wisp-agents 0.10.0 → 0.11.0

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,22 @@ The format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/), and
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [0.11.0] - 2026-10-18
+
+### Added
+
+- Machines shows **Update to X** next to the version when a connected machine runs an older wisp than this computer. One click restarts wisp there as this version (you're asked first if agents are working on it). Before, reconnecting kept the old wisp running, and you had to find **Restart wisp there** in the ⋯ menu. Machines with a custom start command don't show it, because that command decides the version. Machines carry it as `outdated: "<version>"`.
+
+### Changed
+
+- The app responds right away instead of waiting for the server. A new task clears the prompt box and shows up in **Working** as a "Starting up" card while wisp makes its worktree. A follow-up or an answer clears the composer and moves the card to **Working** with your message as the live turn. **Mark done**, **Reopen**, **Archive**, **Delete**, **Stop**, **Rerun**, recipe runs and **Keep this** in Compare also act immediately. If the server refuses, the change is undone, your text and attachments come back, and an error toast says why.
+- The web app uses the same icon as the site and the desktop app (the glowing orb on a dark tile) for its browser tab, home-screen shortcut and notifications.
+- The launcher's **Run on** button sits right after the attach button, so the bar reads attachments, where it runs, then mode, harness, subagents and worktree.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- The launcher's harness picker now lists the harnesses installed on the places picked under **Run on**, not the ones on this computer. Any picked place that has a harness makes it pickable (a union), with its models taken from a place that has it; a harness missing on some of them says **Not on <machine>**, and launching names the place it's missing on. Before, running only on a machine still offered Claude when only this computer had it, and hid a harness only the machine had. Changing the places (or a machine coming online) moves the pick to an installed harness if the current one isn't there. Machines now report each harness's models, thinking levels and whether it can lead subagents.
+
 ## [0.10.0] - 2026-10-18
 
 ### Added
@@ -190,7 +206,8 @@ The format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/), and
 - Session queue with follow-ups, answers to agent questions, terminal takeover and mark-as-done.
 - Older turns are folded, with a floating collapse-all button and back-to-top.
 
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/M0xoo/wisp/compare/v0.10.0...HEAD
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/M0xoo/wisp/compare/v0.11.0...HEAD
+[0.11.0]: https://github.com/M0xoo/wisp/compare/v0.10.0...v0.11.0
 [0.10.0]: https://github.com/M0xoo/wisp/compare/v0.9.0...v0.10.0
 [0.9.0]: https://github.com/M0xoo/wisp/compare/v0.8.0...v0.9.0
 [0.8.0]: https://github.com/M0xoo/wisp/compare/v0.7.0...v0.8.0

package/README.md

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ From there you can **follow up**, **answer its questions**, **take it over** in
 | 🤝 **Subagents** | Give the lead agent a team on other harnesses (e.g. Claude Code hands tests to Codex ×3). It delegates through a `delegate` tool; their edits land in its worktree. See [Subagents](#subagents). |
 | ⏪ **Checkpoints & rollback** | Every turn is snapshotted first. Restore to before any turn, revert a single file, or re-run a command block from the presentation. |
 | ⚖️ **Compare** | Run one task on two harnesses side by side, and keep the better run. |
-| 🧾 **Recipes & triggers** | Saved prompts with `{params}` (`wisp run release 0.10.0`), run by hand, on a schedule, when CI fails, or when an issue is labelled. |
+| 🧾 **Recipes & triggers** | Saved prompts with `{params}` (`wisp run release 0.11.0`), run by hand, on a schedule, when CI fails, or when an issue is labelled. |
 | 📊 **Usage** | Spend, success rate and questions per project and per harness · model. |
 | 📱 **Phone** | Questions and finished tasks on ntfy or Telegram; answer from there. |
 | 🔐 **Permission modes** | Choose **Plan** (read-only), **Edits** (file edits auto-accepted), or **Full auto** for each launch. `Shift+Tab` in the prompt cycles modes. |
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ wisp reply <id> "also do X"       # follow up (answers a pending question)
 wisp stop <id>
 wisp ship <id> [--draft]          # commit, push and open a PR for a worktree task
 wisp merge <id>                   # squash-merge its PR, fast-forward your local main
-wisp run release 0.10.0            # run a recipe; values fill its {params} (or version=0.10.0)
+wisp run release 0.11.0            # run a recipe; values fill its {params} (or version=0.11.0)
 wisp recipes                      # list recipes
 wisp usage [--days 7]             # spend and outcomes
 wisp mcp                          # MCP server for other agents and editors
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ Before each turn, wisp snapshots the git working tree (pinned at `refs/wisp/chec
 Prepare release {version}: update CHANGELOG, README and docs/, bump package.json, tag v{version}.
 ```
 
-Make one from ⌘K → *Recipes*, or *Save as recipe…* on any card. A recipe may pin a project, harness, model and mode. Run it from ⌘K (*Run: Release*), from the Recipes view, or from a terminal: `wisp run release 0.10.0` fills the fields in order, `wisp run release version=0.10.0` by name.
+Make one from ⌘K → *Recipes*, or *Save as recipe…* on any card. A recipe may pin a project, harness, model and mode. Run it from ⌘K (*Run: Release*), from the Recipes view, or from a terminal: `wisp run release 0.11.0` fills the fields in order, `wisp run release version=0.11.0` by name.
 
 **Triggers** launch sessions on their own while wisp is open (⌘K → *Triggers*):
 
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ They receive titles, summaries and questions (with their context), never code or
 
 Then **Pick projects on it**: the machine's git repos are listed, and folders autocomplete. In the launcher, **Run on** (next to the harness) picks where the prompt goes: this computer, any machine, or several at once. Each place shows its own project chips; Enter launches on all of them in parallel, and the runs land as one task with a row per machine. Each run executes on its machine, with worktrees, diffs, rollback, `ask_user`, subagents, compare and Ship it all working on that machine. Its sessions join your feed with a badge, answer from your phone like any other, open in VS Code, Cursor or Windsurf through Remote - SSH, and **Take over** opens `ssh -t <host>` resuming the agent in your terminal.
 
-Nothing new listens on the network: wisp on the machine stays on its own `127.0.0.1`, and it keeps running (agents too) when this computer sleeps or disconnects; wisp reconnects on its own. **Stop wisp there** (the machine's ⋯ menu) stops it. The machine needs Node.js 20+ and the harness CLIs, signed in. Sessions there are `<id>@<machine>` in the API, CLI, SDK and MCP; recipes and schedules work with machine projects, while CI and issue triggers, usage and memory stay per machine.
+Nothing new listens on the network: wisp on the machine stays on its own `127.0.0.1`, and it keeps running (agents too) when this computer sleeps or disconnects; wisp reconnects on its own. **Stop wisp there** (the machine's ⋯ menu) stops it. When the machine runs an older wisp than this computer, **Update to X** next to its version restarts it there as this version. The machine needs Node.js 20+ and the harness CLIs, signed in. Sessions there are `<id>@<machine>` in the API, CLI, SDK and MCP; recipes and schedules work with machine projects, while CI and issue triggers, usage and memory stay per machine.
