feat(first-screen): a start that asks nothing, a composer that names Scout, a board chip that says tasks

backend/__tests__/unit/config/scoutWelcome.test.js

@@ -36,8 +36,20 @@ describe('Scout welcome locale', () => {
 
   it('keeps the start labels in English, since Scout reads them', () => {
     expect(SCOUT_STARTS.map((s) => s.label)).toEqual([
+      'Show me what you can do',
       'Connect an agent I already use',
       'Start a pod for a project',
     ]);
   });
+
+  // Staging walk 2026-11-02: a start that asks for nothing leads the sent
+  // starts, and Scout's prompt says how to answer it.
+  it('leads the sent starts with the one that asks nothing, and tells Scout how to answer it', () => {
+    expect(SCOUT_STARTS[0]).toEqual({ id: 'ask-scout', label: 'Show me what you can do' });
+    // eslint-disable-next-line global-require
+    const { scoutApp } = require('../../../config/native-agents/scout');
+    expect(scoutApp.systemPrompt).toContain('For "Show me what you can do", answer in two or three short sentences');
+    expect(scoutApp.systemPrompt).toContain('For "Connect an agent I already use", find out which tool they run');
+    expect(scoutApp.systemPrompt).toContain('For "Start a pod for a project", ask what the project is');
+  });
 });

backend/__tests__/unit/controllers/authController.guideIdentity.test.js

@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ describe('workspace onboarding guide identity fork (2026-08-13)', () => {
     expect(welcome.payload).toEqual({
       kind: 'starts',
       starts: [
+        { id: 'ask-scout', label: 'Show me what you can do' },
         { id: 'connect-agent', label: 'Connect an agent I already use' },
         { id: 'start-pod', label: 'Start a pod for a project' },
       ],

backend/config/native-agents/scout.ts

@@ -28,10 +28,17 @@ import UI_CARD_REVISION from '../uiCardCatalogueRevision.json';
  * the start a new person picked (services/onboardingMarks.ts, by id).
  */
 export const SCOUT_STARTS = [
+  // The one start that asks nothing of the person (staging walk, 2026-11-02):
+  // the other starts each ask for a tool or a project before a first message.
+  { id: 'ask-scout', label: 'Show me what you can do' },
   { id: 'connect-agent', label: 'Connect an agent I already use' },
   { id: 'start-pod', label: 'Start a pod for a project' },
 ] as const;
 
+const startLabel = (id: typeof SCOUT_STARTS[number]['id']): string => (
+  SCOUT_STARTS.find((start) => start.id === id)?.label ?? id
+);
+
 /**
  * The start that leads the welcome where the instance can host (QA walk 3,
  * 2026-10-16): nothing to install, so it goes first. Unlike SCOUT_STARTS it
@@ -97,12 +104,15 @@ export const scoutApp = {
     + 'page in between; only if that cannot run does it open Bring your own with '
     + '"Run it here" chosen. Either way it sends you nothing. The others send the start as '
     + 'the person\'s own message: '
-    + `"${SCOUT_STARTS[0].label}" and "${SCOUT_STARTS[1].label}". For `
-    + `"${SCOUT_STARTS[0].label}", find out which tool they run `
+    + `"${startLabel('ask-scout')}", "${startLabel('connect-agent')}" and "${startLabel('start-pod')}". `
+    + `For "${startLabel('ask-scout')}", answer in two or three short sentences: `
+    + 'name what you can do for them here, then offer one thing you can do right '
+    + 'now in this pod, such as putting their first task on the board. '
+    + `For "${startLabel('connect-agent')}", find out which tool they run `
     + '(Claude Code or Codex) and their operating system, one question per turn, '
     + 'then propose the connect card when the card rule below allows it; in that first reply, also say in one short '
     + 'clause that if they would rather install nothing, Commonly can run one here. '
-    + `For "${SCOUT_STARTS[1].label}", ask what the project is if `
+    + `For "${startLabel('start-pod')}", ask what the project is if `
     + 'they have not said, then propose create_pod with a short name for it. '
     + 'Set create_pod params.locale to the person\'s language (en or zh-CN). '
     + 'Once they approve it, reply with the exact one-line wording in the '

