hyperhive/docs/terminal-rendering.md

# Per-agent terminal: row taxonomy (as built)

Snapshot of how the per-agent web UI's live pane renders each
event kind today. Source of truth lives in
`frontend/packages/agent/src/app.js` (`renderStream`, `fmtToolUse`,
`renderRichToolUse`, `renderToolResult`, `renderTaskEvent`,
`mdNode`, `detailsOpenMd`, `fmtArgsGeneric`) +
`frontend/packages/shared/src/terminal.css` (the shared
`.live .<class>` styling) + the `marked` npm package (markdown).

## Layout contract

Every row — flat `<div class="row …">` and expandable
`<details class="row …">` alike — shares one prefix column.
The mechanism is `padding-left + negative text-indent` on
`.live .row`: the row's first inline box gets pulled back
into the column at ~0.5em, and wrapped continuation lines
hang under the body, not under the glyph.

Rows that carry an icon (the per-tool emoji, `🧠`/`💭`
thinking, etc.) pass it as the `icon` argument to
`row()` / `details()` / `detailsDiff()`, which puts it in a
fixed-width `.row-glyph` cell (`display: inline-block;
width: 1.4em`) rather than as a bare first character. The
constant cell width means every icon's left edge lines up in
the column regardless of the glyph's rendered width (emoji
differ; some carry a variation selector) — a flat row's `🧠`
and a `details` summary's `🖥️` align. Rows with a plain
single-char glyph (`◆ · ! ←`) still pass it inline; it lands
at the same ~0.5em left edge.

`<details>` summaries inherit those metrics. The icon (when
present) sits in the `.row-glyph` cell; the summary text lives
in a `.summary-text` span and the disclosure caret (`▸` / `▾`)
is supplied by CSS `.summary-text::before` so it **leads the
text, not the icon** — a leading caret on the icon would push
it out of the shared column. Icon-less summaries have no
`.row-glyph`, so the caret falls into the prefix column like
the old directional glyph. The summary text carries no
`→` / `←`; the row colour (cyan = outbound, muted = inbound)
carries the direction.

Child blocks inside a row (the `.md` markdown wrapper, an
inner `<details>`) get `text-indent: 0` so their content
lays out from the body column instead of inheriting the
parent's negative pull.

## Row taxonomy

| CSS class | Prefix glyph | Color | Triggered by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `.turn-start` | `◆ TURN ← <from>` | amber, left rule | `LiveEvent::TurnStart` | harness wake |
| `.turn-body` | (child div under turn-start) | fg | same | the wake-prompt body |
| `.turn-end-ok` | `✅ turn ok` | green, left rule | `LiveEvent::TurnEnd { ok: true }` | harness |
| `.turn-end-fail` | `❌ turn fail — note` | red, left rule | `LiveEvent::TurnEnd { ok: false }` | harness |
| `.turn-time` | `· HH:MM:SS` on turn-start; `· HH:MM:SS · <dur>` on turn-end (child span) | muted, smaller | per-event `ts` (unix seconds) on the live frame + history row | harness |
| `.text` | (no prefix; markdown body) | fg | claude `assistant.content[].text` | stream-json |
| `.thinking` | `💭 thinking …` | muted, italic | claude `assistant.content[].thinking` | stream-json |
| `.tool-use` (flat) | `<icon> Name args…` | cyan | tool_use w/o rich renderer; `<icon>` from `toolIcon(name)`: 📤 send · 📥 recv · ❓ ask · ⏰ remind · 🏷️ set_status · 🪢 loose-ends · ✂️ cancel_loose_end · ℹ️ get_agent_meta · ✅ ack_until · 📜 get_logs/get_host_journal · ↻ restart · ⏹️ kill · ▶️ start · 🔄 update · 📋 list_containers/list_rooms/list_room_members/list_invites · 📖 read_room/Read · 👁️ mark_read · 🛑 bash kill · 🖥️ bash other · 💬 matrix send/reply/dm · 📦 request_* · ⏱️ schedule · 🔧 default | stream-json |
| `.tool-use` `<details>` | `💾/✏️ Write/Edit <path> · +N` (no `→`) | cyan, body is +/- diff | `renderRichToolUse` Write/Edit | stream-json |
| `.tool-use` `<details open>` | `📤 send → to · NL`, `❓ ask → to`, `✍️ answer #id` | cyan, body is markdown | rich renderer for send / ask / answer | stream-json |
| `.tool-result` (flat) | `←  <txt>` | muted | short `tool_result` (≤120c, non-recv) | stream-json |
| `.tool-result-block` `<details>` | `Nl · headline` | muted, body is text | long generic `tool_result` | stream-json |
| `.tool-result-block` `<details open>` | `recv ← <txt>` | muted, body is markdown | `tool_result` correlated to a prior `recv` tool_use via id | stream-json |
| `.tool-result.error` (flat) | `✗  <msg>` | red | `tool_result` with `is_error: true` (≤120c); `<tool_use_error>` wrapper stripped | stream-json |
| `.tool-result-block.error` `<details>` | `Nl · headline` | red, body is text | long error `tool_result` (`is_error: true`); wrapper stripped | stream-json |
| `.tool-use` | `⌁  task <id> started · <desc> [type]` | cyan | claude Task-tool subagent start (dead path — `Task` omitted from agent allow-list) | `renderTaskEvent` |
| `.turn-end-ok` / `.turn-end-fail` / `.tool-result` | `⌁  task <id> ✓/✗/◌ <status> · <desc> · → <output_file>` | green / red / muted | claude Task-tool result (dead path for agents) | `renderTaskEvent` |
| `.note` | `· ⚙ plugin install · loading…` or `✓ done` | muted | `system/plugin_install` (`status` = started/completed) | stream-json |
| `.note` | `· ⚙ commands changed · N available` (expandable list of `/name` entries) | muted | `system/commands_changed` (slash-command set updated, usually post-plugin_install) | stream-json |
| `.note` | `· ⚙ compact · <trigger> · <pre>→<post> tokens · <dur>` | muted | `system/compact_boundary` (compaction completed; metadata includes pre/post token counts, duration, trigger) | stream-json |
| `.note` | `· ⚙ <subtype>` | muted | other `system` subtypes (context_window_exceeded, etc.) | stream-json catch-all |
| `.note` | `· <text>` | muted | harness chatter | `LiveEvent::Note` |
| `.note.stderr` | `! stderr: <line>` | amber/orange | stderr lines off claude | `LiveEvent::Note` (`text` starts `stderr:`) |
| `.note.op` | `· operator: <text>` | mauve italic | operator-initiated notes (/cancel, /compact, /model, new-session) | `LiveEvent::Note` (`text` starts `operator:`) |
| `.sys` | `! {json…}` | amber/orange | catch-all for stream shapes `renderStream` didn't classify | catch-all |
| Banner shimmer | mauve | turn in flight (ref-counted) | — | `setBannerActive` |

