Support left sidebar chat placement

src/app/settings/ClaudianSettingsStorage.ts

@@ -12,12 +12,14 @@ import {
   resolveEnvironmentSnippetScope,
 } from '../../core/providers/providerEnvironment';
 import type { VaultFileAdapter } from '../../core/storage/VaultFileAdapter';
-import type {
-  ClaudianSettings,
-  EnvironmentScope,
-  EnvSnippet,
-  HiddenProviderCommands,
-  ProviderConfigMap,
+import {
+  CHAT_VIEW_PLACEMENTS,
+  type ChatViewPlacement,
+  type ClaudianSettings,
+  type EnvironmentScope,
+  type EnvSnippet,
+  type HiddenProviderCommands,
+  type ProviderConfigMap,
 } from '../../core/types/settings';
 import {
   getClaudeProviderSettings,
@@ -83,11 +85,43 @@ function stripLegacyFields(settings: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, un
     environmentVariables: _environmentVariables,
     lastEnvHash: _lastEnvHash,
     lastCodexEnvHash: _lastCodexEnvHash,
+    openInMainTab: _openInMainTab,
     ...cleaned
   } = settings;
   return cleaned;
 }
 
+function isChatViewPlacement(value: unknown): value is ChatViewPlacement {
+  return typeof value === 'string'
+    && (CHAT_VIEW_PLACEMENTS as readonly string[]).includes(value);
+}
+
+function normalizeChatViewPlacement(
+  value: unknown,
+  legacyOpenInMainTab: unknown,
+): ChatViewPlacement {
+  if (isChatViewPlacement(value)) {
+    return value;
+  }
+
+  if (typeof legacyOpenInMainTab === 'boolean') {
+    return legacyOpenInMainTab ? 'main-tab' : 'right-sidebar';
+  }
+
+  return DEFAULT_CLAUDIAN_SETTINGS.chatViewPlacement;
+}
+
+function shouldPersistChatViewPlacementMigration(
+  stored: Record<string, unknown>,
+  normalized: ChatViewPlacement,
+): boolean {
+  return 'openInMainTab' in stored
+    || (
+      'chatViewPlacement' in stored
+      && stored.chatViewPlacement !== normalized
+    );
+}
+
 function normalizeProviderConfigs(value: unknown): ProviderConfigMap {
   if (!value || typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
     return {};
@@ -196,6 +230,10 @@ export class ClaudianSettingsStorage {
     );
     const envSnippets = normalizeEnvSnippets(stored.envSnippets);
     const providerConfigs = normalizeProviderConfigs(stored.providerConfigs);
+    const chatViewPlacement = normalizeChatViewPlacement(
+      stored.chatViewPlacement,
+      stored.openInMainTab,
+    );
     const legacyProviderSettings = {
       ...stored,
       hiddenProviderCommands,
@@ -211,6 +249,7 @@ export class ClaudianSettingsStorage {
       envSnippets,
       hiddenProviderCommands,
       providerConfigs,
+      chatViewPlacement,
     };
 
     const merged = {
@@ -239,6 +278,7 @@ export class ClaudianSettingsStorage {
       || 'allowedExportPaths' in stored
       || 'enableBlocklist' in stored
       || 'blockedCommands' in stored
+      || shouldPersistChatViewPlacementMigration(stored, chatViewPlacement)
       || JSON.stringify(envSnippets) !== JSON.stringify(stored.envSnippets ?? [])
       )
     ) {

src/app/settings/defaultSettings.ts

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_CLAUDIAN_SETTINGS: ClaudianSettings = {
   maxTabs: 3,
   tabBarPosition: 'input',
   enableAutoScroll: true,
-  openInMainTab: false,
+  chatViewPlacement: 'right-sidebar',
 
   hiddenProviderCommands: getDefaultHiddenProviderCommands(),
 };

src/core/types/settings.ts

@@ -55,6 +55,15 @@ export interface KeyboardNavigationSettings {
 /** Tab bar position setting. */
 export type TabBarPosition = 'input' | 'header';
 
