Sometimes when switching from steam to a different workspace and back only the outer window takes focus so some actions don't work. Tentative fix for that.

README.md

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Cthulhu is a Linux screen reader written in Go.
 - [Contributing](CONTRIBUTING.md): development, accessibility verification, licensing, and the AI-assisted contribution policy.
 - [LibreOffice support](LIBREOFFICE_SUPPORT.md): integration boundaries, initial Calc behavior, remaining work, and verification.
 - [Progress reporting](PROGRESS_BARS.md): web progress bars, Steam shader processing, and verification.
+- [Steam keyboard focus](STEAM_FOCUS.md): Xorg workspace focus recovery and verification.
 
 AI-assisted contributions are welcome. Contributors remain responsible for human review and testing before submission; see the [full policy](CONTRIBUTING.md#ai-assisted-contributions).
 

STEAM_FOCUS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Steam keyboard focus on Xorg
+
+Steam Big Picture can retain its accessible focus while physical keyboard
+events reach the outer Steam window instead of its embedded Chromium window.
+In the reported game/workspace round trip, Escape stopped opening or closing
+the menu, and switching browse/focus mode did not help. A delivery trace showed
+both Escape edges reaching the outer window with no held modifiers. Restoring
+native focus to the browser child recovered the open menu without restarting
+Steam or Cthulhu. The original trigger remains unverified.
+
+Cthulhu's Xorg command owner remembers the most recently focused, mapped
+browser child of a Steam webhelper window. During the first second after that
+window becomes foreground again, it allows Steam to restore its own focus.
+Only if two consecutive focus samples still identify the outer window does it
+attempt to restore the remembered child. A successful repair ends the attempt
+for that activation.
+
+The repair verifies the foreground window, Steam window class, process IDs,
+child ancestry, and mapping state immediately before changing focus. It leaves
+valid inner focus alone, including menus, search fields, and dialogs. It does
+not run with keys held, reader modal input active, OCR active or pending, or
+secure input active. Hidden, destroyed, unrelated, or unverified targets cause
+it to leave focus unchanged. It does not guess another child or retain a
+hard-coded window ID. The cache holds one Steam window and expires with the
+command listener; restarting Cthulhu in an already broken session may require
+fresh Steam focus before a valid child can be remembered.
+
+This is an Xorg Steam workaround. Other applications and native Wayland focus
+handling do not receive automatic keyboard-focus changes.
+
+## Verification
+
+The policy tests cover activation grace, remembered popup focus, bounded
+attempts, process/window boundaries, and preservation of valid browser focus.
+The native fixture verifies real Escape press/release delivery after repair and
+rejects hidden or destroyed popups, unrelated children, changed process IDs,
+held modifiers, other applications, and ordinary window classes.
+
+```sh
+GOCACHE=/tmp/cthulhu-go-cache GOPROXY=off go test -race ./internal/platform/xorg ./internal/app -count=1
+xvfb-run -a env CTHULHU_NATIVE_STEAM_FOCUS=1 GOCACHE=/tmp/cthulhu-go-cache GOPROXY=off go test ./internal/platform/xorg -run '^TestNativeSteamFocusRepair$' -count=1 -v
+CTHULHU_NATIVE_BROWSER_TESTS=keys,modes python3 tests/native_browser.py
+python3 tests/native_x11.py
+```
+
+These checks passed for the initial patch. The existing native browser editing
+check failed on both the patch and unchanged commit `9205e72`: its first typed
+`c` was accompanied by `Cthulhu Browser Probe - Brave`. That separate title
+announcement failure was not changed here.
+
+Human review and live Steam acceptance remain required before submission:
+
+1. Restart Cthulhu using the normal `cthulhu-go.sh -r` launcher, then start fresh
+   Steam Big Picture so the reader can observe a valid browser focus.
+2. Verify Escape and game activation initially work. Launch a game, switch to
+   another workspace and back, and verify Escape and game activation again.
+3. Repeat with the Steam menu open before switching away. Check Escape closes
+   it and arrows/Enter still select commands.
+4. Type in Steam search, use Tab and Shift+Tab, and move away/back while search
+   or a dialog has focus. Check text entry, selection, and dialog buttons retain
+   their intended focus.
+5. Switch to a normal browser and a GTK application. Check native typing,
+   browser structural navigation, and Cthulhu's XTerm/Fenrir handoff. Quit
+   Cthulhu and confirm normal application keys remain available.
+
+Do not count a native fixture pass as audible speech, physical Braille, or
+successful operation of Steam's actual Chromium/controller navigation.

