extensions.md

> Diffex can create extensions. Ask it to build one for your use case.

# Extensions

Extensions are TypeScript modules that extend Diffex's behavior. They can subscribe to lifecycle events, register custom tools callable by the LLM, add commands, and more.

> **Placement for /reload:** Put extensions in `~/.diffex/agent/extensions/` (global) or `.diffex/extensions/` (project-local) for auto-discovery. Use `diffex -e ./path.ts` only for quick tests. Extensions in auto-discovered locations can be hot-reloaded with `/reload`.

**Key capabilities:**
- **Custom tools** - Register tools the LLM can call via `diffex.registerTool()`
- **Event interception** - Block or modify tool calls, inject context, customize compaction
- **User interaction** - Prompt users via `ctx.ui` (select, confirm, input, notify)
- **Custom UI components** - Full TUI components with keyboard input via `ctx.ui.custom()` for complex interactions
- **Custom commands** - Register commands like `/mycommand` via `diffex.registerCommand()`
- **Session persistence** - Store state that survives restarts via `diffex.appendEntry()`
- **Custom rendering** - Control how tool calls/results and messages appear in TUI

**Example use cases:**
- Permission gates (confirm before `rm -rf`, `sudo`, etc.)
- Git checkpointing (stash at each turn, restore on branch)
- Path protection (block writes to `.env`, `node_modules/`)
- Custom compaction (summarize conversation your way)
- Conversation summaries (see `summarize.ts` example)
- Interactive tools (questions, wizards, custom dialogs)
- Stateful tools (todo lists, connection pools)
- External integrations (file watchers, webhooks, CI triggers)
- Games while you wait (see `snake.ts` example)

See [examples/extensions/](../examples/extensions/) for working implementations.

## Table of Contents

- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Extension Locations](#extension-locations)
- [Available Imports](#available-imports)
- [Writing an Extension](#writing-an-extension)
  - [Extension Styles](#extension-styles)
- [Events](#events)
  - [Lifecycle Overview](#lifecycle-overview)
  - [Resource Events](#resource-events)
  - [Session Events](#session-events)
  - [Agent Events](#agent-events)
  - [Model Events](#model-events)
  - [Tool Events](#tool-events)
- [ExtensionContext](#extensioncontext)
- [ExtensionCommandContext](#extensioncommandcontext)
- [ExtensionAPI Methods](#extensionapi-methods)
- [State Management](#state-management)
- [Custom Tools](#custom-tools)
  - [Dynamic Tool Loading](#dynamic-tool-loading)
- [Custom UI](#custom-ui)
- [Error Handling](#error-handling)
- [Mode Behavior](#mode-behavior)
- [Examples Reference](#examples-reference)

## Quick Start

Create `~/.diffex/agent/extensions/my-extension.ts`:

```typescript
import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@diffexai/diffex";
import { Type } from "typebox";

export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  // React to events
  diffex.on("session_start", async (_event, ctx) => {
    ctx.ui.notify("Extension loaded!", "info");
  });

  diffex.on("tool_call", async (event, ctx) => {
    if (event.toolName === "bash" && event.input.command?.includes("rm -rf")) {
      const ok = await ctx.ui.confirm("Dangerous!", "Allow rm -rf?");
      if (!ok) return { block: true, reason: "Blocked by user" };
    }
  });

  // Register a custom tool
  diffex.registerTool({
    name: "greet",
    label: "Greet",
    description: "Greet someone by name",
    parameters: Type.Object({
      name: Type.String({ description: "Name to greet" }),
    }),
    async execute(toolCallId, params, signal, onUpdate, ctx) {
      return {
        content: [{ type: "text", text: `Hello, ${params.name}!` }],
        details: {},
      };
    },
  });

  // Register a command
  diffex.registerCommand("hello", {
    description: "Say hello",
    handler: async (args, ctx) => {
      ctx.ui.notify(`Hello ${args || "world"}!`, "info");
    },
  });
}
```

Test with `--extension` (or `-e`) flag:

```bash
diffex -e ./my-extension.ts
```

## Extension Locations

> **Security:** Extensions run with your full system permissions and can execute arbitrary code. Only install from sources you trust.

Extensions are auto-discovered from trusted locations. Project-local `.diffex/extensions` entries load only after the project is trusted.

| Location | Scope |
|----------|-------|
| `~/.diffex/agent/extensions/*.ts` | Global (all projects) |
| `~/.diffex/agent/extensions/*/index.ts` | Global (subdirectory) |
| `.diffex/extensions/*.ts` | Project-local |
| `.diffex/extensions/*/index.ts` | Project-local (subdirectory) |

Additional paths via `settings.json`:

```json
{
  "packages": [
    "npm:@foo/bar@1.0.0",
    "git:github.com/user/repo@v1"
  ],
  "extensions": [
    "/path/to/local/extension.ts",
    "/path/to/local/extension/dir"
  ]
}
```

To share extensions via npm or git as Diffex packages, see [packages.md](packages.md).

## Available Imports

| Package | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `@diffexai/diffex` | Extension types (`ExtensionAPI`, `ExtensionContext`, events) |
| `typebox` | Schema definitions for tool parameters |
| `@diffexai/diffex-ai` | AI utilities (`StringEnum` for Google-compatible enums) |
| `@diffexai/diffex-tui` | TUI components for custom rendering |

npm dependencies work too. Add a `package.json` next to your extension (or in a parent directory), run `npm install`, and imports from `node_modules/` are resolved automatically.

For distributed Diffex packages installed with `diffex install` (npm or git), runtime deps must be in `dependencies`. Package installation uses production installs (`npm install --omit=dev`) by default, so `devDependencies` are not available at runtime; when `npmCommand` is configured, git packages use plain `install` for compatibility with wrappers.

Node.js built-ins (`node:fs`, `node:path`, etc.) are also available.

## Writing an Extension

An extension exports a default factory function that receives `ExtensionAPI`. The factory can be synchronous or asynchronous:

```typescript
import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@diffexai/diffex";

export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  // Subscribe to events
  diffex.on("event_name", async (event, ctx) => {
    // ctx.ui for user interaction
    const ok = await ctx.ui.confirm("Title", "Are you sure?");
    ctx.ui.notify("Done!", "info");
    ctx.ui.setStatus("my-ext", "Processing...");  // Footer status
    ctx.ui.setWidget("my-ext", ["Line 1", "Line 2"]);  // Widget above editor (default)
  });

  // Register tools, commands, shortcuts, flags
  diffex.registerTool({ ... });
  diffex.registerCommand("name", { ... });
  diffex.registerShortcut("ctrl+x", { ... });
  diffex.registerFlag("my-flag", { ... });
}
```

Extensions are loaded via [jiti](https://github.com/unjs/jiti), so TypeScript works without compilation.

If the factory returns a `Promise`, Diffex awaits it before continuing startup. That means async initialization completes before `session_start`, before `resources_discover`, and before provider registrations queued via `diffex.registerProvider()` are flushed.

### Async factory functions

Use an async factory for one-time startup work such as fetching remote configuration or dynamically discovering available models.

```typescript
import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@diffexai/diffex";

export default async function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  const response = await fetch("http://localhost:1234/v1/models");
  const payload = (await response.json()) as {
    data: Array<{
      id: string;
      name?: string;
      context_window?: number;
      max_tokens?: number;
    }>;
  };

  diffex.registerProvider("local-openai", {
    baseUrl: "http://localhost:1234/v1",
    apiKey: "$LOCAL_OPENAI_API_KEY",
    api: "openai-completions",
    models: payload.data.map((model) => ({
      id: model.id,
      name: model.name ?? model.id,
      reasoning: false,
      input: ["text"],
      cost: { input: 0, output: 0, cacheRead: 0, cacheWrite: 0 },
      contextWindow: model.context_window ?? 128000,
      maxTokens: model.max_tokens ?? 4096,
    })),
  });
}
```

This pattern makes the fetched models available during normal startup and to `diffex --list-models`.

### Long-lived resources and shutdown

Extension factories may run in invocations that never start a session. Do not start background resources such as processes, sockets, file watchers, or timers from the factory.

Defer background resource startup until `session_start` or the command/tool/event that needs the resource. Register an idempotent `session_shutdown` handler to close any session-scoped resources you start.

### Extension Styles

**Single file** - simplest, for small extensions:

```
~/.diffex/agent/extensions/
└── my-extension.ts
```

**Directory with index.ts** - for multi-file extensions:

```
~/.diffex/agent/extensions/
└── my-extension/
    ├── index.ts        # Entry point (exports default function)
    ├── tools.ts        # Helper module
    └── utils.ts        # Helper module
```

**Package with dependencies** - for extensions that need npm packages:

```
~/.diffex/agent/extensions/
└── my-extension/
    ├── package.json    # Declares dependencies and entry points
    ├── package-lock.json
    ├── node_modules/   # After npm install
    └── src/
        └── index.ts
```

```json
// package.json
{
  "name": "my-extension",
  "dependencies": {
    "zod": "^3.0.0",
    "chalk": "^5.0.0"
  },
  "diffex": {
    "extensions": ["./src/index.ts"]
  }
}
```

Run `npm install` in the extension directory, then imports from `node_modules/` work automatically.

## Events

### Lifecycle Overview

```
Diffex starts
  │
  ├─► project_trust (user/global and CLI extensions only, before project resources load)
  ├─► session_start { reason: "startup" }
  └─► resources_discover { reason: "startup" }
      │
      ▼
user sends prompt ─────────────────────────────────────────┐
  │                                                        │
  ├─► (extension commands checked first, bypass if found)  │
  ├─► input (can intercept, transform, or handle)          │
  ├─► (skill-reference/template expansion if not handled)  │
  ├─► before_agent_start (can inject message, modify system prompt)
  ├─► agent_start                                          │
  ├─► message_start / message_update / message_end         │
  │                                                        │
  │   ┌─── turn (repeats while LLM calls tools) ───┐       │
  │   │                                            │       │
  │   ├─► turn_start                               │       │
  │   ├─► context (can modify messages)            │       │
  │   ├─► before_provider_headers (can mutate headers)     |
  │   ├─► before_provider_request (can inspect or replace payload)
  │   ├─► after_provider_response (status + headers, before stream consume)
  │   │                                            │       │
  │   │   LLM responds, may call tools:            │       │
  │   │     ├─► tool_execution_start               │       │
  │   │     ├─► tool_call (can block)              │       │
  │   │     ├─► tool_execution_update              │       │
  │   │     ├─► tool_result (can modify)           │       │
  │   │     └─► tool_execution_end                 │       │
  │   │                                            │       │
  │   └─► turn_end                                 │       │
  │                                                        │
  ├─► agent_end                                            │
  └─► agent_settled (no retry/compaction/follow-up left)   │
                                                           │
user sends another prompt ◄────────────────────────────────┘

/new (new session) or /resume (switch session)
  ├─► session_before_switch (can cancel)
  ├─► session_shutdown
  ├─► session_start { reason: "new" | "resume", previousSessionFile? }
  └─► resources_discover { reason: "startup" }

/fork or /clone
  ├─► session_before_fork (can cancel)
  ├─► session_shutdown
  ├─► session_start { reason: "fork", previousSessionFile }
  └─► resources_discover { reason: "startup" }

/name or diffex.setSessionName()
  └─► session_info_changed

/compact or auto-compaction
  ├─► session_before_compact (can cancel or customize)
  └─► session_compact

/tree navigation
  ├─► session_before_tree (can cancel or customize)
  └─► session_tree

/model or Ctrl+P (model selection/cycling)
  ├─► thinking_level_select (if model change changes/clamps thinking level)
  └─► model_select

thinking level changes (/model thinking selector, keybinding, diffex.setThinkingLevel())
  └─► thinking_level_select

exit (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+D, SIGHUP, SIGTERM)
  └─► session_shutdown
```

### Startup Events

#### project_trust

Fired before Diffex decides whether to trust a project with dynamic configs (`.diffex` or `.agents/skills`). It runs during startup and when session replacement (for example `/resume`) enters a cwd whose trust has not been resolved in the current process. Only user/global extensions and CLI `-e` extensions participate; project-local extensions are not loaded until after trust is resolved.

```typescript
diffex.on("project_trust", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.cwd - current working directory
  // ctx has a limited trust context: cwd, mode, hasUI, and select/confirm/input/notify UI helpers
  if (await ctx.ui.confirm("Trust project?", event.cwd)) {
    return { trusted: "yes", remember: true };
  }
  return { trusted: "undecided" };
});
```

A `project_trust` handler must return `{ trusted: "yes" | "no" | "undecided" }`. A user/global or CLI extension that returns `"yes"` or `"no"` owns the decision; the first yes/no decision wins and suppresses the built-in trust prompt. Use `remember: true` to persist a yes/no decision; otherwise it applies only to the current process. Return `"undecided"` to let later handlers or the built-in trust flow decide. Check `ctx.hasUI` before prompting. If no handler returns yes/no, normal trust resolution continues: saved `trust.json` decisions apply first, then `defaultProjectTrust` controls whether Diffex asks, trusts, or declines by default.

### Resource Events

#### resources_discover

Fired after `session_start` so extensions can contribute additional skill, prompt, and theme paths.
The startup path uses `reason: "startup"`. Reload uses `reason: "reload"`.

```typescript
diffex.on("resources_discover", async (event, _ctx) => {
  // event.cwd - current working directory
  // event.reason - "startup" | "reload"
  return {
    skillPaths: ["/path/to/skills"],
    promptPaths: ["/path/to/prompts"],
    themePaths: ["/path/to/themes"],
  };
});
```

### Session Events

See [Session Format](session-format.md) for session storage internals and the SessionManager API.

