feat(reasoning): stream reasoning content as a first-class channel

Reasoning now flows as its own stream — symmetric to the answer's
``delta`` / ``stream_end`` pair — instead of being shipped as one
oversized progress message. This lets WebUI render a live "Thinking…"
bubble that updates in place, then auto-collapses when the stream
closes. Other channels remain plugin no-ops by default.

## Protocol

New metadata: ``_reasoning_delta`` (chunk) and ``_reasoning_end``
(close marker). ChannelManager routes both to the dedicated plugin
hooks below; the legacy one-shot ``_reasoning`` is kept for back-compat
and BaseChannel expands it into a single delta + end pair so plugins
only ever implement the streaming primitives.

WebSocket emits two new events:

- ``reasoning_delta`` (event, chat_id, text, optional stream_id)
- ``reasoning_end`` (event, chat_id, optional stream_id)

## BaseChannel surface

- ``send_reasoning_delta(chat_id, delta, metadata)`` — no-op default
- ``send_reasoning_end(chat_id, metadata)`` — no-op default
- ``send_reasoning(msg)`` — back-compat wrapper, base impl forwards
  to the streaming primitives

A channel adds reasoning support by overriding the two streaming
primitives. Telegram / Slack / Discord / Feishu / WeChat / Matrix keep
the base no-ops until their bubble UIs are adapted; reasoning silently
drops at dispatch, never as a stray text message.

## AgentHook

Adds ``emit_reasoning_end`` to the hook lifecycle. ``_LoopHook`` tracks
whether a reasoning segment is open and closes it on:

- the first answer delta arriving (so the UI locks the bubble before
  the answer renders below),
- ``on_stream_end``,
- one-shot ``reasoning_content`` / ``thinking_blocks`` after a single
  non-streaming response.

## WebUI

- ``UIMessage.reasoning`` is now a single accumulated string with a
  companion ``reasoningStreaming`` flag.
- ``useNanobotStream`` consumes ``reasoning_delta`` / ``reasoning_end``;
  legacy ``kind: "reasoning"`` is auto-translated to a delta + end.
- New ``ReasoningBubble``: shimmer header + auto-expanded while
  streaming, collapses to a clickable "Thinking" pill once closed,
  respects ``prefers-reduced-motion``.
- Answer deltas adopt the reasoning placeholder so the bubble and the
  answer share one assistant row.

## Tests

- ``tests/channels/test_channel_manager_reasoning.py`` — manager routes
  delta + end, drops on channel opt-out, expands one-shot back-compat.
- ``tests/channels/test_websocket_channel.py`` — new ``reasoning_delta``
  / ``reasoning_end`` frames, empty-chunk safety, no-subscriber safety,
  back-compat expansion.
- ``tests/agent/test_runner_reasoning.py`` — runner closes the segment
  on streaming answer start and after one-shot reasoning.
- WebUI ``useNanobotStream`` + ``message-bubble`` cover the new
  protocol and the shimmer styling.

## Docs

``docs/configuration.md`` and ``docs/websocket.md`` document the new
events and the plugin contract.

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>

docs/configuration.md

@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ Global settings that apply to all channels. Configure under the `channels` secti
 |---------|---------|-------------|
 | `sendProgress` | `true` | Stream agent's text progress to the channel |
 | `sendToolHints` | `false` | Stream tool-call hints (e.g. `read_file("…")`) |
-| `showReasoning` | `true` | Allow channels to surface model reasoning/thinking content (DeepSeek-R1 `reasoning_content`, Anthropic `thinking_blocks`, inline `<think>` tags). The setting is a plugin opt-in: even when `true`, a channel only renders reasoning if it overrides `send_reasoning()`. Currently surfaced on CLI and WebSocket/WebUI; other channels (Telegram, Slack, Discord, ...) keep it as a silent no-op until their bubble UI is adapted. Independent of `sendProgress`. |
+| `showReasoning` | `true` | Allow channels to surface model reasoning/thinking content (DeepSeek-R1 `reasoning_content`, Anthropic `thinking_blocks`, inline `<think>` tags). Reasoning flows as a dedicated stream with `_reasoning_delta` / `_reasoning_end` markers — channels override `send_reasoning_delta` / `send_reasoning_end` to render in-place updates. Even with `true`, channels without those overrides stay no-op silently. Currently surfaced on CLI and WebSocket/WebUI (italic shimmer header, auto-collapses after the stream ends); Telegram / Slack / Discord / Feishu / WeChat / Matrix keep the base no-op until their bubble UI is adapted. Independent of `sendProgress`. |
 | `sendMaxRetries` | `3` | Max delivery attempts per outbound message, including the initial send (0-10 configured, minimum 1 actual attempt) |
 | `transcriptionProvider` | `"groq"` | Voice transcription backend: `"groq"` (free tier, default) or `"openai"`. API key is auto-resolved from the matching provider config. |
 | `transcriptionLanguage` | `null` | Optional ISO-639-1 language hint for audio transcription, e.g. `"en"`, `"ko"`, `"ja"`. |

docs/websocket.md

@@ -128,6 +128,29 @@ All frames are JSON text. Each message has an `event` field.
 }
 ```
 
+**`reasoning_delta`** — incremental model reasoning / thinking chunk for the active assistant turn. Mirrors `delta` but targets the reasoning bubble above the answer rather than the answer body:
+
+```json
+{
+  "event": "reasoning_delta",
+  "chat_id": "uuid-v4",
+  "text": "Let me decompose ",
+  "stream_id": "r1"
+}
+```
+
+**`reasoning_end`** — close marker for the active reasoning stream. WebUI uses this to lock the in-place bubble and switch from the shimmer header to a static collapsed state:
+
+```json
+{
+  "event": "reasoning_end",
+  "chat_id": "uuid-v4",
+  "stream_id": "r1"
+}
+```
+
+Reasoning frames only flow when the channel's `showReasoning` is `true` (default) and the model returns reasoning content (DeepSeek-R1 / Kimi / MiMo / OpenAI reasoning models, Anthropic extended thinking, or inline `<think>` / `<thought>` tags). Models without reasoning produce zero `reasoning_delta` frames.
+
 **`runtime_model_updated`** — broadcast when the gateway runtime model changes, for example after `/model <preset>`:
 
 ```json

nanobot/agent/hook.py

@@ -52,6 +52,14 @@ class AgentHook:
     async def emit_reasoning(self, reasoning_content: str | None) -> None:
         pass
 
+    async def emit_reasoning_end(self) -> None:
+        """Mark the end of an in-flight reasoning stream.
+
+        Hooks that buffer ``emit_reasoning`` chunks (for in-place UI updates)
+        flush and freeze the rendered group here. One-shot hooks ignore.
+        """
+        pass
+
     async def after_iteration(self, context: AgentHookContext) -> None:
         pass
 
@@ -102,6 +110,9 @@ class CompositeHook(AgentHook):
     async def emit_reasoning(self, reasoning_content: str | None) -> None:
         await self._for_each_hook_safe("emit_reasoning", reasoning_content)
 