 
 ## Learning
 

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "wisp-agents",
-  "version": "0.10.0",
+  "version": "0.11.0",
   "description": "Launch coding agents, skip the transcript, read the presentation.",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {

package/server/machines.js

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import readline from 'node:readline';
 import { randomBytes } from 'node:crypto';
 import { spawn, execFile, killTree } from './proc.js';
+import { newer } from './update.js';
 
 export const DEFAULT_PORT = 4477;
 const READY_TIMEOUT_MS = 6 * 60_000; // the first `npx` download can take a while
@@ -45,6 +46,10 @@ export function splitId(id) {
   return i > 0 ? { id: id.slice(0, i), machine: id.slice(i + 1) } : null;
 }
 
+// The version an older wisp on the machine would become on Restart wisp there: this one, unless a
+// custom start command decides what runs there.
+export const updateTo = (local, remote, command) => (!command && remote && newer(local, remote) ? local : null);
+
 // What runs on the machine. Sent on stdin, so the login shell there (bash, zsh, fish…) only ever
 // sees `sh -s`. Steps come back as `@@wisp step <id> <run|done> <detail>`, `@@wisp fail <id>
 // <message>`, and finally `@@wisp ready <version> <pid>`; then `cat` holds the session (and the
@@ -332,6 +337,7 @@ export class Machines extends EventEmitter {
         attempt: c?.attempt || 0,
         since: c?.since || null,
         remote: c?.remote || null,
+        outdated: updateTo(this.version, c?.remote?.version, m.command),
         log: c?.log.slice(-30) || [],
         projects: this.store.config.projects.filter((p) => p.machine === m.id).length,
         working: cached.filter((s) => s.state === 'running').length,
@@ -431,7 +437,7 @@ export class Machines extends EventEmitter {
     this.#step(c, 'tunnel', 'done', `localhost:${c.localPort} → ${m.port}`);
     const [agents, config] = await Promise.all([this.#raw(m, c, 'GET', '/agents').catch(() => []), this.#raw(m, c, 'GET', '/config').catch(() => ({}))]);
     const ready = agents.filter((a) => a.available);
-    c.remote = { ...c.remote, version: health.version, pid: health.pid, home: config.home || '', agents: agents.map(({ id, name, available, version }) => ({ id, name, available, version })) };
+    c.remote = { ...c.remote, version: health.version, pid: health.pid, home: config.home || '', agents: agents.map(({ id, name, available, version, models, efforts, delegates }) => ({ id, name, available, version, models, efforts, delegates })) };
     this.#step(c, 'agents', ready.length ? 'done' : 'warn', ready.length ? ready.map((a) => a.name).join(', ') : 'None found. Install a harness CLI there (claude, codex, opencode…) and sign in.');
     clearTimeout(c.readyTimer);
     Object.assign(c, { state: 'online', error: '', hint: null, attempt: 0, wasOnline: true, since: Date.now() });

package/web/css/app.css

@@ -408,6 +408,7 @@ body:has(.launcher.docked:is(:focus-within, :has(.open))) .to-top { display: non
 .pk-text b { font-weight: 500; font-size: 13.5px; color: var(--ink); overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; }
 .pk-text small { font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; }
 .pk-text small:empty { display: none; }
+.pk-text small.warn { color: var(--warn); }
 .pk-dot { flex: none; width: 6px; height: 6px; border-radius: 50%; background: var(--accent); }
 .pk-main { display: flex; flex-direction: column; min-width: 0; min-height: 0; }
 .pk-search { flex: none; width: auto; margin: 8px 8px 2px; color: var(--faint); }
@@ -473,6 +474,10 @@ body:has(.launcher.docked:is(:focus-within, :has(.open))) .to-top { display: non
 .item.focused { border-color: var(--line-2); box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px var(--line-2); }
 .item.open { border-color: var(--line-2); box-shadow: var(--shadow-2); }
 .item.st-done:not(.open) { background: transparent; }
+/* a launch the server hasn't confirmed yet: shown at once, can't be opened */
+.item.pending { opacity: 0.75; }
+.item.pending .it-head { cursor: default; }
+.item.pending .chev { visibility: hidden; }
 .item.arrived { animation: arrive 1.4s var(--ease); }
 @keyframes arrive { from { box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px var(--accent-soft); border-color: var(--accent); } }
 
@@ -1423,6 +1428,7 @@ pre.code { margin: 0 0 12px; padding: 12px 14px; border-radius: 10px; background
 .mc-meta, .mc-steps, .mc-hint, .mc-projects, .mc-edit { margin-left: 42px; }
 .mc-meta { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin-top: 8px; font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); }
 .mc-meta .bad { color: var(--bad); }
+.mc-meta .mc-update { margin-left: -6px; color: var(--accent); }
 .mc-agents { display: inline-flex; gap: 7px; }
 .mc-steps { list-style: none; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 5px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0; padding: 0; }
 .mc-steps li { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 16px auto 1fr; align-items: center; column-gap: 8px; font-size: 12.5px; color: var(--faint); }

package/web/favicon.svg

@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64">
-  <circle cx="28" cy="30" r="20" fill="#171717"/>
-  <circle cx="47" cy="45" r="11" fill="#ffffff"/>
-  <circle cx="47" cy="45" r="8" fill="#2f5bea"/>
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="1024" height="1024" viewBox="0 0 1024 1024">
+  <defs>
+    <linearGradient id="bg" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#1d1c22"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#0e0e10"/></linearGradient>
+    <radialGradient id="glow" cx="50%" cy="50%" r="50%"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#6a5cff" stop-opacity=".55"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#6a5cff" stop-opacity="0"/></radialGradient>
+    <radialGradient id="orb" cx="36%" cy="32%" r="68%"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#fff"/><stop offset=".16" stop-color="#d9fff6"/><stop offset=".38" stop-color="#2fd0b4"/><stop offset=".78" stop-color="#6a5cff"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#4b3fe0"/></radialGradient>
+  </defs>
+  <rect x="100" y="100" width="824" height="824" rx="190" fill="url(#bg)"/>
+  <circle cx="512" cy="512" r="330" fill="url(#glow)"/>
+  <circle cx="512" cy="512" r="210" fill="url(#orb)"/>
+  <circle cx="742" cy="360" r="16" fill="#fff" opacity=".9"/>
+  <circle cx="300" cy="650" r="10" fill="#bff" opacity=".7"/>
+  <circle cx="690" cy="720" r="7" fill="#fff" opacity=".6"/>
 </svg>

package/web/index.html

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
   <title>wisp</title>
   <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml">
+  <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" sizes="180x180">
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/app.css">
 </head>
 <body>

package/web/js/app.js

@@ -64,6 +64,28 @@ const MODES = [
 const KIND_ICON = { read: 'read', edit: 'pen', run: 'terminal', search: 'search', web: 'web', agent: 'agent', plan: 'plan', tool: 'tool', text: 'text', error: 'warn', ask: 'ask', answer: 'check', wait: 'ask' };
 const STATUS_LABEL = { done: 'Done', partial: 'Partial', blocked: 'Blocked', info: 'Report' };
 const agentName = (id) => S.agents.find((a) => a.id === id)?.name || (id === 'wisp' ? 'wisp' : id);
+// Harness lists per place: '' is this computer, else a machine (what it reported when it came online).
+const agentsAt = (k) => (k ? (machineById(k)?.state === 'online' && machineById(k).remote?.agents) || null : S.agents);
+// A harness's models and levels: this computer's if it's installed here, else the first machine's that has it.
