reassign action palette key

config/aitools.go

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import "path"
 
 // AITool defines a supported AI coding assistant.
 // To add a new tool, add an entry to the aiTools slice below.
-// NOTE: the action palette (press *) surfaces available actions; update docs if tool names change.
+// NOTE: the action palette (press Ctrl+A) surfaces available actions; update docs if tool names change.
 type AITool struct {
 	Key          string // config identifier: "claude", "gemini", "codex", "opencode"
 	DisplayName  string // human-readable label for UI: "Claude Code"

controller/actions.go

@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func DefaultGlobalActions() *ActionRegistry {
 	r.Register(Action{ID: ActionQuit, Key: tcell.KeyRune, Rune: 'q', Label: "Quit", ShowInHeader: true})
 	r.Register(Action{ID: ActionRefresh, Key: tcell.KeyRune, Rune: 'r', Label: "Refresh", ShowInHeader: true})
 	r.Register(Action{ID: ActionToggleHeader, Key: tcell.KeyF10, Label: "Toggle Header", ShowInHeader: true})
-	r.Register(Action{ID: ActionOpenPalette, Key: tcell.KeyRune, Rune: '*', Label: "All", ShowInHeader: true, HideFromPalette: true})
+	r.Register(Action{ID: ActionOpenPalette, Key: tcell.KeyCtrlA, Modifier: tcell.ModCtrl, Label: "All", ShowInHeader: true, HideFromPalette: true})
 	return r
 }
 

controller/actions_test.go

@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ func TestDefaultGlobalActions(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// ActionOpenPalette should show in header with label "All"
+	// ActionOpenPalette should show in header with label "All" and use Ctrl+A binding
 	for _, a := range actions {
 		if a.ID == ActionOpenPalette {
 			if !a.ShowInHeader {
@@ -428,6 +428,15 @@ func TestDefaultGlobalActions(t *testing.T) {
 			if a.Label != "All" {
 				t.Errorf("ActionOpenPalette label = %q, want %q", a.Label, "All")
 			}
+			if a.Key != tcell.KeyCtrlA {
+				t.Errorf("ActionOpenPalette Key = %v, want KeyCtrlA", a.Key)
+			}
+			if a.Modifier != tcell.ModCtrl {
+				t.Errorf("ActionOpenPalette Modifier = %v, want ModCtrl", a.Modifier)
+			}
+			if a.Rune != 0 {
+				t.Errorf("ActionOpenPalette Rune = %v, want 0", a.Rune)
+			}
 			continue
 		}
 		if !a.ShowInHeader {

controller/input_router.go

@@ -106,7 +106,14 @@ func (ir *InputRouter) SetPaletteConfig(pc *model.ActionPaletteConfig) {
 func (ir *InputRouter) HandleInput(event *tcell.EventKey, currentView *ViewEntry) bool {
 	slog.Debug("input received", "name", event.Name(), "key", int(event.Key()), "rune", string(event.Rune()), "modifiers", int(event.Modifiers()))
 
-	// if the input box is focused, let it handle all input (including '*' and F10)
+	// palette fires regardless of focus context (Ctrl+A can't conflict with typing)
+	if action := ir.globalActions.Match(event); action != nil {
+		if action.ID == ActionOpenPalette {
+			return ir.handleGlobalAction(action.ID)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// if the input box is focused, let it handle all remaining input (including F10)
 	if activeView := ir.navController.GetActiveView(); activeView != nil {
 		if iv, ok := activeView.(InputableView); ok && iv.IsInputBoxFocused() {
 			return false
@@ -114,11 +121,9 @@ func (ir *InputRouter) HandleInput(event *tcell.EventKey, currentView *ViewEntry
 	}
 