+    async def emit_reasoning_end(self) -> None:
+        await self._for_each_hook_safe("emit_reasoning_end")
+
     async def after_iteration(self, context: AgentHookContext) -> None:
         await self._for_each_hook_safe("after_iteration", context)
 

nanobot/agent/loop.py

@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ class _LoopHook(AgentHook):
         self._session_key = session_key
         self._stream_buf = ""
         self._think_extractor = IncrementalThinkExtractor()
+        self._reasoning_open = False
 
     def wants_streaming(self) -> bool:
         return self._on_stream is not None
@@ -102,10 +103,15 @@ class _LoopHook(AgentHook):
         if await self._think_extractor.feed(self._stream_buf, self.emit_reasoning):
             context.streamed_reasoning = True
 
-        if incremental and self._on_stream:
+        if incremental:
-            await self._on_stream(incremental)
+            # Answer text has started — close any open reasoning segment so
+            # the UI can lock the bubble before the answer renders below it.
+            await self.emit_reasoning_end()
+            if self._on_stream:
+                await self._on_stream(incremental)
 
     async def on_stream_end(self, context: AgentHookContext, *, resuming: bool) -> None:
+        await self.emit_reasoning_end()
         if self._on_stream_end:
             await self._on_stream_end(resuming=resuming)
         self._stream_buf = ""
@@ -147,16 +153,27 @@ class _LoopHook(AgentHook):
         )
 
     async def emit_reasoning(self, reasoning_content: str | None) -> None:
-        """Publish reasoning content; channel plugins decide whether to render.
+        """Publish a reasoning chunk; channel plugins decide whether to render.
 
-        The loop is intentionally not the gate: ``ChannelsConfig.show_reasoning``
+        Each call is one delta in a streaming session. ``emit_reasoning_end``
-        is a default that ``ChannelManager`` and ``BaseChannel.send_reasoning``
+        closes the segment. The loop is intentionally not the gate:
-        consult per channel. A channel without a low-emphasis UI primitive
+        ``ChannelsConfig.show_reasoning`` is a default that ``ChannelManager``
-        keeps the base no-op and the content drops at the dispatch boundary.
+        and ``BaseChannel.send_reasoning_delta`` consult per channel — a
+        channel without a low-emphasis UI primitive keeps the base no-op
+        and the content drops at the dispatch boundary.
         """
         if self._on_progress and reasoning_content:
+            self._reasoning_open = True
             await self._on_progress(reasoning_content, reasoning=True)
 
+    async def emit_reasoning_end(self) -> None:
+        """Close the current reasoning stream segment, if any was open."""
+        if self._reasoning_open and self._on_progress:
+            self._reasoning_open = False
+            await self._on_progress("", reasoning_end=True)
+        else:
+            self._reasoning_open = False
+
     async def after_iteration(self, context: AgentHookContext) -> None:
         if (
             self._on_progress
@@ -665,12 +682,15 @@ class AgentLoop:
             tool_hint: bool = False,
             tool_events: list[dict[str, Any]] | None = None,
             reasoning: bool = False,
+            reasoning_end: bool = False,
         ) -> None:
             meta = dict(msg.metadata or {})
             meta["_progress"] = True
             meta["_tool_hint"] = tool_hint
             if reasoning:
-                meta["_reasoning"] = True
+                meta["_reasoning_delta"] = True
+            if reasoning_end:
+                meta["_reasoning_end"] = True
             if tool_events:
                 meta["_tool_events"] = tool_events
             await self.bus.publish_outbound(

nanobot/agent/runner.py

@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ class AgentRunner:
             response.content = cleaned_content
             if reasoning_text and not context.streamed_reasoning:
                 await hook.emit_reasoning(reasoning_text)
+                await hook.emit_reasoning_end()
                 context.streamed_reasoning = True
 
             if response.should_execute_tools:
@@ -617,6 +618,8 @@ class AgentRunner:
             and getattr(self.provider, "supports_progress_deltas", False) is True
         )
 
+        progress_state: dict[str, bool] | None = None
+
         if wants_streaming:
             async def _stream(delta: str) -> None:
                 if delta:
@@ -630,6 +633,7 @@ class AgentRunner:
         elif wants_progress_streaming:
             stream_buf = ""
             think_extractor = IncrementalThinkExtractor()
+            progress_state = {"reasoning_open": False}
 
             async def _stream_progress(delta: str) -> None:
                 nonlocal stream_buf
@@ -642,8 +646,12 @@ class AgentRunner:
 
                 if await think_extractor.feed(stream_buf, hook.emit_reasoning):
                     context.streamed_reasoning = True
+                    progress_state["reasoning_open"] = True
 
                 if incremental:
+                    if progress_state["reasoning_open"]:
+                        await hook.emit_reasoning_end()
+                        progress_state["reasoning_open"] = False
                     context.streamed_content = True
                     await spec.progress_callback(incremental)
 
@@ -654,16 +662,20 @@ class AgentRunner:
         else:
             coro = self.provider.chat_with_retry(**kwargs)
 
-        if timeout_s is None:
-            return await coro
         try:
-            return await asyncio.wait_for(coro, timeout=timeout_s)
+            response = (
+                await coro if timeout_s is None
+                else await asyncio.wait_for(coro, timeout=timeout_s)
+            )
         except asyncio.TimeoutError:
             return LLMResponse(
                 content=f"Error calling LLM: timed out after {timeout_s:g}s",
                 finish_reason="error",
                 error_kind="timeout",
             )
+        if progress_state and progress_state.get("reasoning_open"):
+            await hook.emit_reasoning_end()
+        return response
 
     async def _request_finalization_retry(
         self,

nanobot/channels/base.py

@@ -121,18 +121,53 @@ class BaseChannel(ABC):
         """
         pass
 
-    async def send_reasoning(self, msg: OutboundMessage) -> None:
+    async def send_reasoning_delta(
-        """Surface model reasoning/thinking content.
+        self, chat_id: str, delta: str, metadata: dict[str, Any] | None = None
+    ) -> None:
+        """Stream a chunk of model reasoning/thinking content.
 
