fix: org syntax highlighting outside of codeblocks and more settings (#12)

internal/config/config.go

@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ type UIConfig struct {
 	HelpTextWidth         int    `toml:"help_text_width"`
 	MinTerminalWidth      int    `toml:"min_terminal_width"`
 	AgendaDays            int    `toml:"agenda_days"`
+	OrgSyntaxHighlighting bool   `toml:"org_syntax_highlighting"`
+	ShowIndentationGuides bool   `toml:"show_indentation_guides"`
+	IndentationGuideColor string `toml:"indentation_guide_color"`
 }
 
 // DefaultConfig returns the default configuration
@@ -164,6 +167,9 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 			HelpTextWidth:         22,
 			MinTerminalWidth:      40,
 			AgendaDays:            7,
+			OrgSyntaxHighlighting: true,
+			ShowIndentationGuides: true,
+			IndentationGuideColor: "245",
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -371,10 +377,11 @@ func (c *Config) fillDefaults() {
 	// Fill states if empty
 	if len(c.States.States) == 0 {
 		c.States.States = defaults.States.States
-	}
-	if c.States.DefaultNewTaskState == "" {
+		// Also set the default new task state since the entire states section is missing
 		c.States.DefaultNewTaskState = defaults.States.DefaultNewTaskState
 	}
+	// Note: We don't fill DefaultNewTaskState if States.States is non-empty because
+	// an empty string is a valid intentional value meaning "no default state".
 
 	// Fill UI if zero values
 	if c.UI.HelpTextWidth == 0 {
@@ -386,6 +393,9 @@ func (c *Config) fillDefaults() {
 	if c.UI.AgendaDays == 0 {
 		c.UI.AgendaDays = defaults.UI.AgendaDays
 	}
+	if c.UI.IndentationGuideColor == "" {
+		c.UI.IndentationGuideColor = defaults.UI.IndentationGuideColor
+	}
 }
 
 // BuildKeyBinding creates a key.Binding from config

internal/model/item.go

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ type Item struct {
 	Tags         []string     // Tags for this item (e.g., :work:urgent:)
 	Scheduled    *time.Time
 	Deadline     *time.Time
+	Closed       *time.Time   // Closed timestamp (when task was marked as done)
 	Effort       string       // Effort estimate (e.g., "8h", "2d")
 	Notes        []string     // Notes/content under the heading
 	Children     []*Item      // Sub-items

internal/parser/parser.go

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 var (
 	scheduledPattern      = regexp.MustCompile(`SCHEDULED:\s*<([^>]+)>`)
 	deadlinePattern       = regexp.MustCompile(`DEADLINE:\s*<([^>]+)>`)
+	closedPattern         = regexp.MustCompile(`CLOSED:\s*\[([^\]]+)\]`)
 	clockPattern          = regexp.MustCompile(`CLOCK:\s*\[([^\]]+)\](?:--\[([^\]]+)\])?`)
 	effortPattern         = regexp.MustCompile(`^\s*:EFFORT:\s*(.+)$`)
 	logbookDrawerStart    = regexp.MustCompile(`^\s*:LOGBOOK:\s*$`)
@@ -187,6 +188,13 @@ func ParseOrgFile(path string, cfg *config.Config) (*model.OrgFile, error) {
 				}
 			}
 
+			// Check for CLOSED
+			if matches := closedPattern.FindStringSubmatch(line); matches != nil {
+				if t, err := parseClockTimestamp(matches[1]); err == nil {
+					currentItem.Closed = &t
+				}
+			}
+
 			// Check for EFFORT (inside PROPERTIES drawer)
 			if matches := effortPattern.FindStringSubmatch(line); matches != nil {
 				currentItem.Effort = strings.TrimSpace(matches[1])

