Hmbown · Aug 31, 2026 · Aug 30, 2026 · Aug 30, 2026 · Aug 30, 2026 · Aug 30, 2026
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   entry for it — membership (`codewhale login`) is the only door.
 - Add the Tideline component family from the ratatui translation spec
   (#5698's screens, riding the #5699 work-strip layout): hero startup
-  surface with quick actions and option strip, composer restyle with the
-  fluke cap, notifications inbox, merged footer band, pod ledger, receipt
+  surface with quick actions and option strip, notifications inbox, merged
+  footer band, pod ledger, receipt
   stream, theme list with motion toggles, live preview, settings rail,
   and the left rail — each a standalone render module pinned by 28 new
   byte-exact golden buffers. Frame wiring follows the Tideline acceptance

@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   entry for it — membership (`codewhale login`) is the only door.
 - Add the Tideline component family from the ratatui translation spec
   (#5698's screens, riding the #5699 work-strip layout): hero startup
-  surface with quick actions and option strip, composer restyle with the
-  fluke cap, notifications inbox, merged footer band, pod ledger, receipt
+  surface with quick actions and option strip, notifications inbox, merged
+  footer band, pod ledger, receipt
   stream, theme list with motion toggles, live preview, settings rail,
   and the left rail — each a standalone render module pinned by 28 new
   byte-exact golden buffers. Frame wiring follows the Tideline acceptance

@@ -1213,6 +1213,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "fet",
   "PhaseFailed": "fallit",
   "PhaseFinishing": "acabant",
+  "TidelineRuns": "EXECUCIONS",
+  "TidelineWhales": "BALENES",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} en execució",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1213,6 +1213,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "fertig",
   "PhaseFailed": "fehlgeschlagen",
   "PhaseFinishing": "schließt ab",
+  "TidelineRuns": "LÄUFE",
+  "TidelineWhales": "WALE",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} laufen",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1236,6 +1236,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "done",
   "PhaseFailed": "failed",
   "PhaseFinishing": "finishing",
+  "TidelineRuns": "RUNS",
+  "TidelineWhales": "WHALES",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} running",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1236,6 +1236,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "listo",
   "PhaseFailed": "falló",
   "PhaseFinishing": "finalizando",
+  "TidelineRuns": "EJECUCIONES",
+  "TidelineWhales": "BALLENAS",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} en ejecución",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1213,6 +1213,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "terminé",
   "PhaseFailed": "échoué",
   "PhaseFinishing": "finalisation",
+  "TidelineRuns": "EXÉCUTIONS",
+  "TidelineWhales": "BALEINES",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} en cours",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1213,6 +1213,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "पूर्ण",
   "PhaseFailed": "विफल",
   "PhaseFinishing": "समापन हो रहा",
+  "TidelineRuns": "रन",
+  "TidelineWhales": "व्हेल",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} चल रहे हैं",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1213,6 +1213,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "selesai",
   "PhaseFailed": "gagal",
   "PhaseFinishing": "menyelesaikan",
+  "TidelineRuns": "JALAN",
+  "TidelineWhales": "PAUS",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} berjalan",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1236,6 +1236,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "完了",
   "PhaseFailed": "失敗",
   "PhaseFinishing": "仕上げ中",
+  "TidelineRuns": "実行",
+  "TidelineWhales": "クジラ",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} 実行中",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1236,6 +1236,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "완료",
   "PhaseFailed": "실패",
   "PhaseFinishing": "마무리 중",
+  "TidelineRuns": "실행",
+  "TidelineWhales": "고래",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count}개 실행 중",
   "ChipModeAct": "실행",
   "ChipModePlan": "계획",
   "ChipModeOperate": "운영",

@@ -1236,6 +1236,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "concluído",
   "PhaseFailed": "falhou",
   "PhaseFinishing": "finalizando",
+  "TidelineRuns": "EXECUÇÕES",
+  "TidelineWhales": "BALEIAS",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} em execução",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1213,6 +1213,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "готово",
   "PhaseFailed": "ошибка",
   "PhaseFinishing": "завершение",
+  "TidelineRuns": "ЗАПУСКИ",
+  "TidelineWhales": "КИТЫ",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} выполняются",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1213,6 +1213,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "готово",
   "PhaseFailed": "невдача",
   "PhaseFinishing": "завершення",
+  "TidelineRuns": "ЗАПУСКИ",
+  "TidelineWhales": "КИТИ",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} виконуються",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1236,6 +1236,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "xong",
   "PhaseFailed": "thất bại",
   "PhaseFinishing": "đang hoàn tất",
+  "TidelineRuns": "LƯỢT CHẠY",
+  "TidelineWhales": "CÁ VOI",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} đang chạy",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1236,6 +1236,9 @@
   "PhaseDone": "完成",
   "PhaseFailed": "失败",
   "PhaseFinishing": "收尾中",
+  "TidelineRuns": "运行",
+  "TidelineWhales": "鲸群",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} 个运行中",
   "ChipModeAct": "work",
   "ChipModePlan": "plan",
   "ChipModeOperate": "operate",

