What is claude-code-eco?

claude-code-eco is a tool that helps you spend less on Claude Code, the AI coding assistant, by cutting down on wasted output tokens. Its creator noticed that Claude Code often re-reads files it just edited, repeats diffs it already applied, and writes long explanations for small fixes. This project measures that waste and removes it, with 82 published benchmark runs showing the results, including cases where the approach did not help. The tool adds two commands you can use inside Claude Code: /eco and /eco-max. /eco applies a set of frugality rules that keep full reasoning depth but cut unnecessary padding from responses, typically reducing output tokens by 31 to 73 percent depending on the task. /eco-max goes further by also lowering the reasoning effort level for routine chores, cutting tokens by up to 75 percent, though this is an opt in tradeoff since it can reduce how many extra issues get caught. Testing showed that important warnings, like a bug that could crash code, were still reported reliably at low effort, while minor extra suggestions were the main thing left out. You can install it as a Claude Code plugin, as a personal skill available across all your projects, or by copying its skills folder into a single project. It works in any language you write in, since the underlying rules are in English but the replies follow your language. You activate it once per session by typing /eco or /eco-max, or just saying something like activate eco mode if slash commands are not available, such as in the mobile app. The project is written mainly in JavaScript and is aimed at developers who use Claude Code regularly and want to make their usage limits or API costs last longer. It is released under the MIT license and includes a benchmarks folder where anyone can rerun the same tests on their own tasks to check the claimed savings.