feat(ui): add distinct status indicators (#2282)

refs #2260

Author: ogulcancelik

docs/next/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 ## Unreleased
 
 ### Added
+- Settings and `ui.status_indicators = "symbols"` can now use distinct static shapes for blocked, working, done, idle, and unknown agent states. (#2260)
 - The plugin marketplace now discovers valid manifests at repository roots and subdirectories, groups multiple plugins under each repository, and publishes their versions and exact default-branch commits.
 
 ### Fixed

docs/next/website/src/content/docs/configuration.mdx

@@ -258,6 +258,15 @@ The sidebar is the main Herdr dashboard. Search `ui.` in the [Config reference](
 
 Set `tab_bar_position = "bottom"` under `[ui]` to place the desktop tab row below the terminal panes. Prefix, Navigate, Copy, and Resize mode bars temporarily replace the bottom tab row while active. The default is `"top"`.
 
+Agent status uses compact colored dots by default. To distinguish blocked, working, done, idle, and unknown states by shape as well as color, choose **distinct symbols** in Settings or configure:
+
+```toml
+[ui]
+status_indicators = "symbols"
+```
+
+The symbols are static, so this option does not enable spinner animation.
+
 ### Sidebar row layouts
 
 The expanded desktop sidebar renders each inner array in `rows` as one line. These are the complete default layouts:

docs/next/website/src/data/config-reference.json

@@ -696,6 +696,16 @@
             "priority"
           ]
         },
+        {
+          "key": "ui.status_indicators",
+          "type": "enum",
+          "default": "\"dots\"",
+          "description": "Choose compact color dots or distinct static symbols for agent states.",
+          "values": [
+            "dots",
+            "symbols"
+          ]
+        },
         {
           "key": "ui.sidebar.agents.row_gap",
           "type": "integer",

src/app/config_io.rs

@@ -55,6 +55,19 @@ impl App {
         }
     }
 
+    pub(super) fn save_status_indicators(&mut self, style: crate::config::StatusIndicatorStyle) {
+        if self.update_config_file("status indicators", |content| {
+            crate::config::upsert_section_value(
+                content,
+                "ui",
+                "status_indicators",
+                &format!("\"{}\"", style.as_str()),
+            )
+        }) {
+            self.apply_config_from_disk(false);
+        }
+    }
+
     pub(super) fn save_sound(&mut self, enabled: bool) {
         if self.update_config_file("sound setting", |content| {
             crate::config::upsert_section_bool(content, "ui.sound", "enabled", enabled)

src/app/input/mod.rs

@@ -399,6 +399,9 @@ impl App {
                     }
                     MouseAction::Settings(action) => match action {
                         SettingsAction::SaveTheme(name) => self.save_theme(&name),
+                        SettingsAction::SaveStatusIndicators(style) => {
+                            self.save_status_indicators(style)
+                        }
                         SettingsAction::SaveSound(enabled) => self.save_sound(enabled),
                         SettingsAction::SaveToastDelivery(delivery) => {
                             self.save_toast_delivery(delivery)

src/app/input/settings.rs

@@ -6,14 +6,15 @@ use crate::{
         state::{AppState, SettingsSection, THEME_NAMES},
         App, Mode,
     },
-    config::ToastDelivery,
+    config::{StatusIndicatorStyle, ToastDelivery},
 };
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 // The shared `Save` verb is semantic: these actions persist settings.
 #[allow(clippy::enum_variant_names)]
 pub(super) enum SettingsAction {
     SaveTheme(String),
+    SaveStatusIndicators(StatusIndicatorStyle),
     SaveSound(bool),
     SaveToastDelivery(ToastDelivery),
     SaveAgentBorderLabels(bool),
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ impl App {
         if let Some(action) = update_settings_state(&mut self.state, key) {
             match action {
                 SettingsAction::SaveTheme(name) => self.save_theme(&name),
+                SettingsAction::SaveStatusIndicators(style) => self.save_status_indicators(style),
                 SettingsAction::SaveSound(enabled) => self.save_sound(enabled),
                 SettingsAction::SaveToastDelivery(delivery) => self.save_toast_delivery(delivery),
                 SettingsAction::SaveAgentBorderLabels(enabled) => {
@@ -56,6 +58,21 @@ fn current_theme_index(theme_name: &str) -> usize {
         .unwrap_or(0)
 }
 
