Improve tasks and align page elements

Makefile

@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@ compose-log:
 	docker-compose --env-file=stack.env logs -f --names
 
 test:
-	docker-compose --env-file=stack.env run --rm app sh -c ". /venv/bin/activate && python manage.py test $(MODULES) -v 2"
+	@if command -v docker-compose >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+		docker-compose --env-file=stack.env run --rm app sh -c ". /venv/bin/activate && python manage.py test $(MODULES) -v 2"; \
+	else \
+		podman exec gia sh -lc "cd /code && . /venv/bin/activate && python manage.py test $(MODULES) -v 2"; \
+	fi
 
 migrate:
 	docker-compose --env-file=stack.env run --rm app sh -c ". /venv/bin/activate && python manage.py migrate"

core/migrations/0030_chattasksource_settings.py

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.2.11 on 2026-03-02 12:55
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('core', '0029_answermemory_answersuggestionevent_chattasksource_and_more'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='chattasksource',
+            name='settings',
+            field=models.JSONField(blank=True, default=dict),
+        ),
+    ]

core/models.py

@@ -2045,6 +2045,7 @@ class ChatTaskSource(models.Model):
         related_name="chat_sources",
     )
     enabled = models.BooleanField(default=True)
+    settings = models.JSONField(default=dict, blank=True)
     created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
     updated_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
 

core/tasks/engine.py

@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def _normalize_flags(raw: dict | None) -> dict:
         "allowed_prefixes": _parse_prefixes(row.get("allowed_prefixes")),
         "completion_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("completion_enabled"), True),
         "ai_title_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("ai_title_enabled"), True),
-        "announce_task_id": _to_bool(row.get("announce_task_id"), True),
+        "announce_task_id": _to_bool(row.get("announce_task_id"), False),
         "min_chars": max(1, int(row.get("min_chars") or 3)),
     }
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def _normalize_partial_flags(raw: dict | None) -> dict:
     if "ai_title_enabled" in row:
         out["ai_title_enabled"] = _to_bool(row.get("ai_title_enabled"), True)
     if "announce_task_id" in row:
-        out["announce_task_id"] = _to_bool(row.get("announce_task_id"), True)
+        out["announce_task_id"] = _to_bool(row.get("announce_task_id"), False)
     if "min_chars" in row:
         out["min_chars"] = max(1, int(row.get("min_chars") or 3))
     return out
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ async def process_inbound_task_intelligence(message: Message) -> None:
             payload={"origin_text": text},
         )
         await _emit_sync_event(task, event, "create")
-        if bool(flags.get("announce_task_id", True)):
+        if bool(flags.get("announce_task_id", False)):
             try:
                 await send_message_raw(
                     message.source_service or "web",

