Add config toggle for working messages

nori-rs/acp/docs.md

@@ -163,6 +163,10 @@ Three config enums control notification behavior, all stored in the `[tui]` sect
 
 The `AcpBackendConfig` struct carries both `os_notifications` and `notify_after_idle` so the backend can configure the `UserNotifier` and the idle timer respectively. Terminal notifications flow separately through `codex-core`'s `Config::tui_notifications` bool to the TUI's `ChatWidget::notify()` method.
 
+**TUI Display Configuration** (`config/types/mod.rs`):
+
+The `[tui]` section also owns display-only preferences consumed by `@/nori-rs/tui/`. `custom_working_messages` defaults to `true`; setting it to `false` disables the rotating whimsical status header list and lets the TUI use a plain "Working" label while a task starts. This value is resolved onto `NoriConfig` in `loader.rs`, mirrored through `codex-core`'s config, and can be changed from the `/config` menu.
+
 
 **Hotkey Configuration** (`config/types/mod.rs`):
 

nori-rs/acp/src/config/loader.rs

@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ impl NoriConfig {
             skillset_per_session,
             file_manager: toml.tui.file_manager,
             pinned_plan_drawer: toml.tui.pinned_plan_drawer.unwrap_or(false),
+            custom_working_messages: toml.tui.custom_working_messages.unwrap_or(true),
             auto_worktree,
             footer_segment_config: super::types::FooterSegmentConfig::from_toml(
                 &toml.tui.footer_segments,

nori-rs/acp/src/config/mod.rs

@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ animations = false
 terminal_notifications = "disabled"
 os_notifications = "disabled"
 vertical_footer = true
+custom_working_messages = false
 "#;
         let config: NoriConfigToml = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
 
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ vertical_footer = true
         );
         assert_eq!(config.tui.os_notifications, Some(OsNotifications::Disabled));
         assert_eq!(config.tui.vertical_footer, Some(true));
+        assert_eq!(config.tui.custom_working_messages, Some(false));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -156,6 +158,7 @@ model = "gemini"
 [tui]
 animations = false
 vertical_footer = true
+custom_working_messages = false
 "#,
         )
         .unwrap();
@@ -170,6 +173,7 @@ vertical_footer = true
         ); // default
         assert_eq!(config.os_notifications, OsNotifications::Enabled); // default
         assert!(config.vertical_footer);
+        assert!(!config.custom_working_messages);
     }
 
     #[test]

nori-rs/acp/src/config/types/mod.rs

@@ -1385,6 +1385,9 @@ pub struct TuiConfigToml {
 
     /// Pin plan updates to a drawer in the viewport instead of history cells.
     pub pinned_plan_drawer: Option<bool>,
+
+    /// Show rotating custom messages while the agent is working.
+    pub custom_working_messages: Option<bool>,
 }
 
 /// Resolved TUI configuration
@@ -1561,6 +1564,9 @@ pub struct NoriConfig {
     /// Pin plan updates to a drawer in the viewport instead of history cells.
     pub pinned_plan_drawer: bool,
 
+    /// Show rotating custom messages while the agent is working.
+    pub custom_working_messages: bool,
+
     /// Footer segment visibility configuration.
     pub footer_segment_config: FooterSegmentConfig,
 
@@ -1653,6 +1659,7 @@ impl Default for NoriConfig {
             skillset_per_session: false,
             file_manager: None,
             pinned_plan_drawer: false,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             footer_segment_config: FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             nori_home: PathBuf::from(".nori/cli"),
             cwd: std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_default(),

nori-rs/core/docs.md

@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Notification modes:
 1. **Native notifications** (`use_native: true`): Uses `notify-rust` for desktop notifications. All calls to `send_native()` are non-blocking -- they spawn a background thread to call `notif.show()`, because some platforms (notably macOS) block synchronously on that call. On X11 Linux, the spawned thread also handles click-to-focus via `wmctrl` or `xdotool`. The `use_native` flag is controlled by `OsNotifications` in the ACP config layer (`@/nori-rs/acp/src/config/types.rs`).
 2. **External script** (`notify_command` configured): Invokes user-specified command with JSON payload.
 
