fix(agents): make chat title nullable to eliminate sidebar flicker

The chat title column is now nullable in PostgreSQL. Chats are created
with title = NULL instead of a truncated fallback string. The async LLM
title generator fires whenever title IS NULL, providing a clean
one-way transition from skeleton to real title.

This eliminates the sidebar flicker caused by:
- The fallback-to-generated title swap on first render
- Query invalidations (refetchOnWindowFocus, reconnect, follow-up
  messages) briefly reverting to stale fallback titles

Backend changes:
- Migration makes chats.title nullable, drops 'New Chat' default
- InsertChat no longer accepts a title parameter
- titleInput() triggers on NULL title instead of comparing fallback
- Removed chatTitleFromMessage, fallbackChatTitle, and
  subagentFallbackChatTitle helper functions

Frontend changes:
- Chat.title is now string | null in TypeScript types
- Sidebar renders a shimmer skeleton for null titles
- Search, aria-labels, and TopBar handle null gracefully

coderd/chatd/chatd.go

@@ -167,7 +167,6 @@ type CreateOptions struct {
 	WorkspaceID        uuid.NullUUID
 	ParentChatID       uuid.NullUUID
 	RootChatID         uuid.NullUUID
-	Title              string
 	ModelConfigID      uuid.UUID
 	SystemPrompt       string
 	InitialUserContent []fantasy.Content
@@ -238,9 +237,6 @@ func (p *Server) CreateChat(ctx context.Context, opts CreateOptions) (database.C
 	if opts.OwnerID == uuid.Nil {
 		return database.Chat{}, xerrors.New("owner_id is required")
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(opts.Title) == "" {
-		return database.Chat{}, xerrors.New("title is required")
-	}
 	if len(opts.InitialUserContent) == 0 {
 		return database.Chat{}, xerrors.New("initial user content is required")
 	}
@@ -253,7 +249,6 @@ func (p *Server) CreateChat(ctx context.Context, opts CreateOptions) (database.C
 			ParentChatID:      opts.ParentChatID,
 			RootChatID:        opts.RootChatID,
 			LastModelConfigID: opts.ModelConfigID,
-			Title:             opts.Title,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			return xerrors.Errorf("insert chat: %w", err)
@@ -1601,11 +1596,13 @@ func (p *Server) publishChatPubsubEvent(chat database.Chat, kind coderdpubsub.Ch
 	sdkChat := codersdk.Chat{
 		ID:        chat.ID,
 		OwnerID:   chat.OwnerID,
-		Title:     chat.Title,
 		Status:    codersdk.ChatStatus(chat.Status),
 		CreatedAt: chat.CreatedAt,
 		UpdatedAt: chat.UpdatedAt,
 	}
+	if chat.Title.Valid {
+		sdkChat.Title = &chat.Title.String
+	}
 	if chat.ParentChatID.Valid {
 		parentChatID := chat.ParentChatID.UUID
 		sdkChat.ParentChatID = &parentChatID
@@ -2030,7 +2027,7 @@ func (p *Server) processChat(ctx context.Context, chat database.Chat) {
 		if p.webpushDispatcher != nil && p.webpushDispatcher.PublicKey() != "" && !chat.ParentChatID.Valid && !wasInterrupted {
 			if status == database.ChatStatusWaiting || status == database.ChatStatusError {
 				pushMsg := codersdk.WebpushMessage{
-					Title: chat.Title,
+					Title: chat.Title.String,
 					Body:  "Agent has finished running.",
 					Icon:  "/favicon.ico",
 					Data:  map[string]string{"url": fmt.Sprintf("/agents/%s", chat.ID)},

