Add Compact Instructions to CLAUDE.md so every /compact keeps what matters

The problem

Steering `/compact focus on …` works once, but autocompact still fires later with generic criteria and drops the constraints you always need.

The hack

Add a `## Compact Instructions` section to CLAUDE.md listing what must survive (active goal, open decisions, failing tests) and what to drop (rabbit holes, resolved debugging).

Why it works

Community playbooks and Anthropic’s compaction model: CLAUDE.md guidance applies to every compaction, including auto — project defaults beat one-off focus strings.

Setup

1. Open CLAUDE.md and add a short Compact Instructions section. 2. List must-keep items (current goal, API contracts, failing tests) and safe-to-drop noise. 3. During a long session, run `/compact` or wait for autocompact. 4. Confirm critical constraints still present via `/btw` or a quick probe question.

Additional details

Source

Related

• → Steer /compact before autocompact nukes the wrong details
• → Write key decisions to a file so compaction cannot erase them