[BUG] Hints advertise `btw-side-question` feature, which doesn't seem to work and isn't documented

Status Fixed / completed
Reported on v2.0.74
Maintainer reply ✓ Yes — bcherny
Activity 11 comments · opened Dec 20, 2025 · closed Jun 13, 2026
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (bcherny, collaborator) responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.

Preflight Checklist

  • [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
  • [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
  • [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

I was using Claude Code, and I got a note that said "Start with 'btw' to ask a quick side question without interrupting Claude's current work".

When I tried using the feature, my prompts just did the same thing as ordinary messages, including queuing messages that I send while Claude is spinning on something. I don't know exactly how the feature is supposed to function, but I found it in the executable via strings:

[taylor@fedora-43 versions]$ strings /var/home/taylor/.local/lib/distrobox/fedora-43/.local/share/claude/versions/2.0.74 | grep -F btw
...
btw for side question
^btw\b\s*
^btw\b
btw-side-question
Start with 'btw' to ask a quick side question without interrupting Claude's current work
...

I have versions 2.0.67 and 2.0.73 installed too, and it shows up in 73 but not 67, so it seems to be a feature in progress that isn't finished perhaps? I can't find any documentation on it at all.

What Should Happen?

I expect it to do something specific, or to not advertise a feature that doesn't work and isn't documented.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Claude Code Version

2.0.74

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Other Linux

Terminal/Shell

Other

View original on GitHub ↗

10 Comments

github-actions[bot] · 8 months ago

Found 2 possible duplicate issues:

  1. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/12396
  2. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/3315

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

  • If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and 👍 the existing issue instead
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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

NeoN0x · 7 months ago

Hello - got the same "hint," and the same behavior. (claude code 2.0.76)

When googling, I end up here. Is there any documentation on this feature?

bcherny collaborator · 7 months ago

A thing that we're experimenting with, more to come. Removing it from hints for now, sorry for the noise.

zsxkib · 7 months ago

aww i was so excited about branching chats!

jfichtner · 7 months ago

Yes, I also tried this and was disappointed. It would be a great feature!

sannc · 5 months ago

The hint is still showing up in the current version

Its-Haze · 5 months ago

I am getting this message

<img width="374" height="149" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e3e5d544-9771-4b42-8db7-9d405d2ce5ec" />

and the TUI did mention "Start with 'btw' to ask a quick side question without interrupting Claude's current work"

ansf · 5 months ago
KarstenSchmid · 5 months ago

Also happens to me, Windows-native Claude Code CLI 2.1.74.

sarahdeaton collaborator · 2 months ago

Closing as this is released and documented https://code.claude.com/docs/en/interactive-mode#side-questions-with-/btw
thanks!

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