core/templates/pages/tasks-settings.html

@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
         <p><strong>Group Mapping</strong>: binds a chat channel (service + channel identifier) to a project and optional epic. Task extraction only runs where mappings exist.</p>
         <p><strong>Matching Hierarchy</strong>: channel mapping flags override project flags. Project flags are defaults; mapping flags are per-chat precision controls.</p>
         <p><strong>False-Positive Controls</strong>: defaults are safe: <code>match_mode=strict</code>, <code>require_prefix=true</code>, and prefixes <code>task:</code>/<code>todo:</code>. Freeform matching is off by default.</p>
-        <p><strong>Task ID Announcements</strong>: when enabled, newly derived tasks post an in-chat confirmation containing the new task reference (for example <code>#17</code>).</p>
+        <p><strong>Task ID Announcements</strong>: when enabled, newly derived tasks post an in-chat confirmation containing the new task reference (for example <code>#17</code>). Default is off.</p>
+        <p><strong>Legacy Backfill</strong>: opening this page applies safe defaults to older project and mapping rows created before strict prefix-only matching.</p>
         <p><strong>Completion Phrases</strong>: explicit trigger words used to detect completion markers like <code>done #12</code>, <code>completed #12</code>, <code>fixed #12</code>.</p>
         <p><strong>Provider</strong>: external sync adapter toggle. In current setup, mock provider validates append-only sync flow and retry behavior.</p>
         <p><strong>Sync Event Log</strong>: audit of provider sync attempts and outcomes. Retry replays the event without mutating immutable task source records.</p>
@@ -24,14 +25,14 @@
       <article class="box">
         <h2 class="title is-6">Quick Setup For Current Chat</h2>
         <p class="help">Prefilled from compose for <code>{{ prefill_service }}</code> · <code>{{ prefill_identifier }}</code>. Create/update project + epic + channel mapping in one step.</p>
-        <form method="post">
-          {% csrf_token %}
-          <input type="hidden" name="action" value="quick_setup">
+          <form method="post">
+            {% csrf_token %}
+            <input type="hidden" name="action" value="quick_setup">
           <input type="hidden" name="service" value="{{ prefill_service }}">
           <input type="hidden" name="channel_identifier" value="{{ prefill_identifier }}">
           <input type="hidden" name="prefill_service" value="{{ prefill_service }}">
           <input type="hidden" name="prefill_identifier" value="{{ prefill_identifier }}">
-          <div class="columns">
+          <div class="columns tasks-settings-inline-columns">
             <div class="column">
               <label class="label is-size-7">Project</label>
               <input class="input is-small" name="project_name" placeholder="Project name">
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@
           <label class="checkbox is-size-7"><input type="checkbox" name="source_require_prefix" value="1" checked> Require Prefix</label>
           <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_completion_enabled" value="1" checked> Completion Enabled</label>
           <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_derive_enabled" value="1" checked> Derivation Enabled</label>
-          <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_announce_task_id" value="1" checked> Announce Task ID</label>
+          <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_announce_task_id" value="1"> Announce Task ID</label>
           <button class="button is-small is-link" type="submit" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;">Apply Quick Setup</button>
         </form>
       </article>
@@ -95,11 +96,23 @@
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7"><input type="checkbox" name="require_prefix" value="1" checked> Require Prefix</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="derive_enabled" value="1" checked> Derivation Enabled</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="completion_enabled" value="1" checked> Completion Enabled</label>
-            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="announce_task_id" value="1" checked> Announce Task ID</label>
+            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="announce_task_id" value="1"> Announce Task ID</label>
             <button class="button is-small is-link" type="submit">Add Project</button>
           </form>
           <ul class="tasks-settings-list">
-            {% for row in projects %}<li>{{ row.name }}</li>{% empty %}<li>No projects.</li>{% endfor %}
+            {% for row in projects %}
+              <li>
+                {{ row.name }}
+                <span class="has-text-grey">
+                  mode={{ row.settings_effective.match_mode }},
+                  prefixes={{ row.allowed_prefixes_csv }},
+                  require_prefix={{ row.settings_effective.require_prefix }},
+                  announce_id={{ row.settings_effective.announce_task_id }}
