feat(maestro): make TUI panel focus unmistakable

crates/maestro-tui/src/render.rs

@@ -108,36 +108,29 @@ pub fn draw(f: &mut Frame, inputs: RenderInputs<'_>) -> RegionMap {
         map.sidebar = Some(sidebar_area);
     }
 
-    // 1-row tab bar + 1-row horizontal rule (doubles as the pane's focus
-    // indicator) + flex pane area below. Saves the 4 rows the old
-    // `Length(3) + Borders::ALL` layout was eating before any content showed.
+    // The pane always owns its full border, so focus changes only recolour
+    // chrome and never change the rectangles handed to the input router.
     let rows = Layout::default()
         .direction(Direction::Vertical)
-        .constraints([
-            Constraint::Length(1),
-            Constraint::Length(1),
-            Constraint::Min(0),
-        ])
+        .constraints([Constraint::Length(1), Constraint::Min(0)])
         .split(right);
     let tab_area = rows[0];
-    let separator_area = rows[1];
-    let pane_area = rows[2];
+    let pane_area = rows[1];
 
     inputs.tab_bar.render(f, tab_area);
     map.tab_bar = Some(tab_area);
 
     let pane_focused = inputs.state.focus == Focus::Pane;
-    f.render_widget(
-        Block::default()
-            .borders(Borders::TOP)
-            .border_style(focus_style(pane_focused)),
-        separator_area,
-    );
+    let pane_block = Block::default()
+        .borders(Borders::ALL)
+        .border_style(focus_style(pane_focused));
+    let pane_inner = pane_block.inner(pane_area);
+    f.render_widget(pane_block, pane_area);
     if let Some(p) = inputs.pane {
-        p.render(f, pane_area);
+        p.render(f, pane_inner);
     }
     if let Some(d) = inputs.draft {
-        d.render(f, pane_area, pane_focused);
+        d.render(f, pane_inner, pane_focused);
     }
     map.pane = Some(pane_area);
 
@@ -351,4 +344,96 @@ mod tests {
             assert!(out.contains(s), "missing {s:?}:\n{out}");
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn panel_rectangles_are_stable_when_focus_moves() {
+        use crate::overlays::HelpOverlay;
+        use crate::sidebar::Sidebar;
+        use std::collections::HashSet;
+
+        let sidebar = Sidebar {
+            sessions: Vec::new(),
+            highlight: None,
+            attached: HashSet::new(),
+        };
+        let tab_bar = TabBar {
+            tab_names: vec!["1".into()],
+            active_idx: 0,
+        };
+        let help = HelpOverlay { lines: Vec::new() };
+        let draw_map = |focus| {
+            let mut state = AppState::new();
+            state.focus = focus;
+            let inputs = RenderInputs {
+                sidebar: &sidebar,
+                tab_bar: &tab_bar,
+                pane: None,
+                draft: None,
+                state: &state,
+                help: &help,
+                worktrees: None,
+            };
+            let backend = ratatui::backend::TestBackend::new(80, 24);
+            let mut terminal = ratatui::Terminal::new(backend).unwrap();
+            let mut map = None;
+            terminal.draw(|f| map = Some(draw(f, inputs))).unwrap();
+            map.unwrap()
+        };
+
+        let sidebar_focus = draw_map(Focus::Sidebar);
+        let pane_focus = draw_map(Focus::Pane);
+        assert_eq!(sidebar_focus.sidebar, pane_focus.sidebar);
+        assert_eq!(sidebar_focus.tab_bar, pane_focus.tab_bar);
+        assert_eq!(sidebar_focus.pane, pane_focus.pane);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn panel_border_colours_follow_focus_without_restyling_the_pane() {
+        use crate::overlays::HelpOverlay;
+        use crate::sidebar::Sidebar;
+        use std::collections::HashSet;
+
+        let sidebar = Sidebar {
+            sessions: Vec::new(),
+            highlight: None,
+            attached: HashSet::new(),
+        };
+        let tab_bar = TabBar {
+            tab_names: vec!["1".into()],
+            active_idx: 0,
+        };
+        let help = HelpOverlay { lines: Vec::new() };
+        let render = |focus| {
+            let mut state = AppState::new();
+            state.focus = focus;
+            let inputs = RenderInputs {
+                sidebar: &sidebar,
+                tab_bar: &tab_bar,
+                pane: None,
+                draft: None,
+                state: &state,
+                help: &help,
+                worktrees: None,
+            };
+            let backend = ratatui::backend::TestBackend::new(80, 24);
+            let mut terminal = ratatui::Terminal::new(backend).unwrap();
+            terminal
+                .draw(|f| {
+                    draw(f, inputs);
+                })
+                .unwrap();
+            terminal.backend().buffer().clone()
+        };
+
+        let sidebar_focused = render(Focus::Sidebar);
+        let pane_focused = render(Focus::Pane);
+        let p = palette::active();
+        assert_eq!(sidebar_focused[(0, 0)].style().fg, Some(p.border_focused));
+        assert_eq!(pane_focused[(0, 0)].style().fg, Some(p.border_unfocused));
+        assert_eq!(
+            sidebar_focused[(28, 1)].style().fg,
+            Some(p.border_unfocused)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(pane_focused[(28, 1)].style().fg, Some(p.border_focused));
+    }
 }

