From 183e55dd80ac3ca112fc566bc245b9da050315da Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: damocles <damocles@hyperhive.local>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2026 12:35:27 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] hive-agent: let an agent compact from 40% context usage
 instead of 66%

---
 docs/4-implementation/turn-loop/mcp.md |  2 +-
 hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs          |  2 +-
 hive-agent-sock/src/lib.rs             |  2 +-
 hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs          | 18 +++++++++++++++++-
 4 files changed, 20 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/4-implementation/turn-loop/mcp.md b/docs/4-implementation/turn-loop/mcp.md
index ded65a9db..e352f5932 100644
--- a/docs/4-implementation/turn-loop/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/4-implementation/turn-loop/mcp.md
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ hive_name?, swarm_name?, matrix_accounts? }`. `matrix_accounts` is a
 - `compact` — queues a compaction of the current session; the only way to
   request one. No args. Gated server-side on the last completed
   turn's context usage: refused (with an explanation, no side effect)
-  unless usage is above 66% of the effective context window. On a
+  unless usage is above 40% of the effective context window. On a
   pass, queues the deferred `compact_pending` flag — consumed at the end
   of the current turn, so it never
   races a live claude process, and the usual pre-compaction
diff --git a/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs b/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs
index 545b44d37..4fd9d134d 100644
--- a/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs
+++ b/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ impl AgentServer {
     #[tool(
         description = "Compact the current session's context, mirroring the operator's \
             dashboard `/compact` button. Gated: only honoured when this agent's last \
-            completed turn used more than 66% of the effective context window — below \
+            completed turn used more than 40% of the effective context window — below \
             that the call is refused with an explanation and has no effect. On a pass, \
             queues compaction for the end of the current turn (same deferred mechanism \
             the dashboard button uses, so it never races a live claude process); the \
diff --git a/hive-agent-sock/src/lib.rs b/hive-agent-sock/src/lib.rs
index 5a3cd9ed4..526aae471 100644
--- a/hive-agent-sock/src/lib.rs
+++ b/hive-agent-sock/src/lib.rs
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ pub enum Request {
     ReminderRollup { since_secs: u64 },
     /// Agent self-service request to compact the current session, mirroring
     /// the `compact` MCP tool. Gated server-side: only
-    /// honoured when the last completed turn's context usage is above 66%
+    /// honoured when the last completed turn's context usage is above 40%
     /// of the effective context window — below that, `Response::Err`
     /// explains why and takes no action. On a pass, queues the same
     /// deferred `compact_pending` flag (consumed
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs b/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs
index 144d25c81..9879460a6 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/todo_server.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ use crate::todos::{Todo, Todos};
 /// effective context window, an agent-initiated compact is refused (nothing
 /// meaningful to reclaim yet, and it'd just burn a compaction pass on a
 /// near-empty session).
-const COMPACT_MIN_USAGE_FRACTION: f64 = 0.66;
+const COMPACT_MIN_USAGE_FRACTION: f64 = 0.40;
 
 /// Pause after a failed `accept`, so a failure that persists (fd exhaustion)
 /// does not turn the accept loop into a busy spin.
@@ -982,6 +982,22 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(low.take_compact().is_none(), "a refusal queues nothing");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn the_compact_floor_is_forty_percent_of_the_window() {
+        let (_dir, todos, _) = stores();
+        let wake = Notify::new();
+        let under = bus_with_context(39);
+        let resp = dispatch(compact_req(None), &todos, &wake, None, &under);
+        assert!(
+            matches!(&resp, Response::Err { message } if message.contains("40%")),
+            "{resp:?}"
+        );
+        let at = bus_with_context(40);
+        let resp = dispatch(compact_req(None), &todos, &wake, None, &at);
+        assert!(matches!(resp, Response::Ok), "{resp:?}");
+        assert!(at.take_compact().is_some(), "the floor itself is allowed");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn compact_above_the_floor_queues_the_request_with_its_wake_prompt() {
         let (_dir, todos, _) = stores();