chore(release): v0.18.2

fix(patch): cherry-pick fe67ef6 to release/v0.18.1-pr-13596 to patch version v0.18.1 and create version 0.18.2 (#13862 )
Co-authored-by: joshualitt <joshualitt@google.com>
2026-07-23 00:01:24 -07:00 · 2025-11-26 18:22:06 +00:00 · 2025-11-26 17:59:45 +00:00 · 2025-11-26 17:39:38 +00:00 · 2025-11-26 09:26:00 -08:00 · 2025-11-26 02:50:41 +00:00
69 changed files with 1157 additions and 246 deletions
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
 - **`ui.useAlternateBuffer`** (boolean):
  - **Description:** Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell
    history.
-  - **Default:** `true`
+  - **Default:** `false`
  - **Requires restart:** Yes

 - **`ui.incrementalRendering`** (boolean):
@@ -321,6 +321,9 @@ export class TestRig {
          selectedType: 'gemini-api-key',
        },
      },
+      ui: {
+        useAlternateBuffer: true,
+      },
      model: DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
      sandbox:
        env['GEMINI_SANDBOX'] !== 'false' ? env['GEMINI_SANDBOX'] : false,
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
  "name": "@google/gemini-cli",
-  "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
  "lockfileVersion": 3,
  "requires": true,
  "packages": {
    "": {
      "name": "@google/gemini-cli",
-      "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+      "version": "0.18.2",
      "workspaces": [
        "packages/*"
      ],
@@ -2403,7 +2403,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-t54CUOsFMappY1Jbzb7fetWeO0n6K0k/4+/ZpkS+3Joz8I4VcvY9OiEBFRYISqaI2fq5sCiPtAjRDOzVYG8m+Q==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@octokit/auth-token": "^6.0.0",
        "@octokit/graphql": "^9.0.2",
@@ -2584,7 +2583,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@opentelemetry/api/-/api-1.9.0.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-3giAOQvZiH5F9bMlMiv8+GSPMeqg0dbaeo58/0SlA9sxSqZhnUtxzX9/2FzyhS9sWQf5S0GJE0AKBrFqjpeYcg==",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
-      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">=8.0.0"
      }
@@ -2618,7 +2616,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@opentelemetry/core/-/core-2.0.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-MaZk9SJIDgo1peKevlbhP6+IwIiNPNmswNL4AF0WaQJLbHXjr9SrZMgS12+iqr9ToV4ZVosCcc0f8Rg67LXjxw==",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@opentelemetry/semantic-conventions": "^1.29.0"
      },
@@ -2987,7 +2984,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@opentelemetry/resources/-/resources-2.0.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-dZOB3R6zvBwDKnHDTB4X1xtMArB/d324VsbiPkX/Yu0Q8T2xceRthoIVFhJdvgVM2QhGVUyX9tzwiNxGtoBJUw==",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@opentelemetry/core": "2.0.1",
        "@opentelemetry/semantic-conventions": "^1.29.0"
@@ -3021,7 +3017,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@opentelemetry/sdk-metrics/-/sdk-metrics-2.0.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-wf8OaJoSnujMAHWR3g+/hGvNcsC16rf9s1So4JlMiFaFHiE4HpIA3oUh+uWZQ7CNuK8gVW/pQSkgoa5HkkOl0g==",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@opentelemetry/core": "2.0.1",
        "@opentelemetry/resources": "2.0.1"
@@ -3074,7 +3069,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@opentelemetry/sdk-trace-base/-/sdk-trace-base-2.0.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-xYLlvk/xdScGx1aEqvxLwf6sXQLXCjk3/1SQT9X9AoN5rXRhkdvIFShuNNmtTEPRBqcsMbS4p/gJLNI2wXaDuQ==",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@opentelemetry/core": "2.0.1",
        "@opentelemetry/resources": "2.0.1",
@@ -4285,7 +4279,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-6mDvHUFSjyT2B2yeNx2nUgMxh9LtOWvkhIU3uePn2I2oyNymUAX1NIsdgviM4CH+JSrp2D2hsMvJOkxY+0wNRA==",
      "devOptional": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "csstype": "^3.0.2"
      }
@@ -4573,7 +4566,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-6sMvZePQrnZH2/cJkwRpkT7DxoAWh+g6+GFRK6bV3YQo7ogi3SX5rgF6099r5Q53Ma5qeT7LGmOmuIutF4t3lA==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@typescript-eslint/scope-manager": "8.35.0",
        "@typescript-eslint/types": "8.35.0",
@@ -5497,7 +5489,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/acorn/-/acorn-8.15.0.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-NZyJarBfL7nWwIq+FDL6Zp/yHEhePMNnnJ0y3qfieCrmNvYct8uvtiV41UvlSe6apAfk0fY1FbWx+NwfmpvtTg==",
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "bin": {
        "acorn": "bin/acorn"
      },
@@ -5933,7 +5924,8 @@
      "version": "1.1.1",
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/array-flatten/-/array-flatten-1.1.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-PCVAQswWemu6UdxsDFFX/+gVeYqKAod3D3UVm91jHwynguOwAvYPhx8nNlM++NqRcK6CxxpUafjmhIdKiHibqg==",
-      "license": "MIT"
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true
    },
    "node_modules/array-includes": {
      "version": "3.1.9",
@@ -7197,6 +7189,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/content-disposition/-/content-disposition-0.5.4.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-FveZTNuGw04cxlAiWbzi6zTAL/lhehaWbTtgluJh4/E95DqMwTmha3KZN1aAWA8cFIhHzMZUvLevkw5Rqk+tSQ==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "safe-buffer": "5.2.1"
      },
@@ -8212,7 +8205,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-GsGizj2Y1rCWDu6XoEekL3RLilp0voSePurjZIkxL3wlm5o5EC9VpgaP7lrCvjnkuLvzFBQWB3vWB3K5KQTveQ==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@eslint-community/eslint-utils": "^4.2.0",
        "@eslint-community/regexpp": "^4.12.1",
@@ -8802,6 +8794,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie/-/cookie-0.7.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-6DnInpx7SJ2AK3+CTUE/ZM0vWTUboZCegxhC2xiIydHR9jNuTAASBrfEpHhiGOZw/nX51bHt6YQl8jsGo4y/0w==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">= 0.6"
      }
@@ -8811,6 +8804,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/debug/-/debug-2.6.9.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-bC7ElrdJaJnPbAP+1EotYvqZsb3ecl5wi6Bfi6BJTUcNowp6cvspg0jXznRTKDjm/E7AdgFBVeAPVMNcKGsHMA==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "ms": "2.0.0"
      }
@@ -8820,6 +8814,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/statuses/-/statuses-2.0.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-RwNA9Z/7PrK06rYLIzFMlaF+l73iwpzsqRIFgbMLbTcLD6cOao82TaWefPXQvB2fOC4AjuYSEndS7N/mTCbkdQ==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">= 0.8"
      }
@@ -9073,6 +9068,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/finalhandler/-/finalhandler-1.3.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-6BN9trH7bp3qvnrRyzsBz+g3lZxTNZTbVO2EV1CS0WIcDbawYVdYvGflME/9QP0h0pYlCDBCTjYa9nZzMDpyxQ==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "debug": "2.6.9",
        "encodeurl": "~2.0.0",
@@ -9091,6 +9087,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/debug/-/debug-2.6.9.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-bC7ElrdJaJnPbAP+1EotYvqZsb3ecl5wi6Bfi6BJTUcNowp6cvspg0jXznRTKDjm/E7AdgFBVeAPVMNcKGsHMA==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "ms": "2.0.0"
      }
@@ -9099,13 +9096,15 @@
      "version": "2.0.0",
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ms/-/ms-2.0.0.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-Tpp60P6IUJDTuOq/5Z8cdskzJujfwqfOTkrwIwj7IRISpnkJnT6SyJ4PCPnGMoFjC9ddhal5KVIYtAt97ix05A==",
-      "license": "MIT"
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true
    },
    "node_modules/finalhandler/node_modules/statuses": {
      "version": "2.0.1",
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/statuses/-/statuses-2.0.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-RwNA9Z/7PrK06rYLIzFMlaF+l73iwpzsqRIFgbMLbTcLD6cOao82TaWefPXQvB2fOC4AjuYSEndS7N/mTCbkdQ==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">= 0.8"
      }
@@ -10316,7 +10315,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@jrichman/ink/-/ink-6.4.5.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-mIDkZqtJbedL9XDOoqoJt3S8aGQVqEJYnCnSeLlYzkpUWCsSWC0hW40yJ0DLH86lcl8k5R5lv/9C2i/3746nWw==",
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@alcalzone/ansi-tokenize": "^0.2.1",
        "ansi-escapes": "^7.0.0",
@@ -13424,7 +13422,8 @@
      "version": "0.1.12",
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/path-to-regexp/-/path-to-regexp-0.1.12.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-RA1GjUVMnvYFxuqovrEqZoxxW5NUZqbwKtYz/Tt7nXerk0LbLblQmrsgdeOxV5SFHf0UDggjS/bSeOZwt1pmEQ==",
-      "license": "MIT"
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true
    },
    "node_modules/path-type": {
      "version": "3.0.0",
@@ -13959,7 +13958,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/react/-/react-19.2.0.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-tmbWg6W31tQLeB5cdIBOicJDJRR2KzXsV7uSK9iNfLWQ5bIZfxuPEHp7M8wiHyHnn0DD1i7w3Zmin0FtkrwoCQ==",
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">=0.10.0"
      }
@@ -13970,7 +13968,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-ePrwPfxAnB+7hgnEr8vpKxL9cmnp7F322t8oqcPshbIQQhDKgFDW4tjhF2wjVbdXF9O/nyuy3sQWd9JGpiLPvA==",
      "devOptional": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "shell-quote": "^1.6.1",
        "ws": "^7"
@@ -16189,7 +16186,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-5gTmgEY/sqK6gFXLIsQNH19lWb4ebPDLA4SdLP7dsWkIXHWlG66oPuVvXSGFPppYZz8ZDZq0dYYrbHfBCVUb1Q==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">=12"
      },
@@ -16354,8 +16350,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tslib/-/tslib-2.8.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-oJFu94HQb+KVduSUQL7wnpmqnfmLsOA/nAh6b6EH0wCEoK0/mPeXU6c3wKDV83MkOuHPRHtSXKKU99IBazS/2w==",
      "dev": true,
-      "license": "0BSD",
-      "peer": true
+      "license": "0BSD"
    },
    "node_modules/tsx": {
      "version": "4.20.3",
@@ -16363,7 +16358,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-qjbnuR9Tr+FJOMBqJCW5ehvIo/buZq7vH7qD7JziU98h6l3qGy0a/yPFjwO+y0/T7GFpNgNAvEcPPVfyT8rrPQ==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "esbuild": "~0.25.0",
        "get-tsconfig": "^4.7.5"
@@ -16548,7 +16542,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-p1diW6TqL9L07nNxvRMM7hMMw4c5XOo/1ibL4aAIGmSAt9slTE1Xgw5KWuof2uTOvCg9BY7ZRi+GaF+7sfgPeQ==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
-      "peer": true,
      "bin": {
        "tsc": "bin/tsc",
        "tsserver": "bin/tsserver"
@@ -16711,6 +16704,7 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/utils-merge/-/utils-merge-1.0.1.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-pMZTvIkT1d+TFGvDOqodOclx0QWkkgi6Tdoa8gC8ffGAAqz9pzPTZWAybbsHHoED/ztMtkv/VoYTYyShUn81hA==",
      "license": "MIT",
+      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">= 0.4.0"
      }
@@ -16766,7 +16760,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-BxAKBWmIbrDgrokdGZH1IgkIk/5mMHDreLDmCJ0qpyJaAteP8NvMhkwr/ZCQNqNH97bw/dANTE9PDzqwJghfMQ==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "esbuild": "^0.25.0",
        "fdir": "^6.5.0",
@@ -16883,7 +16876,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-5gTmgEY/sqK6gFXLIsQNH19lWb4ebPDLA4SdLP7dsWkIXHWlG66oPuVvXSGFPppYZz8ZDZq0dYYrbHfBCVUb1Q==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">=12"
      },
@@ -16897,7 +16889,6 @@
      "integrity": "sha512-LUCP5ev3GURDysTWiP47wRRUpLKMOfPh+yKTx3kVIEiu5KOMeqzpnYNsKyOoVrULivR8tLcks4+lga33Whn90A==",
      "dev": true,
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "dependencies": {
        "@types/chai": "^5.2.2",
        "@vitest/expect": "3.2.4",
@@ -17604,7 +17595,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/zod/-/zod-3.25.76.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-gzUt/qt81nXsFGKIFcC3YnfEAx5NkunCfnDlvuBSSFS02bcXu4Lmea0AFIUwbLWxWPx3d9p8S5QoaujKcNQxcQ==",
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "funding": {
        "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/colinhacks"
      }
@@ -17620,7 +17610,7 @@
    },
    "packages/a2a-server": {
      "name": "@google/gemini-cli-a2a-server",
-      "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+      "version": "0.18.2",
      "dependencies": {
        "@a2a-js/sdk": "^0.3.2",
        "@google-cloud/storage": "^7.16.0",
@@ -17910,7 +17900,7 @@
    },
    "packages/cli": {
      "name": "@google/gemini-cli",
-      "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+      "version": "0.18.2",
      "dependencies": {
        "@google/gemini-cli-core": "file:../core",
        "@google/genai": "1.30.0",
@@ -18011,7 +18001,7 @@
    },
    "packages/core": {
      "name": "@google/gemini-cli-core",
-      "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+      "version": "0.18.2",
      "dependencies": {
        "@google-cloud/logging": "^11.2.1",
        "@google-cloud/opentelemetry-cloud-monitoring-exporter": "^0.21.0",
@@ -18146,7 +18136,6 @@
      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/picomatch/-/picomatch-4.0.3.tgz",
      "integrity": "sha512-5gTmgEY/sqK6gFXLIsQNH19lWb4ebPDLA4SdLP7dsWkIXHWlG66oPuVvXSGFPppYZz8ZDZq0dYYrbHfBCVUb1Q==",
      "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
      "engines": {
        "node": ">=12"
      },
@@ -18156,7 +18145,7 @@
    },
    "packages/test-utils": {
      "name": "@google/gemini-cli-test-utils",
-      "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+      "version": "0.18.2",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "devDependencies": {
        "typescript": "^5.3.3"
@@ -18167,7 +18156,7 @@
    },
    "packages/vscode-ide-companion": {
      "name": "gemini-cli-vscode-ide-companion",
-      "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+      "version": "0.18.2",
      "license": "LICENSE",
      "dependencies": {
        "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "^1.15.1",
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
  "name": "@google/gemini-cli",
-  "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
  "engines": {
    "node": ">=20.0.0"
  },
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
    "url": "git+https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli.git"
  },
  "config": {
-    "sandboxImageUri": "us-docker.pkg.dev/gemini-code-dev/gemini-cli/sandbox:0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1"
+    "sandboxImageUri": "us-docker.pkg.dev/gemini-code-dev/gemini-cli/sandbox:0.18.2"
  },
  "scripts": {
    "start": "cross-env NODE_ENV=development node scripts/start.js",
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
  "name": "@google/gemini-cli-a2a-server",
-  "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
  "description": "Gemini CLI A2A Server",
  "repository": {
    "type": "git",
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
  "name": "@google/gemini-cli",
-  "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
  "description": "Gemini CLI",
  "repository": {
    "type": "git",
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
    "dist"
  ],
  "config": {
-    "sandboxImageUri": "us-docker.pkg.dev/gemini-code-dev/gemini-cli/sandbox:0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1"
+    "sandboxImageUri": "us-docker.pkg.dev/gemini-code-dev/gemini-cli/sandbox:0.18.2"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "@google/gemini-cli-core": "file:../core",
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { enableCommand } from './extensions/enable.js';
 import { linkCommand } from './extensions/link.js';
 import { newCommand } from './extensions/new.js';
 import { validateCommand } from './extensions/validate.js';
+import { initializeOutputListenersAndFlush } from '../gemini.js';

