webui: Per-conversation system message with UI displaying, edition & branching (#17275)

* feat: Per-conversation system message with optional display in UI, edition and branching (WIP)

* chore: update webui build output

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessage.svelte

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 	import { copyToClipboard, isIMEComposing } from '$lib/utils';
 	import ChatMessageAssistant from './ChatMessageAssistant.svelte';
 	import ChatMessageUser from './ChatMessageUser.svelte';
+	import ChatMessageSystem from './ChatMessageSystem.svelte';
 
 	interface Props {
 		class?: string;
@@ -140,8 +141,7 @@
 	}
 
 	function handleSaveEdit() {
-		if (message.role === 'user') {
+		if (message.role === 'user' || message.role === 'system') {
-			// For user messages, trim to avoid accidental whitespace
 			onEditWithBranching?.(message, editedContent.trim());
 		} else {
 			// For assistant messages, preserve exact content including trailing whitespace
@@ -167,7 +167,28 @@
 	}
 </script>
 
-{#if message.role === 'user'}
+{#if message.role === 'system'}
+	<ChatMessageSystem
+		bind:textareaElement
+		class={className}
+		{deletionInfo}
+		{editedContent}
+		{isEditing}
+		{message}
+		onCancelEdit={handleCancelEdit}
+		onConfirmDelete={handleConfirmDelete}
+		onCopy={handleCopy}
+		onDelete={handleDelete}
+		onEdit={handleEdit}
+		onEditKeydown={handleEditKeydown}
+		onEditedContentChange={handleEditedContentChange}
+		{onNavigateToSibling}
+		onSaveEdit={handleSaveEdit}
+		onShowDeleteDialogChange={handleShowDeleteDialogChange}
+		{showDeleteDialog}
+		{siblingInfo}
+	/>
+{:else if message.role === 'user'}
 	<ChatMessageUser
 		bind:textareaElement
 		class={className}

