# Compact Guard

Smart context compaction with state preservation.

- Repository: https://github.com/rohitg00/pro-workflow (2940 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-09-29
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add rohitg00/pro-workflow --skill compact-guard -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add rohitg00/pro-workflow --skill compact-guard -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add rohitg00/pro-workflow --skill compact-guard -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add rohitg00/pro-workflow --skill compact-guard -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add rohitg00/pro-workflow`

## Description

Smart context compaction with state preservation. Saves critical files, task progress, and working state before compaction, restores after. Use before manual compact or when auto-compact triggers.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Compact Guard

Protect important context through compaction cycles. Based on Claude Code internals: compaction restores max 5 files with 5K tokens each, within a 50K total budget.

## Trigger

Use before `/compact` or when auto-compact warning appears.

## Key Constants (from Claude Code source)

- `POST_COMPACT_MAX_FILES_TO_RESTORE = 5`, only 5 files survive
- `POST_COMPACT_TOKEN_BUDGET = 50K`, total restore budget
- `POST_COMPACT_MAX_TOKENS_PER_FILE = 5K`, per-file limit
- Auto-compact fires at `context_window - 13K` buffer

## Pre-Compact Checklist

Before compacting, save these to memory or a scratch file:

1. **Current task**, What are you working on? One sentence.
2. **Files in progress**, Which files are being edited? (max 5, compaction only restores 5)
3. **Decisions made**, Any architectural choices made this session
4. **Blockers**, What's preventing progress?
5. **Next steps**, What to do immediately after compact

## Strategy: Microcompact First

Before full compaction, try microcompact:
- Large tool results (test output, grep results) can be trimmed
- File reads that are no longer relevant can be dropped
- Use subagents for heavy exploration to keep main context clean

## Post-Compact Recovery

After compaction, immediately:

1. Re-read the top-priority file (the one you're actively editing)
2. Check task list for current progress
3. Review any scratch notes saved pre-compact
4. Resume from next steps

## Prevention Strategies

| Strategy | Token Savings | When |
|----------|--------------|------|
| Delegate grep/search to subagent | 30-60% per search | Always for broad searches |
| Read only needed lines (`offset`/`limit`) | 50-90% per read | Large files |
| Compact at task boundaries | Preserves coherence | Between logical steps |
| Use `/resume` for fresh start | 100% | Unrelated new task |

## Output

The rest: https://github.com/rohitg00/pro-workflow/blob/HEAD/skills/compact-guard/SKILL.md