         Default is no-op. Channels with a native low-emphasis primitive
         (Slack context block, Telegram expandable blockquote, Discord
         subtext, WebUI italic bubble, ...) override to render reasoning
-        as a subordinate trace. Channels without a suitable affordance
+        as a subordinate trace that updates in place as the model thinks.
-        keep this no-op: silently dropping is better than leaking raw
+
-        model thoughts as regular conversational messages.
+        Streaming contract mirrors :meth:`send_delta`: ``_reasoning_delta``
+        is a chunk, ``_reasoning_end`` ends the current reasoning segment,
+        and stateful implementations should key buffers by ``_stream_id``
+        rather than only by ``chat_id``.
         """
         return
 
+    async def send_reasoning_end(
+        self, chat_id: str, metadata: dict[str, Any] | None = None
+    ) -> None:
+        """Mark the end of a reasoning stream segment.
+
+        Default is no-op. Channels that buffer ``send_reasoning_delta``
+        chunks for in-place updates use this signal to flush and freeze
+        the rendered group; one-shot channels can ignore it entirely.
+        """
+        return
+
+    async def send_reasoning(self, msg: OutboundMessage) -> None:
+        """Deliver a complete reasoning block.
+
+        Default implementation reuses the streaming pair so plugins only
+        need to override the delta/end methods. Equivalent to one delta
+        with the full content followed immediately by an end marker —
+        keeps a single rendering path for both streamed and one-shot
+        reasoning (e.g. DeepSeek-R1's final-response ``reasoning_content``).
+        """
+        if not msg.content:
+            return
+        meta = dict(msg.metadata or {})
+        meta.setdefault("_reasoning_delta", True)
+        await self.send_reasoning_delta(msg.chat_id, msg.content, meta)
+        end_meta = dict(meta)
+        end_meta.pop("_reasoning_delta", None)
+        end_meta["_reasoning_end"] = True
+        await self.send_reasoning_end(msg.chat_id, end_meta)
+
     @property
     def supports_streaming(self) -> bool:
         """True when config enables streaming AND this subclass implements send_delta."""

nanobot/channels/manager.py

@@ -283,13 +283,18 @@ class ChannelManager:
                         timeout=1.0
                     )
 
-                if msg.metadata.get("_reasoning"):
+                if (
-                    # Reasoning rides its own plugin channel: only delivered when
+                    msg.metadata.get("_reasoning_delta")
-                    # the destination channel both opts in (``show_reasoning``)
+                    or msg.metadata.get("_reasoning_end")
-                    # and overrides ``send_reasoning``. Channels without a
+                    or msg.metadata.get("_reasoning")
-                    # low-emphasis UI primitive keep the base no-op and the
+                ):
-                    # content silently drops here rather than leak as a
+                    # Reasoning rides its own plugin channel: only delivered
-                    # conversational reply.
+                    # when the destination channel opts in via ``show_reasoning``
+                    # and overrides the streaming primitives. Channels without
+                    # a low-emphasis UI affordance keep the base no-op and the
+                    # content silently drops here. ``_reasoning`` (one-shot)
+                    # is accepted for backward compatibility with hooks that
+                    # haven't migrated to delta/end yet.
                     channel = self.channels.get(msg.channel)
                     if channel is not None and channel.show_reasoning:
                         await self._send_with_retry(channel, msg)
@@ -345,7 +350,14 @@ class ChannelManager:
     @staticmethod
     async def _send_once(channel: BaseChannel, msg: OutboundMessage) -> None:
         """Send one outbound message without retry policy."""
-        if msg.metadata.get("_reasoning"):
+        if msg.metadata.get("_reasoning_end"):
+            await channel.send_reasoning_end(msg.chat_id, msg.metadata)
+        elif msg.metadata.get("_reasoning_delta"):
+            await channel.send_reasoning_delta(msg.chat_id, msg.content, msg.metadata)
+        elif msg.metadata.get("_reasoning"):
+            # Back-compat: one-shot reasoning. BaseChannel translates this
+            # to a single delta + end pair so plugins only implement the
+            # streaming primitives.
             await channel.send_reasoning(msg)
         elif msg.metadata.get("_stream_delta") or msg.metadata.get("_stream_end"):
             await channel.send_delta(msg.chat_id, msg.content, msg.metadata)

nanobot/channels/websocket.py

@@ -1487,30 +1487,54 @@ class WebSocketChannel(BaseChannel):
         for connection in conns:
             await self._safe_send_to(connection, raw, label=" ")
 
-    async def send_reasoning(self, msg: OutboundMessage) -> None:
+    async def send_reasoning_delta(
-        """Stream model reasoning as a subordinate trace frame.
+        self,
-
+        chat_id: str,
-        Renders as ``kind=reasoning`` alongside the existing ``tool_hint`` /
+        delta: str,
-        ``progress`` frames; the WebUI mounts these on the active assistant
+        metadata: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
-        bubble rather than as a conversational reply.
+    ) -> None:
+        """Push one chunk of model reasoning. Mirrors ``send_delta`` shape so
+        WebUI receives a stream that opens, updates in place, and closes —
+        rendered above the active assistant bubble with a shimmer header
+        until the matching ``reasoning_end`` arrives.
         """
-        conns = list(self._subs.get(msg.chat_id, ()))
+        conns = list(self._subs.get(chat_id, ()))
-        if not conns:
+        if not conns or not delta:
             return
-        if not msg.content:
+        meta = metadata or {}
-            return
+        body: dict[str, Any] = {
-        payload: dict[str, Any] = {
+            "event": "reasoning_delta",
-            "event": "message",
+            "chat_id": chat_id,
-            "chat_id": msg.chat_id,
+            "text": delta,
-            "text": msg.content,
-            "kind": "reasoning",
         }
-        if msg.reply_to:
+        stream_id = meta.get("_stream_id")
-            payload["reply_to"] = msg.reply_to
+        if stream_id is not None:
-        raw = json.dumps(payload, ensure_ascii=False)
+            body["stream_id"] = stream_id
+        raw = json.dumps(body, ensure_ascii=False)
         for connection in conns:
             await self._safe_send_to(connection, raw, label=" reasoning ")
 
+    async def send_reasoning_end(
+        self,
+        chat_id: str,
+        metadata: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Close the current reasoning stream segment for in-place renderers."""
+        conns = list(self._subs.get(chat_id, ()))
+        if not conns:
+            return
+        meta = metadata or {}
+        body: dict[str, Any] = {
+            "event": "reasoning_end",
+            "chat_id": chat_id,
+        }
+        stream_id = meta.get("_stream_id")
+        if stream_id is not None:
+            body["stream_id"] = stream_id
+        raw = json.dumps(body, ensure_ascii=False)
+        for connection in conns:
+            await self._safe_send_to(connection, raw, label=" reasoning_end ")
+
     async def send_delta(
         self,
         chat_id: str,

tests/agent/test_runner_reasoning.py

@@ -24,11 +24,15 @@ class _RecordingHook(AgentHook):
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         super().__init__()
         self.emitted: list[str] = []
+        self.end_calls = 0
 
     async def emit_reasoning(self, reasoning_content: str | None) -> None:
         if reasoning_content:
             self.emitted.append(reasoning_content)
 
