VS Code Extensions
C

Context Bar

by daniel-euan

Context Bar is a beta VS Code extension that monitors Claude Code context usage from local transcripts and displays used tokens, percentages, and context window details directly in the status bar.

Downloads

191

Rating

5.0 / 5 (3)

Version

0.2.3

Last updated

Apr 06, 2026

Context Bar is a beta extension for VS Code that shows Claude Code context window usage directly in the status bar.

It gives you a quick visual readout of how much context has been used, plus token totals, without leaving your editor.

Features

  • Shows Claude Code context usage in the status bar
  • Displays a compact bar, percentage, and used tokens
  • Updates automatically from the latest transcript in ~/.claude/projects
  • Adds a tooltip with input, output, and total window size
  • Includes a Context Bar: Configure Claude Code command

How It Works

The extension watches the latest Claude Code transcript in ~/.claude/projects and reads usage data from the newest assistant message that contains token usage information.

When usage data is available, the status bar updates automatically.

Setup

  1. Install the extension.
  2. Start or resume a Claude Code session so transcript files exist under ~/.claude/projects.
  3. Optional: run Context Bar: Configure Claude Code from the Command Palette to write the bundled helper command into ~/.claude/settings.json.
  4. Keep coding. The status bar updates as new usage data appears.

Status Bar Display

  • Green for lower usage
  • Yellow as usage grows
  • Red when the context window is getting tight

Hover the status bar item to see detailed token counts.

Beta Notes

This is a beta release. The formatting, setup flow, and Claude Code integration may change as the extension evolves.