Context mentions let you reference specific elements of your project directly in your conversations with Bob. By using the @ symbol, you can point Bob to files, folders, problems, and other project components, enabling more accurate and efficient assistance.

Types of mentions

With context mentions, you can reference various elements of your project:

Mention type	Format	Description	Example usage
File	`@/path/to/file.ts`	Includes file contents in request context	`Explain the function in @/src/utils.ts`
Folder	`@/path/to/folder`	Includes contents of all files directly in the folder (non-recursive)	`Analyze the code in @/src/components`
Problems	`@problems`	Includes IBM Bob Problems panel diagnostics	`@problems Fix all errors in my code`
Terminal	`@terminal`	Includes recent terminal command and output	`Fix the errors shown in @terminal`
Git commit	`@a1b2c3d`	References specific commit by hash	`What changed in commit @a1b2c3d?`
Git changes	`@git-changes`	Shows uncommitted changes	`Suggest a message for @git-changes`
URL	`@https://example.com`	Imports website content	`Summarize @https://docusaurus.io/`

File mentions

File mentions are the most commonly used type, letting you include the contents of specific files in your conversation with Bob.

Capability	Details
Format	`@/path/to/file.ts` (always start with `/` from workspace root)
Provides	Complete file contents with line numbers
Works with	Text files, PDFs, and DOCX files (with text extraction)
Works in	Initial requests, feedback responses, and follow-up messages
Limitations	Very large files may be truncated; binary files not supported

Tip:

For large files, you can mention specific sections by using the file's path followed by line numbers, like @/src/app.js:10-20 to include only lines 10-20.

Folder mentions

With folder mentions, you can reference multiple files at once, providing broader context from a directory.

Capability	Details
Format	`@/path/to/folder` (no trailing slash)
Provides	Complete contents of all files within the directory
Includes	Contents of non-binary text files directly within the folder (not recursive)
Best for	Providing context from multiple files in a directory
Tip	Be mindful of context window limits when mentioning large directories

Note:

Folder mentions are non-recursive, meaning they only include files directly in the specified folder, not in subfolders.

Problems mention

The problems mention imports diagnostics from IBM Bob's Problems panel, helping you resolve multiple issues at once.

Capability	Details
Format	`@problems`
Provides	All errors and warnings from IBM Bob's problems panel
Includes	File paths, line numbers, and diagnostic messages
Groups	Problems organized by file for better clarity
Best for	Fixing errors without manual copying

Example usage: @problems Can you help me fix all these issues?

Terminal mention

Terminal mentions capture recent command output, helping you debug build errors or analyze command results.

Capability	Details
Format	`@terminal`
Captures	Last command and its complete output
Preserves	Terminal state (does not clear the terminal)
Limitation	Limited to visible terminal buffer content
Best for	Debugging build errors or analyzing command output

Tip

When troubleshooting a build failure, try What is wrong with @terminal? to get immediate insights into the error without manually copying the output.

Git mentions

Git mentions help you work with version control by referencing commits and changes.

Type	Format	Provides	Limitations
Commit	`@a1b2c3d`	Commit message, author, date, and complete diff	Only works in Git repositories
Working changes	`@git-changes`	`git status` output and diff of uncommitted changes	Only works in Git repositories

Example usage: What's the purpose of @a1b2c3d? or Suggest a commit message for @git-changes

URL mentions

URL mentions let you reference external web content in your conversations with Bob.

Capability	Details
Format	`@https://example.com`
Processing	Uses headless browser to fetch content
Cleaning	Removes scripts, styles, and navigation elements
Output	Converts content to Markdown for readability
Limitation	Complex pages may not convert perfectly

Tip:

URL mentions are useful for referencing documentation. Try Can you explain @https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Promise to get help understanding a concept with the official docs as context.

Use context mentions

Type @ in the chat input to trigger the suggestions dropdown.

Continue typing to filter suggestions or use arrow keys to navigate.

Select with Enter key or mouse click.

Combine multiple mentions in a request: "Fix @problems in @/src/component.ts"

Tip:

Highlight text and use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ + L to add it to the chat.

The dropdown automatically suggests:

Recently opened files
Visible folders
Recent git commits
Special keywords (problems, terminal, git-changes)
All currently open files (regardless of ignore settings or directory filters)

The dropdown automatically filters out common directories like node_modules, .git, dist, and out to reduce noise, even though you can include their content if manually typed.

Tip:

You can combine multiple mentions in a single request. Try Compare @/src/v1/api.js with @/src/v2/api.js and explain the differences.

Important behaviors

Ignore file interactions

Context mentions have specific behaviors when interacting with ignored files:

Behavior	Description
`.bobignore` bypass	File and folder `@mentions` bypass `.bobignore` checks when fetching content for context. Content from ignored files will be included if directly mentioned.
`.gitignore` bypass	Similarly, file and folder `@mentions` do not respect `.gitignore` rules when fetching content.
Git command respect	Git-related mentions (`@git-changes`, `@commit-hash`) do respect `.gitignore` since they rely on Git commands.

Context mentions bypass ignore rules, so you can reference specific files that would normally be ignored by Bob or Git. This capability is particularly useful when you need to discuss generated files or other typically ignored content.

Putting it all together

Context mentions enhance your interactions with Bob by providing precise references to your project's elements. Instead of copying and pasting code or describing file locations, you can directly reference what you are discussing.

Effective combinations of different mention types:

Fix @problems in @/src/components and explain what was wrong
Review @git-changes and suggest improvements
Compare @/v1/api.js with @https://api-docs.example.com and check for inconsistencies

By using context mentions effectively, you can communicate more precisely with Bob and receive more targeted assistance.

Context mentions

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