[FEATURE] VS Code: silent mode for Edit/Write tools to prevent focus stealing

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 Claude Code uses the Edit or Write tools in VS Code, the affected file opens in the editor and steals focus from whatever the user is working on. This breaks the user's flow, especially when the AI is editing files the user isn't actively viewing (config files, test files, files outside the project).

Proposed Solution

Add a silent or background mode for Edit and Write tools that modifies the file via the filesystem API without forcing VS Code to open the tab or move the cursor. Something like a silent flag on the tool.

Alternative Solutions

Users currently instruct Claude to use sed or heredoc via Bash instead of the native Edit/Write tools for background files. This works but bypasses the validation and safety checks of the native tools.

Priority

Low - Nice to have

Feature Category

Interactive mode (TUI)

Use Case Example

I'm editing Component.tsx. Claude needs to update a config file and a test file as part of its task. Each Edit call opens those files and yanks my cursor away from Component.tsx. I have to click back to my file each time.

Additional Context

_No response_