fix(ui): streamline ask_user question forms

src/client/src/api/parsers.test.ts

@@ -723,14 +723,14 @@ describe("API parsers", () => {
     })).toThrow("Invalid notification clear reason");
   });
 
-  it("parses an open ask with options, details, other, and multi-select", () => {
+  it("parses an open ask and normalizes every question to allow custom answers", () => {
     const parsed = parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: pendingAskWire() });
 
     expect(parsed.pendingAsk).toEqual({
       askId: "ask-1",
       askedAt: "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z",
       questions: [
-        { id: "q1", question: "Which database?", detail: "Pick the primary store", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres", detail: "Relational" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }] },
+        { id: "q1", question: "Which database?", detail: "Pick the primary store", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres", detail: "Relational" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }], allowOther: true },
         { id: "q2", question: "Which extras?", options: [{ value: "metrics", label: "Metrics" }], allowOther: true, multiple: true },
       ],
     });
@@ -740,13 +740,15 @@ describe("API parsers", () => {
     expect(parseSessionStatus(statusWire()).pendingAsk).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
-  it("rejects an ask that cannot be rendered or answered honestly", () => {
+  it("validates an ask before rendering it", () => {
     const ask = pendingAskWire();
     const first = ask.questions[0];
     expect(() => parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, questions: [] } })).toThrow("Pending ask has no questions");
     expect(() => parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, questions: [first, first] } })).toThrow("Duplicate ask question id");
     expect(() => parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, askId: "" } })).toThrow("Expected non-empty string field: askId");
-    expect(() => parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, questions: [{ id: "q1", question: "Anything?", options: [] }] } })).toThrow("Ask question offers no way to answer");
+    expect(parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, questions: [{ id: "q1", question: "Anything?", options: [] }] } }).pendingAsk?.questions[0])
+      .toEqual({ id: "q1", question: "Anything?", options: [], allowOther: true });
+    expect(() => parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, questions: [{ id: "q1", question: "Anything?", options: [], allowOther: "yes" }] } })).toThrow("Expected optional boolean field: allowOther");
     expect(() => parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, questions: [{ id: "q1", question: "Which?", options: [{ value: "a", label: "A" }, { value: "a", label: "Also A" }] }] } })).toThrow("Duplicate ask option value");
     expect(() => parseSessionStatus({ ...statusWire(), pendingAsk: { ...ask, questions: [{ id: "q1", question: "x".repeat(ASK_USER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH + 1), options: [{ value: "a", label: "A" }] }] } })).toThrow("String field exceeds limit: question");
   });
@@ -814,7 +816,7 @@ function pendingAskWire() {
     askId: "ask-1",
     askedAt: "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z",
     questions: [
-      { id: "q1", question: "Which database?", detail: "Pick the primary store", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres", detail: "Relational" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }] },
+      { id: "q1", question: "Which database?", detail: "Pick the primary store", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres", detail: "Relational" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }], allowOther: false },
       { id: "q2", question: "Which extras?", options: [{ value: "metrics", label: "Metrics" }], allowOther: true, multiple: true },
     ],
   };

src/client/src/api/parsers.ts

@@ -218,17 +218,16 @@ function parseAskUserQuestion(value: unknown): AskUserQuestion {
   const record = requireRecord(value);
   const options = boundedArrayOf(record["options"], parseAskUserQuestionOption, ASK_USER_OPTION_LIMIT, "options");
   assertUniqueStrings(options.map((option) => option.value), "ask option value");
-  const allowOther = parseOptionalBoolean(record["allowOther"], "allowOther");
+  // Validate the legacy wire field when present, but normalize every question to
+  // the current invariant: the browser always offers a custom answer.
+  parseOptionalBoolean(record["allowOther"], "allowOther");
   const multiple = parseOptionalBoolean(record["multiple"], "multiple");
-  // A question offering neither options nor a free-text field cannot be answered
-  // at all, which would make reporting it as unanswered meaningless.
-  if (options.length === 0 && allowOther !== true) throw new Error("Ask question offers no way to answer");
   return {
     id: requireBoundedNonEmptyString(record, "id", ASK_USER_ID_MAX_LENGTH),
     question: requireBoundedNonEmptyString(record, "question", ASK_USER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH),
     ...optionalField("detail", optionalBoundedNonEmptyString(record, "detail", ASK_USER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH)),
     options,
-    ...(allowOther === undefined ? {} : { allowOther }),
+    allowOther: true,
     ...(multiple === undefined ? {} : { multiple }),
   };
 }

src/client/src/askDrafts.test.ts

@@ -50,11 +50,10 @@ const singleSelect: AskUserQuestion = {
   options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }],
 };
 
-const multiSelectWithOther: AskUserQuestion = {
+const multiSelect: AskUserQuestion = {
   id: "q2",
   question: "Which extras?",
   options: [{ value: "metrics", label: "Metrics" }, { value: "tracing", label: "Tracing" }],
-  allowOther: true,
   multiple: true,
 };
 
@@ -62,10 +61,9 @@ const freeTextOnly: AskUserQuestion = {
   id: "q3",
   question: "Anything else?",
   options: [],
-  allowOther: true,
 };
 
-const questions = [singleSelect, multiSelectWithOther, freeTextOnly];
+const questions = [singleSelect, multiSelect, freeTextOnly];
 
 afterEach(() => {
   Object.defineProperty(globalThis, "localStorage", { value: undefined, configurable: true });
@@ -151,7 +149,7 @@ describe("ask answer state", () => {
     expect(toSubmission(questions, answers).answers.map((answer) => answer.id)).toEqual(["q1", "q3"]);
   });
 
-  it("keeps several values and other text together for a multi-select question", () => {
+  it("keeps several values and custom text together for a multi-select question", () => {
     const answers: AskDraftAnswers = { q2: { values: ["metrics", "tracing"], otherText: "profiling" } };
 
     expect(toSubmission(questions, answers)).toEqual({
@@ -178,15 +176,13 @@ describe("ask answer state", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("keeps other text for a single-select question that has no selected option", () => {
-    const singleWithOther: AskUserQuestion = { ...singleSelect, allowOther: true };
-
-    expect(toSubmission([singleWithOther], { q1: { values: [], otherText: "neither" } })).toEqual({
+  it("keeps custom text for every single-select question when no option is selected", () => {
+    expect(toSubmission([singleSelect], { q1: { values: [], otherText: "neither" } })).toEqual({
       answers: [{ id: "q1", values: [], otherText: "neither" }],
     });
   });
 
