feat(messages): distinguish deleted message links

Co-authored-by: Taylor Ho <taylorkmho@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Taylor Ho <taylorkmho@gmail.com>

desktop/src/features/messages/ui/SentFromThreadLine.tsx

@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ export function SentFromThreadLine({
         channels={channels}
         interactive
         link={link}
+        onOpenChannel={(targetChannelId) => {
+          void goChannel(targetChannelId);
+        }}
         onOpenMessageLink={onOpenMessageLink}
         threadExcerpt={reference.rootExcerpt}
         variant="sent-from-thread"

desktop/src/shared/styles/globals/markdown.css

@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@
   color: hsl(var(--primary));
 }
 
+.message-markdown .mention-chip.buzz-link-deleted,
+.message-markdown .mention-chip.buzz-link-deleted:hover {
+  background: hsl(var(--muted));
+  color: hsl(var(--muted-foreground));
+}
+
 .message-markdown .mention-chip.inbox-channel-chip {
   background: hsl(var(--muted));
   color: hsl(var(--muted-foreground) / 0.82);

desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown.tsx

@@ -1272,6 +1272,7 @@ export function createMarkdownComponents(
     const {
       channels,
       imetaByUrl,
+      onOpenChannel,
       onOpenEntityLink,
       onOpenMessageLink,
       onImportSnapshotFromUrl,
@@ -1281,10 +1282,6 @@ export function createMarkdownComponents(
     if (!interactive) {
       return <span className="font-medium text-current">{children}</span>;
     }
-
-    // Markdown image-link syntax (`[![alt](src)](href)`) otherwise nests the
-    // image lightbox button inside an anchor. Keep the image as the lightbox
-    // trigger and suppress the parent link activation for block media.
     if (hasBlockMedia(React.Children.toArray(children))) {
       return <>{children}</>;
     }
@@ -1359,6 +1356,7 @@ export function createMarkdownComponents(
               channels={channels}
               interactive={interactive}
               link={messageLinkTarget.link}
+              onOpenChannel={onOpenChannel}
               onOpenMessageLink={onOpenMessageLink}
             />
           );
@@ -1682,7 +1680,8 @@ export function createMarkdownComponents(
     }: {
       children?: React.ReactNode;
     }) {
-      const { channels, onOpenMessageLink } = useMarkdownRuntime();
+      const { channels, onOpenChannel, onOpenMessageLink } =
+        useMarkdownRuntime();
       const href = String(children ?? "");
       const parsed = parseMessageLink(href);
       if (!parsed.ok) {
@@ -1694,6 +1693,7 @@ export function createMarkdownComponents(
           channels={channels}
           interactive={interactive}
           link={parsed.value}
+          onOpenChannel={onOpenChannel}
           onOpenMessageLink={onOpenMessageLink}
         />
       );

desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown/ChannelDeepLink.test.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import test from "node:test";
+
+import { channelTooltipFooter } from "./ChannelDeepLink.tsx";
+
+const channel = {
+  id: "channel-id",
+  name: "history",
+  channelType: "forum",
+  visibility: "private",
+  description: "",
+  topic: null,
+  purpose: null,
+  memberCount: 0,
+  memberPubkeys: [],
+  lastMessageAt: null,
+  archivedAt: "2026-08-17T00:00:00Z",
+  participants: [],
+  participantPubkeys: [],
+  isMember: true,
+  ttlSeconds: null,
+  ttlDeadline: null,
+};
+
+test("channelTooltipFooter adds archived status without changing existing metadata", () => {
+  assert.equal(
+    channelTooltipFooter(channel),
+    "Private channel · Forum · Archived",
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    channelTooltipFooter({ ...channel, archivedAt: null }),
+    "Private channel · Forum",
+  );
+});

desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown/ChannelDeepLink.tsx

@@ -35,10 +35,11 @@ function formatChannelActivity(timestamp: string): string | null {
   return `Active ${Math.floor(elapsedDays / 7)}w ago`;
 }
 
