sidebar activity timeline replaces tool display in chat

- New ActivityTimeline: unified timeline in sidebar showing all agent actions
  (goal, plan steps, tool calls, knowledge, completion) in reverse chron order
- activityLog derived store merges messages + planSteps + currentTask
- AgentIndicator stays in chat (thinking/working indicator), simplified props
- ToolCallGroup removed from chat — tools visible only in sidebar timeline
- SessionDigest replaced by ActivityTimeline
- PlanProgress restored in sidebar (conceptual steps, separate from timeline)

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.3.3
+0.3.4

plans/2026-07-14-activity-timeline.md

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+# 2026-07-14 — Unified sidebar activity timeline
+
+**Status:** Planned
+
+## Current state (broken)
+
+The sidebar has three sections that appear/disappear independently:
+
+| Section | When visible | Shows |
+|---|---|---|
+| Plan (top) | When `$planSteps.length > 0` | Plan step names with progress bar |
+| Tool activity (middle) | When `toolCount > 0` | Compact tool list, grouped by turn |
+| This session (bottom) | When `digest.total_executions > 0` | Post-hoc execution count + knowledge |
+
+State changes cause sections to **pop in/out** as the agent moves between
+planning → executing → done. The "0 tools · 0 running" counter flashes
+briefly then vanishes. Tool activity appears/disappears between turns.
+
+## Target: single unified timeline
+
+One section, always present when a session is loaded. Every agent action
+appears as an entry in reverse-chronological order (newest at top).
+
+```
+┌─ Activity ───────────────────────── ─┐
+│                                       │
+│ ✓ Task completed: "Upgraded 4 LXCs"   │  ← newest
+│ ◉ Running: apt upgrade on lxc:dns     │
+│ ✓ run: apt upgrade on lxc:gitea       │  ← tool completed
+│ ✓ Verified gitea: HTTP 200            │
+│ ◉ Step 3/5 — Upgrade dns             │  ← plan step running
+│ ✓ Step 2/5 — Upgrade gitea           │  ← plan step done
+│ ✓ run: apt upgrade on lxc:nfs-export  │
+│ ◉ Step 1/5 — Upgrade nfs-export      │
+│ ✓ Knowledge recorded                 │
+│ 📋 Plan set: 5 steps                 │  ← plan proposed
+│ 🎯 Goal: Upgrade 4 low-risk LXCs      │  ← goal set
+│                                       │  ← oldest
+└───────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+### Entry types
+
+| Type | Icon | Example description |
+|---|---|---|
+| `goal` | 🎯 | "Audit all LXCs for updates" |
+| `plan` | 📋 | "Plan set: 5 steps" |
+| `step_start` | ◉ spinner | "Step 2/5 — Upgrade gitea" |
+| `step_done` | ✓ | "Step 2/5 — Upgrade gitea" |
+| `tool_start` | ◉ spinner | "run: Upgrade nfs-export (21 pkgs)" |
+| `tool_done` | ✓ | "run: 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed" |
+| `tool_error` | ✗ | "run: SSH handshake failed" |
+| `knowledge` | ✨ | "Recorded: How to run fleet upgrades" |
+| `complete` | ✓ | "Task completed: success" |
+| `question` | ❓ | "Asked: Which host for the LXC?" |
