I use Claude Code and Codex deeply, almost every day.
A very common pattern for me is simple: I open a thread, give it a long task, let it run, and then move on to something else. Maybe I check my phone. Maybe I switch to another computer. Maybe I start another piece of work.
Then the annoying part begins.
Is it still running?
Did it already finish?
Did it get stuck?
Is it already waiting for me?
A lot of the time, the real waste is not the model running. The waste is not knowing when I should come back and look.
I kept switching windows, checking terminals, and confirming whether a session had stopped.
That is a stupid way to spend attention. I already paid for the tokens. I did not want to keep paying with my focus.
I did not want another usage meter.
Agent Island is forked from Eric Park's codex-island.
codex-island is a smart little tool. It puts Codex usage, cost, and reset time into the MacBook notch, almost like a live meter.
That foundation is useful, and I am grateful Eric Park built it.
But what I needed was not only knowing how much had been used.
I wanted to know what state a long task was in, and whether the next step could be connected at the right moment.
So Agent Island moves one step beyond a usage island.
It gives Claude Code and Codex a night watchman.
It watches the Claude or Codex session I choose.
If it is still running, the notch tells me.
If it is my turn, the notch tells me.
If it has been stuck for too long, it tells me more loudly.
When the 5-hour window resets, it can automatically trigger the next step I configured, so the task can keep moving.
That next step is not hardcoded. It can be continue, OK, or any prompt you want to send into that thread.
The point is simple: long agent runs should not silently break at the edge of a window.
For me, Agent Island solves the problem of attention being interrupted again and again.
If Claude Code and Codex status only lives inside a terminal, a browser tab, or some background window, I have to keep checking it.
The MacBook notch is a good place for low-interruption status.
I do not need to open every window. I do not need to stare at a terminal until the task ends.
Claude and Codex logos sit inside the notch, with breathing, spinning, color changes, and small audio cues to show state.
Working should feel present but quiet. Your turn should be obvious. Stuck should be hard to miss.
It turns an AI long task from a black box I keep checking into a status I can catch with the corner of my eye.
After open source, it found its way into a few awesome lists
Agent Island is open source on GitHub: github.com/tristan666666/agent-island
The public listings I can currently confirm include these:
- Listed in awesome-mac through a submitted PR
- Listed in the AI section of awesome-swift-macos-apps
- Listed in awesome-codex-cli
- Listed in awesome-coding-agents
- Listed under Desktop Apps in awesome-vibe-coding-resources
If you are a heavy Claude Code or Codex user, try Agent Island
I would love real feedback: bugs, suggestions, or your own usage scenarios
If it helps you, a GitHub star is also welcome