diff --git a/src/linecomps.tsx b/src/linecomps.tsx
index 4f4684ae..9a56cf96 100644
--- a/src/linecomps.tsx
+++ b/src/linecomps.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {renderCmdText} from "./elements";
 import {SimpleBlobRendererModel, SimpleBlobRenderer} from "./simplerenderer";
 import {isBlank} from "./util";
 import {PluginModel} from "./plugins";
+import {PtyDataBuffer} from "./ptydata";
 import * as lineutil from "./lineutil";
 
 dayjs.extend(localizedFormat)
@@ -107,6 +108,237 @@ class LineAvatar extends React.Component<{line : LineType, cmd : Cmd, onRightCli
     }
 }
 
+@mobxReact.observer
+class SmallLineAvatar extends React.Component<{line : LineType, cmd : Cmd, onRightClick? : (e : any) => void}, {}> {
+    render() {
+        let {line, cmd} = this.props;
+        let lineNumStr = (line.linenumtemp ? "~" : "#") + String(line.linenum);
+        let status = (cmd != null ? cmd.getStatus() : "done");
+        let rtnstate = (cmd != null ? cmd.getRtnState() : false);
+        let isComment = (line.linetype == "text");
+        let icon : string = null;
+        let iconTitle = null;
+        if (isComment) {
+            icon = "fa-comment";
+            iconTitle = "comment";
+        }
+        else if (status == "done") {
+            icon = "fa-check";
+            iconTitle = "done";
+        }
+        else if (status == "hangup" || status == "error") {
+            icon = "fa-triangle-exclamation";
+            iconTitle = status;
+        }
+        else if (status == "running" || "detached") {
+            icon = "fa-rotate fa-spin";
+            iconTitle = "running";
+        }
+        else {
+            icon = "fa-square-question";
+            iconTitle = "unknown";
+        }
+        return (
+            <div onContextMenu={this.props.onRightClick} className={cn("simple-line-status", "status-" + status, (rtnstate ? "has-rtnstate" : null))}>
+                <span className="linenum">{lineNumStr}</span><i title={iconTitle} className={cn("fa-sharp fa-solid", icon)}/>
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+@mobxReact.observer
+class LineOpenAI extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineType, width : number, staticRender : boolean, visible : OV<boolean>, onHeightChange : LineHeightChangeCallbackType, topBorder : boolean, renderMode : RenderModeType, overrideCollapsed : OV<boolean>, noSelect? : boolean, showHints? : boolean}, {}> {
+    dataBuffer : PtyDataBuffer = new PtyDataBuffer();
+    loading : OV<boolean> = mobx.observable.box(null, {name: "loading"});
+    loadError : OV<string> = mobx.observable.box(null, {name: "loadError"});
+    dataLines : OArr<string> = mobx.observable.array([], {name: "dataLines"});
+    dataPos : number = 0;
+    lineRef : React.RefObject<any> = React.createRef();
+
+    renderSimple() {
+        let {screen, line, topBorder, width} = this.props;
+        let cmd = screen.getCmd(line);
+        let usedRows = screen.getUsedRows(lineutil.getRendererContext(line), line, cmd, width);
+        let height = 36 + usedRows;
+        let formattedTime = lineutil.getLineDateTimeStr(line.ts);
+        let mainDivCn = cn(
+            "line",
+            "line-openai",
+            "line-simple",
+            {"top-border": topBorder},
+        );
+        return (
+            <div className={mainDivCn} ref={this.lineRef} data-lineid={line.lineid} data-linenum={line.linenum} data-screenid={line.screenid} style={{height: height}}>
+                <SmallLineAvatar line={line} cmd={cmd}/>
+                <div className="ts">{formattedTime}</div>
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+
+    componentDidMount() {
+        this.reload(0);
+    }
+
+    updateLines() : void {
+        
+    }
+
+    reload(delayMs : number) {
+        let {line} = this.props;
+        
+        mobx.action(() => {
+            this.loading.set(true);
+            this.dataLines.clear();
+        })();
+        let rtnp = getTermPtyData(lineutil.getRendererContext(line));
+        if (rtnp == null) {
+            console.log("no promise returned from ptyDataSource (simplerenderer)", this.context);
+            return;
+        }
+        rtnp.then((ptydata) => {
+            setTimeout(() => {
+                this.dataPos = 0;
+                this.dataBuffer.reset();
+                this.dataBuffer.receiveData(ptydata.pos, ptydata.data, "reload");
+                mobx.action(() => {
+                    this.loadError.set(null);
+                })();
+            }, delayMs);
+        }).catch((e) => {
+            console.log("error loading data", e);
+            mobx.action(() => {
+                this.loadError.set("error loading data: " + e);
+            })();
+        }).finally(() => {
+            mobx.action(() => {
+                this.loading.set(false);
+            })();
+        });
+    }
+
+    @boundMethod
+    handleClick() {
+    }
+
+    @boundMethod
+    onAvatarRightClick(e : any) {
+        this.handleLineSettings(e)
+    }
+
+    @boundMethod