#### session_start

Fired when a session is started, loaded, or reloaded.

```typescript
diffex.on("session_start", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.reason - "startup" | "reload" | "new" | "resume" | "fork"
  // event.previousSessionFile - present for "new", "resume", and "fork"
  ctx.ui.notify(`Session: ${ctx.sessionManager.getSessionFile() ?? "ephemeral"}`, "info");
});
```

#### session_info_changed

Fired when the current session display name is set via `/name`, RPC, or `diffex.setSessionName()`.

```typescript
diffex.on("session_info_changed", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.name - current normalized name, or undefined if cleared
  ctx.ui.notify(`Session renamed: ${event.name ?? "(none)"}`, "info");
});
```

#### session_before_switch

Fired before starting a new session (`/new`) or switching sessions (`/resume`).

```typescript
diffex.on("session_before_switch", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.reason - "new" or "resume"
  // event.targetSessionFile - session we're switching to (only for "resume")

  if (event.reason === "new") {
    const ok = await ctx.ui.confirm("Clear?", "Delete all messages?");
    if (!ok) return { cancel: true };
  }
});
```

After a successful switch or new-session action, Diffex emits `session_shutdown` for the old extension instance, reloads and rebinds extensions for the new session, then emits `session_start` with `reason: "new" | "resume"` and `previousSessionFile`.
Do cleanup work in `session_shutdown`, then reestablish any in-memory state in `session_start`.

#### session_before_fork

Fired when forking via `/fork` or cloning via `/clone`.

```typescript
diffex.on("session_before_fork", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.entryId - ID of the selected entry
  // event.position - "before" for /fork, "at" for /clone
  return { cancel: true }; // Cancel fork/clone
  // OR
  return { skipConversationRestore: true }; // Reserved for future conversation restore control
});
```

After a successful fork or clone, Diffex emits `session_shutdown` for the old extension instance, reloads and rebinds extensions for the new session, then emits `session_start` with `reason: "fork"` and `previousSessionFile`.
Do cleanup work in `session_shutdown`, then reestablish any in-memory state in `session_start`.

#### session_before_compact / session_compact

Fired on compaction. See [compaction.md](compaction.md) for details.

```typescript
diffex.on("session_before_compact", async (event, ctx) => {
  const { preparation, branchEntries, customInstructions, reason, willRetry, signal } = event;

  // reason - "manual" (/compact), "threshold", or "overflow"
  // willRetry - whether the aborted turn is retried after compaction (overflow recovery)

  // Cancel:
  return { cancel: true };

  // Custom summary:
  return {
    compaction: {
      summary: "...",
      firstKeptEntryId: preparation.firstKeptEntryId,
      tokensBefore: preparation.tokensBefore,
      // usage: summaryResponse.usage, // Optional; included in session totals
    }
  };
});

diffex.on("session_compact", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.compactionEntry - the saved compaction
  // event.fromExtension - whether extension provided it
  // event.reason - "manual" (/compact), "threshold", or "overflow"
  // event.willRetry - whether the aborted turn is retried after compaction (overflow recovery)
});
```

#### session_before_tree / session_tree

Fired on `/tree` navigation. See [Sessions](sessions.md) for tree navigation concepts.

```typescript
diffex.on("session_before_tree", async (event, ctx) => {
  const { preparation, signal } = event;
  return { cancel: true };
  // OR provide custom summary:
  return {
    summary: {
      summary: "...",
      // usage: summaryResponse.usage, // Optional; included in session totals
      details: {},
    },
  };
});

diffex.on("session_tree", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.newLeafId, oldLeafId, summaryEntry, fromExtension
});
```

#### session_shutdown

Fired before a started session runtime is torn down. Use this to clean up resources opened from `session_start` or other session-scoped hooks.

```typescript
diffex.on("session_shutdown", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.reason - "quit" | "reload" | "new" | "resume" | "fork"
  // event.targetSessionFile - destination session for session replacement flows
  // Cleanup, save state, etc.
});
```

### Agent Events

#### before_agent_start

Fired after user submits prompt, before agent loop. Can inject a message and/or modify the system prompt.

```typescript
diffex.on("before_agent_start", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.prompt - user's prompt text
  // event.images - attached images (if any)
  // event.systemPrompt - current chained system prompt for this handler
  //   (includes changes from earlier before_agent_start handlers)
  // event.systemPromptOptions - structured options used to build the system prompt
  //   .customPrompt - any custom system prompt (from --system-prompt, SYSTEM.md, or custom templates)
  //   .selectedTools - tools currently active in the prompt
  //   .toolSnippets - one-line descriptions for each tool
  //   .promptGuidelines - guideline arrays keyed by tool name
  //   .appendSystemPrompt - text from --append-system-prompt flags
  //   .cwd - working directory
  //   .contextFiles - AGENTS.md files and other loaded context files
  //   .skills - loaded skills

  return {
    // Inject a persistent message (stored in session, sent to LLM)
    message: {
      customType: "my-extension",
      content: "Additional context for the LLM",
      display: true,
    },
    // Replace the system prompt for this turn (chained across extensions)
    systemPrompt: event.systemPrompt + "\n\nExtra instructions for this turn...",
  };
});
```

The `systemPromptOptions` field gives extensions access to the same structured data Diffex uses to build the system prompt. This lets you inspect what Diffex has loaded, including custom prompts, guidelines, tool snippets, context files, and skills, without re-discovering resources or re-parsing flags. Use it when your extension needs to make deep, informed changes to the system prompt while respecting user-provided configuration.

Inside `before_agent_start`, `event.systemPrompt` and `ctx.getSystemPrompt()` both reflect the chained system prompt as of the current handler. Later `before_agent_start` handlers can still modify it again.

#### agent_start / agent_end / agent_settled

`agent_start` fires when a low-level agent run begins. `agent_end` fires when that run ends, but Diffex may still auto-retry, auto-compact and retry, or continue with queued follow-up messages. Use `agent_settled` for status integrations that need to know Diffex will not continue running automatically.

```typescript
diffex.on("agent_start", async (_event, ctx) => {});

diffex.on("agent_end", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.messages - messages from this low-level run
});

diffex.on("agent_settled", async (_event, ctx) => {
  // ctx.isIdle() is true here unless another extension started a new run.
});
```

#### turn_start / turn_end

Fired for each turn (one LLM response + tool calls).

```typescript
diffex.on("turn_start", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.turnIndex, event.timestamp
});

diffex.on("turn_end", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.turnIndex, event.message, event.toolResults
});
```

#### message_start / message_update / message_end

Fired for message lifecycle updates.

- `message_start` and `message_end` fire for user, assistant, and toolResult messages.
- `message_update` fires for assistant streaming updates.
- `message_end` handlers can return `{ message }` to replace the finalized message. The replacement must keep the same `role`.

```typescript
diffex.on("message_start", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.message
});

diffex.on("message_update", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.message
  // event.assistantMessageEvent (token-by-token stream event)
});

diffex.on("message_end", async (event, ctx) => {
  if (event.message.role !== "assistant") return;

  return {
    message: {
      ...event.message,
      usage: {
        ...event.message.usage,
        cost: {
          ...event.message.usage.cost,
          total: 0.123,
        },
      },
    },
  };
});
```

#### tool_execution_start / tool_execution_update / tool_execution_end

Fired for tool execution lifecycle updates.

In parallel tool mode, consecutive parallel-capable calls form groups separated by individual sequential tool barriers:

- `tool_execution_start` is emitted in assistant source order during each phase's preflight
- `tool_execution_update` events may interleave across tools
- `tool_execution_end` is emitted in tool completion order after each tool is finalized
- final `toolResult` message events are still emitted later in assistant source order

Every phase awaits execution, `tool_result` handlers, completion handlers, and ordered result-message handlers before the next phase starts preflight.
Steering delivery and the next model request wait for the entire assistant batch.

```typescript
diffex.on("tool_execution_start", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.toolCallId, event.toolName, event.args
});

diffex.on("tool_execution_update", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.toolCallId, event.toolName, event.args, event.partialResult
});

diffex.on("tool_execution_end", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.toolCallId, event.toolName, event.result, event.isError
});
```

#### context

Fired before each LLM call. Modify messages non-destructively. See [Session Format](session-format.md) for message types.

```typescript
diffex.on("context", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.messages - deep copy, safe to modify
  const filtered = event.messages.filter(m => !shouldPrune(m));
  return { messages: filtered };
});
```

#### before_provider_headers

Fired after the outgoing HTTP headers are assembled. Use it to add, override, or remove request headers.

Handlers mutate `event.headers` in place. Set a key to a string to add or override it, or to `null` to delete it.

```typescript
diffex.on("before_provider_headers", (event, ctx) => {
  // Add or override — e.g. a session id for gateway tracing/attribution
  event.headers["x-session-id"] = ctx.sessionManager.getSessionId();

  // Drop a tracking header Diffex adds for this call
  event.headers["X-OpenRouter-Title"] = null;
});
```

Runs once per provider request; retries reuse the same headers rather than re-firing the hook.

#### before_provider_request

Fired after the provider-specific payload is built, right before the request is sent. Handlers run in extension load order. Returning `undefined` keeps the payload unchanged. Returning any other value replaces the payload for later handlers and for the actual request.

This hook can rewrite provider-level system instructions or remove them entirely. Those payload-level changes are not reflected by `ctx.getSystemPrompt()`, which reports Diffex's system prompt string rather than the final serialized provider payload.

```typescript
diffex.on("before_provider_request", (event, ctx) => {
  console.log(JSON.stringify(event.payload, null, 2));

  // Optional: replace payload
  // return { ...event.payload, temperature: 0 };
});
```

This is mainly useful for debugging provider serialization and cache behavior.

#### after_provider_response

Fired after an HTTP response is received and before its stream body is consumed. Handlers run in extension load order.

```typescript
diffex.on("after_provider_response", (event, ctx) => {
  // event.status - HTTP status code
  // event.headers - normalized response headers
  if (event.status === 429) {
    console.log("rate limited", event.headers["retry-after"]);
  }
});
```

Header availability depends on provider and transport. Providers that abstract HTTP responses may not expose headers.

### Model Events

#### model_select

Fired when the model changes via `/model` command, model cycling (`Ctrl+P`), or session restore.

```typescript
diffex.on("model_select", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.model - newly selected model
  // event.previousModel - previous model (undefined if first selection)
  // event.source - "set" | "cycle" | "restore"

  const prev = event.previousModel
    ? `${event.previousModel.provider}/${event.previousModel.id}`
    : "none";
  const next = `${event.model.provider}/${event.model.id}`;

  ctx.ui.notify(`Model changed (${event.source}): ${prev} -> ${next}`, "info");
});
```

Use this to update UI elements (status bars, footers) or perform model-specific initialization when the active model changes.

#### thinking_level_select

Fired when the thinking level changes. This is notification-only; handler return values are ignored.

```typescript
diffex.on("thinking_level_select", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.level - newly selected thinking level
  // event.previousLevel - previous thinking level

  ctx.ui.setStatus("thinking", `thinking: ${event.level}`);
});
```

Use this to update extension UI when `diffex.setThinkingLevel()`, model changes, or built-in thinking-level controls change the active thinking level.

### Tool Events

#### tool_call

Fired after `tool_execution_start`, before the tool executes. **Can block.** Use `isToolCallEventType` to narrow and get typed inputs.

Before `tool_call` runs, Diffex waits for previously emitted Agent events to finish draining through `AgentSession`. This means `ctx.sessionManager` is up to date through the current assistant tool-calling message.

In the default parallel tool execution mode, calls in each consecutive parallel group are preflighted sequentially, then executed concurrently.
A tool declaring `executionMode: "sequential"` is an exclusive barrier at its position in the assistant message.
For example, `read A, read B, update_plan, read C, read D` runs as `[read A + read B]`, then `update_plan`, then `[read C + read D]`.
`update_plan` and `request_user_input` are sequential tools.
`tool_call` sees settled results from earlier phases in `ctx.sessionManager`, but is not guaranteed to see sibling results within its current parallel group.

`event.input` is mutable. Mutate it in place to patch tool arguments before execution.

Behavior guarantees:
- Mutations to `event.input` affect the actual tool execution
- Later `tool_call` handlers see mutations made by earlier handlers
- No re-validation is performed after your mutation
- Return values from `tool_call` control blocking via `{ block: true, reason?: string, terminate?: boolean }`
- `terminate` only applies to a blocked call; the agent stops early only when every finalized result in the batch is terminating

```typescript
import { isToolCallEventType } from "@diffexai/diffex";

diffex.on("tool_call", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.toolName - "bash", "read", "write", "edit", etc.
  // event.toolCallId
  // event.input - tool parameters (mutable)

  // Built-in tools: no type params needed
  if (isToolCallEventType("bash", event)) {
    // event.input is { command: string; timeout?: number }
    event.input.command = `source ~/.profile\n${event.input.command}`;

    if (event.input.command.includes("rm -rf")) {
      return { block: true, reason: "Dangerous command", terminate: true };
    }
  }

  if (isToolCallEventType("read", event)) {
    // event.input is { path: string; offset?: number; limit?: number }
    console.log(`Reading: ${event.input.path}`);
  }
});
```

#### Typing custom tool input

Custom tools should export their input type:

```typescript
// my-extension.ts
export type MyToolInput = Static<typeof myToolSchema>;
```

Use `isToolCallEventType` with explicit type parameters:

```typescript
import { isToolCallEventType } from "@diffexai/diffex";
import type { MyToolInput } from "my-extension";

diffex.on("tool_call", (event) => {
  if (isToolCallEventType<"my_tool", MyToolInput>("my_tool", event)) {
    event.input.action;  // typed
  }
});
```

#### tool_result

Fired after tool execution finishes and before `tool_execution_end` plus the final tool result message events are emitted. **Can modify result.**

Within a parallel group, `tool_result` and `tool_execution_end` may interleave in tool finalization order, while final `toolResult` message events follow assistant source order.
All result handlers and awaited events settle before the next phase's `tool_call` handlers run.

