Add Pause/Resume Button for Quick Control

[MarceloRicF]

🚀 Feature Request

Summary

Add a pause/resume button similar to GitHub Copilot's functionality, allowing users to quickly disable/enable Continue.dev features without manual configuration changes.

🎯 Problem Statement

Currently, Continue.dev lacks an easy way to temporarily pause its functionality. Users must either:

• Manually edit config.yaml to remove model roles
• Disable the entire extension
• Use workarounds that require configuration expertise

Comparison: GitHub Copilot provides a simple pause button in the status bar that instantly disables all AI suggestions while preserving user settings.

💡 Proposed Solution

UI Implementation

• Status Bar: Pause icon (⏸️) when active, Play icon (▶️) when paused
• Command Palette: Continue: Pause All Features, Continue: Resume All Features
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Quick toggle shortcuts for common scenarios

Granular Control Options

Pause Options:
☐ Autocomplete suggestions
☐ Agent mode  
☐ Chat functionality
☐ Edit commands
☐ Context providers

🔧 Technical Implementation Suggestions

VS Code Extension

const pauseButton = vscode.window.createStatusBarItem(
  vscode.StatusBarAlignment.Right, 100
);

vscode.commands.registerCommand('continue.togglePause', () => {
  // Toggle pause state logic
});

Runtime State (not saved to config.yaml)

runtimeState:
  isPaused: false
  pausedFeatures: ['autocomplete', 'agent']

📋 Use Cases

1. Meeting/Presentation Mode: Clean interface without AI suggestions
2. Focused Coding: Temporarily disable autocomplete during deep work
3. Screen Sharing: Professional appearance without unexpected AI interference
4. Security Scenarios: Quick disable for sensitive code editing

🎁 Benefits

• User Experience: Instant control without configuration complexity
• Feature Parity: Matches expected UX from GitHub Copilot
• Professional Adoption: Enterprise users often require pause functionality
• Accessibility: Better control for different working styles

📊 Success Metrics

• Reduced user complaints about lack of pause functionality
• Increased daily active users (easier management = more usage)
• Positive feedback on UX improvements
• Enterprise adoption metrics

🔄 Alternatives Considered

• Context menu disable options
• Smart auto-pause for specific file types
• Session-based pause state memory
• Integration with VS Code focus modes

---

Priority: High - This is a fundamental UX feature expected from AI coding assistants.

Related: Similar functionality exists in GitHub Copilot and is frequently requested by users transitioning from other AI coding tools.

[bdougie]

@Patrick-Erichsen I know you this last. Curious your take here. Thanks for opening @MarceloRicF