Claude Code v2.1.283: prompt audit, exact model pinning, MCP and plugin fixes

Claude Code v2.1.283 adds a prompt audit. Run /doctor prompt-audit, and it checks your CLAUDE.md files, skills, agents and commands for prompting patterns written for older models.

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v2.1.283

Claude Code
v2.1.283

A prompt audit, exact model pinning, and sturdier MCP servers and plugins.

> /doctor prompt-audit

  CLAUDE.md files
  skills
  agents
  commands

Models and gateways.

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v2.1.283

01

>Models and
gateways

Set the managed setting availableModelsMatch to exact, and each entry allows only the version it names, so new releases stay blocked until listed. deniedModels blocks a model even when that list allows it.

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v2.1.283

>Admins can allow exact model versions, and deny others

availableModelsMatch: "exact"

an entry allows only the version it names

deniedModels

blocks a model even when availableModels allows it

Set the gateway hint headers variable to one, and every request now carries a prompt ID header, so an LLM gateway can group all the requests that serve a single prompt.

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v2.1.283

>Gateways can group the requests behind one prompt

CLAUDE_CODE_GATEWAY_HINT_HEADERS=1

x-claude-code-prompt-id: …

MCP servers.

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v2.1.283

02

>MCP servers

When an MCP tool returns an image, Claude Code now also saves it to a file. That means Bash, Read and the other tools can open the image directly.

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v2.1.283

>Images from MCP tools are also saved to a file

So Bash, Read and other tools can open them.

A brief 404 from a stateless remote server used to break it for the rest of the session. Background tool calls now show their latest progress, and stdio servers still starting stop with the session.

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v2.1.283

>A brief 404 no longer strands a remote MCP server

Stateless remote server

usable again after a brief 404

Background tool call

shows its latest progress

Stdio server still starting

stops when the session ends

Startup and safety.

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v2.1.283

03

>Startup
and safety

On a third party provider, or with telemetry turned off, an interactive session with no permission mode configured now starts in auto mode. Setting permissions.defaultMode still overrides it.

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v2.1.283

>Third-party providers now start in auto mode

Applies to

interactive sessions on a third-party provider, or with telemetry off

When

no permission mode is configured

Override

permissions.defaultMode

Print mode and Claude Code Remote skip loading the interactive UI. The first request reuses the connection opened at launch, and a compile step after the first reply now runs while it streams.

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v2.1.283

>Startup and the first reply got faster

claude -p

skips loading the interactive UI

First request

reuses the preconnected API connection

First reply

a compile step runs while it streams

On Windows, the PowerShell tool let a delete routed through cmd remove drive roots and your home folder. Those folders are now protected, the same ones Remove-Item already refuses.

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v2.1.283

>On Windows, cmd deletes get the Remove-Item guard

cmd /c rd
cmd /c rmdir
cmd /c del
cmd /c erase

Drive roots and the home folder are now protected.

Plugins.

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v2.1.283

04

>Plugins

The plugin validate command now fails a plugin or marketplace name that Claude Code can't install, and output style, theme, monitor or LSP server paths that are missing or point outside the plugin.

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v2.1.283

>claude plugin validate fails what won't install

Names

a plugin or marketplace name Claude Code can't install

Paths

missing, or outside the plugin directory

When the installed plugins file can't be read, its contents are now kept in a file beside it before the rebuild, and plugin list names that file. An unreadable record gets named, with recovery steps.

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v2.1.283

>An unreadable plugin list is saved before the rebuild

installed_plugins.json

contents kept in a file beside it

claude plugin list

names that file

Unknown record

named, with how to recover

In the terminal.

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v2.1.283

05

>In the
terminal

In vim mode, J now joins lines with the spacing Vim uses, dot repeat keeps a Shift Enter newline, and V then p puts the cursor on the first non blank character.

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v2.1.283

>Vim mode's J, dot and paste behave like Vim

J

joins lines with Vim's spacing

.

keeps a Shift+Enter newline

V then p

lands on the first non-blank

Lists across Claude Code, from help and hooks to rewind and plugin, now move with the page keys, the mouse wheel and clicks. The tasks list also shows a status icon on every row.

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v2.1.283

>Pickers scroll with page keys, the wheel and clicks

/help   /hooks   /memory
/rewind   /diff   /plugin
/tasks   /release-notes

The VS Code extension.

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v2.1.283

06

>The VS Code
extension

In VS Code, the mode indicator could show Default while a session ran in auto or bypass mode. The switch now retries until it lands. Teleported web sessions keep messages sent mid turn.

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v2.1.283

>The VS Code mode indicator matches the session

Mode indicator

retries a failed switch until it lands

Teleported session

keeps messages sent while Claude worked

Web session

appears in the session list