MRSchexnayder · Oct 18, 2026 · Oct 18, 2026 · Oct 18, 2026 · Oct 18, 2026 · Oct 18, 2026
diff --git a/docs/harness/claudecode/claudecode-vertexai.md b/docs/harness/claudecode/claudecode-vertexai.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ audit through Google Cloud.
 > login prompt still labels it **Google Vertex AI**, and its environment variables keep the `VERTEX`
 > name.
 >
-> Verified against Claude Code 2.1.299 on 2026-10-14.
+> Verified against Claude Code 2.1.302 on 2026-10-18.
 
 This page covers the minimum setup. Anthropic maintains the full procedure, including IAM, region
 rules, model pinning, and troubleshooting, in

diff --git a/docs/skills/agent-creator-claudecode.md b/docs/skills/agent-creator-claudecode.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ conditions under which Claude Code silently skips a file, and tool and permissio
 
 - **Skill name:** `agent-creator-claudecode`
 - **Source:** [skills/agent-creator-claudecode](https://github.com/CowboyLogic/ai-dev/tree/main/skills/agent-creator-claudecode)
-- **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.299](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.299) (released 2026-10-14), last re-verified 2026-10-14
+- **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.302](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.302) (released 2026-10-16), last re-verified 2026-10-18
 
 ---
 

diff --git a/docs/skills/client-config-claudecode.md b/docs/skills/client-config-claudecode.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ MCP servers, model configuration, sandbox isolation, auto mode, voice, and plugi
 
 - **Skill name:** `client-config-claudecode`
 - **Source:** [skills/client-config-claudecode](https://github.com/CowboyLogic/ai-dev/tree/main/skills/client-config-claudecode)
-- **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.299](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.299) (released 2026-10-14), last re-verified 2026-10-14
+- **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.302](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.302) (released 2026-10-16), last re-verified 2026-10-18
 
 ---
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ npx skills ls -g --agent claude-code
 
 In a benchmark run on 2026-04-26, the skill raised the assertion pass rate from 80% to
 100%, with the gain concentrated on settings that postdate the model's training. That run
-predates the 2026-09-24, 2026-10-11, 2026-10-13, and 2026-10-14 reference refreshes. The detail is in the [skill README](https://github.com/CowboyLogic/ai-dev/blob/main/skills/client-config-claudecode/README.md),
+predates the 2026-09-24, 2026-10-11, 2026-10-13, 2026-10-14, and 2026-10-18 reference refreshes. The detail is in the [skill README](https://github.com/CowboyLogic/ai-dev/blob/main/skills/client-config-claudecode/README.md),
 and the version history is in the
 [CHANGELOG](https://github.com/CowboyLogic/ai-dev/blob/main/skills/client-config-claudecode/CHANGELOG.md).
 

diff --git a/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/README.md b/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/README.md
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@
 A skill for creating and troubleshooting custom subagents for Claude Code.
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.299](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.299)
-> (released 2026-10-14; the npm `latest` and `next` tags on 2026-10-14, with `stable` at 2.1.287).
+> **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.302](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.302)
+> (released 2026-10-16; the npm `latest` and `next` tags on 2026-10-18, with `stable` at 2.1.292).
 > Field behavior comes from <https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents>, with failure
 > behavior from <https://code.claude.com/docs/en/errors>, checked against the changelog
-> through 2.1.299. Where only the changelog supports a claim (`autoCompactWindow`,
-> `CLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL`, MCP server names containing `__` in `tools`), the
-> reference says so. Last re-verified 2026-10-14.
+> through 2.1.302. Where only the changelog supports a claim (`CLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL`,
+> MCP server names containing `__` in `tools`, fork mode defaulting on in `-p`, the Agent SDK,
+> the desktop app and VS Code), the reference says so. Last re-verified 2026-10-18.
 > Re-verify when Claude Code ships a new release.
 