internal/parser/writer.go

@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ func writeItem(writer *bufio.Writer, item *model.Item) error {
 	// Write scheduling info if not already in notes
 	hasScheduled := false
 	hasDeadline := false
+	hasClosed := false
 	hasLogbook := false
 	hasProperties := false
 	for _, note := range item.Notes {
@@ -137,6 +138,9 @@ func writeItem(writer *bufio.Writer, item *model.Item) error {
 		if strings.Contains(note, "DEADLINE:") {
 			hasDeadline = true
 		}
+		if strings.Contains(note, "CLOSED:") {
+			hasClosed = true
+		}
 		if strings.Contains(note, ":LOGBOOK:") {
 			hasLogbook = true
 		}
@@ -145,6 +149,13 @@ func writeItem(writer *bufio.Writer, item *model.Item) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if item.Closed != nil && !hasClosed {
+		closedLine := fmt.Sprintf("CLOSED: [%s]\n", formatClockTimestamp(*item.Closed))
+		if _, err := writer.WriteString(closedLine); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
 	if item.Scheduled != nil && !hasScheduled {
 		scheduledLine := fmt.Sprintf("SCHEDULED: <%s>\n", FormatOrgDate(*item.Scheduled))
 		if _, err := writer.WriteString(scheduledLine); err != nil {

internal/ui/app.go

@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func (m *uiModel) updateScrollOffset(availableHeight int) {
 			noteIndent := indent + "  "
 			filteredNotes := filterLogbookDrawer(item.Notes)
 			wrappedNotes := wrapNoteLines(filteredNotes, m.width, noteIndent)
-			highlightedNotes := renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
+			highlightedNotes := m.renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
 			lineCount += len(highlightedNotes)
 		}
 		itemLineCount[i] = lineCount

internal/ui/modes.go

@@ -726,6 +726,7 @@ func (m *uiModel) cycleStateForward(item *model.Item) {
 	// Find current state index
 	currentIndex := -1
 	currentState := string(item.State)
+	lastStateIndex := len(stateNames) - 1
 
 	// Handle empty state
 	if currentState == "" {
@@ -739,15 +740,51 @@ func (m *uiModel) cycleStateForward(item *model.Item) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Store the old state to check if we're transitioning to/from DONE
+	oldState := currentState
+	var newState string
+
 	// Cycle forward
 	if currentIndex < 0 || currentIndex >= len(stateNames)-1 {
 		if currentIndex == len(stateNames)-1 {
-			item.State = model.TodoState("") // Back to empty
+			newState = "" // Back to empty
 		} else {
-			item.State = model.TodoState(stateNames[0]) // First state
+			newState = stateNames[0] // First state
 		}
 	} else {
-		item.State = model.TodoState(stateNames[currentIndex+1])
+		newState = stateNames[currentIndex+1]
+	}
+
+	// Update the item state
+	item.State = model.TodoState(newState)
+
+	// Manage CLOSED timestamp
+	wasInDoneState := (oldState == stateNames[lastStateIndex])
+	isInDoneState := (newState == stateNames[lastStateIndex])
+
+	if isInDoneState && !wasInDoneState {
+		// Moving TO done state - add CLOSED timestamp
+		now := time.Now()
+		item.Closed = &now
+		// Remove any existing CLOSED line from notes
+		var filteredNotes []string
+		for _, note := range item.Notes {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(note), "CLOSED:") {
+				filteredNotes = append(filteredNotes, note)
+			}
+		}
+		item.Notes = filteredNotes
+	} else if wasInDoneState && !isInDoneState {
+		// Moving FROM done state - remove CLOSED timestamp
+		item.Closed = nil
+		// Remove any existing CLOSED line from notes
+		var filteredNotes []string
+		for _, note := range item.Notes {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(note), "CLOSED:") {
+				filteredNotes = append(filteredNotes, note)
+			}
+		}
+		item.Notes = filteredNotes
 	}
 }
 
@@ -760,6 +797,7 @@ func (m *uiModel) cycleStateBackward(item *model.Item) {
 	// Find current state index
 	currentIndex := -1
 	currentState := string(item.State)
+	lastStateIndex := len(stateNames) - 1
 
