[FEATURE] Add setting to always show thinking blocks (instead of requiring Ctrl+O toggle)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

Description:

After a recent update, thinking blocks are now hidden by default and require pressing Ctrl+O to toggle visibility. Previously,
thinking blocks were always visible.

Request:
Please add a configuration option to control this behavior, allowing users to choose whether thinking blocks should be:

• Always visible by default (previous behavior)
• Hidden by default, requiring Ctrl+O to show (current behavior)

Use Case:
Some users prefer to always see the thinking process without having to manually toggle it each time, as it provides valuable
insight into how Claude is approaching problems.

Proposed Solution

Add an environment variable or configuration option in .claude/claude_code_config.json, such as:
{
"showThinkingByDefault": true
}

Or as an environment variable:
CLAUDE_SHOW_THINKING=true

Alternative Solutions

_No response_

Priority

Medium - Would be very helpful

Feature Category

Configuration and settings

Use Case Example

Some users prefer to always see the thinking process without having to manually toggle it each time, as it provides valuable
insight into how Claude is approaching problems.

Additional Context

_No response_