feat(tui): add :create command, introduce :files/:explorer toggles, default filter to glob and update UI hints

crates/owlen-tui/src/chat_app.rs

@@ -3260,15 +3260,24 @@ impl ChatApp {
 
         mutate(&mut query);
 
+        let query_is_empty = query.is_empty();
+
         {
             let tree = self.file_tree_mut();
+            if query_is_empty {
+                tree.set_filter_mode(FileFilterMode::Glob);
+            }
             tree.set_filter_query(query.clone());
         }
 
-        if query.is_empty() {
+        if query_is_empty {
             self.status = "Filter cleared".to_string();
         } else {
-            self.status = format!("Filter: {}", query);
+            let mode = match self.file_tree().filter_mode() {
+                FileFilterMode::Glob => "glob",
+                FileFilterMode::Fuzzy => "fuzzy",
+            };
+            self.status = format!("Filter ({mode}): {}", query);
         }
         self.error = None;
     }
@@ -3308,6 +3317,33 @@ impl ChatApp {
         }
     }
 
+    fn create_file_from_command(&mut self, path: &str) -> Result<String> {
+        let trimmed = path.trim();
+        if trimmed.is_empty() {
+            return Err(anyhow!("File path cannot be empty"));
+        }
+
+        let relative = PathBuf::from(trimmed);
+        validate_relative_path(&relative, true)?;
+
+        let file_name = relative
+            .file_name()
+            .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("File path must include a file name"))?
+            .to_string_lossy()
+            .into_owned();
+
+        let base = relative
+            .parent()
+            .filter(|parent| !parent.as_os_str().is_empty())
+            .map(|parent| parent.to_path_buf())
+            .unwrap_or_else(PathBuf::new);
+
+        let prompt = FileActionPrompt::new(FileActionKind::CreateFile { base }, file_name);
+        let message = self.perform_file_action(prompt)?;
+        self.expand_file_panel();
+        Ok(message)
+    }
+
     pub fn file_panel_prompt_text(&self) -> Option<(String, bool)> {
         self.pending_file_action.as_ref().map(|prompt| {
             (
@@ -3766,23 +3802,6 @@ impl ChatApp {
                 self.copy_selected_path(true);
                 return Ok(true);
             }
-            KeyCode::Char('a') if no_modifiers => {
-                if let Some(selected) = self.selected_file_node() {
-                    let base = if selected.is_dir {
-                        selected.path.clone()
-                    } else {
-                        selected
-                            .path
-                            .parent()
-                            .map(|p| p.to_path_buf())
-                            .unwrap_or_else(PathBuf::new)
-                    };
-                    self.begin_file_action(FileActionKind::CreateFile { base }, String::new());
-                } else {
-                    self.status = "No file selected".to_string();
-                }
-                return Ok(true);
-            }
             KeyCode::Char('A') if shift && !ctrl && !alt => {
                 if let Some(selected) = self.selected_file_node() {
                     let base = if selected.is_dir {
@@ -3873,19 +3892,20 @@ impl ChatApp {
                 return Ok(true);
             }
             KeyCode::Char('/') if !ctrl && !alt => {
+                if self.file_tree().filter_query().is_empty() {
                     {
                         let tree = self.file_tree_mut();
-                    tree.toggle_filter_mode();
+                        tree.set_filter_mode(FileFilterMode::Fuzzy);
+                        tree.set_filter_query(String::new());
                     }
                     let mode = match self.file_tree().filter_mode() {
                         FileFilterMode::Glob => "glob",
                         FileFilterMode::Fuzzy => "fuzzy",
                     };
-                let query = self.file_tree().filter_query();
+                    self.status = format!("Filter ({mode}): type to search");
-                if query.is_empty() {
+                    self.error = None;
-                    self.status = format!("Filter mode: {}", mode);
                 } else {
-                    self.status = format!("Filter mode: {} · {}", mode, query);
+                    self.append_file_filter_char('/');
                 }
                 return Ok(true);
             }
@@ -3914,7 +3934,6 @@ impl ChatApp {
                         | ('g', _)
                         | ('d', _)
                         | ('m', _)
-                        | ('a', _)
                         | ('A', true)
                         | ('r', _)
                         | ('/', _)
@@ -4111,7 +4130,19 @@ impl ChatApp {
                     }
                 }
 
