feat(kanban): modal create-task dialog, editable board project directory, comment workflow hint (#66333)

Community feedback (@LSanapalli on X): the inline task-creation form is
cramped inside a ~280px column with no way to resize; board-level
workspace defaults can't be changed after board creation; and users
believe they must block a task, comment, then unblock just to talk to
a worker.

- Create-task dialog: replace the inline column form with a centered
  modal (reuses hermes-kanban-dialog chrome, 36rem wide) with labeled
  fields for title, assignee, priority, skills, workspace kind/path,
  goal mode, and parent task. Same request shape; Enter/Escape behavior
  preserved; submit disabled until a title is present.
- Board settings dialog: new Settings button in the board switcher opens
  a modal to edit display name, description, and the board-level default
  project directory (default_workdir). PATCH /boards/:slug now accepts
  default_workdir (validated absolute existing dir; empty string clears;
  omitted leaves unchanged) and returns the recomputed
  default_workspace_kind so task-creation defaults follow immediately.
- Comment workflow hint: the task drawer's comment box now explains that
  comments land on the thread immediately and reach the worker on its
  next run/kanban_show() — no block/unblock dance needed — with a fuller
  tooltip for when blocking IS the right tool.
- i18n: new keys optional in the kanban namespace with English fallbacks
  in the bundle (established pattern; avoids churning 17 locale files).
- Docs: dashboard section updated for the dialog + Settings button.

plugins/kanban/dashboard/dist/index.js

@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@
     const [board, setBoard] = useState(() => readSelectedBoard() || null);
     const [boardList, setBoardList] = useState([]);      // [{slug, name, counts, ...}]
     const [showNewBoard, setShowNewBoard] = useState(false);
+    const [showBoardSettings, setShowBoardSettings] = useState(false);
 
     const [kanbanBoard, setKanbanBoard] = useState(null);  // the grid data
     // Alias so the rest of the function can keep using `board` semantically
@@ -971,6 +972,20 @@
       });
     }, [loadBoardList, switchBoard, board]);
 
+    // PATCH board metadata (name / description / default project directory).
+    // Refreshes the board list so InlineCreate's workspace defaults pick up
+    // the new default_workdir immediately.
+    const updateBoard = useCallback(function (slug, payload) {
+      return SDK.fetchJSON(`${API}/boards/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}`, {
+        method: "PATCH",
+        headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+        body: JSON.stringify(payload),
+      }).then(function (res) {
+        loadBoardList();
+        return res;
+      });
+    }, [loadBoardList]);
+
     const deleteBoard = useCallback(function (slug) {
       if (!slug || slug === "default") return Promise.resolve();
       return SDK.fetchJSON(`${API}/boards/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}`, {
@@ -1034,6 +1049,7 @@
           boardList: boardList,
           onSwitch: switchBoard,
           onNewClick: function () { setShowNewBoard(true); },
+          onSettingsClick: function () { setShowBoardSettings(true); },
           onDeleteBoard: deleteBoard,
         }),
         showNewBoard ? h(NewBoardDialog, {
@@ -1042,6 +1058,14 @@
             return createNewBoard(payload).then(function () { setShowNewBoard(false); });
           },
         }) : null,
+        showBoardSettings ? h(BoardSettingsDialog, {
+          board: boardList.find(function (item) { return item.slug === board; })
+            || { slug: board },
+          onCancel: function () { setShowBoardSettings(false); },
+          onSave: function (payload) {
+            return updateBoard(board, payload).then(function () { setShowBoardSettings(false); });
+          },
+        }) : null,
         h(OrchestrationPanel, null),
         h(AttentionStrip, {
           boardData,
@@ -1831,6 +1855,13 @@
           size: "sm",
           className: "h-7 text-xs",
         }, tx(t, "newBoard", "+ New board")),
+        h(Button, {
+          onClick: props.onSettingsClick,
+          size: "sm",
+          className: "h-7 text-xs",
+          title: tx(t, "boardSettingsTitle",
+            "Board settings — name, description, and the default project directory new tasks inherit"),
+        }, tx(t, "boardSettings", "Settings")),
         h(DocsLink, null),
       );
     }
@@ -1860,6 +1891,13 @@
         ),
         h("div", { className: "flex-1" }),
         h(DocsLink, null),
+        h(Button, {
+          onClick: props.onSettingsClick,
+          size: "sm",
+          className: "h-8",
+          title: tx(t, "boardSettingsTitle",
+            "Board settings — name, description, and the default project directory new tasks inherit"),
+        }, tx(t, "boardSettings", "Settings")),
         h(Button, {
           onClick: props.onNewClick,
           size: "sm",
@@ -2028,6 +2066,102 @@
     );
   }
 