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageSystem.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,216 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { Check, X } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import { Card } from '$lib/components/ui/card';
+	import { Button } from '$lib/components/ui/button';
+	import { MarkdownContent } from '$lib/components/app';
+	import { INPUT_CLASSES } from '$lib/constants/input-classes';
+	import { config } from '$lib/stores/settings.svelte';
+	import ChatMessageActions from './ChatMessageActions.svelte';
+
+	interface Props {
+		class?: string;
+		message: DatabaseMessage;
+		isEditing: boolean;
+		editedContent: string;
+		siblingInfo?: ChatMessageSiblingInfo | null;
+		showDeleteDialog: boolean;
+		deletionInfo: {
+			totalCount: number;
+			userMessages: number;
+			assistantMessages: number;
+			messageTypes: string[];
+		} | null;
+		onCancelEdit: () => void;
+		onSaveEdit: () => void;
+		onEditKeydown: (event: KeyboardEvent) => void;
+		onEditedContentChange: (content: string) => void;
+		onCopy: () => void;
+		onEdit: () => void;
+		onDelete: () => void;
+		onConfirmDelete: () => void;
+		onNavigateToSibling?: (siblingId: string) => void;
+		onShowDeleteDialogChange: (show: boolean) => void;
+		textareaElement?: HTMLTextAreaElement;
+	}
+
+	let {
+		class: className = '',
+		message,
+		isEditing,
+		editedContent,
+		siblingInfo = null,
+		showDeleteDialog,
+		deletionInfo,
+		onCancelEdit,
+		onSaveEdit,
+		onEditKeydown,
+		onEditedContentChange,
+		onCopy,
+		onEdit,
+		onDelete,
+		onConfirmDelete,
+		onNavigateToSibling,
+		onShowDeleteDialogChange,
+		textareaElement = $bindable()
+	}: Props = $props();
+
+	let isMultiline = $state(false);
+	let messageElement: HTMLElement | undefined = $state();
+	let isExpanded = $state(false);
+	let contentHeight = $state(0);
+	const MAX_HEIGHT = 200; // pixels
+	const currentConfig = config();
+
+	let showExpandButton = $derived(contentHeight > MAX_HEIGHT);
+
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (!messageElement || !message.content.trim()) return;
+
+		if (message.content.includes('\n')) {
+			isMultiline = true;
+		}
+
+		const resizeObserver = new ResizeObserver((entries) => {
+			for (const entry of entries) {
+				const element = entry.target as HTMLElement;
+				const estimatedSingleLineHeight = 24;
+
+				isMultiline = element.offsetHeight > estimatedSingleLineHeight * 1.5;
+				contentHeight = element.scrollHeight;
+			}
+		});
+
+		resizeObserver.observe(messageElement);
+
+		return () => {
+			resizeObserver.disconnect();
+		};
+	});
+
+	function toggleExpand() {
+		isExpanded = !isExpanded;
+	}
+</script>
+
+<div
+	aria-label="System message with actions"
+	class="group flex flex-col items-end gap-3 md:gap-2 {className}"
+	role="group"
+>
+	{#if isEditing}
+		<div class="w-full max-w-[80%]">
+			<textarea
+				bind:this={textareaElement}
+				bind:value={editedContent}
+				class="min-h-[60px] w-full resize-none rounded-2xl px-3 py-2 text-sm {INPUT_CLASSES}"
+				onkeydown={onEditKeydown}
+				oninput={(e) => onEditedContentChange(e.currentTarget.value)}
+				placeholder="Edit system message..."
+			></textarea>
+
+			<div class="mt-2 flex justify-end gap-2">
+				<Button class="h-8 px-3" onclick={onCancelEdit} size="sm" variant="outline">
+					<X class="mr-1 h-3 w-3" />
+					Cancel
+				</Button>
+
+				<Button class="h-8 px-3" onclick={onSaveEdit} disabled={!editedContent.trim()} size="sm">
+					<Check class="mr-1 h-3 w-3" />
+					Send
+				</Button>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	{:else}
+		{#if message.content.trim()}
+			<div class="relative max-w-[80%]">
+				<button
+					class="group/expand w-full text-left {!isExpanded && showExpandButton
+						? 'cursor-pointer'
+						: 'cursor-auto'}"
+					onclick={showExpandButton && !isExpanded ? toggleExpand : undefined}
+					type="button"
+				>
+					<Card
+						class="rounded-[1.125rem] !border-2 !border-dashed !border-border/50 bg-muted px-3.75 py-1.5 data-[multiline]:py-2.5"
+						data-multiline={isMultiline ? '' : undefined}
+						style="border: 2px dashed hsl(var(--border));"
+					>
+						<div
+							class="relative overflow-hidden transition-all duration-300 {isExpanded
+								? 'cursor-text select-text'
+								: 'select-none'}"
+							style={!isExpanded && showExpandButton
+								? `max-height: ${MAX_HEIGHT}px;`
+								: 'max-height: none;'}
+						>
+							{#if currentConfig.renderUserContentAsMarkdown}
+								<div bind:this={messageElement} class="text-md {isExpanded ? 'cursor-text' : ''}">
+									<MarkdownContent class="markdown-system-content" content={message.content} />
+								</div>
+							{:else}
+								<span
+									bind:this={messageElement}
+									class="text-md whitespace-pre-wrap {isExpanded ? 'cursor-text' : ''}"
+								>
+									{message.content}
+								</span>
+							{/if}
+
+							{#if !isExpanded && showExpandButton}
+								<div
+									class="pointer-events-none absolute right-0 bottom-0 left-0 h-48 bg-gradient-to-t from-muted to-transparent"
+								></div>
+								<div
+									class="pointer-events-none absolute right-0 bottom-4 left-0 flex justify-center opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover/expand:opacity-100"
+								>
+									<Button
+										class="rounded-full px-4 py-1.5 text-xs shadow-md"
+										size="sm"
+										variant="outline"
+									>
+										Show full system message
+									</Button>
+								</div>
+							{/if}
+						</div>
+
+						{#if isExpanded && showExpandButton}
+							<div class="mb-2 flex justify-center">
+								<Button
+									class="rounded-full px-4 py-1.5 text-xs"
+									onclick={(e) => {
+										e.stopPropagation();
+										toggleExpand();
+									}}
+									size="sm"
+									variant="outline"
+								>
+									Collapse System Message
+								</Button>
+							</div>
+						{/if}
+					</Card>
+				</button>
+			</div>
+		{/if}
+
+		{#if message.timestamp}
+			<div class="max-w-[80%]">
+				<ChatMessageActions
+					actionsPosition="right"
+					{deletionInfo}
+					justify="end"
+					{onConfirmDelete}
+					{onCopy}
+					{onDelete}
+					{onEdit}
+					{onNavigateToSibling}
+					{onShowDeleteDialogChange}
+					{siblingInfo}
+					{showDeleteDialog}
+					role="user"
+				/>
+			</div>
+		{/if}
+	{/if}
+</div>

