fix(tui): clear selection on right-click copy + group transcript blocks

Two TUI polish fixes.

(1) Right-click copy now clears the highlight.
The right-click handler copied an active selection via onCopySelectionNoClear
(the copy-on-select variant that keeps the highlight during a drag) and never
cleared it, so after right-click-to-copy the selection stayed lit with no
confirmation and a follow-up right-click re-copied the stale range instead of
pasting. A successful right-click copy now clears the selection and notifies;
if the copy fails (no clipboard path) the highlight survives and we fall back
to the right-click paste handler, exactly as before.

(2) Group transcript blocks so boundaries read clearly.
Model replies, reasoning/tool trails, and system/error notes rendered with no
vertical separation, so distinct block types butted together and were hard to
scan. Group adjacent blocks by kind: one blank line opens only where the visual
group changes (model prose <-> reasoning/tool trails <-> notes), while a run of
same-kind blocks renders flush. The rule lives in domain/blockLayout.ts
(messageGroup + hasLeadGap) and is applied intrinsically in MessageLine via a
`prev` prop, which fixes the things ad-hoc per-block margins kept breaking:

  - Streaming stability: the gap is derived from the stable predecessor, never
    the live block's own changing text, so the actively-streaming reply computes
    the same gap while it streams as the settled segment does once it flushes.
    No reflow/jump.
  - Transparent empty trails: a trail hidden by /details, or one carrying only a
    token tally (the finalDetails segment message.complete appends), renders
    nothing and is transparent to grouping (prevRenderedMsg skips it), so there
    are no floating gaps, no doubled gap after a prompt, and no padded space
    above the final reply. In the default/collapsed modes content-bearing trails
    always render, so the grouping is a no-op there.

The virtual-height estimator counts the group-boundary line so scroll math
stays accurate before Yoga remeasures.

ui-tui/src/domain/blockLayout.ts (new), components/messageLine.tsx,
components/streamingAssistant.tsx, components/appLayout.tsx,
lib/virtualHeights.ts, app/useMainApp.ts.

Tests: blockLayout.test.ts (grouping + hidden/empty-trail visibility),
virtualHeights leadGap, app-mouse.test.ts copy behavior. Full ui-tui suite
green apart from 3 pre-existing local/env failures (cursorDrift, ink-resize,
virtualHeights user-prompt-width) unchanged from main.

ui-tui/packages/hermes-ink/src/ink/app-mouse.test.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
 import { handleMouseEvent } from './components/App.js'
-import { createSelectionState, startSelection, updateSelection } from './selection.js'
+import { createSelectionState, hasSelection, startSelection, updateSelection } from './selection.js'
 
 const makeApp = () => {
   const selection = createSelectionState()
@@ -39,6 +39,39 @@ describe('handleMouseEvent right-click selection behavior', () => {
     expect(app.clickCount).toBe(0)
   })
 
+  it('clears the highlight after a successful right-click copy', async () => {
+    const app = makeApp()
+
+    startSelection(app.props.selection, 0, 0)
+    updateSelection(app.props.selection, 4, 0)
+    expect(hasSelection(app.props.selection)).toBe(true)
+
+    handleMouseEvent(app, { action: 'press', button: 2, col: 3, kind: 'mouse', row: 1, sequence: '' })
+    await Promise.resolve()
+    await Promise.resolve()
+
+    // Deliberate copy clears the selection (visual confirmation + a follow-up
+    // right-click on empty space pastes rather than re-copying a stale range).
+    expect(hasSelection(app.props.selection)).toBe(false)
+    expect(app.props.onSelectionChange).toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the highlight when right-click copy fails (no clipboard path)', async () => {
+    const app = makeApp()
+    app.props.onCopySelectionNoClear.mockResolvedValue('')
+
+    startSelection(app.props.selection, 0, 0)
+    updateSelection(app.props.selection, 4, 0)
+
+    handleMouseEvent(app, { action: 'press', button: 2, col: 3, kind: 'mouse', row: 1, sequence: '' })
+    await Promise.resolve()
+    await Promise.resolve()
+
+    // Copy didn't land, so the highlight must survive (and we fall back to the
+    // right-click paste handler instead).
+    expect(hasSelection(app.props.selection)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
   it('falls back to right-click handlers when selection copy has no clipboard path', async () => {
     const app = makeApp()
     app.props.onCopySelectionNoClear.mockResolvedValue('')

