context-cost

What it catches#

Over 5,000 tokens load every session from this file.

A file that loads at the start of every session (a root CLAUDE.md, .claude/rules/*.md without paths, .cursorrules, .github/copilot-instructions.md and similar) with more than about 5,000 tokens in it. It is a note, not a warning: the file may be worth it. The point is that the cost is paid in every conversation, including ones that never touch the subject. The message says what to do: move topic-specific parts into files that load only when needed, such as path-scoped .claude/rules/ files, skills or linked docs.

Why it matters#

Everything in an every-session file is paid for in every conversation, and long instruction files are followed less reliably.

# CLAUDE.md

## API reference
<full endpoint-by-endpoint description of the REST API, 6,000 tokens>

# CLAUDE.md

The REST API is described in [docs/api.md](docs/api.md); read it before changing a handler.

How to fix#

Keep rules in the every-session file and move reference material behind a link, so the agent reads it when it needs it. Path-scoped rules (.claude/rules/ with paths, Cursor globs, Copilot applyTo) load only for matching files.

Suppress or configure#

For one finding, put a comment on the line above it. The reason after -- is optional but worth writing:

<!-- asitis-disable-next-line context-cost -- why this one is fine -->

For a whole file:

<!-- asitis-disable-file context-cost -- why this file is an exception -->

For every file, turn it off or change its severity in .asitisrc.json:

{ "rules": { "context-cost": "off" } }

A .asitisrc.json overrides entry limits a change to some paths, and a baseline (asitis lint --format json --write-baseline) accepts today's findings so only new ones fail the build.

Source#

Claude Code docs: How Claude remembers your project, read on 14 October 2026.