Live activity indicator replacing typing dots (#96) (#104)

## Summary
- Closes [#96](#96).
- Parses versioned WS `status` frames in `MessageContext` (`activityStage` / `label` / `detail` / `history`).
- New `ActivityIndicator`: completed stages with checks, ~400ms min display, elapsed/still-working notes, a11y live region, reduced-motion, dots fallback when no frames.
- Wired through `ConversationDetailCard` + `AsyncDashboard2`; analytics `ACTIVITY_STAGE_COMPLETED`.

## Depends on
Backend status emission from [chat_backend PR](https://git.aimloperations.com/ai_ml_operations/chat_backend/pulls) (`feat/62-p4-evals-63-agentic`). Without it, UI keeps three-dot fallback.

## Test plan
- [x] Jest: `wsFrames`, `ActivityIndicator`, `ConversationDetailCard`, `MessageContext`
- [ ] Manual light/dark + 320px width
- [ ] Manual with backend status frames: Evaluating → Searching → Refining
- [ ] Manual: stream interrupt clears indicator
- [ ] Capacitor Android smokeReviewed-on: #104

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/components/ActivityIndicator/ActivityIndicator.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { act, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { ThemeProvider } from 'styled-components';
+import ActivityIndicator from './ActivityIndicator';
+import type { ActivityHistoryEntry } from '../../utils/wsFrames';
+
+const theme = {
+  main: '#336699',
+  focus: '#224466',
+  darkMode: true,
+  colors: {
+    text: '#ffffff',
+    cardBackground: 'rgba(0,0,0,0.3)',
+    cardBorder: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.1)',
+  },
+};
+
+const renderIndicator = (
+  props: React.ComponentProps<typeof ActivityIndicator>,
+) =>
+  render(
+    <ThemeProvider theme={theme as never}>
+      <ActivityIndicator {...props} />
+    </ThemeProvider>,
+  );
+
+describe('ActivityIndicator (#96)', () => {
+  it('has status role and polite live region regardless of state', () => {
+    renderIndicator({ stage: null });
+    const status = screen.getByRole('status');
+    expect(status).toHaveAttribute('aria-live', 'polite');
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to three dots when stage is null', () => {
+    renderIndicator({ stage: null });
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('activity-dots-fallback')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('renders the label verbatim for unknown/future stage values', () => {
+    renderIndicator({ stage: 'some_future_stage', label: 'Doing something new' });
+    expect(screen.getByText('Doing something new')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId('activity-dots-fallback')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('shows optional detail text', () => {
+    renderIndicator({
+      stage: 'searching',
+      label: 'Searching the web',
+      detail: 'query: best pizza in town',
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByText('Searching the web')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('query: best pizza in town')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('renders completed stages above with check marks', () => {
+    const history: ActivityHistoryEntry[] = [
+      { stage: 'searching', label: 'Searched the web', startedAt: 0, finishedAt: 100 },
+      { stage: 'reading', label: 'Read 3 sources', startedAt: 100, finishedAt: 400 },
+    ];
+    renderIndicator({
+      stage: 'writing',
+      label: null,
+      history,
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByText('Searched the web')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('Read 3 sources')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getAllByText('✓')).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  it('hides everything when interrupted', () => {
+    const { container } = renderIndicator({
+      stage: 'searching',
+      label: 'Searching the web',
+      interrupted: true,
+    });
+    expect(container).toBeEmptyDOMElement();
+  });
+
+  it('shows a generic label when stage is present but label is cleared (writing stage)', () => {
+    renderIndicator({ stage: 'writing', label: null });
+    expect(screen.getByText('Working…')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  describe('prefers-reduced-motion', () => {
+    const originalMatchMedia = window.matchMedia;
+
+    afterEach(() => {
+      Object.defineProperty(window, 'matchMedia', {
+        configurable: true,
+        writable: true,
+        value: originalMatchMedia,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('disables the spinner animation when the user prefers reduced motion', () => {
+      const matchMediaMock = jest.fn().mockImplementation((query: string) => ({
+        matches: query.includes('prefers-reduced-motion'),
+        media: query,
+        addEventListener: jest.fn(),
+        removeEventListener: jest.fn(),
+        addListener: jest.fn(),
+        removeListener: jest.fn(),
+      }));
+      Object.defineProperty(window, 'matchMedia', {
+        configurable: true,
+        writable: true,
+        value: matchMediaMock,
+      });
+
+      renderIndicator({ stage: 'searching', label: 'Searching the web' });
+      const spinner = screen.getByTestId('activity-spinner');
+      expect(spinner).toHaveAttribute('data-reduced-motion', 'true');
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('shows elapsed time after ~10s and "Still working…" after ~30s of silence', () => {
+    jest.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      renderIndicator({ stage: 'searching', label: 'Searching the web' });
+
+      act(() => {
+        jest.advanceTimersByTime(11_000);
+      });
+      expect(screen.getByText('11s')).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+      act(() => {
+        jest.advanceTimersByTime(20_000);
+      });
+      expect(screen.getByText('Still working…')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    } finally {
+      jest.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+});

