GraphDone · mvalancy · Jun 14, 2026 · Jun 14, 2026
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/InteractiveGraphVisualization.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/InteractiveGraphVisualization.tsx
@@ -85,9 +85,12 @@ interface DragState {
 
 interface InteractiveGraphVisualizationProps {
   onResetLayout?: () => void;
+  /** Notifies the host (Workspace) which node is selected, so a docked
+   *  inspector can show its contents/diagram. Fires null on deselect. */
+  onNodeSelected?: (node: WorkItem | null) => void;
 }
 
-export function InteractiveGraphVisualization({ onResetLayout }: InteractiveGraphVisualizationProps = {}) {
+export function InteractiveGraphVisualization({ onResetLayout, onNodeSelected }: InteractiveGraphVisualizationProps = {}) {
   const svgRef = useRef<SVGSVGElement>(null);
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const { currentGraph, availableGraphs, descendInto } = useGraph();
@@ -281,6 +284,12 @@ export function InteractiveGraphVisualization({ onResetLayout }: InteractiveGrap
   const [showUpdateGraphModal, setShowUpdateGraphModal] = useState(false);
   const [showDeleteGraphModal, setShowDeleteGraphModal] = useState(false);
   const [selectedNode, setSelectedNode] = useState<WorkItem | null>(null);
+  // Lift selection to the host (Workspace) for the docked inspector. One effect
+  // captures every path that changes selectedNode (node click, edit icon,
+  // background-click deselect) without instrumenting each call site.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    onNodeSelected?.(selectedNode);
+  }, [selectedNode, onNodeSelected]);
   const lastSelectedNodeRef = useRef<any>(null); // Track last selected node for centering
   const [selectedEdge, setSelectedEdge] = useState<WorkItemEdge | null>(null);
   const [createNodePosition, setCreateNodePosition] = useState<{ x: number; y: number; z: number } | undefined>(undefined);
@@ -963,7 +972,13 @@ export function InteractiveGraphVisualization({ onResetLayout }: InteractiveGrap
 
   // Close menus when clicking outside or pressing ESC
   useEffect(() => {
-    const handleClickOutside = () => {
+    const handleClickOutside = (event: MouseEvent) => {
+      // Clicks inside the docked inspector (a sibling tree) must not deselect
+      // the node — otherwise its own Card/Contents/Diagram controls close it.
+      const target = event.target as Element | null;
+      if (target && target.closest('[data-testid="node-inspector"]')) {
+        return;
+      }
       setNodeMenu(prev => ({ ...prev, visible: false }));
       setEdgeMenu(prev => ({ ...prev, visible: false }));
       setEditingEdge(null); // Close inline edge editor
@@ -1040,13 +1055,11 @@ export function InteractiveGraphVisualization({ onResetLayout }: InteractiveGrap
 
       setIsConnecting(false);
       setConnectionSource(null);
-    } else if (node.subgraphId) {
-      // Altium-style sheet symbol: a plain click descends into its sub-graph.
-      // (Grow/connect is handled above; drag is suppressed by mousedownNodeRef;
-      // edit/relationship icons stopPropagation, so this only fires on a plain
-      // click of a sheet node.) Called via ref to avoid re-binding the handler.
-      descendIntoRef.current(node.subgraphId);
     } else {
+      // A plain click SELECTS the node (opens the inspector). Descending into a
+      // sheet node's sub-graph is an explicit action — the descend glyph (⤢) on
+      // the card or the inspector's "Open" — so clicking never navigates you
+      // away unexpectedly (the user loses context otherwise).
       // Handle node selection with 2-item ring buffer
       setSelectedNodes(prev => {
         const newSet = new Set(prev);

diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/NodeInspector.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/NodeInspector.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import { lazy, Suspense, useState } from 'react';
+import { X, FileText, Network, CreditCard } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useGraph } from '../contexts/GraphContext';
+import { getTypeConfig, getStatusConfig } from '../constants/workItemConstants';
+import type { WorkItemType } from '../constants/workItemConstants';
+import { NodeSubgraphPreview } from './NodeSubgraphPreview';
+
+// Heavy (markdown + Prism) — lazy so it's out of the main bundle until a node's
+// contents are first opened.
+const NodeContentRenderer = lazy(() => import('./NodeContentRenderer'));
+
+type Mode = 'card' | 'contents' | 'diagram';
+
+interface NodeInspectorProps {
+  node: any;
+  onClose: () => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Docked inspector: shows the selected node's Card (summary), Contents (its
+ * description rendered as readable markdown/code), or Diagram (its sub-graph),
+ * each at full legible size regardless of canvas zoom. The mode is an explicit,
+ * per-node toggle — not a side effect of zooming in.
+ */
+export function NodeInspector({ node, onClose }: NodeInspectorProps) {
+  const { descendInto } = useGraph();
+  const hasSubgraph = !!node?.subgraphId;
+  const [modeByNode, setModeByNode] = useState<Record<string, Mode>>({});
+  const mode: Mode = modeByNode[node.id] ?? (node.description ? 'contents' : 'card');
+  const setMode = (m: Mode) => setModeByNode((prev) => ({ ...prev, [node.id]: m }));
+
+  const typeCfg = getTypeConfig(node.type as WorkItemType);
+  const statusCfg = getStatusConfig(node.status as any);
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      data-testid="node-inspector"
+      className="h-full flex flex-col bg-gray-900/95 backdrop-blur-sm border-l border-gray-700/60 w-full"
+    >
+      {/* Header */}
+      <div className="flex items-start gap-2 p-3 border-b border-gray-700/60">
+        <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
+          <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide" style={{ color: typeCfg.hexColor }}>{typeCfg.label}</div>
+          <div className="text-sm font-semibold text-white truncate" title={node.title}>{node.title}</div>
+        </div>
+        <button onClick={onClose} className="p-1 text-gray-400 hover:text-white rounded hover:bg-gray-700/50" title="Close">
+          <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+        </button>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Mode toggle */}
+      <div className="flex gap-1 p-2 border-b border-gray-700/60">
+        <ModeBtn active={mode === 'card'} onClick={() => setMode('card')} icon={<CreditCard className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />} label="Card" />
+        <ModeBtn active={mode === 'contents'} onClick={() => setMode('contents')} icon={<FileText className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />} label="Contents" />
+        <ModeBtn active={mode === 'diagram'} onClick={() => setMode('diagram')} icon={<Network className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />} label="Diagram" disabled={!hasSubgraph} title={hasSubgraph ? 'Sub-graph' : 'No sub-graph'} />
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Body */}
+      <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
+        {mode === 'card' && (
+          <div className="p-3 space-y-3 text-sm">
+            <Row label="Type" value={typeCfg.label} color={typeCfg.hexColor} />
+            <Row label="Status" value={statusCfg?.label ?? node.status} color={statusCfg?.hexColor} />
+            {typeof node.priority === 'number' && <Row label="Priority" value={`${Math.round(node.priority * 100)}%`} />}
+            {Array.isArray(node.tags) && node.tags.length > 0 && (
+              <div>
+                <div className="text-xs text-gray-500 mb-1">Tags</div>
+                <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1">
+                  {node.tags.map((t: string) => <span key={t} className="text-[11px] bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-200 rounded px-1.5 py-0.5">{t}</span>)}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            )}
+            {node.description && (
+              <div>
+                <div className="text-xs text-gray-500 mb-1">Description (preview)</div>
+                <div className="text-xs text-gray-300 line-clamp-3 whitespace-pre-wrap">{node.description}</div>
+                <button onClick={() => setMode('contents')} className="text-xs text-blue-400 hover:text-blue-300 mt-1">Read full contents →</button>
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {mode === 'contents' && (
+          <div className="p-3">
+            <Suspense fallback={<div className="text-sm text-gray-500">Loading…</div>}>
+              <NodeContentRenderer content={node.description ?? ''} />
+            </Suspense>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {mode === 'diagram' && (
+          hasSubgraph ? (
+            <NodeSubgraphPreview
+              subgraphId={node.subgraphId}
+              subgraphName={node.subgraph?.name}
+              onOpen={() => descendInto(node.subgraphId)}
+            />
+          ) : (
+            <div className="p-4 text-sm text-gray-500">This node has no sub-graph diagram.</div>
+          )
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function ModeBtn({ active, onClick, icon, label, disabled, title }: { active: boolean; onClick: () => void; icon: React.ReactNode; label: string; disabled?: boolean; title?: string }) {
+  return (
+    <button
+      onClick={onClick}
+      disabled={disabled}
+      title={title}
+      className={`flex-1 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs font-medium transition-colors ${
+        disabled
+          ? 'text-gray-600 cursor-not-allowed'
+          : active
+            ? 'bg-emerald-500/25 text-emerald-200 border border-emerald-400/40'
+            : 'text-gray-300 hover:bg-gray-700/50 border border-transparent'
+      }`}
+    >
+      {icon}
+      {label}
+    </button>
+  );
+}
+
+function Row({ label, value, color }: { label: string; value: string; color?: string }) {
+  return (
+    <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+      <span className="text-xs text-gray-500">{label}</span>
+      <span className="text-sm font-medium" style={color ? { color } : undefined}>{value}</span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/NodeSubgraphPreview.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/NodeSubgraphPreview.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import { useQuery } from '@apollo/client';
+import { Maximize2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { GET_WORK_ITEMS, GET_EDGES } from '../lib/queries';
+import { getTypeConfig } from '../constants/workItemConstants';
+import type { WorkItemType } from '../constants/workItemConstants';
+
+/**
+ * A STATIC, legible render of a node's sub-graph (its "diagram"), drawn from the
+ * sub-graph's persisted node positions — no force simulation. Lets you READ a
+ * diagram at a useful scale without navigating away; "Open" descends into it.
+ */
+interface NodeSubgraphPreviewProps {
+  subgraphId: string;
+  subgraphName?: string;
+  onOpen: () => void;
+}
+
+export function NodeSubgraphPreview({ subgraphId, subgraphName, onOpen }: NodeSubgraphPreviewProps) {
+  // A preview is a thumbnail — cap the payload so even a 1000-node sub-graph
+  // loads fast and stays legible. "Open" shows the full thing.
+  const PREVIEW_LIMIT = 300;
+  const { data: wiData, loading } = useQuery(GET_WORK_ITEMS, {
+    variables: { where: { graph: { id: subgraphId } }, options: { limit: PREVIEW_LIMIT } },
+    fetchPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
+  });
+  const { data: edgeData } = useQuery(GET_EDGES, {
+    variables: { where: { source: { graph: { id: subgraphId } } }, options: { limit: 600 } },
+    fetchPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
+  });
+
+  const nodes: any[] = wiData?.workItems ?? [];
+  const edges: any[] = edgeData?.edges ?? [];
+
+  if (loading && nodes.length === 0) {
+    return <div className="text-sm text-gray-500 p-4">Loading diagram…</div>;
+  }
+  if (nodes.length === 0) {
+    return (
+      <div className="p-4 space-y-3">
+        <div className="text-sm text-gray-500">This sub-graph is empty.</div>
+        <OpenButton onOpen={onOpen} name={subgraphName} />
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Bounds from persisted positions, scaled to fit the preview viewBox.
+  const W = 320;
+  const H = 240;
+  const pad = 30;
+  const xs = nodes.map((n) => n.positionX ?? 0);
+  const ys = nodes.map((n) => n.positionY ?? 0);
+  const minX = Math.min(...xs);
+  const maxX = Math.max(...xs);
+  const minY = Math.min(...ys);
+  const maxY = Math.max(...ys);
+  const spanX = Math.max(1, maxX - minX);
+  const spanY = Math.max(1, maxY - minY);
+  const scale = Math.min((W - pad * 2) / spanX, (H - pad * 2) / spanY);
+  const ox = (W - spanX * scale) / 2;
+  const oy = (H - spanY * scale) / 2;
+  const toX = (x: number) => ox + (x - minX) * scale;
+  const toY = (y: number) => oy + (y - minY) * scale;
+  const byId: Record<string, any> = {};
+  for (const n of nodes) byId[n.id] = n;
+
+  // Cap labels so a dense sub-graph stays readable, not a wall of text.
+  const showLabels = nodes.length <= 40;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="p-3 space-y-3">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+        <span className="text-xs text-gray-400">{nodes.length} nodes · {edges.length} edges</span>
+        <OpenButton onOpen={onOpen} name={subgraphName} />
+      </div>
+      <svg viewBox={`0 0 ${W} ${H}`} className="w-full rounded-lg bg-gray-900/60 border border-gray-700/50" data-testid="subgraph-preview">
+        {edges.map((e) => {
+          const s = byId[typeof e.source === 'object' ? e.source?.id : e.source];
+          const t = byId[typeof e.target === 'object' ? e.target?.id : e.target];
+          if (!s || !t) return null;
+          return (
+            <line key={e.id} x1={toX(s.positionX ?? 0)} y1={toY(s.positionY ?? 0)} x2={toX(t.positionX ?? 0)} y2={toY(t.positionY ?? 0)} stroke="#4b5563" strokeWidth={0.75} strokeOpacity={0.6} />
+          );
+        })}
+        {nodes.map((n) => {
+          const color = getTypeConfig(n.type as WorkItemType).hexColor;
+          const x = toX(n.positionX ?? 0);
+          const y = toY(n.positionY ?? 0);
+          return (
+            <g key={n.id}>
+              <circle cx={x} cy={y} r={3.5} fill={color} fillOpacity={0.9} />
+              {showLabels && (
+                <text x={x + 5} y={y + 3} fontSize={6} fill="#cbd5e1">
+                  {String(n.title).slice(0, 18)}
+                </text>
+              )}
+            </g>
+          );
+        })}
+      </svg>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function OpenButton({ onOpen, name }: { onOpen: () => void; name?: string }) {
+  return (
+    <button
+      onClick={onOpen}
+      className="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-indigo-300 hover:text-white bg-indigo-500/20 hover:bg-indigo-500/40 border border-indigo-400/30 rounded-lg px-2.5 py-1 transition-colors"
+      title={name ? `Open ${name}` : 'Open sub-graph'}
+    >
+      <Maximize2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+      Open
+    </button>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/SafeGraphVisualization.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/SafeGraphVisualization.tsx
@@ -1,19 +1,24 @@
 import { GraphErrorBoundary } from './GraphErrorBoundary';
 import { InteractiveGraphVisualization } from './InteractiveGraphVisualization';
+import type { WorkItem } from '../types/graph';
 