+export const CHAT_VIEW_PLACEMENTS = [
+  'right-sidebar',
+  'left-sidebar',
+  'main-tab',
+] as const;
+
+/** Workspace location used when opening the Claudian chat view. */
+export type ChatViewPlacement = typeof CHAT_VIEW_PLACEMENTS[number];
+
 /** Result from instruction refinement agent query. */
 export interface InstructionRefineResult {
   success: boolean;
@@ -132,7 +141,7 @@ export interface ClaudianSettings {
   maxTabs: number;
   tabBarPosition: TabBarPosition;
   enableAutoScroll: boolean;
-  openInMainTab: boolean;
+  chatViewPlacement: ChatViewPlacement;
 
   // Provider command visibility
   hiddenProviderCommands: HiddenProviderCommands;

src/features/settings/ClaudianSettings.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 import { ProviderRegistry } from '../../core/providers/ProviderRegistry';
 import { ProviderWorkspaceRegistry } from '../../core/providers/ProviderWorkspaceRegistry';
 import type { ProviderId } from '../../core/providers/types';
+import type { ChatViewPlacement } from '../../core/types/settings';
 import { getAvailableLocales, getLocaleDisplayName, setLocale, t } from '../../i18n/i18n';
 import type { Locale, TranslationKey } from '../../i18n/types';
 import type ClaudianPlugin from '../../main';
@@ -231,16 +232,19 @@ export class ClaudianSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
     });
 
     new Setting(container)
-      .setName(t('settings.openInMainTab.name'))
-      .setDesc(t('settings.openInMainTab.desc'))
-      .addToggle((toggle) =>
-        toggle
-          .setValue(this.plugin.settings.openInMainTab)
+      .setName(t('settings.chatViewPlacement.name'))
+      .setDesc(t('settings.chatViewPlacement.desc'))
+      .addDropdown((dropdown) => {
+        dropdown
+          .addOption('right-sidebar', t('settings.chatViewPlacement.rightSidebar'))
+          .addOption('left-sidebar', t('settings.chatViewPlacement.leftSidebar'))
+          .addOption('main-tab', t('settings.chatViewPlacement.mainTab'))
+          .setValue(this.plugin.settings.chatViewPlacement)
           .onChange(async (value) => {
-            this.plugin.settings.openInMainTab = value;
+            this.plugin.settings.chatViewPlacement = value as ChatViewPlacement;
             await this.plugin.saveSettings();
-          })
-      );
+          });
+      });
 
     new Setting(container)
       .setName(t('settings.enableAutoScroll.name'))

src/i18n/locales/de.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "Automatisches Scrollen während Streaming",
       "desc": "Automatisch nach unten scrollen, während Claude Antworten streamt. Deaktivieren, um oben zu bleiben und von Anfang an zu lesen."
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "Im Haupteditorbereich öffnen",
-      "desc": "Chat-Panel als Haupttab im zentralen Editorbereich statt in der rechten Seitenleiste öffnen"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Claudian öffnen in",
+      "desc": "Wählen Sie, wo das Chat-Panel beim Erstellen geöffnet wird",
+      "rightSidebar": "Rechte Seitenleiste",
+      "leftSidebar": "Linke Seitenleiste",
+      "mainTab": "Haupteditor-Tab"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Claude CLI-Pfad",

src/i18n/locales/en.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "Auto-scroll during streaming",
       "desc": "Automatically scroll to the bottom as Claude streams responses. Disable to stay at the top and read from the beginning."
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "Open in main editor area",
-      "desc": "Open chat panel as a main tab in the center editor area instead of the right sidebar"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Open Claudian in",
+      "desc": "Choose where the chat panel opens when it is created",
+      "rightSidebar": "Right sidebar",
+      "leftSidebar": "Left sidebar",
+      "mainTab": "Main editor tab"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Claude CLI path",

src/i18n/locales/es.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "Desplazamiento automático durante streaming",
       "desc": "Desplazarse automáticamente hacia abajo mientras Claude transmite respuestas. Desactivar para quedarse arriba y leer desde el principio."
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "Abrir en área de editor principal",
-      "desc": "Abrir el panel de chat como una pestaña principal en el área de editor central en lugar de la barra lateral derecha"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Abrir Claudian en",
+      "desc": "Elige dónde se abre el panel de chat cuando se crea",
+      "rightSidebar": "Barra lateral derecha",
+      "leftSidebar": "Barra lateral izquierda",
+      "mainTab": "Pestaña del editor principal"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Ruta CLI Claude",

