ask_operator: ttl_seconds auto-cancel + remaining-time chip

manager can pass ttl_seconds to ask_operator. on submit, host
stores deadline_at = now + ttl in operator_questions (new column,
migrated via existing pragma_table_info pattern), spawns a tokio
task that sleeps until the deadline then resolves the question with
answer '[expired]' and fires the same OperatorAnswered helper event.
already-resolved races no-op silently.

dashboard renders a '⏳ MM:SS' chip on the question row when
deadline_at is set. format collapses seconds → s, < 1h → m s, ≥ 1h
→ h m. heartbeat refresh (5s) keeps the chip current; the operator
sees it tick down.

manager prompt + mcp tool description updated. journald viewer per
container queued in todo (separate task).

TODO.md

@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ Pick anything from here when relevant. Cross-cutting design notes live in
 
 ## UI / UX
 
-- **Per-agent UI substance.** Show last N inbox messages, last turn timing,
-  link back to dashboard.
 - **State badge: compacting + napping states.** Idle/thinking already
   ship (driven from SSE turn_start/turn_end). Add `compacting 📦` and
   `napping 😴` once the `/compact` trigger and `nap` tool exist —
@@ -42,15 +40,6 @@ Pick anything from here when relevant. Cross-cutting design notes live in
   `GET /api/state` (`status: "thinking" | "idle" | "compacting" |
   "napping"`). JS just renders. Drops the
   derive-from-events-and-pray code path.
-- **Terminal: inline diffs for Write/Edit.** Today a `Write` /
-  `Edit` tool-use row just shows the file path. Render the actual
-  change inline in the terminal: for `Edit`, a small `+`/`-`
-  per-line diff between `input.old_string` and `input.new_string`;
-  for `Write`, the first few lines of `input.content` (it's all
-  "+"). Keep collapsed by default (`<details>` like the existing
-  tool_result rollups), expand to full diff on click. Color via
-  the same `.diff-add` / `.diff-del` classes the dashboard
-  approval diff already uses.
 - **Terminal: `/model` slash command.** Operator-typeable model
   override from the terminal. Depends on the model-override work
   above; once an override mechanism exists, wire a `/model <name>`
@@ -79,12 +68,6 @@ Pick anything from here when relevant. Cross-cutting design notes live in
 
 ## Manager → operator question channel
 
-- **TTL / cancel on `ask_operator`.** Questions today block forever; the
-  manager turn stays alive until the operator answers. Add a per-question
-  `ttl_seconds` (or a dashboard "cancel" button that resolves the question
-  with a sentinel answer) so a long-idle question can time out and let the
-  manager fall back. Wire the timeout into `OperatorQuestions::wait_answered`
-  and surface remaining-time on the dashboard.
 
 ## Spawn flow
 
@@ -124,6 +107,17 @@ Pick anything from here when relevant. Cross-cutting design notes live in
 
 ## Lifecycle / reliability
 
+- **journald viewer per container in the dashboard.** Surface the
+  equivalent of `journalctl -M h-coder -b` in the dashboard so the
+  operator can see container logs without ssh-ing in. Optional
+  filter by hive-specific systemd unit (`hive-ag3nt.service`,
+  `hive-m1nd.service`). Implementation: backend shells out to
+  `journalctl -M <container> -b --output=short-iso --no-pager`
+  (optionally `-u <unit>`), streams or paginates the result over a
+  new dashboard endpoint. Could be a `<details>` per container row
+  or a dedicated page. Honest journalctl, not the in-container
+  events stream — those are different surfaces (events = claude turn
+  loop; journalctl = systemd-wide logs incl. boot, network, etc.).
 - **Container crash events.** Watch `container@*.service` via D-Bus, push
   `HelperEvent::ContainerCrash` to the manager's inbox so the manager can
   react (restart, escalate, etc.).

hive-ag3nt/assets/agent.css

@@ -130,6 +130,62 @@ pre.diff {
   align-items: center;
   gap: 0.6em;
 }
+/* Per-agent inbox section — collapsible, dim, lives between the
+   state row and the terminal so the operator can peek at what
+   landed without scrolling through the live tail. */
+.agent-inbox {
+  margin: 0.4em 0;
+  font-size: 0.85em;
+  color: var(--muted);
+}
+.agent-inbox > summary {
+  cursor: pointer;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+  list-style: none;
+}
+.agent-inbox > summary::marker { content: ''; }
+.agent-inbox[open] > summary > span::before { content: ''; }
+.agent-inbox ul {
+  list-style: none;
+  padding: 0.4em 0.8em;
+  margin: 0.3em 0 0;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02);
+  border-left: 2px solid var(--purple-dim);
+  max-height: 16em;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+}
+.agent-inbox li {
+  padding: 0.15em 0;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: auto auto auto 1fr;
+  gap: 0.5em;
+  align-items: baseline;
+}
+.agent-inbox .inbox-ts   { color: var(--muted); font-size: 0.9em; }
+.agent-inbox .inbox-from { color: var(--amber); }
+.agent-inbox .inbox-sep  { color: var(--muted); }
+.agent-inbox .inbox-body { color: var(--fg); white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word; }
+
+.last-turn {
+  color: var(--muted);
+  font-size: 0.8em;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+}
+.btn-dashlink {
+  color: var(--cyan);
+  border: 1px solid var(--cyan);
+  padding: 0.15em 0.6em;
+  font-size: 0.55em;
+  font-family: inherit;
+  text-decoration: none;
+  letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+  margin-left: 0.6em;
+  vertical-align: middle;
+}
+.btn-dashlink:hover {
+  background: rgba(137, 220, 235, 0.1);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 10px -2px currentColor;
+}
 .btn-cancel-turn {
   font-family: inherit;
   font-size: 0.8em;
@@ -333,6 +389,22 @@ details.row > summary::before {
 }
 details.row[open] > summary::before { content: '▾ '; }
 details.row.tool-result-block > summary { color: var(--muted); }
+/* Inline diff body for Write / Edit tool_use rows: same shape as
+   tool-body but each line is wrapped in a span with diff-add /
+   diff-del / diff-ctx so + / - lines are colored. */
+details.row > pre.diff-body {
+  margin: 0.3em 0 0.4em 1.2em;
+  padding: 0.4em 0.6em;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02);
+  border-left: 2px solid var(--purple-dim);
+  white-space: pre-wrap;
+  word-break: break-word;
+  max-height: 22em;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+}
+details.row > pre.diff-body .diff-add { color: var(--green); }
+details.row > pre.diff-body .diff-del { color: var(--red); }
+details.row > pre.diff-body .diff-ctx { color: var(--fg); }
 details.row > pre.tool-body {
   margin: 0.3em 0 0.4em 1.2em;
   padding: 0.4em 0.6em;