 	// Handle empty state
 	if currentState == "" {
@@ -773,13 +811,49 @@ func (m *uiModel) cycleStateBackward(item *model.Item) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Store the old state to check if we're transitioning to/from DONE
+	oldState := currentState
+	var newState string
+
 	// Cycle backward
 	if currentIndex <= 0 {
-		item.State = model.TodoState("") // Empty state
+		newState = "" // Empty state
 	} else if currentIndex > len(stateNames) {
-		item.State = model.TodoState(stateNames[len(stateNames)-1])
+		newState = stateNames[len(stateNames)-1]
 	} else {
-		item.State = model.TodoState(stateNames[currentIndex-1])
+		newState = stateNames[currentIndex-1]
+	}
+
+	// Update the item state
+	item.State = model.TodoState(newState)
+
+	// Manage CLOSED timestamp
+	wasInDoneState := (oldState == stateNames[lastStateIndex])
+	isInDoneState := (newState == stateNames[lastStateIndex])
+
+	if isInDoneState && !wasInDoneState {
+		// Moving TO done state - add CLOSED timestamp
+		now := time.Now()
+		item.Closed = &now
+		// Remove any existing CLOSED line from notes
+		var filteredNotes []string
+		for _, note := range item.Notes {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(note), "CLOSED:") {
+				filteredNotes = append(filteredNotes, note)
+			}
+		}
+		item.Notes = filteredNotes
+	} else if wasInDoneState && !isInDoneState {
+		// Moving FROM done state - remove CLOSED timestamp
+		item.Closed = nil
+		// Remove any existing CLOSED line from notes
+		var filteredNotes []string
+		for _, note := range item.Notes {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(note), "CLOSED:") {
+				filteredNotes = append(filteredNotes, note)
+			}
+		}
+		item.Notes = filteredNotes
 	}
 }
 

internal/ui/settings.go

@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ import (
 type settingsSection int
 
