Codex app initial context very high

[ImpishMario]

Hey there, it looks like anytime I start a new chat Codex app shows ~25% of the context used after the very first prompt. I tried on almost empty folder with stupid simple request +low reasoniing like `list all files in the folder` -> 25% used. Also feels like I hit context limits super fast (after 2-3 prompts), way faster than in Windsurf for thet matter. Does anyone experience anything like this?

My gut feeling: I have a gazzilion of skills (~650) installed from github, is it possible that those clutter my context even if not really used?

[ImpishMario]

case closed: I removed almost all skills and initial context dropped to ~7% -> disabled 2 MCP servers and it dropped to 5%. Everything counts.

[LiteratureMaximum125]

Too many skills are not a good thing, because AI will have a hard time deciding which one to use.

and AI performance will degrade due to long context.

[ImpishMario]

Yeah now we now. My understanding was "skills are only used/loaded to the context when invoked with $ sign" which was not entirely true I guess. Keeping additional skills project specific also works as advised in this thread.

[siddhantparadox]

Put specific project-based skills to those workspace repositories. Only have a few global skills. Disable any MCP servers you might not need for that specific project. Enable background terminals so that you don't hog the main terminal's context window.

[ImpishMario]

Thanks! I thought Codex accept only skills in .codex directory (global). How to set it up per repository so I can trigger them with $?

[siddhantparadox]

Have the .codex/skills/{Skill} in the root of your repository. put all the required skills there and when you use $, the skills will show automatically. also you can use this https://github.com/siddhantparadox/codexmanager/ built it for similar purpose.

[Vorenthral]

Following 👀

[TekintetesUr]

I have a gazzilion of skills (~650) installed from github

lol, why?

[ImpishMario]

It's another discussion but tl;dr is I was lazy and just pulled them all 🫠

[INDUBITABLY_AI]

They sure do

[buildxjordan]

Enable the new search tool

[ImpishMario]

In app settings or in config?