 export const extensionsCommand: CommandModule = {
  command: 'extensions <command>',
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ export const extensionsCommand: CommandModule = {
  describe: 'Manage Gemini CLI extensions.',
  builder: (yargs) =>
    yargs
+      .middleware(() => initializeOutputListenersAndFlush())
      .command(installCommand)
      .command(uninstallCommand)
      .command(listCommand)
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ vi.mock('../../config/extensions/consent.js', () => ({
 vi.mock('../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js', () => ({
  promptForSetting: vi.fn(),
 }));
+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));

 describe('extensions disable command', () => {
  const mockLoadSettings = vi.mocked(loadSettings);
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { debugLogger } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { requestConsentNonInteractive } from '../../config/extensions/consent.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface DisableArgs {
  name: string;
@@ -81,5 +82,6 @@ export const disableCommand: CommandModule = {
      name: argv['name'] as string,
      scope: argv['scope'] as string,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ vi.mock('../../config/extension-manager.js');
 vi.mock('../../config/settings.js');
 vi.mock('../../config/extensions/consent.js');
 vi.mock('../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js');
+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));

 describe('extensions enable command', () => {
  const mockLoadSettings = vi.mocked(loadSettings);
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
  getErrorMessage,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface EnableArgs {
  name: string;
@@ -86,5 +87,6 @@ export const enableCommand: CommandModule = {
      name: argv['name'] as string,
      scope: argv['scope'] as string,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ vi.mock('node:fs/promises', () => ({
  },
 }));

+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 describe('extensions install command', () => {
  it('should fail if no source is provided', () => {
    const validationParser = yargs([]).command(installCommand).fail(false);
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { loadSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface InstallArgs {
  source: string;
@@ -130,5 +131,6 @@ export const installCommand: CommandModule = {
      allowPreRelease: argv['pre-release'] as boolean | undefined,
      consent: argv['consent'] as boolean | undefined,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ vi.mock('../../config/extensions/consent.js', () => ({
 vi.mock('../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js', () => ({
  promptForSetting: vi.fn(),
 }));
+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));

 describe('extensions link command', () => {
  const mockLoadSettings = vi.mocked(loadSettings);
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { requestConsentNonInteractive } from '../../config/extensions/consent.js
 import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { loadSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface InstallArgs {
  path: string;
@@ -60,5 +61,6 @@ export const linkCommand: CommandModule = {
    await handleLink({
      path: argv['path'] as string,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ vi.mock('../../config/extensions/consent.js', () => ({
 vi.mock('../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js', () => ({
  promptForSetting: vi.fn(),
 }));
+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));

 describe('extensions list command', () => {
  const mockLoadSettings = vi.mocked(loadSettings);
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { requestConsentNonInteractive } from '../../config/extensions/consent.js';
 import { loadSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 export async function handleList() {
  try {
@@ -45,5 +46,6 @@ export const listCommand: CommandModule = {
  builder: (yargs) => yargs,
  handler: async () => {
    await handleList();
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ import * as fsPromises from 'node:fs/promises';
 import path from 'node:path';

 vi.mock('node:fs/promises');
+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));

 const mockedFs = vi.mocked(fsPromises);

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { join, dirname, basename } from 'node:path';
 import type { CommandModule } from 'yargs';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
 import { debugLogger } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface NewArgs {
  path: string;
@@ -100,5 +101,6 @@ export const newCommand: CommandModule = {
      path: args['path'] as string,
      template: args['template'] as string | undefined,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ vi.mock('../../config/extensions/consent.js', () => ({
 vi.mock('../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js', () => ({
  promptForSetting: vi.fn(),
 }));
+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));

 describe('extensions uninstall command', () => {
  const mockLoadSettings = vi.mocked(loadSettings);
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { requestConsentNonInteractive } from '../../config/extensions/consent.js
 import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { loadSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface UninstallArgs {
  names: string[]; // can be extension names or source URLs.
@@ -72,5 +73,6 @@ export const uninstallCommand: CommandModule = {
    await handleUninstall({
      names: argv['names'] as string[],
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ vi.mock('../../config/extensions/consent.js', () => ({
 vi.mock('../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js', () => ({
  promptForSetting: vi.fn(),
 }));
+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));

 describe('extensions update command', () => {
  const mockLoadSettings = vi.mocked(loadSettings);
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { requestConsentNonInteractive } from '../../config/extensions/consent.js';
 import { loadSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface UpdateArgs {
  name?: string;
@@ -144,5 +145,6 @@ export const updateCommand: CommandModule = {
      name: argv['name'] as string | undefined,
      all: argv['all'] as boolean | undefined,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import * as os from 'node:os';
 import { debugLogger } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';

+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 describe('extensions validate command', () => {
  it('should fail if no path is provided', () => {
    const validationParser = yargs([]).command(validateCommand).fail(false);
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { requestConsentNonInteractive } from '../../config/extensions/consent.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
 import { loadSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 interface ValidateArgs {
  path: string;
@@ -101,5 +102,6 @@ export const validateCommand: CommandModule = {
    await handleValidate({
      path: args['path'] as string,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ describe('mcp command', () => {
      command: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
      demandCommand: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
      version: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+      middleware: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
    };