frontend/src/i18n/__tests__/scoutStartLabels.test.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import i18n, { i18nReady, LANGUAGE_STORAGE_KEY } from '..';
 // TASK-550: Scout's welcome starts are sent to Scout by their English labels
 // (backend/config/native-agents/scout.ts), so only the displayed text is
 // translated, by id. Every id the welcome can offer needs a zh-CN label.
-const START_IDS = ['connect-agent', 'start-pod', 'run-hosted'];
+const START_IDS = ['ask-scout', 'connect-agent', 'start-pod', 'run-hosted'];
 
 describe('Scout welcome start labels', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {

frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json

@@ -609,6 +609,7 @@
       "label": "Ways to start",
       "openByo": "Open Bring your own",
       "labels": {
+        "ask-scout": "Show me what you can do",
         "connect-agent": "Connect an agent I already use",
         "start-pod": "Start a pod for a project",
         "run-hosted": "Run an agent here"
@@ -716,6 +717,8 @@
       "agents_one": "{{count}} agent",
       "agents_other": "{{count}} agents",
       "boardOpen": "board {{count}} open",
+      "boardTasks_one": "{{count}} to do",
+      "boardTasks_other": "{{count}} to do",
       "backToPods": "Back to pods",
       "invite": "Invite",
       "dm": "DM",
@@ -746,6 +749,7 @@
     },
     "composer": {
       "placeholder": "Message {{podName}}…",
+      "placeholderAgent": "Tell {{agent}}: I'm working on…",
       "uploading": "Uploading…",
       "attachFile": "Attach file",
       "sending": "Sending…",

frontend/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.json

@@ -609,6 +609,7 @@
       "label": "开始方式",
       "openByo": "去接入自己的智能体",
       "labels": {
+        "ask-scout": "看看你能做什么",
         "connect-agent": "接入我在用的智能体",
         "start-pod": "新建项目 Pod",
         "run-hosted": "在这里运行智能体"
@@ -715,6 +716,7 @@
       "agents_one": "{{count}}个智能体",
       "agents_other": "{{count}}个智能体",
       "boardOpen": "看板{{count}}项待办",
+      "boardTasks_other": "{{count}}项待办",
       "backToPods": "返回 Pod 列表",
       "invite": "邀请",
       "dm": "私信",
@@ -745,6 +747,7 @@
     },
     "composer": {
       "placeholder": "发消息到 {{podName}}…",
+      "placeholderAgent": "告诉 {{agent}}：我在做…",
       "uploading": "正在上传…",
       "attachFile": "添加文件",
       "sending": "正在发送…",

frontend/src/v2/__tests__/V2ThreadPodRename.test.tsx

@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ describe('V2Thread — owner-only pod rename (TASK-419)', () => {
     expect(chips).toHaveLength(2);
     chips.forEach((chip) => {
       expect(chip).toHaveAttribute('title', 'board 2 open');
-      expect(chip).toHaveTextContent(/^2$/);
+      // The count carries its noun: a bare "2" read as an unread count (walk 11-02).
+      expect(chip).toHaveTextContent(/^2 to do$/);
       expect(chip.querySelector('svg')).toBeTruthy();
     });
     fireEvent.click(chips[0]);

frontend/src/v2/__tests__/V2ThreadStarts.test.tsx

@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ describe("V2Thread — Scout's starts", () => {
 
   test('a click sends the start as a root message, leaves the draft alone, and that start goes away', async () => {
     const sendSpy = renderThread([welcome]);
-    const composer = screen.getByPlaceholderText(/message my workspace/i);
+    const composer = screen.getByPlaceholderText(/tell scout: i'm working on/i);
     fireEvent.change(composer, { target: { value: 'half typed' } });
 
     fireEvent.click(within(startsGroup()).getByRole('button', { name: POD_START }));
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ describe("V2Thread — Scout's starts", () => {
 
   test('typing something else leaves the starts in place, so connecting stays one click away', async () => {
     const sendSpy = renderThread([welcome]);
-    fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText(/message my workspace/i), { target: { value: 'hello' } });
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText(/tell scout: i'm working on/i), { target: { value: 'hello' } });
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /send message/i }));
 
     expect(await screen.findByText('hello', { selector: '.v2-msg *' })).toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -213,6 +213,57 @@ describe("V2Thread — Scout's starts", () => {
 // message, from the moment it is sent.
 const OPEN_BYO = 'Open Bring your own';
 
