feat(spawn): share host spawn-pi mesh + models.json with spawned containers

- bind $LVMH_HOST_PI_RUNTIME_DIR/spawn-pi -> /root/.pi/spawn-pi (rw) so
  container pi's join the host pi's node mesh (spawn_pi/list_pi_nodes/
  send_pi_message now reach across the host/container boundary)
- bind host models.json (when present) over the stale image-baked
  fallback so newly added catalog models resolve in spawns

daemon/Dockerfile

@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ COPY daemon/ ./
 RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -trimpath -ldflags="-s -w" -o /out/lvmh-daemon .
 
 FROM alpine:3.21
-RUN apk add --no-cache ca-certificates git
+# bash + rsync: POST /api/pi-config/resync runs deploy/rsync-pi-agent.sh
+# inside this container (alpine has neither by default)
+RUN apk add --no-cache ca-certificates git bash rsync python3 nodejs npm
 WORKDIR /app
 COPY --from=build /out/lvmh-daemon /app/lvmh-daemon
 # Placeholder UI; replace via build (cp web/dist daemon/webdist) or mount at

daemon/api.go

@@ -373,7 +373,13 @@ func (s *Server) handleSpawn(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if !decodeBody(w, r, &body) {
 		return
 	}
-	if !validRepoPath(body.Repo) {
+	// Blank-container spawns carry no repo; everything else must look like
+	// group/project.
+	if body.Repo == "" && !body.Empty {
+		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "repo required (or set empty for a blank container)")
+		return
+	}
+	if body.Repo != "" && !validRepoPath(body.Repo) {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "repo must look like group/project")
 		return
 	}

daemon/api_extra_test.go

@@ -682,3 +682,20 @@ func TestRenameAndSetModelBodyValidation(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("bad model body = %d, want 400", code)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestAPISpawnBlankContainerNoRepo(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, _ := newSpawnAPIServer(t)
+
+	// no repo and not empty → 400
+	if code, body := apiReq(t, http.MethodPost, ts.URL+"/api/spawn", testToken, `{"repo":""}`); code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Fatalf("no-repo non-empty spawn = %d %s, want 400", code, body)
+	}
+	// blank container: no repo required
+	code, body := apiReq(t, http.MethodPost, ts.URL+"/api/spawn", testToken, `{"empty":true}`)
+	if code != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf("blank spawn = %d %s, want 201", code, body)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(body, `"sessionId"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("blank spawn body = %s, want sessionId", body)
+	}
+}

daemon/docker.go

@@ -47,11 +47,14 @@ const (
 	volumePiCache         string = "lvmh-pi-cache" // pi package cache (git:/npm:), shared across spawns
 	cacheMount            string = "/root/.pi/agent/cache"
 	authMountTarget       string = "/root/.pi/agent/auth.json"
+	modelsMountTarget     string = "/root/.pi/agent/models.json"
 	envHostPiAgentDir     string = "LVMH_HOST_PI_AGENT_DIR"
+	envHostPiRuntimeDir   string = "LVMH_HOST_PI_RUNTIME_DIR"
 	envSecretsDir         string = "LVMH_SECRETS_DIR"
 	envCloakCacheDir      string = "LVMH_CLOAK_CACHE_DIR"
 	envPlaywrightCacheDir string = "LVMH_PLAYWRIGHT_CACHE_DIR"
 	sshMountTarget        string = "/root/.ssh"
+	meshMountTarget       string = "/root/.pi/spawn-pi"
 	gitconfigMountTarget  string = "/root/.gitconfig"
 	workspaceMount        string = "/workspace"
 	sessionsMount         string = "/pi-sessions"
@@ -298,10 +301,13 @@ func (s *Spawner) runJob(repo, branch, model string, empty bool, sessionID strin
 	lock.Lock()
 	defer lock.Unlock()
 
+	// blank-container spawn: nothing to clone or update
+	if repo != "" {
 		if err := s.cloneOrUpdate(s.ctx, repo, branch, slug); err != nil {
 			s.setJob(sessionID, repo, stateError, "", err.Error())
 			return
 		}
+	}
 	s.setJob(sessionID, repo, stateBuilding, "", "")
 	if err := s.ensureImage(s.ctx); err != nil {
 		s.setJob(sessionID, repo, stateError, "", err.Error())
@@ -570,9 +576,24 @@ func (s *Spawner) createAndStart(ctx context.Context, repo, slug, model string,
 		volumePiCache+":"+cacheMount,
 	)
 	// Host pi credentials (OAuth tokens for anthropic etc.), read-only, so
-	// spawned agents can use every model the catalog offers.
+	// spawned agents can use every model the catalog offers. The host
+	// models.json rides along when present: image fallbacks are baked at
+	// build time and go stale the moment the dotfiles catalog changes.
 	if hostAgent := os.Getenv(envHostPiAgentDir); hostAgent != "" {
 		binds = append(binds, hostAgent+"/auth.json:"+authMountTarget+":ro")
+		if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(hostAgent, "models.json")); err == nil {
+			binds = append(binds, hostAgent+"/models.json:"+modelsMountTarget+":ro")
+		}
+	}
+	// Shared spawn-pi mesh directory (node registry + AF_UNIX sockets),
+	// read-write: each pi creates its own socket and node file. Sharing it
+	// with the host puts container pi's on the same mesh as the host pi —
+	// without this each container is an isolated island.
+	if hostRuntime := os.Getenv(envHostPiRuntimeDir); hostRuntime != "" {
+		mesh := filepath.Join(hostRuntime, "spawn-pi")
+		if _, err := os.Stat(mesh); err == nil {
+			binds = append(binds, mesh+":"+meshMountTarget)
+		}
 	}
 	// Shared playwright browser cache (host path, read-only); the env var
 	// below makes every playwright-based MCP use it instead of downloading.

daemon/docker_test.go

@@ -519,6 +519,64 @@ func TestSpawnerSecretsBinds(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestWorkerBindsHostModelsJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	useFakeGit(t, fakeGitModeOK)
+	f := newFakeDocker()
+	sp, _ := newTestSpawner(t, f)
+	agent := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(agent, "models.json"), []byte(`{}`), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv(envHostPiAgentDir, agent)
+
+	res, err := sp.Start(context.Background(), "group/project", "", "", false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Start: %v", err)
+	}
+	waitJobState(t, sp, res.SessionID, stateRunning)
+	creates := f.createsByName("lvmh-agent-")
+	binds := creates[0].HostConfig.Binds
+	want := agent + "/models.json:/root/.pi/agent/models.json:ro"
+	ok := false
+	for _, b := range binds {
+		if b == want {
+			ok = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("models.json bind missing from %v", binds)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWorkerBindsSpawnPiMesh(t *testing.T) {
+	useFakeGit(t, fakeGitModeOK)
+	f := newFakeDocker()
+	sp, _ := newTestSpawner(t, f)
+	runtimeDir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(runtimeDir, "spawn-pi"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv(envHostPiRuntimeDir, runtimeDir)
+
+	res, err := sp.Start(context.Background(), "group/project", "", "", false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Start: %v", err)
+	}
+	waitJobState(t, sp, res.SessionID, stateRunning)
+	creates := f.createsByName("lvmh-agent-")
+	binds := creates[0].HostConfig.Binds
+	want := filepath.Join(runtimeDir, "spawn-pi") + ":/root/.pi/spawn-pi"
+	ok := false
+	for _, b := range binds {
+		if b == want {
+			ok = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("spawn-pi mesh bind missing from %v", binds)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestWorkerBindsCaches(t *testing.T) {
 	useFakeGit(t, fakeGitModeOK)
 	f := newFakeDocker()

