Claude Code Troubleshooting & Commands

429 Rate Limit - Exponential Backoff

async function callClaudeWithRetry(payload, maxRetries = 5) {
  let retries = 0;
  while (retries < maxRetries) {
    try {
      const response = await axios.post(CLAUDE_API_URL, payload);
      return response.data;
    } catch (error) {
      if (error.response?.status === 429) {
        const retryAfter = error.response.headers['retry-after'] 
          || Math.pow(2, retries) * 1000;
        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, retryAfter));
        retries++;
      } else {
        throw error;
      }
    }
  }
}

Context Window Overflow (400 Error)

• Use /compact with specific instructions
• Start fresh with /clear (most important command)
• Break large files into smaller components
• Work on one feature at a time
• Clear after every major task completion

Core

Configuration

Session Management

Memory & Context

Basic analysis

claude "think about this function"

Enhanced analysis

claude "think hard about the security implications"

Advanced research

claude "think deeply about the architecture"

Maximum analysis

claude "ultrathink about the entire system"

Essential

Claude-Specific

Resume Recent Sessions

Session File Locations

Task Management

• Break complex tasks into smaller problems

  One user: "2 days arguing on complex PR ($100) vs two 10-minute tasks"

• Handle Git operations manually

  Let Claude modify files, you handle commits

Performance Tips

• Claude handles large files better than competitors

  "18,000-line React component - only Claude Code succeeded"

• Monitor usage with /cost and /status

  Set up ccundo for checkpoints before major operations