claude-code-hermit: less aggressive compact defaults

plugins/claude-code-hermit/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@
 
 ### Changed
 
+- **env defaults: `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` bumped 50 → 65** — auto-compact was firing well before the quality-degradation zone (~73%); 65 reduces premature context loss while staying conservative.
+- **env defaults: `COMPACT_THRESHOLD` bumped 50 → 75** — the tool-call-based nudge was firing mid-session for any non-trivial work; 75 quiets the fallback path while `context_usage > 60%` continues to drive real nudges in `suggest-compact.js`.
+- **docs: `COMPACT_THRESHOLD` description corrected to tool-call-count fallback** — config-reference previously called it a "context % threshold," which contradicted `suggest-compact.js`. Now matches the code: tool-call counter consulted only when `context_usage` is unavailable.
+
+### Upgrade Instructions
+
+1. Read `.claude-code-hermit/config.json`.
+   - If `env.CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE == "50"`, set it to `"65"`. If absent or any other value, leave it alone.
+   - If `env.COMPACT_THRESHOLD == "50"`, set it to `"75"`. If absent or any other value, leave it alone.
+   - Write the file back only if either key changed.
+2. Read `.claude/settings.local.json` (or `.claude/settings.json` per `hatch_target`). Apply the same only-if-still-50 guard for both keys; update to `"65"` / `"75"` respectively. Otherwise leave them alone.
+3. Report to the operator, one line per key:
+   - "Bumped `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` 50 → 65 — auto-compact triggers later." or "Left `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` at `<value>` (custom override preserved)."
+   - "Bumped `COMPACT_THRESHOLD` 50 → 75 — fewer mid-session nudges." or "Left `COMPACT_THRESHOLD` at `<value>` (custom override preserved)."
 - **hatch: push_notifications now defaults to true** — derived from channel choice in `/hatch` (no channel → on, channel → off); explicit opt-in removed. Toggle via `/hermit-settings push-notifications`.
 
 ### Upgrade Instructions

plugins/claude-code-hermit/docs/always-on.md

@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ Container restarts trigger recovery automatically:
 
 | Setting                            | Value   | Effect                           |
 | ---------------------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------- |
-| `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE`  | `50`    | Compacts at 50% context          |
+| `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE`  | `65`    | Compacts at 65% context          |
 | `MAX_THINKING_TOKENS`              | `10000` | Prevents runaway reasoning costs |
 
 Adjust with `/hermit-settings env`.

plugins/claude-code-hermit/docs/architecture.md

@@ -311,10 +311,10 @@ config.json "env"  →  hermit-start.py  →  .claude/settings.local.json "env"
 
 | Field                             | Value      | Purpose                                            |
 | --------------------------------- | ---------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
-| `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` | `50`       | Auto-compact at 50% context                        |
+| `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` | `65`       | Auto-compact at 65% context                        |
 | `MAX_THINKING_TOKENS`             | `10000`    | Cap thinking budget                                |
 | `AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE`              | `standard` | Active hook profile                                |
-| `COMPACT_THRESHOLD`               | `50`       | Compaction suggestion threshold                    |
+| `COMPACT_THRESHOLD`               | `75`       | Tool-call-count fallback for compact suggestion    |
 | `DISCORD_STATE_DIR`               | (derived)  | Derived from `channels.discord.state_dir` at boot  |
 | `TELEGRAM_STATE_DIR`              | (derived)  | Derived from `channels.telegram.state_dir` at boot |
 

plugins/claude-code-hermit/docs/config-reference.md

@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ Written to `.claude/settings.local.json` at boot by `hermit-start`. Exported to
 | Key | Default | Purpose |
 |-----|---------|---------|
 | `AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE` | `"standard"` | Hook profile: `minimal`, `standard`, `strict`. Protected in always-on mode. |
-| `COMPACT_THRESHOLD` | `"50"` | Context % threshold for compact suggestion. |
-| `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` | `"50"` | Auto-compact at this % of context window. |
+| `COMPACT_THRESHOLD` | `"75"` | Tool-call-count threshold for compact suggestion (fallback when `context_usage` is unavailable). |
+| `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` | `"65"` | Auto-compact at this % of context window. |
 | `MAX_THINKING_TOKENS` | `"10000"` | Cap on thinking tokens per turn. |
 Modify with `/hermit-settings env`.
 
