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

# Extensions

Extensions are TypeScript modules that extend pi'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 `~/.pi/agent/extensions/` (global) or `.pi/extensions/` (project-local) for auto-discovery. Use `pi -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 `pi.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 `pi.registerCommand()`
- **Session persistence** - Store state that survives restarts via `pi.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)
  - [Session Events](#session-events)
  - [Agent Events](#agent-events)
  - [Tool Events](#tool-events)
- [ExtensionContext](#extensioncontext)
- [ExtensionCommandContext](#extensioncommandcontext)
- [ExtensionAPI Methods](#extensionapi-methods)
- [State Management](#state-management)
- [Custom Tools](#custom-tools)
- [Custom UI](#custom-ui)
- [Error Handling](#error-handling)
- [Mode Behavior](#mode-behavior)
- [Examples Reference](#examples-reference)

## Quick Start

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

```typescript
import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
import { Type } from "@sinclair/typebox";

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

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

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

```bash
pi -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:

| Location | Scope |
|----------|-------|
| `~/.pi/agent/extensions/*.ts` | Global (all projects) |
| `~/.pi/agent/extensions/*/index.ts` | Global (subdirectory) |
| `.pi/extensions/*.ts` | Project-local |
| `.pi/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 pi packages, see [packages.md](packages.md).

## Available Imports

| Package | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent` | Extension types (`ExtensionAPI`, `ExtensionContext`, events) |
| `@sinclair/typebox` | Schema definitions for tool parameters |
| `@mariozechner/pi-ai` | AI utilities (`StringEnum` for Google-compatible enums) |
| `@mariozechner/pi-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.

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

## Writing an Extension

An extension exports a default function that receives `ExtensionAPI`:

```typescript
import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
  // Subscribe to events
  pi.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!", "success");
    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
  pi.registerTool({ ... });
  pi.registerCommand("name", { ... });
  pi.registerShortcut("ctrl+x", { ... });
  pi.registerFlag("my-flag", { ... });
}
```

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

### Extension Styles

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

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

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

```
~/.pi/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:

```
~/.pi/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"
  },
  "pi": {
    "extensions": ["./src/index.ts"]
  }
}
```

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

## Events

### Lifecycle Overview

```
pi starts (CLI only)
  │
  ├─► session_directory (CLI startup only, no ctx)
  └─► session_start
      │
      ▼
user sends prompt ─────────────────────────────────────────┐
  │                                                        │
  ├─► (extension commands checked first, bypass if found)  │
  ├─► input (can intercept, transform, or handle)          │
  ├─► (skill/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_request (can inspect or replace payload)
  │   │                                            │       │
  │   │   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                                            │
                                                           │
user sends another prompt ◄────────────────────────────────┘

/new (new session) or /resume (switch session)
  ├─► session_before_switch (can cancel)
  └─► session_switch

/fork
  ├─► session_before_fork (can cancel)
  └─► session_fork

/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)
  └─► model_select

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

### Session Events

See [session.md](session.md) for session storage internals and the SessionManager API.

#### session_directory

Fired by the `pi` CLI during startup session resolution, before the initial session manager is created.

This event is:
- CLI-only. It is not emitted in SDK mode.
- Startup-only. It is not emitted for later interactive `/new` or `/resume` actions.
- Bypassed when `--session-dir` is provided.
- Special-cased to receive no `ctx` argument.

If multiple extensions return `sessionDir`, the last one wins.

```typescript
pi.on("session_directory", async (event) => {
  return {
    sessionDir: `/tmp/pi-sessions/${encodeURIComponent(event.cwd)}`,
  };
});
```

#### session_start

Fired on initial session load.

```typescript
pi.on("session_start", async (_event, ctx) => {
  ctx.ui.notify(`Session: ${ctx.sessionManager.getSessionFile() ?? "ephemeral"}`, "info");
});
```

#### session_before_switch / session_switch

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

```typescript
pi.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 };
  }
});

pi.on("session_switch", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.reason - "new" or "resume"
  // event.previousSessionFile - session we came from
});
```

#### session_before_fork / session_fork

Fired when forking via `/fork`.

```typescript
pi.on("session_before_fork", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.entryId - ID of the entry being forked from
  return { cancel: true }; // Cancel fork
  // OR
  return { skipConversationRestore: true }; // Fork but don't rewind messages
});

pi.on("session_fork", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.previousSessionFile - previous session file
});
```

#### session_before_compact / session_compact

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

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

  // Cancel:
  return { cancel: true };

  // Custom summary:
  return {
    compaction: {
      summary: "...",
      firstKeptEntryId: preparation.firstKeptEntryId,
      tokensBefore: preparation.tokensBefore,
    }
  };
});

pi.on("session_compact", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.compactionEntry - the saved compaction
  // event.fromExtension - whether extension provided it
});
```

#### session_before_tree / session_tree

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

```typescript
pi.on("session_before_tree", async (event, ctx) => {
  const { preparation, signal } = event;
  return { cancel: true };
  // OR provide custom summary:
  return { summary: { summary: "...", details: {} } };
});

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

#### session_shutdown

Fired on exit (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+D, SIGTERM).

```typescript
pi.on("session_shutdown", async (_event, ctx) => {
  // 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
pi.on("before_agent_start", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.prompt - user's prompt text
  // event.images - attached images (if any)
  // event.systemPrompt - current system prompt

  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...",
  };
});
```

#### agent_start / agent_end

Fired once per user prompt.

