Add an in-thread conversation outline (auto subheadings + quick jump) for each single thread
Resolved 💬 4 comments Opened Mar 26, 2026 by robertzzw Closed May 31, 2026
Title
Add an in-thread conversation outline (auto subheadings + quick jump) for each single thread
Background
Today, Codex only provides a thread list in the left panel, but no internal outline within a thread. In long conversations, users must scroll up repeatedly to find earlier content. This creates high search cost and memory burden, and significantly hurts long-session usability.
Requirements
- Add a “conversation outline” sidebar inside the current thread (not a new thread list).
- Automatically generate one short subheading for each user question.
- Clicking a subheading should jump directly to the corresponding turn.
- Keep the outline updated in real time as the conversation grows.
- Allow manual renaming of subheadings when auto summaries are inaccurate.
- Highlight the outline item that matches the current reading position.
Interaction Proposal
- Keep the existing left thread list unchanged.
- Add a new collapsible “Outline” panel in the thread detail view.
- Suggested default title length: 8-20 words/chars, truncate when too long.
- Show full title and timestamp on hover.
- Support pin/star for key items to improve review workflow.
Clarification vs. Current Behavior
Current navigation covers project-level or folder-level thread listing.
This request is specifically for thread-internal navigation within one conversation thread.
Acceptance Criteria
- In 100+ turn conversations, users can reach any historical turn within 3 clicks.
- Auto subheading coverage is above 95%, with manual edit support.
- Jump targets are accurate, with no obvious scrolling performance regression.
- Average time to locate historical questions is significantly reduced in long sessions.
This issue has 4 comments on GitHub. Read the full discussion on GitHub ↗