 ## Overview

diff --git a/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/SKILL.md b/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/SKILL.md
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ the same family, including any `[1m]` context suffix.
 | `color` | `red`, `blue`, `green`, `yellow`, `purple`, `orange`, `pink`, `cyan` |
 | `initialPrompt` | First user turn when the file runs as the main session agent |
 | `experimental` | `{cacheTtl: 5m \| 1h}` prompt cache lifetime |
-| `autoCompactWindow` | Auto-compact earlier than the main conversation's window (v2.1.296; changelog only, not yet in the docs table) |
+| `autoCompactWindow` | Auto-compact earlier than the main conversation's window: a token count from `100000` to `1000000` (v2.1.296+; `CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_COMPACT_WINDOW`, when set, wins) |
 
 Plugin agents ignore `hooks`, `mcpServers`, `permissionMode`, and `initialPrompt`. Copy the
 file into `.claude/agents/` if you need them.

diff --git a/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/references/frontmatter-reference.md b/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/references/frontmatter-reference.md
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 Reference for the YAML frontmatter fields of Claude Code agent files. Load this file when
 writing, reviewing, or debugging agent frontmatter.
 
-**Source (last verified 2026-10-14 against Claude Code 2.1.299; the docs page references
-versions up to v2.1.292):**
+**Source (last verified 2026-10-18 against Claude Code 2.1.302; the docs page references
+versions up to v2.1.296):**
 <https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents#supported-frontmatter-fields>
 
-`autoCompactWindow` is the one field here that only the v2.1.296 changelog supports; the
-docs table does not list it yet.
+Every field in this file is in the docs table. Where a note below is labeled "changelog only",
+the Claude Code changelog is its only source.
 
 Field names are camelCase and case-sensitive. **Unrecognized fields are ignored without an
 error**, so a misspelling looks exactly like a working file.
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ color: blue
 initialPrompt: "Start by reading TODO.md"   # main-session use only
 experimental:                        # v2.1.248+
   cacheTtl: 5m
-autoCompactWindow: 200000            # v2.1.296+ (changelog only)
+autoCompactWindow: 200000            # v2.1.296+; 100000 to 1000000
 ---
 ```
 
@@ -214,6 +214,14 @@ subagents in foreground or background"):
    when Claude needs the result before continuing. `background: true` keeps the agent in the
    background even then.
 
+Changelog only (v2.1.302): fork mode is now also on by default in `claude -p`, the Agent SDK,
+the desktop app and VS Code, so case 3 applies there; `CLAUDE_CODE_FORK_SUBAGENT=0` turns it
+off, and `claude mcp serve` never offers forks. The desktop app and VS Code always run the
+main conversation's subagents in the background, as the terminal does. The exception to
+case 3 is a subagent's own Agent calls in `-p`, the Agent SDK, the desktop app and VS Code,
+which run in the foreground by default. The sub-agents docs page still says fork mode is off for `-p` and the SDK (checked
+2026-10-18), so case 4 as written above is the pre-2.1.302 behavior there.
+
 A skill with `context: fork` follows the skills docs instead. Background agents get a smaller
 built-in tool set than foreground ones, except forks and resumed foreground agents.
 
@@ -253,12 +261,15 @@ user prompt. Ignored for plugin agents. Does nothing when the file is used as a
 
 ### `autoCompactWindow`
 
-Lets this agent auto-compact earlier than the main conversation's window (added in v2.1.296;
-supported in frontmatter and `--agents` definitions). Same key name as the
-`autoCompactWindow` setting, a token count, which the settings reference documents as 100000
-to 1000000. The v2.1.296
-changelog entry does not state the range or precedence for the frontmatter field, so verify
-against the sub-agents docs page before relying on either.
+Lets this agent auto-compact earlier than the main conversation's window (requires v2.1.296
+or later; supported in frontmatter and `--agents` definitions). A token count from `100000`
+to `1000000`. If `CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_COMPACT_WINDOW` is set to a positive integer, the agent
+uses that variable's window and the field has no effect.
+
+Write a plain integer such as `200000`: in frontmatter `200k` is read as 200, which is out of
+range. An out-of-range value is ignored (the agent still loads and compacts as if the field
+were absent); search `claude --debug` output for `invalid autoCompactWindow` to confirm.
+Source: <https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents#subagent-auto-compact-window>
 
 ### `experimental`
 
@@ -287,8 +298,7 @@ under `experimental`, not a top-level key. Not accepted in `--agents` JSON.
 Session-only agents, not saved to disk. Each top-level key is the name; the value takes
 `prompt` plus these fields: `description`, `tools`, `disallowedTools`, `model`,
 `permissionMode`, `mcpServers`, `hooks`, `maxTurns`, `skills`, `initialPrompt`, `memory`,
-`effort`, `background`, `omitClaudeMd`, `isolation`, and (v2.1.296, changelog only)
-`autoCompactWindow`.
+`effort`, `background`, `omitClaudeMd`, `isolation`, and (v2.1.296+) `autoCompactWindow`.
 
