feat: capture_work — braindump → decomposed issues → filed in gitea (P4)

The last big agent capability. In the Capture screen, a rough braindump runs real
big-model decomposition into a small, estimated issue set; you review/edit the
labels and approve, and the issues are opened in gitea. This is the one place the
big model earns its keep (docs/agent-tools.md).

core (@commitea/core):
- capture-work: PROPOSE_ISSUES_TOOL + CAPTURE_SYSTEM; captureWork(complete, dump)
  forces a single structured decomposition and returns validated issues; parseCaptureArgs
  drops blank titles + invalid est/p labels. ProposedIssue / CaptureProposal.
- gitea client: createIssue({title, body?, labelIds?}) → POST /issues, normalized.

app:
- model bridge model:capture runs captureWork on the (loaded) big model.
- gitea bridge gitea:createIssues opens each approved issue with its est/* + p/*
  labels (reusing the #41 label-id resolver — zero-pollution, no invented labels).
- Capture screen: when a model is configured, "Brew tickets" runs real capture and
  "Approve all" files the set; otherwise the scripted demo interview runs. Fixed a
  race — the brew handler re-checks model status at click time so a configured
  model never falls into the scripted path before status resolves.

Verified: 108 core tests green (7 capture + createIssue added), desktop typecheck
clean, 14 fixture e2e green. Gated live e2e against gemma-4-26b: the auth braindump
→ 3 real tickets ("Resolve token refresh + session staleness" est/3d p/1, "Fix
webhook double-firing" est/2d p/2, "Write auth setup docs" est/1d p/3), reviewable
and editable; Discard so the test files nothing (createIssue POST is unit-tested).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

apps/desktop/e2e/live-capture.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import { dirname, join } from 'node:path'
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
+
+import { _electron as electron, expect, test } from '@playwright/test'
+
+const here = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url))
+const MAIN = join(here, '..', 'out', 'main', 'index.js')
+
+// Opt-in (GITEA_LIVE=1 + COMMITEA_MODEL_LIVE=1 + a local model on :1234). Launches
+// WITHOUT COMMITEA_E2E so capture_work runs the real decomposition. It Discards at
+// the end so the run never files junk issues (the create-issue POST is unit-tested).
+test.describe('live capture_work', () => {
+  test('decomposes a braindump into a reviewable ticket set', async () => {
+    test.skip(!process.env.GITEA_LIVE || !process.env.COMMITEA_MODEL_LIVE, 'live model test — opt-in')
+    test.setTimeout(300_000)
+    const app = await electron.launch({ args: [MAIN], env: { ...process.env } })
+    const win = await app.firstWindow()
+    await win.waitForLoadState('domcontentloaded')
+    const rail = win.getByRole('navigation', { name: 'Primary' })
+
+    await rail.getByRole('button', { name: 'Capture' }).click()
+    await expect(win.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Capture' })).toBeVisible()
+    // the braindump is prefilled; run the real decomposition
+    await win.getByRole('button', { name: 'Brew tickets' }).click()
+
+    // capture_work → the review tray with a real, estimated ticket set
+    await expect(win.getByText(/tickets · ~\d+d of work/)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 240_000 })
+    await expect(win.getByRole('button', { name: 'Approve all' })).toBeVisible()
+    await win.screenshot({ path: join(here, '.artifacts', 'screens', 'live-capture.png'), fullPage: true, animations: 'disabled' })
+
+    // Discard — never file junk issues into the real repo from a test
+    await win.getByRole('button', { name: 'Discard' }).click()
+    await expect(win.getByRole('button', { name: 'Brew tickets' })).toBeVisible()
+
+    await app.close()
+  })
+})

apps/desktop/e2e/live-reginald.spec.ts

@@ -30,4 +30,27 @@ test.describe('live Reginald', () => {
 
     await app.close()
   })
+
+  test('proposes an estimate change for inline approval (writes via chat)', async () => {
+    test.skip(!process.env.GITEA_LIVE || !process.env.COMMITEA_MODEL_LIVE, 'live model test — opt-in')
+    test.setTimeout(300_000)
+    const app = await electron.launch({ args: [MAIN], env: { ...process.env } })
+    const win = await app.firstWindow()
+    await win.waitForLoadState('domcontentloaded')
+    await expect(win.getByText(/· local$/)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20000 })
+
+    const composer = win.getByPlaceholder(/Tell me what to do/)
+    await composer.fill('Set the estimate on issue #3 to est/5d.')
+    await composer.press('Enter')
+
+    // propose_change → an inline propose-approve card (never an auto-write)
+    await expect(win.getByText('Proposed · #3')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 240_000 })
+    await expect(win.getByText(/→ est\/5d/)).toBeVisible()
+    await win.screenshot({ path: join(here, '.artifacts', 'screens', 'live-reginald-propose.png'), fullPage: true, animations: 'disabled' })
+    // Dismiss so the live run never mutates the repo (the write path itself is #41-tested)
+    await win.getByRole('button', { name: 'Dismiss' }).click()
+    await expect(win.getByText(/Left #3 as it was/)).toBeVisible()
+
+    await app.close()
+  })
 })

apps/desktop/src/main/gitea.ts

@@ -124,4 +124,21 @@ export function registerGiteaIpc(): void {
     const issue = await client.getIssue(change.issue)
     return { ok: true as const, plan, issue }
   })
+
+  // capture_work filing: open each approved issue with its est/* + p/* labels.
+  // Only touches the CommiTea label namespaces — no invented labels (zero-pollution).
+  ipcMain.handle(
+    'gitea:createIssues',
+    async (_event, issues: { title: string; body?: string; estimate?: string; priority?: string }[]) => {
+      if (!client) return { ok: false as const, reason: 'unconfigured' as const }
+      const created: { number: number; title: string }[] = []
+      for (const it of issues) {
+        const names = [it.estimate, it.priority].filter((n): n is string => !!n)
+        const labelIds = await resolveLabelIds(names)
+        const issue = await client.createIssue({ title: it.title, body: it.body, labelIds })
+        created.push({ number: issue.number, title: issue.title })
+      }
+      return { ok: true as const, created }
+    },
+  )
 }