daemon/pi-config.go

@@ -100,10 +100,15 @@ func (s *Server) handlePiConfigResync(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "clear stale pi-agent: "+err.Error())
 		return
 	}
-	if err := os.Rename(bakeDir, filepath.Join(bakeCtx, "docker", "pi-agent")); err != nil {
+	// copy, not rename: bakeDir (data volume) and bakeCtx (tmp) are
-		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "move bake dir: "+err.Error())
+	// different mounts — rename(2) fails with EXDEV
+	if err := copyTree(bakeDir, filepath.Join(bakeCtx, "docker", "pi-agent")); err != nil {
+		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "copy bake dir: "+err.Error())
 		return
 	}
+	if err := os.RemoveAll(bakeDir); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("pi-config: remove bake dir after copy: %v", err)
+	}
 
 	if err := s.spawn.buildImage(ctx, bakeCtx, filepath.Join(bakeCtx, "docker", "worker.Dockerfile"), imageRefWorker); err != nil {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "worker rebuild: "+err.Error())

daemon/spawner_test.go

@@ -1348,3 +1348,24 @@ func TestSpawnerEmptyScratch(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("sessions volume missing: %v", binds)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestSpawnerEmptyScratchNoRepo(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeDocker()
+	sp, _ := newTestSpawner(t, f)
+
+	res, err := sp.Start(context.Background(), "", "", "", true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Start with no repo: %v", err)
+	}
+	waitJobState(t, sp, res.SessionID, stateRunning)
+	creates := f.createsByName("lvmh-agent-")
+	if len(creates) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("creates = %d, want 1", len(creates))
+	}
+	for _, b := range creates[0].HostConfig.Binds {
+		if b == "lvmh-sessions:/pi-sessions" || b == "lvmh-pi-cache:/root/.pi/agent/cache" {
+			continue
+		}
+		t.Fatalf("blank spawn must mount no repo volume: %v", creates[0].HostConfig.Binds)
+	}
+}

deploy/deploy.sh

@@ -22,10 +22,19 @@ fi
 # Bake the user's pi config (dotfiles) into the worker image context.
 bash "$(dirname "$0")/rsync-pi-agent.sh"
 
+# A dotfiles-less checkout must not wipe the remote's baked pi config
+# (daemon catalog + worker image depend on it).
+PIAGENT_EXCLUDE=""
+if [ ! -f docker/pi-agent/settings.json ]; then
+	echo "no local pi config — preserving remote docker/pi-agent"
+	PIAGENT_EXCLUDE="--exclude /docker/pi-agent"
+fi
+
 rsync -az --delete \
 	--exclude /.git --exclude /node_modules --exclude /web/node_modules \
 	--exclude /.env --exclude /.scratch --exclude /.pi --exclude /coverage \
 	--exclude '*.db' --exclude /daemon/lvmh-daemon --exclude /.playwright-mcp \
+	${PIAGENT_EXCLUDE} \
 	./ "$REMOTE:$REMOTE_DIR/"
 
 echo "building daemon image + worker image on $REMOTE..."

docker-compose.yml

@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ services:
       # docker.sock bind semantics: bind sources resolve on the HOST, so
       # this must be the HOST path of the pi config (auth.json etc.).
       LVMH_HOST_PI_AGENT_DIR: ${LVMH_PI_AGENT_DIR:-/home/alarm/.dotfiles/pi/agent}
+      # host pi runtime dir (spawn-pi mesh: nodes + sockets), shared rw with
+      # spawned containers so host pi and container pi's form one mesh
+      LVMH_HOST_PI_RUNTIME_DIR: ${LVMH_PI_RUNTIME_DIR:-/home/alarm/.pi}
       LVMH_SECRETS_DIR: /zdata/root/lvmh-secrets
       LVMH_CLOAK_CACHE_DIR: /home/alarm/.cloakbrowser
       LVMH_PLAYWRIGHT_CACHE_DIR: /home/alarm/.cache/ms-playwright

docker/bridge/index.mjs

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // web prompts through pi.sendUserMessage. This process just hosts the session.
 // Global npm layout: resolve pi via absolute path (NODE_PATH does not apply to ESM).
 import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
-import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { copyFileSync, existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import {
 	createAgentSession,
 	ModelRuntime,
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ process.on("unhandledRejection", (err) => {
 
 try {
 	await runRepoSetup();
+	// Dotfiles-less bakes ship only models.json.fallback: promote it so the
+	// registry always resolves the zai provider (glm) instead of "not found".
+	const piAgent = "/root/.pi/agent";
+	if (!existsSync(`${piAgent}/models.json`) && existsSync(`${piAgent}/models.json.fallback`)) {
+		copyFileSync(`${piAgent}/models.json.fallback`, `${piAgent}/models.json`);
+		console.error("[lvmh-bridge] promoted models.json.fallback -> models.json");
+	}
 	// Optional initial model: LVMH_MODEL="provider/model-id" from the spawn
 	// request. Resolved against the session's model registry; a bad value is
 	// logged and falls back to the default model.

docker/worker-models.json

@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@
           "reasoning": true,
           "contextWindow": 1000000,
           "thinkingLevelMap": { "xhigh": "xhigh", "max": "max" }
+        },
+        {
+          "id": "glm-5.3-flash",
+          "name": "GLM-5.3 Flash",
+          "reasoning": true,
+          "contextWindow": 1000000,
+          "thinkingLevelMap": { "xhigh": "xhigh", "max": "max" }
         }
       ]
     }

web/src/ChatStream.test.tsx

@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ const tool = (p: Partial<ToolState>): ToolState => ({
 function stream(p: {
 	messages: ChatMessage[];
 	busy: boolean;
+	queued?: string[];
+	unqueue?: (index: number) => void;
 	hasOlder?: boolean;
 	loadingOlder?: boolean;
 	onOlder?: () => void;
@@ -50,6 +52,8 @@ function stream(p: {
 			messages={p.messages}
 			tools={new Map()}
 			busy={p.busy}
+			queued={p.queued ?? []}
+			unqueue={p.unqueue ?? (() => undefined)}
 			hasOlder={p.hasOlder ?? false}
 			loadingOlder={p.loadingOlder ?? false}
 			onLoadOlder={p.onOlder ?? (() => undefined)}
@@ -151,10 +155,12 @@ describe("Bubble", () => {
 				tools={tools}
 			/>,
 		);
-		expect(screen.getByText("🛠 bash")).toBeInTheDocument();
+		expect(screen.getByText("$ ls -la")).toBeInTheDocument();
 		expect(screen.getByText("finished")).toBeInTheDocument();
 
