[FEATURE] VS Code extension: Always-visible context indicator in the prompt box

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

In the Claude Code VS Code extension's graphical panel, the context indicator in the prompt box only appears after context usage crosses ~50%. Before that threshold, there's no at-a-glance way to see how much of the context window has been used.

Best-practices guidance recommends keeping context below 50% for optimal performance, but by the time the indicator appears, users have already reached that threshold. Running /context gives a breakdown on demand, but its output is verbose when I often just want the current percentage. The CLI statusline shows the percentage continuously, but the graphical panel does not.

Proposed Solution

Add a VS Code extension setting (e.g. claudeCode.alwaysShowContextIndicator) that, when enabled, displays the context-usage percentage in the prompt box at all times — matching the behavior of the CLI statusline.

Alternative forms that would also solve the problem:

• A configurable threshold for when the indicator becomes visible (e.g. 25%, 50%, 80%).
• A lightweight slash command (e.g. /c) that outputs only a short line like Context: 42% without the full /context breakdown.

Alternative Solutions

Several prior issues have requested this and were closed as stale / not planned rather than resolved, suggesting ongoing demand:

• #21781 (VS Code extension: Option to always show context percentage)
• #18456 (VSCode Extension: Display context usage percentage in UI)
• #25580 (Option to always show remaining context percent in status bar)
• #29493 (Add context window usage visualization to VS Code Copilot UI)
• #16526 (Real-time token/context usage display in VSCode extension UI)
• #516 (Always show available context percentage)

Priority

Medium - Would be very helpful

Feature Category

Configuration and settings

Use Case Example

Example scenario:

1. I open the Claude Code panel in VS Code and start a new conversation about refactoring a module.
2. I @-mention a few source files and ask Claude to plan some changes.
3. Partway through, I want to know whether I'm close to the recommended <50% context threshold so I can decide whether to compact or start a fresh session.
4. Today, the prompt box shows nothing until I'm already past ~50%, and /context prints a long breakdown when I just want the number.
5. With this feature enabled, I'd see the current percentage (e.g. "Context: 34%") in the prompt box at all times and could proactively /compact before performance degrades — matching how the CLI statusline already works.

Additional Context

This would bring the VS Code extension to parity with the CLI statusline, which already shows context percentage continuously. No UI mockups attached; the existing indicator's visual treatment would work — it would just appear below the current threshold as well.