Changelog
Learn about version-specific updates for IBM Bob.
What's New
New Features
Workspace trust
Bob now prompts you to make a trust decision the first time you open a folder. Untrusted folders run in safe mode: workspace-sourced configuration, skills, agents, rules, and MCP servers are suspended until you explicitly grant trust. Use the
/permissions command to review and change the trust level for the current folder.Command lifecycle hooks
You can now run shell commands at key points in a Bob session: on session start, before and after each tool use, on prompt submit, and when the agent stops. Define hooks in
.bob/settings.json in your workspace or globally in ~/.bob/settings/settings.json.Search in chat
Press Command+F (macOS) or Ctrl+F (Windows/Linux) while the Bob chat panel is focused to search across all messages in the current task. Matches are highlighted with previous/next navigation and automatic scrolling.
Active workspace follows editor
In multi-root workspaces, the active task workspace now automatically switches to match the file you are currently editing, keeping the AI context relevant without manual switching.
Improvements
Task retention based on last activity
Task retention is now measured from a task's last update, not its creation date. Tasks that you continue to interact with are no longer removed prematurely.
Image limit management
Bob now prevents requests from exceeding the 20-image limit. By default, older images are pruned automatically when the limit is reached. Turn off auto-pruning in settings to choose which images to remove manually.
Bug Fixes
Fewer unnecessary mode switches
Fixed an issue where Bob switched modes unnecessarily during a task. Bob now stays in the active mode unless a required capability is unavailable.
Diff preview reopens after closing
Closing a diff preview and then reopening it now works correctly. The preview was previously staying closed after the first dismissal.
Chat history replayed on new turns
Fixed an issue where chat history was incorrectly replayed when starting a new turn, causing duplicate messages to appear.
Approval policy reset
Fixed a bug where the tool approval policy could reset unexpectedly during a task, requiring re-approval of already-approved tools.
Workspace trust not applied to hooks
Lifecycle hooks now correctly respect the workspace trust setting, using the shared trust state rather than a separate evaluation.
API key region routing
Fixed an issue where API key inference requests were routed to the wrong region, which could cause authentication failures.
Subagent tool approval stale state
Fixed a bug where the tool approval dialog for a subagent could behave incorrectly during an active task.
Tool result messages collapsed correctly
Fixed an issue where tool result messages with a custom display were expanding inline instead of rendering collapsed.
Findings panel external links
External URLs in the Findings panel now open correctly. Previously, clicking an external link had no effect.
New Features
Browse tasks across workspaces
You can now browse and reopen tasks from other workspaces, not just the one currently open.
Searchable branch picker
The branch picker is now searchable, making it easier to find the right branch when many are available.
Preview file edits before accepting
A new setting lets you preview proposed file edits directly in the editor before accepting them.
Unified login via bob.ibm.com
You can now log in using bob.ibm.com for a single, unified login experience across all Bob clients.
Improvements
Tooltips and auto-approve menu
Tooltips in the chat footer now behave more predictably, and the auto-approve menu shows a helpful note linking to settings.
Color-coded Findings Panel icons
Icons in the Findings Panel are now color-coded, making it easier to spot different issue types at a glance.
MCP server input validation
Adding MCP servers now validates inputs properly — prevents duplicates and requires correct URL/argument formats.
Improved mention display
Mentions (@ references) display more reliably with consistent icons across contexts.
MCP resources and prompts
MCP servers now support resources and prompts, accessible via mentions (@) and slash actions (/).
Settings search covers all tabs
Settings search now correctly finds results across all tabs, including MCP, Modes, and Skills.
Long command text wraps properly
Long command text in tool approval dialogs now wraps instead of overflowing off-screen.
Bug Fixes
Context overload on new tasks
Fixed an issue where sending git status on every message caused context overload on new tasks.
Auto-compression
Context is automatically compacted when a task gets too long, preventing slowdowns and lost context.
Chat input cursor position
Fixed a bug where the cursor in the chat input jumped to the beginning of text when switching modes.
Open Diff error message
The "Open Diff" button now shows a clear error message when a diff preview fails to load.
Tool decline recognition
When you decline a tool action, Bob now correctly recognizes the rejection.
Symlinked rules folders
Rules stored in symlinked folders inside
.bob/rules/ are now loaded correctly.SAML login
Fixed a login issue for users authenticating via SAML.
Windows: migrated tasks
Fixed an issue where tasks migrated from an older Bob version would not appear in the task list.
Workspace command migration
Workspace command migration now runs safely even if triggered multiple times.