-function channelTooltipFooter(channel: Channel) {
+export function channelTooltipFooter(channel: Channel) {
   const details = [
     channel.visibility === "private" ? "Private channel" : "Public channel",
     channel.channelType === "forum" ? "Forum" : null,
+    channel.archivedAt ? "Archived" : null,
     channel.lastMessageAt ? formatChannelActivity(channel.lastMessageAt) : null,
   ];
   return details.filter(Boolean).join(" · ");
@@ -136,6 +137,7 @@ export function ChannelDeepLinkAnchor({
         href={href}
         interactive={interactive}
         link={messageLink}
+        onOpenChannel={onOpenChannel}
         onOpenMessageLink={onOpenMessageLink}
       />
     );
@@ -184,6 +186,7 @@ export function MarkdownChannelDeepLink({
         href={href}
         interactive={interactive}
         link={messageLink}
+        onOpenChannel={onOpenChannel}
         onOpenMessageLink={onOpenMessageLink}
       />
     );

desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown/MessageLinkPill.tsx

@@ -68,6 +68,16 @@ function MessageLinkMetadataTooltip({
   footer: string;
   metadata: ReturnType<typeof useMessageLinkMetadata>;
 }) {
+  if (metadata.state.kind === "deleted") {
+    return (
+      <TooltipProvider delayDuration={500} skipDelayDuration={0}>
+        <Tooltip>
+          <TooltipTrigger asChild>{children}</TooltipTrigger>
+          <TooltipContent side="top">Message deleted</TooltipContent>
+        </Tooltip>
+      </TooltipProvider>
+    );
+  }
   if (metadata.state.kind !== "ready" || !metadata.state.snippet.trim()) {
     return children;
   }
@@ -105,6 +115,7 @@ export function MessageLinkPill({
   href,
   interactive,
   link,
+  onOpenChannel,
   onOpenMessageLink,
   threadExcerpt,
   variant = "default",
@@ -118,6 +129,7 @@ export function MessageLinkPill({
   const shouldLoadMetadata =
     channelReadable && interactive && variant === "default";
   const metadata = useMessageLinkMetadata(link, shouldLoadMetadata);
+  const isDeleted = metadata.state.kind === "deleted";
   const metadataPending =
     shouldLoadMetadata &&
     (metadata.state.kind === "idle" || metadata.state.kind === "loading");
@@ -150,10 +162,18 @@ export function MessageLinkPill({
         data-message-link=""
         href={permalink}
         icon="message"
-        aria-label={`Open message in channel ${channelLabel}`}
-        className="max-w-64"
+        aria-label={
+          isDeleted
+            ? `Deleted message in channel ${channelLabel}`
+            : `Open message in channel ${channelLabel}`
+        }
+        className={cn("max-w-64", isDeleted && "buzz-link-deleted")}
         interactive={interactive}
         onOpenLink={() => {
+          if (isDeleted) {
+            onOpenChannel(link.channelId);
+            return;
+          }
           onOpenMessageLink(link);
         }}
       >

desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown/types.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export type MessageLinkPillProps = {
   href?: string;
   interactive: boolean;
   link: ParsedMessageLink;
+  onOpenChannel: (channelId: string) => void;
   onOpenMessageLink: (link: ParsedMessageLink) => void;
   threadExcerpt?: string | null;
   variant?: "default" | "sent-from-thread";

desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown/useMessageLinkMetadata.ts

@@ -7,8 +7,18 @@ import { getUserProfile } from "@/shared/api/tauriProfiles";
 import { truncatePubkey } from "@/shared/lib/pubkey";
 
 const MESSAGE_METADATA_RETRY_DELAY_MS = 750;
+const EVENT_NOT_FOUND_MESSAGE = "event not found";
 const PREVIEWABLE_MESSAGE_KINDS = new Set([9, 40002, 45001, 45003]);
 
+function isEventNotFoundError(error: unknown): boolean {
+  if (typeof error === "string") {
+    return error.includes(EVENT_NOT_FOUND_MESSAGE);
+  }
+  return (
+    error instanceof Error && error.message.includes(EVENT_NOT_FOUND_MESSAGE)
+  );
+}
+
 function waitForMessageMetadataRetry(): Promise<void> {
   return new Promise((resolve) => {
     window.setTimeout(resolve, MESSAGE_METADATA_RETRY_DELAY_MS);
@@ -18,7 +28,8 @@ function waitForMessageMetadataRetry(): Promise<void> {
 async function getMessageLinkEvent(messageId: string) {
   try {
     return await getEventById(messageId);
-  } catch {
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (isEventNotFoundError(error)) throw error;
     await waitForMessageMetadataRetry();
     return getEventById(messageId);
   }
@@ -33,10 +44,12 @@ type MessageLinkMetadataState =
   | { kind: "idle" }
   | { kind: "loading" }
   | ({ kind: "ready" } & MessageLinkMetadata)
+  | { kind: "deleted" }
   | { kind: "unavailable" };
 
 type CachedMessageLinkMetadata =
   | ({ kind: "ready" } & MessageLinkMetadata)
+  | { kind: "deleted" }
   | { kind: "unavailable" };
 
