feat(templates): add auto-run toggle for templates

packages/app/src/app/app.tsx

@@ -723,12 +723,14 @@ export default function App() {
     setTemplateDraftPrompt,
     templateDraftScope,
     setTemplateDraftScope,
+    templateDraftAutoRun,
+    setTemplateDraftAutoRun,
     workspaceTemplates,
     globalTemplates,
     openTemplateModal,
     saveTemplate,
     deleteTemplate,
-    runTemplate,
+    applyTemplate,
     loadWorkspaceTemplates,
   } = templateState;
 
@@ -1474,8 +1476,15 @@ export default function App() {
       applyThemeMode(isDark ? "dark" : "light");
     });
 
+    // Listen for setPrompt events from template system (when autoRun is disabled)
+    const handleSetPrompt = (e: CustomEvent<string>) => {
+      setPrompt(e.detail);
+    };
+    window.addEventListener("openwork:setPrompt", handleSetPrompt as EventListener);
+
     onCleanup(() => {
       unsubscribeTheme();
+      window.removeEventListener("openwork:setPrompt", handleSetPrompt as EventListener);
     });
 
     createEffect(() => {
@@ -2090,7 +2099,7 @@ export default function App() {
       setTemplateDraftScope(scope);
     },
     openTemplateModal,
-    runTemplate,
+    applyTemplate,
     deleteTemplate,
     refreshSkills: (options?: { force?: boolean }) => refreshSkills(options).catch(() => undefined),
     refreshPlugins: (scopeOverride?: PluginScope) =>
@@ -2332,12 +2341,14 @@ export default function App() {
         description={templateDraftDescription()}
         prompt={templateDraftPrompt()}
         scope={templateDraftScope()}
+        autoRun={templateDraftAutoRun()}
         onClose={() => setTemplateModalOpen(false)}
         onSave={saveTemplate}
         onTitleChange={setTemplateDraftTitle}
         onDescriptionChange={setTemplateDraftDescription}
         onPromptChange={setTemplateDraftPrompt}
         onScopeChange={setTemplateDraftScope}
+        onAutoRunChange={setTemplateDraftAutoRun}
       />
 
       <ReloadWorkspaceToast

packages/app/src/app/components/template-modal.tsx

@@ -12,12 +12,14 @@ export type TemplateModalProps = {
   description: string;
   prompt: string;
   scope: "workspace" | "global";
+  autoRun: boolean;
   onClose: () => void;
   onSave: () => void;
   onTitleChange: (value: string) => void;
   onDescriptionChange: (value: string) => void;
   onPromptChange: (value: string) => void;
   onScopeChange: (value: "workspace" | "global") => void;
+  onAutoRunChange: (value: boolean) => void;
 };
 
 export default function TemplateModal(props: TemplateModalProps) {
@@ -88,6 +90,25 @@ export default function TemplateModal(props: TemplateModalProps) {
                 />
                 <div class="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-10">{translate("templates.prompt_hint")}</div>
               </label>
+
+              {/* Auto-run Toggle */}
+              <div class="flex items-center justify-between bg-gray-1 p-3 rounded-xl border border-gray-6 gap-3">
+                <div class="min-w-0">
+                  <div class="text-sm text-gray-12">{translate("templates.auto_run_label")}</div>
+                  <div class="text-xs text-gray-7">{translate("templates.auto_run_hint")}</div>
+                </div>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  class={`px-3 py-1 rounded-full text-xs font-medium border transition-colors shrink-0 ${
+                    props.autoRun
+                      ? "bg-gray-12/10 text-gray-12 border-gray-6/20"
+                      : "text-gray-10 border-gray-6 hover:text-gray-12"
+                  }`}
+                  onClick={() => props.onAutoRunChange(!props.autoRun)}
+                >
+                  {props.autoRun ? "On" : "Off"}
+                </button>
+              </div>
             </div>
 
