Developer builds terminal status bar to monitor Claude Code session limits after unexpected cutoff

What happened

A developer was deep into a refactor using Claude Code when the session suddenly stopped without warning or countdown. They had burned through the 5-hour usage limit without realizing it. The experience highlighted a lack of visibility into two key metrics: how close you are to hitting the limit and how much context you've used.

The solution

In response, the developer built a terminal statusline that displays Claude Code usage live. The tool shows: session time remaining, context usage, and proximity to limits. It works with existing Claude Code sessions and requires no API key - just Python's standard library.

You can see it in action here: https://i.redd.it/pyeh6vq74asg1.gif

Why it matters

The developer noted that getting cut off mid-flow at $100/month is particularly frustrating when working on complex tasks like refactoring. They suggested this type of monitoring should be built into Claude Code itself. The Reddit post asks other developers what they'd want such a tool to warn them about.