fix(newos4): dashboard shows the real world model and stops dying after 10 s (v4.6.51)

Two defects, both verified live before/after:

1. The World Model panel always said "Not synthesized yet". The page had a
   renderer for data.worldModel and _collectDashboardData() never set it -- the
   model was right there in WorldModelModule._model. Now collected and mapped to
   the renderer's exact keys (model has modules.loaded/skills.count/memory.nodes,
   the page reads modules/skills/memoryNodes), plus changesSinceLastSnapshot and
   the recent-error sample, with an honest "not synthesized" fallback.

2. The page discarded any payload older than 10 s and its own 5 s auto-refresh
   then showed "Cannot connect to newOS4". Stale payloads are now rendered with
   their age ("Data as of 1:20:14 AM - 3m ago"), labelled amber past 5 min.

Also: the Refresh button wrote a localStorage key nobody read -> the terminal now
listens for it and re-collects (page says "No terminal tab answered" when no
terminal tab is open); storage events repaint instantly; the dead /api/dashboard
fetch (404 on all three paths, 5 s stall) is gone; `dashboard --watch` / `--stop`
re-collects every 5 s; header says the data is this browser's instance.

Verified v4.6.51: panel rows "Synthesized 34s ago / v4.6.51 / 46-22 / 136-3 /
1 nodes 0 edges / OK / none recorded"; 130 s-old payload still renders with
"- 3m ago" and no banner (previously "Cannot connect"); storage event moves the
footer 13s -> 0s; watch timer advances the payload, --stop clears it; mobile
360/390 px all OK; 0 console errors.

6 files changed, 192 insertions, 88 deletions

diff --git a/downloads/dashboard.html b/downloads/dashboard.html
index d4275f2..799bdbb 100644
--- a/downloads/dashboard.html
+++ b/downloads/dashboard.html
@@ -252,6 +252,9 @@
 <header>
     <div>
         <h1>⬡ newOS4 Dashboard</h1>
+        <div class="sub" style="color:var(--text-dim);font-size:0.85rem">
+            Live view of this browser's newOS4 instance · world model, agents, tokens, latency
+        </div>
         <div class="meta">Live system telemetry · <span id="version-display">v?</span></div>
     </div>
     <div class="header-controls">
@@ -353,7 +356,8 @@
     </div>
 
     <div class="last-updated">
-        Last updated: <span id="last-updated-time">--</span> · Auto-refresh every 5s
+        Data as of <span id="last-updated-time">--</span> · updates when the terminal re-collects
+        (<code>dashboard</code> or <code>dashboard --watch</code>)
     </div>
 </div>
 
@@ -395,18 +399,17 @@
         }
     }
 
+    // 2026-10-22: a 10 s cutoff threw away perfectly good data and the page's own auto-refresh
+    // then showed "Cannot connect". Keep whatever exists and let the UI label its age.
     function fetchDashboardData() {
-        // Try to get data from localStorage (set by the AI tool or terminal command)
         try {
             const raw = localStorage.getItem(DASHBOARD_KEY);
-            if (raw) {
-                const data = JSON.parse(raw);
-                if (data && data.timestamp && (Date.now() - data.timestamp < 10000)) {
-                    return data; // fresh enough
-                }
-            }
-        } catch (e) {}
-        return null;
+            if (!raw) return null;
+            const data = JSON.parse(raw);
+            if (!data || !data.timestamp) return null;
+            data._ageMs = Math.max(0, Date.now() - data.timestamp);
+            return data;
+        } catch (e) { return null; }
     }
 
     function renderDashboard(data) {
@@ -418,6 +421,10 @@
 
         hideError();
         updateConnectionStatus(true);
+
+        const ageSec = Math.round((data._ageMs || 0) / 1000);
+        const ageEl = document.getElementById('last-updated-time');
+        if (ageEl) ageEl.textContent = new Date(data.timestamp).toLocaleTimeString() + ' · ' + (ageSec < 90 ? ageSec + 's ago' : Math.round(ageSec / 60) + 'm ago');
         lastData = data;
 