    (mcpCommand.builder as (y: Argv) => Argv)(mockYargs as unknown as Argv);
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ import type { CommandModule, Argv } from 'yargs';
 import { addCommand } from './mcp/add.js';
 import { removeCommand } from './mcp/remove.js';
 import { listCommand } from './mcp/list.js';
+import { initializeOutputListenersAndFlush } from '../gemini.js';

 export const mcpCommand: CommandModule = {
  command: 'mcp',
  describe: 'Manage MCP servers',
  builder: (yargs: Argv) =>
    yargs
+      .middleware(() => initializeOutputListenersAndFlush())
      .command(addCommand)
      .command(removeCommand)
      .command(listCommand)
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ import { addCommand } from './add.js';
 import { loadSettings, SettingScope } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { debugLogger } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';

+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 vi.mock('fs/promises', () => ({
  readFile: vi.fn(),
  writeFile: vi.fn(),
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import type { CommandModule } from 'yargs';
 import { loadSettings, SettingScope } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { debugLogger, type MCPServerConfig } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 async function addMcpServer(
  name: string,
@@ -230,5 +231,6 @@ export const addCommand: CommandModule = {
        excludeTools: argv['excludeTools'] as string[] | undefined,
      },
    );
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ vi.mock('@google/gemini-cli-core', async (importOriginal) => {
 });
 vi.mock('@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/index.js');

+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 const mockedGetUserExtensionsDir =
  ExtensionStorage.getUserExtensionsDir as Mock;
 const mockedLoadSettings = loadSettings as Mock;
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { Client } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/index.js';
 import { ExtensionManager } from '../../config/extension-manager.js';
 import { requestConsentNonInteractive } from '../../config/extensions/consent.js';
 import { promptForSetting } from '../../config/extensions/extensionSettings.js';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 const COLOR_GREEN = '\u001b[32m';
 const COLOR_YELLOW = '\u001b[33m';
@@ -145,5 +146,6 @@ export const listCommand: CommandModule = {
  describe: 'List all configured MCP servers',
  handler: async () => {
    await listMcpServers();
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ vi.mock('fs/promises', () => ({
  writeFile: vi.fn(),
 }));

+vi.mock('../utils.js', () => ({
+  exitCli: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 describe('mcp remove command', () => {
  describe('unit tests with mocks', () => {
    let parser: Argv;
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import type { CommandModule } from 'yargs';
 import { loadSettings, SettingScope } from '../../config/settings.js';
 import { debugLogger } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import { exitCli } from '../utils.js';

 async function removeMcpServer(
  name: string,
@@ -57,5 +58,6 @@ export const removeCommand: CommandModule = {
    await removeMcpServer(argv['name'] as string, {
      scope: argv['scope'] as string,
    });
+    await exitCli();
  },
 };
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { runExitCleanup } from '../utils/cleanup.js';
+
+export async function exitCli(exitCode = 0) {
+  await runExitCleanup();
+  process.exit(exitCode);
+}
@@ -313,19 +313,6 @@ export async function parseArguments(settings: Settings): Promise<CliArgs> {
    process.exit(0);
  }

-  // If yargs handled --help/--version it will have exited; nothing to do here.
-
-  // Handle case where MCP subcommands are executed - they should exit the process
-  // and not return to main CLI logic
-  if (
-    result._.length > 0 &&
-    (result._[0] === 'mcp' || result._[0] === 'extensions')
-  ) {
-    // MCP commands handle their own execution and process exit
-    await runExitCleanup();
-    process.exit(0);
-  }
-
  // Normalize query args: handle both quoted "@path file" and unquoted @path file
  const queryArg = (result as { query?: string | string[] | undefined }).query;
  const q: string | undefined = Array.isArray(queryArg)
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
        label: 'Use Alternate Screen Buffer',
        category: 'UI',
        requiresRestart: true,
-        default: true,
+        default: false,
        description:
          'Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.',
        showInDialog: true,
@@ -512,6 +512,7 @@ describe('startInteractiveUI', () => {
    merged: {
      ui: {
        hideWindowTitle: false,
+        useAlternateBuffer: true,
      },
    },
  } as LoadedSettings;
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ function setWindowTitle(title: string, settings: LoadedSettings) {
  }
 }

-function initializeOutputListenersAndFlush() {
+export function initializeOutputListenersAndFlush() {
  // If there are no listeners for output, make sure we flush so output is not
  // lost.
  if (coreEvents.listenerCount(CoreEvent.Output) === 0) {
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ export const renderWithProviders = (
    width,
    mouseEventsEnabled = false,
    config = configProxy as unknown as Config,
-    useAlternateBuffer,
+    useAlternateBuffer = true,
    uiActions,
  }: {
    shellFocus?: boolean;
@@ -705,6 +705,7 @@ Logging in with Google... Please restart Gemini CLI to continue.
    handleApprovalModeChange,
    activePtyId,
    loopDetectionConfirmationRequest,
+    lastOutputTime,
  } = useGeminiStream(
    config.getGeminiClient(),
    historyManager.history,
@@ -1104,6 +1105,8 @@ Logging in with Google... Please restart Gemini CLI to continue.
  const { elapsedTime, currentLoadingPhrase } = useLoadingIndicator(
    streamingState,
    settings.merged.ui?.customWittyPhrases,
+    !!activePtyId && !embeddedShellFocused,
+    lastOutputTime,
  );

  const handleGlobalKeypress = useCallback(
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { renderWithProviders } from '../../test-utils/render.js';
 import { AppHeader } from './AppHeader.js';
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
 import { makeFakeConfig } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import crypto from 'node:crypto';

 const persistentStateMock = vi.hoisted(() => ({
  get: vi.fn(),
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ vi.mock('../utils/terminalSetup.js', () => ({
 describe('<AppHeader />', () => {
  beforeEach(() => {
    vi.clearAllMocks();
-    persistentStateMock.get.mockReturnValue(0);
+    persistentStateMock.get.mockReturnValue({});
  });

  it('should render the banner with default text', () => {
@@ -146,8 +147,8 @@ describe('<AppHeader />', () => {
    unmount();
  });

-  it('should increment the shown count when default banner is displayed', () => {
-    persistentStateMock.get.mockReturnValue(0);
+  it('should increment the version count when default banner is displayed', () => {
+    persistentStateMock.get.mockReturnValue({});
    const mockConfig = makeFakeConfig();
    const uiState = {
      bannerData: {
@@ -163,7 +164,12 @@ describe('<AppHeader />', () => {

    expect(persistentStateMock.set).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
      'defaultBannerShownCount',
-      1,
+      {
+        [crypto
+          .createHash('sha256')
+          .update(uiState.bannerData.defaultText)
+          .digest('hex')]: 1,
+      },
    );
    unmount();
  });
@@ -10,9 +10,8 @@ import { Tips } from './Tips.js';
 import { useSettings } from '../contexts/SettingsContext.js';
 import { useConfig } from '../contexts/ConfigContext.js';
 import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
-import { persistentState } from '../../utils/persistentState.js';
-import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { Banner } from './Banner.js';
+import { useBanner } from '../hooks/useBanner.js';

 interface AppHeaderProps {
  version: string;
@@ -23,27 +22,7 @@ export const AppHeader = ({ version }: AppHeaderProps) => {
  const config = useConfig();
  const { nightly, mainAreaWidth, bannerData, bannerVisible } = useUIState();

-  const [defaultBannerShownCount] = useState(
-    () => persistentState.get('defaultBannerShownCount') || 0,
-  );
-
-  const { defaultText, warningText } = bannerData;
-
-  const showDefaultBanner =
-    warningText === '' &&
-    !config.getPreviewFeatures() &&
-    defaultBannerShownCount < 5;
-
-  const bannerText = showDefaultBanner ? defaultText : warningText;
-
-  const hasIncrementedRef = useRef(false);
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (showDefaultBanner && defaultText && !hasIncrementedRef.current) {
-      hasIncrementedRef.current = true;
-      const current = persistentState.get('defaultBannerShownCount') || 0;
-      persistentState.set('defaultBannerShownCount', current + 1);
-    }
-  }, [showDefaultBanner, defaultText]);
+  const { bannerText } = useBanner(bannerData, config);

  return (
    <Box flexDirection="column">
@@ -54,7 +33,7 @@ export const AppHeader = ({ version }: AppHeaderProps) => {
            <Banner
              width={mainAreaWidth}
              bannerText={bannerText}
-              isWarning={warningText !== ''}
+              isWarning={bannerData.warningText !== ''}
            />
          )}
        </>
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { GeminiRespondingSpinner } from './GeminiRespondingSpinner.js';
 import { formatDuration } from '../utils/formatters.js';
 import { useTerminalSize } from '../hooks/useTerminalSize.js';
 import { isNarrowWidth } from '../utils/isNarrowWidth.js';
+import { INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE } from '../hooks/usePhraseCycler.js';

 interface LoadingIndicatorProps {
  currentLoadingPhrase?: string;
@@ -36,7 +37,12 @@ export const LoadingIndicator: React.FC<LoadingIndicatorProps> = ({
    return null;
  }

-  const primaryText = thought?.subject || currentLoadingPhrase;
+  // Prioritize the interactive shell waiting phrase over the thought subject
+  // because it conveys an actionable state for the user (waiting for input).
+  const primaryText =
+    currentLoadingPhrase === INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE
+      ? currentLoadingPhrase
+      : thought?.subject || currentLoadingPhrase;

  const cancelAndTimerContent =
    streamingState !== StreamingState.WaitingForConfirmation
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { theme } from '../semantic-colors.js';
 import {
  DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_LITE_MODEL,
  DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL,
-  PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
+  DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
  UserTierId,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';

@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export function ProQuotaDialog({
        <RadioButtonSelect items={items} onSelect={handleSelect} />
      </Box>
      <Text color={theme.text.primary}>
-        {failedModel === PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL && !isModelNotFoundError
+        {fallbackModel === DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL && !isModelNotFoundError
          ? 'Note: We will periodically retry Preview Model to see if congestion has cleared.'
          : 'Note: You can always use /model to select a different option.'}
      </Text>
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ import { Box, Text, type DOMElement } from 'ink';
 import { ToolCallStatus } from '../../types.js';
 import { ShellInputPrompt } from '../ShellInputPrompt.js';
 import { StickyHeader } from '../StickyHeader.js';
-import { SHELL_COMMAND_NAME, SHELL_NAME } from '../../constants.js';
+import {
+  SHELL_COMMAND_NAME,
+  SHELL_NAME,
+  SHELL_FOCUS_HINT_DELAY_MS,
+} from '../../constants.js';
 import { theme } from '../../semantic-colors.js';
 import { SHELL_TOOL_NAME } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { useUIActions } from '../../contexts/UIActionsContext.js';
@@ -104,7 +108,7 @@ export const ShellToolMessage: React.FC<ShellToolMessageProps> = ({

