feat(tui): add search via capture bar and absorb flow

Search uses existing parse grammar ?prefix — type `?query #tag` in
capture bar to filter entities client-side. Substring match on
body+title+description with AND tag filtering. Esc clears search.

Absorb via m key on fluid entities — opens source picker showing all
other entities, enter merges source into target. Uses existing
store.Absorb() backend.

internal/tui/absorb.go

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package tui
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
+
+	"github.com/lerko/nib/internal/db"
+	"github.com/lerko/nib/internal/display"
+)
+
+type absorbModel struct {
+	targetID string
+	sources  []*db.Entity
+	cursor   int
+	offset   int
+	height   int
+}
+
+func newAbsorbModel(targetID string) absorbModel {
+	return absorbModel{targetID: targetID}
+}
+
+func (a *absorbModel) setSources(entities []*db.Entity) {
+	a.sources = nil
+	for _, e := range entities {
+		if e.ID != a.targetID {
+			a.sources = append(a.sources, e)
+		}
+	}
+	a.cursor = 0
+	a.offset = 0
+}
+
+func (a *absorbModel) setHeight(h int) {
+	a.height = h
+}
+
+func (a absorbModel) selectedSource() *db.Entity {
+	if len(a.sources) == 0 || a.cursor >= len(a.sources) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return a.sources[a.cursor]
+}
+
+func (a absorbModel) update(msg tea.KeyMsg) absorbModel {
+	switch msg.String() {
+	case "up", "k":
+		if a.cursor > 0 {
+			a.cursor--
+			if a.cursor < a.offset {
+				a.offset = a.cursor
+			}
+		}
+	case "down", "j":
+		if a.cursor < len(a.sources)-1 {
+			a.cursor++
+			visible := a.visibleCount()
+			if a.cursor >= a.offset+visible {
+				a.offset = a.cursor - visible + 1
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return a
+}
+
+func (a absorbModel) view(width int) string {
+	if len(a.sources) == 0 {
+		return statusStyle.Render("no other entities")
+	}
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString(titleStyle.Render("absorb into " + display.FormatID(a.targetID)))
+	b.WriteString("\n")
+	b.WriteString(helpStyle.Render("select source to merge"))
+	b.WriteString("\n\n")
+
+	visible := a.visibleCount() - 4
+	if visible <= 0 {
+		visible = 10
+	}
+	end := min(a.offset+visible, len(a.sources))
+
+	for i := a.offset; i < end; i++ {
+		e := a.sources[i]
+		line := renderAbsorbSource(e, width-4)
+
+		if i == a.cursor {
+			b.WriteString(selectedItemStyle.Render(" " + line))
+		} else {
+			b.WriteString(listItemStyle.Render(line))
+		}
+		if i < end-1 {
+			b.WriteString("\n")
+		}
+	}
+
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+func (a absorbModel) visibleCount() int {
+	if a.height <= 0 {
+		return 20
+	}
+	return a.height
+}
+
+func renderAbsorbSource(e *db.Entity, maxWidth int) string {
+	glyph := glyphStyle.Render(display.DisplayGlyph(e.Glyph, e.CardType))
+	id := idStyle.Render("[" + display.FormatID(e.ID) + "]")
+
+	body := e.Body
+	if e.Title != nil {
+		body = *e.Title
+	}
+
+	var tags string
+	if len(e.Tags) > 0 {
+		limit := min(2, len(e.Tags))
+		tagParts := make([]string, limit)
+		for i := 0; i < limit; i++ {
+			tagParts[i] = tagStyle.Render("#" + e.Tags[i])
+		}
+		tags = " " + strings.Join(tagParts, " ")
+	}
+
+	line := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s%s %s", glyph, body, tags, id)
+
+	if maxWidth > 0 && len(stripAnsi(line)) > maxWidth {
+		body = truncate(body, maxWidth-20)
+		line = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s%s %s", glyph, body, tags, id)
+	}
+
+	return line
+}

internal/tui/commands.go

@@ -40,6 +40,15 @@ type entityDemotedMsg struct {
 
 type entityCopiedMsg struct{}
 
+type entityAbsorbedMsg struct {
+	targetID string
+}
+
+type absorbSourcesLoadedMsg struct {
+	targetID string
+	entities []*db.Entity
+}
+
 type tagsLoadedMsg struct {
 	tags []db.TagCount
 }
@@ -207,3 +216,22 @@ func editInEditor(store *db.Store, e *db.Entity) tea.Cmd {
 		return editorFinishedMsg{nil}
 	})
 }
+
+func loadAbsorbSources(store *db.Store, targetID string) tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		entities, err := store.List(db.DefaultListParams())
+		if err != nil {
+			return errMsg{err}
+		}
+		return absorbSourcesLoadedMsg{targetID, entities}
+	}
+}
+
+func absorbEntity(store *db.Store, targetID, sourceID string) tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		if err := store.Absorb(targetID, sourceID); err != nil {
+			return errMsg{err}
+		}
+		return entityAbsorbedMsg{targetID}
+	}
+}

