Improve agent context controls and notice readability

src/MandoCode.Desktop.Tests/ResponseStreamerTests.cs

@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ public event Action<FunctionExecutionResult>? OnFunctionCompleted { add { } remo
         public void AppendUserNote(string text) => throw new NotSupportedException();
         public int TryRestoreHistoryJson(string json) => throw new NotSupportedException();
         public Task EnterLearnModeAsync() => throw new NotSupportedException();
+        public Task<bool> CompactHistoryAsync() => throw new NotSupportedException();
         public Task ClearHistoryAsync() => throw new NotSupportedException();
         public Task<IReadOnlyList<ChatMessage>> GetHistoryAsync() => throw new NotSupportedException();
     }

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Assets/web/transcript/transcript.css

@@ -248,6 +248,73 @@
   .red { color: var(--red); }
   .token-summary { text-align: right; font-size: 12px; }
 
+  /* Live plan status is operationally important, not ordinary transcript narration. Give it a
+     high-opacity themed surface so a bright or busy chat wallpaper cannot wash out the active
+     step. The panel/border/accent variables keep it native to every appearance; backdrop blur
+     preserves contrast while still letting a little of the selected image show through. */
+  .plan-activity { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 10px;
+    max-width: 720px; padding: 10px 12px; border: 1px solid var(--border);
+    border-left: 3px solid var(--accent); border-radius: 10px;
+    background: var(--panel);
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--panel) 82%, transparent);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(6px); -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+    box-shadow: 0 5px 18px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.20); }
+  .plan-activity-dot { flex: 0 0 auto; width: 8px; height: 8px; margin-top: 6px;
+    border-radius: 50%; background: var(--accent);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 22%, transparent); }
+  .plan-activity-title { color: var(--fg); font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25; }
+  .plan-activity-emoji { display: inline-block; margin-right: 6px; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", sans-serif; }
+  .plan-activity-detail { color: var(--fg); margin-top: 2px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.35; }
+  .plan-activity.success { border-left-color: var(--green); }
+  .plan-activity.success .plan-activity-dot { background: var(--green);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in srgb, var(--green) 22%, transparent); }
+  .plan-activity.warning { border-left-color: var(--gold); }
+  .plan-activity.warning .plan-activity-dot { background: var(--gold);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in srgb, var(--gold) 22%, transparent); }
+  .plan-activity.error { border-left-color: var(--red); }
+  .plan-activity.error .plan-activity-dot { background: var(--red);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in srgb, var(--red) 22%, transparent); }
+  .checkpoint-card { background: var(--panel);
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--panel) 82%, transparent);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(6px); -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+    box-shadow: 0 5px 18px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.20); }
+  .assistant.plan-step-result { background: var(--panel);
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--panel) 82%, transparent);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(6px); -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 10px; padding: 6px 12px 8px 12px;
+    box-shadow: 0 5px 18px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.20); }
+
+  html[data-win98] .plan-activity { background: var(--bg); color: #000; border-radius: 0;
+    border: 2px solid; border-left: 2px solid;
+    border-color: #FFFFFF #404040 #404040 #FFFFFF; box-shadow: none; backdrop-filter: none; }
+  html[data-win98] .plan-activity-title, html[data-win98] .plan-activity-detail { color: #000; }
+  html[data-win98] .plan-activity-dot { background: #1084D0; box-shadow: none; }
+  html[data-win98] .assistant.plan-step-result { border-radius: 0; box-shadow: none;
+    backdrop-filter: none; padding: 0; }
+  html[data-win98] .checkpoint-card { background: var(--bg); box-shadow: none;
+    backdrop-filter: none; }
+
+  /* System notices use a smaller sibling of the plan-activity card. They replace the old bare
+     colored/dim lines, which disappear against bright wallpapers at high image opacity. Pills,
+     command panels, and normal messages keep their existing presentation. */
+  .notice-card { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 8px; max-width: 720px;
+    padding: 7px 10px; border: 1px solid var(--border); border-left: 3px solid var(--sky);
+    border-radius: 8px; background: var(--panel);
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--panel) 82%, transparent);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(6px); -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+    box-shadow: 0 4px 14px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.16); }
+  .notice-emoji { flex: 0 0 auto; margin-top: 1px;
+    font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", sans-serif; }
+  .notice-text { color: var(--fg); white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.4; }
+  .notice-card.success { border-left-color: var(--green); }
+  .notice-card.warn { border-left-color: var(--gold); }
+  .notice-card.error { border-left-color: var(--red); }
+  .notice-card.dim { border-left-color: var(--border); }
+  html[data-win98] .notice-card { background: var(--bg); border-radius: 0; box-shadow: none;
+    backdrop-filter: none; border: 2px solid; border-left: 2px solid;
+    border-color: #FFFFFF #404040 #404040 #FFFFFF; }
+  html[data-win98] .notice-text { color: #000; }
+
   /* Status chips — compact pills for session/connection state. A CSS status dot
      (crisp, theme-aware) replaces status emoji; state = ok | warn | err | neutral. */
   /* Centered to match the tool pills: all system/status chrome sits centered, conversation stays left. */

