Claude Code Git Branch Mod: Branch and Changes Above the Prompt

The Claude Code git branch mod puts one line above the input box that tells you where you are in git: ⎇ main · 3 changed · ↑1 ↓0. You see the branch name, how many paths git status reports as changed, and how far the branch is ahead of and behind its upstream. When HEAD is detached it shows the short commit hash instead. Outside a git repository the line simply does not appear.

It helps most when Claude is editing on your behalf. You notice right away if a session started on main instead of a feature branch, and the changed count climbs as Claude edits, so you know when it is time to review and commit. Requires Claude Code 2.1.287 or later.

The recording starts Claude Code with the mod loaded in a small demo project. Before the first prompt, the band above the input already shows the branch and the changed-file count. Claude is then asked to list the files in src; the band stays in place while the turn runs and is refreshed when the turn completes.

Use any of the three methods in the install block. The one-line method works inside a running session; the shell method needs /reload-plugins in sessions that are already open.

The mod keeps the latest git status in a $.state atom and draws it on the AbovePrompt render site. Here are the hooks from hooks/register.tsx:

on('session.start', async ($, e, next) => {
  const started = await next(e)
  await refresh($)
  $.clock.every(intervalMs, () => {
    refresh($).catch(() => undefined)
  })
  return started
})

on('turn.complete', async ($, e, next) => {
  const result = await next(e)
  if (e.agentId === undefined) await refresh($)
  return result
})

on('tool.call', { tool: 'Bash' }, async ($, e, next) => {
  const ran = await next(e)
  if (mentionsGit(e.command)) await refresh($)
  return ran
}).catch(($, e, next) => next(e))

There are three refresh points. session.start takes the first reading and starts a timer for changes made outside Claude Code. turn.complete refreshes after each main-loop turn; subagent turns (with an agentId) are skipped. The tool.call hook for Bash lets the command run first with await next(e), then refreshes only if the command mentions git or gh pr checkout/merge. Its .catch passes the call through, so a failure in the mod never blocks your command.

refresh runs a single git status --porcelain=v1 -b in $.session.cwd(). That one command gives the branch, upstream, ahead/behind and the changed list, so there is no need for separate rev-parse and rev-list calls. A pure parseStatus function in hooks/git.ts handles new repositories with no commits and detached HEAD. If git is missing or slow, the band is hidden rather than showing stale data.

Change these options in /config under the mod's name; the mod reloads with the new values. The default for the timer is set at the top of register, Math.max(2_000, ... 15_000), which also enforces the 2-second floor. To change the band's look, edit the Text elements in the ui.render hook: the branch is drawn bold in cyan and the details are dimColor.

Runs commands appears because the mod calls $.process.run. It runs exactly two programs: git status --porcelain=v1 -b, and git rev-parse --short HEAD only when HEAD is detached. Both are read-only, use an argv array with no shell, and have a 10-second timeout.

Intercepts tool calls appears because it hooks tool.call for Bash. It only observes: it never changes or denies a command, and it refreshes after the command has finished. Changes the UI covers the band.

It does not read file contents, use the network or call the model. To turn it off for good, run /plugin disable cm-git-branch; to start one session with all mods off, use claude --safe-mode.

Tested with Claude Code 2.1.291 on macOS in the terminal. If the band does not show up, check these in order:

• claude --version is 2.1.287 or later.
• The session was started inside a git repository; git status in the same folder should work.
• The mod is enabled: the /plugin menu shows it in the Installed tab, with a "mod active" line.
• You installed from the shell into an open session: run /reload-plugins.
• A survey or another prompt is open above the input. The band steps aside while it is visible and returns afterwards.

On very large repositories, raise intervalMs so git status runs less often.