feat(coding-agent): add external editor setting

Closes #6122

packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Added an `externalEditor` settings.json override for Ctrl+G external editor commands, with default fallbacks to Notepad on Windows and `nano` elsewhere ([#6122](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/issues/6122)).
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - Fixed `--session` and `SessionManager.open()` to reject non-empty invalid session files without overwriting them ([#6002](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/issues/6002)).

packages/coding-agent/README.md

@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ The editor can be temporarily replaced by other UI, like built-in `/settings` or
 | File reference | Type `@` to fuzzy-search project files |
 | Path completion | Tab to complete paths |
 | Multi-line | Shift+Enter (or Ctrl+Enter on Windows Terminal) |
+| External editor | Ctrl+G opens `externalEditor`, `$VISUAL`, `$EDITOR`, Notepad on Windows, or `nano` elsewhere |
 | Images | Ctrl+V to paste (Alt+V on Windows), or drag onto terminal |
 | Bash commands | `!command` runs and sends output to LLM, `!!command` runs without sending |
 
@@ -663,7 +664,7 @@ pi --thinking high "Solve this complex problem"
 | `PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK` | Skip the Pi version update check at startup. This prevents the `pi.dev` latest-version request |
 | `PI_TELEMETRY` | Override install/update telemetry and provider attribution headers. Use `1`/`true`/`yes` to enable or `0`/`false`/`no` to disable. This does not disable update checks |
 | `PI_CACHE_RETENTION` | Set to `long` for extended prompt cache (Anthropic: 1h, OpenAI: 24h) |
-| `VISUAL`, `EDITOR` | External editor for Ctrl+G |
+| `VISUAL`, `EDITOR` | Fallback external editor for Ctrl+G when `externalEditor` is unset; defaults to Notepad on Windows and `nano` elsewhere |
 
 ---
 

packages/coding-agent/docs/keybindings.md

@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ Modifier combinations: `ctrl+shift+x`, `alt+ctrl+x`, `ctrl+shift+alt+x`, `ctrl+1
 | `app.clear` | `ctrl+c` | Clear editor |
 | `app.exit` | `ctrl+d` | Exit (when editor empty) |
 | `app.suspend` | `ctrl+z` (none on Windows) | Suspend to background |
-| `app.editor.external` | `ctrl+g` | Open in external editor (`$VISUAL` or `$EDITOR`) |
+| `app.editor.external` | `ctrl+g` | Open in external editor (`externalEditor`, `$VISUAL`, `$EDITOR`, Notepad on Windows, or `nano` elsewhere) |
 | `app.clipboard.pasteImage` | `ctrl+v` (`alt+v` on Windows) | Paste image from clipboard |
 
 ### Sessions

packages/coding-agent/docs/settings.md

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ Use `/trust` in interactive mode to save a project trust decision for future ses
 | Setting | Type | Default | Description |
 |---------|------|---------|-------------|
 | `theme` | string | `"dark"` | Theme name (`"dark"`, `"light"`, or custom) |
+| `externalEditor` | string | `$VISUAL`, then `$EDITOR`, then Notepad on Windows or `nano` elsewhere | Command for Ctrl+G external editor; takes precedence over environment variables |
 | `quietStartup` | boolean | `false` | Hide startup header |
 | `defaultProjectTrust` | string | `"ask"` | Fallback project trust behavior: `"ask"`, `"always"`, or `"never"`. Global setting only |
 | `collapseChangelog` | boolean | `false` | Show condensed changelog after updates |
@@ -63,6 +64,14 @@ Use `/trust` in interactive mode to save a project trust decision for future ses
 | `autocompleteMaxVisible` | number | `5` | Max visible items in autocomplete dropdown (3-20) |
 | `showHardwareCursor` | boolean | `false` | Show the terminal cursor while TUI positions it for IME support |
 
