Feature Request: Session Branching / Conversation Forking

[jonkhler]

Problem

Claude Code has --fork-session functionality via CLI flags, but there's no way to access this from within a running session. Users must exit and restart with the right flags, which breaks flow and requires remembering session IDs.

Current State

The underlying functionality exists:

claude --continue --fork-session
claude --resume <session-id> --fork-session

But this requires:

• Exiting the current session
• Knowing the CLI flags exist (poor discoverability)
• Manually tracking session IDs for later branching

Proposed Enhancement

Add in-session UI for forking:

1. /fork command - Fork the current session at this point, opening a new session in a new terminal/tab
2. /fork <name> - Create a named branch for easier reference
3. /branches - List branches/forks of the current session lineage
4. Keyboard shortcut - Quick fork without typing a command

Use Cases

1. Exploring alternatives - Try two different implementation approaches from the same starting point
2. Preserving a known-good state - Before attempting a risky refactor, create a branch to safely experiment
3. A/B testing prompts - Test different instructions from the same conversation state to compare outcomes

Additional Context

The core functionality is already implemented - this is purely about exposing it through the in-session UI for better discoverability and workflow integration.

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Updated: The original request was for session branching, which already exists via --fork-session. This issue now focuses on UI/UX improvements to make this feature more accessible.