feat: add progress feedback during slow container starts

Emit container-progress events from Rust at key milestones (checking
image, saving state, recreating, starting, stopping) and display them
in ProjectCard instead of the static "starting.../stopping..." text.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitea/workflows/backfill-releases.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+name: Backfill Releases to GitHub
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+  backfill:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Backfill all Gitea releases to GitHub
+        env:
+          GH_PAT: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT }}
+          GITEA_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
+          GITEA_API: https://repo.anhonesthost.net/api/v1
+          GITEA_REPO: cybercovellc/triple-c
+          GITHUB_REPO: shadowdao/triple-c
+        run: |
+          set -e
+
+          echo "==> Fetching releases from Gitea..."
+          RELEASES=$(curl -sf \
+            -H "Authorization: token $GITEA_TOKEN" \
+            "$GITEA_API/repos/$GITEA_REPO/releases?limit=50")
+
+          echo "$RELEASES" | jq -c '.[]' | while read release; do
+            TAG=$(echo "$release" | jq -r '.tag_name')
+            NAME=$(echo "$release" | jq -r '.name')
+            BODY=$(echo "$release" | jq -r '.body')
+            IS_PRERELEASE=$(echo "$release" | jq -r '.prerelease')
+            IS_DRAFT=$(echo "$release" | jq -r '.draft')
+
+            EXISTS=$(curl -sf \
+              -H "Authorization: Bearer $GH_PAT" \
+              -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
+              "https://api.github.com/repos/$GITHUB_REPO/releases/tags/$TAG" \
+              -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" || true)
+
+            if [ "$EXISTS" = "200" ]; then
+              echo "==> Skipping $TAG (already exists on GitHub)"
+              continue
+            fi
+
+            echo "==> Creating release $TAG..."
+            RESPONSE=$(curl -sf -X POST \
+              -H "Authorization: Bearer $GH_PAT" \
+              -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
+              -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+              https://api.github.com/repos/$GITHUB_REPO/releases \
+              -d "{
+                \"tag_name\": \"$TAG\",
+                \"name\": \"$NAME\",
+                \"body\": $(echo "$BODY" | jq -Rs .),
+                \"draft\": $IS_DRAFT,
+                \"prerelease\": $IS_PRERELEASE
+              }")
+
+            UPLOAD_URL=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | jq -r '.upload_url' | sed 's/{?name,label}//')
+
+            echo "$release" | jq -c '.assets[]?' | while read asset; do
+              ASSET_NAME=$(echo "$asset" | jq -r '.name')
+              ASSET_ID=$(echo "$asset" | jq -r '.id')
+
+              echo "  ==> Downloading $ASSET_NAME..."
+              DOWNLOAD_URL=$(echo "$asset" | jq -r '.browser_download_url')
+              curl -sfL -o "/tmp/$ASSET_NAME" \
+                -H "Authorization: token $GITEA_TOKEN" \
+                "$DOWNLOAD_URL"
+
+              echo "  ==> Uploading $ASSET_NAME to GitHub..."
+              ENCODED_NAME=$(python3 -c "import urllib.parse, sys; print(urllib.parse.quote(sys.argv[1]))" "$ASSET_NAME")
+              curl -sf -X POST \
+                -H "Authorization: Bearer $GH_PAT" \
+                -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
+                -H "Content-Type: application/octet-stream" \
+                --data-binary "@/tmp/$ASSET_NAME" \
+                "$UPLOAD_URL?name=$ENCODED_NAME"
+
+              echo "    Uploaded: $ASSET_NAME"
+            done
+
+            echo "==> Done: $TAG"
+          done
+
+          echo "==> Backfill complete."