+    handleLineSettings(e : any) : void {
+        let {line, noSelect} = this.props;
+        if (noSelect) {
+            return;
+        }
+        e.preventDefault();
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        if (line != null) {
+            mobx.action(() => {
+                GlobalModel.lineSettingsModal.set(line.linenum);
+            })();
+        }
+    }
+
+    renderMetaWrap(cmd : Cmd) {
+        let {line} = this.props;
+        let model = GlobalModel;
+        let formattedTime = lineutil.getLineDateTimeStr(line.ts);
+        let termOpts = cmd.getTermOpts();
+        let remote = model.getRemote(cmd.remoteId);
+        let renderer = line.renderer;
+        return (
+            <div key="meta" className="meta-wrap">
+                <div key="meta1" className="meta meta-line1">
+                    <div className="ts">{formattedTime}</div>
+                    <div>&nbsp;</div>
+                    <div className="renderer"><i className="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-fill"/>openai&nbsp;</div>
+                    <div className="termopts">
+                        ({termOpts.rows}x{termOpts.cols})
+                    </div>
+                    <div className="settings" onClick={this.handleLineSettings}>
+                        <i className="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-gear"/>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+
+    renderPrompt(cmd : Cmd) {
+        let cmdStr = cmd.getCmdStr().trim();
+        if (cmdStr.startsWith("/openai")) {
+            let spaceIdx = cmdStr.indexOf(" ");
+            if (spaceIdx > 0) {
+                cmdStr = cmdStr.substr(spaceIdx+1).trim();
+            }
+        }
+        return (
+            <div className="openai-message">
+                <span className="openai-role">[user]</span>
+                <div className="openai-content">{cmdStr}</div>
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+
+    renderOutput(cmd : Cmd) {
+        let output = "...\nhello\nmore";
+        return (
+            <div className="openai-message">
+                <div className="openai-role">[assistant]</div>
+                <div className="openai-content">{output}</div>
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+    
+    render() {
+        let {screen, line, width, staticRender, visible, topBorder, renderMode} = this.props;
+        let model = GlobalModel;
+        let lineid = line.lineid;
+        let isVisible = visible.get();
+        if (staticRender || !isVisible) {
+            return this.renderSimple();
+        }
+        let formattedTime = lineutil.getLineDateTimeStr(line.ts);
+        let cmd = screen.getCmd(line);
+        if (cmd == null) {
+            return (
+                <div className="line line-invalid" ref={this.lineRef} data-lineid={line.lineid} data-linenum={line.linenum} data-screenid={line.screenid}>
+                    [cmd not found '{line.cmdid}']
+                </div>
+            );
+        }
+        let status = cmd.getStatus();
+        let lineNumStr = (line.linenumtemp ? "~" : "") + String(line.linenum);
+        let isSelected = mobx.computed(() => (screen.getSelectedLine() == line.linenum), {name: "computed-isSelected"}).get();
+        let isFocused = mobx.computed(() => {
+            let screenFocusType = screen.getFocusType();
+            return isSelected && (screenFocusType == "cmd");
+        }, {name: "computed-isFocused"}).get();
+        let isStatic = staticRender;
+        let isRunning = cmd.isRunning()
+        let mainDivCn = cn(
+            "line",
+            "line-openai",
+            {"focus": isFocused},
+            {"cmd-done": !isRunning},
+            {"has-rtnstate": cmd.getRtnState()},
+            {"top-border": topBorder},
+        );
+        return (
+            <div className={mainDivCn} onClick={this.handleClick}
+                 data-lineid={line.lineid} data-linenum={line.linenum} data-screenid={line.screenid} data-cmdid={line.cmdid}>
+                <div key="focus" className={cn("focus-indicator", {"selected": isSelected}, {"active": isSelected && isFocused})}/>
+                <div key="header" className={cn("line-header")}>
+                    <SmallLineAvatar line={line} cmd={cmd} onRightClick={this.onAvatarRightClick}/>
+                    {this.renderMetaWrap(cmd)}
+                </div>
+                {this.renderPrompt(cmd)}
+                {this.renderOutput(cmd)}
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+}
+
 @mobxReact.observer
 class LineCmd extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineType, width : number, staticRender : boolean, visible : OV<boolean>, onHeightChange : LineHeightChangeCallbackType, topBorder : boolean, renderMode : RenderModeType, overrideCollapsed : OV<boolean>, noSelect? : boolean, showHints? : boolean}, {}> {
     lineRef : React.RefObject<any> = React.createRef();
@@ -182,7 +414,7 @@ class LineCmd extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineT
         })();
     }
 