-                let is_file_focus_key = matches!(key.code, KeyCode::F(1));
+                if matches!(key.code, KeyCode::F(1)) {
+                    if matches!(self.mode, InputMode::Help) {
+                        self.set_input_mode(InputMode::Normal);
+                        self.help_tab_index = 0;
+                        self.reset_status();
+                    } else {
+                        self.set_input_mode(InputMode::Help);
+                        self.status = "Help".to_string();
+                        self.error = None;
+                    }
+                    return Ok(AppState::Running);
+                }
+
                 let is_question_mark = matches!(
                     (key.code, key.modifiers),
                     (KeyCode::Char('?'), KeyModifiers::NONE | KeyModifiers::SHIFT)
@@ -4126,19 +4157,6 @@ impl ChatApp {
                     && key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::SHIFT)
                     && matches!(key.code, KeyCode::Char('p') | KeyCode::Char('P'));
 
-                if is_file_focus_key && matches!(self.mode, InputMode::Normal) {
-                    let was_collapsed = self.is_file_panel_collapsed();
-                    self.toggle_file_panel();
-                    if was_collapsed && !self.is_file_panel_collapsed() {
-                        self.status = "Files panel shown".to_string();
-                    } else if !was_collapsed && self.is_file_panel_collapsed() {
-                        self.status = "Files panel hidden".to_string();
-                    } else {
-                        // No visual change (e.g., width constraints), keep prior status
-                    }
-                    return Ok(AppState::Running);
-                }
-
                 if is_reveal_active && matches!(self.mode, InputMode::Normal) {
                     self.reveal_active_file();
                     return Ok(AppState::Running);
@@ -5274,11 +5292,58 @@ impl ChatApp {
                                     let _ = self.save_active_code_buffer(path_arg, force).await?;
                                 }
                                 "q" => {
+                                    if matches!(self.focused_panel, FocusedPanel::Files)
+                                        && !self.is_file_panel_collapsed()
+                                    {
+                                        self.collapse_file_panel();
+                                        self.status = "Files panel hidden".to_string();
+                                        self.error = None;
+                                    } else {
                                         self.close_active_code_buffer(force);
                                     }
+                                }
                                 "quit" => {
+                                    if matches!(self.focused_panel, FocusedPanel::Files)
+                                        && !self.is_file_panel_collapsed()
+                                    {
+                                        self.collapse_file_panel();
+                                        self.status = "Files panel hidden".to_string();
+                                        self.error = None;
+                                    } else {
                                         return Ok(AppState::Quit);
                                     }
+                                }
+                                "create" => {
+                                    if args.is_empty() {
+                                        self.error = Some("Usage: :create <path>".to_string());
+                                    } else {
+                                        let path_arg = args.join(" ");
+                                        match self.create_file_from_command(&path_arg) {
+                                            Ok(message) => {
+                                                self.status = message;
+                                                self.error = None;
+                                            }
+                                            Err(err) => {
+                                                self.status = "File creation failed".to_string();
+                                                self.error = Some(err.to_string());
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                                "files" | "explorer" => {
+                                    let was_collapsed = self.is_file_panel_collapsed();
+                                    self.toggle_file_panel();
+                                    let now_collapsed = self.is_file_panel_collapsed();
+                                    self.error = None;
+
+                                    if was_collapsed && !now_collapsed {
+                                        self.status = "Files panel shown".to_string();
+                                    } else if !was_collapsed && now_collapsed {
+                                        self.status = "Files panel hidden".to_string();
+                                    } else {
+                                        self.status = "Files panel unchanged".to_string();
+                                    }
+                                }
                                 "c" | "clear" => {
                                     self.controller.clear();
                                     self.chat_line_offset = 0;
@@ -6232,9 +6297,10 @@ impl ChatApp {
                         _ => {}
                     },
                     InputMode::Help => match key.code {
-                        KeyCode::Esc | KeyCode::Enter | KeyCode::Char('q') => {
+                        KeyCode::Esc | KeyCode::Enter | KeyCode::Char('q') | KeyCode::F(1) => {
                             self.set_input_mode(InputMode::Normal);
                             self.help_tab_index = 0; // Reset to first tab
+                            self.reset_status();
                         }
                         KeyCode::Tab | KeyCode::Right | KeyCode::Char('l') => {
                             // Next tab