-		const summary = screen.getByText("🛠 bash").closest("summary") as HTMLElement;
+		const summary = screen
+			.getByText("$ ls -la")
+			.closest("summary") as HTMLElement;
 		const card = summary.closest("details") as HTMLDetailsElement;
 		expect(card.open).toBe(false);
 		await userEvent.click(summary);
@@ -182,9 +188,9 @@ describe("Bubble", () => {
 				tools={tools}
 			/>,
 		);
-		expect(screen.getByText("working…")).toBeInTheDocument();
+		expect(screen.getByText("⋯")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		expect(screen.getByText("error")).toBeInTheDocument();
+		expect(screen.getByText("✗")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		expect(screen.getByText("done")).toBeInTheDocument();
+		expect(screen.getByText("✓")).toBeInTheDocument();
 	});
 
 	it("tool call with no matching state renders no card", () => {
@@ -781,7 +787,7 @@ describe("pretty tool args", () => {
 				tools={new Map([["t1", tool('{"command":"ls -la","foo":1}')]])}
 			/>,
 		);
-		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-summary")?.textContent).toBe("ls -la");
+		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-label")?.textContent).toBe("$ ls -la");
 		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-args")?.textContent).not.toContain(
 			'"command"',
 		);
@@ -809,8 +815,8 @@ describe("pretty tool args", () => {
 				tools={new Map([["t1", tool('{"path":"src/main.ts"}')]])}
 			/>,
 		);
-		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-summary")?.textContent).toBe(
+		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-label")?.textContent).toBe(
-			"src/main.ts",
+			"$ src/main.ts",
 		);
 		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-args .arg-k")).toBeNull();
 	});
@@ -849,8 +855,7 @@ describe("tool summary + diff", () => {
 				tools={new Map([["t1", tool('{"command":"ls -la","timeout":30}')]])}
 			/>,
 		);
-		expect(screen.getByText("🛠 bash")).toBeInTheDocument();
+		expect(screen.getByText("$ ls -la")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-summary")?.textContent).toBe("ls -la");
 	});
 
 	it("read summary shows the path", () => {
@@ -862,8 +867,8 @@ describe("tool summary + diff", () => {
 				tools={new Map([["t1", tool('{"path":"src/main.ts"}', "read")]])}
 			/>,
 		);
-		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-summary")?.textContent).toBe(
+		expect(document.querySelector(".tool-label")?.textContent).toBe(
-			"src/main.ts",
+			"📄 src/main.ts",
 		);
 	});
 
@@ -878,7 +883,7 @@ describe("tool summary + diff", () => {
 				tools={new Map([["t1", tool(`{"command":"${long}"}`)]])}
 			/>,
 		);
-		const summary = document.querySelector(".tool-summary");
+		const summary = document.querySelector(".tool-label");
 		expect(summary?.textContent?.endsWith("…")).toBe(true);
 	});
 
@@ -970,3 +975,129 @@ describe("lineDiff", () => {
 		expect(d.filter((l) => l.kind === "add")).toHaveLength(1);
 	});
 });
+
+describe("unified tool card", () => {
+	const tool = (args: string): ToolState => ({
+		id: "t1",
+		name: "bash",
+		args,
+		running: false,
+		isError: false,
+		preview: "",
+	});
+
+	it("toolResult bubble is skipped when its tool card exists", () => {
+		const { container } = render(
+			<>
+				<Bubble
+					msg={msg({
+						role: "assistant",
+						toolCalls: [{ id: "t1", name: "bash", argsJson: "{}" }],
+					})}
+					tools={new Map([["t1", tool('{"command":"ls"}')]])}
+				/>
+				<Bubble
+					msg={msg({ role: "toolResult", text: "file1\nfile2", toolCallId: "t1" })}
+					tools={new Map([["t1", tool('{"command":"ls"}')]])}
+				/>
+			</>,
+		);
+		expect(container.querySelectorAll(".tool-card")).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(container.textContent).not.toContain("result");
+	});
+
+	it("toolResult without tool state still renders a result card", () => {
+		render(
+			<Bubble
+				msg={msg({ role: "toolResult", text: "orphan output", toolCallId: "gone" })}
+				tools={new Map()}
+			/>,
+		);
+		expect(screen.getAllByText("orphan output").length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+	});
+
+	it("queued messages render as removable pending bubbles", async () => {
+		const unqueue = vi.fn();
+		const { rerender } = render(
+			stream({
+				messages: [msg({ role: "user", text: "hi" })],
+				busy: true,
+				queued: ["next msg"],
+				unqueue,
+			}),
+		);
+		expect(screen.getByText("next msg")).toBeInTheDocument();
+		await userEvent.click(screen.getByLabelText("Remove queued message"));
+		expect(unqueue).toHaveBeenCalledWith(0);
+
+		rerender(
+			stream({
+				messages: [msg({ role: "user", text: "hi" })],
+				busy: true,
+				queued: [],
+				unqueue,
+			}),
+		);
+		expect(screen.queryByText("next msg")).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
+
+describe("renderMarkdown blocks", () => {
+	it("headings render as h1-h6 with inline content", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("## Hello **world**");
+		const h = out[0] as React.ReactElement<{ className: string }>;
+		expect(h.type).toBe("h2");
+		expect(h.props.className).toContain("md-h-2");
+	});
+
+	it("--- renders a horizontal rule", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("above\n---\nbelow");
+		expect(out.some((n) => (n as React.ReactElement).type === "hr")).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	it("> lines group into one blockquote", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("> quoted a\n> quoted b\nplain");
+		const q = out.find(
+			(n) => (n as React.ReactElement).type === "blockquote",
+		) as React.ReactElement<{ children: React.ReactNode[] }>;
+		expect(q).toBeDefined();
+		expect(q.props.children.join("")).toContain("quoted a");
+		expect(q.props.children.join("")).toContain("quoted b");
+	});
+
+	it("- and * lines render as an unordered list", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("- one\n- two\n* three");
+		const ul = out[0] as React.ReactElement<{ children: React.ReactNode[] }>;
+		expect(ul.type).toBe("ul");
+		expect(ul.props.children).toHaveLength(3);
+	});
+
+	it("1. lines render as an ordered list", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("1. first\n2. second");
+		const ol = out[0] as React.ReactElement<{ children: React.ReactNode[] }>;
+		expect(ol.type).toBe("ol");
+		expect(ol.props.children).toHaveLength(2);
+	});
+
+	it("emphasis start is not a list marker", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("*bold start* to line");
+		expect(out.some((n) => (n as React.ReactElement).type === "ul")).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	it("list items keep inline markdown", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("- has `code` and [l](https://x.io)");
+		const ul = out[0] as React.ReactElement<{ children: React.ReactNode[] }>;
+		const li = ul.props.children[0] as React.ReactElement<{
+			children: React.ReactNode[];
+		}>;
+		expect(JSON.stringify(li.props.children)).toContain("code");
+		expect(JSON.stringify(li.props.children)).toContain("https://x.io");
+	});
+
+	it("fences still win over block markers", () => {
+		const out = renderMarkdown("```\n- not a list\n# not a heading\n```");
+		const pre = out[0] as React.ReactElement<{ children: string }>;
+		expect(pre.type).toBe("pre");
+		expect(pre.props.children).toContain("- not a list");
+	});
+});

