{"version":"2.1.234","anchor":"status-line-narration-under-the-spinner","canonical_anchor":"status-line-narration-under-the-spinner","heading":"Status-line narration under the spinner","tier":"soon","area":"Terminal UI","scope":null,"heads_up":null,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.234\/e\/status-line-narration-under-the-spinner","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.234","markdown":"### Status-line narration under the spinner\n\nA background query could narrate what Claude is doing under the spinner, off unless enabled.\n\n**What**\n\nWhile the main loop is busy, Claude Code can run a background one-turn query with no tools available that produces a short status line saying what Claude is doing now and what it plans to do next, then draws it as a block below the spinner instead of the old single-suffix line. It is paced by a configured interval and is off unless explicitly enabled, so nothing changes for most users in this build.\n\n**Details**\n\n- Enabled by the `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_NARRATION` environment variable; pacing comes from the `tengu_pewter_kite_ms` interval, which defaults to 0 and so leaves narration off on its own.\n- The model output is parsed into a `now:` line and a `next:` line, and a `next:` value of \"none\", \"n\/a\" or \"not stated\" is dropped rather than displayed.\n- The spinner no longer appends a single \"Next: \u2026\" or \"Tip: \u2026\" suffix when narration is active, and instead renders a block with bold ` now: ` and ` next: ` labels plus a separate ` tip: ` line.\n- Narration is registered as a query source alongside \"prompt_suggestion\", \"away_summary\" and \"agent_summary\", meaning it never triggers auto-compact and never shows the user a prompt-too-long error.\n- Each generation emits `narration_generate` telemetry.\n\n**Evidence**\n\n`Status line for the user, who is glancing at the screen.`, `\"narration\"`\n\n- Flag `tengu_pewter_kite_ms`: Not enough to say (read for one account on one subscription tier against v2.1.234; this account: no value returned, anonymous baseline: no value returned, compiled default: not a boolean we can read)\n- Area: Terminal UI\n- Names: `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_NARRATION`\n- Tier: Nothing to try yet\n- Useful: 3\/5\n- Signal: 4\/5\n- Present in the build but not switched on"}