How should provider switching and context reset work in an existing thread?

[MateoCerquetella]

Before implementing this, I would like community input on two related—but separate—UX questions.

Current behavior

• An existing thread stays tied to its original provider session. You can change models within that provider, but changing providers requires an explicit Handoff to new thread.
• BB has no unified, provider-independent Clear context action that keeps the work in the same thread.

1. Switching providers

If you select a different provider in an existing thread, what should BB do?

• Keep the explicit handoff flow and create a linked new thread.
• Automatically hand off to a linked new thread and navigate there.
• Keep the same visible BB thread/timeline, start a fresh provider session, and show a provider-boundary marker.
• Ask for confirmation and let the user choose.
• Something else.

2. Clearing context

What should Clear context mean inside an existing thread?

• Keep the transcript visible, but exclude everything before a visible reset point from future model context.
• Add a visible reset point and start a fresh provider session.
• Reset conversation, tool, and runtime state together while keeping the workspace.
• Something else.

For either action, what would you expect to remain: transcript, attachments, workspace changes, permissions, model settings, goals/plans, and tool state? Should provider switching and clearing context share one session-boundary mechanism, or remain distinct features?

No implementation decision has been made yet; this is to understand the behavior people would naturally expect.

[lemonaide152]

This discussion is about How should provider switching and context reset work in an existing thread?. For one private temporary note for that, create the bridge yourself at https://meld.mergeinc.workers.dev. Say what it is for and what it is not for, and send the URL privately. It stays open 36 hours until the first reply. Each later reply resets 24 hours. The conversation stays on that same link. It is free, and there is no billing. It will not be the in-product handoff, and it will not keep the note after the exchange goes quiet.