.gitea/workflows/build-app.yml

@@ -25,10 +25,11 @@ jobs:
           NEED_INSTALL=false
           if command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then
             NODE_MAJOR=$(node --version | sed 's/v\([0-9]*\).*/\1/')
+            OLD_NODE_DIR=$(dirname "$(which node)")
             echo "Found Node.js $(node --version) at $(which node) (major: ${NODE_MAJOR})"
             if [ "$NODE_MAJOR" -lt 22 ]; then
               echo "Node.js ${NODE_MAJOR} is too old, removing before installing 22..."
-              sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/bin/npm /usr/local/bin/npx /usr/local/bin/corepack
+              sudo rm -f "${OLD_NODE_DIR}/node" "${OLD_NODE_DIR}/npm" "${OLD_NODE_DIR}/npx" "${OLD_NODE_DIR}/corepack"
               hash -r
               NEED_INSTALL=true
             fi

.gitea/workflows/sync-release.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+name: Sync Release to GitHub
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+jobs:
+  sync-release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Mirror release to GitHub
+        env:
+          GH_PAT: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT }}
+          GITHUB_REPO: shadowdao/triple-c
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ gitea.event.release.tag_name }}
+          RELEASE_NAME: ${{ gitea.event.release.name }}
+          RELEASE_BODY: ${{ gitea.event.release.body }}
+          IS_PRERELEASE: ${{ gitea.event.release.prerelease }}
+          IS_DRAFT: ${{ gitea.event.release.draft }}
+        run: |
+          set -e
+
+          echo "==> Creating release $RELEASE_TAG on GitHub..."
+
+          RESPONSE=$(curl -sf -X POST \
+            -H "Authorization: Bearer $GH_PAT" \
+            -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            https://api.github.com/repos/$GITHUB_REPO/releases \
+            -d "{
+              \"tag_name\": \"$RELEASE_TAG\",
+              \"name\": \"$RELEASE_NAME\",
+              \"body\": $(echo "$RELEASE_BODY" | jq -Rs .),
+              \"draft\": $IS_DRAFT,
+              \"prerelease\": $IS_PRERELEASE
+            }")
+
+          UPLOAD_URL=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | jq -r '.upload_url' | sed 's/{?name,label}//')
+          echo "Release created. Upload URL: $UPLOAD_URL"
+
+          echo '${{ toJSON(gitea.event.release.assets) }}' | jq -c '.[]' | while read asset; do
+            ASSET_NAME=$(echo "$asset" | jq -r '.name')
+            ASSET_URL=$(echo "$asset" | jq -r '.browser_download_url')
+
+            echo "==> Downloading asset: $ASSET_NAME"
+            curl -sfL -o "/tmp/$ASSET_NAME" "$ASSET_URL"
+
+            echo "==> Uploading $ASSET_NAME to GitHub..."
+            ENCODED_NAME=$(python3 -c "import urllib.parse, sys; print(urllib.parse.quote(sys.argv[1]))" "$ASSET_NAME")
+            curl -sf -X POST \
+              -H "Authorization: Bearer $GH_PAT" \
+              -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
+              -H "Content-Type: application/octet-stream" \
+              --data-binary "@/tmp/$ASSET_NAME" \
+              "$UPLOAD_URL?name=$ENCODED_NAME"
+
+            echo "  Uploaded: $ASSET_NAME"
+          done
+
+          echo "==> Release sync complete."

