fix(ui): unify Ctrl+O expansion hint experience across buffer modes

packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.test.tsx

@@ -3465,6 +3465,63 @@ describe('AppContainer State Management', () => {
       unmount!();
     });
 
+    it('resets the hint timer when a new component overflows (overflowingIdsSize increases)', async () => {
+      let unmount: () => void;
+      await act(async () => {
+        const result = renderAppContainer();
+        unmount = result.unmount;
+      });
+      await waitFor(() => expect(capturedUIState).toBeTruthy());
+
+      // 1. Trigger first overflow
+      act(() => {
+        capturedOverflowActions.addOverflowingId('test-id-1');
+      });
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(capturedUIState.showIsExpandableHint).toBe(true);
+      });
+
+      // 2. Advance half the duration
+      act(() => {
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(EXPAND_HINT_DURATION_MS / 2);
+      });
+      expect(capturedUIState.showIsExpandableHint).toBe(true);
+
+      // 3. Trigger second overflow (this should reset the timer)
+      act(() => {
+        capturedOverflowActions.addOverflowingId('test-id-2');
+      });
+
+      // Advance by 1ms to allow the OverflowProvider's 0ms batching timeout to fire
+      // and flush the state update to AppContainer, triggering the reset.
+      act(() => {
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(1);
+      });
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(capturedUIState.showIsExpandableHint).toBe(true);
+      });
+
+      // 4. Advance enough that the ORIGINAL timer would have expired
+      // Subtracting 1ms since we advanced it above to flush the state.
+      act(() => {
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(EXPAND_HINT_DURATION_MS / 2 + 100 - 1);
+      });
+      // The hint should STILL be visible because the timer reset at step 3
+      expect(capturedUIState.showIsExpandableHint).toBe(true);
+
+      // 5. Advance to the end of the NEW timer
+      act(() => {
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(EXPAND_HINT_DURATION_MS / 2 - 100);
+      });
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(capturedUIState.showIsExpandableHint).toBe(false);
+      });
+
+      unmount!();
+    });
+
     it('toggles expansion state and resets the hint timer when Ctrl+O is pressed in Standard Mode', async () => {
       let unmount: () => void;
       let stdin: ReturnType<typeof renderAppContainer>['stdin'];
@@ -3606,7 +3663,7 @@ describe('AppContainer State Management', () => {
       unmount!();
     });
 
-    it('does NOT set showIsExpandableHint when overflow occurs in Alternate Buffer Mode', async () => {
+    it('DOES set showIsExpandableHint when overflow occurs in Alternate Buffer Mode', async () => {
       const alternateSettings = mergeSettings({}, {}, {}, {}, true);
       const settingsWithAlternateBuffer = {
         merged: {
@@ -3634,8 +3691,10 @@ describe('AppContainer State Management', () => {
         capturedOverflowActions.addOverflowingId('test-id');
       });
 
-      // Should NOT show hint because we are in Alternate Buffer Mode
-      expect(capturedUIState.showIsExpandableHint).toBe(false);
+      // Should NOW show hint because we are in Alternate Buffer Mode
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(capturedUIState.showIsExpandableHint).toBe(true);
+      });
 
       unmount!();
     });

packages/cli/src/ui/AppContainer.tsx

@@ -283,19 +283,18 @@ export const AppContainer = (props: AppContainerProps) => {
    * Manages the visibility and x-second timer for the expansion hint.
    *
    * This effect triggers the timer countdown whenever an overflow is detected
-   * or the user manually toggles the expansion state with Ctrl+O. We use a stable
-   * boolean dependency (hasOverflowState) to ensure the timer only resets on
-   * genuine state transitions, preventing it from infinitely resetting during
-   * active text streaming.
+   * or the user manually toggles the expansion state with Ctrl+O.
+   * By depending on overflowingIdsSize, the timer resets when *new* views
+   * overflow, but avoids infinitely resetting during single-view streaming.
    *
    * In alternate buffer mode, we don't trigger the hint automatically on overflow
    * to avoid noise, but the user can still trigger it manually with Ctrl+O.
    */
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (hasOverflowState && !isAlternateBuffer) {
+    if (hasOverflowState) {
       triggerExpandHint(true);
     }
-  }, [hasOverflowState, isAlternateBuffer, triggerExpandHint]);
+  }, [hasOverflowState, overflowingIdsSize, triggerExpandHint]);
 
   const [defaultBannerText, setDefaultBannerText] = useState('');
   const [warningBannerText, setWarningBannerText] = useState('');

packages/cli/src/ui/components/FolderTrustDialog.tsx

@@ -311,9 +311,5 @@ export const FolderTrustDialog: React.FC<FolderTrustDialogProps> = ({
     </Box>
   );
 