 ```bash
 claude --agents '{

diff --git a/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/references/tools-reference.md b/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/references/tools-reference.md
@@ -74,13 +74,15 @@ same context.
 | Need | How |
 |---|---|
 | Start one yourself | `/subtask <task>` (v2.1.212+; `/fork` on v2.1.161 through v2.1.211, and `/fork` also starts one when agent view is turned off) |
-| Fork mode default | On in interactive sessions (v2.1.232+); off with `-p` and in the Agent SDK |
-| Force fork mode | `CLAUDE_CODE_FORK_SUBAGENT=1` on everywhere, `0` off everywhere |
+| Fork mode default | On in interactive sessions (v2.1.232+); off with `-p` and in the Agent SDK per the docs page. Changelog only (v2.1.302): also on by default in `-p`, the Agent SDK, the desktop app and VS Code, and `claude mcp serve` never offers forks |
+| Force fork mode | `CLAUDE_CODE_FORK_SUBAGENT=1` on, `0` off, in every kind of session except `claude mcp serve`, which never offers forks (changelog only, v2.1.302) |
 | Keep fork mode but stop Claude spawning forks | Deny the `fork` type: `Agent(fork)` in `permissions.deny` |
 | Isolate a fork's edits | Claude passes `isolation: "worktree"` on the Agent call |
 
 With fork mode on, Claude Code runs every subagent Claude spawns in the background, forks
-and non-fork alike, and removes the Agent tool's `run_in_background` parameter. A fork cannot
+and non-fork alike, and removes the Agent tool's `run_in_background` parameter (apart from the
+cases that stay in the foreground; changelog only, v2.1.302: a subagent's own Agent calls in
+`-p`, the Agent SDK, the desktop app and VS Code run in the foreground by default). A fork cannot
 spawn further forks. Source: <https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents#fork-the-current-conversation>.
 
 ---

diff --git a/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/references/troubleshooting.md b/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/references/troubleshooting.md
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ Claude Code ignores unrecognized fields without any error. Check in this order:
 |---|---|---|
 | `Agent '<name>' would be spawned with zero tools — refusing` | Every `tools` entry is **unrecognized** (typo such as `Grpe`), **not available to subagents** (`AskUserQuestion`, `Workflow`, `CronCreate` in the background), or **matched no tools in this session** (`mcp__github__*` with no GitHub server, `Agent` at the depth limit) | Fix each entry the error names. Or delete `tools` to inherit everything |
 | Agent has fewer tools than listed, no error | Some entries resolved and others were dropped (background filter, unconnected MCP server) | Check the foreground/background note below; verify MCP servers are connected |
-| Works with `--agent` but not when delegated | Delegated agents run in the background by default, with a reduced tool set | Remove entries only foreground agents get, set `background: false` and ask for foreground, or turn fork mode off |
+| Works with `--agent` but not when delegated | Delegated agents run in the background by default, with a reduced tool set | Remove entries only foreground agents get, set `background: false` and ask for foreground, or turn fork mode off (`CLAUDE_CODE_FORK_SUBAGENT=0`) |
 | `disallowedTools: Bash(git push *)` removed all of Bash | Specifiers remove the whole tool | Use a `permissions.deny` rule or a `PreToolUse` hook |
 | Agent can edit despite `tools: Read, Grep` | `memory` enables Read, Write, and Edit for the memory directory | Drop `memory` or accept that Write/Edit are scoped to memory files |
 | Agent cannot spawn subagents | `Agent` missing from `tools`, depth limit reached, or the tool is withheld at the limit | Add `Agent`; check `CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_SUBAGENT_SPAWN_DEPTH` |

diff --git a/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/scripts/validate-agent.py b/skills/agent-creator-claudecode/scripts/validate-agent.py
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@
 unknown or mis-cased fields, bad enum values, and fields ignored in a given scope.
 Requires PyYAML. Exit status is 1 when any error is found (or any warning with --strict).
 