`tool_result` handlers chain like middleware:
- Handlers run in extension load order
- Each handler sees the latest result after previous handler changes
- Handlers can return partial patches (`content`, `details`, `isError`, or `usage`); omitted fields keep their current values

Use `ctx.signal` for nested async work inside the handler. This lets Esc cancel model calls, `fetch()`, and other abort-aware operations started by the extension.

```typescript
import { isBashToolResult } from "@diffexai/diffex";

diffex.on("tool_result", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.toolName, event.toolCallId, event.input
  // event.content, event.details, event.isError, event.usage

  if (isBashToolResult(event)) {
    // event.details is typed as BashToolDetails
  }

  const response = await fetch("https://example.com/summarize", {
    method: "POST",
    body: JSON.stringify({ content: event.content }),
    signal: ctx.signal,
  });

  // Modify result:
  return { content: [...], details: {...}, isError: false, usage: nestedModelUsage };
});
```

### User Bash Events

#### user_bash

Fired when user executes `!` or `!!` commands. **Can intercept.**

```typescript
import { createLocalBashOperations } from "@diffexai/diffex";

diffex.on("user_bash", (event, ctx) => {
  // event.command - the bash command
  // event.excludeFromContext - true if !! prefix
  // event.cwd - working directory

  // Option 1: Provide custom operations (e.g., SSH)
  return { operations: remoteBashOps };

  // Option 2: Wrap Diffex's built-in local bash backend
  const local = createLocalBashOperations();
  return {
    operations: {
      exec(command, cwd, options) {
        return local.exec(`source ~/.profile\n${command}`, cwd, options);
      }
    }
  };

  // Option 3: Full replacement - return result directly
  return { result: { output: "...", exitCode: 0, cancelled: false, truncated: false } };
});
```

### Input Events

#### input

Fired when user input is received, after extension commands are checked but before explicit skill references and prompt templates are expanded. The event sees the raw input text, so selected skill references and `/template` have not yet expanded.

**Processing order:**
1. Extension commands (`/cmd`) checked first - if found, handler runs and input event is skipped
2. `input` event fires - can intercept, transform, or handle
3. If not handled: prompt templates (`/template`) expand to template content
4. If not handled: explicit references inserted through `/skills` expand to captured skill content
5. Agent processing begins (`before_agent_start`, etc.)

```typescript
diffex.on("input", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.text - raw input (before skill/template expansion)
  // event.images - attached images, if any
  // event.source - "interactive" (typed), "rpc" (API), or "extension" (via sendUserMessage)
  // event.streamingBehavior - "steer" | "followUp" | undefined
  //   undefined when idle, "steer" for mid-stream interrupts,
  //   "followUp" for messages queued until the agent finishes

  // Transform: rewrite input before expansion
  if (event.text.startsWith("?quick "))
    return { action: "transform", text: `Respond briefly: ${event.text.slice(7)}` };

  // Handle: respond without LLM (extension shows its own feedback)
  if (event.text === "ping") {
    ctx.ui.notify("pong", "info");
    return { action: "handled" };
  }

  // Route by source: skip processing for extension-injected messages
  if (event.source === "extension") return { action: "continue" };

  return { action: "continue" };  // Default: pass through to expansion
});
```

**Results:**
- `continue` - pass through unchanged (default if handler returns nothing)
- `transform` - modify text/images, then continue to expansion
- `handled` - skip agent entirely (first handler to return this wins)

Transforms chain across handlers. See [input-transform.ts](../examples/extensions/input-transform.ts) and [input-transform-streaming.ts](../examples/extensions/input-transform-streaming.ts) for `streamingBehavior`-aware routing.

## ExtensionContext

All handlers receive `ctx: ExtensionContext`.

### ctx.ui

UI methods for user interaction. See [Custom UI](#custom-ui) for full details.

### ctx.mode

Current run mode: `"tui"`, `"rpc"`, `"json"`, or `"print"`. Use `ctx.mode === "tui"` to guard terminal-only features such as `custom()`, component factories, terminal input, and direct TUI rendering.

### ctx.hasUI

`true` in TUI and RPC modes. `false` in print mode (`-p`) and JSON mode. Use this to guard dialog methods (`select`, `confirm`, `input`, `editor`) and fire-and-forget methods (`notify`, `setStatus`, `setWidget`, `setTitle`, `setEditorText`) that work in both TUI and RPC modes. In RPC mode, some TUI-specific methods are no-ops or return defaults (see [rpc.md](rpc.md#extension-ui-protocol)).

### ctx.cwd

Current working directory.

Use `CONFIG_DIR_NAME` instead of hardcoding `.diffex` when constructing project-local config paths. Rebranded distributions can use a different config directory name.

```typescript
import { CONFIG_DIR_NAME, type ExtensionAPI } from "@diffexai/diffex";
import { join } from "node:path";

export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  diffex.on("session_start", (_event, ctx) => {
    const projectConfigPath = join(ctx.cwd, CONFIG_DIR_NAME, "my-extension.json");
    // ...
  });
}
```

### ctx.isProjectTrusted()

Returns whether project-local trust is active for the current session context. This includes temporary trust decisions and CLI trust overrides, not just saved decisions in the global trust store.

Use this before reading project-local extension configuration that should only be honored for trusted projects.

### ctx.sessionManager

Read-only access to session state. See [Session Format](session-format.md) for the full SessionManager API and entry types.

For `tool_call`, this state is synchronized through the current assistant message and all completed execution phases before handlers run.
In parallel mode, it is not guaranteed to include sibling results within the current group.

```typescript
ctx.sessionManager.getEntries()             // All entries
ctx.sessionManager.getBranch()              // Current branch
ctx.sessionManager.buildContextEntries()    // Active branch entries with compaction applied
ctx.sessionManager.getLeafId()              // Current leaf entry ID
```

### ctx.modelRegistry / ctx.model / ctx.thinkingLevel / ctx.scopedModels

Access to models, providers, and resolved authentication. `ctx.modelRegistry.getProvider(id)` returns the effective diffex-ai provider, while `getProviderAuth(id)` resolves its current API key, headers, base URL, and provider-scoped environment without requiring a loaded model. `ctx.model` is the active model, and `ctx.thinkingLevel` is its current effective thinking level.

`ctx.scopedModels` is the read-only list of models scoped to the current session — the same set the `/scoped-models` command shows. It is resolved at session start from the `--models` CLI flag and the `enabledModels` setting (matched against the available catalogue with minimatch on `provider/modelId` or a bare `modelId`). It is empty when no scoping is configured, meaning every available model is usable. Each entry is `{ model, thinkingLevel? }`, where `thinkingLevel` is set only when a pattern pinned it (e.g. `anthropic/*:high`). Use it to populate a model picker that mirrors the built-in one instead of enumerating the whole catalogue via `ctx.modelRegistry.getAvailable()`.

### ctx.signal

The current agent abort signal, or `undefined` when no agent turn is active.

Use this for abort-aware nested work started by extension handlers, for example:
- `fetch(..., { signal: ctx.signal })`
- model calls that accept `signal`
- file or process helpers that accept `AbortSignal`

`ctx.signal` is typically defined during active turn events such as `tool_call`, `tool_result`, `message_update`, and `turn_end`.
It is usually `undefined` in idle or non-turn contexts such as session events, extension commands, and shortcuts fired while Diffex is idle.

```typescript
diffex.on("tool_result", async (event, ctx) => {
  const response = await fetch("https://example.com/api", {
    method: "POST",
    body: JSON.stringify(event),
    signal: ctx.signal,
  });

  const data = await response.json();
  return { details: data };
});
```

### ctx.isIdle() / ctx.abort() / ctx.hasPendingMessages()

Control flow helpers. `ctx.isIdle()` is false while Diffex is processing an agent run, automatic retry, auto-compaction retry, or queued continuation.

### ctx.shutdown()

Request a graceful shutdown of Diffex.

- **Interactive mode:** Deferred until the agent becomes idle (after processing all queued steering and follow-up messages).
- **RPC mode:** Deferred until the next idle state (after completing the current command response, when waiting for the next command).
- **Print mode:** No-op. The process exits automatically when all prompts are processed.

Emits `session_shutdown` event to all extensions before exiting. Available in all contexts (event handlers, tools, commands, shortcuts).

```typescript
diffex.on("tool_call", (event, ctx) => {
  if (isFatal(event.input)) {
    ctx.shutdown();
  }
});
```

### ctx.getContextUsage()

Returns current context usage for the active model. Uses last assistant usage when available, then estimates tokens for trailing messages.

```typescript
const usage = ctx.getContextUsage();
if (usage && usage.tokens > 100_000) {
  // ...
}
```

### ctx.compact()

Trigger compaction without awaiting completion. Use `onComplete` and `onError` for follow-up actions.

```typescript
ctx.compact({
  customInstructions: "Focus on recent changes",
  onComplete: (result) => {
    ctx.ui.notify("Compaction completed", "info");
  },
  onError: (error) => {
    ctx.ui.notify(`Compaction failed: ${error.message}`, "error");
  },
});
```

### ctx.getSystemPrompt()

Returns Diffex's current system prompt string.

- During `before_agent_start`, this reflects chained system-prompt changes made so far for the current turn.
- It does not include later `context` message mutations.
- It does not include `before_provider_request` payload rewrites.
- If later-loaded extensions run after yours, they can still change what is ultimately sent.

```typescript
diffex.on("before_agent_start", (event, ctx) => {
  const prompt = ctx.getSystemPrompt();
  console.log(`System prompt length: ${prompt.length}`);
});
```

## ExtensionCommandContext

Command handlers receive `ExtensionCommandContext`, which extends `ExtensionContext` with session control methods. These are only available in commands because they can deadlock if called from event handlers.

### ctx.getSystemPromptOptions()

Returns the base inputs Diffex currently uses to build the system prompt.

```typescript
const options = ctx.getSystemPromptOptions();
const contextPaths = options.contextFiles?.map((file) => file.path) ?? [];
```

This has the same shape and mutability as `before_agent_start` `event.systemPromptOptions`: custom prompt, active tools, tool snippets, prompt guidelines, appended system prompt text, cwd, loaded context files, and loaded skills. It may include full context file contents, so treat it as sensitive extension-local data and avoid exposing it through command lists, logs, or autocomplete metadata.

This reports the current base prompt inputs. It does not include per-turn `before_agent_start` chained system-prompt changes, later `context` event message mutations, or `before_provider_request` payload rewrites.

### ctx.waitForIdle()

Wait for the agent to fully settle, including automatic retries, auto-compaction retries, and queued continuations:

```typescript
diffex.registerCommand("my-cmd", {
  handler: async (args, ctx) => {
    await ctx.waitForIdle();
    // Agent is now idle, safe to modify session
  },
});
```

### ctx.newSession(options?)

Create a new session:

```typescript
const parentSession = ctx.sessionManager.getSessionFile();
const kickoff = "Continue in the replacement session";

const result = await ctx.newSession({
  parentSession,
  setup: async (sm) => {
    sm.appendMessage({
      role: "user",
      content: [{ type: "text", text: "Context from previous session..." }],
      timestamp: Date.now(),
    });
  },
  withSession: async (ctx) => {
    // Use only the replacement-session ctx here.
    await ctx.sendUserMessage(kickoff);
  },
});

if (result.cancelled) {
  // An extension cancelled the new session
}
```

Options:
- `parentSession`: parent session file to record in the new session header
- `setup`: mutate the new session's `SessionManager` before `withSession` runs
- `withSession`: run post-switch work against a fresh replacement-session context. Do not use captured old `diffex` / command `ctx`; see [Session replacement lifecycle and footguns](#session-replacement-lifecycle-and-footguns).

### ctx.fork(entryId, options?)

Fork from a specific entry, creating a new session file:

```typescript
const result = await ctx.fork("entry-id-123", {
  withSession: async (ctx) => {
    // Use only the replacement-session ctx here.
    ctx.ui.notify("Now in the forked session", "info");
  },
});
if (result.cancelled) {
  // An extension cancelled the fork
}

const cloneResult = await ctx.fork("entry-id-456", { position: "at" });
if (cloneResult.cancelled) {
  // An extension cancelled the clone
}
```

Options:
- `position`: `"before"` (default) forks before the selected user message, restoring that prompt into the editor
- `position`: `"at"` duplicates the active path through the selected entry without restoring editor text
- `withSession`: run post-switch work against a fresh replacement-session context. Do not use captured old `diffex` / command `ctx`; see [Session replacement lifecycle and footguns](#session-replacement-lifecycle-and-footguns).

### ctx.navigateTree(targetId, options?)

Navigate to a different point in the session tree:

```typescript
const result = await ctx.navigateTree("entry-id-456", {
  summarize: true,
  customInstructions: "Focus on error handling changes",
  replaceInstructions: false, // true = replace default prompt entirely
  label: "review-checkpoint",
});
```

Options:
- `summarize`: Whether to generate a summary of the abandoned branch
- `customInstructions`: Custom instructions for the summarizer
- `replaceInstructions`: If true, `customInstructions` replaces the default prompt instead of being appended
- `label`: Label to attach to the branch summary entry (or target entry if not summarizing)

### ctx.switchSession(sessionPath, options?)

Switch to a different session file:

```typescript
const result = await ctx.switchSession("/path/to/session.jsonl", {
  withSession: async (ctx) => {
    await ctx.sendUserMessage("Resume work in the replacement session");
  },
});
if (result.cancelled) {
  // An extension cancelled the switch via session_before_switch
}
```

Options:
- `withSession`: run post-switch work against a fresh replacement-session context. Do not use captured old `diffex` / command `ctx`; see [Session replacement lifecycle and footguns](#session-replacement-lifecycle-and-footguns).

To discover available sessions, use the static `SessionManager.list()` or `SessionManager.listAll()` methods:

```typescript
import { SessionManager } from "@diffexai/diffex";

diffex.registerCommand("switch", {
  description: "Switch to another session",
  handler: async (args, ctx) => {
    const sessions = await SessionManager.list(ctx.cwd);
    if (sessions.length === 0) return;
    const choice = await ctx.ui.select(
      "Pick session:",
      sessions.map(s => s.file),
    );
    if (choice) {
      await ctx.switchSession(choice, {
        withSession: async (ctx) => {
          ctx.ui.notify("Switched session", "info");
        },
      });
    }
  },
});
```

### Session replacement lifecycle and footguns

`withSession` receives a fresh `ReplacedSessionContext`, which extends `ExtensionCommandContext` with async `sendMessage()` and `sendUserMessage()` helpers bound to the replacement session.

