refactor: rename verboseMode to compactMode for better UX clarity (QwenLM#3075)

wenshao · euxaristia · commit 974ebf6f6ca2 · 2026-04-10T12:41:34.000-04:00
The "Compact Mode" label is more intuitive than "Verbose Mode" for users,
as it directly describes the default compact view experience. This change
inverts the boolean semantics (compactMode=false means show full output)
and exposes the setting in the /settings dialog (showInDialog: true).

- Rename ui.verboseMode → ui.compactMode with inverted default (false)
- Rename VerboseModeContext → CompactModeContext (file and exports)
- Rename TOGGLE_VERBOSE_MODE → TOGGLE_COMPACT_MODE in key bindings
- Update all consumer components with inverted logic
- Update i18n keys across 6 locales (verbose → compact)
- Update VS Code settings schema
- Add ui.compactMode documentation to settings.md
- Fix Ctrl+O description in keyboard-shortcuts.md
diff --git a/docs/users/configuration/settings.md b/docs/users/configuration/settings.md
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ Settings are organized into categories. All settings should be placed within the
 | `ui.showMemoryUsage`                    | boolean          | Display memory usage information in the UI.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | `false`     |
 | `ui.showLineNumbers`                    | boolean          | Show line numbers in code blocks in the CLI output.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | `true`      |
 | `ui.showCitations`                      | boolean          | Show citations for generated text in the chat.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | `true`      |
+| `ui.compactMode`                        | boolean          | Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view. Toggle with `Ctrl+O` during a session. When enabled, a `compact` indicator appears in the footer. The setting persists across sessions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | `false`     |
 | `enableWelcomeBack`                     | boolean          | Show welcome back dialog when returning to a project with conversation history. When enabled, Qwen Code will automatically detect if you're returning to a project with a previously generated project summary (`.qwen/PROJECT_SUMMARY.md`) and show a dialog allowing you to continue your previous conversation or start fresh. This feature integrates with the `/summary` command and quit confirmation dialog. | `true`      |
 | `ui.accessibility.enableLoadingPhrases` | boolean          | Enable loading phrases (disable for accessibility).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | `true`      |
 | `ui.accessibility.screenReader`         | boolean          | Enables screen reader mode, which adjusts the TUI for better compatibility with screen readers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | `false`     |
diff --git a/docs/users/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md b/docs/users/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ This document lists the available keyboard shortcuts in Qwen Code.
 | `Ctrl+C`                       | Cancel the ongoing request and clear the input. Press twice to exit the application.                                  |
 | `Ctrl+D`                       | Exit the application if the input is empty. Press twice to confirm.                                                   |
 | `Ctrl+L`                       | Clear the screen.                                                                                                     |
-| `Ctrl+O`                       | Toggle the display of the debug console.                                                                              |
+| `Ctrl+O`                       | Toggle compact mode (hide/show tool output and thinking).                                                             |
 | `Ctrl+S`                       | Allows long responses to print fully, disabling truncation. Use your terminal's scrollback to view the entire output. |
 | `Ctrl+T`                       | Toggle the display of tool descriptions.                                                                              |
 | `Shift+Tab` (`Tab` on Windows) | Cycle approval modes (`plan` → `default` → `auto-edit` → `yolo`)                                                      |
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/config/keyBindings.ts b/packages/cli/src/config/keyBindings.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export enum Command {
   EXIT = 'exit',
   SHOW_MORE_LINES = 'showMoreLines',
   RETRY_LAST = 'retryLast',
-  TOGGLE_VERBOSE_MODE = 'toggleVerboseMode',
+  TOGGLE_COMPACT_MODE = 'toggleCompactMode',
 
   // Shell commands
   REVERSE_SEARCH = 'reverseSearch',
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ export const defaultKeyBindings: KeyBindingConfig = {
   [Command.EXIT]: [{ key: 'd', ctrl: true }],
   [Command.SHOW_MORE_LINES]: [{ key: 's', ctrl: true }],
   [Command.RETRY_LAST]: [{ key: 'y', ctrl: true }],
-  [Command.TOGGLE_VERBOSE_MODE]: [{ key: 'o', ctrl: true }],
+  [Command.TOGGLE_COMPACT_MODE]: [{ key: 'o', ctrl: true }],
 
