1. The Problem (Pain Point)
Currently, when using Droid CLI, it feels like a "black box" during long generations or tool executions. There is no real-time feedback on how many tokens are being consumed or generated.
Users cannot easily tell if:
- The model is actively thinking/generating in the background.
- The CLI is stuck in an infinite tool-call loop.
- The network or API is hanging.
While commands like /cost and /context are helpful, they only provide "post-execution" statistics. The showTokenUsageIndicator setting also does not provide a live, ticking counter of output tokens.
2. Expected Behavior & Solution
Please consider adding a live token usage tracker or a Tokens Per Second (TPS) meter that updates dynamically while the model is streaming its response.
Inspiration (Claude Code):
In Claude Code, users or third-party extensions can monitor live token increments (e.g., 10... 50... 120 tokens) and cost during generation.
It would be great if Droid CLI could:
- Provide a native, real-time ticking token counter in the terminal UI (or status bar).
- OR expose variables like
total_output_tokens and current_cost to the /statusline configuration so we can build our own live progress bars.
- OR output a continuous local log file (e.g.,
.jsonl) during generation that third-party trackers can listen to.
3. Why This Matters
- Reduces user anxiety: We immediately know the CLI hasn't frozen.
- Cost control: Users can instinctively hit
Ctrl+C if they see tokens exploding out of control.
- Better Developer Experience: Matches the transparency of competing tools like Claude Code.
1. The Problem (Pain Point)
Currently, when using Droid CLI, it feels like a "black box" during long generations or tool executions. There is no real-time feedback on how many tokens are being consumed or generated.
Users cannot easily tell if:
While commands like
/costand/contextare helpful, they only provide "post-execution" statistics. TheshowTokenUsageIndicatorsetting also does not provide a live, ticking counter of output tokens.2. Expected Behavior & Solution
Please consider adding a live token usage tracker or a Tokens Per Second (TPS) meter that updates dynamically while the model is streaming its response.
Inspiration (Claude Code):
In Claude Code, users or third-party extensions can monitor live token increments (e.g.,
10... 50... 120 tokens) and cost during generation.It would be great if Droid CLI could:
total_output_tokensandcurrent_costto the/statuslineconfiguration so we can build our own live progress bars..jsonl) during generation that third-party trackers can listen to.3. Why This Matters
Ctrl+Cif they see tokens exploding out of control.