con keeps the terminal in front. The main controls help you move between the terminal, command input, and the agent panel without changing context.
Watch the short flow once, then use the table below as a reference.
con-demo.1.mp4
| Action | macOS | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Switch focus between terminal and input | ⌘ I | ⌃ ⇧ I |
| Show or hide the bottom input bar | ⌃ ` | ⌃ ` |
| Show or hide the agent panel | ⌘ L | ⌃ ⇧ L |
| Show or hide vertical tabs | ⌘ B | ⌃ ⇧ B |
| Cycle bottom-bar mode | ⌘ ; | ⌃ ; |
| Show or hide Quick Terminal | ⌘ Backslash after enabling | Not available |
Smart mode decides whether your text should run as a shell command or go to the agent. Use it when you want con to choose the obvious path without making you switch surfaces first.
Command mode sends text to the shell. In a multi-pane workspace, the pane picker lets you choose the focused pane, all panes, or a selected set.
Agent mode sends text to the built-in agent. Use it when you want explanation, planning, code help, or a careful change made with your approval.
These modes are why the input bar exists. It is not a second terminal prompt and not a chat box glued to the side. It is a short path from what you are looking at to the next action.
Quick Terminal is an optional macOS-only drop-down terminal. Enable it in Settings -> Keys, then use the shortcut to slide down a dedicated Con window from the top of the active screen, even when another app is frontmost.
While Con is frontmost, you can also open Quick Terminal from the command palette or View -> Quick Terminal without enabling the global shortcut.
It is separate from the main window. Hiding it keeps its live tabs, panes, cwd, and scrollback. Closing its last tab or exiting its last shell destroys it, and the next shortcut creates a fresh one.
For setup, behavior, and the difference from Summon / Hide Con, see Quick Terminal.
- Work normally in the terminal.
- Open the input bar when you need a command or a request.
- Use Command mode for direct shell work.
- Use Agent mode when you want con to reason over the visible pane and nearby context.
- Review tool actions before approving them.
When you want to tune providers, suggestions, themes, skills, or shortcuts, open Settings.
For tabs, panes, broadcast, links, and pane-local surfaces, see Terminal workflows.