Kilo Code released v7.6.0 on September 10, 2026 — a month after v7.4.22 shipped 12+ releases (through v7.5.16) aimed at long-running agent work: a proper /goal command with pause/resume, native OS notifications, and Agent Manager PR fixes that finally close the loop with GitHub. If you last looked at Kilo in August, this is the version that turns a good agent into a hands-off one.
The headline: /goal — tell it the outcome, it works until done
What it does: /goal lets you describe a long-lived objective (“migrate the auth module to the new SDK and update the tests”) instead of a single command. Kilo keeps working toward it with shared pause, resume, and clear controls in the terminal and VS Code.
Why it matters: the old model was “prompt → response → prompt again.” /goal is the beginning of “set the outcome and supervise” — the agent keeps going autonomously, pauses when it needs you (no-action replies, terminal failures, Stop, new messages, backend restarts), and reports completion or a blocker through a Goal-only reporting tool.
The flow:
- Compose multiline goals with images and file attachments in VS Code.
- Pending goal submissions become read-only while running; your draft survives a Cancel.
- Goals persist as Active, Complete, Blocked, or Paused with their objective and reason — after a backend restart, a complete goal stays complete and its resume action is labeled Restart.
- Clarification questions are disabled during active goals and delegated work (permission approvals still ask); safe, reversible decisions run autonomously.
The command is reserved: if you have a custom command or MCP prompt named goal, rename it. (PR #13679)
Notifications: Kilo now taps you on the shoulder
What it does: Kilo can alert you when it finishes a task, needs your input or permission, or hits a terminal error — via VS Code notifications, native OS notifications (Windows, macOS, Linux), or both.
Why it matters: the whole point of /goal is leaving the machine alone. But leaving it alone only works if the agent can get you back — a blocked goal sitting silently for an hour is worse than no goal at all.
The details:
- Native OS notifications reach you while the editor is in the background.
- VS Code notifications wait with a Show action that opens the session and jumps to the latest message.
- Notifications are skipped for the session you’re already looking at (no nagging) and follow your selected language.
- A Test button confirms native notifications work on your system before you rely on them.
Agent Manager: the PR loop closes
The Agent Manager quietly became a full GitHub review client in v7.5.x, and v7.6.0 finishes the job:
- Send PR CI failures or review comments back to the agent — it commits and pushes the fix without a follow-up prompt (permission prompts still confirm each commit; disable via “Push Pull Request Fixes” in Settings → Agent Behaviour).
- PR conversation timeline — commits, force pushes, merges, approvals, and the PR description shown in order (#13958).
- Approvals and merge readiness with GitHub-backed branch updates, merge methods, auto-merge, and conflict resolution with Kilo (#13953).
- Write and preview multiline PR comments and code suggestions from the PR panel or diff view, reply, edit, or delete your own comments — preview and apply suggested changes to the local worktree without staging or pushing (#13903).
- From v7.5.16: emoji reactions on PR comments, review threads with author avatars inline, and failed CI checks sent to the agent with compact feedback and on-demand log retrieval (#13541, #13881).
The workflow — agent writes code → PR opens → CI fails → you send the failure → agent fixes and pushes — now lives entirely inside the IDE.
Keep Awake & /caffeinate: the machine stays on, safely
Long agent runs get killed by your OS falling asleep. Two fixes:
- v7.5.16 added a default-off Keep Awake toggle that prevents system sleep during busy agent sessions without keeping the display on or disabling screen locking (#12974).
- v7.6.0 adds the
/caffeinatecommand with notifications that explain when Kilo is keeping the computer awake — so you always know why your laptop isn’t sleeping (#13927).
Claude Code users: bring your setup over
Kilo v7.6.0 adds an opt-in, one-time import of supported global Claude Code instructions, simple skills, and disabled MCP definitions (#13929). If you’ve been meaning to try an open-source agent but didn’t want to redo your Claude Code config, the migration path just got real.
What else shipped in the v7.5.x wave (August 21 → September 8)
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Preview local apps in Agent Manager with embedded dev tools, grouped diagnostics, element feedback (#13501) | Frontend changes verified without leaving the IDE |
| Edit queued messages in VS Code before they send (#13556) | Fix a typo in a long prompt without re-sending |
| Orchestrator picks model/provider/reasoning per subagent task (experimental, #13557) | Parallel teams tuned per worker |
| Agent Manager intro explaining worktrees, parallel agents, PR status, conflicts (#13734) | Onboarding that doesn’t assume you know the model |
| Start sessions in a selected managed worktree (#13861) | Isolate work per task, keep the base clean |
| Keep Awake toggle (#12974) | Long runs survive an idle laptop |
| CPU savings: badge polling pauses when panels are hidden (#13795) | Big repos stop burning CPU in the background |
| Faster cold loads of large sessions and token-usage totals (#13868) | Big conversations open instantly |
| Shift+Tab reasoning-variant cycling works even with the slash menu open (#13792) | Muscle-memory friendly |
| JetBrains 7.1.6 | Worktree moves/forks, Ctrl+1/2/3/0 mode cycling, faster Windows startup, worktree indexing excluded |
Installation & Upgrade
# VS Code Marketplace (auto-updates)
# Search "Kilo Code" → Install/Update
# Or via CLI
npm install -g @kilocode/cli@7.6.0
# JetBrains plugin: 7.1.6Breaking changes: if you have a custom command or MCP prompt named goal, rename it — the name is now reserved.
TL;DR
| Feature | Beginner Value | Power User Value |
|---|---|---|
/goal with pause/resume |
Set a task, walk away | Long autonomous runs with safe checkpoints |
| OS + VS Code notifications | Agent tells you when it’s done | Background work without babysitting |
| PR fixes from the panel | CI failures sent straight to agent | Full review loop without the browser |
| Claude Code import | Bring your config over | One-time migration, zero rebuild |
| Keep Awake / caffeinate | No more dead long runs | Explicit control over machine sleep |
Bottom line: v7.4.22 made Kilo sharp. v7.5.x–v7.6.0 make it something you can leave running — goals instead of prompts, notifications instead of polling, and a PR loop that closes inside the IDE. If you’re on any version before v7.6.0, update today. No downside.
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Release: Kilo Code v7.6.0 · Full Changelog · Discord