    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
      setShowFocusHint(true);
-    }, 5000);
+    }, SHELL_FOCUS_HINT_DELAY_MS);

    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
  }, [lastUpdateTime]);
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 */

 import type React from 'react';
-import { Box } from 'ink';
+import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
 import type { IndividualToolCallDisplay } from '../../types.js';
 import { StickyHeader } from '../StickyHeader.js';
 import { ToolResultDisplay } from './ToolResultDisplay.js';
@@ -14,7 +15,17 @@ import {
  ToolInfo,
  TrailingIndicator,
  type TextEmphasis,
+  STATUS_INDICATOR_WIDTH,
 } from './ToolShared.js';
+import {
+  SHELL_COMMAND_NAME,
+  SHELL_FOCUS_HINT_DELAY_MS,
+} from '../../constants.js';
+import { theme } from '../../semantic-colors.js';
+import type { Config } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import { useInactivityTimer } from '../../hooks/useInactivityTimer.js';
+import { ToolCallStatus } from '../../types.js';
+import { ShellInputPrompt } from '../ShellInputPrompt.js';

 export type { TextEmphasis };

@@ -26,6 +37,10 @@ export interface ToolMessageProps extends IndividualToolCallDisplay {
  isFirst: boolean;
  borderColor: string;
  borderDimColor: boolean;
+  activeShellPtyId?: number | null;
+  embeddedShellFocused?: boolean;
+  ptyId?: number;
+  config?: Config;
 }

 export const ToolMessage: React.FC<ToolMessageProps> = ({
@@ -40,41 +55,96 @@ export const ToolMessage: React.FC<ToolMessageProps> = ({
  isFirst,
  borderColor,
  borderDimColor,
-}) => (
-  <Box flexDirection="column" width={terminalWidth}>
-    <StickyHeader
-      width={terminalWidth}
-      isFirst={isFirst}
-      borderColor={borderColor}
-      borderDimColor={borderDimColor}
-    >
-      <ToolStatusIndicator status={status} name={name} />
-      <ToolInfo
-        name={name}
-        status={status}
-        description={description}
-        emphasis={emphasis}
-      />
-      {emphasis === 'high' && <TrailingIndicator />}
-    </StickyHeader>
-    <Box
-      width={terminalWidth}
-      borderStyle="round"
-      borderColor={borderColor}
-      borderDimColor={borderDimColor}
-      borderTop={false}
-      borderBottom={false}
-      borderLeft={true}
-      borderRight={true}
-      paddingX={1}
-      flexDirection="column"
-    >
-      <ToolResultDisplay
-        resultDisplay={resultDisplay}
-        availableTerminalHeight={availableTerminalHeight}
-        terminalWidth={terminalWidth}
-        renderOutputAsMarkdown={renderOutputAsMarkdown}
-      />
+  activeShellPtyId,
+  embeddedShellFocused,
+  ptyId,
+  config,
+}) => {
+  const isThisShellFocused =
+    (name === SHELL_COMMAND_NAME || name === 'Shell') &&
+    status === ToolCallStatus.Executing &&
+    ptyId === activeShellPtyId &&
+    embeddedShellFocused;
+
+  const [lastUpdateTime, setLastUpdateTime] = useState<Date | null>(null);
+  const [userHasFocused, setUserHasFocused] = useState(false);
+  const showFocusHint = useInactivityTimer(
+    !!lastUpdateTime,
+    lastUpdateTime ? lastUpdateTime.getTime() : 0,
+    SHELL_FOCUS_HINT_DELAY_MS,
+  );
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (resultDisplay) {
+      setLastUpdateTime(new Date());
+    }
+  }, [resultDisplay]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isThisShellFocused) {
+      setUserHasFocused(true);
+    }
+  }, [isThisShellFocused]);
+
+  const isThisShellFocusable =
+    (name === SHELL_COMMAND_NAME || name === 'Shell') &&
+    status === ToolCallStatus.Executing &&
+    config?.getEnableInteractiveShell();
+
+  const shouldShowFocusHint =
+    isThisShellFocusable && (showFocusHint || userHasFocused);
+
+  return (
+    <Box flexDirection="column" width={terminalWidth}>
+      <StickyHeader
+        width={terminalWidth}
+        isFirst={isFirst}
+        borderColor={borderColor}
+        borderDimColor={borderDimColor}
+      >
+        <ToolStatusIndicator status={status} name={name} />
+        <ToolInfo
+          name={name}
+          status={status}
+          description={description}
+          emphasis={emphasis}
+        />
+        {shouldShowFocusHint && (
+          <Box marginLeft={1} flexShrink={0}>
+            <Text color={theme.text.accent}>
+              {isThisShellFocused ? '(Focused)' : '(ctrl+f to focus)'}
+            </Text>
+          </Box>
+        )}
+        {emphasis === 'high' && <TrailingIndicator />}
+      </StickyHeader>
+      <Box
+        width={terminalWidth}
+        borderStyle="round"
+        borderColor={borderColor}
+        borderDimColor={borderDimColor}
+        borderTop={false}
+        borderBottom={false}
+        borderLeft={true}
+        borderRight={true}
+        paddingX={1}
+        flexDirection="column"
+      >
+        <ToolResultDisplay
+          resultDisplay={resultDisplay}
+          availableTerminalHeight={availableTerminalHeight}
+          terminalWidth={terminalWidth}
+          renderOutputAsMarkdown={renderOutputAsMarkdown}
+        />
+        {isThisShellFocused && config && (
+          <Box paddingLeft={STATUS_INDICATOR_WIDTH} marginTop={1}>
+            <ShellInputPrompt
+              activeShellPtyId={activeShellPtyId ?? null}
+              focus={embeddedShellFocused}
+            />
+          </Box>
+        )}
+      </Box>
    </Box>
-  </Box>
-);
+  );
+};
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ export const SHELL_NAME = 'Shell';
 // usage.
 export const MAX_GEMINI_MESSAGE_LINES = 65536;

+export const SHELL_FOCUS_HINT_DELAY_MS = 5000;
+
 // Tool status symbols used in ToolMessage component
 export const TOOL_STATUS = {
  SUCCESS: '✓',
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
  terminalHeight?: number,
 ) => {
  const [activeShellPtyId, setActiveShellPtyId] = useState<number | null>(null);
+  const [lastShellOutputTime, setLastShellOutputTime] = useState<number>(0);
+
  const handleShellCommand = useCallback(
    (rawQuery: PartListUnion, abortSignal: AbortSignal): boolean => {
      if (typeof rawQuery !== 'string' || rawQuery.trim() === '') {
@@ -202,6 +204,7 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (

              // Throttle pending UI updates, but allow forced updates.
              if (shouldUpdate) {
+                setLastShellOutputTime(Date.now());
                setPendingHistoryItem((prevItem) => {
                  if (prevItem?.type === 'tool_group') {
                    return {
@@ -366,5 +369,5 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
    ],
  );

-  return { handleShellCommand, activeShellPtyId };
+  return { handleShellCommand, activeShellPtyId, lastShellOutputTime };
 };
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { useSettings } from '../contexts/SettingsContext.js';
 import type { LoadedSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';

 export const isAlternateBufferEnabled = (settings: LoadedSettings): boolean =>
-  settings.merged.ui?.useAlternateBuffer !== false;
+  settings.merged.ui?.useAlternateBuffer === true;

