feat(tui): compact and hidden presets for the bottom chrome (#5950)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   label as a child that asked a question. Parked work sorts below live and
   answerable work and no longer inflates the `blocked` chip; the receipts
   roster and the wire `state` gain `parked` (#5906, #5921).
+- The bottom chrome no longer prints facts it cannot stand behind. A route
+  that cannot prove its effective reasoning tier — typically a custom
+  OpenAI-compatible gateway with no endpoint receipt — states no effort
+  field in the metrics line rather than the placeholder
+  `high→effective unavailable`; `/status` still tells the full story. The
+  cost segment is omitted only where the route itself cannot be priced
+  (`cost: unknown` stays on metered routes that merely lack a reading this
+  session, per #5578) (#5950).
 
 - `codewhale account keys set|remove|list` no longer carry a hardcoded
   eight-provider list. Provider ids come from the control plane's public
@@ -153,6 +161,16 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   per-World session container before each command — full tree first, then
   only changes and deletions — so remote builds and tests run on the files
   just edited locally and their outputs persist across commands.
+- `[tui].posture_bar` and `[tui].metrics_line` size the two rows under the
+  composer: `full` (the default), `compact`, or `hidden`, also settable at
+  runtime with `/config posture_bar compact`. `compact` is the row after its
+  first shed rungs — the posture bar keeps its permission and mode chips and
+  the cap warning but drops the clocks, counts and hint; the metrics line
+  keeps the route, context reading, cost and balance but drops the telemetry
+  and the help hint — and `hidden` gives the row back to the transcript.
+  Composition stays in `tui.status_items`; these presets only decide how
+  much of a row paints, reusing the rows' existing shed ladders rather than
+  a second renderer (#5950).
 
 ## [0.9.12] - 2026-09-03
 

config.example.toml

@@ -1126,6 +1126,17 @@ osc8_links = true            # emit OSC 8 escapes around URLs (Cmd+click in iTer
 # git_branch, last_tool_elapsed, rate_limit — they drove nothing. Old files
 # keep loading; the retired keys are ignored.
 # status_items = ["mode", "model", "context_percent", "cost", "tokens"]
+# Size presets for the two rows themselves (#5950) — composition stays in
+# status_items; these only decide how much of a row paints:
+# posture_bar = "full"          # full | compact | hidden (default full)
+#                               # compact keeps the posture chips (and the cap
+#                               # warning) and drops the clocks, counts and hint;
+#                               # hidden gives the row to the transcript.
+# metrics_line = "full"         # full | compact | hidden (default full)
+#                               # compact keeps the route, context reading, cost
+#                               # and balance and drops the telemetry and the
+#                               # help hint; hidden gives the row to the transcript.
+#                               # Also settable at runtime: /config posture_bar compact
 # notification_condition = "unfocused" # unfocused | always | never
 #                                    "unfocused" = notify only after this terminal has been
 #                                    in the background for two seconds (default);

crates/tui/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   label as a child that asked a question. Parked work sorts below live and
   answerable work and no longer inflates the `blocked` chip; the receipts
   roster and the wire `state` gain `parked` (#5906, #5921).
+- The bottom chrome no longer prints facts it cannot stand behind. A route
+  that cannot prove its effective reasoning tier — typically a custom
+  OpenAI-compatible gateway with no endpoint receipt — states no effort
+  field in the metrics line rather than the placeholder
+  `high→effective unavailable`; `/status` still tells the full story. The
+  cost segment is omitted only where the route itself cannot be priced
+  (`cost: unknown` stays on metered routes that merely lack a reading this
+  session, per #5578) (#5950).
 
 - `codewhale account keys set|remove|list` no longer carry a hardcoded
   eight-provider list. Provider ids come from the control plane's public
@@ -153,6 +161,16 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   per-World session container before each command — full tree first, then
   only changes and deletions — so remote builds and tests run on the files
   just edited locally and their outputs persist across commands.
+- `[tui].posture_bar` and `[tui].metrics_line` size the two rows under the
+  composer: `full` (the default), `compact`, or `hidden`, also settable at
+  runtime with `/config posture_bar compact`. `compact` is the row after its
+  first shed rungs — the posture bar keeps its permission and mode chips and
+  the cap warning but drops the clocks, counts and hint; the metrics line
+  keeps the route, context reading, cost and balance but drops the telemetry
+  and the help hint — and `hidden` gives the row back to the transcript.
+  Composition stays in `tui.status_items`; these presets only decide how
+  much of a row paints, reusing the rows' existing shed ladders rather than
+  a second renderer (#5950).
 
