Claude Code status lines vs mods
Claude Code has two ways to show your own information on screen. A status line is a script whose output Claude Code prints under the prompt. A mod is a plugin whose code runs inside Claude Code and draws its own interface.
What a status line is
A status line is a command you set as statusLine in ~/.claude/settings.json. Each time the line refreshes, Claude Code runs the command, sends it a JSON snapshot of the session on stdin, and shows what it prints at the bottom of the terminal.
The snapshot holds the model, the working folder, context window use, cost and rate limits. A working script can be a few lines of bash. The setup guide has one that reads three fields with jq.
What a mod is
A mod is a Claude Code plugin with code that runs inside Claude Code. That code is a set of JavaScript or TypeScript functions, called hooks, that respond to session events and return what to draw.
A mod can draw a band above the prompt, a line under it, a pane or a toast, and it can add slash commands. Mods draw in the terminal and in Claude Desktop on Claude Code 2.1.287 or later. Browse mods with real previews.
Where each one shows up
| Attribute | Status line | Mod |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code in a terminal | Yes | Yes |
| Claude Desktop's Code tab | No | Yes |
| The VS Code extension panel | No | No |
Claude Desktop's Code tab never runs the statusLine command, so a status line you set up for the terminal doesn't appear there. Here's how to show it in Claude Desktop.
Which one to pick
Pick a status line when you want session facts at the bottom of the terminal, such as the model, git branch, context use and cost. It works in any terminal Claude Code runs in. The gallery shows each one's real output before you copy it.
Pick a mod when you want something a status line can't do: a pane, a toast, a slash command, or a display in Claude Desktop.
Both run on your machine with your permissions, so read the code before you install either. A status line is one script. A mod is a plugin folder with a manifest, a hooks file and the code that file loads. The mod safety guide covers what to check.
Your status line in Claude Desktop
You can keep your status line and still see it in Desktop. statusline-anywhere is a mod that runs your statusLine command and draws its output above the prompt in Claude Desktop, in color. It draws nothing in the terminal, where Claude Code already shows your status line. It needs Claude Code 2.1.286 or later.
The Claude Desktop guide has the install command.
Common questions
Are mods replacing status lines?
Claude Code still supports both. The statusLine setting has no deprecation notice, and the /statusline command still writes a status line script.
Do Claude Code status lines work in Claude Desktop?
No. Claude Desktop's Code tab never runs the statusLine command. The statusline-anywhere mod runs that command for you and draws its output above the prompt in Desktop.
Can a mod show the same numbers as my status line?
Mostly. A mod reads $.session.usage(), which gives it the context window, cost and rate-limit figures a status line gets. A few status line fields, such as lines added and removed, have no mod equivalent yet.