Your Project Context in the tmux Status Bar
Add two lines to your tmux.conf and your status bar shows your current project momentum from any pane, any window. Single project or multi-project view.
# ~/.tmux.conf
set -g status-right "#(keepgoing glance) | %H:%M"
set -g status-interval 15
# Your status bar will look like:
Why put context in your status bar
Context you can see without thinking about it is context you will actually use.
Always-visible project context
Your tmux status bar shows what you are working on from any pane or window. No switching, no commands, no interruptions.
Multi-project overview
The keepgoing hot command auto-discovers all your projects and combines their status into a single line. No scripts, no config.
Configurable refresh rate
Set status-interval to match your workflow. 15 seconds for single projects, 30-60 for multi-project scripts.
Works with any tmux theme
The glance output is plain text. It slots into status-right alongside your existing session name, time, and other status elements.
How it works
Install the KeepGoing CLI
Run the one-line installer: curl -fsSL https://keepgoing.dev/install.sh | bash. Or install directly with npm install -g @keepgoingdev/cli. Then run keepgoing init in any project you want to track.
Add keepgoing glance to status-right
Open ~/.tmux.conf and add the status-right and status-interval lines. For multi-project use, swap keepgoing glance for keepgoing hot.
Reload your tmux config
Run tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf or prefix + r to apply the change. Your status bar will start showing KeepGoing output on the next refresh.
Multi-project view
The keepgoing hot command auto-discovers all your registered projects and outputs a combined status line sorted by momentum. No scripts to maintain, no project lists to update.
# In ~/.tmux.conf, swap glance for hot:
set -g status-right "#(keepgoing hot) | %H:%M"
Every project where you have run keepgoing init is automatically included. Hot projects appear first, cold ones are omitted.
What changes with status bar context
Without KeepGoing
You have three tmux windows open across two projects. You switch panes and have no idea which project was active or where you left off.
With KeepGoing
The status bar shows your current project momentum from any window or pane. One glance and you know.
Without KeepGoing
You need to open a new shell, run a command, or check a file to remember where a project stands.
With KeepGoing
The glance output in status-right gives you the summary, next step, and time since last checkpoint without any keystrokes.
Without KeepGoing
Working across multiple projects means context lives in different places. You have to check each one separately.
With KeepGoing
keepgoing hot combines all active projects into one status line, sorted by momentum. One glance across everything.
Frequently asked questions
Will this slow down tmux?
No. The glance command completes in under 50ms. The hot command checks all projects in a single pass. A status-interval of 15-30 seconds keeps things fresh without any noticeable overhead.
How do I force a manual refresh?
Run tmux refresh-client -S from any shell to immediately trigger a status bar update without waiting for the next interval.
Does this work with tmux themes like Catppuccin or Dracula?
Yes. The glance output is plain text and slots into status-right like any other string. Style it using standard tmux formatting if you want it to match your theme.
What refresh interval should I use?
15 seconds works well for single-project setups. For multi-project use with keepgoing hot, 30 seconds is a good default since it checks all registered projects in one call.
Does this work on Linux?
Yes. The KeepGoing CLI and glance command run on macOS and Linux wherever Node.js and tmux are installed.
Can I show glance output in the status-left instead?
Yes. Use the same #(keepgoing glance) syntax in status-left if you prefer context on the left side of the status bar.
What if I prefer context in my shell prompt instead of the status bar?
See the shell prompt integration for Bash, Zsh, and Fish snippets that update before every prompt render. If you use Starship, the Starship integration adds a dedicated custom module to your starship.toml.
Works great with
Combine integrations for the best experience. Each tool reads from the same local data.
VS Code
Passive context capture in VS Code. A ContextSnapshot appears in the status bar on every branch, and the sidebar shows your full re-entry briefing when you return.
Learn moreClaude Code
Give Claude Code session continuity across conversations. The MCP server feeds your momentum, recent progress, and next steps directly into every session.
Learn moreGitHub Copilot
Connect KeepGoing to GitHub Copilot via MCP. Copilot gains access to your project momentum, session history, and suggested next steps.
Learn moreJetBrains
Re-entry briefings when you open a project after days away. Works with IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, PyCharm, and all JetBrains IDEs.
Learn moreCursor
AI-first editor with built-in Copilot. Connect KeepGoing via MCP so Cursor maintains session continuity, knows your next step, and respects recent decisions.
Learn moreWindsurf
Windsurf (by Codeium) AI coding editor. Connect KeepGoing via MCP so Cascade maintains session continuity and knows your next steps.
Learn moreCLI
Run keepgoing glance for instant context in under 50ms. Integrates with Starship and tmux. Shell hook fires on cd so context is always there.
Learn moreDesktop Tray
Glance across every project: what's hot, what's warm, what's cold. Global hotkey pulls up your full briefing from anywhere, no editor needed.
Learn moreStarship
Show your current KeepGoing context in your Starship prompt. One-line glance output appears automatically in every initialized project.
Learn moreShell Prompt
Embed KeepGoing context directly in your Bash, Zsh, or Fish prompt using built-in shell hooks. No extra tools required.
Learn moreTwo lines to set it up
Install the CLI, add status-right, reload tmux config.