Smart Hints

  • Desktop app
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What it does

Small contextual suggestions that appear when the app can see you are about to do something the long way. Two families share one switch. Composer hints: a chip above the message input, triggered by what you type ("Screenshots?" when a draft mentions a screenshot, "Secret detected?" when a draft contains something that looks like a key, "Remote host?" for a server address) or by how you work ("Reusable prompt?" after a long draft sat for a while, "Screenshot tool?" when you paste screenshot files by hand, "Faster capture?" after using the Screenshot button a few times). Terminal hints: when a dev command or shell prints a known error (merge conflict, divergent branches, uncommitted changes blocking a pull, rejected push, missing git identity, command not found, missing dependency, port in use, a failing agent CLI), a chip appears in the pane and offers to hand the error to the right specialist agent. Everything is matched locally, without any model call, and nothing is sent anywhere.

Where to find it

  • Composer: the chip between the file tray and the input bar. Click it for the title, explanation, a call to action and Dismiss / Don't show again.
  • Terminal panes: the chip at the bottom right of a dev command or shell pane after a matching error.
  • Settings > Composer > Smart hints: the master switch and Show dismissed hints again.

How to use it

  1. Leave the switch on. A hint shows at most once per app session, and a usage-based hint at most a few times in total; acting on it or adopting the feature turns it off for good.
  2. Click the call to action: Take a screenshot opens the real capture popover, Open Prompt Library, Open Secrets, and so on.
  3. Terminal hint: pick an action (for example Fix the conflict or Ask for advice). A temporary agent of the right role (Git, DevOps, Full-Stack) is spawned with the error as its first message and its terminal is focused; the popover names who handles it.
  4. The cross on a terminal hint asks Just this once or Never show again; clicking elsewhere cancels the question and hides nothing.
  5. Changed your mind: Settings > Composer > Smart hints > Show dismissed hints again brings every hidden hint back.

Settings

  • smartHintsEnabled (global, Settings > Composer > Smart hints > Show smart hints): master switch for composer and terminal hints.
  • dismissedHints (global): ids of hints hidden for good; emptied by Show dismissed hints again. Editable over MCP.

Agent tools (MCP)

None drive it directly. settings_get / settings_set can read or reset smartHintsEnabled and dismissedHints.

Providers

All providers, no difference for composer hints. Terminal hint actions spawn an agent on your default provider for the project.

Mobile

Not available on the mobile companion.

Limits

  • Composer word triggers are ignored on very long pasted text (a large log) to avoid false positives; usage-based hints are not.
  • Impression counters and dismissals live on your machine only; nothing is sent to the server.
  • Terminal hints appear for dev command and shell panes, not inside agent terminals.

Common questions

  • How do I stop a hint permanently? Don't show again on the chip, or Never show again on a terminal hint cross.
  • I dismissed everything and want them back. Settings > Composer > Smart hints > Show dismissed hints again.
  • The terminal hint said "Sent to agent" but where is it? The specialist's terminal is focused in place of the dev command pane; look at the agent list of the project.
  • Do hints use tokens or a model? No, matching is local pattern matching.

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