fix(channels): reuse local folders, stop git-init prompt on scratch tasks

packages/shared/src/workspace-domain.ts

@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ export const workspaceSchema = z.object({
   baseBranch: z.string().nullable(),
   linkedBranch: z.string().nullable(),
   createdAt: z.string(),
+  /**
+   * Synthetic workspace for a repo-less channel task: its folderPath is a
+   * scratch dir, not a registered folder. Marks it so callers (e.g. the
+   * navigation task binder) don't try to register it as a folder or git-init it.
+   */
+  isScratch: z.boolean().optional(),
 });
 
 export type WorktreeInfo = z.infer<typeof worktreeInfoSchema>;

packages/ui/src/features/canvas/channelTaskSuggestions.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import {
+  Bug,
+  ChartBar,
+  ChartLine,
+  ChatCircleText,
+  Cube,
+  CurrencyDollar,
+  Flask,
+  Wrench,
+} from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import type { SuggestedPrompt } from "@posthog/ui/features/task-detail/components/SuggestedPromptCard";
+
+// Starter prompts shown as cards on the channels (project-bluebird) new-task
+// screen. Clicking a card drops its `prompt` into the composer, ready to
+// edit/send. Each prompt ends with a "User input:" block of fill-in lines the
+// user completes before sending. Channels-only — the /code new-task screen
+// keeps its discovery suggestions. Card styling mirrors SuggestedTaskCard
+// (icon badge + title + description); the icon/color follow the same
+// `var(--<color>-N)` token scheme.
+export const CHANNEL_TASK_SUGGESTIONS: SuggestedPrompt[] = [
+  {
+    label: "Debug a user issue",
+    description: "Trace a specific user's events, replays, and errors",
+    icon: Bug,
+    color: "red",
+    mode: "auto",
+    prompt:
+      "Help me debug an issue a specific user is hitting. Pull their recent events, session replays, and errors, then figure out what went wrong.\n\n\nUser input:\n- Describe the user issue:\n- User identifier (distinct ID, email address, etc):",
+  },
+  {
+    label: "Run a feature analysis",
+    description: "Adoption, engagement, and retention of a feature",
+    icon: ChartLine,
+    color: "blue",
+    mode: "auto",
+    prompt:
+      "Analyze how a feature is performing — adoption, engagement, and retention of users who use it vs. those who don't.\n\n\nUser input:\n- Feature to analyze:\n- Time period (optional):",
+  },
+  {
+    label: "Understand revenue patterns",
+    description: "Trends over time, by plan, and by cohort",
+    icon: CurrencyDollar,
+    color: "green",
+    mode: "auto",
+    prompt:
+      "Analyze our revenue trends — break it down over time, by plan, and by cohort, and call out notable changes and likely drivers.\n\n\nUser input:\n- What revenue question are you trying to answer:\n- Time period (optional):",
+  },
+  {
+    label: "Summarize product usage",
+    description: "Top events, active users, and key funnels",
+    icon: ChartBar,
+    color: "violet",
+    mode: "auto",
+    prompt:
+      "Summarize how our product is being used — top events, active users, key funnels, and notable trends.\n\n\nUser input:\n- Product area or feature to focus on (optional):\n- Time period (optional):",
+  },
+  {
+    label: "Summarize user & agent feedback",
+    description: "Common themes across recent feedback",
+    icon: ChatCircleText,
+    color: "amber",
+    mode: "auto",
+    prompt:
+      "Summarize recent user and support/agent feedback — surface the common themes, complaints, and requests.\n\n\nUser input:\n- Feedback source or topic to focus on:\n- Time period (optional):",
+  },
+  {
+    label: "Interpret experiment results",
+    description: "Significance and what to do next",
+    icon: Flask,
+    color: "purple",
+    mode: "auto",
+    prompt:
+      "Interpret the results of an experiment — explain what the metrics show, whether it's significant, and what to do next.\n\n\nUser input:\n- Experiment name or key:\n- What decision are you trying to make (optional):",
+  },
+  {
+    label: "Fix a bug",
+    description: "Track down and fix a problem in the code",
+    icon: Wrench,
+    color: "orange",
+    mode: "plan",
+    prompt:
+      "Help me fix a bug — track down the root cause in the code and implement a fix. Open a PR if appropriate.\n\n\nUser input:\n- Describe the bug / what's going wrong:\n- Steps to reproduce (optional):\n- Where it happens (file, page, area — optional):",
+  },
+  {
+    label: "Build a new feature",
+    description: "Design and implement something new",
+    icon: Cube,
+    color: "teal",
+    mode: "plan",
+    prompt:
+      "Help me build a new feature — propose an approach, then implement it. Open a PR if appropriate.\n\n\nUser input:\n- Describe the feature you want:\n- Any constraints or requirements (optional):",
+  },
+];