ui-tui/packages/hermes-ink/src/ink/components/App.tsx

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {
   parseMultipleKeypresses
 } from '../parse-keypress.js'
 import reconciler from '../reconciler.js'
-import { finishSelection, hasSelection, type SelectionState, startSelection } from '../selection.js'
+import { clearSelection, finishSelection, hasSelection, type SelectionState, startSelection } from '../selection.js'
 import { getTerminalFocused, setTerminalFocused } from '../terminal-focus-state.js'
 import { TerminalQuerier, xtversion } from '../terminal-querier.js'
 import { isXtermJs, setXtversionName, supportsExtendedKeys } from '../terminal.js'
@@ -648,7 +648,15 @@ export function handleMouseEvent(app: App, m: ParsedMouse): void {
         void app.props
           .onCopySelectionNoClear()
           .then(text => {
-            if (!text) {
+            if (text) {
+              // Right-click copy is a deliberate action (unlike copy-on-select
+              // during a drag, which keeps the highlight so the drag can
+              // continue). Clear the highlight so the user gets visual
+              // confirmation the copy landed and a follow-up right-click on
+              // empty space pastes instead of re-copying the stale range.
+              clearSelection(sel)
+              app.props.onSelectionChange()
+            } else {
               app.props.onMouseDownAt(col, row, baseButton)
             }
           })

