feat(ui): add show_cursor_outside_insert setting and Unicode‑aware wrapping; introduce grayscale‑high‑contrast theme

- Added `show_cursor_outside_insert` (default false) to `UiSettings` and synced it from config.
- Cursor rendering now follows `cursor_should_be_visible`, allowing visibility outside insert mode based on the new setting.
- Replaced `textwrap::wrap` with `wrap_unicode`, which uses Unicode break properties for proper CJK and emoji handling.
- Added `grayscale-high-contrast.toml` theme, registered it in theme loading, and updated README and tests.

crates/owlen-core/src/config.rs

@@ -710,6 +710,8 @@ pub struct UiSettings {
     pub input_max_rows: u16,
     #[serde(default = "UiSettings::default_scrollback_lines")]
     pub scrollback_lines: usize,
+    #[serde(default = "UiSettings::default_show_cursor_outside_insert")]
+    pub show_cursor_outside_insert: bool,
 }
 
 impl UiSettings {
@@ -744,6 +746,10 @@ impl UiSettings {
     const fn default_scrollback_lines() -> usize {
         2000
     }
+
+    const fn default_show_cursor_outside_insert() -> bool {
+        false
+    }
 }
 
 impl Default for UiSettings {
@@ -757,6 +763,7 @@ impl Default for UiSettings {
             show_onboarding: Self::default_show_onboarding(),
             input_max_rows: Self::default_input_max_rows(),
             scrollback_lines: Self::default_scrollback_lines(),
+            show_cursor_outside_insert: Self::default_show_cursor_outside_insert(),
         }
     }
 }

crates/owlen-core/src/theme.rs

@@ -347,6 +347,10 @@ pub fn built_in_themes() -> HashMap<String, Theme> {
             "ansi_basic",
             include_str!("../../../themes/ansi-basic.toml"),
         ),
+        (
+            "grayscale-high-contrast",
+            include_str!("../../../themes/grayscale-high-contrast.toml"),
+        ),
         ("gruvbox", include_str!("../../../themes/gruvbox.toml")),
         ("dracula", include_str!("../../../themes/dracula.toml")),
         ("solarized", include_str!("../../../themes/solarized.toml")),
@@ -397,6 +401,7 @@ fn get_fallback_theme(name: &str) -> Option<Theme> {
         "monokai" => Some(monokai()),
         "material-dark" => Some(material_dark()),
         "material-light" => Some(material_light()),
+        "grayscale-high-contrast" => Some(grayscale_high_contrast()),
         _ => None,
     }
 }
@@ -831,6 +836,49 @@ fn material_light() -> Theme {
     }
 }
 
+/// Grayscale high-contrast theme
+fn grayscale_high_contrast() -> Theme {
+    Theme {
+        name: "grayscale_high_contrast".to_string(),
+        text: Color::Rgb(247, 247, 247),
+        background: Color::Black,
+        focused_panel_border: Color::White,
+        unfocused_panel_border: Color::Rgb(76, 76, 76),
+        user_message_role: Color::Rgb(240, 240, 240),
+        assistant_message_role: Color::Rgb(214, 214, 214),
+        tool_output: Color::Rgb(189, 189, 189),
+        thinking_panel_title: Color::Rgb(224, 224, 224),
+        command_bar_background: Color::Black,
+        status_background: Color::Rgb(15, 15, 15),
+        mode_normal: Color::White,
+        mode_editing: Color::Rgb(230, 230, 230),
+        mode_model_selection: Color::Rgb(204, 204, 204),
+        mode_provider_selection: Color::Rgb(179, 179, 179),
+        mode_help: Color::Rgb(153, 153, 153),
+        mode_visual: Color::Rgb(242, 242, 242),
+        mode_command: Color::Rgb(208, 208, 208),
+        selection_bg: Color::Rgb(240, 240, 240),
+        selection_fg: Color::Black,
+        cursor: Color::White,
+        placeholder: Color::Rgb(122, 122, 122),
+        error: Color::White,
+        info: Color::Rgb(200, 200, 200),
+        agent_thought: Color::Rgb(230, 230, 230),
+        agent_action: Color::Rgb(204, 204, 204),
+        agent_action_input: Color::Rgb(176, 176, 176),
+        agent_observation: Color::Rgb(153, 153, 153),
+        agent_final_answer: Color::White,
+        agent_badge_running_fg: Color::Black,
+        agent_badge_running_bg: Color::Rgb(247, 247, 247),
+        agent_badge_idle_fg: Color::Black,
+        agent_badge_idle_bg: Color::Rgb(189, 189, 189),
+        operating_chat_fg: Color::Black,
+        operating_chat_bg: Color::Rgb(242, 242, 242),
+        operating_code_fg: Color::Black,
+        operating_code_bg: Color::Rgb(191, 191, 191),
+    }
+}
+
 // Helper functions for color serialization/deserialization
 
