Feature: Allow status bar widgets/plugins for background task progress

Problem

When running multiple background agents (worktree dispatches, long builds, parallel research), there's no way to see their progress without manually checking. The bottom status bar (model, context, cost) is the natural place for this info, but it's not extensible.

Use Case

Power users running autonomous agent workflows need real-time visibility into:

• Background shell tasks (builds, test runs)
• Dispatched sub-agents in worktrees
• Task queue progress (pending/running/done counts)

Currently the only option is polling via tool calls or running a separate tmux pane with a watcher script — both are workarounds.

Proposal

Allow hooks or a lightweight plugin API to inject 1-2 line status widgets into the bottom bar area. Something like:

// .claude/settings.json or hooks
{
  "statusBar": {
    "widgets": [
      {
        "name": "agents",
        "command": "bash ~/.claude/widgets/agent-status.sh",
        "interval": 10  // refresh every 10s
      }
    ]
  }
}

The widget script outputs a single line of text (with ANSI color support) that gets rendered in the status area.

Why This Matters

Claude Code's background agent capabilities (worktrees, parallel dispatch, background bash) are incredibly powerful, but without visibility they require constant manual checking. A status widget would close the feedback loop and let users stay focused on the conversation while background work progresses.

Alternatives Considered

• tmux split pane: Works but fragile, requires manual setup, duplicates terminal space
• ntfy push notifications: Good for completion alerts, not for continuous progress
• Polling via tool calls: Wastes context window and interrupts flow

🤖 Generated with Claude Code