[BUG] Auto-scroll in VSCode extension is too aggressive — gets stuck pulling user back to bottom
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?
When the model is streaming output in the VSCode extension, the panel auto-scrolls to the bottom so new text stays visible — great design. However, when the user tries to scroll up to read earlier content, the detection of manual scrolling is unreliable. Specifically:
If the user scrolls up slowly (e.g., a small wheel tick, or a slow touchpad swipe), the viewport barely moves and likely remains within the "near bottom" threshold. The system fails to recognize this as an intentional user scroll, and immediately triggers auto-scroll back to the bottom. The user gets stuck in a loop: scroll up → yanked back down → scroll up again → yanked back again. This makes it impossible to review earlier messages during streaming.
What Should Happen?
Any detected manual scroll input (mouse wheel, touchpad, scrollbar drag) should enter a cooldown period — say 0.5 to 1 second — during which auto-scroll-to-bottom is suppressed. After the cooldown expires with no further user scrolling, auto-scroll resumes. This way, even slow/short scrolls are respected, and the user can reliably stay at the position they scrolled to.
Error Messages/Logs
Steps to Reproduce
1.Open the Claude Code extension in VSCode
2.Send a prompt that produces a long streaming response (longer than the visible area)
3.While the model is streaming output, slowly scroll upward by just 1–2 wheel ticks, or do a slow touchpad swipe upward
4.Observe: the viewport briefly moves up, then almost immediately snaps back to the bottom
5.Repeat with slightly faster scrolling — sometimes it works, sometimes it still snaps back
Claude Model
Other
Is this a regression?
I don't know
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
2.1.170 (Claude Code)
Platform
Other
Operating System
Windows
Terminal/Shell
VS Code integrated terminal
Additional Information
_No response_