feat: upgrade to v1.6.6 and implement new modular UI architecture and task management components

Author: programmersd21

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,17 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [1.6.6] (2026-05-13)
+
+### Added
+- **Project Sidebar**: Added a dedicated project sidebar pane for intuitive project navigation.
+  - **Fuzzy Find**: Quickly locate and switch between projects.
+  - **Keyboard Navigation**: Use up/down arrow keys for seamless project switching.
+  - **Customizable Order**: Configurable via `[projects] order = "alphabetical"|"recent"`.
+  - **Toggle**: Use `ctrl+e` to show/hide the sidebar.
+  - **Switch Panels**: Added shortcut keys to switch focus between the project sidebar and task panels.
+- **Documentation**: Updated README and help documentation to include new sidebar functionality.
+
 ## [1.6.5] (2026-05-12)
 
 ### Fixed

README.md

@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ Press `n` to create your first task. `ctrl+s` to save. That's it.
 ### ⚡ Genuinely Fast
 Sub-millisecond fuzzy search. Vim bindings (`j/k/gg/G`). Natural language deadlines like `tomorrow 10am` or `next friday`. Full keyboard control — you never touch the mouse.
 
-### 🗂 Nested Tasks & Hierarchy
-Organize work into deep hierarchies and separate projects. Nest tasks via the **Parent** field in the editor, switch projects with `ctrl+e` to focus your workspace, and export/import with full structure preserved — across JSON, CSV, Markdown, and plain text.
+### 🗂 Project Sidebar & Hierarchy
+Organize work into deep hierarchies and separate projects. Toggle the **Project Sidebar** with `ctrl+e` for quick navigation, fuzzy find projects by name, and switch between projects using arrow keys. Project ordering is customizable via `config.toml` (e.g., `[projects] order = "alphabetical"|"recent"`). Nest tasks via the **Parent** field in the editor, and export/import with full structure preserved — across JSON, CSV, Markdown, and plain text.
 
 ### 🔁 Recurring Tasks
 Tasks reappear automatically on a schedule. Weekly (`mon,wed,fri`) or monthly (`15`). When completed, Kairo generates the next instance immediately with a smart due-date preview.

VERSION.txt

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.6.5
+1.6.6

internal/app/model.go

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/plugin_menu"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/render"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/settings"
+	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/sidebar"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/stats"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/styles"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/tasklist"
@@ -102,6 +103,7 @@ const (
 	ModeOnboarding
 	ModeStats
 	ModeProjectSwitcher
+	ModeProjectSidebar
 	ModeFocus
 )
 
@@ -118,17 +120,18 @@ type Model struct {
 	width  int
 	height int
 
-	mode Mode
+	mode           Mode
+	sidebarVisible bool
 
 	activeProject string
-
 	views         []core.View
 	activeIdx     int
 	prevActiveIdx int
 	tagFilter     FilterState // Replaced plain tagParam with proper state management
 	priParam      *core.Priority
 
 	list       tasklist.Model
+	side       sidebar.Model
 	pal        palette.Model
 	det        detail.Model
 	edit       *editor.Model
@@ -254,6 +257,9 @@ func New(ctx context.Context, cfg config.Config, svc service.TaskService) (tea.M
 	m.list = tasklist.New(m.s, cfg.App.VimMode, cfg.App.Animations, m.km, cfg.List.Fields.Due.Minimal)
 	m.list.SetTagsConfig(cfg.Tags.Highlight)
 	m.list.SetRightOrder(cfg.List.Order.Right)
+	m.side = sidebar.New(m.s)
+	m.side.SetProjects(m.projects, cfg.Projects.Order, cfg.App.RecentProjects)
+	m.side.SetActive(m.activeProject)
 	m.pal = palette.New(m.s)
 	m.det = detail.New(m.s)
 	m.hlp = help.New(m.s, m.km)
@@ -498,6 +504,8 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 
 	case projectsLoadedMsg:
 		m.projects = x.Projects
+		m.side.SetProjects(m.projects, m.cfg.Projects.Order, m.cfg.App.RecentProjects)
+		m.side.SetActive(m.activeProject)
 		m.rebuildProjectsIndex()
 		return m, nil
 