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

pi.on("agent_end", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.messages - messages from this prompt
});
```

#### turn_start / turn_end

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

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

pi.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.

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

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

pi.on("message_end", async (event, ctx) => {
  // event.message
});
```

#### tool_execution_start / tool_execution_update / tool_execution_end

Fired for tool execution lifecycle updates.

In parallel tool mode:
- `tool_execution_start` is emitted in assistant source order during the preflight phase
- `tool_execution_update` events may interleave across tools
- `tool_execution_end` is emitted in assistant source order, matching final tool result message order

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

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

pi.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.md](session.md) for message types.

```typescript
pi.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_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.

```typescript
pi.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.

### Model Events

#### model_select

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

```typescript
pi.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.

### 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, pi 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, sibling tool calls from the same assistant message are preflighted sequentially, then executed concurrently. `tool_call` is not guaranteed to see sibling tool results from that same assistant message in `ctx.sessionManager`.

```typescript
import { isToolCallEventType } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

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

  // Built-in tools: no type params needed
  if (isToolCallEventType("bash", event)) {
    // event.input is { command: string; timeout?: number }
    if (event.input.command.includes("rm -rf")) {
      return { block: true, reason: "Dangerous command" };
    }
  }

  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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
import type { MyToolInput } from "my-extension";

pi.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.**

`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`, or `isError`); omitted fields keep their current values

```typescript
import { isBashToolResult } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

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

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

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

### User Bash Events

#### user_bash

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

```typescript
import { createLocalBashOperations } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

pi.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 pi'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 skill and template expansion. The event sees the raw input text, so `/skill:foo` and `/template` are 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: skill commands (`/skill:name`) expanded to skill content
4. If not handled: prompt templates (`/template`) expanded to template content
5. Agent processing begins (`before_agent_start`, etc.)

```typescript
pi.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)

  // 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" };

  // Intercept skill commands before expansion
  if (event.text.startsWith("/skill:")) {
    // Could transform, block, or let pass through
  }

  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).

## ExtensionContext

All handlers except `session_directory` receive `ctx: ExtensionContext`.

`session_directory` is a CLI startup hook and receives only the event.

### ctx.ui

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

### ctx.hasUI

`false` in print mode (`-p`) and JSON mode. `true` in interactive and RPC mode. In RPC mode, dialog methods (`select`, `confirm`, `input`, `editor`) work via the extension UI sub-protocol, and fire-and-forget methods (`notify`, `setStatus`, `setWidget`, `setTitle`, `setEditorText`) emit requests to the client. Some TUI-specific methods are no-ops or return defaults (see [rpc.md](rpc.md#extension-ui-protocol)).

### ctx.cwd

Current working directory.

### ctx.sessionManager

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

For `tool_call`, this state is synchronized through the current assistant message before handlers run. In parallel tool execution mode it is still not guaranteed to include sibling tool results from the same assistant message.

```typescript
ctx.sessionManager.getEntries()       // All entries
ctx.sessionManager.getBranch()        // Current branch
ctx.sessionManager.getLeafId()        // Current leaf entry ID
```

### ctx.modelRegistry / ctx.model

Access to models and API keys.

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

Control flow helpers.

### ctx.shutdown()

Request a graceful shutdown of pi.

- **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
pi.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 the current effective system prompt. This includes any modifications made by `before_agent_start` handlers for the current turn.

```typescript
pi.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.waitForIdle()

Wait for the agent to finish streaming:

```typescript
pi.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 result = await ctx.newSession({
  parentSession: ctx.sessionManager.getSessionFile(),
  setup: async (sm) => {
    sm.appendMessage({
      role: "user",
      content: [{ type: "text", text: "Context from previous session..." }],
      timestamp: Date.now(),
    });
  },
});

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

### ctx.fork(entryId)

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

```typescript
const result = await ctx.fork("entry-id-123");
if (!result.cancelled) {
  // Now in the forked session
}
```

### 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.reload()

Run the same reload flow as `/reload`.

