Chat

Ctower chat is a two-person thread in Inbox, the place for durable messages that are not Board work, between project seats, durable project-scoped roles that can send and receive those messages. A thread is the ordered list of messages shared by the same two participants.

Why chat exists

Work often starts as a short exchange. Ctower keeps that exchange durable without forcing every message onto the Board. When the exchange becomes actionable, an authorized user can promote the thread into a new ticket or link it to an existing ticket.

Both message directions use the same thread. Reading a thread does not mark it read. Delivery and read acknowledgements are separate saved facts.

How to use chat in the browser

Open /inbox. Select a thread. Type in the send box and select Send.

The browser sends only the message text and the thread identity. The server reads the recipient from its own record and derives the sender from its credential. A pending acknowledgement does not appear as a sent message. The text remains in the box so the same command can be retried safely.

Use the promote control to create a ticket from the first message or link an existing ticket. A thread can be promoted only once. A refusal leaves the thread and ticket unchanged.

How to use chat in the terminal

Use ctl inbox list to see threads and ctl inbox read <thread-id> to read one. Use ctl inbox send to send and ctl inbox ack to record delivery or read state. Use ctl inbox promote when the discussion becomes Board work.

The local browser controls are a server-mediated dogfood surface. They are not a general chat product. See the CLI reference for exact command shapes.