feat(studio): channel pill in sidebar + Featured strip in Store (v0.20.0)

Sidebar:
- New active-channel pill below the connection pill,
  color-coded so production deployments look visibly
  different from local-dev. Click opens Settings; tooltip
  explains the channel taxonomy. Polled in lockstep with the
  health probe so it tracks CLI-driven `fai channel switch`.

Store:
- Featured strip above the main grid renders editorial
  picks as bigger hero tiles with a subtle gradient
  backdrop, version + status pills, and a one-click
  Install. Hidden the moment the operator types in the
  search box or picks any filter — the result list is the
  answer they want, not editorial chrome.

StoreItem now carries the `featured` flag so the page can
filter without an extra round-trip.

Signed-off-by: flemming-it <stefan.a.flemming@googlemail.com>

lib/data/hub.dart

@@ -390,6 +390,7 @@ class HubService {
             bestVersion: e.bestVersion,
             status: e.status,
             installed: e.installed,
+            featured: e.featured,
           ),
         )
         .toList();
@@ -1060,6 +1061,10 @@ class StoreItem {
   /// "published", "alpha", "planned", or empty when unknown.
   final String status;
   final bool installed;
+  /// True iff the store-index marks this entry as editorially
+  /// featured (curated quarterly in the bundled seed.yaml).
+  /// Drives the "Featured" strip at the top of the Store page.
+  final bool featured;
 
   const StoreItem({
     required this.name,
@@ -1076,5 +1081,6 @@ class StoreItem {
     required this.bestVersion,
     required this.status,
     required this.installed,
+    required this.featured,
   });
 }

lib/main.dart

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import 'widgets/widgets.dart';
 /// Studio's own build version. Bump on every UI commit so the
 /// running app self-identifies — visible in the sidebar header
 /// and quick-glance proof that you're seeing the current build.
-const String kStudioVersion = '0.19.0';
+const String kStudioVersion = '0.20.0';
 
 Future<void> main() async {
   WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ class StudioShell extends StatefulWidget {
 class _StudioShellState extends State<StudioShell> {
   int _selectedIndex = 0;
   bool? _connected; // null = unknown, polled on a timer
+  String? _activeChannel; // local / dev / beta / production
   Timer? _healthPoll;
 
   static const _pages = <_NavPage>[
@@ -165,6 +166,20 @@ class _StudioShellState extends State<StudioShell> {
     final ok = await HubService.instance.healthy();
     if (!mounted) return;
     if (_connected != ok) setState(() => _connected = ok);
+    // Refresh the active channel pointer alongside the health
+    // probe — cheap, and keeps the sidebar pill honest if the
+    // operator switched channels from the CLI.
+    if (ok) {
+      try {
+        final snap = await HubService.instance.channelStatus();
+        if (!mounted) return;
+        if (_activeChannel != snap.active) {
+          setState(() => _activeChannel = snap.active);
+        }
+      } catch (_) {
+        // Best-effort; pill simply doesn't update this tick.
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   @override
@@ -223,6 +238,7 @@ class _StudioShellState extends State<StudioShell> {
                   pages: _pages,
                   connected: _connected,
                   endpointLabel: HubService.instance.endpointLabel,
+                  activeChannel: _activeChannel,
                 ),
                 Container(
                   width: 1,
@@ -274,6 +290,10 @@ class _Sidebar extends StatelessWidget {
   final List<_NavPage> pages;
   final bool? connected;
   final String endpointLabel;
+  /// Active channel name from the running daemon
+  /// (`local`/`dev`/`beta`/`production`). Null while the
+  /// initial fetch is in flight or the hub is unreachable.
+  final String? activeChannel;
 
   const _Sidebar({
     required this.selectedIndex,
@@ -281,6 +301,7 @@ class _Sidebar extends StatelessWidget {
     required this.pages,
     required this.connected,
     required this.endpointLabel,
+    required this.activeChannel,
   });
 
   @override
@@ -319,6 +340,13 @@ class _Sidebar extends StatelessWidget {
               label: endpointLabel,
             ),
           ),
+          if (activeChannel != null && activeChannel!.isNotEmpty) ...[
+            const SizedBox(height: FaiSpace.sm),
+            Padding(
+              padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: FaiSpace.lg),
+              child: _ChannelPill(channel: activeChannel!),
+            ),
+          ],
           const SizedBox(height: FaiSpace.xxl),
           // Destinations.
           Expanded(
@@ -370,6 +398,87 @@ class _Sidebar extends StatelessWidget {
   }
 }
 