src/i18n/locales/fr.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "Défilement automatique pendant le streaming",
       "desc": "Défiler automatiquement vers le bas pendant que Claude diffuse les réponses. Désactiver pour rester en haut et lire depuis le début."
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "Ouvrir dans la zone d'éditeur principale",
-      "desc": "Ouvrir le panneau de chat comme un onglet principal dans la zone d'éditeur centrale au lieu de la barre latérale droite"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Ouvrir Claudian dans",
+      "desc": "Choisissez où le panneau de chat s'ouvre lors de sa création",
+      "rightSidebar": "Barre latérale droite",
+      "leftSidebar": "Barre latérale gauche",
+      "mainTab": "Onglet principal de l'éditeur"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Chemin CLI Claude",

src/i18n/locales/ja.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "ストリーミング中の自動スクロール",
       "desc": "Claudeが応答をストリーミングしている間、自動的に下にスクロールします。無効にすると上部に留まり、最初から読むことができます。"
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "メインエディタ領域で開く",
-      "desc": "チャットパネルを右サイドバーではなく、中央エディタ領域のメインタブとして開きます"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Claudian を開く場所",
+      "desc": "チャットパネルを作成するときに開く場所を選択します",
+      "rightSidebar": "右サイドバー",
+      "leftSidebar": "左サイドバー",
+      "mainTab": "メインエディタタブ"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Claude CLI パス",

src/i18n/locales/ko.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "스트리밍 중 자동 스크롤",
       "desc": "Claude가 응답을 스트리밍하는 동안 자동으로 아래로 스크롤합니다. 비활성화하면 상단에 머물러 처음부터 읽을 수 있습니다."
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "메인 편집기 영역에서 열기",
-      "desc": "채팅 패널을 오른쪽 사이드바가 아닌 중앙 편집기 영역의 메인 탭으로 엽니다"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Claudian 열 위치",
+      "desc": "채팅 패널이 생성될 때 열릴 위치를 선택합니다",
+      "rightSidebar": "오른쪽 사이드바",
+      "leftSidebar": "왼쪽 사이드바",
+      "mainTab": "메인 편집기 탭"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Claude CLI 경로",

src/i18n/locales/pt.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "Rolagem automática durante streaming",
       "desc": "Rolar automaticamente para baixo enquanto o Claude transmite respostas. Desativar para ficar no topo e ler desde o início."
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "Abrir na área do editor principal",
-      "desc": "Abrir o painel de chat como uma aba principal na área do editor central em vez da barra lateral direita"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Abrir Claudian em",
+      "desc": "Escolha onde o painel de chat abre quando é criado",
+      "rightSidebar": "Barra lateral direita",
+      "leftSidebar": "Barra lateral esquerda",
+      "mainTab": "Aba do editor principal"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Caminho CLI Claude",

src/i18n/locales/ru.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "Автопрокрутка во время потоковой передачи",
       "desc": "Автоматически прокручивать вниз, пока Claude передает ответы. Отключите, чтобы оставаться наверху и читать с начала."
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "Открывать в основной области редактора",
-      "desc": "Открывать панель чата в виде основной вкладки в центральной области редактора вместо правой боковой панели"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Открывать Claudian в",
+      "desc": "Выберите, где открывается панель чата при создании",
+      "rightSidebar": "Правая боковая панель",
+      "leftSidebar": "Левая боковая панель",
+      "mainTab": "Основная вкладка редактора"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Путь к CLI Claude",

src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "流式传输时自动滚动",
       "desc": "在 Claude 流式传输响应时自动滚动到底部。禁用后将停留在顶部，从头开始阅读。"
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "在主编辑器区域打开",
-      "desc": "在中央编辑器区域以主标签页形式打开聊天面板，而不是在右侧边栏"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Claudian 打开位置",
+      "desc": "选择新建聊天面板时的打开位置",
+      "rightSidebar": "右侧边栏",
+      "leftSidebar": "左侧边栏",
+      "mainTab": "主编辑器标签页"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Claude CLI 路径",

