Monitor: empty-state next steps, note activity verbs, Getting Started layout

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ All notable changes to td are documented in this file.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Monitor
+
+- **Empty panes name the next step** (td-70d392, td-219916). Current Work, Board, and Activity Log leave a blank line under the header and indent empty copy to the title. Current Work tells you to start a task with td. Board distinguishes a database with no issues from a filter that matches nothing. Embedded Sidecar adds `Next: Press [3] for Workspaces…` only when there are no tasks yet; standalone `td monitor` never mentions Sidecar tabs.
+- **Getting Started title and subtitle sit together as one heading** (td-1495cc). Install guidance sits above the buttons; `?` / `H` hints sit below.
+- **Note create/update events log as "created note" / "updated note"** (td-545473) instead of "created issue" / "updated issue".
+
 ## [v0.61.0] - 2026-08-20
 
 ### Monitor

pkg/monitor/data.go

@@ -174,6 +174,10 @@ func FetchDataWithSearchMode(database *db.DB, sessionID string, startedAt time.T
 		}
 	}
 
+	if live, err := database.ListIssues(db.ListIssuesOptions{Limit: 1}); err == nil {
+		msg.HasIssues = len(live) > 0
+	}
+
 	// Get in-progress issues
 	inProgress, _ := database.ListIssues(db.ListIssuesOptions{
 		Status: []models.Status{models.StatusInProgress},
@@ -590,17 +594,32 @@ func fetchRecentHandoffs(database *db.DB, since time.Time) []RecentHandoff {
 	return result
 }
 
+func isNoteAction(action models.ActionLog) bool {
+	et := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(action.EntityType))
+	if et == "note" || et == "notes" {
+		return true
+	}
+	return strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(action.EntityID), "nt-")
+}
+
+func actionEntityNoun(action models.ActionLog) string {
+	if isNoteAction(action) {
+		return "note"
+	}
+	return "issue"
+}
+
 // formatActionMessage creates a human-readable message for an action
 func formatActionMessage(action models.ActionLog) string {
 	switch action.ActionType {
 	case models.ActionCreate:
-		return "created issue"
+		return "created " + actionEntityNoun(action)
 	case models.ActionUpdate:
-		return "updated issue"
+		return "updated " + actionEntityNoun(action)
 	case models.ActionDelete:
-		return "deleted issue"
+		return "deleted " + actionEntityNoun(action)
 	case models.ActionRestore:
-		return "restored issue"
+		return "restored " + actionEntityNoun(action)
 	case models.ActionStart:
 		return "started work"
 	case models.ActionReview:

pkg/monitor/data_test.go

@@ -334,3 +334,74 @@ func TestComputeBoardIssueCategoriesClosedDepUnblocks(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("dependent with closed blocker: got %q, want %q", issues[0].Category, CategoryReady)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestFormatActionMessageNoteVsIssue(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		act  models.ActionLog
+		want string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "create issue",
+			act:  models.ActionLog{ActionType: models.ActionCreate, EntityType: "issue", EntityID: "td-abc"},
+			want: "created issue",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "update issue",
+			act:  models.ActionLog{ActionType: models.ActionUpdate, EntityType: "issue", EntityID: "td-abc"},
+			want: "updated issue",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "create note by entity type",
+			act:  models.ActionLog{ActionType: models.ActionCreate, EntityType: "note", EntityID: "nt-abc123"},
+			want: "created note",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "update note by entity type",
+			act:  models.ActionLog{ActionType: models.ActionUpdate, EntityType: "note", EntityID: "nt-abc123"},
+			want: "updated note",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "create note by nt- id",
+			act:  models.ActionLog{ActionType: models.ActionCreate, EntityType: "", EntityID: "nt-ffffff"},
+			want: "created note",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "started work stays generic",
+			act:  models.ActionLog{ActionType: models.ActionStart, EntityType: "issue", EntityID: "td-abc"},
+			want: "started work",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "approve stays generic",
+			act:  models.ActionLog{ActionType: models.ActionApprove, EntityType: "issue", EntityID: "td-abc"},
+			want: "approved",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := formatActionMessage(tt.act); got != tt.want {
+				t.Fatalf("formatActionMessage() = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFetchDataHasIssues(t *testing.T) {
+	baseDir := t.TempDir()
+	database, err := db.Initialize(baseDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to open db: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer database.Close()
+
+	empty := FetchData(database, "test-session", time.Now(), "", false, SortByPriority)
+	if empty.HasIssues {
+		t.Fatal("empty database reported HasIssues=true")
+	}
+
+	createTestIssue(t, database, "first", models.StatusOpen)
+	withIssue := FetchData(database, "test-session", time.Now(), "", false, SortByPriority)
+	if !withIssue.HasIssues {
+		t.Fatal("database with an issue reported HasIssues=false")
+	}
+}

