feat: Replace fixed-width box output with status spine format by konard · Pull Request #65 · link-foundation/start

konard · 2026-01-08T00:41:11Z

Summary

This PR replaces the fixed-width box output format with a new "status spine" format that is:

Width-independent: No truncation, no jagged boxes
Lossless: All data visible and copy-pasteable
Portable: Works in TTY, tmux, SSH, CI, and log files
Clear: Visual distinction between metadata (│), command ($), and program output (no prefix)

Before (box format - REMOVED)

╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ Session ID: abc-123-def-456-ghi                        │
│ Starting at 2025-01-01 00:00:00: echo hello            │
│ [Isolation] Environment: docker, Mode: attached        │
╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

After (status spine format - ONLY FORMAT)

│ session   abc-123-def-456-ghi
│ start     2025-01-01 00:00:00
│
│ isolation docker
│ mode      attached
│ image     ubuntu:latest
│ container docker-123
│
$ echo hello

hello world

✓
│ finish    2025-01-01 00:00:01
│ duration  0.500s
│ exit      0
│
│ isolation docker
│ mode      attached
│ image     ubuntu:latest
│ container docker-123
│
│ log       /tmp/start-command-123456.log
│ session   abc-123-def-456-ghi

Key Changes

JavaScript

Updated js/src/lib/output-blocks.js with spine format functions only:
- createSpineLine() - Creates metadata lines with │ prefix
- createEmptySpineLine() - Creates empty spine separator
- createCommandLine() - Creates command line with $ prefix
- getResultMarker() - Returns ✓ or ✗ based on exit code
- parseIsolationMetadata() - Parses isolation info from extraLines
- generateIsolationLines() - Generates spine-formatted isolation metadata
Removed all legacy BOX_STYLES, getBoxStyle(), and related box-drawing functions
Updated createStartBlock() and createFinishBlock() to use spine format
Updated formatDuration() to append 's' suffix (e.g., "0.500s")

Rust

Updated rust/src/lib/output_blocks.rs with equivalent spine format functions
Added IsolationMetadata struct for parsed metadata
Removed all legacy BoxStyle, get_box_style(), and box-drawing functions
Updated both block functions to use new format

Tests

Updated js/test/output-blocks.test.js with tests for spine format only
Updated js/test/echo-integration.test.js to verify spine format only (no backward compat)
Updated js/test/ssh-integration.test.js to verify spine format only
Updated rust/tests/output_blocks_test.rs with equivalent Rust tests
All tests pass for both JavaScript and Rust

CI/CD Improvements

Install screen and tmux in GitHub Actions for Linux and macOS
Added explicit integration tests for screen, tmux, and docker isolation modes
Rust build job now only runs on push to main, not on PRs (tests already verify builds)

Test Plan

Run bun test - All JS tests pass
Run cargo test - All Rust tests pass
Run bun run lint - Linting passes
Run cargo clippy - No warnings
Run cargo fmt --check - Formatting passes
CI includes screen/tmux/docker isolation tests

Closes #64

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Adding CLAUDE.md with task information for AI processing. This file will be removed when the task is complete. Issue: #64

Changes the CLI output from fixed-width boxes to a "status spine" format: Before (box format): ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮ │ Session ID: abc-123 │ │ Starting at 2025-01-01 00:00:00: echo hello │ ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯ After (status spine format): │ session abc-123 │ start 2025-01-01 00:00:00 │ $ echo hello Benefits: - Width-independent: no truncation, no jagged boxes - Lossless: all data visible and copy-pasteable - Works in TTY, tmux, SSH, CI, and log files - Clear visual distinction between metadata (│), command ($), and output Key changes: - JavaScript: Updated output-blocks.js with createSpineLine, parseIsolationMetadata, and generateIsolationLines - Rust: Updated output_blocks.rs with equivalent spine format functions - Tests: Updated both JS and Rust tests for new format - Backward compatible: Legacy BOX_STYLES kept for reference Closes #64 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

The tests now accept both the old box format ([Isolation] Environment: X) and the new spine format (│ isolation X) for isolation metadata checks. 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

This reverts commit 151c82e.

konard · 2026-01-08T01:02:17Z

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konard · 2026-01-08T01:03:40Z

We can install screen, tmux, docker in GitHub Actions (if not installed already) and make sure we do really test them all. It is cheap, and will make sure our CLI tool will work the same way on all platforms.

Also make sure we do drop support for previous bordered fixed width blocks like at all. We should support only new output format with spine | and $ and ✓ and ✗.

Ensure all changes are correct, consistent and fully meet the requirements in both JS and Rust versions.

