fix(tauri): own Windows CLI subtree with a job object (#320)

## Summary
- Follow-up to #240 to make Windows desktop shutdown reliable this time,
even when the tracked CLI wrapper PID exits before its descendants
- Attach the spawned CLI process to a Windows Job Object with
`KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE`, so the desktop app owns the whole subtree instead
of relying only on `taskkill /PID <wrapper> /T`
- Keep the current graceful-then-force shutdown path, but add a robust
OS-level fallback that reaps orphaned workspace processes when the
wrapper is already gone

## Root Cause
The previous Windows shutdown logic still depended on the PID tracked by
Tauri. In practice that PID can be a short-lived Node wrapper. Once that
wrapper exits, `taskkill` can report success or PID-not-found while
descendants remain alive, and the desktop app no longer has a reliable
handle to reap them.

## Validation
- `cargo check --manifest-path packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml`
- `cargo build --release --manifest-path
packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml`
- Manual local test: orphaned processes are cleaned up after desktop
shutdown

packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml

@@ -28,4 +28,4 @@ url = "2"
 tauri-plugin-notification = "2"
 
 [target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
-windows-sys = { version = "0.59", features = ["Win32_UI_Shell"] }
+windows-sys = { version = "0.59", features = ["Win32_Foundation", "Win32_UI_Shell", "Win32_Security", "Win32_System_JobObjects"] }

packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/cli_manager.rs

@@ -5,9 +5,13 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_json::json;
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::env;
+#[cfg(windows)]
+use std::ffi::c_void;
 use std::ffi::OsStr;
 use std::fs;
 use std::io::{BufRead, BufReader, Read, Write};
+#[cfg(windows)]
+use std::mem::{size_of, zeroed};
 use std::net::TcpStream;
 #[cfg(unix)]
 use std::os::unix::process::CommandExt;
@@ -19,12 +23,95 @@ use std::thread;
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant, SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 use tauri::{webview::cookie::Cookie, AppHandle, Emitter, Manager, Url};
 
+#[cfg(windows)]
+use std::os::windows::io::AsRawHandle;
 #[cfg(windows)]
 use std::os::windows::process::CommandExt;
+#[cfg(windows)]
+use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::{CloseHandle, HANDLE};
+#[cfg(windows)]
+use windows_sys::Win32::System::JobObjects::{
+    AssignProcessToJobObject, CreateJobObjectW, JobObjectExtendedLimitInformation,
+    SetInformationJobObject, JOBOBJECT_EXTENDED_LIMIT_INFORMATION,
+    JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE,
+};
 
 #[cfg(windows)]
 const CREATE_NO_WINDOW: u32 = 0x08000000;
 
+#[cfg(windows)]
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct WindowsJobObject {
+    // The desktop wrapper may observe only a short-lived Node wrapper PID while the real
+    // server and workspace descendants continue running below it. KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE gives
+    // Tauri an OS-owned handle for the whole subtree instead of relying on a single PID.
+    handle: HANDLE,
+}
+
+#[cfg(windows)]
+impl WindowsJobObject {
+    fn create() -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
+        let handle = unsafe { CreateJobObjectW(std::ptr::null_mut(), std::ptr::null()) };
+        if handle.is_null() {
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "CreateJobObjectW failed: {}",
+                std::io::Error::last_os_error()
+            ));
+        }
+
+        let mut info: JOBOBJECT_EXTENDED_LIMIT_INFORMATION = unsafe { zeroed() };
+        info.BasicLimitInformation.LimitFlags = JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE;
+
+        let ok = unsafe {
+            SetInformationJobObject(
+                handle,
+                JobObjectExtendedLimitInformation,
+                &mut info as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
+                size_of::<JOBOBJECT_EXTENDED_LIMIT_INFORMATION>() as u32,
+            )
+        };
+        if ok == 0 {
+            let err = std::io::Error::last_os_error();
+            unsafe {
+                CloseHandle(handle);
+            }
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("SetInformationJobObject failed: {}", err));
+        }
+
+        Ok(Self { handle })
+    }
+
+    fn assign_child(&self, child: &Child) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let process_handle = child.as_raw_handle() as HANDLE;
+        let ok = unsafe { AssignProcessToJobObject(self.handle, process_handle) };
+        if ok == 0 {
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "AssignProcessToJobObject failed: {}",
+                std::io::Error::last_os_error()
+            ));
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(windows)]
+impl Drop for WindowsJobObject {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        if !self.handle.is_null() {
+            unsafe {
+                CloseHandle(self.handle);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(windows)]
+unsafe impl Send for WindowsJobObject {}
+
+#[cfg(windows)]
+unsafe impl Sync for WindowsJobObject {}
+
 fn log_line(message: &str) {
     println!("[tauri-cli] {message}");
 }
@@ -363,6 +450,8 @@ impl Default for CliStatus {
 pub struct CliProcessManager {
     status: Arc<Mutex<CliStatus>>,
     child: Arc<Mutex<Option<Child>>>,
+    #[cfg(windows)]
+    job: Arc<Mutex<Option<WindowsJobObject>>>,
     ready: Arc<AtomicBool>,
     bootstrap_token: Arc<Mutex<Option<String>>>,
 }
@@ -372,6 +461,8 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
         Self {
             status: Arc::new(Mutex::new(CliStatus::default())),
             child: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
+            #[cfg(windows)]
+            job: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
             ready: Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false)),
             bootstrap_token: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
         }
@@ -394,6 +485,8 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
 
         let status_arc = self.status.clone();
         let child_arc = self.child.clone();
+        #[cfg(windows)]
+        let job_arc = self.job.clone();
         let ready_flag = self.ready.clone();
         let token_arc = self.bootstrap_token.clone();
         thread::spawn(move || {
@@ -401,6 +494,8 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
                 app.clone(),
                 status_arc.clone(),
                 child_arc,
+                #[cfg(windows)]
+                job_arc,
                 ready_flag,
                 token_arc,
                 dev,
@@ -420,11 +515,12 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
     }
 
     pub fn stop(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        #[cfg(windows)]
+        let _job = self.job.lock().take();
+
         let mut child_opt = self.child.lock();
         if let Some(mut child) = child_opt.take() {
             log_line(&format!("stopping CLI pid={}", child.id()));
-            #[cfg(windows)]
-            let mut forced_tree_shutdown = false;
             #[cfg(unix)]
             unsafe {
                 let pid = child.id() as i32;
@@ -446,18 +542,16 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
                     Ok(Some(_)) => break,
                     Ok(None) => {
                         #[cfg(windows)]
-                        if !forced_tree_shutdown
-                            && start.elapsed() > Duration::from_millis(CLI_WINDOWS_FORCE_GRACE_MS)
-                        {
+                        if start.elapsed() > Duration::from_millis(CLI_WINDOWS_FORCE_GRACE_MS) {
                             log_line(&format!(
                                 "regular Windows shutdown still running after {}ms; escalating pid={}",
                                 CLI_WINDOWS_FORCE_GRACE_MS,
                                 child.id()
                             ));
-                            forced_tree_shutdown = true;
                             if !kill_process_tree_windows(child.id(), true) {
                                 let _ = child.kill();
                             }
+                            break;
                         }
 
