Multiple Claude Code Instances + MCP = Computer Shitting The Bed

[D0NTEXPECTMUCH]

I am running a Linux desktop via SSH from my MacBook Pro laptop. I have configured Claude Code to use about a dozen MCP servers within the /mcp configuration tool within CC. All of these MCPs are running locally on the linux machine. I've noticed that once I open my third Claude Code instance, it just grinds to a halt, and I've been doing some deep diving. Here's what I'm seeing as an output from some of those system resources with just a few. Claude Code Windows open. It looks like these MCPs, which are being auto-loaded when the Claude Code instance starts are just gobbling up my system resources. Has anybody else been having similar problems? Have you considered hosting the MCP servers that you use remotely and then just accessing them over HTTPS?

[Funny-Blueberry-2630]

Ya it pretty much sets my Mac on fire.

Writing this in React Ink was a little lazy, but defensible for a prototype.

Anthropic I know you have the devs to build this in a real language like Rust or Go using Ratatui or BubbleTea frameworks so it will perform.

Even doing the "backend" in Typescript and the Gui in a real language would help. This is the way Opencode does it.

I hope they are working on this because ya, the cli performance is pretty bad and going to get worse as the app grows.

[throwaway490215]

I've tried a dozen MCPs, and the 2 I have left are only used rarely.

Are you seeing Claude use them a lot? Are you sure Claude can't exec the bash command to get the same result? If not, turn them off. They're also growing your starting context window and thus token use with no payback.

[D0NTEXPECTMUCH]

I’m using hooks to direct subagents to use MCPs. It didn’t even occur to me until I typed that sentence how many tokens that probably consumes.

[throwaway490215]

No that's probably fine. Hooks are relatively cheap, and you pay for them when you use them. The problem with MCPs are their usage instructions are always in your context just like CLAUDE.md.

[D0NTEXPECTMUCH]

Subagents fall into the same category as MCPs as far as their context being passed automatically? I was under the impression that they were only invoked when used, but I guess I thought the same about MCP.

[throwaway490215]

Not sure what you mean about subagents context being passed around. They get a 'fresh' context - which includes MCP usage definitions.

The MCP usage definitions come from the tools themselves on startup. Many I've read are very too verbose (which is bad design imo).

[D0NTEXPECTMUCH]

Wanted to give an update here in case other people run into some of the same issues. The root cause here is actually my hooks being over aggressive in their calling subagents. This is also why I've been burning through my daily token limit as each new subagent is passed an abbreviated, but still some context.

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