 export const useAlternateBuffer = (): boolean => {
  const settings = useSettings();
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import {
+  describe,
+  it,
+  expect,
+  vi,
+  beforeEach,
+  type MockedFunction,
+} from 'vitest';
+import { renderHook } from '../../test-utils/render.js';
+import { useBanner } from './useBanner.js';
+import { persistentState } from '../../utils/persistentState.js';
+import type { Config } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import crypto from 'node:crypto';
+
+vi.mock('../../utils/persistentState.js', () => ({
+  persistentState: {
+    get: vi.fn(),
+    set: vi.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+vi.mock('../semantic-colors.js', () => ({
+  theme: {
+    status: {
+      warning: 'mock-warning-color',
+    },
+  },
+}));
+
+vi.mock('../colors.js', () => ({
+  Colors: {
+    AccentBlue: 'mock-accent-blue',
+  },
+}));
+
+// Define the shape of the config methods used by this hook
+interface MockConfigShape {
+  getPreviewFeatures: MockedFunction<() => boolean>;
+}
+
+describe('useBanner', () => {
+  let mockConfig: MockConfigShape;
+  const mockedPersistentStateGet = persistentState.get as MockedFunction<
+    typeof persistentState.get
+  >;
+  const mockedPersistentStateSet = persistentState.set as MockedFunction<
+    typeof persistentState.set
+  >;
+
+  const defaultBannerData = {
+    defaultText: 'Standard Banner',
+    warningText: '',
+  };
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.resetAllMocks();
+
+    // Initialize the mock config with default behavior
+    mockConfig = {
+      getPreviewFeatures: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
+    };
+
+    // Default persistentState behavior: return empty object (no counts)
+    mockedPersistentStateGet.mockReturnValue({});
+  });
+
+  it('should return warning text and warning color if warningText is present', () => {
+    const data = { defaultText: 'Standard', warningText: 'Critical Error' };
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useBanner(data, mockConfig as unknown as Config),
+    );
+
+    expect(result.current.bannerText).toBe('Critical Error');
+  });
+
+  it('should NOT show default banner if preview features are enabled in config', () => {
+    // Simulate Preview Features Enabled
+    mockConfig.getPreviewFeatures.mockReturnValue(true);
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useBanner(defaultBannerData, mockConfig as unknown as Config),
+    );
+
+    // Should fall back to warningText (which is empty)
+    expect(result.current.bannerText).toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('should hide banner if show count exceeds max limit (Legacy format)', () => {
+    mockedPersistentStateGet.mockReturnValue({
+      [crypto
+        .createHash('sha256')
+        .update(defaultBannerData.defaultText)
+        .digest('hex')]: 5,
+    });
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useBanner(defaultBannerData, mockConfig as unknown as Config),
+    );
+
+    expect(result.current.bannerText).toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('should increment the persistent count when banner is shown', () => {
+    const data = { defaultText: 'Tracker', warningText: '' };
+
+    // Current count is 1
+    mockedPersistentStateGet.mockReturnValue({
+      [crypto.createHash('sha256').update(data.defaultText).digest('hex')]: 1,
+    });
+
+    renderHook(() => useBanner(data, mockConfig as unknown as Config));
+
+    // Expect set to be called with incremented count
+    expect(mockedPersistentStateSet).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'defaultBannerShownCount',
+      {
+        [crypto.createHash('sha256').update(data.defaultText).digest('hex')]: 2,
+      },
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should NOT increment count if warning text is shown instead', () => {
+    const data = { defaultText: 'Standard', warningText: 'Warning' };
+
+    renderHook(() => useBanner(data, mockConfig as unknown as Config));
+
+    // Since warning text takes precedence, default banner logic (and increment) is skipped
+    expect(mockedPersistentStateSet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('should handle newline replacements', () => {
+    const data = { defaultText: 'Line1\\nLine2', warningText: '' };
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useBanner(data, mockConfig as unknown as Config),
+    );
+
+    expect(result.current.bannerText).toBe('Line1\nLine2');
+  });
+});
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { persistentState } from '../../utils/persistentState.js';
+import type { Config } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
+import crypto from 'node:crypto';
+
+const DEFAULT_MAX_BANNER_SHOWN_COUNT = 5;
+
+interface BannerData {
+  defaultText: string;
+  warningText: string;
+}
+
+export function useBanner(bannerData: BannerData, config: Config) {
+  const { defaultText, warningText } = bannerData;
+
+  const [previewEnabled, setPreviewEnabled] = useState(
+    config.getPreviewFeatures(),
+  );
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const isEnabled = config.getPreviewFeatures();
+    if (isEnabled !== previewEnabled) {
+      setPreviewEnabled(isEnabled);
+    }
+  }, [config, previewEnabled]);
+
+  const [bannerCounts] = useState(
+    () => persistentState.get('defaultBannerShownCount') || {},
+  );
+
+  const hashedText = crypto
+    .createHash('sha256')
+    .update(defaultText)
+    .digest('hex');
+
+  const currentBannerCount = bannerCounts[hashedText] || 0;
+
+  const showDefaultBanner =
+    warningText === '' &&
+    !previewEnabled &&
+    currentBannerCount < DEFAULT_MAX_BANNER_SHOWN_COUNT;
+
+  const rawBannerText = showDefaultBanner ? defaultText : warningText;
+  const bannerText = rawBannerText.replace(/\\n/g, '\n');
+
+  const lastIncrementedKey = useRef<string | null>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (showDefaultBanner && defaultText) {
+      if (lastIncrementedKey.current !== defaultText) {
+        lastIncrementedKey.current = defaultText;
+
+        const allCounts = persistentState.get('defaultBannerShownCount') || {};
+        const current = allCounts[hashedText] || 0;
+
+        persistentState.set('defaultBannerShownCount', {
+          ...allCounts,
+          [hashedText]: current + 1,
+        });
+      }
+    }
+  }, [showDefaultBanner, defaultText, hashedText]);
+
+  return {
+    bannerText,
+  };
+}
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
    markToolsAsSubmitted,
    setToolCallsForDisplay,
    cancelAllToolCalls,
+    lastToolOutputTime,
  ] = useReactToolScheduler(
    async (completedToolCallsFromScheduler) => {
      // This onComplete is called when ALL scheduled tools for a given batch are done.
@@ -211,17 +212,18 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
    await done;
    setIsResponding(false);
  }, []);
-  const { handleShellCommand, activeShellPtyId } = useShellCommandProcessor(
-    addItem,
-    setPendingHistoryItem,
-    onExec,
-    onDebugMessage,
-    config,
-    geminiClient,
-    setShellInputFocused,
-    terminalWidth,
-    terminalHeight,
-  );
+  const { handleShellCommand, activeShellPtyId, lastShellOutputTime } =
+    useShellCommandProcessor(
+      addItem,
+      setPendingHistoryItem,
+      onExec,
+      onDebugMessage,
+      config,
+      geminiClient,
+      setShellInputFocused,
+      terminalWidth,
+      terminalHeight,
+    );

  const activePtyId = activeShellPtyId || activeToolPtyId;

@@ -681,8 +683,9 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
        [FinishReason.UNEXPECTED_TOOL_CALL]:
          'Response stopped due to unexpected tool call.',
        [FinishReason.IMAGE_PROHIBITED_CONTENT]:
-          'Response stopped due to prohibited content.',
-        [FinishReason.NO_IMAGE]: 'Response stopped due to no image.',
+          'Response stopped due to prohibited image content.',
+        [FinishReason.NO_IMAGE]:
+          'Response stopped because no image was generated.',
      };

      const message = finishReasonMessages[finishReason];
@@ -1348,6 +1351,8 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
    storage,
  ]);

+  const lastOutputTime = Math.max(lastToolOutputTime, lastShellOutputTime);
+
  return {
    streamingState,
    submitQuery,
@@ -1359,5 +1364,6 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
    handleApprovalModeChange,
    activePtyId,
    loopDetectionConfirmationRequest,
+    lastOutputTime,
  };
 };
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+
+/**
+ * Returns true after a specified delay of inactivity.
+ * Inactivity is defined as 'trigger' not changing for 'delayMs' milliseconds.
+ *
+ * @param isActive Whether the timer should be running.
+ * @param trigger Any value that, when changed, resets the inactivity timer.
+ * @param delayMs The delay in milliseconds before considering the state inactive.
+ */
+export const useInactivityTimer = (
+  isActive: boolean,
+  trigger: unknown,
+  delayMs: number = 5000,
+): boolean => {
+  const [isInactive, setIsInactive] = useState(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isActive) {
+      setIsInactive(false);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setIsInactive(false);
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      setIsInactive(true);
+    }, delayMs);
+
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
+  }, [isActive, trigger, delayMs]);
+
+  return isInactive;
+};
@@ -9,8 +9,12 @@ import { act } from 'react';
 import { render } from '../../test-utils/render.js';
 import { useLoadingIndicator } from './useLoadingIndicator.js';
 import { StreamingState } from '../types.js';
-import { PHRASE_CHANGE_INTERVAL_MS } from './usePhraseCycler.js';
+import {
+  PHRASE_CHANGE_INTERVAL_MS,
+  INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE,
+} from './usePhraseCycler.js';
 import { WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES } from '../constants/wittyPhrases.js';
+import { INFORMATIVE_TIPS } from '../constants/tips.js';

 describe('useLoadingIndicator', () => {
  beforeEach(() => {
@@ -25,18 +29,33 @@ describe('useLoadingIndicator', () => {

  const renderLoadingIndicatorHook = (
    initialStreamingState: StreamingState,
+    initialIsInteractiveShellWaiting: boolean = false,
+    initialLastOutputTime: number = 0,
  ) => {
    let hookResult: ReturnType<typeof useLoadingIndicator>;
    function TestComponent({
      streamingState,
+      isInteractiveShellWaiting,
+      lastOutputTime,
    }: {
      streamingState: StreamingState;
+      isInteractiveShellWaiting?: boolean;
+      lastOutputTime?: number;
    }) {
-      hookResult = useLoadingIndicator(streamingState);
+      hookResult = useLoadingIndicator(
+        streamingState,
+        undefined,
+        isInteractiveShellWaiting,
+        lastOutputTime,
+      );
      return null;
    }
    const { rerender } = render(
-      <TestComponent streamingState={initialStreamingState} />,
+      <TestComponent
+        streamingState={initialStreamingState}
+        isInteractiveShellWaiting={initialIsInteractiveShellWaiting}
+        lastOutputTime={initialLastOutputTime}
+      />,
    );
    return {
      result: {
@@ -44,8 +63,11 @@ describe('useLoadingIndicator', () => {
          return hookResult;
        },
      },
-      rerender: (newProps: { streamingState: StreamingState }) =>
-        rerender(<TestComponent {...newProps} />),
+      rerender: (newProps: {
+        streamingState: StreamingState;
+        isInteractiveShellWaiting?: boolean;
+        lastOutputTime?: number;
+      }) => rerender(<TestComponent {...newProps} />),
    };
  };

@@ -58,6 +80,28 @@ describe('useLoadingIndicator', () => {
    );
  });

+  it('should show interactive shell waiting phrase when isInteractiveShellWaiting is true after 5s', async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(Math, 'random').mockImplementation(() => 0.5); // Always witty
+    const { result } = renderLoadingIndicatorHook(
+      StreamingState.Responding,
+      true,
+      1,
+    );
+
+    // Initially should be witty phrase or tip
+    expect([...WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES, ...INFORMATIVE_TIPS]).toContain(
+      result.current.currentLoadingPhrase,
+    );
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5000);
+    });
+
+    expect(result.current.currentLoadingPhrase).toBe(
+      INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE,
+    );
+  });
+
  it('should reflect values when Responding', async () => {
    vi.spyOn(Math, 'random').mockImplementation(() => 0.5); // Always witty for subsequent phrases
    const { result } = renderLoadingIndicatorHook(StreamingState.Responding);
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'; // Added useRef
 export const useLoadingIndicator = (
  streamingState: StreamingState,
  customWittyPhrases?: string[],
+  isInteractiveShellWaiting: boolean = false,
+  lastOutputTime: number = 0,
 ) => {
  const [timerResetKey, setTimerResetKey] = useState(0);
  const isTimerActive = streamingState === StreamingState.Responding;
@@ -23,6 +25,8 @@ export const useLoadingIndicator = (
  const currentLoadingPhrase = usePhraseCycler(
    isPhraseCyclingActive,
    isWaiting,
+    isInteractiveShellWaiting,
+    lastOutputTime,
    customWittyPhrases,
  );

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { Text } from 'ink';
 import {
  usePhraseCycler,
  PHRASE_CHANGE_INTERVAL_MS,
+  INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE,
 } from './usePhraseCycler.js';
 import { INFORMATIVE_TIPS } from '../constants/tips.js';
 import { WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES } from '../constants/wittyPhrases.js';
@@ -19,13 +20,23 @@ import { WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES } from '../constants/wittyPhrases.js';
 const TestComponent = ({
  isActive,
  isWaiting,
+  isInteractiveShellWaiting = false,
+  lastOutputTime = 0,
  customPhrases,
 }: {
  isActive: boolean;
  isWaiting: boolean;
+  isInteractiveShellWaiting?: boolean;
+  lastOutputTime?: number;
  customPhrases?: string[];
 }) => {
-  const phrase = usePhraseCycler(isActive, isWaiting, customPhrases);
+  const phrase = usePhraseCycler(
+    isActive,
+    isWaiting,
+    isInteractiveShellWaiting,
+    lastOutputTime,
+    customPhrases,
+  );
  return <Text>{phrase}</Text>;
 };