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/components/ActivityIndicator/ActivityIndicator.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,346 @@
+import React, { useEffect, useReducer, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import styled, { css, keyframes } from 'styled-components';
+import type { ActivityHistoryEntry } from '../../utils/wsFrames';
+
+/** Minimum time a single stage stays visible before advancing to a queued update (#96). */
+const MIN_DISPLAY_MS = 400;
+const ELAPSED_THRESHOLD_MS = 10_000;
+const SILENCE_THRESHOLD_MS = 30_000;
+
+function usePrefersReducedMotion(): boolean {
+  const [reduced, setReduced] = useState<boolean>(() => {
+    if (typeof window === 'undefined' || typeof window.matchMedia !== 'function') return false;
+    return window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)')?.matches ?? false;
+  });
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (typeof window === 'undefined' || typeof window.matchMedia !== 'function') return undefined;
+    const mql = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)');
+    if (!mql) return undefined;
+    const handler = (e: MediaQueryListEvent) => setReduced(e.matches);
+    if (typeof mql.addEventListener === 'function') {
+      mql.addEventListener('change', handler);
+      return () => mql.removeEventListener('change', handler);
+    }
+    // Safari < 14 fallback
+    mql.addListener(handler);
+    return () => mql.removeListener(handler);
+  }, []);
+
+  return reduced;
+}
+
+type QueueItem = { stage: string; label: string | null; detail: string | null };
+
+type IndicatorState = {
+  current: QueueItem | null;
+  queue: QueueItem[];
+  lastIncomingStage: string | null;
+};
+
+type IndicatorAction =
+  | { type: 'INCOMING'; item: QueueItem | null }
+  | { type: 'ADVANCE' }
+  | { type: 'RESET' };
+
+const initialIndicatorState: IndicatorState = {
+  current: null,
+  queue: [],
+  lastIncomingStage: null,
+};
+
+function indicatorReducer(state: IndicatorState, action: IndicatorAction): IndicatorState {
+  switch (action.type) {
+    case 'RESET':
+      return initialIndicatorState;
+    case 'INCOMING': {
+      if (!action.item) return initialIndicatorState;
+      // Same stage as the last update seen — refresh content in place (label/detail tweak),
+      // no need to enforce the min-display queue since it isn't a stage transition.
+      if (action.item.stage === state.lastIncomingStage) {
+        if (state.queue.length > 0) {
+          const queue = [...state.queue];
+          queue[queue.length - 1] = action.item;
+          return { ...state, queue };
+        }
+        return { ...state, current: action.item };
+      }
+      if (!state.current) {
+        return { current: action.item, queue: [], lastIncomingStage: action.item.stage };
+      }
+      return {
+        ...state,
+        queue: [...state.queue, action.item],
+        lastIncomingStage: action.item.stage,
+      };
+    }
+    case 'ADVANCE': {
+      if (state.queue.length === 0) return state;
+      const [next, ...rest] = state.queue;
+      return { ...state, current: next, queue: rest };
+    }
+    default:
+      return state;
+  }
+}
+
+const spin = keyframes`
+  to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
+`;
+
+const bounce = keyframes`
+  0%, 80%, 100% { transform: scale(0); }
+  40% { transform: scale(1); }
+`;
+
+const Root = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.35rem;
+  max-width: 100%;
+  min-width: 0;
+  width: 100%;
+  color: ${({ theme }) => theme.colors.text};
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+
+  @media (max-width: 360px) {
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+  }
+`;
+
+const HistoryList = styled.ul`
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0;
+  list-style: none;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.2rem;
+  opacity: 0.6;
+  min-width: 0;
+`;
+
+const HistoryItem = styled.li`
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.4rem;
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  min-width: 0;
+
+  span {
+    overflow: hidden;
+    text-overflow: ellipsis;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    min-width: 0;
+  }
+`;
+
+const CheckMark = styled.span`
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  color: ${({ theme }) => (theme.darkMode ? '#8ee6a0' : '#2e7d32')};
+  font-weight: 700;
+`;
+
+const CurrentRow = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  min-width: 0;
+`;
+
+const Spinner = styled.span<{ $reducedMotion: boolean }>`
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  width: 14px;
+  height: 14px;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 2px solid currentColor;
+  border-top-color: transparent;
+  opacity: 0.7;
+  ${({ $reducedMotion }) =>
+    $reducedMotion
+      ? css`
+          animation: none;
+        `
+      : css`
+          animation: ${spin} 0.8s linear infinite;
+        `}
+`;
+
+const TextColumn = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  min-width: 0;
+  flex: 1;
+`;
+
+const LabelText = styled.span`
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  font-weight: 500;
+`;
+
+const DetailText = styled.span`
+  display: block;
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  font-size: 0.78rem;
