Claude HUD
github.com/jarrodwatts/claude-hud- Category
- AI Tools
- Rank
- No. 214Tools index
- Pricing
- Open Source
- Type
- TOOL
- Builder
- jarrodwatts
- GitHub
- 27.9k stars
- Latest release
- v0.8.0
- Date
About
A status bar plugin for Claude Code that displays real-time context usage, active tools, running agents, and todo progress. Provides visibility into what's happening during AI coding sessions without cluttering the interface.
What it does
Claude HUD turns session data into a compact terminal readout beneath the prompt. It consumes Claude Code’s JSON, reads the session transcript for activity, gathers repository state, then prints a configurable summary after interactions. Guided presets range from core context information to fuller operational detail.
Why it's ranked here
The tool solves a narrow problem with strong technical depth. It uses Claude Code’s native token figures, handles changing context-window sizes, and exposes live work without requiring another terminal layer. Extensive layout controls, defensive input handling, Git integration, and optional Jujutsu support make it more than a decorative prompt accessory.
What's good
Configuration is unusually granular. Users can reorder sections, merge related information, right-align groups, choose compact or expanded layouts, and set warning thresholds. Git reporting includes dirty state, upstream divergence, file counts, line changes, and detached revisions. Transcript-derived model names are sanitized, while authentication caching uses guarded reads and atomic replacement.
Tradeoffs
The default view hides tools, agents, todos, cost, memory, and several other signals, so much of the value requires configuration. Advanced colors and thresholds require direct configuration editing. Cost estimates depend on recognized model pricing and may be suppressed for routed providers. Jujutsu support is opt-in and falls back to Git when probing fails.
How to use it well
Use it for long Claude Code sessions where context pressure, quota windows, repository state, and background activity are otherwise easy to miss. Start with Essential, then enable only signals that change decisions. It suits terminal-centered developers. It reports session state, but does not edit code, manage tasks, or replace broader observability tooling.
Technical notes+
package.json defines an ESM package requiring Node.js 18 or newer, built from TypeScript with tsc and tested through Node’s test runner. src/index.ts coordinates stdin parsing, transcript parsing, configuration counts, VCS selection, usage snapshots, memory, authentication, effort state, and rendering. src/stdin.ts bounds input size and parsing time, while src/types.ts defines the data contract. src/git.ts collects branch, dirty state, diffs, upstream counts, and GitHub ref URLs. src/jj.ts uses execFile without a shell, bounded output, a two-second timeout, and sanitized labels. src/auth.ts protects cached account data with no-follow reads, restrictive permissions, identity checks, and write-then-rename updates. src/cost.ts prefers native cost and falls back to model-specific estimates. src/config.ts supplies extensive validated defaults.
Observed
- License
- MIT, declared in package.json.
- Primary language
- TypeScript source compiled with the TypeScript compiler.
- Runtime and packaging
- ES module Node.js package requiring Node.js 18 or newer, with compiled output included in the published package.
- Interface
- Claude Code statusline plugin installed through the Claude Code plugin marketplace or CLI.
- Installation surface
- Provides setup and configuration slash commands inside Claude Code.
- Platform support
- The README documents terminal use plus specific installation guidance for Linux and Windows.
Read from README.md, package.json, src/index.ts, src/jj.ts, src/git.ts, src/auth.ts, src/cost.ts, src/debug.ts, src/stdin.ts, src/types.ts, src/config.ts, src/effort.ts, src/memory.ts.
What it can do
Display real-time context usage
Claude Code session data → Visual indicator of context consumption
Track active tools
Tool execution data from Claude Code → Real-time display of which tools are running
Monitor running agents
Agent activity data → Status display of active AI agents
Show todo progress
Todo list and completion status → Progress indicator for pending tasks
Provide persistent status display
AI coding session metrics → Continuous status bar information
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