@@ -1143,6 +1143,9 @@
   "PhaseDraft": "草稿",
   "PhaseFailed": "失敗",
   "PhaseFinishing": "收尾中",
+  "TidelineRuns": "執行",
+  "TidelineWhales": "鯨群",
+  "TidelineRunningCount": "{count} 個執行中",
   "PhaseIdle": "閒置",
   "PhaseReading": "讀取中",
   "PhaseReasoning": "推理中",

@@ -1406,6 +1406,10 @@ pub enum MessageId {
     PhaseDone,
     PhaseFailed,
     PhaseFinishing,
+    // Active-session Tideline rail group labels.
+    TidelineRuns,
+    TidelineWhales,
+    TidelineRunningCount,
     // Underwater header chips: mode and permission words.
     ChipModeAct,
     ChipModePlan,
@@ -3344,6 +3348,9 @@ pub const ALL_MESSAGE_IDS: &[MessageId] = &[
     MessageId::PhaseDone,
     MessageId::PhaseFailed,
     MessageId::PhaseFinishing,
+    MessageId::TidelineRuns,
+    MessageId::TidelineWhales,
+    MessageId::TidelineRunningCount,
     MessageId::ChipModeAct,
     MessageId::ChipModePlan,
     MessageId::ChipModeOperate,

@@ -421,10 +421,6 @@ pub struct Settings {
     pub composer_vim_mode: String,
     /// Transcript spacing rhythm: compact, comfortable, spacious
     pub transcript_spacing: String,
-    /// Show the pre-session launch menu. When false, Codewhale enters a new
-    /// session directly; resume remains available in-session.
-    #[serde(default)]
-    pub launch_screen: bool,
     /// Default mode: "agent" (Act), "plan", or "operate". Legacy permission
     /// shorthands are accepted for migration but never advertised as modes.
     pub default_mode: String,
@@ -608,7 +604,6 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             composer_multiline_mode: false,
             composer_vim_mode: "normal".to_string(),
             transcript_spacing: "comfortable".to_string(),
-            launch_screen: false,
             default_mode: "agent".to_string(),
             sidebar_width_percent: 28,
             sidebar_focus: "auto".to_string(),
@@ -1482,9 +1477,6 @@ impl Settings {
                 }
                 self.transcript_spacing = normalized.to_string();
             }
-            "launch_screen" | "launch" => {
-                self.launch_screen = parse_bool(value)?;
-            }
             "status_indicator" | "indicator" => {
                 let normalized = normalize_status_indicator(value);
                 if !["cw", "whale", "dots", "off"].contains(&normalized) {
@@ -1698,7 +1690,6 @@ impl Settings {
             self.workspace_follow_symlinks
         ));
         lines.push(format!("  default_mode:       {}", self.default_mode));
-        lines.push(format!("  launch_screen:      {}", self.launch_screen));
         lines.push(format!("  context_panel:      {}", self.context_panel));
         lines.push(format!("  cost_currency:      {}", self.cost_currency));
         lines.push(format!("  max_history:        {}", self.max_input_history));
@@ -1876,10 +1867,6 @@ impl Settings {
                 "transcript_spacing",
                 "Transcript spacing: compact, comfortable, spacious",
             ),
-            (
-                "launch_screen",
-                "Show the pre-session launch menu on startup: on/off",
-            ),
             (
                 "status_indicator",
                 "Header status mark, shown before the route: cw, whale, dots, off",
@@ -3588,9 +3575,24 @@ mod tests {
         );
         assert!(!settings.low_motion);
         assert_eq!(settings.transcript_spacing, "comfortable");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn retired_launch_screen_setting_is_accepted_and_dropped_on_save() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+        let path = tmp.path().join("settings.toml");
+        std::fs::write(&path, "launch_screen = false\n").expect("legacy settings");
+
+        let settings = Settings::load_persisted_from_candidates(Some(path.clone()), None, None)
+            .expect("legacy setting must remain readable");
+        settings
+            .save_to_path(&path)
+            .expect("save normalized settings");
+
+        let saved = std::fs::read_to_string(&path).expect("read normalized settings");
         assert!(
-            !settings.launch_screen,
-            "returning users enter a session directly"
+            !saved.contains("launch_screen"),
+            "the retired setting must not be written back: {saved}"
         );
     }
 