 const (
-	settingsSectionTags settingsSection = iota
+	settingsSectionGeneral settingsSection = iota
+	settingsSectionTags
 	settingsSectionStates
 	settingsSectionKeybindings
 )
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ func (m *uiModel) updateSettings(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 
 		case key.Matches(msg, m.keys.Left):
 			// Previous section
-			if m.settingsSection > settingsSectionTags {
+			if m.settingsSection > settingsSectionGeneral {
 				m.settingsSection--
 				m.settingsCursor = 0
 				m.settingsScroll = 0
@@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ func (m *uiModel) updateSettings(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		case key.Matches(msg, m.keys.Capture):
 			// Add new tag or state
 			switch m.settingsSection {
+			case settingsSectionGeneral:
+				// No capture action in General
 			case settingsSectionTags:
 				m.addNewTag()
 			case settingsSectionStates:
@@ -128,6 +131,8 @@ func (m *uiModel) updateSettings(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 // getSettingsItemCount returns the number of items in the current settings view
 func (m *uiModel) getSettingsItemCount() int {
 	switch m.settingsSection {
+	case settingsSectionGeneral:
+		return 3 // Org syntax highlighting toggle, show indentation guides toggle, indentation guide color
 	case settingsSectionTags:
 		return len(m.config.Tags.Tags) + 1 // +1 for "Add new tag" option
 	case settingsSectionStates:
@@ -172,6 +177,40 @@ func (m *uiModel) updateSettingsScrollOffset() {
 // startSettingsEdit starts editing a settings item
 func (m *uiModel) startSettingsEdit() {
 	switch m.settingsSection {
+	case settingsSectionGeneral:
+		// Setting 0: Toggle org syntax highlighting
+		if m.settingsCursor == 0 {
+			m.config.UI.OrgSyntaxHighlighting = !m.config.UI.OrgSyntaxHighlighting
+			if m.config.UI.OrgSyntaxHighlighting {
+				m.setStatus("Org syntax highlighting enabled (saved)")
+			} else {
+				m.setStatus("Org syntax highlighting disabled (saved)")
+			}
+			// Auto-save
+			if err := m.config.Save(); err != nil {
+				m.setStatus(fmt.Sprintf("Error auto-saving config: %v", err))
+			}
+		}
+		// Setting 1: Toggle show indentation guides
+		if m.settingsCursor == 1 {
+			m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides = !m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides
+			if m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides {
+				m.setStatus("Indentation guides enabled (saved)")
+			} else {
+				m.setStatus("Indentation guides disabled (saved)")
+			}
+			// Auto-save
+			if err := m.config.Save(); err != nil {
+				m.setStatus(fmt.Sprintf("Error auto-saving config: %v", err))
+			}
+		}
+		// Setting 2: Edit indentation guide color
+		if m.settingsCursor == 2 {
+			m.textinput.SetValue(m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor)
+			m.textinput.Placeholder = "Enter color (e.g., 245, 99)"
+			m.textinput.Focus()
+		}
+		return
 	case settingsSectionTags:
 		if m.settingsCursor >= len(m.config.Tags.Tags) {
 			return
@@ -237,6 +276,23 @@ func (m *uiModel) startSettingsEdit() {
 // saveSettingsEdit saves the edited value and auto-saves to disk
 func (m *uiModel) saveSettingsEdit() {
 	switch m.settingsSection {
+	case settingsSectionGeneral:
+		// Setting 2: Indentation guide color
+		if m.settingsCursor == 2 {
+			newColor := strings.TrimSpace(m.textinput.Value())
+			if newColor != "" {
+				m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor = newColor
+				m.setStatus(fmt.Sprintf("Indentation guide color set to '%s' (saved)", newColor))
+				// Auto-save
+				if err := m.config.Save(); err != nil {
+					m.setStatus(fmt.Sprintf("Error auto-saving config: %v", err))
+				} else {
+					// Reload styles
+					m.styles = newStyleMapFromConfig(m.config)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return
 	case settingsSectionTags:
 		if m.settingsCursor >= len(m.config.Tags.Tags) {
 			return
@@ -350,6 +406,9 @@ func (m *uiModel) saveSettingsEdit() {
 // deleteSettingsItem deletes the current settings item and auto-saves
 func (m *uiModel) deleteSettingsItem() {
 	switch m.settingsSection {
+	case settingsSectionGeneral:
+		// Cannot delete general settings
+		return
 	case settingsSectionTags:
 		if m.settingsCursor >= len(m.config.Tags.Tags) {
 			return
@@ -437,6 +496,12 @@ func (m *uiModel) viewSettings() string {
 	activeTabStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Padding(0, 2).Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color(m.config.Colors.Title))
 
 	tabs := ""
+	if m.settingsSection == settingsSectionGeneral {
+		tabs += activeTabStyle.Render("[General]")
+	} else {
+		tabs += tabStyle.Render("General")
+	}
+	tabs += " "
 	if m.settingsSection == settingsSectionTags {
 		tabs += activeTabStyle.Render("[Tags]")
 	} else {
@@ -459,6 +524,8 @@ func (m *uiModel) viewSettings() string {
 	// Instructions
 	var instructions string
 	switch m.settingsSection {
+	case settingsSectionGeneral:
+		instructions = "←/→: Switch tabs • ↑/↓: Navigate • Enter: Toggle setting\nctrl+s: Save • q/,: Exit"
 	case settingsSectionTags:
 		instructions = "←/→: Switch tabs • ↑/↓: Navigate • Enter: Edit • D: Delete\nc: Add new tag • ctrl+s: Save • q/,: Exit"
 	case settingsSectionStates:
@@ -470,6 +537,8 @@ func (m *uiModel) viewSettings() string {
 
 	// Render the appropriate section
 	switch m.settingsSection {
+	case settingsSectionGeneral:
+		content.WriteString(m.viewSettingsGeneral())
 	case settingsSectionTags:
 		content.WriteString(m.viewSettingsTags())
 	case settingsSectionStates:
@@ -488,6 +557,68 @@ func (m *uiModel) viewSettings() string {
 	return content.String()
 }
 
