fix: recover desktop actions after daemon shutdown

frontend/src/renderer/__tests__/integration/pr-hydration.test.tsx

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ vi.mock("@tanstack/react-router", async (importOriginal) => {
 
 import { SessionsBoard } from "../../components/SessionsBoard";
 import { PullRequestsPage } from "../../components/PullRequestsPage";
+import { ShellProvider } from "../../lib/shell-context";
 
 // One ordinary project with one worker session that has multiple PRs.
 function respondWithProjectAndPRs() {
@@ -75,7 +76,13 @@ function respondWithProjectAndPRs() {
 
 function renderWithProviders(node: ReactNode) {
 	const queryClient = new QueryClient({ defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } } });
-	render(<QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>{node}</QueryClientProvider>);
+	render(
+		<QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
+			<ShellProvider value={{ daemonStatus: { state: "ready", port: 1234 }, createProject: vi.fn() }}>
+				{node}
+			</ShellProvider>
+		</QueryClientProvider>,
+	);
 }
 
 beforeEach(() => {

frontend/src/renderer/components/SessionsBoard.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { ShellProvider } from "../lib/shell-context";
+import { SessionsBoard } from "./SessionsBoard";
+
+const { getMock, postMock, navigateMock } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+	getMock: vi.fn(),
+	postMock: vi.fn(),
+	navigateMock: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../lib/api-client", () => ({
+	apiClient: { GET: getMock, POST: postMock },
+	apiErrorMessage: (e: unknown) => (e instanceof Error ? e.message : "error"),
+	hasTrustedApiBaseUrl: () => true,
+	setApiBaseUrl: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@tanstack/react-router", async (importOriginal) => {
+	const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("@tanstack/react-router")>();
+	return { ...actual, useNavigate: () => navigateMock };
+});
+
+function mockWorkspace() {
+	getMock.mockImplementation(async (url: string) => {
+		if (url === "/api/v1/projects") {
+			return { data: { projects: [{ id: "proj-1", name: "my-app", path: "/repo/my-app" }] }, error: undefined };
+		}
+		if (url === "/api/v1/sessions") {
+			return { data: { sessions: [] }, error: undefined };
+		}
+		throw new Error(`unexpected GET ${url}`);
+	});
+}
+
+function renderBoard(status: { state: "ready" | "stopped"; port?: number; message?: string }) {
+	const queryClient = new QueryClient({ defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } } });
+	render(
+		<QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
+			<ShellProvider value={{ daemonStatus: status, createProject: vi.fn() }}>
+				<SessionsBoard projectId="proj-1" />
+			</ShellProvider>
+		</QueryClientProvider>,
+	);
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+	getMock.mockReset();
+	postMock.mockReset();
+	navigateMock.mockReset();
+	mockWorkspace();
+	window.ao!.daemon.start = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ state: "ready", port: 4567 });
+});
+
+describe("SessionsBoard daemon recovery", () => {
+	it("disables daemon-backed project actions while the daemon is stopped", async () => {
+		renderBoard({ state: "stopped" });
+
+		expect(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "New task" })).toBeDisabled();
+		expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Spawn Orchestrator" })).toBeDisabled();
+		expect(
+			screen.getByText("AO daemon is stopped. Restart it to create tasks or start an orchestrator."),
+		).toBeInTheDocument();
+	});
+
+	it("offers an explicit daemon restart action", async () => {
+		renderBoard({ state: "stopped" });
+
+		await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Restart daemon" }));
+
+		await waitFor(() => expect(window.ao!.daemon.start).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1));
+	});
+
+	it("surfaces spawn errors instead of leaking an unhandled rejection", async () => {
+		postMock.mockResolvedValue({
+			data: undefined,
+			error: { message: "AO daemon is not ready" },
+			response: { status: 503 },
+		});
+		renderBoard({ state: "ready", port: 4567 });
+
+		await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Spawn Orchestrator" }));
+
+		expect(await screen.findByRole("alert")).toHaveTextContent("AO daemon is not ready");
+	});
+});

frontend/src/renderer/components/SessionsBoard.tsx

@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ import { useWorkspaceQuery, workspaceQueryKey } from "../hooks/useWorkspaceQuery
 import { DashboardSubhead } from "./DashboardSubhead";
 import { OrchestratorIcon } from "./icons";
 import { NewTaskDialog } from "./NewTaskDialog";
+import { startDaemon } from "../lib/daemon-status";
 import { spawnOrchestrator } from "../lib/spawn-orchestrator";
 import { prDiffSummary, sessionPRDisplaySummaries } from "../lib/pr-display";
+import { useShell } from "../lib/shell-context";
 import { cn } from "../lib/utils";
 import { PRAttentionPanel, PRStatusStrip } from "./PRSummaryDisplay";
 