+| `error` | ✗ | "Auto-resume failed: context deadline exceeded" |
+
+### Data source
+
+Entries come from all available sources, merged and deduplicated:
+1. **`toolTimeline` store** (live tool_use/tool_result pairs)
+2. **`planSteps` store** (step status transitions)
+3. **Session digest API** (knowledge created, final outcome)
+4. **`currentTask` store** (goal, status)
+
+Deduplication: when a plan step links to a tool call via `execution_id`, show
+them as one entry instead of two (e.g. "Step 3: Upgrade dns ◉ running" includes
+the tool — don't show a separate "run: apt upgrade" entry).
+
+### Behavior
+
+- **Always visible** when `$currentSession` is set
+- **Reverse chronological** — newest entries at top, scrolls naturally
+- **Auto-expands** the entry for the currently-running tool/step
+- **Collapses** completed entries to one line (expandable)
+- **Polls** every 3s for live updates (same as current startPolling)
+- **No flashing** — entries only change status in place (tool_start → tool_done), never removed
+- **Persists** across page navigation (rehydrated from REST on load)
+- **Empty state** when no session: "Open a session to see agent activity"
+
+### What gets removed from chat
+
+- **ToolCallGroup** — the compact tool counter. Tools live in the timeline now.
+- **AgentIndicator at bottom** — partially. Keep it ONLY for the initial
+  "thinking" state (before any tools fire). Once the first tool fires, the
+  timeline is the source of truth and the chat indicator is redundant.
+  Actually: remove it entirely. The timeline IS the indicator.
+
+### What stays in chat
+
+- **Agent text responses** — the thinking, conclusions, reports
+- **InlineApproval cards** — approvals need operator action, must be in chat
+- **Inline tool renderers** — entity cards, health summary, etc. (informational)
+- **User messages** — obviously
+
+## Implementation
+
+### 1. Data layer: `activityLog` derived store
+
+Add to `chat.ts`:
+
+```ts
+export interface ActivityEntry {
+  id: string
+  type: 'goal' | 'plan' | 'step_start' | 'step_done' | 'step_failed' |
+        'tool_start' | 'tool_done' | 'tool_error' |
+        'knowledge' | 'complete' | 'question' | 'error'
+  description: string
+  detail?: string       // tool result text, step detail, etc.
+  timestamp: number      // Date.now() when created
+  seq?: number           // plan step seq, for ordering
+  toolName?: string      // for tool entries
+  status: 'running' | 'done' | 'failed'
+  collapsed: boolean     // initial collapsed state (true for completed)
+}
+```
+
+Derived reactively from `messages`, `planSteps`, `currentTask`, and session
+digest data. Uses `$derived.by()` to recompute when any source changes.
+
+### 2. New component: `ActivityTimeline.svelte`
+
+Replaces all three sidebar sections. Renders `activityLog` entries as a
+vertical timeline with connecting lines.
+
+### 3. Remove from chat
+
+- `<ToolCallGroup>` rendered in chat
+- `<AgentIndicator>` at bottom
+
+### 4. Update TaskContextPanel
+
+Replace PlanProgress + SessionDigest with ActivityTimeline.

