build-tui-view

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Provides instructions for building Hatchet TUI views in the Hatchet CLI.

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npx skill4agent add hatchet-dev/hatchet build-tui-view
📝 SELF-UPDATING DOCUMENT: This skill automatically updates itself when inaccuracies are discovered or new patterns are learned. Always verify information against the actual codebase and update this file when needed.

Overview

This skill provides instructions for creating and maintaining Terminal User Interface (TUI) views in the Hatchet CLI using bubbletea and lipgloss. The TUI system uses a modular view architecture where individual views are isolated in separate files within the
views/
directory.
IMPORTANT: Always start by finding the corresponding view in the frontend application to understand the structure, columns, and API calls.

Self-Updating Skill Instructions

CRITICAL - READ FIRST: This skill document is designed to be continuously improved and kept accurate.

When to Update This Skill

You MUST update this skill file in the following situations:
  1. Discovering Inaccuracies
    • When you find incorrect file paths or directory structures
    • When code examples don't compile or don't match actual implementations
    • When API signatures have changed
    • When referenced files don't exist at specified locations
  2. Learning New Patterns
    • When implementing a new view and discovering better approaches
    • When the user teaches you new conventions or patterns
    • When you find reusable patterns that should be documented
    • When you discover common pitfalls that should be warned about
  3. Finding Missing Information
    • When you need information that isn't documented here
    • When new components or utilities are added to the codebase
    • When new bubbletea/lipgloss patterns are adopted
  4. User Corrections
    • When the user corrects any information in this document
    • When the user provides updated approaches or conventions
    • When the user points out outdated information

How to Update This Skill

When updating this skill:
  1. Verify Before Adding: Always verify paths, code, and API signatures against the actual codebase before adding to this document
  2. Use Read/Glob/Grep: Check the actual files to ensure accuracy
  3. Test Code Examples: Ensure code examples compile and follow current patterns
  4. Be Specific: Include exact file paths, function signatures, and working code examples
  5. Update Immediately: Make updates as soon as inaccuracies are discovered, not at the end of a session
  6. Preserve Structure: Maintain the existing document structure and formatting
  7. Add Context: When adding new sections, explain why the pattern is recommended

Verification Checklist

Before using information from this skill, verify:
  • File paths exist and are correct
  • Code examples match current implementations
  • API signatures match the generated REST client
  • Reusable components are correctly referenced
  • Directory structures are accurate

Self-Correction Process

If you discover an inaccuracy while working:
  1. Immediately note the issue
  2. Verify the correct information by reading the actual files
  3. Update this skill document with the correction
  4. Continue with the user's task using the corrected information
Remember: This skill should be a living document that grows more accurate and comprehensive with each use.

Project Context

  • Framework: bubbletea (TUI framework)
  • Styling: lipgloss (style definitions)
  • TUI Command Location:
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui.go
  • Views Location:
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui/
    directory
  • Theme: Pre-defined Hatchet theme in
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/internal/styles/styles.go
  • Frontend Reference:
    frontend/app/src/pages/main/v1/
    directory

Finding Frontend Prior Art

CRITICAL FIRST STEP: Before implementing any TUI view, locate the corresponding frontend view to understand:
  1. Column structure and names
  2. API endpoints and query parameters
  3. Data types and fields used
  4. Filtering and sorting logic

Process for Finding Frontend Reference:

  1. Locate the Frontend View
    bash
    # Navigate to frontend pages
    cd frontend/app/src/pages/main/v1/
    
    # Find views related to your feature (e.g., workflow-runs, tasks, events)
    ls -la
  2. Study the Column Definitions
    • Look for files like
      {feature}-columns.tsx
    • Note the column keys, titles, and accessors
    • Example:
      frontend/app/src/pages/main/v1/workflow-runs-v1/components/v1/task-runs-columns.tsx
    typescript
    export const TaskRunColumn = {
      taskName: "Task Name",
      status: "Status",
      workflow: "Workflow",
      createdAt: "Created At",
      startedAt: "Started At",
      duration: "Duration",
    };
  3. Identify the Data Hook
    • Look for
      use-{feature}.tsx
      files in the
      hooks/
      directory
    • These contain the API query logic
    • Example:
      frontend/app/src/pages/main/v1/workflow-runs-v1/hooks/use-runs.tsx
  4. Find the API Query
    • Check
      frontend/app/src/lib/api/queries.ts
      for the query definition
    • Note the endpoint name and parameters
    • Example:
    typescript
    v1WorkflowRuns: {
      list: (tenant: string, query: V2ListWorkflowRunsQuery) => ({
        queryKey: ['v1:workflow-run:list', tenant, query],
        queryFn: async () => (await api.v1WorkflowRunList(tenant, query)).data,
      }),
    }
  5. Map to Go REST Client
    • The frontend
      api.v1WorkflowRunList()
      maps to Go's
      client.API().V1WorkflowRunListWithResponse()
    • Frontend query parameters map to Go struct parameters
    • Example mapping:
    typescript
    // Frontend
    api.v1WorkflowRunList(tenantId, {
      offset: 0,
      limit: 100,
      since: createdAfter,
      only_tasks: true,
    })
    
    // Go equivalent
    client.API().V1WorkflowRunListWithResponse(
      ctx,
      client.TenantId(),
      &rest.V1WorkflowRunListParams{
        Offset: int64Ptr(0),
        Limit: int64Ptr(100),
        Since: &since,
        OnlyTasks: true,
      },
    )

Example: Implementing Tasks View from Frontend Reference

  1. Frontend Structure:
    frontend/app/src/pages/main/v1/workflow-runs-v1/
    • Columns:
      task-runs-columns.tsx
    • Hook:
      use-runs.tsx
    • Table:
      runs-table.tsx
  2. Extract Column Names:
    typescript
    taskName, status, workflow, createdAt, startedAt, duration;
  3. Identify API Call:
    typescript
    queries.v1WorkflowRuns.list(tenantId, {
      offset,
      limit,
      statuses,
      workflow_ids,
      since,
      until,
      only_tasks: true,
    });
  4. Implement in TUI:
    go
    // Create matching columns
    columns := []table.Column{
      {Title: "Task Name", Width: 30},
      {Title: "Status", Width: 12},
      {Title: "Workflow", Width: 25},
      {Title: "Created At", Width: 16},
      {Title: "Started At", Width: 16},
      {Title: "Duration", Width: 12},
    }
    
    // Call matching API endpoint
    response, err := client.API().V1WorkflowRunListWithResponse(
      ctx,
      client.TenantId(),
      &rest.V1WorkflowRunListParams{
        Offset: int64Ptr(0),
        Limit: int64Ptr(100),
        Since: &since,
        OnlyTasks: true,
      },
    )

Reusable Components (CRITICAL - READ FIRST)

IMPORTANT: All TUI views MUST use the standardized reusable components defined in
view.go
to ensure consistency across the application. DO NOT copy-paste header/footer styling code.

