fix(cli): make classic CLI /indicator command branch aware

cli.py

@@ -327,6 +327,16 @@ def _parse_service_tier_config(raw: str) -> str | None:
     logger.warning("Unknown service_tier '%s', ignoring", raw)
     return None
 
+
+_INDICATOR_STYLES: tuple[str, ...] = ("ascii", "emoji", "kaomoji", "unicode")
+_INDICATOR_DEFAULT = "kaomoji"
+
+
+def _normalize_indicator_style(value: Any) -> str:
+    """Normalize the persisted TUI indicator style to a known value."""
+    raw = str(value or "").strip().lower()
+    return raw if raw in _INDICATOR_STYLES else _INDICATOR_DEFAULT
+
 def load_cli_config() -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """
     Load CLI configuration from config files.
@@ -8652,6 +8662,8 @@ def process_command(self, command: str) -> bool:
             self._handle_subgoal_command(cmd_original)
         elif canonical == "skin":
             self._handle_skin_command(cmd_original)
+        elif canonical == "indicator":
+            self._handle_indicator_command(cmd_original)
         elif canonical == "voice":
             self._handle_voice_command(cmd_original)
         elif canonical == "busy":
@@ -9535,6 +9547,40 @@ def _handle_skin_command(self, cmd: str):
         if self._apply_tui_skin_style():
             print("  Prompt + TUI colors updated.")
 
+    def _handle_indicator_command(self, cmd: str) -> None:
+        """Handle /indicator - show or change the TUI busy-indicator style."""
+        from hermes_cli.config import load_config
+
+        parts = cmd.strip().split(maxsplit=1)
+        if len(parts) < 2 or not parts[1].strip():
+            cfg = load_config() or {}
+            current = _normalize_indicator_style(
+                (cfg.get("display") or {}).get("tui_status_indicator", "")
+            )
+            _cprint(f"  {_ACCENT}TUI indicator: {current}{_RST}")
+            _cprint(
+                f"  {_DIM}Usage: /indicator [kaomoji|emoji|unicode|ascii]{_RST}"
+            )
+            _cprint(
+                f"  {_DIM}Applies to Hermes TUI and dashboard chat, not the classic CLI prompt.{_RST}"
+            )
+            return
+
+        raw = parts[1].strip().lower()
+        if raw not in _INDICATOR_STYLES:
+            choices = "|".join(_INDICATOR_STYLES)
+            _cprint(f"  {_DIM}(._.) Unknown indicator: {raw!r}{_RST}")
+            _cprint(f"  {_DIM}Usage: /indicator [{choices}]{_RST}")
+            return
+
+        if save_config_value("display.tui_status_indicator", raw):
+            _cprint(f"  {_ACCENT}✓ TUI indicator set to '{raw}' (saved to config){_RST}")
+        else:
+            _cprint(f"  {_ACCENT}✓ TUI indicator set to '{raw}' (session only){_RST}")
+        _cprint(
+            f"  {_DIM}The change applies to Hermes TUI and dashboard chat sessions.{_RST}"
+        )
+
     def _handle_footer_command(self, cmd_original: str) -> None:
         """Toggle or inspect ``display.runtime_footer.enabled`` from the CLI.
 

tests/cli/test_cli_init.py

@@ -472,6 +472,15 @@ def test_sessions_command_is_dispatched(self):
         called_with = mock_handler.call_args.args[0]
         assert called_with.lower().startswith("/sessions")
 
+    def test_indicator_command_is_dispatched(self):
+        """/indicator must hit _handle_indicator_command, not fall through."""
+        cli = _make_cli()
+
+        with patch.object(cli, "_handle_indicator_command") as mock_handler:
+            cli.process_command("/indicator emoji")
+
+        mock_handler.assert_called_once_with("/indicator emoji")
+
 
 class TestRootLevelProviderOverride:
     """Root-level provider/base_url in config.yaml must NOT override model.provider."""

tests/cli/test_indicator_command.py

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"""Tests for the /indicator CLI command."""
+
+import unittest
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+
+def _import_cli():
+    import hermes_cli.config as config_mod
+
+    if not hasattr(config_mod, "save_env_value_secure"):
+        config_mod.save_env_value_secure = lambda key, value: {
+            "success": True,
+            "stored_as": key,
+            "validated": False,
+        }
+
+    import cli as cli_mod
+
+    return cli_mod
+
+
+class TestHandleIndicatorCommand(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_no_args_shows_normalized_status(self):
+        cli_mod = _import_cli()
+        stub = SimpleNamespace()
+        with (
+            patch.object(cli_mod, "_cprint") as mock_cprint,
+            patch("hermes_cli.config.load_config", return_value={"display": {"tui_status_indicator": " EMOJI "}}),
+            patch.object(cli_mod, "save_config_value") as mock_save,
+        ):
+            cli_mod.HermesCLI._handle_indicator_command(stub, "/indicator")
+
+        mock_save.assert_not_called()
+        printed = " ".join(str(call) for call in mock_cprint.call_args_list)
+        self.assertIn("emoji", printed.lower())
+        self.assertIn("dashboard", printed.lower())
+
+    def test_valid_argument_saves_lowercased_style(self):
+        cli_mod = _import_cli()
+        stub = SimpleNamespace()
+        with (
+            patch.object(cli_mod, "_cprint"),
+            patch.object(cli_mod, "save_config_value", return_value=True) as mock_save,
+        ):
+            cli_mod.HermesCLI._handle_indicator_command(stub, "/indicator EMOJI")
+
+        mock_save.assert_called_once_with("display.tui_status_indicator", "emoji")
+
+    def test_invalid_argument_prints_usage_without_saving(self):
+        cli_mod = _import_cli()
+        stub = SimpleNamespace()
+        with (
+            patch.object(cli_mod, "_cprint") as mock_cprint,
+            patch.object(cli_mod, "save_config_value") as mock_save,
+        ):
+            cli_mod.HermesCLI._handle_indicator_command(stub, "/indicator sparkle")
+
+        mock_save.assert_not_called()
+        printed = " ".join(str(call) for call in mock_cprint.call_args_list)
+        self.assertIn("unknown indicator", printed.lower())
+        self.assertIn("ascii|emoji|kaomoji|unicode", printed.lower())