What is context-band?
context-band is a Claude Code mod by mgstegmaier that a card above the prompt in the desktop app and the terminal: how full the context window is, what fills it, and what the session has cost, in Anthropic's palette. It is listed under Cost & usage and has no public popularity data yet.
| Type | Claude code mod |
|---|---|
| Author | mgstegmaier |
| Repository | mgstegmaier/claude-plugins |
| Popularity | no public popularity data yet |
| Category | Cost & usage |
| Security | Low risk (100/100) |
| Rank | #3,983 of 5,272 Claude Code mods; #751 in Cost & usage |
| License | MIT |
| Last commit | 2026-10-16 |
| Hooks | 3 events |
| Sees | only the events it hooks |
| Draws on | AbovePrompt |
Is context-band safe to install?
context-band scores 100/100 on the MCPMods security check: Low risk. No checks raised a concern. It passed 8 of 8 checks.
Mod footprints come from claude plugin validate, which lists every event a mod hooks and every API call it makes without running it.
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| No network access | Pass |
| Starts no processes | Pass |
| Writes no files or config | Pass |
| Doesn't read environment variables | Pass |
| Only sees the events it hooks | Pass |
| Doesn't drive Claude | Pass |
| Passes claude plugin validate | Pass |
| Has an open-source license | Pass |
API calls in its code
| Call | What it means |
|---|---|
$.session.messages | reads the transcript |
$.session.usage | |
$.state.get | |
$.state.set | |
$.ui.resolve | draws interface |
How do I install context-band?
- Check your Claude Code version. Mods need Claude Code 2.1.287 or later and are on by default.
claude --version
- Read its footprint. This lists every event it hooks and every API call it makes, without running it.
git clone https://github.com/mgstegmaier/claude-plugins claude plugin validate ./claude-plugins/plugins/context-band
- Install it. Run this in your terminal, then /reload-plugins in an open session.
claude plugin marketplace add mgstegmaier/claude-plugins && claude plugin install context-band@mgstegmaier
Or ask Claude to set it up
Paste this into Claude Code and it installs context-band for you:
Install the "context-band" Claude Code mod from https://github.com/mgstegmaier/claude-plugins/tree/main/plugins/context-band. Run claude plugin validate on it first and show me what it can access before you enable it.
More from mgstegmaier/claude-plugins
This repository has 3 Claude Code mods on MCPMods.
- cache-guard: When a send would re-write a cold prompt cache, a dialog shows the estimated cost with Proceed and Start new session but (Low risk)
- tether: Session dashboard: a /tether pane for a working-on note, context, the assumptions Claude is making, the work it puts off (Low risk)