claude-threads 1.19.4 → 1.20.1

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,16 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [1.20.1] - 2026-08-06
+
+### Added
+- **"How it compares" section on the website and README** - A short, respectful comparison with the other ways to drive a coding agent from chat: Anthropic's own Claude Code in Slack / Claude Tag, OpenAI's Codex in Slack, Cursor in Slack, Cognition's Devin, and community Slack bots. The framing is a single axis — where the session runs (vendor cloud vs. your machine) — with claude-threads positioned as the local, self-hosted option that also speaks Mattermost. A closing note names the strongest differentiators beyond that: in-thread permission approvals, multiplayer sessions, the multi-account pool, and no GitHub assumption. The website's "Why I built this" note about Anthropic's integration was updated to match (it is no longer Enterprise-gated: Pro/Max plans have Claude Code in Slack, Team/Enterprise have Claude Tag).
+
+## [1.20.0] - 2026-08-06
+
+### Added
+- **GitHub Sponsors support ♥** - The project now accepts voluntary support via [GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems): a `.github/FUNDING.yml` enables the Sponsor button on the repository, the `funding` field in `package.json` surfaces the link in npm's post-install funding notice, and the README gained a "Support the Project" section aimed at both individual users and organizations. The sponsor link appears only at moments of delivered value or explicit pull: a dim note in the CLI startup header, a one-line farewell after interactive shutdown, a footer on the on-demand `!help` and `!release-notes` replies, and a 24-hour celebration line in the sticky message when an instance crosses a session-count milestone (#100, #250, #500, ...). The milestone counter persists in `sessions.json` (`stats` block, backward compatible). `release.yml` appends a sponsor footer to each release's generated notes, and the GitHub new-issue chooser links to the sponsor page. Sponsorship is branded under [Axolotl Systems](https://axolotl.systems), credited on the website, README, and docs.
+
 ## [1.19.4] - 2026-08-05
 
 ### Changed

package/README.md

@@ -170,6 +170,27 @@ Restrict who can use the bot during setup, or reconfigure later with `claude-thr
 
 Who may do what (start sessions, react to permission prompts, approve guest messages) is written down in the [authorization model](https://github.com/anneschuth/claude-threads/blob/main/SECURITY.md).
 
+## How it compares
+
+Driving a coding agent from chat is a busy space: Anthropic, OpenAI, Cursor, and Cognition each ship their own integration, and other open-source projects exist too — several of them excellent. The main difference is where the session actually runs.
+
+| Product                                                                                                                              | Sessions run on                                             | Chat platforms                                  | Account                                       |
+| :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- |
+| **claude-threads** (open source, Apache-2.0)                                                                                          | Your machine — local checkout, your MCP servers and plugins | Slack + Mattermost, multiple workspaces at once | Any Claude subscription or API key            |
+| [Claude Code in Slack](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/slack) / [Claude Tag](https://claude.com/docs/claude-tag/overview) (Anthropic) | Anthropic's cloud, against GitHub repos                     | Slack                                           | Claude Pro/Max; Claude Tag on Team/Enterprise |
+| [Codex in Slack](https://slack.com/marketplace/A09F5C369E3-openai-codex) (OpenAI)                                                     | OpenAI's Codex cloud                                        | Slack                                           | ChatGPT plan                                  |
+| [Cursor in Slack](https://cursor.com/docs/integrations/slack)                                                                         | Cursor's cloud agents                                       | Slack                                           | Cursor plan                                   |
+| [Devin](https://devin.ai/) (Cognition)                                                                                                | Cognition's cloud                                           | Slack (also Linear and Jira tickets)            | Devin plan                                    |
+| Community bots such as [claude-code-slack-bot](https://github.com/mpociot/claude-code-slack-bot)                                      | Your machine                                                | Slack                                           | Claude subscription or API key                |
+
+The cloud products share a working style: you delegate from a thread, the work runs in a vendor-hosted sandbox, and progress updates and a pull request come back — Claude Tag additionally stays in the conversation as a shared teammate the whole channel can talk to. If your repositories live on GitHub and you want nothing to host, they are a good choice; Anthropic's own integration in particular runs the same Claude Code this bot does.
+
+claude-threads makes the opposite choice: the whole session stays in the thread and on your hardware. Output streams live, permission prompts land as emoji reactions, invited teammates type into the same session, and Claude works against a local checkout with whatever MCP servers and plugins you already configured. That fit matters when chat is self-hosted Mattermost, when code cannot leave the building, or when you want a session in chat to behave exactly like the one at your desk. The trade-off: you run the bot yourself, on a machine that has the repository.
+
+A few more things set it apart. The full Claude Code permission model lives in the thread: every tool use can prompt for 👍/✅/👎 approval, with three modes switchable mid-session. Sessions are multiplayer: `!invite` teammates while Claude works, messages from uninvited users are gated behind approval, and commits credit everyone involved as co-author. An optional [account pool](https://github.com/anneschuth/claude-threads/blob/main/docs/CONFIGURATION.md#claude-accounts-optional-multi-account-mode) routes each new session to the Claude subscription with the most headroom and cools down rate-limited ones. And nothing assumes GitHub — the session works against any local checkout, whatever its host.
+
+This table is current as of August 2026. All of these products move quickly — if it has gone stale, [open an issue](https://github.com/anneschuth/claude-threads/issues).
+
 ## Documentation
 