The `.turn-time` span is appended to the turn-start / turn-end rows from
the event's `ts` (unix seconds), which the backend serializes as a
flattened sibling of `kind` on both the live SSE frame and each history
row — so the same renderer path stamps live tail and replayed scrollback
identically. Turn-end also shows the elapsed duration (end − start),
paired against the most recent open turn-start. The read is guarded on a
numeric `ts`: if a frame omits it the rows render without the time
suffix, so the terminal degrades cleanly against older event shapes.

## Renderer dispatch

`renderStream(v, api)` walks each stream-json line:

1. Drops `system/init`, `rate_limit_event`, `result` (noise /
   handled elsewhere — `result` powers the `cost` badge).
1a. `system/thinking_tokens` (claude streams a running
   `estimated_tokens` counter while thinking — many per turn) →
   collapses into a **single** `🧠 thinking … ~N tokens` `.note`
   row that updates in place. Consecutive ticks reuse the row only
   while it's still the last one rendered (`nextElementSibling ==
   null`); any other event after it makes the next tick start a
   fresh row. Avoids a note-per-tick scrollback flood.
1b. `system/plugin_install` → muted note `⚙ plugin install · loading…`
   (on `started`) or `⚙ plugin install · ✓ done` (on `completed`).
   Emitted in pairs: started fires before the plugin loads, completed
   fires when it's ready. The `uuid` links the pair.
1c. `system/commands_changed` → collapsible `.note` details row showing
   the new slash-command count (`⚙ commands changed · N available`).
   Expanding reveals each `/name` and its aliases. Fires after
   `plugin_install` when a plugin registers new commands.
1d. `system/compact_boundary` → muted note showing compaction summary:
   `⚙ compact · <trigger> · <pre>→<post> tokens · <dur>`. Fields are
   guarded individually — a missing field is silently omitted. Trigger
   is `"manual"` (operator `/compact`) or `"auto"`.
1e. Other `system/` subtypes → muted note `⚙ <subtype>`.
2. `subtype == "task_started" | "task_notification"` →
   `renderTaskEvent` (subagent activity gets the `⌁` glyph).
3. `type == "assistant"` → walk `message.content[]`:
   - `text` → `.text` row with a markdown body via `mdNode`.
   - `thinking` → `.thinking` row.
   - `tool_use` → record `id → name` in `toolNameById`, try
     `renderRichToolUse` (Write/Edit/send/ask/answer get
     custom renderings); on miss fall through to a flat
     `.tool-use` row with `fmtToolUse → fmtArgsGeneric`.
     `fmtToolUse` surfaces the salient arg per built-in tool
     (see [`fmtToolUse` patterns](#fmttooluse-patterns) below);
     `fmtArgsGeneric` handles everything else.
4. `type == "user"` → walk `message.content[]` for
   `tool_result`; `renderToolResult` correlates via
   `tool_use_id → toolNameById` to default-open `recv`
   results with a markdown body, else short = flat /
   long = collapsed details.
5. Unrecognised shape → `.sys` row (amber, `!` glyph).

