FEATURE: Kanban view for compatible workflows

README.md

@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ If you are new to the terminology, see:
 - Transition actions presented as buttons per step option
 - Permission model aligned to native Discourse category permissions
 - Workflow discovery list (`/workflow`) with quick filters
+- Kanban view toggle for compatible single-workflow lists
+- Drag/drop transitions in Kanban with legal/illegal drop-zone highlighting
+- Keyboard Kanban transitions on focused cards (`ArrowLeft` / `ArrowRight`) when legal
+- Workflow-level Kanban tags toggle (`show_kanban_tags`, default `true`)
 - Overdue behavior with hierarchy:
   - global default (`workflow_overdue_days_default`)
   - workflow override
@@ -37,7 +41,8 @@ If you are new to the terminology, see:
 2. Go to `Admin -> Plugins -> Discourse Workflow`, create a Workflow, then save it.
 3. Add Workflow Steps (Categories in journey order), then add Step Options (actions/transitions).
 4. Create a Topic in the first step Category and transition it through actions from the topic banner.
-5. Use `/workflow` to view queue state, apply quick filters, and visualize progress.
+5. Use `/workflow` to view queue state, apply quick filters, toggle `List`/`Kanban`, and visualize progress.
+6. In Kanban, click a card to open the topic, drag cards to legal target steps, or use keyboard arrows on focused cards.
 
 ## Setup
 
@@ -61,6 +66,10 @@ You can change the label of an Option in `Admin -> Customize -> Text`.
 
 A good range of Options is seeded by default, but you can customize the text as needed.
 
+Workflow-level Kanban controls:
+
+- `show_kanban_tags`: controls whether tags render on Kanban cards below the title. Default is enabled.
+
 ### Overdue setup hierarchy
 
 - Global default: `workflow_overdue_days_default`
@@ -69,6 +78,21 @@ A good range of Options is seeded by default, but you can customize the text as
 
 Resolution order is `step -> workflow -> global`. A value of `0` means overdue behavior is disabled at that level.
 
+### Kanban compatibility and behavior
+
+Kanban view is shown when the current `/workflow` list is scoped to a single compatible workflow.
+
+Compatibility requires:
+
+- at least one step
+- a single start step at position `1`
+- unique step positions
+- valid target step IDs
+- all steps reachable from the start step
+- unique directed transition mapping per step pair (`from_step -> to_step`)
+
+For each directed edge, Kanban drag/keyboard transitions are option-agnostic and deterministic.
+
 ### AI actions
 
 You can leverage AI to handle a step. You need `workflow_openai_api_key`, AI enabled on the step, and a prompt including both `{{options}}` and `{{topic}}`. You can also tune behavior with `workflow_ai_model` and `workflow_ai_prompt_system`.
@@ -150,9 +174,11 @@ Permissioning principle:
 
 | Area        | Capability                                                    | Status      | Notes                                                                      |
 | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| Definition  | Workflow definitions (steps/options mapped to categories)     | Implemented | Core admin CRUD is available                                               |
+| Definition  | Workflow definitions (steps/options mapped to categories)     | Implemented | Core admin CRUD plus workflow-level display controls (for example `show_kanban_tags`) |
 | Runtime     | Topic transitions with audit posts                            | Implemented | Transition actions are logged in-topic                                     |
-| Discovery   | Workflow list with quick filters and step filtering           | Implemented | `/workflow` includes semantic quick filters                                |
+| Discovery   | Workflow list with quick filters, list/kanban toggle, and step filtering | Implemented | `/workflow` supports SPA quick filters plus list/kanban switching          |
+| Discovery   | Real-time workflow state-change notifier with refresh CTA     | Planned     | Wire MessageBus updates into `/workflow` with a core-style “press to refresh” flow |
+| Kanban      | Card transitions (drag/drop and keyboard arrows)              | Implemented | Legal transitions only; deterministic directed edge mapping                |
 | SLA         | Overdue thresholds (step -> workflow -> global, `0` disables) | Implemented | Includes overdue list indicator                                            |
 | Permissions | Native Discourse category permissions for acting/commenting   | Implemented | Transition authority still aligns with category create access              |
 | Permissions | Step/action-level transition permissions                      | Partial     | Deliberately lower priority to preserve simple, core-aligned permissioning |
@@ -167,8 +193,9 @@ Permissioning principle:
 
