refactor(cli): adopt flex-width rendering, remove data-layer truncation

Replace hardcoded truncation widths across CLI commands with
render::flex_width() calls that adapt to terminal size. Remove
server-side truncate_to_chars() in timeline collect/seed stages so
full text is preserved through the pipeline — truncation now happens
only at the presentation layer where terminal width is known.

Affected commands: explain, file-history, list (issues/mrs/notes),
me, timeline, who (active/expert/workload).

src/cli/commands/explain.rs

@@ -378,17 +378,10 @@ fn get_mr_assignees(conn: &Connection, mr_id: i64) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
 // Description excerpt helper
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-fn truncate_description(desc: Option<&str>, max_len: usize) -> String {
+fn truncate_description(desc: Option<&str>) -> String {
     match desc {
         None | Some("") => "(no description)".to_string(),
-        Some(s) => {
+        Some(s) => s.to_string(),
-            if s.len() <= max_len {
-                s.to_string()
-            } else {
-                let boundary = s.floor_char_boundary(max_len);
-                format!("{}...", &s[..boundary])
-            }
-        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -413,7 +406,7 @@ pub fn run_explain(conn: &Connection, params: &ExplainParams) -> Result<ExplainR
         };
 
     let description_excerpt = if should_include(&params.sections, "description") {
-        Some(truncate_description(description.as_deref(), 500))
+        Some(truncate_description(description.as_deref()))
     } else {
         None
     };
@@ -537,8 +530,10 @@ const DECISION_WINDOW_MS: i64 = 60 * 60 * 1000;
 
 /// Maximum length (in bytes, snapped to a char boundary) for the
 /// `context_note` field in a `KeyDecision`.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 const NOTE_TRUNCATE_LEN: usize = 500;
 
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 fn truncate_note(text: &str, max_len: usize) -> String {
     if text.len() <= max_len {
         text.to_string()
@@ -682,7 +677,7 @@ pub fn extract_key_decisions(
                 timestamp: ms_to_iso(event.created_at),
                 actor: event.actor.clone(),
                 action: event.description.clone(),
-                context_note: truncate_note(&note.body, NOTE_TRUNCATE_LEN),
+                context_note: note.body.clone(),
             });
         }
     }
@@ -1257,7 +1252,7 @@ pub fn print_explain(result: &ExplainResult) {
                 Theme::dim().render(&to_relative(&t.last_note_at))
             );
             if let Some(ref excerpt) = t.first_note_excerpt {
-                let preview = render::truncate(excerpt, 100);
+                let preview = render::truncate(excerpt, render::flex_width(8, 30));
                 // Show first line only in human output
                 if let Some(line) = preview.lines().next() {
                     println!("      {}", Theme::muted().render(line));
@@ -1283,7 +1278,7 @@ pub fn print_explain(result: &ExplainResult) {
                 "    {} {} — {} {}",
                 Icons::success(),
                 Theme::mr_ref().render(&format!("!{}", mr.iid)),
-                render::truncate(&mr.title, 60),
+                render::truncate(&mr.title, render::flex_width(25, 20)),
                 mr_state.render(&format!("[{}]", mr.state))
             );
         }
@@ -1305,7 +1300,7 @@ pub fn print_explain(result: &ExplainResult) {
             println!(
                 "    {arrow} {} {}{state_str} ({})",
                 ref_style.render(&format!("{ref_prefix}{}", ri.iid)),
-                render::truncate(ri.title.as_deref().unwrap_or("(untitled)"), 50),
+                render::truncate(ri.title.as_deref().unwrap_or("(untitled)"), render::flex_width(30, 20)),
                 Theme::dim().render(&ri.reference_type)
             );
         }
@@ -1596,14 +1591,13 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn test_truncate_description() {
-        assert_eq!(truncate_description(None, 500), "(no description)");
+        assert_eq!(truncate_description(None), "(no description)");
-        assert_eq!(truncate_description(Some(""), 500), "(no description)");
+        assert_eq!(truncate_description(Some("")), "(no description)");
-        assert_eq!(truncate_description(Some("short"), 500), "short");
+        assert_eq!(truncate_description(Some("short")), "short");
 
         let long = "a".repeat(600);
-        let truncated = truncate_description(Some(&long), 500);
+        let result = truncate_description(Some(&long));
-        assert!(truncated.ends_with("..."));
+        assert_eq!(result, long); // no truncation — full description preserved
-        assert!(truncated.len() <= 504); // 500 + "..."
     }
 