### `fmtToolUse` patterns

The `short` name strips the `mcp__hyperhive__` / `mcp__bash__` /
`mcp__matrix__` prefix and appends `*` (e.g. `recv*`, `run*`,
`send_message*`). Unprefixed tools (Read, Write, etc.) keep their
name as-is.

| Tool | Rendered as |
|------|-------------|
| **Claude built-ins** | |
| `Read` | `Read <path>` |
| `Write` | rich diff row `Write <path> · +N` |
| `Edit` | rich diff row `Edit <path> · -N +N` |
| `Glob` | `Glob <pattern>` |
| `Grep` | `Grep <pattern>` |
| `Bash` | `Bash [bg] $ <cmd>` (also rich renderer for full body) |
| `TodoWrite` | `TodoWrite (N items)` |
| **Core hyperhive** | |
| `send*` | rich renderer: `send* → to · NL` (default-open body) |
| `recv*` | `recv*()` · `recv* wait Ns` · `recv* max N` |
| `ask*` | rich renderer: `ask* → to` (inline answer form for operator) |
| `answer*` | rich renderer: `answer* #id` |
| `remind*` | `remind* +Xm "preview"` or `remind* at HH:MMZ "preview"` |
| `set_status*` | `set_status* "text"` |
| `get_loose_ends*` | `get_loose_ends*()` or `get_loose_ends* [agent]` |
| `get_agent_meta*` | `get_agent_meta*()` or `get_agent_meta* name` |
| `cancel_loose_end*` | `cancel_loose_end* kind #id` |
| `ack_until*` | `ack_until* ≤N` |
| **Lifecycle** | |
| `kill*/restart*/start*/update*` | `kill* name` (etc.) |
| `get_logs*` | `get_logs* name` or `get_logs* name NL` |
| `get_host_journal*` | `get_host_journal*()` or with `[container] · [/grep/] · NL` |
| **Approvals / config** | |
| `request_init_config*` | `request_init_config* name` |
| `request_update_meta_inputs*` | `request_update_meta_inputs* [inp1, …]` or `all` |
| **Scheduling** | |
| `list_schedules*` | `list_schedules*()` |
| `cancel_schedule*` | `cancel_schedule* #id all` or `#id [t1, t2]` |
| `fire_schedule_now*` | `fire_schedule_now* #id` |
| `edit_schedule*` | `edit_schedule* #id · body · interval · next · +N tgt · -N tgt` (only changed fields shown) |
| `request_schedule_prompt*` | `request_schedule_prompt* → t1, t2 at HH:MMZ` (+ `+Ns` if recurring) |
| **Bash MCP** | |
| `run*` | `run* [bg] $ cmd` (also rich renderer for full cmd body) |
| `status*` (bash) | `status* id:xyz` or `status* id:xyz · wait Ns` |
| `kill*` (bash) | `kill* id` or `kill* id [force]` |
| **Matrix MCP** | |
| `send_message*/send_dm*/send_reply*` | `send_message* → room: "body"` / `send_dm* → @user: "body"` |
| `send_reaction*` | `send_reaction* room emoji` |
| `read_room*` | `read_room* room` or `read_room* room [N]` |
| `mark_read*` | `mark_read* room` |
| `join_room*/open_dm*` | `join_room* room` / `open_dm* @user` |
| `invite_user*` | `invite_user* @user → room` |
| `download_file*` | `download_file* room` |
| **Everything else** | `fmtArgsGeneric` — see [Extra-MCP tools](#extra-mcp-tools) |

## Markdown

`mdNode(text)` wraps `marked.parse(text)` (the `marked` v4.x npm
dep, bundled by esbuild into the page's `app.js`) in a `<div
class="md">`. CSS in `terminal.css` scopes paragraph / code /
list / blockquote / link styling under `.live .row .md` so
the markdown body doesn't bleed into the row's own
text-indent. Falls back to plain text if `marked` didn't
load. Applied to `text` rows and to send / ask / answer /
recv message bodies.

## Extra-MCP tools

`fmtArgsGeneric(name, input)` is the fallback when a tool
isn't in the built-in `fmtToolUse` switch:

- single string field → `name k: "v"`
- single number/bool field → `name k: v`
- multi-field → first 4 pairs trimmed to `k: "v"` /
  `k: [N]` / `k: {…}` with a `…+N` overflow

This keeps less-frequent tools that don't have a specific
`fmtToolUse` case from dumping raw JSON. Common matrix and
hyperhive tools have their own cases and skip this path.

## Inline ask-operator answer

An `mcp__hyperhive__ask(to: "operator", ...)` row has no inline
answer form in this terminal — it renders like any other tool call.
The operator answers a pending question from the main dashboard's
own question surfacing (`dashboard/src/swarm.js` + `call.js`, the
Y3R C4LL tab), not from the per-agent page.

## Dashboard side (not covered here)

The main dashboard's message-flow pane is a different
shape: broker messages render as `.msgrow` grid lines (ts /
arrow / from / → / to / body) with their own styling.
`.live .msgrow` explicitly resets `text-indent: 0` so the
per-agent terminal's hanging-indent metrics don't leak into
the flex-grid broker rows.