+  opacity: 0.65;
+  margin-top: 0.1rem;
+`;
+
+const MetaText = styled.span`
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
+  opacity: 0.55;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+`;
+
+const DotsRow = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  padding: 0.15rem 0;
+`;
+
+const Dot = styled.span<{ $delay: string; $reducedMotion: boolean }>`
+  width: 8px;
+  height: 8px;
+  margin: 0 4px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: currentColor;
+  ${({ $reducedMotion, $delay }) =>
+    $reducedMotion
+      ? css`
+          opacity: 0.6;
+        `
+      : css`
+          animation: ${bounce} 1.4s infinite ease-in-out both;
+          animation-delay: ${$delay};
+        `}
+`;
+
+export type ActivityIndicatorProps = {
+  /** Current stage key from the latest "status" frame, or null before the first update. */
+  stage: string | null;
+  label?: string | null;
+  detail?: string | null;
+  /** Previously completed stages for this turn, oldest first. */
+  history?: ActivityHistoryEntry[];
+  /** Hides the indicator entirely once a stream is interrupted (#96). */
+  interrupted?: boolean;
+};
+
+const ActivityIndicator = ({
+  stage,
+  label = null,
+  detail = null,
+  history = [],
+  interrupted = false,
+}: ActivityIndicatorProps): JSX.Element | null => {
+  const [state, dispatch] = useReducer(indicatorReducer, initialIndicatorState);
+  const reducedMotion = usePrefersReducedMotion();
+
+  const overallStartRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
+  const lastUpdateRef = useRef<number>(Date.now());
+  const currentSinceRef = useRef<number>(Date.now());
+  const advanceTimerRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
+  const [, forceTick] = useState(0);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (interrupted || stage == null) {
+      overallStartRef.current = null;
+      dispatch({ type: 'RESET' });
+      return;
+    }
+    if (overallStartRef.current == null) {
+      overallStartRef.current = Date.now();
+    }
+    lastUpdateRef.current = Date.now();
+    dispatch({ type: 'INCOMING', item: { stage, label, detail } });
+  }, [stage, label, detail, interrupted]);
+
+  // Reset the per-stage clock whenever the displayed stage changes.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    currentSinceRef.current = Date.now();
+  }, [state.current?.stage]);
+
+  // Enforce the minimum display time per stage before advancing the queue.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (advanceTimerRef.current) {
+      clearTimeout(advanceTimerRef.current);
+      advanceTimerRef.current = null;
+    }
+    if (state.queue.length === 0) return undefined;
+    const elapsed = Date.now() - currentSinceRef.current;
+    const remaining = Math.max(MIN_DISPLAY_MS - elapsed, 0);
+    advanceTimerRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
+      dispatch({ type: 'ADVANCE' });
+    }, remaining);
+    return () => {
+      if (advanceTimerRef.current) clearTimeout(advanceTimerRef.current);
+    };
+  }, [state.queue.length]);
+
+  // Tick once a second while active so elapsed/"still working" copy stays fresh.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!state.current) return undefined;
+    const id = setInterval(() => forceTick((n) => n + 1), 1000);
+    return () => clearInterval(id);
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [Boolean(state.current)]);
+
+  if (interrupted) return null;
+
+  const now = Date.now();
+  const elapsedMs = overallStartRef.current != null ? now - overallStartRef.current : 0;
+  const silentMs = now - lastUpdateRef.current;
+  const showElapsed = state.current != null && elapsedMs >= ELAPSED_THRESHOLD_MS;
+  const stillWorking = state.current != null && silentMs >= SILENCE_THRESHOLD_MS;
+  const elapsedLabel = showElapsed ? `${Math.floor(elapsedMs / 1000)}s` : null;
+
+  return (
+    <Root role="status" aria-live="polite">
+      {history.length > 0 && (
+        <HistoryList>
+          {history.map((entry, i) => (
+            <HistoryItem key={`${entry.stage}-${entry.startedAt}-${i}`}>
+              <CheckMark aria-hidden="true">✓</CheckMark>
+              <span>{entry.label}</span>
+            </HistoryItem>
+          ))}
+        </HistoryList>
+      )}
+
+      {state.current ? (
+        <CurrentRow>
+          <Spinner
+            aria-hidden="true"
+            $reducedMotion={reducedMotion}
+            data-testid="activity-spinner"
+            data-reduced-motion={reducedMotion}
+          />
+          <TextColumn>
+            <LabelText>
+              {stillWorking ? 'Still working…' : state.current.label || 'Working…'}
+            </LabelText>
+            {state.current.detail && (
+              <DetailText title={state.current.detail}>{state.current.detail}</DetailText>
+            )}
+          </TextColumn>
+          {elapsedLabel && !stillWorking && <MetaText>{elapsedLabel}</MetaText>}
+        </CurrentRow>
+      ) : (
+        <DotsRow data-testid="activity-dots-fallback">
+          <Dot $delay="-0.32s" $reducedMotion={reducedMotion} />
+          <Dot $delay="-0.16s" $reducedMotion={reducedMotion} />
+          <Dot $delay="0s" $reducedMotion={reducedMotion} />
+        </DotsRow>
+      )}
+    </Root>
+  );
+};
+
+export default ActivityIndicator;

