Commands Module

110 files · ~8K lines

101 Slash Commands — from /compact to /stickers. Each command owns its own directory and handler function. Commands are the user's direct control interface, separate from the LLM-controlled tool system.

commands/

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Commands are Human, Tools are Claude

When you type /compact, you're calling a command. When Claude runs BashTool, it's using a tool. Commands bypass the LLM entirely and call services directly — no permission check required.

101 Commands — Color-Coded by Category

Every slash command, grouped by category. Each color is a different functional area.

Context Management

/compact/clear/context/summarize/trim/history+ more

Configuration

/model/temperature/config/fast/slow/api-key/timeout+ more

MCP Servers

/mcp/mcp-restart/mcp-logs/mcp-add/mcp-remove/mcp-inspect+ more

Help & Diagnostics

/help/doctor/status/debug/version/info/env+ more

Cosmetic & Fun

/stickers/color/voice/dream/penguin/theme/fun+ more

Session Control

/exit/quit/reset/new/abort/kill+ more

101 commands total. Each command lives in its own directory under commands/ with its own handler, argument parser, and output renderer. No shared command bootstrap — each is fully self-contained.

Command Categories

101 commands grouped by what they do.

Context Management

/compact/clear/context/summarize

Control what's in the context window. /compact triggers summarization, /clear resets entirely.

Configuration

/model/temperature/config/fast

Change model, tune parameters, adjust session settings mid-conversation.

MCP Servers

/mcp/mcp-restart/mcp-logs/mcp-add

List connected MCP servers, view their tools, restart failed connections, tail logs.

Help & Diagnostics

/help/doctor/status/debug

Dynamic help from registered commands, environment diagnostics, connection status.

Cosmetic & Fun

/stickers/color/voice/dream

Collectible companion stickers, terminal color themes, voice input, /dream for free-form generation.

Session Control

/exit/quit/reset/new

Terminate or reset the current session. /exit with a summary, /quit immediate.

Command Lifecycle — '/' to Execution

The path from user keypress to command handler call.

User types '/'

The REPL input handler detects a leading slash. It immediately shows command autocomplete suggestions from the registered command list.

QueryEngine intercepts

Before the input reaches the LLM, QueryEngine's input handler checks if it starts with '/'. If yes, it routes to the command subsystem instead.

Command lookup

The command name is extracted and matched against registered commands (case-insensitive, prefix completion). /comp matches /compact.

Handler execution

The command's handler function runs with the parsed arguments. It can call services directly, mutate session state, or render output to the terminal.

Result display

The command's output is rendered in the REPL. Some commands show inline results; others (like /compact) may show a progress indicator and then continue.

Commands vs Tools — Key Distinction

Commands

Triggered byUser types /command

CallerHuman

PipelineDirect service access, no permission check

Example/compact → calls services/compact directly

Tools

Triggered byLLM generates tool_use block

CallerClaude (LLM)

Pipelinevalidate → checkPermissions → invoke → render

ExampleBashTool → 5 security layers → subprocess

Hidden Gems — The Unusual Commands

These commands reveal that Claude Code wants to be charming, not just functional.

/dreamhidden gem

A free-form creative generation command. Sends the prompt directly to Claude without the system prompt constraining it to coding mode. For creative writing, brainstorming, or just chatting.

/stickersfully shipped

Browse and equip collectible companion pets — cats, dogs, crabs, rockets. They appear in the terminal as ASCII art stickers. Fully implemented cosmetic feature in production.

/voicespeech-to-text

Activates voice input mode via the system microphone. Speech-to-text transcribed and sent as a regular message. The REPL shows a recording indicator.

/penguineaster egg

Renders ASCII art of a penguin in the terminal. No other function. Ships in production. Someone on the Claude Code team really likes penguins.

Key Files

commands/compact/~8KB

/compact — triggers context compaction with a user summary

commands/model/~5KB

/model — switch LLM model mid-session

commands/mcp/~10KB

/mcp — manage MCP server connections, list tools, restart servers

commands/stickers/~6KB

/stickers — browse and equip cosmetic sticker companions

commands/doctor/~8KB

/doctor — environment diagnostics, dependency checks, config validation

commands/help/~4KB

/help — dynamic help text generated from registered commands

Services Module

/compact calls services/compact directly. /mcp interfaces with services/mcp for server management.

Query/Engine Module

QueryEngine intercepts slash commands before they reach the LLM — the routing logic lives there.

Tools Module

Commands vs Tools: understand why /compact is a command but BashTool is a tool.