Version 2.0.26

What: A persistent metadata tracking system for installed plugins using installed_plugins.json

How it works: The system automatically creates and maintains a registry file that tracks each installed plugin's version, installation date, file path, and git commit SHA. On first run after upgrading to v2.0.26, your enabled plugins are automatically migrated from settings to this new registry.

Details:

• Registry file location: ~/.claude/installed_plugins.json
• Tracks installation timestamp, last update time, version, install path, and git commit SHA
• Schema versioning (currently version 1) allows future format migrations
• Automatically syncs on startup if registry is missing or outdated
• Distinguishes between local marketplace plugins and external plugins
• Evidence: New functions ck2() at line 445175, W5A() at line 445178, is1() at line 445223, pk2() at line 445255, ns1() at line 445260, and 10 additional registry management functions in pretty-v2.0.26.js

What: External text editors (vim, nano, code, etc.) no longer cause terminal UI flickering

How it works: When you use an external editor to write messages or edit text, Claude Code now pauses all terminal rendering before launching the editor and resumes it cleanly afterward. The Zed editor receives special treatment—it doesn't clear the screen, preserving your terminal context.

Details:

• Ink rendering instance pauses during editor sessions via new pause() and resume() methods
• Alternate screen buffer management moved to finally block for reliable cleanup
• Conditional screen clearing: all editors except Zed use alternate screen buffer
• Evidence: Modified function ftA() at line 431400 (was et1() at line 431181 in v2.0.25), added pause() and resume() methods to Ink class BOA at line 71631

What: The /sandbox command now provides clearer, more helpful error messages

How it works: Before attempting to enable sandboxing, Claude Code validates that your platform is supported (macOS or Linux). If you're on an unsupported platform like Windows, you'll receive an immediate, clear error message instead of cryptic dependency failures.

Details:

• Platform validation happens before dependency checks
• Error message clarifies "bubblewrap" instead of abbreviated "bwrap"
• Explicit "only supported on macOS and Linux" message for unsupported platforms
• Evidence: Modified function zv6() at line 455556 (was lv8() at line 455028 in v2.0.25)

What: The experimental "always thinking" feature has been completely removed

Details:

• Removed automatic ultra-thinking token allocation based on experiment flag
• Simplified message rendering by removing experiment-specific UI logic
• Removed from both backend logic and frontend rendering components
• Evidence: Removed logic from function L_() at line 296620 (was Uk() at line 296382 in v2.0.25), simplified rendering in function n_() at line 323185 (was mk() at line 324226 in v2.0.25, 45.5% similarity)

What: Removed redundant parameter passing across multiple core functions

Details:

• Removed unused "thread context" parameter from 8+ functions including slash command processing, user input handling, and thinking token calculation
• Removed redundant "MCP tools" parameter from message loading and preparation functions
• Cleaner function signatures reduce coupling and improve maintainability
• Evidence: Modified functions kO2() at line 439904, MN2() at line 431613, ON2() at line 431920, bS6() at line 431736, am() at line 392896, iEA() at line 392870, and others

What: The Ink UI rendering system now supports programmatic pause/resume

Details:

• New isPaused state property on Ink instances
• pause() method stops rendering updates
• resume() method re-enables rendering and triggers immediate render
• Render loop checks isPaused flag before executing
• Evidence: Modified Ink class BOA at line 71631 (was DO1() at line 71390 in v2.0.25, 93.4% similarity)

Added automatic detection of editor commands (code, subl, atom, gedit, notepad++, notepad) to apply appropriate flags like --wait when invoking external editors.

New function _S6() at line 431396

Added helper functions for formatting and displaying version changelogs in the terminal UI.

New functions $G2() at line 391967 and NC6() at line 392007