hive-ag3nt/assets/app.js

@@ -65,16 +65,25 @@
       `░▒▓█▓▒░  ${label}  ░▒▓█▓▒░  hyperhive ag3nt  ░▒▓█▓▒░`;
     const title = $('title');
     title.textContent = `◆ ${label} ◆ `;
+    // ↑ DASHB04RD — back-link to the host dashboard. Opens in a new
+    // tab to keep the agent page anchored where the operator is.
+    const dashUrl = `${location.protocol}//${location.hostname}:${dashboardPort}/`;
+    title.append(
+      el('a', {
+        href: dashUrl, target: '_blank', rel: 'noopener',
+        class: 'btn-dashlink', title: 'host dashboard',
+      }, '↑ DASHB04RD'),
+      ' ',
+    );
     const btn = el('a', {
       href: '#', class: 'btn-rebuild', id: 'rebuild-btn',
     }, '↻ R3BU1LD');
     btn.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
       e.preventDefault();
       if (!confirm(`rebuild ${label}? container will hot-reload.`)) return;
-      const url = `${location.protocol}//${location.hostname}:${dashboardPort}/rebuild/${label}`;
       const f = document.createElement('form');
       f.method = 'POST';
-      f.action = url;
+      f.action = `${dashUrl}rebuild/${label}`;
       document.body.appendChild(f);
       f.submit();
     });
@@ -310,6 +319,13 @@
   }
   function setState(next) {
     if (next === stateName) return;
+    // Capture the just-ending state's duration when leaving 'thinking'
+    // so the operator can eyeball turn length without scrolling the
+    // terminal back.
+    if (stateName === 'thinking' && next !== 'thinking') {
+      const elapsedMs = Date.now() - stateSince;
+      renderLastTurn(elapsedMs);
+    }
     stateName = next;
     stateSince = Date.now();
     const badge = $('state-badge');
@@ -321,6 +337,40 @@
     }
     renderStateBadge();
   }
+  function renderInbox(rows) {
+    const root = $('inbox-section');
+    const list = $('inbox-list');
+    const summary = $('inbox-summary');
+    if (!root || !list || !summary) return;
+    if (!rows.length) {
+      root.hidden = true;
+      return;
+    }
+    root.hidden = false;
+    summary.textContent = 'inbox · ' + rows.length;
+    list.innerHTML = '';
+    const fmt = (n) => new Date(n * 1000).toISOString().replace('T', ' ').slice(5, 19);
+    for (const m of rows) {
+      const li = el('li');
+      li.append(
+        el('span', { class: 'inbox-ts' }, fmt(m.at)), ' ',
+        el('span', { class: 'inbox-from' }, m.from), ' ',
+        el('span', { class: 'inbox-sep' }, '→'), ' ',
+        el('span', { class: 'inbox-body' }, m.body),
+      );
+      list.append(li);
+    }
+  }
+  function renderLastTurn(ms) {
+    const el_ = $('last-turn');
+    if (!el_) return;
+    let s = '';
+    if (ms < 1000) s = ms + 'ms';
+    else if (ms < 60_000) s = (ms / 1000).toFixed(1) + 's';
+    else s = Math.floor(ms / 60_000) + 'm ' + Math.floor((ms / 1000) % 60) + 's';
+    el_.textContent = '· last turn ' + s;
+    el_.hidden = false;
+  }
   function startStateTicker() {
     if (stateTickTimer) return;
     stateTickTimer = setInterval(renderStateBadge, 1000);
@@ -360,6 +410,7 @@
       const s = await resp.json();
       if (!headerSet) { setHeader(s.label, s.dashboard_port); headerSet = true; }
       renderTermInput(s.label, s.status === 'online');
+      renderInbox(s.inbox || []);
       // Drive the state badge from the harness status. Live SSE events
       // override to 'thinking' / 'idle' as turns start/end; this only
       // kicks in for the not-online (offline) case and the initial seed.
@@ -514,6 +565,63 @@
         default: return name + ' ' + trim(JSON.stringify(input), 200);
       }
     }
+    // Build a tool_use row for Write/Edit as a collapsed <details>
+    // showing the actual change. Returns null for any other tool so
+    // the caller falls back to the flat-row path.
+    //   Write: every input.content line is "+".
+    //   Edit:  old_string lines as "-", new_string lines as "+".
+    // Not a true diff algorithm — claude's Edit blocks are already a
+    // contiguous old/new pair, so a literal -/+ rendering is honest.
+    function renderFileWriteEdit(c) {
+      const name = c.name || '';
+      const input = c.input || {};
+      if (name !== 'Write' && name !== 'Edit') return null;
+      const path = input.file_path || '?';
+      let body;
+      let plus = 0;
+      let minus = 0;
+      if (name === 'Write') {
+        const content = String(input.content || '');
+        const lines = content.split('\n');
+        plus = lines.length;
+        body = lines.map(l => '+ ' + l).join('\n');
+      } else {
+        const oldLines = String(input.old_string || '').split('\n');
+        const newLines = String(input.new_string || '').split('\n');
+        minus = oldLines.length;
+        plus = newLines.length;
+        body = oldLines.map(l => '- ' + l).join('\n')
+             + '\n'
+             + newLines.map(l => '+ ' + l).join('\n');
+      }
+      const summary = '→  ' + name + ' ' + path + ' · '
+        + (minus ? '-' + minus + ' ' : '') + '+' + plus;
+      return detailsDiff('tool-use', summary, body);
+    }
+    function detailsDiff(cls, summary, body) {
+      clearPlaceholder();
+      const d = document.createElement('details');
+      d.className = 'row ' + (cls || '') + (currentNoAnim ? ' no-anim' : '');
+      const s = document.createElement('summary');
+      s.textContent = summary;
+      d.appendChild(s);
+      const pre = document.createElement('pre');
+      pre.className = 'tool-body diff-body';
+      // Color each line by its leading +/-.
+      for (const line of body.split('\n')) {
+        const span = document.createElement('span');
+        if (line.startsWith('+ ')) span.className = 'diff-add';
+        else if (line.startsWith('- ')) span.className = 'diff-del';
+        else span.className = 'diff-ctx';
+        span.textContent = line + '\n';
+        pre.appendChild(span);
+      }
+      d.appendChild(pre);
+      log.appendChild(d);
+      afterAppend();
+      return d;
+    }
+
     function renderToolResult(c) {
       const txt = Array.isArray(c.content)
         ? c.content.map(p => p.text || '').join('')
@@ -547,7 +655,13 @@
             const txt = (c.thinking || c.text || '').trim();
             row('thinking', txt ? '· ' + txt : '· thinking …');
           }
-          else if (c.type === 'tool_use') row('tool-use', '→  ' + fmtToolUse(c));
+          else if (c.type === 'tool_use') {
+            // Write/Edit get a collapsed +/- diff body; everything
+            // else stays as the flat row produced by fmtToolUse.
+            if (!renderFileWriteEdit(c)) {
+              row('tool-use', '→  ' + fmtToolUse(c));
+            }
+          }
         }
         return;
       }