@@ -280,8 +280,8 @@ A realistic `config.json` for an always-on Docker hermit with Discord:
   ],
   "env": {
     "AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE": "strict",
-    "COMPACT_THRESHOLD": "50",
-    "CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE": "50",
+    "COMPACT_THRESHOLD": "75",
+    "CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE": "65",
     "MAX_THINKING_TOKENS": "10000"
   },
   "scheduled_checks": [

plugins/claude-code-hermit/docs/troubleshooting.md

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ Scheduled checks run during idle reflection via `reflect`. If configured checks
 
 ## Costs Unexpectedly High
 
-- Check `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` in `config.json` `env` (default 50). Adjust with `/hermit-settings env`.
+- Check `CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE` in `config.json` `env` (default 65). Adjust with `/hermit-settings env`.
 - Check heartbeat interval — 5m with Opus is expensive. Default is 2h; use 15m-30m only if you need faster monitoring.
 - Check if watches are running with short intervals (`/claude-code-hermit:watch stop`).
 - Review SHELL.md size — bloated files cost tokens on every read.

plugins/claude-code-hermit/scripts/hermit-start.py

@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@
     'monitors': [],
     'env': {
         'AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE': 'standard',
-        'COMPACT_THRESHOLD': '50',
-        'CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE': '50',
+        'COMPACT_THRESHOLD': '75',
+        'CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE': '65',
         'MAX_THINKING_TOKENS': '10000',
     },
     'boot_skill': None,

plugins/claude-code-hermit/scripts/suggest-compact.js

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const os = require('os');
 
 const MAX_STDIN = 1024 * 1024; // 1MB safety limit
-const COMPACT_THRESHOLD = parseInt(process.env.COMPACT_THRESHOLD || '50', 10) || 50;
+const COMPACT_THRESHOLD = parseInt(process.env.COMPACT_THRESHOLD || '75', 10) || 75;
 const SUBSEQUENT_INTERVAL = 25;
 const MAX_COUNTER = 1_000_000;
 const CONTEXT_USAGE_THRESHOLD = 0.6; // 60%

plugins/claude-code-hermit/skills/hermit-evolve/SKILL.md

@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ For each new key, check the table below. If the key is interactive, ask the oper
 - `heartbeat.waiting_timeout` (0.3.0): `null` | `heartbeat.stale_threshold` (0.0.9): `"2h"`
 - `idle_budget` (0.0.9): `"$0.50"` | `routines` (0.0.9): `[]`
 - `scheduled_checks` (0.3.1): `[]`
-- `env` (0.0.7): `{"AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE":"standard","COMPACT_THRESHOLD":"50","CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE":"50","MAX_THINKING_TOKENS":"10000"}`
+- `env` (0.0.7): `{"AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE":"standard","COMPACT_THRESHOLD":"75","CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE":"65","MAX_THINKING_TOKENS":"10000"}`
 - `docker` (0.0.7): `{"packages":[],"recommended_plugins":[]}`
 - `compact` (0.0.7): `{"monitoring_threshold":30,"monitoring_keep":20,"summary_threshold":30,"summary_keep":15}`
 - `knowledge` (0.4.0): `{"raw_retention_days":14,"compiled_budget_chars":1000,"working_set_warn":20}`

plugins/claude-code-hermit/skills/hermit-settings/SKILL.md

@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ Compaction:
 
 Environment (env):
   AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE              standard
-  COMPACT_THRESHOLD               50
-  CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE 50
+  COMPACT_THRESHOLD               75
+  CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE 65
   MAX_THINKING_TOKENS             10000
   → run: /claude-code-hermit:hermit-settings env
 
@@ -258,8 +258,8 @@ Update `permission_mode` in config.json.
   Environment Variables (config.json env → .claude/settings.local.json)
 
     AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE              standard
-    COMPACT_THRESHOLD               50
-    CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE 50
+    COMPACT_THRESHOLD               75
+    CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE 65
     MAX_THINKING_TOKENS             10000
   ```
 - **Protected keys** that cannot be changed via this command: `AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE`. These are managed by the boot script and docker-setup. If the operator tries to set one, respond: "AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE is managed by the boot script (standard for interactive, strict for Docker). To change it, edit config.json directly — the boot script validates on next start."

plugins/claude-code-hermit/state-templates/config.json.template

@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
   "monitors": [],
   "env": {
     "AGENT_HOOK_PROFILE": "standard",
-    "COMPACT_THRESHOLD": "50",
-    "CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE": "50",
+    "COMPACT_THRESHOLD": "75",
+    "CLAUDE_AUTOCOMPACT_PCT_OVERRIDE": "65",
     "MAX_THINKING_TOKENS": "10000"
   },
   "boot_skill": null,