refactor(dashboard): change SpawnModal from overlay modal to dropdown

Position the spawn modal directly under the 'New Agent' button without a
blur overlay. Uses click-outside dismissal and absolute positioning.
Reduces visual disruption for quick agent spawning.

.playwright-mcp/console-2026-02-26T22-02-41-370Z.log

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[     253ms] [WARNING] cdn.tailwindcss.com should not be used in production. To use Tailwind CSS in production, install it as a PostCSS plugin or use the Tailwind CLI: https://tailwindcss.com/docs/installation @ https://cdn.tailwindcss.com/:63
+[     586ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://localhost:7400/favicon.ico:0
+[    5076ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://localhost:7400/api/projects:0

.playwright-mcp/console-2026-02-26T22-12-00-780Z.log

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[     391ms] [WARNING] cdn.tailwindcss.com should not be used in production. To use Tailwind CSS in production, install it as a PostCSS plugin or use the Tailwind CLI: https://tailwindcss.com/docs/installation @ https://cdn.tailwindcss.com/:63
+[     992ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/api/health:0
+[    1002ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/favicon.ico:0
+[   18428ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/api/projects:0
+[   30877ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/api/health:0
+[   60860ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/api/health:0
+[   73266ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/api/state:0
+[   73266ms] [ERROR] [state-fetch] Failed to fetch state: Failed to fetch @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/components/Toast.js:96

.playwright-mcp/console-2026-02-26T22-13-25-232Z.log

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[     115ms] [WARNING] cdn.tailwindcss.com should not be used in production. To use Tailwind CSS in production, install it as a PostCSS plugin or use the Tailwind CLI: https://tailwindcss.com/docs/installation @ https://cdn.tailwindcss.com/:63
+[     619ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/favicon.ico:0

.playwright-mcp/console-2026-02-26T22-14-13-796Z.log

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[     176ms] [WARNING] cdn.tailwindcss.com should not be used in production. To use Tailwind CSS in production, install it as a PostCSS plugin or use the Tailwind CLI: https://tailwindcss.com/docs/installation @ https://cdn.tailwindcss.com/:63
+[     928ms] [ERROR] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found) @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/favicon.ico:0
+[   10844ms] [ERROR] [state-fetch] Failed to fetch state: Request timed out @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/components/Toast.js:96

.playwright-mcp/console-2026-02-26T22-15-08-064Z.log

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[     286ms] [WARNING] cdn.tailwindcss.com should not be used in production. To use Tailwind CSS in production, install it as a PostCSS plugin or use the Tailwind CLI: https://tailwindcss.com/docs/installation @ https://cdn.tailwindcss.com/:63
+[   10607ms] [ERROR] [state-fetch] Failed to fetch state: Request timed out @ http://127.0.0.1:7400/components/Toast.js:96

dashboard/components/App.js

@@ -471,6 +471,7 @@ export function App() {
               `;
             })()}
           </div>
+          <div class="relative">
             <button
               disabled=${!zellijAvailable}
               class="rounded-lg border border-active/40 bg-active/12 px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-active transition-colors hover:bg-active/20 ${!zellijAvailable ? 'opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed' : ''}"
@@ -478,6 +479,13 @@ export function App() {
             >
               + New Agent
             </button>
+            <${SpawnModal}
+              isOpen=${spawnModalOpen}
+              onClose=${() => setSpawnModalOpen(false)}
+              onSpawn=${handleSpawnResult}
+              currentProject=${selectedProject}
+            />
+          </div>
         </div>
       </header>
 
@@ -589,12 +597,5 @@ export function App() {
     />
 
     <${ToastContainer} />
-
-    <${SpawnModal}
-      isOpen=${spawnModalOpen}
-      onClose=${() => setSpawnModalOpen(false)}
-      onSpawn=${handleSpawnResult}
-      currentProject=${selectedProject}
-    />
   `;
 }

dashboard/components/Modal.js

@@ -18,10 +18,12 @@ export function Modal({ session, conversations, onClose, onRespond, onFetchConve
       return;
     }
 
+    let stale = false;
     const agent = session.agent || 'claude';
     fetchSkills(agent)
-      .then(config => setAutocompleteConfig(config))
+      .then(config => { if (!stale) setAutocompleteConfig(config); })
-      .catch(() => setAutocompleteConfig(null));
+      .catch(() => { if (!stale) setAutocompleteConfig(null); });
+    return () => { stale = true; };
   }, [session?.agent]);
 