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------

src/cli/commands/file_history.rs

@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ pub fn print_file_history(result: &FileHistoryResult) {
             "  {} {}  {}  {}  @{}  {}  {}",
             icon,
             Theme::accent().render(&format!("!{}", mr.iid)),
-            render::truncate(&mr.title, 50),
+            render::truncate(&mr.title, render::flex_width(45, 20)),
             state_style.render(&mr.state),
             mr.author_username,
             date,

src/cli/commands/list/issues.rs

@@ -359,10 +359,10 @@ pub fn print_list_issues(result: &ListResult) {
     }
     headers.extend(["Assignee", "Labels", "Disc", "Updated"]);
 
-    let mut table = LoreTable::new().headers(&headers).align(0, Align::Right);
+    let mut table = LoreTable::new().headers(&headers).align(0, Align::Right).flex_col(1);
 
     for issue in &result.issues {
-        let title = render::truncate(&issue.title, 45);
+        let title = issue.title.clone();
         let relative_time = render::format_relative_time_compact(issue.updated_at);
         let labels = render::format_labels_bare(&issue.labels, 2);
         let assignee = format_assignees(&issue.assignees);

src/cli/commands/list/mrs.rs

@@ -329,17 +329,18 @@ pub fn print_list_mrs(result: &MrListResult) {
         .headers(&[
             "IID", "Title", "State", "Author", "Branches", "Disc", "Updated",
         ])
-        .align(0, Align::Right);
+        .align(0, Align::Right)
+        .flex_col(1);
 
     for mr in &result.mrs {
         let title = if mr.draft {
-            format!("{} {}", Icons::mr_draft(), render::truncate(&mr.title, 42))
+            format!("{} {}", Icons::mr_draft(), mr.title)
         } else {
-            render::truncate(&mr.title, 45)
+            mr.title.clone()
         };
 
         let relative_time = render::format_relative_time_compact(mr.updated_at);
-        let branches = format_branches(&mr.target_branch, &mr.source_branch, 25);
+        let branches = format_branches(&mr.target_branch, &mr.source_branch);
         let discussions = format_discussions(mr.discussion_count, mr.unresolved_count);
 
         let (icon, style) = match mr.state.as_str() {
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ pub fn print_list_mrs(result: &MrListResult) {
             StyledCell::plain(title),
             state_cell,
             StyledCell::styled(
-                format!("@{}", render::truncate(&mr.author_username, 12)),
+                format!("@{}", mr.author_username),
                 Theme::accent(),
             ),
             StyledCell::styled(branches, Theme::info()),

src/cli/commands/list/notes.rs

@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@ use crate::core::path_resolver::escape_like as note_escape_like;
 use crate::core::project::resolve_project;
 use crate::core::time::{iso_to_ms, ms_to_iso, parse_since};
 
-use super::render_helpers::{
+use super::render_helpers::{format_note_parent, format_note_path, format_note_type};
-    format_note_parent, format_note_path, format_note_type, truncate_body,
-};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
 pub struct NoteListRow {
@@ -161,13 +159,14 @@ pub fn print_list_notes(result: &NoteListResult) {
             "Parent",
             "Created",
         ])
-        .align(0, Align::Right);
+        .align(0, Align::Right)
+        .flex_col(3);
 
     for note in &result.notes {
         let body = note
             .body
             .as_deref()
-            .map(|b| truncate_body(b, 60))
+            .map(std::borrow::ToOwned::to_owned)
             .unwrap_or_default();
         let path = format_note_path(note.position_new_path.as_deref(), note.position_new_line);
         let parent = format_note_parent(note.noteable_type.as_deref(), note.parent_iid);
@@ -177,7 +176,7 @@ pub fn print_list_notes(result: &NoteListResult) {
         table.add_row(vec![
             StyledCell::styled(note.gitlab_id.to_string(), Theme::info()),
             StyledCell::styled(
-                format!("@{}", render::truncate(&note.author_username, 12)),
+                format!("@{}", note.author_username),
                 Theme::accent(),
             ),
             StyledCell::plain(note_type),

src/cli/commands/list/render_helpers.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::cli::render::{self, StyledCell, Theme};
+use crate::cli::render::{StyledCell, Theme};
 
 pub(crate) fn format_assignees(assignees: &[String]) -> String {
     if assignees.is_empty() {
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ pub(crate) fn format_assignees(assignees: &[String]) -> String {
     let shown: Vec<String> = assignees
         .iter()
         .take(max_shown)
-        .map(|s| format!("@{}", render::truncate(s, 10)))
+        .map(|s| format!("@{s}"))
         .collect();
     let overflow = assignees.len().saturating_sub(max_shown);
 