packages/ui/src/features/canvas/components/WebsiteNewTask.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { Task } from "@posthog/shared/domain-types";
+import { CHANNEL_TASK_SUGGESTIONS } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/channelTaskSuggestions";
 import { useChannels } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/hooks/useChannels";
 import { useChannelTaskMutations } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/hooks/useChannelTasks";
 import { useFolderInstructions } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/hooks/useFolderInstructions";
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ export function WebsiteNewTask({ channelId }: { channelId: string }) {
       channelContext={instructions?.content}
       channelName={channelName}
       allowNoRepo
+      suggestions={CHANNEL_TASK_SUGGESTIONS}
     />
   );
 }

packages/ui/src/features/navigation/taskBinderImpl.ts

@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ export const navigationTaskBinder: NavigationTaskBinder = {
 
     const workspaces = await hostClient().workspace.getAll.query();
     const existingWorkspace = workspaces?.[task.id] ?? null;
+
+    // Repo-less channel task: its workspace is a synthetic scratch dir, not a
+    // registered folder. Never register it (that would pop the "initialize git"
+    // dialog on the empty scratch dir) or write a workspace row for it.
+    if (existingWorkspace?.isScratch) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+
     if (existingWorkspace?.folderId) {
       const folders = await hostClient().folders.getFolders.query();
       const folder = folders.find((f) => f.id === existingWorkspace.folderId);

packages/ui/src/features/task-detail/components/SuggestedPromptCard.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import type { Icon } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import type { ExecutionMode } from "@posthog/shared/domain-types";
+import { Flex, Text } from "@radix-ui/themes";
+
+export interface SuggestedPrompt {
+  label: string;
+  description: string;
+  prompt: string;
+  icon: Icon;
+  color: string;
+  /** Task mode to apply when this suggestion is selected. */
+  mode: ExecutionMode;
+}
+
+export interface SuggestedPromptCardProps {
+  suggestion: SuggestedPrompt;
+  onSelect: () => void;
+}
+
+// A starter-prompt card for the channels new-task screen. Mirrors the look of
+// SuggestedTaskCard (icon badge + title + description), but clicking it fills
+// the composer instead of opening a detail dialog.
+export function SuggestedPromptCard({
+  suggestion,
+  onSelect,
+}: SuggestedPromptCardProps) {
+  const PromptIcon = suggestion.icon;
+
+  return (
+    <button
+      type="button"
+      onClick={onSelect}
+      className="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-start gap-2.5 rounded-xl border border-(--gray-a3) bg-(--color-panel-solid) px-2.5 py-2 text-left shadow-[0_1px_3px_rgba(0,0,0,0.04),0_1px_2px_rgba(0,0,0,0.02)] transition-[border-color,box-shadow] hover:border-(--card-hover-border) hover:shadow-[0_2px_8px_rgba(0,0,0,0.06),0_1px_3px_rgba(0,0,0,0.04)]"
+      style={
+        {
+          "--card-hover-border": `var(--${suggestion.color}-6)`,
+        } as React.CSSProperties
+      }
+    >
+      <Flex
+        align="center"
+        justify="center"
+        className="h-6 w-6 shrink-0 rounded-md"
+        style={{ backgroundColor: `var(--${suggestion.color}-3)` }}
+      >
+        <PromptIcon
+          size={14}
+          weight="duotone"
+          color={`var(--${suggestion.color}-9)`}
+        />
+      </Flex>
+      <Flex direction="column" gap="1" className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+        <Text
+          size="1"
+          weight="medium"
+          className="min-w-0 truncate text-(--gray-12)"
+        >
+          {suggestion.label}
+        </Text>
+        <Text size="1" className="line-clamp-1 text-(--gray-11) leading-normal">
+          {suggestion.description}
+        </Text>
+      </Flex>
+    </button>
+  );
+}