                         if start.elapsed() > Duration::from_secs(CLI_STOP_GRACE_SECS) {
@@ -476,11 +570,7 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
                             }
                             #[cfg(windows)]
                             {
-                                if !forced_tree_shutdown
-                                    && !kill_process_tree_windows(child.id(), true)
-                                {
-                                    let _ = child.kill();
-                                } else if forced_tree_shutdown {
+                                if !kill_process_tree_windows(child.id(), true) {
                                     let _ = child.kill();
                                 }
                             }
@@ -491,6 +581,9 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
                     Err(_) => break,
                 }
             }
+        } else {
+            #[cfg(windows)]
+            log_line("tracked CLI process already exited; dropping Windows job object to reap descendants");
         }
 
         let mut status = self.status.lock();
@@ -511,6 +604,7 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
         app: AppHandle,
         status: Arc<Mutex<CliStatus>>,
         child_holder: Arc<Mutex<Option<Child>>>,
+        #[cfg(windows)] job_holder: Arc<Mutex<Option<WindowsJobObject>>>,
         ready: Arc<AtomicBool>,
         bootstrap_token: Arc<Mutex<Option<String>>>,
         dev: bool,
@@ -592,6 +686,22 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
 
         let pid = child.id();
         log_line(&format!("spawned pid={pid}"));
+        #[cfg(windows)]
+        match WindowsJobObject::create().and_then(|job| {
+            job.assign_child(&child)?;
+            Ok(job)
+        }) {
+            Ok(job) => {
+                log_line(&format!("attached pid={pid} to Windows job object"));
+                *job_holder.lock() = Some(job);
+            }
+            Err(err) => {
+                log_line(&format!(
+                    "failed to attach pid={pid} to Windows job object; falling back to taskkill-only cleanup: {err}"
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
         {
             let mut locked = status.lock();
             locked.pid = Some(pid);
@@ -665,6 +775,8 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
         let status_clone = status.clone();
         let ready_clone = ready.clone();
         let child_holder_clone = child_holder.clone();
+        #[cfg(windows)]
+        let job_holder_clone = job_holder.clone();
         thread::spawn(move || {
             let timeout = Duration::from_secs(60);
             thread::sleep(timeout);
@@ -719,6 +831,10 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
                             // Drop the handle after the process exits so other callers
                             // don't attempt to stop/kill a finished process.
                             *guard = None;
+                            #[cfg(windows)]
+                            {
+                                let _ = job_holder_clone.lock().take();
+                            }
                             Some(status)
                         }
                         None => None,
@@ -776,7 +892,8 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
         auth_cookie_name: &str,
     ) {
         let mut buffer = String::new();
-        let local_url_regex = Regex::new(r"^Local\s+Connection\s+URL\s*:\s*(https?://\S+)\s*$").ok();
+        let local_url_regex =
+            Regex::new(r"^Local\s+Connection\s+URL\s*:\s*(https?://\S+)\s*$").ok();
         let token_prefix = "CODENOMAD_BOOTSTRAP_TOKEN:";
 
         loop {
@@ -818,7 +935,6 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
                             );
                             continue;
                         }
-
                     }
                 }
                 Err(_) => break,
@@ -1022,15 +1138,23 @@ fn resolve_tsx(_app: &AppHandle) -> Option<String> {
     let cwd = std::env::current_dir().ok();
     let workspace = workspace_root();
     let mut candidates = vec![
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs")),
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.cjs")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.cjs")),
         cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.js")),
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs")),
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.cjs")),
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.js")),
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("../../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs")),
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("../../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.cjs")),
-        cwd.as_ref().map(|p| p.join("../../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.js")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.cjs")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.js")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("../../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("../../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.cjs")),
+        cwd.as_ref()
+            .map(|p| p.join("../../node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.js")),
         workspace
             .as_ref()
             .map(|p| p.join("node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs")),

packages/ui/src/components/message-section.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Show, createEffect, createMemo, createSignal, onCleanup, on, untrack } from "solid-js"
-import { MoreHorizontal, Trash, X } from "lucide-solid"
+import { MoreHorizontal, Pause, Trash, X } from "lucide-solid"
 import Kbd from "./kbd"
 import MessageBlock from "./message-block"
 import { getMessageAnchorId, getMessageIdFromAnchorId } from "./message-anchors"
@@ -16,12 +16,14 @@ import { showAlertDialog } from "../stores/alerts"
 import { deleteMessage, deleteMessagePart } from "../stores/session-actions"
 import type { InstanceMessageStore } from "../stores/message-v2/instance-store"
 import type { DeleteHoverState } from "../types/delete-hover"
+import { partHasRenderableText } from "../types/message"
 import { buildRecordDisplayData } from "../stores/message-v2/record-display-cache"
 import { getPartCharCount } from "../lib/token-utils"
 
 const SCROLL_SENTINEL_MARGIN_PX = 8
 const MESSAGE_SCROLL_CACHE_SCOPE = "message-stream"
 const QUOTE_SELECTION_MAX_LENGTH = 2000
+const STREAMING_TEXT_HOLD_TOP_THRESHOLD_PX = 8
 const codeNomadLogo = new URL("../images/CodeNomad-Icon.png", import.meta.url).href
 
 export interface MessageSectionProps {
@@ -40,10 +42,11 @@ export interface MessageSectionProps {
 }
 
 export default function MessageSection(props: MessageSectionProps) {
-  const { preferences } = useConfig()
+  const { preferences, updatePreferences } = useConfig()
   const { t } = useI18n()
   const showUsagePreference = () => preferences().showUsageMetrics ?? true
   const showTimelineToolsPreference = () => preferences().showTimelineTools ?? true
+  const holdLongAssistantRepliesEnabled = () => preferences().holdLongAssistantReplies ?? true
   const store = createMemo<InstanceMessageStore>(() => messageStoreBus.getOrCreate(props.instanceId))
   const messageIds = createMemo(() => store().getSessionMessageIds(props.sessionId))
   const visibleMessageIds = createMemo(() => {
@@ -594,7 +597,10 @@ export default function MessageSection(props: MessageSectionProps) {
   const [streamElement, setStreamElement] = createSignal<HTMLDivElement | undefined>()
   const [streamShellElement, setStreamShellElement] = createSignal<HTMLDivElement | undefined>()
 
-  const followToken = createMemo(() => `${sessionRevision()}|${preferenceSignature()}`)
+  // Only preferences should force a follow-token re-anchor. Message/session
+  // revision churn at the end of a turn (message.updated, session.idle, etc.)
+  // should not trigger an immediate scroll-to-bottom.
+  const followToken = createMemo(() => preferenceSignature())
 
   const initialScrollSnapshot = createMemo(() => store().getScrollSnapshot(props.sessionId, MESSAGE_SCROLL_CACHE_SCOPE))
   const initialAutoScroll = createMemo(() => initialScrollSnapshot()?.atBottom ?? true)
@@ -624,6 +630,35 @@ export default function MessageSection(props: MessageSectionProps) {
 
   const [quoteSelection, setQuoteSelection] = createSignal<{ text: string; top: number; left: number } | null>(null)
 
