Agent skill
claude-agent-sdk-context-management
Use when managing agent context, memory, and conversation state in Claude AI agents using the Agent SDK.
Stars
129
Forks
14
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/TheBushidoCollective/han/tree/main/plugins/specialized/claude-agent-sdk/skills/context-management
SKILL.md
Claude Agent SDK - Context Management
Managing agent memory, context, and conversation state in the Claude Agent SDK.
Setting Sources
Project Memory
typescript
import { Agent } from '@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk';
// Load project-specific context from .claude/CLAUDE.md
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'],
});
User Memory
typescript
// Load user preferences from ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['user'],
});
Combined Sources
typescript
// Load both user and project settings
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['user', 'project'],
});
CLAUDE.md Files
Project Context (.claude/CLAUDE.md)
markdown
# Project Context
This is a TypeScript web application using React and Next.js.
## Code Style
- Use functional components
- Prefer hooks over class components
- Use TypeScript strict mode
## Architecture
- API routes in /pages/api
- Components in /components
- Utilities in /lib
User Preferences (~/.claude/CLAUDE.md)
markdown
# User Preferences
## Communication Style
- Be concise
- Show code examples
- Explain reasoning
## Development Environment
- Primary editor: VS Code
- Node version: 20.x
- Package manager: pnpm
System Prompts
Direct System Prompt
typescript
const agent = new Agent({
systemPrompt: `You are an expert TypeScript developer.
Follow these guidelines:
- Use strict type checking
- Prefer immutability
- Write comprehensive tests`,
});
Dynamic System Prompt
typescript
const projectType = detectProjectType();
const agent = new Agent({
systemPrompt: `You are a ${projectType} specialist.
Current project: ${process.cwd()}
Node version: ${process.version}`,
});
Conversation State
Single-Turn Conversations
typescript
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'],
});
const response = await agent.chat('What is this project about?');
console.log(response);
Multi-Turn Conversations
typescript
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'],
});
// First turn
const response1 = await agent.chat('List all API endpoints');
// Second turn - agent remembers previous context
const response2 = await agent.chat('Add authentication to the login endpoint');
// Third turn
const response3 = await agent.chat('Write tests for the changes you just made');
Conversation History
typescript
import { query } from '@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk';
const conversation = query({
prompt: 'Help me refactor this code',
options: {
settingSources: ['project'],
},
});
// Access conversation history
for await (const message of conversation) {
console.log('Role:', message.role);
console.log('Content:', message.content);
}
Context Limits
Managing Context Size
typescript
const agent = new Agent({
model: 'claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022',
systemPrompt: 'You are a code reviewer',
// Agent automatically manages context window
});
// For very large files, chunk the content
const largeFile = await readFile('huge-file.ts');
const chunks = chunkContent(largeFile, 10000);
for (const chunk of chunks) {
await agent.chat(`Review this section:\n\n${chunk}`);
}
Context Summarization
typescript
// Agent can summarize previous context to fit window
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'],
});
// Long conversation
await agent.chat('Explain the authentication system');
await agent.chat('How does session management work?');
await agent.chat('What about password hashing?');
// Agent maintains relevant context automatically
await agent.chat('Update the login endpoint to use bcrypt');
Memory Persistence
Storing Conversation State
typescript
import { query } from '@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk';
const conversationFile = './conversation-state.json';
// Load previous conversation
let messages = [];
if (existsSync(conversationFile)) {
messages = JSON.parse(readFileSync(conversationFile, 'utf8'));
}
const conversation = query({
prompt: 'Continue where we left off',
options: {
settingSources: ['project'],
// Pass previous messages if API supports it
},
});
// Save conversation state
const newMessages = [];
for await (const message of conversation) {
newMessages.push(message);
}
writeFileSync(
conversationFile,
JSON.stringify([...messages, ...newMessages], null, 2),
);
Best Practices
Separate Project and User Context
typescript
// Good: Clear separation
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['user', 'project'],
systemPrompt: `Additional task-specific context`,
});
// Avoid: Mixing contexts in system prompt
const agent = new Agent({
systemPrompt: `
User preference: Be concise
Project: TypeScript + React
Task: Review code
`, // Hard to maintain
});
Keep CLAUDE.md Files Focused
markdown
<!-- Good: Focused project context -->
# Project Context
## Technology Stack
- Next.js 14
- TypeScript 5
- Tailwind CSS
## Key Conventions
- Use server components by default
- Client components only when needed
- API routes follow REST conventions
markdown
<!-- Avoid: Too much detail -->
# Project Context
## Technology Stack
- Next.js 14.2.3
- TypeScript 5.4.2
- Tailwind CSS 3.4.1
- ...50 more dependencies
## Every Single File
- src/app/page.tsx: Homepage
- src/app/about/page.tsx: About page
- ...200 more files
Update Context as Project Evolves
bash
# Update .claude/CLAUDE.md when architecture changes
echo "## New Features\n- Added GraphQL API\n- Migrated to PostgreSQL" >> .claude/CLAUDE.md
Anti-Patterns
Don't Duplicate Context
typescript
// Bad: Duplicating project info in system prompt
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'], // Already loads .claude/CLAUDE.md
systemPrompt: `This is a React app using TypeScript`, // Redundant
});
// Good: Let settingSources handle it
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'],
systemPrompt: `Additional task-specific guidance`,
});
Don't Hardcode Paths
typescript
// Bad: Hardcoded paths
const agent = new Agent({
systemPrompt: `Project location: /Users/me/projects/myapp`,
});
// Good: Use relative or dynamic paths
const agent = new Agent({
systemPrompt: `Project root: ${process.cwd()}`,
});
Don't Store Secrets in CLAUDE.md
markdown
<!-- Bad: Secrets in context -->
# Project Context
Database: postgresql://user:password@localhost/db
API Key: sk-secret-key-here
markdown
<!-- Good: Reference environment -->
# Project Context
Database: Configured via DATABASE_URL env var
API Key: Set OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable
Advanced Patterns
Context Injection
typescript
const agent = new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'],
systemPrompt: `
Current branch: ${execSync('git branch --show-current').toString().trim()}
Uncommitted changes: ${execSync('git status --short').toString()}
`,
});
Role-Based Context
typescript
function createSpecializedAgent(role: 'reviewer' | 'implementer' | 'tester') {
const rolePrompts = {
reviewer: 'Focus on code quality and best practices',
implementer: 'Write production-ready code',
tester: 'Create comprehensive test coverage',
};
return new Agent({
settingSources: ['project'],
systemPrompt: rolePrompts[role],
});
}
const reviewer = createSpecializedAgent('reviewer');
const implementer = createSpecializedAgent('implementer');
Related Skills
- agent-creation: Agent initialization and configuration
- tool-integration: Working with tools and MCP servers
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