P0 Studio UX: authoritative 4I+4V START, compact vertical layout and readable controls

apps/arstack_studio/qml/CalmButton.qml

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Button {
     Behavior on scale { NumberAnimation { duration: 70; easing.type: Easing.OutCubic } }
 
     readonly property color activeFill: !enabled ? "#10161d" :
+                                        hovered ? "#f0f6ff" :
                                         tone === "success" ? (hovered ? "#1e5c43" : "#194d38") :
                                         tone === "danger" ? (hovered ? "#523039" : theme.redSoft) :
                                         tone === "accent" ? (hovered ? "#1d3c5e" : theme.accentSoft) :
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ Button {
                                         tone === "accent" ? "#315f8d" :
                                         (activeFocus ? theme.accent : hovered ? "#3a4a5b" : theme.line)
     readonly property color activeText: !enabled ? theme.muted2 :
+                                        hovered ? "#132233" :
                                         tone === "success" ? "#d6f4e6" :
                                         tone === "danger" ? "#ffdce0" :
                                         tone === "accent" ? "#dcebff" : theme.textSoft
@@ -44,7 +46,9 @@ Button {
             width: control.iconSize
             height: control.iconSize
             anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
-            source: control.iconSource
+            source: control.hovered && control.enabled
+                ? control.iconSource.toString().replace("/assets/material/", "/assets/material_dark/")
+                : control.iconSource
             sourceSize.width: control.iconSize * 2
             sourceSize.height: control.iconSize * 2
             opacity: control.enabled ? 0.94 : 0.30

apps/arstack_studio/qml/ConfigurationHub.qml

@@ -32,15 +32,18 @@ Item {
         font.family: hub.uiFont
         font.pixelSize: 11
         font.weight: checked ? Font.DemiBold : Font.Medium
+        hoverEnabled: true
         contentItem: Label {
             text: parent.text
-            color: parent.checked ? hub.theme.text : hub.theme.muted
+            color: parent.hovered && parent.enabled ? "#132233"
+                : parent.checked ? hub.theme.text : hub.theme.muted
             font: parent.font
             horizontalAlignment: Text.AlignHCenter
             verticalAlignment: Text.AlignVCenter
         }
         background: Rectangle {
-            color: parent.checked ? hub.theme.raised : "transparent"
+            color: parent.hovered && parent.enabled ? "#f0f6ff"
+                : parent.checked ? hub.theme.raised : "transparent"
             radius: 6
             border.width: parent.checked ? 1 : 0
             border.color: hub.theme.line
@@ -59,7 +62,7 @@ Item {
 
     ColumnLayout {
         anchors.fill: parent
-        spacing: 16
+        spacing: 11
 
         RowLayout {
             Layout.fillWidth: true

apps/arstack_studio/qml/Main.qml

@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ ApplicationWindow {
     // an explicit PTP ON can be restored after a firmware reflash/reconnect
     // without introducing an uncontrolled power-on publisher.
     property bool ptpDesiredForSession: false
+    property bool defaultPtpAttempted: false
     property string ptpDesiredRole: "SOURCE"
     property bool ptpRestoreAfterFirmware: false
     property int ptpRestoreChecks: 0
@@ -215,6 +216,25 @@ ApplicationWindow {
         }
     }
 
+    // Operator default: start PTP SOURCE automatically once the connected
+    // board has been verified, without starting SV or claiming clock lock.
+    // Never retry rejected commands indefinitely. Explicit PTP OFF wins.
+    Timer {
+        interval: 400
+        repeat: true
+        running: !root.defaultPtpAttempted
+        onTriggered: {
+            const session = workflowBar.session
+            if (!session || !session.startReady || session.updatingFirmware ||
+                    !device.deviceVerified || !device.ptpAvailable ||
+                    device.ptpStarting)
+                return
+            root.defaultPtpAttempted = true
+            if (!device.ptpRunning)
+                root.startPtpRole("SOURCE")
+        }
+    }
+
     Timer {
         interval: 300
         repeat: true
@@ -314,6 +334,7 @@ ApplicationWindow {
     }
 
     function startPtpRole(role) {
+        root.defaultPtpAttempted = true
         const accepted = profilePanel.startPtpRole(role)
         if (accepted) {
             root.ptpDesiredForSession = true
@@ -323,6 +344,7 @@ ApplicationWindow {
     }
 
     function requestStopPtp() {
+        root.defaultPtpAttempted = true
         root.ptpDesiredForSession = false
         root.ptpRestoreAfterFirmware = false
         return workflowBar.session && workflowBar.session.requestStopPtp()
@@ -1049,11 +1071,20 @@ ApplicationWindow {
                             }
                         }
 