+function agentById(id) {
+  const local = S.agents.find((a) => a.id === id);
+  if (local?.available) return local;
+  return S.machines.map((m) => agentsAt(m.id)?.find((a) => a.id === id && a.available)).find(Boolean) || local;
+}
+// The harnesses you can pick for the places under "Run on": installed on any of them counts (a union).
+// `missing` names the picked places that don't have it. Machines not online yet don't count.
+function harnessesAt(places) {
+  const known = places.map((k) => [k, agentsAt(k)]).filter(([, l]) => l);
+  if (!known.length) known.push(['', S.agents]);
+  const ids = [...new Set([...S.agents, ...known.flatMap(([, l]) => l)].map((a) => a.id))];
+  return ids
+    .map((id) => {
+      const hits = known.filter(([, l]) => l.some((a) => a.id === id && a.available));
+      const base = hits.length ? hits[0][1].find((a) => a.id === id) : S.agents.find((a) => a.id === id) || known.flatMap(([, l]) => l).find((a) => a.id === id);
+      return { ...base, available: hits.length > 0, missing: hits.length ? known.filter((x) => !hits.includes(x)).map(([k]) => k) : [] };
+    })
+    .filter((a) => a.available || S.agents.some((x) => x.id === a.id));
+}
 
 // Harness logos for the request bubble, vendored from @lobehub/icons into web/logos/.
 // `mono` marks are drawn in the text colour so they work in both themes.
@@ -83,14 +105,14 @@ function harnessLogo(agent) {
 // Reasoning levels the harness accepts for a model: the model's own list (opencode variants),
 // else the harness-wide one. Empty means the harness has no knob for it.
 function effortsFor(agent, model) {
-  const a = S.agents.find((x) => x.id === agent);
+  const a = agentById(agent);
   return a?.models?.find((m) => m.id === model)?.efforts ?? a?.efforts ?? [];
 }
 const effortLabel = (e) => ({ xhigh: 'X-High' })[e] || e.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + e.slice(1);
 
 function modelBadge(agent, model, effort) {
   if (agent === 'wisp') return '';
-  const label = (model && S.agents.find((a) => a.id === agent)?.models?.find((x) => x.id === model)?.label) || model || 'Default model';
+  const label = (model && agentById(agent)?.models?.find((x) => x.id === model)?.label) || model || 'Default model';
   const tip = `${agentName(agent)} · ${label}${effort ? ` · ${effortLabel(effort)} thinking` : ''}`;
   const logo = harnessLogo(agent);
   return `<span class="model-logo" data-tip="${esc(tip)}" aria-label="${esc(tip)}" tabindex="0">${logo}</span>`;
@@ -294,14 +316,17 @@ function item(s) {
     n = { card, head: $('.it-head', card), body: null, turnNodes: new Map(), tray: null, showAll: false, unfolded: new Set(), latestTurn: null };
     S.nodes.set(s.id, n);
     n.head.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
-      if (n.head.querySelector('[contenteditable="true"]')) return;
+      if (s.pending || n.head.querySelector('[contenteditable="true"]')) return;
       if (e.target.closest('[data-a="quick-done"]')) return toggleDone(s.id);
       setFocus(s.id);
       toggle(s.id);
     });
-    card.addEventListener('mousedown', () => setFocus(s.id, { scroll: false }));
+    card.addEventListener('mousedown', () => {
+      if (!s.pending) setFocus(s.id, { scroll: false });
+    });
     n.head.addEventListener('contextmenu', (e) => {
       e.preventDefault();
+      if (s.pending) return;
       setFocus(s.id, { scroll: false });
       taskMenu(s.id, e);
     });
@@ -322,7 +347,7 @@ function renderHead(n, s) {
         ? `<span class="pill st-${s.status}"><i></i>${STATUS_LABEL[s.status] || 'Done'}</span>`
         : '';
   if (runsOf(s).length > 1) return renderRunHead(n, s, { open, live, pill });
-  n.card.className = `item c-${s.color} st-${s.state} ${s.unread ? 'unread' : ''} ${open ? 'open' : ''} ${S.focus === s.id ? 'focused' : ''}`;
+  n.card.className = `item ${s.pending ? 'pending' : ''} c-${s.color} st-${s.state} ${s.unread ? 'unread' : ''} ${open ? 'open' : ''} ${S.focus === s.id ? 'focused' : ''}`;
   n.head.innerHTML = `
     <span class="q-dot ${s.state === 'running' ? 'live' : ''} ${s.state === 'waiting' ? 'waiting' : ''}"></span>
     <span class="it-main">
@@ -528,6 +553,17 @@ function attachTray() {
       items.length = 0;
       render();
     },
+    // Empty the tray for an optimistic send, and put the files back if the send fails.
+    take() {
+      const list = items.splice(0);
+      render();
+      return list;
+    },
+    restore(list) {
+      if (!list?.length) return;
+      items.unshift(...list);
+      render();
+    },
     get busy() {
       return items.some((i) => i.status === 'uploading');
     },
@@ -606,7 +642,7 @@ function syncWhere() {
 function savedModel(id) {
   const d = S.config.defaults;
   const want = d.models?.[id] ?? (id === d.agent ? d.model : '');
-  const models = S.agents.find((a) => a.id === id)?.models || [];
+  const models = agentById(id)?.models || [];
   return models.some((m) => m.id === want) ? want : '';
 }
 // Thinking level too, and only if the chosen model still accepts it.