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ const COLUMNS: Column[] = [
 export function SessionsBoard({ projectId }: SessionsBoardProps) {
 	const navigate = useNavigate();
 	const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+	const { daemonStatus } = useShell();
 	const workspaceQuery = useWorkspaceQuery();
 	const all = workspaceQuery.data ?? [];
 	const workspaces = projectId ? all.filter((w) => w.id === projectId) : all;
@@ -76,6 +79,9 @@ export function SessionsBoard({ projectId }: SessionsBoardProps) {
 		: undefined;
 	const [isNewTaskOpen, setIsNewTaskOpen] = useState(false);
 	const [isSpawning, setIsSpawning] = useState(false);
+	const [isRestartingDaemon, setIsRestartingDaemon] = useState(false);
+	const [actionError, setActionError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+	const daemonReady = daemonStatus.state === "ready";
 
 	const byZone = new Map<AttentionZone, WorkspaceSession[]>();
 	for (const session of sessions) {
@@ -95,6 +101,10 @@ export function SessionsBoard({ projectId }: SessionsBoardProps) {
 
 	const openOrchestrator = async () => {
 		if (!projectId) return;
+		if (!daemonReady) {
+			setActionError("AO daemon is stopped. Restart it before starting sessions.");
+			return;
+		}
 		if (orchestrator) {
 			void navigate({
 				to: "/projects/$projectId/sessions/$sessionId",
@@ -103,18 +113,34 @@ export function SessionsBoard({ projectId }: SessionsBoardProps) {
 			return;
 		}
 		setIsSpawning(true);
+		setActionError(null);
 		try {
 			const sessionId = await spawnOrchestrator(projectId);
 			await queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: workspaceQueryKey });
 			void navigate({
 				to: "/projects/$projectId/sessions/$sessionId",
 				params: { projectId, sessionId },
 			});
+		} catch (error) {
+			setActionError(error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Could not start orchestrator");
 		} finally {
 			setIsSpawning(false);
 		}
 	};
 
+	const restartDaemon = async () => {
+		setIsRestartingDaemon(true);
+		setActionError(null);
+		try {
+			await startDaemon();
+			await queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: workspaceQueryKey });
+		} catch (error) {
+			setActionError(error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Could not restart AO daemon");
+		} finally {
+			setIsRestartingDaemon(false);
+		}
+	};
+
 	const handleTaskCreated = async (sessionId: string) => {
 		if (!projectId) return;
 		await queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: workspaceQueryKey });
@@ -126,10 +152,25 @@ export function SessionsBoard({ projectId }: SessionsBoardProps) {
 
 	const actions = projectId ? (
 		<>
+			{!daemonReady ? (
+				<button
+					aria-label="Restart daemon"
+					className="dashboard-app-header__accent-btn"
+					disabled={isRestartingDaemon}
+					onClick={() => void restartDaemon()}
+					type="button"
+				>
+					{isRestartingDaemon ? "Restarting..." : "Restart daemon"}
+				</button>
+			) : null}
 			<button
 				aria-label="New task"
 				className="dashboard-app-header__accent-btn"
-				onClick={() => setIsNewTaskOpen(true)}
+				disabled={!daemonReady}
+				onClick={() => {
+					setActionError(null);
+					setIsNewTaskOpen(true);
+				}}
 				type="button"
 			>
 				<Plus className="h-3.5 w-3.5" aria-hidden="true" />
@@ -138,7 +179,7 @@ export function SessionsBoard({ projectId }: SessionsBoardProps) {
 			<button
 				aria-label={orchestrator ? "Orchestrator" : "Spawn Orchestrator"}
 				className="dashboard-app-header__primary-btn"
-				disabled={isSpawning}
+				disabled={isSpawning || !daemonReady}
 				onClick={() => void openOrchestrator()}
 				type="button"
 			>
@@ -155,6 +196,17 @@ export function SessionsBoard({ projectId }: SessionsBoardProps) {
 				subtitle="Live agent sessions flowing from work → review → merge."
 				actions={actions}
 			/>
+			{projectId && (!daemonReady || actionError) ? (
+				<div className="mx-[18px] mt-3 rounded-md border border-border bg-surface px-3 py-2 text-[12px] text-muted-foreground">
+					{actionError ? (
+						<p role="alert" className="text-destructive">
+							{actionError}
+						</p>
+					) : (
+						<p>AO daemon is stopped. Restart it to create tasks or start an orchestrator.</p>
+					)}
+				</div>
+			) : null}
 