 	// pre-gate: global actions that must fire before task-edit Prepare() and before
-	// search/fullscreen/editor gates. ActionOpenPalette is suppressed in TaskEditView
+	// search/fullscreen/editor gates
-	// because '*' is a typeable rune that should be inserted into fields.
 	if action := ir.globalActions.Match(event); action != nil {
-		isTaskEdit := currentView != nil && currentView.ViewID == model.TaskEditViewID
+		if action.ID == ActionToggleHeader {
-		if action.ID == ActionToggleHeader || (action.ID == ActionOpenPalette && !isTaskEdit) {
 			return ir.handleGlobalAction(action.ID)
 		}
 	}

integration/action_palette_test.go

@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 package integration
 
 import (
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/boolean-maybe/tiki/controller"
 	"github.com/boolean-maybe/tiki/model"
 	taskpkg "github.com/boolean-maybe/tiki/task"
 	"github.com/boolean-maybe/tiki/testutil"
-	"github.com/boolean-maybe/tiki/view/taskdetail"
 
 	"github.com/gdamore/tcell/v2"
 )
@@ -17,10 +16,10 @@ func TestActionPalette_OpenAndClose(t *testing.T) {
 	defer ta.Cleanup()
 	ta.Draw()
 
-	// * opens the palette
+	// Ctrl+A opens the palette
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyCtrlA, 0, tcell.ModCtrl)
 	if !ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should be visible after pressing '*'")
+		t.Fatal("palette should be visible after pressing Ctrl+A")
 	}
 
 	// Esc closes it
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ func TestActionPalette_ModalBlocksGlobals(t *testing.T) {
 	startVisible := hc.IsVisible()
 
 	// open palette
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyCtrlA, 0, tcell.ModCtrl)
 	if !ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
 		t.Fatal("palette should be open")
 	}
@@ -76,13 +75,13 @@ func TestActionPalette_ModalBlocksGlobals(t *testing.T) {
 	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyEscape, 0, tcell.ModNone)
 }
 
-func TestActionPalette_AsteriskFiltersInPalette(t *testing.T) {
+func TestActionPalette_AsteriskIsFilterTextInPalette(t *testing.T) {
 	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
 	defer ta.Cleanup()
 	ta.Draw()
 
 	// open palette
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyCtrlA, 0, tcell.ModCtrl)
 	if !ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
 		t.Fatal("palette should be open")
 	}
@@ -98,215 +97,68 @@ func TestActionPalette_AsteriskFiltersInPalette(t *testing.T) {
 	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyEscape, 0, tcell.ModNone)
 }
 