-Field list last verified 2026-10-14 against Claude Code 2.1.299:
+Field list last verified 2026-10-18 against Claude Code 2.1.302:
 https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents#supported-frontmatter-fields
-(`autoCompactWindow` comes from the v2.1.296 changelog; the docs table does not list it yet.)
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -62,7 +61,8 @@
     "experimental": "v2.1.248",
     "autoCompactWindow": "v2.1.296",
 }
-NAME_MAX_LENGTH = 256   # longer names are skipped (docs: "Subagent files Claude Code skips")
+AUTO_COMPACT_WINDOW_RANGE = (100_000, 1_000_000)  # docs: "a token count from 100000 to 1000000"
+NAME_MAX_LENGTH = 256  # longer names are skipped (docs: "Subagent files Claude Code skips")
 SKILLS_PRELOAD_MAX = 32  # only the first 32 distinct names are preloaded
 TOOL_NAME = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*(\(.*\))?$")
 CASE_INSENSITIVE = {f.lower(): f for f in KNOWN_FIELDS}
@@ -336,6 +336,9 @@ def validate(path: Path, plugin: bool) -> Report:
     acw = data.get("autoCompactWindow")
     if acw is not None and (isinstance(acw, bool) or not isinstance(acw, int) or acw < 1):
         rep.error("autoCompactWindow: must be a positive integer number of tokens")
+    elif acw is not None and not AUTO_COMPACT_WINDOW_RANGE[0] <= acw <= AUTO_COMPACT_WINDOW_RANGE[1]:
+        rep.warn(f"autoCompactWindow: {acw} is outside {AUTO_COMPACT_WINDOW_RANGE[0]} to "
+                 f"{AUTO_COMPACT_WINDOW_RANGE[1]}; Claude Code ignores it and compacts as if it were absent")
 
     mcp = data.get("mcpServers")
     if mcp is not None:

diff --git a/skills/client-config-claudecode/CHANGELOG.md b/skills/client-config-claudecode/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,40 @@
 
 Changes to the `client-config-claudecode` skill, newest first.
 
+## 2026-10-18 — v2.4 (verified against Claude Code 2.1.302)
+
+Basis: Claude Code 2.1.302 (released 2026-10-16; npm `latest` and `next`, `stable` is
+2.1.292), the 2.1.300–2.1.302 changelog, and the `code.claude.com/docs` pages fetched
+2026-10-18. Claims only the changelog supports are labeled "changelog only" in the references.
+
+- `references/permissions.md`: an MCP allow rule for a server whose name contains `__` or ends
+  in `_` is now documented upstream, so it is no longer labeled changelog only (deny and ask
+  rules still are); adds the auto mode classifier model (Sonnet 5 by default, with the fallbacks
+  the permission-modes page lists); changelog only: `CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_MODEL` (v2.1.302),
+  server-side auto mode compacting a conversation too long for its safety check (v2.1.302), and
+  `claude -p`/Agent SDK sessions now starting in `default` on third-party providers, with
+  telemetry off, or on a fresh install (v2.1.302; the docs table still shows the earlier rule).
+- `references/hooks.md`: the `prompt`/`agent` hook `model` default is now worded as the docs
+  give it (the model used for background functionality). Changelog only: agent hooks honor
+  `model` (v2.1.300), at most 12 prompt/agent hooks of one event run at once (v2.1.302),
+  `updatedInput` from `PreToolUse`/`PermissionRequest` hooks is validated (v2.1.300), a
+  `setMode` update in a `PermissionRequest` allow is ignored in Cowork cloud sessions
+  (v2.1.300), and plugin `WorktreeCreate`/`WorktreeRemove` hooks run with `--worktree`
+  (v2.1.300).
+- `references/mcp.md`: adds the MCP docs page's rules for root-level `anyOf`/`oneOf`/`allOf`
+  schemas, invalid input schemas, and tool names over 128 characters; changelog only: a tool
+  whose schema the API still rejects is sent without parameters for the rest of the
+  conversation (v2.1.300).
+- `references/settings-schema.md`: `advisorModel` notes `CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ADVISOR_TOOL` and
+  that the changelog adds `/advisor` on Claude Platform on AWS (v2.1.300) where the settings
+  reference still lists it as unavailable; `idleCompaction` notes the `/config` row (v2.1.302,
+  changelog only).
+- Checked and unchanged: all 245 rows of the settings reference index are in the references and
+  the validator; every hook event in the hooks docs is covered; the Google Vertex AI page
+  claims hold.
+- Evals: new `mcp-server-name-with-double-underscore` eval; not yet run (the README results
+  predate it).
+
 ## 2026-10-14 — v2.3 (verified against Claude Code 2.1.299)
 
