| name | context-status |
| description | Check how much context window remains in this session — token budget, usage, and room left before compaction. Use when the user asks how much context/room/budget is left, or wants a context-usage gauge. |
| allowed-tools | Bash |
Context Status
Run the context usage command and capture the JSON output:
ways context --json
Then render a visual gauge using the chart tool. Build the JSON and pipe it:
echo '{"type":"hbar","data":{"Used (PCT%)":USED,"Free (RPCT%)":REMAINING},"title":"Context: USEDk / TOTALk tokens (MODEL)","width":60,"format":"human"}' \
| ~/.claude/hooks/ways/softwaredev/visualization/charts/chart-tool
Replace USED, REMAINING, TOTAL, PCT, RPCT, and MODEL with actual values from the JSON output. Use jq to extract them.
The command resolves the context window from the model in the transcript (it varies by model), and reports how it got there in window_source (ADR-166):
window_source | Meaning |
|---|
model_table | The model was recognized; tokens_total is its real window. |
env_override | CLAUDE_CONTEXT_WINDOW was set and took precedence over detection. |
default | The model was not recognized and a conservative 200K was assumed. |
A default reading means the gauge is a guess, not a measurement — the model is missing from the table, and tokens_total is likely wrong. Say so rather than reporting the percentage as fact. Detection cannot see Claude Code's own 1M toggle (only the model id reaches the transcript), so CLAUDE_CONTEXT_WINDOW is the way to state the window explicitly; it overrides detection on every model.
If the remaining percentage is below 20%, mention that compaction is approaching and suggest wrapping up or prioritizing remaining work.
Not for
- Changing the context window size or compaction threshold — that's
CLAUDE_CONTEXT_WINDOW and the compaction settings, not this skill.
- General session status — it reports the context window only.
- A continuous watch — it's a one-shot snapshot; run it again for a fresh reading.