+    async def emit_reasoning_end(self) -> None:
+        self.end_calls += 1
+
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_runner_preserves_reasoning_fields_in_assistant_history():
@@ -277,3 +281,41 @@ async def test_runner_does_not_double_emit_when_inline_think_already_streamed():
 
     assert result.final_content == "The answer."
     assert hook.emitted == ["working..."]
+    assert hook.end_calls >= 1, "reasoning stream must be closed once the answer starts"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_runner_closes_reasoning_stream_after_one_shot_response():
+    """A non-streaming response carrying ``reasoning_content`` must emit
+    both a reasoning delta and an end marker so channels can finalize the
+    in-place bubble."""
+    from nanobot.agent.runner import AgentRunSpec, AgentRunner
+
+    provider = MagicMock()
+
+    async def chat_with_retry(**kwargs):
+        return LLMResponse(
+            content="answer",
+            reasoning_content="hidden thought",
+            tool_calls=[],
+            usage={"prompt_tokens": 5, "completion_tokens": 3},
+        )
+
+    provider.chat_with_retry = chat_with_retry
+    tools = MagicMock()
+    tools.get_definitions.return_value = []
+
+    hook = _RecordingHook()
+    runner = AgentRunner(provider)
+    result = await runner.run(AgentRunSpec(
+        initial_messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "q"}],
+        tools=tools,
+        model="test-model",
+        max_iterations=3,
+        max_tool_result_chars=_MAX_TOOL_RESULT_CHARS,
+        hook=hook,
+    ))
+
+    assert result.final_content == "answer"
+    assert hook.emitted == ["hidden thought"]
+    assert hook.end_calls == 1

tests/channels/test_channel_manager_reasoning.py

@@ -1,14 +1,22 @@
 """Tests for ChannelManager routing of model reasoning content.
 
-Reasoning is delivered as a separate plugin action (``send_reasoning``)
+Reasoning is delivered through plugin streaming primitives
-rather than a metadata flag on a regular outbound. The manager routes
+(``send_reasoning_delta`` / ``send_reasoning_end``) so each channel
-``_reasoning`` messages only to channels that opt in via
+controls in-place rendering — mirroring the existing answer ``send_delta``
-``channel.show_reasoning``; channels without a low-emphasis UI primitive
+/ ``stream_end`` pair. The manager forwards reasoning frames only to
-keep the base no-op and the content silently drops at dispatch.
+channels that opt in via ``channel.show_reasoning``; plugins without a
+low-emphasis UI primitive keep the base no-op and the content silently
+drops at dispatch.
+
+One-shot ``_reasoning`` frames are accepted for back-compat with hooks
+that haven't migrated yet — ``BaseChannel.send_reasoning`` expands them
+to a single delta + end pair so plugins only implement the streaming
+primitives.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
 
 import pytest
@@ -27,7 +35,8 @@ class _MockChannel(BaseChannel):
     def __init__(self, config, bus):
         super().__init__(config, bus)
         self._send_mock = AsyncMock()
-        self._send_reasoning_mock = AsyncMock()
+        self._delta_mock = AsyncMock()
+        self._end_mock = AsyncMock()
 
     async def start(self):  # pragma: no cover - not exercised
         pass
@@ -38,8 +47,11 @@ class _MockChannel(BaseChannel):
     async def send(self, msg):
         return await self._send_mock(msg)
 
-    async def send_reasoning(self, msg):
+    async def send_reasoning_delta(self, chat_id, delta, metadata=None):
-        return await self._send_reasoning_mock(msg)
+        return await self._delta_mock(chat_id, delta, metadata)
+
+    async def send_reasoning_end(self, chat_id, metadata=None):
+        return await self._end_mock(chat_id, metadata)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -50,17 +62,52 @@ def manager() -> ChannelManager:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_reasoning_routes_to_send_reasoning_not_send(manager):
+async def test_reasoning_delta_routes_to_send_reasoning_delta(manager):
     channel = manager.channels["mock"]
     msg = OutboundMessage(
         channel="mock",
         chat_id="c1",
-        content="step-by-step thinking",
+        content="step-by-step",
+        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning_delta": True, "_stream_id": "r1"},
+    )
+    await manager._send_once(channel, msg)
+    channel._delta_mock.assert_awaited_once()
+    args = channel._delta_mock.await_args.args
+    assert args[0] == "c1"
+    assert args[1] == "step-by-step"
+    channel._send_mock.assert_not_awaited()
+    channel._end_mock.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_reasoning_end_routes_to_send_reasoning_end(manager):
+    channel = manager.channels["mock"]
+    msg = OutboundMessage(
+        channel="mock",
+        chat_id="c1",
+        content="",
+        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning_end": True, "_stream_id": "r1"},
+    )
+    await manager._send_once(channel, msg)
+    channel._end_mock.assert_awaited_once()
+    channel._delta_mock.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_legacy_one_shot_reasoning_expands_to_delta_plus_end(manager):
+    """`_reasoning` (no delta/end pair) falls back through `send_reasoning`
+    which the base class expands to a single delta + end. Hooks that haven't
+    migrated still surface in WebUI as a complete stream segment."""
+    channel = manager.channels["mock"]
+    msg = OutboundMessage(
+        channel="mock",
+        chat_id="c1",
+        content="one-shot reasoning",
         metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning": True},
     )
     await manager._send_once(channel, msg)
-    channel._send_reasoning_mock.assert_awaited_once_with(msg)
+    channel._delta_mock.assert_awaited_once()
-    channel._send_mock.assert_not_awaited()
+    channel._end_mock.assert_awaited_once()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -71,14 +118,14 @@ async def test_dispatch_drops_reasoning_when_channel_opts_out(manager):
         channel="mock",
         chat_id="c1",
         content="hidden thinking",
-        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning": True},
+        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning_delta": True},
     )
     await manager.bus.publish_outbound(msg)
 
-    pumped = await _pump_one(manager)
+    await _pump_one(manager)
 
-    assert pumped is True
+    channel._delta_mock.assert_not_awaited()
-    channel._send_reasoning_mock.assert_not_awaited()
+    channel._end_mock.assert_not_awaited()
     channel._send_mock.assert_not_awaited()
 
 
@@ -86,20 +133,24 @@ async def test_dispatch_drops_reasoning_when_channel_opts_out(manager):
 async def test_dispatch_delivers_reasoning_when_channel_opts_in(manager):
     channel = manager.channels["mock"]
     channel.show_reasoning = True
-    msg = OutboundMessage(
+    for chunk in ("first ", "second"):
+        await manager.bus.publish_outbound(OutboundMessage(
+            channel="mock",
+            chat_id="c1",
+            content=chunk,
+            metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning_delta": True, "_stream_id": "r1"},
+        ))
+    await manager.bus.publish_outbound(OutboundMessage(
         channel="mock",
         chat_id="c1",
-        content="visible thinking",
+        content="",
-        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning": True},
+        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning_end": True, "_stream_id": "r1"},
-    )
+    ))
-    await manager.bus.publish_outbound(msg)
 
-    pumped = await _pump_one(manager)
+    await _pump_one(manager)
 
-    assert pumped is True
+    assert channel._delta_mock.await_count == 2
-    channel._send_reasoning_mock.assert_awaited_once()
+    channel._end_mock.assert_awaited_once()
-    delivered = channel._send_reasoning_mock.await_args.args[0]
-    assert delivered.content == "visible thinking"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -108,21 +159,19 @@ async def test_dispatch_silently_drops_reasoning_for_unknown_channel(manager):
         channel="ghost",
         chat_id="c1",
         content="nobody home",
-        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning": True},
+        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning_delta": True},
     )
     await manager.bus.publish_outbound(msg)
 