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/components/ConversationDetailCard/ConversationDetailCard.test.tsx

@@ -116,4 +116,34 @@ describe('ConversationDetailCard', () => {
     expect(agentBubble).not.toBeNull();
     expect(getComputedStyle(agentBubble!).color).toBe('rgb(255, 255, 255)');
   });
+
+  it('renders activity label instead of dots when stage is set (#96)', () => {
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <ThemeProvider theme={darkTheme as never}>
+          <ConversationDetailCard
+            message=""
+            user_created={false}
+            activityStage="searching"
+            activityLabel="Searching the web"
+            activityDetail="Taylor Swift wedding"
+          />
+        </ThemeProvider>
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByText('Searching the web')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('Taylor Swift wedding')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId('activity-dots-fallback')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to dots when empty message has no activity stage (#96)', () => {
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <ThemeProvider theme={darkTheme as never}>
+          <ConversationDetailCard message="" user_created={false} />
+        </ThemeProvider>
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('activity-dots-fallback')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/components/ConversationDetailCard/ConversationDetailCard.tsx

@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@ import Markdown from 'markdown-to-jsx';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import styled, { keyframes } from 'styled-components';
 import { isRagFeatureNotAllowed, parseChatErrorPayload } from '../../utils/chatErrors';
-import type { Citation } from '../../utils/wsFrames';
+import type { ActivityHistoryEntry, Citation } from '../../utils/wsFrames';
 import type { PromptRating } from '../../utils/promptFeedback';
 import CustomPreBlock from '../CustomPreBlock/CustomPreBlock';
 import SourcesList from '../SourcesList/SourcesList';
 import MessageActions from '../MessageActions/MessageActions';
+import ActivityIndicator from '../ActivityIndicator/ActivityIndicator';
 
 const fadeIn = keyframes`
   from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(10px); }
@@ -95,30 +96,6 @@ const Bubble = styled.div<{ $isUser: boolean }>`
   }
 `;
 
-const LoadingDot = styled.div`
-  width: 8px;
-  height: 8px;
-  background: currentColor;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  margin: 0 4px;
-  animation: bounce 1.4s infinite ease-in-out both;
-
-  &:nth-child(1) { animation-delay: -0.32s; }
-  &:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: -0.16s; }
-
-  @keyframes bounce {
-    0%, 80%, 100% { transform: scale(0); }
-    40% { transform: scale(1); }
-  }
-`;
-
-const LoadingContainer = styled.div`
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  padding: 0.5rem;
-`;
-
 const UpgradeNotice = styled.div`
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
@@ -188,6 +165,12 @@ type ConversationDetailCardProps = {
   createdTimestamp?: Date | string | null;
   initialRating?: PromptRating | null;
   onRatingChange?: (rating: PromptRating | null) => void;
+  /** Live activity status for the empty-message (streaming placeholder) bubble (#96). */
+  activityStage?: string | null;
+  activityLabel?: string | null;
+  activityDetail?: string | null;
+  activityHistory?: ActivityHistoryEntry[];
+  activityInterrupted?: boolean;
 };
 
 const MyPlot = ({ format, image }: { format: string; image: string }) => {
@@ -220,6 +203,11 @@ const ConversationDetailCard = ({
   createdTimestamp = null,
   initialRating = null,
   onRatingChange,
+  activityStage = null,
+  activityLabel = null,
+  activityDetail = null,
+  activityHistory = [],
+  activityInterrupted = false,
 }: ConversationDetailCardProps): JSX.Element => {
   const [highlightIndex, setHighlightIndex] = useState<number | null>(null);
 