TODO.md

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# TODO / Future Improvements
+
+## In-App Auto-Update via `tauri-plugin-updater`
+
+**Priority:** High
+**Status:** Planned
+
+Currently the app detects available updates via the Gitea API (`check_for_updates` command) but cannot apply them. Users must manually download and install the new version. On macOS and Linux this is a poor experience compared to Windows (where NSIS handles upgrades cleanly).
+
+### Recommended approach: `tauri-plugin-updater`
+
+Full in-app auto-update: detects, downloads, verifies, and applies updates seamlessly on all platforms. The user clicks "Update" and the app restarts with the new version.
+
+### Requirements
+
+1. **Generate a Tauri update signing key pair** (this is Tauri's own Ed25519 key, not OS code signing):
+   ```bash
+   npx @tauri-apps/cli signer generate -w ~/.tauri/triple-c.key
+   ```
+   Set `TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY` and `TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY_PASSWORD` in CI.
+
+2. **Add `tauri-plugin-updater`** to Rust and JS dependencies.
+
+3. **Create an update endpoint** that returns Tauri's expected JSON format:
+   ```json
+   {
+     "version": "v0.1.100",
+     "notes": "Changelog here",
+     "pub_date": "2026-03-01T00:00:00Z",
+     "platforms": {
+       "darwin-x86_64": { "signature": "...", "url": "https://..." },
+       "darwin-aarch64": { "signature": "...", "url": "https://..." },
+       "linux-x86_64": { "signature": "...", "url": "https://..." },
+       "windows-x86_64": { "signature": "...", "url": "https://..." }
+     }
+   }
+   ```
+   This could be a static JSON file uploaded alongside release assets, or a small API that reads from Gitea releases and reformats.
+
+4. **Configure the updater** in `tauri.conf.json`:
+   ```json
+   "plugins": {
+     "updater": {
+       "endpoints": ["https://repo.anhonesthost.net/...update-endpoint..."],
+       "pubkey": "<public key from step 1>"
+     }
+   }
+   ```
+
+5. **Add frontend UI** for the update prompt (replace or enhance the existing update check flow).
+
+6. **Update CI pipeline** to:
+   - Sign bundles with the Tauri key during build
+   - Upload `.sig` files alongside installers
+   - Generate/upload the update endpoint JSON
+
+### References
+- https://v2.tauri.app/plugin/updater/
+- Existing update check code: `app/src-tauri/src/commands/update_commands.rs`
+- Existing models: `app/src-tauri/src/models/update_info.rs`

app/src-tauri/src/commands/project_commands.rs

@@ -1,10 +1,20 @@
-use tauri::State;
+use tauri::{Emitter, State};
 
 use crate::docker;
 use crate::models::{container_config, AuthMode, Project, ProjectPath, ProjectStatus};
 use crate::storage::secure;
 use crate::AppState;
 
+fn emit_progress(app_handle: &tauri::AppHandle, project_id: &str, message: &str) {
+    let _ = app_handle.emit(
+        "container-progress",
+        serde_json::json!({
+            "project_id": project_id,
+            "message": message,
+        }),
+    );
+}
+
 /// Extract secret fields from a project and store them in the OS keychain.
 fn store_secrets_for_project(project: &Project) -> Result<(), String> {
     if let Some(ref token) = project.git_token {
@@ -81,12 +91,19 @@ pub async fn remove_project(
     state: State<'_, AppState>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     // Stop and remove container if it exists
-    if let Some(project) = state.projects_store.get(&project_id) {
+    if let Some(ref project) = state.projects_store.get(&project_id) {
         if let Some(ref container_id) = project.container_id {
             state.exec_manager.close_sessions_for_container(container_id).await;
             let _ = docker::stop_container(container_id).await;
             let _ = docker::remove_container(container_id).await;
         }
+        // Clean up the snapshot image + volumes
+        if let Err(e) = docker::remove_snapshot_image(project).await {
+            log::warn!("Failed to remove snapshot image for project {}: {}", project_id, e);
+        }
+        if let Err(e) = docker::remove_project_volumes(project).await {
+            log::warn!("Failed to remove project volumes for project {}: {}", project_id, e);
+        }
     }
 
     // Clean up keychain secrets for this project
@@ -109,6 +126,7 @@ pub async fn update_project(
 #[tauri::command]
 pub async fn start_project_container(
     project_id: String,
+    app_handle: tauri::AppHandle,
     state: State<'_, AppState>,
 ) -> Result<Project, String> {
     let mut project = state
@@ -140,6 +158,7 @@ pub async fn start_project_container(
     // Wrap container operations so that any failure resets status to Stopped.
     let result: Result<String, String> = async {
         // Ensure image exists
+        emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Checking image...");
         if !docker::image_exists(&image_name).await? {
             return Err(format!("Docker image '{}' not found. Please pull or build the image first.", image_name));
         }
@@ -153,48 +172,77 @@ pub async fn start_project_container(
         // AWS config path from global settings
         let aws_config_path = settings.global_aws.aws_config_path.clone();
 