apps/desktop/src/main/model.ts

@@ -9,10 +9,15 @@
 
 import {
   buildProjectView,
+  captureWork,
+  type ChangeProposal,
   type ChatMessage,
   createChatClient,
+  describeChange,
   type ModelRouter,
   type ProjectView,
+  proposalsFor,
+  type ProposeChangeArgs,
   type QueryFilters,
   REGINALD_SYSTEM,
   REGINALD_TOOLS,
@@ -80,12 +85,28 @@ export function registerModelIpc(): void {
     const model = await resolveLoadedModel(router.small.baseUrl, router.small.model)
     const chat = createChatClient({ ...router.small, model }, fetch)
 
+    // Proposals the model formulates this turn; the renderer approves them (the
+    // write happens through gitea:applyChange, never inside the loop).
+    const proposals: ChangeProposal[] = []
+
     const execute = async (name: string, args: unknown) => {
-      if (name !== 'query_project') return { error: `unknown tool: ${name}` }
       if (!client) return { error: 'gitea is not configured' }
-      const snap = await reconcileSnapshot(client)
+      if (name === 'query_project') {
-      const a = (args ?? {}) as { view: ProjectView; filters?: QueryFilters }
+        const snap = await reconcileSnapshot(client)
-      return buildProjectView(a.view, a.filters, snap, new Date())
+        const a = (args ?? {}) as { view: ProjectView; filters?: QueryFilters }
+        return buildProjectView(a.view, a.filters, snap, new Date())
+      }
+      if (name === 'propose_change') {
+        const a = (args ?? {}) as ProposeChangeArgs
+        const issue = await client.getIssue(a.issue).catch(() => null)
+        if (!issue) return { error: `issue #${a.issue} not found` }
+        const built = proposalsFor(a, issue.labels, issue.title)
+        proposals.push(...built)
+        return built.length
+          ? { proposed: built.map((p) => ({ issue: a.issue, diff: describeChange(p.plan) })) }
+          : { proposed: [], note: 'no change — already at that value' }
+      }
+      return { error: `unknown tool: ${name}` }
     }
 
     try {
@@ -95,7 +116,22 @@ export function registerModelIpc(): void {
         tools: REGINALD_TOOLS,
         execute,
       })
-      return { ok: true as const, content: turn.content, steps: turn.steps }
+      return { ok: true as const, content: turn.content, steps: turn.steps, proposals }
+    } catch (e) {
+      return { ok: false as const, reason: 'error' as const, message: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e) }
+    }
+  })
+
+  // capture_work — braindump → proposed issue set. The big model does the
+  // decomposition (with one loaded local model, that's the loaded one). Returns
+  // a proposal; nothing is filed until the Capture tray approves it.
+  ipcMain.handle('model:capture', async (_event, braindump: string) => {
+    if (!router) return { ok: false as const, reason: 'unconfigured' as const }
+    const model = await resolveLoadedModel(router.big.baseUrl, router.big.model)
+    const chat = createChatClient({ ...router.big, model }, fetch)
+    try {
+      const proposal = await captureWork((m, t) => chat.complete(m, t), braindump)
+      return { ok: true as const, ...proposal }
     } catch (e) {
       return { ok: false as const, reason: 'error' as const, message: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e) }
     }

apps/desktop/src/preload/index.ts

@@ -11,12 +11,16 @@ const api = {
     getIssue: (index: number) => ipcRenderer.invoke('gitea:getIssue', index),
     /** Apply an estimate/priority change (the write path); resolves to the plan + fresh issue. */
     applyChange: (change: unknown) => ipcRenderer.invoke('gitea:applyChange', change),
+    /** File a set of captured issues with their est/* + p/* labels. */
+    createIssues: (issues: unknown) => ipcRenderer.invoke('gitea:createIssues', issues),
   },
   model: {
     /** Whether a model endpoint is configured (else the UI keeps the scripted Reginald). */
     status: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('model:status'),
     /** One agent turn: messages in, Reginald's prose + the tools it consulted out. */
     chat: (messages: unknown) => ipcRenderer.invoke('model:chat', messages),
+    /** Decompose a braindump into a proposed issue set (capture_work). */
+    capture: (braindump: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke('model:capture', braindump),
   },
 }
 

apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/capture-screen.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 import React from 'react'
 
+import type { ProposedIssue } from '@commitea/core'
+
 import { Badge, Button, Card, Icon, Select, Tag } from '../ui/index.js'
 
-// Capture interview — braindump → interview → approved ticket set (< 2 min)
+// Capture interview — braindump → interview → approved ticket set (< 2 min).
+// With a model configured, "Brew tickets" runs real capture_work decomposition
+// and "Approve all" files the issues in gitea; otherwise the scripted demo runs.
 
 interface Ticket {
   title: string
@@ -30,6 +34,64 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
   const [webEst, setWebEst] = React.useState<string | null>(null)
   const [secs, setSecs] = React.useState(0)
 
