Roo Code 3.18.0 Release Notes (2025-05-21)

This release introduces comprehensive context condensing improvements, YAML support for custom modes, new AI model integrations, and numerous quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes.

Context Condensing Upgrades (Experimental)

Our experimental Intelligent Context Condensing feature sees significant enhancements for better control and clarity. Remember, these are disabled by default (enable in Settings (⚙️) > "Experimental").

Watch a quick overview:

Key updates:

• Adjustable Condensing Threshold & Manual Control: Fine-tune automatic condensing or trigger it manually. Learn more.
• Clear UI Indicators: Better visual feedback during condensing. Details.
• Accurate Token Counting: Improved accuracy for context and cost calculations. More info.

For full details, see the main Intelligent Context Condensing documentation.

Custom Modes: YAML Support

Custom mode configuration is now significantly improved with YAML support for both global and project-level (.roomodes) definitions. YAML is the new default, offering superior readability with cleaner syntax, support for comments (#), and easier multi-line string management. While JSON remains supported for backward compatibility, YAML streamlines mode creation, sharing, and version control.

For comprehensive details on YAML benefits, syntax, and migrating existing JSON configurations, please see our updated Custom Modes documentation. (thanks R-omk!)

API Cost Control: Request Limits

To enhance API cost management, you can now set a Max Requests limit for auto-approved actions. This prevents Roo Code from making an excessive number of consecutive API calls without your re-approval.

Setting the "Max Requests" for auto-approved actions.

Notification when the auto-approved request limit is met.

Learn more about configuring this safeguard in our Rate Limits and Costs documentation. (Inspired by Cline, thanks hassoncs!)

New Model Version: Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (May 2025)

Access the latest gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20 model, including its thinking variant. This cutting-edge addition is available via both the generic Gemini provider and the Vertex provider, further expanding your AI model options. (thanks shariqriazz, daniel-lxs!)

QOL Improvements

• Resizable Prompt Textareas: Restored vertical resizing for prompt input textareas (role definition, custom instructions, support prompts) for easier viewing and editing of longer prompts.
• Settings Import: Error messages are now provided in multiple languages if an import fails. (thanks ChuKhaLi!)

Bug Fixes

• VSCode Command Execution: Command execution is now type-safe, reducing potential errors.
• Settings Import: The system now gracefully handles missing globalSettings in import files. (thanks ChuKhaLi!)
• Diff View Scrolling: The diff view no longer scrolls unnecessarily during content updates. (thanks qdaxb!)
• Syntax Highlighting: Improved syntax highlighting consistency across file listings, code definitions, and error messages. (thanks KJ7LNW!)
• Grey Screen Issue: Implemented a fix for the "grey screen" issue by gracefully handling errors when closing diff views, preventing memory leaks. (thanks xyOz-dev!)
• Settings Import Error Message: The settings_import_failed message is now correctly categorized as an error. (thanks ChuKhaLi!)
• File Links to Line 0: Links to files with line number 0 now correctly open at the first line, preventing errors. (thanks RSO!)
• Packaging tiktoken.wasm: Fixed packaging to include the correct tiktoken/lite/tiktoken_bg.wasm file for accurate token counting. (thanks vagadiya!)
• Audio Playback: Moved audio playback to the webview to ensure cross-platform compatibility and reliability for notifications and sounds. (thanks SmartManoj, samhvw8!)

Provider Updates

• LM Studio and Ollama Token Tracking: Token usage is now tracked for LM Studio and Ollama providers. (thanks xyOz-dev!)
• LM Studio Reasoning Support: Added support for parsing "think" tags in LM Studio responses for enhanced transparency into the AI's process. (thanks avtc!)
• Qwen3 Model Series for Chutes: Added new Qwen3 models to the Chutes provider (e.g., Qwen/Qwen3-235B-A22B). (thanks zeozeozeo!)
• Unbound Provider Model Refresh: Added a refresh button for Unbound models to easily update the list of available models and get immediate feedback on API key validity. (thanks pugazhendhi-m!)

Misc

• Auto-reload in Dev Mode: Core file changes now automatically trigger a window reload in development mode for a faster workflow. (thanks hassoncs!)
• Simplified Loop Syntax: Refactored loop structures in multiple components to use for...of loops for improved readability. (thanks noritaka1166!)