Lifecycle and footguns:
- `withSession` runs only after the old session has emitted `session_shutdown`, the old runtime has been torn down, the replacement session has been rebound, and the new extension instance has already received `session_start`.
- The callback still executes in the original closure, not inside the new extension instance. That means your old extension instance may already have run its shutdown cleanup before `withSession` starts.
- Captured old `diffex` / old command `ctx` session-bound objects are stale after replacement and will throw if used. Use only the `ctx` passed to `withSession` for session-bound work.
- Previously extracted raw objects are still your responsibility. For example, if you capture `const sm = ctx.sessionManager` before replacement, `sm` is still the old `SessionManager` object. Do not reuse it after replacement.
- Code in `withSession` should assume any state invalidated by your `session_shutdown` handler is already gone. Only capture plain data that survives shutdown cleanly, such as strings, ids, and serialized config.

Safe pattern:

```typescript
diffex.registerCommand("handoff", {
  handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
    const kickoff = "Continue from the replacement session";
    await ctx.newSession({
      withSession: async (ctx) => {
        await ctx.sendUserMessage(kickoff);
      },
    });
  },
});
```

Unsafe pattern:

```typescript
diffex.registerCommand("handoff", {
  handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
    const oldSessionManager = ctx.sessionManager;
    await ctx.newSession({
      withSession: async (_ctx) => {
        // stale old objects: do not do this
        oldSessionManager.getSessionFile();
        diffex.sendUserMessage("wrong");
      },
    });
  },
});
```

### ctx.reload()

Run the same reload flow as `/reload`.

```typescript
diffex.registerCommand("reload-runtime", {
  description: "Reload extensions, skills, prompts, themes, and context files",
  handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
    await ctx.reload();
    return;
  },
});
```

Important behavior:
- `await ctx.reload()` emits `session_shutdown` for the current extension runtime
- It then reloads resources and emits `session_start` with `reason: "reload"` and `resources_discover` with reason `"reload"`
- The currently running command handler still continues in the old call frame
- Code after `await ctx.reload()` still runs from the pre-reload version
- Code after `await ctx.reload()` must not assume old in-memory extension state is still valid
- After the handler returns, future commands/events/tool calls use the new extension version

For predictable behavior, treat reload as terminal for that handler (`await ctx.reload(); return;`).

Tools run with `ExtensionContext`, so they cannot call `ctx.reload()` directly. Use a command as the reload entrypoint, then expose a tool that queues that command as a follow-up user message.

Example tool the LLM can call to trigger reload:

```typescript
import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@diffexai/diffex";
import { Type } from "typebox";

export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  diffex.registerCommand("reload-runtime", {
    description: "Reload extensions, skills, prompts, themes, and context files",
    handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
      await ctx.reload();
      return;
    },
  });

  diffex.registerTool({
    name: "reload_runtime",
    label: "Reload Runtime",
    description: "Reload extensions, skills, prompts, themes, and context files",
    parameters: Type.Object({}),
    async execute() {
      diffex.sendUserMessage("/reload-runtime", { deliverAs: "followUp" });
      return {
        content: [{ type: "text", text: "Queued /reload-runtime as a follow-up command." }],
      };
    },
  });
}
```

## ExtensionAPI Methods

### diffex.on(event, handler)

Subscribe to events. See [Events](#events) for event types and return values.

### diffex.registerTool(definition)

Register a custom tool callable by the LLM. See [Custom Tools](#custom-tools) for full details.

`diffex.registerTool()` works both during extension load and after startup. You can call it inside `session_start`, command handlers, or other event handlers. New tools are refreshed immediately in the same session, so they appear in `diffex.getAllTools()` and are callable by the LLM without `/reload`.

Use `diffex.setActiveTools()` to enable or disable tools (including dynamically added tools) at runtime.

Use `promptSnippet` to opt a custom tool into a one-line entry in `Available tools`, and `promptGuidelines` to add bullets under that tool's name in the default `Tool usage guidelines` section when the tool is active.

Guidelines are grouped by tool name in active-tool order.
Blank guidelines are omitted, and duplicate guidelines are removed within each tool's group.

See [dynamic-tools.ts](../examples/extensions/dynamic-tools.ts) for a full example.

```typescript
import { Type } from "typebox";
import { StringEnum } from "@diffexai/diffex-ai";

diffex.registerTool({
  name: "my_tool",
  label: "My Tool",
  description: "What this tool does",
  promptSnippet: "Summarize or transform text according to action",
  promptGuidelines: ["Use my_tool when the user asks to summarize previously generated text."],
  parameters: Type.Object({
    action: StringEnum(["list", "add"] as const),
    text: Type.Optional(Type.String()),
  }),
  prepareArguments(args) {
    // Optional compatibility shim. Runs before schema validation.
    // Return the current schema shape, for example to fold legacy fields
    // into the modern parameter object.
    return args;
  },

  async execute(toolCallId, params, signal, onUpdate, ctx) {
    // Stream progress
    onUpdate?.({ content: [{ type: "text", text: "Working..." }] });

    return {
      content: [{ type: "text", text: "Done" }],
      details: { result: "..." },
    };
  },

  // Optional: Custom rendering
  renderCall(args, theme, context) { ... },
  renderResult(result, options, theme, context) { ... },
});
```

### diffex.sendMessage(message, options?)

Inject a custom message into the session. Custom messages participate in LLM context. For durable TUI-only content that should not be sent to the LLM, use [`diffex.appendEntry()`](#piappendentrycustomtype-data) with [`diffex.registerEntryRenderer()`](#piregisterentryrenderercustomtype-renderer).

```typescript
diffex.sendMessage({
  customType: "my-extension",
  content: "Message text",
  display: true,
  details: { ... },
}, {
  triggerTurn: true,
  deliverAs: "steer",
});
```

**Options:**
- `deliverAs` - Delivery mode:
  - `"steer"` (default) - Queues the message while streaming. Delivered after the current assistant turn finishes executing its tool calls, before the next LLM call.
  - `"followUp"` - Waits for agent to finish. Delivered only when agent has no more tool calls.
  - `"nextTurn"` - Queued for next user prompt. Does not interrupt or trigger anything.
- `triggerTurn: true` - If agent is idle, trigger an LLM response immediately. Only applies to `"steer"` and `"followUp"` modes (ignored for `"nextTurn"`).

### diffex.sendUserMessage(content, options?)

Send a user message to the agent. Unlike `sendMessage()` which sends custom messages, this sends an actual user message that appears as if typed by the user. Always triggers a turn.

```typescript
// Simple text message
diffex.sendUserMessage("What is 2+2?");

// With content array (text + images)
diffex.sendUserMessage([
  { type: "text", text: "Describe this image:" },
  { type: "image", source: { type: "base64", mediaType: "image/png", data: "..." } },
]);

// During streaming - must specify delivery mode
diffex.sendUserMessage("Focus on error handling", { deliverAs: "steer" });
diffex.sendUserMessage("And then summarize", { deliverAs: "followUp" });
```

**Options:**
- `deliverAs` - Required when agent is streaming:
  - `"steer"` - Queues the message for delivery after the current assistant turn finishes executing its tool calls
  - `"followUp"` - Waits for agent to finish all tools

When not streaming, the message is sent immediately and triggers a new turn. When streaming without `deliverAs`, throws an error.

See [send-user-message.ts](../examples/extensions/send-user-message.ts) for a complete example.

### diffex.appendEntry(customType, data?)

Persist extension data. Custom entries do NOT participate in LLM context. In interactive mode, they can also render inside the chat transcript when paired with `diffex.registerEntryRenderer()`.

```typescript
diffex.appendEntry("my-state", { count: 42 });
diffex.appendEntry("status-card", { title: "Indexed files", count: 17 });

// Restore on reload
diffex.on("session_start", async (_event, ctx) => {
  for (const entry of ctx.sessionManager.getEntries()) {
    if (entry.type === "custom" && entry.customType === "my-state") {
      // Reconstruct from entry.data
    }
  }
});
```

### diffex.setSessionName(name)

Set the session display name (shown in session selector instead of first message).

```typescript
diffex.setSessionName("Refactor auth module");
```

### diffex.getSessionName()

Get the current session name, if set.

```typescript
const name = diffex.getSessionName();
if (name) {
  console.log(`Session: ${name}`);
}
```

### diffex.setLabel(entryId, label)

Set or clear a label on an entry. Labels are user-defined markers for bookmarking and navigation (shown in `/tree` selector).

```typescript
// Set a label
diffex.setLabel(entryId, "checkpoint-before-refactor");

// Clear a label
diffex.setLabel(entryId, undefined);

// Read labels via sessionManager
const label = ctx.sessionManager.getLabel(entryId);
```

Labels persist in the session and survive restarts. Use them to mark important points (turns, checkpoints) in the conversation tree.

### diffex.registerCommand(name, options)

Register a command.

If multiple extensions register the same command name, Diffex keeps them all and assigns numeric invocation suffixes in load order, for example `/review:1` and `/review:2`.

```typescript
diffex.registerCommand("stats", {
  description: "Show session statistics",
  handler: async (args, ctx) => {
    const count = ctx.sessionManager.getEntries().length;
    ctx.ui.notify(`${count} entries`, "info");
  }
});
```

Optional: add argument auto-completion for `/command ...`:

```typescript
import type { AutocompleteItem } from "@diffexai/diffex-tui";

diffex.registerCommand("deploy", {
  description: "Deploy to an environment",
  getArgumentCompletions: (prefix: string): AutocompleteItem[] | null => {
    const envs = ["dev", "staging", "prod"];
    const items = envs.map((e) => ({ value: e, label: e }));
    const filtered = items.filter((i) => i.value.startsWith(prefix));
    return filtered.length > 0 ? filtered : null;
  },
  handler: async (args, ctx) => {
    ctx.ui.notify(`Deploying: ${args}`, "info");
  },
});
```

### diffex.getCommands()

Get the slash commands available for invocation via `prompt` in the current session. Includes extension commands and prompt templates.
The list matches the RPC `get_commands` ordering: extensions first, then templates.

```typescript
const commands = diffex.getCommands();
const bySource = commands.filter((command) => command.source === "extension");
const userScoped = commands.filter((command) => command.sourceInfo.scope === "user");
```

Each entry has this shape:

```typescript
{
  name: string; // Invokable command name without the leading slash. May be suffixed like "review:1"
  description?: string;
  source: "extension" | "prompt";
  sourceInfo: {
    path: string;
    source: string;
    scope: "user" | "project" | "temporary";
    origin: "package" | "top-level";
    baseDir?: string;
  };
}
```

Use `sourceInfo` as the canonical provenance field. Do not infer ownership from command names or from ad hoc path parsing.

Built-in interactive commands (like `/model` and `/settings`) are not included here. They are handled only in interactive
mode and would not execute if sent via `prompt`.

### diffex.registerMessageRenderer(customType, renderer)

Register a custom TUI renderer for custom messages with your `customType`. Custom messages are created with `diffex.sendMessage()` and participate in LLM context. See [Custom UI](#custom-ui).

### diffex.registerMarkdownTransformer(transformer)

Register a transformer for the Markdown in normal user text, assistant text, and thinking blocks. Transformers run in extension load order, and each transformer receives the Markdown returned by the previous transformer. After the chain finishes, Diffex renders the transformed content with its built-in renderer.

The transformer receives the Markdown string and a context with:

- `messageType` — `"user"`, `"assistant"`, or `"assistant-thinking"`
- `isStreaming` — `true` for partial assistant updates; `false` for user, finalized assistant, and restored messages
- `availableWidth` — exact terminal columns available for the transformed Markdown content

Return the transformed Markdown:

```typescript
diffex.registerMarkdownTransformer((markdown, { messageType, isStreaming }) => {
  if (isStreaming || messageType === "assistant-thinking") return markdown;
  return markdown.replaceAll("-->", "→");
});
```

If a transformer throws, Diffex keeps the Markdown produced so far and continues with the next transformer. The hook is display-only: the original message remains unchanged in the session and model context. It runs for new user messages, assistant streaming updates, restored session messages, and terminal width changes, so transformers should remain synchronous and inexpensive.

### diffex.registerEntryRenderer(customType, renderer)

Register a custom TUI renderer for custom entries with your `customType`. Custom entries are created with `diffex.appendEntry()` and do not participate in LLM context.

```typescript
import { Box, Text } from "@diffexai/diffex-tui";

diffex.registerEntryRenderer("status-card", (entry, { expanded }, theme) => {
  const data = entry.data as { title: string; count: number };
  const box = new Box(1, 1, (text) => theme.bg("customMessageBg", text));
  box.addChild(new Text(`${theme.bold(data.title)}: ${data.count}`));
  if (expanded) {
    box.addChild(new Text(theme.fg("dim", JSON.stringify(data, null, 2))));
  }
  return box;
});

diffex.appendEntry("status-card", { title: "Indexed files", count: 17 });
```

### diffex.registerShortcut(shortcut, options)

Register a keyboard shortcut. See [keybindings.md](keybindings.md) for the shortcut format and built-in keybindings.

```typescript
diffex.registerShortcut("ctrl+shift+p", {
  description: "Toggle plan mode",
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    ctx.ui.notify("Toggled!");
  },
});
```

### diffex.registerFlag(name, options)

Register a CLI flag.

```typescript
diffex.registerFlag("plan", {
  description: "Start in plan mode",
  type: "boolean",
  default: false,
});

// Check value
if (diffex.getFlag("plan")) {
  // Plan mode enabled
}
```

### diffex.exec(command, args, options?)

Execute a shell command.

```typescript
const result = await diffex.exec("git", ["status"], { signal, timeout: 5000 });
// result.stdout, result.stderr, result.code, result.killed
```

### diffex.getActiveTools() / diffex.getAllTools() / diffex.setActiveTools(names)

Manage active tools. This works for both built-in tools and dynamically registered tools. `diffex.getActiveTools()` returns the active tool names as `string[]`; `diffex.getAllTools()` returns metadata for all configured tools.

```typescript
const active = diffex.getActiveTools(); // ["read", "bash", ...]
const all = diffex.getAllTools();
// all = [{
//   name: "read",
//   description: "Read file contents...",
//   parameters: ...,
//   promptGuidelines: ["Use read to examine files instead of cat or sed."],
//   sourceInfo: { path: "<builtin:read>", source: "builtin", scope: "temporary", origin: "top-level" }
// }, ...]
const builtinTools = all.filter((t) => t.sourceInfo.source === "builtin");
const extensionTools = all.filter((t) => t.sourceInfo.source !== "builtin" && t.sourceInfo.source !== "sdk");
diffex.setActiveTools([...new Set([...active, "my_custom_tool"])]); // Keep current tools and enable my_custom_tool
diffex.setActiveTools(["read", "bash"]); // Switch to read-only
```

`diffex.getAllTools()` returns `name`, `description`, `parameters`, `promptGuidelines`, and `sourceInfo`.