web/src/lib/components/ActivityTimeline.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { activityLog, type ActivityEntry, streaming } from '$lib/stores/chat'
+  import LoaderCircleIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/loader-circle'
+  import CircleCheckIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/circle-check'
+  import CircleXIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/circle-x'
+  import TargetIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/target'
+  import ListTodoIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/list-todo'
+  import SparklesIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/sparkles'
+  import HelpCircleIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/help-circle'
+  import FlagIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/flag'
+  import ChevronDownIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/chevron-down'
+  import ChevronRightIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/chevron-right'
+
+  let expanded = $state(new Set<string>())
+
+  function toggle(id: string) {
+    if (expanded.has(id)) expanded.delete(id)
+    else expanded.add(id)
+    expanded = new Set(expanded)
+  }
+
+  function typeIcon(type: ActivityEntry['type']) {
+    switch (type) {
+      case 'goal': return TargetIcon
+      case 'plan': return ListTodoIcon
+      case 'step_running': case 'step_done': case 'step_failed':
+      case 'tool_running': case 'tool_done': case 'tool_error':
+        return null // use status icon instead
+      case 'knowledge': return SparklesIcon
+      case 'complete': return FlagIcon
+      case 'question': return HelpCircleIcon
+      default: return null
+    }
+  }
+
+  function statusColor(status: ActivityEntry['status']) {
+    if (status === 'running') return 'text-primary'
+    if (status === 'failed') return 'text-destructive'
+    return 'text-success'
+  }
+</script>
+
+<div class="flex h-full flex-col">
+  <div class="flex items-center justify-between border-b px-3 py-2">
+    <span class="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">Activity</span>
+    {#if $streaming}
+      <span class="flex items-center gap-1 text-[11px] text-primary">
+        <LoaderCircleIcon class="size-3 animate-spin" />
+        live
+      </span>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+  <div class="flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
+    {#if $activityLog.length === 0}
+      <div class="px-3 py-6 text-center text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+        Waiting for agent activity…
+      </div>
+    {:else}
+      <div class="flex flex-col py-1">
+        {#each $activityLog as entry, i (entry.id)}
+          {@const isLast = i === $activityLog.length - 1}
+          {@const hasDetail = !!entry.detail}
+          {@const icon = typeIcon(entry.type)}
+          <div class="relative">
+            <!-- connector line -->
+            {#if !isLast}
+              <div class="absolute left-[17px] top-6 bottom-0 w-px bg-border"></div>
+            {/if}
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              class="flex w-full items-start gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-xs hover:bg-muted/30 {hasDetail ? 'cursor-pointer' : 'cursor-default'}"
+              onclick={() => hasDetail && toggle(entry.id)}
+            >
+              <!-- status icon -->
+              <span class="relative mt-0.5 flex size-3.5 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full {statusColor(entry.status)}">
+                {#if entry.status === 'running'}
+                  <LoaderCircleIcon class="size-3.5 animate-spin" />
+                {:else if entry.status === 'failed'}
+                  <CircleXIcon class="size-3.5" />
+                {:else if icon}
+                  <svelte:component this={icon} class="size-3" />
+                {:else}
+                  <CircleCheckIcon class="size-3" />
+                {/if}
+              </span>
+              <!-- description -->
+              <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 leading-snug {entry.status === 'done' ? 'text-muted-foreground' : ''}">
+                {entry.description}
+              </span>
+              {#if hasDetail}
+                <span class="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground">
+                  {#if expanded.has(entry.id)}
+                    <ChevronDownIcon class="size-3" />
+                  {:else}
+                    <ChevronRightIcon class="size-3" />
+                  {/if}
+                </span>
+              {/if}
+            </button>
+            <!-- detail (collapsed) -->
+            {#if hasDetail && expanded.has(entry.id)}
+              <div class="pl-8 pr-3 pb-1">
+                <pre class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-all rounded bg-muted/50 p-2 font-mono text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">{entry.detail}</pre>
+              </div>
+            {/if}
+          </div>
+        {/each}
+      </div>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+</div>