Header Component

CRITICAL: ALL headers throughout the TUI use the magenta highlight color (
styles.HighlightColor
) for the title to provide consistent visual emphasis across all views (primary views, detail views, modals, etc.).

For Detail Views and Modals

Always use
RenderHeader()
for detail views, modals, and secondary screens:
go
header := RenderHeader("Workflow Details", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)
header := RenderHeader("Task Details", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)
header := RenderHeader("Filter Tasks", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)

For Primary Views

Use
RenderHeaderWithViewIndicator()
for primary/list views:
go
// For primary list views - shows just the view name, no repetitive "Hatchet Workflows [Workflows]"
header := RenderHeaderWithViewIndicator("Runs", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)
header := RenderHeaderWithViewIndicator("Workflows", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)
This function renders just the view name (e.g., "Runs" or "Workflows") in the highlight color, keeping it simple and non-repetitive.
Features of both header functions:
  • Title rendered in magenta highlight color (
    styles.HighlightColor
    ) - consistent across ALL views
  • Includes the logo (text-based: "HATCHET TUI") on the right
  • Shows profile name
  • Bordered bottom edge
  • Responsive to terminal width
❌ NEVER do this:
go
// Bad: Copy-pasting header styles
headerStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
    Bold(true).
    Foreground(styles.AccentColor).
    BorderStyle(lipgloss.NormalBorder()).
    // ... more styling
header := headerStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("My View - Profile: %s", profile))

// Bad: Calling RenderHeaderWithLogo directly (bypasses highlight color)
header := RenderHeaderWithLogo(fmt.Sprintf("My View - Profile: %s", profile), v.Width)
✅ ALWAYS do this:
go
// Good: Use the reusable component for detail views
header := RenderHeader("Task Details", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)

// Good: Use the view indicator variant for primary views
header := RenderHeaderWithViewIndicator("Runs", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)

Instructions Component

Use
RenderInstructions()
to display contextual help text:
go
instructions := RenderInstructions(
    "Your instructions here  •  Use bullets to separate items",
    v.Width,
)
Features:
  • Muted color styling for reduced visual noise
  • Automatically handles width constraints
  • Consistent padding
  • Uses bullet separators (•)

Footer Component

Always use
RenderFooter()
for navigation/control hints:
go
footer := RenderFooter([]string{
    "↑/↓: Navigate",
    "Enter: Select",
    "Esc: Cancel",
    "q: Quit",
}, v.Width)
Features:
  • Consistent styling with top border
  • Automatically joins control items with bullets (•)
  • Muted color for non-intrusive display
  • Responsive to terminal width

Standard View Structure

Every view should follow this consistent structure:
go
func (v *YourView) View() string {
    var b strings.Builder

    // 1. Header (always) - USE REUSABLE COMPONENT
    header := RenderHeader("View Title", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)
    b.WriteString(header)
    b.WriteString("\n\n")

    // 2. Instructions (when helpful) - USE REUSABLE COMPONENT
    instructions := RenderInstructions("Your instructions", v.Width)
    b.WriteString(instructions)
    b.WriteString("\n\n")

    // 3. Main content
    // ... your view-specific content ...

    // 4. Footer (always) - USE REUSABLE COMPONENT
    footer := RenderFooter([]string{
        "control1: Action1",
        "control2: Action2",
    }, v.Width)
    b.WriteString(footer)

    return b.String()
}

Architecture

Root TUI Model (
tui.go
)

The root TUI command is responsible for:
  1. Profile selection and validation
  2. Initializing the Hatchet client
  3. Creating the view context
  4. Managing the current view
  5. Delegating updates to views

View System (
views/
directory)

Each view is a separate file that implements the
View
interface:
  • view.go
    - Base view interface, context, and reusable components
  • {viewname}.go
    - Individual view implementations (e.g.,
    tasks.go
    )

Core Principles

1. File Structure

TUI Command File

  • File:
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui.go
  • Purpose: Command setup, profile selection, client initialization, view management

View Files

  • Location:
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui/
  • Files:
    • view.go
      - View interface and base types
    • {viewname}.go
      - Individual view implementations

2. View Interface

All views must implement this interface (defined in
views/view.go
):
go
package views

import (
	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
	"github.com/hatchet-dev/hatchet/pkg/client"
)

// ViewContext contains the shared context passed to all views
type ViewContext struct {
	// Profile name for display
	ProfileName string

	// Hatchet client for API calls
	Client client.Client

	// Terminal dimensions
	Width  int
	Height int
}

// View represents a TUI view component
type View interface {
	// Init initializes the view and returns any initial commands
	Init() tea.Cmd

	// Update handles messages and updates the view state
	Update(msg tea.Msg) (View, tea.Cmd)

	// View renders the view to a string
	View() string

	// SetSize updates the view dimensions
	SetSize(width, height int)
}

3. Base Model Pattern

Use
BaseModel
for common view fields:
go
// BaseModel contains common fields for all views
type BaseModel struct {
	Ctx    ViewContext
	Width  int
	Height int
	Err    error
}

// Your view embeds BaseModel
type YourView struct {
	BaseModel
	// Your view-specific fields
	table table.Model
	items []YourDataType
}

4. Creating a New View

Step 1: Create View File

Create
cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui/{viewname}.go
:
go
package views

import (
	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
	"github.com/hatchet-dev/hatchet/cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/internal/styles"
	"github.com/hatchet-dev/hatchet/pkg/client/rest"
)

type YourView struct {
	BaseModel
	// View-specific fields
}

// NewYourView creates a new instance of your view
func NewYourView(ctx ViewContext) *YourView {
	v := &YourView{
		BaseModel: BaseModel{
			Ctx: ctx,
		},
	}

	// Initialize view components

	return v
}

func (v *YourView) Init() tea.Cmd {
	return nil
}

func (v *YourView) Update(msg tea.Msg) (View, tea.Cmd) {
	var cmd tea.Cmd

	switch msg := msg.(type) {
	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
		v.SetSize(msg.Width, msg.Height)
		return v, nil

	case tea.KeyMsg:
		switch msg.String() {
		case "r":
			// Refresh logic
			return v, nil
		}
	}

	// Update sub-components
	return v, cmd
}

func (v *YourView) View() string {
	if v.Width == 0 {
		return "Initializing..."
	}

