What's new in Claude Code v2.1.108

A patch release, but genuinely workflow-relevant for advanced users: new cache-TTL knobs, a brand-new /recap command, the Skill tool can now invoke built-in slash commands, and a couple of defaults quietly moved in your favor.

1-hour prompt cache TTL

Why: The default 5-minute prompt cache expired between exchanges in long sessions, so every deep conversation kept re-paying for the same cached tokens.

What: Adds opt-in env var ENABLE_PROMPT_CACHING_1H for 1-hour cache TTL across API key, Bedrock, Vertex, and Foundry; deprecates ENABLE_PROMPT_CACHING_1H_BEDROCK; adds FORCE_PROMPT_CACHING_5M to force the old default back.

How: export ENABLE_PROMPT_CACHING_1H=true before starting Claude Code.

/recap command for returning to a session

Why: Coming back to a long session meant scrolling the transcript or asking Claude "where were we" — manual context recovery every time.

What: A new recap feature that summarizes session state and unfinished work, auto-offered when returning; configurable in /config.

How: Type /recap any time, or force it on for telemetry-disabled setups with CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_AWAY_SUMMARY=true.

Skill tool can invoke built-in commands

Why: Claude couldn't reach its own built-in commands like /init, /review, /security-review during agentic work.

What: The model now discovers and invokes the bundled slash commands through the Skill tool, the same mechanism that runs user-defined skills.

How: Automatic — no user action required.

/undo is now an alias for /rewind

Why: Muscle-memory /undo got "unknown command" for users who expected the standard name.

What: /undo is wired as an alias for the existing /rewind command.

How: Type /undo — identical behavior to /rewind.

/model warns before mid-conversation switches

Why: Switching models mid-conversation silently invalidates the prompt cache — the next response re-reads the full history uncached.

What: /model now prints a warning before the switch takes effect.

How: Run /model mid-conversation and read the prompt before confirming.

/resume defaults to current directory

Why: The picker listed sessions across every project, so picking up today's work meant scrolling past stale sessions.

What: The picker now filters to sessions started in the current working directory by default.

How: Type /resume — press Ctrl+A inside the picker to show sessions from all projects.

Better error messages

Why: Failures were ambiguous between server rate limits, plan usage limits, transient 5xx, and slash command typos.

What: Error output now distinguishes server rate limits from plan limits, links 5xx/529 to status.claude.com, and suggests the closest match for unknown slash commands.

How: Automatic — the next failure will show richer, actionable text.

Startup warning when prompt caching is disabled

Why: DISABLE_PROMPT_CACHING* env vars silently kill caching, often inherited from shared dotfiles.

What: Claude Code now prints a warning at startup whenever any DISABLE_PROMPT_CACHING* env var is set.

How: Automatic — if you see the warning, unset DISABLE_PROMPT_CACHING in your shell.

DISABLE_TELEMETRY no longer caps cache at 5 minutes

Why: Users who disabled telemetry assumed they were getting the default 1-hour cache TTL. They weren't — the flag silently forced a 5-minute fallback.

What: Fix: DISABLE_TELEMETRY users now get the expected 1-hour TTL.

How: Automatic — upgrade to 2.1.108. Pair with ENABLE_PROMPT_CACHING_1H if you want it explicit.

Hosts: Alex Chen & Sarah Kim · Generated from the official Claude Code CHANGELOG.

Full changelog: github.com/anthropics/claude-code/CHANGELOG.md

Claude Code docs: code.claude.com/docs

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