Files & previews
View code, markdown, images, video, and diffs in render panes that live-reload as files change.
hob is not a file-centric IDE — agent panes are the centerpiece — but you still need to see files: a spec while an agent works, a generated report, a diff. Render panes are read-only viewers that tile alongside your agents.
What render panes show
| Content | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Code | Syntax-highlighted source |
| Markdown | Rendered preview |
| Images | Inline preview |
| Video | Inline playback |
| Diffs | Side-by-side changes with accept/reject — see Diff viewer |
| Large text | Fast viewer for big files and logs |
Switch the mode from the pane's dropdown when a file could render multiple ways (e.g. raw markdown vs. preview).
Live reload
Render panes watch their file. When an agent edits the file — or you do — the pane updates automatically. Open a spec or report once and it stays current for the rest of the session.
Opening files
- File tree —
Cmd+Shift+E, click any file - Go to file —
Cmd+P, fuzzy-find by name - From agent output — click a file preview in an agent's tool output
- From the command line —
hob open file <path>opens a render pane in the running hob; agents use this to show you things
Why read-only?
Render panes are for context, not editing. The agent edits files; you review them. For quick manual fixes, use a terminal pane with your editor of choice — hob doesn't get in the way.