+// viewSettingsGeneral renders the general settings section
+func (m *uiModel) viewSettingsGeneral() string {
+	var content strings.Builder
+
+	// Calculate visible window
+	reservedLines := 10
+	if m.textinput.Focused() {
+		reservedLines += 3
+	}
+	availableHeight := m.height - reservedLines
+	if availableHeight < 3 {
+		availableHeight = 3
+	}
+
+	enabledStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("34")).Bold(true)
+	disabledStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("196"))
+	colorStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color(m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor))
+
+	// Setting 0: Org syntax highlighting toggle
+	line := ""
+	if m.settingsCursor == 0 && !m.textinput.Focused() {
+		line += "▶ "
+	} else {
+		line += "  "
+	}
+	line += "Org syntax highlighting: "
+	if m.config.UI.OrgSyntaxHighlighting {
+		line += enabledStyle.Render("Enabled")
+	} else {
+		line += disabledStyle.Render("Disabled")
+	}
+	content.WriteString(line + "\n")
+
+	// Setting 1: Show indentation guides toggle
+	line = ""
+	if m.settingsCursor == 1 && !m.textinput.Focused() {
+		line += "▶ "
+	} else {
+		line += "  "
+	}
+	line += "Show indentation guides: "
+	if m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides {
+		line += enabledStyle.Render("Enabled")
+	} else {
+		line += disabledStyle.Render("Disabled")
+	}
+	content.WriteString(line + "\n")
+
+	// Setting 2: Indentation guide color
+	line = ""
+	if m.settingsCursor == 2 && !m.textinput.Focused() {
+		line += "▶ "
+	} else {
+		line += "  "
+	}
+	line += "Indentation guide color: "
+	line += colorStyle.Render(m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor)
+	content.WriteString(line + "\n")
+
+	return content.String()
+}
+
 // viewSettingsTags renders the tags section
 func (m *uiModel) viewSettingsTags() string {
 	var content strings.Builder

internal/ui/views.go

@@ -148,17 +148,24 @@ func (m uiModel) View() string {
 	for i, item := range items {
 		lineCount := 1 // The item itself
 		if !item.Folded && len(item.Notes) > 0 && m.mode == modeList {
-			// Build subtle visual guides for notes
-			guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("240"))
+			// Build indentation for notes
 			var notePrefix strings.Builder
+			if m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides {
+				guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color(m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor))
 				for j := 1; j <= item.Level; j++ {
 					notePrefix.WriteString(guideStyle.Render("· "))
 				}
+			} else {
+				// No visual guides, just use spaces
+				for j := 1; j <= item.Level; j++ {
+					notePrefix.WriteString("  ")
+				}
+			}
 			indent := notePrefix.String()
 			noteIndent := indent + "  "
 			filteredNotes := filterLogbookDrawer(item.Notes)
 			wrappedNotes := wrapNoteLines(filteredNotes, m.width, noteIndent)
-			highlightedNotes := renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
+			highlightedNotes := m.renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
 			lineCount += len(highlightedNotes)
 		}
 		itemLineCount[i] = lineCount
@@ -215,17 +222,24 @@ func (m uiModel) View() string {
 
 				// Render remaining notes
 				if !item.Folded && len(item.Notes) > 0 && m.mode == modeList {
-					// Build subtle visual guides for notes
-					guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("245"))
+					// Build indentation for notes
 					var notePrefix strings.Builder
+					if m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides {
+						guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color(m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor))
 						for i := 1; i <= item.Level; i++ {
 							notePrefix.WriteString(guideStyle.Render("· "))
 						}
+					} else {
+						// No visual guides, just use spaces
+						for i := 1; i <= item.Level; i++ {
+							notePrefix.WriteString("  ")
+						}
+					}
 					indent := notePrefix.String()
 					noteIndent := indent + "  "
 					filteredNotes := filterLogbookDrawer(item.Notes)
 					wrappedNotes := wrapNoteLines(filteredNotes, m.width, noteIndent)
-					highlightedNotes := renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
+					highlightedNotes := m.renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
 					for noteIdx := linesToSkip - 1; noteIdx < len(highlightedNotes) && itemLines < availableHeight; noteIdx++ {
 						content.WriteString(indent)
 						content.WriteString("  " + highlightedNotes[noteIdx])
@@ -245,17 +259,24 @@ func (m uiModel) View() string {
 
