I built a tool to un-dumb Claude Code's CLI output (Local Log Viewer)
Hi HN, I built this because I got tired of the Claude Code CLI hiding details from me. Recent updates have replaced critical output with summaries like "Read 3 files" or "Edited 2 files". To see what actually happened, I was forced to use `--verbose`, which floods the terminal with unreadable JSON and system prompts. I wanted a middle ground: *Full observability without the noise.* `claude-devtools` is a local Electron app that tails the session logs in `~/.claude/` to reconstruct the execution trace in real-time. *Unlike wrappers, it solves the visibility gap in your native…
In plain words
Local Log Viewer is an Electron app that displays detailed execution traces from Claude Code CLI sessions in real time. It reads logs stored locally and presents file changes with inline diffs, token usage breakdowns, and agent execution trees in a readable format. Built for developers who use Claude Code and need visibility into what the CLI is actually doing without verbose JSON output cluttering their terminal.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hi HN, I built this because I got tired of the Claude Code CLI hiding details from me. Recent updates have replaced critical output with summaries like "Read 3 files" or "Edited 2 files". To see what actually happened, I was forced to use `--verbose`, which floods the terminal with unreadable JSON and system prompts. I wanted a middle ground: *Full observability without the noise.* `claude-devtools` is a local Electron app that tails the session logs in `~/.claude/` to reconstruct the execution trace in real-time. *Unlike wrappers, it solves the visibility gap in your native terminal workflow:* 1. *Real Diffs:* It shows inline diffs (red/green) the moment files are edited, instead of just a checkmark. 2. *Context Forensics:* It breaks down token usage by File vs Tool Output vs Thinking (so you know exactly why your context window is full). 3. *Agent Trees:* It visualizes sub-agent execution paths which are usually interleaved and confusing in the CLI. It’s 100% local, and works with the logs already on your machine. No API keys required. Repo: https://github.com/matt1398/claude-devtools (Screenshots and diff viewer demo are in the README)
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