   // Shell commands
   [Command.REVERSE_SEARCH]: [{ key: 'r', ctrl: true }],
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
@@ -591,15 +591,15 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
         description: 'The last time the feedback dialog was shown.',
         showInDialog: false,
       },
-      verboseMode: {
+      compactMode: {
         type: 'boolean',
-        label: 'Verbose Mode',
+        label: 'Compact Mode',
         category: 'UI',
         requiresRestart: false,
-        default: true,
+        default: false,
         description:
-          'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).',
-        showInDialog: false,
+          'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).',
+        showInDialog: true,
       },
     },
   },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/de.js b/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/de.js
@@ -1970,9 +1970,9 @@ export default {
     'Raw-Modus nicht verfügbar. Bitte in einem interaktiven Terminal ausführen.',
   '(Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)\n':
     '(↑ ↓ Pfeiltasten zum Navigieren, Enter zum Auswählen, Strg+C zum Beenden)\n',
-  verbose: 'ausführlich',
-  'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
-    'Vollständige Tool-Ausgabe und Denkprozess im ausführlichen Modus anzeigen (mit Strg+O umschalten).',
+  compact: 'kompakt',
+  'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
+    'Tool-Ausgabe und Denkprozess ausblenden für eine übersichtlichere Ansicht (mit Strg+O umschalten).',
   'Press Ctrl+O to show full tool output':
     'Strg+O für vollständige Tool-Ausgabe drücken',
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/en.js b/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/en.js
@@ -2010,9 +2010,9 @@ export default {
     'Raw mode not available. Please run in an interactive terminal.',
   '(Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)\n':
     '(Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)\n',
-  verbose: 'verbose',
-  'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
-    'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).',
+  compact: 'compact',
+  'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
+    'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).',
   'Press Ctrl+O to show full tool output':
     'Press Ctrl+O to show full tool output',
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/ja.js b/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/ja.js
@@ -1462,9 +1462,9 @@ export default {
     'Rawモードが利用できません。インタラクティブターミナルで実行してください。',
   '(Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)\n':
     '(↑ ↓ 矢印キーで移動、Enter で選択、Ctrl+C で終了)\n',
-  verbose: '詳細',
-  'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
-    '詳細モードで完全なツール出力と思考を表示します（Ctrl+O で切り替え）。',
+  compact: 'コンパクト',
+  'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
+    'コンパクトモードでツール出力と思考を非表示にします（Ctrl+O で切り替え）。',
   'Press Ctrl+O to show full tool output': 'Ctrl+O で完全なツール出力を表示',
 
   'Switch to plan mode or exit plan mode':
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/pt.js b/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/pt.js
@@ -1960,9 +1960,9 @@ export default {
     'Modo raw não disponível. Execute em um terminal interativo.',
   '(Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)\n':
     '(Use ↑ ↓ para navegar, Enter para selecionar, Ctrl+C para sair)\n',
-  verbose: 'detalhado',
-  'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
-    'Mostrar saída completa da ferramenta e raciocínio no modo detalhado (alternar com Ctrl+O).',
+  compact: 'compacto',
+  'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
+    'Ocultar saída da ferramenta e raciocínio para uma visualização mais limpa (alternar com Ctrl+O).',
   'Press Ctrl+O to show full tool output':
     'Pressione Ctrl+O para exibir a saída completa da ferramenta',
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/ru.js b/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/ru.js
@@ -1967,9 +1967,9 @@ export default {
     'Raw-режим недоступен. Пожалуйста, запустите в интерактивном терминале.',
   '(Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)\n':
     '(↑ ↓ стрелки для навигации, Enter для выбора, Ctrl+C для выхода)\n',
-  verbose: 'подробный',
-  'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
-    'Показывать полный вывод инструментов и процесс рассуждений в подробном режиме (переключить с помощью Ctrl+O).',
+  compact: 'компактный',
+  'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
+    'Скрывать вывод инструментов и процесс рассуждений для более чистого вида (переключить с помощью Ctrl+O).',
   'Press Ctrl+O to show full tool output':
     'Нажмите Ctrl+O для показа полного вывода инструментов',
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/zh.js b/packages/cli/src/i18n/locales/zh.js
@@ -1814,9 +1814,9 @@ export default {
     '原始模式不可用。请在交互式终端中运行。',
   '(Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)\n':
     '(使用 ↑ ↓ 箭头导航，Enter 选择，Ctrl+C 退出)\n',
-  verbose: '详细',
-  'Show full tool output and thinking in verbose mode (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
-    '详细模式下显示完整工具输出和思考过程（Ctrl+O 切换）。',
+  compact: '紧凑',
+  'Hide tool output and thinking for a cleaner view (toggle with Ctrl+O).':
+    '紧凑模式下隐藏工具输出和思考过程，界面更简洁（Ctrl+O 切换）。',
   'Press Ctrl+O to show full tool output': '按 Ctrl+O 查看详细工具调用结果',
 
