Configure Claudeline Status Line

Help users configure their Claude Code status line using claudeline.

Workflow

Step 1: Understand User's Needs

Ask the user what they want:

What would you like to do?
1. **Quick setup** - Install a preset theme
2. **Custom format** - Build a custom status line
3. **See current** - Check what's currently configured
4. **Uninstall** - Remove status line configuration

Step 2: Determine Scope

Ask where to install:

Where should the status line be configured?
1. **Global** (~/.claude/settings.json) - Applies to all projects
2. **Project** (.claude/settings.json) - Only this project

Step 3A: Quick Setup (Theme Selection)

If user wants a theme, show available options:

Theme	Description	Preview
minimal	Just model and directory	Sonnet 4 myproject
default	Model, directory, git info	[Sonnet 4] 📁 myproject | 🌿 main ✓
powerline	Powerline style with colors	Sonnet 4 myproject main ✓
full	Everything including cost/context	[Sonnet 4] ~/project → main ✓ | [████░░] 45% | $0.42
git	Git-focused with detailed status	[Sonnet 4] 📁 myproject | 🌿 main ✓ ↑2
tokens	Token/context focused	Sonnet 4 | 🟢 50k/200k | +133
dashboard	Full dashboard view	[Sonnet 4] myproject | main ✓ | 45% | $0.42 | 14:32
compact	Minimal with slashes	Sonnet 4 / myproject / main
colorful	Vibrant colors	Colored model, dir, branch, status

Install with:

npx claudeline --theme <name> --install [--project]

Step 3B: Custom Format Builder

If user wants custom, guide them through building a format string.

Available Components

Model/Session:

• claude:model - Model name (Sonnet 4)
• claude:model-letter - First letter (S)

Directory:

• fs:dir - Current directory name
• fs:home - Path with ~ for home
• fs:project - Project name

Git:

• git:branch - Branch name
• git:status - ✓ or *
• git:ahead-behind - ↑2↓1
• git:dirty - Combined status

Context:

• ctx:percent - Usage % (45%)
• ctx:bar - Progress bar [████░░]
• ctx:emoji - 🟢🟡🟠🔴
• ctx:tokens - 50k/200k

Cost:

• cost:total - $0.42
• cost:duration - 5m
• cost:lines - +133

Time:

• time:now - 14:32
• time:date - Feb 1

Separators: sep:pipe (|), sep:arrow (→), sep:dot (•), sep:slash (/)

Emojis: emoji:folder (📁), emoji:branch (🌿), emoji:rocket (🚀)

Styling: Prefix with green:, bold:, cyan:, etc.

Grouping: [...] adds brackets, if:git(...) for conditionals

Example Formats

# Simple
"claude:model fs:dir git:branch"

# With separators
"claude:model sep:pipe fs:dir sep:arrow git:branch"

# With colors
"bold:cyan:claude:model fs:dir green:git:branch"

# With conditionals (only show git info in git repos)
"claude:model fs:dir if:git(sep:pipe git:branch git:status)"

# Full custom
"[bold:cyan:claude:model] emoji:folder fs:dir sep:arrow green:git:branch git:status sep:pipe ctx:percent"

Install custom format:

npx claudeline "<format>" --install [--project]

Step 4: Verify Installation

After installing, show the user:

1. What was written to settings.json
2. Remind them to restart Claude Code

# Check current configuration
cat ~/.claude/settings.json | grep -A5 statusLine

# Or for project
cat .claude/settings.json | grep -A5 statusLine

Step 5: Test Before Installing (Optional)

User can test their format:

# See sample data
npx claudeline --preview

# Test with sample data
echo '{"model":{"display_name":"Sonnet 4"},"workspace":{"current_dir":"/test/project"}}' | npx claudeline run "claude:model fs:dir"

Commands Reference

# Install theme globally
npx claudeline --theme minimal --install

# Install theme to project only
npx claudeline --theme powerline --install --project

# Install custom format
npx claudeline "claude:model fs:dir git:branch" --install

# List all themes
npx claudeline --themes

# List all components
npx claudeline --list

# Uninstall
npx claudeline --uninstall [--project]

# Preview sample data
npx claudeline --preview

Troubleshooting

Status line not showing?

• Restart Claude Code after installing
• Check settings.json has the statusLine config

Command not found?

• Ensure Node.js/npm is installed
• Try npx claudeline --help

Want to use bun instead of npx?

• Use --use-bunx flag when installing