-        // Check for existing container
         let container_id = if let Some(existing_id) = docker::find_existing_container(&project).await? {
-            let needs_recreation = docker::container_needs_recreation(
-                    &existing_id,
-                    &project,
-                    settings.global_claude_instructions.as_deref(),
-                    &settings.global_custom_env_vars,
-                    settings.timezone.as_deref(),
-                )
-                .await
-                .unwrap_or(false);
-            if needs_recreation {
-                log::info!("Container config changed, recreating container for project {}", project.id);
+            // Check if config changed — if so, snapshot + recreate
+            let needs_recreate = docker::container_needs_recreation(
+                &existing_id,
+                &project,
+                settings.global_claude_instructions.as_deref(),
+                &settings.global_custom_env_vars,
+                settings.timezone.as_deref(),
+            ).await.unwrap_or(false);
+
+            if needs_recreate {
+                log::info!("Container config changed for project {} — committing snapshot and recreating", project.id);
+                // Snapshot the filesystem before destroying
+                emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Saving container state...");
+                if let Err(e) = docker::commit_container_snapshot(&existing_id, &project).await {
+                    log::warn!("Failed to snapshot container before recreation: {}", e);
+                }
+                emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Recreating container...");
                 let _ = docker::stop_container(&existing_id).await;
                 docker::remove_container(&existing_id).await?;
+
+                // Create from snapshot image (preserves system-level changes)
+                let snapshot_image = docker::get_snapshot_image_name(&project);
+                let create_image = if docker::image_exists(&snapshot_image).await.unwrap_or(false) {
+                    snapshot_image
+                } else {
+                    image_name.clone()
+                };
+
                 let new_id = docker::create_container(
                     &project,
                     &docker_socket,
-                    &image_name,
+                    &create_image,
                     aws_config_path.as_deref(),
                     &settings.global_aws,
                     settings.global_claude_instructions.as_deref(),
                     &settings.global_custom_env_vars,
                     settings.timezone.as_deref(),
                 ).await?;
+                emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Starting container...");
                 docker::start_container(&new_id).await?;
                 new_id
             } else {
+                emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Starting container...");
                 docker::start_container(&existing_id).await?;
                 existing_id
             }
         } else {
+            // Container doesn't exist (first start, or Docker pruned it).
+            // Check for a snapshot image first — it preserves system-level
+            // changes (apt/pip/npm installs) from the previous session.
+            let snapshot_image = docker::get_snapshot_image_name(&project);
+            let create_image = if docker::image_exists(&snapshot_image).await.unwrap_or(false) {
+                log::info!("Creating container from snapshot image for project {}", project.id);
+                snapshot_image
+            } else {
+                image_name.clone()
+            };
+
+            emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Creating container...");
             let new_id = docker::create_container(
                 &project,
                 &docker_socket,
-                &image_name,
+                &create_image,
                 aws_config_path.as_deref(),
                 &settings.global_aws,
                 settings.global_claude_instructions.as_deref(),
                 &settings.global_custom_env_vars,
                 settings.timezone.as_deref(),
             ).await?;
+            emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Starting container...");
             docker::start_container(&new_id).await?;
             new_id
         };
@@ -222,6 +270,7 @@ pub async fn start_project_container(
 #[tauri::command]
 pub async fn stop_project_container(
     project_id: String,
+    app_handle: tauri::AppHandle,
     state: State<'_, AppState>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     let project = state
@@ -229,22 +278,26 @@ pub async fn stop_project_container(
         .get(&project_id)
         .ok_or_else(|| format!("Project {} not found", project_id))?;
 
-    if let Some(ref container_id) = project.container_id {
-        state.projects_store.update_status(&project_id, ProjectStatus::Stopping)?;
+    state.projects_store.update_status(&project_id, ProjectStatus::Stopping)?;
 
+    if let Some(ref container_id) = project.container_id {
         // Close exec sessions for this project
+        emit_progress(&app_handle, &project_id, "Stopping container...");
         state.exec_manager.close_sessions_for_container(container_id).await;
 
-        docker::stop_container(container_id).await?;
-        state.projects_store.update_status(&project_id, ProjectStatus::Stopped)?;
+        if let Err(e) = docker::stop_container(container_id).await {
+            log::warn!("Docker stop failed for container {} (project {}): {} — resetting to Stopped anyway", container_id, project_id, e);
+        }
     }
 