internal/app/document_native_test.go

@@ -282,11 +282,18 @@ func TestNativeBrowserEditing(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 	defer func() { cancel(); <-relayDone }()
-	queue := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 128)}
+	queue := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 128), interrupt: make(chan struct{}, 128)}
+	logger := slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler)
+	inputDone := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		defer close(inputDone)
+		processInputEvents(ctx, logger, queue, listener, input.EchoSettings{}, nil, nil)
+	}()
+	defer func() { cancel(); <-inputDone }()
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 	go func() {
 		defer close(done)
-		processEventsWithInput(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), queue, observed, nil, nil, 20*time.Millisecond, nil, listener, nil, nil)
+		processEventsWithInput(ctx, logger, queue, observed, nil, nil, 20*time.Millisecond, nil, listener, nil, nil)
 	}()
 	defer func() { cancel(); <-done }()
 	keys := func(chord string) {
@@ -315,11 +322,17 @@ func TestNativeBrowserEditing(t *testing.T) {
 	keys("ctrl+l")
 	collect()
 	for _, letter := range []string{"c", "t", "h"} {
+		for len(queue.interrupt) > 0 {
+			<-queue.interrupt
+		}
 		keys(letter)
 		got := collect()
 		if len(got) != 1 || got[0] != letter {
 			t.Fatalf("typing %q: %q", letter, got)
 		}
+		if len(queue.interrupt) == 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("typing %q did not interrupt speech", letter)
+		}
 	}
 	keys("Down")
 	got := collect()
@@ -380,9 +393,13 @@ func TestNativeBrowserEditing(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "• Registered: September 2026" {
 		t.Fatalf("embedded browser line text: %q", got)
 	}
+	// Preserve the browser-specific suffix. AT-SPI can report this change
+	// before the native X11 title cache catches up.
+	wantTitle := strings.Replace(adapter.ForegroundTitle().Title.Title, "Cthulhu Browser Probe", "Cthulhu Browser Probe updated", 1)
 	keys("F8")
-	if got := collect(); len(got) != 0 || !browserNameChanged.Load() {
-		t.Fatalf("browser title update: speech=%q, native event=%v", got, browserNameChanged.Load())
+	got = collect()
+	if len(got) != 1 || got[0] != wantTitle || !strings.Contains(wantTitle, "Cthulhu Browser Probe updated") || !browserNameChanged.Load() {
+		t.Fatalf("browser title update: speech=%q, expected=%q, native event=%v", got, wantTitle, browserNameChanged.Load())
 	}
 
 	// Seed a typed browser URL locally, then replace it with a prefix. This

internal/app/event_loop.go

@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func processEventsWithAttributes(
 		foregroundChanges = foreground.ForegroundChanges()
 		state.foregroundState = foreground.Foreground()
 	}
-	titles := &windowTitleController{state: &state, live: live, gate: focusGate, speech: speech, logger: logger, foreground: foreground}
+	titles := &windowTitleController{state: &state, live: live, gate: focusGate, speech: speech, logger: logger, foreground: foreground, inputSource: inputSource}
 	titles.source, _ = adapter.(windowTitleSource)
 	var titleChanges <-chan struct{}
 	if titles.source != nil {

internal/app/speech_title_input.go

@@ -19,6 +19,5 @@ func (policy *titleInputPolicy) observe(request speechRequest) {
 }
 
 func (policy *titleInputPolicy) preserves(event input.Event) bool {
-	return policy.protectRepeats && event.Repeat && event.Pressed &&
-		event.Name != "Control_L" && event.Name != "Control_R" && event.Name != "Escape"
+	return policy.protectRepeats && event.Pressed && !input.ShouldInterruptTitle(event)
 }

internal/app/window_titles.go

@@ -20,13 +20,14 @@ type windowTitleSource interface {
 }
 
 type pendingWindowTitle struct {
-	text        string
-	window      atspi.ObjectID
-	epoch       uint64
-	native      xorg.WindowTitle
-	changed     bool
-	application string
-	observedAt  time.Time
+	text          string
+	window        atspi.ObjectID
+	epoch         uint64
+	native        xorg.WindowTitle
+	changed       bool
+	application   string
+	observedAt    time.Time
+	inputSequence uint64
 }
 
