feat: Add slash commands and help dialog

- Restore slash command autocomplete (type "/" to see suggestions)
- Add /compact command to trigger context compaction
- Add /clear command to clear chat history
- Add /help command with styled modal dialog
- Add HelpDialog component with command list
- Add system event handler for context warnings
- Add debug logging for all Claude events to /tmp/claude-events-debug.jsonl

TODO: Parse context warning from Claude events when identified

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

backend/server.js

@@ -837,6 +837,20 @@ wss.on('connection', async (ws, req) => {
             // Note: ExitPlanMode is now handled exclusively via Control Protocol (can_use_tool)
             // to avoid tool_result/control_response confusion and message compaction issues
 
+            // Debug: Write all events to file for context analysis
+            const debugLogPath = '/tmp/claude-events-debug.jsonl';
+            const debugEntry = {
+              timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+              sessionId,
+              event
+            };
+            try {
+              const fs = await import('fs');
+              fs.appendFileSync(debugLogPath, JSON.stringify(debugEntry) + '\n');
+            } catch (e) {
+              // Ignore write errors
+            }
+
             sendToClient('claude_event', { event });
           } catch (e) {
             // Non-JSON output, send as raw
@@ -848,10 +862,26 @@ wss.on('connection', async (ws, req) => {
     });
 
     // Handle stderr
-    claudeProcess.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
+    claudeProcess.stderr.on('data', async (data) => {
       const content = data.toString();
       // Always log stderr for SSH connections (exit code 255 debugging)
       if (DEBUG || isSSH) console.log(`[${sessionId}] stderr:`, content);
+
+      // Debug: Write stderr to file for context analysis
+      const debugLogPath = '/tmp/claude-events-debug.jsonl';
+      const debugEntry = {
+        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+        sessionId,
+        type: 'stderr',
+        content
+      };
+      try {
+        const fs = await import('fs');
+        fs.appendFileSync(debugLogPath, JSON.stringify(debugEntry) + '\n');
+      } catch (e) {
+        // Ignore write errors
+      }
+
       sendToClient('stderr', { content });
     });
 

frontend/src/components/ChatInput.jsx

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ function saveHistory(history) {
 
 // Available slash commands for autocomplete
 const COMMANDS = [
+  { name: 'compact', description: 'Compact context (summarize conversation)' },
   { name: 'help', description: 'Show available commands' },
   { name: 'clear', description: 'Clear chat history' },
   { name: 'export', description: 'Export chat as Markdown' },
@@ -295,6 +296,24 @@ export const ChatInput = memo(function ChatInput({ onSend, onStop, disabled, isP
     }
   };
 
+  // Handle input changes for slash command detection (lightweight, no state updates for value)
+  const handleInput = useCallback(() => {
+    const value = textareaRef.current?.value || '';
+
+    // Show command menu when typing "/" at the start
+    if (value.startsWith('/')) {
+      const query = value.slice(1).toLowerCase();
+      const filtered = COMMANDS.filter(cmd =>
+        cmd.name.toLowerCase().includes(query)
+      );
+      setFilteredCommands(filtered);
+      setShowCommands(filtered.length > 0);
+      setSelectedIndex(0);
+    } else {
+      setShowCommands(false);
+    }
+  }, []);
+
   return (
     <form
       onSubmit={handleSubmit}
@@ -423,6 +442,7 @@ export const ChatInput = memo(function ChatInput({ onSend, onStop, disabled, isP
             ref={textareaRef}
             defaultValue=""
             onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+            onInput={handleInput}
             onPaste={handlePaste}
             placeholder={isProcessing ? 'Type to send a follow-up message...' : placeholder}
             disabled={disabled}

frontend/src/components/ChatPanel.jsx

@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-import { memo, useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
+import { memo, useCallback, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { MessageList } from './MessageList';
 import { ChatInput } from './ChatInput';
 import { StatusBar } from './StatusBar';
 import { PermissionDialog } from './PermissionDialog';
+import { HelpDialog } from './HelpDialog';
 import { useSessionManager } from '../contexts/SessionContext';
 import { Bot } from 'lucide-react';
 