 Basis: Claude Code 2.1.299 (released 2026-10-14; npm `latest` and `next`, `stable` is

diff --git a/skills/client-config-claudecode/README.md b/skills/client-config-claudecode/README.md
@@ -4,22 +4,23 @@ Evaluation results for the `client-config-claudecode` skill. The skill itself is
 [SKILL.md](SKILL.md), and its history is in [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md).
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.299](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.299)
-> (released 2026-10-14; the npm `latest` and `next` tags on 2026-10-14, with `stable` at 2.1.287).
+> **Claude Code version:** verified against [Claude Code 2.1.302](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.302)
+> (released 2026-10-16; the npm `latest` and `next` tags on 2026-10-18, with `stable` at 2.1.292).
 > References come from the `code.claude.com/docs` pages listed in
-> [assets/sources.json](assets/sources.json), checked against the changelog through 2.1.299.
+> [assets/sources.json](assets/sources.json), checked against the changelog through 2.1.302.
 > Where only the changelog supports a claim, the reference says so. Last re-verified
-> 2026-10-14. Re-verify when Claude Code ships a new release.
+> 2026-10-18. Re-verify when Claude Code ships a new release.
 
 ## Evaluation results
 
 Benchmark run: **2026-04-26 · iteration 1** · 3 scenarios · 6 total runs
 
 These results predate the 2026-09-24 v2.0 refresh, the 2026-10-11 v2.1 update, the
-2026-10-13 v2.2 update, and the 2026-10-14 v2.3 update.
-[evals/evals.json](evals/evals.json) holds the eval cases; it also includes four cases that
+2026-10-13 v2.2 update, the 2026-10-14 v2.3 update, and the 2026-10-18 v2.4 update.
+[evals/evals.json](evals/evals.json) holds the eval cases; it also includes five cases that
 this run did not cover: `default-mode-scope` (added in v2.0), `hook-fail-closed` (added in
-v2.1), `stop-hook-loop-cap` (added in v2.2), and `idle-compaction` (added in v2.3).
+v2.1), `stop-hook-loop-cap` (added in v2.2), `idle-compaction` (added in v2.3), and
+`mcp-server-name-with-double-underscore` (added in v2.4).
 
 ### Overall
 

diff --git a/skills/client-config-claudecode/evals/evals.json b/skills/client-config-claudecode/evals/evals.json
@@ -192,6 +192,26 @@
           "description": "Mentions the alternative of raising CLAUDE_CODE_IDLE_COMPACT_MIN_TOKENS (default 200000, floor 100000) instead of turning it off"
         }
       ]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 8,
+      "name": "mcp-server-name-with-double-underscore",
+      "prompt": "I have an MCP server configured as reports__v2. I added \"mcp__reports__v2\" to permissions.allow in settings.json but Claude still prompts for every one of its tools. What's wrong?",
+      "expected_output": "Explains that the bare mcp__reports__v2 rule is not read as a rule for the reports__v2 server: under the mcp__<server>__<tool> grammar it names server reports (and tool v2), so it does not match the reports__v2 server's tools, and gives mcp__reports__v2__* as the rule to write",
+      "assertions": [
+        {
+          "id": "misread-rule",
+          "description": "Explains that mcp__reports__v2 (and mcp__reports) is parsed against a server named reports (for mcp__reports__v2, with v2 as a tool name) and so does not allow the reports__v2 server's tools"
+        },
+        {
+          "id": "wildcard-form",
+          "description": "Gives mcp__reports__v2__* (the wildcard form with the whole server name) as the rule to write"
+        },
+        {
+          "id": "name-ends-underscore",
+          "description": "Notes the same wildcard form is needed for a server name that ends in an underscore"
+        }
+      ]
     }
   ]
 }