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageUser.svelte

@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
 
 		{#if message.content.trim()}
 			<Card
-				class="max-w-[80%] rounded-[1.125rem] bg-primary px-3.75 py-1.5 text-primary-foreground data-[multiline]:py-2.5"
+				class="max-w-[80%] rounded-[1.125rem] border-none bg-primary px-3.75 py-1.5 text-primary-foreground data-[multiline]:py-2.5"
 				data-multiline={isMultiline ? '' : undefined}
 			>
 				{#if currentConfig.renderUserContentAsMarkdown}

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessages.svelte

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 	import { ChatMessage } from '$lib/components/app';
 	import { chatStore } from '$lib/stores/chat.svelte';
 	import { conversationsStore, activeConversation } from '$lib/stores/conversations.svelte';
+	import { config } from '$lib/stores/settings.svelte';
 	import { getMessageSiblings } from '$lib/utils';
 
 	interface Props {
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@
 	let { class: className, messages = [], onUserAction }: Props = $props();
 
 	let allConversationMessages = $state<DatabaseMessage[]>([]);
+	const currentConfig = config();
 
 	function refreshAllMessages() {
 		const conversation = activeConversation();
@@ -40,7 +42,12 @@
 			return [];
 		}
 
-		return messages.map((message) => {
+		// Filter out system messages if showSystemMessage is false
+		const filteredMessages = currentConfig.showSystemMessage
+			? messages
+			: messages.filter((msg) => msg.type !== 'system');
+
+		return filteredMessages.map((message) => {
 			const siblingInfo = getMessageSiblings(allConversationMessages, message.id);
 
 			return {

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatSettings/ChatSettings.svelte

@@ -36,12 +36,6 @@
 			title: 'General',
 			icon: Settings,
 			fields: [
-				{ key: 'apiKey', label: 'API Key', type: 'input' },
-				{
-					key: 'systemMessage',
-					label: 'System Message (will be disabled if left empty)',
-					type: 'textarea'
-				},
 				{
 					key: 'theme',
 					label: 'Theme',
@@ -52,6 +46,12 @@
 						{ value: 'dark', label: 'Dark', icon: Moon }
 					]
 				},
+				{ key: 'apiKey', label: 'API Key', type: 'input' },
+				{
+					key: 'systemMessage',
+					label: 'System Message',
+					type: 'textarea'
+				},
 				{
 					key: 'pasteLongTextToFileLen',
 					label: 'Paste long text to file length',

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatSettings/ChatSettingsFields.svelte

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
 			</div>
 			{#if field.help || SETTING_CONFIG_INFO[field.key]}
 				<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-					{field.help || SETTING_CONFIG_INFO[field.key]}
+					{@html field.help || SETTING_CONFIG_INFO[field.key]}
 				</p>
 			{/if}
 		{:else if field.type === 'textarea'}
@@ -112,13 +112,28 @@
 				value={String(localConfig[field.key] ?? '')}
 				onchange={(e) => onConfigChange(field.key, e.currentTarget.value)}
 				placeholder={`Default: ${SETTING_CONFIG_DEFAULT[field.key] ?? 'none'}`}
-				class="min-h-[100px] w-full md:max-w-2xl"
+				class="min-h-[10rem] w-full md:max-w-2xl"
 			/>
+
 			{#if field.help || SETTING_CONFIG_INFO[field.key]}
 				<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
 					{field.help || SETTING_CONFIG_INFO[field.key]}
 				</p>
 			{/if}
+
+			{#if field.key === 'systemMessage'}
+				<div class="mt-3 flex items-center gap-2">
+					<Checkbox
+						id="showSystemMessage"
+						checked={Boolean(localConfig.showSystemMessage ?? true)}
+						onCheckedChange={(checked) => onConfigChange('showSystemMessage', Boolean(checked))}
+					/>
+
+					<Label for="showSystemMessage" class="cursor-pointer text-sm font-normal">
+						Show system message in conversations
+					</Label>
+				</div>
+			{/if}
 		{:else if field.type === 'select'}
 			{@const selectedOption = field.options?.find(
 				(opt: { value: string; label: string; icon?: Component }) =>