+  // live capture_work path (real model + gitea writes)
+  const [live, setLive] = React.useState(false)
+  const [brewing, setBrewing] = React.useState(false)
+  const [liveTickets, setLiveTickets] = React.useState<ProposedIssue[] | null>(null)
+  const [filedCount, setFiledCount] = React.useState(0)
+  const [error, setError] = React.useState<string | null>(null)
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    let alive = true
+    window.commitea.model.status().then((s) => { if (alive) setLive(s.configured) }).catch(() => {})
+    return () => { alive = false }
+  }, [])
+
+  const editTicket = (i: number, field: 'estimate' | 'priority', value: string) =>
+    setLiveTickets((ts) => (ts ? ts.map((t, j) => (j === i ? { ...t, [field]: value } : t)) : ts))
+
+  // Decide live-vs-scripted at click time: re-check status if it hasn't resolved
+  // yet, so a configured model never falls into the scripted interview by a race.
+  const onBrew = async () => {
+    const configured = live || (await window.commitea.model.status().then((s) => s.configured).catch(() => false))
+    if (configured) {
+      setLive(true)
+      brew()
+    } else {
+      setStage('interview')
+    }
+  }
+
+  const brew = () => {
+    setError(null)
+    setBrewing(true)
+    window.commitea.model
+      .capture(dump)
+      .then((res) => {
+        setBrewing(false)
+        if (res.ok && res.issues.length) {
+          setLiveTickets(res.issues)
+          setStage('review')
+        } else {
+          setError(res.ok ? 'I could not find concrete work in that — try a bit more detail.' : `Capture failed: ${res.reason === 'error' ? res.message : 'no model'}`)
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(() => { setBrewing(false); setError('I could not reach the model.') })
+  }
+
+  const fileLive = () => {
+    if (!liveTickets) return
+    setBrewing(true)
+    window.commitea.gitea
+      .createIssues(liveTickets)
+      .then((res) => {
+        setBrewing(false)
+        if (res.ok) { setFiledCount(res.created.length); setStage('filed') }
+        else setError('Filing failed — gitea is not configured.')
+      })
+      .catch(() => { setBrewing(false); setError('Filing failed.') })
+  }
+
   const running = stage === 'interview' || stage === 'review'
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (!running) return
@@ -63,19 +125,23 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
     else setStage('review')
   }
 
-  // draft tickets build as the interview progresses
+  // draft tickets build as the interview progresses (scripted demo path)
-  const tickets: Ticket[] = []
+  const scripted: Ticket[] = []
   if (split === true) {
-    tickets.push({ title: 'Token refresh: retry with backoff', est: 'est/2d', p: 'p/2' })
+    scripted.push({ title: 'Token refresh: retry with backoff', est: 'est/2d', p: 'p/2' })
-    tickets.push({ title: 'Session storage: stale reads on wake', est: 'est/1d', p: 'p/3' })
+    scripted.push({ title: 'Session storage: stale reads on wake', est: 'est/1d', p: 'p/3' })
   } else if (split === false) {
-    tickets.push({ title: 'Auth: token refresh + session storage', est: 'est/3d', p: 'p/2' })
+    scripted.push({ title: 'Auth: token refresh + session storage', est: 'est/3d', p: 'p/2' })
   }
-  if (webEst) tickets.push({ title: 'Webhook debounce: double-fire guard', est: webEst, p: 'p/1', dep: 'blocked by auth work' })
+  if (webEst) scripted.push({ title: 'Webhook debounce: double-fire guard', est: webEst, p: 'p/1', dep: 'blocked by auth work' })
-  if (stage === 'review' || stage === 'filed') {
+  if (!live && (stage === 'review' || stage === 'filed')) {
-    tickets.push({ title: 'Docs: auth setup guide', est: 'est/1d', p: 'p/4', byReginald: true })
+    scripted.push({ title: 'Docs: auth setup guide', est: 'est/1d', p: 'p/4', byReginald: true })
   }
-  const totalDays = tickets.reduce((n, t) => n + parseInt(t.est.replace('est/', '')), 0)
+  // real capture_work output overrides the scripted set when present
+  const tickets: Ticket[] = liveTickets
+    ? liveTickets.map((i) => ({ title: i.title, est: i.estimate ?? 'est/2d', p: i.priority ?? 'p/3' }))
+    : scripted
+  const totalDays = tickets.reduce((n, t) => n + parseInt(t.est.replace('est/', ''), 10), 0)
 
   const estOptions = ['est/1d', 'est/2d', 'est/3d', 'est/5d', 'est/8d'].map((v) => ({ value: v, label: v }))
   const pOptions = ['p/1', 'p/2', 'p/3', 'p/4'].map((v) => ({ value: v, label: v }))
@@ -96,8 +162,20 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
             <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: 8, flexWrap: 'wrap' }}>
               {editable ? (
                 <>
-                  <Select options={estOptions} defaultValue={t.est} style={{ width: 96 }} />
+                  <Select
-                  <Select options={pOptions} defaultValue={t.p} style={{ width: 76 }} />
+                    options={estOptions}
+                    value={liveTickets ? t.est : undefined}
+                    defaultValue={liveTickets ? undefined : t.est}
+                    onChange={(e) => editTicket(i, 'estimate', e.target.value)}
+                    style={{ width: 96 }}
+                  />
+                  <Select
+                    options={pOptions}
+                    value={liveTickets ? t.p : undefined}
+                    defaultValue={liveTickets ? undefined : t.p}
+                    onChange={(e) => editTicket(i, 'priority', e.target.value)}
+                    style={{ width: 76 }}
+                  />
                 </>
               ) : (
                 <>
@@ -144,7 +222,12 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
           <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: '10px 0 14px' }}>
             Sentences, fragments, grievances — all welcome. I'll sort it into tickets and only ask what I can't infer.
           </p>
-          <Button icon="sparkles" onClick={() => setStage('interview')}>Brew tickets</Button>
+          <Button icon="sparkles" onClick={() => void onBrew()} disabled={brewing}>
+            {brewing ? 'Brewing…' : 'Brew tickets'}
+          </Button>
+          {error ? (
+            <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--danger)', margin: '10px 0 0' }}>{error}</p>
+          ) : null}
         </Card>
       ) : null}
 