@@ -57,6 +68,102 @@ describe('usePhraseCycler', () => {
    expect(lastFrame()).toBe('Waiting for user confirmation...');
  });

+  it('should show interactive shell waiting message when isInteractiveShellWaiting is true after 5s', async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(Math, 'random').mockImplementation(() => 0.5); // Always witty
+    const { lastFrame, rerender } = render(
+      <TestComponent isActive={true} isWaiting={false} />,
+    );
+    rerender(
+      <TestComponent
+        isActive={true}
+        isWaiting={false}
+        isInteractiveShellWaiting={true}
+        lastOutputTime={1}
+      />,
+    );
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    });
+    // Should still be showing a witty phrase or tip initially
+    expect([...WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES, ...INFORMATIVE_TIPS]).toContain(
+      lastFrame(),
+    );
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5000);
+    });
+    expect(lastFrame()).toBe(INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE);
+  });
+
+  it('should reset interactive shell waiting timer when lastOutputTime changes', async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(Math, 'random').mockImplementation(() => 0.5); // Always witty
+    const { lastFrame, rerender } = render(
+      <TestComponent
+        isActive={true}
+        isWaiting={false}
+        isInteractiveShellWaiting={true}
+        lastOutputTime={1000}
+      />,
+    );
+
+    // Advance 3 seconds
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3000);
+    });
+    // Should still be witty phrase or tip
+    expect([...WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES, ...INFORMATIVE_TIPS]).toContain(
+      lastFrame(),
+    );
+
+    // Update lastOutputTime
+    rerender(
+      <TestComponent
+        isActive={true}
+        isWaiting={false}
+        isInteractiveShellWaiting={true}
+        lastOutputTime={4000}
+      />,
+    );
+
+    // Advance another 3 seconds (total 6s from start, but only 3s from last output)
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3000);
+    });
+    // Should STILL be witty phrase or tip because timer reset
+    expect([...WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES, ...INFORMATIVE_TIPS]).toContain(
+      lastFrame(),
+    );
+
+    // Advance another 2 seconds (total 5s from last output)
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(2000);
+    });
+    expect(lastFrame()).toBe(INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE);
+  });
+
+  it('should prioritize interactive shell waiting over normal waiting after 5s', async () => {
+    const { lastFrame, rerender } = render(
+      <TestComponent isActive={true} isWaiting={true} />,
+    );
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    });
+    expect(lastFrame()).toBe('Waiting for user confirmation...');
+
+    rerender(
+      <TestComponent
+        isActive={true}
+        isWaiting={true}
+        isInteractiveShellWaiting={true}
+        lastOutputTime={1}
+      />,
+    );
+    await act(async () => {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5000);
+    });
+    expect(lastFrame()).toBe(INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE);
+  });
+
  it('should not cycle phrases if isActive is false and not waiting', async () => {
    const { lastFrame } = render(
      <TestComponent isActive={false} isWaiting={false} />,
@@ -5,20 +5,28 @@
 */

 import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { SHELL_FOCUS_HINT_DELAY_MS } from '../constants.js';
 import { INFORMATIVE_TIPS } from '../constants/tips.js';
 import { WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES } from '../constants/wittyPhrases.js';
+import { useInactivityTimer } from './useInactivityTimer.js';

 export const PHRASE_CHANGE_INTERVAL_MS = 15000;
+export const INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE =
+  'Interactive shell awaiting input... press Ctrl+f to focus shell';

 /**
 * Custom hook to manage cycling through loading phrases.
 * @param isActive Whether the phrase cycling should be active.
 * @param isWaiting Whether to show a specific waiting phrase.
+ * @param isInteractiveShellWaiting Whether an interactive shell is waiting for input but not focused.
+ * @param customPhrases Optional list of custom phrases to use.
 * @returns The current loading phrase.
 */
 export const usePhraseCycler = (
  isActive: boolean,
  isWaiting: boolean,
+  isInteractiveShellWaiting: boolean,
+  lastOutputTime: number = 0,
  customPhrases?: string[],
 ) => {
  const loadingPhrases =
@@ -29,66 +37,79 @@ export const usePhraseCycler = (
  const [currentLoadingPhrase, setCurrentLoadingPhrase] = useState(
    loadingPhrases[0],
  );
+  const showShellFocusHint = useInactivityTimer(
+    isInteractiveShellWaiting && lastOutputTime > 0,
+    lastOutputTime,
+    SHELL_FOCUS_HINT_DELAY_MS,
+  );
  const phraseIntervalRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
  const hasShownFirstRequestTipRef = useRef(false);

  useEffect(() => {
+    // Always clear on re-run
+    if (phraseIntervalRef.current) {
+      clearInterval(phraseIntervalRef.current);
+      phraseIntervalRef.current = null;
+    }
+
+    if (isInteractiveShellWaiting && showShellFocusHint) {
+      setCurrentLoadingPhrase(INTERACTIVE_SHELL_WAITING_PHRASE);
+      return;
+    }
+
    if (isWaiting) {
      setCurrentLoadingPhrase('Waiting for user confirmation...');
-      if (phraseIntervalRef.current) {
-        clearInterval(phraseIntervalRef.current);
-        phraseIntervalRef.current = null;
-      }
-    } else if (isActive) {
-      if (phraseIntervalRef.current) {
-        clearInterval(phraseIntervalRef.current);
-      }
-
-      const setRandomPhrase = () => {
-        if (customPhrases && customPhrases.length > 0) {
-          const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * customPhrases.length);
-          setCurrentLoadingPhrase(customPhrases[randomIndex]);
-        } else {
-          let phraseList;
-          // Show a tip on the first request after startup, then continue with 1/6 chance
-          if (!hasShownFirstRequestTipRef.current) {
-            // Show a tip during the first request
-            phraseList = INFORMATIVE_TIPS;
-            hasShownFirstRequestTipRef.current = true;
-          } else {
-            // Roughly 1 in 6 chance to show a tip after the first request
-            const showTip = Math.random() < 1 / 6;
-            phraseList = showTip ? INFORMATIVE_TIPS : WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES;
-          }
-          const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * phraseList.length);
-          setCurrentLoadingPhrase(phraseList[randomIndex]);
-        }
-      };
-
-      // Select an initial random phrase
-      setRandomPhrase();
-
-      phraseIntervalRef.current = setInterval(() => {
-        // Select a new random phrase
-        setRandomPhrase();
-      }, PHRASE_CHANGE_INTERVAL_MS);
-    } else {
-      // Idle or other states, clear the phrase interval
-      // and reset to the first phrase for next active state.
-      if (phraseIntervalRef.current) {
-        clearInterval(phraseIntervalRef.current);
-        phraseIntervalRef.current = null;
-      }
-      setCurrentLoadingPhrase(loadingPhrases[0]);
+      return;
    }

+    if (!isActive) {
+      setCurrentLoadingPhrase(loadingPhrases[0]);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const setRandomPhrase = () => {
+      if (customPhrases && customPhrases.length > 0) {
+        const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * customPhrases.length);
+        setCurrentLoadingPhrase(customPhrases[randomIndex]);
+      } else {
+        let phraseList;
+        // Show a tip on the first request after startup, then continue with 1/6 chance
+        if (!hasShownFirstRequestTipRef.current) {
+          // Show a tip during the first request
+          phraseList = INFORMATIVE_TIPS;
+          hasShownFirstRequestTipRef.current = true;
+        } else {
+          // Roughly 1 in 6 chance to show a tip after the first request
+          const showTip = Math.random() < 1 / 6;
+          phraseList = showTip ? INFORMATIVE_TIPS : WITTY_LOADING_PHRASES;
+        }
+        const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * phraseList.length);
+        setCurrentLoadingPhrase(phraseList[randomIndex]);
+      }
+    };
+
+    // Select an initial random phrase
+    setRandomPhrase();
+
+    phraseIntervalRef.current = setInterval(() => {
+      // Select a new random phrase
+      setRandomPhrase();
+    }, PHRASE_CHANGE_INTERVAL_MS);
+
    return () => {
      if (phraseIntervalRef.current) {
        clearInterval(phraseIntervalRef.current);
        phraseIntervalRef.current = null;
      }
    };
-  }, [isActive, isWaiting, customPhrases, loadingPhrases]);
+  }, [
+    isActive,
+    isWaiting,
+    isInteractiveShellWaiting,
+    customPhrases,
+    loadingPhrases,
+    showShellFocusHint,
+  ]);

  return currentLoadingPhrase;
 };
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ import {
  RetryableQuotaError,
  PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
  ModelNotFoundError,
+  DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
+  DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { useQuotaAndFallback } from './useQuotaAndFallback.js';
 import type { UseHistoryManagerReturn } from './useHistoryManager.js';
@@ -432,7 +434,7 @@ To disable Gemini 3, disable "Preview features" in /settings.`,
      await act(() => {
        promise = handler(
          PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
-          'gemini-flash',
+          DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
          new Error('preview model failed'),
        );
      });
@@ -447,7 +449,42 @@ To disable Gemini 3, disable "Preview features" in /settings.`,
      const lastCall = (mockHistoryManager.addItem as Mock).mock.calls[0][0];
      expect(lastCall.type).toBe(MessageType.INFO);
      expect(lastCall.text).toContain(
-        `Switched to fallback model gemini-flash. We will periodically check if ${PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL} is available again.`,
+        `Switched to fallback model gemini-2.5-pro. We will periodically check if ${PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL} is available again.`,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should show a special message when falling back from the preview model, but do not show periodical check message for flash model fallback', async () => {
+      const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+        useQuotaAndFallback({
+          config: mockConfig,
+          historyManager: mockHistoryManager,
+          userTier: UserTierId.FREE,
+          setModelSwitchedFromQuotaError: mockSetModelSwitchedFromQuotaError,
+        }),
+      );
+
+      const handler = setFallbackHandlerSpy.mock
+        .calls[0][0] as FallbackModelHandler;
+      let promise: Promise<FallbackIntent | null>;
+      await act(() => {
+        promise = handler(
+          PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
+          DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL,
+          new Error('preview model failed'),
+        );
+      });
+
+      await act(() => {
+        result.current.handleProQuotaChoice('retry_always');
+      });
+
+      await promise!;
+
+      expect(mockHistoryManager.addItem).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      const lastCall = (mockHistoryManager.addItem as Mock).mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(lastCall.type).toBe(MessageType.INFO);
+      expect(lastCall.text).toContain(
+        `Switched to fallback model gemini-2.5-flash.`,
      );
    });
  });
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
  ModelNotFoundError,
  type UserTierId,
  PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
+  DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { type UseHistoryManagerReturn } from './useHistoryManager.js';
@@ -55,11 +56,16 @@ export function useQuotaAndFallback({
      let message: string;
      let isTerminalQuotaError = false;
      let isModelNotFoundError = false;
+      const usageLimitReachedModel =
+        failedModel === DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL ||
+        failedModel === PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL
+          ? 'all Pro models'
+          : failedModel;
      if (error instanceof TerminalQuotaError) {
        isTerminalQuotaError = true;
        // Common part of the message for both tiers
        const messageLines = [
-          `Usage limit reached for ${failedModel}.`,
+          `Usage limit reached for ${usageLimitReachedModel}.`,
          error.retryDelayMs ? getResetTimeMessage(error.retryDelayMs) : null,
          `/stats for usage details`,
          `/auth to switch to API key.`,
@@ -116,10 +122,13 @@ export function useQuotaAndFallback({
      if (choice === 'retry_always') {
        // If we were recovering from a Preview Model failure, show a specific message.
        if (proQuotaRequest.failedModel === PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL) {
+          const showPeriodicalCheckMessage =
+            !proQuotaRequest.isModelNotFoundError &&
+            proQuotaRequest.fallbackModel === DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL;
          historyManager.addItem(
            {
              type: MessageType.INFO,
-              text: `Switched to fallback model ${proQuotaRequest.fallbackModel}. ${!proQuotaRequest.isModelNotFoundError ? `We will periodically check if ${PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL} is available again.` : ''}`,
+              text: `Switched to fallback model ${proQuotaRequest.fallbackModel}. ${showPeriodicalCheckMessage ? `We will periodically check if ${PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL} is available again.` : ''}`,
            },
            Date.now(),
          );
@@ -74,10 +74,12 @@ export function useReactToolScheduler(
  MarkToolsAsSubmittedFn,
  React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<TrackedToolCall[]>>,
  CancelAllFn,
+  number,
 ] {
  const [toolCallsForDisplay, setToolCallsForDisplay] = useState<
    TrackedToolCall[]
  >([]);
+  const [lastToolOutputTime, setLastToolOutputTime] = useState<number>(0);