-// getEditView type-asserts the active view to *taskdetail.TaskEditView.
+func TestActionPalette_AsteriskDoesNotOpenPalette(t *testing.T) {
-func getEditView(t *testing.T, ta *testutil.TestApp) *taskdetail.TaskEditView {
+	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	t.Helper()
+	defer ta.Cleanup()
+	ta.Draw()
+
+	// send '*' as a rune on the plugin view
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
+
+	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
+		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is pressed — only Ctrl+A should open it")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestActionPalette_OpensInTaskEdit(t *testing.T) {
+	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
+	defer ta.Cleanup()
+
+	if err := testutil.CreateTestTask(ta.TaskDir, "TIKI-1", "Test", taskpkg.StatusReady, taskpkg.TypeStory); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create task: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := ta.TaskStore.Reload(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reload: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	ta.NavController.PushView(model.TaskEditViewID, model.EncodeTaskEditParams(model.TaskEditParams{
+		TaskID: "TIKI-1",
+		Focus:  model.EditFieldTitle,
+	}))
+	ta.Draw()
+
+	// Ctrl+A should open the palette even in task edit
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyCtrlA, 0, tcell.ModCtrl)
+
+	if !ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
+		t.Fatal("palette should open when Ctrl+A is pressed in task edit view")
+	}
+
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyEscape, 0, tcell.ModNone)
+}
+
+func TestActionPalette_OpensWithInputBoxFocused(t *testing.T) {
+	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
+	defer ta.Cleanup()
+
+	ta.NavController.PushView(model.MakePluginViewID("Kanban"), nil)
+	ta.Draw()
+
+	// open search to focus input box
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '/', tcell.ModNone)
+
 	v := ta.NavController.GetActiveView()
-	ev, ok := v.(*taskdetail.TaskEditView)
+	iv, ok := v.(controller.InputableView)
-	if !ok {
+	if !ok || !iv.IsInputBoxFocused() {
-		t.Fatalf("expected *taskdetail.TaskEditView, got %T", v)
+		t.Fatal("input box should be focused after '/'")
-	}
-	return ev
-}
-
-func TestActionPalette_BlockedInTaskEdit_DraftFirstKey(t *testing.T) {
-	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	defer ta.Cleanup()
-
-	ta.NavController.PushView(model.MakePluginViewID("Kanban"), nil)
-	ta.Draw()
-
-	// press 'n' to create new task (draft path, title focused)
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, 'n', tcell.ModNone)
-
-	// very first key in edit view is '*'
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
-
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is pressed in task edit (draft, first key)")
-	}
-	ev := getEditView(t, ta)
-	if got := ev.GetEditedTitle(); got != "*" {
-		t.Fatalf("title = %q, want %q", got, "*")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestActionPalette_BlockedInTaskEdit_ExistingFirstKey(t *testing.T) {
-	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	defer ta.Cleanup()
-
-	if err := testutil.CreateTestTask(ta.TaskDir, "TIKI-1", "Test", taskpkg.StatusReady, taskpkg.TypeStory); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("create task: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := ta.TaskStore.Reload(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("reload: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	// push task edit directly (non-draft path)
-	ta.NavController.PushView(model.TaskEditViewID, model.EncodeTaskEditParams(model.TaskEditParams{
-		TaskID: "TIKI-1",
-		Focus:  model.EditFieldTitle,
-	}))
-	ta.Draw()
-
-	// first key is '*'
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
-
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is pressed in task edit (existing, first key)")
-	}
-	ev := getEditView(t, ta)
-	if got := ev.GetEditedTitle(); got != "Test*" {
-		t.Fatalf("title = %q, want %q", got, "Test*")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestActionPalette_BlockedInTaskEdit_TitleMidText(t *testing.T) {
-	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	defer ta.Cleanup()
-
-	ta.NavController.PushView(model.MakePluginViewID("Kanban"), nil)
-	ta.Draw()
-
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, 'n', tcell.ModNone)
-	ta.SendText("ab*cd")
-
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is typed mid-title")
-	}
-	ev := getEditView(t, ta)
-	if got := ev.GetEditedTitle(); got != "ab*cd" {
-		t.Fatalf("title = %q, want %q", got, "ab*cd")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestActionPalette_BlockedInTaskEdit_Description(t *testing.T) {
-	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	defer ta.Cleanup()
-
-	if err := testutil.CreateTestTask(ta.TaskDir, "TIKI-1", "Test", taskpkg.StatusReady, taskpkg.TypeStory); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("create task: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := ta.TaskStore.Reload(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("reload: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	ta.NavController.PushView(model.TaskEditViewID, model.EncodeTaskEditParams(model.TaskEditParams{
-		TaskID:   "TIKI-1",
-		Focus:    model.EditFieldDescription,
-		DescOnly: true,
-	}))
-	ta.Draw()
-
-	ta.SendText("x*y")
-
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is typed in description")
-	}
-	ev := getEditView(t, ta)
-	desc := ev.GetEditedDescription()
-	if !strings.Contains(desc, "x*y") {
-		t.Fatalf("description = %q, should contain %q", desc, "x*y")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestActionPalette_BlockedInTaskEdit_Tags(t *testing.T) {
-	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	defer ta.Cleanup()
-
-	if err := testutil.CreateTestTask(ta.TaskDir, "TIKI-1", "Test", taskpkg.StatusReady, taskpkg.TypeStory); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("create task: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := ta.TaskStore.Reload(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("reload: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	ta.NavController.PushView(model.TaskEditViewID, model.EncodeTaskEditParams(model.TaskEditParams{
-		TaskID:   "TIKI-1",
-		TagsOnly: true,
-	}))
-	ta.Draw()
-
-	ta.SendText("tag*val")
-
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is typed in tags")
-	}
-	ev := getEditView(t, ta)
-	tags := ev.GetEditedTags()
-	if len(tags) != 1 || tags[0] != "tag*val" {
-		t.Fatalf("tags = %v, want [tag*val]", tags)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestActionPalette_BlockedInTaskEdit_Assignee(t *testing.T) {
-	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	defer ta.Cleanup()
-
-	if err := testutil.CreateTestTask(ta.TaskDir, "TIKI-1", "Test", taskpkg.StatusReady, taskpkg.TypeStory); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("create task: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := ta.TaskStore.Reload(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("reload: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	// push task edit (default title focus)
-	ta.NavController.PushView(model.TaskEditViewID, model.EncodeTaskEditParams(model.TaskEditParams{
-		TaskID: "TIKI-1",
-		Focus:  model.EditFieldTitle,
-	}))
-	ta.Draw()
-
-	// tab 5× to Assignee: Title→Status→Type→Priority→Points→Assignee
-	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
-		ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyTab, 0, tcell.ModNone)
-	}
-
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
-
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is pressed on Assignee field")
-	}
-	editTask := ta.EditingTask()
-	if editTask == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected editing task to be non-nil")
-	}
-	if editTask.Assignee != "Unassigned*" {
-		t.Fatalf("assignee = %q, want %q ('*' appended to default value)", editTask.Assignee, "Unassigned*")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestActionPalette_BlockedInTaskEdit_NonTypeableField(t *testing.T) {
-	ta := testutil.NewTestApp(t)
-	defer ta.Cleanup()
-
-	if err := testutil.CreateTestTask(ta.TaskDir, "TIKI-1", "Test", taskpkg.StatusReady, taskpkg.TypeStory); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("create task: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := ta.TaskStore.Reload(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("reload: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	// push task edit (default title focus)
-	ta.NavController.PushView(model.TaskEditViewID, model.EncodeTaskEditParams(model.TaskEditParams{
-		TaskID: "TIKI-1",
-		Focus:  model.EditFieldTitle,
-	}))
-	ta.Draw()
-
-	// tab 1× to Status (non-typeable field)
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyTab, 0, tcell.ModNone)
-
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
-
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should NOT open when '*' is pressed on Status field")
-	}
-	editTask := ta.EditingTask()
-	if editTask == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected editing task to be non-nil")
-	}
-	if editTask.Status != taskpkg.StatusReady {
-		t.Fatalf("status = %v, want %v (rune should be silently ignored)", editTask.Status, taskpkg.StatusReady)
 	}
+
+	// Ctrl+A should open the palette even with input box focused
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyCtrlA, 0, tcell.ModCtrl)
+
+	if !ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
+		t.Fatal("palette should open when Ctrl+A is pressed with input box focused")
+	}
+
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyEscape, 0, tcell.ModNone)
 }