             <div class="mt-6 flex justify-end gap-2">

packages/app/src/app/pages/dashboard.tsx

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export type DashboardViewProps = {
   setTemplateDraftScope: (value: "workspace" | "global") => void;
   openTemplateModal: () => void;
   resetTemplateDraft?: (scope?: "workspace" | "global") => void;
-  runTemplate: (template: WorkspaceTemplate) => void;
+  applyTemplate: (template: WorkspaceTemplate) => void;
   deleteTemplate: (templateId: string) => void;
   refreshSkills: (options?: { force?: boolean }) => void;
   refreshPlugins: (scopeOverride?: PluginScope) => void;
@@ -537,15 +537,15 @@ export default function DashboardView(props: DashboardViewProps) {
                     <For each={quickTemplates()}>
                       {(t) => (
                         <button
-                          onClick={() => props.runTemplate(t)}
+                          onClick={() => props.applyTemplate(t)}
                           class="group p-5 rounded-2xl bg-gray-2/30 border border-gray-6/50 hover:bg-gray-2 hover:border-gray-7 transition-all text-left"
                         >
                           <div class="w-10 h-10 rounded-full bg-gray-4 flex items-center justify-center mb-4 group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform">
                             <FileText size={20} class="text-indigo-11" />
                           </div>
                           <h4 class="font-medium text-gray-12 mb-1">{t.title}</h4>
                           <p class="text-sm text-gray-10">
-                            {t.description || "Run a saved workflow"}
+                            {t.description || "Apply a saved workflow"}
                           </p>
                         </button>
                       )}
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ export default function DashboardView(props: DashboardViewProps) {
                 setTemplateDraftScope={props.setTemplateDraftScope}
                 openTemplateModal={props.openTemplateModal}
                 resetTemplateDraft={props.resetTemplateDraft}
-                runTemplate={props.runTemplate}
+                applyTemplate={props.applyTemplate}
                 deleteTemplate={props.deleteTemplate}
               />
             </Match>

packages/app/src/app/pages/session.tsx

@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ export default function SessionView(props: SessionViewProps) {
     }
     setPrevArtifactCount(count);
   });
-  
+
   createEffect(() => {
      const files = props.workingFiles;
      const count = files.length;
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ export default function SessionView(props: SessionViewProps) {
                 }
               `}
             </style>
-            
+
             <Show when={props.messages.length === 0}>
               <div class="text-center py-20 space-y-4">
                 <div class="w-16 h-16 bg-gray-2 rounded-3xl mx-auto flex items-center justify-center border border-gray-6">
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ export default function SessionView(props: SessionViewProps) {
               </div>
             </Show>
 
-            <MessageList 
+            <MessageList
               messages={props.messages}
               artifacts={props.artifacts}
               developerMode={props.developerMode}
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ export default function SessionView(props: SessionViewProps) {
 
             <div ref={(el) => (messagesEndEl = el)} />
           </div>
-          
+
           <Minimap containerRef={() => chatContainerEl} messages={props.messages} />
 
           <Show when={artifactToast()}>
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ export default function SessionView(props: SessionViewProps) {
           </Show>
         </div>
 
-        <Composer 
+        <Composer
            prompt={props.prompt}
            setPrompt={props.setPrompt}
            busy={props.busy}

packages/app/src/app/pages/templates.tsx

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export type TemplatesViewProps = {
   setTemplateDraftScope: (value: "workspace" | "global") => void;
   openTemplateModal: () => void;
   resetTemplateDraft?: (scope?: "workspace" | "global") => void;
-  runTemplate: (template: WorkspaceTemplate) => void;
+  applyTemplate: (template: WorkspaceTemplate) => void;
   deleteTemplate: (templateId: string) => void;
 };
 
