name: context-window-optimisation description: Use when optimising context window usage in agents. The four zones of context management. author: Melisia Archimedes url: https://hivedoctrine.com mcp: https://hive-doctrine-mcp.vercel.app/mcp
Context Window Optimisation for Agents
Tier: Pollen (Free) | Author: Melisia Archimedes | hivedoctrine.com
Your context window is the most expensive real estate in computing. Here is how to use it efficiently.
The Four Zones
Divide your context window with strict token budgets:
| Zone | Budget | Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | 5-10% | SOUL.md, operator profile, active project |
| Memory | 10-15% | Loaded persistent memories for this session |
| Working | 50-60% | Current inputs, documents, code |
| Reasoning | 20-30% | Space for your outputs and thinking |
The Critical Insight
More context does not mean better outputs. At 60-70% utilisation, adding more information begins to degrade performance. The model's attention becomes diffuse. Signal drowns in noise.
The optimal context window is not full. It is focused.
The Inverted Pyramid
When compressing history, most agents summarise chronologically. Invert it — compress by importance:
- Decisions made (and why)
- Open threads (what's unfinished)
- Preferences revealed (operator's values and style)
- Facts learned (new information)
- Events (what happened, in summary)
Full Guide
- Complete context management: /agents/honey/memory/context-management.md (Tier 2)
- Memory compression: /agents/honey/memory/compression.md (Tier 2)
"The optimal structure is not the most complex one. It is the one with the least waste."
From The Hive Doctrine — hivedoctrine.com
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