  // Store callbacks in refs to keep them up-to-date without causing re-renders.
  const onCompleteRef = useRef(onComplete);
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ export function useReactToolScheduler(

  const outputUpdateHandler: OutputUpdateHandler = useCallback(
    (toolCallId, outputChunk) => {
+      setLastToolOutputTime(Date.now());
      setToolCallsForDisplay((prevCalls) =>
        prevCalls.map((tc) => {
          if (tc.request.callId === toolCallId && tc.status === 'executing') {
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ export function useReactToolScheduler(
    markToolsAsSubmitted,
    setToolCallsForDisplay,
    cancelAllToolCalls,
+    lastToolOutputTime,
  ];
 }

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import * as path from 'node:path';
 const STATE_FILENAME = 'state.json';

 interface PersistentStateData {
-  defaultBannerShownCount?: number;
+  defaultBannerShownCount?: Record<string, number>;
  // Add other persistent state keys here as needed
 }

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
  "name": "@google/gemini-cli-core",
-  "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
  "description": "Gemini CLI Core",
  "repository": {
    "type": "git",
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { setSimulate429 } from '../utils/testUtils.js';
 import {
  DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL,
  DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
+  DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE,
  PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
 } from '../config/models.js';
 import { AuthType } from './contentGenerator.js';
@@ -131,15 +132,22 @@ describe('GeminiChat', () => {
      getContentGenerator: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(mockContentGenerator),
      getRetryFetchErrors: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
      modelConfigService: {
-        getResolvedConfig: vi.fn().mockImplementation((modelConfigKey) => ({
-          model: modelConfigKey.model,
-          generateContentConfig: {
-            temperature: 0,
-            thinkingConfig: {
-              thinkingBudget: 1000,
+        getResolvedConfig: vi.fn().mockImplementation((modelConfigKey) => {
+          const thinkingConfig = modelConfigKey.model.startsWith('gemini-3')
+            ? {
+                thinkingLevel: ThinkingLevel.HIGH,
+              }
+            : {
+                thinkingBudget: DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE,
+              };
+          return {
+            model: modelConfigKey.model,
+            generateContentConfig: {
+              temperature: 0,
+              thinkingConfig,
            },
-          },
-        })),
+          };
+        }),
      },
      isPreviewModelBypassMode: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
      setPreviewModelBypassMode: vi.fn(),
@@ -976,7 +984,7 @@ describe('GeminiChat', () => {
            tools: [],
            temperature: 0,
            thinkingConfig: {
-              thinkingBudget: 1000,
+              thinkingBudget: DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE,
            },
            abortSignal: expect.any(AbortSignal),
          },
@@ -1023,6 +1031,45 @@ describe('GeminiChat', () => {
        'prompt-id-thinking-level',
      );
    });
+
+    it('should use thinkingBudget and remove thinkingLevel for non-gemini-3 models', async () => {
+      const response = (async function* () {
+        yield {
+          candidates: [
+            {
+              content: { parts: [{ text: 'response' }], role: 'model' },
+              finishReason: 'STOP',
+            },
+          ],
+        } as unknown as GenerateContentResponse;
+      })();
+      vi.mocked(mockContentGenerator.generateContentStream).mockResolvedValue(
+        response,
+      );
+
+      const stream = await chat.sendMessageStream(
+        { model: 'gemini-2.0-flash' },
+        'hello',
+        'prompt-id-thinking-budget',
+        new AbortController().signal,
+      );
+      for await (const _ of stream) {
+        // consume stream
+      }
+
+      expect(mockContentGenerator.generateContentStream).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          model: 'gemini-2.0-flash',
+          config: expect.objectContaining({
+            thinkingConfig: {
+              thinkingBudget: DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE,
+              thinkingLevel: undefined,
+            },
+          }),
+        }),
+        'prompt-id-thinking-budget',
+      );
+    });
  });

  describe('addHistory', () => {
@@ -1902,6 +1949,92 @@ describe('GeminiChat', () => {
      expect(modelTurn.parts![0]!.text).toBe('Success on retry');
    });

+    it('should switch to DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL and use thinkingBudget when falling back from a gemini-3 model', async () => {
+      // ARRANGE
+      const authType = AuthType.LOGIN_WITH_GOOGLE;
+      vi.mocked(mockConfig.getContentGeneratorConfig).mockReturnValue({
+        authType,
+      });
+
+      // Initial state: Not in fallback mode
+      const isInFallbackModeSpy = vi.spyOn(mockConfig, 'isInFallbackMode');
+      isInFallbackModeSpy.mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      // Mock API calls:
+      // 1. Fails with 429 (simulating gemini-3 failure)
+      // 2. Succeeds (simulating fallback success)
+      vi.mocked(mockContentGenerator.generateContentStream)
+        .mockRejectedValueOnce(error429)
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce(
+          (async function* () {
+            yield {
+              candidates: [
+                {
+                  content: { parts: [{ text: 'Fallback success' }] },
+                  finishReason: 'STOP',
+                },
+              ],
+            } as unknown as GenerateContentResponse;
+          })(),
+        );
+
+      // Mock handleFallback to enable fallback mode and signal retry
+      mockHandleFallback.mockImplementation(async () => {
+        isInFallbackModeSpy.mockReturnValue(true); // Next call will see fallback mode = true
+        return true;
+      });
+
+      // ACT
+      const stream = await chat.sendMessageStream(
+        { model: 'gemini-3-test-model' }, // Start with a gemini-3 model
+        'test fallback thinking',
+        'prompt-id-fb3',
+        new AbortController().signal,
+      );
+      for await (const _ of stream) {
+        // consume stream
+      }
+
+      // ASSERT
+      expect(mockContentGenerator.generateContentStream).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(
+        2,
+      );
+
+      // First call: gemini-3 model, thinkingLevel set
+      expect(
+        mockContentGenerator.generateContentStream,
+      ).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+        1,
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          model: 'gemini-3-test-model',
+          config: expect.objectContaining({
+            thinkingConfig: {
+              thinkingBudget: undefined,
+              thinkingLevel: ThinkingLevel.HIGH,
+            },
+          }),
+        }),
+        'prompt-id-fb3',
+      );
+
+      // Second call: DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL (due to fallback), thinkingBudget set (due to fix)
+      expect(
+        mockContentGenerator.generateContentStream,
+      ).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+        2,
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          model: DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL,
+          config: expect.objectContaining({
+            thinkingConfig: {
+              thinkingBudget: DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE,
+              thinkingLevel: undefined,
+            },
+          }),
+        }),
+        'prompt-id-fb3',
+      );
+    });
+
    it('should stop retrying if handleFallback returns false (e.g., auth intent)', async () => {
      vi.mocked(mockConfig.getModel).mockReturnValue('gemini-pro');
      vi.mocked(mockContentGenerator.generateContentStream).mockRejectedValue(
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { retryWithBackoff } from '../utils/retry.js';
 import type { Config } from '../config/config.js';
 import {
  DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
+  DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE,
  PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
  getEffectiveModel,
  isGemini2Model,
@@ -428,6 +429,14 @@ export class GeminiChat {
          thinkingLevel: ThinkingLevel.HIGH,
        };
        delete config.thinkingConfig?.thinkingBudget;
+      } else {
+        // The `gemini-3` configs use thinkingLevel, so we have to invert the
+        // change above.
+        config.thinkingConfig = {
+          ...config.thinkingConfig,
+          thinkingBudget: DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE,
+        };
+        delete config.thinkingConfig?.thinkingLevel;
      }

      return this.config.getContentGenerator().generateContentStream(
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ import {
 import { logFlashFallback } from '../telemetry/index.js';
 import type { FallbackModelHandler } from './types.js';
 import { ModelNotFoundError } from '../utils/httpErrors.js';
+import {
+  RetryableQuotaError,
+  TerminalQuotaError,
+} from '../utils/googleQuotaErrors.js';

 // Mock the telemetry logger and event class
 vi.mock('../telemetry/index.js', () => ({
@@ -104,7 +108,7 @@ describe('handleFallback', () => {
    expect(result).toBeNull();
  });

-  describe('when handler returns "retry"', () => {
+  describe('when handler returns "retry_always"', () => {
    it('should activate fallback mode, log telemetry, and return true', async () => {
      mockHandler.mockResolvedValue('retry_always');

@@ -212,65 +216,175 @@ describe('handleFallback', () => {
  describe('Preview Model Fallback Logic', () => {
    const previewModel = PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL;

-    it('should always set Preview Model bypass mode on failure', async () => {
-      await handleFallback(mockConfig, previewModel, AUTH_OAUTH);
+    it('should only set Preview Model bypass mode on retryable quota failure', async () => {
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 429,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const retryableQuotaError = new RetryableQuotaError(
+        'Capacity error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );
+      await handleFallback(
+        mockConfig,
+        previewModel,
+        AUTH_OAUTH,
+        retryableQuotaError,
+      );
      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelBypassMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
    });