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.Header.cs

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ public sealed partial class ChatTabView
 
     public void UpdateHeader()
     {
+        InputBox.PlaceholderText = $"Message Agent {Session.Title}…   /commands · @file · !shell";
         ModelText.Text = _controller.ModelName;
         ProjectRootText.Text = _controller.ProjectRootPath;
         ConnectionDot.Fill = new SolidColorBrush(

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.Transcript.cs

@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ private async Task RestoreJournaledTranscriptAsync()
             // called by MainWindow after any saved model is re-selected — a model switch clears
             // history, so restoring memory here would risk it being wiped moments later).
             _replayedBlockCount = blocks.Count;
-            await AppendRawAsync(_html.Dim("— restored from your previous session —"));
+            await AppendRawAsync(_html.StatusCard(
+                "Previous session restored",
+                "This transcript was restored from your previous session.",
+                "success"));
         }
         catch { /* a failed replay must never block a fresh conversation */ }
     }
@@ -79,8 +82,10 @@ public async Task RestoreConversationMemoryAsync()
                 var restored = await Task.Run(() => Session.Ai.TryRestoreHistoryJson(historyJson));
                 if (restored > 0)
                 {
-                    await AppendRawAsync(_html.Dim(
-                        $"Conversation memory restored — the agent remembers this session ({restored} messages)."));
+                    await AppendRawAsync(_html.StatusCard(
+                        "Conversation memory restored",
+                        $"The agent remembers this session ({restored} messages).",
+                        "success"));
                     return;
                 }
             }

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.xaml

@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@
                     <FontIcon Glyph="&#xE8B7;" FontSize="15"/>
                 </Button>
                 <Button x:Name="ExplorerButton" Click="ExplorerButton_Click" Padding="8,5"
-                        ToolTipService.ToolTip="Show or hide the file explorer">
-                    <FontIcon Glyph="&#xEC50;" FontSize="15"/>
+                        ToolTipService.ToolTip="Show or hide the files list">
+                    <FontIcon Glyph="&#xE8FD;" FontSize="15"/>
                 </Button>
             </StackPanel>
         </Grid>
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@
                         <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
                         <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
                     </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                    <FontIcon Glyph="&#xEC50;" FontSize="14" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                    <FontIcon Glyph="&#xE8FD;" FontSize="14" VerticalAlignment="Center"
                               Foreground="{StaticResource MandoAccentBrush}"/>
                     <TextBlock x:Name="ExplorerRootText" Grid.Column="1" FontWeight="SemiBold"
                                FontSize="13" VerticalAlignment="Center"
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@
             </Border>
 
             <TextBox x:Name="InputBox" Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="0"
-                     PlaceholderText="Message MandoCode…   /commands · @file · !shell"
+                     PlaceholderText="Message Agent…   /commands · @file · !shell"
                      AcceptsReturn="True" TextWrapping="Wrap" MaxHeight="140"
                      AllowDrop="True" DragOver="InputBox_DragOver" Drop="InputBox_Drop"
                      PreviewKeyDown="InputBox_PreviewKeyDown" TextChanged="InputBox_TextChanged"/>

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.xaml.cs

@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ public ChatTabView(Window owner, AgentSession session, TranscriptHtmlBuilder htm
         _transcript.BlockAdded += OnTranscriptBlock;
         _transcript.Cleared += OnTranscriptCleared;
         Session.Busy.Changed += OnBusyChanged;
+        Session.TitleChanged += OnAgentTitleChanged;
 
         _controller.StateChanged += OnControllerStateChanged;
         _controller.PlanProgressChanged += OnPlanProgress;
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ public ChatTabView(Window owner, AgentSession session, TranscriptHtmlBuilder htm
         _controller.ClipboardCopyRequested += OnClipboardCopy;
         _controller.ExitRequested += OnExitRequested;
         _controller.SnapshotOfferChanged += OnSnapshotOfferChanged;
+        _controller.HistoryCompacted += OnHistoryCompacted;
 