coderd/chatd/chatd_test.go

@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ func TestInterruptChatBroadcastsStatusAcrossInstances(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replicaA.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "interrupt-me",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -249,7 +248,6 @@ func TestInterruptChatClearsWorkerInDatabase(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "db-transition",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -285,7 +283,6 @@ func TestUpdateChatHeartbeatRequiresOwnership(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "heartbeat-ownership",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -327,7 +324,6 @@ func TestSendMessageQueueBehaviorQueuesWhenBusy(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "queue-when-busy",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -378,7 +374,6 @@ func TestSendMessageInterruptBehaviorQueuesAndInterruptsWhenBusy(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "interrupt-when-busy",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -437,7 +432,6 @@ func TestEditMessageUpdatesAndTruncatesAndClearsQueue(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "edit-message",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "original"}},
 	})
@@ -525,7 +519,6 @@ func TestEditMessageRejectsMissingMessage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "missing-edited-message",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -551,7 +544,6 @@ func TestEditMessageRejectsNonUserMessage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "non-user-edited-message",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -603,7 +595,6 @@ func TestRecoverStaleChatsPeriodically(t *testing.T) {
 	deadWorkerID := uuid.New()
 	chat, err := db.InsertChat(ctx, database.InsertChatParams{
 		OwnerID:           user.ID,
-		Title:             "stale-recovery-periodic",
 		LastModelConfigID: model.ID,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -648,7 +639,6 @@ func TestRecoverStaleChatsPeriodically(t *testing.T) {
 	deadWorkerID2 := uuid.New()
 	chat2, err := db.InsertChat(ctx, database.InsertChatParams{
 		OwnerID:           user.ID,
-		Title:             "stale-recovery-periodic-2",
 		LastModelConfigID: model.ID,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -686,7 +676,6 @@ func TestNewReplicaRecoversStaleChatFromDeadReplica(t *testing.T) {
 	deadReplicaID := uuid.New()
 	chat, err := db.InsertChat(ctx, database.InsertChatParams{
 		OwnerID:           user.ID,
-		Title:             "orphaned-chat",
 		LastModelConfigID: model.ID,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -728,7 +717,6 @@ func TestWaitingChatsAreNotRecoveredAsStale(t *testing.T) {
 	// by stale recovery.
 	chat, err := db.InsertChat(ctx, database.InsertChatParams{
 		OwnerID:           user.ID,
-		Title:             "waiting-chat",
 		LastModelConfigID: model.ID,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -770,7 +758,6 @@ func TestUpdateChatStatusPersistsLastError(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := db.InsertChat(ctx, database.InsertChatParams{
 		OwnerID:           user.ID,
-		Title:             "error-persisted",
 		LastModelConfigID: model.ID,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -825,7 +812,6 @@ func TestSubscribeSnapshotIncludesStatusEvent(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "status-snapshot",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -854,7 +840,6 @@ func TestSubscribeNoPubsubNoDuplicateMessageParts(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "no-dup-parts",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -894,7 +879,6 @@ func TestSubscribeAfterMessageID(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a chat — this inserts one initial "user" message.
 	chat, err := replica.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "after-id-test",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "first"}},
 	})
@@ -1423,7 +1407,6 @@ func TestInterruptChatDoesNotSendWebPushNotification(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := server.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "interrupt-no-push",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -1528,7 +1511,6 @@ func TestSuccessfulChatSendsWebPushWithNavigationData(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := server.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "push-nav-test",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -1612,7 +1594,6 @@ func TestCloseDuringShutdownContextCanceledShouldRetryOnNewReplica(t *testing.T)
 
 	chat, err := serverA.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "shutdown-retry",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})

coderd/chatd/chattool/startworkspace_test.go

@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ func TestStartWorkspace(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(ctx, database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.ID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelCfg.ID,
-			Title:             "test-no-workspace",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -78,7 +77,6 @@ func TestStartWorkspace(t *testing.T) {
 			OwnerID:           user.ID,
 			WorkspaceID:       uuid.NullUUID{UUID: ws.ID, Valid: true},
 			LastModelConfigID: modelCfg.ID,
-			Title:             "test-already-running",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -133,7 +131,6 @@ func TestStartWorkspace(t *testing.T) {
 			OwnerID:           user.ID,
 			WorkspaceID:       uuid.NullUUID{UUID: ws.ID, Valid: true},
 			LastModelConfigID: modelCfg.ID,
-			Title:             "test-stopped-workspace",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 

coderd/chatd/subagent.go

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (p *Server) subagentTools(currentChat func() database.Chat) []fantasy.Agent
 
 				return toolJSONResponse(map[string]any{
 					"chat_id": childChat.ID.String(),
-					"title":   childChat.Title,
+					"title":   childChat.Title.String,
 					"status":  string(childChat.Status),
 				}), nil
 			},
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func (p *Server) subagentTools(currentChat func() database.Chat) []fantasy.Agent
 