+  // Board settings dialog — edit display name, description, and the
+  // board-level default project directory (default_workdir). The workdir
+  // is the board-level setting every new task's workspace kind/path is
+  // seeded from; task-level values in the create dialog override it.
+  function BoardSettingsDialog(props) {
+    const { t } = useI18n();
+    const b = props.board || {};
+    const [name, setName] = useState(b.name || "");
+    const [description, setDescription] = useState(b.description || "");
+    const [projectDirectory, setProjectDirectory] = useState(b.default_workdir || "");
+    const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
+    const [err, setErr] = useState(null);
+
+    function onSubmit(ev) {
+      if (ev) ev.preventDefault();
+      setSubmitting(true);
+      setErr(null);
+      // Send default_workdir unconditionally: "" clears it on the server,
+      // a path sets it (validated server-side: absolute + existing dir).
+      props.onSave({
+        name: name.trim() || undefined,
+        description: description.trim() || undefined,
+        default_workdir: projectDirectory.trim(),
+      }).catch(function (e) {
+        setErr(parseApiErrorMessage(e));
+        setSubmitting(false);
+      });
+    }
+
+    return h("div", {
+      className: "hermes-kanban-dialog-backdrop",
+      onClick: function (e) { if (e.target === e.currentTarget) props.onCancel(); },
+      onKeyDown: function (e) { if (e.key === "Escape") props.onCancel(); },
+    },
+      h("form", {
+        className: "hermes-kanban-dialog",
+        onSubmit: onSubmit,
+      },
+        h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-dialog-title" },
+          tx(t, "boardSettingsTitleFor", "Board settings — {name}",
+            { name: b.name || b.slug || "default" })),
+        h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-3" },
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            h(Label, { className: "text-xs" }, tx(t, "displayName", "Display name")),
+            h(Input, {
+              value: name,
+              onChange: function (e) { setName(e.target.value); },
+              className: "h-8",
+            }),
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            h(Label, { className: "text-xs" }, tx(t, "description", "Description")),
+            h(Input, {
+              value: description,
+              onChange: function (e) { setDescription(e.target.value); },
+              className: "h-8",
+            }),
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            h(Label, { className: "text-xs" },
+              tx(t, "projectDirectory", "Project directory")),
+            h(Input, {
+              value: projectDirectory,
+              onChange: function (e) { setProjectDirectory(e.target.value); },
+              placeholder: tx(t, "projectDirectoryPlaceholder",
+                "Absolute path to the project folder"),
+              title: tx(t, "projectDirectoryHelp",
+                "Git projects use preserved worktrees. Other folders use the directory directly. Leave blank only for temporary work."),
+              className: "h-8",
+              autoCapitalize: "none",
+              autoCorrect: "off",
+              spellCheck: false,
+            }),
+            h("div", { className: "text-xs text-muted-foreground" },
+              tx(t, "projectDirectoryOverrideHint",
+                "New tasks inherit this as their workspace default; each task can still override it in the create dialog.")),
+          ),
+        ),
+        err ? h("div", { className: "text-xs text-destructive mt-2" }, err) : null,
+        h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-dialog-actions" },
+          h(Button, {
+            type: "button",
+            onClick: props.onCancel,
+            size: "sm",
+            disabled: submitting,
+          }, tx(t, "cancel", "Cancel")),
+          h(Button, {
+            type: "submit",
+            size: "sm",
+            disabled: submitting,
+          }, submitting ? tx(t, "saving", "Saving…") : tx(t, "save", "Save")),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
   // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Toolbar
   // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -2763,7 +2897,12 @@
   }
 
   // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  // Inline create (with parent selector)
+  // Create-task dialog (modal, with parent selector)
+  //
+  // Launched from a column's [+] button. Was an inline form squeezed into
+  // the ~280px column (8 fields, unlabeled, no room to breathe); now a
+  // centered modal reusing the hermes-kanban-dialog chrome so the form is
+  // resizable-window friendly and every field has a visible label.
   // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   function InlineCreate(props) {
@@ -2832,122 +2971,165 @@
       : tx(t, "workspacePathOptional",
           "repository path (optional when the board has a workdir)");
 