crates/maestro-tui/src/sidebar.rs

@@ -31,12 +31,13 @@ const META_INDENT: &str = "    ";
 /// Spawn-similar and kill, shown on the highlighted card's top-right corner.
 const ACTIONS: &str = "⧉ ✕";
 
-/// Every card sits on the palette's card surface so cards read as cards
-/// against the panel; the highlighted card swaps in the selection surface
-/// instead (`Modifier::REVERSED` made the card unreadable against a
-/// background).
-fn card_base(highlighted: bool) -> Style {
-    palette::active().surface(highlighted).text_style()
+/// Cards use the selection surface only while the sidebar owns focus. An
+/// unfocused highlight remains an edge-marked cursor without claiming the
+/// keyboard via a filled selection background.
+fn card_base(highlighted: bool, focused: bool) -> Style {
+    palette::active()
+        .surface(highlighted && focused)
+        .text_style()
 }
 
 /// Renderable sidebar state.
@@ -52,14 +53,13 @@ impl Sidebar {
         self.render_with_focus(f, area, false);
     }
 
-    /// Same as [`Sidebar::render`] but tints the right-edge separator in the
-    /// focus colour when `focused`. Box borders eat too many rows/cols for
-    /// the v1 layout — a single vertical rule keeps the panel boundary
-    /// without stealing space.
+    /// Render the panel with a persistent border. Focus changes its colour
+    /// and whether the highlighted card claims the selection surface, never
+    /// its geometry.
     pub fn render_with_focus(&self, f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, focused: bool) {
         let border_style = palette::active().border_style(focused);
         let block = Block::default()
-            .borders(Borders::RIGHT)
+            .borders(Borders::ALL)
             .border_style(border_style);
         let inner = block.inner(area);
         f.render_widget(block, area);
@@ -71,22 +71,22 @@ impl Sidebar {
         ))];
         for s in &self.sessions {
             let highlighted = self.highlight == Some(s.id);
-            let base = card_base(highlighted);
-            lines.push(Line::from(self.name_row(s, width)));
-            let meta = self.meta_row(s, width);
+            let base = card_base(highlighted, focused);
+            lines.push(Line::from(self.name_row(s, width, focused)));
+            let meta = self.meta_row(s, width, focused);
             lines.push(Line::from(pad_to_width(meta, width, base)));
         }
         f.render_widget(Paragraph::new(lines), inner);
     }
 
-    fn name_row(&self, s: &Session, width: usize) -> Vec<Span<'static>> {
+    fn name_row(&self, s: &Session, width: usize, focused: bool) -> Vec<Span<'static>> {
         let glyph = match (s.status, self.attached.contains(&s.id)) {
             (SessionStatus::Dead, _) => "✗",
             (SessionStatus::Running, true) => "●",
             (SessionStatus::Running, false) => "○",
         };
         let highlighted = self.highlight == Some(s.id);
-        let base = card_base(highlighted);
+        let base = card_base(highlighted, focused);
         // Line-1 actions are keyboard affordances shown on the highlighted
         // row only; they reserve their width so the name truncates with `…`
         // before it can ever reach them (docs/SIDEBAR.md).
@@ -102,8 +102,16 @@ impl Sidebar {
         let sep = if highlighted { 1 } else { 0 };
         let name_budget = usable.saturating_sub(prefix + sep);
 