         // Version
@@ -536,26 +543,34 @@
         // ── World Model ──
         const wmDiv = document.getElementById('world-model-metrics');
         const wmData = data.worldModel;
-        if (wmData) {
-            const synTime = wmData.synthesized ? new Date(wmData.synthesized).toLocaleTimeString() : '?';
+        if (wmData && !wmData.missing) {
+            const ageMs = wmData.synthesized ? (Date.now() - new Date(wmData.synthesized).getTime()) : null;
+            const ageStr = ageMs === null ? '?' : (ageMs < 90000 ? Math.round(ageMs / 1000) + 's ago' : Math.round(ageMs / 60000) + 'm ago');
+            const stale = ageMs !== null && ageMs > 5 * 60 * 1000;
             let wmHtml = '';
+            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Synthesized</span><span' + (stale ? ' style="color:var(--yellow,#e0b341)"' : '') + '>' + ageStr + (stale ? ' (stale)' : '') + '</span></div>';
             wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Version</span><span>' + (wmData.version || '?') + '</span></div>';
-            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Last synthesized</span><span>' + synTime + '</span></div>';
-            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Modules</span><span>' + (wmData.modules || '?') + '</span></div>';
-            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Skills</span><span>' + (wmData.skills || 0) + '</span></div>';
-            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Files</span><span>' + (wmData.files || 0) + '</span></div>';
-            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Agents</span><span>' + (wmData.agents || 0) + '</span></div>';
-            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Memory graph</span><span>' + (wmData.memoryNodes || 0) + ' nodes, ' + (wmData.memoryEdges || 0) + ' edges</span></div>';
+            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Modules / skills</span><span>' + (wmData.modules ?? '?') + ' / ' + (wmData.skills ?? '?') + '</span></div>';
+            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Files / agents</span><span>' + (wmData.files ?? '?') + ' / ' + (wmData.agents ?? '?') + '</span></div>';
+            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Memory graph</span><span>' + (wmData.memoryNodes ?? 0) + ' nodes · ' + (wmData.memoryEdges ?? 0) + ' edges</span></div>';
             wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Health</span><span>' + (wmData.health || '?') + '</span></div>';
-            if (wmData.activeProjects && wmData.activeProjects.length > 0) {
-                wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Active projects</span><span>' + wmData.activeProjects.join(', ') + '</span></div>';
+            if (wmData.changes && wmData.changes.length) {
+                wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Since last snapshot</span><span>' + wmData.changes.join('; ') + '</span></div>';
             }
-            if (wmData.recent && wmData.recent.length > 0) {
-                wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Recent changes</span><span>' + wmData.recent.join('; ') + '</span></div>';
+            if (wmData.errors && wmData.errors.length) {
+                wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Recent errors</span><span>' + wmData.errors.join(' | ') + '</span></div>';
+            } else {
+                wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Recent errors</span><span>✅ none recorded</span></div>';
             }
+            if (wmData.recent && wmData.recent.length) {
+                wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row"><span>Current</span><span>' + wmData.recent.join('; ') + '</span></div>';
+            }
+            wmHtml += '<div class="metric-row" style="color:var(--text-dim)"><span>Ask it anything</span><span>world-model-ask &lt;question&gt;</span></div>';
             wmDiv.innerHTML = wmHtml;
+        } else if (wmData && wmData.error) {
+            wmDiv.innerHTML = '<div class="metric-row" style="color:var(--red,#e5534b)">World model read failed: ' + wmData.error + '</div>';
         } else {
-            wmDiv.innerHTML = '<div class="metric-row" style="color:var(--text-dim)">World model not synthesized — run world-model-refresh in terminal</div>';
+            wmDiv.innerHTML = '<div class="metric-row" style="color:var(--text-dim)">World model not synthesized — run <code>world-model-refresh</code> in the terminal</div>';
         }
 
         // ── System Health ──
@@ -570,51 +585,36 @@
         healthDiv.innerHTML = healthHtml;
 