-    return h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-inline-create" },
-      h("textarea", {
-        value: title,
-        onChange: function (e) { setTitle(e.target.value); },
-        onKeyDown: function (e) {
-          if (e.key === "Enter" && !e.shiftKey) { e.preventDefault(); submit(); }
-          if (e.key === "Escape") props.onCancel();
-        },
-        placeholder: props.columnName === "triage"
-          ? tx(t, "triagePlaceholder", "Rough idea — AI will spec it…")
-          : tx(t, "taskTitlePlaceholder", "New task title…"),
-        autoFocus: true,
-        className: "text-sm min-h-[2rem] max-h-32 resize-y w-full border border-input bg-transparent px-2 py-1 rounded-md focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-ring",
-        rows: 2,
-      }),
-      h("div", { className: "flex gap-2" },
-        h(Input, {
-          value: assignee,
-          onChange: function (e) { setAssignee(e.target.value); },
-          placeholder: props.columnName === "triage"
-            ? tx(t, "specifier", "specifier")
-            : tx(t, "assigneePlaceholder", "assignee"),
-          className: "h-7 text-xs flex-1",
-          title: props.columnName === "triage"
-            ? "Hermes profile that will spec this task (default: the dispatcher's configured specifier). Leave blank to let the dispatcher pick."
-            : "Hermes profile to assign. Leave blank and the dispatcher will pick from available profiles when the task is Ready.",
-          style: { textTransform: "none" },
-          autoCapitalize: "none",
-          autoCorrect: "off",
-          spellCheck: false,
-        }),
-        h(Input, {
-          type: "number",
-          value: priority,
-          onChange: function (e) { setPriority(e.target.value); },
-          placeholder: "pri",
-          className: "h-7 text-xs w-16",
-          title: "Priority. Higher-priority tasks are claimed first by the dispatcher. 0 = default.",
-        }),
-      ),
-      h(Input, {
-        value: skills,
-        onChange: function (e) { setSkills(e.target.value); },
-        placeholder: tx(t, "skillsPlaceholder",
-          "skills (optional, comma-separated): translation, github-code-review"),
-        title: "Force-load these skills into the worker (in addition to the built-in kanban-worker).",
-        className: "h-7 text-xs",
-      }),
-      h("div", { className: "flex gap-2 items-center" },
-        h("label", {
-          className: "flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs cursor-pointer select-none",
-          title: "Goal mode: the worker keeps going in the same session until a judge agrees the card is done (or the turn budget runs out, which blocks it for review). Best for open-ended cards one shot rarely finishes.",
-        },
-          h("input", {
-            type: "checkbox",
-            checked: goalMode,
-            onChange: function (e) { setGoalMode(!!e.target.checked); },
-            className: "h-3.5 w-3.5 accent-current",
-          }),
-          tx(t, "goalMode", "goal mode"),
+    const fieldLabel = function (text, hint) {
+      return h(Label, { className: "text-xs" }, text,
+        hint ? h("span", { className: "text-muted-foreground" }, " ", hint) : null);
+    };
+
+    return h("div", {
+      className: "hermes-kanban-dialog-backdrop",
+      onClick: function (e) { if (e.target === e.currentTarget) props.onCancel(); },
+      onKeyDown: function (e) { if (e.key === "Escape") props.onCancel(); },
+    },
+      h("form", {
+        className: "hermes-kanban-dialog hermes-kanban-create-dialog",
+        onSubmit: function (e) { e.preventDefault(); submit(); },
+      },
+        h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-dialog-title" },
+          tx(t, "newTaskTitle", "New task — {column}",
+            { column: getColumnLabel(t, props.columnName) || props.columnName })),
+        h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-3" },
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            fieldLabel(tx(t, "taskTitleLabel", "Title")),
+            h("textarea", {
+              value: title,
+              onChange: function (e) { setTitle(e.target.value); },
+              onKeyDown: function (e) {
+                if (e.key === "Enter" && !e.shiftKey) { e.preventDefault(); submit(); }
+              },
+              placeholder: props.columnName === "triage"
+                ? tx(t, "triagePlaceholder", "Rough idea — AI will spec it…")
+                : tx(t, "taskTitlePlaceholder", "New task title…"),
+              autoFocus: true,
+              className: "text-sm min-h-[3rem] max-h-48 resize-y w-full border border-input bg-transparent px-2 py-1 rounded-md focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-ring",
+              rows: 3,
+            }),
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex gap-2" },
+            h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1 flex-1" },
+              fieldLabel(props.columnName === "triage"
+                ? tx(t, "specifier", "specifier")
+                : tx(t, "assigneeLabel", "Assignee"),
+                tx(t, "assigneeLabelHint", "(blank = dispatcher picks)")),
+              h(Input, {
+                value: assignee,
