fix: stop reporting expired questions as user dismissals (#85)

## Related Issue

No issue — reported by a Windows desktop user: the agent asked a
question, the user answered, and the agent replied that the question was
dismissed. The problem is described below.

## Problem

A question asked through the daemon path (`AskUserQuestion` →
`packages/server` `QuestionService` → REST/WS → `apps/pythinker-web`
`QuestionCard`) expired after **60 seconds**. On expiry the tool caught
the rejection and told the model:

> User dismissed the question without answering.

So the agent reported a dismissal for a question the user was still
reading. The desktop app (Electron → loopback server → web UI) is where
users meet it: the card disappears at 60 s, a late answer POST returns
`40902`, and the user sees only a toast. Transport failures and server
shutdown produced the same false message, because `ask-user.ts` mapped
**every** throw to a dismissal.

Two further defects sit in the same path:

- The answers that reach the model were synthesized ids —
`{"answers":{"q_0":"opt_0_1"}}` — with no question text and no option
label. The terminal and ACP surfaces both send `{ question text: option
label }`, and `mcp/elicitation.ts` reads answers by question text, so
MCP elicitation was broken over this path too.
- A stray `Escape` anywhere in the page silently destroyed a pending
question, through a document-level key handler.

## What changed

- **The timer is a 30-minute lease, not a network timeout.** A pending
question waits on a human, so the timer only guards against a leak.
Removing it entirely was considered and rejected: the daemon bridge
drops the `AbortSignal` and `loop/tool-call.ts` ends an aborted tool
with a grace sentinel while the broker entry stays pending, so a
timer-free question would become an unbounded orphan.
- **Causes are preserved at the tool boundary.** Expiry carries the new
`question.expired` error code — class identity does not survive the RPC
JSON round-trip, so the code is the only reliable discriminator — and
returns a neutral "not answered" result. Other failures return real tool
errors. Only a null or empty answer still means "dismissed".
- **Answers keep the words the user saw**: question text keys, option
label values, joined with `, ` for multi-select. `toAgentCoreResponse`
now takes the originating request, and
`QuestionService.resolveProtocolResponse` supplies it, since the pending
entry is the only holder.
- **`Escape` no longer dismisses.** The visible Dismiss button is
unchanged.
- **The web card warns** when less than five minutes of the lease
remain, using the `expires_at` the protocol already delivered and
nothing consumed.

## Verification

Run locally on this branch:

- `pnpm --filter @pymodel/agent-core exec vitest run` — 3577 passed, 1
skipped
- `pnpm --filter @pymodel/server exec vitest run` — 503 passed
- `pnpm --filter @pymodel/pythinker-web exec vitest run` — 263 passed
- `pnpm run typecheck` — passed
- `pnpm run lint` — clean

The rewritten adapter tests were confirmed RED against the old behaviour
first (`expected { q_0: 'opt_0_1' } to deeply equal { 'Which animal?':
'Dog' }`), so they can fail.

## Checklist

- [x] I have read the
[CONTRIBUTING](https://github.com/PyModel/pythinker-code/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)
document.
- [x] I have linked a related issue, or explained the problem above.
- [x] I have added tests that prove my feature works.
- [x] Ran `gen-changesets` skill, or this PR needs no changeset.
- [ ] Ran `gen-docs` skill, or this PR needs no doc update.

<!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai
-->
## Summary by CodeRabbit

* **New Features**
  * Question response leases now last up to 30 minutes.
* Added live expiration warnings during the final five minutes,
including under one minute.
  * Responses now retain question text and selected option labels.
* **Bug Fixes**
* Expired questions now show a clear expiration message instead of a
generic error.
* Dismissal and delivery failures are handled separately for more
accurate feedback.
* Minimized question cards no longer respond to keyboard input,
including Escape.
<!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->

Author: elkaix

.changeset/question-lease-and-labels.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@pymodel/pythinker-code': patch
+---
+
+Questions no longer expire after 60 seconds, expired questions are not reported as user dismissals, answers retain question text and option labels, and Escape no longer dismisses a question.

apps/pythinker-web/AGENTS.md

@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ The browser web UI for Pythinker Code — a peer to the TUI in `apps/pythinker-c
 - Shared components go in `src/components/`; reusable logic goes in `src/composables/` with a `use` prefix.
 - There is **no auto-import plugin** and **no path alias** — `#/` and `@/` are intentionally unused. Write relative imports (`../i18n`, `./config`).
 
