anthropics / anthropics/claude-code

[VS Code extension] Option to collapse/hide tool-use cards and their output in the chat feed

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area:ide enhancement stale
Dominant language
Python
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Description

### Preflight Checklist

- [x] I have searched [existing requests](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20label%3Aenhancement) and this feature hasn't been requested yet
- [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

### Problem Statement

### Problem
I use Claude Code inside the VS Code extension (v2.1.220), not the terminal.
I am not a developer — I use it to run my business, not to read code.

The chat feed is dominated by tool-use cards (Read / Bash / Edit) and their
raw output (git logs, file contents, config dumps). For me this is pure noise:
I only want to read Claude's conclusions, not the mechanics of how it got there.

`"verbose": false` in settings.json does not affect these cards in the
extension — they are always shown and expanded.

### Proposed Solution

### Request
A way to collapse or hide tool-use cards and their output by default in the
VS Code extension. Ideally:
- An extension setting (e.g. "Collapse tool output by default" / "Hide tool cards").
- And/or a per-message toggle to expand a card only when I want to inspect it.

### Alternative Solutions

### Why it matters
Non-technical users (business owners, writers, analysts) increasingly use
Claude Code as an assistant. A clean, conclusions-only feed would make it far
more usable for this audience without removing any capability for developers.

Environment: Claude Code VS Code extension, v2.1.220, Windows 11.

### Priority

Medium - Would be very helpful

### Feature Category

Performance and speed

### Use Case Example

_No response_

### Additional Context

_No response_

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

Start by reproducing the VS Code extension chat feed with tool-use cards and checking how extension settings are defined and applied. Review the existing chat UI and settings entry points; done means tool cards or their output can be collapsed or hidden by default while remaining available through an explicit toggle.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
vscode
Domain
desktop, developer-experience
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
38/100

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