New Features
Subagents
Bob can now break complex tasks into parallel workstreams by spawning specialized subagents. Each subagent runs in a focused mode, such as one subagent planning while another implements. You approve each spawn before it starts.
Agent steering and message queue
Redirect a running agent without canceling it. New messages join a queue while Bob is busy — drag to reorder them, and the queue persists across webview reloads. Bob works through queued messages as soon as it finishes each step.
MCP server management
Add, configure, and remove MCP servers directly from the settings panel. The new MCP Servers tab gives you a central place to manage all your connected tools without manual JSON editing.
Review workflow
A built-in code review workflow that analyzes your changes, surfaces findings, and submits structured review feedback — all from within the IDE.
Workspace-scoped modes management
A new Modes tab in settings lets you browse, create, override, and manage custom modes per workspace folder. You can toggle tool groups, select workspace scope, and override built-in or source modes without editing config files manually.
Skills settings tab
A dedicated Skills tab in settings gives you a central place to view and manage the skills available to Bob in your workspace.
You can now purchase premium packages to extend Bob with specialized capabilities for specific platforms and workflows.
IBM Bob Premium Package for Java Modernization
Designed to streamline enterprise Java modernization. Automates Java upgrades from versions 8 through 25, modernizes legacy UI architectures into scalable web frameworks, and re-platforms applications from IBM WebSphere to IBM WebSphere Liberty — all within a governed, closed-loop workflow.
IBM Bob Premium Package for Z
Designed to accelerate mainframe application modernization across the full lifecycle, from application analysis through complex code transformation. Combines deep mainframe expertise with purpose-built modes to provide context-aware guidance tailored for enterprise-scale environments.
IBM Bob Premium Package for i
Designed to optimize the development experience for IBM i application developers. Includes curated modes, skills, workflows, and commands for IBM i, with direct connectivity to your IBM i environment and access to IBM i documentation. Supports RPG, SQL, Db2 for i, CL, DDS, COBOL, and other IBM i technologies.
Improvements
Simplified default modes
Bob now ships with three focused default modes: Plan, Agent, and Ask. Each mode is purpose-built for a specific phase of your workflow, with Advanced and Orchestrator capabilities folded into the defaults.
Expanded context window
The context window has increased from 200,000 to 270,000 tokens, allowing Bob to hold more of your codebase, conversation history, and tool output in view at once. Longer tasks, larger files, and more complex projects can now run further before context needs to be compacted.
Parallel tool calling
Bob can now run multiple independent tools at the same time, reducing wait time on tasks that involve reading several files, searching a codebase, or running unrelated commands. Approval prompts for parallel operations are handled individually so you retain full control over each action.
Bob actions in the editor context menu
Bob actions are now available from the editor right-click context menu, making it faster to start a task on selected code.
Mode switching during a task
Bob can now switch modes mid-task, allowing a single task to move between specialized modes as the work evolves.
Mode-based subagent control
Modes can now restrict which subagents they allow to run. Subagent spawns now require explicit approval rather than being auto-approved.
Nested workflows
Workflows can now invoke other workflows, enabling more complex, multi-step automation without duplicating logic.
Editable commands
Commands proposed by Bob can now be edited before they run, giving you precise control without having to cancel and rephrase.
Auto-approved commands
Define a list of trusted commands that Bob can run without requesting approval each time, accelerating repetitive workflows.
Task-level MCP approvals
Tool group approvals can now be configured per task, independently of your global settings. Task-level controls appear first in the approval UI.
Sequential tool approvals
Approval prompts now appear one at a time, giving you a clearer, more deliberate flow before Bob runs each tool.
Collapsible approval previews
Large tool approval details now collapse into a preview frame, keeping the chat view tidy when Bob requests permission for complex operations.
Chat interface redesign
The chat interface has a new look and layout for improved usability and visual consistency.
Context pills
Pasted text now appears as a compact pill in the chat input, so you can see at a glance what context you have added without the full text filling the input area.
Unified diff view
Code changes are now shown in a syntax-highlighted unified diff view, making it easier to review what Bob has modified.
Syntax-highlighted file output
The
read_file tool now renders file contents with syntax highlighting for improved readability.Structured grep results
grep output is now rendered in a structured, scannable format so results are easier to read and act on.Structured file listing
The
list_files tool now renders output as a structured file list with directory separators, tooltips, and clickable file paths.Expanded file compatibility
Bob can now read
.docx, .pdf, and .xlsx files directly. Use documents and spreadsheets as context without manually extracting their content.Command security checks
Bob now performs a security check before running commands to prevent potentially harmful operations.
