context-engineering

Optimize agent context by applying level-based context layering with rules files, per-feature specs, and focused source files to reduce hallucinations and maintain project conventions.

The best way to structure context loading is hierarchical, balancing persistence and relevance by layering rules files, per-feature specs, source files, and test results based on the specific task.

Agent output quality declines when switching codebases because the loaded context loses relevance, requiring you to apply context-packing strategies and switch contexts when starting new sessions.

You need to configure rules and context when starting a new coding session, when agent output quality declines, or when switching between parts of a codebase to maintain output quality.

Set up a starter rules file by creating a CLAUDE.md file and outlining the initial context hierarchy to define how your agent loads information per task and per session.

Context engineering helps manage long agent conversations by applying conversation-management strategies and context packing to control what information the agent retains per session.