strain plugin
A session-strain meter for long agent sessions. Counts how loaded a single conversation has become and makes the agent report it on its own, on a schedule it cannot quietly skip, so you find out that a session should be wrapped before its answers start degrading. Reads the real context size on hosts that expose one, and says so plainly when it cannot.
How to install the strain plugin
Run both commands inside Claude Code. The first adds the marketplace once; the second installs the plugin.
/plugin marketplace add jovesun-lab/whetstone
/plugin install strain@whetstoneWhat's inside strain
4 parts read from the plugin's own files.
Skills 2
Claude loads it when the task matches- start
Use at the START of every session, before your first reply — short sessions too — and again at the wrap or handoff. Checks that strain (the session-strain meter) has signed this session in, signs it in if not, asks the user for permission the right way, and offers once to add this step to the agent's instruction file. Also use whenever strain says a session is not signed. Triggers on: session start, new session, first reply, sign in, strain not signed, strain start, wrap up, handoff, end of session. Also use before dispatching a sub-agent: strain does not apply inside one.
- strain
Read how loaded the current session has become and report it as a tier, so a conversation gets wrapped before its answers start degrading. Use whenever someone asks how the session is holding up, whether it is time to wrap or start fresh, why the agent feels sluggish or forgetful; whenever a strain tick fires; and as a standing habit on long multi-hour work. Triggers on: session strain, is this session too long, should we wrap, context is filling up, running out of context, start a fresh session, why is the agent getting worse, session health, strain check, strain tier. Counts the real context size where the host exposes one, and counts behaviour where it does not. For the start of a session and the wrap — signing in, asking permission — use strain:start.
Hooks 2
Runs on these events- PostToolUsecommand
*
- SessionStartcommand
No description in the file.
Using strain in Claude Code
Skills need no command. Claude reads them when your request matches what they describe.
Update, turn off or remove
- Update the plugin (shell)
- claude plugin update strain@whetstone
- Refresh the marketplace
- /plugin marketplace update whetstone
- Turn it off for now
- /plugin disable strain@whetstone
- Remove it
- /plugin uninstall strain@whetstone
Skills in strain
- startjovesun-lab/whetstone
Use at the START of every session, before your first reply — short sessions too — and again at the wrap or handoff. Checks that strain (the session-strain meter) has signed this session in, signs it in if not, asks the user for permission the right way, and offers once to add this step to the agent's instruction file. Also use whenever strain says a session is not signed. Triggers on: session start, new session, first reply, sign in, strain not signed, strain start, wrap up, handoff, end of session. Also use before dispatching a sub-agent: strain does not apply inside one.
8stars - strainjovesun-lab/whetstone
Read how loaded the current session has become and report it as a tier, so a conversation gets wrapped before its answers start degrading. Use whenever someone asks how the session is holding up, whether it is time to wrap or start fresh, why the agent feels sluggish or forgetful; whenever a strain tick fires; and as a standing habit on long multi-hour work. Triggers on: session strain, is this session too long, should we wrap, context is filling up, running out of context, start a fresh session, why is the agent getting worse, session health, strain check, strain tier. Counts the real context size where the host exposes one, and counts behaviour where it does not. For the start of a session and the wrap — signing in, asking permission — use strain:start.
8stars
strain plugin questions
How do I install the strain plugin?
In Claude Code run /plugin marketplace add jovesun-lab/whetstone, then /plugin install strain@whetstone.
What does the strain plugin include?
strain bundles 2 skills, hooks.
How do I update or remove the strain plugin?
Update it with claude plugin update strain@whetstone in your shell, or from the Installed tab of /plugin. Remove it with /plugin uninstall strain@whetstone.
What license is the strain plugin under?
MIT, as stated in the plugin's manifest.