+        let edge = highlighted && !focused;
         let mut spans: Vec<Span<'static>> = vec![
-            Span::styled(INDENT, base),
+            Span::styled(
+                if edge { "▏ " } else { INDENT },
+                if edge {
+                    base.fg(palette::active().focus_accent)
+                } else {
+                    base
+                },
+            ),
             Span::styled(format!("{glyph} "), base),
         ];
         spans.extend(
@@ -122,7 +130,7 @@ impl Sidebar {
     }
 
     /// The adaptive second line: `<dot> [<duration>] [<detail>] [<blocked work> | exited] <command>`.
-    fn meta_row(&self, s: &Session, width: usize) -> Vec<Span<'static>> {
+    fn meta_row(&self, s: &Session, width: usize, focused: bool) -> Vec<Span<'static>> {
         let now = Utc::now();
         let held = held_for(s, now);
         let held_secs = held.map(|d| d.num_seconds()).unwrap_or(0);
@@ -131,11 +139,22 @@ impl Sidebar {
         let blocked = s.blocked_work.filter(|b| !b.is_clear());
         let dead = s.status == SessionStatus::Dead;
         let highlighted = self.highlight == Some(s.id);
-        let base = card_base(highlighted);
-        let dot_style = base.patch(Style::default().fg(activity_color(s.activity, highlighted)));
-        let muted = palette::active().surface(highlighted).muted_style();
+        let base = card_base(highlighted, focused);
+        let dot_style =
+            base.patch(Style::default().fg(activity_color(s.activity, highlighted, focused)));
+        let muted = palette::active()
+            .surface(highlighted && focused)
+            .muted_style();
+        let edge = highlighted && !focused;
         let mut spans = vec![
-            Span::styled(META_INDENT, base),
+            Span::styled(
+                if edge { "  ▏ " } else { META_INDENT },
+                if edge {
+                    base.fg(palette::active().focus_accent)
+                } else {
+                    base
+                },
+            ),
             Span::styled("●", dot_style),
         ];
         if let Some(d) = held.filter(|_| held_secs >= META_LINE_AFTER_SECS) {
@@ -151,26 +170,27 @@ impl Sidebar {
         }
         let command = Span::styled(format!(" {}", s.command), muted);
 
-        // Reserve the trailing fragments so detail truncates before them;
-        // the command is itself the final truncation target on narrow cards.
+        // Reserve the triggered status fragments before detail and command.
+        // If the row is exceptionally narrow, keep one column for the
+        // unconditional command and truncate the status tail first. Detail
+        // then receives only space left after the full command reservation;
+        // when the full command cannot fit, it is the final truncation target.
         let head_w: usize = spans.iter().map(|sp| sp.width()).sum();
-        let tail_w: usize = tail.iter().map(|sp| sp.width()).sum();
-        let command_w = command.width();
         let available = width.saturating_sub(head_w);
-        if tail_w + command_w > available {
-            spans.extend(fit_to_width(vec![command], available));
-            return spans;
-        }
+        let command_floor = usize::from(available > 0);
+        let tail = fit_to_width(tail, available.saturating_sub(command_floor));
+        let tail_w: usize = tail.iter().map(|sp| sp.width()).sum();
+        let command_w = command.width().min(available.saturating_sub(tail_w));
         if let Some(detail) = s.activity_detail.as_deref().filter(|d| !d.is_empty()) {
-            let budget = width.saturating_sub(head_w + tail_w);
+            let budget = available.saturating_sub(tail_w + command_w);
             spans.extend(fit_to_width(
                 vec![Span::styled(format!(" {detail}"), muted)],
                 budget,
             ));
         }
         spans.extend(tail);
-        spans.push(command);
-        fit_to_width(spans, width)
+        spans.extend(fit_to_width(vec![command], command_w));
+        spans
     }
 }
 
@@ -178,8 +198,10 @@ impl Sidebar {
 /// state word is never spelled out — this colour carries it. The highlighted
 /// card takes its state colours from the selection surface: a colour picked
 /// for the dark card background is not legible on the selection background.
-fn activity_color(state: ActivityState, highlighted: bool) -> Color {
-    palette::active().surface(highlighted).activity(state)
+fn activity_color(state: ActivityState, highlighted: bool, focused: bool) -> Color {
+    palette::active()
+        .surface(highlighted && focused)
+        .activity(state)
 }
 
