fix(tui): TUI message list doesn't update for cross-instance agent messages

[ailearningguy]

Bug Description

When using agent-comms plugin to send messages between opencode instances, the TUI message list doesn't update in real-time. The agent processes messages and replies correctly, but the conversation view only shows the first message until TUI is restarted.

Root Cause

In packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/context/event.ts, the subscribe function has a logic error:

if (project.workspace.current()) {
  if (event.workspace === project.workspace.current()) {
    handler(event.payload)
  }
  return  // <-- BUG: always returns, even when workspace mismatch
}
// Directory fallback never reached for workspace mismatches
if (event.directory === project.instance.directory()) {
  handler(event.payload)
}

When TUI is in a workspace but the incoming event has a different workspace ID (or none), the function returns without falling back to directory matching. Events are silently dropped.

Fix

Replace the double-if with proper else-if so directory fallback runs when workspace doesn't match:

if (project.workspace.current()) {
  if (event.workspace === project.workspace.current()) {
    handler(event.payload)
  }
} else if (event.directory === project.instance.directory()) {
  handler(event.payload)
}

Verification

Tested with agent-comms plugin sending messages between two opencode instances in different directories. Before fix: message list stuck on first message. After fix: message list updates in real-time.

[github-actions]

This issue might be a duplicate of existing issues. Please check:

• Web interface doesn't receive live updates when connecting to existing TUI session until a prompt is sent #19176: Web interface doesn't receive live updates when connecting to existing TUI session — similar symptom of TUI-originated messages not propagating to other clients in real-time
• Desktop app session out of sync with TUI #6946: Desktop app session out of sync with TUI — similar symptom of session view not updating when changes originate from TUI
• TUI: local agent not synced when a plugin switches agent via #17024: TUI local agent not synced when a plugin switches agent — related TUI sync issue triggered by plugin/agent interactions

If your issue is specifically about the event routing logic in event.ts causing workspace-mismatch drops, it may be a distinct root cause even if the symptoms overlap. Please review these issues and add a comment clarifying if your case differs.

[ailearningguy]

This is distinct from the linked issues. While symptoms overlap (TUI not updating), the root cause here is specific:

Root cause: packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/context/event.ts lines 16-27

if (project.workspace.current()) {
  if (event.workspace === project.workspace.current()) {
    handler(event.payload)
  }
  return  // <-- BUG: always returns after workspace check, even on mismatch
}
// Directory fallback never reached for workspace mismatches
if (event.directory === project.instance.directory()) {
  handler(event.payload)
}

When TUI has an active workspace but incoming events have a different workspace ID (or none — e.g., cross-instance agent messages), the return fires unconditionally, dropping the event. The directory fallback never executes.

The fix is a 1-line change (removing return, using else if instead) so directory matching still works as a fallback for same-instance events when workspace doesn't match.

This differs from:

• Web interface doesn't receive live updates when connecting to existing TUI session until a prompt is sent #19176 — web interface SSE subscription issue (different code path)
• Desktop app session out of sync with TUI #6946 — desktop/TUI sync (different architecture, desktop is a separate process)
• TUI: local agent not synced when a plugin switches agent via #17024 — agent switching sync (different trigger, plugin-based)

Please let me know if you need any clarification or additional verification steps.