-  return isAlternateBuffer ? (
-    <OverflowProvider>{content}</OverflowProvider>
-  ) : (
-    content
-  );
+  return <OverflowProvider>{content}</OverflowProvider>;
 };

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ShowMoreLines.test.tsx

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ describe('ShowMoreLines', () => {
     },
   );
 
-  it('renders nothing in STANDARD mode even if overflowing', async () => {
+  it('renders message in STANDARD mode when overflowing', async () => {
     mockUseAlternateBuffer.mockReturnValue(false);
     mockUseOverflowState.mockReturnValue({
       overflowingIds: new Set(['1']),
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ describe('ShowMoreLines', () => {
       <ShowMoreLines constrainHeight={true} />,
     );
     await waitUntilReady();
-    expect(lastFrame({ allowEmpty: true })).toBe('');
+    expect(lastFrame().toLowerCase()).toContain(
+      'press ctrl+o to show more lines',
+    );
     unmount();
   });
 

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ShowMoreLines.tsx

@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import { useOverflowState } from '../contexts/OverflowContext.js';
 import { useStreamingContext } from '../contexts/StreamingContext.js';
 import { StreamingState } from '../types.js';
 import { theme } from '../semantic-colors.js';
-import { useAlternateBuffer } from '../hooks/useAlternateBuffer.js';
 
 interface ShowMoreLinesProps {
   constrainHeight: boolean;
@@ -20,7 +19,6 @@ export const ShowMoreLines = ({
   constrainHeight,
   isOverflowing: isOverflowingProp,
 }: ShowMoreLinesProps) => {
-  const isAlternateBuffer = useAlternateBuffer();
   const overflowState = useOverflowState();
   const streamingState = useStreamingContext();
 
@@ -29,7 +27,6 @@ export const ShowMoreLines = ({
     (overflowState !== undefined && overflowState.overflowingIds.size > 0);
 
   if (
-    !isAlternateBuffer ||
     !isOverflowing ||
     !constrainHeight ||
     !(

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ShowMoreLinesLayout.test.tsx

@@ -64,4 +64,32 @@ describe('ShowMoreLines layout and padding', () => {
 
     unmount();
   });
+
+  it('renders in Standard mode as well', async () => {
+    mockUseAlternateBuffer.mockReturnValue(false); // Standard mode
+
+    const TestComponent = () => (
+      <Box flexDirection="column">
+        <Text>Top</Text>
+        <ShowMoreLines constrainHeight={true} />
+        <Text>Bottom</Text>
+      </Box>
+    );
+
+    const { lastFrame, waitUntilReady, unmount } = render(<TestComponent />);
+    await waitUntilReady();
+
+    const output = lastFrame({ allowEmpty: true });
+    const lines = output.split('\n');
+
+    expect(lines).toEqual([
+      'Top',
+      ' Press Ctrl+O to show more lines',
+      '',
+      'Bottom',
+      '',
+    ]);
+
+    unmount();
+  });
 });

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ToastDisplay.test.tsx

@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ describe('ToastDisplay', () => {
     });
     await waitUntilReady();
     expect(lastFrame()).toContain(
-      'Ctrl+O to show more lines of the last response',
+      'Press Ctrl+O to show more lines of the last response',
     );
   });
 

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ToastDisplay.tsx

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export const ToastDisplay: React.FC = () => {
     const action = uiState.constrainHeight ? 'show more' : 'collapse';
     return (
       <Text color={theme.text.accent}>
-        Ctrl+O to {action} lines of the last response
+        Press Ctrl+O to {action} lines of the last response
       </Text>
     );
   }

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ToolConfirmationQueue.tsx

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import type { ConfirmingToolState } from '../hooks/useConfirmingTool.js';
 import { OverflowProvider } from '../contexts/OverflowContext.js';
 import { ShowMoreLines } from './ShowMoreLines.js';
 import { StickyHeader } from './StickyHeader.js';
-import { useAlternateBuffer } from '../hooks/useAlternateBuffer.js';
 import type { SerializableConfirmationDetails } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { useUIActions } from '../contexts/UIActionsContext.js';
 
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ export const ToolConfirmationQueue: React.FC<ToolConfirmationQueueProps> = ({
 }) => {
   const config = useConfig();
   const { getPreferredEditor } = useUIActions();
-  const isAlternateBuffer = useAlternateBuffer();
   const {
     mainAreaWidth,
     terminalHeight,
@@ -157,10 +155,5 @@ export const ToolConfirmationQueue: React.FC<ToolConfirmationQueueProps> = ({
     </>
   );
 
