feat(attention): set bands directly as a1–a4 instead of cycling

Retire the `A` attention cycle and the duplicate `b` push-to-blue gesture
in heph-tui. Attention is now picked directly: press `a` then `1`–`4`
(a1=red, a2=orange, a3=white, a4=blue, ordered by intensity). Cycling past
blue used to make a task vanish from the current view with no way back —
direct selection never does. Quick-add moves from `a` to `n`.

Surface the a1–a4 nomenclature everywhere instead of colour words or the
old p1–p4 priorities: heph-tui status/legend, the heph-quickadd chip + hint,
and the PWA chip/hint plus a new band-picker (replacing its cycle button).
The shared quick-add parser now accepts `a1`–`a4` (a1=red … a4=blue) and no
longer recognizes `p1`–`p4`. Colour mappings are unchanged; only the words.

Add Attention::ui_label() in heph-core so both Rust surfaces share the
mapping; bump the PWA service-worker cache; update the PWA how-to.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

crates/heph-core/src/model.rs

@@ -106,6 +106,18 @@ impl Attention {
             other => return Err(Error::Integrity(format!("unknown attention: {other}"))),
         })
     }
+
+    /// The UI nomenclature (`a1`..`a4`), ordered by intensity — surfaces show
+    /// these instead of the colour words. The colour *mapping* is unchanged:
+    /// a1 = red, a2 = orange, a3 = white, a4 = blue.
+    pub fn ui_label(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Attention::Red => "a1",
+            Attention::Orange => "a2",
+            Attention::White => "a3",
+            Attention::Blue => "a4",
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// A committed task's lifecycle state (tech-spec §4.3). `done` and `dropped`

crates/heph-quickadd/src/app.rs

@@ -43,46 +43,46 @@ const HINT_DELAY: f64 = 2.0;
 /// `#project`). Unresolved `#tags` just stay in the title, so these are safe even
 /// though they reference projects a given store may not have.
 const HINTS: &[&str] = &[
-    "Water plants tomorrow p2 #Chores every 3 days",
-    "Call the dentist fri p1",
+    "Water plants tomorrow a2 #Chores every 3 days",
+    "Call the dentist fri a1",
     "Email Sarah the report today",
     "Buy milk #Errands",
-    "Renew passport +30d p2",
-    "Review pull requests p3 #Work",
+    "Renew passport +30d a2",
+    "Review pull requests a4 #Work",
     "Take out recycling every other wed",
-    "Pay rent every 1st p1",
+    "Pay rent every 1st a1",
     "Stretch every day",
     "Submit timesheet every friday #Work",
     "Water the garden every 2 days",
-    "Back up the laptop every week p3",
-    "Book flights +1w p2 #Travel",
-    "Doctor appointment 2026-07-15 p1",
+    "Back up the laptop every week a4",
+    "Book flights +1w a2 #Travel",
+    "Doctor appointment 2026-07-15 a1",
     "Read a chapter today #Reading",
     "Standup notes every weekday #Work",
     "Change the air filter every 3 months",
-    "File taxes every April 15 p1",
+    "File taxes every April 15 a1",
     "Clean the gutters every 6 months #Home",
-    "Wish Mom happy birthday every May 4 p1",
+    "Wish Mom happy birthday every May 4 a1",
     "Vacuum the house every saturday #Chores",
     "Replace toothbrush every 3 months",
-    "Prep slides for monday p2 #Work",
+    "Prep slides for monday a2 #Work",
     "Walk the dog every day",
-    "Refill prescription every 30 days p2 #Health",
+    "Refill prescription every 30 days a2 #Health",
     "Grocery run +2d #Errands",
     "Mow the lawn every week #Home",
-    "Schedule a 1:1 with Alex thu p3 #Work",
-    "Send the invoice every 15th p2",
+    "Schedule a 1:1 with Alex thu a4 #Work",
+    "Send the invoice every 15th a2",
     "Defrost the freezer every 6 months",
-    "Update the resume +14d p3",
+    "Update the resume +14d a4",
     "Check smoke detectors every 6 months #Home",
     "Plan the sprint every other monday #Work",
     "Order coffee beans every 2 weeks",
-    "Call grandma every sunday p2",
+    "Call grandma every sunday a2",
     "Rotate the car tires every 6 months #Car",
-    "Weekly review every friday p2",
+    "Weekly review every friday a2",
     "Pick up dry cleaning tomorrow #Errands",
-    "Pay the credit card every 28th p1",
-    "Tidy the inbox every day p4",
+    "Pay the credit card every 28th a1",
+    "Tidy the inbox every day a3",
 ];
 