@@ -269,11 +257,13 @@ const ConversationDetailCard = ({
     return (
       <MessageContainer $isUser={false}>
         <Bubble $isUser={false}>
-          <LoadingContainer>
-            <LoadingDot />
-            <LoadingDot />
-            <LoadingDot />
-          </LoadingContainer>
+          <ActivityIndicator
+            stage={activityStage}
+            label={activityLabel}
+            detail={activityDetail}
+            history={activityHistory}
+            interrupted={activityInterrupted}
+          />
         </Bubble>
       </MessageContainer>
     );

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/contexts/MessageContext.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+import React, { useContext } from 'react';
+import { act, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { MessageContext, MessageProvider } from './MessageContext';
+import { WebSocketContext } from './WebSocketContext';
+import { AccountContext } from './AccountContext';
+import { ConversationContext } from './ConversationContext';
+import { trackEvent } from '../utils/analytics';
+
+jest.mock('../../axiosApi', () => ({
+  axiosInstance: {
+    get: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({ data: [] }),
+  },
+}));
+
+jest.mock('../utils/analytics', () => ({
+  AnalyticsEvents: {
+    CONVERSATION_CREATED: 'Conversation Created',
+    ACTIVITY_STAGE_COMPLETED: 'Activity Stage Completed',
+  },
+  trackEvent: jest.fn(),
+}));
+
+type Capture = { callback: ((message: string) => void) | null };
+
+const buildHarness = () => {
+  const capture: Capture = { callback: null };
+  const subscribe = (_channel: string, cb: (message: string) => void) => {
+    capture.callback = cb;
+  };
+  const unsubscribe = jest.fn();
+
+  const Harness = ({ reconnectGeneration = 0 }: { reconnectGeneration?: number }) => (
+    <AccountContext.Provider
+      value={{ account: { email: 'test@example.com' } as never, setAccount: () => {} }}
+    >
+      <ConversationContext.Provider
+        value={{
+          conversations: [],
+          setConversations: () => {},
+          selectedConversation: 1,
+          setSelectedConversation: () => {},
+          deleteConversation: () => {},
+        }}
+      >
+        <WebSocketContext.Provider
+          value={[subscribe, unsubscribe, null, jest.fn(), true, 'CONNECTED', reconnectGeneration] as never}
+        >
+          <MessageProvider>
+            <Probe />
+          </MessageProvider>
+        </WebSocketContext.Provider>
+      </ConversationContext.Provider>
+    </AccountContext.Provider>
+  );
+
+  return { Harness, capture };
+};
+
+const Probe = () => {
+  const ctx = useContext(MessageContext);
+  return (
+    <div>
+      <span data-testid="stage">{ctx.activityStage ?? 'null'}</span>
+      <span data-testid="label">{ctx.activityLabel ?? 'null'}</span>
+      <span data-testid="detail">{ctx.activityDetail ?? 'null'}</span>
+      <span data-testid="history-count">{ctx.activityHistory.length}</span>
+      <span data-testid="stream-interrupted">{ctx.streamInterrupted ? 'yes' : 'no'}</span>
+      <button type="button" onClick={() => ctx.clearActivity()}>
+        clear
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  );
+};
+
+const send = (capture: Capture, message: string) => {
+  act(() => {
+    capture.callback?.(message);
+  });
+};
+
+const sendStatus = (
+  capture: Capture,
+  stage: string,
+  label: string,
+  detail: string | null = null,
+) => {
+  send(
+    capture,
+    JSON.stringify({ v: 1, type: 'status', data: { stage, label, detail } }),
+  );
+};
+
+describe('MessageContext activity status (#96)', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    (trackEvent as jest.Mock).mockClear();
+  });
+
+  it('applies the first status frame as the current stage/label/detail', async () => {
+    const { Harness, capture } = buildHarness();
+    render(<Harness />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    sendStatus(capture, 'searching', 'Searching the web', 'query: cats');
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('searching');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('label')).toHaveTextContent('Searching the web');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('detail')).toHaveTextContent('query: cats');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('history-count')).toHaveTextContent('0');
+  });
+
+  it('rolls a completed stage into history and tracks ACTIVITY_STAGE_COMPLETED (no label/detail text)', async () => {
+    const { Harness, capture } = buildHarness();
+    render(<Harness />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    sendStatus(capture, 'searching', 'Searching the web');
+    sendStatus(capture, 'reading', 'Reading sources');
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('reading');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('label')).toHaveTextContent('Reading sources');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('history-count')).toHaveTextContent('1');
+
+    expect(trackEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'Activity Stage Completed',
+      expect.objectContaining({ stage: 'searching', durationMs: expect.any(Number) }),
+    );
+    const call = (trackEvent as jest.Mock).mock.calls.find(
+      ([name]) => name === 'Activity Stage Completed',
+    );
+    expect(Object.keys(call![1])).toEqual(['stage', 'durationMs']);
+  });
+
+  it('clears the label display (but not the stage) once the writing stage starts', async () => {
+    const { Harness, capture } = buildHarness();
+    render(<Harness />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    sendStatus(capture, 'searching', 'Searching the web');
+    sendStatus(capture, 'writing', 'Writing the answer');
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('writing');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('label')).toHaveTextContent('null');
+  });
+
+  it('clears activity on END_OF_THE_STREAM', async () => {
+    const { Harness, capture } = buildHarness();
+    render(<Harness />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    sendStatus(capture, 'searching', 'Searching the web');
+    sendStatus(capture, 'writing', 'Writing the answer');
+    send(capture, 'END_OF_THE_STREAM_ENDER_GAME_42');
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('null');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('label')).toHaveTextContent('null');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('detail')).toHaveTextContent('null');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('history-count')).toHaveTextContent('0');
+  });
+
+  it('ignores malformed status frames without throwing', async () => {
+    const { Harness, capture } = buildHarness();
+    render(<Harness />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    send(
+      capture,
+      JSON.stringify({ v: 1, type: 'status', data: { stage: 'searching' } }),
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('null');
+  });
+
+  it('clears activity via clearActivity()', async () => {
+    const { Harness, capture } = buildHarness();
+    render(<Harness />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    sendStatus(capture, 'searching', 'Searching the web');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('searching');
+
+    act(() => {
+      screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'clear' }).click();
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('null');
+  });
+
+  it('clears activity on the streamInterrupted reconnect path', async () => {
+    const { Harness, capture } = buildHarness();
+    const { rerender } = render(<Harness reconnectGeneration={0} />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    // Simulate an in-flight generating turn so the reconnect effect treats it as interrupted.
+    send(capture, 'CONVERSATION_ID');
+    sendStatus(capture, 'searching', 'Searching the web');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('searching');
+
+    rerender(<Harness reconnectGeneration={1} />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stream-interrupted')).toHaveTextContent('yes');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('stage')).toHaveTextContent('null');
+  });
+});

