ADtention
ADtention is an open-source plugin that integrates with AI-powered coding assistants like Claude Code, OpenCode, and others to monetize idle wait time by displaying a single line of text advertising in the terminal status line. During periods when the AI is processing or generating output, the plugin shows a sponsored message, turning passive waiting into an opportunity to earn revenue. Users receive 50% of the ad revenue, paid out via Stripe once their balance exceeds $10. Privacy is a core design principle: all user interest profiling is performed locally on the device, and only a coarse category tag (e.g., 'infra') and impression events are transmitted to ADtention's servers. No code, prompts, conversations, files, or personal identities ever leave the machine. The plugin is distributed as a single, auditable script, which users can review before installation, and it operates outside the AI model loop, ensuring zero impact on token usage or response latency. For advertisers, ADtention offers a novel channel to reach senior developers and technical decision-makers directly within their development environment. Ads appear during authentic, engaged sessions, and can include executable commands that developers can copy and run. Advertisers benefit from category-based targeting, auction pricing, and unique attribution tracking — when a developer uses the /info command to interact with an ad, the click is redirected through ADtention’s infrastructure, linking engagement back to the original impression. This enables accurate click-through measurement and CTR analysis by category.
- Category
- LLM
- Pricing
- Free
Problem solved
ADtention addresses the unused potential of AI coding assistant wait states by enabling developers to earn passive income from text ads displayed in their terminal status line. It solves the privacy concerns of traditional adware by keeping user profiling local and never exposing sensitive data. For advertisers, it solves the challenge of reaching highly-engaged, senior developers in a distraction-free, native environment where traditional advertising cannot penetrate.
Use cases
- Earning passive income while using AI coding assistants like Claude Code or OpenCode
- Monetizing idle terminal time for software developers during build processes or AI generations
- Advertisers targeting senior engineers with terminal-native ads that include executable commands
- Testing open-source adware with full source auditability before installation
- Privacy-conscious developers seeking to offset tool costs without sacrificing data security
- Integrating a lightweight ad plugin into custom coding workflows without impacting performance
Audience
- Developers
Pros
- Privacy-preserving: all profiling is local, no code or prompts leave the machine
- Fully open-source and auditable: single script users can review before running
- Zero performance impact: runs outside the AI model loop, adds no tokens or latency
- Simple passive income: earn from wait states with minimal setup
- Advertiser-friendly: unique terminal ad format with command execution and attribution tracking
Cons
- Limited to specific AI coding CLI tools (Claude Code, OpenCode, etc.)
- Revenue may be small for individual developers depending on impressions
- Requires running a third-party script, raising trust concerns despite auditability
- Advertiser targeting relies on coarse on-device categories, which may be less precise
- Payouts via Stripe only once balance exceeds $10, which may take time for low-usage developers
Official website: https://adtention.ai/
Canonical LambdaBase page: https://www.lambdabase.com/tools/adtention