 /// Pick a hint pseudo-randomly, never the same one twice in a row. No `rand`
@@ -550,18 +550,14 @@ impl QuickAdd {
             let mut any = false;
 
             if let Some(att) = parsed.attention {
-                let (label, color) = match att {
-                    heph_core::Attention::Red => {
-                        ("⚑ red", egui::Color32::from_rgb(0xe0, 0x6c, 0x60))
-                    }
-                    heph_core::Attention::Orange => {
-                        ("⚑ orange", egui::Color32::from_rgb(0xe5, 0xc0, 0x7b))
-                    }
-                    heph_core::Attention::Blue => {
-                        ("⚑ blue", egui::Color32::from_rgb(0x61, 0xaf, 0xef))
-                    }
-                    heph_core::Attention::White => ("⚑ white", egui::Color32::from_gray(200)),
+                // a1–a4 nomenclature; the colour mapping is unchanged.
+                let color = match att {
+                    heph_core::Attention::Red => egui::Color32::from_rgb(0xe0, 0x6c, 0x60),
+                    heph_core::Attention::Orange => egui::Color32::from_rgb(0xe5, 0xc0, 0x7b),
+                    heph_core::Attention::Blue => egui::Color32::from_rgb(0x61, 0xaf, 0xef),
+                    heph_core::Attention::White => egui::Color32::from_gray(200),
                 };
+                let label = format!("⚑ {}", att.ui_label());
                 ui.label(egui::RichText::new(label).color(color).size(LABEL_SIZE));
                 any = true;
             }
@@ -597,7 +593,7 @@ impl QuickAdd {
 
             if !any {
                 ui.label(
-                    egui::RichText::new("type p1–p4 · #project · a date · every …")
+                    egui::RichText::new("type a1–a4 · #project · a date · every …")
                         .color(egui::Color32::from_gray(140))
                         .size(LABEL_SIZE),
                 );

crates/heph-quickadd/src/main.rs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! `heph-quickadd` — the global quick-capture popover (tech-spec §8).
 //!
 //! A tiny always-warm egui agent: ⌘' shows a single-line capture field that
-//! parses Todoist-style inline syntax (`p2 #Chores tomorrow every 3 days`) and
+//! parses Todoist-style inline syntax (`a2 #Chores tomorrow every 3 days`) and
 //! creates a task over the `hephd` unix socket. It is **supervised by hephd**
 //! (spawned in local mode on macOS), so the user installs/manages exactly one
 //! service — there is no separate launch agent.

crates/heph-tui/src/app.rs

@@ -289,15 +289,16 @@ fn fuzzy_match(query: &str, cand: &str) -> bool {
     true
 }
 
-/// The attention cycle for the `A` gesture: default → top-of-mind → consequence
-/// → on-deck → back. Mirrors the §6.2 white/orange/red/blue progression.
-pub fn next_attention(current: Option<Attention>) -> Attention {
-    match current {
-        Some(Attention::White) => Attention::Orange,
-        Some(Attention::Orange) => Attention::Red,
-        Some(Attention::Red) => Attention::Blue,
-        Some(Attention::Blue) => Attention::White,
-        None => Attention::White,
+/// Map an attention-chord digit (`1`..`4`) to its band, ordered by intensity:
+/// 1 = a1 (red), 2 = a2 (orange), 3 = a3 (white), 4 = a4 (blue). Any other
+/// character is not an attention key.
+pub fn attention_for_digit(c: char) -> Option<Attention> {
+    match c {
+        '1' => Some(Attention::Red),
+        '2' => Some(Attention::Orange),
+        '3' => Some(Attention::White),
+        '4' => Some(Attention::Blue),
+        _ => None,
     }
 }
 
