[FEATURE] Add /fork (conversation branching) support to VS Code extension

[ahartzog]

Preflight Checklist

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

Problem Statement

Summary

The CLI supports conversation forking via --fork-session (and /fork slash command), allowing users to branch a conversation at any point and explore a different direction while preserving the original session. This capability is not available in the VS Code extension — there is no slash command, hover action, command palette entry, or any other mechanism to fork a conversation.

Use case

When working on a complex task in the VS Code extension, I often reach a point where I want to explore an alternative approach without losing the current conversation context. Today the only option is to open a new chat (which starts fresh with no context) or switch to the terminal CLI to use --fork-session.

Conversation forking is particularly valuable for:

• Exploring alternative implementations — branch at a decision point, try both approaches
• Preserving working context — keep a "known good" conversation while experimenting
• A/B comparison — fork and compare Claude's output under different instructions

Expected behavior

• /fork slash command available in the VS Code extension prompt box (alongside existing commands like /compact, /usage, etc.)
• Forked session appears as a new tab, preserving full conversation history up to the fork point
• Parent session ID visible in the forked session (per /fork should display the parent session ID in the forked session #45655)

Current behavior

No fork/branch capability exists in the VS Code extension UI. The only workaround is opening a terminal and running claude --continue --fork-session.

Environment

• VS Code extension (macOS)
• CLI fork works correctly via --fork-session

Related issues

• /fork should display the parent session ID in the forked session #45655 — /fork should display parent session ID (CLI)
• --fork-session forks last-flushed JSONL, not the live in-memory conversation #44684 — --fork-session forks last-flushed JSONL, not live conversation (CLI)

Proposed Solution

Expected behavior

• /fork slash command available in the VS Code extension prompt box (alongside existing commands like /compact, /usage, etc.)
• Forked session appears as a new tab, preserving full conversation history up to the fork point
• Parent session ID visible in the forked session (per /fork should display the parent session ID in the forked session #45655)

Alternative Solutions

No response

Priority

Medium - Would be very helpful

Feature Category

Other

Use Case Example

This is the same scenario as the existing fork feature, simply supported in the VS Code extension. The justifications are identical.

Additional Context

No response

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [Feature Request] VSCode Extension: Add Conversation Branching via Double Escape Shortcut #8527
2. Feature Request: Session Branching / Conversation Forking #12629
3. Feature Request: Conversation Branching for Context-Preserving Exploration #16236

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[JakeSays]

Do you mean something other than the convo forking that is already available in the vscode extension?

[clembo590]

@JakeSays where is convo forking ?

[ahartzog]

Ah @clembo590 I actually found it out of the one of the other issues - if you hit escape twice then it brings up a menu to rewind /fork.

#8527

I looked around a bunch and didn't see documentation for this anywhere, so maybe a documentation improvement?

[github-actions]

Closing for now — inactive for too long. Please open a new issue if this is still relevant.

[aaronse]

+1 for not liking the current UX for editing prompts. The VS Code Github Copilot Chat Session UX is clearer and easier to use.