@@ -619,21 +655,21 @@ function savedEffort(id, model) {
 function renderLauncher() {
   const box = $('#launcher');
   const mode = S.config.defaults.mode || 'edits';
-  const ready = S.agents.filter((a) => a.available);
-  const chosen = S.agents.find((a) => a.id === (S.config.defaults.agent || 'claude'));
-  let agent = chosen?.available ? chosen : ready[0] || chosen || S.agents[0];
+  const here = harnessesAt(launchWhere);
+  const chosen = here.find((a) => a.id === (S.config.defaults.agent || 'claude'));
+  let agent = chosen?.available ? chosen : here.find((a) => a.available) || chosen || here[0];
   box.innerHTML = `
     <div class="l-projects"></div>
     <textarea id="prompt" rows="2" spellcheck="false"></textarea>
     <div class="l-bar">
       <button class="icon-btn" id="attach" title="Attach files">${icon('clip')}</button>
+      <button class="tog-btn where-btn" id="whereBtn" aria-haspopup="menu"></button>
       <button class="mode-btn" id="mode" aria-haspopup="menu"></button>
       <div class="runners">
         <button class="runner-btn" id="runner" title="Harness and model" aria-haspopup="dialog"></button>
         <button class="vs-btn" id="compareBtn" aria-pressed="false"><span>vs</span>${icon('x')}</button>
         <button class="runner-btn" id="runner2" title="Second harness to compare with" aria-haspopup="dialog" hidden></button>
       </div>
-      <button class="tog-btn where-btn" id="whereBtn" aria-haspopup="menu"></button>
       <button class="tog-btn team-btn" id="teamBtn" aria-haspopup="dialog"></button>
       <span class="grow"></span>
       <button class="tog-btn" id="wtBtn"></button>
@@ -719,7 +755,7 @@ function renderLauncher() {
   const paintTeam = () => paintTeamBtn(teamBtn, team, teamPreset, agent?.id);
   paintTeam();
   teamBtn.onclick = () =>
-    teamEditor(teamBtn, { lead: agent?.id, team, presetId: teamPreset }, (members, preset) => {
+    teamEditor(teamBtn, { lead: agent?.id, team, presetId: teamPreset, places: launchWhere }, (members, preset) => {
       if (JSON.stringify([members, preset]) === JSON.stringify([team, teamPreset])) return;
       team = members;
       teamPreset = preset;
@@ -743,19 +779,19 @@ function renderLauncher() {
   vsBtn.onclick = () => {
     if (compare) compare = null;
     else {
-      const other = S.agents.find((a) => a.available && a.id !== agent?.id) || agent;
+      const other = harnessesAt(launchWhere).find((a) => a.available && a.id !== agent?.id) || agent;
       compare = { agent: other?.id, model: savedModel(other?.id), effort: savedEffort(other?.id, savedModel(other?.id)) };
     }
     paintCompare();
   };
   runner2.onclick = () =>
-    runnerPicker(runner2, { ...compare, savedModel, savedEffort }, (id, model, effort) => {
+    runnerPicker(runner2, { ...compare, savedModel, savedEffort, places: launchWhere }, (id, model, effort) => {
       compare = { agent: id, model, effort };
       paintCompare();
     });
   runnerBtn.onclick = () =>
-    runnerPicker(runnerBtn, { agent: agent?.id, model: curModel, effort: curEffort, savedModel, savedEffort }, (id, model, effort) => {
-      agent = S.agents.find((a) => a.id === id);
+    runnerPicker(runnerBtn, { agent: agent?.id, model: curModel, effort: curEffort, savedModel, savedEffort, places: launchWhere }, (id, model, effort) => {
+      agent = harnessesAt(launchWhere).find((a) => a.id === id);
       curModel = model;
       curEffort = effort;
       paintRunner();
@@ -779,21 +815,39 @@ function renderLauncher() {
     if (off) return offlineToast(off.k);
     const wanted = [agent?.id, ...(compare ? [compare.agent] : [])];
     for (const t of targets) {
-      const missing = t.m?.remote?.agents && wanted.find((id) => !t.m.remote.agents.some((x) => x.id === id && x.available));
-      if (missing) return toast(`${esc(agentName(missing))} isn’t installed on <b>${esc(t.m.name)}</b>`, { tone: 'bad' });
+      const list = agentsAt(t.k);
+      const missing = list && wanted.find((id) => !list.some((x) => x.id === id && x.available));
+      if (missing) return toast(`${esc(agentName(missing))} isn’t installed on <b>${esc(placeName(t.k))}</b>`, { tone: 'bad' });
     }
     const btn = $('#launch', box);
-    btn.disabled = true;
-    btn.classList.add('busy'); // a fetch and fresh worktrees can take a second or two
+    // Optimistic: wait only for uploads, then empty the box and show the task in Working at
+    // once. Fetching and making worktrees can take a few seconds; the real card replaces the
+    // placeholder when the server has it. On failure the prompt and files come back.
+    const attachments = await tray.ids();
+    const files = tray.take();
+    const cmp = compare;
+    const runner = { agent: agent?.id || 'claude', model: curModel, effort: curEffort };
+    const pending = targets.map((t) => addPending(prompt, t, runner));
+    if (compare) (compare = null), paintCompare();
+    ta.value = '';
+    S.drafts.delete('home');
+    ta.dispatchEvent(new Event('input'));
+    if (S.filter !== 'all' && targets.some((t) => t.project.id !== S.filter)) {
+      S.filter = 'all';
+      save('wisp.filter', S.filter);
+    }
+    renderFeed();
+    const ghost = S.nodes.get(pending[0])?.card;
+    showLaunched(btn, ghost);
+    ta.focus();
     try {
-      const attachments = await tray.ids();
       // Several places: one shared groupId, so the runs land as one task with a row each.
       const groupId = targets.length > 1 ? [...crypto.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(6))].map((b) => b.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')).join('') : undefined;
       const results = await Promise.allSettled(
         targets.map((t) =>
           api('/sessions', {
             method: 'POST',
-            body: { prompt, cwd: t.project.path, machine: t.k || undefined, groupId, agent: agent?.id || 'claude', mode: curMode, model: curModel, effort: curEffort, attachments, worktree: S.config.defaults.worktree === 'off' && !compare ? false : undefined, compare: compare ? [compare] : undefined, subagents: team.length && canLead(agent?.id) ? team : undefined },
+            body: { prompt, cwd: t.project.path, machine: t.k || undefined, groupId, agent: runner.agent, mode: curMode, model: runner.model, effort: runner.effort, attachments, worktree: S.config.defaults.worktree === 'off' && !cmp ? false : undefined, compare: cmp ? [cmp] : undefined, subagents: team.length && canLead(runner.agent) ? team : undefined },
           }),
         ),
       );
@@ -801,31 +855,36 @@ function renderLauncher() {
         if (r.status === 'rejected') toast(`${esc(placeName(targets[i].k))}: ${esc(r.reason.message)}`, { tone: 'bad' });
       });
       const started = results.filter((r) => r.status === 'fulfilled').map((r) => r.value);
-      if (!started.length) return;
+      for (const id of pending) S.sessions.delete(id);
       for (const x of started.flatMap((y) => y.group || [y])) S.sessions.set(x.id, x);
-      const s = started[0];
-      if (compare) (compare = null), paintCompare();
-      ta.value = '';
-      S.drafts.delete('home');
-      tray.clear();
-      ta.dispatchEvent(new Event('input'));
-      if (S.filter !== 'all' && (started.length > 1 || S.filter !== s.projectId)) {
-        S.filter = 'all';
-        save('wisp.filter', S.filter);
+      keepInPlace(feedAnchor(), renderFeed);
+      if (!started.length) {
+        if (!ta.value) ((ta.value = prompt), ta.dispatchEvent(new Event('input')));
+        tray.restore(files);
+        if (cmp && !compare) (compare = cmp), paintCompare();
+        return;
       }
-      renderFeed();
-      const card = S.nodes.get(s.id)?.card;
-      showLaunched(btn, card?.closest('.task-item') || card);
       askNotify();
     } catch (err) {
+      for (const id of pending) S.sessions.delete(id);
+      renderFeed();
       toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
-    } finally {
-      btn.disabled = false;
-      btn.classList.remove('busy');
-      ta.focus();
     }
   };
   $('#launch', box).onclick = launch;
+  // Picking other places (or a machine coming online) changes which harnesses exist: keep the
+  // pick if one of them still has it, else move to one that's installed there.