-                        RowLayout {
+                        // Use stacked full-width Voltage/Current in the
+                        // normal operator window; keep a two-column fallback
+                        // only in short viewports so all controls remain
+                        // accessible at the supported 960x620 minimum.
+                        GridLayout {
+                            readonly property bool stacked: root.height >= 720
+                            columns: stacked ? 1 : 2
                             Layout.fillWidth: true
-                            Layout.preferredHeight: root.compactLayout ? 214 : 224
-                            Layout.maximumHeight: root.compactLayout ? 214 : 224
-                            spacing: 9
+                            Layout.preferredHeight: stacked
+                                ? (root.compactLayout ? 438 : 460)
+                                : (root.compactLayout ? 214 : 224)
+                            Layout.maximumHeight: Layout.preferredHeight
+                            rowSpacing: 8
+                            columnSpacing: 9
                             SignalMatrix {
                                 id: voltageMatrix
                                 enabled: !workflowBar.startQueued

apps/arstack_studio/qml/ModernRibbon.qml

@@ -47,24 +47,24 @@ Rectangle {
         spacing: 6
 
         RowLayout {
-            Layout.preferredWidth: bar.compact ? 105 : 124
+            Layout.preferredWidth: bar.compact ? 148 : 172
             Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignVCenter
             spacing: 8
 
             Rectangle {
-                width: 28
-                height: 28
-                radius: 7
+                width: 40
+                height: 40
+                radius: 9
                 color: "#0d151d"
                 border.width: 1
                 border.color: bar.theme.lineSoft
                 Image {
                     anchors.centerIn: parent
-                    width: 15
-                    height: 15
+                    width: 27
+                    height: 27
                     source: Qt.resolvedUrl("../assets/material/smv_injector.svg")
-                    sourceSize.width: 30
-                    sourceSize.height: 30
+                    sourceSize.width: 54
+                    sourceSize.height: 54
                 }
             }
 
@@ -73,10 +73,11 @@ Rectangle {
                 text: "SMV Injector"
                 color: bar.theme.text
                 font.family: bar.uiFont
-                font.pixelSize: 11
+                font.pixelSize: 14
                 font.weight: Font.DemiBold
                 elide: Text.ElideRight
                 verticalAlignment: Text.AlignVCenter
+                horizontalAlignment: Text.AlignLeft
             }
         }
 

apps/arstack_studio/qml/RibbonAction.qml

@@ -38,14 +38,15 @@ Button {
         : tone === "warning" ? "#f5daaa"
         : tone === "danger" ? "#ffe3e6"
         : tone === "accent" || checked ? "#e1f1ff" : theme.textSoft
-    contentItem: ColumnLayout {
-        spacing: 3
+    contentItem: Column {
+        spacing: 4
+        anchors.centerIn: parent
         Image {
             visible: control.iconSource.toString().length > 0
             source: control.hovered && control.enabled ? control.hoverPath : control.iconSource
-            Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
-            Layout.preferredWidth: 24
-            Layout.preferredHeight: 24
+            anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+            width: 24
+            height: 24
             sourceSize.width: 48
             sourceSize.height: 48
             opacity: control.enabled ? 1 : 0.3
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ Button {
             text: control.text
             color: control.textColor
             font: control.font
-            Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
+            anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
             horizontalAlignment: Text.AlignHCenter
             verticalAlignment: Text.AlignVCenter
             elide: Text.ElideRight