@@ -429,6 +430,9 @@ pub struct App<B: Backend> {
     pub search: Option<SearchView>,
     /// When `Some`, a delete is awaiting y/N confirmation.
     pub pending_delete: Option<PendingDelete>,
+    /// When `true`, an attention chord is in progress: `a` was pressed and the
+    /// next `1`..`4` sets the highlighted task's band (any other key cancels).
+    pub pending_attention: bool,
     /// Reversible triage history (`u` undoes, Ctrl-z redoes).
     undo_stack: Vec<UndoEntry>,
     redo_stack: Vec<UndoEntry>,
@@ -471,6 +475,7 @@ impl<B: Backend> App<B> {
             sort_mode: SortMode::Default,
             search: None,
             pending_delete: None,
+            pending_attention: false,
             undo_stack: Vec::new(),
             redo_stack: Vec::new(),
             status: String::new(),
@@ -722,26 +727,46 @@ impl<B: Backend> App<B> {
         self.mutate(format!("skipped: {}", t.title), |b| b.skip(&t.node_id));
     }
 
-    /// Cycle the highlighted task's attention band (§6.2 white→orange→red→blue).
-    pub fn cycle_attention_selected(&mut self) {
-        let Some(t) = self.selected_task().cloned() else {
+    /// Begin an attention chord: arm `pending_attention` so the next `1`..`4`
+    /// sets the highlighted task's band directly (§6.2). No-op (with a hint) if
+    /// nothing is highlighted. The chord replaces the old `A` cycle / `b` blue
+    /// gestures — picking a band directly never makes the task vanish out of
+    /// reach the way cycling past blue did.
+    pub fn begin_attention(&mut self) {
+        if self.selected_task().is_none() {
             return;
-        };
-        let next = next_attention(t.attention);
-        self.push_undo((&t).into(), TriageAction::Attention(next));
-        self.mutate(format!("{}: {}", next.as_str(), t.title), |b| {
-            b.set_attention(&t.node_id, next)
-        });
+        }
+        self.pending_attention = true;
+        self.status = "attention: 1=a1 2=a2 3=a3 4=a4  (esc cancels)".into();
     }
 
-    /// Push the highlighted task to On Deck (blue) — the pressure-relief valve.
-    pub fn push_to_blue_selected(&mut self) {
+    /// Resolve an armed attention chord with the pressed key. `1`..`4` set the
+    /// band; anything else cancels. Returns whether the key was consumed.
+    pub fn resolve_attention(&mut self, c: char) {
+        self.pending_attention = false;
+        let Some(att) = attention_for_digit(c) else {
+            self.status = "attention: cancelled".into();
+            return;
+        };
+        self.set_attention_selected(att);
+    }
+
+    /// Cancel an armed attention chord (e.g. on Esc / focus change).
+    pub fn cancel_attention(&mut self) {
+        if self.pending_attention {
+            self.pending_attention = false;
+            self.status = "attention: cancelled".into();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Set the highlighted task's attention band directly (the `a`+digit chord).
+    pub fn set_attention_selected(&mut self, att: Attention) {
         let Some(t) = self.selected_task().cloned() else {
             return;
         };
-        self.push_undo((&t).into(), TriageAction::Attention(Attention::Blue));
-        self.mutate(format!("→ on deck: {}", t.title), |b| {
-            b.set_attention(&t.node_id, Attention::Blue)
+        self.push_undo((&t).into(), TriageAction::Attention(att));
+        self.mutate(format!("{}: {}", att.ui_label(), t.title), |b| {
+            b.set_attention(&t.node_id, att)
         });
     }
 

crates/heph-tui/src/main.rs

@@ -119,6 +119,16 @@ fn handle_key<B: heph_tui::Backend>(app: &mut App<B>, key: KeyEvent) -> Option<A
         return None;
     }
 