 			<div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden p-[18px]">
 				{workspaceQuery.isError ? (

frontend/src/renderer/components/ShellTopbar.tsx

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import {
 } from "../types/workspace";
 import { useWorkspaceQuery, workspaceQueryKey } from "../hooks/useWorkspaceQuery";
 import { apiClient, apiErrorMessage } from "../lib/api-client";
+import { startDaemon } from "../lib/daemon-status";
+import { useShell } from "../lib/shell-context";
 import { spawnOrchestrator } from "../lib/spawn-orchestrator";
 import { addRendererExceptionStep, captureRendererEvent, captureRendererException } from "../lib/telemetry";
 import { useUiStore } from "../stores/ui-store";
@@ -52,11 +54,14 @@ const STATUS_PILL: Record<WorkerDisplayStatus, { label: string; tone: string; br
 export function ShellTopbar() {
 	const navigate = useNavigate();
 	const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+	const { daemonStatus } = useShell();
 	const params = useParams({ strict: false }) as { projectId?: string; sessionId?: string };
 	const isInspectorOpen = useUiStore((state) => state.isInspectorOpen);
 	const toggleInspector = useUiStore((state) => state.toggleInspector);
 	const [isSpawning, setIsSpawning] = useState(false);
+	const [isRestartingDaemon, setIsRestartingDaemon] = useState(false);
 	const [isNewTaskOpen, setIsNewTaskOpen] = useState(false);
+	const daemonReady = daemonStatus.state === "ready";
 	const all = useWorkspaceQuery().data ?? [];
 
 	const session = params.sessionId
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ export function ShellTopbar() {
 		projectId ? void navigate({ to: "/projects/$projectId", params: { projectId } }) : void navigate({ to: "/" });
 
 	const openNewTask = () => {
-		if (!projectId) return;
+		if (!projectId || !daemonReady) return;
 		setIsNewTaskOpen(true);
 	};
 
@@ -94,6 +99,7 @@ export function ShellTopbar() {
 
 	const openOrchestrator = async () => {
 		if (!projectId) return;
+		if (!daemonReady) return;
 		void addRendererExceptionStep("Orchestrator open requested", {
 			source: "orchestrator-open",
 			operation: "open_orchestrator",
@@ -129,6 +135,24 @@ export function ShellTopbar() {
 		}
 	};
 
+	const restartDaemon = async () => {
+		setIsRestartingDaemon(true);
+		try {
+			await startDaemon();
+			await queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: workspaceQueryKey });
+		} catch (error) {
+			void captureRendererException(error, {
+				source: "daemon-restart",
+				operation: "restart_daemon",
+				surface: isSessionRoute ? "session_detail" : "project_board",
+				project_id: projectId,
+			});
+			console.error("Failed to restart daemon:", error);
+		} finally {
+			setIsRestartingDaemon(false);
+		}
+	};
+
 	return (
 		<header className={cn("dashboard-app-header", isMac && "is-under-titlebar-nav")} style={dragStyle}>
 			<div className="session-topbar__lead">
@@ -164,13 +188,26 @@ export function ShellTopbar() {
 
 			<div className="dashboard-app-header__actions">
 				<NotificationCenter style={noDragStyle} />
+				{projectId && !daemonReady ? (
+					<button
+						aria-label="Restart daemon"
+						className="dashboard-app-header__accent-btn"
+						disabled={isRestartingDaemon}
+						onClick={() => void restartDaemon()}
+						style={noDragStyle}
+						type="button"
+					>
+						{isRestartingDaemon ? "Restarting..." : "Restart daemon"}
+					</button>
+				) : null}
 				{isSessionRoute ? (
 					<>
 						{isOrchestrator ? (
 							<>
 								<button
 									aria-label="New task"
 									className="dashboard-app-header__primary-btn"
+									disabled={!daemonReady}
 									onClick={openNewTask}
 									style={noDragStyle}
 									type="button"
@@ -197,7 +234,7 @@ export function ShellTopbar() {
 							<button
 								aria-label="Open orchestrator"
 								className="dashboard-app-header__primary-btn dashboard-app-header__primary-btn--compact"
-								disabled={isSpawning}
+								disabled={isSpawning || !daemonReady}
 								onClick={() => void openOrchestrator()}
 								style={noDragStyle}
 								type="button"

frontend/src/renderer/lib/daemon-status.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ export async function refreshDaemonStatus(): Promise<DaemonStatus> {
 	return nextStatus;
 }
 
+export async function startDaemon(): Promise<DaemonStatus> {
+	const nextStatus = await aoBridge.daemon.start();
+	applyDaemonStatus(nextStatus);
+	return nextStatus;
+}
+
 export function readDaemonStatus(): Promise<DaemonStatus> {
 	return aoBridge.daemon.getStatus();
 }