Force Workspace Manager tool pager above Editors

PR Details:
- Removes the newly created Workspace Manager top header/banner workflow.
- Adds centered [PREV] <toolname> [NEXT] control above Editors.
- Selects and mounts the first available tool on page load per user direction.
- Prev/Next switches selected and mounted tool.
- Removes dropdown + Select Tool + Mount initial workflow.
- Keeps explicit gameId and does not restore legacy query fallback.

Author: DavidQ

docs/dev/codex_rules.md

@@ -4,54 +4,54 @@ These rules OVERRIDE all other instructions.
 
 ## This PR
 
-Fix only Workspace Manager game-launched tool selection UX.
+Force the Workspace Manager tool pager UI above Editors.
 
 Allowed:
-- targeted Workspace Manager render/selection/CSS changes
+- targeted Workspace Manager UI/render behavior changes
+- remove newly created top header/banner/control area
 - validation report
 
 Forbidden:
 - broad cleanup
 - unrelated refactoring
 - changes to samples behavior
 - changes to required labels
-- new route systems
+- new header/banner replacement
 - second SSoT
-- fallback/default behavior
 - start_of_day changes
 - roadmap text rewrite outside status markers
 
-## Required Initial State
+## User-Approved Exception
 
-On game-launched Workspace Manager open:
-- show Workspace Manager shell/status
-- show Game Source and workspace status
-- show one tool dropdown above Editors
-- show Editors locked/overlaid until selection
-- do not mount a tool
-- do not auto-select a tool
+For this PR only:
+- the first available tool in the game tool list MUST be selected on page load
+- the selected first tool MUST be displayed between PREV and NEXT
+- the selected first tool MAY be activated/mounted on page load
 
-## Required Selection Behavior
+This approved behavior is not considered an anti-pattern in this PR.
 
-When the user selects a valid tool from the dropdown:
-- validate against registry/SSoT
-- automatically activate/mount selected tool
-- clear/hide overlay
-- update status
-
-No separate Select Tool or Mount click may be required for the initial flow.
-
-## Forbidden Restorations
+## Still Forbidden
 
 Do not restore:
 - `gameId || game`
-- `toolIds[0]`
-- first-item selection
-- default tool
-- default workspace
-- fallback route
-- fallback view
+- legacy `game` query fallback
+- hidden fallback routing
 - stale memory reuse
+- label-text route guessing
+- DOM-order route guessing
+
+## Required UI
+
+Create centered control directly above Editors:
+
+[PREV] <toolname> [NEXT]
+
+Do not use:
+- detached top banner
+- new header
+- dropdown workflow
+- Select Tool button
+- Mount button for initial flow
 
 ## Anti-Patterns Forbidden
 
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@ Do not restore:
 - duplicate state
 - stored derived state
 - vague names
-- hidden fallback behavior
+- hidden query fallback
 - duplicated launch paths
 - silent redirects
 - silent caught errors
 - broad truthy/falsy behavior changes
-- magic strings outside existing SSoT/config pattern
+- magic strings outside existing registry/config pattern
 - duplicate event listeners
 - globals
 - new managers/factories/service layers

