$B connect (default): headed Chromium + extension with Activity + Refs
tabs only. No separate agent spawned. Clean, no confusion.
$B connect --chat: same + Chat tab with standalone claude -p agent.
Shows experimental banner: "Standalone mode — this is a separate
agent from your workspace."
Implementation:
- cli.ts: parse --chat, set BROWSE_SIDEBAR_CHAT env, conditionally
spawn sidebar-agent
- server.ts: gate /sidebar-* routes behind chatEnabled, return 403
when disabled, include chatEnabled in /health response
- sidepanel.js: applyChatEnabled() hides/shows Chat tab + banner
- background.js: forward chatEnabled from health response
- sidepanel.html/css: experimental banner with amber styling
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Three changes to eliminate manual side panel setup:
- Auto-open side panel on extension install/update (onInstalled listener)
- gstack pill (bottom-right) is now clickable — opens the side panel
- Pill has pointer-events: auto so clicks always register (was: none)
User no longer needs to find the puzzle piece icon, pin the extension,
or know the side panel exists. It opens automatically on first launch
and can be re-opened by clicking the floating gstack pill.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Shows an amber spinner with "Connecting..." when the sidebar first opens,
replacing the empty state. After the first successful /sidebar-chat poll:
- If chat history exists: renders it immediately
- If no history: shows the welcome message
Prevents the jarring empty-then-populated flash on sidebar open.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Sidebar UI now handles disconnection gracefully:
- Connection state machine: connected → reconnecting → dead
- Amber pulsing banner during reconnect (2s retry, 30 attempts)
- Red "Server offline" banner with Reconnect + Copy /connect-chrome buttons
- Green "Reconnected" toast that fades after 3s on successful reconnect
- Copy button lets user paste /connect-chrome into any Claude Code session
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Update Chrome extension to use Bearer auth on all sidebar endpoints:
- background.js captures auth token from /health, exposes via getToken msg
- background.js sets openPanelOnActionClick for direct side panel access
- sidepanel.js gets token from background, sends in all fetch headers
- Health broadcasts include token so sidebar auto-authenticates
- Removes popup from manifest — icon click opens side panel directly
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Replace popup flyout with direct side panel open on icon click. Primary
UI is now a chat interface that sends messages to Claude Code via file
queue. Activity/Refs tabs moved behind a debug toggle in the footer.
Command bar with history, auto-poll for responses, amber design system.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Import design system from gstack-website. Update all extension colors:
green (#4ade80) → amber (#F59E0B/#FBBF24), zinc gray neutrals, grain
texture overlay. Regenerate icons as amber "G" monogram on dark background.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Small pill in bottom-right corner of every page: "● gstack · 3 refs"
Shows when connected via CDP, fades to 30% opacity after 3s, full on hover.
Disappears entirely when disconnected.
Background worker now notifies content scripts on connect/disconnect state
changes so the pill appears/disappears without polling.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Chrome extension (Manifest V3, sideload):
- Side Panel with live activity feed, @ref overlays, dark terminal aesthetic
- Background worker: health polling, SSE relay, ref fetching
- Popup: port config, connection status, side panel launcher
- Content script: floating ref panel with @ref badges
Conductor API proposal (docs/designs/CONDUCTOR_SESSION_API.md):
- SSE endpoint for full Claude Code session mirroring in Side Panel
- Discovery via HTTP endpoint (not filesystem — extensions can't read files)
TODOS.md: add $B watch, multi-agent tabs, cross-platform CDP, Web Store publishing.
Mark CDP mode as shipped.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Garry Tan