web/src/lib/components/AgentIndicator.svelte

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import type { ToolCallResult } from '$lib/stores/chat'
+  import type { ActivityEntry } from '$lib/stores/chat'
   import LoaderCircleIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/loader-circle'
   import CheckIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/check'
   import XIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/x'
 
-  let { active = false, lastTool = null as ToolCallResult | null, error = '' }: { active?: boolean; lastTool?: ToolCallResult | null; error?: string } = $props()
+  let { active = false, lastActivity = null as ActivityEntry | null, error = '' }: { active?: boolean; lastActivity?: ActivityEntry | null; error?: string } = $props()
 
   let done = $state(false)
   let wasActive = $state(false)
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
     if (active) { done = false; wasActive = true }
     if (!active && wasActive) {
       done = true
-      // Fade out after 3s
       const t = setTimeout(() => { done = false; wasActive = false }, 3000)
       return () => clearTimeout(t)
     }
@@ -22,33 +21,8 @@
   const label = $derived.by(() => {
     if (error) return error
     if (!active && done) return 'Done'
-    if (!lastTool) return 'Agent is thinking…'
+    if (lastActivity) return lastActivity.description
-    const args = lastTool.args ?? {}
+    return 'Agent is thinking…'
-    switch (lastTool.name) {
-      case 'set_goal': return 'Setting goal…'
-      case 'propose_plan': return 'Building plan…'
-      case 'search_knowledge': return `Researching: ${args.query ?? ''}`
-      case 'get_entity': return `Looking up ${args.slug_or_id ?? ''}`
-      case 'get_entity_knowledge': return `Checking prior knowledge…`
-      case 'get_relations': return `Checking relationships…`
-      case 'list_lxcs': return 'Listing containers…'
-      case 'list_entities': return 'Listing entities…'
-      case 'get_health_summary': return 'Checking fleet health…'
-      case 'run': {
-        const purpose = args.purpose ?? ''
-        const target = args.target ?? ''
-        if (purpose) return purpose
-        if (target) return `Running on ${target}…`
-        return 'Running command…'
-      }
-      case 'get_execution_status': return 'Checking execution status…'
-      case 'update_plan_step': return 'Updating progress…'
-      case 'upsert_knowledge': return 'Recording knowledge…'
-      case 'complete_task': return 'Wrapping up…'
-      case 'ping_service': return 'Checking service…'
-      case 'ask_operator': return 'Asking operator…'
-      default: return `${lastTool.name}…`
-    }
   })
 </script>
 

web/src/lib/components/TaskContextPanel.svelte

@@ -2,26 +2,22 @@
   import { onMount } from 'svelte'
   import { startWorkspace } from '$lib/stores/workspace'
   import GoalHeader from './GoalHeader.svelte'
+  import PlanProgress from './PlanProgress.svelte'
   import OperatorQuestion from './OperatorQuestion.svelte'
   import SessionGraph from './SessionGraph.svelte'
-  import SessionDigest from './SessionDigest.svelte'
+  import ActivityTimeline from './ActivityTimeline.svelte'
 
   onMount(() => startWorkspace())
 </script>
 
-<!--
-  The task's live control panel: goal + status, plan progress, a pinned
-  question when the agent needs a decision, the live entity graph (pulses what
-  the agent is touching, flags health changes), and the outcome/knowledge
-  record once the task completes. Driven by the always-on events stream
-  (see workspace.ts) so it keeps updating during server-side auto-continuation,
-  not just while a chat turn is streaming.
--->
 <div class="flex h-full min-h-0 flex-col">
   <GoalHeader />
+  <PlanProgress />
   <OperatorQuestion />
   <div class="min-h-0 flex-1">
     <SessionGraph />
   </div>
-  <SessionDigest />
+  <div class="max-h-[40%] overflow-y-auto border-t">
+    <ActivityTimeline />
+  </div>
 </div>

web/src/lib/stores/chat.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { writable, derived, get } from 'svelte/store'
 import { streamChat, fetchSessions, fetchMessages, deleteSession as apiDeleteSession } from '$lib/api'
+import { planSteps, currentTask } from '$lib/stores/workspace'
 import type { ChatEvent, Session, Message } from '$lib/api'
 
 export interface PendingApproval {
@@ -81,36 +82,150 @@ export function addChatError(message: string, action?: string) {
   chatErrors.update((e) => [...e, { id: crypto.randomUUID(), message, action }])
 }
 
-// ToolTimelineEntry — one tool call from the chat transcript, flattened for
+// ── Activity timeline ────────────────────────────────────────────────
-// the sidebar activity timeline. Derived from messages in real time.
+
-export interface ToolTimelineEntry {
+export interface ActivityEntry {
   id: string
-  name: string
+  type: 'goal' | 'plan' | 'step_running' | 'step_done' | 'step_failed' |
-  args?: any
+        'tool_running' | 'tool_done' | 'tool_error' |
-  result?: any
+        'knowledge' | 'complete' | 'question' | 'error'
-  error?: string
+  description: string
-  type: 'tool_use' | 'tool_result'
+  detail?: string
-  msgIndex: number // which message this tool belongs to
+  timestamp: number
+  toolName?: string
+  status: 'running' | 'done' | 'failed'
 }
 