         // Timestamp
-        document.getElementById('last-updated-time').textContent = new Date().toLocaleTimeString();
+        // Footer age is set at the top of renderDashboard from data.timestamp (payload age);
+        // the old line here wrote the wall clock and silently clobbered it.
     }
 
     function refreshNow() {
-        // Signal the terminal to update dashboard data
-        try {
-            localStorage.setItem(DASHBOARD_KEY + '_request', Date.now().toString());
-        } catch (e) {}
-        // Try reading fresh data
+        try { localStorage.setItem(DASHBOARD_KEY + '_request', Date.now().toString()); } catch (e) {}
+        window._dashRefreshAskedAt = Date.now();
         const data = fetchDashboardData();
-        if (data) {
-            renderDashboard(data);
-        } else {
-            // If no data, try to fetch via the newOS4 API
-            fetchDashboardFromAPI();
-        }
+        if (data) renderDashboard(data);
+        setTimeout(function () {
+            const d = fetchDashboardData();
+            const fresh = d && d.timestamp > (window._dashRefreshAskedAt || 0);
+            if (!fresh) showError('No terminal tab answered — run dashboard (or dashboard --watch) in newOS4, then press ⟳ again');
+            else hideError();
+        }, 1500);
     }
 
-    async function fetchDashboardFromAPI() {
-        showLoading();
+    // 2026-10-22: the terminal writes this key on every collect; repaint immediately instead of
+    // waiting for the 5 s poll (and never go stale while the terminal tab is open).
+    window.addEventListener('storage', function (ev) {
+        if (ev.key !== DASHBOARD_KEY || !ev.newValue) return;
         try {
-            // Try the proxy API endpoint
-            const resp = await fetch('/api/dashboard', { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(5000) });
-            if (resp.ok) {
-                const data = await resp.json();
-                localStorage.setItem(DASHBOARD_KEY, JSON.stringify({...data, timestamp: Date.now()}));
-                renderDashboard(data);
-                showContent();
-                return;
-            }
-        } catch (e) {
-            // API not available — try localStorage fallback
-        }
-
-        // Fallback: check localStorage
-        const data = fetchDashboardData();
-        if (data) {
-            renderDashboard(data);
+            const d = JSON.parse(ev.newValue);
+            d._ageMs = 0;
+            renderDashboard(d);
             showContent();
-        } else {
-            showError('Cannot connect to newOS4. Open the terminal and run: dashboard');
-            updateConnectionStatus(false);
-            showContent();
-        }
-    }
+            hideError();
+            updateConnectionStatus(true);
+        } catch (e) {}
+    });
 
     // Auto-refresh loop
     function startAutoRefresh() {
@@ -625,13 +625,15 @@
         }, REFRESH_INTERVAL);
     }
 
-    // Init
+    // Init: render whatever the terminal left behind, otherwise say how to produce data.
     const initialData = fetchDashboardData();
     if (initialData) {
         renderDashboard(initialData);
         showContent();
     } else {
-        fetchDashboardFromAPI();
+        showError('No dashboard data yet — run dashboard in the newOS4 terminal');
+        updateConnectionStatus(false);
+        showContent();
     }
     startAutoRefresh();
 
diff --git a/main.html b/main.html
index c89d183..f41b12d 100644
--- a/main.html
+++ b/main.html
@@ -1349,13 +1349,13 @@
     </script>
 
     <!-- v4.5.63: A2A scratchpad fixes + agent-register arg fix -->
-<script src="modules/core/core-bundle.js?v=v4.6.50"></script>
+<script src="modules/core/core-bundle.js?v=v4.6.51"></script>
 
     <!-- Async dependency-ordered module loader now only initializes terminal and loads optional ext modules -->
-<script src="modules/core/module-loader.js?v=v4.6.50"></script>
+<script src="modules/core/module-loader.js?v=v4.6.51"></script>
 
     <!-- Critical ext bundle loads AFTER webx11 exists so registerModule calls work -->
-<script src="modules/ext/critical-ext-bundle.js?v=v4.6.50"></script>
+<script src="modules/ext/critical-ext-bundle.js?v=v4.6.51"></script>
 