	// Build your view
	return "Your view content"
}

func (v *YourView) SetSize(width, height int) {
	v.BaseModel.SetSize(width, height)
	// Update view-specific components
}

Step 2: Use View in TUI

The root TUI model manages views:
go
// In tui.go
func newTUIModel(profileName string, hatchetClient client.Client) tuiModel {
	ctx := views.ViewContext{
		ProfileName: profileName,
		Client:      hatchetClient,
	}

	// Initialize with your view
	currentView := views.NewYourView(ctx)

	return tuiModel{
		currentView: currentView,
	}
}

5. Client Initialization Pattern

Always initialize the Hatchet client in
tui.go
:
go
import (
	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
	"github.com/hatchet-dev/hatchet/pkg/client"
)

// In the cobra command Run function
profile, err := cli.GetProfile(selectedProfile)
if err != nil {
	cli.Logger.Fatalf("could not get profile '%s': %v", selectedProfile, err)
}

// Initialize Hatchet client
nopLogger := zerolog.Nop()
hatchetClient, err := client.New(
	client.WithToken(profile.Token),
	client.WithLogger(&nopLogger),
)
if err != nil {
	cli.Logger.Fatalf("could not create Hatchet client: %v", err)
}

6. Accessing the Client in Views

The Hatchet client is available through the view context:
go
func (v *YourView) fetchData() tea.Cmd {
	return func() tea.Msg {
		// Access the client
		client := v.Ctx.Client

		// Make API calls
		// response, err := client.API().SomeEndpoint(...)

		return yourDataMsg{
			data: data,
			err:  err,
		}
	}
}

7. Hatchet Theme Integration

CRITICAL: NEVER hardcode colors or styles in view files. Always use the pre-defined Hatchet theme colors and utilities from
cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/internal/styles
.

Available Theme Colors

go
import "github.com/hatchet-dev/hatchet/cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/internal/styles"

// Primary theme colors:
// - styles.AccentColor
// - styles.PrimaryColor
// - styles.SuccessColor
// - styles.HighlightColor
// - styles.MutedColor
// - styles.Blue, styles.Cyan, styles.Magenta

// Status colors (matching frontend badge variants):
// - styles.StatusSuccessColor / styles.StatusSuccessBg
// - styles.StatusFailedColor / styles.StatusFailedBg
// - styles.StatusInProgressColor / styles.StatusInProgressBg
// - styles.StatusQueuedColor / styles.StatusQueuedBg
// - styles.StatusCancelledColor / styles.StatusCancelledBg
// - styles.ErrorColor

// Available styles:
// - styles.H1, styles.H2
// - styles.Bold, styles.Italic
// - styles.Primary, styles.Accent, styles.Success
// - styles.Code
// - styles.Box, styles.InfoBox, styles.SuccessBox

Status Rendering

Per-Cell Coloring in Tables: Use the custom
TableWithStyleFunc
wrapper to enable per-cell styling.
For status rendering in tables:
go
// Create table with StyleFunc support
t := NewTableWithStyleFunc(
    table.WithColumns(columns),
    table.WithFocused(true),
    table.WithHeight(20),
)

// Set StyleFunc for per-cell styling
t.SetStyleFunc(func(row, col int) lipgloss.Style {
    // Column 1 is the status column
    if col == 1 && row < len(v.tasks) {
        statusStyle := styles.GetV1TaskStatusStyle(v.tasks[row].Status)
        return lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusStyle.Foreground)
    }
    return lipgloss.NewStyle()
})

// In updateTableRows, use plain text (StyleFunc applies colors)
statusStyle := styles.GetV1TaskStatusStyle(task.Status)
status := statusStyle.Text  // "Succeeded", "Failed", etc.
For non-table contexts (headers, footers, standalone text):
go
// Render V1TaskStatus with proper colors
status := styles.RenderV1TaskStatus(task.Status)

// Render error messages
errorMsg := styles.RenderError(fmt.Sprintf("Error: %v", err))
Why custom TableWithStyleFunc?
  • Standard bubbles table doesn't support per-cell or per-column styling
  • TableWithStyleFunc
    wraps bubbles table and adds StyleFunc support
  • StyleFunc allows dynamic cell styling based on row/column index
  • Located in
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui/table_custom.go
  • Maintains bubbles table interactivity (cursor, selection, keyboard nav)

Table Styling

go
s := table.DefaultStyles()
s.Header = s.Header.
    BorderStyle(lipgloss.NormalBorder()).
    BorderForeground(styles.AccentColor).
    BorderBottom(true).
    Bold(true).
    Foreground(styles.AccentColor)
s.Selected = s.Selected.
    Foreground(lipgloss.AdaptiveColor{Light: "#ffffff", Dark: "#0A1029"}).
    Background(styles.Blue).
    Bold(true)
Note: Use
lipgloss.AdaptiveColor
even for basic colors like white/black to support light/dark terminals.

Adding New Status Colors

If you need to add new status colors:
  1. Add the color constants to
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/internal/styles/styles.go
  2. Create or update the utility function in
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/internal/styles/status.go
  3. Reference the frontend badge variants in
    frontend/app/src/components/v1/ui/badge.tsx
    for color values
  4. Use adaptive colors for light/dark terminal support

8. Standard Keyboard Controls

Use consistent key mappings across all views to provide a predictable user experience.

Global Controls (handled in tui.go)

  • q
    or
    ctrl+c
    : Quit the TUI

View-Specific Controls

Implement these in individual views:
  • Navigation:
    ↑/↓
    or arrow keys for list navigation
  • Selection:
    Enter
    to select/confirm
  • Tab Navigation:
    Tab
    /
    Shift+Tab
    for form fields
  • Cancel:
    Esc
    to go back/cancel
  • Refresh:
    r
    to manually refresh data
  • Filter:
    f
    to open filter modal (where applicable)
  • Debug:
    d
    to toggle debug view (see Debug Logging section)
  • Clear:
    c
    to clear debug logs (when in debug view)
  • Tab Views:
    1
    ,
    2
    ,
    3
    , etc. or
    tab
    /
    shift+tab
    for switching tabs
Important: Always document keyboard controls in the footer using
RenderFooter()

9. Layout Components

CRITICAL: Use the reusable components from
view.go
for headers, instructions, and footers. See "Reusable Components" section above.