 				return toolJSONResponse(map[string]any{
 					"chat_id": targetChatID.String(),
-					"title":   targetChat.Title,
+					"title":   targetChat.Title.String,
 					"report":  report,
 					"status":  string(targetChat.Status),
 				}), nil
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func (p *Server) subagentTools(currentChat func() database.Chat) []fantasy.Agent
 
 				return toolJSONResponse(map[string]any{
 					"chat_id":     targetChatID.String(),
-					"title":       targetChat.Title,
+					"title":       targetChat.Title.String,
 					"status":      string(targetChat.Status),
 					"interrupted": args.Interrupt,
 				}), nil
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func (p *Server) subagentTools(currentChat func() database.Chat) []fantasy.Agent
 
 				return toolJSONResponse(map[string]any{
 					"chat_id":    targetChatID.String(),
-					"title":      targetChat.Title,
+					"title":      targetChat.Title.String,
 					"terminated": true,
 					"status":     string(targetChat.Status),
 				}), nil
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ func (p *Server) createChildSubagentChat(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	parent database.Chat,
 	prompt string,
-	title string,
+	_ string,
 ) (database.Chat, error) {
 	if parent.ParentChatID.Valid {
 		return database.Chat{}, xerrors.New("delegated chats cannot create child subagents")
@@ -234,11 +234,6 @@ func (p *Server) createChildSubagentChat(
 		return database.Chat{}, xerrors.New("prompt is required")
 	}
 
-	title = strings.TrimSpace(title)
-	if title == "" {
-		title = subagentFallbackChatTitle(prompt)
-	}
-
 	rootChatID := parent.ID
 	if parent.RootChatID.Valid {
 		rootChatID = parent.RootChatID.UUID
@@ -259,7 +254,6 @@ func (p *Server) createChildSubagentChat(
 			Valid: true,
 		},
 		ModelConfigID:      parent.LastModelConfigID,
-		Title:              title,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: prompt}},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -494,42 +488,6 @@ func listSubagentDescendants(
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-func subagentFallbackChatTitle(message string) string {
-	const maxWords = 6
-	const maxRunes = 80
-
-	words := strings.Fields(message)
-	if len(words) == 0 {
-		return "New Chat"
-	}
-
-	truncated := false
-	if len(words) > maxWords {
-		words = words[:maxWords]
-		truncated = true
-	}
-
-	title := strings.Join(words, " ")
-	if truncated {
-		title += "..."
-	}
-
-	return subagentTruncateRunes(title, maxRunes)
-}
-
-func subagentTruncateRunes(value string, maxRunes int) string {
-	if maxRunes <= 0 {
-		return ""
-	}
-
-	runes := []rune(value)
-	if len(runes) <= maxRunes {
-		return value
-	}
-
-	return string(runes[:maxRunes])
-}
-
 func toolJSONResponse(result map[string]any) fantasy.ToolResponse {
 	data, err := json.Marshal(result)
 	if err != nil {

coderd/chatd/title.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package chatd
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"database/sql"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -92,13 +93,13 @@ func (p *Server) maybeGenerateChatTitle(
 			)
 			continue
 		}
-		if title == "" || title == chat.Title {
+		if title == "" {
 			return
 		}
 
 		_, err = p.db.UpdateChatByID(ctx, database.UpdateChatByIDParams{
 			ID:    chat.ID,
-			Title: title,
+			Title: sql.NullString{String: title, Valid: true},
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Warn(ctx, "failed to update generated chat title",
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ func (p *Server) maybeGenerateChatTitle(
 			)
 			return
 		}
-		chat.Title = title
+		chat.Title = sql.NullString{String: title, Valid: true}
 		p.publishChatPubsubEvent(chat, coderdpubsub.ChatEventKindTitleChange)
 		return
 	}
@@ -167,12 +168,17 @@ func generateTitle(
 