@@ -174,15 +257,26 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
         <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr 1.1fr', gap: 14, alignItems: 'start' }}>
           <Card overline="Consequence" title={`${tickets.length} tickets · ~${totalDays}d of work`} jade
                 footer={<>
-                  <Button onClick={() => setStage('filed')}>Approve all</Button>
+                  <Button onClick={() => (live ? fileLive() : setStage('filed'))} disabled={brewing}>
-                  <Button variant="ghost" onClick={() => { setStage('dump'); setQi(0); setLog([]); setSplit(null); setWebEst(null); setSecs(0); }}>Discard</Button>
+                    {brewing ? 'Filing…' : 'Approve all'}
+                  </Button>
+                  <Button variant="ghost" onClick={() => { setStage('dump'); setQi(0); setLog([]); setSplit(null); setWebEst(null); setSecs(0); setLiveTickets(null); setError(null); }}>Discard</Button>
                 </>}>
-            <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-body)', margin: '0 0 8px' }}>
+            {live ? (
-              Beta's 80% window moves <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>Mar 3–12 → Mar 5–14</span>. Capacity absorbs the rest.
+              <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
-            </p>
+                {tickets.length} issue{tickets.length === 1 ? '' : 's'} from your braindump, estimated and prioritized.
-            <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
+                Adjust the labels, then approve — I'll open them in gitea with only est/* and p/* labels.
-              I added the docs ticket you mentioned and wired the dependency. Shall I make it so?
+              </p>
-            </p>
+            ) : (
+              <>
+                <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-body)', margin: '0 0 8px' }}>
+                  Beta's 80% window moves <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>Mar 3–12 → Mar 5–14</span>. Capacity absorbs the rest.
+                </p>
+                <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
+                  I added the docs ticket you mentioned and wired the dependency. Shall I make it so?
+                </p>
+              </>
+            )}
           </Card>
           <Tray editable />
         </div>
@@ -195,7 +289,7 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
               <Icon name="circle-check" size={22} /> Filed
             </span>
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-body)', margin: 0 }}>
-              {tickets.length} issues opened in gitea with <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>est/*</span> and <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>p/*</span> labels — nothing else touched.
+              {live ? filedCount : tickets.length} issues opened in gitea with <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>est/*</span> and <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>p/*</span> labels — nothing else touched.
             </p>
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
               Elapsed {clock} — under budget. No bot comments, no synthetic issues; your repo remains yours.

apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/app-shell.tsx

@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
         </div>
       </main>
 
-      <ChatPanel onOpenDirectives={() => setView('directives')} offline={offline} />
+      <ChatPanel onOpenDirectives={() => setView('directives')} offline={offline} onApplyChange={applyChange} />
     </div>
   )
 }

apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/chat-panel.tsx

@@ -1,21 +1,25 @@
 import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 
+import { describeChange, type IssueChange } from '@commitea/core'
+
 import { useChat } from '../../lib/use-chat.js'
-import { Icon, IconButton } from '../ui/index.js'
+import { Button, Icon, IconButton } from '../ui/index.js'
 
 /**
  * Reginald's panel — chat is the write-path (decisions.md D1). Wired to the
- * model bridge via `useChat`: when a model is configured, sending drives a real
+ * model bridge via `useChat`: a configured model drives a real agent turn
- * agent turn (query_project + prose); otherwise it echoes the scripted fixture
+ * (query_project + prose, propose_change for edits); otherwise it echoes the
- * reply so the layout stays real. Writes still go through propose-approve.
+ * scripted fixture reply. Proposed changes are approved inline here — the write
+ * runs through `onApplyChange`, the same guarded handler the Issue screen uses.
  */
 export interface ChatPanelProps {
   onOpenDirectives?: () => void
   offline?: boolean
+  onApplyChange?: (change: IssueChange) => Promise<{ ok: boolean }>
 }
 
-export function ChatPanel({ onOpenDirectives, offline }: ChatPanelProps) {
+export function ChatPanel({ onOpenDirectives, offline, onApplyChange }: ChatPanelProps) {
-  const { msgs, thinking, live, model, steps, send: sendChat } = useChat()
+  const { msgs, thinking, live, model, steps, proposals, send: sendChat, approve, dismiss } = useChat(onApplyChange)
   // shorten "google/gemma-4-26b-a4b-qat" → "gemma-4-26b" for the header chip
   const modelLabel = model ? (model.split('/').pop() ?? model).replace(/-(qat|instruct|it|gguf)$/i, '') : 'gemma-4'
   const [text, setText] = useState('')
@@ -97,9 +101,36 @@ export function ChatPanel({ onOpenDirectives, offline }: ChatPanelProps) {
         {thinking ? <div style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-3)' }}>considering…</div> : null}
         {!thinking && steps.length ? (
           <div style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: 5 }}>
-            <Icon name="eye" size={11} /> consulted {Array.from(new Set(steps.map((s) => s.replace('query_project', 'the project')))).join(', ')}
+            <Icon name="eye" size={11} /> consulted {Array.from(new Set(steps.map((s) => s.replace('query_project', 'the project').replace('propose_change', 'the labels')))).join(', ')}
           </div>
         ) : null}
+        {proposals.map((p) => (
+          <div
+            key={`${p.change.issue}:${p.change.kind}`}
+            style={{
+              border: '1px solid var(--line-2)',
+              borderRadius: 'var(--radius-2)',
+              background: 'var(--paper-0)',
+              padding: '10px 12px',
+              display: 'flex',
+              flexDirection: 'column',
+              gap: 8,
+            }}
+          >
+            <div style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', textTransform: 'uppercase', letterSpacing: 'var(--letter-spacing-wide)' }}>
+              Proposed · #{p.change.issue}
+            </div>
+            <div style={{ font: '500 13px var(--font-mono)', color: 'var(--ink-1)' }}>{describeChange(p.plan)}</div>
+            <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 8 }}>
+              <Button size="sm" onClick={() => approve(p)} disabled={offline}>
+                Approve
+              </Button>
+              <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => dismiss(p)}>
+                Dismiss
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        ))}
       </div>
 
