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---
title: btw (side questions)
description: Fork the current context into a new thread to ask a clarifying question while the agent keeps working.
icon: lucide:split
---

**btw** forks the current session's full context into a **new thread** and immediately answers a side question there, without disturbing the running task. Use it when you need a clarification in parallel.

## The problem it solves

The agent is in the middle of a long task and you suddenly want to ask "wait, why did you choose X?" If you send that in the thread, it [interrupts](/docs/message-handling) the work. If you wait, you lose the moment.

**btw** splits the question off into its own thread that shares the same context but runs independently.

```diagram
  thread: build ──────────────────────▶ keeps working
       │
       │ ". btw why pick?"
       ▼
  thread: btw ──▶ answers in parallel
```

## Using btw

Two equivalent triggers:

* **`/btw <prompt>`** — fork and ask the prompt.
* **`. btw` suffix** — end a message with punctuation plus `btw`, for example `why this approach? btw`. Supported forms include `. btw`, `! btw`, a trailing `btw.`, or `btw` on its own final line.

Unlike the [queue suffix](/docs/queue), the `btw` suffix **requires punctuation or a newline** before it, so `btw fix this` at the start of a message is not treated as a btw.

## What happens

1. Kimaki **forks the entire session context** (no single message ID), so the new thread knows everything the original does.
2. It creates a thread named `btw: <your prompt>`.
3. It **does not replay** past Discord messages into the new thread; it just carries the context.
4. It **dispatches your question immediately**, so the forked session starts answering right away.

The forked session is told its only job is to answer your question: it will not continue, resume, or reference the original task.

<Aside>
  <Note>
    The original thread is never paused or interrupted. btw runs as a separate session in parallel.
  </Note>
</Aside>

## btw vs fork vs queue

| Want to...                                          | Use                       |
| --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Ask a side question in parallel, keep the run going | **btw**                   |
| Continue from a specific earlier message            | [`/fork`](/docs/commands) |
| Add a follow-up for after the run finishes          | [the queue](/docs/queue)  |
| Redirect the agent right now                        | a normal message          |


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