+  box.placesChanged = () => {
+    const here = harnessesAt(launchWhere);
+    if (!agent || here.find((a) => a.id === agent.id)?.available) return paintRunner();
+    const next = here.find((a) => a.id === S.config.defaults.agent && a.available) || here.find((a) => a.available);
+    if (!next) return paintRunner();
+    agent = next;
+    curModel = savedModel(agent.id);
+    curEffort = savedEffort(agent.id, curModel);
+    paintRunner();
+    paintTeam();
+  };
   ta.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
     if (e.key === 'Enter' && !e.shiftKey && !e.isComposing) {
       e.preventDefault();
@@ -840,7 +899,7 @@ function renderLauncher() {
 
 // The harness · model · thinking button, as in the launcher. agent '' reads "Launcher default".
 function paintRunnerBtn(btn, agentId, model, effort) {
-  const a = S.agents.find((x) => x.id === agentId);
+  const a = agentById(agentId);
   const m = (a?.models || []).find((x) => x.id === model);
   btn.innerHTML = agentId
     ? `<span class="rb-logo">${harnessLogo(agentId)}</span><span class="rb-h">${esc(a?.name || agentName(agentId))}</span><span class="rb-m">${esc(m && m.id ? m.label : 'Default')}</span>${effort ? `<span class="rb-e">${esc(effortLabel(effort))}</span>` : ''}${icon('chevron', 'chev')}`
@@ -856,9 +915,9 @@ const MAX_COPIES = 5; // parallel copies of one row
 const MAX_INSTANCES = 12; // copies across the team
 const copiesOf = (m) => Math.max(1, m.count || 1);
 const teamSize = (team) => team.reduce((n, m) => n + copiesOf(m), 0);
-const canLead = (id) => S.agents.find((a) => a.id === id)?.delegates !== false;
+const canLead = (id) => agentById(id)?.delegates !== false;
 const memberLabel = (m) => {
-  const a = S.agents.find((x) => x.id === m.agent);
+  const a = agentById(m.agent);
   const model = (m.model && a?.models?.find((x) => x.id === m.model)?.label) || m.model || 'Default model';
   return `${a?.name || agentName(m.agent)} · ${model}${m.effort ? ` · ${effortLabel(m.effort)}` : ''}`;
 };
@@ -905,7 +964,7 @@ function paintTeamBtn(btn, team, presetId, lead) {
       : `${agentName(lead)} can't delegate (wisp can't give it tools), so this launch runs without subagents`;
 }
 
-function teamEditor(anchor, { lead, team, presetId }, onChange) {
+function teamEditor(anchor, { lead, team, presetId, places }, onChange) {
   const open = $('.team-pop');
   if (open) return open.close();
   let members = team.map((m) => ({ ...m }));
@@ -969,7 +1028,8 @@ function teamEditor(anchor, { lead, team, presetId }, onChange) {
   const add = () => {
     if (members.length >= MAX_TEAM || teamSize(members) >= MAX_INSTANCES) return;
     const used = new Set([lead, ...members.map((m) => m.agent)]);
-    const a = S.agents.find((x) => x.available && !used.has(x.id)) || S.agents.find((x) => x.available && x.id !== lead) || S.agents.find((x) => x.available);
+    const pool = places ? harnessesAt(places) : S.agents;
+    const a = pool.find((x) => x.available && !used.has(x.id)) || pool.find((x) => x.available && x.id !== lead) || pool.find((x) => x.available);
     if (!a) return toast('No harness is installed.', { tone: 'bad' });
     const model = savedModel(a.id);
     members.push({ name: '', agent: a.id, model, effort: savedEffort(a.id, model), use: '', count: 1 });
@@ -1072,7 +1132,7 @@ function teamEditor(anchor, { lead, team, presetId }, onChange) {
     const rb = e.target.closest('.tp-runner');
     if (rb) {
       const m = members[i];
-      runnerPicker(rb, { agent: m.agent, model: m.model, effort: m.effort, savedModel, savedEffort }, (agent, model, effort) => {
+      runnerPicker(rb, { agent: m.agent, model: m.model, effort: m.effort, savedModel, savedEffort, places }, (agent, model, effort) => {
         Object.assign(m, { agent, model, effort });
         paintList();
         commit();
@@ -1349,6 +1409,7 @@ function whereMenu(anchor) {
     // A machine picked while disconnected starts connecting; you asked to run there.
     for (const k of launchWhere) if (k && machineById(k)?.state === 'off') connectMachine(k);
     renderLaunchChips();
+    $('#launcher')?.placesChanged?.();
     paint();
     saveWhere();
   };
@@ -1467,6 +1528,65 @@ function launchedFx(from, to) {
   ).onfinish = () => w.remove();
 }
 
+// A launch the server hasn't answered yet: a placeholder summary that shows in Working as a
+// "Starting up" card. It can't be opened; the real card takes its place.
+let pendingSeq = 0;
+function addPending(prompt, { project: p, m }, { agent, model, effort }) {
+  const id = `pending-${++pendingSeq}`;
+  const line = prompt.split('\n')[0].replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
+  const now = Date.now();
+  S.sessions.set(id, {
+    id,
+    pending: true,
+    title: line.length > 64 ? `${line.slice(0, 63)}…` : line,
+    agent,
+    model,
+    effort,
+    cwd: p.path,
+    project: p.name,
+    projectId: p.id,
+    color: p.color || 'slate',
+    state: 'running',
+    live: 'Starting up',
+    createdAt: now,
+    updatedAt: now,
+    machine: m ? { id: m.id, name: m.name, target: m.target } : null,
+  });
+  return id;
+}
+
+// A launch from a dialog (rerun, recipes): the dialog closes and a placeholder shows in Working
+// at once; the real session replaces it, or it disappears and the error is thrown on.
+async function launchBehind({ prompt, cwd, runner }, request) {
+  const sum = S.config.projects.find((p) => p.path === cwd);
+  const project = sum || { path: cwd, name: cwd.split('/').filter(Boolean).pop() || cwd, id: null, color: 'slate' };
+  const ghost = addPending(prompt, { project, m: project.machine ? machineById(project.machine) : null }, runner);
+  if (S.filter !== 'all' && S.filter !== project.id) {
+    S.filter = 'all';
+    save('wisp.filter', S.filter);
+  }
+  renderFeed();
+  const card = S.nodes.get(ghost)?.card;
+  if (card) (card.scrollIntoView({ block: 'nearest', behavior: 'smooth' }), card.classList.add('arrived'), setTimeout(() => card.classList.remove('arrived'), 1600));
+  try {
+    const s = await request();
+    S.sessions.delete(ghost);
+    for (const x of s.group || [s]) S.sessions.set(x.id, x);
+    keepInPlace(feedAnchor(), renderFeed);
+    return s;
+  } catch (err) {
+    S.sessions.delete(ghost);
+    renderFeed();
+    throw err;
+  }
+}
+
+// The real session showed up (live events can beat the launch response): drop its placeholder.
+function dropPending(s) {
+  if (s.pending || s.parentId) return;
+  for (const x of S.sessions.values()) if (x.pending && x.projectId === s.projectId) return S.sessions.delete(x.id);
+}
+
 // A new card lands in Working, below everything in "Needs you", so it's often off-screen. Scroll
 // it into view (just enough) and flash it; the flying wisp only plays when the card is already
 // on screen, since the launcher it starts from may scroll away or fold into the dock.
@@ -1807,8 +1927,18 @@ function renderWorking(s, t) {
     .filter((a) => a.kind !== 'text')
     .slice(-5)
     .forEach((a) => ticker.prepend(actItem(a)));
-  $('.stop', node).onclick = async () => {
-    await api(`/sessions/${s.id}/stop`, { method: 'POST', body: {} }).catch((e) => toast(esc(e.message), { tone: 'bad' }));
+  $('.stop', node).onclick = async (e) => {
+    // Shows at once; the run winds down and the live update replaces this panel.