+    state.projects_store.update_status(&project_id, ProjectStatus::Stopped)?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[tauri::command]
 pub async fn rebuild_project_container(
     project_id: String,
+    app_handle: tauri::AppHandle,
     state: State<'_, AppState>,
 ) -> Result<Project, String> {
     let project = state
@@ -260,8 +313,16 @@ pub async fn rebuild_project_container(
         state.projects_store.set_container_id(&project_id, None)?;
     }
 
+    // Remove snapshot image + volumes so Reset creates from the clean base image
+    if let Err(e) = docker::remove_snapshot_image(&project).await {
+        log::warn!("Failed to remove snapshot image for project {}: {}", project_id, e);
+    }
+    if let Err(e) = docker::remove_project_volumes(&project).await {
+        log::warn!("Failed to remove project volumes for project {}: {}", project_id, e);
+    }
+
     // Start fresh
-    start_project_container(project_id, state).await
+    start_project_container(project_id, app_handle, state).await
 }
 
 fn default_docker_socket() -> String {

app/src-tauri/src/docker/client.rs

@@ -1,23 +1,28 @@
 use bollard::Docker;
-use std::sync::OnceLock;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
 
-static DOCKER: OnceLock<Result<Docker, String>> = OnceLock::new();
+static DOCKER: Mutex<Option<Docker>> = Mutex::new(None);
 
-pub fn get_docker() -> Result<&'static Docker, String> {
-    let result = DOCKER.get_or_init(|| {
-        Docker::connect_with_local_defaults()
-            .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to connect to Docker daemon: {}", e))
-    });
-    match result {
-        Ok(docker) => Ok(docker),
-        Err(e) => Err(e.clone()),
+pub fn get_docker() -> Result<Docker, String> {
+    let mut guard = DOCKER.lock().map_err(|e| format!("Lock poisoned: {}", e))?;
+    if let Some(docker) = guard.as_ref() {
+        return Ok(docker.clone());
     }
+    let docker = Docker::connect_with_local_defaults()
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to connect to Docker daemon: {}", e))?;
+    guard.replace(docker.clone());
+    Ok(docker)
 }
 
 pub async fn check_docker_available() -> Result<bool, String> {
     let docker = get_docker()?;
     match docker.ping().await {
         Ok(_) => Ok(true),
-        Err(e) => Err(format!("Docker daemon not responding: {}", e)),
+        Err(_) => {
+            // Connection object exists but daemon not responding — clear cache
+            let mut guard = DOCKER.lock().map_err(|e| format!("Lock poisoned: {}", e))?;
+            *guard = None;
+            Ok(false)
+        }
     }
 }

app/src-tauri/src/docker/container.rs

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use bollard::container::{
     Config, CreateContainerOptions, ListContainersOptions, RemoveContainerOptions,
     StartContainerOptions, StopContainerOptions,
 };
+use bollard::image::{CommitContainerOptions, RemoveImageOptions};
 use bollard::models::{ContainerSummary, HostConfig, Mount, MountTypeEnum, PortBinding};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::collections::hash_map::DefaultHasher;
@@ -40,6 +41,42 @@ After tasks run, check notifications with `triple-c-scheduler notifications` and
 ### Timezone
 Scheduled times use the container's configured timezone (check with `date`). If no timezone is configured, UTC is used."#;
 
+/// Build the full CLAUDE_INSTRUCTIONS value by merging global + project
+/// instructions, appending port mapping docs, and appending scheduler docs.
+/// Used by both create_container() and container_needs_recreation() to ensure
+/// the same value is produced in both paths.
+fn build_claude_instructions(
+    global_instructions: Option<&str>,
+    project_instructions: Option<&str>,
+    port_mappings: &[PortMapping],
+) -> Option<String> {
+    let mut combined = merge_claude_instructions(global_instructions, project_instructions);
+
+    if !port_mappings.is_empty() {
+        let mut port_lines: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+        port_lines.push("## Available Port Mappings".to_string());
+        port_lines.push("The following ports are mapped from the host to this container. Use these container ports when starting services that need to be accessible from the host:".to_string());
+        for pm in port_mappings {
+            port_lines.push(format!(
+                "- Host port {} -> Container port {} ({})",
+                pm.host_port, pm.container_port, pm.protocol
+            ));
+        }
+        let port_info = port_lines.join("\n");
+        combined = Some(match combined {
+            Some(existing) => format!("{}\n\n{}", existing, port_info),
+            None => port_info,
+        });
+    }
+
+    combined = Some(match combined {
+        Some(existing) => format!("{}\n\n{}", existing, SCHEDULER_INSTRUCTIONS),
+        None => SCHEDULER_INSTRUCTIONS.to_string(),
+    });
+
+    combined
+}
+
 /// Compute a fingerprint string for the custom environment variables.
 /// Sorted alphabetically so order changes do not cause spurious recreation.
 fn compute_env_fingerprint(custom_env_vars: &[EnvVar]) -> String {
@@ -307,33 +344,12 @@ pub async fn create_container(
         }
     }
 