+fn status_indicator_index(style: StatusIndicatorStyle) -> usize {
+    match style {
+        StatusIndicatorStyle::Dots => 0,
+        StatusIndicatorStyle::Symbols => 1,
+    }
+}
+
+fn status_indicator_for_index(idx: usize) -> StatusIndicatorStyle {
+    if idx == 0 {
+        StatusIndicatorStyle::Dots
+    } else {
+        StatusIndicatorStyle::Symbols
+    }
+}
+
 fn toast_delivery_index(delivery: ToastDelivery) -> usize {
     match delivery {
         ToastDelivery::Off => 0,
@@ -145,8 +162,8 @@ pub(super) fn update_settings_state(state: &mut AppState, key: KeyEvent) -> Opti
                 }
             }
             KeyCode::Tab | KeyCode::Right | KeyCode::Char('l') => {
-                state.settings.section = SettingsSection::Sound;
-                state.settings.list.selected = usize::from(!state.sound_enabled());
+                state.settings.section = SettingsSection::Indicators;
+                state.settings.list.selected = status_indicator_index(state.status_indicators);
             }
             KeyCode::BackTab | KeyCode::Left | KeyCode::Char('h') => {
                 state.settings.section = SettingsSection::Integrations;
@@ -158,6 +175,30 @@ pub(super) fn update_settings_state(state: &mut AppState, key: KeyEvent) -> Opti
                 _ => {}
             },
         },
+        SettingsSection::Indicators => match key.code {
+            KeyCode::Up | KeyCode::Char('k') | KeyCode::Down | KeyCode::Char('j') => {
+                state.settings.list.selected = 1 - state.settings.list.selected.min(1);
+            }
+            KeyCode::Enter | KeyCode::Char(' ') => {
+                let style = status_indicator_for_index(state.settings.list.selected);
+                return Some(SettingsAction::SaveStatusIndicators(style));
+            }
+            KeyCode::BackTab | KeyCode::Left | KeyCode::Char('h') => {
+                state.settings.section = SettingsSection::Theme;
+                state.settings.list.selected = current_theme_index(&state.theme_name);
+            }
+            KeyCode::Tab | KeyCode::Right | KeyCode::Char('l') => {
+                state.settings.section = SettingsSection::Sound;
+                state.settings.list.selected = usize::from(!state.sound_enabled());
+            }
+            _ => {
+                if let Some(super::modal::ModalAction::Close) =
+                    super::modal::modal_action_from_key(&key, super::modal::SETTINGS_ACTIONS)
+                {
+                    cancel_settings(state);
+                }
+            }
+        },
         SettingsSection::Sound => match key.code {
             KeyCode::Up | KeyCode::Char('k') | KeyCode::Down | KeyCode::Char('j') => {
                 state.settings.list.selected = 1 - state.settings.list.selected.min(1);
@@ -171,8 +212,8 @@ pub(super) fn update_settings_state(state: &mut AppState, key: KeyEvent) -> Opti
                 state.settings.list.selected = toast_delivery_index(state.toast_delivery());
             }
             KeyCode::BackTab | KeyCode::Left | KeyCode::Char('h') => {
-                state.settings.section = SettingsSection::Theme;
-                state.settings.list.selected = current_theme_index(&state.theme_name);
+                state.settings.section = SettingsSection::Indicators;
+                state.settings.list.selected = status_indicator_index(state.status_indicators);
             }
             _ => {
                 if let Some(super::modal::ModalAction::Close) =
@@ -263,6 +304,7 @@ pub(crate) fn open_settings_at(state: &mut AppState, section: SettingsSection) {
     state.settings.section = section;
     state.settings.list.selected = match section {
         SettingsSection::Theme => current_theme_index(&state.theme_name),
+        SettingsSection::Indicators => status_indicator_index(state.status_indicators),
         SettingsSection::Sound => usize::from(!state.sound_enabled()),
         SettingsSection::Toast => toast_delivery_index(state.toast_delivery()),
         SettingsSection::PaneLabels => usize::from(!state.agent_border_labels_enabled()),
@@ -336,7 +378,7 @@ impl AppState {
                 let idx = scroll + (row - area.y) as usize;
                 (idx < THEME_NAMES.len()).then_some(idx)
             }
-            SettingsSection::Sound => {
+            SettingsSection::Indicators | SettingsSection::Sound => {
                 let list_y = area.y + 3;
                 if row >= list_y && row < list_y + 2 {
                     Some((row - list_y) as usize)
@@ -371,6 +413,9 @@ impl AppState {
                     self.settings.section = section;
                     self.settings.list.select(match section {
                         SettingsSection::Theme => current_theme_index(&self.theme_name),
+                        SettingsSection::Indicators => {
+                            status_indicator_index(self.status_indicators)
+                        }
                         SettingsSection::Sound => usize::from(!self.sound_enabled()),
                         SettingsSection::Toast => toast_delivery_index(self.toast_delivery()),
                         SettingsSection::PaneLabels => {
@@ -387,6 +432,9 @@ impl AppState {
                             preview_selected_theme(self);
                             None
                         }
+                        SettingsSection::Indicators => Some(SettingsAction::SaveStatusIndicators(
+                            status_indicator_for_index(idx),
+                        )),
                         SettingsSection::Sound => {
                             let enabled = idx == 0;
                             Some(SettingsAction::SaveSound(enabled))
@@ -454,7 +502,7 @@ mod tests {
         );
         assert_eq!(
             state.settings.section,
-            crate::app::state::SettingsSection::Sound
+            crate::app::state::SettingsSection::Indicators
         );
 