         UpdateHeader();
     }
@@ -127,12 +129,15 @@ public ChatTabView(Window owner, AgentSession session, TranscriptHtmlBuilder htm
     private void OnTranscriptBlock(string html) => OnUi(() => AppendHtml(html));
     private void OnTranscriptCleared() => OnUi(ClearTranscript);
     private void OnBusyChanged(bool busy, string? activity) => OnUi(() => UpdateBusy(busy, activity));
+    private void OnAgentTitleChanged(string _) => OnUi(UpdateHeader);
     private void OnControllerStateChanged() => OnUi(UpdateHeader);
     private void OnPlanProgress(int done, int total, bool active) => OnUi(() => UpdatePlanProgress(done, total, active));
     private void OnSetupNeeded() => OnUi(() => SetupRequested?.Invoke());
     private void OnMcpEditorRequested(string? name) => OnUi(() => McpEditorRequested?.Invoke(name));
     private void OnClipboardCopy(string text) => OnUi(() => ClipboardCopyRequested?.Invoke(text));
     private void OnExitRequested() => OnUi(() => ExitRequested?.Invoke());
+    private void OnHistoryCompacted() => _ = Task.Run(() =>
+        SessionHistoryStore.Save(Session.PersistKey, Session.Ai.ExportHistoryJson()));
     private void OnSnapshotOfferChanged() => OnUi(RefreshSnapshotOffer);
 
     private void OnUi(Action action)
@@ -329,13 +334,15 @@ public void Shutdown()
         _transcript.BlockAdded -= OnTranscriptBlock;
         _transcript.Cleared -= OnTranscriptCleared;
         Session.Busy.Changed -= OnBusyChanged;
+        Session.TitleChanged -= OnAgentTitleChanged;
         _controller.StateChanged -= OnControllerStateChanged;
         _controller.PlanProgressChanged -= OnPlanProgress;
         _controller.SetupNeeded -= OnSetupNeeded;
         _controller.McpEditorRequested -= OnMcpEditorRequested;
         _controller.ClipboardCopyRequested -= OnClipboardCopy;
         _controller.ExitRequested -= OnExitRequested;
         _controller.SnapshotOfferChanged -= OnSnapshotOfferChanged;
+        _controller.HistoryCompacted -= OnHistoryCompacted;
 
         _controller.CancelActiveRequest();
 

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/AgentSession.cs

@@ -41,10 +41,19 @@ public sealed class AgentSession
     public string Title
     {
         get => _title;
-        set { _title = value; Config.AgentName = value; }
+        set
+        {
+            if (_title == value) return;
+            _title = value;
+            Config.AgentName = value;
+            TitleChanged?.Invoke(value);
+        }
     }
     private string _title = "";
 
+    /// <summary>Raised when the user renames this tab's agent.</summary>
+    public event Action<string>? TitleChanged;
+
     /// <summary>Durable identity across app launches (unlike <see cref="Id"/>, a process-local
     /// counter). Names this session's transcript journal on disk; a restored tab passes its
     /// saved key back in so it reattaches to its own history.</summary>
@@ -108,7 +117,6 @@ public AgentSession(
         // agents working in the same project from overwriting each other's unfinished plans.
         PlanRunners = new PlanRunnerSelector(
             Config,
-            Planner,
             new AiServicePlanStepExecutor(Ai),
             PlanHandoff,
             ProjectRoot,

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/AiServiceAdapter.cs

@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ public Task<GeneratedPlan> GeneratePlanAsync(string request, string? revisionCon
     public void AppendUserNote(string text) => _ai.AppendUserNote(text);
     public int TryRestoreHistoryJson(string json) => _ai.TryRestoreHistoryJson(json);
     public Task EnterLearnModeAsync() => _ai.EnterLearnModeAsync();
+    public Task<bool> CompactHistoryAsync() => _ai.CompactHistoryAsync();
     public Task ClearHistoryAsync() => _ai.ClearHistoryAsync();
     public Task<IReadOnlyList<ChatMessage>> GetHistoryAsync() => _ai.GetHistoryAsync();
 }

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/IAiService.cs

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ void SetRequestContext(string? request) { }
     void AppendUserNote(string text);
     int TryRestoreHistoryJson(string json);
     Task EnterLearnModeAsync();
+    Task<bool> CompactHistoryAsync();
     Task ClearHistoryAsync();
     Task<IReadOnlyList<ChatMessage>> GetHistoryAsync();
 }

src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/TranscriptHtmlBuilder.cs

@@ -59,11 +59,28 @@ public string UserEcho(string text) =>
     public string AssistantCard(string markdown, string? speaker = null) =>
         $"<div class=\"assistant\"><div class=\"assistant-label\">{E(speaker ?? "MandoCode")}</div><div class=\"md\">{FromMarkdown(markdown)}</div></div>";
 