 // titleInput returns the first user message text and whether title
 // generation should proceed. It returns false when the chat already
-// has assistant/tool replies, has more than one visible user message,
-// or the current title doesn't look like a candidate for replacement.
+// has a title set, has assistant/tool replies, or no user text is
+// available.
 func titleInput(
 	chat database.Chat,
 	messages []database.ChatMessage,
 ) (string, bool) {
+	// Only generate a title if one hasn't been set yet.
+	if chat.Title.Valid {
+		return "", false
+	}
+
 	userCount := 0
 	firstUserText := ""
 
@@ -200,16 +206,7 @@ func titleInput(
 		}
 	}
 
-	if userCount != 1 || firstUserText == "" {
-		return "", false
-	}
-
-	currentTitle := strings.TrimSpace(chat.Title)
-	if currentTitle == "" {
-		return firstUserText, true
-	}
-
-	if currentTitle != fallbackChatTitle(firstUserText) {
+	if userCount == 0 || firstUserText == "" {
 		return "", false
 	}
 
@@ -227,29 +224,6 @@ func normalizeTitleOutput(title string) string {
 	return truncateRunes(title, 80)
 }
 
-func fallbackChatTitle(message string) string {
-	const maxWords = 6
-	const maxRunes = 80
-
-	words := strings.Fields(message)
-	if len(words) == 0 {
-		return "New Chat"
-	}
-
-	truncated := false
-	if len(words) > maxWords {
-		words = words[:maxWords]
-		truncated = true
-	}
-
-	title := strings.Join(words, " ")
-	if truncated {
-		title += "…"
-	}
-
-	return truncateRunes(title, maxRunes)
-}
-
 // contentBlocksToText concatenates the text parts of content blocks
 // into a single space-separated string.
 func contentBlocksToText(content []fantasy.Content) string {

coderd/chats.go

@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ func (api *API) postChats(rw http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	contentBlocks, contentFileIDs, titleSource, inputError := createChatInputFromRequest(ctx, api.Database, req)
+	contentBlocks, contentFileIDs, _, inputError := createChatInputFromRequest(ctx, api.Database, req)
 	if inputError != nil {
 		httpapi.Write(ctx, rw, http.StatusBadRequest, *inputError)
 		return
@@ -274,8 +274,6 @@ func (api *API) postChats(rw http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	title := chatTitleFromMessage(titleSource)
-
 	if api.chatDaemon == nil {
 		httpapi.Write(ctx, rw, http.StatusInternalServerError, codersdk.Response{
 			Message: "Chat processor is unavailable.",
@@ -293,7 +291,6 @@ func (api *API) postChats(rw http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	chat, err := api.chatDaemon.CreateChat(ctx, chatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            apiKey.UserID,
 		WorkspaceID:        workspaceSelection.WorkspaceID,
-		Title:              title,
 		ModelConfigID:      modelConfigID,
 		SystemPrompt:       api.resolvedChatSystemPrompt(ctx),
 		InitialUserContent: contentBlocks,
@@ -2586,49 +2583,19 @@ func createChatInputFromParts(
 	return content, fileIDs, titleSource, nil
 }
 
-func chatTitleFromMessage(message string) string {
-	const maxWords = 6
-	const maxRunes = 80
-	words := strings.Fields(message)
-	if len(words) == 0 {
-		return "New Chat"
-	}
-	truncated := false
-	if len(words) > maxWords {
-		words = words[:maxWords]
-		truncated = true
-	}
-	title := strings.Join(words, " ")
-	if truncated {
-		title += "…"
-	}
-	return truncateRunes(title, maxRunes)
-}
-
-func truncateRunes(value string, maxLen int) string {
-	if maxLen <= 0 {
-		return ""
-	}
-
-	runes := []rune(value)
-	if len(runes) <= maxLen {
-		return value
-	}
-
-	return string(runes[:maxLen])
-}
-
 func convertChat(c database.Chat, diffStatus *database.ChatDiffStatus) codersdk.Chat {
 	chat := codersdk.Chat{
 		ID:                c.ID,
 		OwnerID:           c.OwnerID,
 		LastModelConfigID: c.LastModelConfigID,
-		Title:             c.Title,
 		Status:            codersdk.ChatStatus(c.Status),
 		Archived:          c.Archived,
 		CreatedAt:         c.CreatedAt,
 		UpdatedAt:         c.UpdatedAt,
 	}
+	if c.Title.Valid {
+		chat.Title = &c.Title.String
+	}
 	if c.LastError.Valid {
 		chat.LastError = &c.LastError.String
 	}