+/// Active-channel indicator. Click to open Settings (where the
+/// operator can switch). Color-coded so production deployments
+/// look visibly different from local-dev — the kind of thing
+/// you want to see before clicking "Clear log".
+class _ChannelPill extends StatelessWidget {
+  final String channel;
+  const _ChannelPill({required this.channel});
+
+  Color _accent(ColorScheme cs) {
+    switch (channel) {
+      case 'production':
+        return cs.error;
+      case 'beta':
+        return FaiColors.warning;
+      case 'dev':
+        return cs.primary;
+      case 'local':
+      default:
+        return cs.onSurfaceVariant;
+    }
+  }
+
+  IconData get _icon {
+    switch (channel) {
+      case 'production':
+        return Icons.shield_outlined;
+      case 'beta':
+        return Icons.science_outlined;
+      case 'dev':
+        return Icons.bolt_outlined;
+      case 'local':
+      default:
+        return Icons.home_work_outlined;
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final theme = Theme.of(context);
+    final accent = _accent(theme.colorScheme);
+    return Tooltip(
+      message:
+          'Active channel — click to switch in Settings (⌘;).\n'
+          'production = stable · beta = pre-release · dev = rolling · local = workspace',
+      child: Material(
+        color: theme.colorScheme.surfaceContainerHigh,
+        borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(FaiRadius.sm),
+        child: InkWell(
+          borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(FaiRadius.sm),
+          onTap: () => FaiSettingsDialog.show(context),
+          child: Container(
+            padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(
+              horizontal: FaiSpace.sm,
+              vertical: 4,
+            ),
+            decoration: BoxDecoration(
+              borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(FaiRadius.sm),
+              border: Border.all(color: accent.withValues(alpha: 0.4)),
+            ),
+            child: Row(
+              mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+              children: [
+                Icon(_icon, size: 11, color: accent),
+                const SizedBox(width: 4),
+                Text(
+                  channel,
+                  style: FaiTheme.mono(
+                    size: 10,
+                    weight: FontWeight.w600,
+                    color: accent,
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ],
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 class _ConnectionPill extends StatelessWidget {
   final bool? connected;
   final String label;

lib/pages/store.dart

@@ -198,12 +198,39 @@ class _StorePageState extends State<StorePage> {
                       ),
                     );
                   }
-                  return _StoreGrid(
+                  // Featured strip is only useful in the
-                    items: items,
+                  // browse-the-whole-thing case. Once the
-                    locale: _locale,
+                  // operator has typed a query or picked a
-                    installedVersions: _installedVersions,
+                  // filter, the result list itself is the
-                    onTap: _openDetail,
+                  // answer they want — featured chrome would
-                    onInstall: _install,
+                  // just push it down.
+                  final showFeatured = _queryCtrl.text.trim().isEmpty &&
+                      _category.isEmpty &&
+                      _status.isEmpty &&
+                      !_installedOnly &&
+                      items.any((e) => e.featured);
+                  return Column(
+                    crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+                    children: [
+                      if (showFeatured) ...[
+                        _FeaturedStrip(
+                          items: items.where((e) => e.featured).toList(),
+                          locale: _locale,
+                          onTap: _openDetail,
+                          onInstall: _install,
+                        ),
+                        const SizedBox(height: FaiSpace.lg),
+                      ],
+                      Expanded(
+                        child: _StoreGrid(
+                          items: items,
+                          locale: _locale,
+                          installedVersions: _installedVersions,
+                          onTap: _openDetail,
+                          onInstall: _install,
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                    ],
                   );
                 },
               ),
@@ -458,6 +485,196 @@ class _StoreGrid extends StatelessWidget {
   }
 }
 