+For VS Code, include `--wait` so pi resumes after the editor exits:
+
+```json
+{
+  "externalEditor": "code --wait"
+}
+```
+
 ### Telemetry and update checks
 
 `enableInstallTelemetry` only controls the anonymous install/update ping to `https://pi.dev/api/report-install`. Opting out of telemetry does not disable update checks; Pi can still fetch `https://pi.dev/api/latest-version` to look for the latest version.

packages/coding-agent/docs/usage.md

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ The editor can be replaced temporarily by built-in UI such as `/settings` or by
 | Images | Paste with Ctrl+V, Alt+V on Windows, or drag into the terminal |
 | Shell command | `!command` runs and sends output to the model |
 | Hidden shell command | `!!command` runs without sending output to the model |
-| External editor | Ctrl+G opens `$VISUAL` or `$EDITOR` |
+| External editor | Ctrl+G opens `externalEditor`, `$VISUAL`, `$EDITOR`, Notepad on Windows, or `nano` elsewhere |
 
 See [Keybindings](keybindings.md) for all shortcuts and customization.
 
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ pi --exclude-tools ask_question
 | `PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK` | Skip the Pi version update check at startup. This prevents the `pi.dev` latest-version request |
 | `PI_TELEMETRY` | Override install/update telemetry and provider attribution headers: `1`/`true`/`yes` or `0`/`false`/`no`. This does not disable update checks |
 | `PI_CACHE_RETENTION` | Set to `long` for extended prompt cache where supported |
-| `VISUAL`, `EDITOR` | External editor for Ctrl+G |
+| `VISUAL`, `EDITOR` | Fallback external editor for Ctrl+G when `externalEditor` is unset; defaults to Notepad on Windows and `nano` elsewhere |
 
 ## Design Principles
 

packages/coding-agent/src/core/settings-manager.ts

@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ export interface Settings {
 	branchSummary?: BranchSummarySettings;
 	retry?: RetrySettings;
 	hideThinkingBlock?: boolean;
+	externalEditor?: string; // Command for Ctrl+G external editor; takes precedence over VISUAL/EDITOR
 	shellPath?: string; // Custom shell path (e.g., for Cygwin users on Windows)
 	quietStartup?: boolean;
 	defaultProjectTrust?: DefaultProjectTrust; // default: "ask"; global setting only
@@ -841,6 +842,18 @@ export class SettingsManager {
 		return this.settings.hideThinkingBlock ?? false;
 	}
 
+	getExternalEditorCommand(): string | undefined {
+		const configuredEditor = this.settings.externalEditor;
+		if (typeof configuredEditor === "string" && configuredEditor.trim() !== "") {
+			return configuredEditor;
+		}
+		const environmentEditor = process.env.VISUAL || process.env.EDITOR;
+		if (environmentEditor) {
+			return environmentEditor;
+		}
+		return process.platform === "win32" ? "notepad" : "nano";
+	}
+
 	setHideThinkingBlock(hide: boolean): void {
 		this.globalSettings.hideThinkingBlock = hide;
 		this.markModified("hideThinkingBlock");

packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/extension-editor.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export class ExtensionEditorComponent extends Container implements Focusable {
 	private onCancelCallback: () => void;
 	private tui: TUI;
 	private keybindings: KeybindingsManager;
+	private externalEditorCommand: string | undefined;
 
 	private _focused = false;
 	get focused(): boolean {
@@ -46,11 +47,13 @@ export class ExtensionEditorComponent extends Container implements Focusable {
 		onSubmit: (value: string) => void,
 		onCancel: () => void,
 		options?: EditorOptions,
+		externalEditorCommand?: string,
 	) {
 		super();
 
 		this.tui = tui;
 		this.keybindings = keybindings;
+		this.externalEditorCommand = externalEditorCommand;
 		this.onSubmitCallback = onSubmit;
 		this.onCancelCallback = onCancel;
 
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ export class ExtensionEditorComponent extends Container implements Focusable {
 		this.addChild(new Spacer(1));
 