   'Switch to plan mode or exit plan mode': '切换到计划模式或退出计划模式',
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ import { useApprovalModeCommand } from './hooks/useApprovalModeCommand.js';
 import { useResumeCommand } from './hooks/useResumeCommand.js';
 import { useSlashCommandProcessor } from './hooks/slashCommandProcessor.js';
 import { useVimMode } from './contexts/VimModeContext.js';
-import { VerboseModeProvider } from './contexts/VerboseModeContext.js';
+import { CompactModeProvider } from './contexts/CompactModeContext.js';
 import { useTerminalSize } from './hooks/useTerminalSize.js';
 import { calculatePromptWidths } from './components/InputPrompt.js';
 import { useStdin, useStdout } from 'ink';
@@ -1275,8 +1275,8 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
   const [showToolDescriptions, setShowToolDescriptions] =
     useState<boolean>(false);
 
-  const [verboseMode, setVerboseMode] = useState<boolean>(
-    settings.merged.ui?.verboseMode ?? true,
+  const [compactMode, setCompactMode] = useState<boolean>(
+    settings.merged.ui?.compactMode ?? false,
   );
   const [frozenSnapshot, setFrozenSnapshot] = useState<
     HistoryItemWithoutId[] | null
@@ -1694,10 +1694,10 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
         if (activePtyId || embeddedShellFocused) {
           setEmbeddedShellFocused((prev) => !prev);
         }
-      } else if (keyMatchers[Command.TOGGLE_VERBOSE_MODE](key)) {
-        const newValue = !verboseMode;
-        setVerboseMode(newValue);
-        void settings.setValue(SettingScope.User, 'ui.verboseMode', newValue);
+      } else if (keyMatchers[Command.TOGGLE_COMPACT_MODE](key)) {
+        const newValue = !compactMode;
+        setCompactMode(newValue);
+        void settings.setValue(SettingScope.User, 'ui.compactMode', newValue);
         refreshStatic();
         // Only freeze during the actual responding phase. WaitingForConfirmation
         // must keep focus so the user can approve/cancel tool confirmation UI.
@@ -1739,8 +1739,8 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
       // debugKeystrokeLogging is read at call time, so no stale closure risk.
       settings,
       isAuthenticating,
-      verboseMode,
-      setVerboseMode,
+      compactMode,
+      setCompactMode,
       setFrozenSnapshot,
       pendingHistoryItems,
       refreshStatic,
@@ -2167,9 +2167,9 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
     ],
   );
 
-  const verboseModeValue = useMemo(
-    () => ({ verboseMode, frozenSnapshot }),
-    [verboseMode, frozenSnapshot],
+  const compactModeValue = useMemo(
+    () => ({ compactMode, frozenSnapshot }),
+    [compactMode, frozenSnapshot],
   );
 
   return (
@@ -2182,11 +2182,11 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
               startupWarnings: props.startupWarnings || [],
             }}
           >
-            <VerboseModeProvider value={verboseModeValue}>
+            <CompactModeProvider value={compactModeValue}>
               <ShellFocusContext.Provider value={isFocused}>
                 <App />
               </ShellFocusContext.Provider>
-            </VerboseModeProvider>
+            </CompactModeProvider>
           </AppContext.Provider>
         </ConfigContext.Provider>
       </UIActionsContext.Provider>
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/Footer.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/Footer.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { useStatusLine } from '../hooks/useStatusLine.js';
 import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
 import { useConfig } from '../contexts/ConfigContext.js';
 import { useVimMode } from '../contexts/VimModeContext.js';
-import { useVerboseMode } from '../contexts/VerboseModeContext.js';
+import { useCompactMode } from '../contexts/CompactModeContext.js';
 import { ApprovalMode } from '@qwen-code/qwen-code-core';
 import { t } from '../../i18n/index.js';
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const Footer: React.FC = () => {
   const config = useConfig();
   const { vimEnabled, vimMode } = useVimMode();
   const { text: statusLineText } = useStatusLine();
-  const { verboseMode } = useVerboseMode();
+  const { compactMode } = useCompactMode();
 
   const { promptTokenCount, showAutoAcceptIndicator } = {
     promptTokenCount: uiState.sessionStats.lastPromptTokenCount,
@@ -101,10 +101,10 @@ export const Footer: React.FC = () => {
       ),
     });
   }
-  if (verboseMode) {
+  if (compactMode) {
     rightItems.push({
-      key: 'verbose',
-      node: <Text color={theme.text.accent}>{t('verbose')}</Text>,
+      key: 'compact',
+      node: <Text color={theme.text.accent}>{t('compact')}</Text>,
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/HistoryItemDisplay.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/HistoryItemDisplay.tsx
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ import { ContextUsage } from './views/ContextUsage.js';
 import { ArenaAgentCard, ArenaSessionCard } from './arena/ArenaCards.js';
 import { InsightProgressMessage } from './messages/InsightProgressMessage.js';
 import { BtwMessage } from './messages/BtwMessage.js';
-import { useVerboseMode } from '../contexts/VerboseModeContext.js';
+import { useCompactMode } from '../contexts/CompactModeContext.js';
 
 interface HistoryItemDisplayProps {
   item: HistoryItem;
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ const HistoryItemDisplayComponent: React.FC<HistoryItemDisplayProps> = ({
       ? 0
       : 1;
 