web/src/ChatStream.tsx

@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ const COPY_FEEDBACK_MS: number = 1200;
 const PIN_THRESHOLD_PX: number = 80;
 const FAB_THRESHOLD_PX: number = 400;
 const FENCE: string = "```";
+const HEADING_RE: RegExp = /^(#{1,6})\s+(.*)$/;
+const HR_RE: RegExp = /^(?:-{3,}|\*{3,}|_{3,})$/;
+const QUOTE_RE: RegExp = /^>\s?(.*)$/;
+const UL_RE: RegExp = /^[-*+]\s+(.*)$/;
+const OL_RE: RegExp = /^\d{1,9}[.)]\s+(.*)$/;
 const ENTER_KEY: string = "Enter";
 const ESCAPE_KEY: string = "Escape";
 const INLINE_RE: RegExp =
@@ -79,11 +84,13 @@ function inlineNodes(
 	return out;
 }
 
-/** ```fences``` → <pre class="md-code">, `code`, **bold**, *italic*,
+/** Block markdown: ```fences```, # headings, --- rules, > quotes, -/*
- *  [t](http…) links (http/https only). Plain segments keep the bubble's
+ *  lists, 1. lists; inline: `code`, **bold**, *italic*, [t](http…)
- *  pre-wrap. Unterminated fences (streaming) render the tail as code. */
+ *  links (http/https only). Plain segments keep the bubble's pre-wrap.
+ *  Unterminated fences (streaming) render the tail as code. */
 export function renderMarkdown(text: string, query = ""): React.ReactNode[] {
 	const out: React.ReactNode[] = [];
+	const lines: string[] = text.split("\n");
 	let plain: string[] = [];
 	let code: string[] | null = null;
 	let n = 0;
@@ -94,7 +101,29 @@ export function renderMarkdown(text: string, query = ""): React.ReactNode[] {
 			plain = [];
 		}
 	};
-	for (const line of text.split("\n")) {
+	// consecutive lines sharing a marker accumulate into one block element
+	const collect = (
+		re: RegExp,
+		from: number,
+	): { items: string[]; next: number } => {
+		const items: string[] = [];
+		let k: number = from;
+		while (k < lines.length) {
+			const raw: string | undefined = lines[k];
+			if (raw === undefined) break;
+			const m: RegExpMatchArray | null = raw.match(re);
+			if (m === null) break;
+			const item: string | undefined = m[1];
+			if (item === undefined) break;
+			items.push(item);
+			k += 1;
+		}
+		return { items, next: k };
+	};
+	let i: number = 0;
+	while (i < lines.length) {
+		const line: string | undefined = lines[i];
+		if (line === undefined) break;
 		if (line.trimStart().startsWith(FENCE)) {
 			if (code === null) {
 				flushPlain();
@@ -108,11 +137,77 @@ export function renderMarkdown(text: string, query = ""): React.ReactNode[] {
 				n += 1;
 				code = null;
 			}
-		} else if (code === null) {
+			i += 1;
-			plain.push(line);
+			continue;
-		} else {
-			code.push(line);
 		}
+		if (code !== null) {
+			code.push(line);
+			i += 1;
+			continue;
+		}
+		const heading: RegExpMatchArray | null = line.match(HEADING_RE);
+		if (heading !== null) {
+			flushPlain();
+			const level: number = Math.min(heading[1]?.length ?? 1, 6);
+			const Tag: keyof React.JSX.IntrinsicElements = `h${level}` as "h1";
+			out.push(
+				<Tag className={`md-h md-h-${level}`} key={`h-${n}`}>
+					{inlineNodes(heading[2] ?? "", query, `h-${n}`)}
+				</Tag>,
+			);
+			n += 1;
+			i += 1;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (HR_RE.test(line.trim())) {
+			flushPlain();
+			out.push(<hr className="md-hr" key={`r-${n}`} />);
+			n += 1;
+			i += 1;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (QUOTE_RE.test(line)) {
+			flushPlain();
+			const q: { items: string[]; next: number } = collect(QUOTE_RE, i);
+			out.push(
+				<blockquote className="md-quote" key={`q-${n}`}>
+					{inlineNodes(q.items.join("\n"), query, `q-${n}`)}
+				</blockquote>,
+			);
+			n += 1;
+			i = q.next;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (UL_RE.test(line)) {
+			flushPlain();
+			const l: { items: string[]; next: number } = collect(UL_RE, i);
+			out.push(
+				<ul className="md-list" key={`u-${n}`}>
+					{l.items.map((item, k) => (
+						<li key={k}>{inlineNodes(item, query, `u-${n}-${k}`)}</li>
+					))}
+				</ul>,
+			);
+			n += 1;
+			i = l.next;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (OL_RE.test(line)) {
+			flushPlain();
+			const l: { items: string[]; next: number } = collect(OL_RE, i);
+			out.push(
+				<ol className="md-list md-list-ol" key={`o-${n}`}>
+					{l.items.map((item, k) => (
+						<li key={k}>{inlineNodes(item, query, `o-${n}-${k}`)}</li>
+					))}
+				</ol>,
+			);
+			n += 1;
+			i = l.next;
+			continue;
+		}
+		plain.push(line);
+		i += 1;
 	}
 	if (code === null) {
 		flushPlain();
@@ -143,6 +238,14 @@ function oneLine(text: string): string {
 	return flat.length > PREVIEW_LEN ? `${flat.slice(0, PREVIEW_LEN)}…` : flat;
 }
 
+/** true when the standalone result bubble is skipped because its ToolCard
+ *  (which carries the output preview) is already rendered */
+function resultSkipped(m: ChatMessage, tools: Map<string, ToolState>): boolean {
+	return (
+		m.role === "toolResult" && m.toolCallId !== null && tools.has(m.toolCallId)
+	);
+}
+
 function CopyButton({ text }: { text: string }): React.ReactNode {
 	const [copied, setCopied] = useState<boolean>(false);
 	return (
@@ -362,25 +465,34 @@ function DiffBlock({ lines }: { lines: DiffLine[] }): React.ReactNode {
 	);
 }
 
