Better Sidebar

Problem addressed

Users can inspect a file tree, editor, image and Markdown previews, real terminals, Git differences, background tasks, and other plugin pages in the primary workbench beside the conversation instead of relying entirely on the assistant’s description.

Usage

At desktop width, the split-pane workbench stays visible to the left of the conversation even when its dock state was collapsed in an earlier session. Drag the divider to resize the two regions. File-tree clicks, Open in new tab, explorer reveal, and Changes-tab file actions open in the Session that owns the source tab. Use terminals or Git views to review code changes. The embedded Browser renders ordinary cross-origin sites without a sandbox by default; enable the restricted iframe sandbox in Side card settings when preferred. On a narrow window, the conversation remains primary and Better Sidebar opens through its overlay control. Recommended-plugin destinations, embedded-browser external actions, and terminal HTTP(S) links open in the system browser. In YourBuddy, run a recommended plugin’s install command once; its isolated Web Profile runs dependency build scripts without a separate pnpm approve-builds step.

YourBuddy 0.3.10 records the file and Browser checks in its verification record.

Reason for default inclusion

It completes the path from requesting work to producing results and human inspection, while giving other plugins a stable primary region for pages and file viewers.

Limits

Real terminal operations affect the actual working directory; a panel is not an isolation guarantee. Model-facing terminal_* and sidebar_open tools default to off and require explicit activation. The default unrestricted Browser gives embedded cross-origin pages normal iframe capabilities, including top-level navigation. The restricted setting keeps the GUI origin and unapproved loopback addresses opaque. Every mode remains subject to site iframe policies and browser rules, so some websites cannot be embedded. Side conversations remain a Beta capability. YourBuddy maintains these behaviors as replayable product patches while Better Sidebar keeps its upstream Portal presentation by default outside YourBuddy.