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/contexts/MessageContext.tsx

@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@ import { ConversationPrompt, ConversationPromptType } from "../data";
 import { axiosInstance } from "../../axiosApi";
 import { AxiosResponse } from "axios";
 import { AnalyticsEvents, trackEvent } from "../utils/analytics";
-import { parseCitationsData, parseVersionedFrame } from "../utils/wsFrames";
+import {
+    ActivityHistoryEntry,
+    parseCitationsData,
+    parseStatusData,
+    parseVersionedFrame,
+} from "../utils/wsFrames";
 
 type MessageProviderProps ={
     children? : ReactNode;
@@ -21,6 +26,12 @@ type IMessageContext = {
     /** True when a stream was interrupted by a socket drop; cleared on refetch/retry. */
     streamInterrupted: boolean;
     clearStreamInterrupted: () => void;
+    /** Live activity status from versioned "status" WS frames (#96). */
+    activityStage: string | null;
+    activityLabel: string | null;
+    activityDetail: string | null;
+    activityHistory: ActivityHistoryEntry[];
+    clearActivity: () => void;
 }
 
 const initialValues = {
@@ -31,6 +42,11 @@ const initialValues = {
     isGeneratingMessage: false,
     streamInterrupted: false,
     clearStreamInterrupted: () => {},
+    activityStage: null,
+    activityLabel: null,
+    activityDetail: null,
+    activityHistory: [],
+    clearActivity: () => {},
 }
 
