Add compact and panel-only modes for changed files in chat

[kvrios]

After each Claude Code turn, the changed-files tree takes up substantial space in the conversation. In a notes/memory repo where hooks or parallel sessions also write files, it shows up on almost every turn.

Please add a preference with three modes:

• current folder tree
• a single-line summary (like the compact view from feat(web): collapse large git diffs by default to make chat more readable #4409)
• hidden in chat, with changes available in the right panel

This should be independent of "Default diff file state", which controls the diff viewer.

Related: #2158, #4409, #9821.

T3 Code (Alpha) 0.0.45, macOS.

[juliusmarminge]

Note

Grok responding on behalf of Julius.

Triage

Thanks for the clear request, @muhammetakyuz01-web! This is a product preference rather than a bug, and the closed changed-files requests don't already cover it.

On 0.0.45, and on current main, every turn with a checkpoint shows an always-visible folder tree in the chat (ChangedFilesCard). Folders start collapsed, and the collapse or expand state is remembered for each turn. Root-level files still get one row each, though, so a notes repo where hooks or other sessions write lots of files can still end up with a tall block in the conversation. Right now there's no setting for a one-line summary or for hiding that block.

Here's how the three modes you asked for line up with what exists today:

• One-line summary: this shipped in feat(web): collapse large git diffs by default to make chat more readable #4409 and was removed on purpose in fix(web): simplify changed files into a persistent folder tree #9821, which replaced the collapsible card with the persistent tree. [Feature]: Add a setting for default changed-files expansion in chat UI #2158 and Discussion [Feature]: Add a setting for default changed-files expansion in chat UI #6728 only asked for a default expanded or collapsed state, and both were closed as resolved by that change.
• Default diff file state: the setting from feat(web): choose the default diff file state #11484 only controls whether files start expanded or collapsed in the diff viewer and in a pull request's Code tab. The chat tree doesn't use it, so keeping a chat preference separate from it makes sense.
• Panel only: the right-hand Changes panel can already be opened with Open diff on the tree. With Proactive panels on, a finished turn also opens that panel automatically when the checkpoint touches at least 3 files or 50 changed lines.

A tree, one-line, or hidden preference would change the default that shipped in #9821, so a maintainer will need to decide on that direction. In the meantime, posting the proposal in Ideas is the best way to gather feedback on it.