+// Well-known tools get a compact glyph + their primary arg instead of
+// the raw tool name (bash → "$ ls -la", read → "📄 src/main.ts", …).
+const TOOL_ICON: Record<string, string> = {
+	bash: "$",
+	read: "📄",
+	edit: "✎",
+	write: "📝",
+};
+
 function ToolCard({ tool }: { tool: ToolState }) {
-	const status: string = tool.running
+	const status: string = tool.running ? "⋯" : tool.isError ? "✗" : "✓";
-		? "running…"
-		: tool.isError
-			? "error"
-			: "done";
 	const statusClass: string = tool.isError
 		? "tool-status-err"
+		: tool.running
+			? "tool-status-run"
 			: "tool-status-ok";
 	const summary: string = oneLine(toolSummaryText(tool.args));
+	const icon: string | undefined = TOOL_ICON[tool.name];
+	const label: string =
+		icon === undefined ? tool.name : `${icon} ${summary}`.trim();
+	const rest: string = icon === undefined ? summary : "";
 	const diffBlocks: DiffLine[][] | null = toolDiffBlocks(tool.name, tool.args);
 	return (
 		<details className="tool-card">
 			<summary>
-				<span className="tool-name">🛠 {tool.name}</span>
+				<span className="tool-label">{label}</span>
-				{summary.length > 0 && <span className="tool-summary">{summary}</span>}
+				{rest.length > 0 && <span className="tool-summary">{rest}</span>}
-				<span className={`tool-status ${tool.running ? "" : statusClass}`}>
+				<span className={`tool-status ${statusClass}`}>{status}</span>
-					{tool.running ? "working…" : status}
-				</span>
 			</summary>
 			<div className="tool-body">
 				{diffBlocks === null ? (
@@ -451,6 +563,9 @@ export function Bubble({
 			if (t !== undefined) msgTools.push(t);
 		}
 	}
+	// the ToolCard above already carries this result (output preview): skip
+	// the duplicate standalone "result" bubble when the tool state exists
+	if (resultSkipped(msg, tools)) return null;
 	const copyable: boolean =
 		msg.role === "assistant" || (msg.role === "user" && msg.text.length > 0);
 	const tsTitle: string = msg.ts > 0 ? new Date(msg.ts).toISOString() : "";
@@ -506,6 +621,10 @@ interface Props {
 	messages: ChatMessage[];
 	tools: Map<string, ToolState>;
 	busy: boolean;
+	/** messages queued client-side while the agent runs; sent on settle */
+	queued: string[];
+	/** drop a queued message before it is sent (the ✕ on a queued bubble) */
+	unqueue: (index: number) => void;
 	/** an older page exists beyond the loaded window (B1) */
 	hasOlder: boolean;
 	loadingOlder: boolean;
@@ -521,6 +640,8 @@ export default function ChatStream({
 	messages,
 	tools,
 	busy,
+	queued,
+	unqueue,
 	hasOlder,
 	loadingOlder,
 	onLoadOlder,
@@ -574,9 +695,9 @@ export default function ChatStream({
 		const q: string = query.trim().toLowerCase();
 		if (q.length === 0) return [];
 		return messages
-			.filter((m) => searchHaystack(m).includes(q))
+			.filter((m) => !resultSkipped(m, tools) && searchHaystack(m).includes(q))
 			.map((m) => m.key);
-	}, [messages, query]);
+	}, [messages, tools, query]);
 
 	// live events can shrink the match set under the cursor
 	useEffect(() => {
@@ -639,6 +760,21 @@ export default function ChatStream({
 							<Bubble msg={m} tools={tools} query={query} showTs={showTs} />
 						</div>
 					))}
+					{queued.map((text, i) => (
+						<div className="bubble-row user" key={`q-${i}-${text}`}>
+							<div className="bubble queued-bubble">
+								<div className="queued-line">{text}</div>
+								<button
+									type="button"
+									className="icon-btn queued-remove"
+									aria-label="Remove queued message"
+									onClick={() => unqueue(i)}
+								>
+									✕
+								</button>
+							</div>
+						</div>
+					))}
 					{showTyping && <TypingIndicator />}
 				</div>
 			</div>

web/src/ChatView.test.tsx

@@ -1718,3 +1718,54 @@ describe("document title", () => {
 		await waitFor(() => expect(document.title).toContain("bash"));
 	});
 });
+
+describe("ChatView message queue", () => {
+	it("Enter while busy queues instead of sending; flushed on settle", async () => {
+		const fetchMock = mockFetchJson((_url, init) =>
+			init?.method === "POST" ? { ok: true } : [],
+		);
+		renderChat(makeStore());
+		const ta = (await screen.findByLabelText("Message")) as HTMLTextAreaElement;
+		const promptCalls = (): number =>
+			fetchMock.mock.calls.filter(([u]) =>
+				String(u).endsWith("/api/sessions/s1/prompt"),
+			).length;
+
+		push([ev("agent_start")]); // busy
+		await userEvent.type(ta, "queued hello");
+		fireEvent.keyDown(ta, { key: "Enter" });
+
+		// not sent yet; visible as a pending bubble
+		expect(promptCalls()).toBe(0);
+		expect(await screen.findByText("queued hello")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+		// settled → flush
+		push([ev("agent_settled")]);
+		await vi.waitFor(() => expect(promptCalls()).toBe(1));
+	});
+
+	it("queued bubble can be removed before it is sent", async () => {
+		const fetchMock = mockFetchJson((_url, init) =>
+			init?.method === "POST" ? { ok: true } : [],
+		);
+		renderChat(makeStore());
+		const ta = (await screen.findByLabelText("Message")) as HTMLTextAreaElement;
+		const promptCalls = (): number =>
+			fetchMock.mock.calls.filter(([u]) =>
+				String(u).endsWith("/api/sessions/s1/prompt"),
+			).length;
+
+		push([ev("agent_start")]);
+		await userEvent.type(ta, "do not send");
+		fireEvent.keyDown(ta, { key: "Enter" });
+		expect(await screen.findByText("do not send")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+		await userEvent.click(screen.getByLabelText("Remove queued message"));
+
+		push([ev("agent_settled")]);
+		await vi.waitFor(() =>
+			expect(screen.queryByText("do not send")).toBeNull(),
+		);
+		expect(promptCalls()).toBe(0);
+	});
+});

web/src/ChatView.tsx

@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 	const [loadError, setLoadError] = useState<string>("");
 	const [draft, setDraft] = useState<string>("");
 	const [sending, setSending] = useState<boolean>(false);
+	// messages waiting for the current run to settle (sent one per idle window)
+	const [queued, setQueued] = useState<string[]>([]);
 	const [tasksOpen, setTasksOpen] = useState<boolean>(false);
 	const [hasOlder, setHasOlder] = useState<boolean>(false);
 	const [loadingOlder, setLoadingOlder] = useState<boolean>(false);
@@ -140,15 +142,11 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 		(incoming: EventFrame[]): void => {
 			setEvents((prev) => {
 				const merged = mergeEvents(prev, incoming);
-				lastSeqRef.current = Math.max(
+				lastSeqRef.current = Math.max(lastSeqRef.current, lastPersistedSeq(merged));
-					lastSeqRef.current,
-					lastPersistedSeq(merged),
-				);
 				return merged;
 			});
 			// a finished run means usage changed server-side
-			if (incoming.some((e) => e.type === EventType.AgentSettled))
+			if (incoming.some((e) => e.type === EventType.AgentSettled)) refreshStats();
-				refreshStats();
 		},
 		[refreshStats],
 	);
@@ -166,6 +164,7 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 		// leak into the new one
 		setDraft("");
 		setSending(false);
+		setQueued([]);
 		setSearchOpen(false);
 		setMenuOpen(false);
 		sentRef.current = [];
@@ -226,14 +225,13 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 	const toolNow: string | undefined = [...chat.tools.values()]
 		.filter((t) => t.running)
 		.map((t) => t.name)[0];
-	const titleClaim: string | null =
+	const titleClaim: string | null = busy
-		!busy
+		? streaming
-			? label
-			: streaming
 			? `${label} · writing…`
-				: toolNow !== undefined
+			: toolNow === undefined
-					? `${label} · ${toolNow}`
+				? `${label} · working…`
-					: `${label} · working…`;
+				: `${label} · ${toolNow}`
+		: label;
 	useTitle(titleClaim);
 
