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deepseek-harness/.agents/notes/implemented/simplification/2026-07-31-web-ui-no-steer-entry-or-interjection-chrome.md
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Agent Note: Web UI drops steer entry and interjection chrome

Status: implemented

English | 中文

Problem

Mid-turn steering is a host/agent-loop capability (mode:'steer', durable steering/message). The Web product already locked the composer while a turn runs and never shipped a queue/steer menu, yet the client still threaded 'queue' | 'steer' through the input machine, conversation.send, and locale keys, and rendered consumed steering as a badged 「插话」/「Interjection」 bubble. That left a half-built UI surface: an unused submit mode, a product label for a gesture users cannot perform, and e2e goldens that pinned chrome the product does not own.

Decision

Keep host and runtime steering intact. Remove only the Web UI entry and chrome:

  • InputMachine / SessionInput / InputActions.submit / hub defaultSink are queue-only; they always call session.prompt(..., 'queue').
  • ConversationService.send(text) drops its mode argument and always queues.
  • MessageItem's steering arm still folds durable steering/message content into a plain right-aligned bubble (no badge, no user IconActions) so external/host steers stay visible on replay.
  • Delete message.steering locale strings and the unused badge CSS.
  • The web steering e2e still POSTs mode:'steer' over /api/session.prompt and asserts durable + model-visible obedience; it no longer expects interjection chrome. Update web input machine note fact lines to match.

Alternatives considered

Delete host steering entirely. Out of scope; the user asked only for Web UI display and entry. Agent-loop drain, session events, and the wire mode remain load-bearing for ACP/TUI/automation.

Hide steering/message from the transcript. Would lie on replay when an external client steers; rejected in favor of a plain bubble.

Keep the mode parameter but only ever pass 'queue'. Leaves dead API surface and tests that invent 'steer' paths the composer cannot reach.

Consequences

  • Web users cannot steer from the composer or ctx.conversation.send; stop/cancel and Queue remain the only mid-turn controls.
  • Host-wire and non-Web clients can still steer; the Web client shows those messages without labeling them as interjections.
  • Reintroducing a dedicated steer UI would need a new product decision; do not revive the mode union or badge without one.

Testing

  • packages/client/ui-conversation unit/jsdom coverage: input machine enter/sink, ConversationService routing, MessageItem steering arm (no 「插话」), InputBar submit.
  • apps/web/tests/steering.e2e.ts keyless replay plus updated settled.expected.md (steer text without badge).