 fn deserialize_color<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Color, D::Error>
@@ -924,5 +972,6 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(themes.contains_key("default_dark"));
         assert!(themes.contains_key("gruvbox"));
         assert!(themes.contains_key("dracula"));
+        assert!(themes.contains_key("grayscale-high-contrast"));
     }
 }

crates/owlen-tui/src/chat_app.rs

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use owlen_core::{
 };
 use ratatui::style::{Modifier, Style};
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
-use textwrap::wrap;
+use textwrap::{Options, WordSeparator, wrap};
 use tokio::{sync::mpsc, task::JoinHandle};
 use tui_textarea::{Input, TextArea};
 use uuid::Uuid;
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ use crate::state::{CommandPalette, ModelPaletteEntry};
 use crate::ui::format_tool_output;
 // Agent executor moved to separate binary `owlen-agent`. The TUI no longer directly
 // imports `AgentExecutor` to avoid a circular dependency on `owlen-cli`.
-use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::collections::hash_map::DefaultHasher;
 use std::collections::{BTreeSet, HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
@@ -156,6 +155,7 @@ pub struct ChatApp {
     expanded_provider: Option<String>,            // Which provider group is currently expanded
     current_provider: String,                     // Provider backing the active session
     message_line_cache: HashMap<Uuid, MessageCacheEntry>, // Cached rendered lines per message
+    show_cursor_outside_insert: bool,             // Configurable cursor visibility flag
     auto_scroll: AutoScroll,                      // Auto-scroll state for message rendering
     thinking_scroll: AutoScroll,                  // Auto-scroll state for thinking panel
     viewport_height: usize,                       // Track the height of the messages viewport
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ impl ChatApp {
         let theme_name = config_guard.ui.theme.clone();
         let current_provider = config_guard.general.default_provider.clone();
         let show_onboarding = config_guard.ui.show_onboarding;
+        let show_cursor_outside_insert = config_guard.ui.show_cursor_outside_insert;
         drop(config_guard);
         let theme = owlen_core::theme::get_theme(&theme_name).unwrap_or_else(|| {
             eprintln!("Warning: Theme '{}' not found, using default", theme_name);
@@ -340,6 +341,7 @@ impl ChatApp {
             agent_running: false,
             operating_mode: owlen_core::mode::Mode::default(),
             new_message_alert: false,
+            show_cursor_outside_insert,
         };
 
         app.update_command_palette_catalog();
@@ -834,6 +836,22 @@ impl ChatApp {
         self.message_line_cache.remove(id);
     }
 
+    fn sync_ui_preferences_from_config(&mut self) {
+        let show_cursor = {
+            let guard = self.controller.config();
+            guard.ui.show_cursor_outside_insert
+        };
+        self.show_cursor_outside_insert = show_cursor;
+    }
+
+    pub fn cursor_should_be_visible(&self) -> bool {
+        if matches!(self.mode, InputMode::Editing) {
+            true
+        } else {
+            self.show_cursor_outside_insert
+        }
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn render_message_lines_cached(
         &mut self,
         message_index: usize,
@@ -914,32 +932,21 @@ impl ChatApp {
 