-  return isAlternateBuffer ? (
-    /* Shadow the global provider to maintain isolation in ASB mode. */
-    <OverflowProvider>{content}</OverflowProvider>
-  ) : (
-    content
-  );
+  return <OverflowProvider>{content}</OverflowProvider>;
 };

packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/MainContent.test.tsx.snap

@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ AppHeader(full)
 │ Line 19                                                                                    █ │
 │ Line 20                                                                                    █ │
 ╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
- Press Ctrl+O to show more lines
 "
 `;
 
@@ -40,7 +39,6 @@ AppHeader(full)
 │ Line 19                                                                                    █ │
 │ Line 20                                                                                    █ │
 ╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
- Press Ctrl+O to show more lines
 "
 `;
 

packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/ToolConfirmationQueue.test.tsx.snap

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ exports[`ToolConfirmationQueue > calculates availableContentHeight based on avai
 │   4. No, suggest changes (esc)                                               │
 │                                                                              │
 ╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+ Press Ctrl+O to show more lines
 "
 `;
 

packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/GeminiMessage.tsx

@@ -7,12 +7,9 @@
 import type React from 'react';
 import { Text, Box } from 'ink';
 import { MarkdownDisplay } from '../../utils/MarkdownDisplay.js';
-import { ShowMoreLines } from '../ShowMoreLines.js';
 import { theme } from '../../semantic-colors.js';
 import { SCREEN_READER_MODEL_PREFIX } from '../../textConstants.js';
 import { useUIState } from '../../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
-import { useAlternateBuffer } from '../../hooks/useAlternateBuffer.js';
-import { OverflowProvider } from '../../contexts/OverflowContext.js';
 
 interface GeminiMessageProps {
   text: string;
@@ -31,8 +28,7 @@ export const GeminiMessage: React.FC<GeminiMessageProps> = ({
   const prefix = '✦ ';
   const prefixWidth = prefix.length;
 
-  const isAlternateBuffer = useAlternateBuffer();
-  const content = (
+  return (
     <Box flexDirection="row">
       <Box width={prefixWidth}>
         <Text color={theme.text.accent} aria-label={SCREEN_READER_MODEL_PREFIX}>
@@ -44,26 +40,14 @@ export const GeminiMessage: React.FC<GeminiMessageProps> = ({
           text={text}
           isPending={isPending}
           availableTerminalHeight={
-            isAlternateBuffer || availableTerminalHeight === undefined
+            availableTerminalHeight === undefined
               ? undefined
               : Math.max(availableTerminalHeight - 1, 1)
           }
           terminalWidth={Math.max(terminalWidth - prefixWidth, 0)}
           renderMarkdown={renderMarkdown}
         />
-        <Box>
-          <ShowMoreLines
-            constrainHeight={availableTerminalHeight !== undefined}
-          />
-        </Box>
       </Box>
     </Box>
   );
-
-  return isAlternateBuffer ? (
-    /* Shadow the global provider to maintain isolation in ASB mode. */
-    <OverflowProvider>{content}</OverflowProvider>
-  ) : (
-    content
-  );
 };

packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/GeminiMessageContent.tsx

@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@
 import type React from 'react';
 import { Box } from 'ink';
 import { MarkdownDisplay } from '../../utils/MarkdownDisplay.js';
-import { ShowMoreLines } from '../ShowMoreLines.js';
 import { useUIState } from '../../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
-import { useAlternateBuffer } from '../../hooks/useAlternateBuffer.js';
 
 interface GeminiMessageContentProps {
   text: string;
@@ -31,7 +29,6 @@ export const GeminiMessageContent: React.FC<GeminiMessageContentProps> = ({
   terminalWidth,
 }) => {
   const { renderMarkdown } = useUIState();
-  const isAlternateBuffer = useAlternateBuffer();
   const originalPrefix = '✦ ';
   const prefixWidth = originalPrefix.length;
 
@@ -41,18 +38,13 @@ export const GeminiMessageContent: React.FC<GeminiMessageContentProps> = ({
         text={text}
         isPending={isPending}
         availableTerminalHeight={
-          isAlternateBuffer || availableTerminalHeight === undefined
+          availableTerminalHeight === undefined
             ? undefined
             : Math.max(availableTerminalHeight - 1, 1)
         }
         terminalWidth={Math.max(terminalWidth - prefixWidth, 0)}
         renderMarkdown={renderMarkdown}
       />
-      <Box>
-        <ShowMoreLines
-          constrainHeight={availableTerminalHeight !== undefined}
-        />
-      </Box>
     </Box>
   );
 };