+                </span>
+              </li>
+            {% empty %}
+              <li>No projects.</li>
+            {% endfor %}
           </ul>
         </article>
       </div>
@@ -139,7 +152,7 @@
             <input type="hidden" name="action" value="source_create">
             <input type="hidden" name="prefill_service" value="{{ prefill_service }}">
             <input type="hidden" name="prefill_identifier" value="{{ prefill_identifier }}">
-            <div class="columns">
+            <div class="columns tasks-settings-inline-columns">
               <div class="column">
                 <label class="label is-size-7">Service</label>
                 <div class="select is-small is-fullwidth">
@@ -176,7 +189,7 @@
                 <button class="button is-small is-link" type="submit" style="margin-top: 1.8rem;">Add</button>
               </div>
             </div>
-            <div class="columns">
+            <div class="columns tasks-settings-inline-columns">
               <div class="column">
                 <label class="label is-size-7">Match Mode</label>
                 <div class="select is-small is-fullwidth">
@@ -200,15 +213,21 @@
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_derive_enabled" value="1" checked> Derivation Enabled</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_completion_enabled" value="1" checked> Completion Enabled</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_ai_title_enabled" value="1" checked> AI Title Enabled</label>
-            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_announce_task_id" value="1" checked> Announce Task ID</label>
+            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_announce_task_id" value="1"> Announce Task ID</label>
           </form>
           <table class="table is-fullwidth is-size-7">
-            <thead><tr><th>Chat</th><th>Project</th><th>Epic</th></tr></thead>
+            <thead><tr><th>Chat</th><th>Project</th><th>Epic</th><th>Match</th><th>Announce</th></tr></thead>
             <tbody>
               {% for row in sources %}
-                <tr><td>{{ row.service }} · {{ row.channel_identifier }}</td><td>{{ row.project.name }}</td><td>{{ row.epic.name }}</td></tr>
+                <tr>
+                  <td>{{ row.service }} · {{ row.channel_identifier }}</td>
+                  <td>{{ row.project.name }}</td>
+                  <td>{{ row.epic.name }}</td>
+                  <td>{{ row.settings_effective.match_mode }}{% if row.settings_effective.require_prefix %} +prefix{% endif %}</td>
+                  <td>{{ row.settings_effective.announce_task_id }}</td>
+                </tr>
               {% empty %}
-                <tr><td colspan="3">No mappings.</td></tr>
+                <tr><td colspan="5">No mappings.</td></tr>
               {% endfor %}
             </tbody>
           </table>
@@ -255,7 +274,7 @@
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7"><input type="checkbox" name="require_prefix" value="1" checked> Require Prefix</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="derive_enabled" value="1" checked> Derivation Enabled</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="completion_enabled" value="1" checked> Completion Enabled</label>
-            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="announce_task_id" value="1" checked> Announce Task ID</label>
+            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="announce_task_id" value="1"> Announce Task ID</label>
             <button class="button is-small is-link is-light" type="submit" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;">Save Project Flags</button>
           </form>
         </article>
@@ -300,7 +319,7 @@
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_derive_enabled" value="1" checked> Derivation Enabled</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_completion_enabled" value="1" checked> Completion Enabled</label>
             <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_ai_title_enabled" value="1" checked> AI Title Enabled</label>
-            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_announce_task_id" value="1" checked> Announce Task ID</label>
+            <label class="checkbox is-size-7" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;"><input type="checkbox" name="source_announce_task_id" value="1"> Announce Task ID</label>
             <button class="button is-small is-link is-light" type="submit" style="margin-left: 0.75rem;">Save Channel Flags</button>
           </form>
         </article>
@@ -376,6 +395,18 @@
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
   }
+  .tasks-settings-page .tasks-settings-inline-columns {
+    margin-left: 0;
+    margin-right: 0;
+    margin-top: 0;
+  }
+  .tasks-settings-page .tasks-settings-inline-columns > .column {
+    padding-left: 0;
+    padding-right: 0.75rem;
+  }
+  .tasks-settings-page .tasks-settings-inline-columns > .column:last-child {
+    padding-right: 0;
+  }
   .tasks-settings-page .tasks-settings-list {
     margin-top: 0.75rem;
   }