Also, do we really need to execute https://github.com/link-foundation/start/actions/runs/20801811382/job/59748219113?pr=65 for pull requests? Are tests not enough for rust? May be we should update our CI/CD?

konard · 2026-01-08T01:05:48Z

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This commit drops support for the deprecated bordered fixed-width box output format and requires only the new status spine format with: - `│` prefix for metadata - `$` for commands - `✓` and `✗` for result markers Changes: - Remove BOX_STYLES, getBoxStyle(), and related legacy functions from both JS and Rust implementations - Update all tests to verify spine format only - Update CI/CD to install screen and tmux for integration tests - Add explicit screen, tmux, and docker isolation tests in CI - Skip Rust build job for PRs (tests already verify code builds) This simplifies the codebase and ensures consistent output format across all platforms and terminals. 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

konard · 2026-01-08T01:17:01Z

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konard · 2026-01-08T01:45:08Z

All tests on all platforms should pass. Find root causes and fix them all.

konard · 2026-01-08T01:47:37Z

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- Use detached mode (-d) for docker CI test to avoid TTY requirement - Update echo-integration tests to check for session name instead of reattach instructions (spine format doesn't include these) - Fix linting errors in test assertions 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

konard · 2026-01-08T01:55:55Z

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konard · 2026-01-08T02:00:58Z

Looks like we need to update our changeset check for Rust at: https://github.com/link-foundation/start/actions/runs/20802747294/job/59750799581?pr=65

At the moment it didn't check for absense of changeset and just passed it should be fixed.

If https://github.com/link-foundation/rust-ai-driven-development-pipeline-template has the same issue file issue there.

konard · 2026-01-08T02:18:17Z

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- Add changelog fragment 64.md for spine format changes in Rust - Fix changelog check to validate fragments added in PR diff, not just existing ones - The previous check incorrectly passed when old fragments existed even if no new fragment was added for the current PR 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

konard · 2026-01-08T02:25:40Z

🤖 Solution Draft Log

Summary of changes in this session:

Added Rust changelog fragment () for the spine format changes
Fixed Rust changelog check validation - The previous check incorrectly passed when ANY changelog fragments existed in the directory, even if none were added in the current PR. Now it properly validates that a changelog fragment was added in the PR diff itself.
Filed issue in template repo - Created link-foundation/rust-ai-driven-development-pipeline-template#13 to report the same changelog check bug there.

Verification:

✅ All local tests pass (JS and Rust)
✅ Linting passes for both JS and Rust
✅ Legacy box format completely removed from JS and Rust
✅ Spine format implemented consistently in both JS and Rust
✅ All CI checks passing on all platforms

Changes confirmed:

Box-drawn UI removed
Status spine format with │ prefix for metadata, $ for command
Result markers ✓ and ✗ for success/failure
Isolation metadata repeated in footer
log and session always last in footer
screen/tmux/docker isolation tests added to CI

Working session complete. PR is ready for review.

konard · 2026-01-08T02:26:00Z

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Initial commit with task details

151c82e

Adding CLAUDE.md with task information for AI processing. This file will be removed when the task is complete. Issue: #64

konard self-assigned this Jan 8, 2026

konard changed the title ~~[WIP] Redesign CLI output to width-independent “status spine” format (lossless, ordered footer with isolation repetition)~~ feat: Replace fixed-width box output with status spine format Jan 8, 2026

konard and others added 2 commits January 8, 2026 01:52

chore: Add changeset for status spine format feature

112a78e

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konard marked this pull request as ready for review January 8, 2026 01:01

Revert "Initial commit with task details"

f569a8f

This reverts commit 151c82e.

konard marked this pull request as draft January 8, 2026 01:05

konard marked this pull request as ready for review January 8, 2026 01:16

konard marked this pull request as draft January 8, 2026 01:47

konard marked this pull request as ready for review January 8, 2026 01:55

konard marked this pull request as draft January 8, 2026 02:18

konard marked this pull request as ready for review January 8, 2026 02:25

konard merged commit 28b15b5 into main Jan 8, 2026
18 checks passed

konard mentioned this pull request Jan 8, 2026

Update README.md and all docs to correctly reflect codebase #66

Closed

konard mentioned this pull request Jan 8, 2026

docs: Update documentation to reflect status spine output format #68

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feat: Replace fixed-width box output with status spine format#65

feat: Replace fixed-width box output with status spine format#65
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issue-64-531bd4a9716c

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Summary

Before (box format - REMOVED)

After (status spine format - ONLY FORMAT)

Key Changes

JavaScript

Rust

Tests

CI/CD Improvements

Test Plan

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