-export const toolTimeline = derived(messages, ($msgs) => {
+export const activityLog = derived([messages, planSteps, currentTask], ([$msgs, $steps, $task]) => {
-  const entries: ToolTimelineEntry[] = []
+  const entries: ActivityEntry[] = []
-  for (let i = 0; i < $msgs.length; i++) {
+  const now = Date.now()
-    for (const t of $msgs[i].tools) {
+
-      entries.push({
+  // Goal
-        id: t.id ?? crypto.randomUUID(),
+  if ($task?.goal) {
-        name: t.name,
+    entries.push({ id: 'goal', type: 'goal', description: $task.goal, timestamp: 0, status: 'done' })
-        args: t.args,
+  }
-        result: t.result,
+
-        error: t.error,
+  // Plan steps
-        type: t.type,
+  for (const s of $steps) {
-        msgIndex: i
+    if (s.status === 'pending') continue
-      })
+    const stepLabel = s.title || `Step ${s.seq}`
+    entries.push({
+      id: s.id,
+      type: s.status === 'running' ? 'step_running' : s.status === 'done' ? 'step_done' : 'step_failed',
+      description: `Step ${s.seq}: ${stepLabel}`,
+      detail: s.detail || undefined,
+      timestamp: s.started_at ? new Date(s.started_at).getTime() : now,
+      status: s.status === 'running' ? 'running' : s.status === 'done' ? 'done' : 'failed'
+    })
+  }
+
+  // Tool calls (from messages)
+  let entryIdx = 0
+  for (let mi = 0; mi < $msgs.length; mi++) {
+    for (const t of $msgs[mi].tools) {
+      const label = toolActivityLabel(t)
+      if (t.type === 'tool_use') {
+        entries.push({
+          id: t.id ?? `tool_${mi}_${entryIdx++}`,
+          type: 'tool_running',
+          description: label,
+          timestamp: now - ($msgs.length - mi) * 1000,
+          toolName: t.name,
+          status: 'running'
+        })
+      } else if (t.type === 'tool_result') {
+        // Find and update matching tool_use entry
+        const running = entries.find((e) =>
+          e.type === 'tool_running' && e.id === t.id && e.status === 'running'
+        )
+        if (running && t.error) {
+          running.type = 'tool_error'
+          running.status = 'failed'
+          running.description = `${t.name}: ${t.error.slice(0, 80)}`
+        } else if (running) {
+          running.type = 'tool_done'
+          running.status = 'done'
+          running.detail = typeof t.result === 'string'
+            ? t.result.slice(0, 200)
+            : JSON.stringify(t.result ?? '').slice(0, 200)
+        } else {
+          entries.push({
+            id: t.id ?? `tool_${mi}_${entryIdx++}`,
+            type: t.error ? 'tool_error' : 'tool_done',
+            description: t.error ? `${t.name}: ${t.error.slice(0, 80)}` : t.name,
+            detail: !t.error ? (typeof t.result === 'string' ? t.result.slice(0, 200) : '') : undefined,
+            timestamp: now - ($msgs.length - mi) * 1000,
+            toolName: t.name,
+            status: t.error ? 'failed' : 'done'
+          })
+        }
+      }
     }
   }
+
+  // Knowledge recorded — detect from upsert_knowledge tool results
+  for (let mi = 0; mi < $msgs.length; mi++) {
+    for (const t of $msgs[mi].tools) {
+      if (t.type === 'tool_result' && t.name === 'upsert_knowledge' && !t.error) {
+        const title = t.args?.title ?? ''
+        entries.push({
+          id: `knowledge_${mi}`,
+          type: 'knowledge',
+          description: title ? `Recorded: ${title.slice(0, 60)}` : 'Recorded knowledge',
+          timestamp: now - ($msgs.length - mi) * 1000,
+          status: 'done'
+        })
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Task completion
+  if ($task?.outcome) {
+    entries.push({
+      id: 'complete',
+      type: 'complete',
+      description: $task.summary || `Task ${$task.outcome}`,
+      timestamp: now,
+      status: $task.outcome === 'failure' ? 'failed' : 'done'
+    })
+  }
+
+  // Sort newest first
+  entries.sort((a, b) => b.timestamp - a.timestamp)
+
   return entries
 })
 