hive-ag3nt/assets/index.html

@@ -15,9 +15,15 @@
 
   <div id="state-row">
     <span id="state-badge" class="state-badge state-loading">… booting</span>
+    <span id="last-turn" class="last-turn" hidden></span>
     <button type="button" id="cancel-btn" class="btn-cancel-turn" hidden>■ cancel turn</button>
   </div>
 
+  <details id="inbox-section" class="agent-inbox" hidden>
+    <summary>▸ <span id="inbox-summary">inbox</span></summary>
+    <ul id="inbox-list"></ul>
+  </details>
+
   <div class="terminal-wrap">
     <div id="live" class="live terminal"><div class="meta">connecting…</div></div>
     <div id="term-input" class="term-input"></div>

hive-ag3nt/prompts/manager.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Tools (hyperhive surface):
 - `mcp__hyperhive__start(name)` — start a stopped sub-agent. No approval required.
 - `mcp__hyperhive__restart(name)` — stop + start a sub-agent. No approval required.
 - `mcp__hyperhive__request_apply_commit(agent, commit_ref)` — submit a config change for any agent (`hm1nd` for self) for operator approval.
-- `mcp__hyperhive__ask_operator(question, options?, multi?)` — surface a question on the dashboard. Returns immediately with a question id; the operator's answer arrives later as a system `operator_answered` event in your inbox. Options are advisory: the dashboard always lets the operator type a free-text answer in addition. Set `multi: true` to render options as checkboxes (operator can pick multiple); the answer comes back as `, `-separated. Do not poll inside the same turn — finish the current work and react when the event lands.
+- `mcp__hyperhive__ask_operator(question, options?, multi?, ttl_seconds?)` — surface a question on the dashboard. Returns immediately with a question id; the operator's answer arrives later as a system `operator_answered` event in your inbox. Options are advisory: the dashboard always lets the operator type a free-text answer in addition. Set `multi: true` to render options as checkboxes (operator can pick multiple); the answer comes back as `, `-separated. Set `ttl_seconds` to auto-cancel after a deadline — useful when the decision becomes moot if the operator hasn't responded in time; on expiry the answer is `[expired]`. Do not poll inside the same turn — finish the current work and react when the event lands.
 
