# Statusline Wizard

> Interactive setup wizard for configuring Claude Code's custom status line with progress bars and customizable display options.

- Skill: `charlesjones-dev/statusline-wizard` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add charlesjones-dev/statusline-wizard`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/charlesjones-dev/statusline-wizard/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: charlesjones-dev (https://skillmd.com/u/charlesjones-dev)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/charlesjones-dev/statusline-wizard

---


# Status Line Wizard

Set up a custom status line for Claude Code with visual progress bars and configurable display options.

## Instructions

**CRITICAL**: This command MUST NOT accept any arguments. If the user provided any text after this command, COMPLETELY IGNORE it.

Follow the Setup Workflow defined in this skill (see the "Status Line Setup Skill" section below) to:

1. Detect the operating system (Mac/Linux/Windows)
2. Check for existing statusLine configuration and offer to back up if present
3. Run the configuration wizard using AskUserQuestion to gather preferences
4. Create the appropriate script file (`.sh` for Mac/Linux, `.ps1` for Windows)
5. Update `~/.claude/settings.json` with the statusLine configuration
6. Make the script executable on Mac/Linux using `chmod +x`

### Wizard Questions

Use AskUserQuestion with these grouped questions:

**Question 1 - Context Display** (multiSelect: true):
- Token count (50k/100k) - default selected
- Progress bar - default selected
- Model name - default selected
- Effort level (low/medium/high/xhigh/max/ultracode) - default selected

**Question 2 - Project Display** (multiSelect: true):
- Current directory - default selected
- Git branch - default selected

**Question 3 - Session Display** (multiSelect: true):
- Session duration - default selected
- Current time - default selected
- Claude Code version - default selected
- Session cost - NOT selected by default
- Rate limit usage (5h/7d) - default selected

### Success Message

After successful setup, display:

```
Status line configured successfully!

Script: ~/.claude/statusline.sh (or .ps1)
Settings: ~/.claude/settings.json

You should see your new status line below!

To customize later, run /statusline-edit or edit the SHOW_* variables at the top of the script file.
```

---

# Status Line Setup Skill

This skill provides guidance for configuring Claude Code's status line with customizable display options, progress bars, and cross-platform support.

## When to Use This Skill

Invoke this skill when:
- Setting up a custom status line for Claude Code
- Configuring which elements to show/hide in the status line
- Adding a visual progress bar for context usage
- Setting up cross-platform status line scripts (bash/PowerShell)

## Setup Workflow

### Phase 1: Check Existing Configuration

1. Detect the operating system using Bash: `uname -s` (returns "Darwin" for macOS, "Linux" for Linux)
   - If command fails or returns "MINGW"/"MSYS"/"CYGWIN", assume Windows
2. Read the user's settings file:
   - **Mac/Linux**: `~/.claude/settings.json`
   - **Windows**: `C:/Users/USERNAME/.claude/settings.json` (get USERNAME from environment)
3. Check if `statusLine` section already exists
4. If exists, ask user using AskUserQuestion:
   - **Replace**: Back up existing file and create new configuration
   - **Cancel**: Stop the setup process

### Phase 2: Configuration Wizard

Use the AskUserQuestion tool to gather user preferences. Group questions logically:

**Question 1: Context Information**
- Show model name (default: yes)
- Show token count e.g. "50k/100k" (default: yes)
- Show progress bar (default: yes)
- Show effort level e.g. "high" (default: yes)

**Question 2: Project Information**
- Show current directory (default: yes)
- Show git branch (default: yes)

**Question 3: Session Information**
- Show session cost (default: no)
- Show session duration (default: yes)
- Show current time (default: yes)
- Show Claude Code version (default: yes)
- Show rate limit usage - 5h and 7d windows (default: yes)

### Phase 3: Create Script File

Based on OS, create the appropriate script file:

**Mac/Linux**: `~/.claude/statusline.sh`
**Windows**: `C:/Users/USERNAME/.claude/statusline.ps1`

If script file already exists, back it up first with `.backup` extension.