core/tests/test_tasks_settings_and_toggle.py

@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, patch
+
+from asgiref.sync import async_to_sync
+from django.test import TestCase, override_settings
+
+from core.models import (
+    ChatSession,
+    ChatTaskSource,
+    DerivedTask,
+    Message,
+    Person,
+    PersonIdentifier,
+    TaskProject,
+    User,
+)
+from core.tasks.engine import process_inbound_task_intelligence
+from core.views.compose import _command_options_for_channel, _toggle_task_announce_for_channel
+from core.views.tasks import _apply_safe_defaults_for_user
+
+
+class TaskSettingsBackfillTests(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user = User.objects.create_user("defaults-user", "defaults@example.com", "x")
+        self.person = Person.objects.create(user=self.user, name="Defaults Person")
+        self.identifier = PersonIdentifier.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            person=self.person,
+            service="whatsapp",
+            identifier="120363402761690215@g.us",
+        )
+        self.project = TaskProject.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            name="Legacy Project",
+            settings={
+                "match_mode": "balanced",
+                "require_prefix": False,
+                "allowed_prefixes": ["task:", "todo:", "action:"],
+                "min_chars": 8,
+            },
+        )
+        self.source = ChatTaskSource.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            service="whatsapp",
+            channel_identifier="120363402761690215@g.us",
+            project=self.project,
+            settings={
+                "match_mode": "balanced",
+                "require_prefix": False,
+                "allowed_prefixes": ["task:", "todo:", "action:"],
+                "min_chars": 8,
+            },
+            enabled=True,
+        )
+
+    def test_backfill_applies_safe_defaults_for_legacy_rows(self):
+        _apply_safe_defaults_for_user(self.user)
+        self.project.refresh_from_db()
+        self.source.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual("strict", self.project.settings.get("match_mode"))
+        self.assertTrue(bool(self.project.settings.get("require_prefix")))
+        self.assertEqual(["task:", "todo:"], self.project.settings.get("allowed_prefixes"))
+        self.assertFalse(bool(self.project.settings.get("announce_task_id")))
+        self.assertEqual("strict", self.source.settings.get("match_mode"))
+        self.assertTrue(bool(self.source.settings.get("require_prefix")))
+
+
+class TaskAnnounceToggleTests(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user = User.objects.create_user("toggle-user", "toggle@example.com", "x")
+        self.person = Person.objects.create(user=self.user, name="Toggle Person")
+        self.identifier = PersonIdentifier.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            person=self.person,
+            service="whatsapp",
+            identifier="120363402761690215@g.us",
+        )
+        self.project = TaskProject.objects.create(user=self.user, name="Toggle Project")
+        self.source = ChatTaskSource.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            service="whatsapp",
+            channel_identifier="120363402761690215@g.us",
+            project=self.project,
+            settings={"announce_task_id": False},
+            enabled=True,
+        )
+
+    def test_toggle_task_announce_updates_source_settings(self):
+        ok, err = _toggle_task_announce_for_channel(
+            user=self.user,
+            service="whatsapp",
+            identifier="120363402761690215",
+            enabled=True,
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(ok)
+        self.assertEqual("", err)
+        self.source.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertTrue(bool(self.source.settings.get("announce_task_id")))
+
+    def test_command_options_include_task_announce_state(self):
+        options = _command_options_for_channel(
+            self.user,
+            "whatsapp",
+            "120363402761690215",
+        )
+        row = [opt for opt in options if opt.get("slug") == "task_announce"][0]
+        self.assertFalse(bool(row.get("enabled_here")))
+
+
+@override_settings(TASK_DERIVATION_USE_AI=False)
+class TaskAnnounceRuntimeTests(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user = User.objects.create_user("runtime-user", "runtime@example.com", "x")
+        self.person = Person.objects.create(user=self.user, name="Runtime Person")
+        self.identifier = PersonIdentifier.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            person=self.person,
+            service="whatsapp",
+            identifier="120363402761690215@g.us",
+        )
+        self.session = ChatSession.objects.create(user=self.user, identifier=self.identifier)
+        self.project = TaskProject.objects.create(user=self.user, name="Runtime Project")
+
+    def _seed_source(self, announce_enabled: bool):
+        return ChatTaskSource.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            service="whatsapp",
+            channel_identifier="120363402761690215@g.us",
+            project=self.project,
+            settings={
+                "match_mode": "strict",
+                "require_prefix": True,
+                "allowed_prefixes": ["task:", "todo:"],
+                "announce_task_id": announce_enabled,
+            },
+            enabled=True,
+        )
+
+    def _msg(self, text: str, ts: int = 1000):
+        return Message.objects.create(
+            user=self.user,
+            session=self.session,
+            sender_uuid="peer",
+            text=text,
+            ts=ts,
+            source_service="whatsapp",
+            source_chat_id="120363402761690215@g.us",
+        )
+
+    def test_no_announce_send_when_disabled(self):
+        self._seed_source(False)
+        with patch("core.tasks.engine.send_message_raw", new=AsyncMock()) as mocked_send:
+            async_to_sync(process_inbound_task_intelligence)(self._msg("task: rotate secrets"))
+        self.assertTrue(DerivedTask.objects.exists())
+        mocked_send.assert_not_awaited()
+
+    def test_announce_send_when_enabled(self):
+        self._seed_source(True)
+        with patch("core.tasks.engine.send_message_raw", new=AsyncMock(return_value=True)) as mocked_send:
+            async_to_sync(process_inbound_task_intelligence)(self._msg("task: rotate secrets"))
+        self.assertTrue(DerivedTask.objects.exists())
+        mocked_send.assert_awaited()

core/views/compose.py

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from core.models import (
     Message,
     MessageEvent,
     PatternMitigationPlan,
+    ChatTaskSource,
     Person,
     PersonIdentifier,
     PlatformChatLink,
@@ -1787,9 +1788,66 @@ def _command_options_for_channel(user, service: str, identifier: str) -> list[di
                 "profile_enabled": bool(profile.enabled),
             }
         )
+    task_announce_enabled = False
+    if variants:
+        source = (
+            ChatTaskSource.objects.filter(
+                user=user,
+                service=service_key,
+                channel_identifier__in=list(variants),
+                enabled=True,
+            )
+            .order_by("-updated_at")
+            .first()
+        )
+        settings_row = dict(getattr(source, "settings", {}) or {}) if source else {}
+        task_announce_enabled = str(settings_row.get("announce_task_id", "")).strip().lower() in {
+            "1",
+            "true",
+            "yes",
+            "on",
+        }
+    options.append(
+        {
+            "slug": "task_announce",
+            "name": "Announce Task IDs",
+            "trigger_token": "",
+            "enabled_here": bool(task_announce_enabled),
+            "profile_enabled": True,
+        }
+    )
     return options
 
