If you've been using Claude Code, you've probably noticed the little spinner verbs that cycle through while the AI is processing your request. 'Thinking...' might be useful, but it's not exactly exciting. Good news: Anthropic recently added a spinnerVerbs option to Claude Code's settings, and you can now customize those loading messages to your heart's content.

What Are Spinner Verbs?

Spinner verbs are the present participle phrases that appear in Claude Code's interface during extended operations—those little status updates that let you know the model is still working. By default, you get standard entries like 'Thinking...' but Anthropic has opened up this customization layer for users who want a bit more personality in their coding environment.

How to Configure Your Settings

Claude Code supports two levels of settings configuration: global user settings and project-level overrides. User settings live at ~/.claude/settings.json and apply across all your projects—perfect for preferences you want everywhere. Project-level settings go in .claude/settings.json within each repo, which means they can be version-controlled and shared with teammates if you want the whole squad running the same spinner experience.

The Customization Process

According to a post on AugmentedSWE by developer Jordan, the key rule is simple: use present participles (words ending in '-ing'). He asked Claude itself to update his settings file with Star Trek-themed verbs—60 of them—and got results he describes as 'cringy but fun.' The AI literally just edited the JSON config directly, adding a spinnerVerbs section with whatever theme you specify. No manual editing required if you prompt it right.

Why This Matters

This might seem like a cosmetic feature, but it's actually a sign of how seriously Anthropic is treating Claude Code's extensibility. Opening up settings for things like spinner verbs signals that they're building a platform, not just a tool. When users can personalize even the tiny UI details, it creates a sense of ownership and comfort in the workflow.

Key Takeaways

  • Spinner verb customization landed recently in Claude Code via the spinnerVerbs setting
  • Settings live at ~/.claude/settings.json (global) or ./.claude/settings.json (project-level)
  • Must use present participles (-ing endings) for the verbs to work properly
  • Can be themed however you want—Star Trek, Star Wars, corporate buzzwords, whatever floats your boat

The Bottom Line

Small quality-of-life features like this are what separate tools people tolerate from tools people actually enjoy using. Anthropic's willingness to expose these customization hooks suggests Claude Code is evolving into something developers will stick with long-term—not just another AI gimmick that'll be forgotten by next quarter.