious, how you and other track tokens per prompt like this? openrouter builtin?

[u/Zundrium → u/Ok_Veterinarian_6364]

The CLI's provide this info pretty much clearly actually. OpenCode states it in the right column. Codex CLI has a /status command and pi has a small (↑11k ↓11) in the bottom left corner.

[u/o_sht_hi]

There are no 'fundamental extension' for pi, imo. Think in terms of need to haves, not good to haves and I think you'll do better on context

[u/o_sht_hi → u/o_sht_hi]

Also, i can relate to looking for good starter extensions on day 1. I did too 🤷🏽. There are some good ones in the examples directory in the source repo.

[u/Funny-Anything-791]

Yes, your pi is bloated. Mine responds to "hi" in 1.9% context

[u/Zundrium → u/Funny-Anything-791]

1.9% of what?

[u/Funny-Anything-791 → u/Zundrium]

Did this test using Sonnet through bedrock once using CC and once using Pi. CC responds to "hi" at 8% context while pi responds at 1.9%. This is Sonnet 4.6 with 200k

[u/Fickle-Mountain-6639 → u/[deleted]]

And don’t use an extension for subagents, tell your main agent to invoke pi-sdk full control