stay-within-limits

To manage long-running Claude Code agents and prevent hitting usage limits, use wave-based execution with usage checks before each wave and a 95% stop threshold to pause safely before exhausting your 5-hour or weekly budget window.

Wave-based execution for parallel coding agents is a process where tasks run in small capped parallel batches. It checks usage limits between waves to ensure controlled progress and safe pause/resume behavior during long refactoring or research tasks.

To safely pause and resume long coding tasks without losing progress, use self-contained resume prompts that revalidate the current state. The agent pauses at a 95% usage threshold and only resumes after rechecking the real usage window.

You can use parallel agents for broad refactors without exceeding your weekly budget by capping default parallel execution to small waves. The agent checks usage between waves and pauses at a 95% stop threshold to stay within limits.

You should implement usage checks during multi-agent research tasks before starting substantial work and between every execution wave. This ensures the process pauses near the 5-hour or weekly limit and only resumes after rechecking the real window.