-  it("bounds other text at the shared limit", () => {
+  it("bounds custom text at the shared limit", () => {
     const answers: AskDraftAnswers = { q3: { values: [], otherText: "a".repeat(ASK_USER_OTHER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH + 10) } };
 
     expect(toSubmission(questions, answers).answers[0]?.otherText).toHaveLength(ASK_USER_OTHER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH);

src/client/src/askDrafts.ts

@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ function submittableAnswer(question: AskUserQuestion, answer: AskDraftAnswer | u
   if (answer === undefined) return undefined;
   const offered = new Set(question.options.map((option) => option.value));
   const values = [...new Set(answer.values)].filter((value) => offered.has(value));
-  const otherText = normalizedOtherText(question, answer.otherText);
+  const otherText = normalizedOtherText(answer.otherText);
   if (question.multiple !== true && values.length + (otherText === undefined ? 0 : 1) > 1) {
     const single = values[0];
     if (single !== undefined) return { id: question.id, values: [single] };
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ function submittableAnswer(question: AskUserQuestion, answer: AskDraftAnswer | u
   return { id: question.id, values, ...(otherText === undefined ? {} : { otherText }) };
 }
 
-function normalizedOtherText(question: AskUserQuestion, otherText: string | undefined): string | undefined {
-  if (otherText === undefined || question.allowOther !== true) return undefined;
+function normalizedOtherText(otherText: string | undefined): string | undefined {
+  if (otherText === undefined) return undefined;
   const trimmed = otherText.trim().slice(0, ASK_USER_OTHER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH);
   return trimmed === "" ? undefined : trimmed;
 }

src/client/src/chatMessages.test.ts

@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ const askUserOutcome: AskUserOutcome = {
   closedAt: "2026-07-20T10:05:00.000Z",
   questions: [
     {
-      question: { id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }] },
+      question: { id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }], allowOther: true },
       answered: true,
       values: ["pg"],
     },
     {
-      question: { id: "cache", question: "Which cache?", options: [{ value: "redis", label: "Redis" }] },
+      question: { id: "cache", question: "Which cache?", options: [{ value: "redis", label: "Redis" }], allowOther: true },
       answered: false,
       values: [],
     },

src/client/src/chatTranscript.test.ts

@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ const askUserOutcome: AskUserOutcome = {
   closedAt: "2026-07-20T10:05:00.000Z",
   questions: [
     {
-      question: { id: "editor", question: "Which editor?", options: [{ value: "vim", label: "Vim" }] },
+      question: { id: "editor", question: "Which editor?", options: [{ value: "vim", label: "Vim" }], allowOther: true },
       answered: true,
       values: ["vim"],
     },
     {
-      question: { id: "region", question: "Which region?", options: [{ value: "eu", label: "Europe" }] },
+      question: { id: "region", question: "Which region?", options: [{ value: "eu", label: "Europe" }], allowOther: true },
       answered: false,
       values: [],
     },

src/client/src/components/AskUserCard.test.ts

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ describe("ask-user-card live form", () => {
     expect(code.name).toBe(vim.name);
     expect(web.type).toBe("checkbox");
     expect(web.name).not.toBe(vim.name);
-    expect(root.querySelector("[aria-live='polite']")?.textContent).toContain("Answered 0 of 2");
+    expect(root.querySelector("[aria-live='polite']")?.textContent).toContain("0 of 2 answered");
 
     // Focus and interaction run through the rendered native control rather than
     // extracting Lit handlers, so this exercises the form's browser boundary.
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe("ask-user-card live form", () => {
 
     expect(vim.checked).toBe(true);
     expect(code.checked).toBe(false);
-    expect(root.querySelector("[aria-live='polite']")?.textContent).toContain("Answered 1 of 2");
+    expect(root.querySelector("[aria-live='polite']")?.textContent).toContain("1 of 2 answered");
   });
 
   it("accumulates several checkbox values for a multi-select question", async () => {
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe("ask-user-card live form", () => {
     inputWithValue(root, "desktop").click();
     await card.updateComplete;
 
-    expect(root.querySelector("[aria-live='polite']")?.textContent).toContain("Answered 1 of 1");
+    expect(root.querySelector("[aria-live='polite']")?.textContent).toContain("1 of 1 answered");
     buttonWithText(root, "Send answers").click();
     await Promise.resolve();
 
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ describe("ask-user-card live form", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("reveals and focuses a labelled other field while preserving multi-select options", async () => {
+  it("always offers and focuses a labelled custom field while preserving multi-select options", async () => {
     const onSubmit = vi.fn<AskUserSubmitCallback>();
     const card = await mountOpenAsk(openAsk([
-      question("stack", "Pick the stack", [option("lit", "Lit"), option("react", "React")], { multiple: true, allowOther: true }),
+      question("stack", "Pick the stack", [option("lit", "Lit"), option("react", "React")], { multiple: true }),
     ]), onSubmit);
     const root = renderRoot(card);
 
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ describe("ask-user-card live form", () => {
     await card.updateComplete;
     await Promise.resolve();
 
-    const textarea = requiredElement(root.querySelector("textarea"), "other textarea");
-    const label = requiredElement(textarea.closest("label"), "other label");
-    expect(label.textContent).toContain("Your answer for “Pick the stack”");
+    const textarea = requiredElement(root.querySelector("textarea"), "custom textarea");
+    const label = requiredElement(textarea.closest("label"), "custom label");
+    expect(label.textContent).toContain("Custom answer");
     expect(root.activeElement).toBe(textarea);
 
     textarea.value = "Svelte";
@@ -95,12 +95,33 @@ describe("ask-user-card live form", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("shows and submits the custom field directly when no options were supplied", async () => {
+    const onSubmit = vi.fn<AskUserSubmitCallback>();
+    const card = await mountOpenAsk(openAsk([
+      question("notes", "Anything else?", []),
+    ]), onSubmit);
+    const root = renderRoot(card);
+    const textarea = requiredElement(root.querySelector("textarea"), "custom textarea");
+
+    expect(root.querySelector("input")).toBeNull();
+    expect(requiredElement(textarea.closest("label"), "custom label").textContent).toContain("Custom answer");
+    textarea.value = "Keep the first version small.";
+    textarea.dispatchEvent(new Event("input", { bubbles: true, composed: true }));
+    await card.updateComplete;
+    buttonWithText(root, "Send answers").click();
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    expect(onSubmit).toHaveBeenCalledWith("ask-1", {
+      answers: [{ id: "notes", values: [], otherText: "Keep the first version small." }],
+    });
+  });
+
   it("names unanswered questions before allowing a partial submit", async () => {
     const onSubmit = vi.fn<AskUserSubmitCallback>();
     const card = await mountOpenAsk(openAsk([
       question("editor", "Choose an editor", [option("vim", "Vim")]),
       question("deploy", "Choose a deployment target", [option("cloud", "Cloud")]),
-      question("notes", "Add implementation notes", [], { allowOther: true }),
+      question("notes", "Add implementation notes", []),
     ]), onSubmit);
     const root = renderRoot(card);
 