-## i18n (normative — keeping locales in sync is manual)
+## i18n (normative — the app is English-only)
 
 - Setup: `src/i18n/index.ts`, vue-i18n in Composition mode (`legacy: false`), fallback `en`. The active locale is persisted in `localStorage` under `pythinker-locale`.
-- Locale files: `src/i18n/locales/{en,zh}/<namespace>.ts`, each `export default { ... } as const`. New namespaces are registered in `src/i18n/locales/index.ts`.
+- **`en` is the only locale.** `src/i18n/locales/` contains exactly one directory, and `locales/index.ts` registers only `en`. Do not add a second locale, and do not "restore parity" with one that does not exist.
+- Locale files: `src/i18n/locales/en/<namespace>.ts`, each `export default { ... } as const`. New namespaces are registered in `src/i18n/locales/index.ts`.
 - Reference with `const { t } = useI18n()` and `t('namespace.key')` (same form in templates).
-- **Adding a key:** add it to **both** `en/<ns>.ts` and `zh/<ns>.ts`. **Adding a namespace:** create the file in both locales **and** register it in `locales/index.ts`.
-- There is **no automated missing-key or en/zh parity check**. Keeping the two locales in sync is a manual responsibility — do not leave a key present in only one locale.
+- **Adding a key:** add it to `en/<ns>.ts`. **Adding a namespace:** create the file under `en/` **and** register it in `locales/index.ts`.
 
 ## Commands
 

apps/pythinker-web/src/components/QuestionCard.vue

@@ -30,6 +30,22 @@ const total = computed(() => props.question.questions.length);
 const hasPreview = computed(() =>
   current.value.options.some((option) => option.preview?.trim()),
 );
+const now = ref(Date.now());
+const remainingMinutes = computed(() => {
+  const expiresAt = Date.parse(props.question.expiresAt);
+  if (Number.isNaN(expiresAt)) return undefined;
+  return Math.ceil((expiresAt - now.value) / 60_000);
+});
+const leaseWarning = computed(() => {
+  const expiresAt = Date.parse(props.question.expiresAt);
+  if (Number.isNaN(expiresAt)) return undefined;
+  const remainingMs = expiresAt - now.value;
+  if (remainingMs <= 0 || remainingMs >= 5 * 60_000) return undefined;
+  if (remainingMs < 60_000) return t('question.expiresSoonSeconds');
+  const minutes = remainingMinutes.value;
+  if (minutes === undefined) return undefined;
+  return t('question.expiresSoon', { minutes });
+});
 
 function goBack(): void {
   if (step.value > 0) step.value--;
@@ -207,17 +223,15 @@ function dismiss(): void {
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Keyboard: number keys pick options for current question, Enter submit, Esc dismiss
+// Keyboard: number keys pick options for the current question and Enter submits.
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 function handleKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent): void {
   const tag = (document.activeElement?.tagName ?? '').toLowerCase();
   if (tag === 'input' || tag === 'textarea') return;
-  // While minimized the options aren't visible, so don't let number keys pick
-  // an unseen answer; only Escape (dismiss) stays live.
-  if (minimized.value && e.key !== 'Escape') return;
+  // While minimized the options are not visible, so keyboard selection is disabled.
+  if (minimized.value) return;
 
-  if (e.key === 'Escape') { e.preventDefault(); dismiss(); return; }
   if (e.key === 'Enter') { e.preventDefault(); submit(); return; }
 
   const num = parseInt(e.key, 10);
@@ -236,15 +250,27 @@ function handleKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent): void {
   }
 }
 
-onMounted(() => document.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeydown));
-onUnmounted(() => document.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeydown));
+let leaseTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined;
+
+onMounted(() => {
+  document.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeydown);
+  leaseTimer = setInterval(() => {
+    now.value = Date.now();
+  }, 30_000);
+});
+
+onUnmounted(() => {
+  document.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeydown);
+  if (leaseTimer !== undefined) clearInterval(leaseTimer);
+});
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <div class="qcard" :class="{ minimized }">
     <!-- Step indicator (multi-question) -->
     <div class="qh">
       <span class="qtitle">{{ t('question.title') }}</span>
+      <span v-if="leaseWarning" class="qexpires">{{ leaseWarning }}</span>
       <template v-if="total > 1 && !minimized">
         <span class="qstep">{{ t('question.step', { current: step + 1, total }) }}</span>
         <button class="qnav" :disabled="step === 0" @click="goBack">{{ t('question.prev') }}</button>
@@ -371,6 +397,7 @@ onUnmounted(() => document.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeydown));
 }
 .qtitle { color: var(--blue2); font-weight: 700; }
 .qstep { color: var(--muted); font-size: calc(var(--ui-font-size) - 3px); margin-left: 4px; }
+.qexpires { color: var(--muted); font-size: calc(var(--ui-font-size) - 3px); margin-left: 4px; }
 .qnav {
   font-family: var(--mono);
   font-size: calc(var(--ui-font-size) - 3px);

apps/pythinker-web/src/composables/usePythinkerWebClient.ts

@@ -1660,6 +1660,7 @@ function toUiQuestion(q: AppQuestionRequest): UIQuestion {
   return {
     questionId: q.questionId,
     sessionId: q.sessionId,
+    expiresAt: q.expiresAt,
     questions: q.questions.map((qi) => ({
       id: qi.id,
       question: qi.question,

apps/pythinker-web/src/i18n/locales/en/question.ts

@@ -10,4 +10,6 @@ export default {
   dismiss: 'Dismiss',
   minimize: 'Minimize',
   expand: 'Expand',
+  expiresSoon: 'Expires in {minutes} min',
+  expiresSoonSeconds: 'Expires in less than a minute',
 } as const;