ui-tui/src/__tests__/blockLayout.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import { blockRenders, hasLeadGap, messageGroup, prevRenderedMsg } from '../domain/blockLayout.js'
+import type { Msg } from '../types.js'
+
+const m = (over: Partial<Msg>): Msg => ({ role: 'assistant', text: '', ...over })
+
+describe('messageGroup', () => {
+  it('classifies each block kind into its visual band', () => {
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'assistant' }))).toBe('model')
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'assistant', kind: 'diff' }))).toBe('diff')
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'system', kind: 'trail' }))).toBe('trail')
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'system' }))).toBe('note')
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'user' }))).toBe('user')
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'user', kind: 'slash' }))).toBe('slash')
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'system', kind: 'intro' }))).toBe('intro')
+    expect(messageGroup(m({ role: 'system', kind: 'panel' }))).toBe('intro')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('hasLeadGap', () => {
+  const trail = m({ role: 'system', kind: 'trail' })
+  const model = m({ role: 'assistant' })
+  const note = m({ role: 'system' })
+  const user = m({ role: 'user' })
+  const diff = m({ role: 'assistant', kind: 'diff' })
+  const slash = m({ role: 'user', kind: 'slash' })
+
+  it('opens a gap only at a boundary between working-area groups', () => {
+    expect(hasLeadGap(trail, model)).toBe(true)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(model, trail)).toBe(true)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(model, note)).toBe(true)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(note, model)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps same-group neighbours flush (the grouping)', () => {
+    expect(hasLeadGap(trail, trail)).toBe(false)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(model, model)).toBe(false)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(note, note)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('never gaps the first block (no predecessor)', () => {
+    expect(hasLeadGap(undefined, model)).toBe(false)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(undefined, trail)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('suppresses the gap after blocks that already paint a trailing line', () => {
+    // user and diff carry their own marginBottom — the following block must
+    // not add a second blank line on top of it.
+    expect(hasLeadGap(user, trail)).toBe(false)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(user, model)).toBe(false)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(diff, model)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('still gaps after a slash echo (it has no trailing margin)', () => {
+    expect(hasLeadGap(slash, model)).toBe(true)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(slash, trail)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('lets user / slash / diff own their spacing (never managed here)', () => {
+    expect(hasLeadGap(model, user)).toBe(false)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(model, slash)).toBe(false)
+    expect(hasLeadGap(model, diff)).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('blockRenders', () => {
+  const trail: Msg = { role: 'system', kind: 'trail', text: '', tools: ['Edit foo.ts'] }
+  const model: Msg = { role: 'assistant', text: 'hi' }
+  const todos: Msg = { role: 'system', kind: 'trail', text: '', todos: [{ content: 'a', id: '1', status: 'pending' }] }
+
+  it('always renders non-trail blocks', () => {
+    expect(blockRenders(model, { detailsMode: 'hidden', commandOverride: true })).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('renders a content-bearing trail unless every section is hidden', () => {
+    expect(blockRenders(trail, { detailsMode: 'collapsed' })).toBe(true)
+    expect(blockRenders(trail, { detailsMode: 'expanded' })).toBe(true)
+    // /details hidden routes through commandOverride, which hides every section.
+    expect(blockRenders(trail, { detailsMode: 'hidden', commandOverride: true })).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('does not render a content-less trail (e.g. finalDetails with only a token tally)', () => {
+    const tally: Msg = { role: 'system', kind: 'trail', text: '', toolTokens: 40 }
+
+    expect(blockRenders(tally, { detailsMode: 'expanded' })).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps todo trails visible even when details are hidden', () => {
+    expect(blockRenders(todos, { detailsMode: 'hidden', commandOverride: true })).toBe(true)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('prevRenderedMsg', () => {
+  const hiddenCtx = { commandOverride: true, detailsMode: 'hidden' as const }
+  const shownCtx = { detailsMode: 'collapsed' as const }
+
+  const rows: Msg[] = [
+    { role: 'user', text: 'q' }, // 0
+    { role: 'system', kind: 'trail', text: '', tools: ['Edit foo.ts'] }, // 1
+    { role: 'assistant', text: 'first' }, // 2
+    { role: 'system', kind: 'trail', text: '', tools: ['Edit bar.ts'] }, // 3
+    { role: 'assistant', text: 'second' } // 4
+  ]
+  const at = (i: number) => rows[i]
+
+  it('returns the literal predecessor when everything renders', () => {
+    expect(prevRenderedMsg(at, 2, shownCtx)).toBe(rows[1])
+    expect(prevRenderedMsg(at, 4, shownCtx)).toBe(rows[3])
+  })
+
+  it('skips hidden trails so grouping sees the nearest visible block', () => {
+    // With trails hidden, the prose at index 2 groups against the user (not the
+    // invisible trail) and the prose at index 4 groups against the prose at 2.
+    expect(prevRenderedMsg(at, 2, hiddenCtx)).toBe(rows[0])
+    expect(prevRenderedMsg(at, 4, hiddenCtx)).toBe(rows[2])
+  })
+
+  it('returns undefined at the top of the transcript', () => {
+    expect(prevRenderedMsg(at, 0, shownCtx)).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+})

ui-tui/src/__tests__/virtualHeights.test.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ describe('virtual height estimates', () => {
     expect(estimatedMsgHeight(msg, 26, { compact: false, details: false, userPrompt: 'Ψ >' })).toBe(4)
   })
 
+  it('adds one row for a group-boundary lead gap', () => {
+    const msg: Msg = { role: 'assistant', text: 'reply' }
+
+    expect(estimatedMsgHeight(msg, 80, { compact: false, details: false, leadGap: true })).toBe(
+      estimatedMsgHeight(msg, 80, { compact: false, details: false, leadGap: false }) + 1
+    )
+  })
+
   it('includes detail sections when visible', () => {
     const msg: Msg = { role: 'assistant', text: 'ok', thinking: 'line 1\nline 2', tools: ['Tool A', 'Tool B'] }
 

ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { STARTUP_RESUME_ID } from '../config/env.js'
 import { MAX_HISTORY, WHEEL_SCROLL_STEP } from '../config/limits.js'
+import { hasLeadGap, prevRenderedMsg } from '../domain/blockLayout.js'
 import { SECTION_NAMES, sectionMode } from '../domain/details.js'
 import { attachedImageNotice, imageTokenMeta } from '../domain/messages.js'
 import { fmtCwdBranch, shortCwd } from '../domain/paths.js'
@@ -350,6 +351,14 @@ export function useMainApp(gw: GatewayClient) {
       estimatedMsgHeight(virtualRows[index]!.msg, cols, {
         compact: ui.compact,
         details: detailsVisible,
+        leadGap: hasLeadGap(
+          prevRenderedMsg(i => virtualRows[i]?.msg, index, {
+            commandOverride: ui.detailsModeCommandOverride,
+            detailsMode: ui.detailsMode,
+            sections: ui.sections
+          }),
+          virtualRows[index]!.msg
+        ),
         thinkingVisible: thinkingDetailsVisible,
         toolsVisible: toolsDetailsVisible,
         userPrompt: ui.theme.brand.prompt,
@@ -362,6 +371,9 @@ export function useMainApp(gw: GatewayClient) {
       thinkingDetailsVisible,
       toolsDetailsVisible,
       ui.compact,
+      ui.detailsMode,
+      ui.detailsModeCommandOverride,
+      ui.sections,
       ui.theme.brand.prompt,
       virtualRows
     ]

ui-tui/src/components/appLayout.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { $isBlocked, $overlayState, patchOverlayState } from '../app/overlayStor
 import { $uiState } from '../app/uiStore.js'
 import { INLINE_MODE, SHOW_FPS, TERMUX_TUI_MODE } from '../config/env.js'
 import { PLACEHOLDER } from '../content/placeholders.js'
+import { prevRenderedMsg } from '../domain/blockLayout.js'
 import {
   COMPOSER_PROMPT_GAP_WIDTH,
   composerPromptWidth,
@@ -125,6 +126,11 @@ const TranscriptPane = memo(function TranscriptPane({
                   detailsMode={ui.detailsMode}
                   detailsModeCommandOverride={ui.detailsModeCommandOverride}
                   msg={row.msg}
+                  prev={prevRenderedMsg(
+                    i => transcript.virtualRows[i]?.msg,
+                    row.index,
+                    { commandOverride: ui.detailsModeCommandOverride, detailsMode: ui.detailsMode, sections: ui.sections }
+                  )}
                   sections={ui.sections}
                   t={ui.theme}
                 />
@@ -141,6 +147,7 @@ const TranscriptPane = memo(function TranscriptPane({
             compact={ui.compact}
             detailsMode={ui.detailsMode}
             detailsModeCommandOverride={ui.detailsModeCommandOverride}
+            prevMsg={transcript.historyItems[transcript.historyItems.length - 1]}
             progress={progress}
             sections={ui.sections}
           />

ui-tui/src/components/messageLine.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { memo, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { TERMUX_TUI_MODE } from '../config/env.js'
 import { LONG_MSG } from '../config/limits.js'
+import { hasLeadGap } from '../domain/blockLayout.js'
 import { sectionMode } from '../domain/details.js'
 import { userDisplay } from '../domain/messages.js'
 import { ROLE } from '../domain/roles.js'
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ export const MessageLine = memo(function MessageLine({
   detailsModeCommandOverride = false,
   isStreaming = false,
   msg,
+  prev,
   sections,
   t,
   tools = []
@@ -49,6 +51,14 @@ export const MessageLine = memo(function MessageLine({
   const activityMode = sectionMode('activity', detailsMode, sections, detailsModeCommandOverride)
   const thinking = msg.thinking?.trim() ?? ''
 