integration/input_action_test.go

@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ func TestInputAction_EmptySearchEnterIsNoOp(t *testing.T) {
 	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyEscape, 0, tcell.ModNone)
 }
 
-func TestInputAction_PaletteBlockedDuringModal(t *testing.T) {
+func TestInputAction_PaletteOpensDuringModal(t *testing.T) {
 	ta := setupInputActionTest(t)
 	defer ta.Cleanup()
 
@@ -383,13 +383,13 @@ func TestInputAction_PaletteBlockedDuringModal(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("input box should be focused")
 	}
 
-	// '*' should be typed into the input box as text, not open the palette
+	// Ctrl+A should open the palette even while input box is focused
-	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyRune, '*', tcell.ModNone)
+	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyCtrlA, 0, tcell.ModCtrl)
-	if ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
+	if !ta.GetPaletteConfig().IsVisible() {
-		t.Fatal("palette should not open while input box is editing")
+		t.Fatal("palette should open when Ctrl+A is pressed with input box focused")
 	}
 
-	// cancel and clean up
+	// clean up
 	ta.SendKey(tcell.KeyEscape, 0, tcell.ModNone)
 }
 

view/doki_plugin_view.go

@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (dv *DokiView) build() {
 	// The default Help plugin previously used this with embedded markdown:
 	//   cnt := map[string]string{"Help": helpMd, "tiki.md": tikiMd, "view.md": customMd}
 	//   provider := &internalDokiProvider{content: cnt}
-	// That usage was replaced by the action palette (press * to open).
+	// That usage was replaced by the action palette (press Ctrl+A to open).
 	case "internal":
 		provider := &internalDokiProvider{content: map[string]string{}}
 		content, err = provider.FetchContent(nav.NavElement{Text: dv.pluginDef.Text})