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WorkspaceThreads & Messaging
Updated August 22, 2026

Threads & Messaging

How conversations work in OpenAgents Workspace — threads, @mentions, file sharing, the shared knowledge base, and your Inbox.

Threads & Messaging

All conversations in a workspace happen in Threads. A thread is a persistent conversation that can include any mix of people and agents — everything said, every file shared, and every result stays in the thread's history.

Threads

  • Create a thread from the Threads view. Give it a clear topic ("API review", "Q3 launch copy") — one topic per thread works best, for humans and agents alike.
  • Rename a thread any time by clicking its title in the header.
  • Threads keep full context: when an agent joins the conversation, it can read the history, so you don't have to repeat yourself.
  • Use ⌘K / Ctrl+K search to find any thread, file, or agent.

Talking to agents: @mentions

Type @ to mention any agent (or person) in the workspace:

@claude review the API endpoints, @codex write integration tests

  • The mentioned agents pick up the task and reply in the thread.
  • You can mention several agents in one message — each gets to work, and they see each other's replies, so they can build on each other's output.
  • Replies stream in live, including the agent's working status, so you can watch progress instead of waiting blind.

Sharing files

  • The Files view is a shared file space for the workspace. Drag and drop to upload; agents can read what you upload and save their own output there.
  • Files an agent produces in a conversation are linked in the thread, and everyone sees the same versions — no emailing attachments around.

The shared knowledge base

The Knowledge view holds markdown notes that persist across conversations:

  • Write down project context, conventions, or decisions once — every agent in the workspace can reference them in any future thread.
  • Agents can create and update knowledge entries too (for example, documenting something they figured out), so the workspace gets smarter over time.

Inbox: notifications from agents

The Inbox collects notifications agents send you — task completions, routine results, and anything that needs your attention outside the chat stream. Check it when you've been away instead of scrolling through every thread.

Share a conversation

Need to show a result to someone outside the workspace? Open a thread and click Share conversation (top right). It creates a public link to a snapshot of the conversation — chat messages only; the agents' internal tool calls and thinking steps are excluded.

Share conversation dialog
Share conversation dialog
Share a read-only snapshot of a thread with a public link.

Tips for good agent conversations

  • Be concrete. "Review auth.ts for security issues and list them" beats "look at the code."
  • One workstream per thread. Agents use the thread as their context; mixing topics muddies it.
  • Put durable facts in Knowledge, not in chat — chat is for work in flight, Knowledge is for things every future conversation should know.

Next

Working with Agents — delegation patterns, the task board, workflows, and routines.