Improve recording startup responsiveness and language feedback

database.py

@@ -414,6 +414,24 @@ def save_setting(key: str, value: str):
         c.close()
 
 
+def save_settings(settings: dict[str, str]):
+    """Save multiple settings atomically."""
+    with _lock:
+        c = _conn()
+        try:
+            c.executemany(
+                "INSERT INTO settings(key,value) VALUES(?,?) "
+                "ON CONFLICT(key) DO UPDATE SET value=excluded.value",
+                settings.items(),
+            )
+            c.commit()
+        except Exception:
+            c.rollback()
+            raise
+        finally:
+            c.close()
+
+
 # ── Custom vocabulary (Layer A) ───────────────────────────────────────────
 
 def list_vocabulary() -> list[tuple[str, str]]:

hotkey.py

@@ -11,13 +11,16 @@
 (frozenset_of_modifier_strings, trigger_key) — see hotkey_util.py.
 """
 
+import queue
+import threading
 import time
 from pynput import keyboard
 import config
 from logger import log
 from hotkey_util import canonical_modifier, keys_match
 
 _DEBOUNCE_SEC = 0.3  # minimum time between toggle actions
+_STOP_CALLBACKS = object()
 
 
 # ── Hotkey matching helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -63,6 +66,16 @@ def __init__(self, on_press_cb, on_release_cb,
         # Currently held modifier keys (canonical names: "ctrl", "shift", etc.)
         self._held_modifiers: set = set()
         self._listener = None
+        # pynput invokes handlers on its event thread.  Microphone startup can
+        # block there, which prevents a physical key release from being seen.
+        # Preserve callback order on a separate worker while keeping pynput's
+        # event thread responsive.
+        self._callback_queue = queue.Queue()
+        self._callback_stopped = threading.Event()
+        self._lifecycle_lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._callback_worker = threading.Thread(
+            target=self._run_callbacks, daemon=True)
+        self._callback_worker.start()
 
     def _is_hold_mode(self) -> bool:
         return getattr(config, "HOLD_TO_RECORD", True)
@@ -154,23 +167,51 @@ def force_stop_assistant(self):
             if self._on_assist_release:
                 self._safe_call(self._on_assist_release, "Assistant timeout-stop")
 
+    def cancel_dictation_start(self):
+        """Reset dictation key state after microphone startup fails."""
+        self._dict_recording = False
+        self._dict_pressed = False
+
+    def cancel_assistant_start(self):
+        """Reset assistant key state after microphone startup fails."""
+        self._assist_recording = False
+        self._assist_pressed = False
+
     # ── helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _safe_call(fn, label: str):
-        try:
-            fn()
-        except Exception as exc:
-            log.error("%s error: %s", label, exc)
+    def _safe_call(self, fn, label: str):
+        if not self._callback_stopped.is_set():
+            self._callback_queue.put((fn, label))
+
+    def _run_callbacks(self):
+        while True:
+            item = self._callback_queue.get()
+            if item is _STOP_CALLBACKS:
+                return
+            if self._callback_stopped.is_set():
+                continue
+            fn, label = item
+            try:
+                fn()
+            except Exception as exc:
+                log.error("%s error: %s", label, exc)
 
     def start(self):
-        self._listener = keyboard.Listener(
-            on_press=self._handle_press,
-            on_release=self._handle_release,
-        )
-        self._listener.start()
+        with self._lifecycle_lock:
+            if self._callback_stopped.is_set():
+                return
+            self._listener = keyboard.Listener(
+                on_press=self._handle_press,
+                on_release=self._handle_release,
+            )
+            self._listener.start()
         self._listener.wait()
 
     def stop(self):
-        if self._listener is not None:
-            self._listener.stop()
+        self._callback_stopped.set()
+        with self._lifecycle_lock:
+            if self._listener is not None:
+                self._listener.stop()
+        self._callback_queue.put(_STOP_CALLBACKS)
+        if threading.current_thread() is not self._callback_worker:
+            self._callback_worker.join()

locales.py

@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@
         "lang_name": "English",
 
         # main.py — widget messages
+        "microphone_starting":    "Starting microphone...",
+        "language_prompt_question": "Set recognition language to {language}?",
+        "language_prompt_accept": "Use {language}",
+        "language_prompt_decline": "Keep Auto",
         "show_notes":           "📝 Here are your notes",
         "show_appointments":    "📅 Here is your agenda",
         "show_reminders":       "⏰ Here are your reminders",
@@ -221,6 +225,10 @@
         "lang_name": "Italian",
 
         "show_notes":           "📝 Ecco le note",
+        "microphone_starting":   "Avvio microfono...",
+        "language_prompt_question": "Impostare la lingua di riconoscimento su {language}?",
+        "language_prompt_accept": "Usa {language}",
+        "language_prompt_decline": "Mantieni Auto",
         "show_appointments":    "📅 Ecco l'agenda",
         "show_reminders":       "⏰ Ecco i reminder",
         "assistant_error":      "Errore assistente",
@@ -362,6 +370,10 @@
         "lang_name": "German",
 
         "show_notes":           "📝 Hier sind Ihre Notizen",
+        "microphone_starting":   "Mikrofon wird gestartet...",
+        "language_prompt_question": "Erkennungssprache auf {language} setzen?",
+        "language_prompt_accept": "{language} verwenden",
+        "language_prompt_decline": "Auto behalten",
         "show_appointments":    "📅 Hier ist Ihre Agenda",
         "show_reminders":       "⏰ Hier sind Ihre Erinnerungen",
         "assistant_error":      "Assistentenfehler",