src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.json

@@ -279,9 +279,12 @@
       "name": "串流傳輸時自動捲動",
       "desc": "在 Claude 串流傳輸回應時自動捲動到底部。停用後將停留在頂部，從頭開始閱讀。"
     },
-    "openInMainTab": {
-      "name": "在主編輯器區域開啟",
-      "desc": "在中央編輯器區域以主分頁形式開啟聊天面板，而不是在右側邊欄"
+    "chatViewPlacement": {
+      "name": "Claudian 開啟位置",
+      "desc": "選擇新建聊天面板時的開啟位置",
+      "rightSidebar": "右側邊欄",
+      "leftSidebar": "左側邊欄",
+      "mainTab": "主編輯器分頁"
     },
     "cliPath": {
       "name": "Claude CLI 路徑",

src/i18n/types.ts

@@ -221,8 +221,11 @@ export type TranslationKey =
   | 'settings.tabBarPosition.header'
   | 'settings.enableAutoScroll.name'
   | 'settings.enableAutoScroll.desc'
-  | 'settings.openInMainTab.name'
-  | 'settings.openInMainTab.desc'
+  | 'settings.chatViewPlacement.name'
+  | 'settings.chatViewPlacement.desc'
+  | 'settings.chatViewPlacement.rightSidebar'
+  | 'settings.chatViewPlacement.leftSidebar'
+  | 'settings.chatViewPlacement.mainTab'
   | 'settings.cliPath.name'
   | 'settings.cliPath.desc'
   | 'settings.cliPath.descWindows'

src/main.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ patchSetMaxListenersForElectron();
 
 import './providers';
 
-import type { Editor } from 'obsidian';
+import type { Editor, WorkspaceLeaf } from 'obsidian';
 import { MarkdownView, Notice, Plugin } from 'obsidian';
 
 import { DEFAULT_CLAUDIAN_SETTINGS } from './app/settings/defaultSettings';
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import type {
 import {
   VIEW_TYPE_CLAUDIAN,
 } from './core/types';
-import type { EnvironmentScope } from './core/types/settings';
+import type { ChatViewPlacement, EnvironmentScope } from './core/types/settings';
 import { ClaudianView } from './features/chat/ClaudianView';
 import { type InlineEditContext, InlineEditModal } from './features/inline-edit/ui/InlineEditModal';
 import { ClaudianSettingTab } from './features/settings/ClaudianSettings';
@@ -188,9 +188,7 @@ export default class ClaudianPlugin extends Plugin {
     let leaf = workspace.getLeavesOfType(VIEW_TYPE_CLAUDIAN)[0];
 
     if (!leaf) {
-      const newLeaf = this.settings.openInMainTab
-        ? workspace.getLeaf('tab')
-        : workspace.getRightLeaf(false);
+      const newLeaf = this.getLeafForPlacement(this.settings.chatViewPlacement);
       if (newLeaf) {
         await newLeaf.setViewState({
           type: VIEW_TYPE_CLAUDIAN,
@@ -205,6 +203,18 @@ export default class ClaudianPlugin extends Plugin {
     }
   }
 
+  private getLeafForPlacement(placement: ChatViewPlacement): WorkspaceLeaf | null {
+    const { workspace } = this.app;
+    switch (placement) {
+      case 'main-tab':
+        return workspace.getLeaf('tab');
+      case 'left-sidebar':
+        return workspace.getLeftLeaf(false);
+      case 'right-sidebar':
+        return workspace.getRightLeaf(false);
+    }
+  }
+
   private canCreateNewTab(): boolean {
     const view = this.getView();
     const tabManager = view?.getTabManager();

tests/__mocks__/obsidian.ts

@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ export class App {
     getRightLeaf: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
       setViewState: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
     }),
+    getLeftLeaf: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
+      setViewState: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    }),
+    getLeaf: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
+      setViewState: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    }),
     revealLeaf: jest.fn(),
   };
 }