coderd/chats_test.go

@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func TestPostChats(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NotEqual(t, uuid.Nil, chat.ID)
 		require.Equal(t, user.UserID, chat.OwnerID)
 		require.Equal(t, modelConfig.ID, chat.LastModelConfigID)
-		require.Equal(t, "hello from chats route tests", chat.Title)
+		require.Nil(t, chat.Title)
 		require.Equal(t, codersdk.ChatStatusPending, chat.Status)
 		require.NotZero(t, chat.CreatedAt)
 		require.NotZero(t, chat.UpdatedAt)
@@ -321,7 +321,6 @@ func TestListChats(t *testing.T) {
 		memberDBChat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           member.ID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "member chat only",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -351,8 +350,8 @@ func TestListChats(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Contains(t, chatsByID, firstChatA.ID)
 		require.Contains(t, chatsByID, firstChatB.ID)
 		require.NotContains(t, chatsByID, memberDBChat.ID)
-		require.Equal(t, "first owner chat", chatsByID[firstChatA.ID].Title)
-		require.Equal(t, "second owner chat", chatsByID[firstChatB.ID].Title)
+		require.Nil(t, chatsByID[firstChatA.ID].Title)
+		require.Nil(t, chatsByID[firstChatB.ID].Title)
 
 		for i := 1; i < len(chats); i++ {
 			require.False(t, chats[i-1].UpdatedAt.Before(chats[i].UpdatedAt))
@@ -369,7 +368,7 @@ func TestListChats(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Len(t, memberChats, 1)
 		require.Equal(t, memberDBChat.ID, memberChats[0].ID)
 		require.Equal(t, member.ID, memberChats[0].OwnerID)
-		require.Equal(t, "member chat only", memberChats[0].Title)
+		require.Nil(t, memberChats[0].Title)
 		require.NotNil(t, memberChats[0].RootChatID)
 		require.Equal(t, memberChats[0].ID, *memberChats[0].RootChatID)
 		require.NotNil(t, memberChats[0].DiffStatus)
@@ -1196,7 +1195,7 @@ func TestGetChat(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, createdChat.ID, chatWithMessages.Chat.ID)
 		require.Equal(t, firstUser.UserID, chatWithMessages.Chat.OwnerID)
 		require.Equal(t, modelConfig.ID, chatWithMessages.Chat.LastModelConfigID)
-		require.Equal(t, "get chat route payload", chatWithMessages.Chat.Title)
+		require.Nil(t, chatWithMessages.Chat.Title)
 		require.NotZero(t, chatWithMessages.Chat.CreatedAt)
 		require.NotZero(t, chatWithMessages.Chat.UpdatedAt)
 		require.NotEmpty(t, chatWithMessages.Messages)
@@ -1337,7 +1336,6 @@ func TestArchiveChat(t *testing.T) {
 		child1, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "child 1",
 			ParentChatID:      uuid.NullUUID{UUID: parentChat.ID, Valid: true},
 			RootChatID:        uuid.NullUUID{UUID: parentChat.ID, Valid: true},
 		})
@@ -1346,7 +1344,6 @@ func TestArchiveChat(t *testing.T) {
 		child2, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "child 2",
 			ParentChatID:      uuid.NullUUID{UUID: parentChat.ID, Valid: true},
 			RootChatID:        uuid.NullUUID{UUID: parentChat.ID, Valid: true},
 		})
@@ -1971,9 +1968,9 @@ func TestChatMessageWithFileReferences(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.NotEqual(t, uuid.Nil, chat.ID)
 
