---
title: Command Palette ✅
description: Implement VSCode-style command palette with Cmd+Shift+P
status: COMPLETED
completed: 2024-10-23
---

# Implement Command Palette ✅

Built a VSCode-style command palette that opens as a centered modal dialog with 19 commands organized into 5 categories.

---

## ✅ Implementation Summary

### Commands Implemented (19 total)

#### **Instance (4 commands)**

1. ✅ **New Instance** (Cmd+N) - Open folder picker to create new instance
2. ✅ **Close Instance** (Cmd+W) - Stop current instance's server
3. ✅ **Next Instance** (Cmd+]) - Cycle to next instance tab
4. ✅ **Previous Instance** (Cmd+[) - Cycle to previous instance tab

#### **Session (7 commands)**

5. ✅ **New Session** (Cmd+Shift+N) - Create a new parent session
6. ✅ **Close Session** (Cmd+Shift+W) - Close current parent session
7. ✅ **Switch to Logs** (Cmd+Shift+L) - Jump to logs view
8. ✅ **Next Session** (Cmd+Shift+]) - Cycle to next session tab
9. ✅ **Previous Session** (Cmd+Shift+[) - Cycle to previous session tab
10. ✅ **Compact Session** - Summarize and compact current session (/compact API)
11. ✅ **Undo Last Message** - Revert the last message (/undo API)

#### **Agent & Model (5 commands)**

12. ✅ **Next Agent** (Tab) - Cycle to next agent
13. ✅ **Previous Agent** (Shift+Tab) - Cycle to previous agent
14. ✅ **Open Model Selector** (Cmd+Shift+M) - Choose a different model
15. ✅ **Open Agent Selector** - Choose a different agent
16. ✅ **Initialize AGENTS.md** - Create or update AGENTS.md file (/init API)

#### **Input & Focus (1 command)**

17. ✅ **Clear Input** (Cmd+K) - Clear the prompt textarea

#### **System (2 commands)**

18. ✅ **Toggle Thinking Blocks** - Show/hide AI thinking process (placeholder)
19. ✅ **Show Help** - Display keyboard shortcuts and help (placeholder)

---

## ✅ Features Implemented

### Visual Design

- ✅ Modal dialog centered on screen with backdrop overlay
- ✅ ~600px wide with auto height and max height
- ✅ Search/filter input at top
- ✅ Scrollable list of commands below
- ✅ Each command shows: name, description, keyboard shortcut (if any)
- ✅ Category headers for command grouping
- ✅ Dark/light mode support

### Behavior

- ✅ Opens on `Cmd+Shift+P`
- ✅ Closes on `Escape` or clicking outside
- ✅ Search input is auto-focused when opened
- ✅ Filter commands as user types (substring search by label, description, keywords, category)
- ✅ Arrow keys navigate through filtered list
- ✅ Enter executes selected command
- ✅ Mouse click on command also executes it
- ✅ Mouse hover updates selection
- ✅ Closes automatically after command execution

### Command Registry

- ✅ Centralized command registry in `lib/commands.ts`
- ✅ Commands organized by category
- ✅ Keywords for better search
- ✅ Keyboard shortcuts displayed
- ✅ All commands connected to existing actions

### Integration

- ✅ Integrated with keyboard registry
- ✅ Connected to instance/session management
- ✅ Connected to SDK client for API calls
- ✅ Connected to UI selectors (agent, model)
- ✅ State management via `stores/command-palette.ts`

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## 📁 Files Modified

- `src/App.tsx` - Registered all 19 commands with categories
- `src/components/command-palette.tsx` - Added category grouping and display
- `src/lib/commands.ts` - Already existed with command registry
- `src/stores/command-palette.ts` - Already existed with state management

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## ✅ Acceptance Criteria

- ✅ Palette opens with `Cmd+Shift+P`
- ✅ Search input is auto-focused
- ✅ 19 commands are listed in 5 categories
- ✅ Typing filters commands (case-insensitive substring match)
- ✅ Arrow keys navigate through list
- ✅ Enter executes selected command
- ✅ Click executes command
- ✅ Escape or click outside closes palette
- ✅ Palette closes after command execution
- ✅ Keyboard shortcuts display correctly
- ✅ Commands execute their intended actions:
  - ✅ `/init` calls API
  - ✅ `/compact` calls API
  - ✅ `/undo` calls API
  - ✅ New Session/Instance work
  - ✅ Model/Agent selectors open
  - ✅ Navigation shortcuts work
- ✅ Works in both light and dark mode
- ✅ Smooth open/close animations

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## 🎯 Key Implementation Details

### Category Ordering

Commands are grouped and displayed in this order:

1. Instance - Managing workspace folders
2. Session - Managing conversation sessions
3. Agent & Model - AI configuration
4. Input & Focus - Input controls
5. System - System-level settings

### Search Functionality

Search filters by:

- Command label
- Command description
- Keywords
- Category name

### Keyboard Shortcuts

All shortcuts are registered in the keyboard registry and displayed in the palette using the `Kbd` component.

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## 🚀 Future Enhancements

These can be added post-MVP:

- Fuzzy search algorithm (not just substring)
- Command history (recently used commands first)
- Custom user-defined commands
- Command arguments/parameters
- Command aliases
- Search by keyboard shortcut
- Quick switch between sessions/instances via command palette
- Command icons/emoji
- Command grouping within categories

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## Notes

- Command palette provides VSCode-like discoverability
- All commands leverage existing keyboard shortcuts and actions
- Categories make it easy to find related commands
- Foundation is in place for adding more commands in the future
- Agent and Model selector commands work by programmatically clicking their triggers