packages/ui/src/features/task-detail/components/TaskInput.tsx

@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ import { useInitialDirectoryFromFolderId } from "../hooks/useInitialDirectoryFro
 import { usePreviewConfig } from "../hooks/usePreviewConfig";
 import { useTaskCreation } from "../hooks/useTaskCreation";
 import { CloudGithubMissingNotice } from "./CloudGithubMissingNotice";
+import {
+  type SuggestedPrompt,
+  SuggestedPromptCard,
+} from "./SuggestedPromptCard";
 import { SuggestedTasksPanel } from "./SuggestedTasksPanel";
 import { type WorkspaceMode, WorkspaceModeSelect } from "./WorkspaceModeSelect";
 
@@ -77,6 +81,12 @@ interface TaskInputProps {
    * needs a repo and attaches one lazily.
    */
   allowNoRepo?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Channels new-task starter prompts. When provided, a column of suggestion
+   * cards renders below the input while it's empty; clicking one fills the
+   * composer. Channels-only — omitted on the /code new-task screen.
+   */
+  suggestions?: SuggestedPrompt[];
 }
 
 export function TaskInput({
@@ -91,6 +101,7 @@ export function TaskInput({
   channelContext,
   channelName,
   allowNoRepo,
+  suggestions,
 }: TaskInputProps = {}) {
   const cloudRegion = useAuthStateValue((s) => s.cloudRegion);
   const trpc = useHostTRPC();
@@ -532,6 +543,7 @@ export function TaskInput({
     setAdditionalDirectories,
   } = useTaskCreation({
     editorRef,
+    sessionId,
     selectedDirectory,
     selectedRepository: selectedCloudRepository,
     githubUserIntegrationId: selectedGithubUserIntegrationId,
@@ -674,7 +686,14 @@ export function TaskInput({
         <DotPatternBackground className="h-[100.333%]" />
         <div
           style={{
-            top: "50%",
+            // Raise the input when the suggestion cards are shown so the longer
+            // list below it isn't squished against the bottom of the viewport.
+            // Tied to the same condition as the cards (which hide once the
+            // editor has content) so the input recenters as the user types.
+            top:
+              suggestions && suggestions.length > 0 && editorIsEmpty
+                ? "38%"
+                : "50%",
             transform: "translate(-50%, -50%)",
           }}
           className="absolute left-1/2 z-[1] flex w-[calc(100%-2rem)] max-w-[600px] flex-col gap-2"
@@ -922,7 +941,47 @@ export function TaskInput({
               )}
           </Flex>
           <div className="absolute top-full right-0 left-0 z-10">
-            <SuggestedTasksPanel />
+            {suggestions ? (
+              suggestions.length > 0 &&
+              editorIsEmpty && (
+                <div className="mt-6 flex flex-col gap-2">
+                  <Text
+                    size="1"
+                    weight="medium"
+                    className="px-2.5 text-(--gray-11)"
+                  >
+                    Suggestions
+                  </Text>
+                  <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2">
+                    {suggestions.map((suggestion) => (
+                      <SuggestedPromptCard
+                        key={suggestion.label}
+                        suggestion={suggestion}
+                        onSelect={() => {
+                          // Use pending content (not setContent) so the
+                          // multi-line template — intro + "User input:" fill-in
+                          // lines — keeps its line breaks; focuses at the end.
+                          useDraftStore
+                            .getState()
+                            .actions.setPendingContent(sessionId, {
+                              segments: [
+                                { type: "text", text: suggestion.prompt },
+                              ],
+                            });
+                          // Bug/feature suggestions start in plan mode; the
+                          // analysis ones start in auto mode.
+                          if (isValidConfigValue(modeOption, suggestion.mode)) {
+                            setConfigOption(modeOption.id, suggestion.mode);
+                          }
+                        }}
+                      />
+                    ))}
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )
+            ) : (
+              <SuggestedTasksPanel />
+            )}
           </div>
         </div>
       </Flex>