 <script>
 // ═══ ONE TRUE VERSION SOURCE ═══
diff --git a/modules/core/core-bundle.js b/modules/core/core-bundle.js
index 2264ef0..245f2bd 100644
--- a/modules/core/core-bundle.js
+++ b/modules/core/core-bundle.js
@@ -2918,6 +2918,16 @@ Only output XML function calls for tool tasks. If no tool is needed, answer norm
                         this.hideAutocomplete();
                     }
                 });
+                // 2026-10-22: dashboard.html wrote this key on ⟳ Refresh and nothing listened.
+                window.addEventListener('storage', function (ev) {
+                    if (ev.key !== 'webx11_dashboard_data_request') return;
+                    const aiMod = this.moduleManager && this.moduleManager.modules
+                        ? this.moduleManager.modules.WebX11AIAssistantModule : null;
+                    if (aiMod && typeof aiMod._collectDashboardData === 'function') {
+                        aiMod._collectDashboardData();
+                    }
+                }.bind(this));
+
                 window.addEventListener('online', () => this.updateNetworkStatus());
                 window.addEventListener('offline', () => this.updateNetworkStatus());
                 document.getElementById('file-upload-input').addEventListener('change', (e) => {
@@ -4014,18 +4024,28 @@ Only output XML function calls for tool tasks. If no tool is needed, answer norm
                 if (cmd === 'smart-prompt') { const val = args[0] && args[0] === 'off' ? 'off' : 'on'; localStorage.setItem('webx11_smart_prompt', val); this.print('Smart prompt ' + val, 'success'); this.updatePrompt(); return; }
                 if (cmd === 'mem') { this.printMemoryStats(); return; }
                 if (cmd === 'dashboard') {
-                    // Collect dashboard data and open the dashboard page
-                    const aiMod = this.moduleManager?.modules?.WebX11AIAssistantModule;
-                    if (aiMod && typeof aiMod._collectDashboardData === 'function') {
-                        aiMod._collectDashboardData().then(function() {
-                            this.print('📊 Dashboard data collected — opening dashboard...', 'success');
-                            window.open('/spaces/newos4/downloads/dashboard.html', 'newOS4 Dashboard', 'width=1200,height=800');
-                        }.bind(this));
-                    } else {
-                        // Fallback: just open the page (it will try localStorage)
-                        this.print('📊 Opening dashboard...', 'info');
-                        window.open('/spaces/newos4/downloads/dashboard.html', 'newOS4 Dashboard', 'width=1200,height=800');
+                    const aiMod = this.moduleManager && this.moduleManager.modules
+                        ? this.moduleManager.modules.WebX11AIAssistantModule : null;
+                    const collect = function () {
+                        if (aiMod && typeof aiMod._collectDashboardData === 'function') return aiMod._collectDashboardData();
+                        return Promise.resolve(null);
+                    };
+                    if (args.indexOf('--stop') !== -1) {
+                        if (this._dashTimer) { clearInterval(this._dashTimer); this._dashTimer = null; this.print('📊 Dashboard watch stopped', 'info'); }
+                        else this.print('📊 Dashboard watch is not running', 'warning');
+                        return;
+                    }
+                    if (args.indexOf('--watch') !== -1) {
+                        if (this._dashTimer) clearInterval(this._dashTimer);
+                        collect();
+                        this._dashTimer = setInterval(collect, 5000);
+                        this.print('📊 Dashboard watch on (5s) — open the dashboard tab; `dashboard --stop` to stop', 'success');
+                        return;
                     }
+                    collect().then(function () {
+                        this.print('📊 Dashboard data collected — opening dashboard...', 'success');
+                        window.open('/spaces/newos4/downloads/dashboard.html', 'newOS4 Dashboard', 'width=1200,height=800');
+                    }.bind(this));
                     return;
                 }
                 if (cmd === 'config') {
@@ -12794,6 +12814,37 @@ buildSystemPrompt() {
                         predictorAccuracy: predictorAcc
                     };
 
