ilha

Product Introduction

1. Definition: ilha is a native macOS menu bar application (a "notch island" on MacBook Pro or a pill on other displays) that provides real-time monitoring and automated management of usage limits for AI-powered coding assistants, specifically Anthropic's Claude Code, OpenAI's Codex, and xAI's Grok Build.
2. Core Value Proposition: It exists to eliminate workflow interruption caused by hitting AI service rate limits. Its core value is automated AI credit management, ensuring developers can keep coding uninterrupted by intelligently switching between multiple paid accounts before a limit is reached, while providing cost transparency for AI-assisted development.

Main Features

1. Real-Time Limit Monitoring in the Notch: The app lives in the Mac's Dynamic Island (notch), displaying a live, at-a-glance view of usage for two selected accounts. It shows the percentage used and time remaining for both the 5-hour rolling window and the weekly limit for Claude Code, Codex, and Grok Build. This uses native macOS APIs for system integration.
2. Automated and Manual Account Switching: This is the core automation feature. Users can manually switch the active CLI context with one click. The "Pro" tier enables auto-switch logic: at 90% usage, it offers to switch; at 98%, it automatically switches the user's CLI session to a pre-configured account with available quota, preventing the session from stopping. The switch respects each CLI's expected authentication method.
3. Local-Only Cost Insights & Analytics: The "Pro" feature reads the local log files already generated by the Claude, Codex, and Grok CLIs on the user's Mac. It parses these logs to calculate an estimated weekly spend at API prices, broken down by project, without any data leaving the user's machine. This provides developer cost tracking for AI tools.
4. Banked Reset Management: For services that offer "banked" limit resets (like tickets), ilha provides a one-click interface within the app to manually apply a reset, ensuring no available quota is wasted.
5. Privacy-First Architecture: The app is designed with a strong privacy focus. All usage data is sourced from local CLI logs and API calls. Account credentials remain in the macOS Keychain. The developer states the app only sends anonymous, aggregated diagnostics (optionally disabled) and never transmits personal usage data, logins, or project logs.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Mid-task workflow disruption due to unexpectedly hitting AI coding assistant rate limits (5-hour or weekly caps). This forces developers to stop, manually log out, log into another account, and reconfigure their CLI environment.
2. Target Audience: Professional developers and engineering teams who subscribe to multiple tiers or multiple accounts of Claude Code, Codex, and/or Grok Build to increase their effective quota. This includes freelancers, startup engineers, and developers at tech firms who rely heavily on AI pair programming.
3. Use Cases:
   • A developer working on a critical feature who hits their Claude Code limit; ilha auto-switches their session to a team account seamlessly.
   • A contractor managing several client projects who needs to track which project incurs the most AI costs using the local log insights.
   • A user with "banked" resets who needs a simple UI to apply them without navigating complex dashboard settings.

Unique Advantages

1. Strengths & Limitations (Pros & Cons):

   • Pros:
     • Unmatched Workflow Continuity: Solves a very specific, high-friction pain point for power users of AI coding tools.
     • Native macOS Integration: Leverages the Dynamic Island for elegant, always-visible monitoring without cluttering the desktop.
     • Strong Privacy Model: Local data processing for cost insights is a significant trust and security advantage.
     • Simple Pricing: One-time payment for Pro (with a year of updates) is straightforward compared to SaaS subscriptions.
   • Cons:
     • Platform Lock-in: Exclusively for macOS 15+, ignoring Windows and Linux developers.
     • Niche Market Dependency: Entirely dependent on the continued existence and API structure of Claude Code, Codex, and Grok Build.
     • Limited CLI Support: Does not support other AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot Chat or Cursor's native agent, which are widely used.
     • Manual Log Parsing: The cost insight feature's accuracy is dependent on the stability and format of the third-party CLIs' local logs.

2. Key Alternatives & Differentiation:

   • Manual Dashboard Checking & Switching: The default alternative is manually checking the service provider's web dashboard and using CLI commands like claude auth switch. ilha differentiates by automating this entire process, providing proactive alerts, and integrating monitoring directly into the desktop.
   • Generic API Monitoring Tools (e.g., Postman, Custom Scripts): Tools like Postman Monitors or custom bash scripts can ping usage endpoints. ilha differentiates by being a dedicated, polished native app with direct CLI context switching, a superior UX, and built-in cost analytics from local logs.
   • Competitor "Limit Monitor" Apps: As of now, there are no direct competitors offering the same combination of notch integration, multi-CLI support, and automated switching. ilha's key differentiation is its deep, automated integration with the specific authentication and session management of these AI coding CLIs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How does ilha switch my CLI account without logging me out? ilha interacts with the local authentication session files and environment used by the official Claude, Codex, and Grok CLIs. It changes the active context or profile that these CLIs reference, mimicking a manual switch command without invalidating your stored login credentials in the macOS Keychain.
2. Is ilha safe to use with my paid AI accounts? According to the developer, ilha employs a privacy-first model. Your login credentials are stored only in your macOS Keychain and are never transmitted. The app's cost insights feature reads only local log files. Auto-switching operates by manipulating local session data, not by interacting with account security settings.
3. What happens after the one-year Pro update period ends? The Pro version you purchased remains fully functional permanently. You will not receive new feature updates or macOS compatibility updates released after your update year expires. You can choose to renew your license at any time to gain access to the latest versions.
4. Can ilha monitor GitHub Copilot or Cursor? No, ilha specifically supports Anthropic Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, and xAI Grok Build. It does not currently integrate with GitHub Copilot's usage data or other AI-powered IDEs like Cursor, as these services have different authentication methods and limit structures.
5. Does the free version of ilha support auto-switching? No, the free version of ilha only provides real-time monitoring (the "island" in the notch) for the single account currently active in your CLI. The automated account switching feature, which includes the 90%/98% auto-switch logic and multi-account management, is exclusive to the paid Pro license.