fix(web): restore the changes from #204 and #205 that #199 undid

apps/web/src/config.ts

@@ -510,6 +510,21 @@ export const wording = {
       review_artifact: (document?: string) =>
         document ? `Asked for a review · ${document}` : "Asked for a review",
     } as Record<string, (subject?: string) => string>,
+    /** A hand-off the hub refused, by tool name: who it did not start. */
+    handoffRefused: {
+      deploy_writer: (document?: string) =>
+        document
+          ? `Could not start the writer · ${document}`
+          : "Could not start the writer",
+      design_app: () => "Could not start the designer",
+      deploy_coder: () => "Could not start the app builder",
+      deploy_presenter: () => "Could not start the presenter",
+      instruct_coder: () => "Could not send the app builder a change",
+      review_artifact: (document?: string) =>
+        document
+          ? `Could not ask for a review · ${document}`
+          : "Could not ask for a review",
+    } as Record<string, (subject?: string) => string>,
     /** What a tool call is doing, by tool name, given its one identifying argument. */
     tool: {
       read_file: (subject?: string) =>
@@ -708,6 +723,8 @@ export const wording = {
       timeout: "Not started — the go-ahead ran out of time",
       expired: "Not started — the go-ahead expired",
     },
+    /** The hub refused the hand-off, so nothing started. */
+    refused: "Not started",
     starting: "Starting…",
     /** At work before its run reports a step of its own. */
     working: (subject: string) => `Working on ${subject}`,
@@ -979,7 +996,7 @@ export const wording = {
     coordinatorNotStarted: "The coordinator for this project did not start.",
     projectNotOpened: "The project could not be opened.",
     projectLoading: "Loading this project…",
-    projectTooShort: "At least ten characters to start a project.",
+    projectEmpty: "Describe what you want built to start a project.",
     stepFailed: "That step could not finish.",
   },
   /** The coordinator's questions as a card the person answers in the conversation. */

apps/web/src/pages/home-view.ts

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 export const HOME_COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDER = "Describe the thing you want built…";
 
-/** Ten characters is the create gate. */
+/** Any idea starts a project; only an empty box does not. */
 export function canStartProject(problem: string): boolean {
-  return problem.trim().length >= 10;
+  return problem.trim().length > 0;
 }

apps/web/src/pages/projects.tsx

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export function Projects({
     if (busy !== null) return;
     if (shell.answers(problem)) return setProblem("");
     if (!canStartProject(problem)) {
-      toast.error(wording.message.projectTooShort);
+      toast.error(wording.message.projectEmpty);
       return;
     }
     setBusy("start");

apps/web/src/pages/workspace/work-unit-view.tsx

@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ function WorkLine({
       return text.steps(text.done[dispatch.role](subject), steps);
     case "finished":
     case "failed":
+      if (dispatch.refused !== undefined) return text.refused;
       return text.steps(text.ended(subject), steps);
   }
 }

apps/web/src/pages/workspace/work-unit.ts

@@ -200,7 +200,11 @@ export function workUnitMessage(
     !dispatch.pending &&
     status.state !== "waiting" &&
     status.state !== "declined";
-  const handoff = wording.activity.handoff[dispatch.tool];
+  const handoff = (
+    dispatch.refused === undefined
+      ? wording.activity.handoff
+      : wording.activity.handoffRefused
+  )[dispatch.tool];
   const parts: ConversationPart[] = [
     {
       kind: "tool-trace",

docs/USER_MANUAL.md

@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ tips**) and your **Account**, with **Sign out**.
 
 From **New project** in the sidebar you see "What do you want to build today?"
 
-1. Type your idea in the box that says "Describe the thing you want built…". It
-   needs at least ten characters. You can also dictate with the microphone.
+1. Type your idea in the box that says "Describe the thing you want built…".
+   You can also dictate with the microphone.
 2. The **Model profile** picker in the box shows the profile the project will
    use. Change it here if you want a different one.
 3. Send it. You see "Starting your project…" and then the project opens.
@@ -379,8 +379,8 @@ provider's status in **Settings → Providers**, then send your message again.
   whoever runs it to restart it.
 - **"Builder is responding slowly"**: everything waits on the server. If it
   stays slow, restart it.
-- **"At least ten characters to start a project."**: describe the idea in a
-  little more detail.
+- **"Describe what you want built to start a project."**: the box is empty;
+  type your idea first.
 - **"No model provider connected"**: choose **Connect a model provider**.
 - **"The provider refused this key."**: check the key and test again.
 - **"The provider did not answer with a model list."**: check the **Base URL**