### Phase 4: Update Settings

Update the settings.json file with the statusLine configuration:

**Mac/Linux**:
```json
{
  "statusLine": {
    "type": "command",
    "command": "/Users/USERNAME/.claude/statusline.sh",
    "padding": 0
  }
}
```

**Windows**:
```json
{
  "statusLine": {
    "type": "command",
    "command": "powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File C:/Users/USERNAME/.claude/statusline.ps1",
    "padding": 0
  }
}
```

### Phase 5: Make Executable (Mac/Linux only)

Run `chmod +x ~/.claude/statusline.sh` to make the script executable.

## Script Templates

### Bash Script Template (Mac/Linux)

```bash
#!/bin/bash

# =============================================================================
# Claude Code Status Line
# =============================================================================
# Configuration - Set these to customize your status line
# =============================================================================

SHOW_MODEL=true           # Show model name (e.g., "Claude Opus 4.8")
SHOW_EFFORT=true          # Show reasoning effort level (e.g., "high")
SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT=true     # Show token usage count (e.g., "50k/100k")
SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR=true    # Show visual progress bar
SHOW_DIRECTORY=true       # Show current directory name
SHOW_GIT_BRANCH=true      # Show current git branch
SHOW_COST=false           # Show session cost (useful for API/Pro users)
SHOW_DURATION=true        # Show session duration
SHOW_TIME=true            # Show current time
SHOW_VERSION=true         # Show Claude Code version
SHOW_RATE_LIMITS=true     # Show rate limit usage (5h/7d windows)

# =============================================================================

input=$(cat)
model_name=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.model.display_name')
effort_level=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.effort.level // empty')
transcript_path=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.transcript_path // empty')
current_dir=$(basename "$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.workspace.current_dir')")
version=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.version')
usage=$(echo "$input" | jq '.context_window.current_usage')
cost=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.cost.total_cost_usd')
duration_ms=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.cost.total_duration_ms')
current_time=$(date +"%I:%M%p" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')

# Ultracode reports as plain "xhigh" in the payload; detect it from the session
# transcript (the /effort command's stdout records the actual level chosen).
if [ "$effort_level" = "xhigh" ] && [ -n "$transcript_path" ] && [ -f "$transcript_path" ]; then
  last_effort_set=$(grep -ho '<local-command-stdout>Set effort level to [a-z]*' "$transcript_path" 2>/dev/null | tail -1 | awk '{print $NF}')
  [ "$last_effort_set" = "ultracode" ] && effort_level="ultracode"
fi

# Format cost
if [ "$cost" != "null" ] && [ -n "$cost" ]; then
  cost_fmt=$(printf '$%.2f' "$cost")
else
  cost_fmt='$0.00'
fi

# Format duration (ms to human readable)
if [ "$duration_ms" != "null" ] && [ -n "$duration_ms" ]; then
  duration_s=$((duration_ms / 1000))
  if [ $duration_s -lt 60 ]; then
    duration_fmt="${duration_s}s"
  elif [ $duration_s -lt 3600 ]; then
    mins=$((duration_s / 60))
    secs=$((duration_s % 60))
    duration_fmt="${mins}m ${secs}s"
  else
    hours=$((duration_s / 3600))
    mins=$(((duration_s % 3600) / 60))
    duration_fmt="${hours}h ${mins}m"
  fi
else
  duration_fmt='0s'
fi

# Get git branch
git_branch=$(git -C "$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.workspace.current_dir')" branch --show-current 2>/dev/null)
if [ -z "$git_branch" ]; then
  git_branch='-'
fi

# Build progress bar
build_progress_bar() {
  local pct=$1
  local color=$2
  local bar_width=10
  local filled=$((pct * bar_width / 100))
  local empty=$((bar_width - filled))

  local bar=""
  for ((i=0; i<filled; i++)); do bar+="▓"; done
  for ((i=0; i<empty; i++)); do bar+="░"; done

  printf '\033[%sm%s %d%%\033[0m' "$color" "$bar" "$pct"
}

# Color each character of a string, cycling through the given 256-color codes
colorize_chars() {
  local text=$1
  shift
  local palette=("$@")
  local out="" i ch
  for ((i=0; i<${#text}; i++)); do
    ch=${text:i:1}
    out+="\033[38;5;${palette[i % ${#palette[@]}]}m${ch}"
  done
  printf '%s\033[0m' "$out"
}

# ANSI color codes
reset='\033[0m'
white='\033[97m'
green='\033[32m'
yellow='\033[33m'
red='\033[31m'
blue='\033[94m'
magenta='\033[35m'
cyan='\033[36m'
gray='\033[90m'

# Build output segments
output=""

