Claude Context HUD

FREE Open Source GitHub — Zero-dependency context meter for Claude Desktop

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [+] Context: 56% [Claude Opus 4.8] [Send] │
│ ↑ floating label (click-through) │
│ Conversation content... │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Download on GitHub → ⬇ Direct ZIP

What is this?

A lightweight, zero-dependency tool that shows a tiny Context: XX% label floating on your Claude Desktop window. It reads your Cowork session files to estimate how much of your context window is used — before auto-compact at 80% freezes your session.

How it looks

< 60% — Healthy

60-80% — Consider handoff

> 80% — Handoff now!

Features

📊

Live context %

Updates every 3 seconds

🔄

Auto-tracks tabs

Switch conversations, it follows

🖱️

Click-through

Mouse passes to Claude underneath

📦

Zero dependencies

Python stdlib + built-in .NET

🎨

Customizable

Position, color, font via config

💰

Free & Open Source

MIT license, no strings attached

Quick Start

Download

git clone https://github.com/creativity-cpu/claude-ctx-hud.git

Double-click start.bat

Auto-detects Python, starts server + overlay

Look for "Context: XX%"

on your Claude Desktop window. Done.

Requirements

Windows (uses WinAPI via .NET)
Claude Desktop running (Cowork mode)
Python 3 (any recent version)

Why we built this

Claude Desktop's auto-compact triggers at ~80% context usage. If you miss the handoff, your session can freeze — wasting tokens or losing work. This tool gives you a constant visual reminder so you handoff at the right time.

Token limits and model data referenced from AgentRanks.uk.