CLIs don't use context space when unused. I find them almost universally preferable just because of that.

Models get stupid after the first 80-100k tokens are used so keeping bloated tools out of the window unless completely necessary is a pretty hard requirement for effective AI use IMO.

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anamexis 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Well you need to use context space somehow, to tell Claude that the LSP CLI exists and how to use it.

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wild_egg 5 hours ago | parent [-]

It takes a dozen tokens to put "when you need to do X, run `foo --help` and use it" in your CLAUDE.md.

Plenty of MCPs and plugins and whatnot out there idly consuming 5-25k tokens 24/7. How is that the same?

	▲	anamexis 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Because you can enable/disable MCPs and plugins just like you can choose not to include that context in CLAUDE.md . I do it all the time. I have several MCPs configured but only enable them on demand.