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ export default function TemplatesView(props: TemplatesViewProps) {
                       <div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-7 font-mono">{formatRelativeTime(t.createdAt)}</div>
                     </div>
                     <div class="shrink-0 flex gap-2">
-                      <Button variant="secondary" onClick={() => props.runTemplate(t)} disabled={props.busy}>
+                      <Button variant="secondary" onClick={() => props.applyTemplate(t)} disabled={props.busy}>
                         <Play size={16} />
-                        Run
+                        Apply
                       </Button>
                       <Button variant="danger" onClick={() => props.deleteTemplate(t.id)} disabled={props.busy}>
                         <Trash2 size={16} />
@@ -97,9 +97,9 @@ export default function TemplatesView(props: TemplatesViewProps) {
                       <div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-7 font-mono">{formatRelativeTime(t.createdAt)}</div>
                     </div>
                     <div class="shrink-0 flex gap-2">
-                      <Button variant="secondary" onClick={() => props.runTemplate(t)} disabled={props.busy}>
+                      <Button variant="secondary" onClick={() => props.applyTemplate(t)} disabled={props.busy}>
                         <Play size={16} />
-                        Run
+                        Apply
                       </Button>
                       <Button variant="danger" onClick={() => props.deleteTemplate(t.id)} disabled={props.busy}>
                         <Trash2 size={16} />

packages/app/src/app/template-state.ts

@@ -34,21 +34,23 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
   const [templateDraftDescription, setTemplateDraftDescription] = createSignal("");
   const [templateDraftPrompt, setTemplateDraftPrompt] = createSignal("");
   const [templateDraftScope, setTemplateDraftScope] = createSignal<"workspace" | "global">("workspace");
+  const [templateDraftAutoRun, setTemplateDraftAutoRun] = createSignal(true);
 
   const workspaceTemplates = createMemo(() => templates().filter((t) => t.scope === "workspace"));
   const globalTemplates = createMemo(() => templates().filter((t) => t.scope === "global"));
 
   function openTemplateModal() {
     const seedTitle = options.selectedSession()?.title ?? "";
     const seedPrompt = options.lastPromptSent() || options.prompt();
-    const nextDraft = buildTemplateDraft({ seedTitle, seedPrompt, scope: "workspace" });
+    const nextDraft = buildTemplateDraft({ seedTitle, seedPrompt, scope: "workspace", autoRun: true });
 
     resetTemplateDraft(
       {
         setTitle: setTemplateDraftTitle,
         setDescription: setTemplateDraftDescription,
         setPrompt: setTemplateDraftPrompt,
         setScope: setTemplateDraftScope,
+        setAutoRun: setTemplateDraftAutoRun,
       },
       nextDraft.scope,
     );
@@ -59,10 +61,11 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
   }
 
   async function saveTemplate() {
-    const draft = buildTemplateDraft({ scope: templateDraftScope() });
+    const draft = buildTemplateDraft({ scope: templateDraftScope(), autoRun: templateDraftAutoRun() });
     draft.title = templateDraftTitle().trim();
     draft.description = templateDraftDescription().trim();
     draft.prompt = templateDraftPrompt().trim();
+    draft.autoRun = templateDraftAutoRun();
 
     if (!draft.title || !draft.prompt) {
       options.setError(t("app.error.title_prompt_required", currentLocale()));
@@ -140,7 +143,8 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
     setGlobalTemplatesLoaded(true);
   }
 
-  async function runTemplate(template: WorkspaceTemplate) {
+  // Apply a template to create a new session
+  async function applyTemplate(template: WorkspaceTemplate) {
     if (options.isDemoMode()) {
       options.setView("session");
       return;
@@ -149,6 +153,12 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
     const c = options.client();
     if (!c) return;
 
+    // Check autoRun setting (default to true for backwards compatibility)
+    const shouldAutoRun = template.autoRun !== false;
+
+    // Trim the prompt before using
+    const trimmedPrompt = template.prompt.trim();
+
     options.setBusy(true);
     options.setError(null);
 
@@ -160,19 +170,24 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
       await options.selectSession(session.id);
       options.setView("session");
 