+                onChange: function (e) { setAssignee(e.target.value); },
+                placeholder: props.columnName === "triage"
+                  ? tx(t, "specifier", "specifier")
+                  : tx(t, "assigneePlaceholder", "assignee"),
+                className: "h-8 text-sm",
+                title: props.columnName === "triage"
+                  ? "Hermes profile that will spec this task (default: the dispatcher's configured specifier). Leave blank to let the dispatcher pick."
+                  : "Hermes profile to assign. Leave blank and the dispatcher will pick from available profiles when the task is Ready.",
+                style: { textTransform: "none" },
+                autoCapitalize: "none",
+                autoCorrect: "off",
+                spellCheck: false,
+              }),
+            ),
+            h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1 w-20" },
+              fieldLabel(tx(t, "priority", "Priority")),
+              h(Input, {
+                type: "number",
+                value: priority,
+                onChange: function (e) { setPriority(e.target.value); },
+                placeholder: "pri",
+                className: "h-8 text-sm",
+                title: "Priority. Higher-priority tasks are claimed first by the dispatcher. 0 = default.",
+              }),
+            ),
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            fieldLabel(tx(t, "skillsLabel", "Skills"),
+              tx(t, "skillsLabelHint", "(optional, comma-separated)")),
+            h(Input, {
+              value: skills,
+              onChange: function (e) { setSkills(e.target.value); },
+              placeholder: tx(t, "skillsPlaceholder",
+                "skills (optional, comma-separated): translation, github-code-review"),
+              title: "Force-load these skills into the worker (in addition to the built-in kanban-worker).",
+              className: "h-8 text-sm",
+            }),
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            fieldLabel(tx(t, "workspace", "Workspace")),
+            h("div", { className: "flex gap-2" },
+              h(Select, Object.assign({
+                value: workspaceKind,
+                title: "Choose whether task files are temporary or preserved after completion.",
+                className: "h-8 text-sm flex-1",
+              }, selectChangeHandler(setWorkspaceKind)),
+                h(SelectOption, { value: "scratch" },
+                  tx(t, "workspaceScratch", "Temporary — deleted on completion")),
+                h(SelectOption, { value: "worktree" },
+                  tx(t, "workspaceWorktree", "Git worktree — preserved")),
+                h(SelectOption, { value: "dir" },
+                  tx(t, "workspaceDir", "Directory — preserved")),
+              ),
+              showPathInput ? h(Input, {
+                value: workspacePath,
+                onChange: function (e) { setWorkspacePath(e.target.value); },
+                placeholder: pathPlaceholder,
+                className: "h-8 text-sm flex-1",
+              }) : null,
+            ),
+            workspaceKind === "scratch" ? h("div", {
+              className: "text-xs text-destructive",
+              role: "alert",
+            }, tx(t, "workspaceScratchWarning",
+              "This workspace and any files left in it are deleted when the task completes.")) : null,
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            fieldLabel(tx(t, "parentLabel", "Parent task"),
+              tx(t, "parentLabelHint", "(child stays blocked until the parent is done)")),
+            h(Select, Object.assign({
+              value: parent,
+              className: "h-8 text-sm",
+              title: "Optional parent task. A child stays blocked in its current column until the parent is marked done.",
+            }, selectChangeHandler(setParent)),
+              h(SelectOption, { value: "" }, tx(t, "noParent", "— no parent —")),
+              (props.allTasks || []).map(function (task) {
+                return h(SelectOption, { key: task.id, value: task.id },
+                  `${task.id} — ${(task.title || "").slice(0, 50)}`);
+              }),
+            ),
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex gap-2 items-center" },
+            h("label", {
+              className: "flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs cursor-pointer select-none",
+              title: "Goal mode: the worker keeps going in the same session until a judge agrees the card is done (or the turn budget runs out, which blocks it for review). Best for open-ended cards one shot rarely finishes.",
+            },
+              h("input", {
+                type: "checkbox",
+                checked: goalMode,
+                onChange: function (e) { setGoalMode(!!e.target.checked); },
+                className: "h-3.5 w-3.5 accent-current",
+              }),
+              tx(t, "goalMode", "goal mode"),
+            ),
+            goalMode ? h(Input, {
+              type: "number",
+              value: goalMaxTurns,
+              onChange: function (e) { setGoalMaxTurns(e.target.value); },
+              placeholder: tx(t, "goalMaxTurns", "max turns (default 20)"),
