[BUG] v2.1.168: Terminal jumps to bottom on startup with large blank gap; input no longer follows welcome screen

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Description

Since v2.1.168, when Claude Code starts in a terminal, the viewport immediately jumps to the very bottom of the screen. There is a large blank gap between the welcome screen (robot icon) and the input prompt.

Impact

Feels like a chat UI rather than a CLI tool. The startup experience is disorienting the terminal jumps down and the empty space makes it look like something failed to render.

Request

A setting to toggle between the new bottom-anchored layout and the old inline layout (input follows welcome screen, suggestions go downward).

Environment

• Claude Code v2.1.168
• OS: Ubuntu Linux
• Terminal: GNOME Terminal / VS Code integrated terminal

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What Should Happen?

Expected behavior (pre-v2.1.168)

• Welcome screen appears
• Input prompt appears immediately below it, no gap
• Slash command suggestions drop downward from the cursor

Actual behavior (v2.1.168+)

• Welcome screen appears at the top
• Large blank space fills the middle (~60-80% of the viewport)
• Input is pinned at the very bottom
• Slash command suggestions appear upward (above the cursor)
• The terminal scrolls all the way down on startup

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open any terminal (GNOME Terminal or VS Code integrated terminal)
2. Run: claude
3. Observe the startup screen

That's it, the bug is visible immediately on launch, no extra files or steps needed.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

v2.1.167

Claude Code Version

v2.1.168

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Ubuntu/Debian Linux

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

<img width="1920" height="1080" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d087071e-f2ee-40aa-a82b-5f574a713c08" />
<img width="500" height="785" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/eeeca905-61b5-4bea-94ba-5f01b6acef56" />