 - **[Setup Guide](https://github.com/anneschuth/claude-threads/blob/main/SETUP_GUIDE.md)** - Creating the bot account on Mattermost or Slack, step by step
@@ -186,6 +207,16 @@ npm install -g claude-threads
 
 The bot checks npm for new versions on its own and offers the update in chat.
 
+## Support the Project
+
+claude-threads is free and open source, and will stay that way. It is developed and maintained by [Axolotl Systems](https://axolotl.systems). If the bot is useful to you, consider [sponsoring on GitHub](https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems) — even a small amount helps keep development going.
+
+**Using claude-threads at work?** If your team relies on this bot day-to-day, ask whether your organization can sponsor it. Many organizations (especially in the public sector) have policies that encourage supporting the open source they depend on, and a single organizational sponsorship goes a long way. Need an invoice or a different payment route? [Open an issue](https://github.com/anneschuth/claude-threads/issues) or reach out.
+
 ## License
 
 Apache-2.0
+
+---
+
+_claude-threads is an [Axolotl Systems](https://axolotl.systems) project._

package/dist/index.js

@@ -55473,6 +55473,29 @@ init_logger();
 import { existsSync as existsSync5, mkdirSync as mkdirSync2, readFileSync as readFileSync4, writeFileSync as writeFileSync2, renameSync, chmodSync as chmodSync2 } from "fs";
 import { homedir as homedir2 } from "os";
 import { join as join3 } from "path";
+
+// src/sponsor.ts
+var SPONSOR_URL = "https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems";
+var SESSION_MILESTONES = [100, 250, 500, 1000, 2500, 5000, 1e4];
+var MILESTONE_VISIBLE_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+function milestoneReached(totalSessions) {
+  return SESSION_MILESTONES.includes(totalSessions) ? totalSessions : null;
+}
+function milestoneStillFresh(reachedAtIso, nowMs) {
+  const reachedAt = Date.parse(reachedAtIso);
+  if (Number.isNaN(reachedAt))
+    return false;
+  const age = nowMs - reachedAt;
+  return age >= 0 && age < MILESTONE_VISIBLE_MS;
+}
+function formatSponsorFooter(formatter) {
+  return formatter.formatItalic(`♥ Support claude-threads: ${formatter.formatLink("github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems", SPONSOR_URL)}`);
+}
+function formatMilestoneLine(formatter, milestone) {
+  return `\uD83C\uDF89 ${formatter.formatBold(`Session #${milestone}`)} on this instance — claude-threads is free & open source ${formatter.formatLink("♥ sponsor", SPONSOR_URL)}`;
+}
+
+// src/persistence/session-store.ts
 var log6 = createLogger("persist");
 var STORE_VERSION = 2;
 var DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR = join3(homedir2(), ".config", "claude-threads");
@@ -55684,6 +55707,22 @@ class SessionStore {
     }
     return;
   }
+  getStats() {
+    const data = this.loadRaw();
+    return data.stats ?? { totalSessionsStarted: 0 };
+  }
+  recordSessionStarted() {
+    const data = this.loadRaw();
+    const stats = data.stats ?? { totalSessionsStarted: 0 };
+    stats.totalSessionsStarted = (stats.totalSessionsStarted ?? 0) + 1;
+    const milestone = milestoneReached(stats.totalSessionsStarted);
+    if (milestone) {
+      stats.milestone = { n: milestone, reachedAt: new Date().toISOString() };
+    }
+    data.stats = stats;
+    this.writeAtomic(data);
+    return stats.totalSessionsStarted;
+  }
   loadRaw() {
     if (!existsSync5(this.sessionsFile)) {
       return { version: STORE_VERSION, sessions: {} };
@@ -57499,7 +57538,9 @@ function generateHelpMessage(formatter) {
 