+    // An armed attention chord (`a` then a digit) captures the next key: `1`..`4`
+    // set the band, anything else cancels.
+    if app.pending_attention {
+        match key.code {
+            KeyCode::Char(c) => app.resolve_attention(c),
+            _ => app.cancel_attention(),
+        }
+        return None;
+    }
+
     // While collecting input, all keys go to the prompt.
     if matches!(app.mode, Mode::Input(_)) {
         match key.code {
@@ -179,7 +189,7 @@ fn handle_key<B: heph_tui::Backend>(app: &mut App<B>, key: KeyEvent) -> Option<A
         KeyCode::Char('l') | KeyCode::Right => app.focus_tasks(),
         // Enter: drill sidebar→tasks, or open the selected task's context in nvim.
         KeyCode::Enter => return app.enter().map(Action::EditContext),
-        KeyCode::Char('a') => app.begin_add(),
+        KeyCode::Char('n') => app.begin_add(),
         KeyCode::Char('/') => app.begin_search(),
         KeyCode::Char('s') => app.toggle_sort(),
         KeyCode::Char('u') => app.undo(),
@@ -191,8 +201,7 @@ fn handle_key<B: heph_tui::Backend>(app: &mut App<B>, key: KeyEvent) -> Option<A
                 KeyCode::Char('x') => app.complete_selected(),
                 KeyCode::Char('d') => app.drop_selected(),
                 KeyCode::Char('S') => app.skip_selected(),
-                KeyCode::Char('A') => app.cycle_attention_selected(),
-                KeyCode::Char('b') => app.push_to_blue_selected(),
+                KeyCode::Char('a') => app.begin_attention(),
                 KeyCode::Char('e') => app.begin_reschedule(),
                 KeyCode::Char('m') => app.begin_move(),
                 KeyCode::Char('D') => app.begin_delete(),

crates/heph-tui/src/ui.rs

@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ use crate::fmt::{fmt_age, fmt_date, now_ms, project_color, today_local};
 
 // Task-pane gestures (the focused pane shows its own hints, §8.1).
 const HINTS: &str =
-    " j/k move  ⏎ edit  x done  d drop  S skip  e date  A attn  b→blue  m move  D del  u undo  / search  q quit";
+    " j/k move  ⏎ edit  n add  x done  d drop  S skip  e date  a 1-4 attn  m move  D del  u undo  / search  q quit";
 
 // Sidebar gestures: navigation + per-project actions (no task triage here).
 const SIDEBAR_HINTS: &str =
-    " j/k move  ⏎ open  a add  D del-project  u undo  s sort  / search  Tab tasks  q quit";
+    " j/k move  ⏎ open  n add  D del-project  u undo  s sort  / search  Tab tasks  q quit";
 
 const SEARCH_HINTS: &str = " j/k move  Enter open  Esc exit search";
 

crates/heph-tui/tests/agenda.rs

@@ -175,8 +175,8 @@ fn quick_add_captures_a_task_that_appears_in_the_view() {
     assert!(app.tasks.is_empty());
 
     app.begin_add();
-    // Single-line NL: p1 → red, so it lands in Top of Mind (the default view).
-    type_and_submit(&mut app, "Call the plumber p1");
+    // Single-line NL: a1 → red, so it lands in Top of Mind (the default view).
+    type_and_submit(&mut app, "Call the plumber a1");
 
     assert!(app.status.contains("added"), "status: {}", app.status);
     assert!(
@@ -304,7 +304,11 @@ fn pushing_to_blue_moves_a_task_out_of_top_of_mind() {
 
     let mut app = App::new(ClientBackend::new(client(&socket))).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(app.tasks.len(), 1);
-    app.push_to_blue_selected();
+    // `a` then `4` sets a4 (blue) directly — the chord that replaced push-to-blue.
+    app.begin_attention();
+    assert!(app.pending_attention);
+    app.resolve_attention('4');
+    assert!(!app.pending_attention);
     assert!(app.tasks.is_empty(), "blue task should leave Top of Mind");
 
     // It now appears under On Deck (the last of the five views).

