ask-user-more0.1.0

AskUserMore for Claude Code

Richer multiple-choice questions than Claude's built-in AskUserQuestion: a note on every question, no four-option limit, and multiple questions per round.

The npm package is dual: Claude Code (MCP server + plugin) and pi (extension). Claude Code cannot load pi extensions; MCP is its model-callable point. The pi extension mounts the same arrow-key TUI component.

What you get

• ask_user_more tool → mcp__ask-user-more__ask_user_more
• Single-select with option descriptions
• Multi-select (native array, or one checkbox per option as a fallback)
• One optional note per question (single-line or multi-line)
• Warnings at 7 options and 9 questions (configurable)
• An opt-out hook that replaces the built-in AskUserQuestion
• Layered config: per-call → env → project → user
• Results formatted like the pi build:

[Q1] Which database should the v1 backend use?
 [1] SQLite | [Note] my own potato database
[Q2] Which of these belong in the v1 scope?
 [1] Auth | [4] Public API
 [Note]
 | line one
 | line two

Renderers

Renderer	UI	Status
elicitation	Native inline form (Claude Code 2.1.302+)	available
web	Loopback browser form (127.0.0.1, random port, one-time token)	available
terminal	Standalone pi TUI in a new terminal window	available
auto	Terminal host → TUI; GUI host → elicitation, web fallback	available

Set the renderer in userConfig (claude plugin configure ask-user-more), in native project settings, or per call. auto launches the TUI only from terminal hosts; VS Code and other GUI hosts get the native form. Pi always uses the TUI.

Requirements

• Claude Code 2.1.302+
• Node.js 22+
• A browser for the web renderer; a terminal emulator for terminal

Install

1. Local plugin

claude --plugin-dir C:\path\to\ask-user-more\plugins\ask-user-more

--plugin-dir accepts a directory or a .zip. It loads .claude-plugin/plugin.json, .mcp.json, the ask-user-more skill, and the PreToolUse hook.

2. MCP server only

claude mcp add ask-user-more -s user -- node C:\path\to\ask-user-more\plugins\ask-user-more\dist\server.mjs

The tool appears as mcp__ask-user-more__ask_user_more. MCP-only installs have no hook and no userConfig; use native harness settings or ASK_USER_MORE_* env vars.

3. npm (after publishing)

claude mcp add ask-user-more -s user -- npx -y ask-user-more

Pi

pi install npm:ask-user-more
# local checkout:
pi -e ./plugins/ask-user-more/pi/index.js

The first pi session asks once to enable AskUserMore and stores the answer in ~/.pi/agent/settings.json under "askUserMore". Change it later with /ask-user-more-config. Pi always uses the native TUI; renderer applies to MCP clients.

OpenAI Codex

codex mcp add ask-user-more --env ASK_USER_MORE_ENABLED=true --env ASK_USER_MORE_RENDERER=elicitation -- npx -y ask-user-more

Or add [mcp_servers.ask-user-more] to ~/.codex/config.toml. Codex exposes the tool as mcp__ask-user-more__ask_user_more, supports project .codex/config.toml, and detects Codex in auto so the native elicitation form is preferred. See docs/codex.md for the full guide, AGENTS.md snippet, and sandbox/terminal notes.

4. Marketplace

This repo is already a marketplace: the plugin lives at plugins/ask-user-more/ and the marketplace entry is at the repo root (see docs/marketplace.example.json).

{
  "$schema": "https://anthropic.com/claude-code/marketplace.schema.json",
  "name": "ask-user-more",
  "description": "AskUserMore plugin marketplace",
  "owner": { "name": "votrinhan88" },
  "plugins": [
    {
      "name": "ask-user-more",
      "description": "Richer multiple-choice questions for Claude Code.",
      "source": "./plugins/ask-user-more"
    }
  ]
}

claude plugin marketplace add <owner>/<repo>
claude plugin install ask-user-more@ask-user-more
claude plugin validate .          # the plugin

Replacing the built-in

enabled is the master consent: the plugin prompts for it when you enable the plugin, and claude plugin configure ask-user-more can change it later. Generic MCP installs (no userConfig) get a one-time elicitation prompt on first use. Project files cannot grant enabled; only the user can.

The plugin ships a PreToolUse hook on AskUserQuestion.

• userConfig.force defaults to true and is prompted once when you enable the plugin.
• When force is true, the hook denies the built-in and tells Claude to call mcp__ask-user-more__ask_user_more.
• Opt out with claude plugin configure ask-user-more → Replace AskUserQuestion → off.
• If the hook or MCP server is unavailable, the built-in is allowed (safe default).

force is intentionally not read from project files: a cloned repo must not be able to replace your built-in.

Configuration

Claude plugin userConfig (global):

Key	Default	Meaning
enabled	true	Allow this harness to use AskUserMore; off hides the tool
force	true	Replace AskUserQuestion via the hook (Claude only)
renderer	auto	auto, elicitation, terminal, web
warnOptionsAt	7	Warn at this many options; 0 disables
warnQuestionsAt	9	Warn at this many questions; 0 disables
multiStyle	array	array = native multi-select; booleans = one checkbox per option

Project settings

AskUserMore reads each harness's own project config; there is no bare file at the repo root.

Claude Code — .claude/settings.json (and .claude/settings.local.json):

{
  "pluginConfigs": {
    "ask-user-more": {
      "options": { "renderer": "web", "warnOptionsAt": 5, "warnQuestionsAt": 12 }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code itself does not pass project plugin options to the server, so the server reads this file directly. User options still arrive natively through userConfig.

Pi — .pi/settings.json (read after project trust):

{
  "askUserMore": { "renderer": "terminal", "warnOptionsAt": 5 }
}

OpenAI Codex — .codex/config.toml (trusted projects, closest wins):

[mcp_servers.ask-user-more.env]
ASK_USER_MORE_RENDERER = "elicitation"
ASK_USER_MORE_WARN_OPTIONS = "5"

Other MCP clients — pass ASK_USER_MORE_* in their native MCP server config, for example .cursor/mcp.json, .vscode/mcp.json, or .gemini/settings.json.

Explicit env vars override the project:

Env var	Meaning
ASK_USER_MORE_RENDERER	auto, elicitation, terminal, web
ASK_USER_MORE_WARN_OPTIONS	Warn at this many options
ASK_USER_MORE_WARN_QUESTIONS	Warn at this many questions
ASK_USER_MORE_MULTI_STYLE	array or booleans

Precedence: per-call renderer > env > native project settings > native user settings > defaults. enabled and force are user-level only; project files cannot grant either.

Per-call override:

{ "questions": [ ... ], "renderer": "web" }

Develop

From the repo root:

npm install
npm run build        # bundles packages/core + SDK into plugins/ask-user-more/dist
npm test             # core + plugin tests
npm run integration  # MCP stdio round-trip
npm run typecheck
npm run validate     # claude plugin validate plugins/ask-user-more

Publish

1. Bump the version in three places: package.json, .claude-plugin/plugin.json, and VERSION in src/server.ts.
2. From plugins/ask-user-more: npm publish --access public (rename if ask-user-more is taken).
3. For a marketplace, tag the repo and add the entry above.

Limits

• The terminal renderer launches the exact pi TUI in a new terminal window and waits for its result file. It needs a terminal emulator; if none is available, the call falls back to the native form.
• The server reads the harness's native settings files and, for web, serves a loopback-only form and opens a browser. It makes no outbound network calls.
• force is user-level only; project files cannot replace your built-in.