+              className: "h-8 text-sm w-44",
+              title: "Turn budget for the goal loop. Blank = backend default (20).",
+              min: 1,
+            }) : null,
+          ),
         ),
-        goalMode ? h(Input, {
-          type: "number",
-          value: goalMaxTurns,
-          onChange: function (e) { setGoalMaxTurns(e.target.value); },
-          placeholder: tx(t, "goalMaxTurns", "max turns (default 20)"),
-          className: "h-7 text-xs w-40",
-          title: "Turn budget for the goal loop. Blank = backend default (20).",
-          min: 1,
-        }) : null,
-      ),
-      h("div", { className: "flex gap-2" },
-        h(Select, Object.assign({
-          value: workspaceKind,
-          title: "Choose whether task files are temporary or preserved after completion.",
-          className: "h-7 text-xs flex-1",
-        }, selectChangeHandler(setWorkspaceKind)),
-          h(SelectOption, { value: "scratch" },
-            tx(t, "workspaceScratch", "Temporary — deleted on completion")),
-          h(SelectOption, { value: "worktree" },
-            tx(t, "workspaceWorktree", "Git worktree — preserved")),
-          h(SelectOption, { value: "dir" },
-            tx(t, "workspaceDir", "Directory — preserved")),
+        h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-dialog-actions" },
+          h(Button, {
+            type: "button",
+            onClick: props.onCancel,
+            size: "sm",
+          }, tx(t, "cancel", "Cancel")),
+          h(Button, {
+            type: "submit",
+            size: "sm",
+            disabled: !title.trim(),
+          }, tx(t, "create", "Create")),
         ),
-        showPathInput ? h(Input, {
-          value: workspacePath,
-          onChange: function (e) { setWorkspacePath(e.target.value); },
-          placeholder: pathPlaceholder,
-          className: "h-7 text-xs flex-1",
-        }) : null,
-      ),
-      workspaceKind === "scratch" ? h("div", {
-        className: "text-xs text-destructive",
-        role: "alert",
-      }, tx(t, "workspaceScratchWarning",
-        "This workspace and any files left in it are deleted when the task completes.")) : null,
-      h(Select, Object.assign({
-        value: parent,
-        className: "h-7 text-xs",
-        title: "Optional parent task. A child stays blocked in its current column until the parent is marked done.",
-      }, selectChangeHandler(setParent)),
-        h(SelectOption, { value: "" }, tx(t, "noParent", "— no parent —")),
-        (props.allTasks || []).map(function (task) {
-          return h(SelectOption, { key: task.id, value: task.id },
-            `${task.id} — ${(task.title || "").slice(0, 50)}`);
-        }),
-      ),
-      h("div", { className: "flex gap-2" },
-        h(Button, {
-          onClick: submit,
-          size: "sm",
-        }, "Create"),
-        h(Button, {
-          onClick: props.onCancel,
-          size: "sm",
-        }, tx(t, "cancel", "Cancel")),
       ),
     );
   }
@@ -3228,22 +3410,33 @@
             if (props.onOpenTask) props.onOpenTask(taskId);
           },
         }) : null,
-        data ? h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-drawer-comment-row" },
-          h(Input, {
-            value: newComment,
-            onChange: function (e) { setNewComment(e.target.value); },
-            onKeyDown: function (e) {
-              if (e.key === "Enter" && !e.shiftKey) {
-                e.preventDefault(); handleComment();
-              }
-            },
-            placeholder: tx(t, "addComment", "Add a comment… (Enter to submit)"),
-            className: "h-8 text-sm flex-1",
-          }),
-          h(Button, {
-            onClick: handleComment,
-            size: "sm",
-          }, tx(t, "comment", "Comment")),
+        data ? h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-drawer-comment-foot" },
+          h("div", {
+            className: "hermes-kanban-comment-hint text-xs text-muted-foreground",
+            title: tx(t, "commentHintTitle",
+              "Comments are the channel for talking to a task's worker. They land on the thread immediately — no need to block the task first. A running worker picks the thread up on its next kanban_show() or respawn; blocking is only for when you want the worker to STOP and wait for your input."),
+          },
+            "ⓘ ",
+            tx(t, "commentHint",
+              "Comments reach the worker on its next run or kanban_show() — no need to block the task first."),
+          ),
+          h("div", { className: "hermes-kanban-drawer-comment-row" },
+            h(Input, {
+              value: newComment,
+              onChange: function (e) { setNewComment(e.target.value); },
+              onKeyDown: function (e) {
+                if (e.key === "Enter" && !e.shiftKey) {
+                  e.preventDefault(); handleComment();
+                }
+              },
+              placeholder: tx(t, "addComment", "Add a comment… (Enter to submit)"),
+              className: "h-8 text-sm flex-1",
+            }),
+            h(Button, {
+              onClick: handleComment,
+              size: "sm",
+            }, tx(t, "comment", "Comment")),
+          ),
         ) : null,
       ),
     );