-    pumped = await _pump_one(manager)
+    await _pump_one(manager)
 
-    assert pumped is True
+    manager.channels["mock"]._delta_mock.assert_not_awaited()
-    # Mock channel must not receive anything destined for a different channel.
-    manager.channels["mock"]._send_reasoning_mock.assert_not_awaited()
     manager.channels["mock"]._send_mock.assert_not_awaited()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_base_channel_send_reasoning_is_noop_safe():
+async def test_base_channel_reasoning_primitives_are_noop_safe():
-    """Plugins that don't override `send_reasoning` must not blow up."""
+    """Plugins that don't override the streaming primitives must not blow up."""
 
     class _Plain(BaseChannel):
         name = "plain"
@@ -138,7 +187,9 @@ async def test_base_channel_send_reasoning_is_noop_safe():
             pass
 
     channel = _Plain({}, MessageBus())
-    # No exception, returns None.
+    assert await channel.send_reasoning_delta("c", "x") is None
+    assert await channel.send_reasoning_end("c") is None
+    # And the one-shot wrapper translates without raising.
     assert await channel.send_reasoning(
         OutboundMessage(channel="plain", chat_id="c", content="x", metadata={})
     ) is None
@@ -151,26 +202,21 @@ async def test_reasoning_routing_does_not_consult_send_progress(manager):
     channel = manager.channels["mock"]
     channel.send_progress = False
     channel.show_reasoning = True
-    msg = OutboundMessage(
+    await manager.bus.publish_outbound(OutboundMessage(
         channel="mock",
         chat_id="c1",
         content="still surfaces",
-        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning": True},
+        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning_delta": True},
-    )
+    ))
-    await manager.bus.publish_outbound(msg)
 
-    pumped = await _pump_one(manager)
+    await _pump_one(manager)
 
-    assert pumped is True
+    channel._delta_mock.assert_awaited_once()
-    channel._send_reasoning_mock.assert_awaited_once()
 
 
-async def _pump_one(manager: ChannelManager) -> bool:
+async def _pump_one(manager: ChannelManager) -> None:
-    """Drive the dispatcher for exactly one message, then cancel."""
+    """Drive the dispatcher until the outbound queue drains, then cancel."""
-    import asyncio
-
     task = asyncio.create_task(manager._dispatch_outbound())
-    # Yield control until the queue drains.
     for _ in range(50):
         await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
         if manager.bus.outbound.qsize() == 0:
@@ -180,4 +226,3 @@ async def _pump_one(manager: ChannelManager) -> bool:
         await task
     except asyncio.CancelledError:
         pass
-    return True

tests/channels/test_websocket_channel.py

@@ -359,30 +359,44 @@ async def test_send_delta_emits_delta_and_stream_end() -> None:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_send_reasoning_emits_reasoning_kind_frame() -> None:
+async def test_send_reasoning_delta_emits_streaming_frame() -> None:
     bus = MagicMock()
     channel = WebSocketChannel({"enabled": True, "allowFrom": ["*"]}, bus)
     mock_ws = AsyncMock()
     channel._attach(mock_ws, "chat-1")
 
-    await channel.send_reasoning(OutboundMessage(
+    await channel.send_reasoning_delta(
-        channel="websocket",
+        "chat-1",
-        chat_id="chat-1",
+        "step-by-step thinking",
-        content="step-by-step thinking",
+        {"_reasoning_delta": True, "_stream_id": "r1"},
-        metadata={"_progress": True, "_reasoning": True},
+    )
-    ))
 
     mock_ws.send.assert_awaited_once()
     payload = json.loads(mock_ws.send.await_args.args[0])
-    assert payload["event"] == "message"
+    assert payload["event"] == "reasoning_delta"
     assert payload["chat_id"] == "chat-1"
     assert payload["text"] == "step-by-step thinking"
-    assert payload["kind"] == "reasoning"
+    assert payload["stream_id"] == "r1"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_send_reasoning_drops_empty_content() -> None:
+async def test_send_reasoning_end_emits_close_frame() -> None:
-    """Empty reasoning emits nothing — keeps the frontend bubble clean."""
+    bus = MagicMock()
+    channel = WebSocketChannel({"enabled": True, "allowFrom": ["*"]}, bus)
+    mock_ws = AsyncMock()
+    channel._attach(mock_ws, "chat-1")
+
+    await channel.send_reasoning_end("chat-1", {"_reasoning_end": True, "_stream_id": "r1"})
+
+    payload = json.loads(mock_ws.send.await_args.args[0])
+    assert payload == {"event": "reasoning_end", "chat_id": "chat-1", "stream_id": "r1"}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_send_reasoning_one_shot_expands_to_delta_plus_end() -> None:
+    """``send_reasoning`` is back-compat for hooks that haven't migrated:
+    the base implementation must produce one delta and one end so the
+    WebUI sees the same shape either way."""
     bus = MagicMock()
     channel = WebSocketChannel({"enabled": True, "allowFrom": ["*"]}, bus)
     mock_ws = AsyncMock()
@@ -391,10 +405,27 @@ async def test_send_reasoning_drops_empty_content() -> None:
     await channel.send_reasoning(OutboundMessage(
         channel="websocket",
         chat_id="chat-1",
-        content="",
+        content="thinking",
         metadata={"_reasoning": True},
     ))
 
+    assert mock_ws.send.await_count == 2
+    first = json.loads(mock_ws.send.call_args_list[0][0][0])
+    second = json.loads(mock_ws.send.call_args_list[1][0][0])
+    assert first["event"] == "reasoning_delta"
+    assert first["text"] == "thinking"
+    assert second["event"] == "reasoning_end"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_send_reasoning_delta_drops_empty_chunks() -> None:
+    bus = MagicMock()
+    channel = WebSocketChannel({"enabled": True, "allowFrom": ["*"]}, bus)
+    mock_ws = AsyncMock()
+    channel._attach(mock_ws, "chat-1")
+
+    await channel.send_reasoning_delta("chat-1", "", {"_reasoning_delta": True})
+
     mock_ws.send.assert_not_awaited()
 
 
@@ -403,12 +434,8 @@ async def test_send_reasoning_without_subscribers_is_noop() -> None:
     bus = MagicMock()
     channel = WebSocketChannel({"enabled": True, "allowFrom": ["*"]}, bus)
 
-    await channel.send_reasoning(OutboundMessage(
+    await channel.send_reasoning_delta("unattached", "thinking", None)
-        channel="websocket",
+    await channel.send_reasoning_end("unattached", None)
-        chat_id="unattached",
-        content="thinking",
-        metadata={"_reasoning": True},
-    ))
     # No subscribers, no exception, no send.
 