+  const lastVisibleMessageId = createMemo(() => {
+    const ids = visibleMessageIds()
+    return ids[ids.length - 1] ?? null
+  })
+
+  const autoPinHoldTargetKey = createMemo(() => {
+    if (!holdLongAssistantRepliesEnabled()) return null
+    const messageId = lastVisibleMessageId()
+    return isAssistantTextMessage(messageId) ? messageId : null
+  })
+
+  function toggleHoldLongAssistantReplies() {
+    updatePreferences({ holdLongAssistantReplies: !holdLongAssistantRepliesEnabled() })
+  }
+
+  function isAssistantTextMessage(messageId: string | null | undefined) {
+    if (!messageId) return false
+    const resolvedStore = store()
+    const record = resolvedStore.getMessage(messageId)
+    if (!record || record.role !== "assistant") return false
+
+    const { orderedParts } = buildRecordDisplayData(props.instanceId, record)
+    return orderedParts.some((part) => {
+      if ((part as any)?.type !== "text") return false
+      if (partHasRenderableText(part)) return true
+      return typeof (part as { text?: unknown }).text === "string"
+    })
+  }
+
   createEffect(() => {
     const api = listApi()
     if (!api) return
@@ -1044,6 +1079,12 @@ export default function MessageSection(props: MessageSectionProps) {
           initialAutoScroll={initialAutoScroll}
           resetKey={() => props.sessionId}
           followToken={followToken}
+          autoPinHoldTargetKey={autoPinHoldTargetKey}
+          autoPinHoldTopThresholdPx={STREAMING_TEXT_HOLD_TOP_THRESHOLD_PX}
+          resolveAutoPinHoldElement={(itemWrapper, key) => {
+            const candidates = Array.from(itemWrapper.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>(`.message-item-base[data-message-id="${key}"][data-message-role="assistant"]`))
+            return candidates[candidates.length - 1] ?? null
+          }}
           onScroll={() => {
             clearQuoteSelection()
             scrollCache.persist(streamElement())
@@ -1074,6 +1115,52 @@ export default function MessageSection(props: MessageSectionProps) {
           scrollToBottomAriaLabel={() => t("messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel")}
           registerApi={(api) => setListApi(api)}
           registerState={(state) => setListState(state)}
+          renderControls={(state, api) => (
+            <div class="message-scroll-button-wrapper">
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                class="message-scroll-button"
+                data-active={holdLongAssistantRepliesEnabled() ? "true" : "false"}
+                onClick={toggleHoldLongAssistantReplies}
+                aria-label={
+                  holdLongAssistantRepliesEnabled()
+                    ? t("messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel")
+                    : t("messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel")
+                }
+                title={
+                  holdLongAssistantRepliesEnabled()
+                    ? t("messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel")
+                    : t("messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel")
+                }
+              >
+                <Pause class="message-scroll-icon message-scroll-icon--toggle w-4 h-4" aria-hidden="true" />
+              </button>
+              <Show when={state.showScrollTopButton()}>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  class="message-scroll-button"
+                  onClick={() => api.scrollToTop()}
+                  aria-label={t("messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel")}
+                >
+                  <span class="message-scroll-icon" aria-hidden="true">
+                    ↑
+                  </span>
+                </button>
+              </Show>
+              <Show when={state.showScrollBottomButton()}>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  class="message-scroll-button"
+                  onClick={() => api.scrollToBottom()}
+                  aria-label={t("messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel")}
+                >
+                  <span class="message-scroll-icon" aria-hidden="true">
+                    ↓
+                  </span>
+                </button>
+              </Show>
+            </div>
+          )}
           renderBeforeItems={() => (
             <>
               <Show when={!props.loading && visibleMessageIds().length === 0}>

packages/ui/src/components/message-timeline.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import { For, Show, createEffect, createMemo, createSignal, onCleanup, on, untrack, type Component, type Accessor } from "solid-js"
+import { Virtualizer, type VirtualizerHandle } from "virtua/solid"
+import { Portal } from "solid-js/web"
 import MessagePreview from "./message-preview"
 import { messageStoreBus } from "../stores/message-v2/bus"
 import type { ClientPart } from "../types/message"
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ const MAX_TOOLTIP_LENGTH = 220
 const LONG_PRESS_MS = 500
 const JITTER_THRESHOLD = 10
 const ABSOLUTE_TOKEN_CAP = 10000
+const TIMELINE_VIRTUALIZER_BUFFER_PX = 240
 
 type ToolCallPart = Extract<ClientPart, { type: "tool" }>
 
@@ -66,6 +69,13 @@ interface PendingSegment {
   hasPrimaryText: boolean
 }
 
+interface TimelineSegmentState {
+  deleteHovered: boolean
+  deleteSelected: boolean
+  hasActivePermission: boolean
+  hidden: boolean
+}
+
 function truncateText(value: string): string {
   if (value.length <= MAX_TOOLTIP_LENGTH) {
     return value
@@ -351,6 +361,13 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
     }
   }
 
+  const clearHoverPreview = () => {
+    clearHoverTimer()
+    clearCloseTimer()
+    setHoveredSegment(null)
+    setHoverAnchorRect(null)
+  }
+
   const scheduleClose = () => {
     if (typeof window === "undefined") return
     clearHoverTimer()
@@ -358,8 +375,7 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
     // Small delay so the pointer can travel from the segment to the tooltip.
     closeTimer = window.setTimeout(() => {
       closeTimer = null
-      setHoveredSegment(null)
-      setHoverAnchorRect(null)
+      clearHoverPreview()
     }, 160)
   }
 
@@ -399,8 +415,7 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
   })
 
   onCleanup(() => {
-    clearHoverTimer()
-    clearCloseTimer()
+    clearHoverPreview()
   })
 
   // --- Selection & histogram rib state ---
@@ -418,6 +433,8 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
   // on activation, resize, or expansion — NOT on every scroll frame.
   const [badgeOffsets, setBadgeOffsets] = createSignal<Record<string, { layoutTop: number; height: number }>>({})
   const [windowWidth, setWindowWidth] = createSignal(typeof window !== "undefined" ? window.innerWidth : 1200)
+  const [scrollElement, setScrollElement] = createSignal<HTMLDivElement | undefined>()
+  const [virtualizerHandle, setVirtualizerHandle] = createSignal<VirtualizerHandle | undefined>()
   let scrollContainerRef: HTMLDivElement | undefined
   let xrayOverlayRef: HTMLDivElement | undefined
 
@@ -449,6 +466,12 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
   }
 
   const handleScroll = () => {
+    if (renderVirtualizedTimeline()) {
+      if (hoveredSegment()) {
+        clearHoverPreview()
+      }
+      return
+    }
     if (!isSelectionActive()) return
     if (!scrollContainerRef || !xrayOverlayRef) return
     xrayOverlayRef.style.setProperty("--xray-scroll-y", `${-scrollContainerRef.scrollTop}px`)
@@ -477,6 +500,12 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
     }
   })
 
+  const renderVirtualizedTimeline = createMemo(() => !isSelectionActive())
+
+  createEffect(on(renderVirtualizedTimeline, () => {
+    clearHoverPreview()
+  }))
+
   const maxRibWidth = createMemo(() => Math.round(windowWidth() * 0.5))
 
   // Compute fresh char counts from the store. segment.totalChars can be stale for
@@ -579,7 +608,7 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
         wasLongPress = true
 
         // Scroll anchoring: preserve visual position of the pressed badge.
-        const btn = buttonRefs.get(segment.id)
+        const btn = renderVirtualizedTimeline() ? null : buttonRefs.get(segment.id)
         let anchorOffset: number | null = null
         if (btn && scrollContainerRef) {
           anchorOffset = btn.offsetTop - scrollContainerRef.scrollTop
@@ -631,9 +660,17 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
 
   createEffect(on(() => props.activeSegmentId, (activeId) => {
     if (!activeId) return
-    const element = buttonRefs.get(activeId)
-    if (!element) return
     const timer = typeof window !== "undefined" ? window.setTimeout(() => {
+      if (renderVirtualizedTimeline()) {
+        const index = segmentIndexById().get(activeId)
+        if (index !== undefined) {
+          virtualizerHandle()?.scrollToIndex(index, { align: "nearest", smooth: true })
+        }
+        return
+      }
+
+      const element = buttonRefs.get(activeId)
+      if (!element) return
       element.scrollIntoView({ block: "nearest", behavior: "smooth" })
     }, 120) : null
     onCleanup(() => {
@@ -684,60 +721,239 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
     return map
   })
 
