src/aare/gui/main_window.py

@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         # default) so the mutable list is per-instance (RUF012).
         self._pre_vacancy_open_banners: list[TitleLabel] = []
 
-        self._theme_mode = THEME_SUNRISE
+        self._theme_mode = THEME_BLUEBIRD
         self._theme_action_group = None
         self._use_legacy_theme_action = None
         self._use_portrait_theme_action = None

src/aare/gui/panels/log_panel.py

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import logging
+
 from aarecommon.config.logger import attach_to_logger, find_existing_formatter
 from PySide6.QtCore import QTimer, Signal, Slot
 from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
@@ -221,6 +223,8 @@ class LogPanel(QWidget):
         self.emitter.message.connect(self._append_line)
 
         self.handler = QtLogHandler(self.emitter)
+        # hide debug message from log panel
+        self.handler.setLevel(logging.INFO)
         self.handler.setFormatter(find_existing_formatter())
 
     def attach_logger(self, logger_name: str = "aareGUI"):

src/aare/gui/threads/daq_worker.py

@@ -713,7 +713,10 @@ class DAQWorker(QObject):
         try:
             response_data = self.handle_response(reply)
             payload = json.loads(response_data) if response_data else {}
-            message = str(payload.get("message") or default_message)
+            if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+                message = str(payload)
+            else:
+                message = str(payload.get("message") or default_message)
             logger.info(message)
             self.status_message.emit(message, False)
             self.recovery_action_completed.emit(message)

src/aare/gui/widgets/status_bar.py

@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ class StatusBar(QStatusBar):
         self.get_all_pgroups.emit()
 
     def _generate_pgroup_dialogue(self, curr: str | None = None, pgroups: list | None = None):
-        logger.info(pgroups)
+        # logger.info(pgroups) # too much information for normal operation
         dialog = PGroupDialog(curr_pgroup=curr, pgroups=pgroups, parent=self.window())
 
         if dialog.exec() == QDialog.DialogCode.Accepted:

tests/unit/gui/test_daq_worker_recovery.py

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+"""Covers the recovery-response payload handling in DAQWorker.
+
+The server may return a bare JSON string instead of a dict during recovery
+(see fix "allow str has no get when in recovery"), so the handler must not
+assume ``payload.get`` exists.
+"""
+
+import json
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from aare.gui.threads.daq_worker import DAQWorker
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def worker(qapp):
+    w = DAQWorker(base_url=None, token="test-token")
+    w._timer.stop()  # no background polling during tests
+    w.send_status_request = MagicMock()
+    return w
+
+
+def run_recovery(worker, response_data, default="default recovery message"):
+    worker.handle_response = MagicMock(return_value=response_data)
+    slot = MagicMock()
+    worker.recovery_action_completed.connect(slot)
+    worker._handle_recovery_action_response(MagicMock(), default)
+    return slot
+
+
+def test_recovery_response_dict_payload(worker):
+    slot = run_recovery(worker, json.dumps({"message": "TELL recovered"}))
+    slot.assert_called_once_with("TELL recovered")
+
+
+def test_recovery_response_dict_without_message_uses_default(worker):
+    slot = run_recovery(worker, json.dumps({"status": "ok"}), default="fallback")
+    slot.assert_called_once_with("fallback")
+
+
+def test_recovery_response_str_payload(worker):
+    # A bare JSON string has no .get(); must be passed through as-is.
+    slot = run_recovery(worker, json.dumps("plain string status"))
+    slot.assert_called_once_with("plain string status")