 ${formatter.formatBold("Reactions:")}
 ` + `${formatter.formatListItem(approvalReactions)}
-` + `${formatter.formatListItem(sessionReactions)}`;
+` + `${formatter.formatListItem(sessionReactions)}
+
+` + formatSponsorFooter(formatter);
 }
 
 // src/changelog.ts
@@ -57634,7 +57675,9 @@ var handleHelp = async (ctx) => {
 var handleReleaseNotes = async (ctx) => {
   const notes = getReleaseNotes(VERSION);
   if (notes) {
-    await ctx.client.createPost(formatReleaseNotes(notes, ctx.formatter), ctx.threadId);
+    await ctx.client.createPost(`${formatReleaseNotes(notes, ctx.formatter)}
+
+${formatSponsorFooter(ctx.formatter)}`, ctx.threadId);
   } else {
     await ctx.client.createPost(`\uD83D\uDCCB ${ctx.formatter.formatBold(`claude-threads v${VERSION}`)}
 
@@ -67146,6 +67189,13 @@ function appendFooter(lines, config) {
     lines.push(config.footer);
   }
 }
+function appendMilestoneCelebration(lines, formatter) {
+  const milestone = sessionStore?.getStats().milestone;
+  if (milestone && milestoneStillFresh(milestone.reachedAt, Date.now())) {
+    lines.push("");
+    lines.push(formatMilestoneLine(formatter, milestone.n));
+  }
+}
 async function buildStickyMessage(sessions, platformId, config, formatter, getThreadLink) {
   if (isShuttingDown) {
     const lines2 = [
@@ -67209,6 +67259,7 @@ async function buildStickyMessage(sessions, platformId, config, formatter, getTh
       lines2.push("");
       lines2.push(`✨ ${formatter.formatBold("What's new:")} ${whatsNew2}`);
     }
+    appendMilestoneCelebration(lines2, formatter);
     appendFooter(lines2, config);
     lines2.push("");
     lines2.push(`${formatter.formatItalic("Mention me to start a session")} · ${formatter.formatCode("bun install -g claude-threads")} · ${formatter.formatLink("claude-threads.run", "https://claude-threads.run/")}`);
@@ -67273,6 +67324,7 @@ async function buildStickyMessage(sessions, platformId, config, formatter, getTh
     lines.push("");
     lines.push(`✨ ${formatter.formatBold("What's new:")} ${whatsNew}`);
   }
+  appendMilestoneCelebration(lines, formatter);
   appendFooter(lines, config);
   lines.push("");
   lines.push(`${formatter.formatItalic("Mention me to start a session")} · ${formatter.formatCode("bun install -g claude-threads")} · ${formatter.formatLink("claude-threads.run", "https://claude-threads.run/")}`);
@@ -70006,6 +70058,7 @@ async function startSession(options, username, displayName, replyToPostId, platf
     ctx.ops.registerPost(startPost.id, actualThreadId);
   }
   ctx.ops.emitSessionAdd(session);
+  ctx.ops.recordSessionStarted();
   sessionLog6(session).info(`▶ Session started by @${username}`);
   fireMetadataSuggestions(session, options.prompt, ctx);
   keepAlive.sessionStarted();
@@ -71023,6 +71076,7 @@ class SessionManager extends EventEmitter4 {
       buildMessageContent: (t, p, uploadDir, f) => buildMessageContent(t, p, uploadDir, f, this.debug),
       persistSession: (s) => this.persistSession(s),
       unpersistSession: (sid) => this.unpersistSession(sid),
+      recordSessionStarted: () => this.sessionStore.recordSessionStarted(),
       updateSessionHeader: (s) => this.updateSessionHeader(s),
       updateStickyMessage: () => this.updateStickyMessage(),
       handleEvent: (sid, e) => this.handleEvent(sid, e),
@@ -76859,6 +76913,18 @@ function Header({ version, workingDir, claudeVersion }) {
           /* @__PURE__ */ jsx_dev_runtime.jsxDEV(Text, {
             dimColor: true,
             children: "Chat × Claude Code"
+          }, undefined, false, undefined, this),
+          /* @__PURE__ */ jsx_dev_runtime.jsxDEV(Text, {
+            dimColor: true,
+            children: " · "
+          }, undefined, false, undefined, this),
+          /* @__PURE__ */ jsx_dev_runtime.jsxDEV(Text, {
+            color: "red",
+            children: "♥"
+          }, undefined, false, undefined, this),
+          /* @__PURE__ */ jsx_dev_runtime.jsxDEV(Text, {
+            dimColor: true,
+            children: " github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems"
           }, undefined, false, undefined, this)
         ]
       }, undefined, true, undefined, this),
@@ -82943,6 +83009,10 @@ async function startWithoutDaemon() {
     if (!isHeadless) {
       process.stdout.write("\x1B[2J\x1B[H");
       process.stdout.write("\x1B[?25h");
+      process.stdout.write(`
+Thanks for using claude-threads! ${dim("♥ Support the project: https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems")}
+
+`);
     }
   };
   triggerShutdown = () => {

