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Merged
bug-ops merged 1 commit into from
Feb 21, 2026
Merged

feat(tui): improve chat UX with cleaner visual design #738

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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions Cargo.lock
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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions crates/zeph-tui/Cargo.toml
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ readme = "README.md"
[dependencies]
ignore.workspace = true
nucleo-matcher.workspace = true
chrono = { workspace = true, features = ["clock"] }
crossterm.workspace = true
pulldown-cmark.workspace = true
ratatui.workspace = true
Expand Down
188 changes: 83 additions & 105 deletions crates/zeph-tui/src/app.rs
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -105,6 +105,33 @@ pub struct ChatMessage {
pub tool_name: Option<String>,
pub diff_data: Option<zeph_core::DiffData>,
pub filter_stats: Option<String>,
pub timestamp: String,
}

impl ChatMessage {
pub fn new(role: MessageRole, content: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
Self {
role,
content: content.into(),
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
timestamp: format_local_time(),
}
}

#[must_use]
pub fn streaming(mut self) -> Self {
self.streaming = true;
self
}

#[must_use]
pub fn with_tool(mut self, name: String) -> Self {
self.tool_name = Some(name);
self
}
}

#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -217,14 +244,8 @@ impl App {
if role_str == "user"
&& let Some((tool_name, body)) = parse_tool_output(content, TOOL_SUFFIX)
{
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::Tool,
content: body,
streaming: false,
tool_name: Some(tool_name),
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.messages
.push(ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::Tool, body).with_tool(tool_name));
continue;
}

Expand All @@ -236,14 +257,7 @@ impl App {
if role == MessageRole::User {
self.input_history.push(content.to_owned());
}
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role,
content: content.to_owned(),
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.messages.push(ChatMessage::new(role, content));
}
if !self.messages.is_empty() {
self.show_splash = false;
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -301,6 +315,13 @@ impl App {
self.scroll_offset
}

/// Scroll to bottom only if already at (or near) the bottom.
fn auto_scroll(&mut self) {
if self.scroll_offset <= 1 {
self.scroll_offset = 0;
}
}

#[must_use]
pub fn tool_expanded(&self) -> bool {
self.tool_expanded
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -412,32 +433,20 @@ impl App {
{
last.content.push_str(&text);
} else {
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::Assistant,
content: text,
streaming: true,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.messages
.push(ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::Assistant, text).streaming());
}
let last_idx = self.messages.len().saturating_sub(1);
self.render_cache.invalidate(last_idx);
self.scroll_offset = 0;
self.auto_scroll();
}
AgentEvent::FullMessage(text) => {
self.status_label = None;
if !text.starts_with("[tool output") {
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::Assistant,
content: text,
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.messages
.push(ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::Assistant, text));
}
self.scroll_offset = 0;
self.auto_scroll();
}
AgentEvent::Flush => {
if let Some(last) = self.messages.last_mut()
Expand All @@ -454,19 +463,16 @@ impl App {
}
AgentEvent::Status(text) => {
self.status_label = if text.is_empty() { None } else { Some(text) };
self.scroll_offset = 0;
self.auto_scroll();
}
AgentEvent::ToolStart { tool_name, command } => {
self.status_label = None;
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::Tool,
content: format!("$ {command}\n"),
streaming: true,
tool_name: Some(tool_name),
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.scroll_offset = 0;
self.messages.push(
ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::Tool, format!("$ {command}\n"))
.streaming()
.with_tool(tool_name),
);
self.auto_scroll();
}
AgentEvent::ToolOutputChunk { chunk, .. } => {
if let Some(pos) = self
Expand All @@ -477,7 +483,7 @@ impl App {
self.messages[pos].content.push_str(&chunk);
self.render_cache.invalidate(pos);
}
self.scroll_offset = 0;
self.auto_scroll();
}
AgentEvent::ToolOutput {
tool_name,
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -507,14 +513,10 @@ impl App {
} else if diff.is_some() || filter_stats.is_some() {
// Native tool_use path: no prior ToolStart, create the message now.
debug!("creating new Tool message with diff (native path)");
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::Tool,
content: output,
streaming: false,
tool_name: Some(tool_name),
diff_data: diff,
filter_stats,
});
let mut msg = ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::Tool, output).with_tool(tool_name);
msg.diff_data = diff;
msg.filter_stats = filter_stats;
self.messages.push(msg);
} else if let Some(msg) = self
.messages
.iter_mut()
Expand All @@ -523,7 +525,7 @@ impl App {
{
msg.filter_stats = filter_stats;
}
self.scroll_offset = 0;
self.auto_scroll();
}
AgentEvent::ConfirmRequest {
prompt,
Expand All @@ -550,15 +552,9 @@ impl App {
}
AgentEvent::CommandResult { output, .. } => {
self.command_palette = None;
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::System,
content: output,
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.scroll_offset = 0;
self.messages
.push(ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::System, output));
self.auto_scroll();
}
}
}
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -828,14 +824,8 @@ impl App {

fn push_system_message(&mut self, content: String) {
self.show_splash = false;
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::System,
content,
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.messages
.push(ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::System, content));
self.scroll_offset = 0;
}