@@ -139,7 +160,7 @@ describe("ask-user-card record mode", () => {
       closedAt: "2026-07-20T10:05:00.000Z",
       questions: [
         unansweredRecord(question("speed", "Preferred pace", [option("fast", "Fast"), option("careful", "Careful")])),
-        unansweredRecord(question("rationale", "Why?", [], { allowOther: true })),
+        unansweredRecord(question("rationale", "Why?", [])),
         unansweredRecord(question("region", "Deployment region", [option("eu", "Europe")])),
       ],
       answeredCount: 0,
@@ -154,7 +175,7 @@ describe("ask-user-card record mode", () => {
     const root = renderRoot(card);
 
     expect(root.querySelector("input, textarea, button, select")).toBeNull();
-    expect(root.textContent).toContain("Questions superseded");
+    expect(root.textContent).toContain("Superseded");
     expect(root.textContent).toContain("Fast");
     expect(root.textContent).toContain("It keeps the feedback loop short.");
     expect(root.textContent).toContain("Draft answer · not sent");
@@ -200,7 +221,7 @@ function question(
   id: string,
   text: string,
   options: AskUserQuestion["options"],
-  settings: { detail?: string; multiple?: boolean; allowOther?: boolean } = {},
+  settings: { detail?: string; multiple?: boolean } = {},
 ): AskUserQuestion {
   return {
     id,
@@ -208,7 +229,6 @@ function question(
     options,
     ...(settings.detail === undefined ? {} : { detail: settings.detail }),
     ...(settings.multiple === undefined ? {} : { multiple: settings.multiple }),
-    ...(settings.allowOther === undefined ? {} : { allowOther: settings.allowOther }),
   };
 }
 

src/client/src/components/AskUserCard.ts

@@ -70,20 +70,16 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
     return html`
       <article class="card open-card" aria-labelledby="ask-user-heading">
         <header class="card-header">
-          <div>
-            <p class="eyebrow">Pi needs your input</p>
-            <h2 id="ask-user-heading">Questions from the model</h2>
-          </div>
-          <span class="question-total">${ask.questions.length} ${ask.questions.length === 1 ? "question" : "questions"}</span>
+          <h2 id="ask-user-heading">Questions</h2>
+          <span class="header-status" role="status" aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
+            ${count} of ${ask.questions.length} answered
+          </span>
         </header>
         <form class="ask-form" @submit=${(event: SubmitEvent) => { this.handleSubmit(event, ask); }}>
-          <div class="questions-grid">
+          <div class="questions">
             ${ask.questions.map((question, index) => this.renderQuestion(ask, question, index))}
           </div>
           <footer class="form-footer">
-            <div class="progress" role="status" aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
-              Answered ${count} of ${ask.questions.length}
-            </div>
             ${this.confirmingPartialSubmit && unanswered.length > 0
               ? this.renderPartialSubmitConfirmation(ask, unanswered)
               : html`
@@ -101,7 +97,8 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
     const answer = this.answers[question.id];
     const answered = answeredCount([question], this.answers) === 1;
     const detailId = question.detail === undefined ? undefined : this.questionDetailId(index);
-    const otherSelected = this.isOtherSelected(question, answer);
+    const freeTextOnly = question.options.length === 0;
+    const customSelected = freeTextOnly || this.isOtherSelected(question, answer);
     const inputType = question.multiple === true ? "checkbox" : "radio";
     return html`
       <fieldset
@@ -113,7 +110,6 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
         <legend>
           <span class="question-number">${String(index + 1)}.</span>
           <span>${question.question}</span>
-          <span class=${`answer-marker${answered ? " complete" : ""}`} aria-hidden="true">${answered ? "Answered" : "Unanswered"}</span>
         </legend>
         ${question.detail === undefined ? null : html`<p class="question-detail" id=${detailId}>${question.detail}</p>`}
         <div class="options">
@@ -132,29 +128,29 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
               </span>
             </label>
           `)}
-          ${question.allowOther === true ? html`
+          ${freeTextOnly ? null : html`
             <label class="option other-option">
               <input
                 type=${inputType}
                 name=${this.questionGroupName(ask, question)}
                 value="__pi_web_other__"
-                .checked=${otherSelected}
+                .checked=${customSelected}
                 @change=${(event: Event) => { this.changeOther(question, index, event); }}
               />
-              <span class="option-copy"><span class="option-label">Other</span></span>
+              <span class="option-copy"><span class="option-label">Custom</span></span>
+            </label>
+          `}
+          ${customSelected ? html`
+            <label class="other-answer" for=${this.otherInputId(index)}>
+              <span>Custom answer</span>
+              <textarea
+                id=${this.otherInputId(index)}
+                rows="3"
+                maxlength=${String(ASK_USER_OTHER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH)}
+                .value=${answer?.otherText ?? ""}
+                @input=${(event: Event) => { this.changeOtherText(question, event); }}
+              ></textarea>
             </label>
-            ${otherSelected ? html`
-              <label class="other-answer" for=${this.otherInputId(index)}>
-                <span>Your answer for “${question.question}”</span>
-                <textarea
-                  id=${this.otherInputId(index)}
-                  rows="3"
-                  maxlength=${String(ASK_USER_OTHER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH)}
-                  .value=${answer?.otherText ?? ""}
-                  @input=${(event: Event) => { this.changeOtherText(question, event); }}
-                ></textarea>
-              </label>
-            ` : null}
           ` : null}
         </div>
       </fieldset>
@@ -186,16 +182,13 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
     const recordLabel = outcome.reason === "submitted"
       ? "Answers sent"
       : outcome.reason === "superseded"
-        ? "Questions superseded"
-        : "Questions cancelled";
+        ? "Superseded"
+        : "Cancelled";
     return html`
       <article class="card record-card" aria-labelledby="ask-user-record-heading">
         <header class="card-header">
-          <div>
-            <p class="eyebrow">Question record</p>
-            <h2 id="ask-user-record-heading">${recordLabel}</h2>
-          </div>
-          <span class=${`record-reason ${outcome.reason}`}>${outcome.reason}</span>
+          <h2 id="ask-user-record-heading">Questions</h2>
+          <span class=${`header-status ${outcome.reason}`}>${recordLabel}</span>
         </header>
         <p class="record-summary">
           ${outcome.reason === "superseded"
@@ -223,7 +216,7 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
           : html`
               <ul class="record-answers">
                 ${answer.values.map((value) => html`<li>${this.optionLabel(record.question, value)}</li>`)}
-                ${answer.otherText === undefined ? null : html`<li><strong>Other:</strong> <span class="other-record-text">${answer.otherText}</span></li>`}
+                ${answer.otherText === undefined ? null : html`<li><strong>Custom:</strong> <span class="other-record-text">${answer.otherText}</span></li>`}
               </ul>
               ${answer.fromDraft ? html`<p class="draft-note">Draft answer · not sent</p>` : null}
             `}
@@ -339,7 +332,7 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
   }
 
   private isOtherSelected(question: AskUserQuestion, answer: AskDraftAnswer | undefined): boolean {
-    if (question.allowOther !== true || answer?.otherText === undefined) return false;
+    if (answer?.otherText === undefined) return false;
     return question.multiple === true || answer.values.length === 0;
   }
 