-    public string Info(string text) => $"<div class=\"line info\">{E(text)}</div>";
-    public string Success(string text) => $"<div class=\"line success\">{E(text)}</div>";
-    public string Warn(string text) => $"<div class=\"line warn\">{E(text)}</div>";
-    public string Error(string text) => $"<div class=\"line error\">{E(text)}</div>";
-    public string Dim(string text) => $"<div class=\"line dim\">{E(text)}</div>";
+    /// <summary>Step results are part of the live-plan surface, so they retain a solid readable
+    /// panel even when ordinary transcript messages are configured as flat.</summary>
+    public string PlanStepResult(string markdown, string? speaker = null) =>
+        $"<div class=\"assistant plan-step-result\"><div class=\"assistant-label\">{E(speaker ?? "MandoCode")}</div><div class=\"md\">{FromMarkdown(markdown)}</div></div>";
+
+    // System notices need their own surface. A theme can intentionally place a high-opacity image
+    // behind a flat transcript, so color alone is not enough contrast for actions, warnings, or
+    // recovery guidance. Keep ordinary user/assistant messages untouched; only these notices use
+    // the compact card treatment.
+    public string Info(string text) => NoticeCard(text, "info");
+    public string Success(string text) => NoticeCard(text, "success");
+    public string Warn(string text) => NoticeCard(text, "warn");
+    public string Error(string text) => NoticeCard(text, "error");
+    public string Dim(string text) => NoticeCard(text, "dim");
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// A high-contrast, live plan-status card. Plan execution and step headers must remain readable
+    /// even when a user has turned their chat wallpaper opacity up, so they get a themed surface
+    /// rather than being painted directly on the transcript background.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string PlanStarted(int totalSteps) =>
+        PlanActivity("Executing plan", $"Preparing {totalSteps} step{(totalSteps == 1 ? "" : "s")}");
 
     /// <summary>True for blocks that describe LIVE session state (status chips: connection,
     /// model ready, MCP counts, pending offers) rather than conversation history. Session
@@ -93,6 +110,18 @@ public string StatusChip(string primary, string? secondary = null, string state
         return sb.ToString();
     }
 
+    private static string NoticeCard(string text, string state) =>
+        $"<div class=\"notice-card {state}\"><span class=\"notice-emoji\">{NoticeEmoji(state)}</span>" +
+        $"<span class=\"notice-text\">{E(text)}</span></div>";
+
+    private static string NoticeEmoji(string state) => state switch
+    {
+        "success" => "✅",
+        "warn" => "⚠️",
+        "error" => "❌",
+        _ => "ℹ️",
+    };
+
     /// <summary>
     /// A STATIC tool-call pill (no animation — draws once, costs nothing). Replaces the plain
     /// "[Function] …" / "[Done] ✓" text lines for non-file tools with something that reads as a
@@ -262,7 +291,33 @@ public string OperationCard(OperationDisplayEvent op)
     public string CheckpointCard(PlanRunState saved) => CheckpointCardHtml.Build(saved);
 
     public string StepStarted(int current, int total, string description) =>
-        $"<div class=\"line\"><span class=\"sky\">Step {current}/{total}:</span> {E(description)}</div>";
+        PlanActivity($"Step {current}/{total}", description);
+
+    public string StepCompleted(int current, int total) =>
+        PlanActivity($"Step {current}/{total} complete", "Moving to the next step", "success");
+
+    public string StepFailed(int current, int total, string message) =>
+        PlanActivity($"Step {current}/{total} needs attention", message, "error");
+
+    public string PlanFinished(string title, string detail, string state) =>
+        PlanActivity(title, detail, state);
+
+    /// <summary>A high-contrast, themed status surface for important system notices.</summary>
+    public string StatusCard(string title, string detail, string state = "") =>
+        PlanActivity(title, detail, state);
+
+    private static string PlanActivity(string title, string detail, string state = "") =>
+        $"<div class=\"plan-activity {state}\"><span class=\"plan-activity-dot\"></span>" +
+        $"<div><div class=\"plan-activity-title\"><span class=\"plan-activity-emoji\">{ActivityEmoji(state)}</span>{E(title)}</div>" +
+        $"<div class=\"plan-activity-detail\">{E(detail)}</div></div></div>";
+
+    private static string ActivityEmoji(string state) => state switch
+    {
+        "success" => "✅",
+        "warning" => "⚠️",
+        "error" => "❌",
+        _ => "▶️",
+    };
 
     public string TokenSummary(string text) =>
         $"<div class=\"line dim token-summary\">{E(text)}</div>";