A thread you can test
Context Engineering
4 notes move from the word to a real choice at work — understand it first, then decide whether to use it.
Each note stands alone, or becomes the next step in this thread.
THE QUESTION THIS PAGE ANSWERS
ANSWER FIRSTWhat is Context Engineering, and which AI decisions does it change?
Two orthogonal paths — pressure trigger and overflow recovery — plus requiring a generation number to prove compaction actually happened before retry is allowed This page keeps the related concepts, common mistakes, and practical notes in one reading thread.
First decide whether you are blocked by a definition, a choice, or verification; then choose the closest of the 4 notes below.
Start with “Compaction Dual Paths & replaceGeneration,” then restate the conclusion using your own task.
Do not treat every method in a topic as interchangeable. The answer changes with the input, risk, and acceptance bar.
THIS QUESTION THREAD
Put the word back inside the choice it changes.
Compaction Dual Paths & replaceGeneration
Two orthogonal paths — pressure trigger and overflow recovery — plus requiring a generation number to prove compaction actually happened before retry is allowed
Token Accounting: Replay for Decisions, Projection for Display
Two meters, each its own job—compaction decisions never trust the UI number
Spill: When Tool Output Is Too Large
Over-limit output is archived to disk; the model keeps a retrieval credential
Session Search & Cross-Session Citations
Old sessions are a searchable corpus; citations can carry provenance