 ### Priority Roadmap
 
-1. Add transition preconditions and clearer per-action validation feedback.
-2. Add escalation automation (reminders/alerts) on top of existing overdue thresholds.
-3. Add first-class reporting and assignment integration for operational workflows.
-4. Add definition lifecycle tooling (import/export/versioning) for safe environment promotion.
-5. Keep advanced step/action permission granularity as a lower-priority enhancement to avoid unnecessary complexity versus native Discourse permissioning.
+1. Add MessageBus-driven workflow state-change notifications with a core-style refresh CTA in `/workflow`.
+2. Add transition preconditions and clearer per-action validation feedback.
+3. Add escalation automation (reminders/alerts) on top of existing overdue thresholds.
+4. Add first-class reporting and assignment integration for operational workflows.
+5. Add definition lifecycle tooling (import/export/versioning) for safe environment promotion.
+6. Keep advanced step/action permission granularity as a lower-priority enhancement to avoid unnecessary complexity versus native Discourse permissioning.

app/controllers/discourse_workflow/admin/workflows_controller.rb

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ def workflow_params
             :description,
             :enabled,
             :overdue_days,
+            :show_kanban_tags,
           )
 
         permitted

app/controllers/discourse_workflow/workflow_action_controller.rb

@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@ def act
       user_id = current_user.id
       option = params[:option]
       cooldown_key = nil
+      successful_transition = false
+
       if user_id.present? && option.present? && topic.present?
         cooldown_key = "discourse-workflow-transition-#{user_id}-#{topic.id}"
-        cooldown_acquired =
-          Discourse.redis.set(cooldown_key, "1", ex: 5, nx: true)
+        cooldown_acquired = Discourse.redis.set(cooldown_key, "1", ex: 5, nx: true)
 
         if !cooldown_acquired
           render json: failed_json
@@ -23,14 +24,17 @@ def act
         successful_transition = Transition.new.transition(user_id, topic, option)
       end
 
-      if !successful_transition && cooldown_key.present?
-        Discourse.redis.del(cooldown_key)
-      end
+      Discourse.redis.del(cooldown_key) if !successful_transition && cooldown_key.present?
 
       if successful_transition
         render json: success_json
       else
-        render json: failed_json
+        render json:
+                 failed_json.merge(
+                   message:
+                     I18n.t("discourse_workflow.errors.transition_failed_stale_state_refreshing"),
+                 ),
+               status: :conflict
       end
     end
   end

app/models/discourse_workflow/workflow.rb

@@ -20,6 +20,53 @@ class Workflow < ActiveRecord::Base
 
     scope :ordered, -> { order("lower(name) ASC") }
 
+    def kanban_compatible?
+      steps = workflow_steps.includes(:workflow_step_options).to_a
+      return false if steps.blank?
+
+      positions = steps.map { |step| step.position.to_i }
+      return false if positions.uniq.size != positions.size
+
+      start_steps = steps.select { |step| step.position.to_i == 1 }
+      return false unless start_steps.one?
+
+      step_ids = steps.map(&:id)
+      step_lookup = step_ids.index_with(true)
+      steps_by_id = steps.index_by(&:id)
+      edges = Hash.new { |hash, key| hash[key] = [] }
+      edge_lookup = {}
+
+      steps.each do |step|
+        step.workflow_step_options.each do |step_option|
+          target_step_id = step_option.target_step_id
+          next if target_step_id.blank?
+          return false if !step_lookup[target_step_id]
+
+          from_position = step.position.to_i
+          to_position = steps_by_id[target_step_id].position.to_i
+          edge_key = [from_position, to_position]
+          return false if edge_lookup[edge_key]
+
+          edge_lookup[edge_key] = true
+          edges[step.id] << target_step_id
+        end
+      end
+
+      start_step_id = start_steps.first.id
+      visited = {}
+      stack = [start_step_id]
+
+      until stack.empty?
+        current_step_id = stack.pop
+        next if visited[current_step_id]
+
+        visited[current_step_id] = true
+        edges[current_step_id].each { |target_step_id| stack << target_step_id }
+      end
+
+      visited.size == step_ids.size
+    end
+
     def validation_warnings
       warnings = []
 