 /**
  * Wrapper component that adds error handling to the graph visualization
  * without modifying the core InteractiveGraphVisualization component.
  * This prevents breaking the UI when implementing error handling.
  */
-export function SafeGraphVisualization() {
+interface SafeGraphVisualizationProps {
+  onNodeSelected?: (node: WorkItem | null) => void;
+}
+
+export function SafeGraphVisualization({ onNodeSelected }: SafeGraphVisualizationProps = {}) {
   return (
     <GraphErrorBoundary
       onError={() => {
         // Error logged by boundary for debugging
       }}
     >
-      <InteractiveGraphVisualization />
+      <InteractiveGraphVisualization onNodeSelected={onNodeSelected} />
     </GraphErrorBoundary>
   );
-}
+}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/pages/Workspace.tsx b/packages/web/src/pages/Workspace.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { Plus, Share2, Users, Table, Activity, Network, CreditCard, Columns, Cal
 import { createPortal } from 'react-dom';
 import { useQuery } from '@apollo/client';
 import { SafeGraphVisualization } from '../components/SafeGraphVisualization';
+import { NodeInspector } from '../components/NodeInspector';
 import { GraphSelector } from '../components/GraphSelector';
 import { MiniMap } from '../components/MiniMap';
 import { CreateWorkItemModal } from '../components/CreateWorkItemModal';
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ export function Workspace() {
   const [showMiniMap, setShowMiniMap] = useState(true);
   const { currentGraph, availableGraphs, getBreadcrumb, ascendTo } = useGraph();
   const breadcrumb = getBreadcrumb();
+  const [inspectorNode, setInspectorNode] = useState<any>(null);
   const { currentTeam, currentUser } = useAuth();
   const { health, loading: healthLoading, error: healthError } = useHealthStatus();
 
