m1ckc3s/claude-status-bar

Menu bar status indicator for Claude Code

What it solves

Claude Code users often have to wait for the AI to finish "thinking" or running tools in the terminal, making it difficult to track progress while working in other windows. This app provides a persistent, glanceable status indicator in the macOS menu bar, so users can see if Claude is working, waiting for permission, or finished without switching back to the terminal.

How it works

The app is stateless and integrates with Claude Code via hooks merged into the user's ~/.claude/settings.json file. It polls for updates from these hooks as Claude Code runs. The app automatically launches when a Claude Code session starts and quits when all sessions are finished, aggregating status updates across multiple live sessions into a single menu bar icon.

Who it’s for

macOS users who use Claude Code (CLI, Desktop app, or Cursor extension) and want a non-intrusive way to monitor AI agentic workflows in the background.

Highlights

  • Live Status Tracking: Displays an animated icon when thinking, a yellow dot for awaiting permission, and a timer for the current turn.
  • Multi-session Support: Handles multiple concurrent Claude Code sessions, prioritizing the one requiring user permission.
  • Customizable Visuals: Offers multiple animation styles (Spark, Unicode, Orbit, and a pixel-art crab) and color options.
  • Multi-surface Compatibility: Works with Claude Code CLI, the Code tab of the Claude Desktop app, and the Cursor extension.
  • Zero-Management: Automatically starts and closes based on Claude Code activity.

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