-    renderCmdText(cmd : Cmd, remote : RemoteType) : any {
+    renderCmdText(cmd : Cmd) : any {
         if (cmd == null) {
             return (
                 <div className="metapart-mono cmdtext">
@@ -372,14 +604,17 @@ class LineCmd extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineT
             let usedRows = screen.getUsedRows(lineutil.getRendererContext(line), line, cmd, width);
             height = 36 + usedRows;
         }
+        let formattedTime = lineutil.getLineDateTimeStr(line.ts);
         let mainDivCn = cn(
             "line",
             "line-cmd",
+            "line-simple",
             {"top-border": topBorder},
         );
         return (
             <div className={mainDivCn} ref={this.lineRef} data-lineid={line.lineid} data-linenum={line.linenum} data-screenid={line.screenid} style={{height: height}}>
-                <LineAvatar line={line} cmd={cmd}/>
+                <SmallLineAvatar line={line} cmd={cmd}/>
+                <div className="ts">{formattedTime}</div>
             </div>
         );
     }
@@ -396,16 +631,39 @@ class LineCmd extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineT
         }
     }
 
+    renderMeta1(cmd : Cmd) {
+        let {line} = this.props;
+        let termOpts = cmd.getTermOpts();
+        let formattedTime = lineutil.getLineDateTimeStr(line.ts);
+        let renderer = line.renderer;
+        return (
+            <div key="meta1" className="meta meta-line1">
+                <SmallLineAvatar line={line} cmd={cmd}/>
+                <div className="ts">{formattedTime}</div>
+                <div>&nbsp;</div>
+                <If condition={!isBlank(renderer) && renderer != "terminal"}>
+                    <div className="renderer"><i className="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-fill"/>{renderer}&nbsp;</div>
+                </If>
+                <div className="termopts">
+                    ({termOpts.rows}x{termOpts.cols})
+                </div>
+                <div className="settings" onClick={this.handleLineSettings}>
+                    <i className="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-gear"/>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+
     renderMetaWrap(cmd : Cmd) {
         let {line} = this.props;
         let model = GlobalModel;
         let formattedTime = lineutil.getLineDateTimeStr(line.ts);
         let termOpts = cmd.getTermOpts();
-        let remote = model.getRemote(cmd.remoteId);
         let renderer = line.renderer;
         return (
             <div key="meta" className="meta-wrap">
                 <div key="meta1" className="meta meta-line1">
+                    <SmallLineAvatar line={line} cmd={cmd}/>
                     <div className="ts">{formattedTime}</div>
                     <div>&nbsp;</div>
                     <If condition={!isBlank(renderer) && renderer != "terminal"}>
@@ -418,7 +676,7 @@ class LineCmd extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineT
                         <i className="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-gear"/>
                     </div>
                 </div>
-                {this.renderCmdText(cmd, remote)}
+                {this.renderCmdText(cmd)}
             </div>
         );
     }
@@ -517,8 +775,10 @@ class LineCmd extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineT
                  data-lineid={line.lineid} data-linenum={line.linenum} data-screenid={line.screenid} data-cmdid={line.cmdid}>
                 <div key="focus" className={cn("focus-indicator", {"selected": isSelected}, {"active": isSelected && isFocused})}/>
                 <div key="header" className={cn("line-header", {"is-expanded": isExpanded})}>
-                    <LineAvatar line={line} cmd={cmd} onRightClick={this.onAvatarRightClick}/>
-                    {this.renderMetaWrap(cmd)}
+                    <div key="meta" className="meta-wrap">
+                        {this.renderMeta1(cmd)}
