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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/affaan-m/everything-claude-code/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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Overview

The settings.json file controls Claude Code’s behavior, model selection, token limits, and environment variables. Proper configuration significantly reduces costs without sacrificing quality.

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File Location

~/.claude/settings.json

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Token Optimization Settings

{
  "model": "sonnet",
  "env": {
    "MAX_THINKING_TOKENS": "10000",
    "CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE": "50",
    "CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL": "haiku"
  }
}

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Setting Details

SettingDefaultRecommendedImpact
modelopussonnet~60% cost reduction; handles 80%+ of coding tasks
MAX_THINKING_TOKENS31,99910,000~70% reduction in hidden thinking cost per request
CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE9550Compacts earlier — better quality in long sessions
CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODELsonnethaikuReduces cost for simple delegated tasks

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Model Selection

Switch models based on task complexity: 
/model sonnet    # Default for most tasks
/model opus      # Complex architecture, debugging, deep reasoning
/model haiku     # Simple tasks, documentation

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Plugin Configuration

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Installing Plugins

{
  "extraKnownMarketplaces": {
    "everything-claude-code": {
      "source": {
        "source": "github",
        "repo": "affaan-m/everything-claude-code"
      }
    }
  },
  "enabledPlugins": {
    "everything-claude-code@everything-claude-code": true
  }
}

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MCP Server Management

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Disabling Unused MCP Servers

Each MCP tool description consumes tokens from your 200k context window, potentially reducing it to ~70k. Project-level disable (.claude/settings.json): 
{
  "disabledMcpServers": ["supabase", "railway", "vercel"]
}
Best practices:
  • Keep under 10 MCPs enabled per project
  • Keep under 80 tools active total
  • Disable unused MCPs in project config

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Context Window Management

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Strategic Compaction

When to compact:
  • After research/exploration, before implementation
  • After completing a milestone, before starting the next
  • After debugging, before continuing feature work
  • After a failed approach, before trying a new one
When NOT to compact:
  • Mid-implementation (you’ll lose variable names, file paths, partial state)

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Daily Workflow Commands

CommandWhen to Use
/model sonnetDefault for most tasks
/model opusComplex architecture, debugging, deep reasoning
/clearBetween unrelated tasks (free, instant reset)
/compactAt logical task breakpoints (research done, milestone complete)
/costMonitor token spending during session

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Agent Teams Cost Warning

Agent Teams spawns multiple context windows. Each teammate consumes tokens independently. Only use for tasks where parallelism provides clear value (multi-module work, parallel reviews). For simple sequential tasks, subagents are more token-efficient.

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Environment Variables

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Package Manager Detection

{
  "env": {
    "CLAUDE_PACKAGE_MANAGER": "pnpm"
  }
}
Supported values: npm, pnpm, yarn, bun

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Hooks Configuration

For Claude Code v2.1+: Do NOT add a "hooks" field to .claude-plugin/plugin.json. Claude Code automatically loads hooks/hooks.json from installed plugins. Explicitly declaring it causes duplicate detection errors.
See Hooks Reference for hook configuration details.