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ pub(crate) fn format_discussions(total: i64, unresolved: i64) -> StyledCell {
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn format_branches(target: &str, source: &str, max_width: usize) -> String {
+pub(crate) fn format_branches(target: &str, source: &str) -> String {
-    let full = format!("{} <- {}", target, source);
+    format!("{} <- {}", target, source)
-    render::truncate(&full, max_width)
 }
 
+#[cfg(test)]
 pub(crate) fn truncate_body(body: &str, max_len: usize) -> String {
     if body.chars().count() <= max_len {
         body.to_string()

src/cli/commands/me/render_human.rs

@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ use super::types::{
 /// Compute the title/summary column width for a section given its fixed overhead.
 /// Returns a width clamped to [20, 80].
 fn title_width(overhead: usize) -> usize {
-    render::terminal_width()
+    render::flex_width(overhead, 20)
-        .saturating_sub(overhead)
-        .clamp(20, 80)
 }
 
 // ─── Glyph Mode Helper ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -416,13 +414,12 @@ pub fn print_activity_section(events: &[MeActivityEvent], single_project: bool)
 
     // Columns: badge | ref | summary | actor | time
     // Table handles alignment, padding, and truncation automatically.
-    let summary_max = title_width(46);
     let mut table = Table::new()
         .columns(5)
         .indent(4)
         .align(1, Align::Right)
         .align(4, Align::Right)
-        .max_width(2, summary_max);
+        .flex_col(2);
 
     for event in events {
         let badge_label = activity_badge_label(&event.event_type);
@@ -508,7 +505,7 @@ pub fn print_activity_section(events: &[MeActivityEvent], single_project: bool)
         if let Some(preview) = &event.body_preview
             && !preview.is_empty()
         {
-            let truncated = render::truncate(preview, 60);
+            let truncated = render::truncate(preview, render::flex_width(8, 30));
             println!("      {}", Theme::dim().render(&format!("\"{truncated}\"")));
         }
     }
@@ -576,12 +573,11 @@ pub fn print_since_last_check_section(since: &SinceLastCheck, single_project: bo
         }
 
         // Sub-events as indented rows
-        let summary_max = title_width(42);
         let mut table = Table::new()
             .columns(3)
             .indent(6)
             .align(2, Align::Right)
-            .max_width(1, summary_max);
+            .flex_col(1);
 
         for event in &group.events {
             let badge = activity_badge_label(&event.event_type);
@@ -610,7 +606,7 @@ pub fn print_since_last_check_section(since: &SinceLastCheck, single_project: bo
             if let Some(preview) = &event.body_preview
                 && !preview.is_empty()
             {
-                let truncated = render::truncate(preview, 60);
+                let truncated = render::truncate(preview, render::flex_width(10, 30));
                 println!(
                     "        {}",
                     Theme::dim().render(&format!("\"{truncated}\""))

src/cli/commands/timeline.rs

@@ -235,8 +235,9 @@ fn print_timeline_event(event: &TimelineEvent) {
         .unwrap_or_default();
     let expanded_marker = if event.is_seed { "" } else { " [expanded]" };
 
-    let summary = render::truncate(&event.summary, 50);
+    let summary_width = render::flex_width(40, 20);
-    println!("{date}  {tag}  {entity_icon}{entity_ref:7}  {summary:50}  {actor}{expanded_marker}");
+    let summary = render::truncate(&event.summary, summary_width);
+    println!("{date}  {tag}  {entity_icon}{entity_ref:7}  {summary}  {actor}{expanded_marker}");
 
     // Show snippet for evidence notes
     if let TimelineEventType::NoteEvidence { snippet, .. } = &event.event_type

src/cli/commands/who/active.rs

@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ pub(super) fn print_active_human(r: &ActiveResult, project_path: Option<&str>) {
         println!(
             "  {} {} {}  {} notes  {}",
             Theme::info().render(&format!("{prefix}{}", disc.entity_iid)),
-            render::truncate(&disc.entity_title, 40),
+            render::truncate(&disc.entity_title, render::flex_width(30, 20)),
             Theme::dim().render(&render::format_relative_time(disc.last_note_at)),
             disc.note_count,
             Theme::dim().render(&disc.project_path),

src/cli/commands/who/expert.rs

@@ -769,11 +769,12 @@ pub(super) fn print_expert_human(r: &ExpertResult, project_path: Option<&str>) {
                 } else {
                     String::new()
                 };
+                let title_budget = render::flex_width(55, 20);
                 println!(
-                    "     {:<3} {:<30} {:>30}  {:>10}  {}",
+                    "     {:<3} {}  {}  {:>10}  {}",
                     Theme::dim().render(&d.role),
                     d.mr_ref,
-                    render::truncate(&format!("\"{}\"", d.title), 30),
+                    render::truncate(&format!("\"{}\"", d.title), title_budget),
                     notes_str,
                     Theme::dim().render(&render::format_relative_time(d.last_activity_ms)),
                 );