 Approval boundary: lifecycle ops on *existing* sub-agents (`kill`, `start`, `restart`) are at your discretion — no operator approval. *Creating* a new agent (`request_spawn`) and *changing* any agent's config (`request_apply_commit`) still go through the approval queue. The operator only signs off on changes; you run the day-to-day.
 

hive-ag3nt/src/bin/hive-ag3nt.rs

@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ async fn serve(
                 turn::emit_turn_end(&bus, &outcome);
             }
             Ok(AgentResponse::Empty) => {}
-            Ok(AgentResponse::Ok | AgentResponse::Status { .. }) => {
+            Ok(AgentResponse::Ok | AgentResponse::Status { .. } | AgentResponse::Recent { .. }) => {
                 tracing::warn!("recv produced unexpected response kind");
             }
             Ok(AgentResponse::Err { message }) => {

hive-ag3nt/src/bin/hive-m1nd.rs

@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ async fn serve(socket: &Path, interval: Duration, bus: Bus) -> Result<()> {
             Ok(
                 ManagerResponse::Ok
                 | ManagerResponse::Status { .. }
-                | ManagerResponse::QuestionQueued { .. },
+                | ManagerResponse::QuestionQueued { .. }
+                | ManagerResponse::Recent { .. },
             ) => {
                 tracing::warn!("recv produced unexpected response kind");
             }

hive-ag3nt/src/mcp.rs

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ pub enum SocketReply {
     Empty,
     Status(u64),
     QuestionQueued(i64),
+    Recent(Vec<hive_sh4re::InboxRow>),
 }
 
 impl From<hive_sh4re::AgentResponse> for SocketReply {
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ impl From<hive_sh4re::AgentResponse> for SocketReply {
             hive_sh4re::AgentResponse::Message { from, body } => Self::Message { from, body },
             hive_sh4re::AgentResponse::Empty => Self::Empty,
             hive_sh4re::AgentResponse::Status { unread } => Self::Status(unread),
+            hive_sh4re::AgentResponse::Recent { rows } => Self::Recent(rows),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ impl From<hive_sh4re::ManagerResponse> for SocketReply {
             hive_sh4re::ManagerResponse::Empty => Self::Empty,
             hive_sh4re::ManagerResponse::Status { unread } => Self::Status(unread),
             hive_sh4re::ManagerResponse::QuestionQueued { id } => Self::QuestionQueued(id),
+            hive_sh4re::ManagerResponse::Recent { rows } => Self::Recent(rows),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -237,6 +240,12 @@ pub struct AskOperatorArgs {
     /// selections joined by ", ". Ignored when `options` is empty.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub multi: bool,
+    /// Optional auto-cancel after `ttl_seconds`. On expiry the question
+    /// resolves with answer `[expired]` and the manager receives the
+    /// usual `operator_answered` system event. `None` (default) =
+    /// wait indefinitely.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub ttl_seconds: Option<u64>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, serde::Deserialize, schemars::JsonSchema)]
@@ -377,7 +386,9 @@ impl ManagerServer {
         request, policy call, scope clarification). `options` is advisory: pass a short \
         fixed-choice list when applicable, otherwise leave empty for free text. Set \
         `multi: true` to let the operator pick multiple options (checkboxes); the answer \
-        comes back as a comma-separated string."
+        comes back as a comma-separated string. Set `ttl_seconds` to auto-cancel a \
+        no-longer-relevant question instead of blocking forever — on expiry the answer \
+        is `[expired]` and the same `operator_answered` event fires."
     )]
     async fn ask_operator(&self, Parameters(args): Parameters<AskOperatorArgs>) -> String {
         let log = format!("{args:?}");
@@ -387,6 +398,7 @@ impl ManagerServer {
                     question: args.question,
                     options: args.options,
                     multi: args.multi,
+                    ttl_seconds: args.ttl_seconds,
                 })
                 .await;
             match resp {

hive-ag3nt/src/web_ui.rs

@@ -83,9 +83,7 @@ pub async fn serve(
         .route("/api/compact", post(post_compact))
         .with_state(state);
     let addr = SocketAddr::from(([0, 0, 0, 0], port));
-    let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind(addr)
-        .await
-        .with_context(|| format!("bind web UI on port {port}"))?;
+    let listener = bind_with_retry(addr, "web UI").await?;
     tracing::info!(%port, "web UI listening");
     axum::serve(listener, app).await?;
     Ok(())
@@ -95,6 +93,33 @@ pub async fn serve(
 // Static assets + state snapshot
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/// Bind a TCP listener, retrying on `AddrInUse` for up to ~20s.
+/// nspawn restarts can race the previous harness's socket release;
+/// without retry the new harness fails to bind and systemd just
+/// keeps restarting it. `SO_REUSEADDR` would be the proper fix but
+/// would require socket2; retry is good enough here.
+async fn bind_with_retry(addr: SocketAddr, label: &str) -> Result<tokio::net::TcpListener> {
+    let mut delay_ms = 250u64;
+    let mut attempts = 0u32;
+    loop {
+        match tokio::net::TcpListener::bind(addr).await {
+            Ok(l) => return Ok(l),
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::AddrInUse && attempts < 12 => {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    %addr, attempt = attempts + 1,
+                    "{label}: AddrInUse, retrying in {delay_ms}ms"
+                );
+                tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(delay_ms)).await;
+                attempts += 1;
+                delay_ms = (delay_ms * 2).min(2000);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                return Err(e).with_context(|| format!("bind {label} on {addr}"));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 async fn serve_index() -> impl IntoResponse {
     (
         [("content-type", "text/html; charset=utf-8")],
@@ -124,6 +149,10 @@ struct StateSnapshot {
     status: &'static str,
     /// Present when `status == "needs_login_in_progress"`.
     session: Option<SessionView>,
+    /// Last N messages addressed to this agent, newest-first. Pulled
+    /// from the broker via the per-agent socket on each render.
+    /// Empty on transport failure.
+    inbox: Vec<hive_sh4re::InboxRow>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
@@ -157,14 +186,47 @@ async fn api_state(State(state): State<AppState>) -> axum::Json<StateSnapshot> {
         .ok()
         .and_then(|s| s.parse::<u16>().ok())
         .unwrap_or(7000);
+    let inbox = recent_inbox(&state.socket, state.flavor).await;
     axum::Json(StateSnapshot {
         label: state.label.clone(),
         dashboard_port,
         status,
         session: session_view,
+        inbox,
     })
 }
 