+                        {this.renderCmdText(cmd)}
+                    </div>
                     <div key="pin" title="Pin" className={cn("line-icon", {"active": line.pinned})} onClick={this.clickPin} style={{display: "none"}}>
                         <i className="fa-sharp fa-solid fa-thumbtack"/>
                     </div>
@@ -565,9 +825,12 @@ class Line extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : LineType
         if (line.linetype == "text") {
             return <LineText {...this.props}/>;
         }
-        if (line.linetype == "cmd" || line.linetype == "openai") {
+        if (line.linetype == "cmd") {
             return <LineCmd {...this.props}/>;
         }
+        if (line.linetype == "openai") {
+            return <LineOpenAI {...this.props}/>;
+        }
         return <div className="line line-invalid">[invalid line type '{line.linetype}']</div>;
     }
 }
@@ -661,9 +924,9 @@ class LineText extends React.Component<{screen : LineContainerModel, line : Line
         return (
             <div className={mainClass} data-lineid={line.lineid} data-linenum={line.linenum} data-screenid={line.screenid} onClick={this.clickHandler}>
                 <div className={cn("focus-indicator", {"selected": isSelected}, {"active": isSelected && isFocused})}/>
-                <LineAvatar line={line} cmd={null} onRightClick={this.onAvatarRightClick}/>
                 <div className="line-content">
                     <div className="meta">
+                        <SmallLineAvatar line={line} cmd={null} onRightClick={this.onAvatarRightClick}/>
                         <div className="ts">{formattedTime}</div>
                     </div>
                     <div className="text">
diff --git a/src/lines.less b/src/lines.less
index f0035a96..0f404b13 100644
--- a/src/lines.less
+++ b/src/lines.less
@@ -21,6 +21,42 @@
     }
 }
 
+.line.line-openai {
+    flex-direction: column;
+    position: relative;
+
+    .line-header {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: row;
+        height: 18px;
+        width: 100%;
+
+        .line-icon {
+            display: block;
+            cursor: pointer;
+            padding: 3px;
+            font-size: 1.5rem;
+        }
+    }
+
+    .openai-message {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: row;
+        justify-content: flex-start;
+        
+        .openai-role {
+            color: @term-green;
+            font-weight: bold;
+            width: 100px;
+        }
+
+        .openai-content {
+            white-space: pre;
+            color: white;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 .line.line-cmd {
     flex-direction: column;
     scroll-margin-bottom: 20px;
@@ -37,15 +73,6 @@
         height: 36px;
         width: 100%;
 
-        .meta-wrap {
-            flex: 1 1 0px;
-            min-width: 0;
-            display: flex;
-            flex-direction: column;
-            justify-content: flex-start;
-            margin-left: 10px;
-        }
-
         .line-icon {
             display: block;
             visibility: hidden;
@@ -168,7 +195,7 @@
 
 .line {
     margin: 0px 5px 0px 5px;
-    padding: 10px 5px 0px 12px;
+    padding: 5px 5px 0px 12px;
     display: flex;
     line-height: 1.25;
     overflow: hidden;
@@ -180,6 +207,37 @@
         top: 5px;
     }
 
+    &.line-simple {
+        flex-direction: row;
+
+        .ts {
+            display: flex;
+            color: #aaa;
+            .mono-font(11px);
+        }
+    }
+
+    .simple-line-status {
+        .mono-font(12px);
+        color: #aaa;
+
+        i {
+            padding-left: 6px;
+            padding-right: 6px;
+        }
+
+        .linenum {
+            cursor: pointer;
+        }
+
+        &.has-rtnstate {
+            .linenum {
+                color: white;
+                font-weight: bold;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     &.top-border {
         border-top: 1px solid #777;
         padding-top: 5px;
@@ -283,12 +341,24 @@
         }
     }
 
