docs: update multi-line editor cancel instructions

Update all documentation to reflect working cancel methods:
- Remove ESC and Ctrl+C references (not working reliably)
- Keep Ctrl+D (works reliably) and .cancel command
- Update inline instructions in multi-line mode
- Update help text and banner
- Update README.md feature list
- Update MULTILINE_EDITOR_ENHANCEMENTS.md comprehensively

Changes:
- Multi-line mode now shows: "Ctrl+D or .cancel to cancel"
- Up arrow editing instructions unchanged (working correctly)
- Simplified cancel options to only documented working methods
- All 286 tests still passing

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: jwesleye

README.md

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ A feature-rich, interactive CLI for AI agents with token tracking, prompt templa
 - 📦 **Auto-Setup** - Automatically install agent dependencies from `requirements.txt` or `pyproject.toml`
 - 🔔 **Audio Notifications** - Play sound when agent completes a turn (cross-platform support)
 - 📜 **Command History** - Navigate previous queries with ↑↓ arrows (persisted to `~/.chat_history`)
-- ✍️ **Multi-line Input** - Type `\\` to enter multi-line mode with ESC to cancel and ↑ to edit previous lines
+- ✍️ **Multi-line Input** - Type `\\` to enter multi-line mode with Ctrl+D to cancel and ↑ to edit previous lines
 - 💰 **Token Tracking** - Track tokens and costs per query and session
 - 📝 **Prompt Templates** - Reusable prompts from `~/.prompts/`
 - ⚙️ **Configuration** - YAML-based config with per-agent overrides

docs/MULTILINE_EDITOR_ENHANCEMENTS.md

@@ -3,23 +3,21 @@
 ## Overview
 
 The multi-line editor has been significantly enhanced with intuitive keyboard controls:
-1. **ESC key cancellation** - instantly cancel with ESC
+1. **Ctrl+D cancellation** - instantly cancel with Ctrl+D
 2. **Up arrow editing** - press ↑ at start of line to edit previous line
 3. **History integration** - recall entire multi-line blocks with up arrow at main prompt
-4. **Multiple cancel options** - ESC, .cancel, Ctrl+C, or Ctrl+D
+4. **Multiple cancel options** - Ctrl+D or .cancel command
 
 ## Features Implemented
 
 ### 1. Cancel Options
 
-Users can now cancel multi-line input in four ways:
+Users can now cancel multi-line input in two ways:
 
-- **ESC key**: Press ESC at the start of any line for instant cancellation (cross-platform)
+- **Ctrl+D**: Press Ctrl+D for instant EOF cancellation (works reliably across platforms)
 - **`.cancel` command**: Type `.cancel` at any prompt to cancel
-- **Ctrl+C**: Keyboard interrupt to cancel
-- **Ctrl+D**: EOF signal to cancel
 
-All cancel methods return empty string and show a clear cancellation message. The ESC key detection works on Unix/Linux/Mac (via termios) and Windows (via msvcrt).
+Both cancel methods return empty string and show a clear cancellation message.
 
 ### 2. Previous Line Editing with Up Arrow
 
@@ -88,36 +86,37 @@ Multi-line mode:
 
 The multi-line editor detects special keys at the start of each line:
 
-**ESC Key** - Instant cancellation:
-```
-1│ [press ESC]
-✗ Multi-line input cancelled (ESC)
-```
-
 **Up Arrow** - Edit previous line:
 ```
 1│ line one
 2│ [press ↑]
 ↑ Editing line 1...
 ```
 
+**Ctrl+D** - Cancel input:
+```
+1│ started typing
+2│ [press Ctrl+D]
+✗ Multi-line input cancelled (Ctrl+D)
+```
+
 **Implementation Details**:
-- Uses platform-specific terminal control:
+- Uses platform-specific terminal control for up arrow detection:
   - Unix/Linux/Mac: `termios` and `tty` for raw input, `select` for sequence detection
   - Windows: `msvcrt` for character-level input
-- Detects special keys on the first character of each line
-- ESC key: ASCII 27 (`\x1b`)
+- Detects up arrow on the first character of each line
 - Up arrow: Escape sequence `\x1b[A` on Unix, `\xe0H` on Windows
+- Ctrl+D: Standard EOF signal handled by Python's EOFError exception
 - Falls back gracefully to `.cancel` and `.back` commands if detection unavailable
 - Zero dependencies - uses Python standard library only
 
 **How it works**:
 1. Before reading a line, attempts to read a single character in raw mode
-2. If ESC detected, checks within 100ms for following characters:
-   - If `[A` follows → Up arrow detected
-   - If no characters follow → ESC key detected
-3. If other character detected, includes it and continues with normal `input()`
-4. Maintains full readline editing capabilities for mid-line input
+2. If escape sequence detected:
+   - If `\x1b[A` follows → Up arrow detected
+3. If Ctrl+D pressed → EOFError caught and handled as cancellation
+4. If other character detected, includes it and continues with normal `input()`
+5. Maintains full readline editing capabilities for mid-line input
 
 ## Implementation Details
 
@@ -132,21 +131,19 @@ The multi-line editor detects special keys at the start of each line:
 
 1. **Up Arrow Editing**: The most intuitive way to edit previous lines - just press ↑ at the start of a line. Detects arrow key sequences in raw terminal mode before `input()` takes over.
 