@@ -400,93 +393,69 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
   static override styles = css`
     :host {
       display: block;
-      width: min(100%, 780px);
-      margin: 18px auto;
+      box-sizing: border-box;
+      width: 100%;
+      margin: 0 0 14px;
       color: var(--pi-text);
       font: 14px system-ui, sans-serif;
       container-type: inline-size;
     }
     .card {
-      overflow: hidden;
       border: 1px solid var(--pi-border);
-      border-radius: 12px;
+      border-radius: 10px;
       background: var(--pi-surface);
-      box-shadow: 0 10px 30px var(--pi-shadow-soft);
     }
     .card-header {
+      position: sticky;
+      top: var(--pi-chat-sticky-top, 0px);
+      z-index: 6;
       display: flex;
-      align-items: flex-start;
+      align-items: center;
       justify-content: space-between;
       gap: 12px;
-      padding: 14px 16px;
-      border-bottom: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted);
-      background: var(--pi-bg-overlay);
-    }
-    .eyebrow {
-      margin: 0 0 3px;
-      color: var(--pi-accent);
-      font-size: 11px;
-      font-weight: 700;
-      letter-spacing: .08em;
-      text-transform: uppercase;
+      min-height: 22px;
+      padding: 7px 10px 6px;
+      border-bottom: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--pi-border-muted) 35%, transparent);
+      border-radius: 9px 9px 0 0;
+      background: var(--pi-surface);
+      box-shadow: 0 8px 18px var(--pi-shadow-soft);
     }
     h2, h3, p { margin-top: 0; }
-    h2 { margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3; }
-    .question-total, .record-reason {
-      flex: 0 0 auto;
-      border: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted);
-      border-radius: 999px;
-      color: var(--pi-muted);
-      padding: 3px 8px;
-      font-size: 11px;
-    }
-    .record-reason { text-transform: capitalize; }
-    .record-reason.submitted { border-color: var(--pi-success-border); color: var(--pi-success); }
-    .record-reason.superseded { border-color: var(--pi-warning-border); color: var(--pi-warning); }
-    .ask-form {
-      max-height: min(72dvh, 680px);
-      overflow: auto;
-      overscroll-behavior: contain;
-    }
-    .questions-grid {
-      display: grid;
-      grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));
-      align-items: start;
-      gap: 12px;
-      padding: 14px;
+    h2 {
+      margin-bottom: 0;
+      color: var(--pi-accent);
+      font-size: 12px;
+      line-height: 1.3;
+      text-transform: uppercase;
     }
+    .header-status { flex: 0 1 auto; color: var(--pi-muted); font-size: 11px; text-align: end; }
+    .header-status.submitted { color: var(--pi-success); }
+    .header-status.superseded { color: var(--pi-warning); }
+    .questions { display: grid; padding-top: 8px; }
     fieldset.question {
       min-width: 0;
       margin: 0;
-      border: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted);
-      border-radius: 10px;
-      padding: 12px;
-      background: var(--pi-bg);
+      border: 0;
+      border-top: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted);
+      padding: 16px;
+      background: transparent;
     }
-    fieldset.question.answered { border-color: var(--pi-success-border); }
-    fieldset.question:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--pi-accent); outline-offset: 2px; }
+    fieldset.question:first-child { border-top: 0; }
+    fieldset.question:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--pi-accent); outline-offset: -3px; }
     legend {
       box-sizing: border-box;
       width: 100%;
       display: grid;
-      grid-template-columns: auto minmax(0, 1fr) auto;
+      grid-template-columns: auto minmax(0, 1fr);
       align-items: start;
       gap: 5px;
       color: var(--pi-text);
-      padding: 0 2px;
+      padding: 0;
       font-weight: 650;
       line-height: 1.35;
     }
     .question-number { color: var(--pi-muted); }
-    .answer-marker {
-      border-radius: 999px;
-      background: var(--pi-surface-hover);
-      color: var(--pi-muted);
-      padding: 2px 6px;
-      font-size: 10px;
-      font-weight: 600;
-    }
-    .answer-marker.complete { background: var(--pi-success-surface); color: var(--pi-success); }
+    fieldset.question.answered .question-number { color: var(--pi-success); }
     .question-detail {
       margin: 4px 0 10px;
       color: var(--pi-muted);
@@ -511,7 +480,8 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
     .option-copy { min-width: 0; display: grid; gap: 2px; }
     .option-label { line-height: 1.35; }
     .option-detail { color: var(--pi-muted); font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.35; }
-    .other-answer { display: grid; gap: 5px; color: var(--pi-muted); font-size: 12px; padding: 0 8px 4px 32px; }
+    .other-answer { display: grid; gap: 5px; color: var(--pi-muted); font-size: 12px; padding: 4px 8px 4px 32px; }
+    .other-answer:only-child { padding-left: 0; padding-right: 0; }
     textarea {
       box-sizing: border-box;
       width: 100%;
@@ -526,20 +496,13 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
       line-height: 1.4;
     }
     .form-footer {
-      position: sticky;
-      z-index: 2;
-      bottom: 0;
       display: flex;
       align-items: center;
-      justify-content: space-between;
+      justify-content: flex-end;
       gap: 12px;
-      border-top: 1px solid var(--pi-border);
-      background: var(--pi-bg-overlay);
-      padding: 10px 14px;
-      box-shadow: 0 -8px 18px var(--pi-shadow-soft);
-      backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
+      border-top: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted);
+      padding: 12px 16px;
     }
-    .progress { flex: 0 0 auto; color: var(--pi-muted); font-size: 12px; font-weight: 650; }
     button {
       border: 1px solid var(--pi-border);
       border-radius: 8px;
@@ -566,24 +529,22 @@ export class AskUserCard extends LitElement {
       text-underline-offset: 2px;
     }
     .confirmation-actions { flex: 0 0 auto; display: flex; gap: 7px; }
-    .record-summary { margin: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted); color: var(--pi-muted); padding: 10px 16px; font-size: 12px; }
-    .record-questions { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr)); gap: 12px; padding: 14px; }
-    .record-question { min-width: 0; border: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted); border-radius: 10px; background: var(--pi-bg); padding: 12px; }
+    .record-summary { margin: 0; color: var(--pi-muted); padding: 12px 16px; font-size: 12px; }
+    .record-questions { display: grid; }
+    .record-question { min-width: 0; padding: 14px 16px; }
+    .record-question + .record-question { border-top: 1px solid var(--pi-border-muted); }
     .record-question h3 { display: flex; gap: 5px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.35; }
     .record-answers { display: grid; gap: 4px; margin: 0; padding-left: 22px; line-height: 1.4; }
     .other-record-text { white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
     .unanswered-record { margin: 0; color: var(--pi-muted); font-style: italic; }
     .draft-note { margin: 7px 0 0; color: var(--pi-warning); font-size: 11px; }
     @container (max-width: 580px) {
-      :host { margin: 12px 0; }
-      .questions-grid, .record-questions { grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr); padding: 10px; }
-      .card-header { padding: 12px; }
-      .form-footer { align-items: stretch; flex-direction: column; }
+      fieldset.question, .record-question { padding: 14px 12px; }
+      .record-summary { padding-inline: 12px; }
+      .form-footer { align-items: stretch; flex-direction: column; padding: 12px; }
       .partial-confirmation { align-items: stretch; flex-direction: column; }
       .confirmation-actions { justify-content: flex-end; }
       .primary-action { min-height: 42px; }
-      legend { grid-template-columns: auto minmax(0, 1fr); }
-      .answer-marker { grid-column: 2; justify-self: start; }
     }
   `;
 }