       <div style={{ padding: 14, borderTop: '1px solid var(--line-1)', flexShrink: 0 }}>

apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/global.d.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 import type {
   AgentStep,
+  ChangeProposal,
   ChatMessage,
+  CaptureProposal,
   DependencyEdge,
   GiteaIssue,
   GiteaMilestone,
   IssueChange,
   LabelPlan,
   LifecycleEvent,
+  ProposedIssue,
 } from '@commitea/core'
 
 /** The result of a write through the bridge. */
@@ -14,6 +17,16 @@ export type ApplyChangeResult =
   | { ok: false; reason: 'unconfigured' }
   | { ok: true; plan: LabelPlan; issue: GiteaIssue }
 
+/** The result of filing captured issues. */
+export type CreateIssuesResult =
+  | { ok: false; reason: 'unconfigured' }
+  | { ok: true; created: { number: number; title: string }[] }
+
+/** The result of a capture_work decomposition. */
+export type CaptureResult =
+  | { ok: false; reason: 'unconfigured' | 'error'; message?: string }
+  | ({ ok: true } & CaptureProposal)
+
 /** The gitea bridge exposed by the preload over IPC (main-process backed). */
 export interface GiteaBridge {
   status(): Promise<{ configured: boolean; repo: string | null }>
@@ -27,17 +40,19 @@ export interface GiteaBridge {
   }>
   getIssue(index: number): Promise<GiteaIssue | null>
   applyChange(change: IssueChange): Promise<ApplyChangeResult>
+  createIssues(issues: ProposedIssue[]): Promise<CreateIssuesResult>
 }
 
 /** One agent turn's result. */
 export type ChatResult =
   | { ok: false; reason: 'unconfigured' | 'error'; message?: string }
-  | { ok: true; content: string; steps: AgentStep[] }
+  | { ok: true; content: string; steps: AgentStep[]; proposals: ChangeProposal[] }
 
 /** The model bridge (Reginald) exposed by the preload over IPC. */
 export interface ModelBridge {
   status(): Promise<{ configured: boolean; model: string | null }>
   chat(messages: ChatMessage[]): Promise<ChatResult>
+  capture(braindump: string): Promise<CaptureResult>
 }
 
 declare global {

apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/use-chat.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 
-import type { ChatMessage as WireMessage } from '@commitea/core'
+import type { ChangeProposal, ChatMessage as WireMessage, IssueChange } from '@commitea/core'
 
 import { CANNED_REPLY, CHAT, type ChatMessage } from '../data/fixtures.js'
 
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ export interface ChatState {
   model: string | null
   /** Tools Reginald consulted on the last turn (for a subtle activity line). */
   steps: string[]
+  /** Changes Reginald has proposed and is awaiting approval on. */
+  proposals: ChangeProposal[]
   send: (text: string) => void
+  approve: (p: ChangeProposal) => void
+  dismiss: (p: ChangeProposal) => void
 }
 
 /**
@@ -26,18 +30,23 @@ export interface ChatState {
  * turn through the main-process bridge (which runs the tool loop). Otherwise it
  * echoes the scripted fixture reply, so the layout stays real with no model and
  * fixture e2e is unaffected. The fixture greeting is display-only — only real
- * turns (`convo`) are sent to the model as history.
+ * turns (`convo`) are sent to the model as history. `onApplyChange` performs an
+ * approved write (the same handler the Issue screen uses — it refetches).
  */
-export function useChat(): ChatState {
+export function useChat(onApplyChange?: (change: IssueChange) => Promise<{ ok: boolean }>): ChatState {
   const [seed, setSeed] = useState<ChatMessage[]>(CHAT)
   const [convo, setConvo] = useState<ChatMessage[]>([])
   const [thinking, setThinking] = useState(false)
   const [live, setLive] = useState(false)
   const [model, setModel] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [steps, setSteps] = useState<string[]>([])
+  const [proposals, setProposals] = useState<ChangeProposal[]>([])
   const convoRef = useRef(convo)
   convoRef.current = convo
 
+  const proposalKey = (p: ChangeProposal) => `${p.change.issue}:${p.change.kind}`
+  const drop = (p: ChangeProposal) => setProposals((ps) => ps.filter((x) => proposalKey(x) !== proposalKey(p)))
+
   useEffect(() => {
     let alive = true
     window.commitea.model
@@ -63,6 +72,7 @@ export function useChat(): ChatState {
       setConvo(nextConvo)
       setThinking(true)
       setSteps([])
+      setProposals([])
 
       if (!live) {
         window.setTimeout(() => {
@@ -82,6 +92,7 @@ export function useChat(): ChatState {
           setThinking(false)
           if (res.ok) {
             setSteps(res.steps.map((s) => s.tool))
+            setProposals(res.proposals)
             setConvo((c) => [...c, { from: 'agent', text: res.content || '…' }])
           } else {
             setConvo((c) => [
@@ -101,5 +112,30 @@ export function useChat(): ChatState {
     [live],
   )
 