+  // One blank line above this block iff it opens a new visual group relative
+  // to the block directly above it (`prev`) — the flex-grouping rule. Applied
+  // intrinsically on each *rendered* element (not via an outer wrapper) so a
+  // block that renders nothing — e.g. a tool trail hidden by /details — emits
+  // no floating gap. Streaming-safe: the gap is derived from the stable
+  // predecessor, never this block's own live content. See domain/blockLayout.
+  const leadGap = hasLeadGap(prev, msg)
+
   // Collapse toggle for long system messages
   const systemIsLong = msg.role === 'system' && msg.text.length > SYSTEM_COLLAPSE_CHARS
   const [systemOpen, setSystemOpen] = useState(false)
@@ -66,7 +76,7 @@ export const MessageLine = memo(function MessageLine({
 
   if (msg.kind === 'trail' && (msg.tools?.length || tools.length || thinking)) {
     return thinkingMode !== 'hidden' || toolsMode !== 'hidden' || activityMode !== 'hidden' ? (
-      <Box flexDirection="column">
+      <Box flexDirection="column" marginTop={leadGap ? 1 : 0}>
         <ToolTrail
           commandOverride={detailsModeCommandOverride}
           detailsMode={detailsMode}
@@ -82,6 +92,14 @@ export const MessageLine = memo(function MessageLine({
     ) : null
   }
 
+  // A trail with no reasoning, tools, or todos to show (e.g. the finalDetails
+  // segment message.complete appends carrying only a token tally) has nothing
+  // to draw — render nothing instead of an empty gutter row. blockRenders()
+  // agrees, so it also stays transparent to grouping and never opens a gap.
+  if (msg.kind === 'trail') {
+    return null
+  }
+
   if (msg.role === 'tool') {
     const maxChars = Math.max(24, cols - 14)
     const stripped = hasAnsi(msg.text) ? stripAnsi(msg.text) : msg.text
@@ -172,7 +190,7 @@ export const MessageLine = memo(function MessageLine({
   })()
 
   // Diff segments (emitted by pushInlineDiffSegment between narration
-  // segments) need a blank line on both sides so the patch doesn't butt up
+  // segments) keep a blank line on both sides so the patch doesn't butt up
   // against the prose around it.
   const isDiffSegment = msg.kind === 'diff'
 
@@ -180,7 +198,7 @@ export const MessageLine = memo(function MessageLine({
     <Box
       flexDirection="column"
       marginBottom={msg.role === 'user' || isDiffSegment ? 1 : 0}
-      marginTop={msg.role === 'user' || msg.kind === 'slash' || isDiffSegment ? 1 : 0}
+      marginTop={msg.role === 'user' || msg.kind === 'slash' || isDiffSegment || leadGap ? 1 : 0}
     >
       {showDetails && (
         <Box flexDirection="column" marginBottom={1}>
@@ -231,6 +249,10 @@ interface MessageLineProps {
   detailsModeCommandOverride?: boolean
   isStreaming?: boolean
   msg: Msg
+  // The block rendered directly above this one. Drives the group-boundary
+  // lead gap (see domain/blockLayout.ts::hasLeadGap). Undefined at the top of
+  // the transcript or when spacing is irrelevant.
+  prev?: Msg
   sections?: SectionVisibility
   t: Theme
   tools?: ActiveTool[]

ui-tui/src/components/streamingAssistant.tsx

@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ import { memo } from 'react'
 import type { AppLayoutProgressProps } from '../app/interfaces.js'
 import { toggleTodoCollapsed, useTurnSelector } from '../app/turnStore.js'
 import { $uiState } from '../app/uiStore.js'
+import { blockRenders } from '../domain/blockLayout.js'
 import { appendToolShelfMessage } from '../lib/liveProgress.js'
-import type { DetailsMode, Msg, SectionVisibility } from '../types.js'
+import type { ActiveTool, DetailsMode, Msg, SectionVisibility } from '../types.js'
 
 import { MessageLine } from './messageLine.js'
 import { TodoPanel } from './todoPanel.js'
@@ -13,11 +14,19 @@ import { TodoPanel } from './todoPanel.js'
 const groupedSegments = (segments: Msg[]): Msg[] =>
   segments.reduce<Msg[]>((acc, msg) => appendToolShelfMessage(acc, msg), [])
 
