From c39004063ea1f07cf18b560715a0d12b96a0987a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: can1357 <me@can.ac>
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:58:25 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] feat(coding-agent): formatted multiline descriptions and
 tasks in subagent HUD

- Replace newline characters with visual indicators in subagent HUD descriptions and task previews.
- Add unit tests verifying multiline description and task rendering.
---
 .../src/modes/interactive-mode.ts             |  6 +++--
 .../test/subagent-hud-render.test.ts          | 27 ++++++++++++++++++-
 2 files changed, 30 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive-mode.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive-mode.ts
index fc2ebb6f9..a114559a2 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive-mode.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive-mode.ts
@@ -488,13 +488,15 @@ export function renderSubagentHudLines(sessions: ObservableSession[], columns: n
 						TRUNCATE_LENGTHS.SHORT,
 						columns - visibleWidth(displayId) - visibleWidth(Bun.stripANSI(badge)) - 10,
 					);
-					line += `${theme.fg("accent", ":")} ${theme.fg("accent", truncateToWidth(replaceTabs(distinctDescription), budget))}`;
+					const formatted = replaceTabs(distinctDescription).replace(/\s*[\r\n]+\s*/g, " ↵ ");
+					line += `${theme.fg("accent", ":")} ${theme.fg("accent", truncateToWidth(formatted, budget))}`;
 				} else {
 					// No spawn description: fall back to a muted task preview, same as
 					// the inline task rows when a row has no label.
 					const taskPreview = session.progress?.task?.trim();
 					if (taskPreview && !labelEchoesHandle(session.id, taskPreview)) {
-						line += ` ${theme.fg("muted", truncateToWidth(replaceTabs(taskPreview), TRUNCATE_LENGTHS.SHORT))}`;
+						const formatted = replaceTabs(taskPreview).replace(/\s*[\r\n]+\s*/g, " ↵ ");
+						line += ` ${theme.fg("muted", truncateToWidth(formatted, TRUNCATE_LENGTHS.SHORT))}`;
 					}
 				}
 				return line;
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/subagent-hud-render.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/subagent-hud-render.test.ts
index e2086fc15..79a0faad6 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/subagent-hud-render.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/subagent-hud-render.test.ts
@@ -182,8 +182,33 @@ describe("subagent HUD lines", () => {
 			makeSession({ id: "Worker", progress: makeProgress({ id: "Worker", task: "Investigate flaky CI on macOS" }) }),
 		]);
 		expect(fromTask).toContain("Worker Investigate flaky CI on macOS");
-	});
 
+		const multiLineTask = render([
+			makeSession({
+				id: "ReviewShell",
+				agent: "scout",
+				progress: makeProgress({
+					id: "ReviewShell",
+					agent: "scout",
+					task: "Complete assignment thoroughly:\n\n# Target\nFiles: src/foo.ts",
+				}),
+			}),
+		]);
+		expect(multiLineTask).toContain("ReviewShell");
+		expect(multiLineTask).toContain("Complete assignment thoroughly: ↵ # Tar");
+		expect(multiLineTask).not.toContain("\n# Target");
+
+		const multiLineDesc = render([
+			makeSession({
+				id: "ReviewShell",
+				agent: "scout",
+				description: "First line\n\nSecond line",
+			}),
+		]);
+		expect(multiLineDesc).toContain("ReviewShell");
+		expect(multiLineDesc).toContain("First line ↵ Second line");
+		expect(multiLineDesc).not.toContain("\nSecond line");
+	});
 	it("hides non-detached spawns: sync task calls and eval agent() helpers", () => {
 		// Sync task spawn (parent blocked on the call) and eval `agent()` spawn
 		// (no detached flag at all) both stay off the HUD.