+    .meta-wrap {
+        flex: 1 1 0px;
+        min-width: 0;
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        justify-content: flex-start;
+    }
+
     .meta {
         display: flex;
         flex-direction: row;
         font-size: 1rem;
         margin-top: -4px;
 
+        .simple-line-status {
+            margin-top: 5px;
+        }
+
         .user {
             color: lighten(@soft-blue, 10%);
             font-weight: bold;
diff --git a/src/ptydata.ts b/src/ptydata.ts
index 3e8ea44b..ac395c91 100644
--- a/src/ptydata.ts
+++ b/src/ptydata.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import * as mobx from "mobx";
 import {incObs} from "./util";
 
+type OV<V> = mobx.IObservableValue<V>;
+type OArr<V> = mobx.IObservableArray<V>;
+type OMap<K,V> = mobx.ObservableMap<K,V>;
+
 const InitialSize = 10*1024;
 const IncreaseFactor = 1.5;
 
@@ -55,4 +59,66 @@ class PtyDataBuffer {
     }
 }
 
-export {PtyDataBuffer};
+const NewLineCharCode = "\n".charCodeAt(0);
+
+class PacketDataBuffer extends PtyDataBuffer {
+    parsePos : number;
+    packets : OArr<Object>;
+
+    constructor() {
+        super();
+        this.parsePos = 0;
+        this.packets = mobx.observable.array([], {name: "packets"});
+    }
+
+    processLine(line : string) {
+        if (line.length == 0) {
+            return;
+        }
+        if (!line.startsWith("##")) {
+            console.log("invalid line packet", line);
+            return;
+        }
+        let bracePos = line.indexOf("{");
+        if (bracePos == -1) {
+            console.log("invalid line packet", line);
+            return;
+        }
+        let packetStr = line.substring(bracePos);
+        let sizeStr = line.substring(2, bracePos);
+        if (sizeStr != "N") {
+            let packetSize = parseInt(sizeStr);
+            if (isNaN(packetSize) || packetSize != packetStr.length) {
+                console.log("invalid line packet", line);
+            }
+        }
+        try {
+            let packet = JSON.parse(packetStr);
+            this.packets.push(packet);
+        }
+        catch (e) {
+            console.log("invalid line packet (bad json)", line);
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    parseData() {
+        for (let i=this.parsePos; i<this.dataSize; i++) {
+            let ch = this.rawData[i];
+            if (ch == NewLineCharCode) {
+                // line does *not* include the newline
+                let line = (new TextDecoder()).decode(new Uint8Array(this.rawData.buffer, this.parsePos, i-this.parsePos));
+                this.parsePos = i+1;
+                this.processLine(line);
+            }
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+    
+    receiveData(pos : number, data : Uint8Array, reason? : string) : void {
+        super.receiveData(pos, data, reason);
+        this.parseData();
+    }
+}
+
+export {PtyDataBuffer, PacketDataBuffer};
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index 6a72ed68..93aeed37 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ type RendererPluginType = {
     name : string,
     rendererType : "simple" | "full",
     heightType : "rows" | "pixels",
-    dataType : "json" | "blob",
+    dataType : "json" | "blob" | "packet",
     collapseType : "hide" | "remove",
     globalCss? : string,
     mimeTypes? : string[],
diff --git a/src/view/markdown.tsx b/src/view/markdown.tsx
index 48f0687d..7feaef33 100644
--- a/src/view/markdown.tsx
+++ b/src/view/markdown.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class SimpleMarkdownRenderer extends React.Component<{data : Blob, context : Ren
         }
         return (
             <div className="renderer-container markdown-renderer">
-                <div className="scroller" style={{maxHeight: opts.maxSize.height, width: minWidth, maxWidth: maxWidth}}>
+                <div className="scroller" style={{maxHeight: opts.maxSize.height, minWidth: minWidth, width: "min-content", maxWidth: maxWidth}}>
                     <Markdown text={this.markdownText.get()} style={{maxHeight: opts.maxSize.height}}/>
                 </div>
             </div>