π Claude HUD Complete Tutorial: From Beginner to Master in 18 Chapters
Master real-time monitoring of Claude Code with the jarrodwatts/claude-hud plugin β context usage, token consumption, cache status, tool activity, and agent progress. From three-step installation to deep configuration, from context window internals to Prompt Cache optimization. Transform from 'blindly using Claude Code' to 'precisely controlling every step'.
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Curriculum
Episode 1: What is Claude HUD
Understand Claude HUD in one sentence: a native statusline API plugin that displays real-time session status below your terminal input β no tmux, no extra windows needed.
Episode 2: Installation & Version Guide
Three-step installation of the Claude HUD plugin, covering macOS, Linux (EXDEV fix), Windows platform differences, and feature comparison between marketplace and npm versions.
Episode 3: Default Display β What You See
Breaking down every element of the HUD's default two-line layout: model name, Git branch, context bar, usage bar, and color change rules.
Episode 4: Configuration & Presets
Master the /claude-hud:configure interactive setup, three presets (Full/Essential/Minimal), and the critical difference between setup and configure.
Episode 5: Context Window Deep Dive
What's inside the 200K-token context window? Fixed vs dynamic sections, and which operations cause context to skyrocket.
Episode 6: Tokens Deep Dive
Complete breakdown of input/output/cache token composition, pricing differences, token snowball effects in real scenarios, and money-saving tips.
Episode 7: Usage Limits
How Pro/Max/Team subscription 5-hour and 7-day usage windows display in HUD, color changes, and troubleshooting when usage doesn't show.
Episode 8: Git Status & Tool Activity
Decode HUD's Git status symbols (branch/dirty/ahead-behind), real-time tool activity line, Agent status line, and Todo progress line.
Episode 9: Advanced Features
Prompt Cache countdown, session cost, output speed, session duration, custom colors, and other advanced configuration options.
Episode 10: Best Practices & FAQ
Recommended developer config, context management golden rules, cache optimization in practice, and a complete FAQ troubleshooting guide.
Episode 11: HUD Data Sources Deep Dive
Breaking down HUD's three data pipelines: stdin JSON, Transcript JSONL, and Context Cache β understand where every data field comes from.
Episode 12: Debugging β Token Details Not Showing
Complete diagnostic flow: from checking config to verifying data sources, 5 steps to solve missing token details. Includes a diagnostic decision tree.
Episode 13: Session & Session History
Understanding the session lifecycle, JSONL Transcript data structure, and the relationship between sessions, cache, and Memory.
Episode 14: Memory System
Claude Code's persistent memory system: storage location, four memory types, auto-loading mechanism, and impact on context and cost.
Episode 15: /compact vs /clear Commands
Deep comparison of two context management commands: smart compression vs full reset, with Mermaid flowcharts and a scenario-based decision table.
Episode 16: Q&A β Session, Context & Token Basics
Answering fundamental questions: difference between session and conversation, what 200K tokens means, why context jumps 40%, and which token type costs more.
Episode 17: Q&A β Cache Mechanisms & Token Optimization
Deep answers on how Prompt Cache works, when the 5-minute countdown starts, how much cache hits save, and tricks to keep cache alive.
Episode 18: Q&A β HUD Debugging, Memory & Advanced Topics
Final Q&A: troubleshooting missing token details, non-native model compatibility, expanded layout truncation, Memory's impact on context, and more.