 
+def _toggle_task_announce_for_channel(
+    *,
+    user,
+    service: str,
+    identifier: str,
+    enabled: bool,
+) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    service_key = _default_service(service)
+    canonical_identifier = _canonical_command_channel_identifier(service_key, identifier)
+    if not canonical_identifier:
+        return (False, "missing_identifier")
+    variants = _command_channel_identifier_variants(service_key, canonical_identifier)
+    rows = list(
+        ChatTaskSource.objects.filter(
+            user=user,
+            service=service_key,
+            channel_identifier__in=list(variants),
+        ).order_by("-updated_at")
+    )
+    if not rows:
+        return (False, "task_source_mapping_missing")
+    for row in rows:
+        settings_row = dict(row.settings or {})
+        settings_row["announce_task_id"] = bool(enabled)
+        row.settings = settings_row
+        row.save(update_fields=["settings", "updated_at"])
+    return (True, "")
+
+
 def _compose_urls(service, identifier, person_id):
     service_key = _default_service(service)
     identifier_value = str(identifier or "").strip()
@@ -3314,13 +3372,21 @@ class ComposeToggleCommand(LoginRequiredMixin, View):
             "yes",
             "on",
         }
-        ok, error = _toggle_command_for_channel(
-            user=request.user,
-            service=service,
-            identifier=channel_identifier,
-            slug=slug,
-            enabled=enabled,
-        )
+        if slug == "task_announce":
+            ok, error = _toggle_task_announce_for_channel(
+                user=request.user,
+                service=service,
+                identifier=channel_identifier,
+                enabled=enabled,
+            )
+        else:
+            ok, error = _toggle_command_for_channel(
+                user=request.user,
+                service=service,
+                identifier=channel_identifier,
+                slug=slug,
+                enabled=enabled,
+            )
         if not ok:
             return JsonResponse(
                 {
@@ -3347,7 +3413,11 @@ class ComposeToggleCommand(LoginRequiredMixin, View):
                 "slug": slug,
                 "enabled": bool(enabled),
                 "command_options": command_options,
-                "settings_url": reverse("command_routing"),
+                "settings_url": (
+                    f"{reverse('tasks_settings')}?{urlencode({'service': service, 'identifier': channel_identifier})}"
+                    if slug == "task_announce"
+                    else reverse("command_routing")
+                ),
             }
         )
 

core/views/tasks.py

@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@ from core.models import (
 )
 from core.tasks.providers.mock import get_provider
 
+SAFE_TASK_FLAGS_DEFAULTS = {
+    "derive_enabled": True,
+    "match_mode": "strict",
+    "require_prefix": True,
+    "allowed_prefixes": ["task:", "todo:"],
+    "completion_enabled": True,
+    "ai_title_enabled": True,
+    "announce_task_id": False,
+    "min_chars": 3,
+}
+
 
 def _to_bool(raw, default=False) -> bool:
     if raw is None:
@@ -50,32 +61,73 @@ def _parse_prefixes(value: str) -> list[str]:
     return rows or ["task:", "todo:"]
 