+  const segmentIndexById = createMemo(() => {
+    const map = new Map<string, number>()
+    for (let i = 0; i < props.segments.length; i++) map.set(props.segments[i].id, i)
+    return map
+  })
+
+  const segmentStates = createMemo(() => {
+    const hover = deleteHover()
+    const selectedMessages = props.selectedMessageIds?.()
+    const expandedMessages = props.expandedMessageIds?.()
+    const resolvedStore = store()
+    const indexMap = messageIdToSessionIndex()
+    const selectionActive = isSelectionActive()
+    const result = new Map<string, TimelineSegmentState>()
+
+    for (const segment of props.segments) {
+      let deleteHovered = false
+      if (hover.kind === "message") {
+        deleteHovered = hover.messageId === segment.messageId
+      } else if (hover.kind === "deleteUpTo") {
+        const targetIndex = indexMap.get(hover.messageId)
+        const segmentIndex = indexMap.get(segment.messageId)
+        deleteHovered = targetIndex !== undefined && segmentIndex !== undefined && segmentIndex >= targetIndex
+      }
+
+      const deleteSelected = selectedMessages?.has(segment.messageId) ?? false
+
+      let hasActivePermission = false
+      if (segment.type === "tool") {
+        const partIds = segment.toolPartIds ?? []
+        for (const partId of partIds) {
+          const permissionState = resolvedStore.getPermissionState(segment.messageId, partId)
+          if (permissionState?.active) {
+            hasActivePermission = true
+            break
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      const hidden = segment.type === "tool" && !(
+        showTools()
+        || expandedMessages?.has(segment.messageId)
+        || selectionActive
+        || props.activeSegmentId === segment.id
+        || hasActivePermission
+        || deleteHovered
+        || deleteSelected
+      )
+
+      result.set(segment.id, {
+        deleteHovered,
+        deleteSelected,
+        hasActivePermission,
+        hidden,
+      })
+    }
+
+    return result
+  })
+
+  const segmentStateFor = (segmentId: string): TimelineSegmentState => {
+    return segmentStates().get(segmentId) ?? {
+      deleteHovered: false,
+      deleteSelected: false,
+      hasActivePermission: false,
+      hidden: false,
+    }
+  }
+
+  const segmentSpacerHeights = createMemo(() => {
+    const states = segmentStates()
+    const result = new Map<string, string>()
+    let previousVisible: TimelineSegment | null = null
+
+    for (let index = 0; index < props.segments.length; index += 1) {
+      const segment = props.segments[index]
+      const state = states.get(segment.id)
+
+      if (state?.hidden) {
+        result.set(segment.id, "0")
+        continue
+      }
+
+      if (!previousVisible) {
+        result.set(segment.id, "0")
+        previousVisible = segment
+        continue
+      }
+
+      const previousRaw = index > 0 ? props.segments[index - 1] : null
+      const startsVisibleToolGroup = segment.type === "tool"
+        && (previousVisible.type !== "tool" || previousVisible.messageId !== segment.messageId)
+      const startsCollapsedToolGroup = segment.type === "assistant"
+        && previousVisible.messageId !== segment.messageId
+        && messagesWithTools().has(segment.messageId)
+        && previousRaw?.type === "tool"
+        && previousRaw.messageId === segment.messageId
+      const followsVisibleGroupParent = (segment.type === "user" || segment.type === "compaction")
+        && previousVisible.type === "assistant"
+        && messagesWithTools().has(previousVisible.messageId)
+
+      const gapUnits = 1 + (startsVisibleToolGroup || startsCollapsedToolGroup || followsVisibleGroupParent ? 1 : 0)
+      result.set(
+        segment.id,
+        gapUnits === 1
+          ? "var(--message-timeline-segment-gap)"
+          : "calc(var(--message-timeline-segment-gap) * 2)",
+      )
+
+      previousVisible = segment
+    }
+
+    return result
+  })
+
   return (
     <div class="message-timeline-container">
       <div
-        ref={scrollContainerRef}
+        ref={(element) => {
+          scrollContainerRef = element
+          setScrollElement(element)
+        }}
         class={`message-timeline${isSelectionActive() ? " message-timeline--selection-active" : ""}`}
         role="navigation"
         aria-label={t("messageTimeline.ariaLabel")}
         onScroll={handleScroll}
       >
-        <For each={props.segments}>
-          {(segment, segIndex) => {
-            onCleanup(() => buttonRefs.delete(segment.id))
+        <Show
+          when={renderVirtualizedTimeline()}
+          fallback={(
+            <For each={props.segments}>
+              {(segment, segIndex) => {
+                onCleanup(() => buttonRefs.delete(segment.id))
+                const isActive = () => props.activeSegmentId === segment.id
+                const isSelected = () => props.selectedIds?.().has(segment.id)
+                const state = () => segmentStateFor(segment.id)
+                const isDeleteHovered = () => state().deleteHovered
+                const isDeleteSelected = () => state().deleteSelected
+                const hasActivePermission = () => state().hasActivePermission
+                const isHidden = () => state().hidden
+
+                const groupRole = (): "child" | "parent" | "none" => {
+                  if (segment.type === "tool") return "child"
+                  if (segment.type === "assistant" && messagesWithTools().has(segment.messageId)) return "parent"
+                  return "none"
+                }
+
+                const shortLabelContent = () => {
+                  if (segment.type === "tool") {
+                    if (hasActivePermission()) {
+                      return <ShieldAlert class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
+                    }
+                    return segment.shortLabel ?? getToolIcon("tool")
+                  }
+                  if (segment.type === "compaction") {
+                    return <FoldVertical class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
+                  }
+                  if (segment.type === "user") {
+                    return <UserIcon class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
+                  }
+                  return <BotIcon class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
+                }
+
+                return (
+                  <div class="message-timeline-item">
+                    <div aria-hidden="true" class="message-timeline-item-spacer" style={{ height: segmentSpacerHeights().get(segment.id) ?? "0" }} />
+                    <button
+                      ref={(el) => registerButtonRef(segment.id, el)}
+                      type="button"
+                      data-variant={segment.variant}
+                      class={`message-timeline-segment message-timeline-${segment.type} ${hasActivePermission() ? "message-timeline-segment-permission" : ""} ${segment.type === "compaction" ? `message-timeline-compaction-${segment.variant ?? "manual"}` : ""} ${isActive() ? "message-timeline-segment-active" : ""} ${isHidden() ? "message-timeline-segment-hidden" : ""} ${isSelected() ? "message-timeline-segment-selected" : ""} ${isDeleteSelected() ? "message-timeline-segment-delete-selected" : ""} ${groupRole() !== "none" ? `message-timeline-group-${groupRole()}` : ""}`}
+                      data-delete-hover={isDeleteHovered() || isDeleteSelected() || isSelected() ? "true" : undefined}
+                      aria-current={isActive() ? "true" : undefined}
+                      aria-hidden={isHidden() ? "true" : undefined}
+                      onClick={(event) => {
+                        if (wasLongPress) {
+                          wasLongPress = false
+                          return
+                        }
+
+                        const btn = buttonRefs.get(segment.id)
+                        const stableBtn = renderVirtualizedTimeline() ? null : btn
+                        let anchorOffset: number | null = null
+                        if (stableBtn && scrollContainerRef) {
+                          anchorOffset = stableBtn.offsetTop - scrollContainerRef.scrollTop
+                        }
+
+                        const isMultiSelectActive = (props.selectedIds?.().size ?? 0) > 0
+
+                        if (event.shiftKey) {
+                          props.onSelectRange?.(segment.id)
+                        } else if (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey) {
+                          props.onToggleSelection?.(segment.id)
+                        } else if (isMultiSelectActive) {
+                          props.onSegmentClick?.(segment)
+                        } else {
+                          props.onSegmentClick?.(segment)
+                        }
+
+                        if (anchorOffset !== null && stableBtn && scrollContainerRef) {
+                          const desired = stableBtn.offsetTop - anchorOffset
+                          if (Math.abs(scrollContainerRef.scrollTop - desired) > 1) {
+                            scrollContainerRef.scrollTop = desired
+                          }
+                        }
+                      }}
+                      onPointerDown={(e) => handlePointerDown(segment, e)}
+                      onPointerUp={handlePointerUp}
+                      onPointerCancel={handlePointerUp}
+                      onPointerMove={handlePointerMove}
+                      onContextMenu={handleContextMenu}
+                      onMouseEnter={(event) => handleMouseEnter(segment, event)}
+                      onMouseLeave={handleMouseLeave}
+                    >
+                      <span class="message-timeline-label message-timeline-label-full">{segment.label}</span>
+                      <span class="message-timeline-label message-timeline-label-short">{shortLabelContent()}</span>
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
+                )
+              }}
+            </For>
+          )}
+        >
+          <Virtualizer ref={setVirtualizerHandle} data={props.segments} scrollRef={scrollElement()} bufferSize={TIMELINE_VIRTUALIZER_BUFFER_PX}>
+            {(segment, index) => {
+              const segIndex = () => index()
             const isActive = () => props.activeSegmentId === segment.id
             const isSelected = () => props.selectedIds?.().has(segment.id)
-
-            const isDeleteHovered = () => {
-              const hover = deleteHover() as DeleteHoverState
-              if (hover.kind === "message") {
-                return hover.messageId === segment.messageId
-              }
-
-              if (hover.kind === "deleteUpTo") {
-                const indexMap = messageIdToSessionIndex()
-                const targetIndex = indexMap.get(hover.messageId)
-                if (targetIndex === undefined) return false
-                const segmentIndex = indexMap.get(segment.messageId)
-                if (segmentIndex === undefined) return false
-                return segmentIndex >= targetIndex
-              }
-
-              return false
-            }
-
-            const isDeleteSelected = () => {
-              const selected = props.selectedMessageIds?.()
-              if (!selected) return false
-              return selected.has(segment.messageId)
-            }
-
-            const hasActivePermission = () => {
-              if (segment.type !== "tool") return false
-              const partIds = segment.toolPartIds ?? []
-              if (partIds.length === 0) return false
-              for (const partId of partIds) {
-                const permissionState = store().getPermissionState(segment.messageId, partId)
-                if (permissionState?.active) return true
-              }
-              return false
-            }
-
-            const isExpanded = () => props.expandedMessageIds?.().has(segment.messageId) ?? false
-            const isHidden = () =>
-              segment.type === "tool" &&
-              !(showTools() || isExpanded() || isSelectionActive() || isActive() || hasActivePermission() || isDeleteHovered() || isDeleteSelected())
+            const state = () => segmentStateFor(segment.id)
+            const isDeleteHovered = () => state().deleteHovered
+            const isDeleteSelected = () => state().deleteSelected
+            const hasActivePermission = () => state().hasActivePermission
+            const isHidden = () => state().hidden
 