-  return { msgs: [...seed, ...convo], thinking, live, model, steps, send }
+  const approve = useCallback(
+    (p: ChangeProposal) => {
+      if (!onApplyChange) return
+      drop(p)
+      const label = p.plan.added[0] ?? p.plan.removed[0] ?? 'change'
+      void onApplyChange(p.change).then((res) => {
+        setConvo((c) => [
+          ...c,
+          {
+            from: 'agent',
+            text: res.ok
+              ? `Done — #${p.change.issue} is now ${label}. The plan's been re-run.`
+              : `That didn't take — #${p.change.issue} is unchanged.`,
+          },
+        ])
+      })
+    },
+    [onApplyChange],
+  )
+
+  const dismiss = useCallback((p: ChangeProposal) => {
+    drop(p)
+    setConvo((c) => [...c, { from: 'agent', text: `Left #${p.change.issue} as it was.` }])
+  }, [])
+
+  return { msgs: [...seed, ...convo], thinking, live, model, steps, proposals, send, approve, dismiss }
 }

packages/core/src/agent/agent-tools.ts

@@ -35,12 +35,30 @@ export const QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
   },
 }
 
-export const REGINALD_TOOLS: ToolDecl[] = [QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL]
+export const PROPOSE_CHANGE_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
+  name: 'propose_change',
+  description:
+    "Propose an estimate and/or priority change to an issue. This does NOT apply anything — it shows the " +
+    'human a diff to approve. Use it whenever the user asks to re-estimate or reprioritize. After calling it, ' +
+    "tell the user you've *proposed* the change for approval — never say it is done.",
+  parameters: {
+    type: 'object',
+    properties: {
+      issue: { type: 'number', description: 'the issue number to change' },
+      estimate: { type: 'string', enum: ['est/1d', 'est/2d', 'est/3d', 'est/5d', 'est/8d'] },
+      priority: { type: 'string', enum: ['p/1', 'p/2', 'p/3', 'p/4'] },
+    },
+    required: ['issue'],
+  },
+}
+
+export const REGINALD_TOOLS: ToolDecl[] = [QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL, PROPOSE_CHANGE_TOOL]
 
 export const REGINALD_SYSTEM = [
   'You are Reginald, the calm, dry project manager inside CommiTea — a tool that runs projects on Gitea.',
   'Call query_project to ground every answer in the real project; never invent issues, numbers, or dates.',
   'The scheduler and forecasts are deterministic code — report their output, do not recompute it.',
-  'Forecasts are ranges, never single dates. Refer to issues as #<number>.',
+  'To change an estimate or priority, call propose_change — it shows the human a diff to approve.',
-  'Be brief and plain. A sentence or two is usually enough. No preamble, no bullet-point dumps.',
+  'Never claim a change is applied; you propose, the human approves. Forecasts are ranges, never single dates.',
+  'Refer to issues as #<number>. Be brief and plain — a sentence or two. No preamble, no bullet dumps.',
 ].join(' ')

packages/core/src/agent/capture-work.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import type { CompletionResult } from './chat-client.js'
+import { captureWork, parseCaptureArgs } from './capture-work.js'
+
+describe('parseCaptureArgs', () => {
+  it('validates issues and keeps only real titles + valid labels', () => {
+    const p = parseCaptureArgs({
+      issues: [
+        { title: 'Fix token refresh', body: 'dies silently', estimate: 'est/2d', priority: 'p/1' },
+        { title: '  ', body: 'blank title dropped' },
+        { title: 'Docs', estimate: 'est/9d', priority: 'urgent' }, // invalid labels → dropped to undefined
+      ],
+      consequence: 'Beta slips a day',
+    })
+    expect(p.issues).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(p.issues[0]).toEqual({ title: 'Fix token refresh', body: 'dies silently', estimate: 'est/2d', priority: 'p/1' })
+    expect(p.issues[1]).toEqual({ title: 'Docs', body: '', estimate: undefined, priority: undefined })
+    expect(p.consequence).toBe('Beta slips a day')
+  })
+
+  it('tolerates a missing/!array issues field', () => {
+    expect(parseCaptureArgs({}).issues).toEqual([])
+    expect(parseCaptureArgs({ issues: 'nope' }).issues).toEqual([])
+  })
+})
+
+describe('captureWork', () => {
+  it('forces propose_issues and returns the validated set', async () => {
+    const result: CompletionResult = {
+      content: '',
+      toolCalls: [
+        {
+          id: 'c1',
+          name: 'propose_issues',
+          arguments: JSON.stringify({
+            issues: [{ title: 'Retry token refresh with backoff', body: '', estimate: 'est/2d', priority: 'p/2' }],
+            consequence: 'no material shift',
+          }),
+        },
+      ],
+    }
+    let sawTool = ''
+    const proposal = await captureWork(async (_m, tools) => {
+      sawTool = tools?.[0]?.name ?? ''
+      return result
+    }, 'auth is flaky, token refresh dies')
+    expect(sawTool).toBe('propose_issues')
+    expect(proposal.issues[0].title).toBe('Retry token refresh with backoff')
+    expect(proposal.consequence).toBe('no material shift')
+  })
+
+  it('returns an empty set when the model answers without the tool', async () => {
+    const proposal = await captureWork(async () => ({ content: 'I need more detail.', toolCalls: [] }), 'vague')
+    expect(proposal.issues).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('survives malformed tool arguments', async () => {
+    const proposal = await captureWork(
+      async () => ({ content: '', toolCalls: [{ id: 'c1', name: 'propose_issues', arguments: '{not json' }] }),
+      'x',
+    )
+    expect(proposal.issues).toEqual([])
+  })
+})

