fix: prevent projects from getting stuck in starting/stopping state

Reconcile stale transient statuses on app startup, add Force Stop button
for transient states, and harden stop_project_container error handling so
Docker failures don't leave projects permanently stuck.

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

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

@@ -81,12 +81,19 @@ 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
@@ -153,25 +160,37 @@ 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(
+            // 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);
-                .await
+
-                .unwrap_or(false);
+            if needs_recreate {
-            if needs_recreation {
+                log::info!("Container config changed for project {} — committing snapshot and recreating", project.id);
-                log::info!("Container config changed, recreating container for project {}", project.id);
+                // Snapshot the filesystem before destroying
+                if let Err(e) = docker::commit_container_snapshot(&existing_id, &project).await {
+                    log::warn!("Failed to snapshot container before recreation: {}", e);
+                }
                 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(),
@@ -185,10 +204,21 @@ pub async fn start_project_container(
                 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()
+            };
+
             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(),
@@ -229,16 +259,18 @@ 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)?;
 
+    if let Some(ref container_id) = project.container_id {
         // Close exec sessions for this project
         state.exec_manager.close_sessions_for_container(container_id).await;
 
-        docker::stop_container(container_id).await?;
+        if let Err(e) = docker::stop_container(container_id).await {
-        state.projects_store.update_status(&project_id, ProjectStatus::Stopped)?;
+            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(())
 }
 
@@ -260,6 +292,14 @@ 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
 }

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> {
+pub fn get_docker() -> Result<Docker, String> {
-    let result = DOCKER.get_or_init(|| {
+    let mut guard = DOCKER.lock().map_err(|e| format!("Lock poisoned: {}", e))?;
-        Docker::connect_with_local_defaults()
+    if let Some(docker) = guard.as_ref() {
-            .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to connect to Docker daemon: {}", e))
+        return Ok(docker.clone());
-    });
-    match result {
-        Ok(docker) => Ok(docker),
-        Err(e) => Err(e.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;
@@ -367,7 +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)),
@@ -538,6 +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).

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

@@ -315,9 +315,12 @@ 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>
+                <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,
   };
 }