internal/tui/help.go

@@ -21,11 +21,12 @@ func renderHelp(width, height int) string {
 			{"tab", "cycle intent (cards)"},
 		}},
 		{"Actions", [][2]string{
-			{"a", "add entity"},
+			{"a", "add entity (or ?query to search)"},
 			{"d", "delete (with confirm)"},
 			{"x", "toggle todo completion"},
 			{"!", "toggle pin"},
 			{"#", "filter by tag"},
+			{"m", "absorb (merge into target)"},
 			{"p", "promote to card"},
 		}},
 		{"Detail View", [][2]string{

internal/tui/input.go

@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/lerko/nib/internal/parse"
 )
 
+type inputResult struct {
+	entity *db.Entity
+	query  bool
+	body   string
+	tags   []string
+}
+
 type inputModel struct {
 	ti     textinput.Model
 	active bool
@@ -32,7 +39,7 @@ func (i *inputModel) reset() {
 	i.ti.Blur()
 }
 
-func (i inputModel) submit() *db.Entity {
+func (i inputModel) submit() *inputResult {
 	val := i.ti.Value()
 	if val == "" {
 		return nil
@@ -43,6 +50,14 @@ func (i inputModel) submit() *db.Entity {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if parsed.Query {
+		return &inputResult{
+			query: true,
+			body:  parsed.Body,
+			tags:  parsed.FilterTags,
+		}
+	}
+
 	e := &db.Entity{
 		Body:  parsed.Body,
 		Title: parsed.Title,
@@ -63,7 +78,7 @@ func (i inputModel) submit() *db.Entity {
 		e.Description = parsed.Description
 	}
 
-	return e
+	return &inputResult{entity: e}
 }
 
 func (i inputModel) updateKey(msg tea.KeyMsg) inputModel {

internal/tui/keys.go

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ type keyMap struct {
 	Cards   key.Binding
 	Sort    key.Binding
 	Intent  key.Binding
+	Absorb  key.Binding
 }
 
 var keys = keyMap{
@@ -52,4 +53,5 @@ var keys = keyMap{
 	Cards:   key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("2"), key.WithHelp("2", "cards")),
 	Sort:    key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("s"), key.WithHelp("s", "sort")),
 	Intent:  key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("tab"), key.WithHelp("tab", "intent")),
+	Absorb:  key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("m"), key.WithHelp("m", "absorb")),
 }

internal/tui/list.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 type listModel struct {
 	entities []*db.Entity
+	filtered []*db.Entity
 	cursor   int
 	offset   int
 	height   int
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ func newListModel() listModel {
 
 func (l *listModel) setEntities(entities []*db.Entity) {
 	l.entities = entities
+	l.filtered = nil
 	if l.cursor >= len(entities) {
 		l.cursor = max(0, len(entities)-1)
 	}
@@ -35,11 +37,19 @@ func (l *listModel) setSize(width, height int) {
 	l.height = height
 }
 
+func (l listModel) displayEntities() []*db.Entity {
+	if l.filtered != nil {
+		return l.filtered
+	}
+	return l.entities
+}
+
 func (l listModel) selected() *db.Entity {
-	if len(l.entities) == 0 || l.cursor >= len(l.entities) {
+	ents := l.displayEntities()
+	if len(ents) == 0 || l.cursor >= len(ents) {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return l.entities[l.cursor]
+	return ents[l.cursor]
 }
 
 func (l listModel) update(msg tea.KeyMsg) listModel {
@@ -52,7 +62,7 @@ func (l listModel) update(msg tea.KeyMsg) listModel {
 			}
 		}
 	case "down", "j":
-		if l.cursor < len(l.entities)-1 {
+		if l.cursor < len(l.displayEntities())-1 {
 			l.cursor++
 			visible := l.visibleCount()
 			if l.cursor >= l.offset+visible {
@@ -63,7 +73,7 @@ func (l listModel) update(msg tea.KeyMsg) listModel {
 		l.cursor = 0
 		l.offset = 0
 	case "end", "G":
-		l.cursor = max(0, len(l.entities)-1)
+		l.cursor = max(0, len(l.displayEntities())-1)
 		visible := l.visibleCount()
 		if l.cursor >= visible {
 			l.offset = l.cursor - visible + 1
@@ -74,7 +84,7 @@ func (l listModel) update(msg tea.KeyMsg) listModel {
 			l.offset = l.cursor
 		}
 	case "pgdown", "ctrl+d":
-		l.cursor = min(len(l.entities)-1, l.cursor+l.visibleCount())
+		l.cursor = min(len(l.displayEntities())-1, l.cursor+l.visibleCount())
 		visible := l.visibleCount()
 		if l.cursor >= l.offset+visible {
 			l.offset = l.cursor - visible + 1
@@ -84,11 +94,12 @@ func (l listModel) update(msg tea.KeyMsg) listModel {
 }
 
