[FEATURE] Add "silent kill" option for background tasks/agents
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
- [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)
Problem Statement
When killing a background task/agent using the keyboard shortcut (k), the AI is always notified that the task was terminated. This can cause unwanted behavior where the AI tries to
recover, restart, or ask questions about the killed task - cluttering the conversation and changing the AI's focus.
Proposed Solution
Add a second kill option in the task management UI:
- Press
k- Kill (current behavior, AI is notified) - Press
s(orshift+k) - Silent Kill (AI is NOT informed)
Alternative Solutions
_No response_
Priority
Medium - Would be very helpful
Feature Category
CLI commands and flags
Use Case Example
- User launches an Explore agent in background to search the codebase
- The agent is taking too long or going in the wrong direction
- User navigates with arrow down → selects the task
- User presses
sfor silent kill - The task is terminated but the AI continues the conversation unaware, without trying to recover or comment on the interruption
Additional Context
This gives users finer control over:
- Conversation flow and context management
- Preventing AI from fixating on failed/cancelled tasks
- Cleaner session history without interruption-related noise
This issue has 3 comments on GitHub. Read the full discussion on GitHub ↗