+interface LiveBlock {
+  isStreaming?: boolean
+  key: string
+  msg: Msg
+  tools?: ActiveTool[]
+}
+
 export const StreamingAssistant = memo(function StreamingAssistant({
   cols,
   compact,
   detailsMode,
   detailsModeCommandOverride,
+  prevMsg,
   progress,
   sections
 }: StreamingAssistantProps) {
@@ -32,62 +41,60 @@ export const StreamingAssistant = memo(function StreamingAssistant({
     return null
   }
 
+  // Flatten the live area into one ordered list so each block's leading gap
+  // can be derived from the block directly above it — including the boundary
+  // back into settled history (prevMsg). Tracking the predecessor rather than
+  // the live text is what keeps the streaming block from jumping when it
+  // flushes into a settled segment.
+  const blocks: LiveBlock[] = groupedSegments(streamSegments).map((msg, i) => ({ key: `seg:${i}`, msg }))
+
+  if (activeTools.length) {
+    blocks.push({ key: 'active-tools', msg: { kind: 'trail', role: 'system', text: '' }, tools: activeTools })
+  }
+
+  if (showStreamingArea) {
+    blocks.push({
+      isStreaming: true,
+      key: 'streaming',
+      msg: { role: 'assistant', text: streaming, ...(streamPendingTools.length && { tools: streamPendingTools }) }
+    })
+  } else if (streamPendingTools.length) {
+    blocks.push({ key: 'pending-tools', msg: { kind: 'trail', role: 'system', text: '', tools: streamPendingTools } })
+  }
+
+  const detailsCtx = { commandOverride: detailsModeCommandOverride, detailsMode, sections }
+  let prev = prevMsg
+
   return (
     <>
-      {groupedSegments(streamSegments).map((msg, i) => (
-        <MessageLine
-          cols={cols}
-          compact={compact}
-          detailsMode={detailsMode}
-          detailsModeCommandOverride={detailsModeCommandOverride}
-          key={`seg:${i}`}
-          msg={msg}
-          sections={sections}
-          t={ui.theme}
-        />
-      ))}
+      {blocks.map(block => {
+        const node = (
+          <MessageLine
+            cols={cols}
+            compact={compact}
+            detailsMode={detailsMode}
+            detailsModeCommandOverride={detailsModeCommandOverride}
+            isStreaming={block.isStreaming}
+            key={block.key}
+            msg={block.msg}
+            prev={prev}
+            sections={sections}
+            t={ui.theme}
+            {...(block.tools ? { tools: block.tools } : {})}
+          />
+        )
 
-      {!!activeTools.length && (
-        <MessageLine
-          cols={cols}
-          compact={compact}
-          detailsMode={detailsMode}
-          detailsModeCommandOverride={detailsModeCommandOverride}
-          msg={{ kind: 'trail', role: 'system', text: '' }}
-          sections={sections}
-          t={ui.theme}
-          tools={activeTools}
-        />
-      )}
+        // Advance the grouping predecessor only past blocks that actually
+        // paint, so a trail hidden by /details stays transparent here too
+        // (active tools live in the prop, so fold them into the check).
+        const checkMsg = block.tools?.length ? { ...block.msg, tools: block.tools.map(tool => tool.name) } : block.msg
 
-      {showStreamingArea && (
-        <MessageLine
-          cols={cols}
-          compact={compact}
-          detailsMode={detailsMode}
-          detailsModeCommandOverride={detailsModeCommandOverride}
-          isStreaming
-          msg={{
-            role: 'assistant',
-            text: streaming,
-            ...(streamPendingTools.length && { tools: streamPendingTools })
-          }}
-          sections={sections}
-          t={ui.theme}
-        />
-      )}
+        if (blockRenders(checkMsg, detailsCtx)) {
+          prev = block.msg
+        }
 