src/client/src/components/ChatView.askUser.test.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,30 @@ afterEach(() => {
   document.body.replaceChildren();
 });
 
+describe("ChatView open ask_user form", () => {
+  it("scrolls a newly opened form to its start and gives it a stable chat-scroll anchor", async () => {
+    const view = new ChatView();
+    view.sessionId = "session-1";
+    document.body.append(view);
+    await view.updateComplete;
+    let askStartScrolls = 0;
+    let bottomScrolls = 0;
+    if (!Reflect.set(view, "scrollToOpenAsk", () => { askStartScrolls += 1; })) throw new Error("Could not observe ChatView.scrollToOpenAsk");
+    if (!Reflect.set(view, "scrollToBottom", () => { bottomScrolls += 1; })) throw new Error("Could not observe ChatView.scrollToBottom");
+
+    view.pendingAsk = {
+      askId: "ask-open",
+      askedAt: "2026-07-20T10:00:00.000Z",
+      questions: [{ id: "editor", question: "Which editor?", options: [{ value: "vim", label: "Vim" }] }],
+    };
+    await view.updateComplete;
+
+    expect(askStartScrolls).toBe(1);
+    expect(bottomScrolls).toBe(0);
+    expect(view.shadowRoot?.querySelector("ask-user-card")?.getAttribute("data-scroll-anchor-id")).toBe("ask:ask-open");
+  });
+});
+
 describe("ChatView ask_user transcript records", () => {
   it("renders a projected outcome as the read-only question card with the machine-scoped draft key", async () => {
     const outcome: AskUserOutcome = {

src/client/src/components/ChatView.ts

@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ export class ChatView extends LitElement {
   private suppressLoadMoreRequests = false;
   private loadMoreCheckFrame: number | undefined;
   private scrollToBottomFrame: number | undefined;
+  private scrollToOpenAskFrame: number | undefined;
   private conversationRailFrame: number | undefined;
   private groupedMessagesInput?: ChatLine[];
   private groupedMessagesStart = 0;
@@ -279,6 +280,10 @@ export class ChatView extends LitElement {
     if (this.restoreScrollFrame !== undefined) cancelAnimationFrame(this.restoreScrollFrame);
     if (this.loadMoreCheckFrame !== undefined) cancelAnimationFrame(this.loadMoreCheckFrame);
     if (this.scrollToBottomFrame !== undefined) cancelAnimationFrame(this.scrollToBottomFrame);
+    if (this.scrollToOpenAskFrame !== undefined) {
+      cancelAnimationFrame(this.scrollToOpenAskFrame);
+      this.scrollToOpenAskFrame = undefined;
+    }
     if (this.conversationRailFrame !== undefined) cancelAnimationFrame(this.conversationRailFrame);
     window.removeEventListener("resize", this.onViewportResize);
     window.removeEventListener("pagehide", this.onPageHide);
@@ -305,6 +310,10 @@ export class ChatView extends LitElement {
       cancelAnimationFrame(this.restoreScrollFrame);
       this.restoreScrollFrame = undefined;
     }
+    if (this.scrollToOpenAskFrame !== undefined) {
+      cancelAnimationFrame(this.scrollToOpenAskFrame);
+      this.scrollToOpenAskFrame = undefined;
+    }
   }
 
   protected override willUpdate(changed: Map<string, unknown>): void {
@@ -328,9 +337,13 @@ export class ChatView extends LitElement {
     if (changed.has("loadingMore") && !this.loadingMore) this.loadMoreRequested = false;
     if (changed.has("hasMore") && !this.hasMore) this.loadMoreRequested = false;
     if (changed.has("sessionId")) this.restoreScrollPosition();
-    if (!changed.has("sessionId") && (changed.has("messages") || changed.has("pendingAsk")) && this.pinnedToBottom) this.scrollToBottom();
+    const openedAsk = changed.has("pendingAsk") && this.isNewPendingAsk(changed.get("pendingAsk"));
+    // The form uses the transcript scroller. Start a new long form at question
+    // one rather than applying the usual live-tail scroll and landing at its end.
+    if (!changed.has("sessionId") && openedAsk && this.pinnedToBottom) this.scrollToOpenAsk();
+    else if (!changed.has("sessionId") && (changed.has("messages") || changed.has("pendingAsk")) && this.pinnedToBottom) this.scrollToBottom();
     if (changed.has("messages") || changed.has("messageStart") || changed.has("messageTotal") || changed.has("hasMore") || changed.has("loadingMore")) this.scheduleConversationRailUpdate();
-    if (changed.has("messages") || changed.has("messageStart") || changed.has("hasMore") || changed.has("loadingMore")) this.continuePendingScrollRestore();
+    if (changed.has("messages") || changed.has("messageStart") || changed.has("hasMore") || changed.has("loadingMore") || changed.has("pendingAsk")) this.continuePendingScrollRestore();
     if (changed.has("messages") || changed.has("hasMore") || changed.has("loadingMore")) this.requestLoadMoreIfNeeded();
     if (changed.has("notificationInbox") && this.pendingNotificationFocus !== undefined) this.focusPendingNotificationTarget();
     if (changed.has("zoomedImage")) this.syncImageZoomDialog();
@@ -647,6 +660,7 @@ export class ChatView extends LitElement {
     if (this.pendingAsk === undefined) return null;
     return html`
       <ask-user-card
+        data-scroll-anchor-id=${`ask:${this.pendingAsk.askId}`}
         .ask=${this.pendingAsk}
         .draftSessionId=${this.askDraftSessionId}
         .onSubmit=${this.onSubmitAsk}
@@ -1011,6 +1025,33 @@ export class ChatView extends LitElement {
     });
   }
 