pkg/monitor/empty_state_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+package monitor
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"unicode"
+
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/x/ansi"
+	"github.com/marcus/td/internal/models"
+)
+
+func contentRows(rendered string) []string {
+	var rows []string
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(rendered, "\n") {
+		plain := ansi.Strip(line)
+		if strings.Contains(plain, "│") {
+			rows = append(rows, plain)
+		}
+	}
+	return rows
+}
+
+func interior(plain string) string {
+	runes := []rune(plain)
+	start, end := -1, -1
+	for i, r := range runes {
+		if r == '│' {
+			if start < 0 {
+				start = i
+			}
+			end = i
+		}
+	}
+	if start < 0 || end <= start {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return string(runes[start+1 : end])
+}
+
+func firstLetterCol(plain string) int {
+	for i, r := range []rune(plain) {
+		if unicode.IsLetter(r) {
+			return i
+		}
+	}
+	return -1
+}
+
+func assertEmptyStateLayout(t *testing.T, rendered, titleNeedle, bodyNeedle string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	rows := contentRows(rendered)
+	if len(rows) < 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("want at least 3 inner rows, got %d in %q", len(rows), ansi.Strip(rendered))
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(rows[0], titleNeedle) {
+		t.Fatalf("title row %q does not contain %q", rows[0], titleNeedle)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(interior(rows[1])) != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected blank line below header, got %q", rows[1])
+	}
+	bodyIdx := -1
+	for i := 2; i < len(rows); i++ {
+		if strings.Contains(rows[i], bodyNeedle) {
+			bodyIdx = i
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if bodyIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("body %q not found in %q", bodyNeedle, strings.Join(rows, "\n"))
+	}
+	titleCol := firstLetterCol(rows[0])
+	bodyCol := firstLetterCol(rows[bodyIdx])
+	if titleCol < 0 || bodyCol < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("missing title/body letters: title=%d body=%d", titleCol, bodyCol)
+	}
+	if titleCol != bodyCol {
+		t.Fatalf("empty-state text col %d does not align with title col %d\ntitle: %q\nbody:  %q",
+			bodyCol, titleCol, rows[0], rows[bodyIdx])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEmptyStateCurrentWorkCopyAndAlignment(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.Width = 80
+
+	out := m.renderCurrentWorkPanel(10)
+	if strings.Contains(out, "No current work") {
+		t.Fatal("legacy 'No current work' still rendered")
+	}
+	assertEmptyStateLayout(t, out, "CURRENT WORK", "Ask an agent")
+	if strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(out), "Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatal("standalone monitor must not mention Sidecar Workspaces")
+	}
+
+	m.Embedded = true
+	m.HasIssues = false
+	embedded := m.renderCurrentWorkPanel(12)
+	plain := ansi.Strip(embedded)
+	if !strings.Contains(plain, "Press [3] for Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatalf("embedded empty current work missing next-step, got %q", plain)
+	}
+	assertEmptyStateLayout(t, embedded, "CURRENT WORK", "Ask an agent")
+
+	m.HasIssues = true
+	withTasks := m.renderCurrentWorkPanel(12)
+	if strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(withTasks), "Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatal("embedded empty current work must not pitch Workspaces when tasks already exist")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(withTasks), "Ask an agent") {
+		t.Fatal("empty current work copy should remain when tasks exist but nothing is in progress")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEmptyStateActivityCopyAndAlignment(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.Width = 80
+	out := m.renderActivityPanel(8)
+	assertEmptyStateLayout(t, out, "ACTIVITY LOG", "No recent activity")
+	if strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(out), "Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatal("activity empty state must not mention Workspaces")
+	}
+
+	m.Embedded = true
+	embedded := m.renderActivityPanel(8)
+	if strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(embedded), "Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatal("activity empty state must not mention Workspaces even when embedded")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEmptyStateBoardZeroIssuesVsFiltered(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.Width = 90
+	m.BoardMode.Board = &models.Board{Name: "Main"}
+
+	zero := m.renderTaskListBoardView(12)
+	if !strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(zero), emptyBoardNoTasksMsg) {
+		t.Fatalf("zero-issue board missing no-tasks copy: %q", ansi.Strip(zero))
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(zero, "No issues match the board query") {
+		t.Fatal("zero-issue board used filter-mismatch copy")
+	}
+	assertEmptyStateLayout(t, zero, "BOARD", "No tasks yet")
+	if strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(zero), "Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatal("standalone board empty state mentioned Workspaces")
+	}
+
+	m.HasIssues = true
+	filtered := m.renderTaskListBoardView(12)
+	plain := ansi.Strip(filtered)
+	if !strings.Contains(plain, emptyBoardFilteredMsg) {
+		t.Fatalf("filtered board missing mismatch copy: %q", plain)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(plain, emptyBoardNoTasksMsg) {
+		t.Fatal("filtered board used zero-issue copy")
+	}
+	assertEmptyStateLayout(t, filtered, "BOARD", "No issues match")
+
+	m.HasIssues = false
+	m.Embedded = true
+	embedded := m.renderTaskListBoardView(14)
+	if !strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(embedded), "Press [3] for Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatalf("embedded zero-issue board missing next-step: %q", ansi.Strip(embedded))
+	}
+
+	m.HasIssues = true
+	embeddedFiltered := m.renderTaskListBoardView(14)
+	if strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(embeddedFiltered), "Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatal("filter-mismatch board must not show workspace next-step")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEmptyStateBoardSwimlanesMatchesBacklog(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.Width = 90
+	m.BoardMode.Board = &models.Board{Name: "Main"}
+
+	zero := m.renderBoardSwimlanesView(12)
+	assertEmptyStateLayout(t, zero, "BOARD", "No tasks yet")
+
+	m.HasIssues = true
+	filtered := m.renderBoardSwimlanesView(12)
+	assertEmptyStateLayout(t, filtered, "BOARD", "No issues match")
+}
+
+func TestEmptyStateEmbeddedNextStepDisappearsWhenWorkExists(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.Width = 90
+	m.Embedded = true
+	m.CurrentWorkRows = []string{"td-abc"}
+	m.FocusedIssue = &models.Issue{ID: "td-abc", Title: "Doing it", Status: models.StatusInProgress, Type: models.TypeTask, Priority: models.PriorityP2}
+	out := m.renderCurrentWorkPanel(10)
+	if strings.Contains(ansi.Strip(out), "Workspaces") {
+		t.Fatal("next-step must disappear once current work exists")
+	}
+}