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -888,6 +878,11 @@ impl App {
Panel::Resources => Panel::Chat,
};
}
KeyCode::Char('l') if key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL) => {
self.messages.clear();
self.render_cache.clear();
self.scroll_offset = 0;
}
KeyCode::Char('?') => {
self.show_help = true;
}
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1123,14 +1118,8 @@ impl App {
self.input_history.push(text.clone());
self.history_index = None;
self.draft_input.clear();
self.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::User,
content: text.clone(),
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
self.messages
.push(ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::User, text.clone()));
self.input.clear();
self.cursor_position = 0;
self.scroll_offset = 0;
Expand All @@ -1143,6 +1132,10 @@ impl App {
}
}

fn format_local_time() -> String {
chrono::Local::now().format("%H:%M").to_string()
}

fn parse_tool_output(content: &str, suffix: &str) -> Option<(String, String)> {
// New format: [tool output: name]
if let Some(rest) = content.strip_prefix("[tool output: ")
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1808,14 +1801,8 @@ mod tests {
app.input_mode = InputMode::Insert;
app.pending_count = 2;
app.input_history.push("queued msg".into());
app.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::User,
content: "queued msg".into(),
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
app.messages
.push(ChatMessage::new(MessageRole::User, "queued msg"));

let key = KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Up, KeyModifiers::NONE);
app.handle_event(AppEvent::Key(key));
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1974,22 +1961,17 @@ mod tests {
let enter = KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE);
app.handle_event(AppEvent::Key(enter));

let output = draw_app(&mut app, 80, 24);
assert!(!output.contains("Type a message"));
assert!(!app.show_splash, "splash should be hidden after submit");
}

#[test]
fn markdown_link_produces_hyperlink_span() {
let (mut app, _rx, _tx) = make_app();
app.show_splash = false;
app.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::Assistant,
content: "See [docs](https://docs.rs) for details".into(),
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
app.messages.push(ChatMessage::new(
MessageRole::Assistant,
"See [docs](https://docs.rs) for details",
));

let _ = draw_app(&mut app, 80, 24);
let links = app.take_hyperlinks();
Expand All @@ -2004,14 +1986,10 @@ mod tests {
fn bare_url_still_produces_hyperlink_span() {
let (mut app, _rx, _tx) = make_app();
app.show_splash = false;
app.messages.push(ChatMessage {
role: MessageRole::Assistant,
content: "Visit https://example.com today".into(),
streaming: false,
tool_name: None,
diff_data: None,
filter_stats: None,
});
app.messages.push(ChatMessage::new(
MessageRole::Assistant,
"Visit https://example.com today",
));

let _ = draw_app(&mut app, 80, 24);
let links = app.take_hyperlinks();
Expand Down
8 changes: 4 additions & 4 deletions crates/zeph-tui/src/theme.rs
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ pub struct Theme {
pub user_message: Style,
pub assistant_message: Style,
pub system_message: Style,
pub input_text: Style,
pub input_cursor: Style,
pub status_bar: Style,
pub header: Style,
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -47,8 +48,9 @@ impl Default for Theme {
fn default() -> Self {
Self {
user_message: Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan),
assistant_message: Style::default().fg(Color::White),
assistant_message: Style::default().fg(Color::Rgb(200, 200, 210)),
system_message: Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray),
input_text: Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan),
input_cursor: Style::default()
.fg(Color::Yellow)
.add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
Expand All @@ -69,9 +71,7 @@ impl Default for Theme {
.bg(Color::Rgb(15, 30, 55))
.add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
code_block: Style::default().fg(Color::Rgb(190, 175, 145)),
streaming_cursor: Style::default()
.fg(Color::Yellow)
.add_modifier(Modifier::SLOW_BLINK),
streaming_cursor: Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray),
tool_command: Style::default()
.fg(Color::Yellow)
.add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
Expand Down
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