```typescript
pi.registerCommand("reload-runtime", {
  description: "Reload extensions, skills, prompts, and themes",
  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` (and `resources_discover` with reason `"reload"`) for the new runtime
- 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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
import { Type } from "@sinclair/typebox";

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

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

## ExtensionAPI Methods

### pi.on(event, handler)

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

### pi.registerTool(definition)

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

`pi.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 `pi.getAllTools()` and are callable by the LLM without `/reload`.

Use `pi.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 append tool-specific bullets to the default `Guidelines` section when the tool is active.

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

```typescript
import { Type } from "@sinclair/typebox";
import { StringEnum } from "@mariozechner/pi-ai";

pi.registerTool({
  name: "my_tool",
  label: "My Tool",
  description: "What this tool does",
  promptSnippet: "Summarize or transform text according to action",
  promptGuidelines: ["Use this tool when the user asks to summarize previously generated text."],
  parameters: Type.Object({
    action: StringEnum(["list", "add"] as const),
    text: Type.Optional(Type.String()),
  }),

  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) { ... },
  renderResult(result, options, theme) { ... },
});
```

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

Inject a custom message into the session.

```typescript
pi.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"`).

### pi.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
pi.sendUserMessage("What is 2+2?");

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

// During streaming - must specify delivery mode
pi.sendUserMessage("Focus on error handling", { deliverAs: "steer" });
pi.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.

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

Persist extension state (does NOT participate in LLM context).

```typescript
pi.appendEntry("my-state", { count: 42 });

// Restore on reload
pi.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
    }
  }
});
```

### pi.setSessionName(name)

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

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

### pi.getSessionName()

Get the current session name, if set.

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

### pi.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
pi.setLabel(entryId, "checkpoint-before-refactor");

// Clear a label
pi.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.

### pi.registerCommand(name, options)

Register a command.

```typescript
pi.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 "@mariozechner/pi-tui";

pi.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");
  },
});
```

### pi.getCommands()

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

```typescript
const commands = pi.getCommands();
const bySource = commands.filter((command) => command.source === "extension");
```

Each entry has this shape:

```typescript
{
  name: string; // Command name without the leading slash
  description?: string;
  source: "extension" | "prompt" | "skill";
  location?: "user" | "project" | "path"; // For templates and skills
  path?: string; // Files backing templates, skills, and extensions
}
```

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`.

### pi.registerMessageRenderer(customType, renderer)

Register a custom TUI renderer for messages with your `customType`. See [Custom UI](#custom-ui).

### pi.registerShortcut(shortcut, options)

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

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

### pi.registerFlag(name, options)

Register a CLI flag.

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

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

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

Execute a shell command.

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

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

Manage active tools. This works for both built-in tools and dynamically registered tools.

```typescript
const active = pi.getActiveTools();  // ["read", "bash", "edit", "write"]
const all = pi.getAllTools();        // [{ name: "read", description: "Read file contents..." }, ...]
const names = all.map(t => t.name);  // Just names if needed
pi.setActiveTools(["read", "bash"]); // Switch to read-only
```

### pi.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 pi.setModel(model);
  if (!success) {
    ctx.ui.notify("No API key for this model", "error");
  }
}
```

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

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

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

### pi.events

Shared event bus for communication between extensions:

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

### pi.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`.

```typescript
// Register a new provider with custom models
pi.registerProvider("my-proxy", {
  baseUrl: "https://proxy.example.com",
  apiKey: "PROXY_API_KEY",  // env var name or literal
  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
    }
  ]
});

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

// Register provider with OAuth support for /login
pi.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) {
      // Refresh logic
      return credentials;
    },
    getApiKey(credentials) {
      return credentials.access;
    }
  }
});
```

**Config options:**
- `baseUrl` - API endpoint URL. Required when defining models.
- `apiKey` - API key or environment variable name. Required when defining models (unless `oauth` provided).
- `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.
- `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.

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

## State Management

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

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

  // Reconstruct state from session
  pi.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 ?? [];
        }
      }
    }
  });

  pi.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 `pi.registerTool()`. Tools appear in the system prompt and can have custom rendering.

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 tool-specific bullets to the default system prompt `Guidelines` section. These bullets are included only while the tool is active (for example, after `pi.setActiveTools([...])`).