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/index.ts

@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ export { default as ChatMessage } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessage.svelte';
 export { default as ChatMessageActions } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageActions.svelte';
 export { default as ChatMessageBranchingControls } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageBranchingControls.svelte';
 export { default as ChatMessageStatistics } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageStatistics.svelte';
+export { default as ChatMessageSystem } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageSystem.svelte';
 export { default as ChatMessageThinkingBlock } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageThinkingBlock.svelte';
 export { default as ChatMessages } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessages.svelte';
+export { default as MessageBranchingControls } from './chat/ChatMessages/ChatMessageBranchingControls.svelte';
 
 export { default as ChatScreen } from './chat/ChatScreen/ChatScreen.svelte';
 export { default as ChatScreenHeader } from './chat/ChatScreen/ChatScreenHeader.svelte';

tools/server/webui/src/lib/components/app/misc/MarkdownContent.svelte

@@ -337,19 +337,23 @@
 		line-height: 1.75;
 	}
 
+	div :global(:is(h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6):first-child) {
+		margin-top: 0;
+	}
+
 	/* Headers with consistent spacing */
 	div :global(h1) {
 		font-size: 1.875rem;
 		font-weight: 700;
-		margin: 1.5rem 0 0.75rem 0;
 		line-height: 1.2;
+		margin: 1.5rem 0 0.75rem 0;
 	}
 
 	div :global(h2) {
 		font-size: 1.5rem;
 		font-weight: 600;
-		margin: 1.25rem 0 0.5rem 0;
 		line-height: 1.3;
+		margin: 1.25rem 0 0.5rem 0;
 	}
 
 	div :global(h3) {

tools/server/webui/src/lib/constants/settings-config.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ export const SETTING_CONFIG_DEFAULT: Record<string, string | number | boolean> =
 	// Do not use nested objects, keep it single level. Prefix the key if you need to group them.
 	apiKey: '',
 	systemMessage: '',
+	showSystemMessage: true,
 	theme: 'system',
 	showThoughtInProgress: false,
 	showToolCalls: false,
@@ -42,8 +43,9 @@ export const SETTING_CONFIG_DEFAULT: Record<string, string | number | boolean> =
 };
 
 export const SETTING_CONFIG_INFO: Record<string, string> = {
-	apiKey: 'Set the API Key if you are using --api-key option for the server.',
+	apiKey: 'Set the API Key if you are using <code>--api-key</code> option for the server.',
 	systemMessage: 'The starting message that defines how model should behave.',
+	showSystemMessage: 'Display the system message at the top of each conversation.',
 	theme:
 		'Choose the color theme for the interface. You can choose between System (follows your device settings), Light, or Dark.',
 	pasteLongTextToFileLen:

tools/server/webui/src/lib/services/chat.ts

@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ export class ChatService {
 			custom,
 			timings_per_token,
 			// Config options
-			systemMessage,
 			disableReasoningFormat
 		} = options;
 
@@ -103,6 +102,7 @@ export class ChatService {
 				}
 			})
 			.filter((msg) => {
+				// Filter out empty system messages
 				if (msg.role === 'system') {
 					const content = typeof msg.content === 'string' ? msg.content : '';
 
@@ -112,10 +112,8 @@ export class ChatService {
 				return true;
 			});
 
-		const processedMessages = ChatService.injectSystemMessage(normalizedMessages, systemMessage);
-
 		const requestBody: ApiChatCompletionRequest = {
-			messages: processedMessages.map((msg: ApiChatMessageData) => ({
+			messages: normalizedMessages.map((msg: ApiChatMessageData) => ({
 				role: msg.role,
 				content: msg.content
 			})),
@@ -677,46 +675,6 @@ export class ChatService {
 	// Utilities
 	// ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-	/**
-	 * Injects a system message at the beginning of the conversation if provided.
-	 * Checks for existing system messages to avoid duplication.
-	 *
-	 * @param messages - Array of chat messages to process
-	 * @param systemMessage - Optional system message to inject
-	 * @returns Array of messages with system message injected at the beginning if provided
-	 * @private
-	 */
-	private static injectSystemMessage(
-		messages: ApiChatMessageData[],
-		systemMessage?: string
-	): ApiChatMessageData[] {
-		const trimmedSystemMessage = systemMessage?.trim();
-
-		if (!trimmedSystemMessage) {
-			return messages;
-		}
-
-		if (messages.length > 0 && messages[0].role === 'system') {
-			if (messages[0].content !== trimmedSystemMessage) {
-				const updatedMessages = [...messages];
-				updatedMessages[0] = {
-					role: 'system',
-					content: trimmedSystemMessage
-				};
-				return updatedMessages;
-			}
-
-			return messages;
-		}
-
-		const systemMsg: ApiChatMessageData = {
-			role: 'system',
-			content: trimmedSystemMessage
-		};
-
-		return [systemMsg, ...messages];
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Parses error response and creates appropriate error with context information
 	 * @param response - HTTP response object

