MCP-Controlled Tab Indicator
See which tabs MCP is authorized to control.
Availability
Partially implemented in stable. Read the limits below before relying on this workflow.
Reviewed against stable v0.5.1. Rust candidate additions are labeled separately. Release status.
The pain this solves
- People need to know where connected MCP clients have control authority.
- A marker based on current permission can be mistaken for a record of tab origin.
What ships with it
- An optional purple tab-bar marker and tooltip indicate MCP control.
- User-created tabs also receive the marker after explicit approval through tab_request_control.
- Control persists until release, tab closure, or app termination, and the indicator can be hidden in settings.
Questions this answers
- How can I tell which tabs were created by AI agents?
- Do MCP-created tabs look different from regular tabs?
- How do I track what my AI agent is doing in the terminal?
- Can I distinguish automated terminal sessions from manual ones?
How it works
When the MCP tab indicator setting is enabled, Chau7 displays a purple marker and an “MCP-controlled tab” tooltip for tabs whose MCP-control flag is set.
The flag is set for tabs created through MCP and for existing tabs after the user approves a tab_request_control request. The marker describes current control capability, not who originally created the tab. This consent requirement is separate from the optional approval prompt for creating new tabs.
Control remains until it is released, the tab closes, or the app terminates. The indicator preference can be disabled, so it is not a guaranteed marker when that setting is off.
Why it matters
The marker helps show where MCP has control authority. It avoids confusing origin with permission: a manually created tab can receive the marker after its owner grants MCP access.
Frequently asked questions
Does the marker mean MCP created the tab?
No. It means the tab is MCP-controlled. An existing user-created tab shows it only after the user explicitly grants control; that consent is required independently of the new-tab approval setting.
Can I hide the marker?
Yes. Chau7 has a setting to show or hide the MCP tab indicator.
How long does granted control last?
Until control is released, the tab closes, or Chau7 terminates.