+                    // 2026-10-22: the panel had a renderer and no collector, so it always said
+                    // "Not synthesized yet" while WorldModelModule._model was right there.
+                    // Map the model shape (modules.loaded, skills.count, files.total, memory.nodes…)
+                    // onto the keys the page reads (modules, skills, files, memoryNodes…).
+                    try {
+                        var wm = mm ? mm.modules['WorldModelModule'] : null;
+                        var wmModel = wm && wm._model;
+                        if (wmModel) {
+                            data.worldModel = {
+                                synthesized: wmModel.synthesized || null,
+                                version: wmModel.version || '?',
+                                modules: wmModel.modules ? wmModel.modules.loaded : null,
+                                skills: wmModel.skills ? wmModel.skills.count : null,
+                                files: wmModel.files ? wmModel.files.total : null,
+                                agents: wmModel.agents ? wmModel.agents.agents : null,
+                                memoryNodes: wmModel.memory ? wmModel.memory.nodes : null,
+                                memoryEdges: wmModel.memory ? wmModel.memory.edges : null,
+                                health: wmModel.system ? wmModel.system.health : null,
+                                activeProjects: ((wmModel.projects && wmModel.projects.activeProjects) || [])
+                                    .map(function (p) { return p.name + ' (' + p.accesses + 'x)'; }),
+                                recent: (wmModel.recent || []).slice(0, 5),
+                                changes: (typeof wm._diffSincePrev === 'function') ? wm._diffSincePrev() : [],
+                                errors: (typeof wm._errorSample === 'function') ? wm._errorSample() : []
+                            };
+                        } else {
+                            data.worldModel = { missing: true };
+                        }
+                    } catch (e) {
+                        data.worldModel = { missing: true, error: e.message };
+                    }
+
                     data.timestamp = Date.now();
 
                     // Write to localStorage for the dashboard HTML page to read
diff --git a/modules/core/module-aiassist.js b/modules/core/module-aiassist.js
index a8c0ae1..abbe9ce 100644
--- a/modules/core/module-aiassist.js
+++ b/modules/core/module-aiassist.js
@@ -4632,6 +4632,37 @@ buildSystemPrompt() {
                         predictorAccuracy: predictorAcc
                     };
 
+                    // 2026-10-22: the panel had a renderer and no collector, so it always said
+                    // "Not synthesized yet" while WorldModelModule._model was right there.
+                    // Map the model shape (modules.loaded, skills.count, files.total, memory.nodes…)
+                    // onto the keys the page reads (modules, skills, files, memoryNodes…).
+                    try {
+                        var wm = mm ? mm.modules['WorldModelModule'] : null;
+                        var wmModel = wm && wm._model;
+                        if (wmModel) {
+                            data.worldModel = {
+                                synthesized: wmModel.synthesized || null,
+                                version: wmModel.version || '?',
+                                modules: wmModel.modules ? wmModel.modules.loaded : null,
+                                skills: wmModel.skills ? wmModel.skills.count : null,
+                                files: wmModel.files ? wmModel.files.total : null,
+                                agents: wmModel.agents ? wmModel.agents.agents : null,
+                                memoryNodes: wmModel.memory ? wmModel.memory.nodes : null,
+                                memoryEdges: wmModel.memory ? wmModel.memory.edges : null,
+                                health: wmModel.system ? wmModel.system.health : null,
+                                activeProjects: ((wmModel.projects && wmModel.projects.activeProjects) || [])
+                                    .map(function (p) { return p.name + ' (' + p.accesses + 'x)'; }),
+                                recent: (wmModel.recent || []).slice(0, 5),
+                                changes: (typeof wm._diffSincePrev === 'function') ? wm._diffSincePrev() : [],
+                                errors: (typeof wm._errorSample === 'function') ? wm._errorSample() : []
+                            };
+                        } else {
+                            data.worldModel = { missing: true };
+                        }
+                    } catch (e) {
+                        data.worldModel = { missing: true, error: e.message };
+                    }
+
                     data.timestamp = Date.now();
 
                     // Write to localStorage for the dashboard HTML page to read
diff --git a/modules/core/module-loader.js b/modules/core/module-loader.js
index 64ece7c..46aad17 100644
--- a/modules/core/module-loader.js
+++ b/modules/core/module-loader.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     // Core module bundle loaded synchronously in main.html.
     // This loader only handles version cache-busting, splash, terminal init, and optional ext modules.
 
