Claude-Code v2.1.74 Release: Memory Leak Fixes, Context Optimization, and Plugin Improvements

What's New in Claude-Code v2.1.74

Claude-Code v2.1.74 addresses several critical issues while adding new configuration options and usability improvements. This release focuses on memory management, authentication fixes, and plugin system enhancements.

Key Changes and Fixes

• Added actionable suggestions to /context command — identifies context-heavy tools, memory bloat, and capacity warnings with specific optimization tips
• Added autoMemoryDirectory setting to configure a custom directory for auto-memory storage
• Fixed memory leak where streaming API response buffers were not released when the generator was terminated early, causing unbounded RSS growth on the Node.js/npm code path
• Fixed managed policy ask rules being bypassed by user allow rules or skill allowed-tools
• Fixed full model IDs (e.g., claude-opus-4-5) being silently ignored in agent frontmatter model: field and --agents JSON config — agents now accept the same model values as --model
• Fixed MCP OAuth authentication hanging when the callback port is already in use
• Fixed MCP OAuth refresh never prompting for re-auth after the refresh token expires, for OAuth servers that return errors with HTTP 200 (e.g. Slack)
• Fixed voice mode silently failing on the macOS native binary for users whose terminal had never been granted microphone permission — the binary now includes the audio-input entitlement so macOS prompts correctly
• Fixed SessionEnd hooks being killed after 1.5 s on exit regardless of hook.timeout — now configurable via CLAUDE_CODE_SESSIONEND_HOOKS_TIMEOUT_MS
• Fixed /plugin install failing inside the REPL for marketplace plugins with local sources
• Fixed marketplace update not syncing git submodules — plugin sources in submodules no longer break after update
• Fixed unknown slash commands with arguments silently dropping input — now shows your input as a warning
• Fixed Hebrew, Arabic, and other RTL text not rendering correctly in Windows Terminal, conhost, and VS Code integrated terminal
• Fixed LSP servers not working on Windows due to malformed file URIs
• Changed --plugin-dir so local dev copies now override installed marketplace plugins with the same name (unless that plugin is force-enabled by managed settings)
• [VSCode] Fixed delete button not working for Untitled sessions
• [VSCode] Improved scroll wheel responsiveness in the integrated terminal with terminal-aware acceleration

This release is particularly important for developers working with streaming API responses on Node.js, as the memory leak fix addresses a significant resource consumption issue. The context optimization suggestions and plugin system improvements enhance daily workflow efficiency.