From 72574baa4becfc1bfe1bbf5708c0167a339a800e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: operator-main <operator-main@frontdoor.local>
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2026 03:46:47 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Replace Ctrl+J with click-based chat activation\n\n- New
 _ensure_chat_active(): compose -> switcher -> nav-chat priority\n-
 hatch-nav-chat click recovers from stripped /thread/new state\n- Ctrl+J
 needed keyboard focus which stripped states lack

---
 bin/muse-chat-api.py | 62 +++++++++++++++++++++++---------------------
 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+), 30 deletions(-)

diff --git a/bin/muse-chat-api.py b/bin/muse-chat-api.py
index 9f9b905..bf0d8d4 100755
--- a/bin/muse-chat-api.py
+++ b/bin/muse-chat-api.py
@@ -271,36 +271,38 @@ def cmd_sidechat_create(ws):
     """
     import time as _time
     import json as _json
-    # Navigate to main chat first for known good state.
-    # (Previous create may have left browser on /thread/new with stripped DOM.)
-    # Uses Ctrl+J via CDP (proven method from cmd_sidechat_main).
-    # Fixed 2026-10-04 per reliability test: success poisons next run.
-    ws.send(_json.dumps({
-        "id": 30, "method": "Input.dispatchKeyEvent",
-        "params": {"type": "keyDown", "key": "j", "code": "KeyJ",
-                   "ctrlKey": True, "modifiers": 2}
-    }))
-    _json.loads(ws.recv())
-    ws.send(_json.dumps({
-        "id": 31, "method": "Input.dispatchKeyEvent",
-        "params": {"type": "keyUp", "key": "j", "code": "KeyJ",
-                   "ctrlKey": True, "modifiers": 2}
-    }))
-    _json.loads(ws.recv())
-    _time.sleep(3)
-    # Now open panel via switcher (should be on main chat with panel available)
-    # Check for + button; if not present, click switcher.
-    def _has_plus():
-        return ev(ws, """(() => {
-          return !!document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]');
-        })()""")
-    
-    if not _has_plus():
-        ev(ws, """(() => {
-          const sw = document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-trigger"]');
-          if (sw) sw.click();
-        })()""")
-        _time.sleep(2)
+    import sys as _sys2
+    # Ensure chat is active via DOM clicks (replaces Ctrl+J).
+    # Ctrl+J needs keyboard focus which stripped states (/thread/new) lack.
+    # Priority: compose (fast path) -> switcher -> nav-chat (recovery).
+    # Verified 2026-10-04: hatch-nav-chat click recovers from /thread/new.
+    def _ensure_chat_active(timeout=20):
+        t0 = _time.time()
+        while _time.time() - t0 < timeout:
+            st = ev(ws, """(() => ({
+                compose: !!document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]'),
+                switcher: !!document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-trigger"]'),
+                navchat: !!document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-nav-chat"]')
+            }))()""")
+            if not isinstance(st, dict):
+                _time.sleep(1)
+                continue
+            if st.get("compose"):
+                return True
+            if st.get("switcher"):
+                ev(ws, """document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-trigger"]').click()""")
+                _time.sleep(1.5)
+                continue
+            if st.get("navchat"):
+                ev(ws, """document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-nav-chat"]').click()""")
+                _time.sleep(2)
+                continue
+            _time.sleep(1)
+        return False
+    if not _ensure_chat_active():
+        print("ERROR: Could not activate chat (no compose/switcher/nav-chat)", file=_sys2.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    print("Chat active", file=_sys2.stderr)
     # Find + button via data-testid (verified selector, SVG icon no text)
     result = ev(ws, """(() => {
       const btn = document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]');