-Core's `Config::tui_notifications` is a simple `bool` that controls whether the TUI sends OSC 9 terminal escape sequence notifications. It derives its value from the ACP config's `TerminalNotifications` enum during config loading.
+Core's `Config::tui_notifications` is a simple `bool` that controls whether the TUI sends OSC 9 terminal escape sequence notifications. It derives its value from the ACP config's `TerminalNotifications` enum during config loading. Core also carries TUI display booleans such as `animations` and `custom_working_messages`; the latter mirrors `[tui].custom_working_messages` from Nori config so the TUI can choose between rotating custom working headers and the plain `Working` label without re-reading config.
 
 ### Things to Know
 

nori-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs

@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// Enable ASCII animations and shimmer effects in the TUI.
     pub animations: bool,
 
+    /// Show rotating custom messages while the agent is working.
+    pub custom_working_messages: bool,
+
     /// The directory that should be treated as the current working directory
     /// for the session. All relative paths inside the business-logic layer are
     /// resolved against this path.
@@ -1261,6 +1264,11 @@ impl Config {
                 .map(|t| t.terminal_notifications)
                 .unwrap_or(true),
             animations: cfg.tui.as_ref().map(|t| t.animations).unwrap_or(true),
+            custom_working_messages: cfg
+                .tui
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|t| t.custom_working_messages)
+                .unwrap_or(true),
             otel: {
                 let t: OtelConfigToml = cfg.otel.unwrap_or_default();
                 let log_user_prompt = t.log_user_prompt.unwrap_or(false);

nori-rs/core/src/config/tests/part1.rs

@@ -46,6 +46,33 @@ fn tui_config_missing_terminal_notifications_field_defaults_to_true() {
     assert!(tui.terminal_notifications);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn tui_config_custom_working_messages_defaults_to_true() {
+    let cfg = r#"
+[tui]
+"#;
+
+    let parsed = toml::from_str::<ConfigToml>(cfg)
+        .expect("TUI config without custom_working_messages should succeed");
+    let tui = parsed.tui.expect("config should include tui section");
+
+    assert!(tui.custom_working_messages);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn tui_config_custom_working_messages_can_be_disabled() {
+    let cfg = r#"
+[tui]
+custom_working_messages = false
+"#;
+
+    let parsed = toml::from_str::<ConfigToml>(cfg)
+        .expect("TUI config with custom_working_messages disabled should succeed");
+    let tui = parsed.tui.expect("config should include tui section");
+
+    assert!(!tui.custom_working_messages);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_sandbox_config_parsing() {
     let sandbox_full_access = r#"

nori-rs/core/src/config/tests/part3.rs

@@ -547,6 +547,7 @@ fn test_precedence_fixture_with_o3_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             tui_notifications: true,
             animations: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             otel: OtelConfig::default(),
             acp_allow_http_fallback: false,
         },
@@ -620,6 +621,7 @@ fn test_precedence_fixture_with_gpt3_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
         disable_paste_burst: false,
         tui_notifications: true,
         animations: true,
+        custom_working_messages: true,
         otel: OtelConfig::default(),
         acp_allow_http_fallback: false,
     };

nori-rs/core/src/config/tests/part4.rs

@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ fn test_precedence_fixture_with_zdr_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
         disable_paste_burst: false,
         tui_notifications: true,
         animations: true,
+        custom_working_messages: true,
         otel: OtelConfig::default(),
         acp_allow_http_fallback: false,
     };
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ fn test_precedence_fixture_with_gpt5_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
         disable_paste_burst: false,
         tui_notifications: true,
         animations: true,
+        custom_working_messages: true,
         otel: OtelConfig::default(),
         acp_allow_http_fallback: false,
     };