-		// Title is derived from the text parts. For file-references
-		// the formatted text becomes the title source.
-		require.NotEmpty(t, chat.Title)
+		// Title is not set on creation; it is populated
+		// asynchronously by the chat daemon.
+		require.Nil(t, chat.Title)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -2108,8 +2105,9 @@ func TestChatMessageWithFiles(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		// With no text, chatTitleFromMessage("") returns "New Chat".
-		require.Equal(t, "New Chat", chat.Title)
+		// Title is not set on creation; it is populated
+		// asynchronously by the chat daemon.
+		require.Nil(t, chat.Title)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("InvalidFileID", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -2476,7 +2474,6 @@ func TestInterruptChat(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "interrupt route test",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -2544,7 +2541,6 @@ func TestGetChatDiffStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		noCachedStatusChat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "get diff status route no cache",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -2563,7 +2559,6 @@ func TestGetChatDiffStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		cachedStatusChat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "get diff status route cached",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -2666,7 +2661,6 @@ func TestGetChatDiffContents(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "diff contents with cached repository reference",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -2761,7 +2755,6 @@ func TestDeleteChatQueuedMessage(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "delete queued message route test",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -2808,7 +2801,6 @@ func TestDeleteChatQueuedMessage(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "delete queued invalid id",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -2842,7 +2834,6 @@ func TestPromoteChatQueuedMessage(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "promote queued message route test",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -2907,7 +2898,6 @@ func TestPromoteChatQueuedMessage(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(dbauthz.AsSystemRestricted(ctx), database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.UserID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "promote queued invalid id",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 

coderd/database/dbauthz/dbauthz_test.go

@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ func (s *MethodTestSuite) TestChats() {
 		chat := testutil.Fake(s.T(), faker, database.Chat{})
 		arg := database.UpdateChatByIDParams{
 			ID:    chat.ID,
-			Title: "Updated title",
+			Title: sql.NullString{String: "Updated title", Valid: true},
 		}
 		dbm.EXPECT().GetChatByID(gomock.Any(), chat.ID).Return(chat, nil).AnyTimes()
 		dbm.EXPECT().UpdateChatByID(gomock.Any(), arg).Return(chat, nil).AnyTimes()

coderd/database/dump.sql

@@ -1283,7 +1283,7 @@ CREATE TABLE chats (
     id uuid DEFAULT gen_random_uuid() NOT NULL,
     owner_id uuid NOT NULL,
     workspace_id uuid,
-    title text DEFAULT 'New Chat'::text NOT NULL,
+    title text,
     status chat_status DEFAULT 'waiting'::chat_status NOT NULL,
     worker_id uuid,
     started_at timestamp with time zone,

coderd/database/migrations/000431_nullable_chat_title.down.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+UPDATE chats SET title = 'New Chat' WHERE title IS NULL;
+ALTER TABLE chats ALTER COLUMN title SET NOT NULL;
+ALTER TABLE chats ALTER COLUMN title SET DEFAULT 'New Chat';

coderd/database/migrations/000431_nullable_chat_title.up.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+ALTER TABLE chats ALTER COLUMN title DROP NOT NULL;
+ALTER TABLE chats ALTER COLUMN title DROP DEFAULT;

coderd/database/models.go

@@ -3896,7 +3896,7 @@ type Chat struct {
 	ID                uuid.UUID      `db:"id" json:"id"`
 	OwnerID           uuid.UUID      `db:"owner_id" json:"owner_id"`
 	WorkspaceID       uuid.NullUUID  `db:"workspace_id" json:"workspace_id"`
-	Title             string         `db:"title" json:"title"`
+	Title             sql.NullString `db:"title" json:"title"`
 	Status            ChatStatus     `db:"status" json:"status"`
 	WorkerID          uuid.NullUUID  `db:"worker_id" json:"worker_id"`
 	StartedAt         sql.NullTime   `db:"started_at" json:"started_at"`

coderd/database/querier_test.go

@@ -8957,7 +8957,6 @@ func TestGetChatMessagesForPromptByChatID(t *testing.T) {
 		chat, err := db.InsertChat(ctx, database.InsertChatParams{
 			OwnerID:           user.ID,
 			LastModelConfigID: modelCfg.ID,
-			Title:             "test-chat-" + uuid.NewString(),
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		return chat

