# Best ways to know when your AI coding agent needs you in 2026

> The best ways in 2026 to know when Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or Antigravity has finished or needs your approval, from a free terminal bell to a Mac popup you answer with one key.

Canonical: https://herdbell.com/blog/best-ways-to-know-when-ai-coding-agent-needs-you
Author: Herdbell team
Published: 2026-10-29
Last updated: 2026-10-29

An agent that stops and waits wastes your time every minute you do not notice. These are the five practical ways to catch it, in the order most people try them. Each has a job it does well, and a catch.

## The five, at a glance

| # | Way | Best for | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herdbell | Several agents, and answering without switching windows (Mac) | Mac only (macOS 14 or later), paid once |
| 2 | A hook script you write | One agent, and people who like to tinker | You maintain it, and it alerts but cannot answer for you |
| 3 | Each agent's own notifications | Using a single agent | Every agent behaves differently, and there is no shared list |
| 4 | A terminal bell or title alert | A free, zero-setup nudge | No message or project name, and easy to miss |
| 5 | A session-manager dashboard | Reviewing many branches side by side | One more full window to keep open |

## 1. Herdbell: a popup you can answer

Herdbell listens to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and Antigravity through their own hooks. Your pointer glows when something needs you, and a small card appears by your cursor. Press Return to allow a command or D to deny it, or type a reply when a turn finishes. It is the only option here that also lets you **answer** from any window. See [how to approve Claude Code permissions without switching windows](https://herdbell.com/blog/approve-claude-code-permissions).

## 2. A hook script of your own

Agents can run a command when they finish or ask for permission, so a short script can send you a desktop notification. It costs nothing and you control it. The catch is upkeep, and you still have to switch to the agent to respond. [Claude Code hooks, explained](https://herdbell.com/blog/claude-code-hooks-explained) shows how they work.

## 3. The agent's built-in notifications

If you use one agent, its own alerts may be enough. They differ between agents and terminals, so check what yours does before you rely on it.

## 4. A terminal bell

The simplest option: a beep when something happens. It tells you something changed but not what, or in which project.

## 5. A session-manager dashboard

If you review every change per branch, a dashboard that manages sessions fits that work. It is a bigger tool than an alert, and you can run Herdbell beside it. See [menu bar popup vs session-manager dashboard](https://herdbell.com/blog/menu-bar-popup-vs-session-manager-dashboard).

## Which should you choose?

Tools change quickly, so check each one's current features before you decide. For a longer comparison, read [Herdbell alternatives](https://herdbell.com/blog/herdbell-alternatives).

- One agent, one terminal: start with a hook script or the built-in alerts.
- Two or more agents, or several chats at once: use one tool that covers all of them and lets you answer.
- Heavy parallel review: a dashboard, plus an alert for the moments you are away from it.

## Common questions

### What is the best way to know when Claude Code is done?
For one agent, a hook script or its built-in alerts. For several agents, or if you want to answer without switching windows, Herdbell gives one popup for all of them on a Mac.

### Is there a free way to get notified?
Yes: a terminal bell, a hook script of your own, or an agent's built-in notifications. They cost nothing but setup time.

## Related
- [Herdbell: pricing](https://herdbell.com/#pricing)
- [All posts](https://herdbell.com/blog)
- [How to get notified when Claude Code finishes or needs your approval](https://herdbell.com/blog/get-notified-when-claude-code-finishes)
- [Herdbell alternatives: 5 ways to keep track of your AI coding agents](https://herdbell.com/blog/herdbell-alternatives)
- [How to approve Claude Code permissions without switching windows](https://herdbell.com/blog/approve-claude-code-permissions)