 ## [0.9.12] - 2026-09-03
 

crates/tui/src/commands/groups/config/config.rs

@@ -322,6 +322,8 @@ fn show_single_setting(app: &App, key: &str) -> CommandResult {
             app.active_context_window_source.display_label(),
         )),
         "stream_chunk_timeout_secs" => Some(app.stream_chunk_timeout_secs.to_string()),
+        "posture_bar" => Some(app.posture_bar.as_setting().to_string()),
+        "metrics_line" => Some(app.metrics_line.as_setting().to_string()),
         "locale" | "language" => Some(locale_display(app.ui_locale).to_string()),
         "theme" | "ui_theme" => Some(
             if app
@@ -867,6 +869,20 @@ fn config_editability_audit(app: &App) -> CommandResult {
             "/config stream_chunk_timeout_secs <0|1..3600> --save",
             "Writes [tui].stream_chunk_timeout_secs and updates the running stream timeout.",
         ),
+        (
+            "posture_bar",
+            app.posture_bar.as_setting().to_string(),
+            "runtime+persisted",
+            "/config posture_bar <full|compact|hidden> --save",
+            "Writes [tui].posture_bar; hidden gives the row to the transcript, compact keeps the posture chips only.",
+        ),
+        (
+            "metrics_line",
+            app.metrics_line.as_setting().to_string(),
+            "runtime+persisted",
+            "/config metrics_line <full|compact|hidden> --save",
+            "Writes [tui].metrics_line; hidden gives the row to the transcript, compact drops the telemetry and help hint.",
+        ),
         (
             "subagents.enabled",
             subagents_config_display_value(&config, "enabled"),
@@ -2364,6 +2380,40 @@ pub fn set_config_value(app: &mut App, key: &str, value: &str, persist: bool) ->
                 "provider_url must be saved with --save; client base URL is loaded from config on startup. Restart and re-open your session after saving.",
             );
         }
+        // The two bottom-chrome rows' size presets (`tui.posture_bar`,
+        // `tui.metrics_line`, #5950). Live on the next frame; `--save`
+        // writes the `[tui]` key. `/statusline` composes what is in a row;
+        // this only decides whether and how much of it paints.
+        row_key @ ("posture_bar" | "metrics_line") => {
+            let Some(preset) = crate::config::ChromeRowPreset::from_setting(value) else {
+                return CommandResult::error(format!(
+                    "{row_key} must be one of: {}",
+                    crate::config::ChromeRowPreset::SETTINGS.join(", ")
+                ));
+            };
+            if row_key == "posture_bar" {
+                app.posture_bar = preset;
+            } else {
+                app.metrics_line = preset;
+            }
+            app.needs_redraw = true;
+            let value = preset.as_setting();
+            if persist {
+                return match persist_table_string_key(
+                    app.config_path.as_deref(),
+                    "tui",
+                    row_key,
+                    value,
+                ) {
+                    Ok(path) => CommandResult::message(format!(
+                        "{row_key} = {value} (saved to {})",
+                        path.display()
+                    )),
+                    Err(err) => CommandResult::error(format!("Failed to save: {err}")),
+                };
+            }
+            return CommandResult::message(format!("{row_key} = {value} (session only)"));
+        }
         "stream_chunk_timeout_secs" => {
             let raw = match value.trim().parse::<u64>() {
                 Ok(value) => value,
@@ -4822,6 +4872,68 @@ context_window = 262144
         ));
     }
 