@@ -749,18 +757,6 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 
 		m.mode = ModeList
 		switch x.Item.Kind {
-		case search.KindProject:
-			m.activeProject = x.Item.ID
-			m.cfg.App.ActiveProject = m.activeProject
-			_ = m.cfg.Save()
-			var animCmd tea.Cmd
-			if m.cfg.App.Animations {
-				m.transitioning = m.cfg.App.Animations
-				m.transitionStarted = time.Now()
-				m.animationGen++
-				animCmd = m.viewTransitionTickCmd()
-			}
-			return m, tea.Batch(m.loadTasksCmd(), animCmd)
 		case search.KindTask:
 			return m, m.fetchOpenTaskCmd(x.Item.ID)
 		case search.KindTag:
@@ -776,6 +772,22 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m, nil
 
+	case sidebar.SelectMsg:
+		m.activeProject = x.Project
+		m.updateRecentProject(m.activeProject)
+		m.cfg.App.ActiveProject = m.activeProject
+		_ = m.cfg.Save()
+		m.side.SetProjects(m.projects, m.cfg.Projects.Order, m.cfg.App.RecentProjects)
+		m.side.SetActive(m.activeProject)
+		var animCmd tea.Cmd
+		if m.cfg.App.Animations {
+			m.transitioning = m.cfg.App.Animations
+			m.transitionStarted = time.Now()
+			m.animationGen++
+			animCmd = m.viewTransitionTickCmd()
+		}
+		return m, tea.Batch(m.loadTasksCmd(), animCmd)
+
 	case editor.CloseMsg:
 		if m.mode == ModeEditor {
 			m.mode = ModeList
@@ -869,10 +881,10 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		return m, nil
 
 	case taskDeletedMsg:
-		// Deleting a task can orphan tags; prune & reload tags immediately so
-		// tag-related UI/palette stays accurate without requiring a restart.
+		// Deleting a task can orphan tags/projects; prune & reload so
+		// UI stays accurate without requiring a restart.
 		m.rebuildComponentSizes()
-		return m, tea.Batch(m.pruneAndLoadTagsCmd(), m.refreshCmd(), m.syncIfEnabledCmd())
+		return m, tea.Batch(m.pruneAndLoadTagsCmd(), m.loadProjectsCmd(), m.refreshCmd(), m.syncIfEnabledCmd())
 
 	case rainbowTickMsg:
 		if !m.cfg.App.Rainbow {
@@ -1147,26 +1159,43 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Mode-specific toggles that should work even when the mode is active (and thus input is focused)
-		if m.mode == ModeProjectSwitcher && keymapMatch(m.km.ProjectSwitcher, km) {
-			m.mode = ModeList
-			return m, nil
-		}
-		if m.mode == ModePalette && keymapMatch(m.km.Palette, km) {
-			m.mode = ModeList
+		// Sidebar toggle
+		if keymapMatch(m.km.ProjectSwitcher, km) {
+			m.sidebarVisible = !m.sidebarVisible
+			if m.sidebarVisible {
+				m.mode = ModeProjectSidebar
+				m.side.Focus(true)
+			} else {
+				m.mode = ModeList
+				m.side.Focus(false)
+			}
+			m.rebuildComponentSizes()
 			return m, nil
 		}
 
