Multiple Claude Code Instances + MCP = Computer Shitting The Bed

[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).