---
slug: "pi-rename-pane"
source_type: "readme"
source_url: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/wujunchuan/pi-rename-pane@main/README.md"
repo: "https://github.com/wujunchuan/pi-rename-pane"
source_file: "README.md"
branch: "main"
---
# pi-rename-pane

Generate session names for pi and rename the current Herdr pane.

Forked from `@tifan/pi-rename`; this variant renames Herdr panes instead of tabs.

## Install

From npm:

```bash
pi install npm:pi-rename-pane
```

From GitHub:

```bash
pi install git:github.com/wujunchuan/pi-rename-pane
```

For local development:

```bash
pi install /Users/john/Project/Github/pi-rename-pane
```

## How it works

After the first agent response, the extension automatically generates one hyphen-separated session name. In a normal startup it skips sessions that already have a name; after `/new`, it retriggers for the new session and may replace any existing default/generated name.

When you `/resume` a session, the extension immediately generates a fresh name from the resumed conversation so the session and Herdr pane match the restored context.

If you set a name yourself with pi's built-in `/name` before a pending automatic rename runs, automatic rename is skipped and your manual name is left untouched. `/resume` intentionally refreshes the saved name from the conversation.

Run `/rename` any time to generate a fresh name manually. The extension applies the name to the pi session and, when pi is running inside Herdr, to the current Herdr pane.

When a named session starts in Herdr, the extension also applies the saved pi session name to the current pane if that pane does not already have a manual Herdr label.

`/rename` builds naming context from the first user message plus up to three latest user messages. It ignores assistant replies, tool output, and attachments. Before sending context to the rename model, it redacts common secrets.

If the rename model is unavailable, automatic rename and `/rename` fall back to a local name from the latest user message.

## Commands

- `/rename`: Generate and apply a session name.
- `/rename status`: Show model and rename status.
- `/rename config`: Choose a rename model.
- `/rename help`: List rename commands.

Manual names are not supported by `/rename`. Use pi's built-in `/name` command when you want an exact name; pending automatic rename will not overwrite a manual name set in the current live session.

## Configuration

Out of the box, `pi-rename` uses this default model: `openai-codex/gpt-5.6-luna`.

Run `/rename config` to choose a different model.

After you choose a model, `pi-rename` uses only that model. Choose `Use default` in `/rename config` to return to the default.

You can also edit `~/.config/pi/extensions/pi-rename.json` manually:

```json
{
  "model": "openai-codex/gpt-5.6-luna"
}
```

## Herdr behavior

The extension uses `HERDR_PANE_ID` to find and rename the current Herdr pane with `herdr pane rename`.

On normal session startup, it only auto-renames panes that do not already have a manual Herdr pane label. First-response rename for a regular unnamed startup follows the same rule.

After `/new` and `/resume`, automatic rename is allowed to overwrite the current Herdr pane label so the pane reflects the newly active session context.

On quit, the Herdr pane keeps the last session name.

If pi is not running inside Herdr, only the pi session name is updated.

## License

[MIT](https://github.com/wujunchuan/pi-rename-pane/tree/HEAD/LICENSE)