TaskCreate/TaskUpdate system reminders are too frequent and add context noise
Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Apr 10, 2026 by hrconsultnj Closed Apr 13, 2026
Problem
When using Claude Code with the task tools (TaskCreate, TaskUpdate), the system injects periodic reminders like:
"The task tools haven't been used recently. If you're working on tasks that would benefit from tracking progress, consider using TaskCreate..."
These fire very frequently — often every 2-3 tool calls — even when the current work doesn't warrant task tracking (e.g., single-file edits, quick lookups, conversational exchanges).
Impact
- Context pollution: Each reminder consumes tokens in the context window, reducing space for actual work
- Noise for plugin authors: Plugins that use hooks (SessionStart, PreToolUse, PostToolUse) already manage their own task workflows. The system reminders compete with plugin-driven task management
- Breaks flow: When doing rapid file edits, seeing "task tools haven't been used recently" after every edit is distracting
Suggested fix
- Option A: Make the reminder frequency configurable (e.g.,
settings.json→taskReminderInterval: "never" | "low" | "default") - Option B: Only show the reminder once per session, not repeatedly
- Option C: Suppress reminders when a plugin has registered task-related hooks (indicating it handles task management)
Environment
- Claude Code CLI
- Using plugins with PostToolUse hooks that manage task state independently
- High-frequency tool use sessions (50+ tool calls)
cc @bcherny
This issue has 3 comments on GitHub. Read the full discussion on GitHub ↗