+// Staging walk 2026-11-02: every start asked for a tool or a project, and the
+// composer named the pod rather than the agent who had just spoken.
+describe('V2Thread — a first message that asks nothing', () => {
+  const ASK = 'Show me what you can do';
+  const withAsk = (extra = []) => ({
+    ...welcome,
+    payload: { kind: 'starts', starts: [...extra, { id: 'ask-scout', label: ASK }, ...welcome.payload.starts] },
+  });
+
+  test('where no hosted start is offered, the ask start is the one ink key', () => {
+    renderThread([withAsk()]);
+    const primary = startsGroup().querySelectorAll('.v2-chat__start--primary');
+    expect(primary).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(primary[0]).toHaveTextContent(ASK);
+  });
+
+  test('where the hosted start is offered, it keeps the ink key and the ask start is bordered', () => {
+    renderThread([withAsk([{ id: 'run-hosted', label: 'Run an agent here', href: '/v2/agents/byo?pod=pod-1&mode=hosted', action: 'run-hosted' }])]);
+    const primary = startsGroup().querySelectorAll('.v2-chat__start--primary');
+    expect(primary).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(primary[0]).toHaveTextContent('Run an agent here');
+  });
+
+  test('one tap sends it as the person\'s own message', async () => {
+    const sendSpy = renderThread([withAsk()]);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: ASK }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(sendSpy.mock.calls[0][0]).toBe(ASK);
+  });
+
+  test('the composer names the agent who welcomed them until they send anything', () => {
+    renderThread([withAsk()]);
+    expect(screen.getByPlaceholderText("Tell scout: I'm working on…")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  test('after their first message the composer names the pod again', () => {
+    renderThread([withAsk(), message('mine', 'u1', 'maya', 'hello', 3)]);
+    expect(screen.getByPlaceholderText('Message My Workspace…')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  test('an older welcome without the ask start still gets the agent composer', () => {
+    renderThread([welcome]);
+    expect(screen.getByPlaceholderText("Tell scout: I'm working on…")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  test("in a pod the viewer didn't create, the composer names the pod", () => {
+    renderThread([withAsk()], jest.fn(), { pod: { ...OWN_POD, createdBy: 'someone-else' } });
+    expect(screen.getByPlaceholderText('Message My Workspace…')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
+
 describe('V2Thread — the connect start links Bring your own', () => {
   test("clicking the connect start shows the link under the person's message at once", async () => {
     const send = renderThread([welcome]);
@@ -440,7 +491,7 @@ describe('Scout starts and the composer after a hosted agent goes live', () => {
         </MemoryRouter>
       </AuthContext.Provider>,
     );
-    const composer = await screen.findByPlaceholderText(/message my workspace/i);
+    const composer = await screen.findByPlaceholderText(/tell scout: i'm working on/i);
     await waitFor(() => expect(composer).toHaveValue('@maya-agent '));
   });
 