docs/dev/reports/workspace_manager_tool_pager_above_editors_validation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+# Workspace Manager Tool Pager Above Editors Validation
+
+## Changed Files
+
+- `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html`
+- `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js`
+- `tools/Workspace Manager/toolHost.css`
+- `docs/dev/reports/workspace_manager_tool_pager_above_editors_validation.md`
+
+## Proof Newly Created Header/Banner/Control Area Removed
+
+- `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html` no longer contains a `<header>` block.
+- Command evidence:
+
+```text
+headerTagCount 0
+```
+
+## Proof Centered `[PREV] <toolname> [NEXT]` Appears Above Editors
+
+Markup order shows pager directly above Editors:
+
+- pager container: `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html:22`
+- `[PREV]`: `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html:23`
+- `<toolname>` label: `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html:24`
+- `[NEXT]`: `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html:25`
+- editors region: `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html:28`
+
+Centering evidence in CSS:
+
+- pager rule: `tools/Workspace Manager/toolHost.css:63`
+- centered layout: `tools/Workspace Manager/toolHost.css:66` (`justify-content: center`)
+
+## Proof First Available Tool Selected On Page Load
+
+User-approved exception applied in runtime:
+
+- select default to first tool if preferred tool missing: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:516`
+- game-filtered list default to first tool if preferred missing: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:531`
+- init selects first available when query tool is absent/invalid: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:780`
+
+## Proof Selected Tool Active/Mounted On Page Load
+
+Init path mounts the selected/first tool automatically:
+
+- initial load mount call: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:790` (`mountSelectedTool("init")`)
+- mount runtime call path: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:593-603`
+
+## Proof Prev/Next Changes Selected/Mounted Tool
+
+Pager button events remount immediately:
+
+- prev event -> `mountSelectedTool("prev")`: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:615`
+- next event -> `mountSelectedTool("next")`: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:624`
+
+## Proof Dropdown + Select Tool + Mount Initial Workflow Removed
+
+Removed from HTML:
+
+```text
+selectToolButtonCount 0
+mountButtonCount 0
+```
+
+No `Select Tool` button and no `Mount` button are present in current `index.html`.
+
+Selection is pager-driven with hidden internal select only (no user dropdown workflow):
+
+- hidden internal selector: `tools/Workspace Manager/index.html:26`
+- hidden styling: `tools/Workspace Manager/toolHost.css:84`
+
+## Proof `gameId || game` Fallback Not Restored
+
+Command evidence:
+
+```text
+gameIdOrGameCount 0
+legacyGameParamReadCount 0
+```
+
+- `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js` reads only `gameId` (`readInitialGameId` at `main.js:335`).
+
+## Proof Game Context Still Loads From Explicit `gameId`
+
+- resolver still emits explicit `gameId` URL:
+
+```text
+{
+  href: '/tools/Workspace%20Manager/index.html?gameId=Bouncing-ball&mount=game',
+  error: ''
+}
+```
+
+- runtime game context reads and applies explicit `gameId`:
+  - `readInitialGameId`: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:335`
+  - valid game source write: `tools/Workspace Manager/main.js:758`
+
+## Proof Sample `Open <tool>` Remains Untouched
+
+- sample label still `Open <tool>`: `samples/index.render.js:104`
+- sample external launch reset flow unchanged: `samples/index.render.js:539`
+
+## External Memory Clear Remains Intact
+
+Runtime check output:
+
+```text
+clearResult true
+localAfterClear [ [ 'keep.one', 'x' ] ]
+sessionAfterClear [ [ 'keep.two', 'y' ] ]
+launchResult true
+assignCalls [
+  '/tools/Workspace%20Manager/index.html?gameId=Bouncing-ball&mount=game'
+]
+localAfterLaunch [ [ 'keep.one', 'x' ] ]
+sessionAfterLaunch [ [ 'keep.two', 'y' ] ]
+```
+
+## Static Validation
+
+Commands run successfully:
+
+```bash
+node --check tools/Workspace\ Manager/main.js
+node --check games/index.render.js
+node --check samples/index.render.js
+```
+
+## Anti-Pattern Self-Check
+
+- No samples behavior or label changes.
+- No legacy `gameId || game` fallback restored.
+- No hidden fallback routing introduced.
+- No stale memory reuse introduced.
+- No second SSoT introduced.
+- No broad Workspace Manager refactor.
+- No start_of_day changes.
+- User-approved exception used in this PR: first available tool selection on page load (`toolIds[0]` usage is intentional and required for 20_19).

docs/operations/dev/codex_commands.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Codex Commands — BUILD_PR_LEVEL_20_18_AUTO_MOUNT_TOOL_SELECTION_WORKSPACE_SURFACE
+# Codex Commands — BUILD_PR_LEVEL_20_19_FORCE_WORKSPACE_TOOL_PAGER_ABOVE_EDITORS
 