coderd/database/queries.sql.go

@@ -3593,15 +3593,13 @@ INSERT INTO chats (
     workspace_id,
     parent_chat_id,
     root_chat_id,
-    last_model_config_id,
-    title
+    last_model_config_id
 ) VALUES (
     $1::uuid,
     $2::uuid,
     $3::uuid,
     $4::uuid,
-    $5::uuid,
-    $6::text
+    $5::uuid
 )
 RETURNING
     id, owner_id, workspace_id, title, status, worker_id, started_at, heartbeat_at, created_at, updated_at, parent_chat_id, root_chat_id, last_model_config_id, archived, last_error
@@ -3613,7 +3611,6 @@ type InsertChatParams struct {
 	ParentChatID      uuid.NullUUID `db:"parent_chat_id" json:"parent_chat_id"`
 	RootChatID        uuid.NullUUID `db:"root_chat_id" json:"root_chat_id"`
 	LastModelConfigID uuid.UUID     `db:"last_model_config_id" json:"last_model_config_id"`
-	Title             string        `db:"title" json:"title"`
 }
 
 func (q *sqlQuerier) InsertChat(ctx context.Context, arg InsertChatParams) (Chat, error) {
@@ -3623,7 +3620,6 @@ func (q *sqlQuerier) InsertChat(ctx context.Context, arg InsertChatParams) (Chat
 		arg.ParentChatID,
 		arg.RootChatID,
 		arg.LastModelConfigID,
-		arg.Title,
 	)
 	var i Chat
 	err := row.Scan(
@@ -3910,8 +3906,8 @@ RETURNING
 `
 
 type UpdateChatByIDParams struct {
-	Title string    `db:"title" json:"title"`
-	ID    uuid.UUID `db:"id" json:"id"`
+	Title sql.NullString `db:"title" json:"title"`
+	ID    uuid.UUID      `db:"id" json:"id"`
 }
 
 func (q *sqlQuerier) UpdateChatByID(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateChatByIDParams) (Chat, error) {

coderd/database/queries/chats.sql

@@ -167,15 +167,13 @@ INSERT INTO chats (
     workspace_id,
     parent_chat_id,
     root_chat_id,
-    last_model_config_id,
-    title
+    last_model_config_id
 ) VALUES (
     @owner_id::uuid,
     sqlc.narg('workspace_id')::uuid,
     sqlc.narg('parent_chat_id')::uuid,
     sqlc.narg('root_chat_id')::uuid,
-    @last_model_config_id::uuid,
-    @title::text
+    @last_model_config_id::uuid
 )
 RETURNING
     *;
@@ -237,7 +235,7 @@ RETURNING
 UPDATE
     chats
 SET
-    title = @title::text,
+    title = sqlc.narg('title')::text,
     updated_at = NOW()
 WHERE
     id = @id::uuid

coderd/httpmw/chatparam_test.go

@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ func TestChatParam(t *testing.T) {
 			ParentChatID:      uuid.NullUUID{},
 			RootChatID:        uuid.NullUUID{},
 			LastModelConfigID: modelConfig.ID,
-			Title:             "Test chat",
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 

codersdk/chats.go

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ type Chat struct {
 	ParentChatID      *uuid.UUID      `json:"parent_chat_id,omitempty" format:"uuid"`
 	RootChatID        *uuid.UUID      `json:"root_chat_id,omitempty" format:"uuid"`
 	LastModelConfigID uuid.UUID       `json:"last_model_config_id" format:"uuid"`
-	Title             string          `json:"title"`
+	Title             *string         `json:"title"`
 	Status            ChatStatus      `json:"status"`
 	LastError         *string         `json:"last_error"`
 	DiffStatus        *ChatDiffStatus `json:"diff_status,omitempty"`

enterprise/coderd/chatd/chatd_test.go

@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRelayReconnectsOnDrop(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a chat and mark it as running on a remote worker.
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "relay-reconnect",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -244,7 +243,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRelayAsyncDoesNotBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a chat in pending status.
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "relay-async-nonblock",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -351,7 +349,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRelaySnapshotDelivered(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a chat already running on a remote worker.
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "relay-snapshot",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -464,7 +461,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRelayStaleDialDiscardedAfterInterrupt(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "stale-dial-test",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -627,7 +623,6 @@ func TestSubscribeCancelDuringInFlightDial(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "cancel-inflight-dial",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -725,7 +720,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRelayRunningToRunningSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "running-to-running",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -847,7 +841,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRelayFailedDialRetries(t *testing.T) {
 	// synchronous relay.
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "failed-dial-retry",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -957,7 +950,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRunningLocalWorkerClosesRelay(t *testing.T) {
 	// opens a synchronous relay.
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "local-worker-closes-relay",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})
@@ -1065,7 +1057,6 @@ func TestSubscribeRelayMultipleReconnects(t *testing.T) {
 	// Subscribe opens a synchronous relay immediately.
 	chat, err := subscriber.CreateChat(ctx, osschatd.CreateOptions{
 		OwnerID:            user.ID,
-		Title:              "multiple-reconnects",
 		ModelConfigID:      model.ID,
 		InitialUserContent: []fantasy.Content{fantasy.TextContent{Text: "hello"}},
 	})

