Claude Code’s terminal output floods users with massive atomic redraws, causing lag and wiping scrollback. claude-chill, a Rust‑based PTY proxy, sits between the terminal and Claude Code to intercept sync blocks. By rendering only differences with a VT100 emulator, it restores smooth, flicker‑free output for developers in real‑time and on production systems.

Installation is a single cargo command: `cargo install --path crates/claude-chill`. Once running, the tool captures Claude’s sync markers (`\x1b[?2026h`…`\x1b[?2026l`) and buffers output. Users can press a configurable key—default Ctrl+6—to pause Claude and scroll through a preserved history buffer for debugging, auditing, or simply reviewing long sessions in development or production.

Auto‑lookback triggers after five seconds of idle, dumping the buffer without user input. The tool also forwards signals like SIGWINCH and SIGINT, keeping window resizing and interrupts responsive. Built in Rust, claude-chill offers a lightweight, open‑source solution for developers battling terminal flicker in large‑scale AI workflows, ensuring smoother debugging sessions.