packages/core/src/agent/capture-work.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+/**
+ * capture_work — braindump → a small set of concrete issues. This is the one
+ * place the big model earns its keep (decomposition + estimate negotiation).
+ * It returns a *proposal*; nothing is filed until the human approves it in the
+ * Capture tray and it goes through the create-issue write path. Pure
+ * orchestration over an injected `complete` — stubbable, so it's testable offline.
+ */
+
+import {
+  type EstimateLabel,
+  ESTIMATE_LABELS,
+  type PriorityLabel,
+  PRIORITY_LABELS,
+} from '../labels/label-schema.js'
+import type { ChatMessage, CompletionResult, ToolDecl } from './chat-client.js'
+
+export interface ProposedIssue {
+  title: string
+  body: string
+  estimate?: EstimateLabel
+  priority?: PriorityLabel
+}
+
+export interface CaptureProposal {
+  issues: ProposedIssue[]
+  /** One-line schedule impact, if the model offered one. */
+  consequence?: string
+}
+
+export const PROPOSE_ISSUES_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
+  name: 'propose_issues',
+  description: 'Return the decomposed issue set for a braindump. Call this exactly once.',
+  parameters: {
+    type: 'object',
+    properties: {
+      issues: {
+        type: 'array',
+        items: {
+          type: 'object',
+          properties: {
+            title: { type: 'string', description: 'a clear imperative title' },
+            body: { type: 'string', description: 'one or two lines of detail' },
+            estimate: { type: 'string', enum: ['est/1d', 'est/2d', 'est/3d', 'est/5d', 'est/8d'] },
+            priority: { type: 'string', enum: ['p/1', 'p/2', 'p/3', 'p/4'] },
+          },
+          required: ['title'],
+        },
+      },
+      consequence: { type: 'string', description: 'one-line note on the schedule impact' },
+    },
+    required: ['issues'],
+  },
+}
+
+export const CAPTURE_SYSTEM = [
+  'You are Reginald, decomposing a rough braindump into a small set of concrete Gitea issues.',
+  'Call propose_issues exactly once. Split genuinely separate work; merge trivially-coupled work; invent no scope.',
+  'Each issue gets an imperative title, a one-line body, an estimate (est/1d…8d) and a priority (p/1…4).',
+  'Estimate honestly — a "quick" task is rarely one day. Keep the set tight; three good issues beat eight vague ones.',
+].join(' ')
+
+function isEstimate(v: unknown): v is EstimateLabel {
+  return typeof v === 'string' && (ESTIMATE_LABELS as readonly string[]).includes(v)
+}
+function isPriority(v: unknown): v is PriorityLabel {
+  return typeof v === 'string' && (PRIORITY_LABELS as readonly string[]).includes(v)
+}
+
+/** Coerce the model's raw propose_issues args into a validated proposal. */
+export function parseCaptureArgs(args: unknown): CaptureProposal {
+  const a = (args ?? {}) as { issues?: unknown[]; consequence?: unknown }
+  const issues: ProposedIssue[] = []
+  for (const raw of Array.isArray(a.issues) ? a.issues : []) {
+    const r = (raw ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>
+    const title = typeof r.title === 'string' ? r.title.trim() : ''
+    if (!title) continue
+    issues.push({
+      title,
+      body: typeof r.body === 'string' ? r.body : '',
+      estimate: isEstimate(r.estimate) ? r.estimate : undefined,
+      priority: isPriority(r.priority) ? r.priority : undefined,
+    })
+  }
+  return { issues, consequence: typeof a.consequence === 'string' ? a.consequence : undefined }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Run one decomposition turn. Forces the model to answer via propose_issues and
+ * returns the validated set. An empty set means the model declined to structure it.
+ */
+export async function captureWork(
+  complete: (messages: ChatMessage[], tools?: ToolDecl[]) => Promise<CompletionResult>,
+  braindump: string,
+): Promise<CaptureProposal> {
+  const res = await complete(
+    [
+      { role: 'system', content: CAPTURE_SYSTEM },
+      { role: 'user', content: braindump },
+    ],
+    [PROPOSE_ISSUES_TOOL],
+  )
+  const call = res.toolCalls.find((t) => t.name === 'propose_issues')
+  if (!call) return { issues: [] }
+  try {
+    return parseCaptureArgs(JSON.parse(call.arguments || '{}'))
+  } catch {
+    return { issues: [] }
+  }
+}

packages/core/src/changes/apply-changes-v0.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 
-import { describeChange, type IssueChange, planIssueChange } from './apply-changes-v0.js'
+import { describeChange, type IssueChange, planIssueChange, proposalsFor } from './apply-changes-v0.js'
 
 describe('planIssueChange', () => {
   it('swaps the estimate label, keeping non-axis labels', () => {
@@ -52,3 +52,28 @@ describe('planIssueChange', () => {
     expect(describeChange(planIssueChange(['est/5d'], change))).toBe('no change')
   })
 })
+
+describe('proposalsFor', () => {
+  it('builds one proposal per changed axis, carrying the concrete change + diff', () => {
+    const props = proposalsFor({ issue: 2, estimate: 'est/5d', priority: 'p/1' }, ['est/2d', 'p/3'], 'ChangeSource')
+    expect(props).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(props[0].change).toEqual({ kind: 'reestimate', issue: 2, estimate: 'est/5d' })
+    expect(describeChange(props[0].plan)).toBe('est/2d → est/5d')
+    expect(props[1].change).toEqual({ kind: 'reprioritize', issue: 2, priority: 'p/1' })
+    expect(props[0].issueTitle).toBe('ChangeSource')
+  })
+
+  it('drops a noop axis (already at the requested value)', () => {
+    const props = proposalsFor({ issue: 2, estimate: 'est/2d', priority: 'p/1' }, ['est/2d', 'p/3'])
+    expect(props.map((p) => p.change.kind)).toEqual(['reprioritize']) // estimate unchanged
+  })
+
+  it('ignores invalid label values from the model', () => {
+    const props = proposalsFor({ issue: 2, estimate: 'est/4d' as never, priority: 'high' as never }, [])
+    expect(props).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('returns nothing when no axis is provided', () => {
+    expect(proposalsFor({ issue: 2 }, ['est/2d'])).toEqual([])
+  })
+})

