performance-optimization

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Best practices for Claude Code performance optimization, context management, storage cleanup, and troubleshooting slowdowns

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NPX Install

npx skill4agent add melodic-software/claude-code-plugins performance-optimization

Performance Optimization Skill

Comprehensive guidance for optimizing Claude Code performance. This skill covers storage management, context window optimization, and troubleshooting common performance issues.

When to Use This Skill

Keywords: slow, performance, lag, storage, cleanup, cache, context, compact, clear, sessions, agents, bloat, optimization, speed
Use this skill when:
  • Claude Code is running slowly
  • Storage is accumulating
  • Context window is getting full
  • Planning performance maintenance
  • Learning best practices for efficient usage

Quick Reference

Immediate Actions for Slowdowns

SymptomQuick FixCommand
General slownessClean storage
/cleanup-sessions 7
Input lagReset context
/clear
API errorsCheck status
/check-api-status
Unknown causeFull diagnostic
/diagnose-performance

Performance Commands

CommandPurpose
/check-claude-storage
Analyze storage usage
/cleanup-sessions [days]
Remove old session files
/cleanup-agents [days]
Remove old agent files
/prune-cache [days]
Comprehensive cleanup
/diagnose-performance
Full diagnostic
/list-sessions
View recent sessions
/session-stats
Session statistics
/check-api-status
API status check
/check-context
Context window analysis

Core Concepts

1. Storage Management

Claude Code stores conversation history in
~/.claude/
:
text
~/.claude/
├── projects/           # Session history (can grow large!)
│   └── {project-hash}/
│       ├── {session-id}.jsonl     # Conversation transcripts
│       └── agent-{id}.jsonl       # Subagent transcripts
├── todos/              # Todo state
├── statsig/            # Analytics cache
└── history.jsonl       # Command history
Key insight: The
projects/
folder grows indefinitely with usage. Heavy users can accumulate 1GB+ of session data.
See:
references/storage-management.md
for detailed guidance.

2. Context Window Management

Claude Code uses a 200K token context window. Performance degrades as it fills:
UsageStatusAction
< 50%HealthyNo action
50-75%MonitorConsider compacting
75-85%WarningRun /compact or /clear
> 85%CriticalImmediate action
Key commands:
  • /clear
    - Complete context reset
  • /compact
    - Intelligent summarization
  • /cost
    - View token usage
See:
references/context-management.md
for detailed guidance.

3. Known Issues

Several GitHub issues document known performance problems:
Note: Issue numbers below are point-in-time references and may have been closed, merged, or superseded. For current issues, spawn the
claude-code-issue-researcher
agent or query
docs-management: "performance issues"
for updated tracking.
IssueDescriptionWorkaround
#10881Performance degrades in long sessionsRestart periodically
#14552Input lag at high contextUse /clear at 75%
#14476Regression even at 30k tokensUpdate to latest version
#1497Keyboard responsiveness issuesRestart Claude Code
See:
references/known-issues.md
for detailed tracking.

Best Practices

Daily Maintenance

  1. Start fresh when possible - New session = fresh context
  2. Use /clear between major tasks - Don't let context rot
  3. Monitor storage periodically - Run
    /check-claude-storage
    weekly

Heavy Usage Patterns

  1. Use subagents for large operations - Isolates context bloat
  2. Break large tasks into sessions - Smaller = faster
  3. Clean storage weekly -
    /cleanup-sessions 7

Performance Optimization

  1. Keep CLAUDE.md lean - Large memory files slow startup
  2. Use progressive disclosure - Load context on-demand
  3. Prefer focused queries - Specific > broad

Troubleshooting Flowchart

text
Claude Code is slow
        ├─> Check storage: /check-claude-storage
        │   └─> If >500MB: /cleanup-sessions 7
        ├─> Check context: /check-context
        │   └─> If WARNING+: /clear or /compact
        ├─> Check API: /check-api-status
        │   └─> If degraded: Wait or reduce load
        └─> Full diagnostic: /diagnose-performance
            └─> Follow recommendations

Related Skills

SkillRelationship
docs-management
For official Claude Code documentation
memory-management
For CLAUDE.md optimization

References

Load these for detailed guidance:
  • references/context-management.md
    - Context window optimization
  • references/storage-management.md
    - Storage cleanup strategies
  • references/known-issues.md
    - GitHub issues and workarounds

Version History

  • v1.0.0 (2025-12-26): Initial release
    • Core performance guidance
    • Command reference
    • Best practices
    • Reference documents

Last Updated

Date: 2025-12-26 Model: claude-opus-4-5-20251101