nori-rs/core/src/config/types.rs

@@ -370,6 +370,11 @@ pub struct Tui {
     /// Defaults to `true`.
     #[serde(default = "default_true")]
     pub animations: bool,
+
+    /// Show rotating custom messages while the agent is working.
+    /// Defaults to `true`.
+    #[serde(default = "default_true")]
+    pub custom_working_messages: bool,
 }
 
 const fn default_true() -> bool {

nori-rs/tui/docs.md

@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ During background system info collection on unix, `check_worktree_cleanup()` run
 | `/agent` | Switch between available ACP agents (dynamically shows current agent name) |
 | `/model` | Choose model (dynamically shows current agent/model name) |
 | `/approvals` | Choose what Nori can do without approval (dynamically shows current approval mode) |
-| `/config` | Toggle TUI settings (pinned plan drawer, vertical footer, terminal notifications, OS notifications, vim mode with enter behavior sub-picker, auto worktree, per session skillsets, notify after idle, hotkeys, script timeout, loop count, footer segments, file manager) |
+| `/config` | Toggle TUI settings (pinned plan drawer, custom working messages, vertical footer, terminal notifications, OS notifications, vim mode with enter behavior sub-picker, auto worktree, per session skillsets, notify after idle, hotkeys, script timeout, loop count, footer segments, file manager) |
 | `/browse` | Open a terminal file manager to browse and edit files |
 | `/new` | Start a new chat during a conversation |
 | `/resume` | Resume a previous ACP session |
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ When the user selects an agent (or resumes a session), the TUI shows a "Connecti
 
 **Status Indicator Whimsical Messages (`status_indicator_widget.rs`):**
 
-When the agent begins processing a task, the `StatusIndicatorWidget` displays an animated header with a randomly selected tongue-in-cheek message (e.g., "Thinking really hard", "Hallucinating responsibly") drawn from the `WHIMSICAL_STATUS_MESSAGES` pool via `random_status_message()`. A new random message is selected each time `on_task_started()` fires in `chatwidget/event_handlers.rs`. During streaming, reasoning chunk headers (extracted from bold markdown text) dynamically replace this initial message via `update_status_header()`.
+When the agent begins processing a task, the `StatusIndicatorWidget` displays an animated header. By default it chooses a randomly selected tongue-in-cheek message (e.g., "Thinking really hard", "Hallucinating responsibly") drawn from the `WHIMSICAL_STATUS_MESSAGES` pool via `initial_status_message(true)`. Users can opt out with `[tui].custom_working_messages = false` or the `/config` toggle, which makes the initial header the plain `Working` label instead. During streaming, reasoning chunk headers (extracted from bold markdown text) dynamically replace this initial message via `update_status_header()`.
 
 **Terminal Title Management (`terminal_title.rs`, `chatwidget/helpers.rs`):**
 

nori-rs/tui/src/app/config_persistence.rs

@@ -191,6 +191,27 @@ impl App {
             .add_info_message(format!("Pinned plan drawer {status}."), None);
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "nori-config")]
+    pub(super) async fn persist_custom_working_messages_setting(&mut self, enabled: bool) {
+        self.config.custom_working_messages = enabled;
+        self.chat_widget.set_custom_working_messages(enabled);
+
+        if let Err(err) = ConfigEditsBuilder::new(&self.config.codex_home)
+            .set_path(&["tui", "custom_working_messages"], toml_value(enabled))
+            .apply()
+            .await
+        {
+            tracing::error!(error = %err, "failed to persist custom_working_messages setting");
+            self.chat_widget.add_error_message(format!(
+                "Failed to save custom_working_messages setting: {err}"
+            ));
+            return;
+        }
+        let status = if enabled { "enabled" } else { "disabled" };
+        self.chat_widget
+            .add_info_message(format!("Custom working messages {status}."), None);
+    }
+
     #[cfg(feature = "nori-config")]
     pub(super) async fn persist_skillset_per_session_setting(&mut self, enabled: bool) {
         let builder = ConfigEditsBuilder::new(&self.config.codex_home)

