Claude Code v2.1.302 adds a client-side auto mode model selection, idle compaction control

EXHIBIT 2116

Oct 16, 2026 21:17 UTC github_releases+pages https://raw.githubusercontent.com/anthropics/claude-code/main/CHANGELOG.md

Claude Code v2.1.302 adds a client-side auto mode model selection, idle compaction controls, and deprecates standalone Claude Design by December 14, 2026, alongside numerous bug fixes.

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claude code's new update v2.1.302 lets you pick the client-side auto mode model. wonder how much control this gives developers?

looks like standalone claude design (claude.ai/design) is shutting down by december 14, 2026. better start moving those designs!

[MERGED across 2 sources: github_releases, pages] shared signal: claude-code, claude-opus-4-1 --- github_releases :: anthropics/claude-code --- anthropics/claude-code release: v2.1.302 name: v2.1.302 published: 2026-10-16T20:53:06Z url: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/releases/tag/v2.1.302 ## What's changed - Added `CLAUDE_CODE_AUTO_MODE_MODEL` to choose the model the client-side auto mode classifier uses; it does not change the model for server-side auto mode - Added an `Idle compaction` row to `/config` for turning idle compaction off or back on; the notices shown after an idle compaction now say how to turn it off - Added a notice to `/design-sync` and `/design-login` that standalone Claude Design (claude.ai/design) closes by December 14, 2026 - Fixed a "Prompt is too long" error when stopping a turn while the conversation was being compacted - Fixed requests failing with "diagnostics: Extra inputs are not permitted" after switching to Vertex or Bedrock mid-session - Fixed the Read tool loading an image file of any size, or a pipe or device named like an image, entirely into memory; image sources over 128 MB are now refused - Fixed `/autocompact` and `/effort` saving to the wrong model when a gateway names Opus 4 or 4.1 with a prefix, such as `anthropic/claude-opus-4-1` - Fixed a prompt cache miss when a tool added mid-session was loaded again through ToolSearch or after compaction - Fixed `claude plugin` and other subcommands sometimes exiting before a queued settings or config write finished, which could lose the change or leave a `.tmp` file behind - Fixed plugin marketplaces re-cloning on every refresh, and newly installed git plugins showing version "unknown", when git defaults to the reftable ref format - Fixed the PowerShell tool not finding commands in a plugin's `bin/` folder, and reporting an error when a search that finds nothing (rg, grep, findstr, git grep) is piped into `Select-Object` or another formatting cmdlet - Fixed Claude in the