tools/server/webui/src/lib/services/database.ts

@@ -166,6 +166,49 @@ export class DatabaseService {
 		return rootMessage.id;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Creates a system prompt message for a conversation.
+	 *
+	 * @param convId - Conversation ID
+	 * @param systemPrompt - The system prompt content (must be non-empty)
+	 * @param parentId - Parent message ID (typically the root message)
+	 * @returns The created system message
+	 * @throws Error if systemPrompt is empty
+	 */
+	static async createSystemMessage(
+		convId: string,
+		systemPrompt: string,
+		parentId: string
+	): Promise<DatabaseMessage> {
+		const trimmedPrompt = systemPrompt.trim();
+		if (!trimmedPrompt) {
+			throw new Error('Cannot create system message with empty content');
+		}
+
+		const systemMessage: DatabaseMessage = {
+			id: uuid(),
+			convId,
+			type: 'system',
+			timestamp: Date.now(),
+			role: 'system',
+			content: trimmedPrompt,
+			parent: parentId,
+			thinking: '',
+			children: []
+		};
+
+		await db.messages.add(systemMessage);
+
+		const parentMessage = await db.messages.get(parentId);
+		if (parentMessage) {
+			await db.messages.update(parentId, {
+				children: [...parentMessage.children, systemMessage.id]
+			});
+		}
+
+		return systemMessage;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Deletes a conversation and all its messages.
 	 *

tools/server/webui/src/lib/stores/chat.svelte.ts

@@ -624,6 +624,22 @@ class ChatStore {
 		this.clearChatStreaming(currentConv.id);
 
 		try {
+			if (isNewConversation) {
+				const rootId = await DatabaseService.createRootMessage(currentConv.id);
+				const currentConfig = config();
+				const systemPrompt = currentConfig.systemMessage?.toString().trim();
+
+				if (systemPrompt) {
+					const systemMessage = await DatabaseService.createSystemMessage(
+						currentConv.id,
+						systemPrompt,
+						rootId
+					);
+
+					conversationsStore.addMessageToActive(systemMessage);
+				}
+			}
+
 			const userMessage = await this.addMessage('user', content, 'text', '-1', extras);
 			if (!userMessage) throw new Error('Failed to add user message');
 			if (isNewConversation && content)
@@ -999,14 +1015,20 @@ class ChatStore {
 		const activeConv = conversationsStore.activeConversation;
 		if (!activeConv || this.isLoading) return;
 
-		const result = this.getMessageByIdWithRole(messageId, 'user');
+		let result = this.getMessageByIdWithRole(messageId, 'user');
+
+		if (!result) {
+			result = this.getMessageByIdWithRole(messageId, 'system');
+		}
+
 		if (!result) return;
 		const { message: msg } = result;
 
 		try {
 			const allMessages = await conversationsStore.getConversationMessages(activeConv.id);
 			const rootMessage = allMessages.find((m) => m.type === 'root' && m.parent === null);
-			const isFirstUserMessage = rootMessage && msg.parent === rootMessage.id;
+			const isFirstUserMessage =
+				msg.role === 'user' && rootMessage && msg.parent === rootMessage.id;
 
 			const parentId = msg.parent || rootMessage?.id;
 			if (!parentId) return;
@@ -1037,7 +1059,10 @@ class ChatStore {
 				);
 			}
 			await conversationsStore.refreshActiveMessages();
-			await this.generateResponseForMessage(newMessage.id);
+
+			if (msg.role === 'user') {
+				await this.generateResponseForMessage(newMessage.id);
+			}
 		} catch (error) {
 			console.error('Failed to edit message with branching:', error);
 		}

tools/server/webui/src/lib/types/chat.d.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export type ChatMessageType = 'root' | 'text' | 'think';
+export type ChatMessageType = 'root' | 'text' | 'think' | 'system';
 export type ChatRole = 'user' | 'assistant' | 'system';
 
 export interface ChatUploadedFile {