+  private isNewPendingAsk(previous: unknown): boolean {
+    return this.pendingAsk !== undefined
+      && (typeof previous !== "object" || previous === null || Reflect.get(previous, "askId") !== this.pendingAsk.askId);
+  }
+
+  private scrollToOpenAsk(): void {
+    if (this.scrollToOpenAskFrame !== undefined) return;
+    if (this.scrollToBottomFrame !== undefined) {
+      cancelAnimationFrame(this.scrollToBottomFrame);
+      this.scrollToBottomFrame = undefined;
+    }
+    this.scrollToOpenAskFrame = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      this.scrollToOpenAskFrame = undefined;
+      this.withSuppressedScrollSave(() => { this.alignOpenAskToTop(); });
+    });
+  }
+
+  private alignOpenAskToTop(): boolean {
+    const chat = this.chat;
+    const card = this.renderRoot.querySelector<HTMLElement>(".chat > ask-user-card");
+    if (chat === undefined || card === null) return false;
+    chat.scrollTop += card.getBoundingClientRect().top - chat.getBoundingClientRect().top;
+    this.syncScrollMetrics();
+    this.pinnedToBottom = this.isNearBottom();
+    return true;
+  }
+
   restoreScrollPosition() {
     const sessionId = this.sessionId;
     if (this.restoreScrollFrame !== undefined) cancelAnimationFrame(this.restoreScrollFrame);
@@ -1018,6 +1059,7 @@ export class ChatView extends LitElement {
       this.restoreScrollFrame = undefined;
       if (this.sessionId !== sessionId) return;
       this.withSuppressedScrollSave(() => {
+        if (this.pendingAsk !== undefined && this.scrollController.readPosition(sessionId) === undefined && this.alignOpenAskToTop()) return;
         const result = this.scrollController.restorePosition(sessionId, this.chat, this.scrollAnchorElements(), { fallbackToBottom: this.shouldFallbackToBottomForMissingAnchor() });
         this.handleScrollRestoreResult(sessionId, result);
       });

src/client/src/components/shared.ts

@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ export const chatStyles = css`
     .notification-header { gap: 4px; padding-inline: 8px; }
     .notification-list { padding-inline: 8px; }
   }
-  .chat { height: 100%; min-height: 0; overflow: auto; overflow-anchor: none; padding: 26px 16px 64px; box-sizing: border-box; }
+  .chat { --pi-chat-sticky-top: -26px; height: 100%; min-height: 0; overflow: auto; overflow-anchor: none; padding: 26px 16px 64px; box-sizing: border-box; }
   .scroll-marker { display: block; height: 0; overflow: hidden; pointer-events: none; }
   .activity-dock { position: absolute; left: 16px; right: 16px; bottom: 12px; z-index: 20; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; min-width: 0; box-sizing: border-box; border: 1px solid var(--pi-border); border-radius: 999px; background: var(--pi-bg-overlay); color: var(--pi-muted); padding: 8px 12px; font-size: 13px; pointer-events: none; box-shadow: 0 8px 28px var(--pi-shadow); backdrop-filter: blur(6px); }
   .activity-dock.active { border-color: var(--pi-success-border); color: var(--pi-success); background: var(--pi-success-bg-overlay); }

src/client/src/sessionSocket.test.ts

@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ describe("notification socket guards", () => {
     const ask = {
       askId: "ask-1",
       askedAt: "2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z",
-      questions: [{ id: "q1", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }] }],
+      questions: [{ id: "q1", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }], allowOther: true }],
     };
 
     expect(parseSessionSocketEvent({ type: "ask.opened", ask })).toEqual({ type: "ask.opened", ask });

src/server/sessions/askUserTool.test.ts

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function toolOverStore(askIds: string[] = ["ask-1", "ask-2"]) {
 const twoQuestions = {
   questions: [
     { id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }] },
-    { id: "why", question: "Why?", options: [], allowOther: true },
+    { id: "why", question: "Why?", options: [] },
   ],
 };
 
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ describe("createAskUserToolDefinition", () => {
       required: ["questions"],
       properties: { questions: { type: "array", minItems: 1, maxItems: 20 } },
     });
+    expect(tool.parameters).not.toHaveProperty("properties.questions.items.properties.allowOther");
   });
 
   it("opens the ask for the calling session and terminates the run instead of awaiting the user", async () => {
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ describe("createAskUserToolDefinition", () => {
     expect(open).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
       sessionId: "session-1",
       questions: [
-        { id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }] },
+        { id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }, { value: "sqlite", label: "SQLite" }], allowOther: true },
         { id: "why", question: "Why?", options: [], allowOther: true },
       ],
     });
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ describe("createAskUserToolDefinition", () => {
   it("defaults a question without options to an empty option list so free text alone is expressible", async () => {
     const { open, tool } = toolOverStore();
 
-    await tool.execute("call-free", { questions: [{ id: "note", question: "Anything else?", allowOther: true }] }, undefined, undefined, ctxFor("session-1"));
+    await tool.execute("call-free", { questions: [{ id: "note", question: "Anything else?" }] }, undefined, undefined, ctxFor("session-1"));
 
     expect(open).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
       sessionId: "session-1",
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ describe("createAskUserToolDefinition", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("forwards per-question detail, option detail, and multi-select without inventing defaults", async () => {
+  it("adds custom answers while preserving detail, option detail, and multi-select", async () => {
     const { open, tool } = toolOverStore();
 
     await tool.execute("call-rich", {
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ describe("createAskUserToolDefinition", () => {
         question: "Which targets?",
         detail: "Pick every platform we should build for.",
         options: [{ value: "web", label: "Web", detail: "Chromium and Firefox" }, { value: "cli", label: "CLI" }],
+        allowOther: true,
         multiple: true,
       }],
     });

src/server/sessions/askUserTool.ts

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export interface AskUserInvocation {
 }
 
 export interface AskUserToolDeps {
-  /** Registers the ask as the session's open one; rejects question sets the user could not answer. */
+  /** Registers the ask as the session's open one; rejects malformed question sets. */
   open(input: AskUserInvocation): Promise<PendingAskOpenResult>;
 }
 
@@ -53,10 +53,7 @@ const AskUserQuestionParams = Type.Object({
   })),
   options: Type.Optional(Type.Array(AskUserOptionParams, {
     maxItems: ASK_USER_OPTION_LIMIT,
-    description: "Options to choose from. Omit only when free text is the whole answer, and then set allowOther.",
-  })),
-  allowOther: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({
-    description: "Offer a free-text field alongside the options.",
+    description: "Options to choose from. Omit when free text is the whole answer; the browser always adds a Custom choice.",
   })),
   multiple: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({
     description: "Allow several options at once. Default: one answer per question.",
@@ -73,13 +70,15 @@ const AskUserParams = Type.Object({
 
