Add token/context usage percentage to statusline script context object
Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Jan 26, 2026 by thomasjackson-tylertech Closed Jan 28, 2026
Summary
Add token and context usage metrics to the statusline script context object for real-time monitoring during Claude Code sessions.
Problem Statement
Custom statusline scripts receive JSON context via stdin with workspace information, but lack visibility into token/context usage. Users need real-time feedback on context consumption to:
- Avoid hitting context limits unexpectedly
- Monitor session efficiency
- Make informed decisions about when to start fresh sessions
- Integrate usage metrics directly into their development workflow
Current Behavior
The statusline script receives:
{
"workspace": {
"current_dir": "/path/to/workspace"
}
}
Proposed Solution
Extend the context object with a usage field:
{
"workspace": {
"current_dir": "/path/to/workspace"
},
"usage": {
"tokens_used": 12450,
"tokens_limit": 200000,
"usage_percentage": 6.2
}
}
Use Case
Users with custom statusline scripts can display real-time context usage:
import json
import sys
context = json.loads(sys.stdin.read())
cwd = context.get('workspace', {}).get('current_dir', '.')
usage = context.get('usage', {})
pct = usage.get('usage_percentage', 0)
# Color-coded display based on usage
if pct > 80:
status = f"\033[91m⚠ {pct:.0f}%\033[0m" # Red warning
elif pct > 50:
status = f"\033[93m{pct:.0f}%\033[0m" # Yellow
else:
status = f"\033[92m{pct:.0f}%\033[0m" # Green
print(f"{status} | {cwd}")
Expected Behavior
usagefield included in statusline context JSONusage_percentagereflects current session's context window consumption- Updates on each statusline refresh
- Defaults to 0 or null if unavailable
Additional Context
- Metrics are already tracked internally (visible in UI)
- Minimal performance impact expected
- Could be extended to include cost estimates, request counts, etc.
- Aligns with transparency goals around resource usage
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