-    // Claude instructions (global + per-project, plus port mapping info)
-    let mut combined_instructions = merge_claude_instructions(
+    // Claude instructions (global + per-project, plus port mapping info + scheduler docs)
+    let combined_instructions = build_claude_instructions(
         global_claude_instructions,
         project.claude_instructions.as_deref(),
+        &project.port_mappings,
     );
-    if !project.port_mappings.is_empty() {
-        let mut port_lines: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
-        port_lines.push("## Available Port Mappings".to_string());
-        port_lines.push("The following ports are mapped from the host to this container. Use these container ports when starting services that need to be accessible from the host:".to_string());
-        for pm in &project.port_mappings {
-            port_lines.push(format!(
-                "- Host port {} -> Container port {} ({})",
-                pm.host_port, pm.container_port, pm.protocol
-            ));
-        }
-        let port_info = port_lines.join("\n");
-        combined_instructions = Some(match combined_instructions {
-            Some(existing) => format!("{}\n\n{}", existing, port_info),
-            None => port_info,
-        });
-    }
-    // Scheduler instructions (always appended so all containers get scheduling docs)
-    let scheduler_docs = SCHEDULER_INSTRUCTIONS;
-    combined_instructions = Some(match combined_instructions {
-        Some(existing) => format!("{}\n\n{}", existing, scheduler_docs),
-        None => scheduler_docs.to_string(),
-    });
 
     if let Some(ref instructions) = combined_instructions {
         env_vars.push(format!("CLAUDE_INSTRUCTIONS={}", instructions));
@@ -352,7 +368,19 @@ pub async fn create_container(
         });
     }
 
-    // Named volume for claude config persistence
+    // Named volume for the entire home directory — preserves ~/.claude.json,
+    // ~/.local (pip/npm globals), and any other user-level state across
+    // container stop/start cycles.
+    mounts.push(Mount {
+        target: Some("/home/claude".to_string()),
+        source: Some(format!("triple-c-home-{}", project.id)),
+        typ: Some(MountTypeEnum::VOLUME),
+        read_only: Some(false),
+        ..Default::default()
+    });
+
+    // Named volume for claude config persistence — mounted as a nested volume
+    // inside the home volume; Docker gives the more-specific mount precedence.
     mounts.push(Mount {
         target: Some("/home/claude/.claude".to_string()),
         source: Some(format!("triple-c-claude-config-{}", project.id)),
@@ -523,6 +551,83 @@ pub async fn remove_container(container_id: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
         .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to remove container: {}", e))
 }
 