src/cli/commands/who/workload.rs

@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ pub(super) fn print_workload_human(r: &WorkloadResult) {
             println!(
                 "    {} {}  {}",
                 Theme::info().render(&item.ref_),
-                render::truncate(&item.title, 40),
+                render::truncate(&item.title, render::flex_width(25, 20)),
                 Theme::dim().render(&render::format_relative_time(item.updated_at)),
             );
         }
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ pub(super) fn print_workload_human(r: &WorkloadResult) {
             println!(
                 "    {} {}{}  {}",
                 Theme::info().render(&mr.ref_),
-                render::truncate(&mr.title, 35),
+                render::truncate(&mr.title, render::flex_width(33, 20)),
                 Theme::dim().render(draft),
                 Theme::dim().render(&render::format_relative_time(mr.updated_at)),
             );
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ pub(super) fn print_workload_human(r: &WorkloadResult) {
             println!(
                 "    {} {}{}  {}",
                 Theme::info().render(&mr.ref_),
-                render::truncate(&mr.title, 30),
+                render::truncate(&mr.title, render::flex_width(40, 20)),
                 Theme::dim().render(&author),
                 Theme::dim().render(&render::format_relative_time(mr.updated_at)),
             );
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ pub(super) fn print_workload_human(r: &WorkloadResult) {
                 "    {} {} {}  {}",
                 Theme::dim().render(&disc.entity_type),
                 Theme::info().render(&disc.ref_),
-                render::truncate(&disc.entity_title, 35),
+                render::truncate(&disc.entity_title, render::flex_width(30, 20)),
                 Theme::dim().render(&render::format_relative_time(disc.last_note_at)),
             );
         }

src/timeline/collect.rs

@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ use rusqlite::Connection;
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 
 use super::types::{
-    EntityRef, ExpandedEntityRef, MatchedDiscussion, THREAD_MAX_NOTES, THREAD_NOTE_MAX_CHARS,
+    EntityRef, ExpandedEntityRef, MatchedDiscussion, THREAD_MAX_NOTES, ThreadNote, TimelineEvent,
-    ThreadNote, TimelineEvent, TimelineEventType, truncate_to_chars,
+    TimelineEventType,
 };
 use crate::core::error::{LoreError, Result};
 
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ fn collect_discussion_threads(
         let mut notes = Vec::new();
         for row_result in rows {
             let (note_id, author, body, created_at) = row_result?;
-            let body = truncate_to_chars(body.as_deref().unwrap_or(""), THREAD_NOTE_MAX_CHARS);
+            let body = body.as_deref().unwrap_or("").to_owned();
             notes.push(ThreadNote {
                 note_id,
                 author,

src/timeline/seed.rs

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use tracing::debug;
 
 use super::types::{
     EntityRef, MatchedDiscussion, TimelineEvent, TimelineEventType, resolve_entity_by_iid,
-    resolve_entity_ref, truncate_to_chars,
+    resolve_entity_ref,
 };
 use crate::core::error::Result;
 use crate::embedding::ollama::OllamaClient;
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ fn find_evidence_notes(
             proj_id,
         ) = row_result?;
 
-        let snippet = truncate_to_chars(body.as_deref().unwrap_or(""), 200);
+        let snippet = body.as_deref().unwrap_or("").to_owned();
 
         let entity_ref = resolve_entity_ref(conn, &parent_type, parent_entity_id, Some(proj_id))?;
         let (iid, project_path) = match entity_ref {

src/timeline/timeline_collect_tests.rs

@@ -553,9 +553,10 @@ fn test_collect_discussion_thread_body_truncation() {
         .unwrap();
 
     if let TimelineEventType::DiscussionThread { notes, .. } = &thread.event_type {
-        assert!(
+        assert_eq!(
-            notes[0].body.chars().count() <= crate::timeline::THREAD_NOTE_MAX_CHARS,
+            notes[0].body.chars().count(),
-            "Body should be truncated to THREAD_NOTE_MAX_CHARS"
+            10_000,
+            "Body should preserve full text without truncation"
         );
     } else {
         panic!("Expected DiscussionThread");

src/timeline/timeline_seed_tests.rs

@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ fn test_seed_evidence_snippet_truncated() {
         if let TimelineEventType::NoteEvidence { snippet, .. } =
             &result.evidence_notes[0].event_type
         {
-            assert!(snippet.chars().count() <= 200);
+            assert_eq!(snippet.chars().count(), 500, "snippet should preserve full body text");
         } else {
             panic!("Expected NoteEvidence");
         }