Remove preset chat starter suggestions

docs/UI_MODERNIZATION_AUDIT.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Cortex UI modernization audit
 
-**Status:** UI modernization implementation complete for this slice; dedicated image-editor affordances removed; native package rebuilt and startup-verified
+**Status:** UI modernization follow-up complete; dedicated image-editor affordances and preset prompt cards removed; native package rebuilt and startup-verified
 **Scope:** Every user-facing frontend surface, not a cosmetic theme pass
 
 ## What was audited
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ primary problems were structural:
 | Area | Finding | Modernization outcome |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | Workspace shell | The top bar conveyed almost no context and the sidebar was a loose list of text. | A clear workspace header, local-runtime status, product identity, conversation count, and a deliberate sidebar footer establish hierarchy. |
-| Conversation canvas | A new chat opened into a large, empty dark region. | A compact new-thread orientation gives the canvas a clear starting point without turning it into a marketing screen. |
+| Conversation canvas | A new chat opened into a large, empty dark region, then introduced generic preset prompts. | A quiet new-thread orientation gives the canvas context while leaving the user in control of the first message. |
 | Composer | The input was visually stranded in a full-width bottom strip. | The composer is now a centered, elevated input island with integrated local-model context, state feedback, and responsive sizing. |
 | Conversation controls | Saved chats, rename, and delete controls had weak grouping and feedback. | The list uses active/hover/focus states, reveal-on-focus actions, and purposeful confirmation dialogs. |
 | Settings and submenus | Settings read as a large collection of unrelated boxes. | Text-led categories, descriptive labels, and a unified detail pane make settings read like a native control surface. |
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ opaque background service.
   runtime state, conversation navigation, and better destructive-action dialogs.
 - `frontend/src/components/ChatPage.tsx` adds the intentional blank-chat launch
   surface and docks the composer as part of the conversation canvas. It does
-  not advertise image transformation or image generation.
+  not advertise image transformation, image generation, or preset prompt
+  suggestions.
 - `frontend/src/components/MessageComposer.tsx` integrates local-model context
   into the composer island.
 - `frontend/src/components/SettingsPanel.tsx` turns settings into a structured
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ This slice passed the release checks: 44 component tests in a single worker,
 6 browser-level flows, typecheck, lint, production build, a fresh Windows
 package build, and a packaged launch with `GET /api/v1/health/ready` returning
 HTTP 200. The production bundle contains no dedicated image-transform UI
-labels or selectors.
+labels or selectors, and no preset starter-card selectors or labels.
 
 During the audit, the existing packaged executable exposed a separate native
 startup defect: Uvicorn's default console formatter dereferenced `sys.stderr`

frontend/src/components/ChatPage.test.tsx

@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ function renderChat(api: CortexApi, threadId = "thread-a") {
 describe("ChatPage composer integration", () => {
   afterEach(() => window.sessionStorage.clear());
 
-  it("turns a blank conversation into a useful starting surface", async () => {
-    const user = userEvent.setup();
+  it("keeps a blank conversation free of preset prompt suggestions", async () => {
     renderChat(chatApi());
 
     await screen.findByRole("heading", { name: "New thread" });
-    await user.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Think through a decision/i }));
 
-    expect(screen.getByLabelText("Message Cortex")).toHaveValue("Help me think through a decision step by step.");
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Think through a decision")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Check a calculation")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByLabelText("Message Cortex")).toHaveValue("");
   });
 
   it("retains the exact draft if generation acceptance fails", async () => {

frontend/src/components/ChatPage.tsx

@@ -391,16 +391,6 @@ export function ChatPage({
             <p>
               Ask a question or check a calculation using the model on this device.
             </p>
-            <div className="chat-starter-list">
-              <button type="button" onClick={() => updateDraft("Help me think through a decision step by step.")}>
-                <span className="chat-starter-index" aria-hidden="true">01</span>
-                <span><strong>Think through a decision</strong><small>Turn a rough idea into a clear plan.</small></span>
-              </button>
-              <button type="button" onClick={() => updateDraft("Calculate and explain: ")}>
-                <span className="chat-starter-index" aria-hidden="true">02</span>
-                <span><strong>Check a calculation</strong><small>Work through a result with local computation.</small></span>
-              </button>
-            </div>
             {selectedModel && <span className="chat-welcome-model">{selectedModel}</span>}
           </section>
         )}

frontend/src/styles/tokens.css

@@ -265,13 +265,6 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
 .chat-welcome-mark { display: none; }
 .chat-welcome h1 { max-width: 560px; margin: 0; color: var(--text); font-size: clamp(1.35rem, 2vw, 1.65rem); font-weight: 650; letter-spacing: -0.04em; line-height: 1.15; }
 .chat-welcome > p:not(.eyebrow) { max-width: 500px; margin: 11px 0 23px; color: var(--text-muted); font-size: 0.86rem; line-height: 1.65; }
-.chat-starter-list { display: grid; width: min(100%, 580px); border-top: 1px solid var(--line); text-align: left; }
-.chat-starter-list button { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 34px minmax(0, 1fr); align-items: start; min-height: 65px; gap: 9px; border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line); padding: 13px 3px; background: transparent; color: var(--text-muted); text-align: left; transition: background 150ms ease, color 150ms ease; }
-.chat-starter-list button:hover { background: var(--surface-soft); color: var(--text); }
-.chat-starter-list button > span:not(.chat-starter-index) { display: grid; gap: 3px; min-width: 0; }
-.chat-starter-index { color: var(--accent); font-family: "Cascadia Code", "SFMono-Regular", Consolas, monospace; font-size: 0.65rem; line-height: 1.6; }
-.chat-starter-list strong { color: var(--text); font-size: 0.78rem; font-weight: 660; }
-.chat-starter-list small { color: var(--text-muted); font-size: 0.71rem; line-height: 1.45; }
 .chat-welcome-model { margin-top: 14px; color: var(--text-faint); font-family: "Cascadia Code", "SFMono-Regular", Consolas, monospace; font-size: 0.67rem; }
 
 .message-card { display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: min(100%, 760px); max-width: 100%; }
@@ -481,8 +474,6 @@ input[type="range"] { width: 100%; accent-color: var(--accent); }
 
 @media (max-width: 920px) {
   .runtime-status { display: none; }
-  .chat-starter-list { max-width: 100%; }
-  .chat-starter-list button { min-height: 64px; }
   .settings-dialog { width: min(100%, 860px); }
   .settings-dialog-body { grid-template-columns: 190px minmax(0, 1fr); }
 }