Improved authentication reliability
Authentication logic has been consolidated and hardened. Duplicate token refresh calls are now prevented, token handling is more robust, and the SSO timeout is now 15 minutes.
Improvements
VS Code engine uplift: 1.109.5 → 1.116.0
Upgraded the underlying VS Code platform to version 1.116.0, adding the latest security fixes, performance improvements, and enhancements. Uplifts ensure Bob IDE remains compatible with modern extensions and developer tooling, while reducing technical debt.
Updated dependencies to address known security vulnerabilities. These updates ensure Bob remains secure and protected against potential threats.
File pattern matching
Fixed vulnerability in how Bob matches file patterns and glob expressions.
Network requests
Updated HTTP client to fix connection handling security issue.
Archive handling
Fixed security vulnerability when extracting compressed files.
Migrated to new IBM App Configuration instance for improved reliability and performance.
Removed obsolete translation-check workflow from the build pipeline.
Bug Fixes
Token refresh timing
Fixed a race condition where authentication tokens could be rejected during refresh. A safety buffer now prevents edge-case timing issues that could interrupt your session.
Authentication reliability
Improved token refresh handling to be more robust and reliable. Token validation now checks required claims before use, network errors are handled gracefully with automatic retry, and retry logic uses exponential backoff to avoid overwhelming the server.
Autocomplete telemetry
Fixed missing cursor position data in autocomplete logging, improving our ability to understand and improve code suggestions.
Extension compatibility
Fixed an issue where Bob couldn't find required binaries on newer VS Code installations. Bob now correctly locates binaries across different VS Code versions and package layouts.
New Features
Bobalytics for Enterprise plans
Track Bob's impact on your software delivery lifecycle with comprehensive analytics and insights. Measure Bob's contribution to your codebase with the Bob Factor metric. Monitor Bobcoin spending across your organization. Analyze usage patterns by programming language and mode. View team activity and daily active users. Compare individual and team usage to optimize workflows.
API key management availability
Admin UI now includes API key management for supported administrative workflows. List all API keys with search and filtering. View API key details in a modal. Revoke API keys individually or in bulk. Show status badges for Active, Revoked, and Expired keys. Toggle visibility of revoked keys.
Bug Fixes
Code Predictions
Fixed an issue where code suggestions weren't updating when you changed code after the cursor. Bob now provides fresh, context-aware suggestions based on your current code state.
Init Command
Corrected typo in the init command: "rules-advance" is now "rules-advanced".
Task Tracking
Fixed how task IDs are assigned, making it easier to debug issues and correlate tasks across the system.
Literate Coding
Fixed an issue where extra line breaks were added before and after changes. Quick suggestions are now disabled in Literate Coding mode to prevent distractions while you write.
Installer
Fixed critical installation issues on Linux and Mac that prevented Bob from starting after installation. Corrected branding text in the Windows installer.
New Features
AI-powered code generation
Turn natural language into working code across multiple programming languages. Generate new code from descriptions and requirements. Refactor and debug existing code with help from Bob. Get intelligent code completion with single-line and multi-line suggestions.
Specialized modes
Access purpose-built modes optimized for different development scenarios. Code mode writes, modifies, and refactors code. Ask mode provides answers and explanations about your codebase. Plan mode helps design and plan implementations before coding. Advanced mode provides extended capabilities including MCP and browser tools. Orchestrator mode coordinates multi-step projects across specialties.
Comprehensive tool system
Accomplish complex development tasks efficiently. Read, write, and manipulate files directly within your project. Run terminal commands with intelligent error handling. Control and automate web browser actions for testing and validation. Search codebases and list code definitions for better context.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration
Extend IBM Bob's capabilities with custom tools and integrations. Connect to databases and APIs from within your editor. Access specialized development and operations tools. Integrate with your organization's internal systems.
Code review and git integration
Streamline your development workflow with built-in git support. Review code changes with the
/review command. Generate commit messages automatically. Create pull requests with the /create-pr command. Track code attribution with git notes.Custom modes and slash commands
Extend functionality for your team's needs. Define custom modes for specialized workflows. Create reusable command shortcuts with slash commands. Share mode configurations across your team. Apply persistent context with Bob Rules in
.bob/rules/ directories.Skills system
Teach Bob reusable workflows with custom skills. Create instruction sets for code reviews, testing, documentation, and specialized tasks. Define skills in
.bob/skills/ directories with supporting files like checklists and templates. Share standardized workflows across your team through version control. Skills automatically activate in Advanced mode when relevant to your task.How is this topic?