pi-btw

A small pi extension that adds a /btw side conversation channel.

/btw runs immediately, even while the main agent is still busy.

What it does

• opens a parallel side conversation without interrupting the main run
• keeps a continuous BTW thread by default
• supports /btw:tangent for a contextless side thread that does not inherit the current main-session conversation
• streams answers into a widget above the editor
• keeps BTW thread entries out of the main agent's future context
• lets you inject the full thread, or a summary of it, back into the main agent
• optionally saves an individual BTW exchange as a visible session note with --save

Install

From npm (after publish)

pi install npm:pi-btw

From git

pi install git:github.com/dbachelder/pi-btw

Then reload pi:

/reload

From a local checkout

pi install /absolute/path/to/pi-btw

Usage

/btw what file defines this route?
/btw how would you refactor this parser?
/btw --save summarize the last error in one sentence
/btw:new let's start a fresh thread about auth
/btw:tangent brainstorm from first principles without using the current chat context
/btw:inject implement the plan we just discussed
/btw:summarize turn that side thread into a short handoff
/btw:clear

Commands

/btw [--save] <question>

• runs right away
• works while pi is busy
• continues the current BTW thread
• streams into a widget above the editor
• persists the BTW exchange as hidden thread state
• with --save, also saves that single exchange as a visible session note

/btw:new [question]

• clears the current BTW thread
• starts a fresh thread that still inherits the current main-session context
• optionally asks the first question in the new thread immediately

/btw:tangent [--save] <question>

• starts or continues a contextless tangent thread
• does not inherit the current main-session conversation
• if you switch from /btw to /btw:tangent (or back), the previous side thread is cleared so the modes do not mix
• streams into the same above-editor widget
• with --save, also saves that single exchange as a visible session note

/btw:clear

• dismisses the BTW widget
• clears the current BTW thread

/btw:inject [instructions]

• sends the full BTW thread back to the main agent as a user message
• if pi is busy, queues it as a follow-up
• clears the BTW thread after sending

/btw:summarize [instructions]

• summarizes the BTW thread with the current model
• injects the summary into the main agent
• if pi is busy, queues it as a follow-up
• clears the BTW thread after sending

Behavior

Hidden BTW thread state

BTW exchanges are persisted in the session as hidden custom entries so they:

• survive reloads and restarts
• rehydrate the BTW widget for the current branch
• preserve whether the current side thread is a normal /btw thread or a contextless /btw:tangent
• stay out of the main agent's LLM context

Visible saved notes

If you use --save, that one BTW exchange is also written as a visible custom message in the session transcript.

Why

Sometimes you want to:

• ask a clarifying question while the main agent keeps working
• think through next steps without derailing the current turn
• explore an idea, then inject it back once it's ready

Included skill

This package also ships a small btw skill so pi can better recognize when a side-conversation workflow is appropriate.

It helps with discoverability and guidance, but it is not required for the extension itself to work.

Development

The extension entrypoint is:

• extensions/btw.ts

The included skill is:

• skills/btw/SKILL.md

To use it without installing:

pi -e /path/to/pi-btw

License

MIT