apps/arstack_studio/qml/StudioDarkCheckBox.qml

@@ -7,8 +7,13 @@ CheckBox {
     id: control
     property var theme
     property string uiFont: "Inter"
-    implicitHeight: 30
+    implicitHeight: 32
+    implicitWidth: contentItem.implicitWidth + indicator.implicitWidth + spacing + leftPadding + rightPadding
     spacing: 9
+    hoverEnabled: true
+    // Use one fixed-size custom indicator for all states. No native style
+    // hover/focus sub-checkbox may appear alongside the engineering control.
+    background: Item {}
     font.family: uiFont
     font.pixelSize: 11
     indicator: Rectangle {
@@ -20,7 +25,8 @@ CheckBox {
         color: control.checked ? control.theme.accent : control.theme.surface2
         border.width: 1
         border.color: control.checked ? control.theme.accent
-                                      : control.activeFocus ? control.theme.textSoft : control.theme.line
+            : (control.hovered || control.activeFocus) ? control.theme.textSoft
+            : control.theme.line
         Text {
             anchors.centerIn: parent
             visible: control.checked

apps/arstack_studio/qml/StudioDarkComboBox.qml

@@ -21,15 +21,16 @@ ComboBox {
 
     background: Rectangle {
         radius: 7
-        color: combo.enabled ? (combo.hovered ? combo.theme.raisedHover : combo.theme.surface2)
+        color: combo.enabled ? (combo.hovered ? "#f0f6ff" : combo.theme.surface2)
                              : combo.theme.surface2
         border.width: 1
         border.color: combo.activeFocus ? combo.theme.accent : combo.theme.line
     }
 
     contentItem: Text {
         text: combo.displayText
-        color: combo.enabled ? combo.theme.text : combo.theme.muted
+        color: !combo.enabled ? combo.theme.muted
+            : combo.hovered ? "#132233" : combo.theme.text
         font: combo.font
         verticalAlignment: Text.AlignVCenter
         leftPadding: 12
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ ComboBox {
 
     indicator: Text {
         text: "\u25be"
-        color: combo.enabled ? combo.theme.textSoft : combo.theme.muted
+        color: !combo.enabled ? combo.theme.muted
+            : combo.hovered ? "#132233" : combo.theme.textSoft
         font.pixelSize: 14
         anchors.right: parent.right
         anchors.rightMargin: 11
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ ComboBox {
         highlighted: combo.highlightedIndex === index
         contentItem: Text {
             text: combo.textAt(choice.index)
-            color: combo.theme.text
+            color: choice.highlighted ? "#132233" : combo.theme.text
             font: combo.font
             verticalAlignment: Text.AlignVCenter
             elide: Text.ElideRight
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ ComboBox {
         }
         background: Rectangle {
             radius: 5
-            color: parent.highlighted ? combo.theme.accentSoft : combo.theme.raised
+            color: parent.highlighted ? "#f0f6ff" : combo.theme.raised
         }
     }
 

apps/arstack_studio/qml/WorkflowBar.qml

@@ -281,9 +281,11 @@ SurfacePanel {
             controller.showMessage(ribbon.startReason(), false)
             return
         }
-        const accepted = controller.pendingApply
-            ? smartSession.requestStartWithScenario(controller.startScenarioSnapshot())
-            : smartSession.requestStart()
+        // Always apply the *visible* 4I+4V table as one ordered START
+        // transaction. Device settings may retain the previous session;
+        // pendingApply is a UI hint, never an authority to omit setpoints.
+        const accepted = smartSession.requestStartWithScenario(
+            controller.startScenarioSnapshot())
         if (!accepted) {
             controller.pendingApply = true
             controller.showMessage("Start rejected. Check device status.", true)

apps/arstack_studio/src/main.cpp

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
+#include <cmath>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string_view>
 