 func (l listModel) view(width int) string {
-	if len(l.entities) == 0 {
+	ents := l.displayEntities()
+	if len(ents) == 0 {
 		return statusStyle.Render("no entities")
 	}
 
-	groups := groupByDate(l.entities)
+	groups := groupByDate(ents)
 
 	type displayLine struct {
 		text      string

internal/tui/model.go

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const (
 	stateTagFilter
 	stateConfirm
 	statePromote
+	stateAbsorb
 )
 
 type viewMode int
@@ -69,11 +70,14 @@ type model struct {
 	input    inputModel
 	filter   filterModel
 	promote  promoteModel
+	absorb   absorbModel
 	showHelp bool
 
-	filterTag string
-	confirmID string
-	cardsSort cardsSort
+	filterTag   string
+	confirmID   string
+	cardsSort   cardsSort
+	searchQuery string
+	searchTags  []string
 
 	status string
 	err    error
@@ -118,6 +122,34 @@ func (m model) listParams() db.ListParams {
 	return p
 }
 
+func (m model) hasSearch() bool {
+	return m.searchQuery != "" || len(m.searchTags) > 0
+}
+
+func (m *model) applySearch() {
+	if m.mode == modeCards {
+		filtered := filterEntities(m.cards.entities, m.searchQuery, m.searchTags)
+		m.cards.filtered = nil
+		var pinned, rest []*db.Entity
+		for _, e := range filtered {
+			if !matchesIntent(e, m.cards.intent) {
+				continue
+			}
+			if e.Pinned {
+				pinned = append(pinned, e)
+			} else {
+				rest = append(rest, e)
+			}
+		}
+		m.cards.filtered = append(pinned, rest...)
+		if m.cards.cursor >= len(m.cards.filtered) {
+			m.cards.cursor = max(0, len(m.cards.filtered)-1)
+		}
+	} else {
+		m.list.filtered = filterEntities(m.list.entities, m.searchQuery, m.searchTags)
+	}
+}
+
 func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	switch msg := msg.(type) {
 	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
@@ -135,6 +167,9 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		} else {
 			m.list.setEntities(msg.entities)
 		}
+		if m.hasSearch() {
+			m.applySearch()
+		}
 		m.err = nil
 		return m, nil
 
@@ -169,6 +204,18 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.status = "copied"
 		return m, nil
 
+	case entityAbsorbedMsg:
+		m.status = "absorbed"
+		m.state = stateList
+		return m, loadEntities(m.store, m.listParams())
+
+	case absorbSourcesLoadedMsg:
+		m.absorb = newAbsorbModel(msg.targetID)
+		m.absorb.setSources(msg.entities)
+		m.absorb.setHeight(m.contentHeight())
+		m.state = stateAbsorb
+		return m, nil
+
 	case tagsLoadedMsg:
 		m.filter.setTags(msg.tags)
 		m.state = stateTagFilter
@@ -204,6 +251,8 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			return m.updateConfirm(msg)
 		case statePromote:
 			return m.updatePromote(msg)
+		case stateAbsorb:
+			return m.updateAbsorb(msg)
 		default:
 			return m.updateKeys(msg)
 		}
@@ -263,6 +312,9 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case "tab":
 		if m.mode == modeCards && m.state == stateList {
 			m.cards.setIntent(m.cards.intent.next())
+			if m.hasSearch() {
+				m.applySearch()
+			}
 			return m, nil
 		}
 		return m, nil
@@ -279,6 +331,17 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			m.state = stateList
 			return m, nil
 		}
+		if m.state == stateList && m.hasSearch() {
+			m.searchQuery = ""
+			m.searchTags = nil
+			m.status = ""
+			if m.mode == modeCards {
+				m.cards.applyFilter()
+			} else {
+				m.list.filtered = nil
+			}
+			return m, nil
+		}
 		if m.state == stateList && m.filterTag != "" {
 			m.filterTag = ""
 			m.status = ""
@@ -331,6 +394,17 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m, nil
 
