[Feature Request] Setting to auto-expand tool output (default verbose mode)
Problem
When running Bash commands that produce multiline output, Claude Code collapses the output with a "+N lines (ctrl+o to expand)" message. While this is useful for verbose commands, it creates friction for commands where the output is the primary deliverable.
Example use case: A custom skill that shows PR status in a formatted table. The script outputs ~10 lines with colors (using tput), but users see:
Bash(~/.claude/skills/pr-status/status.sh PROJ-1234)
# PROJ-1234 PR Stack (Live Status)
PR | Title
... +9 lines (ctrl+o to expand)
The user must press Ctrl+O every time to see the full output, which defeats the purpose of a quick status check.
Requested Feature
Add a setting to configure default verbose/expanded output behavior. For example:
{
"defaultVerboseOutput": true
}
Or more granular control:
{
"toolOutputDisplayLines": 50
}
This would set the threshold before collapsing, allowing users who prefer seeing full output to configure it once rather than pressing Ctrl+O every session.
Current Workaround
Press Ctrl+O at the start of each session to toggle verbose mode. This is session-specific and resets when starting a new Claude Code session.
Additional Context
- The collapsed view is great for commands with hundreds of lines of output
- But for intentionally short, formatted output (status displays, tables, summaries), collapsing creates unnecessary friction
- A configurable threshold would let users choose their preferred behavior
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