VSCode extension: /clear slash command sent as verbatim message instead of clearing conversation
Summary
In the Claude Code VSCode extension, typing the full string /clear and then selecting the /clear autocomplete entry sends the literal text /clear to the model as a user message instead of clearing the conversation.
If you instead partially type (e.g. just /) and pick Clear conversation from the autocomplete popup without fully typing out the command, it works correctly.
Regression: this broke within the last couple of weeks, after I simultaneously upgraded VSCode and the Claude Code extension. I don't know which of the two upgrades introduced the break. Currently reporting against:
- Claude Code:
2.1.119 - VSCode:
1.117.0 - Extension:
anthropic.claude-code@2.1.119 - OS: Linux 6.8.0-110-generic
Steps to Reproduce (broken path)
- Open the Claude Code panel in VSCode.
- Type the full string
/clearin the input. - Slash-command popup shows
/clear("Clear conversation") highlighted. - Select and submit.
!Slash-command popup with /clear selected
Expected
Conversation is cleared (same as /clear in the CLI).
Actual
/clear is delivered to the model as a literal user message. The assistant responds to it conversationally; context is not cleared:
!/clear appears as a user turn; the assistant runs a Bash tool and replies normally
Workaround
Don't type the full command — type / (or a prefix like /cl) and pick Clear conversation from the autocomplete. In that path the command is interpreted correctly.
Impact
/clear is one of the most frequently used slash commands. The current behavior along the "type-it-fully" path silently wastes tokens and pollutes context with a bogus user turn instead of resetting it.
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