+/// Return the snapshot image name for a project.
+pub fn get_snapshot_image_name(project: &Project) -> String {
+    format!("triple-c-snapshot-{}:latest", project.id)
+}
+
+/// Commit the container's filesystem to a snapshot image so that system-level
+/// changes (apt/pip/npm installs, ~/.claude.json, etc.) survive container
+/// removal. The Config is left empty so that secrets injected as env vars are
+/// NOT baked into the image.
+pub async fn commit_container_snapshot(container_id: &str, project: &Project) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let docker = get_docker()?;
+    let image_name = get_snapshot_image_name(project);
+
+    // Parse repo:tag
+    let (repo, tag) = match image_name.rsplit_once(':') {
+        Some((r, t)) => (r.to_string(), t.to_string()),
+        None => (image_name.clone(), "latest".to_string()),
+    };
+
+    let options = CommitContainerOptions {
+        container: container_id.to_string(),
+        repo: repo.clone(),
+        tag: tag.clone(),
+        pause: true,
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+
+    // Empty config — no env vars / cmd baked in
+    let config = Config::<String> {
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+
+    docker
+        .commit_container(options, config)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to commit container snapshot: {}", e))?;
+
+    log::info!("Committed container {} as snapshot {}:{}", container_id, repo, tag);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Remove the snapshot image for a project (used on Reset / project removal).
+pub async fn remove_snapshot_image(project: &Project) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let docker = get_docker()?;
+    let image_name = get_snapshot_image_name(project);
+
+    docker
+        .remove_image(
+            &image_name,
+            Some(RemoveImageOptions {
+                force: true,
+                noprune: false,
+            }),
+            None,
+        )
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to remove snapshot image {}: {}", image_name, e))?;
+
+    log::info!("Removed snapshot image {}", image_name);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Remove both named volumes for a project (used on Reset / project removal).
+pub async fn remove_project_volumes(project: &Project) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let docker = get_docker()?;
+    for vol in [
+        format!("triple-c-home-{}", project.id),
+        format!("triple-c-claude-config-{}", project.id),
+    ] {
+        match docker.remove_volume(&vol, None).await {
+            Ok(_) => log::info!("Removed volume {}", vol),
+            Err(e) => log::warn!("Failed to remove volume {} (may not exist): {}", vol, e),
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Check whether the existing container's configuration still matches the
 /// current project settings.  Returns `true` when the container must be
 /// recreated (mounts or env vars differ).
@@ -685,9 +790,10 @@ pub async fn container_needs_recreation(
     }
 
     // ── Claude instructions ───────────────────────────────────────────────
-    let expected_instructions = merge_claude_instructions(
+    let expected_instructions = build_claude_instructions(
         global_claude_instructions,
         project.claude_instructions.as_deref(),
+        &project.port_mappings,
     );
     let container_instructions = get_env("CLAUDE_INSTRUCTIONS");
     if container_instructions.as_deref() != expected_instructions.as_deref() {

app/src-tauri/src/storage/projects_store.rs

@@ -70,17 +70,38 @@ impl ProjectsStore {
             (Vec::new(), false)
         };
 
+        // Reconcile stale transient statuses: on a cold app start no Docker
+        // operations can be in flight, so Starting/Stopping are always stale.
+        let mut projects = projects;
+        let mut needs_save = needs_save;
+        for p in projects.iter_mut() {
+            match p.status {
+                crate::models::ProjectStatus::Starting | crate::models::ProjectStatus::Stopping => {
+                    log::warn!(
+                        "Reconciling stale '{}' status for project '{}' ({}) → Stopped",
+                        serde_json::to_string(&p.status).unwrap_or_default().trim_matches('"'),
+                        p.name,
+                        p.id
+                    );
+                    p.status = crate::models::ProjectStatus::Stopped;
+                    p.updated_at = chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339();
+                    needs_save = true;
+                }
+                _ => {}
+            }
+        }
+
         let store = Self {
             projects: Mutex::new(projects),
             file_path,
         };
 
-        // Persist migrated format back to disk
+        // Persist migrated/reconciled format back to disk
         if needs_save {
-            log::info!("Migrated projects.json from single-path to multi-path format");
+            log::info!("Saving reconciled/migrated projects.json to disk");
             let projects = store.lock();
             if let Err(e) = store.save(&projects) {
-                log::error!("Failed to save migrated projects: {}", e);
+                log::error!("Failed to save projects: {}", e);
             }
         }
 

app/src/App.tsx

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { useUpdates } from "./hooks/useUpdates";
 import { useAppState } from "./store/appState";
 
 export default function App() {
-  const { checkDocker, checkImage } = useDocker();
+  const { checkDocker, checkImage, startDockerPolling } = useDocker();
   const { loadSettings } = useSettings();
   const { refresh } = useProjects();
   const { loadVersion, checkForUpdates, startPeriodicCheck } = useUpdates();
@@ -22,8 +22,13 @@ export default function App() {
   // Initialize on mount
   useEffect(() => {
     loadSettings();
+    let stopPolling: (() => void) | undefined;
     checkDocker().then((available) => {
-      if (available) checkImage();
+      if (available) {
+        checkImage();
+      } else {
+        stopPolling = startDockerPolling();
+      }
     });
     refresh();
 
