ClaudeThing

A DeskThing app for the Spotify CarThing that mirrors real-time Claude activity to the device screen — showing whichever spinner verb (Thinking, Reading, Writing…) is currently active across Claude Code, Claude Chat, and Claude Cowork.

![idle state: ✦ logo on dark background → active state: large verb with pulse rings]

How it works

Claude surfaces show a spinner verb while working. ClaudeThing captures that verb and displays it on the CarThing in real time. No API key required — it's purely a local display mirror.

Claude Code (hook) ──HTTP──┐
Claude Chat (extension) ──WS──┤── DeskThing plugin :7891 ──► CarThing screen
Claude Cowork (extension) ──WS──┘

Multiple sources rotate every 3 seconds. Each source has its own accent color (blue for Code, green for Chat, orange for Cowork). No activity = idle state.

Requirements

• DeskThing desktop app with a CarThing connected
• Chrome (for Chat/Cowork verb detection)
• Claude Code CLI (for Code verb detection via hooks)
• Node.js 18+

Installation

1. DeskThing plugin

1. Download claudething-v0.1.0.zip from Releases
2. Open the DeskThing desktop app → Apps → Add App → Install from zip
3. Select the downloaded zip and enable the app

2. Chrome extension

1. Clone this repo (or download the source)
2. Open Chrome → chrome://extensions
3. Enable Developer mode (top-right toggle)
4. Click Load unpacked → select the extension/ directory
5. The extension will connect automatically when claude.ai is open and the DeskThing plugin is running

3. Claude Code hooks

Add the following to ~/.claude/settings.json (merge with any existing content):

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "",
        "hooks": [{
          "type": "command",
          "command": "/absolute/path/to/ClaudeThing/hooks/send-verb.sh"
        }]
      }
    ],
    "Stop": [
      {
        "matcher": "",
        "hooks": [{
          "type": "command",
          "command": "/absolute/path/to/ClaudeThing/hooks/clear-verb.sh"
        }]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Replace /absolute/path/to/ClaudeThing with the path to this repo.

Development

npm install
npm test          # run unit tests (22 tests)
npm run dev       # Vite dev server at localhost:5173
npm run build     # full build → dist/claudething-v*.zip

Stack

• DeskThing SDK (TypeScript + React 18)
• Vite + esbuild
• Chrome Extension Manifest v3
• Vitest