Slash Commands

Slash Commands

Overview of the chat slash-commands capability: what exists, its operation, and usage methodology.

What are Slash Commands?

• Type / at the beginning of the chat input to display command suggestions.
• Utilize Arrow keys or Tab/Enter to select; add optional arguments following the command.

Command Categories

• Default Commands: perpetually available
• Advanced Commands (Sypha): powered by Sypha command orchestrator
• Workflow Commands: project-specific workflows sourced from enabled files

Default Commands

• /newtask: Generate a new task with current context
• /smol (alias: /compact): Compress context window
• /newrule: Generate a new Sypha rule (may activate a rules file check)
• /reportbug: Generate a GitHub issue
• /deep-planning: Insert a comprehensive implementation plan

Advanced Commands (Sypha)

Available when utilizing the Sypha build. Supported by src/commands/sypha-commands/* and orchestrated via command-orchestrator.

• /analyze: Code analysis (quality/security/performance/architecture)
• /implement: Guided implementation with personas/tools
• /workflow: Generate implementation workflows
• /task: Task management with persistence
• /design: Architecture and component design
• /improve: Refactors and improvements
• /test: Testing flows
• /document: Documentation generation
• /estimate: Estimation
• /troubleshoot: Troubleshooting flows

Workflow Commands

• Any enabled workflow filename becomes a slash command.
• Local workflows take precedence over global; collisions are managed deterministically.

UI Behavior

• Component: webview-ui/src/components/chat/SlashCommandMenu-sypha.tsx (Sypha) or SlashCommandMenu.tsx (base)
• Util: webview-ui/src/utils/slash-commands-sypha.ts (Sypha) or slash-commands.ts (base)
• Sections displayed: Default, Advanced (Sypha), Workflow
• Mentions and commands support deletion and highlighting during typing

Parser Flow (server-side)

• Sypha build: src/core/slash-commands/index-sypha.ts
  1. Advanced: isSyphaCommand → processSyphaCommand
  2. Default: insert canned instructions
  3. Workflow: inject <explicit_instructions> with file content
  4. Telemetry: command usage captured
• Base build: src/core/slash-commands/index.ts (no advanced step)

Renaming/Branding (Sypha)

• Advanced command APIs exposed as isSyphaCommand/processSyphaCommand
• Advanced commands reside under src/commands/sypha-commands/*
• Terminal label: "Sypha"; task file: .sypha-tasks.json

Usage Tips

• Begin with / to browse commands; continue typing to filter
• Provide explicit arguments following the command (e.g., /analyze src/components)
• Combine with mentions @file, @folder, etc., for additional context

Testing Pointers

• UI: verify menu displays, keyboard navigation, insertion/deletion
• Parser: precedence order (Advanced → Default → Workflow)
• Workflows: local vs global precedence and content injection

Key Files

• UI menus: webview-ui/src/components/chat/SlashCommandMenu-sypha.tsx
• UI utils: webview-ui/src/utils/slash-commands-sypha.ts
• Parser: src/core/slash-commands/index-sypha.ts
• Advanced orchestrator: src/commands/sypha-commands/command-orchestrator.ts

Getting Started Workflow (New Users)

1. Open Sypha chat (Command Palette: "Sypha: Focus Chat Input").
2. Type / to open the command menu; utilize Arrow keys to browse.
3. Select a default command (e.g., /newtask) or an advanced one (e.g., /analyze).
4. Add arguments following the command (e.g., /analyze src/components).
5. Press Enter to submit. Review the plan/response and iterate.
6. Optional: enable workflow files to expose project-specific commands.