   // Animated close handler

dashboard/components/SessionCard.js

@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ export function SessionCard({ session, onClick, conversation, onFetchConversatio
               <span class="rounded-full border px-2.5 py-1 font-mono text-micro uppercase tracking-[0.14em] ${agent === 'codex' ? 'border-emerald-400/45 bg-emerald-500/14 text-emerald-300' : 'border-violet-400/45 bg-violet-500/14 text-violet-300'}">
                 ${agent}
               </span>
-              ${session.cwd && html`
+              ${session.project_dir && html`
                 <span class="truncate rounded-full border border-selection bg-bg/40 px-2.5 py-1 font-mono text-micro text-dim">
-                  ${session.cwd.split('/').slice(-2).join('/')}
+                  ${session.project_dir.split('/').slice(-2).join('/')}
                 </span>
               `}
             </div>

dashboard/components/SpawnModal.js

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { html, useState, useEffect, useCallback } from '../lib/preact.js';
+import { html, useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef } from '../lib/preact.js';
 import { API_PROJECTS, API_SPAWN, fetchWithTimeout } from '../utils/api.js';
 
 export function SpawnModal({ isOpen, onClose, onSpawn, currentProject }) {
@@ -12,11 +12,21 @@ export function SpawnModal({ isOpen, onClose, onSpawn, currentProject }) {
 
   const needsProjectPicker = !currentProject;
 
-  // Lock body scroll when modal is open
+  const dropdownRef = useCallback((node) => {
+    if (node) dropdownNodeRef.current = node;
+  }, []);
+  const dropdownNodeRef = useRef(null);
+
+  // Click outside dismisses dropdown
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isOpen) return;
-    document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+    const handleClickOutside = (e) => {
-    return () => { document.body.style.overflow = ''; };
+      if (dropdownNodeRef.current && !dropdownNodeRef.current.contains(e.target)) {
+        handleClose();
+      }
+    };
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', handleClickOutside);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('mousedown', handleClickOutside);
   }, [isOpen]);
 
   // Reset state on open
@@ -107,29 +117,26 @@ export function SpawnModal({ isOpen, onClose, onSpawn, currentProject }) {
 
   return html`
     <div
-      class="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center bg-[#02050d]/84 p-4 backdrop-blur-sm ${closing ? 'modal-backdrop-out' : 'modal-backdrop-in'}"
+      ref=${dropdownRef}
-      onClick=${(e) => e.target === e.currentTarget && handleClose()}
+      class="absolute right-0 top-full mt-2 z-50 glass-panel w-80 rounded-xl border border-selection/70 shadow-lg ${closing ? 'modal-panel-out' : 'modal-panel-in'}"
-    >
-      <div
-        class="glass-panel w-full max-w-md rounded-2xl ${closing ? 'modal-panel-out' : 'modal-panel-in'}"
       onClick=${(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
     >
         <!-- Header -->
-        <div class="flex items-center justify-between border-b border-selection/70 px-5 py-4">
+        <div class="flex items-center justify-between border-b border-selection/70 px-4 py-3">
-          <h2 class="font-display text-lg font-semibold text-bright">Spawn Agent</h2>
+          <h2 class="font-display text-sm font-semibold text-bright">Spawn Agent</h2>
           <button
             onClick=${handleClose}
             disabled=${loading}
-            class="flex h-7 w-7 items-center justify-center rounded-lg border border-selection/80 text-dim transition-colors hover:border-done/40 hover:bg-done/10 hover:text-bright disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50"
+            class="flex h-6 w-6 items-center justify-center rounded-lg border border-selection/80 text-dim transition-colors hover:border-done/40 hover:bg-done/10 hover:text-bright disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50"
           >
-            <svg class="h-4 w-4" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+            <svg class="h-3.5 w-3.5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
               <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
             </svg>
           </button>
         </div>
 
         <!-- Body -->
-        <div class="flex flex-col gap-4 px-5 py-4">
+        <div class="flex flex-col gap-3 px-4 py-3">
 
           ${needsProjectPicker && html`
             <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
@@ -202,7 +209,7 @@ export function SpawnModal({ isOpen, onClose, onSpawn, currentProject }) {
         </div>
 