# Model name
if [ "$SHOW_MODEL" = true ]; then
  output="${white}${model_name}${reset}"
fi

# Effort level (absent when the model doesn't support effort)
# Colors match the /effort picker: yellow/green/light purple/dark purple/rainbow/purple explosion
if [ "$SHOW_EFFORT" = true ] && [ -n "$effort_level" ]; then
  case "$effort_level" in
    low) effort_fmt="${yellow}${effort_level}${reset}" ;;
    medium) effort_fmt="${green}${effort_level}${reset}" ;;
    high) effort_fmt="\033[38;5;141m${effort_level}${reset}" ;;
    xhigh) effort_fmt="\033[38;5;93m${effort_level}${reset}" ;;
    max) effort_fmt=$(colorize_chars "$effort_level" 196 208 226 46 39 129) ;;
    ultracode) effort_fmt=$(colorize_chars "✦${effort_level}✦" 93 129 135 141 171 177) ;;
    *) effort_fmt="${white}${effort_level}${reset}" ;;
  esac
  [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
  output="$output${effort_fmt}"
fi

# Token count and progress bar
size=$(echo "$input" | jq '.context_window.context_window_size // 0')
if [ "$usage" != "null" ] && [ "$size" -gt 0 ]; then
  current=$(echo "$usage" | jq '(.input_tokens // 0) + (.cache_creation_input_tokens // 0) + (.cache_read_input_tokens // 0)')
  pct=$((current * 100 / size))
  [ $pct -gt 100 ] && pct=100
  current_k=$((current / 1000))
  size_k=$((size / 1000))

  if [ $pct -lt 70 ]; then
    color='32'
  elif [ $pct -lt 80 ]; then
    color='33'
  else
    color='31'
  fi

  if [ "$SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT" = true ] || [ "$SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR" = true ]; then
    [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "

    if [ "$SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT" = true ]; then
      output="$output\033[${color}m${current_k}k/${size_k}k\033[0m"
    fi

    if [ "$SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR" = true ]; then
      progress_bar=$(build_progress_bar "$pct" "$color")
      [ "$SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT" = true ] && output="$output "
      output="$output${progress_bar}"
    fi
  fi
else
  if [ "$SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT" = true ] || [ "$SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR" = true ]; then
    [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
    if [ "$SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT" = true ]; then
      output="$output${green}0k/0k${reset}"
    fi
    if [ "$SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR" = true ]; then
      progress_bar=$(build_progress_bar 0 '32')
      [ "$SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT" = true ] && output="$output "
      output="$output${progress_bar}"
    fi
  fi
fi

# Rate limits (5h/7d windows)
if [ "$SHOW_RATE_LIMITS" = true ]; then
  rl_5h=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.rate_limits.five_hour.used_percentage // empty | (. * 100 | round) / 100')
  rl_7d=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.rate_limits.seven_day.used_percentage // empty | (. * 100 | round) / 100')

  rl_segment=""

  if [ -n "$rl_5h" ]; then
    rl_5h_int=${rl_5h%%.*}
    if [ "$rl_5h_int" -lt 50 ]; then rl_5h_color='32'
    elif [ "$rl_5h_int" -lt 80 ]; then rl_5h_color='33'
    else rl_5h_color='31'; fi
    rl_segment="\033[${rl_5h_color}m5h:${rl_5h}%\033[0m"
  fi

  if [ -n "$rl_7d" ]; then
    rl_7d_int=${rl_7d%%.*}
    if [ "$rl_7d_int" -lt 50 ]; then rl_7d_color='32'
    elif [ "$rl_7d_int" -lt 80 ]; then rl_7d_color='33'
    else rl_7d_color='31'; fi
    [ -n "$rl_segment" ] && rl_segment="$rl_segment "
    rl_segment="$rl_segment\033[${rl_7d_color}m7d:${rl_7d}%\033[0m"
  fi

  if [ -n "$rl_segment" ]; then
    [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
    output="$output${rl_segment}"
  fi
fi

# Directory
if [ "$SHOW_DIRECTORY" = true ]; then
  [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
  output="$output${blue}${current_dir}${reset}"
fi

# Git branch
if [ "$SHOW_GIT_BRANCH" = true ]; then
  [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
  output="$output${magenta}${git_branch}${reset}"
fi

# Cost
if [ "$SHOW_COST" = true ]; then
  [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
  output="$output${yellow}${cost_fmt}${reset}"
fi

# Duration
if [ "$SHOW_DURATION" = true ]; then
  [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
  output="$output${cyan}${duration_fmt}${reset}"
fi

# Time
if [ "$SHOW_TIME" = true ]; then
  [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
  output="$output${white}${current_time}${reset}"
fi

# Version
if [ "$SHOW_VERSION" = true ]; then
  [ -n "$output" ] && output="$output · "
  output="$output${gray}v${version}${reset}"
fi

printf '%b' "$output"
```