Header

✅ Use the reusable component:
go
header := RenderHeader("View Title", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)
❌ DO NOT manually create headers:
go
// Bad: Don't do this
headerStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
    Bold(true).
    Foreground(styles.AccentColor).
    // ... (this violates DRY principle)

Footer

✅ Use the reusable component:
go
footer := RenderFooter([]string{
    "↑/↓: Navigate",
    "r: Refresh",
    "q: Quit",
}, v.Width)
❌ DO NOT manually create footers:
go
// Bad: Don't do this
footerStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
    Foreground(styles.MutedColor).
    // ... (this violates DRY principle)

Instructions

✅ Use the reusable component:
go
instructions := RenderInstructions("Your helpful instructions here", v.Width)

Stats Bar

Custom stats bars are fine for view-specific metrics:
go
statsStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
    Foreground(styles.MutedColor).
    Padding(0, 1)

stats := statsStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf(
    "Total: %d  |  Status1: %d  |  Status2: %d",
    total, status1Count, status2Count,
))

10. Data Integration

REST API Types

Use generated REST types from:
go
import "github.com/hatchet-dev/hatchet/pkg/client/rest"
Common types:
  • rest.V1TaskSummary
  • rest.V1TaskSummaryList
  • rest.V1WorkflowRun
  • rest.V1WorkflowRunDetails
  • rest.Worker
  • rest.WorkerRuntimeInfo
  • rest.Workflow
  • rest.APIResourceMeta

Async Data Fetching Pattern

go
// Define custom message types in your view file
type yourDataMsg struct {
    items []YourDataType
    err   error
}

// Create fetch command
func (v *YourView) fetchData() tea.Cmd {
    return func() tea.Msg {
        // Use v.Ctx.Client to make API calls
        // Return yourDataMsg
    }
}

// Handle in Update
case yourDataMsg:
    v.loading = false
    if msg.err != nil {
        v.HandleError(msg.err)
    } else {
        v.items = msg.items
        v.ClearError()
    }

11. Modal Views

When creating modal overlays (like filter forms or confirmation dialogs):
  1. Still show the header with updated title using
    RenderHeader()
  2. Show instructions specific to the modal interaction using
    RenderInstructions()
  3. Show the modal content
  4. Show a footer with modal-specific controls using
    RenderFooter()
Example Modal Structure:
go
func (v *TasksView) renderFilterModal() string {
    var b strings.Builder

    // 1. Header - USE REUSABLE COMPONENT
    header := RenderHeader("Filter Tasks", v.Ctx.ProfileName, v.Width)
    b.WriteString(header)
    b.WriteString("\n\n")

    // 2. Instructions - USE REUSABLE COMPONENT
    instructions := RenderInstructions("Configure filters and press Enter to apply", v.Width)
    b.WriteString(instructions)
    b.WriteString("\n\n")

    // 3. Modal content (form, etc.)
    b.WriteString(v.filterForm.View())
    b.WriteString("\n")

    // 4. Footer - USE REUSABLE COMPONENT
    footer := RenderFooter([]string{"Enter: Apply", "Esc: Cancel"}, v.Width)
    b.WriteString(footer)

    return b.String()
}
Important: Modals should maintain the same visual structure as regular views (header, instructions, content, footer) for consistency.

12. Form Integration

When using
huh
forms in views:
  1. Set the Hatchet theme:
    .WithTheme(styles.HatchetTheme())
  2. Integrate forms directly into the main tea.Program (don't run separate programs)
  3. Handle form completion by checking
    form.State == huh.StateCompleted
  4. Pass ALL messages to the form when it's active (not just key messages)
Example:
go
import "github.com/charmbracelet/huh"

// In Update()
if v.showingFilter && v.filterForm != nil {
    // Pass ALL messages to form when active
    form, cmd := v.filterForm.Update(msg)
    v.filterForm = form.(*huh.Form)

    // Check if form completed
    if v.filterForm.State == huh.StateCompleted {
        v.showingFilter = false
        // Process form values
    }

    return v, cmd
}

13. Table Component

Using
github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/table
:
go
import "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/table"

// Define columns
columns := []table.Column{
    {Title: "Column1", Width: 20},
    {Title: "Column2", Width: 30},
}

// Create table
t := table.New(
    table.WithColumns(columns),
    table.WithFocused(true),
    table.WithHeight(20),
)

// Apply Hatchet styles
s := table.DefaultStyles()
s.Header = s.Header.
    BorderStyle(lipgloss.NormalBorder()).
    BorderForeground(styles.AccentColor).
    BorderBottom(true).
    Bold(true).
    Foreground(styles.AccentColor)
s.Selected = s.Selected.
    Foreground(lipgloss.AdaptiveColor{Light: "#ffffff", Dark: "#0A1029"}).
    Background(styles.Blue).
    Bold(true)
t.SetStyles(s)

// Update rows
rows := make([]table.Row, len(items))
for i, item := range items {
    rows[i] = table.Row{item.Field1, item.Field2}
}
t.SetRows(rows)

14. Table Height Calculations and Layout Optimization

CRITICAL: Proper table height calculation is essential for optimal use of terminal space. Different view types require different calculations based on the UI elements displayed above and below the table.

Standard Height Calculations by View Type

Primary List Views (e.g., runs_list, workflows):
  • Calculation:
    height - 12
  • Accounts for: header (3 lines), stats bar (2 lines), spacing (2 lines), footer (2 lines), buffer (3 lines)
go
func (v *RunsListView) Update(msg tea.Msg) (View, tea.Cmd) {
    switch msg := msg.(type) {
    case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
        v.SetSize(msg.Width, msg.Height)
        v.table.SetHeight(msg.Height - 12)  // Primary view calculation
        return v, nil
    }
    // ...
}

func (v *RunsListView) SetSize(width, height int) {
    v.BaseModel.SetSize(width, height)
    if height > 12 {
        v.table.SetHeight(height - 12)
    }
}
Detail Views with Additional Info Sections (e.g., workflow_details with workflow info + runs table):
  • Calculation:
    height - 16
    (or adjust based on info section size)
  • Accounts for: header (3 lines), info section (4 lines), section header (2 lines), spacing (2 lines), footer (2 lines), buffer (3 lines)
go
func (v *WorkflowDetailsView) Update(msg tea.Msg) (View, tea.Cmd) {
    switch msg := msg.(type) {
    case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
        v.SetSize(msg.Width, msg.Height)
        v.table.SetHeight(msg.Height - 16)  // Detail view with extra info
        return v, nil
    }
    // ...
}

func (v *WorkflowDetailsView) SetSize(width, height int) {
    v.BaseModel.SetSize(width, height)
    if height > 16 {
        v.table.SetHeight(height - 16)
    }
}