 	const minSeq: number = useMemo(
@@ -276,9 +274,7 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 			const t = e.target;
 			if (
 				t instanceof HTMLElement &&
-				(t.tagName === "INPUT" ||
+				(t.tagName === "INPUT" || t.tagName === "TEXTAREA" || t.isContentEditable)
-					t.tagName === "TEXTAREA" ||
-					t.isContentEditable)
 			)
 				return;
 			e.preventDefault();
@@ -312,30 +308,74 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 		};
 	}, [menuOpen]);
 
-	const send = async (): Promise<void> => {
+	const postMessage = async (text: string): Promise<boolean> => {
-		const text = draft.trim();
-		if (text.length === 0 || sending) return;
-		setDraft("");
-		setSending(true);
-		const hist = sentRef.current;
-		hist.push(text);
-		if (hist.length > SENT_HISTORY_MAX) hist.shift();
 		try {
 			await fetchJson(Route.SessionPrompt(sessionId), {
 				method: "POST",
 				body: JSON.stringify({ message: text }),
 			});
+			return true;
 		} catch (err) {
-			// the message never reached the session: put it back (S6)
-			setDraft(text);
 			if (err instanceof ApiError && err.status === 409)
 				pushToast("session offline");
 			else pushToast(errMessage(err));
+			return false;
+		}
+	};
+
+	const rememberSent = (text: string): void => {
+		const hist = sentRef.current;
+		hist.push(text);
+		if (hist.length > SENT_HISTORY_MAX) hist.shift();
+	};
+
+	const send = async (): Promise<void> => {
+		const text = draft.trim();
+		if (text.length === 0 || sending) return;
+		setDraft("");
+		// agent busy → queue; flushed when the run settles
+		if (busy) {
+			setQueued((q) => [...q, text]);
+			return;
+		}
+		setSending(true);
+		rememberSent(text);
+		try {
+			// the message never reached the session: put it back (S6)
+			if (!(await postMessage(text))) setDraft(text);
 		} finally {
 			setSending(false);
 		}
 	};
 
+	const unqueue = (index: number): void => {
+		setQueued((q) => q.filter((_, n) => n !== index));
+	};
+
+	// drain the queue: one message per idle window — the gate only reopens
+	// when the busy window actually opens (the POST resolving before the
+	// agent_start event would otherwise fire the next message back-to-back)
+	const flushingRef = useRef<boolean>(false);
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (busy) {
+			flushingRef.current = false;
+			return;
+		}
+		if (sending || queued.length === 0 || flushingRef.current) return;
+		const text: string | undefined = queued[0];
+		if (text === undefined) return;
+		flushingRef.current = true;
+		setQueued((q) => q.slice(1));
+		rememberSent(text);
+		void (async () => {
+			// the message never reached the session: put it back (S6)
+			if (!(await postMessage(text))) {
+				flushingRef.current = false;
+				setDraft(text);
+			}
+		})();
+	}, [busy, sending, queued, postMessage]);
+
 	const abort = async (): Promise<void> => {
 		try {
 			await fetchJson(Route.SessionAbort(sessionId), { method: "POST" });
@@ -357,10 +397,7 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 		}
 	};
 
-	const pickModel = async (
+	const pickModel = async (provider: string, modelId: string): Promise<void> => {
-		provider: string,
-		modelId: string,
-	): Promise<void> => {
 		if (switching) return;
 		setSwitching(true);
 		try {
@@ -447,8 +484,7 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 		}
 		// empty composer + history: ArrowUp recalls the last sent message
 		if (e.key === ARROW_UP_KEY && draft.length === 0) {
-			const last: string | undefined =
+			const last: string | undefined = sentRef.current[sentRef.current.length - 1];
-				sentRef.current[sentRef.current.length - 1];
 			if (last !== undefined) {
 				e.preventDefault();
 				setDraft(last);
@@ -554,15 +590,13 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 							</div>
 						)}
 					</div>
-					{stats !== null &&
+					{stats !== null && (stats.inputTokens > 0 || stats.outputTokens > 0) && (
-						(stats.inputTokens > 0 || stats.outputTokens > 0) && (
 						<span
 							className="usage-chip"
 							title={`↑${stats.inputTokens.toLocaleString()} ↓${stats.outputTokens.toLocaleString()} · ${stats.turns} turns · $${stats.totalCost.toFixed(2)}`}
 						>
-								↑{formatTokens(stats.inputTokens)} ↓
+							↑{formatTokens(stats.inputTokens)} ↓{formatTokens(stats.outputTokens)} ·{" "}
-								{formatTokens(stats.outputTokens)} · {stats.turns} turns · $
+							{stats.turns} turns · ${stats.totalCost.toFixed(2)}
-								{stats.totalCost.toFixed(2)}
 						</span>
 					)}
 					<span
@@ -594,11 +628,7 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 							⋯
 						</button>
 						{menuOpen && (
-							<div
+							<div className="chat-menu" role="menu" aria-label="Session actions">
-								className="chat-menu"
-								role="menu"
-								aria-label="Session actions"
-							>
 								<button
 									type="button"
 									className="chat-menu-item"
@@ -663,6 +693,8 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 						messages={chat.messages}
 						tools={chat.tools}
 						busy={busy}
+						queued={queued}
+						unqueue={unqueue}
 						hasOlder={hasOlder}
 						loadingOlder={loadingOlder}
 						onLoadOlder={() => void loadOlder()}
@@ -682,7 +714,7 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 							onChange={(e) => setDraft(e.target.value)}
 							onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
 						/>
-						{busy ? (
+						{busy && (
 							<button
 								type="button"
 								className="abort-btn"
@@ -691,17 +723,16 @@ export default function ChatView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 							>
 								■ stop
 							</button>
-						) : (
+						)}
 						<button
 							type="button"
 							className="send-btn"
-								aria-label="Send message"
+							aria-label={busy ? "Queue message" : "Send message"}
 							disabled={draft.trim().length === 0 || sending}
 							onClick={() => void send()}
 						>
 							↑
 						</button>
-						)}
 					</div>
 				</div>
 			</div>

web/src/SpawnView.test.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-import { act, fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import {
+	act,
+	fireEvent,
+	render,
+	screen,
+	waitFor,
+} from "@testing-library/react";
 import { MemoryRouter, Route, Routes } from "react-router-dom";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import type { Repo, RepoImage, SessionListItem } from "./protocol";
@@ -106,8 +112,7 @@ describe("SpawnView connect flow", () => {
 				connected = true;
 				return { username: "alice" };
 			}
-			if (url.endsWith("/api/gitlab/repos"))
+			if (url.endsWith("/api/gitlab/repos")) return [repo("g/one"), repo("g/two")];
-				return [repo("g/one"), repo("g/two")];
 			return [];
 		});
 		render(tree(makeStore()));
@@ -181,9 +186,7 @@ describe("SpawnView repo picker", () => {
 		expect(screen.queryByText("g/alpha")).toBeNull();
 		expect(screen.getByText("g/beta")).toBeInTheDocument();
 