plugins/kanban/dashboard/dist/style.css

@@ -311,22 +311,12 @@
   margin-left: auto;
 }
 
-/* ---- Inline create --------------------------------------------------- */
+/* ---- Create-task dialog ----------------------------------------------- */
 
-.hermes-kanban-inline-create {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 0.35rem;
-  padding: 0.5rem;
-  margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
-  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-card) 70%, transparent);
-  border: 1px dashed var(--color-border);
-  border-radius: var(--radius-sm, 0.25rem);
-}
-
-.hermes-kanban-inline-create > .flex.gap-2:last-child > button:first-of-type {
-  flex: 1;
-  min-width: 0;
+/* Wider than the base dialog so the workspace/parent selectors and the
+   labeled two-column rows breathe; still clamped to the viewport. */
+.hermes-kanban-create-dialog {
+  width: 36rem;
 }
 
 /* ---- Drawer (task detail side panel) --------------------------------- */
@@ -576,6 +566,18 @@
   max-width: 280px;
 }
 
+/* Comment footer = workflow hint + input row. The border-top lives on the
+   wrapper so the hint sits inside the same visual block as the input. */
+.hermes-kanban-drawer-comment-foot {
+  border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-card) 90%, transparent);
+}
+
+.hermes-kanban-comment-hint {
+  padding: 0.45rem 0.75rem 0;
+  cursor: help;
+}
+
 .hermes-kanban-drawer-comment-row {
   display: flex;
   gap: 0.4rem;
@@ -583,8 +585,6 @@
   /* Keep the comment input clear of the mobile browser nav bar / home
      indicator by extending the bottom padding with the safe-area inset. */
   padding-bottom: max(0.55rem, calc(0.55rem + env(safe-area-inset-bottom)));
-  border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border);
-  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-card) 90%, transparent);
 }
 
 .hermes-kanban-count {

plugins/kanban/dashboard/plugin_api.py

@@ -1990,6 +1990,9 @@ class RenameBoardBody(BaseModel):
     description: Optional[str] = None
     icon: Optional[str] = None
     color: Optional[str] = None
+    # Board-level default project directory for new tasks. ``None`` =
+    # leave unchanged; empty string = clear; a path = validate + set.
+    default_workdir: Optional[str] = None
 
 
 def _board_counts(slug: str) -> dict[str, int]:
@@ -2034,23 +2037,32 @@ def list_boards(include_archived: bool = Query(False)):
     return {"boards": boards, "current": current}
 
 
+def _validate_workdir(raw: str) -> str:
+    """Validate a board default_workdir value; return the resolved path.
+
+    Raises :class:`HTTPException` (400) for relative or non-directory
+    paths — mirroring the create-board contract.
+    """
+    requested = Path(raw).expanduser()
+    if not requested.is_absolute():
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=400,
+            detail="Project directory must be an absolute path.",
+        )
+    if not requested.is_dir():
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=400,
+            detail="Project directory must be an existing directory.",
+        )
+    return str(requested.resolve())
+
+
 @router.post("/boards")
 def create_board_endpoint(payload: CreateBoardBody):
     """Create a new board. Idempotent — ``slug`` collision returns existing."""
     default_workdir = None
     if payload.default_workdir:
-        requested = Path(payload.default_workdir).expanduser()
-        if not requested.is_absolute():
-            raise HTTPException(
-                status_code=400,
-                detail="Project directory must be an absolute path.",
-            )
-        if not requested.is_dir():
-            raise HTTPException(
-                status_code=400,
-                detail="Project directory must be an existing directory.",
-            )
-        default_workdir = str(requested.resolve())
+        default_workdir = _validate_workdir(payload.default_workdir)
     try:
         meta = kanban_db.create_board(
             payload.slug,
@@ -2073,20 +2085,28 @@ def create_board_endpoint(payload: CreateBoardBody):
 