+    /// The bottom-chrome row presets (#5950) apply on the next frame and
+    /// `--save` writes the `[tui]` key; an unknown preset names the three.
+    #[test]
+    fn config_command_row_presets_apply_live_and_persist_to_tui_table() {
+        use crate::config::ChromeRowPreset;
+        let nanos = SystemTime::now()
+            .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+            .unwrap()
+            .as_nanos();
+        let temp_root = env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "codewhale-tui-row-presets-test-{}-{}",
+            std::process::id(),
+            nanos
+        ));
+        fs::create_dir_all(&temp_root).unwrap();
+        let _guard = EnvGuard::new(&temp_root);
+        let config_path = temp_root.join("custom-config.toml");
+        let mut app = create_test_app();
+        app.config_path = Some(config_path.clone());
+        assert_eq!(app.posture_bar, ChromeRowPreset::Full);
+        assert_eq!(app.metrics_line, ChromeRowPreset::Full);
+
+        let live = config_command(&mut app, Some("posture_bar compact"));
+        assert!(!live.is_error, "{live:?}");
+        assert_eq!(app.posture_bar, ChromeRowPreset::Compact);
+        assert_eq!(
+            live.message.as_deref(),
+            Some("posture_bar = compact (session only)")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            config_command(&mut app, Some("posture_bar"))
+                .message
+                .as_deref(),
+            Some("posture_bar = compact")
+        );
+
+        let saved = config_command(&mut app, Some("metrics_line HIDDEN --save"));
+        assert!(!saved.is_error, "{saved:?}");
+        assert_eq!(app.metrics_line, ChromeRowPreset::Hidden);
+        let body = fs::read_to_string(&config_path).unwrap();
+        assert!(body.contains("[tui]"), "{body}");
+        assert!(body.contains("metrics_line = \"hidden\""), "{body}");
+        assert!(
+            !body.contains("posture_bar"),
+            "session-only value must not be saved: {body}"
+        );
+
+        let bad = config_command(&mut app, Some("metrics_line tiny"));
+        assert!(bad.is_error);
+        assert!(
+            bad.message
+                .as_deref()
+                .is_some_and(|m| m.contains("metrics_line must be one of: full, compact, hidden")),
+            "{bad:?}"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.metrics_line,
+            ChromeRowPreset::Hidden,
+            "a bad value changes nothing"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn config_command_stream_chunk_timeout_rejects_invalid_input() {
         let _lock = lock_test_env();

crates/tui/src/config.rs

@@ -1811,6 +1811,20 @@ pub struct TuiConfig {
     /// in `~/.deepseek/config.toml`.
     #[serde(default, deserialize_with = "deser_status_items")]
     pub status_items: Option<Vec<StatusItem>>,
+    /// How much of the posture bar — the first row under the composer — to
+    /// paint: `full` (default), `compact`, or `hidden`. `hidden` gives the
+    /// row back to the transcript; `compact` keeps the row and starts its
+    /// shed ladder past the clocks, counts and hints (#5950).
+    ///
+    /// `status_items` still composes what is *in* the row; this only decides
+    /// the row's size. Absent from an older `config.toml` means `full`.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub posture_bar: Option<ChromeRowPreset>,
+    /// The same three settings for the metrics line under the posture bar.
+    /// `compact` keeps the route, the context reading, the cost and the
+    /// balance and drops the telemetry and the help hint (#5950).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub metrics_line: Option<ChromeRowPreset>,
     /// Ordered list of optional header items the user wants visible.
     ///
     /// `None` (the field missing from `config.toml`) preserves the built-in
@@ -1860,6 +1874,52 @@ pub struct TuiConfig {
     pub composer_arrows_scroll: Option<bool>,
 }
 
+/// How much of one bottom-chrome row to paint (#5950). One value for each
+/// of the two rows under the composer — [`TuiConfig::posture_bar`] and
+/// [`TuiConfig::metrics_line`] — so a small tmux pane can give one or both
+/// rows back to the transcript without touching `status_items`.
+///
+/// `compact` is not a second renderer: it starts the row's existing shed
+/// ladder at a fixed rung and lets width shed the rest, so what it keeps is
+/// exactly what a narrow row keeps.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum ChromeRowPreset {
+    /// Every fact the row owns, shed only by width.
+    #[default]
+    Full,
+    /// The row's shed ladder started past its most expendable rungs.
+    Compact,
+    /// No row: the transcript takes the line.
+    Hidden,
+}
+
+impl ChromeRowPreset {
+    /// Every setting value, in the order `/config` names them.
+    pub const SETTINGS: [&'static str; 3] = ["full", "compact", "hidden"];
+
+    /// Stable name used in `config.toml` and `/config`.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn as_setting(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Full => "full",
+            Self::Compact => "compact",
+            Self::Hidden => "hidden",
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Reverse of [`Self::as_setting`]; `None` for anything else.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn from_setting(value: &str) -> Option<Self> {
+        match value.trim().to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
+            "full" => Some(Self::Full),
+            "compact" => Some(Self::Compact),
+            "hidden" => Some(Self::Hidden),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// High-level notification trigger override. See
 /// [`TuiConfig::notification_condition`].
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]