Guidelines for Height Calculation

  1. Count Your UI Elements: List all elements that appear above and below the table
  2. Estimate Line Counts:
    • Header: ~3 lines (with spacing)
    • Stats bar: ~2 lines (with spacing)
    • Section headers: ~2 lines each
    • Info sections: ~3-5 lines depending on content
    • Footer: ~2 lines (with spacing)
    • Buffer: ~2-3 lines for safety
  3. Test at Different Sizes: Verify the table has adequate space at minimum terminal size (80x24)
  4. Iterate if Needed: If the table feels cramped, reduce the height offset by 2-4 lines
Common Mistake: Using the same height calculation for all views without accounting for additional UI elements.
❌ Wrong:
go
// Detail view with extra info section but using primary view calculation
v.table.SetHeight(msg.Height - 12)  // Table will be too large, overlapping footer
✅ Correct:
go
// Adjust calculation based on actual UI elements in the view
v.table.SetHeight(msg.Height - 16)  // Accounts for extra info section

15. Column Consistency Between Related Views

CRITICAL: When a detail view displays a list that's conceptually similar to a primary list view (e.g., workflow details showing recent runs, same as the main runs list), the columns MUST match exactly to maintain consistency and user expectations.

Why Column Consistency Matters

  1. User Experience: Users expect the same information in the same format across views
  2. Cognitive Load: Consistent columns reduce mental overhead when switching contexts
  3. Visual Familiarity: Same column structure reinforces the relationship between views

Example: Runs List Columns

Primary View (
runs_list.go
):
go
columns := []table.Column{
    {Title: "Task Name", Width: 30},
    {Title: "Status", Width: 12},
    {Title: "Workflow", Width: 25},
    {Title: "Created At", Width: 16},
    {Title: "Started At", Width: 16},
    {Title: "Duration", Width: 12},
}
Detail View (
workflow_details.go
showing recent runs for a workflow):
go
// MUST use the same columns as runs_list.go
columns := []table.Column{
    {Title: "Task Name", Width: 30},
    {Title: "Status", Width: 12},
    {Title: "Workflow", Width: 25},      // Keep this even if redundant
    {Title: "Created At", Width: 16},
    {Title: "Started At", Width: 16},
    {Title: "Duration", Width: 12},
}

Implementing Column Consistency

When implementing a detail view with a related list:
  1. Reference the primary view: Check which columns the primary list view uses
  2. Copy the column structure exactly: Same titles, same order, same widths
  3. Keep all columns: Don't remove columns even if they seem redundant in the detail context
  4. Update row population: Ensure
    updateTableRows()
    populates all columns correctly
❌ Wrong:
go
// Workflow details view using different columns than runs list
columns := []table.Column{
    {Title: "Name", Width: 40},          // Different title
    {Title: "Created At", Width: 16},
    {Title: "Status", Width: 12},        // Different order
    // Missing: Workflow, Started At, Duration
}
✅ Correct:
go
// Workflow details view matching runs list exactly
columns := []table.Column{
    {Title: "Task Name", Width: 30},     // Same titles
    {Title: "Status", Width: 12},
    {Title: "Workflow", Width: 25},      // Same order
    {Title: "Created At", Width: 16},
    {Title: "Started At", Width: 16},
    {Title: "Duration", Width: 12},      // All columns included
}

16. View Navigation and Modal Selector

The TUI uses a navigation stack system for drilling down into details and a modal selector for switching between primary views.

Navigation Stack Pattern

The root TUI model maintains a
viewStack
for back navigation:
go
type tuiModel struct {
    currentView       tui.View
    viewStack         []tui.View     // Stack for back navigation
    // ...
}
Navigating to a Detail View:
go
case tui.NavigateToWorkflowMsg:
    // Push current view onto stack
    m.viewStack = append(m.viewStack, m.currentView)

    // Create and initialize detail view
    detailView := tui.NewWorkflowDetailsView(m.ctx, msg.WorkflowID)
    detailView.SetSize(m.width, m.height)
    m.currentView = detailView

    return m, detailView.Init()
Navigating Back:
go
case tui.NavigateBackMsg:
    // Pop view from stack
    if len(m.viewStack) > 0 {
        m.currentView = m.viewStack[len(m.viewStack)-1]
        m.viewStack = m.viewStack[:len(m.viewStack)-1]
        m.currentView.SetSize(m.width, m.height)
    }
    return m, nil
In Detail Views (handle Esc key for back navigation):
go
case tea.KeyMsg:
    switch msg.String() {
    case "esc":
        // Navigate back to previous view
        return v, NewNavigateBackMsg()
    }

Modal View Selector Pattern

The modal selector allows switching between primary views using
Shift+Tab
:
Opening the Modal:
go
case tea.KeyMsg:
    switch msg.String() {
    case "shift+tab":
        // Find current view type in the list
        for i, opt := range availableViews {
            if opt.Type == m.currentViewType {
                m.selectedViewIndex = i
                break
            }
        }
        m.showViewSelector = true
        return m, nil
    }
Modal Navigation (supports Tab, arrow keys, vim keys):
go
if m.showViewSelector {
    switch msg.String() {
    case "shift+tab", "tab", "down", "j":
        // Cycle forward
        m.selectedViewIndex = (m.selectedViewIndex + 1) % len(availableViews)
        return m, nil
    case "up", "k":
        // Cycle backward
        m.selectedViewIndex = (m.selectedViewIndex - 1 + len(availableViews)) % len(availableViews)
        return m, nil
    case "enter":
        // Confirm selection and switch view
        selectedType := availableViews[m.selectedViewIndex].Type
        if selectedType != m.currentViewType {
            // Only switch if in a primary view
            if m.isInPrimaryView() {
                m.currentViewType = selectedType
                m.currentView = m.createViewForType(selectedType)
                m.currentView.SetSize(m.width, m.height)
                m.showViewSelector = false
                return m, m.currentView.Init()
            }
        }
        m.showViewSelector = false
        return m, nil
    case "esc":
        // Cancel without switching
        m.showViewSelector = false
        return m, nil
    }
    return m, nil
}
Rendering the Modal:
go
func (m tuiModel) renderViewSelector() string {
    var b strings.Builder

    // Use reusable header component
    header := tui.RenderHeader("Select View", m.ctx.ProfileName, m.width)
    b.WriteString(header)
    b.WriteString("\n\n")

    // Instructions
    instructions := tui.RenderInstructions(
        "↑/↓ or Tab: Navigate  •  Enter: Confirm  •  Esc: Cancel",
        m.width,
    )
    b.WriteString(instructions)
    b.WriteString("\n\n")