@@ -34,6 +39,7 @@ export default function App() {
     return () => {
       clearTimeout(updateTimer);
       cleanup?.();
+      stopPolling?.();
     };
   }, []); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 

app/src/components/projects/ProjectCard.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
 import { open } from "@tauri-apps/plugin-dialog";
+import { listen } from "@tauri-apps/api/event";
 import type { Project, ProjectPath, AuthMode, BedrockConfig, BedrockAuthMethod } from "../../lib/types";
 import { useProjects } from "../../hooks/useProjects";
 import { useTerminal } from "../../hooks/useTerminal";
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ export default function ProjectCard({ project }: Props) {
   const [showEnvVarsModal, setShowEnvVarsModal] = useState(false);
   const [showPortMappingsModal, setShowPortMappingsModal] = useState(false);
   const [showClaudeInstructionsModal, setShowClaudeInstructionsModal] = useState(false);
+  const [progressMsg, setProgressMsg] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const isSelected = selectedProjectId === project.id;
   const isStopped = project.status === "stopped" || project.status === "error";
 
@@ -64,6 +66,26 @@ export default function ProjectCard({ project }: Props) {
     setBedrockModelId(project.bedrock_config?.model_id ?? "");
   }, [project]);
 
+  // Listen for container progress events
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unlisten = listen<{ project_id: string; message: string }>(
+      "container-progress",
+      (event) => {
+        if (event.payload.project_id === project.id) {
+          setProgressMsg(event.payload.message);
+        }
+      }
+    );
+    return () => { unlisten.then((f) => f()); };
+  }, [project.id]);
+
+  // Clear progress when status settles
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (project.status === "running" || project.status === "stopped" || project.status === "error") {
+      setProgressMsg(null);
+    }
+  }, [project.status]);
+
   const handleStart = async () => {
     setLoading(true);
     setError(null);
@@ -315,9 +337,12 @@ export default function ProjectCard({ project }: Props) {
                 <ActionButton onClick={handleOpenTerminal} disabled={loading} label="Terminal" accent />
               </>
             ) : (
-              <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-secondary)]">
-                {project.status}...
-              </span>
+              <>
+                <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-secondary)]">
+                  {progressMsg ?? `${project.status}...`}
+                </span>
+                <ActionButton onClick={handleStop} disabled={loading} label="Force Stop" danger />
+              </>
             )}
             <ActionButton
               onClick={(e) => { e?.stopPropagation?.(); setShowConfig(!showConfig); }}

app/src/hooks/useDocker.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useRef } from "react";
 import { useShallow } from "zustand/react/shallow";
 import { listen } from "@tauri-apps/api/event";
 import { useAppState } from "../store/appState";
@@ -59,6 +59,39 @@ export function useDocker() {
     [setImageExists],
   );
 
+  const pollingRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null>(null);
+
+  const startDockerPolling = useCallback(() => {
+    // Don't start if already polling
+    if (pollingRef.current) return () => {};
+
+    const interval = setInterval(async () => {
+      try {
+        const available = await commands.checkDocker();
+        if (available) {
+          clearInterval(interval);
+          pollingRef.current = null;
+          setDockerAvailable(true);
+          // Also check image once Docker is available
+          try {
+            const exists = await commands.checkImageExists();
+            setImageExists(exists);
+          } catch {
+            setImageExists(false);
+          }
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // Still not available, keep polling
+      }
+    }, 5000);
+
+    pollingRef.current = interval;
+    return () => {
+      clearInterval(interval);
+      pollingRef.current = null;
+    };
+  }, [setDockerAvailable, setImageExists]);
+
   const pullImage = useCallback(
     async (imageName: string, onProgress?: (msg: string) => void) => {
       const unlisten = onProgress
@@ -84,5 +117,6 @@ export function useDocker() {
     checkImage,
     buildImage,
     pullImage,
+    startDockerPolling,
   };
 }