             let indent = "  ";
             let available_width = content_width.saturating_sub(2);
-            let chunks: Vec<Cow<'_, str>> = if available_width > 0 {
+            let chunks = wrap_unicode(content.as_str(), available_width);
-                wrap(content.as_str(), available_width)
-            } else {
-                Vec::new()
-            };
 
             let last_index = chunks.len().saturating_sub(1);
             for (chunk_idx, seg) in chunks.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                let mut spans = vec![Span::styled(
+                let mut spans = vec![Span::styled(format!("{indent}{seg}"), content_style)];
-                    format!("{indent}{}", seg.into_owned()),
-                    content_style,
-                )];
                 if chunk_idx == last_index && is_streaming {
                     spans.push(Span::styled(" ▌", Style::default().fg(theme.cursor)));
                 }
                 rendered.push(Line::from(spans));
             }
         } else {
-            let chunks: Vec<Cow<'_, str>> = if content_width > 0 {
+            let chunks = wrap_unicode(content.as_str(), content_width);
-                wrap(content.as_str(), content_width)
-            } else {
-                Vec::new()
-            };
             let last_index = chunks.len().saturating_sub(1);
             for (chunk_idx, seg) in chunks.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                let mut spans = vec![Span::styled(seg.into_owned(), content_style)];
+                let mut spans = vec![Span::styled(seg, content_style)];
                 if chunk_idx == last_index && is_streaming {
                     spans.push(Span::styled(" ▌", Style::default().fg(theme.cursor)));
                 }
@@ -2588,6 +2595,8 @@ impl ChatApp {
                                                 self.status = "Configuration reloaded, but theme not found. Using current theme.".to_string();
                                             }
                                             self.error = None;
+                                            self.sync_ui_preferences_from_config();
+                                            self.update_command_palette_catalog();
                                         }
                                         Err(e) => {
                                             self.error =
@@ -4427,25 +4436,20 @@ impl ChatApp {
                         lines.push(format!("{}{}", emoji, name));
                         let indent = "  ";
                         let available_width = wrap_width.saturating_sub(2);
-                        let chunks = if available_width > 0 {
+                        let chunks = wrap_unicode(content.as_str(), available_width);
-                            wrap(content.as_str(), available_width)
-                        } else {
-                            Vec::new()
-                        };
                         let last_index = chunks.len().saturating_sub(1);
                         for (chunk_idx, seg) in chunks.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                            let seg_owned = seg.into_owned();
+                            let mut line = format!("{indent}{seg}");
-                            let mut line = format!("{indent}{seg_owned}");
                             if chunk_idx == last_index && is_streaming {
                                 line.push_str(" ▌");
                             }
                             lines.push(line);
                         }
                     } else {
-                        let chunks = wrap(content.as_str(), wrap_width);
+                        let chunks = wrap_unicode(content.as_str(), wrap_width);
                         let last_index = chunks.len().saturating_sub(1);
                         for (chunk_idx, seg) in chunks.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                            let mut line = seg.into_owned();
+                            let mut line = seg;
                             if chunk_idx == last_index && is_streaming {
                                 line.push_str(" ▌");
                             }
@@ -4598,6 +4602,44 @@ impl ChatApp {
     }
 }
 
+pub(crate) fn wrap_unicode(text: &str, width: usize) -> Vec<String> {
+    if width == 0 {
+        return Vec::new();
+    }
+
+    let options = Options::new(width)
+        .word_separator(WordSeparator::UnicodeBreakProperties)
+        .break_words(false);
+
+    wrap(text, options)
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|segment| segment.into_owned())
+        .collect()
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::wrap_unicode;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn wrap_unicode_respects_cjk_display_width() {
+        let wrapped = wrap_unicode("你好世界", 4);
+        assert_eq!(wrapped, vec!["你好".to_string(), "世界".to_string()]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn wrap_unicode_handles_emoji_graphemes() {
+        let wrapped = wrap_unicode("🙂🙂🙂", 4);
+        assert_eq!(wrapped, vec!["🙂🙂".to_string(), "🙂".to_string()]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn wrap_unicode_zero_width_returns_empty() {
+        let wrapped = wrap_unicode("hello", 0);
+        assert!(wrapped.is_empty());
+    }
+}
+
 fn configure_textarea_defaults(textarea: &mut TextArea<'static>) {
     textarea.set_placeholder_text("Type your message here...");
     textarea.set_tab_length(4);