-    const LATEST_VER = 'v4.6.50';
+    const LATEST_VER = 'v4.6.51';
     const CACHE = '?v=' + LATEST_VER;
     const stored = localStorage.getItem('webx11_cache_ver');
     if (stored !== LATEST_VER) {
diff --git a/modules/core/terminal.js b/modules/core/terminal.js
index 425c5d6..c586538 100644
--- a/modules/core/terminal.js
+++ b/modules/core/terminal.js
@@ -479,6 +479,16 @@
                         this.hideAutocomplete();
                     }
                 });
+                // 2026-10-22: dashboard.html wrote this key on ⟳ Refresh and nothing listened.
+                window.addEventListener('storage', function (ev) {
+                    if (ev.key !== 'webx11_dashboard_data_request') return;
+                    const aiMod = this.moduleManager && this.moduleManager.modules
+                        ? this.moduleManager.modules.WebX11AIAssistantModule : null;
+                    if (aiMod && typeof aiMod._collectDashboardData === 'function') {
+                        aiMod._collectDashboardData();
+                    }
+                }.bind(this));
+
                 window.addEventListener('online', () => this.updateNetworkStatus());
                 window.addEventListener('offline', () => this.updateNetworkStatus());
                 document.getElementById('file-upload-input').addEventListener('change', (e) => {
@@ -1575,18 +1585,28 @@
                 if (cmd === 'smart-prompt') { const val = args[0] && args[0] === 'off' ? 'off' : 'on'; localStorage.setItem('webx11_smart_prompt', val); this.print('Smart prompt ' + val, 'success'); this.updatePrompt(); return; }
                 if (cmd === 'mem') { this.printMemoryStats(); return; }
                 if (cmd === 'dashboard') {
-                    // Collect dashboard data and open the dashboard page
-                    const aiMod = this.moduleManager?.modules?.WebX11AIAssistantModule;
-                    if (aiMod && typeof aiMod._collectDashboardData === 'function') {
-                        aiMod._collectDashboardData().then(function() {
-                            this.print('📊 Dashboard data collected — opening dashboard...', 'success');
-                            window.open('/spaces/newos4/downloads/dashboard.html', 'newOS4 Dashboard', 'width=1200,height=800');
-                        }.bind(this));
-                    } else {
-                        // Fallback: just open the page (it will try localStorage)
-                        this.print('📊 Opening dashboard...', 'info');
-                        window.open('/spaces/newos4/downloads/dashboard.html', 'newOS4 Dashboard', 'width=1200,height=800');
+                    const aiMod = this.moduleManager && this.moduleManager.modules
+                        ? this.moduleManager.modules.WebX11AIAssistantModule : null;
+                    const collect = function () {
+                        if (aiMod && typeof aiMod._collectDashboardData === 'function') return aiMod._collectDashboardData();
+                        return Promise.resolve(null);
+                    };
+                    if (args.indexOf('--stop') !== -1) {
+                        if (this._dashTimer) { clearInterval(this._dashTimer); this._dashTimer = null; this.print('📊 Dashboard watch stopped', 'info'); }
+                        else this.print('📊 Dashboard watch is not running', 'warning');
+                        return;
                     }
+                    if (args.indexOf('--watch') !== -1) {
+                        if (this._dashTimer) clearInterval(this._dashTimer);
+                        collect();
+                        this._dashTimer = setInterval(collect, 5000);
+                        this.print('📊 Dashboard watch on (5s) — open the dashboard tab; `dashboard --stop` to stop', 'success');
+                        return;
+                    }
+                    collect().then(function () {
+                        this.print('📊 Dashboard data collected — opening dashboard...', 'success');
+                        window.open('/spaces/newos4/downloads/dashboard.html', 'newOS4 Dashboard', 'width=1200,height=800');
+                    }.bind(this));
                     return;
                 }
                 if (cmd === 'config') {