Typical `sourceInfo.source` values:
- `builtin` for built-in tools
- `sdk` for tools passed via `createAgentSession({ customTools })`
- extension source metadata for tools registered by extensions

### diffex.setModel(model)

Set the current model. Returns `false` if no API key is available for the model. See [models.md](models.md) for configuring custom models.

```typescript
const model = ctx.modelRegistry.find("anthropic", "claude-sonnet-4-5");
if (model) {
  const success = await diffex.setModel(model);
  if (!success) {
    ctx.ui.notify("No API key for this model", "error");
  }
}
```

### diffex.getThinkingLevel() / diffex.setThinkingLevel(level)

Get or set the thinking level. Level is clamped to model capabilities (non-reasoning models always use "off"). Changes emit `thinking_level_select`.

```typescript
const current = diffex.getThinkingLevel();  // "off" | "minimal" | "low" | "medium" | "high" | "xhigh" | "max"
diffex.setThinkingLevel("high");
```

### diffex.events

Shared event bus for communication between extensions:

```typescript
diffex.events.on("my:event", (data) => { ... });
diffex.events.emit("my:event", { ... });
```

### diffex.registerProvider(name, config)

Register or override a model provider dynamically. Useful for proxies, custom endpoints, or team-wide model configurations.

Calls made during the extension factory function are queued and applied once the runner initialises. Calls made after that — for example from a command handler following a user setup flow — take effect immediately without requiring a `/reload`.

Dynamic providers can implement `refreshModels`. Diffex calls it during model refresh, publishes the returned list synchronously through the provider, and passes the canonical credential/stored-catalog/network/signal context. The extension decides whether to persist catalog metadata through generation-checked `context.publish({ persist: entry })`; live servers such as llama.cpp can return models without persisting them.

`context.signal` is always a concrete signal and provider callbacks must pass it to blocking I/O. Public `ModelRuntime.refresh()` and `ModelRegistry.refresh()` calls accept an optional signal and are unbounded when it is omitted; extensions and applications choose their own deadlines. Cancellation stops the caller waiting even if a provider ignores the signal, but cooperation is still required to stop the underlying work.

Extensions that need native provider auth, filtering, refresh, or stream behavior can register a complete `Provider` from `@diffexai/diffex-ai`. The provider becomes the composition base and `models.json` overrides still apply above it.

```typescript
import { createProvider, openAICompletionsApi } from "@diffexai/diffex-ai";

const provider = createProvider({
  id: "local-server",
  name: "Local Server",
  baseUrl: "http://localhost:8080/v1",
  auth: {
    apiKey: {
      name: "Local server setup",
      async login(interaction) {
        return {
          type: "api_key",
          key: await interaction.prompt({ type: "secret", message: "API key" }),
        };
      },
      async resolve({ credential }) {
        return credential?.key
          ? { auth: { apiKey: credential.key }, source: "stored API key" }
          : undefined;
      },
    },
  },
  models: [],
  api: openAICompletionsApi(),
});

diffex.registerProvider(provider);

// Register a new provider with custom models
diffex.registerProvider("my-proxy", {
  name: "My Proxy",
  baseUrl: "https://proxy.example.com",
  apiKey: "$PROXY_API_KEY",  // env var reference
  api: "anthropic-messages",
  models: [
    {
      id: "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
      name: "Claude 4 Sonnet (proxy)",
      reasoning: false,
      input: ["text", "image"],
      cost: { input: 0, output: 0, cacheRead: 0, cacheWrite: 0 },
      contextWindow: 200000,
      maxTokens: 16384
    }
  ]
});

// Register a live llama.cpp catalog without persisting discovered models
diffex.registerProvider("llama.cpp", {
  baseUrl: "http://localhost:8080/v1",
  apiKey: "local",
  api: "openai-completions",
  async refreshModels({ signal }) {
    const response = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/v1/models", { signal });
    const { data } = await response.json();
    return data.map(({ id }) => ({
      id,
      name: id,
      reasoning: false,
      input: ["text"],
      cost: { input: 0, output: 0, cacheRead: 0, cacheWrite: 0 },
      contextWindow: 128000,
      maxTokens: 16384
    }));
  }
});

// Override baseUrl for an existing provider (keeps all models)
diffex.registerProvider("anthropic", {
  baseUrl: "https://proxy.example.com"
});

// Register provider with OAuth support for /login
diffex.registerProvider("corporate-ai", {
  baseUrl: "https://ai.corp.com",
  api: "openai-responses",
  models: [...],
  oauth: {
    name: "Corporate AI (SSO)",
    async login(callbacks) {
      // Custom OAuth flow
      callbacks.onAuth({ url: "https://sso.corp.com/..." });
      const code = await callbacks.onPrompt({ message: "Enter code:" });
      return { refresh: code, access: code, expires: Date.now() + 3600000 };
    },
    async refreshToken(credentials, signal) {
      signal.throwIfAborted();
      // Refresh logic
      return credentials;
    },
    getApiKey(credentials) {
      return credentials.access;
    }
  }
});
```

The object form accepts a complete diffex-ai `Provider`, including native `auth`, `getModels`, `refreshModels`, `filterModels`, `stream`, and `streamSimple` behavior.

**Legacy config options:**
- `name` - Display name for the provider in UI such as `/login`.
- `baseUrl` - API endpoint URL. Required when defining models.
- `apiKey` - API key literal, environment interpolation (`$ENV_VAR` or `${ENV_VAR}`), or leading `!command`. Required when defining models (unless `oauth` provided). `$$` escapes `$`, and `$!` escapes a literal `!` without triggering command execution.
- `api` - API type: `"anthropic-messages"`, `"openai-completions"`, `"openai-responses"`, etc.
- `headers` - Custom headers to include in requests.
- `authHeader` - If true, adds `Authorization: Bearer` header automatically.
- `models` - Array of model definitions. If provided, replaces all existing models for this provider. Model definitions can set `baseUrl` to override the provider endpoint for that model.
- `refreshModels` - Async dynamic discovery callback. Its returned models replace extension-provided models. `context.stored` contains the persisted provider snapshot; use generation-checked `context.publish({ persist: entry })` only when updated catalog data should persist. Use `persist: null` to delete that snapshot.
- `oauth` - OAuth provider config for `/login` support. When provided, the provider appears in the login menu.
- `streamSimple` - Custom streaming implementation for non-standard APIs.

See [custom-provider.md](custom-provider.md) for advanced topics: custom streaming APIs, OAuth details, model definition reference.

### diffex.unregisterProvider(name)

Remove a previously registered provider and its models. Built-in models that were overridden by the provider are restored. Has no effect if the provider was not registered.

Like `registerProvider`, this takes effect immediately when called after the initial load phase, so a `/reload` is not required.

```typescript
diffex.registerCommand("my-setup-teardown", {
  description: "Remove the custom proxy provider",
  handler: async (_args, _ctx) => {
    diffex.unregisterProvider("my-proxy");
  },
});
```

## State Management

Extensions with state should store it in tool result `details` for proper branching support:

```typescript
export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  let items: string[] = [];

  // Reconstruct state from session
  diffex.on("session_start", async (_event, ctx) => {
    items = [];
    for (const entry of ctx.sessionManager.getBranch()) {
      if (entry.type === "message" && entry.message.role === "toolResult") {
        if (entry.message.toolName === "my_tool") {
          items = entry.message.details?.items ?? [];
        }
      }
    }
  });

  diffex.registerTool({
    name: "my_tool",
    // ...
    async execute(toolCallId, params, signal, onUpdate, ctx) {
      items.push("new item");
      return {
        content: [{ type: "text", text: "Added" }],
        details: { items: [...items] },  // Store for reconstruction
      };
    },
  });
}
```

## Custom Tools

Register tools the LLM can call via `diffex.registerTool()`.
Tools appear in the system prompt and can have custom rendering.

Set `executionMode: "sequential"` for a tool that must run alone as an ordered barrier.
Set `executionMode: "parallel"` or omit it to allow concurrency within a consecutive parallel group.
Global `toolExecution: "sequential"` runs all calls one by one regardless of tool metadata.
The model remains responsible for selecting independent calls; the scheduler does not infer file dependencies or shell side effects.
Existing file-mutation queues still coordinate calls within each parallel group.
Errors and blocked barriers allow later phases to run, and termination is evaluated across the entire batch.
Cancellation stops scheduling later phases while active calls retain their cancellation handling.

Use `promptSnippet` for a short one-line entry in the `Available tools` section in the default system prompt. If omitted, custom tools are left out of that section.

Use `promptGuidelines` to add bullets under the tool's name in the default system prompt `Tool usage guidelines` section.
These bullets are included only while the tool is active (for example, after `diffex.setActiveTools([...])`).

Each tool definition supplies its own `promptGuidelines` array.
The prompt builder's `BuildSystemPromptOptions.promptGuidelines` groups those arrays by tool name, for example `{ my_tool: ["Use this tool for project summaries."] }`.
Tools without non-empty guidelines are omitted from this section.

Note: Some models are idiots and include the @ prefix in tool path arguments. Built-in tools strip a leading @ before resolving paths. If your custom tool accepts a path, normalize a leading @ as well.

If your custom tool mutates files, use `withFileMutationQueue()` so it participates in the same per-file queue as built-in `edit` and `write`. This matters because tool calls run in parallel by default. Without the queue, two tools can read the same old file contents, compute different updates, and then whichever write lands last overwrites the other.

Example failure case: your custom tool edits `foo.ts` while built-in `edit` also changes `foo.ts` in the same assistant turn. If your tool does not participate in the queue, both can read the original `foo.ts`, apply separate changes, and one of those changes is lost.

Pass the real target file path to `withFileMutationQueue()`, not the raw user argument. Resolve it to an absolute path first, relative to `ctx.cwd` or your tool's working directory. For existing files, the helper canonicalizes through `realpath()`, so symlink aliases for the same file share one queue. For new files, it falls back to the resolved absolute path because there is nothing to `realpath()` yet.

Queue the entire mutation window on that target path. That includes read-modify-write logic, not just the final write.

```typescript
import { withFileMutationQueue } from "@diffexai/diffex";
import { mkdir, readFile, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
import { dirname, resolve } from "node:path";

async execute(_toolCallId, params, _signal, _onUpdate, ctx) {
  const absolutePath = resolve(ctx.cwd, params.path);

  return withFileMutationQueue(absolutePath, async () => {
    await mkdir(dirname(absolutePath), { recursive: true });
    const current = await readFile(absolutePath, "utf8");
    const next = current.replace(params.oldText, params.newText);
    await writeFile(absolutePath, next, "utf8");

    return {
      content: [{ type: "text", text: `Updated ${params.path}` }],
      details: {},
    };
  });
}
```

### Tool Definition

```typescript
import { Type } from "typebox";
import { StringEnum } from "@diffexai/diffex-ai";
import { Text } from "@diffexai/diffex-tui";

diffex.registerTool({
  name: "my_tool",
  label: "My Tool",
  description: "What this tool does (shown to LLM)",
  promptSnippet: "List or add items in the project todo list",
  promptGuidelines: [
    "Use my_tool for todo planning instead of direct file edits when the user asks for a task list."
  ],
  parameters: Type.Object({
    action: StringEnum(["list", "add"] as const),  // Use StringEnum for Google compatibility
    text: Type.Optional(Type.String()),
  }),
  prepareArguments(args) {
    if (!args || typeof args !== "object") return args;
    const input = args as { action?: string; oldAction?: string };
    if (typeof input.oldAction === "string" && input.action === undefined) {
      return { ...input, action: input.oldAction };
    }
    return args;
  },

  async execute(toolCallId, params, signal, onUpdate, ctx) {
    // Check for cancellation
    if (signal?.aborted) {
      return { content: [{ type: "text", text: "Cancelled" }] };
    }

    // Stream progress updates
    onUpdate?.({
      content: [{ type: "text", text: "Working..." }],
      details: { progress: 50 },
    });

    // Run commands via diffex.exec (captured from extension closure)
    const result = await diffex.exec("some-command", [], { signal });

    // Return result
    return {
      content: [{ type: "text", text: "Done" }],  // Sent to LLM
      details: { data: result },                   // For rendering & state
      // usage: nestedModelResponse.usage,          // Optional nested LLM usage
      // Optional: stop after this tool batch when every finalized tool result
      // in the batch also returns terminate: true.
      terminate: true,
    };
  },

  // Optional: Custom rendering
  renderCall(args, theme, context) { ... },
  renderResult(result, options, theme, context) { ... },
});
```

**Usage accounting:** If a tool makes nested LLM calls, return their combined `Usage` as `usage`. Diffex persists it on the tool result and includes it in footer, `/session`, and RPC session totals. `tool_result` handlers can inspect or replace this value.

**Signaling errors:** To mark a tool execution as failed (sets `isError: true` on the result and reports it to the LLM), throw an error from `execute`. Returning a value never sets the error flag regardless of what properties you include in the return object.