 
+def _looks_like_old_risky_defaults(raw: dict) -> bool:
+    row = dict(raw or {})
+    mode = str(row.get("match_mode") or "").strip().lower()
+    require_prefix = _to_bool(row.get("require_prefix"), False)
+    prefixes = _parse_prefixes(",".join(list(row.get("allowed_prefixes") or [])))
+    min_chars = int(row.get("min_chars") or 8)
+    return (
+        mode in {"", "balanced"}
+        and (not require_prefix)
+        and prefixes == ["task:", "todo:", "action:"]
+        and min_chars >= 8
+    )
+
+
+def _normalized_safe_flags(raw: dict | None) -> dict:
+    row = dict(raw or {})
+    defaults = dict(SAFE_TASK_FLAGS_DEFAULTS)
+    if _looks_like_old_risky_defaults(row):
+        return defaults
+    merged = dict(defaults)
+    merged.update(
+        {
+            "derive_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("derive_enabled"), defaults["derive_enabled"]),
+            "match_mode": str(row.get("match_mode") or defaults["match_mode"]).strip().lower() or defaults["match_mode"],
+            "require_prefix": _to_bool(row.get("require_prefix"), defaults["require_prefix"]),
+            "allowed_prefixes": _parse_prefixes(",".join(list(row.get("allowed_prefixes") or defaults["allowed_prefixes"]))),
+            "completion_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("completion_enabled"), defaults["completion_enabled"]),
+            "ai_title_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("ai_title_enabled"), defaults["ai_title_enabled"]),
+            "announce_task_id": _to_bool(row.get("announce_task_id"), defaults["announce_task_id"]),
+            "min_chars": max(1, int(row.get("min_chars") or defaults["min_chars"])),
+        }
+    )
+    return merged
+
+
+def _apply_safe_defaults_for_user(user) -> None:
+    projects = list(TaskProject.objects.filter(user=user).only("id", "settings"))
+    for row in projects:
+        normalized = _normalized_safe_flags(row.settings)
+        if dict(row.settings or {}) != normalized:
+            row.settings = normalized
+            row.save(update_fields=["settings", "updated_at"])
+    sources = list(ChatTaskSource.objects.filter(user=user).only("id", "settings"))
+    for row in sources:
+        normalized = _normalized_safe_flags(row.settings)
+        if dict(row.settings or {}) != normalized:
+            row.settings = normalized
+            row.save(update_fields=["settings", "updated_at"])
+
+
 def _flags_from_post(request, prefix: str = "") -> dict:
     key = lambda name: f"{prefix}{name}" if prefix else name
+    defaults = dict(SAFE_TASK_FLAGS_DEFAULTS)
     return {
-        "derive_enabled": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("derive_enabled")), True),
-        "match_mode": str(request.POST.get(key("match_mode")) or "strict").strip().lower() or "strict",
-        "require_prefix": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("require_prefix")), True),
-        "allowed_prefixes": _parse_prefixes(str(request.POST.get(key("allowed_prefixes")) or "")),
-        "completion_enabled": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("completion_enabled")), True),
-        "ai_title_enabled": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("ai_title_enabled")), True),
-        "announce_task_id": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("announce_task_id")), True),
-        "min_chars": max(1, int(str(request.POST.get(key("min_chars")) or "3").strip() or "3")),
+        "derive_enabled": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("derive_enabled")), defaults["derive_enabled"]),
+        "match_mode": str(request.POST.get(key("match_mode")) or defaults["match_mode"]).strip().lower() or defaults["match_mode"],
+        "require_prefix": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("require_prefix")), defaults["require_prefix"]),
+        "allowed_prefixes": _parse_prefixes(str(request.POST.get(key("allowed_prefixes")) or ",".join(defaults["allowed_prefixes"]))),
+        "completion_enabled": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("completion_enabled")), defaults["completion_enabled"]),
+        "ai_title_enabled": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("ai_title_enabled")), defaults["ai_title_enabled"]),
+        "announce_task_id": _to_bool(request.POST.get(key("announce_task_id")), defaults["announce_task_id"]),
+        "min_chars": max(1, int(str(request.POST.get(key("min_chars")) or str(defaults["min_chars"])).strip() or str(defaults["min_chars"]))),
     }
 
 
 def _flags_with_defaults(raw: dict | None) -> dict:
-    row = dict(raw or {})
-    return {
-        "derive_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("derive_enabled"), True),
-        "match_mode": str(row.get("match_mode") or "strict").strip().lower() or "strict",
-        "require_prefix": _to_bool(row.get("require_prefix"), True),
-        "allowed_prefixes": _parse_prefixes(",".join(list(row.get("allowed_prefixes") or []))),
-        "completion_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("completion_enabled"), True),
-        "ai_title_enabled": _to_bool(row.get("ai_title_enabled"), True),
-        "announce_task_id": _to_bool(row.get("announce_task_id"), True),
-        "min_chars": max(1, int(row.get("min_chars") or 3)),
-    }
+    return _normalized_safe_flags(raw)
 
 
 def _settings_redirect(request):
@@ -277,6 +329,7 @@ class TaskSettings(LoginRequiredMixin, View):
     template_name = "pages/tasks-settings.html"
 
     def _context(self, request):
+        _apply_safe_defaults_for_user(request.user)
         prefill_service = str(request.GET.get("service") or "").strip().lower()
         prefill_identifier = str(request.GET.get("identifier") or "").strip()
         projects = list(TaskProject.objects.filter(user=request.user).order_by("name"))