-      {!showStreamingArea && !!streamPendingTools.length && (
-        <MessageLine
-          cols={cols}
-          compact={compact}
-          detailsMode={detailsMode}
-          detailsModeCommandOverride={detailsModeCommandOverride}
-          msg={{ kind: 'trail', role: 'system', text: '', tools: streamPendingTools }}
-          sections={sections}
-          t={ui.theme}
-        />
-      )}
+        return node
+      })}
     </>
   )
 })
@@ -105,6 +112,7 @@ interface StreamingAssistantProps {
   compact?: boolean
   detailsMode: DetailsMode
   detailsModeCommandOverride: boolean
+  prevMsg?: Msg
   progress: AppLayoutProgressProps
   sections?: SectionVisibility
 }

ui-tui/src/domain/blockLayout.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+import type { DetailsMode, Msg, SectionVisibility } from '../types.js'
+
+import { sectionMode } from './details.js'
+
+/**
+ * Visual group a transcript block belongs to. Blocks in the same group render
+ * flush; a single blank line opens at each group boundary. So a run of tool
+ * trails (or model paragraphs) reads as one section and the eye only catches a
+ * gap where the *kind* of content actually changes — the boundary between
+ * reasoning/tool trails, model prose, and notes/errors.
+ *
+ *   user   — the human turn (owns its separator + margins in MessageLine)
+ *   model  — assistant prose, the model's voice
+ *   trail  — reasoning + tool-call trails (the agent's working area)
+ *   note   — system notes and errors (a quieter band)
+ *   diff   — inline patch segments (an island, owns its own margins)
+ *   slash  — slash-command echoes (owns its margin)
+ *   intro  — banner / panels (rendered out-of-band, never gapped here)
+ */
+export type BlockGroup = 'diff' | 'intro' | 'model' | 'note' | 'slash' | 'trail' | 'user'
+
+export const messageGroup = (msg: Pick<Msg, 'kind' | 'role'>): BlockGroup => {
+  switch (msg.kind) {
+    case 'intro':
+    case 'panel':
+      return 'intro'
+    case 'slash':
+      return 'slash'
+    case 'diff':
+      return 'diff'
+    case 'trail':
+      return 'trail'
+  }
+
+  if (msg.role === 'user') {
+    return 'user'
+  }
+
+  // Assistant prose is the model's voice; system notes/errors are their own
+  // band. (No runtime block uses role 'tool' — tool *results* fold into
+  // trails — so a stray 'tool' falls through to the note band harmlessly.)
+  return msg.role === 'assistant' ? 'model' : 'note'
+}
+
+// Groups whose leading gap is already owned by their own chrome in
+// MessageLine (the turn separator + top margin for user, the top margin for
+// slash, the top+bottom margins for diff) or that are painted out-of-band
+// (intro). The grouping primitive only spaces the model working area —
+// model prose, reasoning/tool trails, and notes/errors.
+const SELF_SPACED: ReadonlySet<BlockGroup> = new Set(['diff', 'intro', 'slash', 'user'])
+
+// Groups that already paint a trailing blank line beneath themselves
+// (marginBottom in MessageLine), so the block that follows must not add its
+// own leading gap or the single boundary would become a double gap.
+const PAINTS_TRAILING_GAP: ReadonlySet<BlockGroup> = new Set(['diff', 'user'])
+
+/**
+ * Whether `cur` renders one blank line above it, given the block rendered
+ * directly above it (`prev`). True only where the visual group changes, and
+ * only for the model-working-area bands (model / trail / note) — user, slash,
+ * diff, and intro keep their existing spacing.
+ *
+ * Streaming-safe by construction: the result depends on the *predecessor's*
+ * group, never on `cur`'s own (live, changing) content. The actively-streaming
+ * assistant block therefore computes the same gap while it streams as the
+ * settled segment does once it flushes, so the live area never jumps.
+ */
+export const hasLeadGap = (
+  prev: Pick<Msg, 'kind' | 'role'> | undefined,
+  cur: Pick<Msg, 'kind' | 'role'>
+): boolean => {
+  const group = messageGroup(cur)
+
+  if (SELF_SPACED.has(group)) {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  if (!prev) {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  const prevGroup = messageGroup(prev)
+
+  return prevGroup !== group && !PAINTS_TRAILING_GAP.has(prevGroup)
+}
+
+export interface DetailsCtx {
+  commandOverride?: boolean
+  detailsMode: DetailsMode
+  sections?: SectionVisibility
+}
+
+const trailAllHidden = (ctx: DetailsCtx): boolean =>
+  sectionMode('thinking', ctx.detailsMode, ctx.sections, ctx.commandOverride) === 'hidden' &&
+  sectionMode('tools', ctx.detailsMode, ctx.sections, ctx.commandOverride) === 'hidden' &&
+  sectionMode('activity', ctx.detailsMode, ctx.sections, ctx.commandOverride) === 'hidden'
+
+/**
+ * Whether a settled transcript block paints anything. A trail renders nothing
+ * when it has no reasoning/tools/todos to show (e.g. the finalDetails segment
+ * that carries only a token tally) or when every section it does have is hidden
+ * (`/details hidden`); every other block draws at least one row. A block that
+ * renders nothing is *transparent* to grouping: the block below it draws its
+ * boundary against the nearest visible block instead (see prevRenderedMsg), so
+ * a hidden or content-less trail never leaves a floating blank line, doubles
+ * the gap after a user prompt, or pads the space above the final reply. In the
+ * default/collapsed modes content-bearing trails always render, so this is a
+ * no-op there.
+ */
+export const blockRenders = (msg: Pick<Msg, 'kind' | 'thinking' | 'todos' | 'tools'>, ctx: DetailsCtx): boolean => {
+  if (msg.kind !== 'trail') {
+    return true
+  }
+
+  if (msg.todos?.length) {
+    return true
+  }
+
+  if (!(msg.tools?.length || msg.thinking?.trim())) {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  return !trailAllHidden(ctx)
+}
+
+/**
+ * The nearest block above `index` that actually renders, resolved through a
+ * lazy accessor so it works over either the virtualized history rows or the
+ * live block list. This is the grouping predecessor — using it (instead of the
+ * literal previous row) keeps hidden trails from interrupting the rhythm.
+ */
+export const prevRenderedMsg = (
+  msgAt: (i: number) => Msg | undefined,
+  index: number,
+  ctx: DetailsCtx
+): Msg | undefined => {
+  for (let i = index - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+    const candidate = msgAt(i)
+
+    if (candidate && blockRenders(candidate, ctx)) {
+      return candidate
+    }
+  }
+
+  return undefined
+}