-  const { verboseMode } = useVerboseMode();
+  const { compactMode } = useCompactMode();
   const itemForDisplay = useMemo(() => escapeAnsiCtrlCodes(item), [item]);
   const contentWidth = terminalWidth - 4;
   const boxWidth = mainAreaWidth || contentWidth;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ const HistoryItemDisplayComponent: React.FC<HistoryItemDisplayProps> = ({
           contentWidth={contentWidth}
         />
       )}
-      {verboseMode && itemForDisplay.type === 'gemini_thought' && (
+      {!compactMode && itemForDisplay.type === 'gemini_thought' && (
         <ThinkMessage
           text={itemForDisplay.text}
           isPending={isPending}
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ const HistoryItemDisplayComponent: React.FC<HistoryItemDisplayProps> = ({
           contentWidth={contentWidth}
         />
       )}
-      {verboseMode && itemForDisplay.type === 'gemini_thought_content' && (
+      {!compactMode && itemForDisplay.type === 'gemini_thought_content' && (
         <ThinkMessageContent
           text={itemForDisplay.text}
           isPending={isPending}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/MainContent.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/MainContent.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
 import { useAppContext } from '../contexts/AppContext.js';
 import { AppHeader } from './AppHeader.js';
 import { DebugModeNotification } from './DebugModeNotification.js';
-import { useVerboseMode } from '../contexts/VerboseModeContext.js';
+import { useCompactMode } from '../contexts/CompactModeContext.js';
 
 // Limit Gemini messages to a very high number of lines to mitigate performance
 // issues in the worst case if we somehow get an enormous response from Gemini.
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const MAX_GEMINI_MESSAGE_LINES = 65536;
 export const MainContent = () => {
   const { version } = useAppContext();
   const uiState = useUIState();
-  const { frozenSnapshot } = useVerboseMode();
+  const { frozenSnapshot } = useCompactMode();
   const {
     pendingHistoryItems,
     terminalWidth,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/Footer.test.tsx.snap b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/Footer.test.tsx.snap
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 exports[`<Footer /> > footer rendering (golden snapshots) > renders complete footer on narrow terminal > complete-footer-narrow 1`] = `
 "  ? for shortcuts
-  0.1% used  | verbose"
+  0.1% used"
 `;
 
-exports[`<Footer /> > footer rendering (golden snapshots) > renders complete footer on wide terminal > complete-footer-wide 1`] = `"  ? for shortcuts                                                     0.1% context used  | verbose"`;
+exports[`<Footer /> > footer rendering (golden snapshots) > renders complete footer on wide terminal > complete-footer-wide 1`] = `"  ? for shortcuts                                                                0.1% context used"`;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolGroupMessage.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolGroupMessage.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { CompactToolGroupDisplay } from './CompactToolGroupDisplay.js';
 import { theme } from '../../semantic-colors.js';
 import { SHELL_COMMAND_NAME, SHELL_NAME } from '../../constants.js';
 import { useConfig } from '../../contexts/ConfigContext.js';
-import { useVerboseMode } from '../../contexts/VerboseModeContext.js';
+import { useCompactMode } from '../../contexts/CompactModeContext.js';
 import type { AgentResultDisplay } from '@qwen-code/qwen-code-core';
 
 function isAgentWithPendingConfirmation(
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export const ToolGroupMessage: React.FC<ToolGroupMessageProps> = ({
   isUserInitiated,
 }) => {
   const config = useConfig();
-  const { verboseMode } = useVerboseMode();
+  const { compactMode } = useCompactMode();
 
   const hasConfirmingTool = toolCalls.some(
     (t) => t.status === ToolCallStatus.Confirming,
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export const ToolGroupMessage: React.FC<ToolGroupMessageProps> = ({
   // Force-expand when: user must interact (Confirming), tool errored,
   // shell is focused, or user-initiated
   const showCompact =
-    !verboseMode &&
+    compactMode &&
     !hasConfirmingTool &&
     !hasErrorTool &&
     !isEmbeddedShellFocused &&
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.test.tsx
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.tsx
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/CompactModeContext.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/CompactModeContext.tsx
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/VerboseModeContext.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/contexts/VerboseModeContext.tsx
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/keyMatchers.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/keyMatchers.test.ts
diff --git a/packages/vscode-ide-companion/schemas/settings.schema.json b/packages/vscode-ide-companion/schemas/settings.schema.json