             // Group visual indicators: tools belong to the same message as their
             // assistant.  Uses messageId for correctness (not positional adjacency).
@@ -746,18 +962,10 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
               if (segment.type === "assistant" && messagesWithTools().has(segment.messageId)) return "parent"
               return "none"
             }
-            const isGroupStart = () => {
-              if (segment.type !== "tool") return false
-              const idx = segIndex()
-              const prev = idx > 0 ? props.segments[idx - 1] : null
-              // First tool in the message's run: either nothing before, or previous
-              // segment is from a different message or is not a tool.
-              return !prev || prev.type !== "tool" || prev.messageId !== segment.messageId
-            }
 
              const shortLabelContent = () => {
                if (segment.type === "tool") {
-                 if (hasActivePermission()) {
+                  if (hasActivePermission()) {
                    return <ShieldAlert class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
                  }
                  return segment.shortLabel ?? getToolIcon("tool")
@@ -767,95 +975,92 @@ const MessageTimeline: Component<MessageTimelineProps> = (props) => {
                }
                if (segment.type === "user") {
                  return <UserIcon class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
-               }
-               return <BotIcon class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
-             }
+                }
+                return <BotIcon class="message-timeline-icon" aria-hidden="true" />
+              }
 
-            return (
-              <button
-                  ref={(el) => registerButtonRef(segment.id, el)}
-                  type="button"
-                  data-variant={segment.variant}
-                  class={`message-timeline-segment message-timeline-${segment.type} ${hasActivePermission() ? "message-timeline-segment-permission" : ""} ${segment.type === "compaction" ? `message-timeline-compaction-${segment.variant ?? "manual"}` : ""} ${isActive() ? "message-timeline-segment-active" : ""} ${isHidden() ? "message-timeline-segment-hidden" : ""} ${isSelected() ? "message-timeline-segment-selected" : ""} ${isDeleteSelected() ? "message-timeline-segment-delete-selected" : ""} ${groupRole() !== "none" ? `message-timeline-group-${groupRole()}` : ""} ${isGroupStart() ? "message-timeline-group-start" : ""}`}
-
-                  data-delete-hover={isDeleteHovered() || isDeleteSelected() || isSelected() ? "true" : undefined}
-
-                 aria-current={isActive() ? "true" : undefined}
-                 aria-hidden={isHidden() ? "true" : undefined}
-                 onClick={(event) => {
-                   if (wasLongPress) {
-                     wasLongPress = false
-                     return
-                   }
-
-                   // Capture scroll anchor before selection changes may toggle
-                   // tool segment visibility, which shifts timeline layout.
-                   const btn = buttonRefs.get(segment.id)
-                   let anchorOffset: number | null = null
-                   if (btn && scrollContainerRef) {
-                     anchorOffset = btn.offsetTop - scrollContainerRef.scrollTop
-                   }
-
-                   const isMultiSelectActive = (props.selectedIds?.().size ?? 0) > 0
-
-                   if (event.shiftKey) {
-                     props.onSelectRange?.(segment.id)
-                   } else if (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey) {
-                     props.onToggleSelection?.(segment.id)
-                   } else if (isMultiSelectActive) {
-                     // In selection mode, plain click scrolls to the message
-                     // instead of clearing. Selection is cleared by clicking
-                     // anywhere inside the chat container or pressing Esc.
-                     props.onSegmentClick?.(segment)
-                   } else {
-                     props.onSegmentClick?.(segment)
-                   }
-
-                   // Restore scroll anchor: keep the clicked badge at the same
-                   // visual position after hidden tools appear or disappear.
-                   if (anchorOffset !== null && btn && scrollContainerRef) {
-                     const desired = btn.offsetTop - anchorOffset
-                     if (Math.abs(scrollContainerRef.scrollTop - desired) > 1) {
-                       scrollContainerRef.scrollTop = desired
+              return (
+               <div class="message-timeline-item">
+                  <div aria-hidden="true" class="message-timeline-item-spacer" style={{ height: segmentSpacerHeights().get(segment.id) ?? "0" }} />
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    data-variant={segment.variant}
+                   class={`message-timeline-segment message-timeline-${segment.type} ${hasActivePermission() ? "message-timeline-segment-permission" : ""} ${segment.type === "compaction" ? `message-timeline-compaction-${segment.variant ?? "manual"}` : ""} ${isActive() ? "message-timeline-segment-active" : ""} ${isHidden() ? "message-timeline-segment-hidden" : ""} ${isSelected() ? "message-timeline-segment-selected" : ""} ${isDeleteSelected() ? "message-timeline-segment-delete-selected" : ""} ${groupRole() !== "none" ? `message-timeline-group-${groupRole()}` : ""}`}
+                   data-delete-hover={isDeleteHovered() || isDeleteSelected() || isSelected() ? "true" : undefined}
+                   aria-current={isActive() ? "true" : undefined}
+                   aria-hidden={isHidden() ? "true" : undefined}
+                   onClick={(event) => {
+                     if (wasLongPress) {
+                       wasLongPress = false
+                       return
                      }
-                   }
-                 }}
-                onPointerDown={(e) => handlePointerDown(segment, e)}
-                 onPointerUp={handlePointerUp}
-                 onPointerCancel={handlePointerUp}
-                 onPointerMove={handlePointerMove}
-                 onContextMenu={handleContextMenu}
-                 onMouseEnter={(event) => handleMouseEnter(segment, event)}
-                 onMouseLeave={handleMouseLeave}
-              >
-                <span class="message-timeline-label message-timeline-label-full">{segment.label}</span>
-                <span class="message-timeline-label message-timeline-label-short">{shortLabelContent()}</span>
-              </button>
-            )
-          }}
-        </For>
+
+                     const btn = buttonRefs.get(segment.id)