 @router.patch("/boards/{slug}")
 def rename_board(slug: str, payload: RenameBoardBody):
-    """Update a board's display metadata (slug is immutable — create a new one to rename the directory)."""
+    """Update a board's display metadata + default project directory (slug is immutable — create a new one to rename the directory)."""
     try:
         normed = kanban_db._normalize_board_slug(slug)
     except ValueError as exc:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=str(exc))
     if not normed or not kanban_db.board_exists(normed):
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=f"board {slug!r} does not exist")
+    # default_workdir: None = leave unchanged; "" = clear; path = validate + set.
+    # write_board_metadata treats a falsy value as "clear", so pass "" through.
+    default_workdir: Optional[str] = None
+    if payload.default_workdir is not None:
+        raw = payload.default_workdir.strip()
+        default_workdir = _validate_workdir(raw) if raw else ""
     meta = kanban_db.write_board_metadata(
         normed,
         name=payload.name,
         description=payload.description,
         icon=payload.icon,
         color=payload.color,
+        default_workdir=default_workdir,
     )
+    meta["default_workspace_kind"] = _default_workspace_kind(meta)
     return {"board": meta}
 
 

tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py

@@ -173,6 +173,67 @@ def test_create_board_rejects_invalid_project_directory(client, path):
     assert "project directory" in response.json()["detail"].lower()
 
 
+def test_patch_board_sets_project_directory(client, tmp_path):
+    """Board-level default_workdir must be editable after creation."""
+    kb.create_board("late-config")
+    project_dir = tmp_path / "late-project"
+    project_dir.mkdir()
+
+    response = client.patch(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/boards/late-config",
+        json={"default_workdir": str(project_dir)},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200, response.text
+    board = response.json()["board"]
+    assert board["default_workdir"] == str(project_dir.resolve())
+    # The recommendation flips from scratch to a persistent kind so the
+    # create-task dialog's workspace default follows the board setting.
+    assert board["default_workspace_kind"] == "dir"
+    assert kb.read_board_metadata("late-config")["default_workdir"] == str(
+        project_dir.resolve()
+    )
+
+
+def test_patch_board_clears_project_directory(client, tmp_path):
+    """Empty string clears default_workdir; omitting it leaves it unchanged."""
+    project_dir = tmp_path / "was-configured"
+    project_dir.mkdir()
+    kb.create_board("clearable", default_workdir=str(project_dir))
+
+    # Omitted key → unchanged.
+    r = client.patch(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/boards/clearable",
+        json={"name": "Renamed Only"},
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    assert r.json()["board"]["default_workdir"] == str(project_dir.resolve())
+
+    # Empty string → cleared, recommendation falls back to scratch.
+    r = client.patch(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/boards/clearable",
+        json={"default_workdir": ""},
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    board = r.json()["board"]
+    assert not board.get("default_workdir")
+    assert board["default_workspace_kind"] == "scratch"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("path", ["relative/project", "~/missing-project"])
+def test_patch_board_rejects_invalid_project_directory(client, path):
+    """PATCH must validate default_workdir like board creation does."""
+    kb.create_board("strict")
+
+    response = client.patch(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/boards/strict",
+        json={"default_workdir": path},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 400
+    assert "project directory" in response.json()["detail"].lower()
+
+
 def test_new_board_dialog_collects_project_directory():
     """Board creation should expose the setting that controls safe task defaults."""
     bundle = (

web/src/i18n/en.ts

@@ -828,5 +828,25 @@ export const en: Translations = {
       "workspace path (optional, derived from assignee if blank)",
     logTruncated: "(showing last 100 KB — full log at ",
     logAt: ")",
+    newTaskTitle: "New task — {column}",
+    taskTitleLabel: "Title",
+    assigneeLabel: "Assignee",
+    assigneeLabelHint: "(blank = dispatcher picks)",
+    skillsLabel: "Skills",
+    skillsLabelHint: "(optional, comma-separated)",
+    parentLabel: "Parent task",
+    parentLabelHint: "(child stays blocked until the parent is done)",
+    create: "Create",
+    boardSettings: "Settings",
+    boardSettingsTitle:
+      "Board settings — name, description, and the default project directory new tasks inherit",
+    boardSettingsTitleFor: "Board settings — {name}",
+    projectDirectoryOverrideHint:
+      "New tasks inherit this as their workspace default; each task can still override it in the create dialog.",
+    saving: "Saving…",
+    commentHint:
+      "Comments reach the worker on its next run or kanban_show() — no need to block the task first.",
+    commentHintTitle:
+      "Comments are the channel for talking to a task's worker. They land on the thread immediately — no need to block the task first. A running worker picks the thread up on its next kanban_show() or respawn; blocking is only for when you want the worker to STOP and wait for your input.",
   },
 };