+/// Best-effort: pull the last 30 messages addressed to us via the
+/// per-agent / manager socket. Empty list on any transport / decode
+/// failure — the inbox section is decorative, not authoritative.
+async fn recent_inbox(socket: &std::path::Path, flavor: Flavor) -> Vec<hive_sh4re::InboxRow> {
+    const LIMIT: u64 = 30;
+    match flavor {
+        Flavor::Agent => {
+            match client::request::<_, hive_sh4re::AgentResponse>(
+                socket,
+                &hive_sh4re::AgentRequest::Recent { limit: LIMIT },
+            )
+            .await
+            {
+                Ok(hive_sh4re::AgentResponse::Recent { rows }) => rows,
+                _ => Vec::new(),
+            }
+        }
+        Flavor::Manager => {
+            match client::request::<_, hive_sh4re::ManagerResponse>(
+                socket,
+                &hive_sh4re::ManagerRequest::Recent { limit: LIMIT },
+            )
+            .await
+            {
+                Ok(hive_sh4re::ManagerResponse::Recent { rows }) => rows,
+                _ => Vec::new(),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Action handlers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

hive-c0re/assets/app.js

@@ -237,14 +237,23 @@
     const ul = el('ul', { class: 'questions' });
     for (const q of s.questions) {
       const li = el('li', { class: 'question' });
-      li.append(
-        el('div', { class: 'q-head' },
-          el('span', { class: 'msg-ts' }, fmt(q.asked_at)), ' ',
-          el('span', { class: 'msg-from' }, q.asker), ' ',
-          el('span', { class: 'msg-sep' }, 'asks:'),
-        ),
-        el('div', { class: 'q-body' }, q.question),
+      const head = el('div', { class: 'q-head' },
+        el('span', { class: 'msg-ts' }, fmt(q.asked_at)), ' ',
+        el('span', { class: 'msg-from' }, q.asker), ' ',
+        el('span', { class: 'msg-sep' }, 'asks:'),
       );
+      if (q.deadline_at) {
+        const remaining = q.deadline_at - Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
+        let txt;
+        if (remaining <= 0) txt = 'expiring…';
+        else if (remaining < 60) txt = '⏳ ' + remaining + 's';
+        else if (remaining < 3600) txt = '⏳ ' + Math.floor(remaining / 60) + 'm '
+          + (remaining % 60) + 's';
+        else txt = '⏳ ' + Math.floor(remaining / 3600) + 'h '
+          + Math.floor((remaining % 3600) / 60) + 'm';
+        head.append(' ', el('span', { class: 'q-ttl' }, txt));
+      }
+      li.append(head, el('div', { class: 'q-body' }, q.question));
       const f = el('form', {
         method: 'POST', action: '/answer-question/' + q.id,
         class: 'qform', 'data-async': '',
@@ -284,12 +293,28 @@
         if (!merged) { ev.preventDefault(); alert('pick an option or type an answer'); }
       }, true);
       if (hasOptions) f.append(optionGroup);
-      f.append(
-        el('div', { class: 'q-free' }, freeText),
+      const buttons = el('div', { class: 'q-buttons' });
+      buttons.append(
         el('button', { type: 'submit', class: 'btn btn-approve' },
           isMulti ? '▸ ANSW3R · ' + (q.options.length) + ' opts' : '▸ ANSW3R'),
       );
+      f.append(
+        el('div', { class: 'q-free' }, freeText),
+        buttons,
+      );
       li.append(f);
+      // Separate form so the cancel button doesn't get the answer
+      // merge-on-submit handler attached to the main form.
+      const cancelForm = el('form', {
+        method: 'POST', action: '/cancel-question/' + q.id,
+        class: 'qform-cancel', 'data-async': '',
+        'data-confirm': 'cancel this question? manager will see '
+          + '"[cancelled]" as the answer.',
+      });
+      cancelForm.append(
+        el('button', { type: 'submit', class: 'btn btn-deny' }, '✗ CANC3L'),
+      );
+      li.append(cancelForm);
       ul.append(li);
     }
     root.append(ul);

hive-c0re/assets/dashboard.css

@@ -296,6 +296,12 @@ summary:hover { color: var(--purple); }
 }
 .questions li.question:last-child { border-bottom: 0; }
 .questions .q-head { font-size: 0.9em; }
+.questions .q-ttl {
+  color: var(--amber);
+  margin-left: 0.4em;
+  font-size: 0.95em;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+}
 .questions .q-body {
   color: var(--fg);
   margin: 0.3em 0;
@@ -332,6 +338,7 @@ summary:hover { color: var(--purple); }
 .qform .q-free input::placeholder { color: var(--muted); }
 .qform .q-free input:focus { outline: 1px solid var(--amber); }
 .qform button { align-self: flex-start; }
+.qform-cancel { margin-top: 0.3em; }
 .inbox {
   background: var(--bg-elev);
   border: 1px solid var(--border);

