UX: Simplify and improve chat section configuration controls #984
Description
Summary
The chat section has become dense with configuration options that are either only relevant at one point in time or don't need to be exposed to the user at all. This issue tracks several UX improvements to streamline the new chat experience.
Current Issues
1. Required chat/workspace name field
- The required name field is an unexpected UX friction point
- Proposed: Enable auto-naming by default. Users who need to rename can do so via the left sidebar (which already supports this)
2. Project isolation options (Local/Worktree/SSH) are buried
- These are important options but currently not prominently displayed
- There's significant unused real estate above the prompt input field for new chats
- Proposed: Better utilize the empty space to surface these important options more prominently
- Reference: Example mockup
3. Model selector/configuration controls are unintuitive
| Issue | Proposed Solution |
|---|---|
| Model selector doesn't clearly look like a dropdown | Redesign to be more clearly identifiable as a dropdown menu |
| Gear icon for Model Settings is redundant | Remove since settings are accessible via global settings icon in left-nav |
| Thinking slider is difficult to see/use in dark mode | Improve visibility and usability in dark mode |
| 1M context window toggle is specific to Sonnet 4.5 | Move to model settings since few users are on Sonnet 4.5 |
Acceptance Criteria
- Auto-naming enabled by default, name field removed from initial chat creation
- Project isolation options (Local/Worktree/SSH) are more prominent in new chat UI
- Model selector redesigned as a clear dropdown
- Remove redundant gear icon for Model Settings
- Thinking slider visibility improved for dark mode
- 1M context window toggle moved to model settings