-    it('should silently retry if Preview Model fallback mode is already active', async () => {
-      vi.spyOn(mockConfig, 'isPreviewModelFallbackMode').mockReturnValue(true);
+    it('should not set Preview Model bypass mode on non-retryable quota failure', async () => {
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 429,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const terminalQuotaError = new TerminalQuotaError(
+        'quota error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );
+      await handleFallback(
+        mockConfig,
+        previewModel,
+        AUTH_OAUTH,
+        terminalQuotaError,
+      );

-      const result = await handleFallback(mockConfig, previewModel, AUTH_OAUTH);
+      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelBypassMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should silently retry if Preview Model fallback mode is already active and error is retryable error', async () => {
+      vi.spyOn(mockConfig, 'isPreviewModelFallbackMode').mockReturnValue(true);
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 429,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const retryableQuotaError = new RetryableQuotaError(
+        'Capacity error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );
+      const result = await handleFallback(
+        mockConfig,
+        previewModel,
+        AUTH_OAUTH,
+        retryableQuotaError,
+      );

      expect(result).toBe(true);
      expect(mockHandler).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
    });

-    it('should activate Preview Model fallback mode when handler returns "retry_always"', async () => {
+    it('should activate Preview Model fallback mode when handler returns "retry_always" and is RetryableQuotaError', async () => {
      mockHandler.mockResolvedValue('retry_always');
-
-      const result = await handleFallback(mockConfig, previewModel, AUTH_OAUTH);
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 429,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const retryableQuotaError = new RetryableQuotaError(
+        'Capacity error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );
+      const result = await handleFallback(
+        mockConfig,
+        previewModel,
+        AUTH_OAUTH,
+        retryableQuotaError,
+      );

      expect(result).toBe(true);
      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelBypassMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelFallbackMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
    });

+    it('should activate regular fallback when handler returns "retry_always" and is TerminalQuotaError', async () => {
+      mockHandler.mockResolvedValue('retry_always');
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 503,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const terminalError = new TerminalQuotaError(
+        'Quota error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );
+      const result = await handleFallback(
+        mockConfig,
+        previewModel,
+        AUTH_OAUTH,
+        terminalError,
+      );
+
+      expect(result).toBe(true);
+      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelFallbackMode).not.toBeCalled();
+      expect(mockConfig.setFallbackMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+    });
+
    it('should NOT set fallback mode if user chooses "retry_once"', async () => {
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 429,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const terminalQuotaError = new TerminalQuotaError(
+        'quota error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );
      mockHandler.mockResolvedValue('retry_once');

      const result = await handleFallback(
        mockConfig,
        PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
        AuthType.LOGIN_WITH_GOOGLE,
-        new Error('Capacity'),
+        terminalQuotaError,
      );

      expect(result).toBe(true);
-      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelBypassMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelBypassMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelFallbackMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(mockConfig.setFallbackMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
    });

-    it('should set fallback mode if user chooses "retry_always"', async () => {
-      mockHandler.mockResolvedValue('retry_always');
-
-      const result = await handleFallback(
-        mockConfig,
-        PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
-        AuthType.LOGIN_WITH_GOOGLE,
-        new Error('Capacity'),
-      );
-
-      expect(result).toBe(true);
-      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelBypassMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
-      expect(mockConfig.setPreviewModelFallbackMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
-    });
-    it('should pass DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL as fallback when Preview Model fails', async () => {
+    it('should pass DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL as fallback when Preview Model fails with Retryable Error', async () => {
      const mockFallbackHandler = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('stop');
      vi.mocked(mockConfig.fallbackModelHandler!).mockImplementation(
        mockFallbackHandler,
      );
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 429,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const retryableQuotaError = new RetryableQuotaError(
+        'Capacity error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );

+      await handleFallback(
+        mockConfig,
+        PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
+        AuthType.LOGIN_WITH_GOOGLE,
+        retryableQuotaError,
+      );
+
+      expect(mockConfig.fallbackModelHandler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
+        DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
+        retryableQuotaError,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should pass DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL as fallback when Preview Model fails with other error', async () => {
      await handleFallback(
        mockConfig,
        PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
@@ -283,6 +397,31 @@ describe('handleFallback', () => {
        undefined,
      );
    });
+
+    it('should pass DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL as fallback when Preview Model fails with other error', async () => {
+      const mockGoogleApiError = {
+        code: 429,
+        message: 'mock error',
+        details: [],
+      };
+      const terminalQuotaError = new TerminalQuotaError(
+        'quota error',
+        mockGoogleApiError,
+        5,
+      );
+      await handleFallback(
+        mockConfig,
+        PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
+        AuthType.LOGIN_WITH_GOOGLE,
+        terminalQuotaError,
+      );
+
+      expect(mockConfig.fallbackModelHandler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL,
+        DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL,
+        terminalQuotaError,
+      );
+    });
  });

  it('should return null if ModelNotFoundError occurs for a non-preview model', async () => {
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { openBrowserSecurely } from '../utils/secure-browser-launcher.js';
 import { debugLogger } from '../utils/debugLogger.js';
 import { getErrorMessage } from '../utils/errors.js';
 import { ModelNotFoundError } from '../utils/httpErrors.js';
+import { TerminalQuotaError } from '../utils/googleQuotaErrors.js';

 const UPGRADE_URL_PAGE = 'https://goo.gle/set-up-gemini-code-assist';

@@ -36,10 +37,12 @@ export async function handleFallback(
  ) {
    return null;
  }
-
+  const shouldActivatePreviewFallback =
+    failedModel === PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL &&
+    !(error instanceof TerminalQuotaError);
  // Preview Model Specific Logic
-  if (failedModel === PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL) {
-    // Always set bypass mode for the immediate retry.
+  if (shouldActivatePreviewFallback) {
+    // Always set bypass mode for the immediate retry, for non-TerminalQuotaErrors.
    // This ensures the next attempt uses 2.5 Pro.
    config.setPreviewModelBypassMode(true);

@@ -50,10 +53,9 @@ export async function handleFallback(
    }
  }

-  const fallbackModel =
-    failedModel === PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL
-      ? DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL
-      : DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL;
+  const fallbackModel = shouldActivatePreviewFallback
+    ? DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL
+    : DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_MODEL;

  // Consult UI Handler for Intent
  const fallbackModelHandler = config.fallbackModelHandler;
@@ -70,7 +72,9 @@ export async function handleFallback(
    // Process Intent and Update State
    switch (intent) {
      case 'retry_always':
-        if (failedModel === PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL) {
+        // If the error is non-retryable, e.g. TerminalQuota Error, trigger a regular fallback to flash.
+        // For all other errors, activate previewModel fallback.
+        if (shouldActivatePreviewFallback) {
          activatePreviewModelFallbackMode(config);
        } else {
          activateFallbackMode(config, authType);
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
  "name": "@google/gemini-cli-test-utils",
-  "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
  "private": true,
  "main": "src/index.ts",
  "license": "Apache-2.0",
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  "name": "gemini-cli-vscode-ide-companion",
  "displayName": "Gemini CLI Companion",
  "description": "Enable Gemini CLI with direct access to your IDE workspace.",
-  "version": "0.18.0-nightly.20251120.2231497b1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
  "publisher": "google",
  "icon": "assets/icon.png",
  "repository": {
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@
        "useAlternateBuffer": {
          "title": "Use Alternate Screen Buffer",
          "description": "Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.",
-          "markdownDescription": "Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.\n\n- Category: `UI`\n- Requires restart: `yes`\n- Default: `true`",
-          "default": true,
+          "markdownDescription": "Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.\n\n- Category: `UI`\n- Requires restart: `yes`\n- Default: `false`",
+          "default": false,
          "type": "boolean"
        },
        "incrementalRendering": {
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
gemini-cli-robot	8c9b49ce8a	chore(release): v0.18.2	2025-11-26 18:22:06 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	9b6d47fd52	fix(patch): cherry-pick `fe67ef6` to release/v0.18.1-pr-13596 to patch version v0.18.1 and create version 0.18.2 (#13862 ) Co-authored-by: joshualitt <joshualitt@google.com>	2025-11-26 17:59:45 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	236af8bb0a	chore(release): v0.18.1	2025-11-26 17:39:38 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	013f984842	fix(patch): cherry-pick `bdf80ea` to release/v0.18.0-pr-13600 to patch version v0.18.0 and create version 0.18.1 (#13861 ) Co-authored-by: christine betts <chrstn@uw.edu> Co-authored-by: jacob314 <jacob314@gmail.com>	2025-11-26 09:26:00 -08:00
gemini-cli-robot	f01890b073	chore(release): v0.18.0	2025-11-26 02:50:41 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	7beccfa03c	chore(release): v0.18.0-preview.4	2025-11-25 22:02:36 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	a640766f10	fix(patch): cherry-pick `d8a3d08` to release/v0.18.0-preview.3-pr-13791 to patch version v0.18.0-preview.3 and create version 0.18.0-preview.4 (#13826 ) Co-authored-by: Sehoon Shon <sshon@google.com>	2025-11-25 21:42:55 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	9f55fb5010	chore(release): v0.18.0-preview.3	2025-11-25 19:31:29 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	ea3d022c8b	fix(patch): cherry-pick `3e50be1` to release/v0.18.0-preview.2-pr-13428 to patch version v0.18.0-preview.2 and create version 0.18.0-preview.3 (#13821 ) Co-authored-by: Adib234 <30782825+Adib234@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-11-25 11:10:54 -08:00
gemini-cli-robot	313688fd18	chore(release): v0.18.0-preview.2	2025-11-25 18:14:40 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	843b019cef	fix(patch): cherry-pick `d351f07` to release/v0.18.0-preview.1-pr-12535 to patch version v0.18.0-preview.1 and create version 0.18.0-preview.2 (#13813 ) Co-authored-by: Jack Wotherspoon <jackwoth@google.com>	2025-11-25 17:20:20 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	80ef6f854b	chore(release): v0.18.0-preview.1	2025-11-22 02:14:04 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	316349ca61	fix(patch): cherry-pick `5e218a5` to release/v0.18.0-preview.0-pr-13623 to patch version v0.18.0-preview.0 and create version 0.18.0-preview.1 (#13626 ) Co-authored-by: Jacob Richman <jacob314@gmail.com>	2025-11-22 01:58:57 +00:00
gemini-cli-robot	179010eb3b	chore(release): v0.18.0-preview.0	2025-11-20 22:19:18 +00:00