-		// Explicit check for ctrl+e to prevent collision with enter
-		if km.String() == "ctrl+e" {
-			if m.mode == ModeProjectSwitcher {
+		// Focus switching
+		if m.sidebarVisible {
+			if keymapMatch(m.km.FocusSidebar, km) {
+				m.mode = ModeProjectSidebar
+				m.side.Focus(true)
+				return m, nil
+			}
+			if keymapMatch(m.km.FocusList, km) {
 				m.mode = ModeList
+				m.side.Focus(false)
+				return m, nil
+			}
+
+			if km.String() == "tab" {
+				if m.mode == ModeProjectSidebar {
+					m.mode = ModeList
+					m.side.Focus(false)
+				} else {
+					m.mode = ModeProjectSidebar
+					m.side.Focus(true)
+				}
 				return m, nil
 			}
-			m.mode = ModeProjectSwitcher
-			m.applyPaletteIndex()
-			m.pal.SetPlaceholder("Switch project…")
-			return m, m.pal.Open()
 		}
 
 		// Global key handling - only process keybindings if no input field is focused.
@@ -1565,6 +1594,10 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		e, cmd := m.edit.Update(msg)
 		*m.edit = e
 		return m, cmd
+	case ModeProjectSidebar:
+		var cmd tea.Cmd
+		m.side, cmd = m.side.Update(msg)
+		return m, cmd
 	case ModeDetail:
 		var cmd tea.Cmd
 		return m, cmd
@@ -1653,7 +1686,7 @@ func (m *Model) View() string {
 }
 
 func (m *Model) renderMainUI() string {
-	// Calculate the width budget: when AI panel is visible, the main UI
+	// Calculate the width budget: when AI panel or sidebar is visible, the main UI
 	// shrinks to make room. Both halves must fit within m.width.
 	mainW := m.width
 	aiPanelW := 0
@@ -1662,15 +1695,17 @@ func (m *Model) renderMainUI() string {
 		if aiPanelW < 30 {
 			aiPanelW = 30
 		}
-		mainW = m.width - aiPanelW
-		if mainW < 40 {
-			mainW = 40
-			aiPanelW = m.width - mainW
-		}
+		mainW -= aiPanelW
+	}
+
+	sidebarW := 0
+	if m.sidebarVisible {
+		sidebarW = 25
+		mainW -= sidebarW
 	}
 
-	head := m.renderHeaderWithWidth(mainW)
-	foot := m.renderFooterWithWidth(mainW)
+	head := m.renderHeaderWithWidth(mainW + sidebarW)
+	foot := m.renderFooterWithWidth(mainW + sidebarW)
 
 	hHeight := lipgloss.Height(head)
 	fHeight := lipgloss.Height(foot)
@@ -1679,7 +1714,10 @@ func (m *Model) renderMainUI() string {
 		availableHeight = 0
 	}
 
-	// Update sizes dynamically — use mainW so components don't overflow
+	// Update sizes dynamically
+	if m.sidebarVisible {
+		m.side.SetSize(sidebarW, availableHeight)
+	}
 	m.list.SetSize(mainW, availableHeight)
 	m.det.ShowID = m.cfg.App.ShowID
 	m.det.SetSize(mainW, availableHeight)
@@ -1775,6 +1813,21 @@ func (m *Model) renderMainUI() string {
 
 	content := lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, head, body, foot)
 
+	if m.sidebarVisible {
+		sidebarContent := m.side.View()
+		sidebarContent = lipgloss.NewStyle().
+			Width(sidebarW).
+			Height(availableHeight).
+			Background(m.s.Theme.Bg).
+			Border(lipgloss.NormalBorder(), false, true, false, false).
+			BorderForeground(m.s.Theme.Border).
+			Render(sidebarContent)
+		// We join body instead of content because head/foot should span full width?
+		// Actually, the user's screenshot shows head/foot spanning only the main area.
+		// Let's re-join with head/foot separately if needed.
+		content = lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, head, lipgloss.JoinHorizontal(lipgloss.Top, sidebarContent, body), foot)
+	}
+
 	if m.mode == ModeOnboarding {
 		content = lipgloss.Place(m.width, m.height, lipgloss.Center, lipgloss.Center,
 			m.onb.View(),
@@ -2387,6 +2440,27 @@ func (m *Model) refreshCmd() tea.Cmd {
 	)
 }
 
