VSCode sticky user message header hides assistant responses in long turns
Description
When a user message is tall (e.g. pasting compiler output, logs, or large code blocks), the assistant's response within the same turn becomes completely invisible, hidden behind the sticky user message header.
Root cause
User messages in the chat have position: sticky; z-index: 2; top: 0 (the .stickyHeader CSS class). This is designed to keep the user's prompt visible while scrolling through the AI's response. However, when the user message is taller than the viewport, the sticky element's visual extent covers the entire assistant response area below it. Since the sticky header has z-index: 2 and the timeline/assistant messages have z-index: auto, the assistant responses render behind the sticky user message and are completely invisible.
Example
- User pastes 2510px of compiler output
- Assistant responds with thinking + text + tool calls (~476px total)
- The sticky user message pins to
top: 0and extends to y≈367 in the viewport - All assistant messages (y=142 to y=371) are painted behind the sticky header
- The user sees compiler output, then the next user message, with no visible AI response in between
CSS rules involved
.message_07S1Yg.stickyHeader_07S1Yg {
position: sticky;
z-index: 2;
top: 0;
background-image: linear-gradient(...);
}
.message_07S1Yg.stickyHeader_07S1Yg:has([aria-expanded=true]) {
z-index: 3;
}
Reproduction
- Open a session in VSCode/Cursor
- Paste a large block of text (e.g. 50+ lines of compiler output or logs) as a user message
- Wait for the AI to respond with tool calls
- Scroll through the turn. The assistant's response (text, tool calls, thinking) is invisible
Verified fix
Remove sticky positioning entirely; the conversation should be a linear scroll:
.message.stickyHeader {
position: relative; /* was: sticky */
z-index: auto; /* was: 2 */
/* remove top: 0 and background-image gradient */
}
Tested by patching webview/index.css; assistant responses become visible, no visual regressions observed.
Version
Claude Code 2.1.109
This issue has 2 comments on GitHub. Read the full discussion on GitHub ↗