 /// docs/SIDEBAR.md duration format — floored whole seconds / minutes / hours,
@@ -280,9 +302,15 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     fn draw(sidebar: &Sidebar, w: u16, h: u16) -> Buffer {
+        draw_with_focus(sidebar, w, h, true)
+    }
+
+    fn draw_with_focus(sidebar: &Sidebar, w: u16, h: u16, focused: bool) -> Buffer {
         let backend = TestBackend::new(w, h);
         let mut terminal = Terminal::new(backend).unwrap();
-        terminal.draw(|f| sidebar.render(f, f.area())).unwrap();
+        terminal
+            .draw(|f| sidebar.render_with_focus(f, f.area(), focused))
+            .unwrap();
         terminal.backend().buffer().clone()
     }
 
@@ -308,7 +336,10 @@ mod tests {
 
     /// Row text without the trailing space padding and right border.
     fn content(row: &str) -> &str {
-        row.trim_end().trim_end_matches('│').trim_end()
+        row.trim()
+            .trim_start_matches('│')
+            .trim_end_matches('│')
+            .trim()
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -416,22 +447,22 @@ mod tests {
             attached: Default::default(),
         };
         let all = rows(&draw(&sb, 28, 8));
-        assert_eq!(content(&all[0]), "sessions");
+        assert_eq!(content(&all[1]), "sessions");
         assert!(row_containing(&all, "claude").contains('○'));
         assert!(
-            all[2].contains('●'),
+            all[3].contains('●'),
             "line 2 must carry the dot: {:?}",
-            all[2]
+            all[3]
         );
         assert!(
-            all[2].contains("bash"),
+            all[3].contains("bash"),
             "line 2 must carry the command: {:?}",
-            all[2]
+            all[3]
         );
         assert!(
-            !all[2].contains("10s"),
+            !all[3].contains("10s"),
             "fresh cards have no duration: {:?}",
-            all[2]
+            all[3]
         );
     }
 
@@ -659,7 +690,7 @@ mod tests {
             highlight: None,
             attached: Default::default(),
         };
-        let all = rows(&draw(&sb, 40, 8));
+        let all = rows(&draw(&sb, 42, 8));
         let idx = all.iter().position(|l| l.contains("claude")).unwrap();
         let meta = content(&all[idx + 1]);
         assert!(meta.contains('…'), "truncated detail ends with …: {meta:?}");
@@ -751,14 +782,14 @@ mod tests {
         };
         let all = rows(&draw(&sb, 40, 6));
         assert!(
-            all[1].contains("friendly name"),
+            all[2].contains("friendly name"),
             "name must stay on line 1: {:?}",
-            all[1]
+            all[2]
         );
         assert!(
-            all[2].contains("bash"),
+            all[3].contains("bash"),
             "command must be on line 2: {:?}",
-            all[2]
+            all[3]
         );
     }
 
@@ -772,17 +803,59 @@ mod tests {
         };
         let all = rows(&draw(&sb, 10, 6));
         assert!(
-            all[2].contains('●'),
+            all[3].contains('●'),
             "dot must survive narrow cards: {:?}",
-            all[2]
+            all[3]
         );
         assert!(
-            all[2].contains('…'),
+            all[3].contains('…'),
             "command should truncate: {:?}",
-            all[2]
+            all[3]
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn blocked_warning_survives_before_a_truncated_command() {
+        let mut s = session_named(1, "name");
+        s.command = "a command that cannot fit".into();
+        s.blocked_work = Some(InTheWay {
+            uncommitted_files: 1,
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+        let sb = Sidebar {
+            sessions: vec![s],
+            highlight: None,
+            attached: Default::default(),
+        };
+        let all = rows(&draw(&sb, 29, 6));
+        assert!(all[3].contains("⚠ 1 uncommitted file"), "{:?}", all[3]);
+        let meta = content(&all[3]);
+        assert!(meta.ends_with('…'), "command must truncate: {meta:?}");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn long_detail_yields_to_status_and_command() {
+        let mut s = session_named(1, "name");
+        s.activity_detail = Some("a very long agent-reported detail".into());
+        s.blocked_work = Some(InTheWay {
+            uncommitted_files: 1,
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+        let sb = Sidebar {
+            sessions: vec![s],
+            highlight: None,
+            attached: Default::default(),
+        };
+        let all = rows(&draw(&sb, 40, 6));
+        assert!(all[3].contains("⚠ 1 uncommitted file"), "{:?}", all[3]);
+        assert!(
+            all[3].contains("bash"),
+            "command must survive: {:?}",
+            all[3]
+        );
+        assert!(all[3].contains('…'), "detail must truncate: {:?}", all[3]);
+    }
+
     /// Reversed video makes a card unreadable against a background; cards
     /// use explicit backgrounds instead (docs/SIDEBAR.md, #108).
     #[test]
@@ -826,27 +899,64 @@ mod tests {
 
