Cut OpenClaw Boot Tokens 43% by Slimming Tool & Memory Files
A user on r/openclaw slimmed their agent's boot context from ~9,457 to ~5,400 tokens — a 43% reduction — by cleaning up TOOLS.md and MEMORY.md.
Problems Found
- TOOLS.md bloat: Every tool added usage notes, commands, examples, and edge cases. Useful but not needed every session.
- Memory promotion overgrowth: Promotion candidates were added directly to main memory, causing
MEMORY.mdto grow indefinitely.
Fixes Applied
- Changed
TOOLS.mdto an index (auto-injected, so can't remove). Detailed notes moved totools/; agent reads them only when that tool is invoked. - New memory flow:
daily notes → promotion candidates → curated long-term memory. Promotion candidates go to a separate file; main memory holds only a pointer. Only durable facts needed often stay in boot memory.
Results
After: same agent, same tools, same behavior — just less loaded on every wake-up.
📖 Read the full source: r/openclaw
👀 See Also
OpenClaw LLM Timeout Fix for Cold Model Loading
A Reddit user identified and fixed a specific timeout issue in OpenClaw where cold-loaded local LLMs would fail after about 60 seconds, even with higher general timeouts set. The solution involves adjusting the embedded-runner LLM idle timeout configuration.
Stop Claude's Em Dashes with One Line in Preferences or Claude.md
Add a specific sentence to your Claude.ai profile preferences or Claude.md to reduce em dashes by ~98%. This is a practical tweak tested by the community.
Reddit User Warns: When Using Claude for Complex Projects, Tackle the Hardest Part First
A developer on r/ClaudeAI reports that letting the AI plan incrementally for a complex document editor led to 'complexity soup' and failures. The user advises forcing the model to solve the most complicated use case first, as its performance degrades with more context.
Claude User Shares 'Don't Manage My Feelings' Prompt for Direct Technical Feedback
A Claude user recommends setting a specific prompt in user preferences to reduce validation preamble and get more direct technical feedback. The prompt tells Claude to skip diplomatic phrasing and provide straightforward criticism on technical and creative work.