crates/tui/src/config/tests.rs

@@ -942,6 +942,52 @@ webhook_token = "secret-token"
     assert!(absent.base.lifecycle_outbox.is_none());
 }
 
+/// `tui.posture_bar` / `tui.metrics_line` (#5950): absent means full — an
+/// older `config.toml` keeps loading unchanged — and each key takes one of
+/// the three presets.
+#[test]
+fn tui_config_parses_bottom_chrome_row_presets() {
+    let raw = r#"
+[tui]
+posture_bar = "compact"
+metrics_line = "hidden"
+"#;
+    let parsed: ConfigFile = toml::from_str(raw).expect("parse row presets");
+    let tui = parsed.base.tui.expect("tui table");
+    assert_eq!(tui.posture_bar, Some(ChromeRowPreset::Compact));
+    assert_eq!(tui.metrics_line, Some(ChromeRowPreset::Hidden));
+
+    let absent: ConfigFile = toml::from_str("[tui]\nmouse_capture = true\n").expect("old file");
+    let tui = absent.base.tui.expect("tui table");
+    assert_eq!(tui.posture_bar, None);
+    assert_eq!(tui.metrics_line, None);
+    assert_eq!(
+        tui.posture_bar.unwrap_or_default(),
+        ChromeRowPreset::Full,
+        "absent means the full row"
+    );
+
+    let bad: Result<ConfigFile, _> = toml::from_str("[tui]\nposture_bar = \"tiny\"\n");
+    assert!(
+        bad.is_err(),
+        "a preset this build does not know is refused, not guessed"
+    );
+
+    for (setting, preset) in [
+        ("full", ChromeRowPreset::Full),
+        ("compact", ChromeRowPreset::Compact),
+        ("hidden", ChromeRowPreset::Hidden),
+    ] {
+        assert_eq!(ChromeRowPreset::from_setting(setting), Some(preset));
+        assert_eq!(
+            ChromeRowPreset::from_setting(&setting.to_uppercase()),
+            Some(preset)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(preset.as_setting(), setting);
+    }
+    assert_eq!(ChromeRowPreset::from_setting("tiny"), None);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn tui_config_parses_control_socket_table() {
     let raw = r#"

crates/tui/src/lib.rs

@@ -17372,6 +17372,8 @@ api_key = "test-only-key"
                 stream_max_content_mb: None,
                 stream_max_duration_secs: None,
                 status_items: None,
+                posture_bar: None,
+                metrics_line: None,
                 osc8_links: None,
                 composer_arrows_scroll: None,
                 notification_condition: None,
@@ -17471,6 +17473,8 @@ api_key = "test-only-key"
                 stream_max_content_mb: None,
                 stream_max_duration_secs: None,
                 status_items: None,
+                posture_bar: None,
+                metrics_line: None,
                 osc8_links: None,
                 composer_arrows_scroll: None,
                 notification_condition: None,
@@ -17508,6 +17512,8 @@ api_key = "test-only-key"
                 stream_max_content_mb: None,
                 stream_max_duration_secs: None,
                 status_items: None,
+                posture_bar: None,
+                metrics_line: None,
                 osc8_links: None,
                 composer_arrows_scroll: None,
                 notification_condition: None,
@@ -17599,6 +17605,8 @@ api_key = "test-only-key"
                 stream_max_content_mb: None,
                 stream_max_duration_secs: None,
                 status_items: None,
+                posture_bar: None,
+                metrics_line: None,
                 osc8_links: None,
                 composer_arrows_scroll: None,
                 notification_condition: None,