         let p = palette::active();
         assert_eq!(
-            buf[(0, claude_y as u16)].style().bg,
+            buf[(1, claude_y as u16)].style().bg,
             Some(p.selection.bg),
             "focused card must sit on the selection surface"
         );
         assert_eq!(
-            buf[(0, claude_y as u16)].style().fg,
+            buf[(1, claude_y as u16)].style().fg,
             Some(p.selection.fg),
             "focused card text must use the selection foreground role"
         );
         assert_eq!(
-            buf[(0, bash_y as u16)].style().bg,
+            buf[(1, bash_y as u16)].style().bg,
             Some(p.card.bg),
             "unfocused cards must still sit on the card surface"
         );
         // The panel itself (header row) stays on the terminal default.
         assert!(
-            matches!(buf[(0, 0)].style().bg, None | Some(Color::Reset)),
+            matches!(buf[(1, 1)].style().bg, None | Some(Color::Reset)),
             "panel must keep the terminal default background"
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn highlighted_card_is_hollow_when_sidebar_is_unfocused() {
+        let sb = Sidebar {
+            sessions: vec![session_named(1, "claude")],
+            highlight: Some(Uuid::from_u128(1)),
+            attached: Default::default(),
+        };
+        let buf = draw_with_focus(&sb, 28, 8, false);
+        let y = (0..buf.area.height)
+            .find(|&y| (0..buf.area.width).any(|x| buf[(x, y)].symbol() == "c"))
+            .expect("highlighted session row");
+        assert_eq!(
+            buf[(1, y)].style().bg,
+            Some(palette::active().card.bg),
+            "unfocused highlight must not paint the selection surface"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            (0..buf.area.width).any(|x| buf[(x, y)].symbol() == "▏"),
+            "unfocused highlight must retain a visible edge marker"
+        );
+        let ordinary = draw_with_focus(
+            &Sidebar {
+                sessions: vec![session_named(1, "claude")],
+                highlight: None,
+                attached: Default::default(),
+            },
+            28,
+            8,
+            false,
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !(0..ordinary.area.height)
+                .any(|row| (0..ordinary.area.width).any(|x| ordinary[(x, row)].symbol() == "▏")),
+            "ordinary unhighlighted cards must not carry the cursor marker"
+        );
+    }
+
     /// The card background paints the full card width, not just the glyphs.
     #[test]
     fn card_background_covers_the_full_card_width() {
@@ -858,7 +968,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
         let buf = draw(&sb, 28, 8);
         let y = buf.content.iter().position(|c| c.symbol() == "c").unwrap() as u16 / buf.area.width;
-        for x in 0..27 {
+        for x in 1..27 {
             assert_eq!(
                 buf[(x, y)].style().bg,
                 Some(palette::active().card.bg),

web/src/activity.test.ts

@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ import {
   activityColorSlug,
   activityDurationLabel,
   activityHeldMs,
-  showsMetaLine,
 } from "./activity.js";
-import type { Session } from "./types.js";
 
 describe("activityHeldMs", () => {
   it("measures time spent in the current state", () => {
@@ -60,42 +58,3 @@ describe("activityColorSlug", () => {
     expect(activityColorSlug("Teleported")).toBe("idle");
   });
 });
-
-function session(overrides: Partial<Session>): Session {
-  return {
-    id: "11111111-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
-    cwd: "/home/naps/tea/maestro",
-    command: "claude",
-    env: {},
-    metadata: {},
-    status: "Running",
-    created_at: "2026-08-24T10:00:00Z",
-    activity: "Active",
-    ...overrides,
-  };
-}
-
-describe("showsMetaLine", () => {
-  const fresh = new Date(Date.now() - 10_000).toISOString();
-
-  it("stays hidden for a freshly-active session", () => {
-    expect(showsMetaLine(session({ activity_since: fresh }))).toBe(false);
-  });
-
-  it("appears once the state has been held past 30 seconds", () => {
-    const held = new Date(Date.now() - 31_000).toISOString();
-    expect(showsMetaLine(session({ activity_since: held }))).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it("appears for blocked work, exited sessions and reported errors", () => {
-    expect(
-      showsMetaLine(session({ activity_since: fresh, blocked_work: { uncommitted_files: 1 } })),
-    ).toBe(true);
-    expect(showsMetaLine(session({ activity_since: fresh, status: "Dead" }))).toBe(true);
-    expect(showsMetaLine(session({ activity_since: fresh, activity: "Error" }))).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it("needs no activity timestamp when another trigger holds", () => {
-    expect(showsMetaLine(session({ activity_since: undefined, status: "Dead" }))).toBe(true);
-  });
-});

web/src/activity.ts

@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 // the shared duration format. Both clients compute it identically; the TUI
 // mirrors this in crates/maestro-tui.
 
