For long Claude Code runs

Keep long Claude Code runs visible without leaving the prompt.

Claude HUD is most useful when context is filling up, multiple agents are running, and large edits make session state easy to lose. This guide shows what stays visible and how to install it cleanly.

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Long sessions

Catch context pressure before a heavy run drifts out of view.

Multi-agent runs

Keep workers, tools, and todos visible while Claude keeps moving.

Large edits

Stay oriented when file churn and task state get expensive to lose.

Always visible

Native statusline UI

~300ms

Refresh cadence

3 commands

Install flow

HUD preview

What you keep in view during longer Claude Code sessions

Live statusline

claude-hud

1[Opus] | app/claudehud git:(main*)

2Context ██████░░░░ 61% | Usage ███░░░░░░░ 28% (1h 24m / 5h)

3◐ Edit: home-page.tsx | ✓ Read ×4 | ✓ Grep ×3

4◐ worker [haiku]: Updating install page copy (2m 14s)

5▸ Launch Claude HUD guide site (3/4)

Native API

Uses Claude Code's statusline API instead of inventing a separate UI shell.

Transcript aware

Parses tool, agent, and todo activity so session state stays visible.

What Claude HUD surfaces

The session details you normally lose during a heavy run.

Context Health

See how full your context window is before a long session turns into blind flying.

Tool Activity

Watch reads, edits, and searches roll through the HUD while Claude Code is working.

Agent Tracking

Keep subagent work visible so exploration and execution do not disappear into the background.

Todo Progress

Track task completion in real time without opening another panel or session log.

How it works

A terminal-native HUD built on top of Claude Code's own signals.

Claude Code → stdin JSON → claude-hud → stdout → terminaltranscript JSONL → tools / agents / todos

Claude Code emits status and transcript data

Claude HUD reads the native statusline stream plus transcript activity instead of estimating state from guesswork.

The plugin condenses that data into a compact HUD

Usage bars, git state, tool activity, agents, and todos are reduced into a fast terminal overlay.

You stay oriented without leaving the prompt

The result is a persistent heads-up layer that keeps the important session state in your line of sight.

Install flow

The upstream install is short. The tricky part is the platform notes.

Jump to install steps

Step 1

Add the marketplace source

Run this inside Claude Code so the plugin becomes installable.

/plugin marketplace add jarrodwatts/claude-hud

Step 2

Install the plugin

Linux users should set TMPDIR first if `/tmp` is on a separate filesystem.

/plugin install claude-hud

Step 3

Configure the statusline

Restart Claude Code after setup writes the new statusLine config.

/claude-hud:setup

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the official Claude HUD website?+

No. This site is an independent guide built around the open-source Claude HUD plugin and links back to the upstream GitHub repository.

What does Claude HUD actually show?+

Its core surface is context usage, active tools, running agents, todo progress, git state, and optional usage-rate information inside Claude Code's statusline.

Do I need tmux or a separate window?+

No. Claude HUD uses Claude Code's native statusline API, so it stays inside your existing terminal session.

Who should install it?+

It is best for heavy Claude Code users running long sessions, multi-agent workflows, or large edits where losing state visibility is expensive.