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[FR] Options to reduce MCP token usage #506
Description
Problem
I'm using Task Genius MCP with Claude Code, and the token overhead is eating my context budget.
Tool definition take ~13.6k tokens. The responses also include spaces and newlines between fields.
Solution
Tool filtering – Make it possible to choose which tools are enabled.
Could be as simple as an enabledTools array in settings, filtering what getTools() returns.
Compact JSON – The server uses JSON.stringify(result, null, 2). An option for minified output would be great.
Field selection – Most of my queries don't need all of the fields. Something like query_tasks({ fields: [...] }) or a per-tool config would be useful.
Activity
Quorafind commentedon Nov 29, 2025
Soon. I am also using claude code with task genius
Quorafind commentedon Dec 1, 2025
Fixed, you can try again with 9.12.3 and see if issue remains
kkirss commentedon Dec 1, 2025
You added
fieldsparameter to allow filtering fields. This is great, thanks :)Stripping the whitespace would also be good. The JSON is descriptive enough for LLMs.
It seems you added 2 tools for dynamic discovery of tools. But all the other tools are still included in the context window. So the context usage actually increased with this.
yifanyifan897645 commentedon Mar 30, 2026
The irony of adding discovery tools increasing total context usage is a common trap. If you want to measure the actual token impact of each tool definition before and after changes, mcp-checkup can give exact numbers per tool and grade overall efficiency:
It would flag a net-negative "optimization" immediately. For compact output, stripping
null, 2formatting from JSON.stringify in tool responses is also low-hanging fruit (~15-20% token reduction).