 

webui/src/components/MessageBubble.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { Check, ChevronRight, Copy, FileIcon, ImageIcon, PlaySquare, Sparkles, Wrench } from "lucide-react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 
@@ -85,12 +85,16 @@ export function MessageBubble({ message }: MessageBubbleProps) {
 
   const empty = message.content.trim().length === 0;
   const media = message.media ?? [];
-  const reasoning = message.role === "assistant" ? message.reasoning ?? [] : [];
+  const reasoning = message.role === "assistant" ? message.reasoning ?? "" : "";
+  const reasoningStreaming = !!(message.role === "assistant" && message.reasoningStreaming);
+  const hasReasoning = reasoning.length > 0 || reasoningStreaming;
   const showAssistantActions = message.role === "assistant" && !message.isStreaming && !empty;
   return (
     <div className={cn("w-full text-[15px]", baseAnim)} style={{ lineHeight: "var(--cjk-line-height)" }}>
-      {reasoning.length > 0 ? <ReasoningBubble lines={reasoning} /> : null}
+      {hasReasoning ? (
-      {empty && message.isStreaming && reasoning.length === 0 ? (
+        <ReasoningBubble text={reasoning} streaming={reasoningStreaming} />
+      ) : null}
+      {empty && message.isStreaming && !hasReasoning ? (
         <TypingDots />
       ) : empty && message.isStreaming ? null : (
         <>
@@ -437,33 +441,52 @@ function TraceGroup({ message, animClass }: TraceGroupProps) {
 }
 
 interface ReasoningBubbleProps {
-  lines: string[];
+  text: string;
+  streaming: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
- * Subordinate "thinking" trace shown above an assistant turn. Mirrors the
+ * Subordinate "thinking" trace shown above an assistant turn.
- * CLI's italic dim ``ChevronRight`` row visually; collapsible because
+ *
- * reasoning from models like DeepSeek-R1 / o-series can run long. Defaults
+ * Lifecycle:
- * to expanded while the answer is still streaming (so the user sees the
+ *   - While ``streaming`` is true (``reasoning_delta`` frames still arriving),
- * model "thinking out loud"), but the toggle persists across rerenders.
+ *     the bubble defaults to open and the header runs a shimmer + pulse so
+ *     the user sees the model "thinking out loud" in real time.
+ *   - On ``reasoning_end`` the bubble auto-collapses for prose density —
+ *     the user can re-expand to inspect the chain of thought. The local
+ *     toggle persists once the user interacts.
  */
-function ReasoningBubble({ lines }: ReasoningBubbleProps) {
+function ReasoningBubble({ text, streaming }: ReasoningBubbleProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const [open, setOpen] = useState(true);
+  const [userToggled, setUserToggled] = useState(false);
-  const text = useMemo(() => lines.join("\n\n"), [lines]);
+  const [openLocal, setOpenLocal] = useState(true);
+  const open = userToggled ? openLocal : streaming;
+  const onToggle = () => {
+    setUserToggled(true);
+    setOpenLocal((v) => (userToggled ? !v : !open));
+  };
   return (
     <div className="mb-2 w-full animate-in fade-in-0 slide-in-from-top-1 duration-200">
       <button
         type="button"
-        onClick={() => setOpen((v) => !v)}
+        onClick={onToggle}
         className={cn(
           "flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5",
           "text-xs text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted/45",
+          streaming && "reasoning-shimmer",
         )}
         aria-expanded={open}
+        aria-live={streaming ? "polite" : undefined}
       >
-        <Sparkles className="h-3.5 w-3.5" aria-hidden />
+        <Sparkles
-        <span className="font-medium">{t("message.reasoning", { defaultValue: "Thinking" })}</span>
+          className={cn("h-3.5 w-3.5", streaming && "animate-pulse")}
+          aria-hidden
+        />
+        <span className="font-medium">
+          {streaming
+            ? t("message.reasoningStreaming", { defaultValue: "Thinking…" })
+            : t("message.reasoning", { defaultValue: "Thinking" })}
+        </span>
         <ChevronRight
           aria-hidden
           className={cn(
@@ -472,7 +495,7 @@ function ReasoningBubble({ lines }: ReasoningBubbleProps) {
           )}
         />
       </button>
-      {open && (
+      {open && text.length > 0 && (
         <div
           className={cn(
             "mt-1 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words border-l border-muted-foreground/20 pl-3",

webui/src/globals.css

@@ -117,6 +117,34 @@
     --cjk-line-height: 1.625;
   }
 
+  /* Shimmer band sweeping across the reasoning header while
+     ``reasoning_delta`` frames are arriving. Pure CSS, no JS animation,
+     respects ``prefers-reduced-motion``. */
+  @keyframes reasoning-shimmer-sweep {
+    0% {
+      background-position: -200% 0;
+    }
+    100% {
+      background-position: 200% 0;
+    }
+  }
+  .reasoning-shimmer {
+    background-image: linear-gradient(
+      90deg,
+      transparent 0%,
+      hsl(var(--muted-foreground) / 0.18) 50%,
+      transparent 100%
+    );
+    background-size: 200% 100%;
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
+    animation: reasoning-shimmer-sweep 2.2s linear infinite;
+  }
+  @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+    .reasoning-shimmer {
+      animation: none;
+    }
+  }
+
   /* Subtle scrollbar that doesn't fight the dark background. */
   .scrollbar-thin {
     scrollbar-width: thin;

webui/src/hooks/useNanobotStream.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,82 @@ interface StreamBuffer {
   parts: string[];
 }
 
+/**
+ * Append a reasoning chunk to the last open reasoning stream in ``prev``.
+ *
+ * Lookup rule: find the most recent assistant turn that is either still
+ * streaming reasoning (``reasoningStreaming``) or has no answer text yet.
+ * Anything else starts a fresh streaming placeholder so a new turn's
+ * reasoning never bleeds into the previous answer.
+ */
+function attachReasoningChunk(prev: UIMessage[], chunk: string): UIMessage[] {
+  for (let i = prev.length - 1; i >= 0; i -= 1) {
+    const candidate = prev[i];
+    if (candidate.role !== "assistant" || candidate.kind === "trace") continue;
+    const hasAnswer = candidate.content.length > 0;
+    if (candidate.reasoningStreaming || (!hasAnswer && candidate.reasoning !== undefined)) {
+      const merged: UIMessage = {
+        ...candidate,
+        reasoning: (candidate.reasoning ?? "") + chunk,
+        reasoningStreaming: true,
+      };
+      return [...prev.slice(0, i), merged, ...prev.slice(i + 1)];
+    }
+    if (!hasAnswer && candidate.isStreaming) {
+      const merged: UIMessage = {
+        ...candidate,
+        reasoning: chunk,
+        reasoningStreaming: true,
+      };
+      return [...prev.slice(0, i), merged, ...prev.slice(i + 1)];
+    }
+    break;
+  }
+  return [
+    ...prev,
+    {
+      id: crypto.randomUUID(),
+      role: "assistant",
+      content: "",
+      isStreaming: true,
+      reasoning: chunk,
+      reasoningStreaming: true,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+    },
+  ];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Find the most recent assistant placeholder that an incoming answer
+ * delta should adopt instead of spawning a parallel row. We look for an
+ * empty-content assistant turn that is still marked ``isStreaming`` —
+ * typically created earlier by ``reasoning_delta``. Anything else means
+ * the model already produced an answer in a previous turn, so the new
+ * delta belongs in a fresh row.
+ */
+function findActiveAssistantPlaceholder(prev: UIMessage[]): string | null {
+  const last = prev[prev.length - 1];
+  if (!last) return null;
+  if (last.role !== "assistant" || last.kind === "trace") return null;
+  if (last.content.length > 0) return null;
+  if (!last.isStreaming) return null;
+  return last.id;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Close the active reasoning stream segment, if any. Idempotent: a
+ * ``reasoning_end`` with no preceding deltas is a harmless no-op.
+ */
+function closeReasoningStream(prev: UIMessage[]): UIMessage[] {
+  for (let i = prev.length - 1; i >= 0; i -= 1) {
+    const candidate = prev[i];
+    if (!candidate.reasoningStreaming) continue;
+    const merged: UIMessage = { ...candidate, reasoningStreaming: false };
+    return [...prev.slice(0, i), merged, ...prev.slice(i + 1)];
+  }
+  return prev;
+}
+
 /**
  * Subscribe to a chat by ID. Returns the in-memory message list for the chat,
  * a streaming flag, and a ``send`` function. Initial history must be seeded
@@ -122,27 +198,42 @@ export function useNanobotStream(
 