 /** Shapes one schema question into the domain question; the store owns validation. */
 function toQuestion(param: Static<typeof AskUserQuestionParams>): AskUserQuestion {
-  const { detail, options, allowOther, multiple } = param;
+  const { detail, options, multiple } = param;
   return {
     id: param.id,
     question: param.question,
     ...(detail === undefined ? {} : { detail }),
     options: (options ?? []).map(toOption),
-    ...(allowOther === undefined ? {} : { allowOther }),
+    // Keep the compatibility marker on the daemon wire even though the model no
+    // longer chooses whether a question accepts a custom answer.
+    allowOther: true,
     ...(multiple === undefined ? {} : { multiple }),
   };
 }

src/server/sessions/pendingAskStore.test.ts

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ describe("PendingAskStore validation", () => {
           question: "Which database?",
           detail: "Only the primary store matters here.",
           options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres", detail: "Existing cluster" }],
-          allowOther: true,
+          allowOther: false,
           multiple: false,
         },
       ],
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ describe("PendingAskStore validation", () => {
     expect(reject([question("q1"), question("q1")])).toThrow(/Duplicate question id q1/);
     expect(reject([question(" ")])).toThrow(/question id must not be empty/);
     expect(reject([question("q1", { question: "  " })])).toThrow(/text of question q1 must not be empty/);
-    expect(reject([question("q1", { options: [] })])).toThrow(/must offer options or allow other text/);
     expect(reject([question("q1", { options: [{ value: "a", label: "A" }, { value: "a", label: "Again" }] })]))
       .toThrow(/Duplicate option value a in question q1/);
     expect(reject([question("q1", { options: [{ value: "a", label: " " }] })]))
@@ -90,9 +89,9 @@ describe("PendingAskStore validation", () => {
     expect(store.pendingAsk(sessionId)).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
-  it("accepts a question that only offers free text", () => {
+  it("accepts an optionless question and adds the custom-answer compatibility marker", () => {
     const store = testStore();
-    const { ask } = store.open({ sessionId, questions: [question("q1", { options: [], allowOther: true })] });
+    const { ask } = store.open({ sessionId, questions: [question("q1", { options: [] })] });
     expect(ask.questions[0]).toEqual({ id: "q1", question: "Question q1?", options: [], allowOther: true });
   });
 });
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ describe("PendingAskStore submit", () => {
 
   it("treats an empty answer as leaving the question untouched", () => {
     const store = testStore();
-    const { ask } = store.open({ sessionId, questions: [question("q1"), question("q2", { allowOther: true })] });
+    const { ask } = store.open({ sessionId, questions: [question("q1"), question("q2")] });
 
     const result = store.submit(sessionId, ask.askId, {
       answers: [{ id: "q1", values: [] }, { id: "q2", values: [], otherText: "   " }],
@@ -161,11 +160,11 @@ describe("PendingAskStore submit", () => {
     expect(store.pendingAsk(sessionId)?.askId).toBe(ask.askId);
   });
 
-  it("accepts several values and coexisting other text for a multi-select question", () => {
+  it("accepts several values and coexisting custom text for a multi-select question", () => {
     const store = testStore();
     const { ask } = store.open({
       sessionId,
-      questions: [question("q1", { multiple: true, allowOther: true })],
+      questions: [question("q1", { multiple: true })],
     });
 
     const result = store.submit(sessionId, ask.askId, {
@@ -181,17 +180,20 @@ describe("PendingAskStore submit", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("rejects other text for a question that does not allow it", () => {
+  it("accepts custom text for every question", () => {
     const store = testStore();
     const { ask } = openTwoQuestions(store);
 
-    expect(() => store.submit(sessionId, ask.askId, { answers: [{ id: "q1", values: [], otherText: "custom" }] }))
-      .toThrow(/Question q1 does not accept other text/);
+    const result = store.submit(sessionId, ask.askId, { answers: [{ id: "q1", values: [], otherText: "custom" }] });
+
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ status: "closed", outcome: { answeredCount: 1 } });
+    if (result.status !== "closed") throw new Error("expected the ask to close");
+    expect(result.outcome.questions[0]).toMatchObject({ answered: true, values: [], otherText: "custom" });
   });
 
-  it("answers a free-text-only question with other text alone", () => {
+  it("answers a free-text-only question with custom text alone", () => {
     const store = testStore();
-    const { ask } = store.open({ sessionId, questions: [question("q1", { options: [], allowOther: true })] });
+    const { ask } = store.open({ sessionId, questions: [question("q1", { options: [] })] });
 
     const result = store.submit(sessionId, ask.askId, { answers: [{ id: "q1", values: [], otherText: "a note" }] });
 
@@ -294,7 +296,7 @@ describe("ask outcome rendering", () => {
     const store = testStore();
     const { ask } = store.open({
       sessionId,
-      questions: [question("q1"), question("q2", { allowOther: true }), question("q3")],
+      questions: [question("q1"), question("q2"), question("q3")],
     });
     const result = store.submit(sessionId, ask.askId, {
       answers: [{ id: "q1", values: ["yes"] }, { id: "q2", values: [], otherText: "something else" }],
@@ -307,7 +309,7 @@ describe("ask outcome rendering", () => {
       "- q1: Question q1?",
       "  Answered: selected yes",
       "- q2: Question q2?",
-      `  Answered: other: "something else"`,
+      `  Answered: custom: "something else"`,
       "- q3: Question q3?",
       "  Unanswered.",
       "",

src/server/sessions/pendingAskStore.ts

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export type PendingAskCloseResult =
   | { status: "closed"; outcome: AskUserOutcome }
   | { status: "stale" };
 
-/** Rejected input: the model asked something unanswerable, or an answer does not fit its question. */
+/** Rejected input: a question set is malformed, or an answer does not fit its question. */
 export class PendingAskValidationError extends Error {
   constructor(message: string) {
     super(message);
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ function questionLines(record: AskUserQuestionRecord): string[] {
   const header = `- ${record.question.id}: ${record.question.question}`;
   if (!record.answered) return [header, "  Unanswered."];
   const parts = [...record.values.map((value) => `selected ${value}`)];
-  if (record.otherText !== undefined) parts.push(`other: ${JSON.stringify(record.otherText)}`);
+  if (record.otherText !== undefined) parts.push(`custom: ${JSON.stringify(record.otherText)}`);
   return [header, `  Answered: ${parts.join("; ")}`];
 }
 