@@ -102,6 +103,7 @@ function useMemoizedSession(sessionId) {
     sendMessage,
     stopGeneration,
     clearMessages,
+    setCompacting,
     changePermissionMode,
     respondToPermission,
   } = useSessionManager();
@@ -121,9 +123,10 @@ function useMemoizedSession(sessionId) {
     send: (msg, attachments) => sendMessage(sessionId, msg, attachments),
     stopGeneration: () => stopGeneration(sessionId),
     clearMessages: () => clearMessages(sessionId),
+    setCompacting: (value) => setCompacting(sessionId, value),
     changePermissionMode: (mode) => changePermissionMode(sessionId, mode),
     respondToPermission: (reqId, allow) => respondToPermission(sessionId, reqId, allow),
-  }), [sessionId, startClaudeSession, stopClaudeSession, sendMessage, stopGeneration, clearMessages, changePermissionMode, respondToPermission]);
+  }), [sessionId, startClaudeSession, stopClaudeSession, sendMessage, stopGeneration, clearMessages, setCompacting, changePermissionMode, respondToPermission]);
 
   return { session: sessionWithMessages, ...actions };
 }
@@ -136,10 +139,13 @@ export const ChatPanel = memo(function ChatPanel({ sessionId }) {
     send,
     stopGeneration,
     clearMessages,
+    setCompacting,
     changePermissionMode,
     respondToPermission,
   } = useMemoizedSession(sessionId);
 
+  const [showHelp, setShowHelp] = useState(false);
+
   const handleClearError = useCallback(() => {
     // We'd need to add this to the session context
     // For now, errors auto-clear on next action
@@ -151,9 +157,55 @@ export const ChatPanel = memo(function ChatPanel({ sessionId }) {
   const stopGenerationRef = useRef(stopGeneration);
   stopGenerationRef.current = stopGeneration;
 
+  // Refs for slash command handlers
+  const clearMessagesRef = useRef(clearMessages);
+  clearMessagesRef.current = clearMessages;
+  const setCompactingRef = useRef(setCompacting);
+  setCompactingRef.current = setCompacting;
+  const setShowHelpRef = useRef(setShowHelp);
+  setShowHelpRef.current = setShowHelp;
+
   // These callbacks never change identity, preventing ChatInput re-renders
   const handleSendMessage = useCallback((message, attachments = []) => {
-    if (message.trim() || attachments.length > 0) {
+    const trimmed = message.trim();
+
+    // Handle slash commands locally
+    if (trimmed.startsWith('/')) {
+      const [cmd, ...args] = trimmed.slice(1).split(' ');
+      const arg = args.join(' ');
+
+      switch (cmd.toLowerCase()) {
+        case 'clear':
+          clearMessagesRef.current();
+          return;
+
+        case 'help':
+          // Show help dialog
+          setShowHelpRef.current(true);
+          return;
+
+        case 'compact':
+          // Set compacting state immediately, then send to Claude
+          setCompactingRef.current(true);
+          sendRef.current('/compact' + (arg ? ' ' + arg : ''), []);
+          return;
+
+        case 'new':
+        case 'export':
+        case 'scroll':
+        case 'info':
+        case 'history':
+          // TODO: Implement these
+          alert(`/${cmd} is not yet implemented`);
+          return;
+
+        default:
+          // Unknown command - send to Claude as-is (might be a Claude command)
+          break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (trimmed || attachments.length > 0) {
       sendRef.current(message, attachments);
     }
   }, []);
@@ -215,6 +267,9 @@ export const ChatPanel = memo(function ChatPanel({ sessionId }) {
         onAllow={(requestId) => respondToPermission(requestId, true)}
         onDeny={(requestId) => respondToPermission(requestId, false)}
       />
+
+      {/* Help Dialog */}
+      <HelpDialog open={showHelp} onClose={() => setShowHelp(false)} />
     </div>
   );
 });

frontend/src/components/HelpDialog.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { memo } from 'react';
+import { X, Terminal, Trash2, HelpCircle, FileDown, PlusCircle, Zap } from 'lucide-react';
+
+const COMMANDS = [
+  { name: '/compact', description: 'Summarize conversation to free context', icon: Zap, color: 'text-purple-400' },
+  { name: '/clear', description: 'Clear chat history', icon: Trash2, color: 'text-red-400' },
+  { name: '/help', description: 'Show this help', icon: HelpCircle, color: 'text-cyan-400' },
+  { name: '/new', description: 'Start new session (coming soon)', icon: PlusCircle, color: 'text-green-400', disabled: true },
+  { name: '/export', description: 'Export chat (coming soon)', icon: FileDown, color: 'text-yellow-400', disabled: true },
+];
+
+export const HelpDialog = memo(function HelpDialog({ open, onClose }) {
+  if (!open) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center">
+      {/* Backdrop */}
+      <div
+        className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/60 backdrop-blur-sm"
+        onClick={onClose}
+      />
+
+      {/* Dialog */}
+      <div className="relative bg-dark-800 border border-dark-600 rounded-xl shadow-2xl w-full max-w-md mx-4 overflow-hidden">
+        {/* Header */}
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-5 py-4 border-b border-dark-700">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+            <div className="p-2 bg-cyan-500/20 rounded-lg">
+              <Terminal className="w-5 h-5 text-cyan-400" />
+            </div>
+            <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold text-dark-100">Slash Commands</h2>
+          </div>
+          <button
+            onClick={onClose}
+            className="p-1.5 text-dark-400 hover:text-dark-200 hover:bg-dark-700 rounded-lg transition-colors"
+          >
+            <X className="w-5 h-5" />
+          </button>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Commands list */}
+        <div className="p-4 space-y-2">
+          {COMMANDS.map((cmd) => {
+            const Icon = cmd.icon;
+            return (
+              <div
+                key={cmd.name}
+                className={`flex items-center gap-3 p-3 rounded-lg bg-dark-900/50 ${cmd.disabled ? 'opacity-50' : ''}`}
+              >
+                <Icon className={`w-5 h-5 ${cmd.color}`} />
+                <div className="flex-1">
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                    <code className="text-sm font-mono text-dark-100">{cmd.name}</code>
+                    {cmd.disabled && (
+                      <span className="text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 bg-dark-700 text-dark-400 rounded">soon</span>
+                    )}
+                  </div>
+                  <p className="text-xs text-dark-400 mt-0.5">{cmd.description}</p>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            );
+          })}
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Footer */}
+        <div className="px-5 py-3 bg-dark-900/50 border-t border-dark-700">
+          <p className="text-xs text-dark-500 text-center">
+            Type <code className="text-orange-400">/</code> in the input field to see suggestions
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+});