       if (ev.event === "delta") {
         if (suppressStreamUntilTurnEndRef.current) return;
-        const id = buffer.current?.messageId ?? crypto.randomUUID();
+        const chunk = ev.text;
-        if (!buffer.current) {
+        setIsStreaming(true);
-          buffer.current = { messageId: id, parts: [] };
+        setMessages((prev) => {
-          setMessages((prev) => [
+          // Reuse an in-flight assistant placeholder (typically created by
-            ...prev,
+          // ``reasoning_delta``) so the answer renders below its own
-            {
+          // thinking trace instead of in a parallel row.
-              id,
+          const adopted = !buffer.current ? findActiveAssistantPlaceholder(prev) : null;
-              role: "assistant",
+          let targetId: string;
-              content: "",
+          let next: UIMessage[];
-              isStreaming: true,
+          if (buffer.current) {
-              createdAt: Date.now(),
+            targetId = buffer.current.messageId;
-            },
+            next = prev;
-          ]);
+          } else if (adopted) {
-          setIsStreaming(true);
+            targetId = adopted;
-        }
+            buffer.current = { messageId: targetId, parts: [] };
-        buffer.current.parts.push(ev.text);
+            next = prev;
-        const combined = buffer.current.parts.join("");
+          } else {
-        const targetId = buffer.current.messageId;
+            targetId = crypto.randomUUID();
-        setMessages((prev) =>
+            buffer.current = { messageId: targetId, parts: [] };
-          prev.map((m) => (m.id === targetId ? { ...m, content: combined } : m)),
+            next = [
-        );
+              ...prev,
+              {
+                id: targetId,
+                role: "assistant",
+                content: "",
+                isStreaming: true,
+                createdAt: Date.now(),
+              },
+            ];
+          }
+          buffer.current.parts.push(chunk);
+          const combined = buffer.current.parts.join("");
+          return next.map((m) =>
+            m.id === targetId ? { ...m, content: combined, isStreaming: true } : m,
+          );
+        });
         return;
       }
 
@@ -159,6 +250,21 @@ export function useNanobotStream(
         return;
       }
 
+      if (ev.event === "reasoning_delta") {
+        if (suppressStreamUntilTurnEndRef.current) return;
+        const chunk = ev.text;
+        if (!chunk) return;
+        setMessages((prev) => attachReasoningChunk(prev, chunk));
+        setIsStreaming(true);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (ev.event === "reasoning_end") {
+        if (suppressStreamUntilTurnEndRef.current) return;
+        setMessages((prev) => closeReasoningStream(prev));
+        return;
+      }
+
       if (ev.event === "turn_end") {
         // Definitive signal that the turn is fully complete.  Cancel any
         // pending debounce timer and stop the loading indicator immediately.
@@ -187,37 +293,13 @@ export function useNanobotStream(
         ) {
           return;
         }
-        // Model reasoning rides its own channel: stash it on the next
+        // Back-compat: a legacy ``kind: "reasoning"`` message (no streaming
-        // assistant turn so the bubble renders it as a subordinate trace.
+        // partner) is treated as one complete delta + immediate end so the
-        // If the assistant message hasn't materialized yet (typical, since
+        // bubble renders identically to the streaming path.
-        // reasoning fires before tool calls/answers), park it on a sentinel
-        // pending row that the next assistant message absorbs.
         if (ev.kind === "reasoning") {
           const line = ev.text;
           if (!line) return;
-          setMessages((prev) => {
+          setMessages((prev) => closeReasoningStream(attachReasoningChunk(prev, line)));
-            for (let i = prev.length - 1; i >= 0; i -= 1) {
-              const candidate = prev[i];
-              if (candidate.role === "assistant" && candidate.kind !== "trace") {
-                const merged: UIMessage = {
-                  ...candidate,
-                  reasoning: [...(candidate.reasoning ?? []), line],
-                };
-                return [...prev.slice(0, i), merged, ...prev.slice(i + 1)];
-              }
-            }
-            return [
-              ...prev,
-              {
-                id: crypto.randomUUID(),
-                role: "assistant",
-                content: "",
-                isStreaming: true,
-                reasoning: [line],
-                createdAt: Date.now(),
-              },
-            ];
-          });
           return;
         }
         // Intermediate agent breadcrumbs (tool-call hints, raw progress).

webui/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json

@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@
     "toolSingle": "Using a tool",
     "toolMany": "Used {{count}} tools",
     "reasoning": "Thinking",
+    "reasoningStreaming": "Thinking…",
     "imageAttachment": "Image attachment",
     "copyReply": "Copy reply",
     "copiedReply": "Copied reply"

webui/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN/common.json

@@ -320,7 +320,8 @@
     "assistantTyping": "助手正在输入",
     "toolSingle": "正在使用工具",
     "toolMany": "已使用 {{count}} 个工具",
-    "reasoning": "思考中",
+    "reasoning": "思考过程",
+    "reasoningStreaming": "正在思考…",
     "imageAttachment": "图片附件",
     "copyReply": "复制回复",
     "copiedReply": "已复制回复"