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    btn.disabled = true;
+    btn.lastChild.textContent = 'Stopping…';
+    $('.w-status b', node).textContent = `Stopping ${agentName(s.agent)}…`;
+    await api(`/sessions/${s.id}/stop`, { method: 'POST', body: {} }).catch((err) => {
+      btn.disabled = false;
+      btn.lastChild.textContent = 'Stop';
+      $('.w-status b', node).textContent = `${agentName(s.agent)} is working`;
+      toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
+    });
   };
   $('.peek', node).onclick = (e) => {
     const log = $('.log', node);
@@ -1836,7 +1966,15 @@ function renderAskCard(s) {
   const answer = async (text) => {
     if (!text.trim()) return;
     node.classList.add('sent');
-    await api(`/sessions/${s.id}/answer`, { method: 'POST', body: { text } }).catch((e) => toast(esc(e.message), { tone: 'bad' }));
+    const undo = startOptimistic(s.id, text, null, { answering: true });
+    try {
+      await api(`/sessions/${s.id}/answer`, { method: 'POST', body: { text } });
+      if (undo) scheduleRefetch(s.id);
+    } catch (e) {
+      node.classList.remove('sent');
+      undo?.();
+      toast(esc(e.message), { tone: 'bad' });
+    }
   };
   node.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
     const b = e.target.closest('.opt');
@@ -2063,21 +2201,58 @@ async function sendReply(id, text) {
   if (!s || !text) return;
   if (n?.tray?.busy) toast('Waiting for uploads…');
   const attachments = n?.tray ? await n.tray.ids() : [];
+  const answering = !!s.ask && !attachments.length;
+  // Optimistic: the composer empties and the card goes to Working before the server answers
+  // (it may first have to bring back an archived worktree, or reach another machine).
+  const ta = n && $('.reply', n.card);
+  if (ta) ((ta.value = ''), ta.dispatchEvent(new Event('input')));
+  S.drafts.delete(id);
+  const files = n?.tray?.take();
+  const undo = startOptimistic(id, text, files, { answering });
   try {
-    const r = s.ask && !attachments.length
+    const r = answering
       ? await api(`/sessions/${id}/answer`, { method: 'POST', body: { text } })
       : await api(`/sessions/${id}/reply`, { method: 'POST', body: { text, attachments, queue: queueing() } });
-    const ta = n && $('.reply', n.card);
-    if (ta) ((ta.value = ''), ta.dispatchEvent(new Event('input')));
-    S.drafts.delete(id);
-    n?.tray?.clear();
+    if (undo) scheduleRefetch(id); // the summary that follows says "running" too, so it won't refetch by itself
     if (r.queued)
       toast(r.ahead ? `Queued behind ${r.ahead} earlier follow-up${r.ahead > 1 ? 's' : ''} — they go out first, in order.` : 'Queued — it goes out as soon as the agent finishes.');
   } catch (err) {
+    undo?.();
+    // Give the message back, unless the user has already started typing another one.
+    if (ta?.isConnected && !ta.value) ((ta.value = text), ta.dispatchEvent(new Event('input')));
+    n?.tray?.restore(files);
     toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
   }
 }
 
+// Show a follow-up as started right away: the card moves to Working with the prompt as a live
+// turn. Only when it will start now, not when it queues or interrupts a run already working.
+// Returns an undo for a failed send, or null when nothing changed.
+function startOptimistic(id, text, files, { answering }) {
+  const full = S.full.get(id);
+  const sum = S.sessions.get(id);
+  if (!full || !sum) return null;
+  const live = full.state === 'running' || full.state === 'waiting';
+  if (live && !answering) return null;
+  const now = Date.now();
+  const turn = { id: `pending-${now}`, prompt: text, status: 'running', startedAt: now, activity: [], attachments: (files || []).filter((f) => f.id).map((f) => ({ id: f.id, name: f.name, mime: f.mime })) };
+  const nextFull = { ...full, state: 'running', ask: null, turns: answering ? full.turns : [...full.turns, turn] };
+  const nextSum = { ...sum, state: 'running', live: answering ? 'Picking up your answer' : 'Starting up', updatedAt: now };
+  const apply = (f, sm) => {
+    S.full.set(id, f);
+    S.sessions.set(id, sm);
+    const card = S.nodes.get(id)?.card;
+    keepInPlace(watching(id) ? card : feedAnchor(id), renderFeed);
+    renderBody(id, { fresh: false });
+  };
+  apply(nextFull, nextSum);
+  return () => {
+    // A live update may already have replaced the guess; only roll back what is still ours.
+    if (S.full.get(id) !== nextFull || S.sessions.get(id) !== nextSum) return scheduleRefetch(id);
+    apply(full, sum);
+  };
+}
+
 // --- item actions ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 async function toggleDone(id) {
@@ -2085,23 +2260,48 @@ async function toggleDone(id) {
   if (!s) return;
   if (s.state === 'running' || s.state === 'waiting') return toast('Still working — stop it first or let it finish.');
   const next = s.state === 'done' ? 'review' : 'done';
-  const leave = next === 'done' && handOff(id); // measured before the live update moves the card
-  await api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { state: next } });
-  if (leave) {
-    leave(() => S.sessions.set(id, { ...S.sessions.get(id), state: 'done' }));
-    toast(`Marked done`, { action: { label: 'Undo', run: () => api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { state: 'review' } }) } });
+  // Optimistic: the card moves now; a failed save puts it back.
+  move(id, { ...s, state: next }, next === 'done');
+  if (next === 'done') toast(`Marked done`, { action: { label: 'Undo', run: () => toggleDone(id) } });
+  try {
+    await api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { state: next } });
+  } catch (err) {
+    revertSummary(id, s);
+    toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
   }
 }
 
+// Apply a summary change locally before the server confirms it. Leaving the list (done, archived)
+// hands focus to the next card; coming back just re-renders around the reader.
+function move(id, next, leaving) {
+  if (leaving) return handOff(id)(() => S.sessions.set(id, next));
+  S.sessions.set(id, next);
+  keepInPlace(feedAnchor(id), renderFeed);
+}
+
+// Put back a summary changed optimistically, unless a live update has replaced it since.
+function revertSummary(id, prev) {
+  const cur = S.sessions.get(id);
+  if (cur && cur.updatedAt > prev.updatedAt) return;
+  S.sessions.set(id, prev);
+  keepInPlace(feedAnchor(id), renderFeed);
+}
+
 // Every finished run of a compare task at once, with one toast to undo them all.
 async function taskDone(ids) {
   if (!ids.length) return;
   const card = S.nodes.get(ids[0])?.card.closest('.task-item');
   const next = card?.nextElementSibling?.querySelector('.item')?.dataset.id || card?.nextElementSibling?.dataset.id;
-  const set = (state) => Promise.all(ids.map((id) => api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { state } })));
-  await set('done').catch((err) => toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' }));
-  for (const id of ids) S.sessions.set(id, { ...S.sessions.get(id), state: 'done' });
-  renderFeed();
+  const set = (state) => {
+    const prev = ids.map((id) => S.sessions.get(id));
+    for (const id of ids) S.sessions.set(id, { ...S.sessions.get(id), state });
+    renderFeed();
+    Promise.all(ids.map((id) => api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { state } }))).catch((err) => {
+      prev.forEach((p, i) => p && revertSummary(ids[i], p));
+      toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
+    });
+  };
+  set('done');
   if (next && S.nodes.has(next)) setFocus(next);
   toast(`Marked ${ids.length} runs done`, { action: { label: 'Undo', run: () => set('review') } });
 }
@@ -2182,10 +2382,17 @@ function rename(id) {
 // One popover for all three choices: harnesses on the left, the focused harness's models on the
 // right, and its thinking levels underneath. Clicking (or arrowing to) a harness previews its
 // models; picking a model commits harness + model, picking a thinking level commits it in place.