-import type { ActivityState, IsoTimestamp, Session } from "./types.js";
-import { sessionBlockers } from "./types.js";
+import type { ActivityState, IsoTimestamp } from "./types.js";
 
-/** A state held shorter than this keeps the card to one line (contract rule 1). */
-const META_LINE_MIN_HOLD_MS = 30_000;
+/** A state held shorter than this has no duration fragment. */
+export const META_LINE_MIN_HOLD_MS = 30_000;
 
 // Payloads predating #102 default `activity_since` to the Unix epoch; anything
 // implausibly old is treated as "never observed" rather than a huge duration.
@@ -43,14 +42,3 @@ export function activityColorSlug(state: ActivityState | string): string {
       return "idle";
   }
 }
-
-/** Line 2 renders only when at least one contract trigger holds. */
-export function showsMetaLine(s: Session, now: number = Date.now()): boolean {
-  const held = activityHeldMs(s.activity_since, now);
-  return (
-    (held !== null && held >= META_LINE_MIN_HOLD_MS) ||
-    sessionBlockers(s) !== null ||
-    s.status === "Dead" ||
-    s.activity === "Error"
-  );
-}

web/src/catalog.test.ts

@@ -150,14 +150,18 @@ describe("session cards (#107)", () => {
     expect(line1?.querySelector(".leaf-actions")).toBe(line1?.lastElementChild);
   });
 
-  it("stays a single line while freshly active", () => {
+  it("always renders line 2 for a freshly spawned session", () => {
     const s = session({
       id: "aaaaaaaa-0000-0000-0000-000000000011",
       activity: "Active",
       activity_since: ago(5_000),
     });
     const el = renderSidebar(storeWith([s])).el;
-    expect(rowFor(el, s.id)?.querySelector(".card-line2")).toBeNull();
+    const line2 = rowFor(el, s.id)?.querySelector<HTMLElement>(".card-line2");
+    expect(line2).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(line2?.querySelector(".activity-dot")).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(line2?.querySelector(".activity-duration")).toBeNull();
+    expect(line2?.querySelector(".leaf-cmd")?.textContent).toBe("claude");
   });
 
   it("shows dot + floored duration once the state has been held past 30s", () => {
@@ -173,6 +177,16 @@ describe("session cards (#107)", () => {
     expect(line2?.querySelector(".activity-duration")?.textContent).toBe("4m");
   });
 
+  it("renders the command when the session name equals it", () => {
+    const s = session({
+      id: "aaaaaaaa-0000-0000-0000-00000000001b",
+      command: "claude",
+      metadata: { name: "claude" },
+    });
+    const el = renderSidebar(storeWith([s])).el;
+    expect(rowFor(el, s.id)?.querySelector(".card-line2 .leaf-cmd")?.textContent).toBe("claude");
+  });
+
   it("maps each activity state to its contract slug", () => {
     const mk = (id: string, activity: string) =>
       session({

web/src/catalog.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ import { HUD_TOGGLE_EVENT, isHudEnabled, toggleHud } from "./debug.js";
 import { CatalogStore } from "./events.js";
 import type { Session } from "./types.js";
 import { abbreviateFolderName, formatInTheWay, sessionBlockers, sessionName } from "./types.js";
-import { activityColorSlug, activityDurationLabel, activityHeldMs, showsMetaLine } from "./activity.js";
+import {
+  activityColorSlug,
+  activityDurationLabel,
+  activityHeldMs,
+  META_LINE_MIN_HOLD_MS,
+} from "./activity.js";
 import type { TreeNode } from "./tree.js";
 import { buildTree } from "./tree.js";
 import { createThemeToggle } from "./theme.js";
@@ -28,16 +33,13 @@ const STATE_WORDS: Record<string, string> = {
 };
 