crates/owlen-tui/src/commands/mod.rs

@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ const COMMANDS: &[CommandSpec] = &[
         keyword: "open",
         description: "Open a file in the code view",
     },
+    CommandSpec {
+        keyword: "create",
+        description: "Create a file (creates missing directories)",
+    },
     CommandSpec {
         keyword: "close",
         description: "Close the active code view",
@@ -196,6 +200,14 @@ const COMMANDS: &[CommandSpec] = &[
         keyword: "layout load",
         description: "Restore the last saved pane layout",
     },
+    CommandSpec {
+        keyword: "files",
+        description: "Toggle the files panel",
+    },
+    CommandSpec {
+        keyword: "explorer",
+        description: "Alias for files",
+    },
 ];
 
 /// Return the static catalog of commands.

crates/owlen-tui/src/state/file_tree.rs

@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ impl FileTreeState {
             cursor: 0,
             scroll_top: 0,
             viewport_height: 20,
-            filter_mode: FilterMode::Fuzzy,
+            filter_mode: FilterMode::Glob,
             filter_query: String::new(),
             show_hidden: false,
             filter_matches: Vec::new(),
@@ -198,6 +198,14 @@ impl FileTreeState {
         &self.filter_query
     }
 
+    pub fn set_filter_mode(&mut self, mode: FilterMode) {
+        if self.filter_mode != mode {
+            self.filter_mode = mode;
+            self.recompute_filter_cache();
+            self.rebuild_visible();
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn show_hidden(&self) -> bool {
         self.show_hidden
     }
@@ -276,12 +284,11 @@ impl FileTreeState {
     }
 
     pub fn toggle_filter_mode(&mut self) {
-        self.filter_mode = match self.filter_mode {
+        let next = match self.filter_mode {
             FilterMode::Glob => FilterMode::Fuzzy,
             FilterMode::Fuzzy => FilterMode::Glob,
         };
-        self.recompute_filter_cache();
+        self.set_filter_mode(next);
-        self.rebuild_visible();
     }
 
     pub fn toggle_hidden(&mut self) -> Result<()> {

crates/owlen-tui/src/ui.rs

@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ fn render_file_tree(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &mut ChatApp) {
     }
 
     title_spans.push(Span::styled(
-        "  ↩ open · o split↓ · O split→ · t tab · y abs · Y rel · a file · A dir · r ren · m move · d del · . $EDITOR · gh hidden · / mode",
+        "  ↩ open · o split↓ · O split→ · t tab · y abs · Y rel · A dir · r ren · m move · d del · . $EDITOR · gh hidden · / fuzzy search",
         panel_hint_style(has_focus, &theme),
     ));
 
@@ -3222,6 +3222,7 @@ fn render_help(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, app: &ChatApp) {
                     .fg(theme.user_message_role),
             )]),
             Line::from("  :open <path>       → open file in code side panel"),
+            Line::from("  :create <path>     → create file (makes parent directories)"),
             Line::from("  :close             → close the code side panel"),
             Line::from("  :w[!] [path]       → write active file (optionally to path)"),
             Line::from("  :q[!]              → close active file (append ! to discard)"),