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feat(cli): select an output style via general.outputStyle or --output-style #10283

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0b34f32
feat(cli): select an output style via general.outputStyle or --output…
qqqys Aug 27, 2026
72689c3
fix(cli): survive a non-string output style, and regenerate the setti…
qqqys Aug 27, 2026
2713c78
Merge branch 'main' into feat/output-style-setting
qqqys Aug 28, 2026
31180a0
Merge remote-tracking branch 'upstream/main' into feat/output-style-s…
qqqys Aug 28, 2026
6e4824e
fix(cli): sanitize unknown output style before echoing it (#10283)
qwen-code-dev-bot Aug 28, 2026
4ba2441
Merge branch 'feat/output-style-setting' of https://github.com/qqqys/…
qwen-code-dev-bot Aug 28, 2026
0e6aa86
Merge branch 'main' into feat/output-style-setting
qwen-code-dev-bot Aug 28, 2026
2fa3a5b
Merge branch 'main' into feat/output-style-setting
qwen-code-dev-bot Aug 28, 2026
67edf9e
Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/main' into feat/output-style-set…
qwen-code-dev-bot Aug 29, 2026
b6e9068
Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/main' into feat/output-style-set…
qwen-code-dev-bot Aug 29, 2026
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2 changes: 2 additions & 0 deletions docs/users/configuration/settings.md
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Expand Up @@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ Settings are organized into categories. Most settings should be placed within th
| Setting | Type | Description | Default |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| `general.preferredEditor` | string | The preferred editor to open files in. | `undefined` |
| `general.outputStyle` | string | Name of the output style that shapes how responses are written: `Concise`, `Proactive`, `Explanatory`, or `Learning` (case-insensitive). Leave unset, or set `default`, for the default style. `--output-style` overrides it for one run. | `undefined` |
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| `general.vimMode` | boolean | Enable Vim keybindings. | `false` |
| `general.enableAutoUpdate` | boolean | Enable automatic update checks and installations on startup. | `true` |
| `general.showSessionRecap` | boolean | Auto-show a one-line "where you left off" recap when returning to the terminal after being away. Off by default. Use `/recap` to trigger manually regardless of this setting. | `false` |
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -801,6 +802,7 @@ For sandbox image selection, precedence is:
| `--prompt-interactive` | `-i` | Starts an interactive session with the provided prompt as the initial input. | Your prompt text | The prompt is processed within the interactive session, not before it. Cannot be used when piping input from stdin. Example: `qwen -i "explain this code"` |
| `--system-prompt` | | Overrides the built-in main session system prompt for this run. | Your prompt text | Loaded context files such as `QWEN.md` are still appended after this override. Can be combined with `--append-system-prompt`. |
| `--append-system-prompt` | | Appends extra instructions to the main session system prompt for this run. | Your prompt text | Applied after the built-in prompt and loaded context files. Can be combined with `--system-prompt`. See [Headless Mode](../features/headless) for examples. |
| `--output-style` | | Selects the output style that shapes how responses are written for this run. | Style name | `Concise`, `Proactive`, `Explanatory`, `Learning`, or `default` for no style (case-insensitive). Overrides the `general.outputStyle` setting. An unknown name prints a warning and the session starts with the default style. Has no effect when `--system-prompt` or `QWEN_SYSTEM_MD` replaces the built-in prompt. See [Headless Mode](../features/headless) for examples. |
| `--output-format` | `-o` | Specifies the format of the CLI output for non-interactive mode. | `text`, `json`, `stream-json` | `text`: (Default) The standard human-readable output. `json`: A machine-readable JSON output emitted at the end of execution. `stream-json`: Streaming JSON messages emitted as they occur during execution. For structured output and scripting, use the `--output-format json` or `--output-format stream-json` flag. See [Headless Mode](../features/headless) for detailed information. |
| `--input-format` | | Specifies the format consumed from standard input. | `text`, `stream-json` | `text`: (Default) Standard text input from stdin or command-line arguments. `stream-json`: JSON message protocol via stdin for bidirectional communication. Requirement: `--input-format stream-json` requires `--output-format stream-json` to be set. When using `stream-json`, stdin is reserved for protocol messages. See [Headless Mode](../features/headless) for detailed information. |
| `--include-partial-messages` | | Include partial assistant messages when using `stream-json` output format. When enabled, emits stream events (message_start, content_block_delta, etc.) as they occur during streaming. | | Default: `false`. Requirement: Requires `--output-format stream-json` to be set. See [Headless Mode](../features/headless) for detailed information about stream events. |
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15 changes: 15 additions & 0 deletions docs/users/features/headless.md
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Expand Up @@ -119,6 +119,20 @@ qwen -p "Summarize this repository" \
--append-system-prompt "Return exactly three bullets."
```

### Choose an Output Style

Use `--output-style` to pick one of the built-in output styles for this run. A style is a named block of instructions layered onto the built-in prompt that changes how the answer is written — `Concise` leads with the result and drops preamble and narration, `Proactive` starts working instead of proposing, `Explanatory` adds short notes about the codebase along the way. It overrides the `general.outputStyle` setting; `default` selects no style.
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```bash
qwen -p "Why does the build fail on Windows?" --output-style Concise
```

> [!note]
>
> - `Learning` asks you to write part of the code and waits for a reply, so it is skipped in headless runs.
> - An unknown style name prints a warning and the run continues with the default style.
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> - `--output-style` has no effect when `--system-prompt` or `QWEN_SYSTEM_MD` replaces the built-in prompt — a style is only layered onto the built-in prompt.

> [!note]
>
> - `--system-prompt` applies only to the current run's main session.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -272,6 +286,7 @@ Key command-line options for headless usage:
| `--include-partial-messages` | Include partial messages in stream-json output | `qwen -p "query" --output-format stream-json --include-partial-messages` |
| `--system-prompt` | Override the main session system prompt for this run | `qwen -p "query" --system-prompt "You are a terse reviewer."` |
| `--append-system-prompt` | Append extra instructions to the main session system prompt for this run | `qwen -p "query" --append-system-prompt "Focus on concrete findings."` |
| `--output-style` | Output style for this run (`Concise`, `Proactive`, `Explanatory`, `Learning`, or `default` for none); overrides `general.outputStyle` | `qwen -p "query" --output-style Concise` |
| `--debug`, `-d` | Enable debug mode | `qwen -p "query" --debug` |
| `--safe-mode` | Disable all customizations — context files, hooks, extensions, skills, MCP servers, custom subagents (only built-in subagents load), permission rules, settings-sourced approval mode overrides, memory features, and sandbox settings — to isolate problems; the CLI flags `--yolo` and `--approval-mode` still take effect. See [Troubleshooting](../support/troubleshooting). Also settable via `QWEN_CODE_SAFE_MODE=true`. | `qwen -p "query" --safe-mode` |
| `--model`, `-m` | Model to use for this run | `qwen -p "query" --model qwen3-coder-plus` |
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