-		const item = screen
+		const item = screen.getByText("g/beta").closest(".repo-item") as HTMLElement;
-			.getByText("g/beta")
-			.closest(".repo-item") as HTMLElement;
 		fireEvent.keyDown(item, { key: "Enter" });
 		expect(screen.getByLabelText("Branch")).toHaveValue("dev");
 
@@ -195,9 +198,7 @@ describe("SpawnView repo picker", () => {
 		connectedMock();
 		render(tree(makeStore()));
 		await flush();
-		const item = screen
+		const item = screen.getByText("g/alpha").closest(".repo-item") as HTMLElement;
-			.getByText("g/alpha")
-			.closest(".repo-item") as HTMLElement;
 
 		const enter = fireEvent.keyDown(item, { key: "Enter" });
 		expect(enter).toBe(false); // preventDefault consumed: no page scroll
@@ -235,7 +236,11 @@ describe("SpawnView repo picker", () => {
 		render(tree(makeStore()));
 		await flush();
 		expect(screen.getByLabelText("Spawn container")).toBeDisabled();
-		expect(screen.getByText("select a repo above")).toBeInTheDocument();
+		expect(
+			screen.getByText(
+				"select a repo above — or tick “Empty container” for a blank workspace",
+			),
+		).toBeInTheDocument();
 	});
 });
 
@@ -353,8 +358,7 @@ describe("SpawnView spawn+poll", () => {
 			return [];
 		});
 		const failingRefresh = makeStore({
-			refresh: (): Promise<SessionListItem[]> =>
+			refresh: (): Promise<SessionListItem[]> => Promise.reject(new Error("boom")),
-				Promise.reject(new Error("boom")),
 		});
 		render(tree(failingRefresh));
 		await flush();
@@ -532,10 +536,7 @@ describe("SpawnView repo images (registry)", () => {
 
 		const ok = screen.getByText("custom image");
 		expect(ok.className).toContain("ok");
-		expect(ok).toHaveAttribute(
+		expect(ok).toHaveAttribute("title", "custom image lvmh-worker-alpha — built");
-			"title",
-			"custom image lvmh-worker-alpha — built",
-		);
 
 		const warn = screen.getByText("needs build");
 		expect(warn.className).toContain("warn");
@@ -561,8 +562,7 @@ describe("SpawnView repo images (registry)", () => {
 
 		const prepareCalls = fetchMock.mock.calls.filter(
 			([u, i]) =>
-				String(u).endsWith("/api/repos/g/alpha/prepare") &&
+				String(u).endsWith("/api/repos/g/alpha/prepare") && i?.method === "POST",
-				i?.method === "POST",
 		);
 		expect(prepareCalls).toHaveLength(1);
 		expect(PUSH_TOAST).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
@@ -614,8 +614,7 @@ describe("SpawnView repo images (registry)", () => {
 			if (url.endsWith("/api/gitlab/status"))
 				return { connected: true, baseUrl: "https://gl", username: "a" };
 			if (url.endsWith("/api/gitlab/repos")) return [repo("g/alpha")];
-			if (url.endsWith("/api/repos"))
+			if (url.endsWith("/api/repos")) return jsonResponse({ error: "boom" }, 500);
-				return jsonResponse({ error: "boom" }, 500);
 			return [];
 		});
 		render(tree(makeStore()));
@@ -687,7 +686,9 @@ describe("spawn model selection", () => {
 		await flush();
 		const sel = screen.getByLabelText("Initial model");
 		await waitFor(() => expect(sel.querySelectorAll("optgroup").length).toBe(2));
-		expect(sel.querySelector('option[value="zai-renaud/glm-5.3"]')).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(
+			sel.querySelector('option[value="zai-renaud/glm-5.3"]'),
+		).not.toBeNull();
 	});
 
 	it("selected model is sent in the spawn body", async () => {
@@ -708,7 +709,9 @@ describe("spawn model selection", () => {
 		await flush();
 		fireEvent.click(screen.getByText("g/p"));
 		const sel = screen.getByLabelText("Initial model");
-		await waitFor(() => expect(sel.querySelectorAll("option").length).toBeGreaterThan(1));
+		await waitFor(() =>
+			expect(sel.querySelectorAll("option").length).toBeGreaterThan(1),
+		);
 		fireEvent.change(sel, { target: { value: "zai-renaud/glm-5.3" } });
 		fireEvent.click(screen.getByLabelText("Spawn container"));
 		await flush();
@@ -739,4 +742,35 @@ describe("empty container spawn", () => {
 		await flush();
 		expect(bodies[0]).toContain('"empty":true');
 	});
+
+	it("blank container: spawn without selecting a repo", async () => {
+		const bodies: string[] = [];
+		mockFetchJson((url, init) => {
+			if (init?.method === "POST" && url.endsWith("/api/spawn")) {
+				bodies.push(String(init.body));
+				return { sessionId: "e2", imageUsed: "lvmh-worker:latest" };
+			}
+			if (url.endsWith("/api/gitlab/status"))
+				return { connected: true, baseUrl: "https://gl", username: "a" };
+			if (url.endsWith("/api/gitlab/repos")) return [repo("g/p")];
+			return [];
+		});
+		render(tree(makeStore()));
+		await flush();
+
+		// no repo selected: Spawn disabled
+		const spawnBtn = screen.getByLabelText(
+			"Spawn container",
+		) as HTMLButtonElement;
+		expect(spawnBtn.disabled).toBe(true);
+
+		fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("checkbox"));
+		expect(spawnBtn.disabled).toBe(false);
+
+		fireEvent.click(spawnBtn);
+		await flush();
+		expect(bodies[0]).toContain('"empty":true');
+		expect(bodies[0]).toContain('"repo":""');
+		expect(bodies[0]).not.toContain('"branch"');
+	});
 });

web/src/SpawnView.tsx

@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ function SpawnSteps({ state }: { state: string }): React.ReactNode {
 			{SPAWN_STEPS.map((step, i) => (
 				<span
 					key={step}
-					className={
+					className={idx > i ? "step done" : idx === i ? "step current" : "step"}
-						idx > i ? "step done" : idx === i ? "step current" : "step"
-					}
 					title={step}
 				/>
 			))}
@@ -167,15 +165,17 @@ export default function SpawnView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 		r.path.toLowerCase().includes(query.toLowerCase()),
 	);
 