 function metaLine(s: Session, now: number): string {
-  const name = sessionName(s);
   const dead = s.status === "Dead";
   const blockers = sessionBlockers(s);
   const slug = activityColorSlug(s.activity ?? "Idle");
   const stateWord = STATE_WORDS[slug] ?? STATE_WORDS.idle;
   const held = activityHeldMs(s.activity_since, now);
-  const duration = held !== null ? activityDurationLabel(held) : null;
-  // The directory is the enclosing folder, so only surface the command — and
-  // only when it isn't already what the name shows.
-  const showCmd = s.command !== name;
+  const duration =
+    held !== null && held >= META_LINE_MIN_HOLD_MS ? activityDurationLabel(held) : null;
 
   const fragments = [
     `<span class="activity-dot" role="img" title="${escapeHtml(stateWord)}" aria-label="${escapeHtml(stateWord)}"></span>`,
@@ -49,9 +51,7 @@ function metaLine(s: Session, now: number): string {
       ? `<span class="card-flag leaf-blocked" title="Kill will be refused unless forced">⚠ ${escapeHtml(formatInTheWay(blockers))}</span>`
       : "",
     dead ? `<span class="card-flag">exited</span>` : "",
-    showCmd
-      ? `<span class="card-flag leaf-cmd" title="${escapeHtml(s.command)}">${escapeHtml(s.command)}</span>`
-      : "",
+    `<span class="card-flag leaf-cmd" title="${escapeHtml(s.command)}">${escapeHtml(s.command)}</span>`,
   ];
   return `<span class="card-line2" data-activity="${slug}">${fragments.join("")}</span>`;
 }
@@ -106,10 +106,7 @@ function renderNode(node: TreeNode, depth: number): HTMLElement {
     "aria-label",
     `${name}, ${running ? "running" : "exited"}, ${stateWord}`,
   );
-  // docs/SIDEBAR.md line 1: name + top-right actions in the same flow line —
-  // the actions reserve their width, so the name truncates before it can ever
-  // reach them. Line 2 renders only when a contract trigger holds.
-  const showMeta = showsMetaLine(s, now);
+  // docs/SIDEBAR.md: line 1 reserves action width, and line 2 is unconditional.
   row.innerHTML = `
     <span class="card-line1">
       <span class="leaf-name">${escapeHtml(name)}</span>
@@ -118,7 +115,7 @@ function renderNode(node: TreeNode, depth: number): HTMLElement {
         <button class="leaf-act leaf-kill" type="button" title="Kill session" aria-label="Kill ${escapeHtml(name)}">✕</button>
       </span>
     </span>
-    ${showMeta ? metaLine(s, now) : ""}
+    ${metaLine(s, now)}
   `;
   const similarBtn = row.querySelector(".leaf-clone") as HTMLButtonElement;
   similarBtn.addEventListener("click", (ev) => {

web/src/styles.css

@@ -736,7 +736,6 @@ textarea {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   gap: var(--sp-2);
-  min-height: 30px;
   margin: 1px var(--sp-2);
   padding: 4px var(--sp-3);
   border-radius: var(--r-1);
@@ -787,12 +786,13 @@ textarea {
   font-weight: 400;
 }
 
-/* #107: session cards per docs/SIDEBAR.md — line 1 (name + top-right actions)
-   always, line 2 (meta) only when it has something to say. */
+/* #120: every session card has two lines, so its row height is stable. */
 .tree-leaf.session-card {
   flex-direction: column;
   align-items: stretch;
   gap: 1px;
+  /* 24px action row + 16px meta row + 1px gap + 8px vertical padding. */
+  height: 49px;
 }
 
 .card-line1 {
@@ -855,7 +855,8 @@ textarea {
    ellipsis so it never pushes the trailing fragments off the line. */
 .activity-detail {
   color: var(--faint);
-  flex: 0 1 auto;
+  /* Consume only the space left after the trailing status + command. */
+  flex: 1 1 0;
   min-width: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
@@ -866,12 +867,19 @@ textarea {
    signals severity and "exited" dims with the row. */
 .card-flag {
   color: var(--faint);
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
   min-width: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
   white-space: nowrap;
 }
 
+/* Status fragments stay intact. The unconditional command is the final
+   truncation target when even the complete trailing set cannot fit. */
+.leaf-cmd {
+  flex: 0 1 auto;
+}
+
 /* Actions live in line 1's flow at its right edge — never overlaid on the
    name (#107). They reserve their width even while hover-faded. */
 .leaf-actions {