web/src/i18n/types.ts

@@ -826,5 +826,25 @@ export interface Translations {
     workspacePathOptional: string;
     logTruncated: string;
     logAt: string;
+    // Optional keys added with the modal create-task dialog, board-settings
+    // dialog, and comment workflow hint. Non-English locales fall back to
+    // the English literal in the plugin bundle until translated, so these
+    // are optional to avoid churning every locale file.
+    newTaskTitle?: string;
+    taskTitleLabel?: string;
+    assigneeLabel?: string;
+    assigneeLabelHint?: string;
+    skillsLabel?: string;
+    skillsLabelHint?: string;
+    parentLabel?: string;
+    parentLabelHint?: string;
+    create?: string;
+    boardSettings?: string;
+    boardSettingsTitle?: string;
+    boardSettingsTitleFor?: string;
+    projectDirectoryOverrideHint?: string;
+    saving?: string;
+    commentHint?: string;
+    commentHintTitle?: string;
   };
 }

website/docs/user-guide/features/kanban.md

@@ -147,6 +147,12 @@ matters.
   open.
 - **+ New board** — opens a modal asking for slug, display name,
   description, and icon. Option to auto-switch to the new board.
+- **Settings** — opens a modal for editing the current board's display
+  name, description, and **project directory** (`default_workdir`). The
+  project directory is the board-level workspace default every new task
+  inherits (git repo → preserved worktree, plain dir → preserved
+  directory); each task can still override it at creation time. Clearing
+  the field reverts new tasks to disposable scratch workspaces.
 - **Archive** — only shown on non-`default` boards. Confirms, then moves
   the board dir to `boards/_archived/`.
 
@@ -425,7 +431,7 @@ hermes kanban create "audit auth flow" \
     --skill github-code-review
 ```
 
-**From the dashboard**, type the skills comma-separated into the **skills** field of the inline create form.
+**From the dashboard**, type the skills comma-separated into the **skills** field of the create-task dialog.
 
 The dispatcher emits one `--skills <name>` flag per skill listed, so the worker spawns with all of them loaded on top of the auto-injected kanban guidance. The skill names must match skills that are actually installed on the assignee's profile (run `hermes skills list` to see what's available); there's no runtime install.
 
@@ -489,7 +495,7 @@ hermes dashboard        # "Kanban" tab appears in the nav, after "Skills"
 - **Per-profile lanes inside Running** — toolbar checkbox toggles sub-grouping of the Running column by assignee.
 - **Live updates via WebSocket** — the plugin tails the append-only `task_events` table on a short poll interval; the board reflects changes the instant any profile (CLI, gateway, or another dashboard tab) acts. Reloads are debounced so a burst of events triggers a single refetch.
 - **Drag-drop** cards between columns to change status. The drop sends `PATCH /api/plugins/kanban/tasks/:id` which routes through the same `kanban_db` code the CLI uses — the three surfaces can never drift. Moves into destructive statuses (`done`, `archived`, `blocked`) prompt for confirmation. Touch devices use a pointer-based fallback so the board is usable from a tablet.
-- **Inline create** — click `+` on any column header to type a title, assignee, priority, and (optionally) a parent task from a dropdown over every existing task. Press Enter to create the task, Shift+Enter to insert a newline in the title field, or Escape to cancel. Creating from the Triage column automatically parks the new task in triage.
+- **Create-task dialog** — click `+` on any column header to open a modal with labeled fields: title, assignee, priority, skills, workspace kind/path (seeded from the board's project directory; per-task override), goal mode, and (optionally) a parent task from a dropdown over every existing task. Press Enter to create the task, Shift+Enter to insert a newline in the title field, or Escape to cancel. Creating from the Triage column automatically parks the new task in triage.
 - **Multi-select with bulk actions** — shift/ctrl-click a card or tick its checkbox to add it to the selection. A bulk action bar appears at the top with batch status transitions, archive, and reassign (by profile dropdown, or "(unassign)"). Destructive batches confirm first. Per-id partial failures are reported without aborting the rest.
 - **Click a card** (without shift/ctrl) to open a side drawer (Escape or click-outside closes) with:
   - **Editable title** — click the heading to rename.