 		// Add hint
-		const hasExternalEditor = !!(process.env.VISUAL || process.env.EDITOR);
+		const hasExternalEditor = !!this.getExternalEditorCommand();
 		const hint =
 			keyHint("tui.select.confirm", "submit") +
 			"  " +
@@ -110,8 +113,16 @@ export class ExtensionEditorComponent extends Container implements Focusable {
 		this.editor.handleInput(keyData);
 	}
 
+	private getExternalEditorCommand(): string | undefined {
+		const editorCmd = this.externalEditorCommand || process.env.VISUAL || process.env.EDITOR;
+		if (editorCmd) {
+			return editorCmd;
+		}
+		return process.platform === "win32" ? "notepad" : "nano";
+	}
+
 	private async openExternalEditor(): Promise<void> {
-		const editorCmd = process.env.VISUAL || process.env.EDITOR;
+		const editorCmd = this.getExternalEditorCommand();
 		if (!editorCmd) {
 			return;
 		}

packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts

@@ -2239,6 +2239,8 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 					this.hideExtensionEditor();
 					resolve(undefined);
 				},
+				undefined,
+				this.settingsManager.getExternalEditorCommand(),
 			);
 
 			this.editorContainer.clear();
@@ -3647,10 +3649,9 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 	}
 
 	private async openExternalEditor(): Promise<void> {
-		// Determine editor (respect $VISUAL, then $EDITOR)
+		const editorCmd = this.settingsManager.getExternalEditorCommand();
-		const editorCmd = process.env.VISUAL || process.env.EDITOR;
 		if (!editorCmd) {
-			this.showWarning("No editor configured. Set $VISUAL or $EDITOR environment variable.");
+			this.showWarning("No editor configured. Set externalEditor in settings.json or $VISUAL/$EDITOR.");
 			return;
 		}
 

packages/coding-agent/test/settings-manager.test.ts

@@ -354,6 +354,49 @@ describe("SettingsManager", () => {
 		});
 	});
 
+	describe("externalEditor", () => {
+		const originalVisual = process.env.VISUAL;
+		const originalEditor = process.env.EDITOR;
+		const originalPlatform = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(process, "platform");
+
+		function setEditorEnv(visual?: string, editor?: string): void {
+			if (visual === undefined) delete process.env.VISUAL;
+			else process.env.VISUAL = visual;
+			if (editor === undefined) delete process.env.EDITOR;
+			else process.env.EDITOR = editor;
+		}
+
+		afterEach(() => {
+			setEditorEnv(originalVisual, originalEditor);
+			if (originalPlatform) {
+				Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", originalPlatform);
+			}
+		});
+
+		it("should resolve editor commands by precedence", () => {
+			setEditorEnv("vim", "nano");
+			expect(SettingsManager.inMemory({ externalEditor: "code --wait" }).getExternalEditorCommand()).toBe(
+				"code --wait",
+			);
+			expect(SettingsManager.inMemory().getExternalEditorCommand()).toBe("vim");
+
+			setEditorEnv(undefined, "emacs");
+			expect(SettingsManager.inMemory().getExternalEditorCommand()).toBe("emacs");
+		});
+
+		it("should fall back to platform defaults", () => {
+			setEditorEnv();
+			Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", { value: "win32" });
+			expect(SettingsManager.inMemory().getExternalEditorCommand()).toBe("notepad");
+
+			Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", { value: "darwin" });
+			expect(SettingsManager.inMemory().getExternalEditorCommand()).toBe("nano");
+
+			Object.defineProperty(process, "platform", { value: "linux" });
+			expect(SettingsManager.inMemory().getExternalEditorCommand()).toBe("nano");
+		});
+	});
+
 	describe("shellCommandPrefix", () => {
 		it("should load shellCommandPrefix from settings", () => {
 			const settingsPath = join(agentDir, "settings.json");