**Early termination:** Return `terminate: true` from `execute()` to hint that the automatic follow-up LLM call should be skipped after the current tool batch. This only takes effect when every finalized tool result in that batch is terminating. See [examples/extensions/structured-output.ts](../examples/extensions/structured-output.ts) for a minimal example where the agent ends on a final structured-output tool call.

```typescript
// Correct: throw to signal an error
async execute(toolCallId, params) {
  if (!isValid(params.input)) {
    throw new Error(`Invalid input: ${params.input}`);
  }
  return { content: [{ type: "text", text: "OK" }], details: {} };
}
```

**Important:** Use `StringEnum` from `@diffexai/diffex-ai` for string enums. `Type.Union`/`Type.Literal` doesn't work with Google's API.

**Argument preparation:** `prepareArguments(args)` is optional. If defined, it runs before schema validation and before `execute()`. Use it to mimic an older accepted input shape when Diffex resumes an older session whose stored tool call arguments no longer match the current schema. Return the object you want validated against `parameters`. Keep the public schema strict. Do not add deprecated compatibility fields to `parameters` just to keep old resumed sessions working.

Example: an older session may contain an `edit` tool call with top-level `oldText` and `newText`, while the current schema only accepts `edits: [{ oldText, newText }]`.

```typescript
diffex.registerTool({
  name: "edit",
  label: "Edit",
  description: "Edit a single file using exact text replacement",
  parameters: Type.Object({
    path: Type.String(),
    edits: Type.Array(
      Type.Object({
        oldText: Type.String(),
        newText: Type.String(),
      }),
    ),
  }),
  prepareArguments(args) {
    if (!args || typeof args !== "object") return args;

    const input = args as {
      path?: string;
      edits?: Array<{ oldText: string; newText: string }>;
      oldText?: unknown;
      newText?: unknown;
    };

    if (typeof input.oldText !== "string" || typeof input.newText !== "string") {
      return args;
    }

    return {
      ...input,
      edits: [...(input.edits ?? []), { oldText: input.oldText, newText: input.newText }],
    };
  },
  async execute(toolCallId, params, signal, onUpdate, ctx) {
    // params now matches the current schema
    return {
      content: [{ type: "text", text: `Applying ${params.edits.length} edit block(s)` }],
      details: {},
    };
  },
});
```

### Overriding Built-in Tools

Extensions can override built-in tools (`read`, `bash`, `edit`, `write`, `update_plan`, `grep`, `find`, `ls`) by registering a tool with the same name. Interactive mode displays a warning when this happens.

```bash
# Extension's read tool replaces built-in read
diffex -e ./tool-override.ts
```

Alternatively, use `--no-builtin-tools` to start without any built-in tools while keeping extension tools enabled:
```bash
# No built-in tools, only extension tools
diffex --no-builtin-tools -e ./my-extension.ts
```

See [examples/extensions/tool-override.ts](../examples/extensions/tool-override.ts) for a complete example that overrides `read` with logging and access control.

**Rendering:** Built-in renderer inheritance is resolved per slot. Execution override and rendering override are independent. If your override omits `renderCall`, the built-in `renderCall` is used. If your override omits `renderResult`, the built-in `renderResult` is used. If your override omits both, the built-in renderer is used automatically (syntax highlighting, diffs, etc.). This lets you wrap built-in tools for logging or access control without reimplementing the UI.

**Prompt metadata:** `promptSnippet` and `promptGuidelines` are not inherited from the built-in tool. If your override should keep those prompt instructions, define them on the override explicitly.

**Your implementation must match the exact result shape**, including the `details` type. The UI and session logic depend on these shapes for rendering and state tracking.

Built-in tool implementations:
- [read.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/read.ts) - `ReadToolDetails`
- [bash.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/bash.ts) - `BashToolDetails`
- [edit.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/edit.ts)
- [write.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/write.ts)
- [update-plan.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/update-plan.ts) - `UpdatePlanToolDetails`
- [grep.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/grep.ts) - `GrepToolDetails`
- [find.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/find.ts) - `FindToolDetails`
- [ls.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/ls.ts) - `LsToolDetails`

### Remote Execution

Built-in tools support pluggable operations for delegating to remote systems (SSH, containers, etc.):

```typescript
import { createReadTool, createBashTool, type ReadOperations } from "@diffexai/diffex";

// Create tool with custom operations
const remoteRead = createReadTool(cwd, {
  operations: {
    readFile: (path) => sshExec(remote, `cat ${path}`),
    access: (path) => sshExec(remote, `test -r ${path}`).then(() => {}),
  }
});

// Register, checking flag at execution time
diffex.registerTool({
  ...remoteRead,
  async execute(id, params, signal, onUpdate, _ctx) {
    const ssh = getSshConfig();
    if (ssh) {
      const tool = createReadTool(cwd, { operations: createRemoteOps(ssh) });
      return tool.execute(id, params, signal, onUpdate);
    }
    return localRead.execute(id, params, signal, onUpdate);
  },
});
```

**Operations interfaces:** `ReadOperations`, `WriteOperations`, `EditOperations`, `BashOperations`, `LsOperations`, `GrepOperations`, `FindOperations`

For `user_bash`, extensions can reuse Diffex's local shell backend via `createLocalBashOperations()` instead of reimplementing local process spawning, shell resolution, and process-tree termination.

The bash tool also supports a spawn hook to adjust the command, cwd, or env before execution:

```typescript
import { createBashTool } from "@diffexai/diffex";

const bashTool = createBashTool(cwd, {
  spawnHook: ({ command, cwd, env }) => ({
    command: `source ~/.profile\n${command}`,
    cwd: `/mnt/sandbox${cwd}`,
    env: { ...env, CI: "1" },
  }),
});
```

`createBashTool()` exposes the current session to commands through `DIFFEX_SESSION_ID`, `DIFFEX_SESSION_FILE`, `DIFFEX_PROVIDER`, `DIFFEX_MODEL`, and `DIFFEX_REASONING_LEVEL`. Injection happens before `spawnHook`, so hooks receive these values in `env` and preserve them when they spread the existing environment as above. Set `exposeSessionEnvironment: false` to disable them:

```typescript
const bashTool = createBashTool(cwd, {
  exposeSessionEnvironment: false,
});
```

See [Bash tool session environment](environment-variables.md#bash-tool-session-environment) for variable semantics. See [examples/extensions/ssh.ts](../examples/extensions/ssh.ts) for a complete SSH example with `--ssh` flag.

### Output Truncation

**Tools MUST truncate their output** to avoid overwhelming the LLM context. Large outputs can cause:
- Context overflow errors (prompt too long)
- Compaction failures
- Degraded model performance

The built-in limit is **50KB** (~10k tokens) and **2000 lines**, whichever is hit first. Use the exported truncation utilities:

```typescript
import {
  truncateHead,      // Keep first N lines/bytes (good for file reads, search results)
  truncateTail,      // Keep last N lines/bytes (good for logs, command output)
  truncateLine,      // Truncate a single line to maxBytes with ellipsis
  formatSize,        // Human-readable size (e.g., "50KB", "1.5MB")
  DEFAULT_MAX_BYTES, // 50KB
  DEFAULT_MAX_LINES, // 2000
} from "@diffexai/diffex";

async execute(toolCallId, params, signal, onUpdate, ctx) {
  const output = await runCommand();

  // Apply truncation
  const truncation = truncateHead(output, {
    maxLines: DEFAULT_MAX_LINES,
    maxBytes: DEFAULT_MAX_BYTES,
  });

  let result = truncation.content;

  if (truncation.truncated) {
    // Write full output to temp file
    const tempFile = writeTempFile(output);

    // Inform the LLM where to find complete output
    result += `\n\n[Output truncated: ${truncation.outputLines} of ${truncation.totalLines} lines`;
    result += ` (${formatSize(truncation.outputBytes)} of ${formatSize(truncation.totalBytes)}).`;
    result += ` Full output saved to: ${tempFile}]`;
  }

  return { content: [{ type: "text", text: result }] };
}
```

**Key points:**
- Use `truncateHead` for content where the beginning matters (search results, file reads)
- Use `truncateTail` for content where the end matters (logs, command output)
- Always inform the LLM when output is truncated and where to find the full version
- Document the truncation limits in your tool's description

See [examples/extensions/truncated-tool.ts](../examples/extensions/truncated-tool.ts) for a complete example wrapping `rg` (ripgrep) with proper truncation.

### Multiple Tools

One extension can register multiple tools with shared state:

```typescript
export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  let connection = null;

  diffex.registerTool({ name: "db_connect", ... });
  diffex.registerTool({ name: "db_query", ... });
  diffex.registerTool({ name: "db_close", ... });

  diffex.on("session_shutdown", async () => {
    connection?.close();
  });
}
```

### Custom Rendering

Tools can provide `renderCall` and `renderResult` for custom TUI display. See [tui.md](tui.md) for the full component API and [tool-execution.ts](https://github.com/diffexai/diffex/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/tool-execution.ts) for how tool rows are composed.

By default, tool output is wrapped in a `Box` that handles padding and background. A defined `renderCall` or `renderResult` must return a `Component`. If a slot renderer is not defined, `tool-execution.ts` uses fallback rendering for that slot.

Set `renderShell: "self"` when the tool should render its own shell instead of using the default `Box`. This is useful for tools that need complete control over framing or background behavior, for example large previews that must stay visually stable after the tool settles.

```typescript
diffex.registerTool({
  name: "my_tool",
  label: "My Tool",
  description: "Custom shell example",
  parameters: Type.Object({}),
  renderShell: "self",
  async execute() {
    return { content: [{ type: "text", text: "ok" }], details: undefined };
  },
  renderCall(args, theme, context) {
    return new Text(theme.fg("accent", "my custom shell"), 0, 0);
  },
});
```

`renderCall` and `renderResult` each receive a `context` object with:
- `args` - the current tool call arguments
- `state` - shared row-local state across `renderCall` and `renderResult`
- `lastComponent` - the previously returned component for that slot, if any
- `invalidate()` - request a rerender of this tool row
- `toolCallId`, `cwd`, `executionStarted`, `argsComplete`, `isPartial`, `expanded`, `showImages`, `isError`

Use `context.state` for cross-slot shared state. Keep slot-local caches on the returned component instance when you want to reuse and mutate the same component across renders.

#### renderCall

Renders the tool call or header:

```typescript
import { Text } from "@diffexai/diffex-tui";

renderCall(args, theme, context) {
  const text = (context.lastComponent as Text | undefined) ?? new Text("", 0, 0);
  let content = theme.fg("toolTitle", theme.bold("my_tool "));
  content += theme.fg("muted", args.action);
  if (args.text) {
    content += " " + theme.fg("dim", `"${args.text}"`);
  }
  text.setText(content);
  return text;
}
```

#### renderResult

Renders the tool result or output:

```typescript
renderResult(result, { expanded, isPartial }, theme, context) {
  if (isPartial) {
    return new Text(theme.fg("warning", "Processing..."), 0, 0);
  }

  if (result.details?.error) {
    return new Text(theme.fg("error", `Error: ${result.details.error}`), 0, 0);
  }

  let text = theme.fg("success", "✓ Done");
  if (expanded && result.details?.items) {
    for (const item of result.details.items) {
      text += "\n  " + theme.fg("dim", item);
    }
  }
  return new Text(text, 0, 0);
}
```

If a slot intentionally has no visible content, return an empty `Component` such as an empty `Container`.

#### Keybinding Hints

Use `keyHint()` to display keybinding hints that respect the active keybinding configuration:

```typescript
import { keyHint } from "@diffexai/diffex";

renderResult(result, { expanded }, theme, context) {
  let text = theme.fg("success", "✓ Done");
  if (!expanded) {
    text += ` (${keyHint("app.tools.expand", "to expand")})`;
  }
  return new Text(text, 0, 0);
}
```

Available functions:
- `keyHint(keybinding, description)` - Formats a configured keybinding id such as `"app.tools.expand"` or `"tui.select.confirm"`
- `keyText(keybinding)` - Returns the raw configured key text for a keybinding id
- `rawKeyHint(key, description)` - Format a raw key string

Use namespaced keybinding ids:
- Coding-agent ids use the `app.*` namespace, for example `app.tools.expand`, `app.editor.external`, `app.session.rename`
- Shared TUI ids use the `tui.*` namespace, for example `tui.select.confirm`, `tui.select.cancel`, `tui.input.tab`

For the exhaustive list of keybinding ids and defaults, see [keybindings.md](keybindings.md). `keybindings.json` uses those same namespaced ids.

Custom editors and `ctx.ui.custom()` components receive `keybindings: KeybindingsManager` as an injected argument. They should use that injected manager directly instead of calling `getKeybindings()` or `setKeybindings()`.

#### Best Practices

- Use `Text` with padding `(0, 0)`. The default Box handles padding.
- Use `\n` for multi-line content.
- Handle `isPartial` for streaming progress.
- Support `expanded` for detail on demand.
- Keep default view compact.
- Read `context.args` in `renderResult` instead of copying args into `context.state`.
- Use `context.state` only for data that must be shared across call and result slots.
- Reuse `context.lastComponent` when the same component instance can be updated in place.
- Use `renderShell: "self"` only when the default boxed shell gets in the way. In self-shell mode the tool is responsible for its own framing, padding, and background.

#### Fallback

If a slot renderer is not defined or throws:
- `renderCall`: Shows the tool name
- `renderResult`: Shows raw text from `content`

### Dynamic Tool Loading

Extensions can register many tools while keeping only a small initial set active. A tool can then add more tools with `diffex.setActiveTools()` during execution. Diffex detects purely additive changes, records the newly available tool names on that tool result, and applies the updated active set before the next model request.

This works with every model. Models with native deferred-loading support preserve the stable prompt prefix and load the new definitions at the tool-result position. Other models use the fallback described below.