ui-tui/src/lib/virtualHeights.ts

@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ export const estimatedMsgHeight = (
   {
     compact,
     details,
+    leadGap = false,
     thinkingVisible = details,
     toolsVisible = details,
     userPrompt = '',
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ export const estimatedMsgHeight = (
   }: {
     compact: boolean
     details: boolean
+    leadGap?: boolean
     thinkingVisible?: boolean
     toolsVisible?: boolean
     userPrompt?: string
@@ -129,11 +131,22 @@ export const estimatedMsgHeight = (
   }
 
   if (msg.role === 'user' || msg.kind === 'diff') {
+    // Top + bottom blank line.
     h += 2
   } else if (msg.kind === 'slash') {
     h++
   }
 
+  // Group-boundary blank line owned by BlockSlot: model prose, reasoning/tool
+  // trails, and notes/errors each start a new visual group when the block
+  // above them is a different kind. The caller resolves the boundary against
+  // the previous row (see domain/blockLayout.ts::hasLeadGap) and passes the
+  // result here so the estimate matches the rendered marginTop before Yoga
+  // remeasures. user / diff / slash never set this — they own their margins.
+  if (leadGap) {
+    h++
+  }
+
   // Inter-turn separator above non-first user messages (1 rule row + 1
   // top-margin row). The render-side gate is in appLayout.tsx; we trust
   // the caller to pass `withSeparator` only when it matches that gate.