What is helix-spinner?
helix-spinner is a Claude Code mod by dylan-chalkboard that replaces the spinner row with a twisting braille helix, a wacky verb and the turn's time and tokens. It is listed under Cost & usage and has no public popularity data yet.
| Type | Claude code mod |
|---|---|
| Author | dylan-chalkboard |
| Repository | dylan-chalkboard/helix-spinner |
| Popularity | no public popularity data yet |
| Category | Cost & usage |
| Security | Low risk (84/100) |
| Rank | #3,123 of 5,272 Claude Code mods; #557 in Cost & usage |
| Last commit | 2026-10-08 |
| Hooks | 9 events |
| Sees | compaction, every tool call |
| Draws on | Pane, TurnDuration, Spinner |
Is helix-spinner safe to install?
helix-spinner scores 84/100 on the MCPMods security check: Low risk. Things to review: starts processes outside the sandbox. 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 processes outside the sandbox | Review |
| 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 |
| No license detected | Note |
API calls in its code
| Call | What it means |
|---|---|
$.audio.play | plays audio |
$.clock.after | |
$.clock.now | |
$.command.register | |
$.process.run | runs processes |
$.state.get | |
$.state.set | |
$.store.delete | keeps its own state |
$.store.get | keeps its own state |
$.store.set | keeps its own state |
$.ui.close | draws interface |
$.ui.open | draws interface |
$.ui.resolve | draws interface |
$.ui.status | draws interface |
$.ui.toast | draws interface |
How do I install helix-spinner?
- 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/dylan-chalkboard/helix-spinner claude plugin validate ./helix-spinner/plugins/helix-spinner
- Install it. Run this in your terminal, then /reload-plugins in an open session.
claude plugin marketplace add dylan-chalkboard/helix-spinner && claude plugin install helix-spinner@helix-spinner
Or ask Claude to set it up
Paste this into Claude Code and it installs helix-spinner for you:
Install the "helix-spinner" Claude Code mod from https://github.com/dylan-chalkboard/helix-spinner/tree/main/plugins/helix-spinner. Run claude plugin validate on it first and show me what it can access before you enable it.