+func (m *Model) updateRecentProject(project string) {
+	if project == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	recent := m.cfg.App.RecentProjects
+	// Remove if already exists
+	for i, p := range recent {
+		if p == project {
+			recent = append(recent[:i], recent[i+1:]...)
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	// Prepend
+	recent = append([]string{project}, recent...)
+	// Limit to 50
+	if len(recent) > 50 {
+		recent = recent[:50]
+	}
+	m.cfg.App.RecentProjects = recent
+}
+
 func (m *Model) pruneAndLoadTagsCmd() tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg {
 		_ = m.svc.Prune(m.ctx)

internal/config/config.go

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ type ProjectsConfig struct {
 	Default    string `toml:"default"`
 	Shortcut   string `toml:"shortcut"`
 	ShowColumn string `toml:"show_column"` // "auto" | "always" | "never"
+	Order      string `toml:"order"`       // "alphabetical" | "recent"
 }
 
 type ListConfig struct {
@@ -88,18 +89,19 @@ func normalizeRightOrder(in []string) []string {
 }
 
 type AppConfig struct {
-	Theme               string `toml:"theme"`
-	ActiveProject       string `toml:"active_project"`
-	VimMode             bool   `toml:"vim_mode"`
-	ShowHelp            bool   `toml:"show_help"`
-	ShowID              bool   `toml:"show_id"`
-	Rainbow             bool   `toml:"rainbow"`
-	GeminiAPIKey        string `toml:"gemini_api_key"`
-	AIModel             string `toml:"ai_model"`
-	MCPEnabled          bool   `toml:"mcp_enabled"`
-	MCPPort             string `toml:"mcp_port"`
-	Animations          bool   `toml:"animations"`
-	OnboardingCompleted bool   `toml:"onboarding_completed"`
+	Theme               string   `toml:"theme"`
+	ActiveProject       string   `toml:"active_project"`
+	VimMode             bool     `toml:"vim_mode"`
+	ShowHelp            bool     `toml:"show_help"`
+	ShowID              bool     `toml:"show_id"`
+	Rainbow             bool     `toml:"rainbow"`
+	GeminiAPIKey        string   `toml:"gemini_api_key"`
+	AIModel             string   `toml:"ai_model"`
+	MCPEnabled          bool     `toml:"mcp_enabled"`
+	MCPPort             string   `toml:"mcp_port"`
+	Animations          bool     `toml:"animations"`
+	OnboardingCompleted bool     `toml:"onboarding_completed"`
+	RecentProjects      []string `toml:"recent_projects"`
 }
 
 type StorageConfig struct {
@@ -166,6 +168,8 @@ type KeymapConfig struct {
 	ProjectSwitcher string `toml:"project_switcher"`
 	Undo            string `toml:"undo"`
 	Redo            string `toml:"redo"`
+	FocusSidebar    string `toml:"focus_sidebar"`
+	FocusList       string `toml:"focus_list"`
 }
 
 func Default() Config {
@@ -185,6 +189,7 @@ func Default() Config {
 			Default:    "default",
 			Shortcut:   "p",
 			ShowColumn: "auto",
+			Order:      "alphabetical",
 		},
 		Edit: EditConfig{
 			Preview: true,
@@ -261,6 +266,8 @@ func Default() Config {
 			ProjectSwitcher: "ctrl+e",
 			Undo:            "ctrl+z",
 			Redo:            "ctrl+y",
+			FocusSidebar:    "[",
+			FocusList:       "]",
 		},
 	}
 }

internal/lua/engine.go

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (e *Engine) SetupKairoAPI(L *lua.LState) {
 	L.SetField(kairo, "notify", L.NewFunction(e.luaNotify))
 
 	// Meta
-	L.SetField(kairo, "version", lua.LString("1.6.5"))
+	L.SetField(kairo, "version", lua.LString("1.6.6"))
 
 	// Set as global
 	L.SetGlobal("kairo", kairo)