Slash Command System

Slash commands (/command) let users trigger operations directly in the REPL, from /compact to compress context to /memory to manage memories.

Command Interface

type Command = {
    name: string
    description: string
    type: 'local' | 'prompt'
    call?(args, context): Promise<CommandResult>  // for local commands
    isEnabled?(context): boolean
    isHidden?: boolean
    aliases?: string[]
    whenToUse?: string         // for skills
    source?: 'builtin' | 'plugin' | 'skill' | ...
}

Command Registration

src/commands.ts merges all sources by priority:

1. Bundled skill commands
2. Built-in plugin skill commands
3. Disk skill commands
4. Workflow commands
5. Plugin commands
6. Plugin skills
7. Built-in slash commands (/compact, /memory, etc.)

Built-in Commands (~50)

Command	Description
/compact	Context compression
/memory	Memory management
/config	Settings management
/review	Code review
/doctor	Environment diagnostics
/mcp	MCP server management
/login / /logout	Authentication
/clear	Clear session
/resume	Restore previous session
/plan	Enter/exit plan mode
/vim	Toggle Vim mode
/theme	Change theme
/cost	View usage cost
/diff	View changes
/tasks	View background tasks
/skills	View available skills

Each command lives in src/commands/<name>/ with an index.ts entry.

Execution Flow

Command Queue

Commands can be queued during the agent loop, drained at each iteration via getCommandsByMaxPriority(). Command lifecycle notifications (started / completed) are tracked via notifyCommandLifecycle().

Key Source Files

File	Responsibility
src/commands.ts	Command registry: getCommands(), priority merging
src/commands/	~50 command implementations
src/utils/messageQueueManager.ts	Command queue management
src/utils/commandLifecycle.ts	Lifecycle notifications

Next

Go to 16-design-patterns.md for a summary of key design patterns.

Hands-on Experiment

This chapter has a corresponding Python experiment:

Lab 15 — Command System

Covers: slash commands, command registry, command queue

cd experiments && python -m exp_15_command_system.main --mock