crates/owlen-tui/src/ui.rs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ use ratatui::style::{Modifier, Style};
 use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
 use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, Clear, List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph, Wrap};
 use serde_json;
-use textwrap::wrap;
 use tui_textarea::TextArea;
 use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 use unicode_width::UnicodeWidthStr;
@@ -161,6 +160,7 @@ fn render_editable_textarea(
     area: Rect,
     textarea: &mut TextArea<'static>,
     mut wrap_lines: bool,
+    show_cursor: bool,
     theme: &Theme,
 ) {
     let block = textarea.block().cloned();
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ fn render_editable_textarea(
 
     frame.render_widget(paragraph, area);
 
-    if let Some(metrics) = metrics {
+    if let Some(metrics) = metrics.filter(|_| show_cursor) {
         frame.set_cursor_position((metrics.cursor_x, metrics.cursor_y));
     }
 }
@@ -818,7 +818,9 @@ fn render_messages(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
     }
 
     // Render cursor if Chat panel is focused and in Normal mode
-    if matches!(app.focused_panel(), FocusedPanel::Chat) && matches!(app.mode(), InputMode::Normal)
+    if app.cursor_should_be_visible()
+        && matches!(app.focused_panel(), FocusedPanel::Chat)
+        && matches!(app.mode(), InputMode::Normal)
     {
         let cursor = app.chat_cursor();
         let cursor_row = cursor.0;
@@ -855,13 +857,13 @@ fn render_thinking(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
 
         app.set_thinking_viewport_height(viewport_height);
 
-        let chunks = wrap(&thinking, content_width as usize);
+        let chunks = crate::chat_app::wrap_unicode(&thinking, content_width as usize);
 
         let mut lines: Vec<Line> = chunks
             .into_iter()
             .map(|seg| {
                 Line::from(Span::styled(
-                    seg.into_owned(),
+                    seg,
                     Style::default()
                         .fg(theme.placeholder)
                         .add_modifier(Modifier::ITALIC),
@@ -911,7 +913,8 @@ fn render_thinking(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
         frame.render_widget(paragraph, area);
 
         // Render cursor if Thinking panel is focused and in Normal mode
-        if matches!(app.focused_panel(), FocusedPanel::Thinking)
+        if app.cursor_should_be_visible()
+            && matches!(app.focused_panel(), FocusedPanel::Thinking)
             && matches!(app.mode(), InputMode::Normal)
         {
             let cursor = app.thinking_cursor();
@@ -958,7 +961,8 @@ fn render_agent_actions(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
             if line_trimmed.starts_with("THOUGHT:") {
                 let thought_color = theme.agent_thought;
                 let thought_content = line_trimmed.strip_prefix("THOUGHT:").unwrap_or("").trim();
-                let wrapped = wrap(thought_content, content_width as usize);
+                let wrapped =
+                    crate::chat_app::wrap_unicode(thought_content, content_width as usize);
 
                 // First line with label
                 if let Some(first) = wrapped.first() {
@@ -1003,7 +1007,7 @@ fn render_agent_actions(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
                     .strip_prefix("ACTION_INPUT:")
                     .unwrap_or("")
                     .trim();
-                let wrapped = wrap(input_content, content_width as usize);
+                let wrapped = crate::chat_app::wrap_unicode(input_content, content_width as usize);
 
                 if let Some(first) = wrapped.first() {
                     lines.push(Line::from(vec![
@@ -1029,7 +1033,7 @@ fn render_agent_actions(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
                     .strip_prefix("OBSERVATION:")
                     .unwrap_or("")
                     .trim();
-                let wrapped = wrap(obs_content, content_width as usize);
+                let wrapped = crate::chat_app::wrap_unicode(obs_content, content_width as usize);
 