webui/src/lib/types.ts

@@ -44,10 +44,13 @@ export interface UIMessage {
   images?: UIImage[];
   /** Signed or local UI-renderable media attachments. */
   media?: UIMediaAttachment[];
-  /** Assistant turn: model reasoning / thinking content collected from
+  /** Assistant turn: accumulated model reasoning / thinking text. Built up
-   * `kind: "reasoning"` frames. Each entry is one emit cycle, joined with
+   * incrementally from ``reasoning_delta`` frames; finalized when
-   * blank lines on render. */
+   * ``reasoning_end`` arrives. */
-  reasoning?: string[];
+  reasoning?: string;
+  /** True while ``reasoning_delta`` frames are still arriving for this turn.
+   * Drives the shimmer header on ``ReasoningBubble``. */
+  reasoningStreaming?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface ChatSummary {
@@ -158,6 +161,17 @@ export type InboundEvent =
       chat_id: string;
       stream_id?: string;
     }
+  | {
+      event: "reasoning_delta";
+      chat_id: string;
+      text: string;
+      stream_id?: string;
+    }
+  | {
+      event: "reasoning_end";
+      chat_id: string;
+      stream_id?: string;
+    }
   | {
       event: "runtime_model_updated";
       model_name: string;

webui/src/tests/message-bubble.test.tsx

@@ -103,37 +103,41 @@ describe("MessageBubble", () => {
     expect(container.querySelector("video[controls]")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  it("surfaces reasoning content above the assistant answer when provided", () => {
+  it("auto-expands the reasoning trace while streaming with a shimmer header", () => {
     const message: UIMessage = {
-      id: "a-reasoning",
+      id: "a-reasoning-streaming",
+      role: "assistant",
+      content: "",
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+      reasoning: "Step 1: parse intent. Step 2: compute.",
+      reasoningStreaming: true,
+    };
+
+    const { container } = render(<MessageBubble message={message} />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Thinking…")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Step 1: parse intent\./)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(container.querySelector(".reasoning-shimmer")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("collapses the reasoning section by default once streaming ends", () => {
+    const message: UIMessage = {
+      id: "a-reasoning-done",
       role: "assistant",
       content: "The answer is 42.",
       createdAt: Date.now(),
-      reasoning: ["Step 1: parse intent.", "Step 2: compute."],
+      reasoning: "hidden until expanded",
+      reasoningStreaming: false,
     };
 
     render(<MessageBubble message={message} />);
 
     expect(screen.getByText("Thinking")).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByText(/Step 1: parse intent\./)).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByText(/Step 2: compute\./)).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText("The answer is 42.")).toBeInTheDocument();
-  });
+    expect(screen.queryByText("hidden until expanded")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
 
-  it("collapses the reasoning section when toggled", () => {
-    const message: UIMessage = {
-      id: "a-reasoning-collapse",
-      role: "assistant",
-      content: "done",
-      createdAt: Date.now(),
-      reasoning: ["hidden after toggle"],
-    };
-
-    render(<MessageBubble message={message} />);
-
-    expect(screen.getByText("hidden after toggle")).toBeInTheDocument();
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /thinking/i }));
-    expect(screen.queryByText("hidden after toggle")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText("hidden until expanded")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it("renders assistant image media as a larger generated result", () => {

webui/src/tests/useNanobotStream.test.tsx

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ describe("useNanobotStream", () => {
     expect(result.current.messages[1].kind).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
-  it("parks reasoning frames on a placeholder assistant message until the answer arrives", () => {
+  it("accumulates reasoning_delta chunks on a placeholder until reasoning_end", () => {
     const fake = fakeClient();
     const { result } = renderHook(() => useNanobotStream("chat-r", EMPTY_MESSAGES), {
       wrapper: wrap(fake.client),
@@ -121,28 +121,31 @@ describe("useNanobotStream", () => {
 
     act(() => {
       fake.emit("chat-r", {
-        event: "message",
+        event: "reasoning_delta",
         chat_id: "chat-r",
-        text: "Let me think step by step.",
+        text: "Let me think ",
-        kind: "reasoning",
       });
       fake.emit("chat-r", {
-        event: "message",
+        event: "reasoning_delta",
         chat_id: "chat-r",
-        text: "First, decompose the request.",
+        text: "step by step.",
-        kind: "reasoning",
       });
     });
 
     expect(result.current.messages).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(result.current.messages[0].role).toBe("assistant");
-    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoning).toEqual([
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoning).toBe("Let me think step by step.");
-      "Let me think step by step.",
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoningStreaming).toBe(true);
-      "First, decompose the request.",
+
-    ]);
+    act(() => {
+      fake.emit("chat-r", { event: "reasoning_end", chat_id: "chat-r" });
+    });
+
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoningStreaming).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoning).toBe("Let me think step by step.");
   });
 
-  it("attaches reasoning to the latest assistant turn rather than spawning a new one", () => {
+  it("absorbs a streaming reasoning placeholder into the answer turn that follows", () => {
     const fake = fakeClient();
     const { result } = renderHook(() => useNanobotStream("chat-r2", EMPTY_MESSAGES), {
       wrapper: wrap(fake.client),
@@ -150,24 +153,26 @@ describe("useNanobotStream", () => {
 
     act(() => {
       fake.emit("chat-r2", {
-        event: "message",
+        event: "reasoning_delta",
+        chat_id: "chat-r2",
+        text: "Plan first.",
+      });
+      fake.emit("chat-r2", { event: "reasoning_end", chat_id: "chat-r2" });
+      fake.emit("chat-r2", {
+        event: "delta",
         chat_id: "chat-r2",
         text: "The answer is 42.",
       });
-      fake.emit("chat-r2", {
+      fake.emit("chat-r2", { event: "stream_end", chat_id: "chat-r2" });
-        event: "message",
-        chat_id: "chat-r2",
-        text: "Reasoning surfaced post-hoc.",
-        kind: "reasoning",
-      });
     });
 
     expect(result.current.messages).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(result.current.messages[0].content).toBe("The answer is 42.");
-    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoning).toEqual(["Reasoning surfaced post-hoc."]);
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoning).toBe("Plan first.");
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoningStreaming).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("ignores empty reasoning frames", () => {
+  it("ignores empty reasoning_delta frames", () => {
     const fake = fakeClient();
     const { result } = renderHook(() => useNanobotStream("chat-r3", EMPTY_MESSAGES), {
       wrapper: wrap(fake.client),
@@ -175,16 +180,35 @@ describe("useNanobotStream", () => {
 
     act(() => {
       fake.emit("chat-r3", {
-        event: "message",
+        event: "reasoning_delta",
         chat_id: "chat-r3",
         text: "",
-        kind: "reasoning",
       });
     });
 
     expect(result.current.messages).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
+  it("treats legacy kind=reasoning messages as a complete delta + end pair", () => {
+    const fake = fakeClient();
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useNanobotStream("chat-r4", EMPTY_MESSAGES), {
+      wrapper: wrap(fake.client),
+    });
+
+    act(() => {
+      fake.emit("chat-r4", {
+        event: "message",
+        chat_id: "chat-r4",
+        text: "one-shot reasoning",
+        kind: "reasoning",
+      });
+    });
+
+    expect(result.current.messages).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoning).toBe("one-shot reasoning");
+    expect(result.current.messages[0].reasoningStreaming).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("attaches assistant media_urls to complete messages", () => {
     const fake = fakeClient();
     const { result } = renderHook(() => useNanobotStream("chat-m", EMPTY_MESSAGES), {