# Smart Hints

> Small contextual suggestions that appear when the app can see you are about to do something the long way.

- Area: Desktop app
- Plans: All plans
- Last checked against the product: 2026-09-08
- Web page: https://agentsroom.dev/docs/smart-hints

## 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.

## Related

- [Screenshot to Agent](https://agentsroom.dev/docs/screenshot-to-agent.md): what the screenshot hints open.
- [Prompt Library](https://agentsroom.dev/docs/prompt-library.md): what the long-draft hint suggests.
- [Secret Manager](https://agentsroom.dev/docs/secret-manager.md) and [SSH Connections](https://agentsroom.dev/docs/ssh-connections.md): what the secret and remote-host hints point to.
- [Dev Terminals](https://agentsroom.dev/docs/dev-terminals.md): the panes where terminal hints appear.
- [CLI Doctor](https://agentsroom.dev/docs/cli-doctor.md): the AI diagnosis offered when an agent CLI fails to start.