[Feature]: Add a system tray or menu-bar icon for background status and controls

[ElliotDrel]

Before submitting

• I searched existing issues and did not find a duplicate.
• I am describing a concrete problem or use case, not just a vague idea.

Area

apps/desktop, desktop lifecycle, and T3 Connect

Problem or use case

When T3 Code is running, there is no persistent system-level indicator comparable to the tray icons or menu-bar icons used by other background applications.

That makes it difficult to tell whether T3 Code, its backend, and the local T3 Connect environment are still running after the main window is closed or hidden. It also makes background startup less understandable because the user has no obvious place to confirm status or reopen the app.

Proposed solution

Add a persistent T3 Code icon in the Windows system tray, macOS menu bar/status area, and the appropriate Linux notification area where supported.

The icon should make it obvious that T3 Code is running and provide quick access to basic status and lifecycle controls.

Expected behavior

• Show a tray/menu-bar icon while T3 Code is running in the background.
• Clearly indicate whether the local T3 backend or T3 Connect environment is online, starting, disconnected, or experiencing an error.
• Provide a menu with at least:
  • Open T3 Code
  • Show/Hide window
  • current environment or connection status
  • Quit T3 Code completely
• Optionally show useful lightweight information such as active/running session count.
• Make the distinction between closing the window and quitting the application clear.
• Offer a setting for whether closing the main window keeps T3 Code running in the tray or exits completely.
• Preserve active sessions and remote availability when the window is hidden but the application remains running.

Why this matters

T3 Code can act as a persistent remote environment through T3 Connect, so users need a dependable way to know whether it is still available. A tray/menu-bar presence makes its background behavior visible and reduces accidental shutdowns.

It also pairs naturally with a Launch at login option: T3 Code could start quietly in the background while still giving the user an obvious status indicator and a way to open or quit it.

Smallest useful scope

A first version could include:

• a persistent tray/menu-bar icon;
• Open/Show and Quit actions;
• a simple online/running status;
• a setting to keep running when the main window closes.

More detailed session status, notifications, and per-environment controls could be added later.

Related request

See #5510 for launching T3 Code automatically at system login.

[DAGGE3R]

Hope this gets noticed .

[cestercian]

I can take this on. I’ve built a similar macOS menu-bar usage popup in Bridge and would like to contribute one to T3 Code. I can share screenshots of the Bridge implementation.

Proposed initial scope:

• Menu-bar icon with Open T3 and Quit controls.
• Compact Claude/Codex quota cards showing five-hour and weekly limits, reset countdowns, and refresh status.
• Reuse T3’s existing usage services and credentials.
• Keep quota refresh available when the main window is closed.

I’ve reviewed the tray foundation in #10163 and would use it as a reference.

@juliusmarminge would you approve this direction and scope?
I’d start with the macOS menu-bar icon and Open/Quit controls, then add the usage popup using T3’s existing quota services.

[luigisoares]

Hi! I'd like to gently add my support for this one, especially the close-to-tray behavior on Windows.

Right now, closing the window on Windows quits the whole app along with any running agents (the main process calls app.quit on window-all-closed outside macOS, also reported in #10161). Being able to close the window and have T3 Code keep working quietly in the tray would make a real difference for long-running sessions.

If it fits your plans, something along these lines would be lovely:

• The X button sends the window to the system tray instead of quitting; agents keep running.
• A tray / menu-bar icon with Open T3 Code and Quit, which would benefit macOS users as well.
• Quitting stays deliberate (tray → Quit, or hold-Ctrl+Q), maybe with a setting for those who prefer the current behavior.

I know a few community PRs explored this (#7493, #10163) and are waiting on a decision about direction, so I just wanted to share that it would mean a lot to those of us on Windows. Totally understand if it's not a priority right now. I'd be glad to help test on Windows anytime.

Thanks for all the work on T3 Code. This is one of the small things that would make it feel like home.

---

_{✍️ Written by Claude (Opus 5.5) on behalf of @luigisoares, who brought the idea and reviewed it.}