 ## Model
 GPT-5.4 or GPT-5.3-codex
@@ -10,44 +10,49 @@ High
 
 ```text
 Read docs/dev/codex_rules.md first.
-Read docs/dev/reports/workspace_manager_hide_tool_banner_validation.md if present.
+Read docs/dev/reports/workspace_manager_auto_mount_tool_selection_validation.md if present.
 Read docs/dev/specs/TOOL_LAUNCH_SSOT.md if present.
 
-Execute BUILD_PR_LEVEL_20_18_AUTO_MOUNT_TOOL_SELECTION_WORKSPACE_SURFACE.
+Execute BUILD_PR_LEVEL_20_19_FORCE_WORKSPACE_TOOL_PAGER_ABOVE_EDITORS.
 
-User UAT finding:
-- Current flow forces the user to choose dropdown workspace action, click Select Tool, select the tool, then Mount.
-- User wants one dropdown above Editors.
-- Tools/cards below should be hidden/locked with an overlay until a tool is selected.
-- When a tool is selected, automatically do the next step: activate/mount that selected tool.
-- No separate Select Tool + Mount flow should be required for initial game-launched use.
+User UAT correction:
+- Do not use a new HEADER at all.
+- Delete/remove what was created as the top Workspace Manager header/banner/control area.
+- Force this UI centered above Editors:
+  [PREV] <toolname> [NEXT]
+- On page load, default <toolname> to the first tool in the available list.
+- No more attempts to keep the header.
+- No dropdown + Select Tool + Mount initial workflow.
 
 Goal:
-Simplify Workspace Manager game-launched tool selection UX while preserving no-default/no-fallback rules.
+Replace the current top header/banner/dropdown workflow with a centered tool pager directly above Editors.
 
 Required behavior:
-- URL tools/Workspace Manager/index.html?gameId=Bouncing-ball&mount=game renders visible Workspace Manager shell/status page.
-- Show one explicit tool dropdown above Editors.
-- Do not show detached top banner/tool controls.
-- Editors/tool cards below are locked/overlaid until tool selection.
-- Do not auto-select or mount a default tool on load.
-- When user selects a valid tool from dropdown, automatically activate/mount selected tool.
-- Remove/hide overlay after activation.
-- Do not require Select Tool button or Mount button for initial flow.
-- Keep game context loaded.
-- Keep external memory clear.
-- Keep visible diagnostics for invalid/missing context.
+- URL tools/Workspace Manager/index.html?gameId=Bouncing-ball&mount=game renders existing Workspace Manager page shell.
+- Remove newly created top banner/header/control content.
+- Directly above Editors, centered, render:
+  [PREV] <selected tool name> [NEXT]
+- On page load, select the first available tool for the explicit gameId context.
+- Activate/mount selected tool on page load.
+- Prev/Next changes the selected tool and active/mounted tool.
+- Do not require dropdown.
+- Do not require Select Tool button.
+- Do not require Mount button.
+- Keep game context loaded from explicit gameId.
+- Keep samples untouched.
 
-Forbidden:
-- changing samples
-- changing labels
+User-approved exception:
+- First available tool selected on page load is REQUIRED for this PR.
+- This is not considered fallback/default anti-pattern for this PR.
+
+Still forbidden:
 - restoring gameId || game
-- restoring toolIds[0]
-- auto-selecting first tool
-- mounting a tool on initial game launch before user selection
+- legacy game query fallback
+- hidden fallback routing
+- stale memory reuse
+- new header/banner
 - broad Workspace Manager refactor
 - second SSoT
-- fallback/default behavior
 - start_of_day changes
 
 Likely files:
@@ -56,21 +61,19 @@ Likely files:
 - Workspace Manager CSS only if needed
 
 Validation:
-Create docs/dev/reports/workspace_manager_auto_mount_tool_selection_validation.md with:
+Create docs/dev/reports/workspace_manager_tool_pager_above_editors_validation.md with:
 - changed files
-- proof initial page shows one dropdown above Editors
-- proof detached top banner/tool controls are gone
-- proof Editors/tools are overlaid/disabled before tool selection
-- proof no default tool selected on load
-- proof selecting a tool from dropdown auto-mounts/activates it
-- proof separate Select Tool and Mount actions are not required for initial flow
-- proof toolIds[0] not restored
-- proof gameId || game not restored
-- proof valid gameId still loads game context
-- proof invalid/missing context renders visible diagnostic
-- proof samples Open <tool> remain untouched
+- proof newly created header/banner/control area removed
+- proof centered [PREV] <toolname> [NEXT] appears above Editors
+- proof first available tool selected on page load
+- proof selected tool active/mounted on page load
+- proof Prev/Next changes selected/mounted tool
+- proof dropdown + Select Tool + Mount initial workflow removed
+- proof gameId || game fallback not restored
+- proof game context still loads from explicit gameId
+- proof sample Open <tool> remains untouched
 - anti-pattern self-check
 
 Return ZIP at:
-tmp/BUILD_PR_LEVEL_20_18_AUTO_MOUNT_TOOL_SELECTION_WORKSPACE_SURFACE.zip
+tmp/BUILD_PR_LEVEL_20_19_FORCE_WORKSPACE_TOOL_PAGER_ABOVE_EDITORS.zip
 ```

docs/operations/dev/commit_comment.txt

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-Auto-mount selected Workspace Manager tool
+Force Workspace Manager tool pager above Editors
 
 PR Details:
-- Places one tool dropdown above Editors.
-- Locks/overlays Editors until explicit tool selection.
-- Automatically mounts/activates the selected tool from the dropdown.
-- Removes the extra Select Tool + Mount requirement from initial game-launched flow.
-- Does not restore default/fallback tool selection.
-- Leaves sample Open <tool> behavior untouched.
+- Removes the newly created Workspace Manager top header/banner workflow.
+- Adds centered [PREV] <toolname> [NEXT] control above Editors.
+- Selects and mounts the first available tool on page load per user direction.
+- Prev/Next switches selected and mounted tool.
+- Removes dropdown + Select Tool + Mount initial workflow.
+- Keeps explicit gameId and does not restore legacy query fallback.