The lifecycle is:

1. Register every tool with `diffex.registerTool()` so it appears in `diffex.getAllTools()`.
2. Keep loader tools, such as `search_tools`, active and leave searchable tools inactive.
3. During loader execution, call `diffex.setActiveTools([...currentTools, ...matchingTools])`. The change must be additive: do not remove currently active tools in the same call.
4. Diffex records which tools were added on the loader's tool result.
5. Before the next model response, Diffex exposes the added definitions using native deferred loading when supported, or the normal active tool list otherwise.

You do not need to return provider-specific tool references or mark the loader as a special search tool. The active-tool change is the signal. Names passed to `diffex.setActiveTools()` must already be registered; unknown names are ignored.

#### Models with native deferred loading

- **Anthropic**
  - **Models:** Sonnet, Opus, Fable version 4.5 or newer (without Haiku)
  - **Native representation:** Deferred definitions use `defer_loading`; the load point uses `tool_reference` content.
- **OpenAI**
  - **Models:** `gpt-5.4` and newer family
  - **Native representation:** Diffex adds completed client `tool_search_call` and `tool_search_output` items at the load point.

For a verified custom model or proxy, native handling can be enabled with `compat.supportsToolReferences: true` for `anthropic-messages`, or `compat.supportsToolSearch: true` for `openai-responses` and `openai-codex-responses`. Leave these disabled unless the endpoint and model accept the corresponding native protocol.

#### Fallback behavior

For all other models and providers, dynamic activation still works: Diffex sends the complete current active tool list normally on the next request. The model can call the newly activated tools, but adding their definitions may invalidate the provider's cached prompt prefix.

Diffex also uses this safe fallback when the active set is not purely additive, such as replacing one group of tools with another. Tool removals therefore work, but they do not use deferred loading.

For the best cache behavior, keep the loader tool active for the whole session and add tools instead of replacing the active set. Also note that activating a tool with `promptSnippet` or `promptGuidelines` rebuilds the system prompt; that system-prompt change can invalidate the prefix even when the provider supports deferred schemas. Lazily loaded tools should usually rely on their tool `description` and omit active-only prompt metadata.

#### Search tool example

The following extension registers two searchable tools, removes them from the initial active set, and keeps only `search_tools` as their loader. The example uses simple keyword matching, but the search implementation could use BM25, embeddings, a remote catalog, or project-specific routing.

```typescript
import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@diffexai/diffex";
import { Type } from "typebox";

const SEARCHABLE_TOOL_NAMES = new Set(["lookup_weather", "search_issues"]);

export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  diffex.registerTool({
    name: "lookup_weather",
    label: "Lookup Weather",
    description: "Look up the current weather for a city",
    parameters: Type.Object({ city: Type.String() }),
    async execute(_toolCallId, params) {
      return {
        content: [{ type: "text", text: `Weather for ${params.city}: sunny` }],
        details: {},
      };
    },
  });

  diffex.registerTool({
    name: "search_issues",
    label: "Search Issues",
    description: "Search project issues by keyword",
    parameters: Type.Object({ query: Type.String() }),
    async execute(_toolCallId, params) {
      return {
        content: [{ type: "text", text: `No open issues matching ${params.query}` }],
        details: {},
      };
    },
  });

  diffex.registerTool({
    name: "search_tools",
    label: "Search Tools",
    description: "Search for and enable tools relevant to a task",
    promptSnippet: "Search for additional tools when the active tools cannot perform the task",
    promptGuidelines: [
      "Use search_tools when a task requires a capability that is not currently available.",
    ],
    parameters: Type.Object({
      query: Type.String({ description: "Capability or task to search for" }),
      limit: Type.Optional(Type.Integer({ minimum: 1, maximum: 10 })),
    }),
    async execute(_toolCallId, params) {
      const terms = params.query.toLowerCase().split(/[^a-z0-9]+/).filter(Boolean);
      const matches = diffex.getAllTools()
        .filter((tool) => SEARCHABLE_TOOL_NAMES.has(tool.name))
        .map((tool) => ({
          tool,
          score: terms.reduce(
            (score, term) =>
              score + (`${tool.name} ${tool.description}`.toLowerCase().includes(term) ? 1 : 0),
            0,
          ),
        }))
        .filter((match) => match.score > 0)
        .sort((a, b) => b.score - a.score)
        .slice(0, params.limit ?? 3)
        .map((match) => match.tool.name);

      if (matches.length === 0) {
        return {
          content: [{ type: "text", text: `No tools found for: ${params.query}` }],
          details: { matches: [] },
        };
      }

      const active = diffex.getActiveTools();
      const added = matches.filter((name) => !active.includes(name));
      diffex.setActiveTools([...new Set([...active, ...added])]);

      return {
        content: [{
          type: "text",
          text: added.length > 0
            ? `Loaded tools: ${added.join(", ")}`
            : `Matching tools already active: ${matches.join(", ")}`,
        }],
        details: { matches, added },
      };
    },
  });

  diffex.on("session_start", () => {
    // Keep searchable tools registered but initially inactive. Preserve built-ins
    // and tools owned by other extensions, and keep the loader itself active.
    const initialTools = diffex.getActiveTools().filter(
      (name) => !SEARCHABLE_TOOL_NAMES.has(name),
    );
    diffex.setActiveTools([...new Set([...initialTools, "search_tools"])]);
  });
}
```

When `search_tools` adds a match, the model receives that definition on the immediately following request. On a native-capable model the definition is anchored after the search result without changing the initial tool-schema prefix. On other models it appears in the normal tool list on that same following request.

## Custom UI

Extensions can interact with users via `ctx.ui` methods and customize how messages/tools render.

**For custom components, see [tui.md](tui.md)** which has copy-paste patterns for:
- Selection dialogs (SelectList)
- Async operations with cancel (BorderedLoader)
- Settings toggles (SettingsList)
- Status indicators (setStatus)
- Working message, visibility, and indicator during streaming (`setWorkingMessage`, `setWorkingVisible`, `setWorkingIndicator`)
- Widgets above/below editor (setWidget)
- Autocomplete providers layered on top of built-in slash/path completion (addAutocompleteProvider)
- Custom footers (setFooter)

### Dialogs

```typescript
// Select from options
const choice = await ctx.ui.select("Pick one:", ["A", "B", "C"]);

// Confirm dialog
const ok = await ctx.ui.confirm("Delete?", "This cannot be undone");

// Text input
const name = await ctx.ui.input("Name:", "placeholder");

// Multi-line editor
const text = await ctx.ui.editor("Edit:", "prefilled text");

// Notification (non-blocking)
ctx.ui.notify("Done!", "info");  // "info" | "warning" | "error"
```

#### Timed Dialogs with Countdown

Dialogs support a `timeout` option that auto-dismisses with a live countdown display:

```typescript
// Dialog shows "Title (5s)" → "Title (4s)" → ... → auto-dismisses at 0
const confirmed = await ctx.ui.confirm(
  "Timed Confirmation",
  "This dialog will auto-cancel in 5 seconds. Confirm?",
  { timeout: 5000 }
);

if (confirmed) {
  // User confirmed
} else {
  // User cancelled or timed out
}
```

**Return values on timeout:**
- `select()` returns `undefined`
- `confirm()` returns `false`
- `input()` returns `undefined`

#### Manual Dismissal with AbortSignal

For more control (e.g., to distinguish timeout from user cancel), use `AbortSignal`:

```typescript
const controller = new AbortController();
const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 5000);

const confirmed = await ctx.ui.confirm(
  "Timed Confirmation",
  "This dialog will auto-cancel in 5 seconds. Confirm?",
  { signal: controller.signal }
);

clearTimeout(timeoutId);

if (confirmed) {
  // User confirmed
} else if (controller.signal.aborted) {
  // Dialog timed out
} else {
  // User cancelled (pressed Escape or selected "No")
}
```

See [examples/extensions/timed-confirm.ts](../examples/extensions/timed-confirm.ts) for complete examples.

### Widgets, Status, and Footer

```typescript
// Status in footer (persistent until cleared)
ctx.ui.setStatus("my-ext", "Processing...");
ctx.ui.setStatus("my-ext", undefined);  // Clear

// Working loader (shown during streaming)
ctx.ui.setWorkingMessage("Thinking deeply...");
ctx.ui.setWorkingMessage();  // Restore default
ctx.ui.setWorkingVisible(false);  // Hide the built-in working loader row entirely
ctx.ui.setWorkingVisible(true);   // Show the built-in working loader row

// Working indicator (shown during streaming)
ctx.ui.setWorkingIndicator({ frames: [ctx.ui.theme.fg("accent", "●")] });  // Static dot
ctx.ui.setWorkingIndicator({
  frames: [
    ctx.ui.theme.fg("dim", "·"),
    ctx.ui.theme.fg("muted", "•"),
    ctx.ui.theme.fg("accent", "●"),
    ctx.ui.theme.fg("muted", "•"),
  ],
  intervalMs: 120,
});
ctx.ui.setWorkingIndicator({ frames: [] });  // Hide indicator
ctx.ui.setWorkingIndicator();  // Restore default spinner

// Widget above editor (default)
ctx.ui.setWidget("my-widget", ["Line 1", "Line 2"]);
// Widget below editor
ctx.ui.setWidget("my-widget", ["Line 1", "Line 2"], { placement: "belowEditor" });
ctx.ui.setWidget("my-widget", (tui, theme) => new Text(theme.fg("accent", "Custom"), 0, 0));
ctx.ui.setWidget("my-widget", undefined);  // Clear

// Custom footer (replaces built-in footer entirely)
ctx.ui.setFooter((tui, theme) => ({
  render(width) { return [theme.fg("dim", "Custom footer")]; },
  invalidate() {},
}));
ctx.ui.setFooter(undefined);  // Restore built-in footer

// Terminal title
ctx.ui.setTitle("Diffex - my-project");

// Editor text
ctx.ui.setEditorText("Prefill text");
const current = ctx.ui.getEditorText();

// Paste into editor (triggers paste handling, including collapse for large content)
ctx.ui.pasteToEditor("pasted content");

// Stack custom autocomplete behavior on top of the built-in provider
ctx.ui.addAutocompleteProvider((current) => ({
  triggerCharacters: ["#"],
  async getSuggestions(lines, line, col, options) {
    const beforeCursor = (lines[line] ?? "").slice(0, col);
    const match = beforeCursor.match(/(?:^|[ \t])#([^\s#]*)$/);
    if (!match) {
      return current.getSuggestions(lines, line, col, options);
    }

    return {
      prefix: `#${match[1] ?? ""}`,
      items: [{ value: "#2983", label: "#2983", description: "Extension API for autocomplete" }],
    };
  },
  applyCompletion(lines, line, col, item, prefix) {
    return current.applyCompletion(lines, line, col, item, prefix);
  },
  shouldTriggerFileCompletion(lines, line, col) {
    return current.shouldTriggerFileCompletion?.(lines, line, col) ?? true;
  },
}));

// Tool output expansion
const wasExpanded = ctx.ui.getToolsExpanded();
ctx.ui.setToolsExpanded(true);
ctx.ui.setToolsExpanded(wasExpanded);

// Custom editor (vim mode, emacs mode, etc.)
ctx.ui.setEditorComponent((tui, theme, keybindings) => new VimEditor(tui, theme, keybindings));
const currentEditor = ctx.ui.getEditorComponent();
ctx.ui.setEditorComponent((tui, theme, keybindings) =>
  new WrappedEditor(tui, theme, keybindings, currentEditor?.(tui, theme, keybindings))
);
ctx.ui.setEditorComponent(undefined);  // Restore default editor

// Theme management (see themes.md for creating themes)
const themes = ctx.ui.getAllThemes();  // [{ name: "dark", path: "/..." | undefined }, ...]
const lightTheme = ctx.ui.getTheme("light");  // Load without switching
const result = ctx.ui.setTheme("light");  // Switch by name
if (!result.success) {
  ctx.ui.notify(`Failed: ${result.error}`, "error");
}
ctx.ui.setTheme(lightTheme!);  // Or switch by Theme object
ctx.ui.theme.fg("accent", "styled text");  // Access current theme
```

Custom working-indicator frames are rendered verbatim. If you want colors, add them to the frame strings yourself, for example with `ctx.ui.theme.fg(...)`.

### Autocomplete Providers

Use `ctx.ui.addAutocompleteProvider()` to stack custom autocomplete logic on top of the built-in slash-command and path provider. Set `triggerCharacters` for custom natural triggers such as `$`.

Typical pattern:

- inspect the text before the cursor
- return your own suggestions when your extension-specific syntax matches
- otherwise delegate to `current.getSuggestions(...)`
- delegate `applyCompletion(...)` unless you need custom insertion behavior

```typescript
diffex.on("session_start", (_event, ctx) => {
  ctx.ui.addAutocompleteProvider((current) => ({
    triggerCharacters: ["#"],
    async getSuggestions(lines, cursorLine, cursorCol, options) {
      const line = lines[cursorLine] ?? "";
      const beforeCursor = line.slice(0, cursorCol);
      const match = beforeCursor.match(/(?:^|[ \t])#([^\s#]*)$/);
      if (!match) {
        return current.getSuggestions(lines, cursorLine, cursorCol, options);
      }

      return {
        prefix: `#${match[1] ?? ""}`,
        items: [
          { value: "#2983", label: "#2983", description: "Extension API for registering custom @ autocomplete providers" },
          { value: "#2753", label: "#2753", description: "Reload stale resource settings" },
        ],
      };
    },

    applyCompletion(lines, cursorLine, cursorCol, item, prefix) {
      return current.applyCompletion(lines, cursorLine, cursorCol, item, prefix);
    },

    shouldTriggerFileCompletion(lines, cursorLine, cursorCol) {
      return current.shouldTriggerFileCompletion?.(lines, cursorLine, cursorCol) ?? true;
    },
  }));
});
```

See [github-issue-autocomplete.ts](../examples/extensions/github-issue-autocomplete.ts) for a complete example that preloads the latest open GitHub issues with `gh issue list` and filters them locally for fast `#...` completion. It requires GitHub CLI (`gh`) and a GitHub repository checkout.