+                     const stableBtn = renderVirtualizedTimeline() ? null : btn
+                     let anchorOffset: number | null = null
+                     if (stableBtn && scrollContainerRef) {
+                       anchorOffset = stableBtn.offsetTop - scrollContainerRef.scrollTop
+                     }
+
+                     const isMultiSelectActive = (props.selectedIds?.().size ?? 0) > 0
+
+                     if (event.shiftKey) {
+                       props.onSelectRange?.(segment.id)
+                     } else if (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey) {
+                       props.onToggleSelection?.(segment.id)
+                     } else if (isMultiSelectActive) {
+                       props.onSegmentClick?.(segment)
+                     } else {
+                       props.onSegmentClick?.(segment)
+                     }
+
+                     if (anchorOffset !== null && stableBtn && scrollContainerRef) {
+                       const desired = stableBtn.offsetTop - anchorOffset
+                       if (Math.abs(scrollContainerRef.scrollTop - desired) > 1) {
+                         scrollContainerRef.scrollTop = desired
+                       }
+                     }
+                   }}
+                   onPointerDown={(e) => handlePointerDown(segment, e)}
+                   onPointerUp={handlePointerUp}
+                   onPointerCancel={handlePointerUp}
+                   onPointerMove={handlePointerMove}
+                   onContextMenu={handleContextMenu}
+                   onMouseEnter={(event) => handleMouseEnter(segment, event)}
+                   onMouseLeave={handleMouseLeave}
+                 >
+                   <span class="message-timeline-label message-timeline-label-full">{segment.label}</span>
+                   <span class="message-timeline-label message-timeline-label-short">{shortLabelContent()}</span>
+                 </button>
+               </div>
+             )
+            }}
+          </Virtualizer>
+        </Show>
         <Show when={previewData()}>
           {(data) => {
             onCleanup(() => setTooltipElement(null))
             return (
-              <div
-                ref={(element) => setTooltipElement(element)}
-                class="message-timeline-tooltip"
-                style={{ top: `${tooltipCoords().top}px`, left: `${tooltipCoords().left}px` }}
-                onMouseEnter={() => clearCloseTimer()}
-                onMouseLeave={() => scheduleClose()}
-              >
-                <MessagePreview
-                  messageId={data().messageId}
-                  instanceId={props.instanceId}
-                  sessionId={props.sessionId}
-                  store={store}
-                  deleteHover={props.deleteHover}
-                  onDeleteHoverChange={props.onDeleteHoverChange}
-                  onDeleteMessagesUpTo={props.onDeleteMessagesUpTo}
-                  selectedMessageIds={props.selectedMessageIds}
-                />
-              </div>
+              <Portal>
+                <div
+                  ref={(element) => setTooltipElement(element)}
+                  class="message-timeline-tooltip"
+                  style={{ top: `${tooltipCoords().top}px`, left: `${tooltipCoords().left}px` }}
+                  onMouseEnter={() => clearCloseTimer()}
+                  onMouseLeave={() => scheduleClose()}
+                >
+                  <MessagePreview
+                    messageId={data().messageId}
+                    instanceId={props.instanceId}
+                    sessionId={props.sessionId}
+                    store={store}
+                    deleteHover={props.deleteHover}
+                    onDeleteHoverChange={props.onDeleteHoverChange}
+                    onDeleteMessagesUpTo={props.onDeleteMessagesUpTo}
+                    selectedMessageIds={props.selectedMessageIds}
+                  />
+                </div>
+              </Portal>
             )
           }}
         </Show>

packages/ui/src/components/prompt-input/usePromptVoiceInput.ts

@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ export function usePromptVoiceInput(options: UsePromptVoiceInputOptions) {
     const before = current.slice(0, start)
     const after = current.slice(end)
     const prefix = ""
-    const suffix = after.length > 0 && !after.startsWith("\n") ? "\n" : ""
+    const suffix = after.length > 0 ? (/^\s/.test(after) ? "" : " ") : " "
     const nextValue = `${before}${prefix}${text}${suffix}${after}`
     const cursor = before.length + prefix.length + text.length + suffix.length
 

packages/ui/src/components/session/session-view.tsx

@@ -79,11 +79,17 @@ export const SessionView: Component<SessionViewProps> = (props) => {
       requestAnimationFrame(() => scrollToBottomHandle?.())
     })
   }
-  createEffect(() => {
-    if (!props.isActive) return
-    if (!shouldScrollToBottomOnActivate()) return
-    scheduleScrollToBottom()
-  })
+  createEffect(
+    on(
+      () => props.isActive,
+      (isActive, wasActive) => {
+        if (!isActive) return
+        if (wasActive === true) return
+        if (!shouldScrollToBottomOnActivate()) return
+        scheduleScrollToBottom()
+      },
+    ),
+  )
 
   createEffect(
     on(
@@ -332,16 +338,11 @@ export const SessionView: Component<SessionViewProps> = (props) => {
                 loading={messagesLoading()}
                 onRevert={handleRevert}
                 onDeleteMessagesUpTo={handleDeleteMessagesUpTo}
-                onFork={handleFork}
-                isActive={props.isActive}
-                registerScrollToBottom={(fn) => {
-                  scrollToBottomHandle = fn
-                  if (props.isActive) {
-                    if (shouldScrollToBottomOnActivate()) {
-                      scheduleScrollToBottom()
-                    }
-                  }
-                }}
+                 onFork={handleFork}
+                 isActive={props.isActive}
+                 registerScrollToBottom={(fn) => {
+                   scrollToBottomHandle = fn
+                 }}
 
 
 

packages/ui/src/components/virtual-follow-list.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import { Show, createEffect, createMemo, createSignal, onCleanup, type Accessor,
 import { Virtualizer, type VirtualizerHandle } from "virtua/solid"
 
 const DEFAULT_SCROLL_SENTINEL_MARGIN_PX = 48
+const DEFAULT_HOLD_TARGET_TOP_THRESHOLD_PX = 8
+const DEFAULT_HOLD_TARGET_TOP_OVERSHOOT_PX = 128
 const USER_SCROLL_INTENT_WINDOW_MS = 600
 const SCROLL_INTENT_KEYS = new Set(["ArrowUp", "ArrowDown", "PageUp", "PageDown", "Home", "End", " ", "Spacebar"])
 
@@ -85,6 +87,28 @@ export interface VirtualFollowListProps<T> {
    */
   followToken?: Accessor<string | number>
 