+function toolActivityLabel(t: ToolCallResult): string {
+  const args = t.args ?? {}
+  switch (t.name) {
+    case 'set_goal': return 'Set goal'
+    case 'propose_plan': return 'Proposed plan'
+    case 'search_knowledge': return `Research: ${args.query || ''}`
+    case 'get_entity': return `Lookup: ${args.slug_or_id || ''}`
+    case 'get_entity_knowledge': return 'Check prior knowledge'
+    case 'get_relations': return 'Check relationships'
+    case 'list_lxcs': return 'List containers'
+    case 'list_entities': return 'List entities'
+    case 'get_health_summary': return 'Fleet health'
+    case 'get_state_snapshot': return 'State snapshot'
+    case 'run': {
+      const purpose = args.purpose as string || ''
+      const target = (args.target as string) || ''
+      if (purpose) return purpose
+      if (target) return `Run on ${target}`
+      return 'Run command'
+    }
+    case 'get_execution_status': return 'Check execution'
+    case 'update_plan_step': return 'Update plan'
+    case 'upsert_knowledge': return 'Record knowledge'
+    case 'complete_task': return 'Complete task'
+    case 'ping_service': return 'Check service'
+    case 'ask_operator': return 'Ask operator'
+    default: return t.name
+  }
+}
+
 // Per-session controller tracking. Multiple tasks can stream concurrently
 // (see sendMessage's session guard above this used to be a single global
 // `activeController`, which meant cancelStream()/newChat() always aborted

web/src/pages/Chat.svelte

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { messages, streaming, connectionState, currentSession, sendMessage, cancelStream, reconnect, error, chatErrors, dismissError, toolTimeline } from '$lib/stores/chat'
+  import { messages, streaming, connectionState, currentSession, sendMessage, cancelStream, reconnect, error, chatErrors, dismissError, activityLog } from '$lib/stores/chat'
   import { currentTask } from '$lib/stores/workspace'
   import SessionRail from '$lib/components/SessionRail.svelte'
   import TaskContextPanel from '$lib/components/TaskContextPanel.svelte'
-  import ToolCallGroup from '$lib/components/ToolCallGroup.svelte'
   import InlineApproval from '$lib/components/InlineApproval.svelte'
   import AgentIndicator from '$lib/components/AgentIndicator.svelte'
   import { getToolRenderer } from '$lib/tool-renderers'
@@ -53,11 +52,6 @@
     return matched.slice(0, MAX_INLINE_CARDS)
   }
 
-  function getRemaining(msg: { tools: any[] }, inline: any[]): any[] {
-    const inlineIds = new Set(inline.map((t) => t.id))
-    return msg.tools.filter((t) => !inlineIds.has(t.id))
-  }
-
   // Resizable right rail (session graph). Persisted so it survives reloads.
   const RAIL_MIN = 260
   const RAIL_MAX = 620
@@ -158,11 +152,6 @@
                     <renderer.component {tool} />
                   {/if}
                 {/each}
-                <ToolCallGroup
-                  tools={msg.tools}
-                  unmatched={getRemaining(msg, getInlineTools(msg))}
-                  active={$streaming && i === $messages.length - 1}
-                />
                 {#if msg.text}
                   <div class="prose-chat max-w-none text-sm leading-relaxed">
                     <!-- eslint-disable-next-line svelte/no-at-html-tags — sanitized via DOMPurify -->
@@ -178,7 +167,7 @@
         {/each}
         <AgentIndicator
           active={$streaming || liveStatus === 'executing'}
-          lastTool={$toolTimeline.filter((t) => t.type === 'tool_use').at(-1) ?? null}
+          lastActivity={$activityLog.find((e) => e.status === 'running') ?? null}
           error={$error}
         />
         <div bind:this={messagesEnd}></div>