What is hamster?
hamster is a Claude Code mod by nickpotet that a pixel hamster above the prompt in the Claude desktop app: it lives on your context window and tells you when to compact or clear. 110 tips on saving tokens, skills, plugins and MCP. It is listed under Cost & usage and has no public popularity data yet.
| Type | Claude code mod |
|---|---|
| Author | nickpotet |
| Repository | nickpotet/claude-hamster |
| Popularity | no public popularity data yet |
| Category | Cost & usage |
| Security | Review before installing (76/100) |
| Rank | #4,142 of 5,272 Claude Code mods; #792 in Cost & usage |
| License | MIT |
| Last commit | 2026-10-06 |
| Hooks | 6 events |
| Sees | every prompt, every tool call |
| Draws on | AbovePrompt |
Is hamster safe to install?
hamster scores 76/100 on the MCPMods security check: Review before installing. Things to review: reads environment variables; watches every prompt or event. It passed 6 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 |
| Reads environment variables | Review |
| Watches every prompt or event | Review |
| 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 |
|---|---|
$.clock.every | |
$.clock.now | |
$.env.get | reads env vars |
$.session.usage | |
$.settings.read | reads settings |
$.state.get | |
$.state.set | |
$.store.get | keeps its own state |
$.store.set | keeps its own state |
$.ui.resolve | draws interface |
$.ui.status | draws interface |
$.ui.toast | draws interface |
How do I install hamster?
- 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/nickpotet/claude-hamster claude plugin validate ./claude-hamster/hamster
- Install it. Run this in your terminal, then /reload-plugins in an open session.
claude plugin marketplace add nickpotet/claude-hamster && claude plugin install hamster@claude-hamster
Or ask Claude to set it up
Paste this into Claude Code and it installs hamster for you:
Install the "hamster" Claude Code mod from https://github.com/nickpotet/claude-hamster/tree/main/hamster. Run claude plugin validate on it first and show me what it can access before you enable it.