                 if let Some(first) = wrapped.first() {
                     lines.push(Line::from(vec![
@@ -1055,7 +1059,7 @@ fn render_agent_actions(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
                     .strip_prefix("FINAL_ANSWER:")
                     .unwrap_or("")
                     .trim();
-                let wrapped = wrap(answer_content, content_width as usize);
+                let wrapped = crate::chat_app::wrap_unicode(answer_content, content_width as usize);
 
                 if let Some(first) = wrapped.first() {
                     lines.push(Line::from(vec![
@@ -1082,10 +1086,10 @@ fn render_agent_actions(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
                 }
             } else if !line_trimmed.is_empty() {
                 // Regular text
-                let wrapped = wrap(line_trimmed, content_width as usize);
+                let wrapped = crate::chat_app::wrap_unicode(line_trimmed, content_width as usize);
                 for chunk in wrapped {
                     lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
-                        chunk.into_owned(),
+                        chunk,
                         Style::default().fg(theme.text),
                     )));
                 }
@@ -1153,16 +1157,18 @@ fn render_input(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
 
     if matches!(app.mode(), InputMode::Editing) {
         // Use the textarea directly to preserve selection state
+        let show_cursor = app.cursor_should_be_visible();
         let textarea = app.textarea_mut();
         textarea.set_block(input_block.clone());
         textarea.set_hard_tab_indent(false);
-        render_editable_textarea(frame, area, textarea, true, &theme);
+        render_editable_textarea(frame, area, textarea, true, show_cursor, &theme);
     } else if matches!(app.mode(), InputMode::Visual) {
         // In visual mode, render textarea in read-only mode with selection
+        let show_cursor = app.cursor_should_be_visible();
         let textarea = app.textarea_mut();
         textarea.set_block(input_block.clone());
         textarea.set_hard_tab_indent(false);
-        render_editable_textarea(frame, area, textarea, true, &theme);
+        render_editable_textarea(frame, area, textarea, true, show_cursor, &theme);
     } else if matches!(app.mode(), InputMode::Command) {
         // In command mode, show the command buffer with : prefix
         let command_text = format!(":{}", app.command_buffer());

themes/README.md

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ This directory contains the built-in themes that are embedded into the OWLEN bin
 
 - **default_dark** - High-contrast dark theme (default)
 - **default_light** - Clean light theme
+- **grayscale-high-contrast** - Monochrome palette tuned for color-blind accessibility
 - **gruvbox** - Popular retro color scheme with warm tones
 - **dracula** - Dark theme with vibrant purple and cyan colors
 - **solarized** - Precision colors for optimal readability

themes/grayscale-high-contrast.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+name = "grayscale_high_contrast"
+text = "#f7f7f7"
+background = "#000000"
+focused_panel_border = "#ffffff"
+unfocused_panel_border = "#4c4c4c"
+user_message_role = "#f0f0f0"
+assistant_message_role = "#d6d6d6"
+tool_output = "#bdbdbd"
+thinking_panel_title = "#e0e0e0"
+command_bar_background = "#000000"
+status_background = "#0f0f0f"
+mode_normal = "#ffffff"
+mode_editing = "#e6e6e6"
+mode_model_selection = "#cccccc"
+mode_provider_selection = "#b3b3b3"
+mode_help = "#999999"
+mode_visual = "#f2f2f2"
+mode_command = "#d0d0d0"
+selection_bg = "#f0f0f0"
+selection_fg = "#000000"
+cursor = "#ffffff"
+placeholder = "#7a7a7a"
+error = "#ffffff"
+info = "#c8c8c8"
+agent_thought = "#e6e6e6"
+agent_action = "#cccccc"
+agent_action_input = "#b0b0b0"
+agent_observation = "#999999"
+agent_final_answer = "#ffffff"
+agent_badge_running_fg = "#000000"
+agent_badge_running_bg = "#f7f7f7"
+agent_badge_idle_fg = "#000000"
+agent_badge_idle_bg = "#bdbdbd"
+operating_chat_fg = "#000000"
+operating_chat_bg = "#f2f2f2"
+operating_code_fg = "#000000"
+operating_code_bg = "#bfbfbf"