The article explains how Claude Code, an AI model, hides context usage percentages and API limits from developers until they hit constraints.A new tool called cc-context-telemetry provides visibility into these metrics through the statusline command, which outputs JSON data about context window usage, rate limits, and model versions.

Developers can integrate this tool to monitor context fill levels, track 5-hour and 7-day usage limits with reset countdowns, and access telemetry data in hooks or plugins.

The tool writes session-specific telemetry to files, allowing hooks to read usage metrics and implement safeguards like checkpoints or pauses near capacity limits.

This solution addresses the lack of direct API access to usage data, enabling developers to manage resources effectively across multiple sessions while maintaining compatibility with existing statusline configurations.