[FEATURE] Add setting to disable varied thinking status messages

[mcampbell]

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

Feature Request

Add a configuration option to disable the varied "clever" thinking status messages (like "Schlepping...", "Pondering...", etc.) and replace them with a simple, consistent "Thinking..." message.

Motivation

While the varied thinking messages can be fun, some users prefer a more minimal, consistent interface. A simple "Thinking..." message would:

• Reduce visual distraction
• Provide a more professional appearance
• Be more predictable and less surprising

Proposed Solution

Proposed Solution

Add a new setting in .claude/settings.json (or .claude/settings.local.json), such as:

  {
    "simpleThinkingMessages": true
  }

When enabled, this would replace all varied thinking status messages with a simple "Thinking..." message.

Alternative Solutions

Alternative Solutions

• A setting like "thinkingMessage": "Thinking..." that allows complete customization
• Include this as part of terminal configuration options in /config

Priority

Low - Nice to have

Feature Category

Interactive mode (TUI)

Use Case Example

No response

Additional Context

Additional Context

Currently, there doesn't appear to be any documented way to control these status messages. The documentation covers custom status lines, output styles, and terminal appearance, but not the thinking status messages themselves.

I am, admittedly, famously no fun.