@@ -103,12 +150,13 @@ def slug_generation_required?
 #
 # Table name: workflows
 #
-#  id           :bigint           not null, primary key
-#  description  :text
-#  enabled      :boolean          default(TRUE)
-#  name         :string
-#  overdue_days :integer
-#  slug         :string
-#  created_at   :datetime         not null
-#  updated_at   :datetime         not null
+#  id               :bigint           not null, primary key
+#  description      :text
+#  enabled          :boolean          default(TRUE)
+#  name             :string
+#  overdue_days     :integer
+#  show_kanban_tags :boolean          default(TRUE), not null
+#  slug             :string
+#  created_at       :datetime         not null
+#  updated_at       :datetime         not null
 #

app/models/discourse_workflow/workflow_step.rb

@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 
 module ::DiscourseWorkflow
   class WorkflowStep < ActiveRecord::Base
-    self.table_name = 'workflow_steps'
+    self.table_name = "workflow_steps"
     belongs_to :workflow
+    belongs_to :category
     has_many :workflow_step_options
     has_many :workflow_states
 

app/serializers/discourse_workflow/workflow_serializer.rb

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ class WorkflowSerializer < ApplicationSerializer
               :description,
               :enabled,
               :overdue_days,
+              :show_kanban_tags,
+              :kanban_compatible,
               :workflow_steps_count,
               :starting_category_id,
               :final_category_id,
@@ -34,5 +36,9 @@ def final_category_id
     def validation_warnings
       object.validation_warnings
     end
+
+    def kanban_compatible
+      object.kanban_compatible?
+    end
   end
 end

assets/javascripts/discourse/admin/components/workflow-editor.gjs

@@ -81,6 +81,14 @@ export default class WorkflowEditor extends Component {
     await this.toggleField("enabled");
   }
 
+  @action
+  toggleShowKanbanTags() {
+    this.editingModel.set(
+      "show_kanban_tags",
+      !this.editingModel.show_kanban_tags
+    );
+  }
+
   async toggleField(field, sortWorkflows) {
     this.args.workflow.set(field, !this.args.workflow[field]);
     this.editingModel.set(field, this.args.workflow[field]);
@@ -220,6 +228,43 @@ export default class WorkflowEditor extends Component {
         />
         <p>{{i18n "admin.discourse_workflow.workflows.overdue_days_help"}}</p>
       </div>
+      <div class="control-group">
+        <DToggleSwitch
+          class="workflow-editor__show-kanban-tags"
+          @state={{this.editingModel.show_kanban_tags}}
+          @label="admin.discourse_workflow.workflows.show_kanban_tags"
+          @disabled={{this.editingModel.system}}
+          {{on "click" this.toggleShowKanbanTags}}
+        />
+        <p>{{i18n
+            "admin.discourse_workflow.workflows.show_kanban_tags_help"
+          }}</p>
+      </div>
+      {{#if @workflow.id}}
+        <div class="control-group">
+          <label>{{i18n
+              "admin.discourse_workflow.workflows.kanban_compatibility.label"
+            }}</label>
+          <p>
+            {{#if @workflow.kanban_compatible}}
+              <span class="workflow-editor__kanban-compatible">
+                {{i18n
+                  "admin.discourse_workflow.workflows.kanban_compatibility.compatible"
+                }}
+              </span>
+            {{else}}
+              <span class="workflow-editor__kanban-incompatible">
+                {{i18n
+                  "admin.discourse_workflow.workflows.kanban_compatibility.incompatible"
+                }}
+              </span>
+            {{/if}}
+          </p>
+          <p>{{i18n
+              "admin.discourse_workflow.workflows.kanban_compatibility.help"
+            }}</p>
+        </div>
+      {{/if}}
       {{#if this.showSteps}}
         <div class="control-group">
           <WorkflowStepListEditor

assets/javascripts/discourse/admin/models/workflow.js

@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import RestModel from "discourse/models/rest";
 
-const CREATE_ATTRIBUTES = ["name", "description", "enabled", "overdue_days"];
+const CREATE_ATTRIBUTES = [
+  "name",
+  "description",
+  "enabled",
+  "overdue_days",
+  "show_kanban_tags",
+];
 
 export default class Workflow extends RestModel {
   updateProperties() {

assets/javascripts/discourse/components/workflow-buttons.gjs

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { action } from "@ember/object";
 import { service } from "@ember/service";
 import DButton from "discourse/components/d-button";
 import { ajax } from "discourse/lib/ajax";
-import { popupAjaxError } from "discourse/lib/ajax-error";
+import { extractError } from "discourse/lib/ajax-error";
 import { i18n } from "discourse-i18n";
 
 export default class WorkflowButtonsComponent extends Component {
@@ -55,9 +55,10 @@ export default class WorkflowButtonsComponent extends Component {
           .then(() => {
             this.router.transitionTo("/c/" + this.args.category_id);
           })
-          .catch((err) => {
+          .catch(async (err) => {
             this.transitioningOption = null;
-            popupAjaxError(err);
+            await this.dialog.alert(extractError(err));
+            this.router.refresh();
           });
       },
     });