-2. **ESC for Cancel**: ESC key provides instant cancellation, matching user expectations from other terminal applications and editors.
+2. **Ctrl+D for Cancel**: Uses standard EOF signal (Ctrl+D) which works reliably across all platforms and terminal emulators.
 
-3. **First-Character Detection Only**: Special keys (ESC, ↑) are only detected at the start of a line. Once typing begins, readline takes over with full editing capabilities (including mid-line arrow navigation).
+3. **First-Character Detection Only**: Up arrow is only detected at the start of a line. Once typing begins, readline takes over with full editing capabilities (including mid-line arrow navigation).
 
 4. **Graceful Fallback**: If terminal control is unavailable, `.back` and `.cancel` commands always work as alternatives.
 
 5. **Readline Integration**: Uses standard `readline` module for history and line editing, maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure.
 
-6. **Sequence Timing**: 100ms timeout distinguishes ESC alone from ESC as part of arrow sequence on Unix systems.
-
-7. **Exception Handling**: Gracefully handles EOFError (Ctrl+D) and KeyboardInterrupt (Ctrl+C) for consistent cancel behavior.
+6. **Exception Handling**: Gracefully handles EOFError (Ctrl+D) for consistent cancel behavior.
 
-8. **Empty Line Validation**: First line cannot be empty - prompts user to enter content or cancel.
+7. **Empty Line Validation**: First line cannot be empty - prompts user to enter content or cancel.
 
-9. **Zero Dependencies**: Uses only Python standard library modules (`termios`, `tty`, `select` for Unix; `msvcrt` for Windows).
+8. **Zero Dependencies**: Uses only Python standard library modules (`termios`, `tty`, `select` for Unix; `msvcrt` for Windows).
 
 ## Usage Examples
 
@@ -155,8 +152,8 @@ The multi-line editor detects special keys at the start of each line:
 You: \\
 Multi-line mode:
   • Empty line to submit
-  • .cancel to cancel
-  • .back to edit previous line
+  • Ctrl+D or .cancel to cancel
+  • ↑ or .back to edit previous line
  1│ Here is a multi-line
  2│ code example:
  3│ def hello():
@@ -191,13 +188,13 @@ You: \\
 ✓ 2 lines captured
 ```
 
-### Cancelling Input (ESC Key)
+### Cancelling Input (Ctrl+D)
 ```
 You: \\
  1│ Started typing but
  2│ changed my mind
- 3│ [press ESC]
-✗ Multi-line input cancelled (ESC)
+ 3│ [press Ctrl+D]
+✗ Multi-line input cancelled (Ctrl+D)
 ```
 
 ### Cancelling Input (.cancel Command)
@@ -223,9 +220,7 @@ def hello():
 Comprehensive test suite with 13 test cases covering:
 - ✅ Basic submission
 - ✅ Cancel via `.cancel` command
-- ✅ Cancel via ESC key
 - ✅ Cancel via Ctrl+D (EOFError)
-- ✅ Cancel via Ctrl+C (KeyboardInterrupt)
 - ✅ `.back` command functionality
 - ✅ `.back` on empty lines
 - ✅ Up arrow key functionality

src/basic_agent_chat_loop/chat_loop.py

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 - Command history with readline (↑↓ to navigate, saved to ~/.chat_history)
 - Agent logs with rotation and secure permissions (0600) in ~/.chat_loop_logs/
 - Multi-line input support (type \\\\ to enter multi-line mode)
-  - ESC to cancel, ↑ arrow to edit previous line
+  - Ctrl+D to cancel, ↑ arrow to edit previous line
   - Saves full block to history for later recall
 - Token tracking and cost estimation per query and session
 - Prompt templates from ~/.prompts/ with variable substitution
@@ -758,18 +758,17 @@ async def get_multiline_input(self) -> str:
 
         Features:
         - Empty line submits
-        - ESC key or .cancel to cancel input
+        - Ctrl+D or .cancel to cancel input
         - Up arrow or .back to edit previous line
         - Saves to history as single entry
         """
         lines: list[str] = []
         print(Colors.system("Multi-line mode:"))
         print(Colors.system("  • Empty line to submit"))
+        print(Colors.system("  • Ctrl+D or .cancel to cancel"))
         if ESC_KEY_SUPPORT:
-            print(Colors.system("  • ESC or .cancel to cancel"))
             print(Colors.system("  • ↑ or .back to edit previous line"))
         else:
-            print(Colors.system("  • .cancel to cancel"))
             print(Colors.system("  • .back to edit previous line"))
 
         while True:

src/basic_agent_chat_loop/components/display_manager.py

@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def display_banner(self):
             print("  ↑↓        - Navigate command history")
         print("  Enter     - Submit single line")
         print("  \\\\        - Start multi-line input")
-        print("              (empty line submits, ESC cancels, ↑ edits previous line)")
+        print("              (empty line submits, Ctrl+D cancels, ↑ edits previous line)")
         if self.use_rich:
             print("  Rich      - Enhanced markdown rendering with syntax highlighting")
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def display_help(self):
         print("Multi-line Input:")
         print("  Type \\\\ to start multi-line mode")
         print("  Press Enter on empty line to submit")
-        print("  Press ESC to cancel (or type .cancel, Ctrl+C/Ctrl+D)")
+        print("  Press Ctrl+D to cancel (or type .cancel)")
         print("  Press ↑ at start of line to edit previous line (or type .back)")
         print("  Full block saved to history - use ↑ at main prompt to recall")
         print("  Great for code blocks and long prompts")