@@ -324,11 +324,18 @@ pub(crate) fn test_tui_options(workspace: impl AsRef<Path>) -> crate::tui::app::
 /// `App::new` consults real persisted settings (provider/model maps,
 /// auto-model, route limits, locale, currency), so an un-pinned fixture
 /// computes against whatever the developer last configured. Every pin below
-/// exists because some test was observed to depend on it.
+/// exists because some test was observed to depend on it. This fixture models
+/// a session after the user has chosen a Startup action; direct `App::new`
+/// tests remain the clean-launch authority.
 pub(crate) fn test_app_with_options(options: crate::tui::app::TuiOptions) -> crate::tui::app::App {
     let config = crate::config::Config::default();
     let mut app = crate::tui::app::App::new(options, &config);
 
+    // Shared behavior tests operate on the live session surface. Do not make
+    // the production startup conditional for them: clean launches are covered
+    // by direct `App::new` tests that retain the Tideline Startup Hero.
+    app.launch.visible = false;
+
     // Deterministic presentation regardless of host locale.
     app.cost_currency = crate::pricing::CostCurrency::Usd;
     app.ui_locale = crate::localization::Locale::En;

@@ -113,8 +113,12 @@ impl App {
             false
         };
         settings.apply_env_overrides();
-        let launch_visible =
-            settings.launch_screen && resume_session_id.is_none() && initial_input.is_none();
+        // Tideline Startup is the fresh interactive landing surface. It must
+        // not be bypassed by a stale historical `launch_screen = false`, a
+        // provider/config notice, or a previous session record: only an
+        // intentional resume or explicit initial input enters the live session
+        // path directly.
+        let launch_visible = resume_session_id.is_none() && initial_input.is_none();
         let launch = LaunchState::new(launch_visible, &workspace);
 
         // If settings.toml exists on disk but couldn't be parsed (we fell back

@@ -134,6 +134,10 @@ fn initial_input_prefill_waits_for_manual_submit() {
 
     let app = App::new(options, &Config::default());
 
+    assert!(
+        !app.launch.visible,
+        "an intentional prefilled prompt must enter the live composer instead of the startup hero"
+    );
     assert_eq!(app.input, "review this PR");
     assert_eq!(app.cursor_position, "review this PR".chars().count());
     assert!(!app.auto_submit_initial_input);
@@ -148,6 +152,10 @@ fn initial_input_submit_marks_startup_dispatch() {
 
     let app = App::new(options, &Config::default());
 
+    assert!(
+        !app.launch.visible,
+        "an intentional submitted prompt must bypass the startup hero"
+    );
     assert_eq!(app.input, "阅读项目 and wait for instructions");
     assert_eq!(
         app.cursor_position,
@@ -156,6 +164,60 @@ fn initial_input_submit_marks_startup_dispatch() {
     assert!(app.auto_submit_initial_input);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn clean_launch_keeps_startup_hero_despite_a_startup_notice() {
+    let _env_lock = lock_test_env();
+    let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+    let config_path = tmp.path().join("config.toml");
+    let _config_env = EnvVarGuard::set("DEEPSEEK_CONFIG_PATH", &config_path);
+    std::fs::write(tmp.path().join("settings.toml"), "launch_screen = false\n")
+        .expect("legacy settings");
+    let mut options = test_options(false);
+    options.startup_notice =
+        Some("Provider route changed; inspect the route before sending".into());
+
+    let app = App::new(options, &Config::default());
+
+    assert!(
+        app.launch.visible,
+        "a fresh interactive launch must keep the Tideline startup hero visible; a notice is not an intentional resume or prompt"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn explicit_resume_bypasses_startup_hero() {
+    let _env_lock = lock_test_env();
+    let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+    let config_path = tmp.path().join("config.toml");
+    let _config_env = EnvVarGuard::set("DEEPSEEK_CONFIG_PATH", &config_path);
+    let mut options = test_options(false);
+    options.resume_session_id = Some("explicit-resume".into());
+
+    let app = App::new(options, &Config::default());
+
+    assert!(
+        !app.launch.visible,
+        "an explicit resume must preserve the existing session path"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn remote_control_initial_input_bypasses_startup_hero() {
+    let _env_lock = lock_test_env();
+    let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+    let config_path = tmp.path().join("config.toml");
+    let _config_env = EnvVarGuard::set("DEEPSEEK_CONFIG_PATH", &config_path);
+    let mut options = test_options(false);
+    options.initial_input = Some(InitialInput::RemoteControl);
+
+    let app = App::new(options, &Config::default());
+
+    assert!(
+        !app.launch.visible,
+        "an intentional remote-control launch must preserve its existing direct-session path"
+    );
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn composer_arrows_scroll_default_is_true_without_mouse_capture() {
     assert!(default_composer_arrows_scroll_for_platform(false, false));