pkg/monitor/getting_started.go

@@ -16,11 +16,19 @@ func (m *Model) createGettingStartedModal() *modal.Modal {
 		fileName = filepath.Base(m.AgentFilePath)
 	}
 
-	md := m.newModal("Welcome to td!", ModalTypeHelp, modal.WithWidth(60), modal.WithHints(false))
+	md := m.newModal("", ModalTypeHelp, modal.WithWidth(60), modal.WithHints(false))
 
-	md.AddSection(modal.Text("Task management for AI agents."))
+	// Centered title and subtitle with no blank line in between
+	md.AddSection(modal.CenteredTitle("Welcome to td!"))
+	md.AddSection(modal.CenteredMuted("Task management for AI agents."))
 	md.AddSection(modal.Spacer())
 
+	// Agent prompt guidance
+	md.AddSection(modal.Text("To use td, just prompt your agent:"))
+	md.AddSection(modal.Text(`"Use td to plan my feature and implement it."`))
+	md.AddSection(modal.Spacer())
+
+	// Guidance install instruction right above the buttons
 	if m.AgentFileTDNeedsUpdate {
 		md.AddSection(modal.Text("Updated td guidance is available for " + fileName))
 	} else if m.AgentFileHasTD {
@@ -30,13 +38,7 @@ func (m *Model) createGettingStartedModal() *modal.Modal {
 	}
 	md.AddSection(modal.Spacer())
 
-	md.AddSection(modal.Text("PROMPT: \"Use td to plan my feature and implement it.\""))
-	md.AddSection(modal.Spacer())
-
-	md.AddSection(modal.Text("Press ? for help · H to reopen this modal"))
-	md.AddSection(modal.Spacer())
-
-	// Only show Install button if not already installed
+	// Action buttons
 	if m.AgentFileHasTD && !m.AgentFileTDNeedsUpdate {
 		md.AddSection(modal.Buttons(
 			modal.Btn(" Close ", "close"),
@@ -51,6 +53,10 @@ func (m *Model) createGettingStartedModal() *modal.Modal {
 			modal.Btn(" Close ", "close"),
 		))
 	}
+	md.AddSection(modal.Spacer())
+
+	// Help and reopen hints below the buttons
+	md.AddSection(modal.CenteredMuted("Press ? for help · H to reopen this modal"))
 
 	return md
 }