pi copy-message extension

A pi extension that adds /copy-message: a keyboard-first picker for copying raw session message text without terminal wrapping, padding, or rendered TUI artifacts. It also adds /copy-user as a direct shortcut for the most recent user message.

pi-copy-message supersedes pi-copy-user-message, which only copied the most recent user message.

What it does

• Adds /copy-message
• Adds /copy-user for copying the most recent user message directly
• Copies raw stored session message text, not rendered terminal lines
• Shows messages in chat order: oldest at top, newest at bottom
• Selects the newest visible message by default
• Supports role filters for user, assistant, tool/bash, and custom messages
• Hides tool/bash messages by default
• Supports type-to-filter search across role and message text, with time:<term> for timestamp search
• Supports Home/End jumps for oldest/newest visible messages
• Uses Pi's configured selection bindings for navigation, copy, and cancel
• Includes fast paths: /copy-message latest, /copy-message last, and /copy-message newest
• Supports direct numbered copies like /copy-message 3
• Supports metadata copies with --with-meta, --with-metadata, or --with-role

Install

Install it from npm with pi:

pi install npm:pi-copy-message

Or install it directly from GitHub with pi:

pi install https://github.com/fitchmultz/pi-copy-message

Then reload pi from inside the app:

/reload

If you prefer to load it directly from a local checkout during development:

pi -e ./extensions/copy-message.ts

Usage

Open the picker:

/copy-message

Copy the most recent user message directly:

/copy-user

Copy the latest visible default message directly:

/copy-message latest

Aliases:

/copy-message last
/copy-message newest

Copy the 3rd default-visible message directly, matching the picker's 1-based oldest-to-newest numbering:

/copy-message 3

Copy with role and timestamp metadata instead of raw text only:

/copy-message latest --with-meta
/copy-message 3 --with-role
/copy-user --with-meta

Keyboard controls

Key	Action
Configured tui.select.up (default: ↑)	Move to older visible message
Configured tui.select.down (default: ↓)	Move to newer visible message
Configured tui.select.pageUp / tui.select.pageDown (default: PageUp / PageDown)	Move by one visible page in regular mode
Ctrl+PageUp / Ctrl+PageDown	Move by one visible page in fullscreen mode
Home / End	Jump to oldest/newest visible message in regular mode
Ctrl+Home / Ctrl+End	Jump to oldest/newest visible message in fullscreen mode
Type text	Filter visible messages
time:<term>	Search timestamps
Backspace	Delete one search character
Ctrl+U	Toggle user messages
Ctrl+A	Toggle assistant messages
Ctrl+T	Toggle tool/bash messages
Alt+C	Toggle custom messages
Tab	Toggle a wrapped preview of the selected message
Alt+M	Toggle raw vs metadata copy format
Configured tui.select.confirm (default: Enter)	Copy selected message text
Configured tui.select.cancel (default: Esc/Ctrl+C)	Cancel

Behavior notes

• Entry IDs are hidden from the picker.
• The picker caps visible rows and scrolls instead of filling the screen.
• Search preserves your original selected message and restores it when the search is cleared.
• General search does not match timestamps; use time:<term> when you want to search by displayed time.
• Filter labels honor the active pi theme.
• Selection key hints show the active Pi bindings. Configured selection actions take precedence if they collide with the picker's filter, preview, or format shortcuts.
• Only custom messages with display: true can appear or be copied from current custom_message entries or legacy message-wrapped entries; visible ones can be toggled with Alt+C.
• Copy notifications include the role and a short preview so you can verify what was copied.
• /copy-message latest and numbered selectors include user, assistant, and visible custom messages by default while hiding tool/bash messages. Alt+C only affects the picker. If only hidden messages exist, latest falls back to the newest message so the command still does something useful.
• /copy-message with no direct selector requires interactive TUI mode because the picker is a custom TUI component.
• Direct commands such as /copy-user, /copy-message latest, and /copy-message 3 do not require TUI mode, though non-UI modes may not display notifications.

Compatibility

• Requires and is tested with Pi 0.84.0 or later
• Pi includes Ctrl+X for copying the latest assistant response; this extension remains useful for searchable history, other roles, metadata, and direct selectors.
• Supported Node.js range for local repo tooling: >=22.19.0
• .nvmrc pins Node 22.19.0 for local development

This package keeps pi core packages as wildcard peers (*) per pi package guidance. Pi aliases these imports to its own bundled copies when loading the extension, so the package never bundles or shadows pi core. Local development uses @earendil-works/pi-coding-agent and @earendil-works/pi-tui as dev dependencies for typechecking and tests.

Development

npm install
npm run check

Key files:

• extensions/copy-message.ts — publishable extension implementation
• tests/copy-message.test.ts — regression tests for command wiring, filtering, search, navigation, and copy formatting