frontend/src/contexts/SessionContext.jsx

@@ -389,6 +389,33 @@ export function SessionProvider({ children }) {
         break;
       }
 
+      case 'system': {
+        // System events from Claude - log full event for debugging
+        console.log(`[${sessionId}] System event:`, event.subtype, JSON.stringify(event, null, 2));
+
+        // Check for context info in system init event
+        if (event.subtype === 'init') {
+          // Log all fields to find context info
+          console.log(`[${sessionId}] System init fields:`, Object.keys(event));
+        }
+
+        // Parse context message if present
+        if (event.message) {
+          const contextMatch = event.message.match(/Context left[^:]*:\s*(\d+)%/i);
+          if (contextMatch) {
+            const contextLeft = parseInt(contextMatch[1], 10);
+            console.log(`[${sessionId}] Context left:`, contextLeft + '%');
+            updateSession(sessionId, (session) => ({
+              stats: {
+                ...(session.stats || {}),
+                contextLeftPercent: contextLeft,
+              },
+            }));
+          }
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       default:
         console.log(`[${sessionId}] Unhandled claude event:`, type, event);
     }
@@ -795,6 +822,16 @@ export function SessionProvider({ children }) {
     updateSession(sessionId, { unreadCount: 0 });
   }, [updateSession]);
 
+  // Set compacting state
+  const setCompacting = useCallback((sessionId, value) => {
+    updateSession(sessionId, {
+      stats: {
+        ...(sessions[sessionId]?.stats || {}),
+        isCompacting: value,
+      },
+    });
+  }, [updateSession, sessions]);
+
   // Change permission mode
   const changePermissionMode = useCallback((sessionId, mode) => {
     const ws = wsRefs.current[sessionId];
@@ -900,6 +937,7 @@ export function SessionProvider({ children }) {
     sendMessage,
     stopGeneration,
     clearMessages,
+    setCompacting,
 
     // Permissions
     changePermissionMode,
@@ -909,7 +947,7 @@ export function SessionProvider({ children }) {
     createSession, closeSession, removeSession, renameSession, updateSessionConfig,
     setFocusedSessionId, markAsRead, reorderTabs, addToSplit, removeFromSplit, clearSplit,
     connectSession, disconnectSession, startClaudeSession, stopClaudeSession,
-    sendMessage, stopGeneration, clearMessages, changePermissionMode, respondToPermission,
+    sendMessage, stopGeneration, clearMessages, setCompacting, changePermissionMode, respondToPermission,
   ]);
 
   return (

frontend/src/hooks/useClaudeSession.js

@@ -423,9 +423,12 @@ export function useClaudeSession() {
           isCompacting: false,
         }));
       }
-      // Detect compacting
+      // Detect compacting start/end from Claude's system messages
-      if (event.message.includes('compact')) {
+      const msg = event.message.toLowerCase();
+      if (msg.includes('compacting') || msg.includes('summarizing conversation')) {
         setSessionStats(prev => ({ ...prev, isCompacting: true }));
+      } else if (msg.includes('compacted') || msg.includes('summarized')) {
+        setSessionStats(prev => ({ ...prev, isCompacting: false }));
       }
     }
   }, []);
@@ -657,6 +660,7 @@ export function useClaudeSession() {
     changePermissionMode,
     respondToPermission,
     setError,
-    setMessages
+    setMessages,
+    setCompacting: (value) => setSessionStats(prev => ({ ...prev, isCompacting: value })),
   };
 }