@@ -452,7 +503,7 @@ describe('Scout starts and the composer after a hosted agent goes live', () => {
         </MemoryRouter>
       </AuthContext.Provider>,
     );
-    const composer = await screen.findByPlaceholderText(/message my workspace/i);
+    const composer = await screen.findByPlaceholderText(/tell scout: i'm working on/i);
     await waitFor(() => expect(composer).toHaveValue('@maya-agent '));
   });
 });

frontend/src/v2/__tests__/v2-layout-invariants.test.ts

@@ -3259,7 +3259,9 @@ describe('v2 layout invariants (CSS rule presence)', () => {
       // row under Scout's message, in the slot the delivery cue and the
       // no-agent row share, so they land on the message text column too.
       expect(threadMessages).toContain('className="v2-chat__starts"');
-      expect(threadMessages).toContain('v2-chat__start${start.action === WELCOME_HOSTED_ACTION ? \' v2-chat__start--primary\' : \'\'}');
+      expect(threadMessages).toContain('v2-chat__start${primary ? \' v2-chat__start--primary\' : \'\'}');
+      // One ink key: the hosted start where offered, otherwise the start that asks nothing (walk 11-02).
+      expect(threadMessages).toMatch(/const primary = start\.action === WELCOME_HOSTED_ACTION\s*\|\| \(start\.id === ASK_START_ID && !starts\.some/);
       // The 44px phone minimum must come AFTER the 32px base in the sheet: at
       // equal specificity the later rule wins, and a base rule placed after
       // the media block would silently render 32 on a phone.

frontend/src/v2/components/V2Composer.tsx

@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ export interface V2ComposerWarning {
 
 interface V2ComposerProps {
   podName: string;
+  /** Replaces "Message <pod>" when nothing is being replied to. */
+  placeholder?: string;
   authorName: string;
   draft: string;
   sending: boolean;
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ const FILE_ACCEPT = 'image/*,.pdf,.md,.txt,.csv,.json,.doc,.docx,.xls,.xlsx,.ppt
 /** The one bounded input surface for a workspace thread (direction C). */
 const V2Composer: React.FC<V2ComposerProps> = ({
   podName,
+  placeholder,
   authorName,
   draft,
   sending,
@@ -171,7 +174,7 @@ const V2Composer: React.FC<V2ComposerProps> = ({
         <div className="v2-composer__field">
           <textarea
             ref={inputRef}
-            placeholder={threadTarget ? t('podChat.thread.replyInThread') : replyTarget ? t('podChat.composer.replyPlaceholder', { author: replyTarget.user?.username || t('podChat.messageFallback') }) : t('podChat.composer.placeholder', { podName })}
+            placeholder={threadTarget ? t('podChat.thread.replyInThread') : replyTarget ? t('podChat.composer.replyPlaceholder', { author: replyTarget.user?.username || t('podChat.messageFallback') }) : placeholder || t('podChat.composer.placeholder', { podName })}
             value={draft}
             rows={1}
             onChange={(event) => onDraftChange(event.target.value, event.target.selectionStart)}

frontend/src/v2/components/V2Thread.tsx

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import V2Hint from './V2Hint';
 import V2CatchUpStrip from './V2CatchUpStrip';
 import V2Composer from './V2Composer';
 import { type V2DecisionCardData, type V2DecisionRuling } from './V2DecisionCard';
-import V2ThreadMessages, { V2ThreadHistoryStatus } from './V2ThreadMessages';
+import V2ThreadMessages, { ASK_START_ID, V2ThreadHistoryStatus } from './V2ThreadMessages';
 import { landOnMessage } from './V2MessageRow';
 import V2ThreadStarter from './V2ThreadStarter';
 import V2BringTeammate from './V2BringTeammate';
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import {
   slugifyAgentHandle,
 } from '../utils/threadAgentIdentity';
 
-// The connect start's label, as SCOUT_STARTS[0] sends it
+// The connect start's label, as SCOUT_STARTS sends it (id connect-agent)
 // (backend/config/native-agents/scout.ts). A click posts exactly this text.
 const CONNECT_START_LABEL = 'Connect an agent I already use';
 // How long a smooth follow may run before its scroll events count as the reader's.
@@ -1328,6 +1328,18 @@ const V2Thread: React.FC<V2ThreadProps> = ({ detail, firstRunVisible = false, in
     }
     return map;
   }, [agents]);
+  // Staging walk 2026-11-02: until the pod's creator sends anything after
+  // Scout's welcome, the composer names the agent who just spoke, with an
+  // example, instead of the pod. Older welcomes carry no ask start, so the
+  // connect start identifies them too.
+  const welcomeAgentName = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!viewerOwnsPod || !viewerId) return null;
+    const index = messages.findIndex((message) => message.payload?.kind === 'starts'
+      && message.payload.starts?.some((start) => start.id === ASK_START_ID || start.id === 'connect-agent'));
+    if (index < 0 || messages.slice(index + 1).some((later) => later.user_id === viewerId)) return null;
+    const raw = messages[index].user?.username || '';
+    return agentDisplayNames.get(raw) || agentDisplayNames.get(raw.toLowerCase()) || raw || null;
+  }, [agentDisplayNames, messages, viewerId, viewerOwnsPod]);
 
