# Clean Context > Sanitize the project environment — archive scratchpads, remove merged worktrees and branches, update Context Health in tracks.md. Bail if uncommitted work is detected. - Skill: `designgrappler/clean-context` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add designgrappler/clean-context` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/designgrappler/clean-context/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: designgrappler (https://skillmd.com/u/designgrappler) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/designgrappler/clean-context --- ## Safety check Run `git status`. If there is any uncommitted work in the current branch, **bail immediately** with a warning and do not proceed. Run `git worktree list`. If any worktree (other than the main one) is dirty, bail with a warning naming the affected worktree. Only continue when both checks pass. ## Scratchpad and temp-artifact archival Scan for `scratchpad_*.md` files and temporary build artifacts in the project root and subdirectories. Move them to `.agent/archives/` per project policy, or delete if the project has no archive directory and the file has no useful content. Log each action. ## Merged worktree sweep For each directory under `.claude/worktrees/` (and `.worktrees/` if present), check whether its branch is merged into `main`: ``` git branch --merged main ``` If merged: run `git worktree remove `. Use `--force` only when the worktree contains nothing beyond generated or symlinked artifacts (e.g. `node_modules`). Log any skipped worktrees with the reason. ## Merged branch sweep Run `git branch --merged main`. Delete every `track/*` branch that appears: ``` git branch -d ``` **Never use `-D` (force-delete).** If a branch is not fully merged, log it and skip. ## Memory hygiene scan Run after the merged-branch sweep and before the Context Health update. Locate the memory directory at `~/.claude/projects//memory/` where `` is the value of `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR` (or current working directory) with the leading `/` stripped and all remaining `/` replaced with `-`. Example: `/Users/I826932/Developer/agent-os-private` → `-Users-I826932-Developer-agent-os-private`. If the memory directory does not exist, print `Memory hygiene scan: no memory directory found at — skipping` and continue without error. ### File classification For each file in the memory directory (excluding `MEMORY.md` itself), classify by filename prefix: - **`reference_*`** — reference memory (pointers to external systems) - **`feedback_*`** — feedback memory (behavioral rules) - **`project_*`** — project memory (sprint/initiative state) - **unclassified** — any file not matching the above prefixes ### Per-category staleness policy **`reference_*` — never auto-flag for prune.** Only flag as `RETIRE candidate` if the concrete artifact referenced in the body (script path, repo path, file path) no longer exists at that path. **`feedback_*` — never auto-flag for prune.** Only flag as `RETIRE candidate` if the behavioral rule has been codified verbatim into `CLAUDE.md`, any `claude/agents/*.md`, or any `claude/skills/**/SKILL.md` (i.e. the rule is now enforced as a system constraint and the memory file is redundant). **`project_*` — flag as `RETIRE candidate` only if BOTH of the following signals are present (two-signal rule):** 1. The `Created:` field (per CLAUDE.md Memory Authoring Convention) is older than 90 days, OR the file's mtime is older than 90 days. 2. The referenced sprint is archived (appears in `docs/context/plan.md` Completed Sprint sections OR in `docs/archive/plan-docs/`), OR the file contains no sprint reference AND is not referenced in `MEMORY.md`'s index. A single signal alone (e.g. mtime > 90 days by itself) is **not sufficient** to flag a `project_*` file. Both signals must be independently satisfied. If the `Created:` field is missing, surface the file as `stale-undatable` in the `Stale signals matched` column — the two-signal rule still applies; missing `Created:` alone does not trigger a flag. **Unclassified — never auto-flag.** Surface as `manual review required` with no action proposed. ### Report format Print findings as a markdown table with these columns: | File | Category | Stale signals matched | Action proposed | |---|---|---|---| | `path/to/file.md` — first-line summary | reference / feedback / project / unclassified | explicit list e.g. "mtime 187d; S6 archived; not in MEMORY.md index" | RETAIN / RETIRE candidate / MERGE candidate (duplicate of X) / manual review required | If no findings are produced (all files pass their category policy), print `Memory hygiene scan: no findings — all memory files current.` ### Hard constraints **Never delete any memory file.** This step is read-only with respect to memory file content and existence. The Conductor decides whether to mark a candidate `STATUS: retired`. When the Conductor approves a retirement, the skill writes two lines into the file in-place (no deletion): ``` STATUS: retired — Retired: YYYY-MM-DD ``` The file remains on disk as part of the learning record. ### Tombstone retirement workflow After the report is displayed, ask: "Approve any retirements? (list file numbers, or 'none')" For each approved file: 1. Write `STATUS: retired — ` and `Retired: YYYY-MM-DD` as the first content lines (after frontmatter, before body). 2. Print confirmation: `Retired: `. 3. Do NOT delete the file. For declined files: log as `Retained — Conductor decision`. ## Context Health update Open `docs/context/tracks.md`. Update the "Context Health" status line to reflect the current state (branches pruned, worktrees removed, scratchpads archived, memory hygiene scan run). Record the date. ## Verification checklist - Safety gate fires: skill refuses to proceed when `git status` shows uncommitted work or any worktree is dirty. - Scratchpad/temp files were moved or deleted; `.agent/archives/` updated where applicable. - Merged worktrees under `.claude/worktrees/` (and `.worktrees/` if present) were removed; unmerged ones were logged and skipped. - No `track/*` branch that was already merged to `main` remains; unmerged ones were logged. - Memory hygiene scan: the pruning report fired (or "no findings" was printed); no memory file was deleted. - `tracks.md` Context Health entry updated with the current date.