### PowerShell Script Template (Windows)

```powershell
# =============================================================================
# Claude Code Status Line (PowerShell)
# =============================================================================
# Configuration - Set these to customize your status line
# =============================================================================

$SHOW_MODEL = $true           # Show model name (e.g., "Claude Opus 4.8")
$SHOW_EFFORT = $true          # Show reasoning effort level (e.g., "high")
$SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT = $true     # Show token usage count (e.g., "50k/100k")
$SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR = $true    # Show visual progress bar
$SHOW_DIRECTORY = $true       # Show current directory name
$SHOW_GIT_BRANCH = $true      # Show current git branch
$SHOW_COST = $false           # Show session cost (useful for API/Pro users)
$SHOW_DURATION = $true        # Show session duration
$SHOW_TIME = $true            # Show current time
$SHOW_VERSION = $true         # Show Claude Code version
$SHOW_RATE_LIMITS = $true     # Show rate limit usage (5h/7d windows)

# =============================================================================

[Console]::OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8

# Read JSON from stdin
$inputJson = [System.Console]::In.ReadToEnd()
$data = $inputJson | ConvertFrom-Json

$model_name = $data.model.display_name
$effort_level = $data.effort.level
$transcript_path = $data.transcript_path
$current_dir = Split-Path -Leaf "$($data.workspace.current_dir)"
$version = $data.version
$usage = $data.context_window.current_usage
$cost = $data.cost.total_cost_usd
$duration_ms = $data.cost.total_duration_ms
$current_time = (Get-Date -Format "h:mmtt").ToLower()

# Ultracode reports as plain "xhigh" in the payload; detect it from the session
# transcript (the /effort command's stdout records the actual level chosen).
if ($effort_level -eq 'xhigh' -and $transcript_path -and (Test-Path $transcript_path)) {
    $effort_matches = Select-String -Path $transcript_path -Pattern '<local-command-stdout>Set effort level to ([a-z]+)' -AllMatches |
        ForEach-Object { $_.Matches }
    if ($effort_matches -and ($effort_matches | Select-Object -Last 1).Groups[1].Value -eq 'ultracode') {
        $effort_level = 'ultracode'
    }
}

# Format cost
if ($null -ne $cost) {
    $cost_fmt = '$' + ('{0:F2}' -f $cost)
} else {
    $cost_fmt = '$0.00'
}

# Format duration (ms to human readable)
if ($null -ne $duration_ms) {
    $duration_s = [math]::Floor($duration_ms / 1000)
    if ($duration_s -lt 60) {
        $duration_fmt = "${duration_s}s"
    } elseif ($duration_s -lt 3600) {
        $mins = [math]::Floor($duration_s / 60)
        $secs = $duration_s % 60
        $duration_fmt = "${mins}m ${secs}s"
    } else {
        $hours = [math]::Floor($duration_s / 3600)
        $mins = [math]::Floor(($duration_s % 3600) / 60)
        $duration_fmt = "${hours}h ${mins}m"
    }
} else {
    $duration_fmt = '0s'
}

# Get git branch
$git_branch = try {
    git -C "$($data.workspace.current_dir)" branch --show-current 2>$null
} catch { $null }
if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($git_branch)) {
    $git_branch = '-'
}

# ANSI color codes
$esc = [char]27
$reset = "$esc[0m"
$white = "$esc[97m"
$cyan = "$esc[36m"
$green = "$esc[32m"
$yellow = "$esc[33m"
$red = "$esc[31m"
$blue = "$esc[94m"
$magenta = "$esc[35m"
$gray = "$esc[90m"

# Build progress bar
function Build-ProgressBar {
    param (
        [int]$Percent,
        [string]$Color
    )
    $bar_width = 10
    $filled = [math]::Floor($Percent * $bar_width / 100)
    $empty = $bar_width - $filled

    $bar = ([string][char]0x2593) * $filled + ([string][char]0x2591) * $empty
    return "$Color$bar $Percent%$reset"
}

# Color each character of a string, cycling through the given 256-color codes
function Set-CharColors {
    param (
        [string]$Text,
        [int[]]$Palette
    )
    $out = ""
    for ($i = 0; $i -lt $Text.Length; $i++) {
        $code = $Palette[$i % $Palette.Count]
        $out += "$esc[38;5;${code}m$($Text[$i])"