site/src/api/typesGenerated.ts

@@ -1059,7 +1059,7 @@ export interface Chat {
 	readonly parent_chat_id?: string;
 	readonly root_chat_id?: string;
 	readonly last_model_config_id: string;
-	readonly title: string;
+	readonly title: string | null;
 	readonly status: ChatStatus;
 	readonly last_error: string | null;
 	readonly diff_status?: ChatDiffStatus;

site/src/pages/AgentsPage/AgentDetail.tsx

@@ -957,7 +957,7 @@ const AgentDetail: FC = () => {
 		inputValueRef,
 	});
 
-	const chatTitle = chatQuery.data?.chat?.title;
+	const chatTitle = chatQuery.data?.chat?.title ?? undefined;
 
 	const titleElement = (
 		<title>

site/src/pages/AgentsPage/AgentDetail/TopBar.tsx

@@ -107,7 +107,9 @@ export const AgentDetailTopBar: FC<AgentDetailTopBarProps> = ({
 									className="h-auto max-w-[16rem] rounded-sm px-1 py-0.5 text-xs text-content-secondary shadow-none hover:bg-transparent hover:text-content-primary"
 									onClick={() => onOpenParentChat(parentChat.id)}
 								>
-									<span className="truncate">{parentChat.title}</span>
+									<span className="truncate">
+										{parentChat.title ?? "Untitled"}
+									</span>
 								</Button>
 								<ChevronRightIcon className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-content-secondary/70" />
 							</>

site/src/pages/AgentsPage/AgentsSidebar.tsx

@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ const collectVisibleChatIDs = ({
 	}
 
 	const matchedChatIDs = chats
-		.filter((chat) => chat.title.toLowerCase().includes(search))
+		.filter((chat) => (chat.title ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(search))
 		.map((chat) => chat.id);
 	if (matchedChatIDs.length === 0) {
 		return new Set<string>();
@@ -413,7 +413,9 @@ const ChatTreeNode = memo<ChatTreeNodeProps>(({ chat, isChildNode }) => {
 											isActive && "font-medium",
 										)}
 									>
-										{chat.title}
+										{chat.title ?? (
+											<span className="inline-block h-3.5 w-24 animate-pulse rounded bg-surface-tertiary" />
+										)}
 									</span>
 								</div>
 								<div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5">
@@ -460,7 +462,7 @@ const ChatTreeNode = memo<ChatTreeNodeProps>(({ chat, isChildNode }) => {
 										size="icon"
 										variant="subtle"
 										className="absolute inset-0 flex h-6 w-7 min-w-0 justify-end rounded-none px-0 opacity-0 text-content-secondary hover:text-content-primary [@media(hover:hover)]:group-hover:opacity-100 data-[state=open]:opacity-100"
-										aria-label={`Open actions for ${chat.title}`}
+										aria-label={`Open actions for ${chat.title ?? "Untitled"}`}
 									>
 										<EllipsisIcon className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
 									</Button>

site/src/serviceWorker.ts

@@ -44,12 +44,15 @@ self.addEventListener("push", (event) => {
 						return;
 					}
 				}
-				return self.registration.showNotification(payload.title, {
-					body: payload.body || "",
-					icon: payload.icon || "/favicon.ico",
-					data: payload.data,
-					tag: payload.tag,
-				});
+				return self.registration.showNotification(
+					payload.title ?? "New notification",
+					{
+						body: payload.body || "",
+						icon: payload.icon || "/favicon.ico",
+						data: payload.data,
+						tag: payload.tag,
+					},
+				);
 			}),
 	);
 });