Commands
You run these slash commands inside a session. Type / to browse them
with live autocomplete, or /help for this list in the terminal. The
Keys section of the TUI page lists keyboard shortcuts, such as
Shift+Tab to cycle modes.
Modes and models
/plan [task] · /build [task] · /brainstorm [task] | Switch to that mode. With a task, run that task in that mode and keep the session's mode, with two exceptions. Choosing Execute Plan after /plan <task> switches the session to BUILD. After /brainstorm <task>, answering y when the model suggests another mode switches the session to that mode. |
/mode [plan|build|brainstorm] | Show or switch mode |
/permissions [ask|accept-edits|auto|readonly] | Set the permission mode for this session. default <mode> saves a mode as the default for every new session. list shows saved approvals and permission rules, remove <entry> forgets one approval, and reset forgets this project's "always allow" and "allow this session" answers. |
/sandbox [off|auto|require|status] | Set the OS sandbox mode for shell commands, or show its status |
/model [name | <url> <model>] | Switch the AI model mid-session. /model <url> <model> uses the server at that address. |
/effort [off|low|medium|high] | Show or set the reasoning depth |
/local | Probe local servers and list GGUF models |
Context and git
/compact | Compress context to free token budget |
/context · /cost | Show context window usage, or show session tokens and estimated spend. /context splits the usage into the system prompt, tools, MCP tools, conversation and images, estimated at 4 characters a token. It takes the total from the count measured on the last request when one is available, and says when the endpoint did not report its context window. |
/diff [turn] | List the files changed since the last commit with their added and removed line counts, then show the diff of the file you pick. /diff turn shows what the last agent turn changed. In a repository whose git config can make git run programs, such as hooks, filters or an external diff, bwn asks before it runs git. |
/review [--base <ref>|--staged] [focus] | Run a read-only AI review of your uncommitted changes, untracked files included. --staged reviews only staged changes. --base <ref> adds the changes since your branch left that ref. Any other words set the focus. |
/commit · /pr | Draft a commit message for your staged changes and commit once you answer c. Like /diff, /commit asks before it runs git in a repository whose git config can make git run programs. /pr has the agent write a PR title and description from the branch diff, then open the PR with gh pr create if gh is installed or print the text. |
/add-dir [path] | Let the agent read and change files in another folder for this session. With no path, it lists the folders you added. |
/checkpoints · /undo [latest|git|all|<id>] | List this folder's edit checkpoints, newest first, or restore them. /undo reverts the last agent turn's edits. /undo latest and /undo <id> restore one checkpoint. After you confirm, /undo all restores every checkpoint from the last 24 hours and /undo git runs git checkout -- .. /undo all lists what it will restore before it asks. If you changed a file after the agent edited it, every form except /undo git asks before it overwrites that file, and keeps your version unless you answer y. |
/rewind | Go back to an earlier prompt and restore the code, the conversation, or both. When the conversation goes back, your prompt returns to the composer. Esc Esc on an empty composer opens it too. |
Conversation
/new · /resume | Start a fresh session, or resume a saved one |
/rename <name> | Name this session |
/export [file] | Write this conversation to a Markdown file. With no file name, bwn writes ~/.buildwithnexus/exports/<session-id>.md. |
/copy | Copy the last answer to the clipboard through OSC 52, which also works over SSH. Terminals without OSC 52 support ignore it. |
/ask <question> | Ask a side question. The model answers in read-only mode with the conversation as context, and bwn adds neither the question nor the answer to the conversation. |
/btw <context> | Add a note to your next message without interrupting the agent |
/clear | Clear the screen and start a fresh session |
Automation
/schedule <delay> <task> | Run the task once as a background workflow after the delay. The run uses this session's permission mode, provider and model. A background run cannot answer an approval prompt, so bwn blocks anything in it that needs one. Outside auto, bwn warns about this when you schedule the task. |
/loop <interval> <task> | Run the task repeatedly as a background workflow, with the interval between runs. A run that fails or has a change refused stops the loop. |
/workflows | List, cancel and inspect background workflows. Up to 2 run at a time by default, and max_concurrent_workflows sets that limit. Workflows run only while bwn is open. Unfinished workflows come back after a restart with new numbers. bwn writes each finished run's output to ~/.buildwithnexus/workflows/<id>.log, so a run from before the restart keeps its log under its old number. |
/teamwork | Show how the model hands subtasks to helper agents and how many run at once |
/grill-me | Answer three questions about risk, reversibility and target confidence. bwn records the answers as a decision in .buildwithnexus/knowledge/. |
Project
/memory · /skills · /tools · /rules | View and edit session memory, list skills and script commands, browse tools, or list the active rules. A script command is a .sh, .py or .bash command file. /skills leaves out Markdown command files, which the / popup lists. The rules are the built-in set, changed or extended by JSON files in ~/.buildwithnexus/rules/, plus the rules in the project's .buildwithnexus/rules/. |
/kb · /verify | Index the function and type names in the project's Rust, Python, JavaScript and TypeScript files into the knowledge base, which @kb: searches. /verify runs check_work and evaluates changed files against project rules. |
/agents | List your helper agents and the tools each may use, then show Agents.md |
/mcp [name|add|remove|login|logout|reload] | List MCP servers, or show one server's tools with /mcp <name>. add, remove and reload manage servers. login and logout sign in to or out of an http server that asks for OAuth. |
/trace [<id>] | List the last 30 trace events of this session, such as tool calls, denials, hooks and helper agents. /trace <id> shows one event's details. |
/config | Tell the agent what to configure, such as a hook, a memory note or a custom command, and it edits the files in ~/.buildwithnexus/ |
Setup and screen
/init | Run setup again and switch this session to the provider, model and address that setup saves. Then offer to write AGENTS.md from the repository's build and test files, or to improve the one that exists. bwn makes no offer when the folder has a CLAUDE.md and no AGENTS.md. Cancelling setup leaves the settings and the session as they were, with no offer. |
/login | Replace the API key for the current provider. bwn checks the new key with the current model before it saves it. |
/doctor | Diagnose setup |
/voice [<file>] | Transcribe an audio file with a local whisper binary and send the text as your prompt. With no file, bwn asks for a path. An empty answer checks for whisper-cpp, whisper-cli or whisper instead. |
/vim | Turn vim-style modal editing on or off |
/theme [dark|light|ansi|auto] | Switch the color theme and save it as the theme setting. auto follows the terminal's background color. |
/mouse [on|off|status] | Turn wheel scrolling and drag-to-copy on or off. Both are on by default, and off restores the terminal's own text selection. |
/help | Show all commands and keys |
/exit | End the session. If background workflows are waiting, bwn asks first. Typing exit or quit works too. |
Other names
Each name in the left column runs the command in the right column.
/tasks | /workflows |
/swarm · /teamwork-preview | /teamwork |
/align · /interview | /grill-me |
/index | /kb |
/audit | /verify |
/debug | /doctor |
/scroll | /mouse |
/quit | /exit |
!<cmd> runs a shell command without sending it to the model. @<path>
attaches a file, image, or video to your prompt.