artemgetmann · November 12, 2025 18:41 · Jul 4, 2025 · Jul 3, 2025
diff --git a/claude-code-token-saving-guide.md b/claude-code-token-saving-guide.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ If it becomes impossible to keep all relevant info under 5k tokens, split less c
 
 ## 🛍 Session Workflow
 
-### 🖚 End of Session (or when u starting to hit rate limits too often)
+### 🖚 End of Session 
 
 1. Run:
 

diff --git a/claude-code-token-saving-guide.md b/claude-code-token-saving-guide.md
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+# 🧠 How to Save Context Tokens When Using Claude Code
+
+This is a personal reference workflow for minimizing token usage while maintaining project continuity across Claude Code (Sonnet 4 with file access).
+
+---
+
+## ✅ Setup: Populate `CLAUDE.md`
+
+Claude loads `CLAUDE.md` automatically at session start.
+
+Keep it under **5k tokens**. Claude uses this as project memory.
+
+### Example prompt to Claude:
+
+```
+Populate and maintain CLAUDE.md with all relevant project-wide context so you can resume work efficiently without me repeating context each session. Include:
+- Project summary & active features
+- Tech stack
+- Code style & naming conventions
+- Known bugs and next TODOs
+- Test scenarios we haven’t completed yet (if any)
+Keep it under 5k tokens total.
+
+If it becomes impossible to keep all relevant info under 5k tokens, split less critical sections into separate files under the docs/ directory. For example, if there are details about a future system version (e.g., MK2), create a separate markdown file like docs/mk2_notes.md instead of bloating CLAUDE.md.
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🛍 Session Workflow
+
+### 🖚 End of Session (or when u starting to hit rate limits too often)
+
+1. Run:
+
+```
+/compact Focus on code samples and API usage
+```
+
+(You can change the focus as needed — e.g., "design decisions" or "test coverage, or just /compact, but will have more fluff and save less on tokens")
+
+2. Prompt Claude:
+
+```
+Append that summary to docs/progress.md
+Also save a standalone summary to session_summary.md
+```
+
+3. **Do NOT run ****************************************`/clear`**************************************** unless you want to reset everything.**
+
+   * It's safer to just exit or start a new chat.
+   * Session will stay available if you want to revisit it later.
+
+### 🆑 Start of Session
+
+* Start new chat
+* Load:
+
+```
+@CLAUDE.md
+@docs/progress.md
+@session_summary.md (optional)
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🔁 Every \~40 Messages
+
+* Run:
+
+```
+/compact Focus on code samples and API usage
+```
+
+* Prompt Claude:
+
+```
+Save that summary to session_summary.md
+```
+
+This keeps the working context tight and avoids token bloat.
+
+---
+
+## 📁 FYI: Structured Project Logs
+
+Maintain `progress.md`, `log.md`, etc. for running session history.
+
+### Log Workflow:
+
+* Update at end of each session
+* Claude can read it at session start
+* Load it manually with `@progress.md` if needed
+
+**Pro tip:** Keep logs in `docs/` and only load when needed.
+
+---
+
+## 📆 FYI: Modular File Context with `@file` References
+
+Instead of pasting long blocks:
+
+* Split reusable info into standalone `.md` or `.yaml` files
+* Load on demand via `@filename.md`
+
+Good for:
+
+* Command syntax
+* API docs
+* Configs / routes / edge cases
+
+---
+
+## 🎯 FYI: Prompt Engineering for Token Efficiency
+
+Write like a spec. Be precise.
+
+**Bad:**
+
+> Hey can you fix this bug?
+
+**Good:**
+
+> Fix the off-by-one bug in `utils.py` line 12 that causes the last item to be skipped. Input: list of ints. Output: adjusted list. Keep type hints.
+
+Other tips:
+
+* Ask grouped questions instead of one-by-one
+* Avoid redundant background unless necessary
+
+---
+
+## 🧹 Summary
+
+* Use `CLAUDE.md` for persistent context (≤ 5k tokens)
+* End sessions with `/compact`, then log to `progress.md` and optionally `session_summary.md`
+* Start sessions by loading only needed files
+* Compact every \~40 messages to keep things clean
+* Use modular files and focused prompts to minimize token load
+
+Keep it lean. Let Claude handle memory. You just keep shipping.
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