@@ -82,8 +83,17 @@ struct UiBounds {
             return false;
         }
     }
-    if (!(voltage.area.right() <= current.area.left() + tolerance
-          && tray.area.top() >= voltage.area.bottom() - tolerance
+    // The full-size operator view deliberately stacks Voltage ABOVE Current.
+    // At the supported 960x620 minimum a two-column fallback retains all
+    // controls inside the viewport instead of hiding the PTP/quality rows.
+    const bool stacked = size.height() >= 720;
+    const bool matricesOrdered = stacked
+        ? (voltage.area.bottom() <= current.area.top() + tolerance &&
+           std::abs(voltage.area.left() - current.area.left()) <= tolerance)
+        : (voltage.area.right() <= current.area.left() + tolerance);
+    const qreal matrixBottom = std::max(voltage.area.bottom(), current.area.bottom());
+    if (!(matricesOrdered
+          && tray.area.top() >= matrixBottom - tolerance
           && quality.area.top() >= tray.area.bottom() - tolerance
           && quality.area.bottom() <= surface.area.bottom() + tolerance)) {
         qCritical().noquote() << "Studio UI panel order/overlap violation" << size

apps/arstack_studio/tests/check_operator_workspace.py

@@ -48,6 +48,34 @@ def main() -> None:
             and "root.ptpRestoreChecks > 120" in main_qml
             and "root.ptpDesiredForSession = false" in main_qml,
             "PTP user intent restoration must be bounded, explicit and cancellable")
+    workflow_start = source("WorkflowBar.qml")
+    before_stop = workflow_start.split("function requestStart() {", 1)[1].split(
+        "function requestStop()", 1)[0]
+    require("requestStartWithScenario(" in before_stop
+            and "requestStart()" not in before_stop,
+            "each physical START must use the current GUI 4I+4V table, not stale persisted firmware setpoints")
+    require("readonly property bool stacked: root.height >= 720" in main_qml
+            and "columns: stacked ? 1 : 2" in main_qml
+            and "Layout.preferredHeight: stacked" in main_qml
+            and main_qml.index("id: voltageMatrix") < main_qml.index("id: currentMatrix"),
+            "Voltage must stack above Current at normal height, and keep a non-clipping short-window fallback")
+    require('root.startPtpRole("SOURCE")' in main_qml
+            and 'root.defaultPtpAttempted = true' in main_qml
+            and 'property bool phasorDockVisible: true' in main_qml
+            and 'property bool waveformDockVisible: true' in main_qml,
+            "default verified PTP SOURCE/AUTO and visible Phasor/Wave must preserve operator OFF authority")
+    ribbon_component = source("ModernRibbon.qml")
+    ribbon_action = source("RibbonAction.qml")
+    calm_button = source("CalmButton.qml")
+    checkbox = source("StudioDarkCheckBox.qml")
+    require('font.pixelSize: 14' in ribbon_component
+            and 'width: 40' in ribbon_component
+            and 'anchors.centerIn: parent' in ribbon_action,
+            "primary brand size and action captions/icons must stay centered")
+    require('hovered ? "#132233"' in calm_button
+            and 'hovered ? "#f0f6ff"' in calm_button
+            and 'background: Item {}' in checkbox,
+            "shared buttons and checkbox must have legible, consistent hover states")
     matrix = source("SignalMatrix.qml")
     menu = source("StudioActionMenu.qml")
     cmake = (STUDIO / "CMakeLists.txt").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
@@ -116,7 +144,8 @@ def main() -> None:
             and 'enabled: !workflowBar.startQueued; onActivated: root.zeroAll()' in main_qml,
             "scenario editors and shortcuts must be frozen during a pending START snapshot")
     require("controller.pendingApply = true" in workflow
-            and "requestStartWithScenario(controller.startScenarioSnapshot())" in workflow
+            and "requestStartWithScenario(" in workflow
+            and "controller.startScenarioSnapshot()" in workflow
             and "controller.applyAllSignals()" not in workflow
             and "startWatchdog" in workflow and "onRunningChanged()" in workflow,
             "reconnect must not auto-transmit, but one-click Start must stage a bounded scenario")
@@ -145,7 +174,8 @@ def main() -> None:
             and 'toolTipText: "Advanced"' not in ribbon
             and 'ToolTip.text: "smpSynch mode"' not in timing_ui,
             "captioned operator controls must not duplicate labels as tooltips")
-    require('requestStartWithScenario(controller.startScenarioSnapshot())' in workflow
+    require('requestStartWithScenario(' in workflow
+            and 'controller.startScenarioSnapshot()' in workflow
             and "Apply to board" not in main_qml,
             "Edit-to-Start must not regress to a manual Apply-to-board action")
     require("assets/material/smv_injector.svg" in cmake_icons