-function runnerPicker(anchor, { agent, model, effort, savedModel, savedEffort }, pick) {
+// places: the "Run on" picks, so the list is what's installed there rather than only on this computer.
+function runnerPicker(anchor, { agent, model, effort, savedModel, savedEffort, places }, pick) {
   const open = $('.picker');
   if (open) return open.close();
-  let focusAgent = S.agents.find((a) => a.id === agent && a.available) ? agent : S.agents.find((a) => a.available)?.id;
+  const agents = places ? harnessesAt(places) : S.agents;
+  const sub = (a) => {
+    if (!a.available) return places?.length > 1 || places?.[0] ? 'Not installed there' : 'Not installed';
+    const models = (a.models || []).length > 1 ? `${a.models.length - 1} models` : 'Default model';
+    return a.missing?.length ? `Not on ${a.missing.map(placeName).join(', ')}` : models;
+  };
+  let focusAgent = agents.find((a) => a.id === agent && a.available) ? agent : agents.find((a) => a.available)?.id;
 
   const r = anchor.getBoundingClientRect();
   const width = Math.min(580, innerWidth - 24);
@@ -2198,11 +2405,11 @@ function runnerPicker(anchor, { agent, model, effort, savedModel, savedEffort },
     <div class="picker" role="dialog" aria-label="Harness, model and thinking level" style="left:${left}px;width:${width}px;${below ? `top:${r.bottom + 6}px` : `bottom:${innerHeight - r.top + 6}px`}">
       <div class="pk-side" role="listbox" aria-label="Harness">
         <div class="pk-head">Harness</div>
-        ${S.agents
+        ${agents
           .map(
             (a) => `<button class="pk-h${a.available ? '' : ' off'}" role="option" data-id="${esc(a.id)}" ${a.available ? '' : 'disabled'}>
               <span class="pk-logo">${harnessLogo(a.id)}</span>
-              <span class="pk-text"><b>${esc(a.name)}</b><small>${esc(a.available ? `${(a.models || []).length > 1 ? `${a.models.length - 1} models` : 'Default model'}` : 'Not installed')}</small></span>
+              <span class="pk-text"><b>${esc(a.name)}</b><small${a.missing?.length ? ' class="warn"' : ''}>${esc(sub(a))}</small></span>
               ${a.id === agent ? '<span class="pk-dot" title="In use"></span>' : ''}
             </button>`,
           )
@@ -2246,7 +2453,7 @@ function runnerPicker(anchor, { agent, model, effort, savedModel, savedEffort },
   };
 
   const paintModels = () => {
-    const a = S.agents.find((x) => x.id === focusAgent);
+    const a = agents.find((x) => x.id === focusAgent);
     sideRows.forEach((b) => b.classList.toggle('on', b.dataset.id === focusAgent));
     const models = a?.models || [{ id: '', label: 'Default' }];
     const current = focusAgent === agent ? model : savedModel(focusAgent);
@@ -2476,9 +2683,12 @@ const keyHint = (k) => `<kbd class="menu-kbd">${k}</kbd>`;
 
 async function deleteSession(id) {
   if (!confirm('Delete this session from wisp? (The agent’s own history is kept.)')) return;
-  const leave = handOff(id);
-  const ok = await api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'DELETE' }).then(() => true, (err) => toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' }));
-  if (ok) leave(() => S.sessions.delete(id));
+  const prev = S.sessions.get(id);
+  handOff(id)(() => S.sessions.delete(id));
+  await api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'DELETE' }).catch((err) => {
+    if (prev && !S.sessions.has(id)) (S.sessions.set(id, prev), keepInPlace(feedAnchor(id), renderFeed));
+    toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
+  });
 }
 
 // Launch the task again as a new session in the same folder: same prompt and attachments,
@@ -2537,22 +2747,13 @@ async function rerun(id) {
   const go = async () => {
     const prompt = ta.value.trim();
     if (!prompt) return ta.focus();
-    const btn = $('[data-a="go"]', node);
-    btn.disabled = true;
+    close();
     try {
-      const next = await api('/sessions', { method: 'POST', body: { prompt, cwd: s.cwd, agent, mode, model, effort, attachments: files.map((f) => f.id) } });
-      S.sessions.set(next.id, next);
-      close();
-      if (S.filter !== 'all' && S.filter !== next.projectId) {
-        S.filter = 'all';
-        save('wisp.filter', S.filter);
-      }
-      renderFeed();
+      const body = { prompt, cwd: s.cwd, agent, mode, model, effort, attachments: files.map((f) => f.id) };
+      const next = await launchBehind({ prompt, cwd: s.cwd, runner: { agent, model, effort } }, () => api('/sessions', { method: 'POST', body }));
       setFocus(next.id);
-      toast(`Rerunning on ${esc(agentName(agent))}`);
     } catch (err) {
-      btn.disabled = false;
-      toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
+      toast(`Rerun failed: ${esc(err.message)}`, { tone: 'bad', action: { label: 'Edit again', run: () => rerun(id) } });
     }
   };
   $('[data-a="go"]', node).onclick = go;
@@ -2568,15 +2769,16 @@ async function rerun(id) {
 }
 
 async function setArchived(id, archived) {
-  const leave = archived && handOff(id);
+  const prev = S.sessions.get(id);
+  if (!prev) return;
+  // Optimistic: the card leaves (or comes back) now; a failed save puts it back.
+  move(id, { ...prev, archived }, archived);
+  if (archived) toast('Archived', { action: { label: 'Undo', run: () => setArchived(id, false) } });
   try {
     await api(`/sessions/${id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { archived } });
   } catch (err) {
-    return toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
-  }
-  if (leave) {
-    leave(() => S.sessions.set(id, { ...S.sessions.get(id), archived: true }));
-    toast('Archived', { action: { label: 'Undo', run: () => setArchived(id, false) } });
+    revertSummary(id, prev);
+    toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
   }
 }
 
@@ -3008,16 +3210,21 @@ async function compareView(id) {
     if (a === 'open') return close(), reveal(keep);
     const others = group.filter((g) => g.id !== keep);
     if (!confirm(`Keep ${agentName(S.sessions.get(keep)?.agent)}'s result?\n\nThe other ${others.length === 1 ? 'run is' : `${others.length} runs are`} archived, and ${others.length === 1 ? 'its worktree is' : 'their worktrees are'} deleted with their changes.`)) return;
+    // Optimistic: the others leave the feed now; stopping and cleaning them up goes on behind.
