Smart lamp mod turns Claude usage limit into a glanceable progress bar
u/MoutainSnow built a background Python script that connects Claude Code to a Bluetooth smart lamp, displaying agent status via colored animations and a real-time 5-hour usage limit progress bar.
Score breakdown
The project replaces the need to manually refresh Claude's usage dashboard by surfacing both agent state and remaining usage limit as a passive, room-visible ambient display.
- 01Built by u/MoutainSnow, based on the open-source `claude-lamp` GitHub project
- 02A background Python script connects to a Bluetooth smart lamp over BLE
- 03Blue spinning animation = Claude is working; pink = waiting for user input; warm white = idle
u/MoutainSnow on r/ClaudeAI described building a physical ambient display for Claude Code by repurposing a Bluetooth smart lamp. Frustrated by having to constantly check how much of the 5-hour usage limit remained and whether Claude was actively working or waiting for input, they wrote a background Python script that hooks into Claude Code and communicates with the lamp over BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The project credits the open-source `claude-lamp` repository on GitHub as its foundation.
The lamp uses distinct visual states to convey Claude's activity: a blue spinning animation while Claude is processing, pink when it is waiting for user input, and warm white when nothing is happening.
The lamp uses distinct visual states to convey Claude's activity: a blue spinning animation while Claude is processing, pink when it is waiting for user input, and warm white when nothing is happening. The feature the author highlights most is the usage meter — whenever Claude goes idle or completes a task, the lamp's lighting bar transforms into a progress bar reflecting real-time consumption of the 5-hour usage window. The script works across the Claude Code CLI, the IDE plugin, and the desktop app, and colors and effects are described as straightforward to customize in the source code. The post closes with a wry note that trying a heavier workload made the progress bar visibly drain, with 6% disappearing on a single simple task.
Key facts
- 01Built by u/MoutainSnow, based on the open-source `claude-lamp` GitHub project
- 02A background Python script connects to a Bluetooth smart lamp over BLE
- 03Blue spinning animation = Claude is working; pink = waiting for user input; warm white = idle
- 04The lamp's lighting bar acts as a real-time progress bar for the 5-hour usage limit
- 05Progress bar updates whenever Claude goes idle or finishes a task
- 06Compatible with the Claude Code CLI, IDE plugin, and desktop app
- 07Colors and effects are adjustable in the source code
Topics
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