Tangent mode creates conversation checkpoints, allowing you to explore side topics without disrupting your main conversation flow. Enter tangent mode, ask questions or explore ideas, then return to your original conversation exactly where you left off.
Tangent mode is experimental and must be enabled:
Via Experiment Command:
/experiment # Select tangent mode from the list
Via Settings:
kiro-cli settings chat.enableTangentMode true
Use /tangent or Ctrl+T:
> /tangent Created a conversation checkpoint (↯). Use ctrl + t or /tangent to restore the conversation later.
You'll see a yellow ↯ symbol in your prompt:
↯ > What is the difference between async and sync functions?
Use /tangent or Ctrl+T again:
↯ > /tangent Restored conversation from checkpoint (↯). - Returned to main conversation.
Use /tangent tail to preserve the last conversation entry (question + answer):
↯ > /tangent tail Restored conversation from checkpoint (↯) with last conversation entry preserved.
> I need to process a large CSV file in Python. What's the best approach? I recommend using pandas for CSV processing... > /tangent Created a conversation checkpoint (↯). ↯ > What about using the csv module instead of pandas? The csv module is lighter weight... ↯ > /tangent Restored conversation from checkpoint (↯). > Thanks! I'll go with pandas. Can you show me error handling?
> Help me write a deployment script I can help you create a deployment script... > /tangent Created a conversation checkpoint (↯). ↯ > What Kiro CLI commands are available for file operations? Kiro CLI provides fs_read, fs_write, execute_bash... ↯ > /tangent Restored conversation from checkpoint (↯). > It's a Node.js application for AWS
> I need to optimize this SQL query Could you share the query you'd like to optimize? > /tangent Created a conversation checkpoint (↯). ↯ > What information do you need to help optimize a query? To optimize SQL queries effectively, I need: 1. The current query 2. Table schemas and indexes... ↯ > /tangent Restored conversation from checkpoint (↯). > Here's my query: SELECT * FROM orders...
> Help me debug this Python error I can help you debug that. Could you share the error message? > /tangent Created a conversation checkpoint (↯). ↯ > What are the most common Python debugging techniques? Here are the most effective Python debugging techniques: 1. Use print statements strategically 2. Leverage the Python debugger (pdb)... ↯ > /tangent tail Restored conversation from checkpoint (↯) with last conversation entry preserved. > Here's my error: TypeError: unsupported operand type(s)... # The preserved entry about debugging techniques is now part of main conversation
Change the shortcut key (default: t):
kiro-cli settings chat.tangentModeKey y
Automatically enter tangent mode for Kiro CLI help questions:
kiro-cli settings introspect.tangentMode true
> (magenta)↯ > (yellow ↯ + magenta)[dev] ↯ > (cyan + yellow ↯ + magenta)/tangent tail: When both the tangent question and answer are useful for main conversationWhen you enter tangent mode:
When you exit tangent mode:
tail)Using /tangent tail:
Enable via experiment:
/experiment # Select tangent mode from the list
Or enable via settings:
kiro-cli settings chat.enableTangentMode true
Check or reset the shortcut key:
kiro-cli settings chat.tangentModeKey t
Ensure you're using Ctrl+T (not just T).
Look for the ↯ symbol in your prompt. Use /tangent to exit and return to main conversation.
If you exit tangent mode without using tail and lose important information:
/tangent tail in the future to preserve important Q&A pairs/experiment/tangent/tangent tail> Help me refactor this React component # Main conversation starts... > /tangent ↯ > What's the difference between useMemo and useCallback? # Get clarification... ↯ > /tangent tail # This was useful, keep it > Now I understand. Let's use useMemo for the expensive calculation...
Tangent mode