[Feature Request] Option to disable automatic context compression

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

I use manual handoff files in Obsidian to carry context across sessions. The automatic compression fires even while I'm in the middle of creating a handoff file, which defeats the purpose and wastes tokens with no benefit. There is no way to disable this behavior.

Proposed Solution

Add an option in settings to disable automatic context compression entirely. At minimum, auto-compression should not trigger during an active tool call or file write sequence.

Alternative Solutions

Currently I manually create handoff files in Obsidian before sessions get too long. However, compression sometimes fires mid-session even while I'm writing the handoff file, making the handoff incomplete.

Priority

Critical - Blocking my work

Feature Category

CLI commands and flags

Use Case Example

1. I start a long coding session with Claude Code.
2. I notice the context is getting long, so I ask Claude to write a handoff file.
3. Auto-compression triggers during the file write.
4. The handoff file is incomplete or the context summary is inaccurate.
5. The next session starts with missing context.

Additional Context

_No response_