hive-c0re/src/agent_server.rs

@@ -121,5 +121,11 @@ async fn dispatch(req: &AgentRequest, agent: &str, broker: &Broker) -> AgentResp
                 message: format!("{e:#}"),
             },
         },
+        AgentRequest::Recent { limit } => match broker.recent_for(agent, *limit) {
+            Ok(rows) => AgentResponse::Recent { rows },
+            Err(e) => AgentResponse::Err {
+                message: format!("{e:#}"),
+            },
+        },
     }
 }

hive-c0re/src/broker.rs

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::sync::Mutex;
 use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
-use hive_sh4re::Message;
+use hive_sh4re::{InboxRow, Message};
 use rusqlite::{Connection, OptionalExtension, params};
 use serde::Serialize;
 use tokio::sync::broadcast;
@@ -28,16 +28,6 @@ CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_messages_undelivered
 /// may drop events past this; we send a `lagged` notice in their stream.
 const EVENT_CHANNEL: usize = 256;
 
-/// One row in a `recent_for()` query — the broker's flat view of a
-/// message addressed to a given recipient.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
-pub struct InboxRow {
-    pub id: i64,
-    pub from: String,
-    pub body: String,
-    pub at: i64,
-}
-
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "snake_case", tag = "kind")]
 pub enum MessageEvent {

hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs

@@ -51,14 +51,13 @@ pub async fn serve(port: u16, coord: Arc<Coordinator>) -> Result<()> {
         .route("/rebuild/{name}", post(post_rebuild))
         .route("/update-all", post(post_update_all))
         .route("/answer-question/{id}", post(post_answer_question))
+        .route("/cancel-question/{id}", post(post_cancel_question))
         .route("/purge-tombstone/{name}", post(post_purge_tombstone))
         .route("/request-spawn", post(post_request_spawn))
         .route("/messages/stream", get(messages_stream))
         .with_state(AppState { coord });
     let addr = SocketAddr::from(([0, 0, 0, 0], port));
-    let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind(addr)
-        .await
-        .with_context(|| format!("bind dashboard on port {port}"))?;
+    let listener = bind_with_retry(addr).await?;
     tracing::info!(%port, "dashboard listening");
     axum::serve(listener, app).await?;
     Ok(())
@@ -72,6 +71,30 @@ pub async fn serve(port: u16, coord: Arc<Coordinator>) -> Result<()> {
 // `/messages/stream` for broker traffic.
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/// Retry-on-AddrInUse bind. Same shape as the per-agent variant —
+/// hive-c0re restarts also race the previous process's socket release.
+async fn bind_with_retry(addr: SocketAddr) -> Result<tokio::net::TcpListener> {
+    let mut delay_ms = 250u64;
+    let mut attempts = 0u32;
+    loop {
+        match tokio::net::TcpListener::bind(addr).await {
+            Ok(l) => return Ok(l),
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::AddrInUse && attempts < 12 => {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    %addr, attempt = attempts + 1,
+                    "dashboard: AddrInUse, retrying in {delay_ms}ms"
+                );
+                tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(delay_ms)).await;
+                attempts += 1;
+                delay_ms = (delay_ms * 2).min(2000);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                return Err(e).with_context(|| format!("bind dashboard on {addr}"));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 async fn serve_index() -> impl IntoResponse {
     Html(include_str!("../assets/index.html"))
 }
@@ -101,7 +124,7 @@ struct StateSnapshot {
     /// Latest messages addressed to `operator` — surfaces agent replies
     /// asynchronously so the operator can see them without watching the
     /// live panel during a turn.
-    operator_inbox: Vec<crate::broker::InboxRow>,
+    operator_inbox: Vec<hive_sh4re::InboxRow>,
     /// Pending operator questions (currently only from the manager).
     /// `ask_operator` returns immediately with the id; on `/answer-question`
     /// we mark the row answered and fire `HelperEvent::OperatorAnswered`
@@ -417,6 +440,33 @@ async fn post_answer_question(
     }
 }
 
+/// Resolve a pending operator question with a sentinel answer when
+/// the operator decides not to / can't answer. The manager harness
+/// receives an `OperatorAnswered` event with `answer = "[cancelled]"`
+/// so it can fall back on whatever default it had. Same code path as
+/// a real answer — just lets the operator close the loop instead of
+/// letting the question dangle forever.
+async fn post_cancel_question(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    AxumPath(id): AxumPath<i64>,
+) -> Response {
+    const SENTINEL: &str = "[cancelled]";
+    match state.coord.questions.answer(id, SENTINEL) {
+        Ok(question) => {
+            tracing::info!(%id, "operator cancelled question");
+            state
+                .coord
+                .notify_manager(&hive_sh4re::HelperEvent::OperatorAnswered {
+                    id,
+                    question,
+                    answer: SENTINEL.to_owned(),
+                });
+            Redirect::to("/").into_response()
+        }
+        Err(e) => error_response(&format!("cancel-question {id} failed: {e:#}")),
+    }
+}
+
 async fn post_purge_tombstone(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     AxumPath(name): AxumPath<String>,

hive-c0re/src/manager_server.rs

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ async fn serve(stream: UnixStream, coord: Arc<Coordinator>) -> Result<()> {
 const MANAGER_RECV_LONG_POLL: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(30);
 