crates/heph-tui/tests/navigation.rs

@@ -218,13 +218,14 @@ fn move_task_clamps_at_the_ends() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn attention_cycles_white_orange_red_blue() {
-    use heph_tui::app::next_attention;
-    assert_eq!(next_attention(Some(Attention::White)), Attention::Orange);
-    assert_eq!(next_attention(Some(Attention::Orange)), Attention::Red);
-    assert_eq!(next_attention(Some(Attention::Red)), Attention::Blue);
-    assert_eq!(next_attention(Some(Attention::Blue)), Attention::White);
-    assert_eq!(next_attention(None), Attention::White);
+fn attention_digits_map_by_intensity() {
+    use heph_tui::app::attention_for_digit;
+    assert_eq!(attention_for_digit('1'), Some(Attention::Red));
+    assert_eq!(attention_for_digit('2'), Some(Attention::Orange));
+    assert_eq!(attention_for_digit('3'), Some(Attention::White));
+    assert_eq!(attention_for_digit('4'), Some(Attention::Blue));
+    assert_eq!(attention_for_digit('5'), None);
+    assert_eq!(attention_for_digit('a'), None);
 }
 
 fn type_and_submit<B: Backend>(app: &mut App<B>, s: &str) {
@@ -248,12 +249,12 @@ fn quick_add_files_under_the_current_project_when_no_tag_given() {
     assert_eq!(app.task_pane_title(), "Camano");
 
     app.begin_add();
-    type_and_submit(&mut app, "Fix the dock p2");
+    type_and_submit(&mut app, "Fix the dock a2");
 
     let created = &rec.borrow().created;
     assert_eq!(created.len(), 1);
     assert_eq!(created[0].0, "Fix the dock");
-    assert_eq!(created[0].1, Some(Attention::Orange)); // p2
+    assert_eq!(created[0].1, Some(Attention::Orange)); // a2
     assert_eq!(created[0].2, None); // no do-date
     assert_eq!(created[0].3, None); // no recurrence
     assert_eq!(created[0].4.as_deref(), Some("p1")); // current project (Camano)

crates/hephd/src/quickadd.rs

@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 //! Single-line natural-language quick-add (tech-spec §8.1) — Todoist-style
-//! capture: `Water plants tomorrow p2 #Chores every 3 days`.
+//! capture: `Water plants tomorrow a2 #Chores every 3 days`.
 //!
 //! Pure and deterministic: `today` and the known projects are passed in, so the
 //! whole parser is unit-testable. Recognized inline tokens are extracted and the
 //! remainder is the title (order preserved). The recognized forms mirror the
 //! owner's Todoist usage ([[design]] §6.2.1):
 //!
-//! - **Priority** `p1`..`p4` → attention (p1 red, p2 orange, p3 blue, p4 white).
+//! - **Attention** `a1`..`a4` → attention band, ordered by intensity
+//!   (a1 red, a2 orange, a3 white, a4 blue).
 //! - **Project** `#Name` — resolved against existing projects, greedily matching
 //!   multi-word titles (`#Camano Chores`). An unresolved `#tag` is left in the
 //!   title verbatim (no surprise project creation).
@@ -40,12 +41,13 @@ pub struct Parsed {
     pub project_id: Option<String>,
 }
 
-fn priority_attention(token: &str) -> Option<Attention> {
+/// `a1`..`a4` → attention band, ordered by intensity (a1 = most urgent).
+fn attention_token(token: &str) -> Option<Attention> {
     match token.to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
-        "p1" => Some(Attention::Red),
-        "p2" => Some(Attention::Orange),
-        "p3" => Some(Attention::Blue),
-        "p4" => Some(Attention::White),
+        "a1" => Some(Attention::Red),
+        "a2" => Some(Attention::Orange),
+        "a3" => Some(Attention::White),
+        "a4" => Some(Attention::Blue),
         _ => None,
     }
 }
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ pub fn parse(input: &str, today: NaiveDate, projects: &[Project]) -> Parsed {
     while i < tokens.len() {
         let tok = &tokens[i];
 