@@ -240,12 +240,6 @@ function validateQuestion(question: AskUserQuestion, id: string): AskUserQuestio
   if (question.options.length > ASK_USER_OPTION_LIMIT) {
     throw new PendingAskValidationError(`Question ${id} must not offer more than ${ASK_USER_OPTION_LIMIT.toString()} options`);
   }
-  const allowOther = question.allowOther === true;
-  // A question with neither options nor a free-text field cannot be answered at
-  // all, which would make its "unanswered" report meaningless.
-  if (question.options.length === 0 && !allowOther) {
-    throw new PendingAskValidationError(`Question ${id} must offer options or allow other text`);
-  }
   const seenValues = new Set<string>();
   const options = question.options.map((option) => {
     const value = requireId(option.value, `option value of question ${id}`);
@@ -259,7 +253,9 @@ function validateQuestion(question: AskUserQuestion, id: string): AskUserQuestio
     question: requireText(question.question, `text of question ${id}`),
     ...(detail === undefined ? {} : { detail: requireText(detail, `detail of question ${id}`) }),
     options,
-    ...(allowOther ? { allowOther: true } : {}),
+    // Every question accepts a custom answer. Retain the marker so older web
+    // clients also expose the field when connected to this daemon.
+    allowOther: true,
     ...(question.multiple === true ? { multiple: true } : {}),
   };
 }
@@ -307,7 +303,6 @@ function validateAnswer(question: AskUserQuestion, answer: AskUserAnswer): AskUs
 
 function normalizeOtherText(question: AskUserQuestion, otherText: string | undefined): string | undefined {
   if (otherText === undefined) return undefined;
-  if (question.allowOther !== true) throw new PendingAskValidationError(`Question ${question.id} does not accept other text`);
   if (otherText.length > ASK_USER_OTHER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH) {
     throw new PendingAskValidationError(`Other text of question ${question.id} exceeds its length limit`);
   }

src/server/sessions/piSessionService.askUser.test.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { CapturingSessionEventHub, emptyArchiveStore, fakeRuntime, runtimeCreato
 const TEST_AGENT_DIR = "/tmp/pi-web-test-agent";
 const ACTIVE_SESSION_ID = "session-1";
 
-const questions = [{ id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }] }];
+const questions = [{ id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }], allowOther: true }];
 
 /**
  * Service over a clocked store with sequential ask ids, so asks are named
@@ -98,13 +98,14 @@ describe("PiSessionService.openAsk", () => {
     await service.dispose();
   });
 
-  it("rejects an unanswerable question set without opening it", async () => {
+  it("opens an optionless question with a custom answer", async () => {
     const { service, store, events } = askService();
 
-    await expect(service.openAsk({ sessionId: "session-1", questions: [{ id: "empty", question: "No way to answer?", options: [] }] }))
-      .rejects.toThrow(PendingAskValidationError);
-    expect(store.pendingAsk("session-1")).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(askEvents(events)).toEqual([]);
+    const result = await service.openAsk({ sessionId: "session-1", questions: [{ id: "empty", question: "Anything else?", options: [] }] });
+
+    expect(result.ask.questions).toEqual([{ id: "empty", question: "Anything else?", options: [], allowOther: true }]);
+    expect(store.pendingAsk("session-1")).toEqual(result.ask);
+    expect(askEvents(events)).toHaveLength(1);
     await service.dispose();
   });
 
@@ -163,11 +164,16 @@ describe("PiSessionService ask status projection", () => {
 });
 
 describe("PiSessionService.submitAsk", () => {
-  it("delivers the answers as a follow-up custom message that wakes the session", async () => {
+  it("delivers a custom answer as a follow-up message that wakes the session", async () => {
     const { service, store, events, fake } = askService({ withActiveSession: true });
-    await service.openAsk({ sessionId: ACTIVE_SESSION_ID, questions });
+    await service.openAsk({
+      sessionId: ACTIVE_SESSION_ID,
+      questions: [{ id: "db", question: "Which database?", options: [{ value: "pg", label: "Postgres" }], allowOther: false }],
+    });
 
-    const response = await service.submitAsk(sessionRef(ACTIVE_SESSION_ID), "ask-1", { answers: [{ id: "db", values: ["pg"] }] });
+    const response = await service.submitAsk(sessionRef(ACTIVE_SESSION_ID), "ask-1", {
+      answers: [{ id: "db", values: [], otherText: "DuckDB" }],
+    });
 
     expect(response).toMatchObject({ result: "closed", outcome: { askId: "ask-1", reason: "submitted", answeredCount: 1, unansweredIds: [] } });
     expect(response.sessionStatus.sessionId).toBe(ACTIVE_SESSION_ID);
@@ -176,6 +182,7 @@ describe("PiSessionService.submitAsk", () => {
     expect(delivered?.message.customType).toBe(ASK_USER_ANSWERS_CUSTOM_TYPE);
     expect(delivered?.message.display).toBe(true);
     expect(delivered?.message.content).toContain("The user submitted answers to your questions.");
+    expect(delivered?.message.content).toContain(`custom: "DuckDB"`);
     expect(delivered?.message.content).toContain("Answered 1 of 1");
     expect(delivered?.message.details).toMatchObject({ askId: "ask-1", reason: "submitted" });
     expect(delivered?.options).toEqual({ triggerTurn: true, deliverAs: "followUp" });

src/shared/apiTypes.ts

@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ export const ASK_USER_OPTION_LIMIT = 12;
 export const ASK_USER_ID_MAX_LENGTH = 128;
 /** Length bound for model-authored prose: questions, details, and option labels. */
 export const ASK_USER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH = 1_000;
-/** Length bound for the free text a user types into an "other" field. */
+/** Length bound for the free text a user types as a custom answer. */
 export const ASK_USER_OTHER_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH = 4_000;
 
 /** One selectable option of an {@link AskUserQuestion}. */
@@ -489,7 +489,10 @@ export interface AskUserQuestion {
   detail?: string;
   /** Offered options; may be empty when only free text makes sense. */
   options: AskUserQuestionOption[];
-  /** When true, a labelled free-text field is offered alongside the options. */
+  /**
+   * Compatibility marker for older clients. Canonical questions set this to
+   * true because every question offers a custom free-text answer.
+   */
   allowOther?: boolean;
   /** When true, several options may be selected at once. */
   multiple?: boolean;
@@ -519,7 +522,7 @@ export interface AskUserAnswer {
   id: string;
   /** Selected {@link AskUserQuestionOption.value} entries; several only when the question allows it. */
   values: string[];
-  /** Free text typed into the "other" field, when the question allows it. */
+  /** Free text typed as the question's custom answer. */
   otherText?: string;
 }
 
@@ -534,7 +537,7 @@ export interface AskUserSubmission {
  */
 export interface AskUserQuestionRecord {
   question: AskUserQuestion;
-  /** True when at least one option was selected or "other" text was given. */
+  /** True when at least one option was selected or custom text was given. */
   answered: boolean;
   values: string[];
   otherText?: string;