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_lines)]
-async fn dispatch(req: &ManagerRequest, coord: &Coordinator) -> ManagerResponse {
+async fn dispatch(req: &ManagerRequest, coord: &Arc<Coordinator>) -> ManagerResponse {
     match req {
         ManagerRequest::Send { to, body } => match coord.broker.send(&Message {
             from: MANAGER_AGENT.to_owned(),
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ async fn dispatch(req: &ManagerRequest, coord: &Coordinator) -> ManagerResponse
                 message: format!("{e:#}"),
             },
         },
+        ManagerRequest::Recent { limit } => match coord.broker.recent_for(MANAGER_AGENT, *limit) {
+            Ok(rows) => ManagerResponse::Recent { rows },
+            Err(e) => ManagerResponse::Err {
+                message: format!("{e:#}"),
+            },
+        },
         ManagerRequest::Recv => match coord
             .broker
             .recv_blocking(MANAGER_AGENT, MANAGER_RECV_LONG_POLL)
@@ -192,14 +198,26 @@ async fn dispatch(req: &ManagerRequest, coord: &Coordinator) -> ManagerResponse
             question,
             options,
             multi,
+            ttl_seconds,
         } => {
-            tracing::info!(%question, ?options, multi, "manager: ask_operator");
+            tracing::info!(%question, ?options, multi, ?ttl_seconds, "manager: ask_operator");
+            let deadline_at = ttl_seconds.and_then(|s| {
+                let now = std::time::SystemTime::now()
+                    .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+                    .ok()
+                    .and_then(|d| i64::try_from(d.as_secs()).ok())
+                    .unwrap_or(0);
+                i64::try_from(s).ok().map(|s| now + s)
+            });
             match coord
                 .questions
-                .submit(MANAGER_AGENT, question, options, *multi)
+                .submit(MANAGER_AGENT, question, options, *multi, deadline_at)
             {
                 Ok(id) => {
-                    tracing::info!(%id, "operator question queued");
+                    tracing::info!(%id, ?deadline_at, "operator question queued");
+                    if let Some(ttl) = *ttl_seconds {
+                        spawn_question_watchdog(coord, id, ttl);
+                    }
                     ManagerResponse::QuestionQueued { id }
                 }
                 Err(e) => ManagerResponse::Err {
@@ -221,3 +239,28 @@ async fn dispatch(req: &ManagerRequest, coord: &Coordinator) -> ManagerResponse
         }
     }
 }
+
+/// On `AskOperator { ttl_seconds: Some(n) }`, sleep n seconds and then
+/// try to resolve the question with `[expired]`. If the operator (or
+/// any other path) already answered it, `answer()` returns Err and
+/// we no-op silently. Otherwise fire the usual `OperatorAnswered`
+/// helper event so the manager sees a terminal state.
+const TTL_SENTINEL: &str = "[expired]";
+
+fn spawn_question_watchdog(coord: &Arc<Coordinator>, id: i64, ttl_secs: u64) {
+    let coord = coord.clone();
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(ttl_secs)).await;
+        // `answer` returns Err if already resolved — that's the
+        // normal path when the operator responded before the ttl
+        // fired, so no-op silently.
+        if let Ok(question) = coord.questions.answer(id, TTL_SENTINEL) {
+            tracing::info!(%id, "operator question expired (ttl)");
+            coord.notify_manager(&hive_sh4re::HelperEvent::OperatorAnswered {
+                id,
+                question,
+                answer: TTL_SENTINEL.to_owned(),
+            });
+        }
+    });
+}

hive-c0re/src/operator_questions.rs

@@ -25,17 +25,29 @@ CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_operator_questions_pending
     ON operator_questions (id) WHERE answered_at IS NULL;
 ";
 
