manual_slop/conductor/tracks/context_preview_fixes_20260516/plan.md

Implementation Plan: Context Preview & Slice Editor Fixes

Phase 1: Fix Context Preview Button [checkpoint: 9ea20d0]

Focus: Synchronize App.context_files to AppController.context_files before calling _do_generate() and add empty-state handling.

• Task 1.1: Audit where AppController.context_files gets assigned vs App.context_files (gui_2.py vs app_controller.py)
• Task 1.2: Add _sync_context_files_to_controller method or inline sync in Preview button handler (gui_2.py:2839-2841)
• Task 1.3: Add empty-state guard - if context_files is empty, set app.context_preview_text = "# Context Composition Empty\n\nNo files have been added to the context composition yet."
• Task 1.N: Write tests for Preview button behavior with empty and populated context

Phase 2: Fix Slices Button (Text Viewer Window) [checkpoint: 9ea20d0]

Focus: Add render_text_viewer_window call to the render loop so Slices button properly opens the Text Viewer.

• Task 2.1: Find where render_text_viewer_window should be called in render loop (currently defined but never invoked)
• Task 2.2: Add render_text_viewer_window(app) to render_context_modals or main render loop (gui_2.py:5275+ or after line 1238)
• Task 2.N: Write tests for Slices button opening Text Viewer

Phase 3: Fix Inspect Button (AST Inspector Modal) [checkpoint: b807c03]

Focus: Verify render_ast_inspector_modal is called correctly and integrates with the popup pattern.

• Task 3.1: Audit render_ast_inspector_modal popup pattern (gui_2.py:2900-3036) vs _render_window_if_open patterns
• Task 3.2: Ensure render_ast_inspector_modal(app) is called in render_context_modals and uses correct popup lifecycle
• Task 3.N: Write tests for Inspect button opening AST Inspector modal

Phase 4: Integration & Regression Testing [in_progress]

Focus: Ensure all three buttons work in concert and no regressions in context composition panel.

• Task 4.1: Run existing context composition tests to verify no regressions
• Task 4.2: Verify batch operations (Full/Summary/Skeleton/Outline/Masked/None) still work
• Task 4.3: Verify Add Files, Del buttons still work
• Task 4.4: Full render test suite (batch of 4)
• Task 4.X: Conductor - User Manual Verification