+  /**
+   * Optional item key whose geometry can temporarily hold auto-follow when the
+   * rendered item grows taller than the viewport and reaches the top edge.
+   */
+  autoPinHoldTargetKey?: Accessor<string | null>
+
+  /**
+   * Optional resolver for the specific element inside an item wrapper that
+   * should be measured for hold-target geometry.
+   */
+  resolveAutoPinHoldElement?: (itemWrapper: HTMLDivElement, key: string) => HTMLElement | null | undefined
+
+  /**
+   * Top-edge threshold for the hold target in pixels.
+   */
+  autoPinHoldTopThresholdPx?: number
+
+  /**
+   * Temporarily suppress automatic bottom pinning while keeping follow mode enabled.
+   */
+  suspendAutoPinToBottom?: Accessor<boolean>
+
   /**
    * Optional hooks to render content inside the scroll container.
    * Useful for empty/loading states that should scroll with the list.
@@ -130,13 +154,19 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
   const scrollToBottomOnActivate = () => (props.scrollToBottomOnActivate ? props.scrollToBottomOnActivate() : true)
   const initialScrollToBottom = () => (props.initialScrollToBottom ? props.initialScrollToBottom() : true)
   const initialAutoScroll = () => (props.initialAutoScroll ? props.initialAutoScroll() : true)
+  const externalSuspendAutoPinToBottom = () => (props.suspendAutoPinToBottom ? props.suspendAutoPinToBottom() : false)
+  const holdTargetKey = () => (props.autoPinHoldTargetKey ? props.autoPinHoldTargetKey() : null)
+  const holdTargetTopThresholdPx = () => props.autoPinHoldTopThresholdPx ?? DEFAULT_HOLD_TARGET_TOP_THRESHOLD_PX
 
   const [autoScroll, setAutoScroll] = createSignal(Boolean(initialAutoScroll()))
   const [showScrollTopButton, setShowScrollTopButton] = createSignal(false)
   const [showScrollBottomButton, setShowScrollBottomButton] = createSignal(false)
   const [activeKey, setActiveKey] = createSignal<string | null>(null)
+  const [heldItemCount, setHeldItemCount] = createSignal<number | null>(null)
+  const effectiveSuspendAutoPinToBottom = () => externalSuspendAutoPinToBottom() || heldItemCount() !== null
 
   const scrollButtonsCount = createMemo(() => (showScrollTopButton() ? 1 : 0) + (showScrollBottomButton() ? 1 : 0))
+  const itemElements = new Map<string, HTMLDivElement>()
 
   let userScrollIntentUntil = 0
   let lastUserScrollIntentDirection: "up" | "down" | null = null
@@ -220,6 +250,9 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
 
     // Sync autoScroll state based on scroll position if it was a user scroll
     if (hasUserScrollIntent()) {
+      if (atBottom && heldItemCount() !== null) {
+        setHeldItemCount(null)
+      }
       if (atBottom && !autoScroll()) {
         setAutoScroll(true)
       } else if (!atBottom && autoScroll()) {
@@ -253,6 +286,7 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
       }
     }
     updateScrollButtons()
+    updateAutoPinHold()
     props.onScroll?.()
 
     // Find active key (roughly the first visible item)
@@ -270,6 +304,68 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
     }
   }
 
+  function registerItemElement(key: string, element: HTMLDivElement | null | undefined) {
+    if (!element) {
+      itemElements.delete(key)
+      return
+    }
+    itemElements.set(key, element)
+  }
+
+  function getAnchorIdForKey(key: string) {
+    return props.getAnchorId ? props.getAnchorId(key) : key
+  }
+
+  function updateAutoPinHold() {
+    const element = scrollElement()
+    const itemCount = props.items().length
+    const heldCount = heldItemCount()
+    if (!element) return
+
+    if (heldCount !== null) {
+      if (itemCount > heldCount) {
+        setHeldItemCount(null)
+        if (autoScroll()) {
+          requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+            if (!autoScroll()) return
+            scrollToBottom(false)
+          })
+        }
+        return
+      }
+
+      if (itemCount < heldCount) {
+        setHeldItemCount(null)
+        return
+      }
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    if (!autoScroll()) return
+    if (externalSuspendAutoPinToBottom()) return
+
+    const targetKey = holdTargetKey()
+    if (!targetKey) return
+
+    const itemWrapper = itemElements.get(targetKey)
+    if (!itemWrapper) return
+    const target = props.resolveAutoPinHoldElement?.(itemWrapper, targetKey) ?? itemWrapper
+
+    const containerRect = element.getBoundingClientRect()
+    const targetRect = target.getBoundingClientRect()
+    const relativeTop = targetRect.top - containerRect.top
+    const exceedsViewport = targetRect.height > element.clientHeight
+
+    if (
+      exceedsViewport &&
+      relativeTop <= holdTargetTopThresholdPx() &&
+      relativeTop >= holdTargetTopThresholdPx() - DEFAULT_HOLD_TARGET_TOP_OVERSHOOT_PX
+    ) {
+      setHeldItemCount(itemCount)
+    }
+  }
+
   const api: VirtualFollowListApi = {
     scrollToTop: (opts) => scrollToTop(opts?.immediate ?? true),
     scrollToBottom: (opts) => scrollToBottom(opts?.immediate ?? true, { suppressAutoAnchor: opts?.suppressAutoAnchor }),
@@ -281,7 +377,9 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
       virtuaHandle()?.scrollToIndex(index, { align: opts?.block ?? "start", smooth: opts?.behavior === "smooth" })
     },
     notifyContentRendered: () => {
-      if (autoScroll()) {
+      updateAutoPinHold()
+      if (heldItemCount() !== null) return
+      if (autoScroll() && !effectiveSuspendAutoPinToBottom()) {
         scrollToBottom(true)
       }
     },
@@ -294,9 +392,15 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
   createEffect(() => props.registerApi?.(api))
   createEffect(() => props.registerState?.(state))
 
+  createEffect(on(() => props.resetKey?.(), () => {
+    itemElements.clear()
+    setHeldItemCount(null)
+  }))
+
   // Handle autoScroll (Follow) on items change
   createEffect(on(() => props.items().length, (len, prevLen) => {
-    if (len > (prevLen ?? 0) && autoScroll() && !suppressAutoScrollOnce) {
+    updateAutoPinHold()
+    if (len > (prevLen ?? 0) && autoScroll() && !effectiveSuspendAutoPinToBottom() && !suppressAutoScrollOnce) {
       requestAnimationFrame(() => scrollToBottom(true))
     }
     suppressAutoScrollOnce = false
@@ -304,11 +408,16 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
 
   // Handle followToken change
   createEffect(on(() => props.followToken?.(), () => {
-    if (autoScroll()) {
+    updateAutoPinHold()
+    if (autoScroll() && !effectiveSuspendAutoPinToBottom()) {
       scrollToBottom(true)
     }
   }, { defer: true }))
 
+  createEffect(on(() => holdTargetKey(), () => {
+    updateAutoPinHold()
+  }, { defer: true }))
+
   // Reset state on resetKey change
   createEffect(on(() => props.resetKey?.(), (nextKey) => {
     if (nextKey === lastResetKey) return
@@ -331,6 +440,13 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
     }
   })
 
