chore(conductor): Add Manual UX Validation & Polish track to the strict execution queue

TASKS.md

@@ -127,4 +127,8 @@ To ensure smooth execution, execute the tracks in the following order:
 **Priority:** Low
 **Goal:** Replace `time.sleep()` with deterministic polling or `threading.Event()` triggers. Mark exceptionally heavy tests with `@pytest.mark.slow`.
 
+### 9. `manual_ux_validation_20260302`
+**Priority:** Medium
+**Goal:** Highly interactive human-in-the-loop track to review and adjust GUI UX, animations, popups, and layout structures based on slow-interval simulation feedback.
+
 

conductor/tracks.md

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ This file tracks all major tracks for the project. Each track has its own detail
 ---
 
 ## Current Tracks (Strict Execution Queue)
+
 *The following tracks MUST be executed in this exact order to safely resolve tech debt before feature development.*
 
 1. [ ] **Track: Test Suite Stabilization & Consolidation** (Active/Next)
@@ -31,6 +32,9 @@ This file tracks all major tracks for the project. Each track has its own detail
 8. [ ] **Track: Test Suite Performance & Flakiness**
 *Link: [./tracks/test_suite_performance_and_flakiness_20260302/](./tracks/test_suite_performance_and_flakiness_20260302/)*
 
+9. [ ] **Track: Manual UX Validation & Polish**
+*Link: [./tracks/manual_ux_validation_20260302/](./tracks/manual_ux_validation_20260302/)*
+
 ---
 
 ## Completed / Archived

conductor/tracks/manual_ux_validation_20260302/index.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Track manual_ux_validation_20260302 Context
+
+- [Specification](./spec.md)
+- [Implementation Plan](./plan.md)
+- [Metadata](./metadata.json)

conductor/tracks/manual_ux_validation_20260302/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "track_id": "manual_ux_validation_20260302",
+  "type": "feature",
+  "status": "new",
+  "created_at": "2026-03-02T22:40:00Z",
+  "updated_at": "2026-03-02T22:40:00Z",
+  "description": "Highly interactive human-in-the-loop track to review and adjust GUI UX, animations, popups, and layout structures based on slow-interval simulation feedback."
+}

conductor/tracks/manual_ux_validation_20260302/plan.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Implementation Plan: Manual UX Validation & Polish (manual_ux_validation_20260302)
+
+## Phase 1: Observation Harness Setup
+- [ ] Task: Initialize MMA Environment `activate_skill mma-orchestrator`
+- [ ] Task: Create Slow-Mode Simulation
+    - [ ] WHERE: `simulation/` directory
+    - [ ] WHAT: Create `ux_observation_sim.py` that executes a standard workflow but with forced 3-5 second delays between actions to allow the user to watch the GUI respond.
+    - [ ] HOW: Use `ApiHookClient` with heavy `time.sleep()` blocks specifically designed for human observation (exempt from the fast-test rule).
+    - [ ] SAFETY: Keep this script strictly separate from the automated test suite.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 1: Observation Harness' (Protocol in workflow.md)
+
+## Phase 2: Structural Layout & Organization
+- [ ] Task: Interactive Layout Iteration
+    - [ ] WHERE: `gui_2.py`
+    - [ ] WHAT: Work live with the user to shift UI elements between Tabs, Panels, and Collapsing Headers. Focus on logical grouping of AI settings, operations, and logs.
+    - [ ] HOW: Rapidly apply changes requested by the user and re-render.
+    - [ ] SAFETY: Avoid breaking data bindings during structural moves.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 2: Layout Finalization' (Protocol in workflow.md)
+
+## Phase 3: Animations, Knobs & Visual Feedback
+- [ ] Task: Tune Blinking & State Animations
+    - [ ] WHERE: `gui_2.py`
+    - [ ] WHAT: Adjust `math.sin(time.time() * X)` frequencies, color vectors, and trigger conditions for "streaming", "working", and "error" states.
+    - [ ] HOW: Modify rendering loops based on user feedback.
+    - [ ] SAFETY: None.
+- [ ] Task: Refine Controls & Knobs
+    - [ ] WHERE: `gui_2.py`
+    - [ ] WHAT: Evaluate the placement and feel of sliders, combo boxes, and buttons. 
+    - [ ] HOW: Adjust ImGui spacing, item widths, and same-line alignments.
+    - [ ] SAFETY: None.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 3: Visual Polish' (Protocol in workflow.md)
+
+## Phase 4: Popup Behavior & Final Sign-off
+- [ ] Task: Implement Auto-Close Popups
+    - [ ] WHERE: `gui_2.py`
+    - [ ] WHAT: Review existing popups. Implement a timer mechanism (e.g., comparing `time.time()` against a trigger time) to automatically close specific informational popups after N seconds.
+    - [ ] HOW: Add timer state to `app_instance` and use `imgui.close_current_popup()` conditionally.
+    - [ ] SAFETY: Do not auto-close critical confirmation dialogs (like file write approvals).
+- [ ] Task: Final UX Sign-off
+    - [ ] Ask the user for a final comprehensive review of the application's feel.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 4: Final Sign-off' (Protocol in workflow.md)

conductor/tracks/manual_ux_validation_20260302/spec.md

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Track Specification: Manual UX Validation & Polish (manual_ux_validation_20260302)
+
+## Overview
+This track is an unusual, highly interactive human-in-the-loop review session. The user will act as the primary QA and Designer, manually using the GUI and observing it during slow-interval simulation runs. The goal is to aggressively iterate on the "feel" of the application: analyzing blinking animations, structural decisions (Tabs vs. Panels vs. Collapsing Headers), knob/control placements, and the efficacy of popups (including adding auto-close timers).
+
+## Architectural Constraints: The "Immediate Mode Iteration Contract"
+- **Rapid Prototyping**: This track bypasses strict TDD for layout changes to allow the user to rapidly see and "feel" UI adjustments.
+- **View-Only Changes**: Refactoring MUST remain confined to the GUI layer (`gui_2.py` or the future `app_controller.py` if decoupled). State machine logic should not be altered unless directly required for a visual effect (like an animation timer).
+- **Simulation Harness**: Changes must be observable via a specialized slow-mode simulation that gives the user time to watch state transitions.
+
+## Functional Requirements
+- **Slow-Mode Observation**: Create or modify a simulation script to run with deliberately long delays (e.g., 3-5 seconds between AI actions) so the user can observe UI states.
+- **Layout Restructuring**: Adjust the hierarchy of Tabs, Panels, and Collapsing Headers iteratively based on user feedback during the session.
+- **Animation & Feedback**: Tune blinking animations (frequency, color) and visual cues for AI activity and user input.
+- **Popup Behavior**: Review all error and confirmation popups. Implement timed auto-close logic for non-critical informational popups.
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+- [ ] A slow-interval observation simulation exists and functions.
+- [ ] Structural layout (Tabs/Panels/Headers) is finalized and explicitly approved by the user.
+- [ ] Animations and visual feedback triggers feel responsive and intuitive to the user.
+- [ ] Popup behaviors (including any new auto-close timers) are implemented and approved.
+- [ ] Final explicit sign-off from the user on the overall GUI UX.