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Control UI: session-first sidebar, compact context ring, warmer light theme #99288

Description

@steipete

Problem

The Control UI has grown feature-rich but noisy, and the highest-frequency operator action — finding and switching chat sessions — is under-served:

  • The sidebar is dominated by a four-group page nav (14 tabs); sessions get a small dropdown select plus a 5-row "Recent" list that stays empty on a cold /chat load because sessions only load on other tabs.
  • Session context usage renders as a wide "23% context used 46.3k / 200k" pill above the composer — useful data, heavyweight presentation.
  • The default light theme is cool gray with a severe #dc2626 red accent; user bubbles read as alert-red, and the overall tone is harsher than peer tools (Codex desktop, Claude desktop).
  • The composer toolbar carries labeled chips ("Chat settings") and a plain send button.

Proposal

Make the sidebar session-first (Codex/Claude-desktop style): prominent New Session, a 10-row recents list with relative timestamps as the primary chat entry point, a compact search button that opens the existing full session picker (search + pagination), and an "All sessions" link. Demote the chat nav group (the sessions list is chat). Replace the context pill with a small ring dial + percentage in the composer toolbar (details in tooltip, compact action unchanged). Refresh the default light palette to a warm paper tone with an AA-compliant terracotta accent, and slim the composer (icon-only settings, filled circular send, softer focus ring).

Evidence

Before/after screenshots in the implementation PR.

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    P3Low-priority cleanup, docs, polish, ergonomics, or speculative work.clawsweeper:fix-shape-clearClawSweeper found a clear likely implementation shape for this issue.clawsweeper:linked-pr-openClawSweeper found an open linked pull request for this issue.clawsweeper:needs-maintainer-reviewClawSweeper marked this issue as needing maintainer review before automation.clawsweeper:needs-product-decisionClawSweeper marked this issue as needing a product or behavior decision.clawsweeper:no-new-fix-prClawSweeper does not recommend queueing a new automated fix PR for this issue.enhancementNew feature or requestimpact:otherThis issue has meaningful maintainer-visible impact outside the owned taxonomy.issue-rating: 🌊 off-meta tidepoolIssue quality rating does not apply to this item.maintainerMaintainer-authored PR

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