         <!-- Footer -->
-        <div class="flex items-center justify-end gap-2 border-t border-selection/70 px-5 py-3">
+        <div class="flex items-center justify-end gap-2 border-t border-selection/70 px-4 py-2.5">
           <button
             onClick=${handleClose}
             disabled=${loading}
@@ -223,6 +230,5 @@ export function SpawnModal({ isOpen, onClose, onSpawn, currentProject }) {
           </button>
         </div>
     </div>
-    </div>
   `;
 }

dashboard/utils/api.js

@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ export async function fetchWithTimeout(url, options = {}, timeoutMs = API_TIMEOU
 export async function fetchSkills(agent) {
   const url = `${API_SKILLS}?agent=${encodeURIComponent(agent)}`;
   try {
-    const response = await fetch(url);
+    const response = await fetchWithTimeout(url);
     if (!response.ok) return null;
-    return response.json();
+    return await response.json();
   } catch {
-    // Network error or other failure - graceful degradation
+    // Network error, timeout, or JSON parse failure - graceful degradation
     return null;
   }
 }

tests/test_control.py

@@ -325,8 +325,8 @@ class TestDismissSession(unittest.TestCase):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
             sessions_dir = Path(tmpdir)
             sessions_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
-            # Create a file that should NOT be deleted
+            # Create a file that should NOT be deleted (unused - documents test intent)
-            secret_file = Path(tmpdir).parent / "secret.json"
+            _secret_file = Path(tmpdir).parent / "secret.json"
 
             handler = DummyControlHandler()
             with patch.object(control, "SESSIONS_DIR", sessions_dir):

tests/test_conversation.py

@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ import json
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 from pathlib import Path
-from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
+from unittest.mock import patch
-import io
 
 from amc_server.mixins.conversation import ConversationMixin
 from amc_server.mixins.parsing import SessionParsingMixin
@@ -72,8 +71,8 @@ class TestServeEvents(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_path_traversal_sanitized(self):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
             events_dir = Path(tmpdir)
-            # Create a file that path traversal might try to access
+            # Create a file that path traversal might try to access (unused - documents intent)
-            secret_file = Path(tmpdir).parent / "secret.jsonl"
+            _secret_file = Path(tmpdir).parent / "secret.jsonl"
 
             with patch("amc_server.mixins.conversation.EVENTS_DIR", events_dir):
                 # Try path traversal

tests/test_hook.py

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ Edge cases are prioritized over happy paths.
 
 import json
 import os
-import sys
 import tempfile
 import types
 import unittest
@@ -193,7 +192,7 @@ class TestAtomicWrite(unittest.TestCase):
             path.write_text('{"original": "data"}')
 
             # Mock os.replace to fail after the temp file is written
-            original_replace = os.replace
+            _original_replace = os.replace  # noqa: F841 - documents test setup
             def failing_replace(src, dst):
                 raise PermissionError("Simulated failure")
 

tests/test_http.py

@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ class TestServeDashboardFile(unittest.TestCase):
         handler._json_error = capture_error
 
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
-            # Create a file outside the dashboard dir that shouldn't be accessible
+            # Create a file outside the dashboard dir that shouldn't be accessible (unused - documents intent)
-            secret = Path(tmpdir).parent / "secret.txt"
+            _secret = Path(tmpdir).parent / "secret.txt"
 
             with patch("amc_server.mixins.http.DASHBOARD_DIR", Path(tmpdir)):
                 handler._serve_dashboard_file("../secret.txt")

tests/test_parsing.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import json
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 from pathlib import Path
-from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from amc_server.mixins.parsing import SessionParsingMixin
 

tests/test_spawn.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 import amc_server.mixins.spawn as spawn_mod
-from amc_server.mixins.spawn import SpawnMixin, load_projects_cache, _projects_cache, _sanitize_pane_name
+from amc_server.mixins.spawn import SpawnMixin, load_projects_cache, _sanitize_pane_name
 
 
 class DummySpawnHandler(SpawnMixin):
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ class TestRateLimiting(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_rapid_spawn_same_project_rejected(self):
         """Spawning the same project within cooldown returns 429."""
-        from amc_server.context import _spawn_timestamps, SPAWN_COOLDOWN_SEC
+        from amc_server.context import _spawn_timestamps
         _spawn_timestamps.clear()
         # Pretend we just spawned this project
         _spawn_timestamps['rapid-project'] = time.monotonic()

tests/test_state.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import tempfile
 import time
 import unittest
 from pathlib import Path
-from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import amc_server.mixins.state as state_mod
 from amc_server.mixins.state import StateMixin

tests/test_zellij_metadata.py

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import tempfile
 import types
 import unittest
 from pathlib import Path
-from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch, call
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Import hook module (no .py extension)
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ amc_hook.__file__ = str(hook_path)
 code = compile(hook_path.read_text(), hook_path, "exec")
 exec(code, amc_hook.__dict__)  # noqa: S102 - loading local module
 
-# Import spawn mixin
+# Import spawn mixin (after hook loading - intentional)
-import amc_server.mixins.spawn as spawn_mod
+import amc_server.mixins.spawn as spawn_mod  # noqa: E402
 
 
 # ===========================================================================