+	case "m":
+		e := m.selectedEntity()
+		if e != nil {
+			if e.CardType != nil {
+				m.status = "target must be fluid"
+				return m, nil
+			}
+			return m, loadAbsorbSources(m.store, e.ID)
+		}
+		return m, nil
+
 	case "p":
 		e := m.selectedEntity()
 		if e != nil {
@@ -387,8 +461,20 @@ func (m model) updateInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.input.reset()
 		return m, nil
 	case "enter":
-		if e := m.input.submit(); e != nil {
-			return m, createEntity(m.store, e)
+		result := m.input.submit()
+		if result == nil {
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		if result.query {
+			m.searchQuery = result.body
+			m.searchTags = result.tags
+			m.state = stateList
+			m.input.reset()
+			m.applySearch()
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		if result.entity != nil {
+			return m, createEntity(m.store, result.entity)
 		}
 		return m, nil
 	}
@@ -441,6 +527,23 @@ func (m model) updatePromote(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (m model) updateAbsorb(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	switch msg.String() {
+	case "esc", "q":
+		m.state = stateList
+		return m, nil
+	case "enter":
+		source := m.absorb.selectedSource()
+		if source != nil {
+			return m, absorbEntity(m.store, m.absorb.targetID, source.ID)
+		}
+		return m, nil
+	default:
+		m.absorb = m.absorb.update(msg)
+		return m, nil
+	}
+}
+
 func (m model) View() string {
 	if m.showHelp {
 		return renderHelp(m.width, m.height)
@@ -460,6 +563,8 @@ func (m model) View() string {
 		content = m.filter.view(m.width)
 	case statePromote:
 		content = m.promote.view(m.width)
+	case stateAbsorb:
+		content = m.absorb.view(m.width)
 	}
 
 	header := m.headerView()
@@ -481,6 +586,17 @@ func (m model) headerView() string {
 		header += " " + filterPillStyle.Render("#"+m.filterTag)
 	}
 
+	if m.hasSearch() {
+		pill := "?"
+		if m.searchQuery != "" {
+			pill += m.searchQuery
+		}
+		for _, t := range m.searchTags {
+			pill += " #" + t
+		}
+		header += " " + searchPillStyle.Render(pill)
+	}
+
 	if m.mode == modeCards && m.cards.intent != intentAll {
 		header += " " + affordanceStyle.Render(m.cards.intent.String())
 	}

internal/tui/search.go

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package tui
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/lerko/nib/internal/db"
+)
+
+func filterEntities(entities []*db.Entity, query string, tags []string) []*db.Entity {
+	if query == "" && len(tags) == 0 {
+		return entities
+	}
+
+	query = strings.ToLower(query)
+	lowerTags := make([]string, len(tags))
+	for i, t := range tags {
+		lowerTags[i] = strings.ToLower(t)
+	}
+
+	var result []*db.Entity
+	for _, e := range entities {
+		if !matchesSearch(e, query, lowerTags) {
+			continue
+		}
+		result = append(result, e)
+	}
+	return result
+}
+
+func matchesSearch(e *db.Entity, query string, tags []string) bool {
+	if len(tags) > 0 {
+		eTags := make(map[string]bool, len(e.Tags))
+		for _, t := range e.Tags {
+			eTags[strings.ToLower(t)] = true
+		}
+		for _, t := range tags {
+			if !eTags[t] {
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if query == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	haystack := strings.ToLower(e.Body)
+	if e.Title != nil {
+		haystack += " " + strings.ToLower(*e.Title)
+	}
+	if e.Description != nil {
+		haystack += " " + strings.ToLower(*e.Description)
+	}
+	return strings.Contains(haystack, query)
+}

internal/tui/statusbar.go

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func countText(m model) string {
 	if m.mode == modeCards {
 		total = len(m.cards.filtered)
 	} else {
-		total = len(m.list.entities)
+		total = len(m.list.displayEntities())
 	}
 	if m.filterTag != "" {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%d entities #%s", total, m.filterTag)
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ func contextHints(m model) string {
 		return "y:confirm n:cancel"
 	case statePromote:
 		return "j/k:nav enter:select esc:cancel"
+	case stateAbsorb:
+		return "j/k:nav enter:absorb esc:cancel"
 	default:
 		if m.mode == modeCards {
 			return "1:stream 2:cards s:sort tab:intent a:add ?:help q:quit"
 		}
-		return "1:stream 2:cards a:add d:del x:todo #:filter ?:help q:quit"
+		return "1:stream 2:cards a:add/?search m:absorb d:del #:filter ?:help q:quit"
 	}
 }

internal/tui/styles.go

@@ -101,4 +101,8 @@ var (
 
 	checkPendingStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().
 				Foreground(dim)
+
+	searchPillStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().
+			Foreground(lipgloss.AdaptiveColor{Light: "#E06C75", Dark: "#E06C75"}).
+			Bold(true)
 )