packages/core/src/changes/apply-changes-v0.ts

@@ -57,3 +57,48 @@ export function describeChange(plan: LabelPlan): string {
   const to = plan.added.length ? plan.added.join(', ') : '∅'
   return `${from} → ${to}`
 }
+
+/** A change the agent proposes: the concrete op + its diff, ready for approve-then-apply. */
+export interface ChangeProposal {
+  change: IssueChange
+  plan: LabelPlan
+  issueTitle?: string
+}
+
+/** What the `propose_change` tool accepts — a target issue and the axes to set. */
+export interface ProposeChangeArgs {
+  issue: number
+  estimate?: EstimateLabel
+  priority?: PriorityLabel
+}
+
+function isEstimate(v: unknown): v is EstimateLabel {
+  return typeof v === 'string' && (ESTIMATE_LABELS as readonly string[]).includes(v)
+}
+function isPriority(v: unknown): v is PriorityLabel {
+  return typeof v === 'string' && (PRIORITY_LABELS as readonly string[]).includes(v)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Build the concrete, non-noop proposals for a `propose_change` request against
+ * an issue's current labels. Invalid or unchanged axes are dropped — the agent
+ * proposes only real changes, and never a label outside the est/* · p/* axes.
+ */
+export function proposalsFor(
+  args: ProposeChangeArgs,
+  currentLabels: string[],
+  issueTitle?: string,
+): ChangeProposal[] {
+  const out: ChangeProposal[] = []
+  if (isEstimate(args.estimate)) {
+    const change: IssueChange = { kind: 'reestimate', issue: args.issue, estimate: args.estimate }
+    const plan = planIssueChange(currentLabels, change)
+    if (!plan.noop) out.push({ change, plan, issueTitle })
+  }
+  if (isPriority(args.priority)) {
+    const change: IssueChange = { kind: 'reprioritize', issue: args.issue, priority: args.priority }
+    const plan = planIssueChange(currentLabels, change)
+    if (!plan.noop) out.push({ change, plan, issueTitle })
+  }
+  return out
+}

packages/core/src/gitea/client.test.ts

@@ -146,6 +146,18 @@ describe('createGiteaClient.getIssue', () => {
     ])
   })
 
+  it('createIssue POSTs title/body/labels and returns a normalized issue', async () => {
+    const created = { ...RAW_ISSUE, number: 44, title: 'Retry token refresh', labels: [{ name: 'est/2d' }, { name: 'p/2' }] }
+    const { fetch, calls } = stubFetch(created, 201)
+    const issue = await createGiteaClient(CONFIG, fetch).createIssue({ title: 'Retry token refresh', body: 'backoff', labelIds: [3, 7] })
+
+    expect(calls[0].url).toBe('https://gitea.stephenmann.io/api/v1/repos/christian/commitea/issues')
+    expect(calls[0].init?.method).toBe('POST')
+    expect(JSON.parse(calls[0].init?.body ?? '{}')).toEqual({ title: 'Retry token refresh', body: 'backoff', labels: [3, 7] })
+    expect(issue.number).toBe(44)
+    expect(issue.labels).toEqual(['est/2d', 'p/2'])
+  })
+
   it('throws GiteaApiError carrying status + body on a non-2xx response', async () => {
     const { fetch } = stubFetch('not found', 404)
     const client = createGiteaClient(CONFIG, fetch)

packages/core/src/gitea/client.ts

@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ export interface GiteaClient {
   listLabels(): Promise<GiteaLabel[]>
   /** Replace an issue's entire label set with the given label ids. Write. */
   setIssueLabels(index: number, labelIds: number[]): Promise<void>
+  /** Open a new issue with a title, optional body, and label ids. Write. */
+  createIssue(input: { title: string; body?: string; labelIds?: number[] }): Promise<GiteaIssue>
 }
 
 /** Map raw gitea issue JSON to the normalized domain shape. Pure. */
@@ -222,5 +224,13 @@ export function createGiteaClient(config: GiteaConfig, fetchImpl: FetchLike): Gi
     async setIssueLabels(index, labelIds) {
       await request(`/issues/${index}/labels`, { method: 'PUT', body: { labels: labelIds } })
     },
+
+    async createIssue(input) {
+      const raw = (await request('/issues', {
+        method: 'POST',
+        body: { title: input.title, body: input.body ?? '', labels: input.labelIds ?? [] },
+      })) as RawIssue
+      return normalizeIssue(raw)
+    },
   }
 }

packages/core/src/index.ts

@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ export type {
   GiteaRequestInit,
 } from './gitea/types.js'
 
-export { describeChange, planIssueChange } from './changes/apply-changes-v0.js'
+export { describeChange, planIssueChange, proposalsFor } from './changes/apply-changes-v0.js'
-export type { IssueChange, LabelPlan } from './changes/apply-changes-v0.js'
+export type { ChangeProposal, IssueChange, LabelPlan, ProposeChangeArgs } from './changes/apply-changes-v0.js'
 
 export {
   inferColumnV0,
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ export { pickModel } from './agent/model-router.js'
 export type { ModelRouter, TaskKind } from './agent/model-router.js'
 export { runAgentTurn } from './agent/agent-loop.js'
 export type { AgentStep, AgentTurn, ToolExecutor } from './agent/agent-loop.js'
-export { QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL, REGINALD_SYSTEM, REGINALD_TOOLS } from './agent/agent-tools.js'
+export { PROPOSE_CHANGE_TOOL, QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL, REGINALD_SYSTEM, REGINALD_TOOLS } from './agent/agent-tools.js'
 export { buildProjectView } from './agent/query-project.js'
 export type { ProjectSnapshot, ProjectView, QueryFilters } from './agent/query-project.js'
+export { CAPTURE_SYSTEM, captureWork, parseCaptureArgs, PROPOSE_ISSUES_TOOL } from './agent/capture-work.js'
+export type { CaptureProposal, ProposedIssue } from './agent/capture-work.js'