-        if let Some(a) = priority_attention(tok) {
+        if let Some(a) = attention_token(tok) {
             out.attention = Some(a);
             i += 1;
             continue;
@@ -170,12 +172,20 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn priority_maps_to_attention() {
-        assert_eq!(p("Email boss p1").attention, Some(Attention::Red));
-        assert_eq!(p("Email boss p2").attention, Some(Attention::Orange));
-        assert_eq!(p("Email boss p3").attention, Some(Attention::Blue));
-        assert_eq!(p("Email boss p4").attention, Some(Attention::White));
-        assert_eq!(p("Email boss p1").title, "Email boss");
+    fn attention_token_maps_to_attention() {
+        assert_eq!(p("Email boss a1").attention, Some(Attention::Red));
+        assert_eq!(p("Email boss a2").attention, Some(Attention::Orange));
+        assert_eq!(p("Email boss a3").attention, Some(Attention::White));
+        assert_eq!(p("Email boss a4").attention, Some(Attention::Blue));
+        assert_eq!(p("Email boss a1").title, "Email boss");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn old_priority_tokens_are_no_longer_recognized() {
+        // p1..p4 are retired in favour of a1..a4 — they stay in the title.
+        let r = p("Email boss p1");
+        assert_eq!(r.attention, None);
+        assert_eq!(r.title, "Email boss p1");
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -215,7 +225,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn everything_at_once() {
-        let r = p("Plan trip p2 friday #Work every week");
+        let r = p("Plan trip a2 friday #Work every week");
         assert_eq!(r.title, "Plan trip");
         assert_eq!(r.attention, Some(Attention::Orange));
         assert_eq!(r.do_date, Some(ms(2026, 6, 5))); // the coming Friday

docs/changelog.d/feature-attention-a1-a4.feature.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Attention is now set directly instead of cycled, and surfaces it as `a1`–`a4` (a1=red, a2=orange, a3=white, a4=blue) rather than the colour words. In heph-tui press `a` then `1`–`4` to set a band (the old `A` cycle and `b` push-to-blue are retired; quick-add moves to `n`); heph-quickadd and the PWA show the same `a1`–`a4` labels, and the PWA's Attn action now pops a band picker. Quick-add inline syntax changes from `p1`–`p4` to `a1`–`a4` across every capture surface. The colour mappings are unchanged.

docs/how-to/heph-pwa.md

@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ into preview chips before you submit:
 
 | Token | Example | Effect |
 |-------|---------|--------|
-| `p1`–`p4` | `p1` | attention: red / orange / blue / white |
+| `a1`–`a4` | `a1` | attention band by intensity: a1=red, a2=orange, a3=white, a4=blue |
 | `#Project` | `#Camano Chores` | file under a project (greedy multi-word match) |
 | date | `today` `tomorrow` `+3d` `fri` `2026-07-01` | do-date |
 | `every …` | `every 3 days` `every other wed` `every workday` | recurrence (RRULE) |
@@ -96,8 +96,9 @@ platform. A server-side transcription proxy could be added later if needed.)
 ## Triage
 
 Tap a task to expand its actions, mirroring the TUI keys: **Done** (`x`),
-**Drop** (`d`), **Skip** (`S`, recurring only), **Attn** (cycle attention, `A`),
-**Date** (reschedule, `e`), **Move** (project picker, `m`), **Delete**
+**Drop** (`d`), **Skip** (`S`, recurring only), **Attn** (pick a band a1–a4,
+the TUI's `a` then a digit), **Date** (reschedule, `e`), **Move** (project
+picker, `m`), **Delete**
 (tombstone, `D`). Done/Drop show an **Undo**. The expanded view also shows the
 task's canonical-context body + recent log tail (read-only).
 

heph-pwa/src/app.js

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // heph-pwa — a mobile-first browser mirror of heph-tui. Browse the built-in
 // views and projects, triage tasks, and (the primary use case) capture new
-// tasks fast with the same quick-add syntax as the TUI's `a` / Cmd-' popover.
+// tasks fast with the same quick-add syntax as the TUI's `n` / Cmd-' popover.
 //
 // Online-only thin client: every action is an RPC to the configured hub (see
 // rpc.js). Context/KB is read-only here (no nvim editing surface).
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@ import * as oauth from "./oauth.js";
 import { parse as quickParse } from "./quickadd.js";
 import { today, parseDate, toEpochMs, humanizeRecurrence } from "./datespec.js";
 import {
+  ATTENTION_BANDS,
   ATTENTION_COLORS,
+  attentionLabel,
   fmtRelative,
   hasFlag,
   isOverdue,
-  nextAttention,
   projectColor,
 } from "./fmt.js";
 