apps/pythinker-web/src/types.ts

@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ export interface QueuedPromptView {
 export interface UIQuestion {
   questionId: string;
   sessionId: string;
+  expiresAt: string;
   questions: {
     id: string;
     question: string;

apps/pythinker-web/test/question-card-lifecycle.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
+import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n';
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import QuestionCard from '../src/components/QuestionCard.vue';
+import type { UIQuestion } from '../src/types';
+
+const i18n = createI18n({
+  legacy: false,
+  locale: 'en',
+  messages: {
+    en: {
+      question: {
+        title: 'Question',
+        step: '{current}/{total}',
+        prev: 'Prev',
+        next: 'Next',
+        expand: 'Expand',
+        minimize: 'Minimize',
+        otherDefault: 'Other',
+        submit: 'Submit',
+        dismiss: 'Dismiss',
+        notes: 'Notes',
+        notesPlaceholder: 'Add notes on this option',
+        expiresSoon: 'Expires in {minutes} min',
+        expiresSoonSeconds: 'Expires in less than a minute',
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  missingWarn: false,
+  fallbackWarn: false,
+});
+
+const mounted: ReturnType<typeof mount>[] = [];
+
+function question(expiresAt: string): UIQuestion {
+  return {
+    questionId: 'qreq_1',
+    sessionId: 'sess_1',
+    expiresAt,
+    questions: [
+      {
+        id: 'q1',
+        question: 'Pick one',
+        options: [
+          { id: 'a', label: 'A' },
+          { id: 'b', label: 'B' },
+        ],
+      },
+    ],
+  };
+}
+
+function mountCard(input: UIQuestion) {
+  const wrapper = mount(QuestionCard, {
+    props: { question: input },
+    global: {
+      plugins: [i18n],
+      stubs: {
+        Markdown: {
+          props: ['text'],
+          template: '<pre class="markdown-stub">{{ text }}</pre>',
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  });
+  mounted.push(wrapper);
+  return wrapper;
+}
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  for (const wrapper of mounted.splice(0)) wrapper.unmount();
+});
+
+describe('QuestionCard lifecycle', () => {
+  it('does not dismiss when Escape is pressed', () => {
+    const wrapper = mountCard(question(new Date(Date.now() + 20 * 60_000).toISOString()));
+
+    document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Escape', bubbles: true }));
+
+    expect(wrapper.emitted('dismiss')).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('shows an expiry warning within five minutes and hides it at twenty minutes', () => {
+    const soon = mountCard(question(new Date(Date.now() + 2 * 60_000).toISOString()));
+    const later = mountCard(question(new Date(Date.now() + 20 * 60_000).toISOString()));
+
+    expect(soon.find('.qexpires').text()).toBe('Expires in 2 min');
+    expect(later.find('.qexpires').exists()).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('hides the expiry warning at five minutes and shows it at four minutes fifty-nine seconds', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    vi.setSystemTime(new Date('2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z'));
+    try {
+      const boundary = mountCard(question(new Date(Date.now() + 5 * 60_000).toISOString()));
+      const soon = mountCard(question(new Date(Date.now() + 4 * 60_000 + 59_000).toISOString()));
+
+      expect(boundary.find('.qexpires').exists()).toBe(false);
+      expect(soon.find('.qexpires').exists()).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('ignores Enter while minimized', async () => {
+    const wrapper = mountCard(question(new Date(Date.now() + 20 * 60_000).toISOString()));
+
+    document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: '1', bubbles: true }));
+    document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Enter', bubbles: true }));
+    const answerCount = wrapper.emitted('answer')?.length ?? 0;
+
+    expect(answerCount).toBe(1);
+
+    await wrapper.find('.qmin').trigger('click');
+
+    document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: '1', bubbles: true }));
+    document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Enter', bubbles: true }));
+
+    expect(wrapper.emitted('answer')).toHaveLength(answerCount);
+  });
+});

apps/pythinker-web/test/question-card-recommended.test.ts

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ function question(overrides: Partial<UIQuestion['questions'][number]> = {}): UIQ
   return {
     questionId: 'qreq_1',
     sessionId: 'sess_1',
+    expiresAt: new Date(Date.now() + 20 * 60_000).toISOString(),
     questions: [
       {
         id: 'q1',

packages/agent-core/src/errors/codes.ts

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export const ErrorCodes = {
 
   AGENT_NOT_FOUND: 'agent.not_found',
   TURN_AGENT_BUSY: 'turn.agent_busy',
+  QUESTION_EXPIRED: 'question.expired',
 
   GOAL_ALREADY_EXISTS: 'goal.already_exists',
   GOAL_NOT_FOUND: 'goal.not_found',
@@ -229,6 +230,12 @@ export const PYTHINKER_ERROR_INFO = {
     public: true,
     action: 'Wait for the current turn to finish or steer it.',
   },
+  'question.expired': {
+    title: 'Question expired',
+    retryable: false,
+    public: true,
+    action: 'Ask the user again if you still need the answer.',
+  },
 
   'goal.already_exists': {
     title: 'A goal is already active',