         update_settings_state(
@@ -468,6 +516,27 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(state.palette.panel_bg, original_palette.panel_bg);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn settings_indicator_choice_returns_save_action() {
+        let mut state = state_with_workspaces(&["test"]);
+        open_settings_at(&mut state, SettingsSection::Indicators);
+        state.settings.list.selected = 1;
+
+        let action = update_settings_state(
+            &mut state,
+            KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::empty()),
+        );
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            action,
+            Some(SettingsAction::SaveStatusIndicators(
+                StatusIndicatorStyle::Symbols
+            ))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(state.status_indicators, StatusIndicatorStyle::Dots);
+        assert_eq!(state.mode, Mode::Settings);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn settings_sound_toggle_returns_save_action() {
         let mut state = state_with_workspaces(&["test"]);

src/app/mod.rs

@@ -616,6 +616,7 @@ impl App {
             sidebar_collapsed_mode: config.ui.sidebar_collapsed_mode,
             sidebar_section_split,
             agent_panel_sort,
+            status_indicators: config.ui.status_indicators,
             agent_view_override: None,
             sidebar_agents: config.ui.sidebar.agents.clone(),
             sidebar_spaces: config.ui.sidebar.spaces.clone(),
@@ -1446,6 +1447,7 @@ impl App {
                 self.state.tab_bar_position = config.ui.tab_bar_position;
                 self.state.agent_panel_sort =
                     agent_panel_sort_from_config(config.ui.agent_panel_sort);
+                self.state.status_indicators = config.ui.status_indicators;
                 self.state.sidebar_agents = config.ui.sidebar.agents.clone();
                 self.state.sidebar_spaces = config.ui.sidebar.spaces.clone();
                 self.state.agent_panel_scroll = 0;
@@ -3442,6 +3444,34 @@ mod tests {
         let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(path.parent().unwrap());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn save_status_indicators_persists_then_applies_live_config() {
+        let _guard = config_env_lock().lock().unwrap();
+        let path = temp_config_path("save-status-indicators");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(path.parent().unwrap()).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(&path, "onboarding = false\n").unwrap();
+        std::env::set_var(crate::config::CONFIG_PATH_ENV_VAR, &path);
+
+        let mut app = test_app();
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.state.status_indicators,
+            crate::config::StatusIndicatorStyle::Dots
+        );
+
+        app.save_status_indicators(crate::config::StatusIndicatorStyle::Symbols);
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.state.status_indicators,
+            crate::config::StatusIndicatorStyle::Symbols