nori-rs/tui/src/app/event_handling.rs

@@ -797,6 +797,10 @@ impl App {
                 self.persist_pinned_plan_drawer_setting(enabled).await;
             }
             #[cfg(feature = "nori-config")]
+            AppEvent::SetConfigCustomWorkingMessages(enabled) => {
+                self.persist_custom_working_messages_setting(enabled).await;
+            }
+            #[cfg(feature = "nori-config")]
             AppEvent::OpenSkillsetPerSessionWorktreeChoice => {
                 self.chat_widget.open_skillset_worktree_choice_picker();
             }

nori-rs/tui/src/app_event.rs

@@ -320,6 +320,10 @@ pub(crate) enum AppEvent {
     #[cfg(feature = "nori-config")]
     SetConfigPinnedPlanDrawer(bool),
 
+    /// Set the TUI custom working messages config setting.
+    #[cfg(feature = "nori-config")]
+    SetConfigCustomWorkingMessages(bool),
+
     /// Open the worktree choice modal when enabling per-session skillsets.
     #[cfg(feature = "nori-config")]
     OpenSkillsetPerSessionWorktreeChoice,

nori-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/mod.rs

@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ pub(crate) struct BottomPane {
     ctrl_c_quit_hint: bool,
     esc_backtrack_hint: bool,
     animations_enabled: bool,
+    custom_working_messages: bool,
 
     /// Inline status indicator shown above the composer while a task is running.
     status: Option<StatusIndicatorWidget>,
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ pub(crate) struct BottomPaneParams {
     pub(crate) placeholder_text: String,
     pub(crate) disable_paste_burst: bool,
     pub(crate) animations_enabled: bool,
+    pub(crate) custom_working_messages: bool,
     pub(crate) vertical_footer: bool,
     pub(crate) footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig,
     pub(crate) agent_display_name: String,
@@ -106,6 +108,7 @@ impl BottomPane {
             placeholder_text,
             disable_paste_burst,
             animations_enabled,
+            custom_working_messages,
             vertical_footer,
             footer_segment_config,
             agent_display_name,
@@ -146,6 +149,7 @@ impl BottomPane {
             queued_user_messages: QueuedUserMessages::new(),
             esc_backtrack_hint: false,
             animations_enabled,
+            custom_working_messages,
             context_window_percent: None,
             agent_display_name,
             agent_slug,
@@ -350,6 +354,7 @@ impl BottomPane {
                         self.app_event_tx.clone(),
                         self.frame_requester.clone(),
                         self.animations_enabled,
+                        self.custom_working_messages,
                     ));
                 }
                 if let Some(status) = self.status.as_mut() {
@@ -376,6 +381,7 @@ impl BottomPane {
                 self.app_event_tx.clone(),
                 self.frame_requester.clone(),
                 self.animations_enabled,
+                self.custom_working_messages,
             ));
             self.request_redraw();
         }
@@ -422,6 +428,16 @@ impl BottomPane {
         self.composer.set_vertical_footer(vertical_footer);
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn set_custom_working_messages(&mut self, enabled: bool) {
+        self.custom_working_messages = enabled;
+        if let Some(status) = self.status.as_mut() {
+            status.update_header(crate::status_indicator_widget::initial_status_message(
+                enabled,
+            ));
+            self.request_redraw();
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Update the hotkey configuration used by the textarea for editing bindings.
     pub(crate) fn set_hotkey_config(&mut self, config: nori_acp::config::HotkeyConfig) {
         self.composer.set_hotkey_config(config);
@@ -799,6 +815,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),
@@ -824,6 +841,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),
@@ -857,6 +875,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),
@@ -931,6 +950,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),
@@ -963,6 +983,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),
@@ -998,6 +1019,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),
@@ -1029,6 +1051,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),
@@ -1060,6 +1083,7 @@ mod tests {
             placeholder_text: "Ask Nori to do anything".to_string(),
             disable_paste_burst: false,
             animations_enabled: true,
+            custom_working_messages: true,
             vertical_footer: false,
             footer_segment_config: nori_acp::config::FooterSegmentConfig::default(),
             agent_display_name: String::new(),