@@ -231,7 +232,7 @@ function taskDetail(t) {
       actionBtn("✓ Done", () => triage(t, "done")),
       actionBtn("⤓ Drop", () => triage(t, "dropped")),
       t.recurrence && actionBtn("↻ Skip", () => doSkip(t)),
-      actionBtn("⚑ Attn", () => cycleAttention(t)),
+      actionBtn("⚑ Attn", () => openAttention(t)),
       actionBtn("📅 Date", () => openReschedule(t)),
       actionBtn("📁 Move", () => openMove(t)),
       actionBtn("🗑 Delete", () => doDelete(t), "danger"),
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ function openQuickAdd() {
   const input = h("input", {
     class: "qa-input",
     type: "text",
-    placeholder: "Buy milk tomorrow p2 #Work every week",
+    placeholder: "Buy milk tomorrow a2 #Work every week",
     autocomplete: "off",
     autocapitalize: "sentences",
     enterkeyhint: "done",
@@ -364,12 +365,12 @@ function openQuickAdd() {
     const parsed = quickParse(input.value, today(), state.projects);
     preview.innerHTML = "";
     if (!input.value.trim()) {
-      preview.append(h("span", { class: "qa-hint" }, "p1–p4 · #Project · today/+3d/fri · every week"));
+      preview.append(h("span", { class: "qa-hint" }, "a1–a4 · #Project · today/+3d/fri · every week"));
       return;
     }
     preview.append(h("span", { class: "qa-title" }, parsed.title || "(no title)"));
     if (parsed.attention) {
-      preview.append(h("span", { class: "qa-tag", style: `color:${ATTENTION_COLORS[parsed.attention]}` }, "⚑ " + parsed.attention));
+      preview.append(h("span", { class: "qa-tag", style: `color:${ATTENTION_COLORS[parsed.attention]}` }, "⚑ " + attentionLabel(parsed.attention)));
     }
     if (parsed.doDate != null) preview.append(h("span", { class: "qa-tag" }, "📅 " + fmtRelative(parsed.doDate)));
     if (parsed.projectId) preview.append(h("span", { class: "qa-tag" }, "📁 " + projectTitle(parsed.projectId)));
@@ -610,11 +611,22 @@ async function doSkip(t) {
   }
 }
 
-async function cycleAttention(t) {
-  const next = nextAttention(t.attention);
+// Pick an attention band directly (a1–a4) rather than cycling — cycling could
+// skip past the band you wanted, and pushing to a4 (blue) used to drop the task
+// out of the view you were on with no way back. Mirrors the TUI's `a`+digit chord.
+function openAttention(t) {
+  const list = h("div", { class: "picker-list" });
+  for (const band of ATTENTION_BANDS) {
+    list.append(pickerItem(attentionLabel(band), () => setAttention(t, band), ATTENTION_COLORS[band]));
+  }
+  openModal(h("div", { class: "qa" }, h("div", { class: "modal-title" }, `Attention for "${t.title}"`), list));
+}
+
+async function setAttention(t, band) {
+  closeModal();
   try {
-    await state.client.setAttention(t.node_id, next);
-    toast(`Attention: ${next}`);
+    await state.client.setAttention(t.node_id, band);
+    toast(`Attention: ${attentionLabel(band)}`);
     reload();
   } catch (e) {
     toast(`Failed: ${e.message}`);

heph-pwa/src/fmt.js

@@ -9,15 +9,16 @@ export const ATTENTION_COLORS = {
   white: "var(--att-white)",
 };
 
-/** The cycle order used by the attention toggle (matches the TUI's `A` key). */
-export const ATTENTION_CYCLE = [null, "white", "orange", "red", "blue"];
+/**
+ * The attention bands a user can pick, in `a1`..`a4` order (by intensity).
+ * Each entry is the storage color string; the label is its index + 1.
+ */
+export const ATTENTION_BANDS = ["red", "orange", "white", "blue"];
 
-/** Next attention in the cycle: none → white → orange → red → blue → white. */
-export function nextAttention(att) {
-  const i = ATTENTION_CYCLE.indexOf(att ?? null);
-  // After blue (last), wrap to white (index 1), not back to none.
-  const next = i < 0 ? 1 : (i + 1) % ATTENTION_CYCLE.length;
-  return ATTENTION_CYCLE[next === 0 ? 1 : next] ?? "white";
+/** Attention color string → its `a1`..`a4` UI label (or "" if unset). */
+export function attentionLabel(att) {
+  const i = ATTENTION_BANDS.indexOf(att);
+  return i < 0 ? "" : `a${i + 1}`;
 }
 