+    for (const o of others) S.sessions.set(o.id, { ...S.sessions.get(o.id), archived: true });
+    close();
+    renderFeed();
+    reveal(keep);
+    toast(`Kept ${esc(agentName(S.sessions.get(keep)?.agent))}'s run. Ship it when you're ready.`);
+    let failed = false;
     for (const o of others) {
       if (o.state === 'running' || o.state === 'waiting') {
         await api(`/sessions/${o.id}/stop`, { method: 'POST', body: {} }).catch(() => {});
         await until(() => S.sessions.get(o.id)?.state !== 'running', 5000);
       }
-      await api(`/sessions/${o.id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { archived: true, discardWorktree: true } }).catch((err) => toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' }));
+      await api(`/sessions/${o.id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: { archived: true, discardWorktree: true } }).catch((err) => ((failed = true), toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' })));
     }
-    close();
-    reveal(keep);
-    toast(`Kept ${esc(agentName(S.sessions.get(keep)?.agent))}'s run. Ship it when you're ready.`);
+    if (failed) loadSessions(); // show what really got archived
   };
 }
 
@@ -3282,18 +3489,17 @@ function runRecipe(r) {
     const params = Object.fromEntries($$('input[name^="p:"]', node).map((i) => [i.name.slice(2), i.value]));
     const d = S.config.defaults;
     const agent = r.agent || d.agent;
+    const cwd = needsProject ? $('[name="cwd"]', node).value : r.cwd;
+    const model = r.agent ? r.model : savedModel(agent);
+    const effort = r.agent ? r.effort : savedEffort(agent, model);
+    const body = { params, cwd: needsProject ? cwd : undefined, agent, model: r.agent ? undefined : model, effort: r.agent ? undefined : effort, mode: r.mode || d.mode };
+    close();
     try {
-      const s = await api(`/recipes/${r.id}/run`, {
-        method: 'POST',
-        body: { params, cwd: needsProject ? $('[name="cwd"]', node).value : undefined, agent, model: r.agent ? undefined : savedModel(agent), effort: r.agent ? undefined : savedEffort(agent, savedModel(agent)), mode: r.mode || d.mode },
-      });
-      S.sessions.set(s.id, s);
-      close();
-      renderFeed();
+      const prompt = r.prompt.replace(/\{([a-zA-Z][\w-]{0,30})\}/g, (_, k) => params[k] || ''); // as the server fills it
+      const s = await launchBehind({ prompt, cwd, runner: { agent, model, effort } }, () => api(`/recipes/${r.id}/run`, { method: 'POST', body }));
       setFocus(s.id);
-      toast(`Running “${esc(r.name)}”`);
     } catch (err) {
-      toast(esc(err.message), { tone: 'bad' });
+      toast(`“${esc(r.name)}” didn’t start: ${esc(err.message)}`, { tone: 'bad', action: { label: 'Try again', run: () => runRecipe(r) } });
     }
   };
   // Always wait for Run, even with nothing to fill in, so a click on a recipe never launches it outright.
@@ -3500,6 +3706,7 @@ function setMachines(list) {
   S.machines = list;
   paintMachinesBtn();
   renderLaunchChips();
+  $('#launcher')?.placesChanged?.();
   renderProjects();
   $('.machines-modal')?.refresh();
   $('.projects-modal')?.refresh?.();
@@ -3624,7 +3831,7 @@ function openMachines({ host, focusAdd = false } = {}) {
       </div>
       ${
         st === 'online'
-          ? `<div class="mc-meta"><span>wisp ${esc(m.remote?.version || '')}</span>${ready.length ? `<span class="mc-agents">${ready.map((a) => `<span class="model-logo" title="${esc(a.name)} ${esc(a.version || '')}">${harnessLogo(a.id)}</span>`).join('')}</span>` : '<span class="bad">no harnesses found</span>'}${m.working ? `<span>${m.working} working</span>` : ''}</div>`
+          ? `<div class="mc-meta"><span>wisp ${esc(m.remote?.version || '')}</span>${m.outdated ? `<button class="ghost xs mc-update" data-a="update" title="Restart wisp on ${esc(m.name)} as ${esc(m.outdated)}">${icon('rerun')}Update to ${esc(m.outdated)}</button>` : ''}${ready.length ? `<span class="mc-agents">${ready.map((a) => `<span class="model-logo" title="${esc(a.name)} ${esc(a.version || '')}">${harnessLogo(a.id)}</span>`).join('')}</span>` : '<span class="bad">no harnesses found</span>'}${m.working ? `<span>${m.working} working</span>` : ''}</div>`
           : ''
       }
       ${busy || st === 'error' ? steps(m) : ''}
@@ -3697,8 +3904,9 @@ function openMachines({ host, focusAdd = false } = {}) {
         paint();
         $(`.mc[data-id="${m.id}"] input[name="target"]`, node)?.focus();
       }
-      if (a === 'restart') {
-        if (m.working && !confirm(`${m.working} agent${m.working === 1 ? ' is' : 's are'} working on ${m.name}. Restarting wisp there stops ${m.working === 1 ? 'it' : 'them'}. Restart?`)) return;
+      if (a === 'restart' || a === 'update') {
+        const verb = a === 'update' ? `Updating wisp there to ${m.outdated}` : 'Restarting wisp there';
+        if (m.working && !confirm(`${m.working} agent${m.working === 1 ? ' is' : 's are'} working on ${m.name}. ${verb} stops ${m.working === 1 ? 'it' : 'them'}. ${a === 'update' ? 'Update' : 'Restart'}?`)) return;
         await api(`/machines/${m.id}/stop`, { method: 'POST', body: { restart: true } });
       }
       if (a === 'stop') {
@@ -4250,7 +4458,7 @@ function paletteItems() {
     items.push({ group: g, label: 'Delete session', sub, icon: 'trash', kbd: '⌫', keywords: 'remove', run: () => deleteSession(id) });
   }
 
-  const sessions = [...S.sessions.values()].sort((a, b) => a.archived - b.archived || b.updatedAt - a.updatedAt);
+  const sessions = [...S.sessions.values()].filter((s) => !s.pending).sort((a, b) => a.archived - b.archived || b.updatedAt - a.updatedAt);
   for (const s of sessions) {
     const state = s.archived ? 'Archived' : s.state === 'review' ? STATUS_LABEL[s.status] || 'Review' : STATE_LABEL[s.state] || s.state;
     items.push({
@@ -4336,7 +4544,7 @@ function notifyFinished(s) {
   }
   toast(`${icon(s.state === 'waiting' ? 'ask' : 'spark')} <b>${esc(s.title)}</b> ${verb}`, { action: { label: 'Open', run: () => reveal(s.id) }, timeout: 7000 });
   if (notifyOn() && !document.hasFocus()) {
-    const note = new Notification(`${s.project}: ${s.title}`, { body: s.state === 'waiting' ? s.question : s.preview || 'Ready for review', icon: '/favicon.svg', tag: s.id });
+    const note = new Notification(`${s.project}: ${s.title}`, { body: s.state === 'waiting' ? s.question : s.preview || 'Ready for review', icon: '/apple-touch-icon.png', tag: s.id });
     note.onclick = () => (window.focus(), reveal(s.id));
   }
 }
@@ -4349,6 +4557,7 @@ function connect() {
     const s = JSON.parse(e.data);
     if (s.parentId) return onChildSummary(s); // a subagent: lives inside its lead's card
     const prev = S.sessions.get(s.id);
+    if (!prev) dropPending(s);
     const was = prev && sectionOf(prev); // before the update: a compare task's section depends on all its runs
     S.sessions.set(s.id, s);
     // A section change moves the card (a follow-up sends it from "Needs you" to "Working").
@@ -4448,7 +4657,7 @@ async function installUpdate() {
 
 // --- keyboard ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-const feedIds = () => $$('#feed .item').map((x) => x.dataset.id);
+const feedIds = () => $$('#feed .item:not(.pending)').map((x) => x.dataset.id);
 // The user takes a card out of its list (done, archive, delete). The next card — the one below,
 // or the one above at the end of the list — gets focus and lands where the old one sat, so
 // triage continues on the same spot. Call before the request, while the card is still laid