+  createEffect(() => {
+    if (typeof window === "undefined") return
+    const handleResize = () => updateAutoPinHold()
+    window.addEventListener("resize", handleResize)
+    onCleanup(() => window.removeEventListener("resize", handleResize))
+  })
+
   return (
     <div class="virtual-follow-list-shell" ref={shellElement => {
       setShellElement(shellElement)
@@ -356,7 +472,15 @@ export default function VirtualFollowList<T>(props: VirtualFollowListProps<T>) {
           bufferSize={props.overscanPx ?? 400}
           onScroll={handleScroll}
         >
-          {(item, index) => props.renderItem(item, index())}
+          {(item, index) => {
+            const key = props.getKey(item, index())
+            const anchorId = getAnchorIdForKey(key)
+            return (
+              <div id={anchorId} data-virtual-follow-key={key} ref={(element) => registerItemElement(key, element)}>
+                {props.renderItem(item, index())}
+              </div>
+            )
+          }}
         </Virtualizer>
       </div>
 

packages/ui/src/lib/i18n/messages/en/messaging.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const messagingMessages = {
   "messageSection.loading.messages": "Loading messages...",
   "messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel": "Scroll to first message",
   "messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel": "Scroll to latest message",
+  "messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel": "Enable hold for long assistant replies",
+  "messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel": "Disable hold for long assistant replies",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsQuote": "Add as quote",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsCode": "Add as code",
   "messageSection.quote.copy": "Copy",

packages/ui/src/lib/i18n/messages/es/messaging.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const messagingMessages = {
   "messageSection.loading.messages": "Cargando mensajes...",
   "messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel": "Desplazarse al primer mensaje",
   "messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel": "Desplazarse al último mensaje",
+  "messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel": "Activar pausa para respuestas largas del asistente",
+  "messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel": "Desactivar pausa para respuestas largas del asistente",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsQuote": "Añadir como cita",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsCode": "Añadir como código",
   "messageSection.quote.copy": "Copiar",

packages/ui/src/lib/i18n/messages/fr/messaging.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const messagingMessages = {
   "messageSection.loading.messages": "Chargement des messages...",
   "messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel": "Aller au premier message",
   "messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel": "Aller au dernier message",
+  "messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel": "Activer le maintien pour les longues réponses de l'assistant",
+  "messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel": "Désactiver le maintien pour les longues réponses de l'assistant",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsQuote": "Ajouter en citation",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsCode": "Ajouter en code",
   "messageSection.quote.copy": "Copier",

packages/ui/src/lib/i18n/messages/he/messaging.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const messagingMessages = {
   "messageSection.loading.messages": "טוען הודעות...",
   "messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel": "גלול להודעה הראשונה",
   "messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel": "גלול להודעה האחרונה",
+  "messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel": "הפעל עצירה לתגובות עוזר ארוכות",
+  "messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel": "כבה עצירה לתגובות עוזר ארוכות",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsQuote": "הוסף כציטוט",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsCode": "הוסף כקוד",
   "messageSection.quote.copy": "העתק",

packages/ui/src/lib/i18n/messages/ja/messaging.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const messagingMessages = {
   "messageSection.loading.messages": "メッセージを読み込み中...",
   "messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel": "最初のメッセージへスクロール",
   "messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel": "最新のメッセージへスクロール",
+  "messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel": "長いアシスタント返信の保持を有効にする",
+  "messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel": "長いアシスタント返信の保持を無効にする",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsQuote": "引用として追加",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsCode": "コードとして追加",
   "messageSection.quote.copy": "コピー",

packages/ui/src/lib/i18n/messages/ru/messaging.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const messagingMessages = {
   "messageSection.loading.messages": "Загрузка сообщений…",
   "messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel": "Прокрутить к первому сообщению",
   "messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel": "Прокрутить к последнему сообщению",
+  "messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel": "Включить удержание для длинных ответов ассистента",
+  "messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel": "Выключить удержание для длинных ответов ассистента",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsQuote": "Добавить как цитату",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsCode": "Добавить как код",
   "messageSection.quote.copy": "Копировать",

packages/ui/src/lib/i18n/messages/zh-Hans/messaging.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const messagingMessages = {
   "messageSection.loading.messages": "正在加载消息...",
   "messageSection.scroll.toFirstAriaLabel": "滚动到第一条消息",
   "messageSection.scroll.toLatestAriaLabel": "滚动到最新消息",
+  "messageSection.scroll.enableHoldAriaLabel": "启用长助手回复保持",
+  "messageSection.scroll.disableHoldAriaLabel": "禁用长助手回复保持",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsQuote": "作为引用添加",
   "messageSection.quote.addAsCode": "作为代码添加",
   "messageSection.quote.copy": "复制",

packages/ui/src/stores/preferences.tsx

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export interface UiSettings {
   showKeyboardShortcutHints: boolean
   thinkingBlocksExpansion: ExpansionPreference
   showTimelineTools: boolean
+  holdLongAssistantReplies: boolean
   promptSubmitOnEnter: boolean
   showPromptVoiceInput: boolean
   locale?: string
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ const defaultUiSettings: UiSettings = {
   showKeyboardShortcutHints: true,
   thinkingBlocksExpansion: "expanded",
   showTimelineTools: true,
+  holdLongAssistantReplies: true,
   promptSubmitOnEnter: false,
   showPromptVoiceInput: true,
   diffViewMode: "split",
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@ function normalizeUiSettings(input?: Partial<UiSettings> | null): UiSettings {
       sanitized.showKeyboardShortcutHints ?? defaultUiSettings.showKeyboardShortcutHints,
     thinkingBlocksExpansion: sanitized.thinkingBlocksExpansion ?? defaultUiSettings.thinkingBlocksExpansion,
     showTimelineTools: sanitized.showTimelineTools ?? defaultUiSettings.showTimelineTools,
+    holdLongAssistantReplies: sanitized.holdLongAssistantReplies ?? defaultUiSettings.holdLongAssistantReplies,
     promptSubmitOnEnter: sanitized.promptSubmitOnEnter ?? defaultUiSettings.promptSubmitOnEnter,
     showPromptVoiceInput: sanitized.showPromptVoiceInput ?? defaultUiSettings.showPromptVoiceInput,
     locale: sanitized.locale ?? defaultUiSettings.locale,

packages/ui/src/styles/messaging/message-section.css

@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@
   color: var(--accent-primary);
 }
 
+.message-scroll-button[data-active="false"] .message-scroll-icon--toggle {
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+}
+
 .message-quote-popover {
   position: absolute;
   z-index: 5;

packages/ui/src/styles/messaging/message-timeline.css

@@ -66,10 +66,11 @@
 }
 
 .message-timeline {
+  --message-timeline-segment-gap: 0.35rem;
   flex: 1 1 auto;
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 0.35rem;
+  gap: 0;
   padding: 0.25rem;
   overflow-y: auto;
   overflow-x: visible;
@@ -114,6 +115,17 @@
   -webkit-touch-callout: none;
 }
 
+.message-timeline-item {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+.message-timeline-item-spacer {
+  flex: none;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
 .message-timeline-segment[data-delete-hover="true"]::before {
   content: "";
   position: absolute;
@@ -319,18 +331,7 @@
   border-inline-start: 3px solid color-mix(in oklab, var(--accent-primary) 35%, transparent);
 }
 
-/* Extra spacing before the first tool in a group to separate from the
-   preceding user/assistant badge. */
-.message-timeline-group-start {
-  margin-top: 0.35rem;
-}
-
-/* Subtle extra spacing after the group parent (assistant) to separate
-   from the next user badge below. Uses adjacent sibling targeting. */
-.message-timeline-group-parent + .message-timeline-user,
-.message-timeline-group-parent + .message-timeline-compaction {
-  margin-top: 0.35rem;
-}
+/* Spacing is rendered by the measured item wrapper so virtua can account for it. */
 
 .message-timeline-container {
   position: relative;