    }
    return "$out$reset"
}

# Build output segments
$segments = @()

# Model name
if ($SHOW_MODEL) {
    $segments += "$white$model_name$reset"
}

# Effort level (absent when the model doesn't support effort)
# Colors match the /effort picker: yellow/green/light purple/dark purple/rainbow/purple explosion
if ($SHOW_EFFORT -and $effort_level) {
    switch ($effort_level) {
        'low'       { $effort_fmt = "$yellow$effort_level$reset" }
        'medium'    { $effort_fmt = "$green$effort_level$reset" }
        'high'      { $effort_fmt = "$esc[38;5;141m$effort_level$reset" }
        'xhigh'     { $effort_fmt = "$esc[38;5;93m$effort_level$reset" }
        'max'       { $effort_fmt = Set-CharColors -Text $effort_level -Palette 196, 208, 226, 46, 39, 129 }
        'ultracode' { $effort_fmt = Set-CharColors -Text ([string][char]0x2726 + $effort_level + [char]0x2726) -Palette 93, 129, 135, 141, 171, 177 }
        default     { $effort_fmt = "$white$effort_level$reset" }
    }
    $segments += $effort_fmt
}

# Token count and progress bar
$size = [long]$data.context_window.context_window_size
if ($null -ne $usage -and $size -gt 0) {
    $current = [long]$usage.input_tokens + [long]$usage.cache_creation_input_tokens + [long]$usage.cache_read_input_tokens
    $pct = [math]::Min(100, [math]::Floor($current * 100 / $size))
    $current_k = [math]::Floor($current / 1000)
    $size_k = [math]::Floor($size / 1000)

    if ($pct -lt 70) {
        $token_color = $green
    } elseif ($pct -lt 80) {
        $token_color = $yellow
    } else {
        $token_color = $red
    }

    $token_segment = ""
    if ($SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT) {
        $token_segment = "$token_color${current_k}k/${size_k}k$reset"
    }
    if ($SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR) {
        $progress_bar = Build-ProgressBar -Percent $pct -Color $token_color
        if ($SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT) {
            $token_segment += " $progress_bar"
        } else {
            $token_segment = $progress_bar
        }
    }
    if ($token_segment) {
        $segments += $token_segment
    }
} else {
    $token_segment = ""
    if ($SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT) {
        $token_segment = "${green}0k/0k$reset"
    }
    if ($SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR) {
        $progress_bar = Build-ProgressBar -Percent 0 -Color $green
        if ($SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT) {
            $token_segment += " $progress_bar"
        } else {
            $token_segment = $progress_bar
        }
    }
    if ($token_segment) {
        $segments += $token_segment
    }
}

# Rate limits (5h/7d windows)
if ($SHOW_RATE_LIMITS) {
    $rl = $data.rate_limits
    if ($null -ne $rl) {
        $rl_parts = @()

        if ($null -ne $rl.five_hour) {
            $rl_5h = [math]::Round($rl.five_hour.used_percentage, 2)
            if ($rl_5h -lt 50) { $rl_5h_color = $green }
            elseif ($rl_5h -lt 80) { $rl_5h_color = $yellow }
            else { $rl_5h_color = $red }
            $rl_parts += "${rl_5h_color}5h:${rl_5h}%$reset"
        }

        if ($null -ne $rl.seven_day) {
            $rl_7d = [math]::Round($rl.seven_day.used_percentage, 2)
            if ($rl_7d -lt 50) { $rl_7d_color = $green }
            elseif ($rl_7d -lt 80) { $rl_7d_color = $yellow }
            else { $rl_7d_color = $red }
            $rl_parts += "${rl_7d_color}7d:${rl_7d}%$reset"
        }

        if ($rl_parts.Count -gt 0) {
            $segments += ($rl_parts -join " ")
        }
    }
}

# Directory
if ($SHOW_DIRECTORY) {
    $segments += "$blue$current_dir$reset"
}

# Git branch
if ($SHOW_GIT_BRANCH) {
    $segments += "$magenta$git_branch$reset"
}

# Cost
if ($SHOW_COST) {
    $segments += "$yellow$cost_fmt$reset"
}

# Duration
if ($SHOW_DURATION) {
    $segments += "$cyan$duration_fmt$reset"
}

# Time
if ($SHOW_TIME) {
    $segments += "$white$current_time$reset"
}

# Version
if ($SHOW_VERSION) {
    $segments += "${gray}v$version$reset"
}

$sep = " " + [char]0x00B7 + " "
Write-Host -NoNewline ($segments -join $sep)
```