 const MessageContext = createContext<IMessageContext>(initialValues);
@@ -47,6 +63,10 @@ const MessageProvider = ( {children}: MessageProviderProps) => {
     const [conversationDetails, setConversationDetails] = useState<ConversationPrompt[]>([])
     const [isGeneratingMessage, setIsGeneratingMessage] = useState<boolean>(false)
     const [streamInterrupted, setStreamInterrupted] = useState<boolean>(false)
+    const [activityStage, setActivityStage] = useState<string | null>(null)
+    const [activityLabel, setActivityLabel] = useState<string | null>(null)
+    const [activityDetail, setActivityDetail] = useState<string | null>(null)
+    const [activityHistory, setActivityHistory] = useState<ActivityHistoryEntry[]>([])
 
     const messageRef = useRef('')
     const messageResponsePart = useRef(0);
@@ -55,9 +75,19 @@ const MessageProvider = ( {children}: MessageProviderProps) => {
     const isGeneratingRef = useRef(false)
     const prevReconnectGenerationRef = useRef(0)
     const refetchTimerRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null)
+    /** Tracks the in-progress activity stage so we can roll it into history with a duration. */
+    const activeStageRef = useRef<{ stage: string; label: string; startedAt: number } | null>(null)
 
     const clearStreamInterrupted = () => setStreamInterrupted(false)
 
+    const clearActivity = () => {
+        activeStageRef.current = null
+        setActivityStage(null)
+        setActivityLabel(null)
+        setActivityDetail(null)
+        setActivityHistory([])
+    }
+
     async function GetConversationDetails(conversationId: number | undefined) {
         if (!conversationId) {
             setConversationDetails([])
@@ -142,6 +172,7 @@ const MessageProvider = ( {children}: MessageProviderProps) => {
         setIsGeneratingMessage(false)
         setStateMessage('')
         setStreamInterrupted(true)
+        clearActivity()
 
         const details = [...conversationRef.current]
         if (details.length > 0) {
@@ -187,8 +218,41 @@ const MessageProvider = ( {children}: MessageProviderProps) => {
                     conversationRef.current = details
                     setConversationDetails(details)
                     schedulePostStreamRefetch()
+                } else if (frame.type === 'status') {
+                    const statusData = parseStatusData(frame.data)
+                    if (statusData) {
+                        const now = Date.now()
+                        const previous = activeStageRef.current
+                        if (previous && previous.stage !== statusData.stage) {
+                            const durationMs = now - previous.startedAt
+                            setActivityHistory((history) => [
+                                ...history,
+                                {
+                                    stage: previous.stage,
+                                    label: previous.label,
+                                    startedAt: previous.startedAt,
+                                    finishedAt: now,
+                                },
+                            ])
+                            trackEvent(AnalyticsEvents.ACTIVITY_STAGE_COMPLETED, {
+                                stage: previous.stage,
+                                durationMs,
+                            })
+                        }
+                        activeStageRef.current = {
+                            stage: statusData.stage,
+                            label: statusData.label,
+                            startedAt: previous && previous.stage === statusData.stage
+                                ? previous.startedAt
+                                : now,
+                        }
+                        setActivityStage(statusData.stage)
+                        // Tokens take over the label once the model starts writing.
+                        setActivityLabel(statusData.stage === 'writing' ? null : statusData.label)
+                        setActivityDetail(statusData.detail ?? null)
+                    }
                 }
-                // status / unknown types: no-op (compatible with #96)
+                // other unknown types: no-op
                 return
             }
 
@@ -208,6 +272,7 @@ const MessageProvider = ( {children}: MessageProviderProps) => {
                 isGeneratingRef.current = false
                 setIsGeneratingMessage(false)
                 setStreamInterrupted(false)
+                clearActivity()
                 schedulePostStreamRefetch()
             }
             else if (message === 'START_OF_THE_STREAM_ENDER_GAME_42'){
@@ -263,6 +328,11 @@ const MessageProvider = ( {children}: MessageProviderProps) => {
             isGeneratingMessage,
             streamInterrupted,
             clearStreamInterrupted,
+            activityStage,
+            activityLabel,
+            activityDetail,
+            activityHistory,
+            clearActivity,
         }}>
             {children}
         </MessageContext.Provider>

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/pages/AsyncDashboard2/AsyncDashboard2.tsx