-/// Add the `multi` column to pre-existing databases. `ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN`
-/// has no `IF NOT EXISTS` form in sqlite, so we check `pragma_table_info` first.
-fn ensure_multi_column(conn: &Connection) -> Result<()> {
-    let has: bool = conn
-        .prepare("SELECT 1 FROM pragma_table_info('operator_questions') WHERE name = 'multi'")?
-        .exists([])?;
-    if !has {
-        conn.execute_batch(
+/// Add late-added columns to pre-existing databases. `ALTER TABLE
+/// ADD COLUMN` has no `IF NOT EXISTS` form in sqlite, so we check
+/// `pragma_table_info` first per column.
+fn ensure_columns(conn: &Connection) -> Result<()> {
+    for (name, sql) in [
+        (
+            "multi",
             "ALTER TABLE operator_questions ADD COLUMN multi INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;",
-        )
-        .context("add operator_questions.multi column")?;
+        ),
+        (
+            "deadline_at",
+            "ALTER TABLE operator_questions ADD COLUMN deadline_at INTEGER;",
+        ),
+    ] {
+        let has: bool = conn
+            .prepare(&format!(
+                "SELECT 1 FROM pragma_table_info('operator_questions') WHERE name = '{name}'"
+            ))?
+            .exists([])?;
+        if !has {
+            conn.execute_batch(sql)
+                .with_context(|| format!("add operator_questions.{name} column"))?;
+        }
     }
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -49,6 +61,10 @@ pub struct OpQuestion {
     pub options: Vec<String>,
     pub multi: bool,
     pub asked_at: i64,
+    /// Absolute unix-seconds deadline after which a watchdog auto-
+    /// resolves the question with answer `[expired]`. `None` = no
+    /// expiry. Surfaced on the dashboard as a remaining-time chip.
+    pub deadline_at: Option<i64>,
     pub answered_at: Option<i64>,
     pub answer: Option<String>,
 }
@@ -68,7 +84,7 @@ impl OperatorQuestions {
             .with_context(|| format!("open operator_questions db {}", path.display()))?;
         conn.execute_batch(SCHEMA)
             .context("apply operator_questions schema")?;
-        ensure_multi_column(&conn).context("migrate operator_questions.multi")?;
+        ensure_columns(&conn).context("migrate operator_questions columns")?;
         Ok(Self {
             conn: Mutex::new(conn),
         })
@@ -80,13 +96,22 @@ impl OperatorQuestions {
         question: &str,
         options: &[String],
         multi: bool,
+        deadline_at: Option<i64>,
     ) -> Result<i64> {
         let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
         let options_json = serde_json::to_string(options).unwrap_or_else(|_| "[]".into());
         conn.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO operator_questions (asker, question, options_json, multi, asked_at)
-             VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5)",
-            params![asker, question, options_json, i64::from(multi), now_unix()],
+            "INSERT INTO operator_questions
+               (asker, question, options_json, multi, deadline_at, asked_at)
+             VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, ?6)",
+            params![
+                asker,
+                question,
+                options_json,
+                i64::from(multi),
+                deadline_at,
+                now_unix(),
+            ],
         )?;
         Ok(conn.last_insert_rowid())
     }
@@ -119,7 +144,7 @@ impl OperatorQuestions {
     pub fn get(&self, id: i64) -> Result<Option<OpQuestion>> {
         let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
         conn.query_row(
-            "SELECT id, asker, question, options_json, multi, asked_at, answered_at, answer
+            "SELECT id, asker, question, options_json, multi, asked_at, answered_at, answer, deadline_at
                FROM operator_questions WHERE id = ?1",
             params![id],
             row_to_question,
@@ -131,7 +156,7 @@ impl OperatorQuestions {
     pub fn pending(&self) -> Result<Vec<OpQuestion>> {
         let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
         let mut stmt = conn.prepare(
-            "SELECT id, asker, question, options_json, multi, asked_at, answered_at, answer
+            "SELECT id, asker, question, options_json, multi, asked_at, answered_at, answer, deadline_at
                FROM operator_questions
               WHERE answered_at IS NULL
               ORDER BY id ASC",
@@ -155,6 +180,7 @@ fn row_to_question(row: &rusqlite::Row<'_>) -> rusqlite::Result<OpQuestion> {
         asked_at: row.get(5)?,
         answered_at: row.get(6)?,
         answer: row.get(7)?,
+        deadline_at: row.get(8)?,
     })
 }
 

hive-sh4re/src/lib.rs

@@ -146,6 +146,19 @@ pub struct Message {
     pub body: String,
 }
 
+/// One row of a broker inbox query — what the dashboard renders in
+/// its operator-inbox section and what a per-agent web UI returns
+/// from a `Recent` request. Lives in `hive_sh4re` so it can travel
+/// over both the dashboard's `/api/state` and the agent socket
+/// without an internal-to-wire conversion.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct InboxRow {
+    pub id: i64,
+    pub from: String,
+    pub body: String,
+    pub at: i64,
+}
+
 /// Requests on a per-agent socket. The agent's identity is the socket
 /// it came in on; `Send.from` is filled in by the server, not the client.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -163,6 +176,10 @@ pub enum AgentRequest {
     /// per-agent equivalent of the old dashboard T4LK form, but scoped to
     /// the agent whose page the operator is on.
     OperatorMsg { body: String },
+    /// Last `limit` messages addressed to this agent, newest-first.
+    /// Non-mutating — pulls from the broker without delivering. The
+    /// per-agent web UI uses this to render its own inbox section.
+    Recent { limit: u64 },
 }
 
 /// Responses on a per-agent socket.
@@ -179,6 +196,8 @@ pub enum AgentResponse {
     Empty,
     /// `Status` result: how many pending messages are in this agent's inbox.
     Status { unread: u64 },
+    /// `Recent` result: newest-first inbox rows.
+    Recent { rows: Vec<InboxRow> },
 }
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -264,6 +283,11 @@ pub enum ManagerRequest {
     OperatorMsg {
         body: String,
     },
+    /// Last `limit` messages addressed to the manager, newest-first.
+    /// Non-mutating; mirror of `AgentRequest::Recent`.
+    Recent {
+        limit: u64,
+    },
     /// Submit a spawn request for the user to approve. On approval the host
     /// creates and starts the container. Brand-new agent names only — if an
     /// agent of the same name already exists, the approval will fail.
@@ -299,12 +323,18 @@ pub enum ManagerRequest {
     /// - `multi=true` lets the operator pick multiple options (rendered
     ///   as checkboxes). The answer is returned as a single string with
     ///   selections joined by ", ".
+    /// - `ttl_seconds`: optional auto-cancel after that many seconds. On
+    ///   expiry the question is resolved with answer `[expired]` and the
+    ///   manager gets the usual `OperatorAnswered` event. None = wait
+    ///   forever for an operator answer (or manual cancel).
     AskOperator {
         question: String,
         #[serde(default)]
         options: Vec<String>,
         #[serde(default)]
         multi: bool,
+        #[serde(default)]
+        ttl_seconds: Option<u64>,
     },
 }
 
@@ -329,4 +359,8 @@ pub enum ManagerResponse {
     QuestionQueued {
         id: i64,
     },
+    /// `Recent` result: mirror of `AgentResponse::Recent`.
+    Recent {
+        rows: Vec<InboxRow>,
+    },
 }