CLAUDE.md too long? How to trim it

If Claude Code feels forgetful mid-session, check the size of CLAUDE.md first. Anthropic’s memory docs target under 200 lines per file because longer always-on memory consumes context and reduces adherence — imports organise content but still load with the parent.

Signs it is already too long

• The file mixes project identity, release runbooks, style essays, and one-off incident notes.
• The same “always / never” lines also exist in AGENTS.md or Cursor rules.
• /context (in Claude Code) shows memory dominating the window before the task starts.
• You would not ask a new teammate to memorise the whole file before their first PR.

Trim without inventing numbers

1. Measure. Paste CLAUDE.md into the token counter or drop it with sibling files into the scanner.
2. Keep a short always-on core. Project map, hard constraints, build/test commands, pointers to docs.
3. Move workflows to skills. Release checklists and long how-tos should load on demand, not every turn.
4. Prefer one source of truth. Point CLAUDE.md at @AGENTS.md for shared rules instead of forking copies (remember imports still cost tokens).
5. Enforce must-holds outside prose. Hooks, linters, and CI beat a buried “never” paragraph.