Context Compiler for AI conversations
Control how agents use long conversation histories and whether they can send progress updates while continuing work.
What it is
Context Compiler controls the information an agent receives as a conversation grows. Adaptive Context shortens older material while preserving the original working history. With Enable Continue Work, a managed agent can send an interim update and continue the same unfinished request.
Who uses it and why
Users with the Settings or Developer role choose a context strategy for Autopilot, Copilot and Ask AI. Developers use it for longer tasks that need several operations and may receive new user messages while work continues.
Where to find it
Select Context Compiler under Settings › AI › Features. You need Settings with AI allowed under Settings Permissions, or Developer.
Powerfront manages the shared controls under Settings › AI › Accounts, including Default Context Compiler, Recent messages kept verbatim and Advanced context settings. Ask Powerfront to change these for you.
How it works
- Default (AI Account) uses the context mode selected on the account.
- Simple Context (Legacy) uses the existing summary and recent-message approach.
- Adaptive Context prepares a reduced view for each model request. It can start summarising older context in the background and use that summary on a later turn.
- An available custom compiler can prepare another view, while INSIDE protects the feature's policy, approved tools and recent input.
When adaptive context reaches its soft limit before a background summary is ready, INSIDE uses a simpler digest of older material. This changes the view supplied to the model; it does not delete the underlying working history.
Continued work requires a managed context mode and explicit enablement. The agent can identify its next step, send a progress update and request a bounded delay. New input can join the active run and wake it sooner. A normal answer without a continuation request can complete the run.
Configure it
Select Context Compiler on the feature. New features start with Default (AI Account). Existing features with no saved selection retain Simple Context (Legacy).
Ask Powerfront to review the account settings for the selected model. The recent-message default is 10; 0 retains full history and prevents older conversation material from being compacted away.
Ask Powerfront to turn on Enable Continue Work if the agent should continue after an interim update. The defaults are a 1800-second run allowance and a 300-second maximum wake delay. These account settings are shared by features using that account.
Settings
| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Context Compiler | Settings › AI › Features | website | Default (AI Account) for new features; Simple Context (Legacy) if no selection was saved | Settings role, Developer role | Selects account inheritance, simple context, adaptive context or an available custom compiler. |
| Default Context Compiler | Settings › AI › Accounts | website | Simple Context (Legacy) | Powerfront | Supplies the context mode to features using the account default. |
| Recent messages kept verbatim | Settings › AI › Accounts | website | 10 | Powerfront | Protects the recent conversation tail from summarisation; zero retains the full history. |
| Maximum input tokens | Settings › AI › Accounts › Advanced context settings | website | Not set: uses the selected model's input limit, or 32,000 tokens if unavailable | Powerfront | Sets the adaptive input budget, subject to the selected model's limit. |
| Start compaction at | Settings › AI › Accounts › Advanced context settings | website | Not set; 60% of the effective input limit | Powerfront | Starts background summarisation of older context as the prompt grows. |
| Soft reduction limit | Settings › AI › Accounts › Advanced context settings | website | Not set; 80% of the effective input limit | Powerfront | Starts a simpler reduction if background summarisation is not ready. |
| Post-compaction target | Settings › AI › Accounts › Advanced context settings | website | Not set; 45% of the effective input limit | Powerfront | Sets the target size for reduced older context. |
| Maximum run time (seconds) | Settings › AI › Accounts › Advanced context settings | website | 1800 seconds | Powerfront | Sets the managed run's elapsed-time allowance for further tool use. |
| Maximum wake delay (seconds) | Settings › AI › Accounts › Advanced context settings | website | 300 seconds | Powerfront | Caps the delay requested before a continuing run's next turn; new input can wake it sooner. |
| Enable Continue Work | Settings › AI › Accounts › Advanced context settings | website | Off | Powerfront | Allows managed runs to issue interim updates and continue working. |
Permissions
| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| Settings | Select the feature's context mode when AI is allowed under Settings Permissions. |
| AI | Allows AI configuration within Settings Permissions. |
| Developer | Select the feature's context mode. |
Limits and good to know
- Simple Context (Legacy) does not provide managed continuation.
- Token budgets use estimates rather than exact provider counts. Protected recent input can still be too large for the model.
- Compaction can require an additional AI request. A failed summarisation can fall back to a simpler digest.
- Continuation still uses the run's function and token allowances. Extending the time allowance alone does not grant unlimited work.
- Continued work is not a promise that a waiting task survives a service restart.
Depends on and works with
View all connections as a list
This feature uses
- Roles and permissionsConfigured by
Roles and AI permissions control feature configuration.
- AI feature settings and change historyConfigured by
Each supported feature chooses its context mode.
- AI run limitsRequires
Managed continuation operates within an AI run and its remaining execution allowances.
- AI accounts and shared defaultsConfigured by
Powerfront manages shared account context and continuation settings.
- AI model catalogueConfigured by
Model input limits determine the adaptive budget when no override is supplied.
- Custom scripts managed by PowerfrontEnhances
A Powerfront-arranged custom compiler can prepare the context while retaining protected instructions and recent input.
Used by
- AI run limitsConfigured by
Managed context uses its maximum run time instead of the normal function-seconds allowance.
- AI assistance activityEnhances
Context compaction can add separate AI usage.
- AI accounts and shared defaultsConfigured by
Context Compiler settings define the shared context and continued-work defaults used by the account's features.
- AI platform execution limitsConfigured by
Managed context and continued-work settings determine applicable run and wake-delay limits.
- AI commerce functions and access limitsEnhances
Managed continuation lets an assistant continue commerce work within the current customer access.
FAQ and troubleshooting
Why did the agent stop after sending an update?
Check that it uses a managed context mode and that Powerfront has enabled Enable Continue Work. It must also request continuation and have execution allowance remaining.
Will a new message cancel the work?
Managed runs can admit new input into the active work and wake earlier. Other response paths can replace an older request.
Does compaction erase the conversation?
No. It changes the shorter view sent to the model while retaining the underlying working history.
Why does a long conversation still exceed the model limit?
Recent input and protected instructions may already exceed the budget. Ask Powerfront to review the model, input allowance and Recent messages kept verbatim setting.