+/// Horizontally-scrolling band of editorial picks, rendered
+/// only when the operator hasn't filtered the result set.
+/// Each tile is a hero version of the regular store card —
+/// bigger icon, gradient backdrop, prominent install button.
+/// Curated quarterly via the bundled `seed.yaml` `featured:`
+/// list so the choice can be reviewed in code review.
+class _FeaturedStrip extends StatelessWidget {
+  final List<StoreItem> items;
+  final String locale;
+  final ValueChanged<StoreItem> onTap;
+  final ValueChanged<StoreItem> onInstall;
+
+  const _FeaturedStrip({
+    required this.items,
+    required this.locale,
+    required this.onTap,
+    required this.onInstall,
+  });
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final theme = Theme.of(context);
+    return Column(
+      crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+      children: [
+        Row(
+          children: [
+            Icon(Icons.star, size: 14, color: FaiColors.success),
+            const SizedBox(width: 6),
+            Text(
+              'FEATURED',
+              style: theme.textTheme.labelSmall?.copyWith(
+                color: theme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                letterSpacing: 0.6,
+                fontSize: 10,
+              ),
+            ),
+            const SizedBox(width: FaiSpace.sm),
+            Text(
+              'curated picks · click for details',
+              style: theme.textTheme.bodySmall?.copyWith(
+                color: theme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+              ),
+            ),
+          ],
+        ),
+        const SizedBox(height: FaiSpace.sm),
+        SizedBox(
+          height: 152,
+          child: ListView.separated(
+            scrollDirection: Axis.horizontal,
+            itemCount: items.length,
+            separatorBuilder: (_, _) => const SizedBox(width: FaiSpace.md),
+            itemBuilder: (context, i) {
+              final item = items[i];
+              return SizedBox(
+                width: 320,
+                child: _FeaturedTile(
+                  item: item,
+                  locale: locale,
+                  onTap: () => onTap(item),
+                  onInstall: () => onInstall(item),
+                ),
+              );
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
+      ],
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+class _FeaturedTile extends StatelessWidget {
+  final StoreItem item;
+  final String locale;
+  final VoidCallback onTap;
+  final VoidCallback onInstall;
+
+  const _FeaturedTile({
+    required this.item,
+    required this.locale,
+    required this.onTap,
+    required this.onInstall,
+  });
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final theme = Theme.of(context);
+    final tagline = locale == 'de' && item.taglineDe.isNotEmpty
+        ? item.taglineDe
+        : item.taglineEn;
+    final installable = item.status == 'published' || item.status == 'alpha';
+    return Material(
+      color: theme.colorScheme.surfaceContainer,
+      borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(FaiRadius.md),
+      child: InkWell(
+        onTap: onTap,
+        borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(FaiRadius.md),
+        child: Container(
+          padding: const EdgeInsets.all(FaiSpace.md),
+          decoration: BoxDecoration(
+            borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(FaiRadius.md),
+            gradient: LinearGradient(
+              colors: [
+                theme.colorScheme.primary.withValues(alpha: 0.10),
+                theme.colorScheme.surfaceContainer.withValues(alpha: 0.0),
+              ],
+              begin: Alignment.topLeft,
+              end: Alignment.bottomRight,
+            ),
+          ),
+          child: Column(
+            crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+            children: [
+              Row(
+                children: [
+                  CircleAvatar(
+                    radius: 20,
+                    backgroundColor:
+                        theme.colorScheme.primary.withValues(alpha: 0.16),
+                    child: Icon(
+                      _iconForCategory(item.category),
+                      size: 22,
+                      color: theme.colorScheme.primary,
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                  const SizedBox(width: FaiSpace.sm),
+                  Expanded(
+                    child: Text(
+                      item.name,
+                      style: theme.textTheme.titleMedium?.copyWith(
+                        fontWeight: FontWeight.w700,
+                      ),
+                      maxLines: 1,
+                      overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                  Icon(Icons.star, size: 14, color: FaiColors.success),
+                ],
+              ),
+              const SizedBox(height: FaiSpace.sm),
+              Expanded(
+                child: Text(
+                  tagline.isEmpty ? '(no tagline)' : tagline,
+                  style: theme.textTheme.bodyMedium,
+                  maxLines: 3,
+                  overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                ),
+              ),
+              const SizedBox(height: FaiSpace.sm),
+              Row(
+                children: [
+                  if (item.bestVersion.isNotEmpty)
+                    FaiPill(
+                      label: 'v${item.bestVersion}',
+                      tone: FaiPillTone.neutral,
+                      monospace: true,
+                    ),
+                  const SizedBox(width: FaiSpace.xs),
+                  if (item.status.isNotEmpty)
+                    FaiPill(
+                      label: item.status,
+                      tone: _toneForStatus(item.status),
+                    ),
+                  const Spacer(),
+                  if (item.installed)
+                    const FaiPill(
+                      label: 'installed',
+                      tone: FaiPillTone.success,
+                      icon: Icons.check,
+                    )
+                  else if (installable)
+                    FilledButton.icon(
+                      onPressed: onInstall,
+                      icon: const Icon(Icons.download, size: 14),
+                      label: const Text('Install'),
+                      style: FilledButton.styleFrom(
+                        visualDensity: VisualDensity.compact,
+                      ),
+                    ),
+                ],
+              ),
+            ],
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 class _StoreCard extends StatelessWidget {
   final StoreItem item;
   final String locale;

pubspec.lock

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ packages:
       path: "../fai_dart_sdk"
       relative: true
     source: path
-    version: "0.10.0"
+    version: "0.10.1"
   fake_async:
     dependency: transitive
     description:

pubspec.yaml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: fai_studio
 description: "F∆I Studio — desktop GUI for the F∆I hub"
 publish_to: 'none'
-version: 0.19.0
+version: 0.20.0
 
 environment:
   sdk: ^3.11.0-200.1.beta