### Custom Components

For complex UI, use `ctx.ui.custom()`. This temporarily replaces the editor with your component until `done()` is called:

```typescript
import { Text, Component } from "@diffexai/diffex-tui";

const result = await ctx.ui.custom<boolean>((tui, theme, keybindings, done) => {
  const text = new Text("Press Enter to confirm, Escape to cancel", 1, 1);

  text.onKey = (key) => {
    if (key === "return") done(true);
    if (key === "escape") done(false);
    return true;
  };

  return text;
});

if (result) {
  // User pressed Enter
}
```

The callback receives:
- `tui` - TUI instance (for screen dimensions, focus management)
- `theme` - Current theme for styling
- `keybindings` - App keybinding manager (for checking shortcuts)
- `done(value)` - Call to close component and return value

See [tui.md](tui.md) for the full component API.

#### Overlay Mode (Experimental)

Pass `{ overlay: true }` to render the component as a floating modal on top of existing content, without clearing the screen:

```typescript
const result = await ctx.ui.custom<string | null>(
  (tui, theme, keybindings, done) => new MyOverlayComponent({ onClose: done }),
  { overlay: true }
);
```

For advanced positioning (anchors, margins, percentages, responsive visibility), pass `overlayOptions`. Use `onHandle` to control focus or visibility programmatically:

```typescript
const result = await ctx.ui.custom<string | null>(
  (tui, theme, keybindings, done) => new MyOverlayComponent({ onClose: done }),
  {
    overlay: true,
    overlayOptions: { anchor: "top-right", width: "50%", margin: 2 },
    onHandle: (handle) => {
      handle.focus(); // focus this overlay and bring it to the visual front
      // handle.unfocus({ target: editorComponent }); // release input to a specific component
      // handle.setHidden(true/false); // toggle visibility
      // handle.hide(); // permanently remove
    }
  }
);
```

A focused visible overlay can reclaim input after temporary non-overlay custom UI closes. If you intentionally want another component to keep input while the overlay stays visible, call `handle.unfocus({ target })`. Passing `{ target: null }` releases the overlay without focusing another component.

See [tui.md](tui.md) for the full `OverlayOptions` and `OverlayHandle` API and [overlay-qa-tests.ts](../examples/extensions/overlay-qa-tests.ts) for examples.

### Custom Editor

Replace the main input editor with a custom implementation (vim mode, emacs mode, etc.):

```typescript
import { CustomEditor, type ExtensionAPI } from "@diffexai/diffex";
import { matchesKey } from "@diffexai/diffex-tui";

class VimEditor extends CustomEditor {
  private mode: "normal" | "insert" = "insert";

  handleInput(data: string): void {
    if (matchesKey(data, "escape") && this.mode === "insert") {
      this.mode = "normal";
      return;
    }
    if (this.mode === "normal" && data === "i") {
      this.mode = "insert";
      return;
    }
    super.handleInput(data);  // App keybindings + text editing
  }
}

export default function (diffex: ExtensionAPI) {
  diffex.on("session_start", (_event, ctx) => {
    ctx.ui.setEditorComponent((tui, theme, keybindings) =>
      new VimEditor(tui, theme, keybindings)
    );
  });
}
```

**Key points:**
- Extend `CustomEditor` (not base `Editor`) to get app keybindings (escape to abort, ctrl+d, model switching)
- Call `super.handleInput(data)` for keys you don't handle
- Factory receives `tui`, `theme`, and `keybindings` from the app
- Use `ctx.ui.getEditorComponent()` before `setEditorComponent()` to wrap the previously configured custom editor
- Pass `undefined` to restore default: `ctx.ui.setEditorComponent(undefined)`

To compose with another extension that already replaced the editor, capture the previous factory before setting yours:

```typescript
const previous = ctx.ui.getEditorComponent();
ctx.ui.setEditorComponent((tui, theme, keybindings) =>
  new MyEditor(tui, theme, keybindings, { base: previous?.(tui, theme, keybindings) })
);
```

See [tui.md](tui.md) Pattern 7 for a complete example with mode indicator.

### Message and Entry Rendering

Register a custom renderer for messages with your `customType`. Use message renderers for content that should participate in LLM context:

```typescript
import { Text } from "@diffexai/diffex-tui";

diffex.registerMessageRenderer("my-extension", (message, options, theme) => {
  const { expanded, outputPad } = options;
  let text = theme.fg("accent", `[${message.customType}] `);
  text += message.content;

  if (expanded && message.details) {
    text += "\n" + theme.fg("dim", JSON.stringify(message.details, null, 2));
  }

  return new Text(text, outputPad, 0);
});
```

Messages are sent via `diffex.sendMessage()`:

```typescript
diffex.sendMessage({
  customType: "my-extension",  // Matches registerMessageRenderer
  content: "Status update",
  display: true,               // Show in TUI
  details: { ... },            // Available in renderer
});
```

For TUI-only content that should not be sent to the LLM, render custom entries instead:

```typescript
diffex.registerEntryRenderer("my-card", (entry, options, theme) => {
  return new Text(theme.fg("accent", JSON.stringify(entry.data)));
});

diffex.appendEntry("my-card", { status: "done" });
```

### Theme Colors

All render functions receive a `theme` object. See [themes.md](themes.md) for creating custom themes and the full color palette.

```typescript
// Foreground colors
theme.fg("toolTitle", text)   // Tool names
theme.fg("accent", text)      // Highlights
theme.fg("success", text)     // Success (green)
theme.fg("error", text)       // Errors (red)
theme.fg("warning", text)     // Warnings (yellow)
theme.fg("muted", text)       // Secondary text
theme.fg("dim", text)         // Tertiary text

// Text styles
theme.bold(text)
theme.italic(text)
theme.strikethrough(text)
```

For syntax highlighting in custom tool renderers:

```typescript
import { highlightCode, getLanguageFromPath } from "@diffexai/diffex";

// Highlight code with explicit language
const highlighted = highlightCode("const x = 1;", "typescript", theme);

// Auto-detect language from file path
const lang = getLanguageFromPath("/path/to/file.rs");  // "rust"
const highlighted = highlightCode(code, lang, theme);
```

## Error Handling

- Extension errors are logged, agent continues
- `tool_call` errors block the tool (fail-safe)
- Tool `execute` errors must be signaled by throwing; the thrown error is caught, reported to the LLM with `isError: true`, and execution continues

## Mode Behavior

| Mode | `ctx.mode` | `ctx.hasUI` | Notes |
|------|------------|-------------|-------|
| Interactive | `"tui"` | `true` | Full TUI with terminal rendering |
| RPC (`--mode rpc`) | `"rpc"` | `true` | Dialogs and notifications via JSON protocol; `custom()` returns `undefined`. See [rpc.md](rpc.md) |
| JSON (`--mode json`) | `"json"` | `false` | Event stream to stdout; UI methods are no-ops |
| Print (`-p`) | `"print"` | `false` | Extensions run but can't prompt |

Use `ctx.mode === "tui"` before TUI-specific features (`custom()`, component factories, terminal input). Use `ctx.hasUI` before dialog and notification methods that work in both TUI and RPC modes.

## Examples Reference

All examples in [examples/extensions/](../examples/extensions/).

| Example | Description | Key APIs |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| **Tools** |||
| `hello.ts` | Minimal tool registration | `registerTool` |
| `question.ts` | Tool with user interaction | `registerTool`, `ui.select` |
| `questionnaire.ts` | Multi-step wizard tool | `registerTool`, `ui.custom` |
| `todo.ts` | Stateful tool with persistence | `registerTool`, `appendEntry`, `renderResult`, session events |
| `dynamic-tools.ts` | Register tools after startup and during commands | `registerTool`, `session_start`, `registerCommand` |
| `structured-output.ts` | Final structured-output tool with `terminate: true` | `registerTool`, terminating tool results |
| `truncated-tool.ts` | Output truncation example | `registerTool`, `truncateHead` |
| `tool-override.ts` | Override built-in read tool | `registerTool` (same name as built-in) |
| **Commands** |||
| `pirate.ts` | Modify system prompt per-turn | `registerCommand`, `before_agent_start` |
| `summarize.ts` | Conversation summary command | `registerCommand`, `ui.custom` |
| `handoff.ts` | Cross-provider model handoff | `registerCommand`, `ui.editor`, `ui.custom` |
| `qna.ts` | Q&A with custom UI | `registerCommand`, `ui.custom`, `setEditorText` |
| `send-user-message.ts` | Inject user messages | `registerCommand`, `sendUserMessage` |
| `reload-runtime.ts` | Reload command and LLM tool handoff | `registerCommand`, `ctx.reload()`, `sendUserMessage` |
| `shutdown-command.ts` | Graceful shutdown command | `registerCommand`, `shutdown()` |
| **Events & Gates** |||
| `permission-gate.ts` | Block dangerous commands | `on("tool_call")`, `ui.confirm` |
| `project-trust.ts` | Decide or defer project trust from a user/global or CLI extension | `on("project_trust")`, trust UI, required trust result |
| `protected-paths.ts` | Block writes to specific paths | `on("tool_call")` |
| `confirm-destructive.ts` | Confirm session changes | `on("session_before_switch")`, `on("session_before_fork")` |
| `dirty-repo-guard.ts` | Warn on dirty git repo | `on("session_before_*")`, `exec` |
| `input-transform.ts` | Transform user input | `on("input")` |
| `input-transform-streaming.ts` | Streaming-aware input transform | `on("input")`, `streamingBehavior` |
| `model-status.ts` | React to model changes | `on("model_select")`, `setStatus` |
| `provider-payload.ts` | Inspect payloads and provider response headers | `on("before_provider_request")`, `on("after_provider_response")` |
| `system-prompt-header.ts` | Display system prompt info | `on("agent_start")`, `getSystemPrompt` |
| `claude-rules.ts` | Load rules from files | `on("session_start")`, `on("before_agent_start")` |
| `prompt-customizer.ts` | Add context-aware tool guidance using `systemPromptOptions` | `on("before_agent_start")`, `BuildSystemPromptOptions` |
| `file-trigger.ts` | File watcher triggers messages | `sendMessage` |
| **Compaction & Sessions** |||
| `custom-compaction.ts` | Custom compaction summary | `on("session_before_compact")` |
| `trigger-compact.ts` | Trigger compaction manually | `compact()` |
| `git-checkpoint.ts` | Git stash on turns | `on("turn_start")`, `on("session_before_fork")`, `exec` |
| `git-merge-and-resolve.ts` | Fetch, merge, and resolve conflicts | `on("agent_end")`, `exec`, `sendUserMessage` |
| `auto-commit-on-exit.ts` | Commit on shutdown | `on("session_shutdown")`, `exec` |
| **UI Components** |||
| `status-line.ts` | Footer status indicator | `setStatus`, session events |
| `working-indicator.ts` | Customize the streaming working indicator | `setWorkingIndicator`, `registerCommand` |
| `github-issue-autocomplete.ts` | Add `#1234` issue completions on top of built-in autocomplete by preloading recent open issues from `gh issue list` | `addAutocompleteProvider`, `on("session_start")`, `exec` |
| `custom-footer.ts` | Replace footer entirely | `registerCommand`, `setFooter` |
| `custom-header.ts` | Replace startup header | `on("session_start")`, `setHeader` |
| `modal-editor.ts` | Vim-style modal editor | `setEditorComponent`, `CustomEditor` |
| `rainbow-editor.ts` | Custom editor styling | `setEditorComponent` |
| `widget-placement.ts` | Widget above/below editor | `setWidget` |
| `overlay-test.ts` | Overlay components | `ui.custom` with overlay options |
| `overlay-qa-tests.ts` | Comprehensive overlay tests | `ui.custom`, all overlay options |
| `notify.ts` | Simple notifications | `ui.notify` |
| `timed-confirm.ts` | Dialogs with timeout | `ui.confirm` with timeout/signal |
| `mac-system-theme.ts` | Auto-switch theme | `setTheme`, `exec` |
| **Complex Extensions** |||
| `preset.ts` | Saveable presets (model, tools, thinking) | `registerCommand`, `registerShortcut`, `registerFlag`, `setModel`, `setActiveTools`, `setThinkingLevel`, `appendEntry` |
| `tools.ts` | Toggle tools on/off UI | `registerCommand`, `setActiveTools`, `SettingsList`, session events |
| **Remote & Sandbox** |||
| `ssh.ts` | SSH remote execution | `registerFlag`, `on("user_bash")`, `on("before_agent_start")`, tool operations |
| `interactive-shell.ts` | Persistent shell session | `on("user_bash")` |
| `sandbox/` | Sandboxed tool execution | Tool operations |
| `subagent/` | Spawn sub-agents | `registerTool`, `exec` |
| **Games** |||
| `snake.ts` | Snake game | `registerCommand`, `ui.custom`, keyboard handling |
| `space-invaders.ts` | Space Invaders game | `registerCommand`, `ui.custom` |
| `doom-overlay/` | Doom in overlay | `ui.custom` with overlay |
| **Providers** |||
| `custom-provider-anthropic/` | Custom Anthropic proxy | `registerProvider` |
| `custom-provider-gitlab-duo/` | GitLab Duo integration | `registerProvider` with OAuth |
| **Messages & Communication** |||
| `message-renderer.ts` | Custom message rendering | `registerMessageRenderer`, `sendMessage` |
| `entry-renderer.ts` | TUI-only custom entry rendering | `registerEntryRenderer`, `appendEntry` |
| `event-bus.ts` | Inter-extension events | `diffex.events` |
| **Session Metadata** |||
| `session-name.ts` | Name sessions for selector | `setSessionName`, `getSessionName` |
| `bookmark.ts` | Bookmark entries for /tree | `setLabel` |
| **Misc** |||
| `inline-bash.ts` | Inline bash in tool calls | `on("tool_call")` |
| `bash-spawn-hook.ts` | Adjust bash command, cwd, and env before execution | `createBashTool`, `spawnHook` |
| `with-deps/` | Extension with npm dependencies | Package structure with `package.json` |