+        );
+        let content = std::fs::read_to_string(&path).unwrap();
+        assert!(content.contains("status_indicators = \"symbols\""));
+        assert!(app.state.config_diagnostic.is_none());
+
+        std::env::remove_var(crate::config::CONFIG_PATH_ENV_VAR);
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(path.parent().unwrap());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn save_agent_panel_sort_persists_then_applies_live_config() {
         let _guard = config_env_lock().lock().unwrap();

src/app/state.rs

@@ -991,6 +991,7 @@ pub enum AgentPanelSort {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum SettingsSection {
     Theme,
+    Indicators,
     Sound,
     Toast,
     PaneLabels,
@@ -1000,6 +1001,7 @@ pub enum SettingsSection {
 impl SettingsSection {
     pub const ALL: &[Self] = &[
         Self::Theme,
+        Self::Indicators,
         Self::Sound,
         Self::Toast,
         Self::PaneLabels,
@@ -1009,6 +1011,7 @@ impl SettingsSection {
     pub fn label(self) -> &'static str {
         match self {
             Self::Theme => "theme",
+            Self::Indicators => "indicators",
             Self::Sound => "sound",
             Self::Toast => "toasts",
             Self::PaneLabels => "pane labels",
@@ -1476,6 +1479,7 @@ pub struct AppState {
     /// Ratio of sidebar height allocated to the workspaces section.
     pub sidebar_section_split: f32,
     pub agent_panel_sort: AgentPanelSort,
+    pub status_indicators: crate::config::StatusIndicatorStyle,
     /// Transient session-wide projection override for the built-in Agents view.
     pub agent_view_override: Option<crate::api::schema::AgentViewSetParams>,
     pub sidebar_agents: crate::config::AgentsSidebarConfig,
@@ -1847,6 +1851,7 @@ impl AppState {
             sidebar_collapsed_mode: crate::config::SidebarCollapsedModeConfig::Compact,
             sidebar_section_split: 0.5,
             agent_panel_sort: AgentPanelSort::Spaces,
+            status_indicators: crate::config::StatusIndicatorStyle::Dots,
             agent_view_override: None,
             sidebar_agents: crate::config::AgentsSidebarConfig::default(),
             sidebar_spaces: crate::config::SpacesSidebarConfig::default(),

src/config.rs

@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ pub use self::{
     model::{
         validated_sidebar_bounds, AgentPanelSortConfig, Config, ConfigReloadReport,
         ConfigReloadStatus, HostCursorModeConfig, NewTerminalCwdConfig, ShellModeConfig,
-        SidebarCollapsedModeConfig, TabBarPositionConfig, ToastClipboardPosition, ToastConfig,
-        ToastDelivery, ToastHerdrPosition, UpdateChannelConfig, MAX_TOAST_DELAY_SECONDS,
+        SidebarCollapsedModeConfig, StatusIndicatorStyle, TabBarPositionConfig,
+        ToastClipboardPosition, ToastConfig, ToastDelivery, ToastHerdrPosition,
+        UpdateChannelConfig, MAX_TOAST_DELAY_SECONDS,
     },
     sidebar::{
         AgentSidebarToken, AgentsSidebarConfig, SidebarConfig, SidebarTokenStyle,