 		// Show notes if not folded
 		if !item.Folded && len(item.Notes) > 0 && m.mode == modeList {
-			// Build subtle visual guides for notes
-			guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("235"))
+			// Build indentation for notes
 			var notePrefix strings.Builder
+			if m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides {
+				guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color(m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor))
 				for i := 1; i <= item.Level; i++ {
 					notePrefix.WriteString(guideStyle.Render("· "))
 				}
+			} else {
+				// No visual guides, just use spaces
+				for i := 1; i <= item.Level; i++ {
+					notePrefix.WriteString("  ")
+				}
+			}
 			indent := notePrefix.String()
 			noteIndent := indent + "  "
 			filteredNotes := filterLogbookDrawer(item.Notes)
 			wrappedNotes := wrapNoteLines(filteredNotes, m.width, noteIndent)
-			highlightedNotes := renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
+			highlightedNotes := m.renderNotesWithHighlighting(wrappedNotes)
 			for _, note := range highlightedNotes {
 				if itemLines >= availableHeight {
 					break
@@ -626,8 +647,8 @@ func filterLogbookDrawer(notes []string) []string {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		// Skip SCHEDULED and DEADLINE lines
-		if strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "SCHEDULED:") || strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "DEADLINE:") {
+		// Skip SCHEDULED, DEADLINE, and CLOSED lines
+		if strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "SCHEDULED:") || strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "DEADLINE:") || strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "CLOSED:") {
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -661,7 +682,7 @@ func wrapNoteLines(notes []string, width int, indent string) []string {
 }
 
 // renderNotesWithHighlighting renders notes with syntax highlighting for code blocks
-func renderNotesWithHighlighting(notes []string) []string {
+func (m uiModel) renderNotesWithHighlighting(notes []string) []string {
 	if len(notes) == 0 {
 		return notes
 	}
@@ -761,10 +782,16 @@ func renderNotesWithHighlighting(notes []string) []string {
 		// If in code block, accumulate lines
 		if inCodeBlock {
 			codeLines = append(codeLines, note)
+		} else {
+			// Apply org-mode syntax highlighting to non-code text if enabled
+			if m.config.UI.OrgSyntaxHighlighting {
+				highlighted := highlightCode(note, "org")
+				result = append(result, highlighted)
 			} else {
 				result = append(result, note)
 			}
 		}
+	}
 
 	// Handle case where code block wasn't closed
 	if inCodeBlock && len(codeLines) > 0 {
@@ -894,7 +921,8 @@ func (m uiModel) renderItem(item *model.Item, isCursor bool) string {
 	var b strings.Builder
 
 	// Indentation with subtle visual nesting guides
-	guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("245")) // Very subtle gray
+	if m.config.UI.ShowIndentationGuides {
+		guideStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color(m.config.UI.IndentationGuideColor))
 		for i := 1; i < item.Level; i++ {
 			if i == item.Level-1 {
 				// Last level before the item - use subtle dot connector
@@ -904,6 +932,12 @@ func (m uiModel) renderItem(item *model.Item, isCursor bool) string {
 				b.WriteString(guideStyle.Render("· "))
 			}
 		}
+	} else {
+		// No visual guides, just use spaces for indentation
+		for i := 1; i < item.Level; i++ {
+			b.WriteString("  ")
+		}
+	}
 
 	// Fold indicator
 	if len(item.Children) > 0 || len(item.Notes) > 0 {