    // View options with highlighting
    for i, opt := range availableViews {
        if i == m.selectedViewIndex {
            // Highlighted option
            selectedStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
                Foreground(lipgloss.AdaptiveColor{Light: "#ffffff", Dark: "#0A1029"}).
                Background(styles.Blue).
                Bold(true).
                Padding(0, 2)

            b.WriteString(selectedStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("▶ %s - %s", opt.Name, opt.Description)))
        } else {
            // Non-highlighted option
            normalStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
                Foreground(styles.MutedColor).
                Padding(0, 2)

            b.WriteString(normalStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("  %s - %s", opt.Name, opt.Description)))
        }
        b.WriteString("\n")
    }

    // Footer
    footer := tui.RenderFooter([]string{
        "Tab: Cycle",
        "Enter: Confirm",
        "Esc: Cancel",
    }, m.width)
    b.WriteString("\n")
    b.WriteString(footer)

    return b.String()
}
Key Principles:
  1. Navigation Stack: Use for hierarchical navigation (list → detail → back)
  2. Modal Selector: Use for switching between top-level views
  3. Primary View Check: Only allow view switching when not in a detail view
  4. Consistent Key Bindings:
    • Shift+Tab
      : Open view selector
    • Esc
      : Go back (in detail views) or cancel (in modals)
    • Enter
      : Select item or confirm action
    • Arrow keys/vim keys: Navigate within lists and modals

Common Patterns

Formatting Utilities

Duration Formatting

go
func formatDuration(ms int) string {
    duration := time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond
    if duration < time.Second {
        return fmt.Sprintf("%dms", ms)
    }
    seconds := duration.Seconds()
    if seconds < 60 {
        return fmt.Sprintf("%.1fs", seconds)
    }
    minutes := int(seconds / 60)
    secs := int(seconds) % 60
    return fmt.Sprintf("%dm%ds", minutes, secs)
}

ID Truncation

go
func truncateID(id string, length int) string {
    if len(id) > length {
        return id[:length]
    }
    return id
}

Status Rendering

IMPORTANT: Do not manually style statuses. Use the status utility functions:
go
// For V1TaskStatus (from REST API)
status := styles.RenderV1TaskStatus(task.Status)

// The utility automatically handles:
// - COMPLETED -> Green "Succeeded"
// - FAILED -> Red "Failed"
// - CANCELLED -> Orange "Cancelled"
// - RUNNING -> Yellow "Running"
// - QUEUED -> Gray "Queued"
// All colors match frontend badge variants

Auto-refresh Pattern

go
// Define tick message in your view file
type tickMsg time.Time

// Create tick command
func tick() tea.Cmd {
    return tea.Tick(5*time.Second, func(t time.Time) tea.Msg {
        return tickMsg(t)
    })
}

// Handle in Update
case tickMsg:
    // Refresh data
    return v, tea.Batch(v.fetchData(), tick())

Debug Logging Pattern

Important: For views that make API calls or have complex state management, implement a debug logging system using a ring buffer to prevent memory leaks.

Step 1: Create Debug Logger (if not exists)

Create
cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui/debug.go
:
go
package views

import (
	"fmt"
	"sync"
	"time"
)

// DebugLog represents a single debug log entry
type DebugLog struct {
	Timestamp time.Time
	Message   string
}

// DebugLogger is a fixed-size ring buffer for debug logs
type DebugLogger struct {
	mu       sync.RWMutex
	logs     []DebugLog
	capacity int
	index    int
	size     int
}

// NewDebugLogger creates a new debug logger with the specified capacity
func NewDebugLogger(capacity int) *DebugLogger {
	return &DebugLogger{
		logs:     make([]DebugLog, capacity),
		capacity: capacity,
		index:    0,
		size:     0,
	}
}

// Log adds a new log entry to the ring buffer
func (d *DebugLogger) Log(format string, args ...interface{}) {
	d.mu.Lock()
	defer d.mu.Unlock()

	d.logs[d.index] = DebugLog{
		Timestamp: time.Now(),
		Message:   fmt.Sprintf(format, args...),
	}

	d.index = (d.index + 1) % d.capacity
	if d.size < d.capacity {
		d.size++
	}
}

// GetLogs returns all logs in chronological order
func (d *DebugLogger) GetLogs() []DebugLog {
	d.mu.RLock()
	defer d.mu.RUnlock()

	if d.size == 0 {
		return []DebugLog{}
	}

	result := make([]DebugLog, d.size)

	if d.size < d.capacity {
		// Buffer not full yet, logs are from 0 to index-1
		copy(result, d.logs[:d.size])
	} else {
		// Buffer is full, logs wrap around
		// Copy from index to end (older logs)
		n := copy(result, d.logs[d.index:])
		// Copy from start to index (newer logs)
		copy(result[n:], d.logs[:d.index])
	}

	return result
}

// Clear removes all logs
func (d *DebugLogger) Clear() {
	d.mu.Lock()
	defer d.mu.Unlock()

	d.index = 0
	d.size = 0
}

// Size returns the current number of logs
func (d *DebugLogger) Size() int {
	d.mu.RLock()
	defer d.mu.RUnlock()
	return d.size
}

// Capacity returns the maximum capacity
func (d *DebugLogger) Capacity() int {
	return d.capacity
}

Step 2: Integrate Debug Logger in Your View

go
type YourView struct {
	BaseModel
	// ... other fields
	debugLogger *DebugLogger
	showDebug   bool // Whether to show debug overlay
}

func NewYourView(ctx ViewContext) *YourView {
	v := &YourView{
		BaseModel: BaseModel{
			Ctx: ctx,
		},
		debugLogger: NewDebugLogger(5000), // 5000 log entries max
		showDebug:   false,
	}

	v.debugLogger.Log("YourView initialized")

	return v
}

Step 3: Add Debug Logging Throughout View

go
// Log important events
func (v *YourView) fetchData() tea.Cmd {
	return func() tea.Msg {
		v.debugLogger.Log("Fetching data...")