   // username/displayName → agent key (instanceId or agentName) so a click on
   // a chat author byline can drive the inspector to the right member sub-page.
@@ -1900,7 +1912,8 @@ const V2Thread: React.FC<V2ThreadProps> = ({ detail, firstRunVisible = false, in
       title={boardLabel}
     >
       <ShellGlyph name="board" size={13} />
-      <span>{headerMeta.boardOpen}</span>
+      {/* The count carries its noun: a bare "3" read as an unread count (walk 11-02). */}
+      <span>{headerMeta.boardOpen !== null ? t('podChat.header.boardTasks', { count: headerMeta.boardOpen }) : null}</span>
     </button>
   );
   // A 1:1 room is a pod without the pod furniture (d215 frame): no board
@@ -2332,6 +2345,7 @@ const V2Thread: React.FC<V2ThreadProps> = ({ detail, firstRunVisible = false, in
               )}
               <V2Composer
                 podName={pod.name}
+                placeholder={welcomeAgentName ? t('podChat.composer.placeholderAgent', { agent: welcomeAgentName }) : undefined}
                 authorName={currentUser?.username || t('common.you')}
                 draft={draft}
                 sending={sending}

frontend/src/v2/components/V2ThreadMessages.tsx

@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ import { formatRelativeTime } from '../utils/grouping';
 import { V2DecisionCardData, V2DecisionRuling } from './V2DecisionCard';
 import V2Fold from './V2Fold';
 
+// Scout's start that asks nothing of the person (id in SCOUT_STARTS,
+// backend/config/native-agents/scout.ts). It sends itself as their first message.
+export const ASK_START_ID = 'ask-scout';
+
 // Expanded threads show the newest eight; a `N more replies` line reveals the rest.
 const MAX_EXPANDED_REPLIES = 8;
 // A transcript load shorter than this never shows a spinner.
@@ -341,15 +345,19 @@ const V2ThreadMessages: React.FC<V2ThreadMessagesProps> = ({
               />
               {onStart && (startsByMessageId?.get(String(message.id))?.length ?? 0) > 0 && (
                 <div className="v2-chat__starts" role="group" aria-label={t('podChat.starts.label')}>
-                  {startsByMessageId?.get(String(message.id))?.map((start) => {
+                  {startsByMessageId?.get(String(message.id))?.map((start, _index, starts) => {
+                    // One ink key per welcome: the hosted start where it is
+                    // offered, otherwise the start that asks nothing of you.
+                    const primary = start.action === WELCOME_HOSTED_ACTION
+                      || (start.id === ASK_START_ID && !starts.some((other) => other.action === WELCOME_HOSTED_ACTION));
                     const hostedHere = start.action === WELCOME_HOSTED_ACTION
                       && hostedStart?.messageId === String(message.id) ? hostedStart : null;
                     const starting = hostedHere?.status === 'starting';
                     return (
                       <React.Fragment key={start.id}>
                         <button
                           type="button"
-                          className={`v2-chat__start${start.action === WELCOME_HOSTED_ACTION ? ' v2-chat__start--primary' : ''}`}
+                          className={`v2-chat__start${primary ? ' v2-chat__start--primary' : ''}`}
                           disabled={startsDisabled || starting}
                           aria-busy={starting || undefined}
                           onClick={() => onStart(start, String(message.id))}