feat: personality system, chat agents, and first-launch onboarding

app/app.go

@@ -89,6 +89,18 @@ const (
 	stateNewAutomation
 	// stateMemoryBrowser is the state when the memory file browser is open.
 	stateMemoryBrowser
+	// stateOnboarding is shown on first ever launch until the companion completes setup.
+	stateOnboarding
+	// stateNewChatAgent is the state when the user is naming a new chat agent.
+	stateNewChatAgent
+)
+
+// sidebarTab identifies which tab is active in the sidebar.
+type sidebarTab int
+
+const (
+	sidebarTabCode sidebarTab = iota
+	sidebarTabChat
 )
 
 type home struct {
@@ -159,6 +171,8 @@ type home struct {
 	allTopics []*session.Topic
 	// focusedPanel tracks which panel has keyboard focus (0=sidebar, 1=instance list)
 	focusedPanel int
+	// sidebarTab tracks which tab is active in the sidebar (Code or Chat)
+	sidebarTab sidebarTab
 	// pendingTopicName stores the topic name during the two-step creation flow
 	pendingTopicName string
 	// pendingTopicRepoPath stores the repo path during multi-repo topic creation
@@ -217,6 +231,9 @@ type home struct {
 
 	// brainServer is the IPC server for coordinating brain state between MCP agents
 	brainServer *brain.Server
+
+	// onboardingContent caches the companion instance terminal output for viewOnboarding.
+	onboardingContent string
 }
 
 func newHome(ctx context.Context, program string, autoYes bool) *home {
@@ -293,6 +310,8 @@ func newHome(ctx context.Context, program string, autoYes bool) *home {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// Apply initial chat filter (default tab is Code, so hide chat agents)
+	h.refreshListChatFilter()
 
 	// Load topics
 	topics, err := storage.LoadTopics()
@@ -334,6 +353,11 @@ func newHome(ctx context.Context, program string, autoYes bool) *home {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// First-launch detection: start in stateOnboarding if companion setup not done.
+	if !h.appState.GetOnboarded() {
+		h.state = stateOnboarding
+	}
+
 	return h
 }
 
@@ -347,6 +371,42 @@ func (m *home) instanceMatchesActiveRepos(inst *session.Instance) bool {
 	return m.activeRepoSet()[repoPath]
 }
 
+// visibleInstances returns instances filtered by the active sidebar tab.
+// Code tab shows only non-chat agents; Chat tab shows only chat agents.
+func (m *home) visibleInstances() []*session.Instance {
+	switch m.sidebarTab {
+	case sidebarTabChat:
+		out := make([]*session.Instance, 0)
+		for _, inst := range m.allInstances {
+			if inst.IsChat {
+				out = append(out, inst)
+			}
+		}
+		return out
+	default: // sidebarTabCode
+		out := make([]*session.Instance, 0)
+		for _, inst := range m.allInstances {
+			if !inst.IsChat {
+				out = append(out, inst)
+			}
+		}
+		return out
+	}
+}
+
+// refreshListChatFilter updates the list chat filter based on the active sidebar tab.
+// This is called whenever the sidebar tab changes.
+func (m *home) refreshListChatFilter() {
+	switch m.sidebarTab {
+	case sidebarTabChat:
+		isChat := true
+		m.list.SetChatFilter(&isChat)
+	default: // sidebarTabCode
+		isChat := false
+		m.list.SetChatFilter(&isChat)
+	}
+}
+
 // activeRepoSet returns an O(1) lookup set of active repo paths.
 func (m *home) activeRepoSet() map[string]bool {
 	set := make(map[string]bool, len(m.activeRepoPaths))
@@ -426,6 +486,12 @@ func (m *home) Init() tea.Cmd {
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.pollBrainActions())
 	}
 
+	// If first launch, start the onboarding companion.
+	if m.state == stateOnboarding {
+		_, cmd := m.startOnboarding()
+		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+	}
+
 	return tea.Batch(cmds...)
 }
 
@@ -452,6 +518,14 @@ func (m *home) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.tabbedWindow.UpdateDiff(selected)
 		// Preview: cheap states handled synchronously, running instances fetched async
 		previewCmd := m.asyncUpdatePreview(selected)
+		// During onboarding, also refresh the companion terminal content.
+		if m.state == stateOnboarding {
+			if companion := m.findInstanceByTitle("companion"); companion != nil && companion.Started() {
+				if c, err := companion.Preview(); err == nil {
+					m.onboardingContent = c
+				}
+			}
+		}
 		return m, tea.Batch(previewCmd, func() tea.Msg {
 			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 			return previewTickMsg{}
@@ -628,6 +702,12 @@ func (m *home) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.list.KillInstanceByTitle(msg.title)
 		m.updateSidebarItems()
 		return m, m.instanceChanged()
+	case onboardingStartedMsg:
+		if msg.err != nil {
+			log.WarningLog.Printf("onboarding: companion failed to start: %v", msg.err)
+		}
+		// Trigger a window size update so layout is recalculated for the companion view.
+		return m, tea.WindowSize()
 	case instanceResumedMsg:
 		if msg.err != nil {
 			if msg.wasDead {
@@ -679,6 +759,11 @@ func (m *home) handleQuit() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 }
 
