Enhance Agentrix: Adding Terminal & Agent Session Controls

The Problem: Limited Session Management in Agentrix

Hey there, fellow Agentrix users! Have you ever found yourself working in a worktree, only to realize you need another terminal or agent session, but you're stuck? Well, you're not alone. Currently, Agentrix has a limitation: once you have a session running, there's no easy way to fire up a new one directly from the app. The tab strip in the TerminalConsoleView on iOS (specifically, the TerminalView.swift file) only displays existing sessions. There's no handy "+" button, and the launchOptionsSheet in WorktreeDetailView remains hidden because the showingWorktreeActions toggle is never activated. This means the primary way to initiate a new session is through the empty state button. This issue can really disrupt your workflow, especially when you need to run multiple shells, start new agent tasks, or recover from a session that's gotten a bit…stuck. It's like having a car with only one gear – you can get around, but it's not the most efficient or convenient ride.

This limitation forces users to resort to less elegant solutions, such as using the backend or CLI, which can break the flow of multi-session workflows, particularly on mobile and macOS. Imagine trying to debug a complex script on your phone, only to have to exit the app just to open a new terminal window. Frustrating, right? This is precisely the issue we aim to address, making Agentrix a more powerful and user-friendly tool for everyone. The aim of this enhancement is to provide a seamless and intuitive experience for managing multiple terminal and agent sessions directly within Agentrix, regardless of the platform you're using. This is about making your workflow smoother and your Agentrix experience more enjoyable. We want to empower you to tackle complex tasks without the constant need to switch between different tools and interfaces. It's about efficiency, convenience, and making sure Agentrix truly caters to your needs as a developer or power user. The goal is to provide a flexible and adaptable environment within the Agentrix ecosystem, enhancing the user's ability to seamlessly transition between terminal and agent environments.

Expected Behavior: A Seamless Multi-Session Experience

So, what should happen instead? The ideal scenario involves a few key improvements to make session management a breeze. First and foremost, we need a visible control – think a "+" button near the tabs or even in the toolbar – that's always available. This will be the gateway to starting new Terminal or Agent sessions at any time. Clicking this control should trigger a prompt, offering the user the choice between a Terminal and an Agent session. This is important: you should be able to choose the type of session even if you already have others open.

Then, when you select an option, the app should route you to TerminalSessionsStore.openNewSession with the correct tool configuration. While the session is being created, we'll want to provide clear feedback. This could be a progress indicator or a simple message, ensuring the user knows something's happening. And once the new session is ready to go, the new tab should automatically become active, making it the focus of your attention. This kind of smooth transition makes all the difference when you're jumping between tasks. By making these changes, users will have an easy and intuitive way to manage their terminal and agent sessions, regardless of the platform they are using. This approach will make the user experience consistent across different environments, improving the overall usability of the Agentrix application.

We want Agentrix to be a hub for all your development needs, and that includes seamless session management. This will translate into increased productivity and reduced frustration for all users. The goal is to ensure that Agentrix users are able to work in a way that is consistent with their expectations. By providing a clear and easy-to-use interface, it is expected that the users will be able to perform their tasks more efficiently. This will translate into increased productivity and reduced frustration for all users, making their experience more enjoyable and helping them get the most out of Agentrix.

Actual Behavior: Current Limitations

Right now, here's what you experience when you try to open a new session in Agentrix: Imagine you've opened a worktree that already has an active terminal session. The UI will show your existing tabs, but… no way to add another session. The hidden helpers, like launchOptionsSheet, never get triggered. The showingWorktreeActions variable is always set to false. Users are left with no choice but to use backend methods or CLI commands to get additional sessions started. This current behavior disrupts workflows on both mobile and macOS, where users want to quickly open new terminal sessions. This leads to an inconsistent user experience and creates more steps for basic tasks. The current behavior creates a disjointed user experience where users are forced to go through multiple steps to accomplish a simple task.

These limitations not only hinder productivity but also create a less enjoyable user experience. By improving the session management, Agentrix will become a more powerful tool for developers and power users. This is not just a cosmetic change – it's about providing a more efficient, user-friendly, and powerful tool. The current state demands a change. By enhancing the session management capabilities, we aim to make Agentrix a better tool for developers and power users. This is not just about adding features; it's about improving the overall usability of the application and helping users get more done.

Acceptance Criteria: What Success Looks Like

So, how do we know we've nailed this? Here's the plan:

• We need an always-available control. This will be how you initiate a new session, whether it's a Terminal or Agent session. This should be easily accessible from the tab strip or navigation bar, so that opening a new session is a simple and intuitive process.
• The system must allow the user to choose between Terminal and Agent mode before creating a new session. Even when other sessions are active, the user should be able to pick the type of session they need. The ability to make this selection should be straightforward, eliminating the need to navigate through complex menus or settings.
• We'll show connection progress and, once the session is ready, automatically focus on the new session tab. The goal is to create a seamless transition, so that users can move between tasks with ease. This will streamline the workflow by removing the need to manually switch between different terminal or agent sessions.
• We'll include UI/unit tests to confirm that users can open multiple sessions in sequence without having to leave the current screen. This will ensure that the fix works correctly and avoids creating new problems in the future. These tests will allow developers to verify the stability of the application. These acceptance criteria are not just about adding new features, but also about improving the overall usability and user experience.

By achieving these goals, Agentrix will provide a better user experience that aligns with the expectations of its users. This will translate into increased productivity and reduced frustration for all users.

Related Files/Components: The Technical Details

If you're interested in the nitty-gritty, the key files and components involved in this fix are:

• mobile/ios/AgentrixMobile/Features/Terminal/TerminalView.swift: This is where the terminal interface lives on iOS. You'll find the tab strip here, which will need the new "+" button. Also, it's in this file that existing sessions are rendered.
• mobile/ios/AgentrixMobile/Features/Worktrees/WorktreeDetailView.swift: This file contains details of the current worktree. This includes the launchOptionsSheet which will be used to select between terminal and agent mode before session creation.
• mobile/ios/AgentrixMobile/Features/Terminal/TerminalSessionsStore.swift: This file holds the logic for creating and managing terminal sessions. The openNewSession function is the key to creating a new terminal or agent session, so this is where the new control will route to.

These are the central components that will be modified to integrate the new session controls. Focusing on these components will ensure that all the necessary elements are properly addressed. This is a critical step in providing a seamless user experience, and this is a clear direction for the development team.

Conclusion: A More Powerful Agentrix

By addressing the limitations in session management, we're not just adding a new feature; we're enhancing the entire Agentrix experience. This update will empower you to manage multiple sessions with ease, boosting your productivity and making your workflow smoother. The changes will promote a more efficient and user-friendly experience. This will improve the overall usability of the Agentrix application, and improve the user experience, making it easier for users to accomplish their tasks. This improvement will help users get more done with Agentrix and make it a more effective tool for developers and power users.

Ready to get started? Let's make Agentrix even better!

For more insights into terminal management and related technologies, check out iTerm2, a popular and feature-rich terminal emulator for macOS. Also consider Hyper is another great open source terminal based on web technologies. These resources can provide valuable context and potential solutions for enhancing session management in Agentrix.