package/dist/mcp/mcp-server.js

@@ -55270,6 +55270,13 @@ class KeepAliveManager {
 }
 var keepAlive = new KeepAliveManager;
 
+// src/sponsor.ts
+var SPONSOR_URL = "https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems";
+var MILESTONE_VISIBLE_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+function formatSponsorFooter(formatter) {
+  return formatter.formatItalic(`♥ Support claude-threads: ${formatter.formatLink("github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems", SPONSOR_URL)}`);
+}
+
 // src/operations/sticky-message/handler.ts
 var log6 = createLogger("sticky");
 var botStartedAt = new Date;
@@ -56302,7 +56309,9 @@ function generateHelpMessage(formatter) {
 
 ${formatter.formatBold("Reactions:")}
 ` + `${formatter.formatListItem(approvalReactions)}
-` + `${formatter.formatListItem(sessionReactions)}`;
+` + `${formatter.formatListItem(sessionReactions)}
+
+` + formatSponsorFooter(formatter);
 }
 
 // src/commands/executor.ts
@@ -56322,7 +56331,9 @@ var handleHelp = async (ctx) => {
 var handleReleaseNotes = async (ctx) => {
   const notes = getReleaseNotes(VERSION);
   if (notes) {
-    await ctx.client.createPost(formatReleaseNotes(notes, ctx.formatter), ctx.threadId);
+    await ctx.client.createPost(`${formatReleaseNotes(notes, ctx.formatter)}
+
+${formatSponsorFooter(ctx.formatter)}`, ctx.threadId);
   } else {
     await ctx.client.createPost(`\uD83D\uDCCB ${ctx.formatter.formatBold(`claude-threads v${VERSION}`)}
 

package/docs/CONFIGURATION.md

@@ -262,3 +262,7 @@ Active sessions are saved to `~/.config/claude-threads/sessions.json` and automa
 ## Keep-Alive
 
 The bot prevents system sleep while sessions are active (uses `caffeinate` on macOS, `systemd-inhibit` on Linux). Disable with `--no-keep-alive` or `keepAlive: false` in config.
+
+---
+
+_claude-threads is maintained by [Axolotl Systems](https://axolotl.systems). If it makes your team faster, consider [sponsoring the project](https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems)._

package/docs/MCP-TOOLS.md

@@ -105,3 +105,7 @@ Sends a direct message to a member of the bot's channel. Use it when the user as
 | `message` | string | Message body. The bot prepends an attribution prefix. |
 
 **Guardrail:** The recipient must be a current member of the bot channel. The first DM to each recipient in a session triggers a permission prompt in the bot channel; a ✅ allow-all promotes that specific recipient to no-prompt for the rest of the session. A hard limit of 3 DMs per recipient per session applies.
+
+---
+
+_claude-threads is maintained by [Axolotl Systems](https://axolotl.systems). If it makes your team faster, consider [sponsoring the project](https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems)._

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "claude-threads",
-  "version": "1.19.4",
+  "version": "1.20.1",
   "description": "Run Claude Code from Slack or Mattermost. Sessions stream live into threads where your whole team can watch and steer.",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "type": "module",
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     "collaboration",
     "bun"
   ],
-  "author": "Anne Schuth",
+  "author": "Anne Schuth (Axolotl Systems)",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
     "url": "https://github.com/anneschuth/claude-threads/issues"
   },
   "homepage": "https://claude-threads.run",
+  "funding": "https://github.com/sponsors/axolotl-systems",
   "files": [
     "dist",
     "bin",