## Configuration Variables

| Variable | Default | Description |
|----------|---------|-------------|
| SHOW_MODEL | true | Display model name (e.g., "Claude Opus 4.8") |
| SHOW_EFFORT | true | Display reasoning effort level with /effort-matched colors |
| SHOW_TOKEN_COUNT | true | Display token usage (e.g., "50k/100k") |
| SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR | true | Display visual progress bar with percentage |
| SHOW_DIRECTORY | true | Display current working directory name |
| SHOW_GIT_BRANCH | true | Display current git branch |
| SHOW_COST | false | Display session cost in USD |
| SHOW_DURATION | true | Display session duration |
| SHOW_TIME | true | Display current time |
| SHOW_VERSION | true | Display Claude Code version |
| SHOW_RATE_LIMITS | true | Display rate limit usage (5h/7d windows) |

## Important Notes

- The scripts require `jq` to be installed on Mac/Linux for JSON parsing
- PowerShell scripts work on Windows PowerShell 5.1+ and PowerShell Core 7+
- Unicode progress bar characters should work on modern terminals
- Colors use ANSI escape codes which work on most modern terminals
- Status line updates appear immediately after setup
- The effort segment reads `.effort.level` from the status line payload and is hidden entirely when the current model doesn't support the effort parameter (the field is absent)
- Effort colors match the `/effort` picker: yellow (low), green (medium), light purple (high), dark purple (xhigh), per-character rainbow (max), and a purple-explosion `✦ultracode✦` treatment
- Ultracode reports as plain `xhigh` in the payload, so the scripts detect it by grepping the session transcript (`.transcript_path`) for the most recent `/effort` command output ("Set effort level to …"); if a session starts in ultracode without `/effort` ever being run, it displays as `xhigh`