@@ -370,6 +370,11 @@ const AsyncDashboardInner = (): JSX.Element => {
     setConversationDetails,
     stateMessage,
     streamInterrupted,
+    activityStage,
+    activityLabel,
+    activityDetail,
+    activityHistory,
+    clearActivity,
   } = useContext(MessageContext);
 
   const conversationRef = useRef(conversationDetails);
@@ -450,6 +455,7 @@ const AsyncDashboardInner = (): JSX.Element => {
       return;
     }
     try {
+      clearActivity();
       const tempConversations: ConversationPrompt[] = [
         ...conversationDetails,
         new ConversationPrompt({ message: trimmedPrompt, user_created: true }),
@@ -606,6 +612,11 @@ const AsyncDashboardInner = (): JSX.Element => {
                   onRatingChange={(rating) =>
                     updatePromptRating(convo_detail.id, rating)
                   }
+                  activityStage={isLiveStream ? activityStage : null}
+                  activityLabel={isLiveStream ? activityLabel : null}
+                  activityDetail={isLiveStream ? activityDetail : null}
+                  activityHistory={isLiveStream ? activityHistory : []}
+                  activityInterrupted={isLiveStream && streamInterrupted}
                 />
               );
             })

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/utils/analytics.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ const queue: QueuedCall[] = [];
  * | Subscription Cancel Started | Cancel intent (#75) |
  * | Account Delete Started / Success / Failed | Self-delete (#34 companion) |
  * | Message Copied / Rated / Rating Reason / Exported | Message actions (#97) |
+ * | Activity Stage Completed | Live activity status stage rolled over (#96) |
  */
 export const AnalyticsEvents = {
   LOGIN_SUCCESS: 'Login Success',
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ export const AnalyticsEvents = {
   MESSAGE_RATED: 'Message Rated',
   MESSAGE_RATING_REASON: 'Message Rating Reason',
   MESSAGE_EXPORTED: 'Message Exported',
+  ACTIVITY_STAGE_COMPLETED: 'Activity Stage Completed',
 } as const;
 
 export type AnalyticsEventName = (typeof AnalyticsEvents)[keyof typeof AnalyticsEvents];

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/utils/wsFrames.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import {
   parseCitationsData,
+  parseStatusData,
   parseVersionedFrame,
 } from './wsFrames';
 
@@ -49,4 +50,49 @@ describe('wsFrames', () => {
     expect(parseCitationsData(null)).toEqual([]);
     expect(parseCitationsData('nope')).toEqual([]);
   });
+
+  it('parses a status frame', () => {
+    const raw = JSON.stringify({
+      v: 1,
+      type: 'status',
+      data: { stage: 'searching', label: 'Searching the web', detail: 'query: cats' },
+    });
+    const frame = parseVersionedFrame(raw);
+    expect(frame?.type).toBe('status');
+    expect(parseStatusData(frame!.data)).toEqual({
+      stage: 'searching',
+      label: 'Searching the web',
+      detail: 'query: cats',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('parses status data with no detail as null', () => {
+    expect(parseStatusData({ stage: 'writing', label: 'Writing the answer' })).toEqual({
+      stage: 'writing',
+      label: 'Writing the answer',
+      detail: null,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('passes through unknown/future stage values verbatim', () => {
+    expect(
+      parseStatusData({ stage: 'some_future_stage', label: 'Doing something new' }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      stage: 'some_future_stage',
+      label: 'Doing something new',
+      detail: null,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns null for malformed status data without throwing', () => {
+    expect(parseStatusData(null)).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData(undefined)).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData('nope')).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData([])).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData({})).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData({ stage: 'searching' })).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData({ label: 'Searching the web' })).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData({ stage: 123, label: 'Searching' })).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseStatusData({ stage: 'searching', label: 42 })).toBeNull();
+  });
 });

llm-fe/src/llm-fe/utils/wsFrames.ts

@@ -39,6 +39,29 @@ export function parseVersionedFrame(raw: string): VersionedFrame | null {
   return null;
 }
 
+export type StatusFrameData = {
+  stage: string;
+  label: string;
+  detail?: string | null;
+};
+
+export type ActivityHistoryEntry = {
+  stage: string;
+  label: string;
+  startedAt: number;
+  finishedAt: number;
+};
+
+export function parseStatusData(data: unknown): StatusFrameData | null {
+  if (!data || typeof data !== 'object') return null;
+  const obj = data as Record<string, unknown>;
+  if (typeof obj.stage !== 'string' || !obj.stage) return null;
+  // label may be empty (e.g. stage "writing" — tokens take over)
+  if (typeof obj.label !== 'string') return null;
+  const detail = typeof obj.detail === 'string' ? obj.detail : null;
+  return { stage: obj.stage, label: obj.label, detail };
+}
+
 export function parseCitationsData(data: unknown): Citation[] {
   if (!Array.isArray(data)) return [];
   return data