Cutting CLAUDE.md by 87%: A Context Diet Framework with Real Numbers

AlexKim · x · 2026-08-07

Following Anthropic's removal of 80% of Claude Code's system prompt, the author introduces a "Context Diet" framework rather than blindly deleting CLAUDE.md. The approach splits monolithic configuration into a lean always-loaded file and on-demand skills.

By migrating deep-dives and incident-earned warnings into skills, the author reduced a 1,204-line CLAUDE.md to 151 lines, cutting context tax by 7x per session. The framework emphasizes retaining hard business rules that model improvements cannot infer, while curating context to meet the demands of newer models for high-signal inputs over sheer accumulation.

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