@@ -375,7 +377,8 @@ export function Workspace() {
             </div>
           </div>
         ) : viewMode === 'graph' ? (
-          <div className="relative h-full">
+          <div className="relative h-full flex">
+           <div className="relative flex-1 min-w-0 h-full">
             {/* Neo4j Connection Warning */}
             {health?.services?.neo4j?.status !== 'healthy' && (
               <div className="absolute top-4 left-4 right-4 z-50">
@@ -397,7 +400,13 @@ export function Workspace() {
                 </div>
               </div>
             )}
-            <SafeGraphVisualization />
+            <SafeGraphVisualization onNodeSelected={setInspectorNode} />
+           </div>
+           {inspectorNode && (
+             <div className="w-96 flex-shrink-0 h-full hidden md:block">
+               <NodeInspector node={inspectorNode} onClose={() => setInspectorNode(null)} />
+             </div>
+           )}
           </div>
         ) : (
           <ViewManager viewMode={viewMode as 'dashboard' | 'table' | 'cards' | 'kanban' | 'gantt' | 'calendar' | 'activity'} />

diff --git a/tests/diagnostics/hierarchy-navigation.spec.ts b/tests/diagnostics/hierarchy-navigation.spec.ts
@@ -52,14 +52,15 @@ test.describe('hierarchy navigation @geometry', () => {
     expect(overview.currentGraphId, 'on the overview graph').toBe(OVERVIEW_ID);
     expect(overview.sheetCount, 'overview has sheet-symbol nodes').toBeGreaterThan(0);
 
-    // Descend: click a sheet node's card.
+    // Descend: click a sheet node's DESCEND glyph (plain card-click now selects
+    // for the inspector; descending is the explicit ⤢ glyph or inspector Open).
     const targetSubgraphId = overview.firstSheetSubgraphId as string;
     await page.evaluate(() => {
       const sheet = [...document.querySelectorAll('.graph-container svg .node')].find(
         (n) => (n as any).__data__?.subgraphId
       ) as SVGGElement | undefined;
-      const bg = (sheet?.querySelector('.node-bg') ?? sheet) as Element | undefined;
-      (bg as any)?.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true }));
+      const glyph = sheet?.querySelector('.node-descend-icon') as Element | undefined;
+      (glyph as any)?.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true }));
     });
     await page.waitForTimeout(5000);