packages/ui/src/features/task-detail/hooks/useTaskCreation.ts

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
   type EditorContent,
   extractFilePaths,
 } from "../../message-editor/content";
+import { useDraftStore } from "../../message-editor/draftStore";
 import { useTaskInputHistoryStore } from "../../message-editor/taskInputHistoryStore";
 import type { EditorHandle } from "../../message-editor/types";
 import { useSettingsStore } from "../../settings/settingsStore";
@@ -47,6 +48,8 @@ const log = logger.scope("task-creation");
 
 interface UseTaskCreationOptions {
   editorRef: React.RefObject<EditorHandle | null>;
+  /** Draft-store session id for the editor; cleared on successful creation. */
+  sessionId: string;
   selectedDirectory: string;
   selectedRepository?: string | null;
   githubIntegrationId?: number;
@@ -132,6 +135,7 @@ async function trackTaskCreated(
 
 export function useTaskCreation({
   editorRef,
+  sessionId,
   selectedDirectory,
   selectedRepository,
   githubIntegrationId,
@@ -290,22 +294,34 @@ export function useTaskCreation({
             if (pendingTaskKey) {
               pendingTaskPromptStoreApi.move(pendingTaskKey, output.task.id);
             }
+            // Clear the draft BEFORE navigating away. When onTaskCreated
+            // navigates (e.g. channels), it can synchronously unmount/destroy
+            // the editor; clearing afterwards would throw in clearContent()
+            // before the persisted draft is wiped, leaving stale text behind.
+            if (!pendingTaskKey && !contentOverride) {
+              editor.clear();
+            }
             if (onTaskCreated) {
               onTaskCreated(output.task);
             } else {
               void openTask(output.task);
             }
             useTourStore.getState().completeTour(createFirstTaskTour.id);
-            if (!pendingTaskKey && !contentOverride) {
-              editor.clear();
-            }
             // Pre-flight already ran above for cloud; skip the service's duplicate check.
           },
           { skipCloudUsagePreflight: true },
         );
 
         if (result.success) {
           setAdditionalDirectoriesOverride(null);
+          // Guarantee the editor draft is wiped on success. editor.clear()
+          // above only runs inside the onTaskReady callback (and after it
+          // navigates the editor may be torn down); clearing the persisted
+          // draft directly here always runs and survives the unmount, so a
+          // submitted prompt never reappears on the next new task.
+          if (!contentOverride) {
+            useDraftStore.getState().actions.setDraft(sessionId, null);
+          }
           void trackTaskCreated(input, selectedDirectory, hostClient);
           // Repo-less channel tasks create no workspace row (the agent runs in
           // a scratch dir surfaced as a synthetic workspace), so the normal
@@ -355,6 +371,7 @@ export function useTaskCreation({
       canSubmit,
       canSubmitBase,
       editorRef,
+      sessionId,
       selectedDirectory,
       selectedRepository,
       githubIntegrationId,

packages/ui/src/router/routes/website/new.tsx

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { CHANNEL_TASK_SUGGESTIONS } from "@posthog/ui/features/canvas/channelTaskSuggestions";
 import { TaskInput } from "@posthog/ui/features/task-detail/components/TaskInput";
 import { useAppView } from "@posthog/ui/router/useAppView";
 import { createFileRoute } from "@tanstack/react-router";
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ function WebsiteNewTaskRoute() {
       initialModel={view.initialModel}
       initialMode={view.initialMode}
       reportAssociation={view.reportAssociation}
+      suggestions={CHANNEL_TASK_SUGGESTIONS}
     />
   );
 }