 func (m *home) View() string {
+	// Onboarding takes over the full screen.
+	if m.state == stateOnboarding {
+		return m.viewOnboarding()
+	}
+
 	// All columns use identical padding and height for uniform alignment.
 	colStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().PaddingTop(1).Height(m.contentHeight + 1)
 	sidebarView := colStyle.Render(m.sidebar.String())
@@ -717,6 +802,8 @@ func (m *home) View() string {
 			pickerY = 2
 		}
 		result = overlay.PlaceOverlay(pickerX, pickerY, m.pickerOverlay.Render(), mainView, true, false)
+	case m.state == stateNewChatAgent && m.textInputOverlay != nil:
+		result = overlay.PlaceOverlay(0, 0, m.textInputOverlay.Render(), mainView, true, true)
 	case m.state == stateNewTopicRepo && m.pickerOverlay != nil:
 		result = overlay.PlaceOverlay(0, 0, m.pickerOverlay.Render(), mainView, true, true)
 	case m.state == stateNewTopic && m.textInputOverlay != nil:

app/app_brain.go

@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ func (m *home) handleBrainAction(action brain.ActionRequest) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd
 		return m.handleActionResumeInstance(action)
 	case brain.ActionKillInstance:
 		return m.handleActionKillInstance(action)
+	case brain.ActionOnboardingComplete:
+		return m.handleActionOnboardingComplete(action)
 	default:
 		action.ResponseCh <- brain.ActionResponse{
 			Error: fmt.Sprintf("unknown action type: %s", action.Type),
@@ -334,3 +336,13 @@ func (m *home) handleActionKillInstance(action brain.ActionRequest) (tea.Model,
 	action.ResponseCh <- brain.ActionResponse{OK: true}
 	return m, tea.Batch(m.pollBrainActions(), m.instanceChanged())
 }
+
+// handleActionOnboardingComplete marks onboarding as complete and transitions to stateDefault.
+func (m *home) handleActionOnboardingComplete(action brain.ActionRequest) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	if err := m.appState.SetOnboarded(true); err != nil {
+		log.ErrorLog.Printf("brain: failed to persist onboarded state: %v", err)
+	}
+	m.state = stateDefault
+	action.ResponseCh <- brain.ActionResponse{OK: true}
+	return m, m.pollBrainActions()
+}

