[BUG] Status Line Command Cannot Execute External Scripts on Windows

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Status Line Command Cannot Execute External Scripts on Windows

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 Enterprise 10.0.26200
• Shell: bash (Git Bash)
• Terminal: xterm-256color
• Claude Code Model: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929

Issue Description

Status line commands with inline text (e.g., echo 'text') work correctly, but any attempt to execute an external script file fails silently. The script is never invoked, regardless of path format or invocation method.

Expected Behavior

The status line should execute external script files and display their output, similar to how inline commands work.

Actual Behavior

• ✅ Simple inline commands work: echo 'TEST STATUS LINE'
• ❌ External scripts never execute (no output, no errors, no logs)

Configuration That Works

{
  "statusLine": {
    "type": "command",
    "command": "echo 'TEST STATUS LINE - If you see this, status lines work!'"
  }
}

Configuration That Fails

All of the following configurations fail silently (script never executes):

// Attempt 1: Original format
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "bash /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh"}}

// Attempt 2: Windows path format
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "bash C:/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh"}}

// Attempt 3: Direct execution (script has shebang)
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "/c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh"}}

// Attempt 4: HOME variable
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "bash \"$HOME/.claude/statusline-command.sh\""}}

// Attempt 5: Tilde expansion
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "bash ~/.claude/statusline-command.sh"}}

// Attempt 6: Without bash prefix
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "~/.claude/statusline-command.sh"}}

// Attempt 7: Quoted absolute path
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "\"/c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh\""}}

// Attempt 8: Using sh
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "sh /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh"}}

// Attempt 9: Windows path without bash
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "C:/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh"}}

// Attempt 10: cmd.exe wrapper
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "cmd /c bash /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-debug.sh"}}

// Attempt 11: .bat file wrapper
{"statusLine": {"type": "command", "command": "C:/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline.bat"}}

Test Script

The script is executable and works correctly when invoked manually:

$ ls -la /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh
-rwxr-xr-x 1 REDMOND+egabrilovich 4096 770 Feb 18 19:05 /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh*

$ echo '{"model":{"display_name":"Sonnet 4.5"},"context_window":{"used_percentage":12}}' | bash /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-command.sh
Sonnet 4.5  [0;32m[##..................][0m  12% used

Script Content

#!/usr/bin/env bash

input=$(cat)

model=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.model.display_name // "Claude"')
used=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.context_window.used_percentage // empty')

BAR_WIDTH=20

if [ -n "$used" ]; then
  used_int=$(printf "%.0f" "$used")
  filled=$(( used_int * BAR_WIDTH / 100 ))
  empty=$(( BAR_WIDTH - filled ))

  bar=""
  for i in $(seq 1 $filled); do bar="${bar}#"; done
  for i in $(seq 1 $empty);  do bar="${bar}."; done

  if [ "$used_int" -ge 90 ]; then
    color="\033[0;31m"   # red
  elif [ "$used_int" -ge 70 ]; then
    color="\033[0;33m"   # yellow
  else
    color="\033[0;32m"   # green
  fi
  reset="\033[0m"

  printf "%s  ${color}[%s]${reset}  %d%% used" "$model" "$bar" "$used_int"
else
  printf "%s  [....................] " "$model"
fi

Verification

Created a debug script that logs when called - log file is never created, confirming the script is never executed:

$ cat /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-debug.log
cat: /c/Users/egabrilovich/.claude/statusline-debug.log: No such file or directory

Expected Resolution

Status line should support executing external scripts on Windows, similar to how other shell commands are executed. Either:

1. Fix script execution in status line commands on Windows
2. Document the limitation and provide workaround guidance
3. Provide better error reporting when commands fail

What Should Happen?

The status line should execute external script files and display their output, similar to how inline commands work.

Error Messages/Logs

there is no error - just the status line is not showing despite numerous attempts

Steps to Reproduce

see above

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.47

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

_No response_