-	// spawn is only reachable from the Spawn button, which is disabled until a
+	// spawn is reachable with a repo selected, or with the blank-container
-	// repo is selected.
+	// checkbox and no repo (empty workspace).
 	const spawn = async (): Promise<void> => {
 		setBusy(true);
 		setError("");
 		try {
 			const body = {
-				repo: selected!.path,
+				repo: selected?.path ?? "",
-				...(branch.trim().length > 0 ? { branch: branch.trim() } : {}),
+				...(selected !== null && branch.trim().length > 0
+					? { branch: branch.trim() }
+					: {}),
 				...(model.length > 0 ? { model } : {}),
 				...(empty ? { empty: true } : {}),
 			};
@@ -207,8 +207,7 @@ export default function SpawnView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 					const list = await store.refresh();
 					const s = list.find((x) => x.id === sessionId);
 					if (s !== undefined && s.online) {
-						if (timerRef.current !== null)
+						if (timerRef.current !== null) window.clearInterval(timerRef.current);
-							window.clearInterval(timerRef.current);
 						timerRef.current = null;
 						navigate(`/s/${sessionId}`);
 					}
@@ -236,7 +235,8 @@ export default function SpawnView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 				job.message !== undefined && job.message.length > 0
 					? ` (${job.message})`
 					: "";
-			return `${job.repo}: ${job.state}${detail}`;
+			const label = job.repo.length > 0 ? job.repo : "blank container";
+			return `${label}: ${job.state}${detail}`;
 		}
 		return "waiting for session to come online…";
 	};
@@ -246,9 +246,7 @@ export default function SpawnView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 			<div className="page">
 				<h1>Spawn</h1>
 				<p className="empty">
-					{error.length > 0
+					{error.length > 0 ? `gitlab status failed: ${error}` : "checking gitlab…"}
-						? `gitlab status failed: ${error}`
-						: "checking gitlab…"}
 				</p>
 			</div>
 		);
@@ -338,8 +336,7 @@ export default function SpawnView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 										<div style={{ minWidth: 0, flex: 1 }}>
 											<div className="repo-path">{r.path}</div>
 											<div className="repo-meta">
-												default {r.defaultBranch} ·{" "}
+												default {r.defaultBranch} · {r.lastActivityAt.slice(0, 10)}
-												{r.lastActivityAt.slice(0, 10)}
 											</div>
 										</div>
 										{reg !== undefined && (
@@ -364,8 +361,7 @@ export default function SpawnView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 											}}
 											onKeyDown={(e) => {
 												// let the native button handle Enter/Space
-												if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ")
+												if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ") e.stopPropagation();
-													e.stopPropagation();
 											}}
 										>
 											⚡ Prepare
@@ -390,29 +386,28 @@ export default function SpawnView({ store, pushToast }: Props) {
 							<button
 								type="button"
 								className="btn-primary"
-								disabled={selected === null || busy}
+								disabled={(selected === null && !empty) || busy}
 								aria-label="Spawn container"
 								onClick={() => void spawn()}
 							>
 								{busy ? "Spawning…" : "Spawn"}
 							</button>
 						</div>
-						{selected === null && (
+						{selected === null && !empty && (
 							<p className="repo-meta" style={{ marginTop: 8 }}>
-								select a repo above
+								select a repo above — or tick “Empty container” for a blank workspace
 							</p>
 						)}
 						{selected !== null && (
 							<p className="repo-meta" style={{ marginTop: 8 }}>
-								Will use:{" "}
+								Will use: {registration(selected.path)?.image ?? "base worker image"}
-								{registration(selected.path)?.image ?? "base worker image"}
 							</p>
 						)}
 						<div className="row" style={{ marginTop: 8 }}>
 							<select
 								aria-label="Initial model"
 								value={model}
-								disabled={selected === null}
+								disabled={selected === null && !empty}
 								onChange={(e) => setModel(e.target.value)}
 							>
 								<option value="">Default model (settings)</option>

web/src/index.css

@@ -688,6 +688,15 @@ a:hover {
 	color: var(--text);
 	flex-shrink: 0;
 }
+.bubble .tool-card summary .tool-label {
+	flex: 1;
+	min-width: 0;
+	overflow: hidden;
+	text-overflow: ellipsis;
+	font-family: var(--mono);
+	font-size: 12px;
+	color: var(--text);
+}
 .bubble .tool-card summary .tool-summary {
 	flex: 1;
 	min-width: 40px;
@@ -719,6 +728,9 @@ a:hover {
 	color: var(--danger);
 	font-weight: 600;
 }
+.tool-status-run {
+	color: var(--text-faint);
+}
 
 details.thinking {
 	margin-bottom: 10px;
@@ -765,6 +777,48 @@ details.thinking .thinking-body {
 	overflow-x: auto;
 	color: var(--text-dim);
 }
+.bubble .md-h {
+	margin: 14px 0 6px;
+	line-height: 1.3;
+	color: var(--text);
+}
+.bubble .md-h:first-child {
+	margin-top: 4px;
+}
+.bubble .md-h-1 {
+	font-size: 1.35em;
+}
+.bubble .md-h-2 {
+	font-size: 1.22em;
+}
+.bubble .md-h-3 {
+	font-size: 1.1em;
+}
+.bubble .md-h-4,
+.bubble .md-h-5,
+.bubble .md-h-6 {
+	font-size: 1em;
+}
+.bubble .md-hr {
+	border: 0;
+	border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
+	margin: 12px 0;
+}
+.bubble .md-quote {
+	margin: 8px 0;
+	padding: 2px 0 2px 12px;
+	border-left: 3px solid var(--border-strong);
+	color: var(--text-dim);
+	white-space: pre-wrap;
+}
+.bubble .md-list {
+	margin: 8px 0;
+	padding-left: 22px;
+	white-space: pre-wrap;
+}
+.bubble .md-list li {
+	margin: 3px 0;
+}
 .bubble code {
 	font-family: var(--mono);
 	font-size: 0.92em;
@@ -1378,6 +1432,26 @@ mark.hit {
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 700px) {
+	.chat-header {
+		flex-wrap: wrap;
+		gap: 6px 8px;
+		padding: 8px 12px;
+		min-height: 0;
+	}
+	.chat-header .title {
+		flex: 1 1 100%;
+		min-width: 0;
+	}
+	.chat-header .model-chip span:first-child {
+		display: inline-block;
+		max-width: 110px;
+		overflow: hidden;
+		text-overflow: ellipsis;
+		vertical-align: bottom;
+	}
+	.chat-header .usage-chip {
+		display: none;
+	}
 	.sidebar {
 		position: fixed;
 		inset: 0 auto 0 0;
@@ -1525,3 +1599,23 @@ mark.hit {
 .diff-ctx {
 	color: var(--text-faint);
 }
+
+/* ---------- queued (pending) messages ---------- */
+
+.queued-bubble {
+	display: flex;
+	align-items: flex-start;
+	gap: 8px;
+	opacity: 0.7;
+	border-style: dashed;
+}
+.queued-line {
+	flex: 1;
+	min-width: 0;
+	white-space: pre-wrap;
+	word-break: break-word;
+}
+.queued-remove {
+	flex-shrink: 0;
+	padding: 2px 6px;
+}