app/app_input.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package app
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ByteMirror/hivemind/brain"
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ func (m *home) handleMenuHighlighting(msg tea.KeyMsg) (cmd tea.Cmd, returnEarly
 		m.keySent = false
 		return nil, false
 	}
-	if m.state == statePrompt || m.state == stateHelp || m.state == stateConfirm || m.state == stateNewTopic || m.state == stateNewTopicConfirm || m.state == stateSearch || m.state == stateMoveTo || m.state == stateContextMenu || m.state == statePRTitle || m.state == statePRBody || m.state == stateRenameInstance || m.state == stateRenameTopic || m.state == stateSendPrompt || m.state == stateFocusAgent || m.state == stateRepoSwitch || m.state == stateNewTopicRepo || m.state == stateCommandPalette || m.state == stateSettings || m.state == stateSkillPicker || m.state == stateInlineComment || m.state == stateAutomations || m.state == stateNewAutomation || m.state == stateMemoryBrowser {
+	if m.state == statePrompt || m.state == stateHelp || m.state == stateConfirm || m.state == stateNewTopic || m.state == stateNewTopicConfirm || m.state == stateSearch || m.state == stateMoveTo || m.state == stateContextMenu || m.state == statePRTitle || m.state == statePRBody || m.state == stateRenameInstance || m.state == stateRenameTopic || m.state == stateSendPrompt || m.state == stateFocusAgent || m.state == stateRepoSwitch || m.state == stateNewTopicRepo || m.state == stateCommandPalette || m.state == stateSettings || m.state == stateSkillPicker || m.state == stateInlineComment || m.state == stateAutomations || m.state == stateNewAutomation || m.state == stateMemoryBrowser || m.state == stateNewChatAgent || m.state == stateOnboarding {
 		return nil, false
 	}
 	// If it's in the global keymap, we should try to highlight it.
@@ -363,6 +364,11 @@ func (m *home) handleKeyPress(msg tea.KeyMsg) (mod tea.Model, cmd tea.Cmd) {
 		return m.handleNewAutomationKeys(msg)
 	case stateMemoryBrowser:
 		return m.handleMemoryBrowserKeys(msg)
+	case stateNewChatAgent:
+		return m.handleNewChatAgentKeys(msg)
+	case stateOnboarding:
+		// Block all keys during onboarding; the companion session drives interaction.
+		return m, nil
 	default:
 		return m.handleDefaultKeys(msg)
 	}
@@ -1236,6 +1242,9 @@ func (m *home) handleDefaultKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.promptAfterName = true
 		return m, nil
 	case keys.KeyNew:
+		if m.sidebarTab == sidebarTabChat {
+			return m.startNewChatAgent()
+		}
 		if _, errCmd := m.createNewInstance(false); errCmd != nil {
 			return m, errCmd
 		}
@@ -1536,6 +1545,16 @@ func (m *home) handleDefaultKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			m.state = stateDefault
 		})
 		return m, nil
+	case keys.KeySidebarCodeTab:
+		m.sidebarTab = sidebarTabCode
+		m.sidebar.SetTab(int(m.sidebarTab))
+		m.refreshListChatFilter()
+		return m, m.instanceChanged()
+	case keys.KeySidebarChatTab:
+		m.sidebarTab = sidebarTabChat
+		m.sidebar.SetTab(int(m.sidebarTab))
+		m.refreshListChatFilter()
+		return m, m.instanceChanged()
 	case keys.KeyLeft:
 		m.setFocus(0)
 		return m, nil
@@ -2150,3 +2169,102 @@ func (m *home) handleMemoryBrowserKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	}
 	return m, cmd
 }
+
+// slugify converts an arbitrary string into a slug suitable for use as a chat agent directory name.
+// It lowercases, replaces spaces with hyphens, and strips non-alphanumeric characters.
+func slugify(name string) string {
+	s := strings.ToLower(name)
+	s = strings.ReplaceAll(s, " ", "-")
+	var out strings.Builder
+	for _, r := range s {
+		if (r >= 'a' && r <= 'z') || (r >= '0' && r <= '9') || r == '-' {
+			out.WriteRune(r)
+		}
+	}
+	result := out.String()
+	if result == "" {
+		result = "agent"
+	}
+	return result
+}
+
+// handleNewChatAgentKeys handles key events when the user is naming a new chat agent.
+func (m *home) handleNewChatAgentKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	if m.textInputOverlay == nil {
+		m.state = stateDefault
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	shouldClose := m.textInputOverlay.HandleKeyPress(msg)
+	if shouldClose {
+		if m.textInputOverlay.IsSubmitted() {
+			name := m.textInputOverlay.GetValue()
+			m.textInputOverlay = nil
+			if name == "" {
+				m.state = stateDefault
+				return m, m.handleError(fmt.Errorf("agent name cannot be empty"))
+			}
+			return m.createChatAgent(name)
+		}
+		// Cancelled
+		m.state = stateDefault
+		m.textInputOverlay = nil
+		return m, tea.WindowSize()
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// startNewChatAgent opens a text input overlay for the user to name a new chat agent.
+func (m *home) startNewChatAgent() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	m.textInputOverlay = overlay.NewTextInputOverlay("New chat agent name", "")
+	m.textInputOverlay.SetSize(50, 5)
+	m.state = stateNewChatAgent
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// createChatAgent creates and starts a new chat agent with the given display name.
+func (m *home) createChatAgent(name string) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	slug := slugify(name)
+
+	if err := session.EnsureAgentDir(slug); err != nil {
+		m.state = stateDefault
+		return m, m.handleError(fmt.Errorf("could not create agent directory: %w", err))
+	}
+	if err := session.CopyTemplatesToAgentDir(slug); err != nil {
+		m.state = stateDefault
+		return m, m.handleError(fmt.Errorf("could not copy agent templates: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	personalityDir, err := session.GetAgentPersonalityDir(slug)
+	if err != nil {
+		m.state = stateDefault
+		return m, m.handleError(fmt.Errorf("could not get agent personality dir: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	agent, err := session.NewInstance(session.InstanceOptions{
+		Title:           name,
+		Program:         m.program,
+		IsChat:          true,
+		PersonalityDir:  personalityDir,
+		SkipPermissions: true,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		m.state = stateDefault
+		return m, m.handleError(fmt.Errorf("could not create chat agent: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	m.newInstanceFinalizer = m.list.AddInstance(agent)
+	m.list.SelectInstanceByRef(agent)
+	m.state = stateDefault
+
+	// Refresh the list so the new agent appears in the Chat tab.
+	m.refreshListChatFilter()
+
+	startCmd := func() tea.Msg {
+		if err := agent.Start(true); err != nil {
+			return instanceStartedMsg{instance: agent, err: err}
+		}
+		return instanceStartedMsg{instance: agent, err: nil}
+	}
+
+	return m, tea.Batch(tea.WindowSize(), startCmd)
+}