fix(menu): network picker blank rows — compact mode for networkmanager_dmenu (item 22)

Source-read of the pinned networkmanager_dmenu 2.6.2: with
compact = False (what our config.ini set) the script inserts literal
empty rows as separators between the ethernet/wifi/VPN sections —
the nameless entries Bernardo saw on the Latitude. compact = True
drops the separators and uses the unpadded row format, which also
renders better in rofi's proportional font than space-aligned columns.

Known residual, documented in config comment + HARDWARE-QUEUE: a
hidden-SSID AP still renders one nameless row (sec+bars only; the
name dedup keeps exactly one, and no config option filters it). If the
V3 retest still shows it, the follow-up is a small source patch
skipping empty-name APs in create_ap_list.

Verified: V0; V1 (rendered config.ini shows compact = True). Behavior
needs Wi-Fi hardware — V3 queued on the Latitude.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

agent/BACKLOG.md

@@ -25,14 +25,6 @@ next, in what order*.
 *Items 21–27: real-hardware QA findings from the Latitude 5410
 (Bernardo, 2026-07-04) — bugs found on metal outrank the queue.*
 
-### 22. Network menu shows nameless/weird entries
-Reported: `networkmanager_dmenu` lists entries with no names (likely
-hidden-SSID APs rendered as blank rows, possibly other adapters/
-duplicate BSSIDs). Investigate its config.ini surface for filtering,
-or patch the list source; blank rows in a themed picker read as
-breakage. **Verify:** V1 (config renders) — behavior needs Wi-Fi
-hardware → V3 on the Latitude.
-
 ### 24. "Back" audit — every list menu ends in ↩ Back
 Reported: some submenu items/tools still lack a Back option. The "Back
 everywhere" pass covered the hand-rolled dmenu lists at the time; audit

agent/HARDWARE-QUEUE.md

@@ -49,6 +49,13 @@ QA machine), the **T14s** (webcam case).
       row, dimmed inactive workspaces / muted volume visible-but-dim),
       rofi inputbar/alternate rows show text. Spot-check one dark theme
       (e.g. tokyo-night) for no visual regression in the same spots.
+- [ ] **Network menu has no blank rows** (item 22 fix, needs Wi-Fi) —
+      after `home-update`, open Tools › Network: no empty separator
+      rows between the ethernet/wifi/VPN sections (compact = True).
+      KNOWN RESIDUAL: if exactly one nameless wifi row remains showing
+      only security+bars, that's a hidden-SSID AP — config can't filter
+      it; report it and the follow-up is a small source patch skipping
+      empty-name APs in create_ap_list.
 - [ ] **Keyboard hotplug picker (re-verify after in-flake graduation)** —
       plug an external keyboard post-login, pick a layout in rofi, confirm
       it applies per-device only, persists in `settings.keyboard.devices`,

agent/JOURNAL.md

@@ -17,6 +17,20 @@ Template:
 
 ---
 
+## 2026-07-04 — network menu blank rows (iteration #11, item 22)
+- **Task:** BACKLOG NOW#22 — nameless entries in the network picker.
+- **Did:** read the pinned networkmanager_dmenu 2.6.2 source: with
+  `compact = False` (our config!) it inserts literal empty rows as
+  section separators (eth/wifi/vpn) — the systematic blank entries.
+  Flipped config.ini to `compact = True` (also unpadded row format,
+  better in rofi's proportional font). Hidden-SSID APs additionally
+  render ONE nameless sec+bars row (dedup keeps one; not config-
+  filterable) — documented, V3-gated, source-patch follow-up if seen.
+- **Verified:** V0; V1 — rendered config.ini shows compact = True.
+  Behavior needs Wi-Fi hardware → V3 queued.
+- **Pending:** V3 on the Latitude (no separators; hidden-AP residual?).
+- **Next suggestion:** item 24 (Back audit) — grep-the-generated-script.
+
 ## 2026-07-04 — waybar/rofi palette-safe pairings (iteration #10, item 27)
 - **Task:** BACKLOG NOW#27 — generated waybar/rofi CSS invisible on
   on-surface palettes (flexoki-light runs it; summers whole-swap).

modules/home/rofi.nix

@@ -641,13 +641,19 @@ in
     # connection drops to nmtui in the configured terminal. force: the tool
     # writes a default config on first run, so an unmanaged file may already
     # sit at this path — we fully own it, so overwrite rather than abort.
+    # compact: with False the script inserts EMPTY rows as section
+    # separators (eth/wifi/vpn) — blank entries in a themed picker read as
+    # breakage (item 22). True drops them and uses the unpadded row format,
+    # which also sits better in rofi's proportional font than the
+    # space-aligned columns. (A hidden-SSID AP still renders one nameless
+    # row — sec+bars only; not filterable via config, dedup keeps one.)
     xdg.configFile."networkmanager-dmenu/config.ini" = {
       force = true;
       text = ''
         [dmenu]
         dmenu_command = rofi
         rofi_highlight = True
-        compact = False
+        compact = True
         wifi_chars = ▂▄▆█
 
         [editor]