		// Make API call
		response, err := v.Ctx.Client.API().SomeEndpoint(...)

		if err != nil {
			v.debugLogger.Log("Error fetching data: %v", err)
			return dataMsg{err: err}
		}

		v.debugLogger.Log("Successfully fetched %d items", len(response.Items))
		return dataMsg{data: response.Items}
	}
}

Step 4: Add Toggle Key Handler

go
func (v *YourView) Update(msg tea.Msg) (View, tea.Cmd) {
	switch msg := msg.(type) {
	case tea.KeyMsg:
		switch msg.String() {
		case "d":
			// Toggle debug view
			v.showDebug = !v.showDebug
			v.debugLogger.Log("Debug view toggled: %v", v.showDebug)
			return v, nil
		case "c":
			// Clear debug logs (only when in debug view)
			if v.showDebug {
				v.debugLogger.Clear()
				v.debugLogger.Log("Debug logs cleared")
			}
			return v, nil
		}
	}
	// ... rest of update logic
}

Step 5: Implement Debug View Rendering

go
func (v *YourView) View() string {
	if v.Width == 0 {
		return "Initializing..."
	}

	// If debug view is enabled, show debug overlay
	if v.showDebug {
		return v.renderDebugView()
	}

	// ... normal view rendering
}

func (v *YourView) renderDebugView() string {
	logs := v.debugLogger.GetLogs()

	// Header
	headerStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
		Bold(true).
		Foreground(styles.AccentColor).
		BorderStyle(lipgloss.NormalBorder()).
		BorderBottom(true).
		BorderForeground(styles.AccentColor).
		Width(v.Width-4).
		Padding(0, 1)

	header := headerStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf(
		"Debug Logs - %d/%d entries",
		v.debugLogger.Size(),
		v.debugLogger.Capacity(),
	))

	// Log entries
	logStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
		Padding(0, 1).
		Width(v.Width - 4)

	var b strings.Builder
	b.WriteString(header)
	b.WriteString("\n\n")

	// Calculate how many logs we can show
	maxLines := v.Height - 8 // Reserve space for header, footer, controls
	if maxLines < 1 {
		maxLines = 1
	}

	// Show most recent logs first
	startIdx := 0
	if len(logs) > maxLines {
		startIdx = len(logs) - maxLines
	}

	for i := startIdx; i < len(logs); i++ {
		log := logs[i]
		timestamp := log.Timestamp.Format("15:04:05.000")
		logLine := fmt.Sprintf("[%s] %s", timestamp, log.Message)
		b.WriteString(logStyle.Render(logLine))
		b.WriteString("\n")
	}

	// Footer with controls
	footerStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().
		Foreground(styles.MutedColor).
		BorderStyle(lipgloss.NormalBorder()).
		BorderTop(true).
		BorderForeground(styles.AccentColor).
		Width(v.Width-4).
		Padding(0, 1)

	controls := footerStyle.Render("d: Close Debug  |  c: Clear Logs  |  q: Quit")
	b.WriteString("\n")
	b.WriteString(controls)

	return b.String()
}

Step 6: Update Footer Controls

Add debug controls to your normal view footer:
go
controls := footerStyle.Render("↑/↓: Navigate  |  r: Refresh  |  d: Debug  |  q: Quit")
Benefits:
  • Fixed-size ring buffer prevents memory leaks
  • Thread-safe with mutex protection
  • Toggle on/off without restarting TUI
  • Helps diagnose API issues and state changes
  • No performance impact when not viewing logs

Testing Approach

Dummy Data Generation

During development, create dummy data generators in your view file:
go
func generateDummyData() []YourDataType {
    now := time.Now()
    return []YourDataType{
        {
            Field1: "value1",
            Field2: "value2",
            CreatedAt: now.Add(-5 * time.Minute),
        },
        // ... more dummy items
    }
}

Example Reference

File Structure Example

cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/
├── tui.go                    # Root TUI command
└── views/
    ├── view.go               # View interface and base types
    ├── tasks.go              # Tasks view implementation
    └── workflows.go          # Workflows view implementation (future)

Complete View Example

See
cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui/tasks.go
for a complete implementation.

Compilation and Testing

CRITICAL: Always ensure the CLI binary compiles before considering work complete.

Compilation Check

After implementing or modifying any view:
bash
# Build the CLI binary
go build -o /tmp/hatchet-test ./cmd/hatchet-cli

# Check for errors
echo $?  # Should be 0 for success

Common Compilation Issues

  1. UUID Type Mismatches
    go
    // ❌ Wrong - string to UUID
    client.API().SomeMethod(ctx, client.TenantId(), ...)
    
    // ✅ Correct - parse and convert
    tenantUUID, err := uuid.Parse(client.TenantId())
    if err != nil {
        return msg{err: fmt.Errorf("invalid tenant ID: %w", err)}
    }
    client.API().SomeMethod(ctx, openapi_types.UUID(tenantUUID), ...)
  2. Required Imports
    go
    import (
        "github.com/google/uuid"
        openapi_types "github.com/oapi-codegen/runtime/types"
    )
  3. Type Conversions for API Params
    • *int64
      not
      *int
      for offset/limit
    • time.Time
      not
      *time.Time
      for Since parameter (check the generated types)
    • openapi_types.UUID
      for tenant and workflow IDs
    • Check
      pkg/client/rest/gen.go
      for exact parameter types
  4. Pointer Helper Functions
    go
    func int64Ptr(i int64) *int64 {
        return &i
    }

Testing Workflow

  1. Compilation Test
    bash
    go build -o /tmp/hatchet-test ./cmd/hatchet-cli
  2. Linting Test
    After the build succeeds, run the linting checks:
    bash
    task pre-commit-run
    Continue running this command until it succeeds. Fix any linting issues that are reported before proceeding.
  3. Basic Functionality Test
    bash
    # Test with profile selection
    /tmp/hatchet-test tui
    
    # Test with specific profile
    /tmp/hatchet-test tui --profile your-profile
  4. Error Handling Test
    • Try without profiles configured
    • Try with invalid profile
    • Test keyboard controls (q, r, arrows)
  5. Visual/Layout Testing
    When implementing a new view:
    • Test at various terminal sizes (minimum 80x24)
    • Ensure header and footer are always visible
    • Verify instructions are clear and helpful
    • Check that navigation controls are consistent with other views
    • Test with both light and dark terminal backgrounds
    • Verify all reusable components render correctly

Checklist for New TUI Views

Before You Start

  • Find the corresponding frontend view in
    frontend/app/src/pages/main/v1/
  • Identify column structure and API calls from frontend
  • Note the exact API endpoint and parameters used

Creating the View

  • Create new file in
    cmd/hatchet-cli/cli/tui/{viewname}.go
  • Add required imports (including
    uuid
    and
    openapi_types
    if needed)
  • Define view struct that embeds
    BaseModel
  • Create
    NewYourView(ctx ViewContext)
    constructor
  • Implement
    Init()
    method
  • Implement
    Update(msg tea.Msg)
    method
  • Implement
    View()
    method following standard structure
  • Implement
    SetSize(width, height int)
    method
  • USE REUSABLE COMPONENTS:
    RenderHeader()
    ,
    RenderInstructions()
    ,
    RenderFooter()
  • DO NOT copy-paste header/footer styling code
  • Apply Hatchet theme colors and styles for custom components only
  • Implement view-specific keyboard controls
  • Document all keyboard controls in footer using
    RenderFooter()
  • Use appropriate REST API types
  • Add error handling using
    BaseModel.HandleError()
  • Add responsive layout (handle WindowSizeMsg)