 const metadataCache = new Map<string, Promise<CachedMessageLinkMetadata>>();
@@ -71,7 +84,11 @@ function fetchMetadata(
           snippet: summarizeMessageLinkContent(event.content),
         };
       })
-      .catch(() => ({ kind: "unavailable" }) as const);
+      .catch((error) =>
+        isEventNotFoundError(error)
+          ? ({ kind: "deleted" } as const)
+          : ({ kind: "unavailable" } as const),
+      );
     metadataCache.set(key, request);
     void request.then((result) => {
       if (result.kind === "unavailable" && metadataCache.get(key) === request) {

desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts

@@ -9631,12 +9631,12 @@ async function resolveGetEvent(
   },
   config: E2eConfig | undefined,
 ) {
+  // Allow test specs to mark specific event IDs as definitively deleted.
+  if (config?.mock?.deletedEventIds?.includes(args.eventId)) {
+    throw new Error("event not found");
+  }
   const identity = getIdentity(config);
   if (!identity) {
-    // Allow test specs to mark specific event IDs as definitively deleted.
-    if (config?.mock?.deletedEventIds?.includes(args.eventId)) {
-      throw new Error("event not found");
-    }
     const knownEvents: RelayEvent[] = [
       ...Array.from(mockMessages.values()).flat(),
       {

desktop/tests/e2e/entity-link-recipient-cards.spec.ts

@@ -379,6 +379,92 @@ test("reopening the same entity link reapplies its workspace state", async ({
   await expect(issueHeading).toBeVisible();
 });
 
+test("definitively deleted message links open their channel and remain copyable", async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  const deletedMessageId = "d".repeat(64);
+  const channelId = "9dae0116-799b-5071-a0a8-fdd30a91a35d";
+  const link = `buzz://message?channel=${channelId}&id=${deletedMessageId}`;
+  await installMockBridge(page, { deletedEventIds: [deletedMessageId] });
+  await page.goto("/", { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+  await page.getByTestId("channel-general").click();
+  await page
+    .getByTestId("message-input")
+    .fill(`Deleted link \`reference\` ${link}`);
+  await page.getByTestId("send-message").click();
+
+  const linkMessage = page
+    .getByTestId("message-row")
+    .filter({ hasText: "Deleted link" })
+    .last();
+  const deletedLink = linkMessage.getByLabel(
+    "Deleted message in channel random",
+  );
+  await expect(deletedLink).toHaveText("random");
+  await expect(deletedLink).toHaveClass(/buzz-link-deleted/);
+  const inlineCode = linkMessage
+    .locator("code")
+    .filter({ hasText: "reference" });
+  await expect(inlineCode).toBeVisible();
+  await expect
+    .poll(async () => {
+      const [deletedStyles, codeStyles] = await Promise.all([
+        deletedLink.evaluate((element) => {
+          const styles = getComputedStyle(element);
+          return [styles.backgroundColor, styles.color];
+        }),
+        inlineCode.evaluate((element) => {
+          const styles = getComputedStyle(element);
+          return [styles.backgroundColor, styles.color];
+        }),
+      ]);
+      return JSON.stringify(deletedStyles) === JSON.stringify(codeStyles);
+    })
+    .toBe(true);
+  await expect(deletedLink).toHaveJSProperty("tagName", "BUTTON");
+  const deletedColors = await deletedLink.evaluate((element) => {
+    const styles = getComputedStyle(element);
+    return [styles.backgroundColor, styles.color];
+  });
+  await deletedLink.hover();
+  await expect
+    .poll(() =>
+      deletedLink.evaluate((element) => {
+        const styles = getComputedStyle(element);
+        return [styles.backgroundColor, styles.color];
+      }),
+    )
+    .toEqual(deletedColors);
+
+  await expect(page.getByRole("tooltip")).toHaveText("Message deleted");
+  await deletedLink.click({ button: "right" });
+  const linkMenu = page.locator("[data-buzz-link-context-menu]");
+  await expect(
+    linkMenu.getByRole("button", { name: "Open link" }),
+  ).toBeVisible();
+  await linkMenu.getByRole("button", { name: "Copy link" }).click();
+  await expect
+    .poll(() =>
+      page.evaluate(() => {
+        return (
+          window as Window & {
+            __BUZZ_E2E_COMMAND_LOG__?: Array<{
+              command: string;
+              payload: { text?: string };
+            }>;
+          }
+        ).__BUZZ_E2E_COMMAND_LOG__?.findLast(
+          ({ command }) => command === "copy_text_to_clipboard",
+        )?.payload.text;
+      }),
+    )
+    .toBe(link);
+
+  await deletedLink.click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("chat-title")).toHaveText("random");
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(new RegExp(`#/channels/${channelId}$`));
+});
+
 test("cold-start entity links drain after the React listener mounts", async ({
   page,
 }) => {