Guide · Agent skill
How to use the macOS Menu Bar Status Indicator agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The add-macos-statusbar skill is an instruction package for an AI coding agent. When you ask the agent to run it, the agent adds a small native icon to the macOS menu bar that shows whether NanoClaw is running, using a green or red dot, with Start, Stop and Restart controls. This guide is for people who run NanoClaw on a Mac and have never installed an agent skill before. By the end you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it, and what it changes on your computer.
macOS Menu Bar Status Indicatornanocoai/nanoclaw · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Confirm you are on macOS with NanoClaw. Check that you have a Mac and a NanoClaw project checkout. The skill does not work on Windows or Linux.
- 2Install Xcode Command Line Tools. Run xcode-select --install if swiftc is not available. The skill needs it to compile the indicator.
- 3Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or the project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 4Ask the agent for the menu bar indicator. In your NanoClaw project, ask the agent to add a macOS menu bar status indicator.
- 5Let the agent compile and register the service. The agent compiles the Swift binary, creates the launchd plist and loads the service.
- 6Verify the bolt icon. Confirm that launchctl list shows a PID for com.nanoclaw.statusbar and that the bolt icon appears in the menu bar.
What does the skill make the agent do?
The skill teaches the agent to set up a menu bar status indicator for NanoClaw. The icon is a bolt. A green dot means NanoClaw is running and a red dot means it is stopped. Clicking the icon lets you start, stop or restart the service. The skill's own description says it is macOS only.
According to the skill's instructions, the agent checks your platform and whether the Swift compiler is available, compiles a small Swift program into a binary, registers a launchd agent so the indicator starts at login, and then verifies that the service has a process ID.
- Shows a bolt icon in the menu bar with a green or red status dot
- Provides Start, Stop and Restart controls
- Includes a View Logs option that opens the log file
- Compiles the Swift source into dist/statusbar inside your project
Install the skill from our page
Download the skill as a ZIP file from this page and unzip it. The skill is delivered as files including SKILL.md and REMOVE.md. Then choose one of the two locations below, depending on whether you want the skill for all projects or only one.
For a personal install that applies to all your projects, place the unzipped skill folder inside ~/.claude/skills/. For a project-only install, place it inside the project's .claude/skills/ folder.
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- All projects: ~/.claude/skills/
- One project only: .claude/skills/ inside the project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
Check the requirements before you start
The skill needs macOS, Xcode Command Line Tools (which provide the swiftc compiler), a NanoClaw project checkout, and launchd, which is built into macOS. If swiftc is missing, the skill tells the agent to stop and asks you to run xcode-select --install, then run the skill again.
The skill runs scripts on your machine. It does not use the network, according to its metadata.
- macOS
- Xcode Command Line Tools, which provide swiftc
- A NanoClaw project checkout
- launchd (built into macOS)
xcode-select --installHow to trigger the skill with a natural request
You do not need to memorise a command. Ask the agent in plain language while working in your NanoClaw project. The skill's own instructions also refer to the slash form /add-macos-statusbar, so you can use either style if your agent supports it.
Good requests name the outcome you want, for example asking for a menu bar indicator for NanoClaw, or asking for a menu bar icon that can restart NanoClaw after code changes.
- "Add a macOS menu bar status indicator for NanoClaw."
- "Set up a menu bar icon that shows whether NanoClaw is running."
- "Add a menu bar Restart control for NanoClaw, I restart it after code changes."
Verify the indicator and use it
The skill's verify step runs launchctl list and checks that the first column shows a process ID rather than a dash. Once it does, the bolt icon should appear in your menu bar. Click it to see NanoClaw's status.
Use Restart after you change NanoClaw's code, since that is the use the skill is designed for.
- Green dot: NanoClaw is running
- Red dot: NanoClaw is stopped
launchctl list | grep com.nanoclaw.statusbarSafety notes before you install
The skill creates a launchd agent at ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.nanoclaw.statusbar.plist. That plist is set to run at load and to keep alive, so the indicator starts automatically at login and is restarted if it stops. If you do not want a background program starting at login, do not install this skill.
The skill also runs xattr -cr on the compiled binary on macOS Sequoia or later, which clears the quarantine attribute. Read the SKILL.md before you let the agent run it.
- Creates a background launchd agent that starts at login
- Runs compile and launchctl commands on your Mac
- Clears the quarantine attribute on dist/statusbar on macOS Sequoia or later
Remove the skill's changes
The included REMOVE.md file explains how to uninstall. It unloads the launchd service with launchctl bootout, falling back to launchctl unload, and then deletes the plist, the compiled binary and the two log files. The removal steps are idempotent, which means they are safe to run again. The menu bar icon disappears once the service is unloaded.
launchctl bootout gui/$(id -u)/com.nanoclaw.statusbar 2>/dev/null || launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.nanoclaw.statusbar.plist 2>/dev/null || trueWhat people use it for
- Watching at a glance whether NanoClaw is running while you work on other tasks
- Restarting NanoClaw from the menu after changing its code
- Opening the log file from the menu when something seems wrong
- Stopping NanoClaw from the menu when you do not need it running
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the add-macos-statusbar skill?
Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or into the project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does the macOS menu bar status indicator work on Windows or Linux?
No. The skill is macOS only. It needs Apple's swiftc compiler from Xcode Command Line Tools and uses launchd, which is part of macOS.
Is the add-macos-statusbar skill free?
The skill is licensed under MIT, as listed on this page. The source does not mention pricing, so check the repository for any other terms.
Does the skill need an internet connection?
The skill's metadata says it does not use the network. It does run scripts on your Mac, including compiling a Swift program and loading a launchd service.
How do I remove the menu bar indicator?
Follow the REMOVE.md file included with the skill. It unloads the launchd service and deletes the plist, the compiled binary and the two log files. The icon disappears once the service is unloaded.
What should I do if the icon does not appear after installing?
Run launchctl list | grep com.nanoclaw.statusbar. The first column should show a process ID rather than a dash. If it shows a dash, the service is not running, so ask the agent to check the setup or review the logs in your project's logs folder.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
This skill suits developers who run NanoClaw locally on a Mac and want a visible status dot and a quick Restart control. It is a poor fit for Windows or Linux users, and for anyone who does not want a background program starting automatically at login.
Download the skill