API Integration

  • Parse tenant ID to UUID if needed
  • Use correct parameter types (
    *int64
    ,
    time.Time
    , etc.)
  • Handle API response errors
  • Format data for table display
  • Add loading states and error display

Integration and Testing

  • Import view in
    tui.go
  • Update
    newTUIModel()
    to instantiate your view
  • Compile the CLI binary (
    go build ./cmd/hatchet-cli
    )
  • Fix any compilation errors
  • Test basic functionality with real profile
  • Test error cases (no profile, invalid profile)
  • Test keyboard controls (q, r, arrows)
  • Update TUI command documentation

Best Practices

  • CRITICAL: Use reusable components (
    RenderHeader
    ,
    RenderInstructions
    ,
    RenderFooter
    )
  • NEVER copy-paste header/footer styling code - this violates DRY principle
  • Keep view logic isolated in the view file
  • Use
    ViewContext
    to access client and profile info
  • Handle all messages gracefully (return
    v, nil
    for unhandled)
  • Always check
    v.Width == 0
    before rendering
  • Use consistent styling with other views (use Hatchet theme colors)
  • Document ALL keyboard controls in footer using
    RenderFooter()
  • Follow the standard view structure (header, instructions, content, footer)
  • Always verify compilation before submitting

Post-Implementation

  • Update this skill document with any new patterns or learnings discovered
  • Document any issues encountered and their solutions
  • Add any new utility functions or patterns to the appropriate sections
  • Verify all code examples and file paths are accurate

Lessons Learned & Updates

This section documents recent learnings and updates to maintain accuracy.

Recent Updates

  • 2026-01-10: Major updates based on workers view implementation and bug fixes:
    • Added workers list view and worker details view as reference implementations
    • Updated common REST API types list to include Worker, WorkerRuntimeInfo, Workflow
    • Documented detail view header patterns (showing specific resource names in titles)
    • Added section on filtering with multi-select forms and custom key maps
    • Documented per-cell table styling using TableWithStyleFunc wrapper
    • Added examples of status badge rendering in detail views
    • Documented navigation messages (NavigateToWorkerMsg pattern)
    • Added column alignment best practices (matching header format strings to row rendering)
    • Workflow TUI implementation updates:
      • Updated header component documentation: ALL headers (primary, detail, modal) now use highlight color for consistency
      • Added
        RenderHeaderWithViewIndicator()
        for primary views (shows just view name, non-repetitive)
      • Added section 14: Table Height Calculations and Layout Optimization (height - 12 vs height - 16)
      • Added section 15: Column Consistency Between Related Views (critical for UX)
      • Added section 16: View Navigation and Modal Selector patterns
      • Documented modal selector with Shift+Tab and arrow key support
      • Documented navigation stack pattern for detail view drilling
  • 2026-01-09: Added self-updating instructions and verification checklist
  • Document initialized with comprehensive TUI view building guidelines

Known Issues & Solutions

Issue: Table Column Alignment Mismatches

Problem: Header columns don't align with table rows due to format string width mismatch.
Example: In run details tasks tab, header used
%-3s
for selector column but rows only rendered 2 characters ("▸ " or " "), causing status column and all subsequent columns to be misaligned.
Solution: Ensure header format string widths exactly match row rendering:
go
// Header format - 2 chars for selector to match "▸ " or "  "
headerStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("%-2s %-30s %-12s", "", "NAME", "STATUS"))

// Row rendering - also 2 chars
if selected {
    b.WriteString("▸ ")  // 2 characters
} else {
    b.WriteString("  ")  // 2 characters
}
Prevention: Always count the exact characters rendered in rows and match header format widths precisely.

Issue: Detail View Headers Too Generic

Problem: Detail views showed generic titles like "Task Details" or "Workflow Run Details" without identifying the specific resource being viewed.
Solution: Include the resource name in the header title:
go
// For task details
title := "Task Details"
if v.task != nil {
    title = fmt.Sprintf("Task Details: %s", v.task.DisplayName)
}

// For workflow details
title := "Workflow Details"
if v.workflow != nil {
    title = fmt.Sprintf("Workflow Details: %s", v.workflow.Name)
}

// For run details
title := "Run Details"
if v.details != nil && v.details.Run.DisplayName != "" {
    title = fmt.Sprintf("Run Details: %s", v.details.Run.DisplayName)
}
Pattern: Use format
"{View Type} Details: {Resource Name}"
for all detail views.

Issue: Filter Form Navigation Conflicts

Problem: Global Shift+Tab handler for view switching conflicts with form navigation, preventing Tab/Shift+Tab from working in filter modals.
Solution: Process filter form messages BEFORE checking global key handlers:
go
// In Update(), handle form FIRST
if v.showingFilter && v.filterForm != nil {
    form, cmd := v.filterForm.Update(msg)
    if f, ok := form.(*huh.Form); ok {
        v.filterForm = f

        if v.filterForm.State == huh.StateCompleted {
            // Apply filters
            v.selectedStatuses = v.tempStatusFilters
            v.showingFilter = false
            v.updateTableRows()
            return v, nil
        }

        // Check for ESC to cancel
        if keyMsg, ok := msg.(tea.KeyMsg); ok {
            if keyMsg.String() == "esc" {
                v.showingFilter = false
                return v, nil
            }
        }
    }
    return v, cmd
}

// THEN handle global keys
switch msg := msg.(type) {
case tea.KeyMsg:
    switch msg.String() {
    case "shift+tab":
        // Global view switcher
    }
}
Pattern: Always delegate to active modal/form components before processing global keyboard shortcuts.

Issue: Filtered Workers Not Reflected in Navigation

Problem: When navigating to worker details via Enter key, code used unfiltered
v.workers
list instead of filtered list, causing cursor index mismatch with displayed rows.
Solution: Use the filtered/displayed list for navigation:
go
case "enter":
    // Use filteredWorkers, not workers
    if len(v.filteredWorkers) > 0 {
        selectedIdx := v.table.Cursor()
        if selectedIdx >= 0 && selectedIdx < len(v.filteredWorkers) {
            worker := v.filteredWorkers[selectedIdx]
            workerID := worker.Metadata.Id
            return v, NewNavigateToWorkerMsg(workerID)
        }
    }
Pattern: Always use the same data source for rendering and navigation. If you cache filtered data for StyleFunc, use that cached data for navigation too.

Future Improvements

(This section will track potential improvements to the TUI system or this skill document)