VS Code extension: two-column layout (or height caps) so input + long messages don't cover Claude's replies

Problem

In the VS Code extension, there's no control over how much vertical space the input box and rendered user messages consume, and both grow unbounded with content. This creates two related issues:

1. Composer input box — as I type a long prompt, the input field auto-grows vertically with no cap. A long message expands the box until it covers Claude's most recent reply. I can't read the reply I'm responding to while I compose my follow-up.

1. Displayed user messages — a long command I already sent renders as a full-height block in the conversation. It pushes the reply down and eats vertical space. The fade-out gradient on long messages dims the text but doesn't actually shorten the block.

Net effect: the extension gives no control over how vertical space is split between my text and Claude's replies. On a long prompt, my own text dominates the panel and the actual conversation is squeezed out.

Proposed solution

Preferred: an optional two-column layout. Left column shows only my last sent command plus the text input field for my next command; right column shows Claude's ongoing replies. This separates my text from the conversation entirely, so composing a long prompt (or having sent a long one) can never cover the reply I'm reading. It directly solves the root problem rather than patching the symptoms, and a wide panel stops feeling like wasted space.

Lighter fallbacks, if a full layout option is too much, any one of these helps and together they substantially solve it:

• claudeCode.maxInputLines (or similar) — cap the composer at N lines; scroll internally beyond that instead of growing to cover the conversation.
• Collapsible long user messages in the transcript — truncate to N lines with a "show more" toggle (the fade gradient already hints at this; make it actually collapse).
• claudeCode.composerMaxHeight percentage cap so the input can never consume more than X% of the panel.

Related

Adjacent to #63813 (cap chat panel max-width), but this is about vertical space / height and layout, not width.

Environment

• Claude Code VS Code extension
• macOS