Aside

Aside is a lightweight macOS menu‑bar utility that provides a graphical interface for interacting with Claude Code, the command‑line AI coding assistant. It lets users start and continue Claude Code sessions directly from the menu bar, showing conversation history, a live context‑usage indicator, and a compact mode that trims context when usage exceeds a configurable threshold. Voice input and screenshot attachment are built in, and a global hotkey enables quick access without leaving the current workflow.

The app synchronizes with sessions opened in Terminal, allowing users to resume work scoped to the current project or across all projects. A floating “jump to latest” button appears when the chat view is scrolled up, preventing the conversation from drifting unintentionally. Status cues such as pulsing typing dots and a green bubble for pending replies keep users informed of Claude’s activity.

Additional features include a Remote Control bridge that mirrors the current session on claude.ai/code for use on a phone or another machine, an auto‑permission mode that automatically approves safe tool calls while prompting on risky ones, and a feedback channel accessible from the About window or right‑click menu. Aside requires the Claude Code CLI to be installed and is currently in an experimental maturity stage.