Overview
ZeroLimit integrates seamlessly with your system tray, allowing the application to run in the background while the CLI Proxy continues monitoring your AI quotas. This ensures uninterrupted service without keeping the main window open.
System Tray Features
Background Operation
Keep CLI Proxy running even when the window is closed
Quick Access
Open ZeroLimit instantly from the tray icon
Status Indicator
Visual indication of application status
Minimal Resource Usage
Low memory footprint when minimized to tray
Accessing the System Tray
Minimize to Tray
When you close the ZeroLimit window:- Run in Background ON
- Run in Background OFF
- Application minimizes to system tray
- CLI Proxy continues running
- Tray icon appears in taskbar notification area
- Window closes but app remains active
Enabling Background Mode
The “Run in Background” setting is persisted. Once enabled, it remains active until you toggle it off.
Tray Icon Menu
Right-click (or left-click) the ZeroLimit tray icon to access:Open ZeroLimit
- Action: Restores the main window
- Keyboard: Left-click tray icon
- Effect: Brings window to front and focuses it
Quit
- Action: Completely exits ZeroLimit
- Effect:
- Stops CLI Proxy server
- Closes main window
- Removes tray icon
- Terminates all processes
Tray Icon Behavior
Windows
- Location: Bottom-right taskbar notification area
- Left Click: Opens ZeroLimit window
- Right Click: Shows context menu
- Tooltip: “ZeroLimit - API Quota Manager”
macOS
- Location: Top-right menu bar
- Click: Shows context menu with options
- Tooltip: “ZeroLimit - API Quota Manager”
Linux
- Location: Varies by desktop environment (typically top or bottom panel)
- Click: Shows context menu
- Compatibility: Works with GNOME Shell, KDE Plasma, XFCE, and others
Tray icon appearance adapts to your system theme (light or dark mode).
Background Operation Details
What Runs in Background?
When minimized to tray:- ✅ CLI Proxy Server: Continues running and serving API requests
- ✅ Tauri Backend: Minimal Rust process for tray management
- ❌ UI Rendering: React frontend is paused
- ❌ Animations: No UI animations running
Resource Usage
Typical memory usage when in system tray:| Component | Memory |
|---|---|
| Tauri App | ~10-20 MB |
| CLI Proxy | ~30-50 MB |
| Total | ~40-70 MB |
Use Cases
Continuous Monitoring
Scenario: You want ZeroLimit to track quotas all day without keeping a window open.Development Workflow
Scenario: You’re developing with AI tools and need quotas monitored without distraction.- Minimize ZeroLimit to tray
- Focus on your IDE or terminal
- CLI Proxy intercepts API calls
- Open ZeroLimit from tray to check usage
- Close again to continue coding
Server Management
Scenario: You’re running CLI Proxy as a service on a workstation.- Enable Auto Start and Run in Background
- ZeroLimit starts with system
- Minimizes to tray automatically
- CLI Proxy serves API requests to other machines
- Open UI only when management is needed
Tray Icon Status
Visual Indicators
While the tray icon itself is static, the tooltip and menu provide status information:- Tooltip: “ZeroLimit - API Quota Manager”
- Menu: Displays “Open ZeroLimit” and “Quit” options
Future Enhancements
Planned features for system tray:- 🔄 Animated icon when fetching quotas
- ⚠️ Warning icon when quota is low
- 🔴 Red badge when provider is suspended
- 📊 Quick quota preview in tray menu
Feature requests and feedback are welcome on the GitHub repository.
Platform-Specific Notes
Windows 11
- Tray icon appears in “hidden icons” overflow by default
- To pin: Drag icon from overflow to main taskbar
- Supports dark/light mode auto-switching
Windows 10
- Tray icon behavior is similar to Windows 11
- Check “Show hidden icons” if not visible
- Settings → Personalization → Taskbar to customize
macOS
- Menu bar integration is native
- Icon respects system appearance (light/dark)
- Supports right-click context menu
Linux
- Compatibility with most desktop environments
- GNOME Shell: Uses AppIndicator extension
- KDE Plasma: Native system tray support
- XFCE/LXDE: Standard tray integration
On some Linux distributions, you may need to install
libappindicator for tray support.Troubleshooting
Tray icon not appearing
Tray icon not appearing
Solutions:
- Ensure “Run in Background” is enabled in Settings
- Check if system tray is enabled in your OS settings
- Restart ZeroLimit after toggling the setting
- On Linux, install
libappindicator3package
Can't open window from tray
Can't open window from tray
Solutions:
- Try right-clicking the icon instead of left-clicking
- Select “Open ZeroLimit” from the menu
- Quit and restart the application
- Check if window is hidden behind other windows (Alt+Tab)
Tray icon disappears after closing
Tray icon disappears after closing
Solutions:
- Verify “Run in Background” is enabled
- Check if setting was saved (restart and verify)
- Ensure CLI Proxy is running before closing
- Review Windows notification settings (may be hiding icon)
CLI Proxy stops when minimized
CLI Proxy stops when minimized
Solutions:
- Enable “Run in Background” in Settings
- Don’t use “Quit” from tray menu (use window close instead)
- Verify “Auto Start” is enabled if using on startup
- Check task manager to confirm process is still running
Keyboard Shortcuts
While in system tray mode:| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open window | Left-click tray icon |
| Show menu | Right-click tray icon |
| Quit app | Select “Quit” from menu |
Best Practices
Implementation Details
ZeroLimit’s system tray is built with:- Tauri v2 Tray API: Native system tray integration
- Platform-specific icons: Optimized for each OS
- Rust backend: Minimal resource footprint
- Event handling: Efficient click and menu interactions
Source Code Reference
The tray implementation can be found at:- Menu creation with “Open” and “Quit” items
- Left-click handler to restore window
- Right-click menu display
- Platform-agnostic icon handling
Next Steps
Auto-Updates
Learn about ZeroLimit’s automatic update system
Settings
Configure all ZeroLimit preferences