 /** Whether an attention band shows a flag glyph (red/orange/blue; not white). */

heph-pwa/src/quickadd.js

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 // Single-line natural-language quick-add — a faithful JS port of hephd's
 // `quickadd.rs` (tech-spec §8.1). Todoist-style capture:
-//   `Water plants tomorrow p2 #Chores every 3 days`
+//   `Water plants tomorrow a2 #Chores every 3 days`
 //
 // Recognized inline tokens are extracted and the remainder is the title (order
 // preserved). This mirrors the owner's Todoist usage ([[design]] §6.2.1):
-//   - Priority  p1..p4 → attention (p1 red, p2 orange, p3 blue, p4 white)
+//   - Attention a1..a4 → attention band, ordered by intensity
+//                        (a1 red, a2 orange, a3 white, a4 blue)
 //   - Project   #Name  → resolved against existing projects, greedily matching
 //                        multi-word titles (#Camano Chores). Unresolved #tags
 //                        stay in the title verbatim (no surprise project).
@@ -13,13 +14,13 @@
 
 import { parseDate, toEpochMs, parseRecurrenceOrNull } from "./datespec.js";
 
-/** p1..p4 → attention color string (matching the RPC serialization), or null. */
-function priorityAttention(token) {
+/** a1..a4 → attention color string (matching the RPC serialization), or null. */
+function attentionToken(token) {
   switch (token.toLowerCase()) {
-    case "p1": return "red";
-    case "p2": return "orange";
-    case "p3": return "blue";
-    case "p4": return "white";
+    case "a1": return "red";
+    case "a2": return "orange";
+    case "a3": return "white";
+    case "a4": return "blue";
     default: return null;
   }
 }
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ export function parse(input, todayDate, projects = []) {
   while (i < tokens.length) {
     const tok = tokens[i];
 
-    const att = priorityAttention(tok);
+    const att = attentionToken(tok);
     if (att !== null) {
       out.attention = att;
       i += 1;

heph-pwa/sw.js

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Service worker: cache the app shell so heph launches offline. Data is never
 // cached — every /rpc call must hit the live hub (and POSTs aren't cacheable
 // anyway). Bump CACHE when shell assets change to evict the old set.
-const CACHE = "heph-pwa-v4";
+const CACHE = "heph-pwa-v5";
 const SHELL = [
   "./",
   "./index.html",

heph-pwa/test/parsers.test.mjs

@@ -134,12 +134,19 @@ test("plain title", () => {
   assert.equal(r.projectId, null);
 });
 
-test("priority maps to attention", () => {
-  assert.equal(p("Email boss p1").attention, "red");
-  assert.equal(p("Email boss p2").attention, "orange");
-  assert.equal(p("Email boss p3").attention, "blue");
-  assert.equal(p("Email boss p4").attention, "white");
-  assert.equal(p("Email boss p1").title, "Email boss");
+test("attention token maps to attention", () => {
+  assert.equal(p("Email boss a1").attention, "red");
+  assert.equal(p("Email boss a2").attention, "orange");
+  assert.equal(p("Email boss a3").attention, "white");
+  assert.equal(p("Email boss a4").attention, "blue");
+  assert.equal(p("Email boss a1").title, "Email boss");
+});
+
+test("old priority tokens are no longer recognized", () => {
+  // p1..p4 are retired in favour of a1..a4 — they stay in the title.
+  const r = p("Email boss p1");
+  assert.equal(r.attention, null);
+  assert.equal(r.title, "Email boss p1");
 });
 
 test("relative date is extracted", () => {
@@ -169,7 +176,7 @@ test("recurrence phrase is extracted", () => {
 });
 
 test("everything at once", () => {
-  const r = p("Plan trip p2 friday #Work every week");
+  const r = p("Plan trip a2 friday #Work every week");
   assert.equal(r.title, "Plan trip");
   assert.equal(r.attention, "orange");
   assert.equal(r.doDate, ms(2026, 6, 5));