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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
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 "@sinclair/typebox";
import { StringEnum } from "@mariozechner/pi-ai";
import { Text } from "@mariozechner/pi-tui";

pi.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 this 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()),
  }),

  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 pi.exec (captured from extension closure)
    const result = await pi.exec("some-command", [], { signal });

    // Return result
    return {
      content: [{ type: "text", text: "Done" }],  // Sent to LLM
      details: { data: result },                   // For rendering & state
    };
  },

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

**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.

```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 `@mariozechner/pi-ai` for string enums. `Type.Union`/`Type.Literal` doesn't work with Google's API.

### Overriding Built-in Tools

Extensions can override built-in tools (`read`, `bash`, `edit`, `write`, `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
pi -e ./tool-override.ts
```

Alternatively, use `--no-tools` to start without any built-in tools:
```bash
# No built-in tools, only extension tools
pi --no-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:** If your override doesn't provide custom `renderCall`/`renderResult` functions, 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.

**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/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/read.ts) - `ReadToolDetails`
- [bash.ts](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/bash.ts) - `BashToolDetails`
- [edit.ts](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/edit.ts)
- [write.ts](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/write.ts)
- [grep.ts](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/grep.ts) - `GrepToolDetails`
- [find.ts](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/find.ts) - `FindToolDetails`
- [ls.ts](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

// 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
pi.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 pi'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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

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

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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

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 (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
  let connection = null;

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

  pi.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/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/tool-execution.ts) for how built-in tools render.

Tool output is wrapped in a `Box` that handles padding and background. Your render methods return `Component` instances (typically `Text`).

#### renderCall

Renders the tool call (before/during execution):

```typescript
import { Text } from "@mariozechner/pi-tui";

renderCall(args, theme) {
  let text = theme.fg("toolTitle", theme.bold("my_tool "));
  text += theme.fg("muted", args.action);
  if (args.text) {
    text += " " + theme.fg("dim", `"${args.text}"`);
  }
  return new Text(text, 0, 0);  // 0,0 padding - Box handles it
}
```

#### renderResult

Renders the tool result:

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

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

  // Normal result - support expanded view (Ctrl+O)
  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);
}
```

#### Keybinding Hints

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

```typescript
import { keyHint } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

renderResult(result, { expanded }, theme) {
  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 Box handles padding
- Use `\n` for multi-line content
- Handle `isPartial` for streaming progress
- Support `expanded` for detail on demand
- Keep default view compact

#### Fallback

If `renderCall`/`renderResult` is not defined or throws:
- `renderCall`: Shows tool name
- `renderResult`: Shows raw text from `content`

## 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 during streaming (setWorkingMessage)
- Widgets above/below editor (setWidget)
- 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 message (shown during streaming)
ctx.ui.setWorkingMessage("Thinking deeply...");
ctx.ui.setWorkingMessage();  // Restore default

// 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("pi - 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");

// 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));
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 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 "@mariozechner/pi-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 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.setHidden(true/false) */ }
  }
);
```

See [tui.md](tui.md) for the full `OverlayOptions` 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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
import { matchesKey } from "@mariozechner/pi-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 (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
  pi.on("session_start", (_event, ctx) => {
    ctx.ui.setEditorComponent((_tui, theme, keybindings) =>
      new VimEditor(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 `theme` and `keybindings` from the app
- Pass `undefined` to restore default: `ctx.ui.setEditorComponent(undefined)`

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

### Message Rendering

Register a custom renderer for messages with your `customType`:

```typescript
import { Text } from "@mariozechner/pi-tui";

pi.registerMessageRenderer("my-extension", (message, options, theme) => {
  const { expanded } = 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, 0, 0);
});
```

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

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

### 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 "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";

// 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 | UI Methods | Notes |
|------|-----------|-------|
| Interactive | Full TUI | Normal operation |
| RPC (`--mode rpc`) | JSON protocol | Host handles UI, see [rpc.md](rpc.md) |
| JSON (`--mode json`) | No-op | Event stream to stdout, see [json.md](json.md) |
| Print (`-p`) | No-op | Extensions run but can't prompt |

In non-interactive modes, check `ctx.hasUI` before using UI methods.

## 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` |
| `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` |
| `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")` |
| `model-status.ts` | React to model changes | `on("model_select")`, `setStatus` |
| `provider-payload.ts` | Inspect or patch provider payloads | `on("before_provider_request")` |
| `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")` |
| `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_end")`, `on("session_fork")`, `exec` |
| `auto-commit-on-exit.ts` | Commit on shutdown | `on("session_shutdown")`, `exec` |
| **UI Components** |||
| `status-line.ts` | Footer status indicator | `setStatus`, session events |
| `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** |||
| `plan-mode/` | Full plan mode implementation | All event types, `registerCommand`, `registerShortcut`, `registerFlag`, `setStatus`, `setWidget`, `sendMessage`, `setActiveTools` |
| `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` |
| `event-bus.ts` | Inter-extension events | `pi.events` |
| **Session Metadata** |||
| `session-name.ts` | Name sessions for selector | `setSessionName`, `getSessionName` |
| `bookmark.ts` | Bookmark entries for /tree | `setLabel` |
| **Misc** |||
| `antigravity-image-gen.ts` | Image generation tool | `registerTool`, Google Antigravity |
| `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` |
