01What Are Claude Code Mods and How Do They Work?

Claude Code Mods are a new update that let you change how Claude Code looks and feels by building your own plugins in real time. A mod can add new screens, buttons, forward slash commands, or set rules for what Claude is allowed to do. For example, you can create a forward slash command called Aquarium that opens a pane beside the session and draws the session as a fish tank.

Mods work by listening for events. Any single action Claude takes on your computer, like reading a file or running a command, is a tool call. When something happens inside Claude, that is an event.

A hook is a piece of code that runs whenever a certain event occurs. A mod is often a collection of hooks. A plugin is a package of add-ons, and a mod is one kind of plugin. Context is Claude's short-term memory for the conversation.

02Key Features of Claude Code Mods: What You Can Do

Claude Code Mods offer four main ways to add things to Claude Code. Three of them work from the outside, but mods are the only ones that work from inside Claude. You can build mods as you go along and change the screen while Claude is working.

Here are the key features:

  • Add your own screen: Place a panel on the side, a strip above the prompt, or add buttons, tabs, and text fields.
  • Restyle or replace parts: Change what is already there on the Claude Code interface.
  • Step in before Claude acts: Let a mod inspect, modify, or block a tool call before Claude executes it.
  • Make forward slash commands: Create custom commands like /tokens or /aquarium that you can run at any time.
  • Share mods: Export the mod files and share them with others.

03How to Set Up a Claude Code Mod Step by Step

Setting up a mod is easy because you just describe what you want and Claude builds it for you. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Claude Code in your terminal, desktop app, VS Code extension, or Claude SDK agent.
  2. Type a description of the mod you want. For example: "Build a Claude Code Mod called Aquarium. The Aquarium command opens a pane beside the session and draws the session as a fish tank."
  3. Press Enter. Claude will start writing the mod files in TypeScript or JavaScript inside the conversation.
  4. Wait for Claude to finish building the mod. You can watch it create the files in real time.
  5. Once the mod is ready, use its forward slash command. For Aquarium, type /aquarium and press Enter.
  6. To install mods from the community, go to mods.ai.com, choose from over 359 mods, and follow the installation instructions for each mod.

04How to Use Claude Code Mods: Real Examples

In this episode, Julian Goldie walks through several examples of mods you can build and use. Here is how each one works:

  • Aquarium mod: Run /aquarium to open a pane that shows a fish tank. The main conversation appears as two large fish. Each subagent spawns a small fish that swims away and fades out when the subagent finishes.
  • Token Tracker mod: Run /tokens to open a panel that shows your context window, session cost, and plan limits. It measures the number of tokens you have used.
  • Tamagotchi (Idle Art) mod: Build a mod that draws an animated pixel-art creature in the band above the prompt. The creature reacts to what Claude is doing and gains experience the more you use it.
  • Breathing exercise mod: Run /breathe to get a panel with breathing exercises while you wait for Claude to work. It turns Claude's working time into a meditation moment.
  • Arcade game mod: Run /arcade to put a small game above the prompt. You can play snake while Claude finishes thinking.

05Results and Tests Shown with Multiple Mods Running

Julian plugged in five different Claude mods at the same time to show how they work together. He had the Aquarium mod, the Token Tracker, the Tamagotchi, the Breathing Exercise mod, and the Arcade Game mod all active. Each mod triggered when certain events happened.

For example, every time a tool call was made, the breathing exercise mod activated, drawing a panel with breathing instructions.

The mods did not conflict with each other. The Tamagotchi stayed visible above the prompt, the token panel updated in real time, and the arcade game remained playable. Julian showed that you can easily combine multiple mods to customize your Claude experience.

The mods work in the terminal, desktop apps, VS Code extension, and Claude SDK agent. They do not work in the desktop app in WSL but work everywhere else.

06Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid with Mods

Here are important things to keep in mind when using Claude Code Mods:

  • Choose the right tool for the job: If you use the same prompt repeatedly, use a skill. If you want to connect Claude to another app, use an MCP server. If you want to allow, block, or log actions, use a settings hook. Only use a mod when you need new screens, buttons, or forward slash commands.
  • Mods work inside the conversation: Unlike skills or MCP servers, mods are built and run from within Claude. You can create them while chatting.
  • Context fills up: Context is Claude's short-term memory. Some mods, like the Token Tracker, show you how full your context is. Keep an eye on it to avoid losing earlier parts of the conversation.
  • No coding needed: Just describe what you want. Claude writes the TypeScript or JavaScript code for you.
  • Test mods one at a time: While you can run multiple mods, start with one to make sure it works before adding more.

07Who Should Use Claude Code Mods and Why It Matters

Claude Code Mods are for anyone who uses Claude Code regularly and wants to make it more visual, interactive, or efficient. If you spend a lot of time waiting for Claude to complete tasks, mods like the breathing exercise or arcade game can make that time productive or fun. If you need to track token usage or see subagent activity, the Token Tracker or Agent Flow Pane mods give you that data instantly.

Mods matter because they let you customize Claude to your workflow without writing code from scratch. You can build plugins in real time, share them with others, and install mods from a community of over 359 options. This turns Claude Code from a simple assistant into a fully customizable development environment.