Quick commands in the Terminal
How to insert commands you repeat all the time into the active panel, and the difference between inserting and firing.
Quick commands are snippets you repeat all the time — a shell command, or an agent’s starting prompt. Instead of typing, you pick from the list and it goes into the active panel.
Where they are
- In the panel’s context menu, alongside the session’s other actions.
- In the tab bar, on the quick-commands button — useful when the panel is narrow.
Both paths use the same list.
Scope: global or repository
Each quick command belongs to one of two scopes:
- Global — appears in any project.
- Repository — appears only in that repository’s projects.
Scope is what keeps a project-specific command from leaking into all the others.
Insert or fire
There are two kinds of quick command, and the difference is exactly what happens when you pick one:
| Kind | What lands in the panel | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Shell command without submit | The command body, without Enter — you review and submit | Low: nothing runs until you press Enter |
| Command that already sends Enter | The command, and it runs immediately | High: execution happens in the active panel the instant you pick it |
| Agent command | The agent’s prompt | Depends on the agent being ready to receive |
The item that already sends Enter runs in the active panel. Confirm which panel has focus before using it — the command goes where focus is, not where you were looking a moment ago.
One specific precaution with agents
Inserting a quick command into an agent that is still starting up does not reach the agent: the text lands in the shell underneath, and the agent’s interface takes over afterwards. Wait for the agent to go idle — the procedure is in Working with an agent in the Terminal.
Where the list is edited
The quick-command list comes from your preferences: it is yours, not the project’s. Editing the commands lives in the Settings area; this page covers using them on the Terminal screen.
Limits
- Quick commands insert text; they do not replace submitting when the program requires its own confirmation.
- The command goes into the active panel — there is no destination choice at insertion time.