Summary

regent0x_ describes going from 23 plugins/8 skills/5 MCP servers to minimal setup after discovering 62,000 tokens were consumed before typing a single prompt. The article catalogs built-in Claude Code commands that replace common plugins: /context, /compact, /clear (context management), /resume, /rewind, Esc+Esc (session control), /cost, /model, /effort (cost/model control), /init, .claudeignore (project setup), /review, /plan (code quality), custom .claude/commands/ (replace most plugins).

regent0x_ 描述從 23 個插件縮減到最小配置後,session 長度延長 3 倍、token 費用減半。文章整理了替代插件的內建指令,核心原則:每個插件都在 context window 中添加基礎負擔,即使閒置也不例外。建議每次 session 開始前執行 /context,基礎佔用超過 30k tokens 就代表有結構性問題。

Key Points

  • 62k tokens consumed before first prompt = 31% of 200k context gone before any work
  • /context: shows full token breakdown by category
  • /compact: compresses conversation history with surgical focus options — most underused command
  • Esc+Esc: scrollable checkpoint list for full undo — hidden superpower
  • /model: switch Opus/Sonnet mid-session (Sonnet for 80% of work)
  • .claudeignore: keeps irrelevant files out of context (replaces file-reading optimization plugins)
  • .claude/commands/*.md: custom workflows with zero baseline token overhead

Insights

The math is simple but rarely stated: every plugin adds baseline overhead whether used or not. 62k → 6k baseline tokens = 156k tokens available for work instead of 138k. The practical rule (run /context first, >30k baseline = structural problem) is actionable. The key counterintuitive insight is that most “plugin functionality” is just markdown files with instructions — building it as a .claude/commands/ file costs nothing at baseline while doing the same thing.

Connections

Raw Excerpt

“The math is simple: fewer plugins = more context = longer sessions = better output. Sessions that used to die at 30 minutes now run for 3+ hours.”