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+# Compaction Best Practices
+
+When Claude Code auto-compacts at ~95% token capacity, important context can be lost. This guide provides recommended instructions to add to your `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` file to preserve critical context during compaction.
+
+## The Problem
+
+During long sessions, Claude Code automatically compacts conversation history. Without guidance, this can cause loss of:
+- Current task state and progress
+- File modifications made during the session
+- Technical decisions and their rationale
+- Error messages and their resolutions
+
+## Solution: Add Compaction Instructions
+
+Add the following to your `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` file:
+
+### What to Preserve (Full Detail)
+
+1. **Last 10 messages** - Keep recent exchanges verbatim
+2. **Current task state** - Active work, pending items, blockers
+3. **All file modifications** - Every file path, what changed, and why
+4. **Code snippets written** - Actual code created or modified
+5. **Decisions made** - Technical choices, user preferences, rejected alternatives
+6. **Errors encountered** - Error messages, stack traces, and resolutions
+7. **Todo list state** - All pending, in-progress, and completed items
+
+### What to Summarize (Condensed)
+
+1. **Exploration/research** - Condense to: "Searched X, found Y in Z location"
+2. **File reads** - Condense to: "Read [file] - contains [key info]"
+3. **Failed attempts** - Condense to: "Tried X, failed because Y"
+4. **General discussion** - Extract only actionable conclusions
+
+### Structured Summary Block
+
+Include this template in compacted output:
+
+```
+## Session Context (Post-Compaction)
+- **Project**: [name and path]
+- **Current Task**: [what we're doing now]
+- **Files Modified**: [list with brief descriptions]
+- **Key Decisions**: [numbered list]
+- **Pending Actions**: [what's left to do]
+- **User Preferences Learned**: [any stated preferences]
+```
+
+### Priority Order
+
+If space is limited, preserve in this order:
+1. Current task context and last messages
+2. File changes and code written
+3. Decisions and user preferences
+4. Error resolutions
+5. Everything else as summary
+
+## Credits
+
+This guide was contributed by [@ajjucoder](https://github.com/ajjucoder) based on real-world experience with long-running Claude Code sessions.