-      const model = options.defaultModel();
+      if (shouldAutoRun) {
+        const model = options.defaultModel();
 
-      await c.session.promptAsync({
-        sessionID: session.id,
-        model,
-        variant: options.modelVariant() ?? undefined,
-        parts: [{ type: "text", text: template.prompt }],
-      });
+        await c.session.promptAsync({
+          sessionID: session.id,
+          model,
+          variant: options.modelVariant() ?? undefined,
+          parts: [{ type: "text", text: trimmedPrompt }],
+        });
 
-      options.setSessionModelById((current) => ({
-        ...current,
-        [session.id]: model,
-      }));
+        options.setSessionModelById((current) => ({
+          ...current,
+          [session.id]: model,
+        }));
+      } else {
+        // Don't auto-run: populate the prompt input and let user send manually
+        window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("openwork:setPrompt", { detail: trimmedPrompt }));
+      }
     } catch (e) {
       const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : t("app.unknown_error", currentLocale());
       options.setError(addOpencodeCacheHint(message));
@@ -206,18 +221,33 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
         const parsedFrontmatter = parseTemplateFrontmatter(raw);
         if (parsedFrontmatter) {
           const meta = parsedFrontmatter.data;
+
           const title = typeof meta.title === "string" ? meta.title : t("common.untitled", currentLocale());
           const promptText = parsedFrontmatter.body ?? "";
           if (!promptText.trim()) return false;
 
           const createdAtValue = Number(meta.createdAt);
+
+          // Convert string "true"/"false" to actual booleans (frontmatter parser returns strings)
+          let autoRunValue: boolean;
+          if (typeof meta.autoRun === "boolean") {
+            autoRunValue = meta.autoRun;
+          } else if (meta.autoRun === "false") {
+            autoRunValue = false;
+          } else if (meta.autoRun === "true") {
+            autoRunValue = true;
+          } else {
+            autoRunValue = true; // default
+          }
+
           pushTemplate({
             id: typeof meta.id === "string" ? meta.id : fallbackId,
             title,
             description: typeof meta.description === "string" ? meta.description : "",
             prompt: promptText,
             createdAt: Number.isFinite(createdAtValue) && createdAtValue > 0 ? createdAtValue : Date.now(),
             scope: "workspace",
+            autoRun: autoRunValue,
           });
           return true;
         }
@@ -229,13 +259,24 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
         const promptText = typeof parsed.prompt === "string" ? parsed.prompt : "";
         if (!promptText.trim()) return false;
 
+        // For JSON, autoRun should already be a boolean if properly serialized
+        let jsonAutoRunValue: boolean;
+        if (typeof parsed.autoRun === "boolean") {
+          jsonAutoRunValue = parsed.autoRun;
+        } else if (parsed.autoRun === "false" || parsed.autoRun === false) {
+          jsonAutoRunValue = false;
+        } else {
+          jsonAutoRunValue = true; // default
+        }
+
         pushTemplate({
           id: typeof parsed.id === "string" ? parsed.id : fallbackId,
           title,
           description: typeof parsed.description === "string" ? parsed.description : "",
           prompt: promptText,
           createdAt: typeof parsed.createdAt === "number" ? parsed.createdAt : Date.now(),
           scope: "workspace",
+          autoRun: jsonAutoRunValue,
         });
 
         return true;
@@ -306,12 +347,14 @@ export function createTemplateState(options: {
     setTemplateDraftPrompt,
     templateDraftScope,
     setTemplateDraftScope,
+    templateDraftAutoRun,
+    setTemplateDraftAutoRun,
     workspaceTemplates,
     globalTemplates,
     openTemplateModal,
     saveTemplate,
     deleteTemplate,
-    runTemplate,
+    applyTemplate,
     loadWorkspaceTemplates,
   };
 }

packages/app/src/app/types.ts

@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ export type Template = {
   description: string;
   prompt: string;
   createdAt: number;
+  autoRun?: boolean;
 };
 
 export type SkillCard = {