 // windowTitleController is owned by the accessibility event loop. Discovery
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ type windowTitleController struct {
 	logger      *slog.Logger
 	source      windowTitleSource
 	foreground  foregroundMonitor
+	inputSource any
 	lastNative  atspi.ForegroundTitle
 	lastTitle   string
 	application string
@@ -96,6 +98,11 @@ func (titles *windowTitleController) applicationForEvent(event atspi.Event) stri
 func (titles *windowTitleController) queue(pending pendingWindowTitle) {
 	if pending.observedAt.IsZero() {
 		pending.observedAt = time.Now()
+		pending.inputSequence = recentInput(titles.inputSource).TitleInterruptionSequence
+	}
+	if titles.pending != nil {
+		// Coalescing must not revive a burst interrupted since its first sample.
+		pending.inputSequence = titles.pending.inputSequence
 	}
 	if previous := titles.pending; previous != nil && !previous.changed && previous.epoch == pending.epoch &&
 		previous.window == pending.window && previous.native.Window == pending.native.Window &&
@@ -246,6 +253,9 @@ func (titles *windowTitleController) flush() {
 		return
 	}
 	titles.lastTitle = pending.text
+	if pending.inputSequence != recentInput(titles.inputSource).TitleInterruptionSequence {
+		return
+	}
 	if titles.logger != nil {
 		titles.logger.Debug("queued automatic window title", "title_changed", pending.changed,
 			"observed_to_queue_ms", time.Since(pending.observedAt).Milliseconds())

internal/app/window_titles_native_test.go

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/atspi"
+	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/input"
+	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/platform/xorg"
 )
 
 func TestNativeAutomaticTitleDispatchLatency(t *testing.T) {
@@ -46,9 +48,22 @@ func TestNativeAutomaticTitleDispatchLatency(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	defer adapter.Stop(context.Background())
+	listener := xorg.New()
+	if err = listener.Start(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer listener.Stop(context.Background())
 	queue := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 8)}
+	inputDone := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		defer close(inputDone)
+		processInputEvents(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), queue, listener, input.EchoSettings{}, nil, nil)
+	}()
+	defer func() { cancel(); <-inputDone }()
 	completed := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() { completed <- processEvents(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), queue, adapter, 0) }()
+	go func() {
+		completed <- processEventsWithInput(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), queue, adapter, nil, nil, 0, nil, listener, nil, nil)
+	}()
 	defer func() {
 		cancel()
 		if err := <-completed; err != nil {
@@ -60,9 +75,10 @@ func TestNativeAutomaticTitleDispatchLatency(t *testing.T) {
 		for {
 			select {
 			case got := <-queue.spoken:
-				if got == want {
-					return
+				if got != want {
+					t.Fatalf("title = %q, want %q", got, want)
 				}
+				return
 			case <-deadline:
 				t.Fatalf("title %q was not queued promptly", want)
 			case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -84,4 +100,26 @@ func TestNativeAutomaticTitleDispatchLatency(t *testing.T) {
 		wait(title, deadline)
 		t.Logf("X11 title update to speech queue: %s", time.Since(began))
 	}
+	// The switch chord must not suppress the destination's introduction. The
+	// fixture has no window manager, so activate each destination explicitly.
+	for _, destination := range []struct{ window, title string }{
+		{"unrelated", "Unrelated title"}, {"normal", "Status three"},
+	} {
+		if out, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "xdotool", "key", "--clearmodifiers", "alt+Tab").CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("switch keys: %v %s", err, out)
+		}
+		data, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"action": "activate", "window": destination.window})
+		if _, err = stdin.Write(append(data, '\n')); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if !scanner.Scan() || scanner.Text() != "ready" {
+			t.Fatal("fixture switch failed")
+		}
+		wait(destination.title, time.After(2*time.Second))
+	}
+	select {
+	case got := <-queue.spoken:
+		t.Fatalf("duplicate window title: %q", got)
+	case <-time.After(2 * windowTitleIntroductionDelay):
+	}
 }

internal/app/window_titles_test.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/atspi"
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/config"
+	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/input"
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/platform/xorg"
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/preferences"
 )
@@ -80,6 +81,90 @@ func TestAutomaticTitlePolicyCoalescesAndPreservesSpeech(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestScheduledTitleInterruptedBeforeSpeechQueue(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, name := range []string{"c", "Tab", "Control_L", "Escape"} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			titles, queue, changed := titleControllerFixture(t)
+			tracker := &input.IntentTracker{}
+			titles.inputSource = tracker
+			changed.Source.Name = "Scheduled status"
+			titles.accessible(changed)
+			tracker.Observe(input.NewKeyEvent(0, true, name))
+			// A newer sample in the same burst must not undo cancellation.
+			changed.Source.Name = "Latest status"
+			titles.accessible(changed)
+			titles.flush()
+			if len(queue.requests) != 0 || titles.pending != nil {
+				t.Fatal("interrupted title reached the speech queue")
+			}
+			// A genuinely later change still announces normally.
+			changed.Source.Name = "New status"
+			titles.accessible(changed)
+			titles.flush()
+			if len(queue.requests) != 1 || queue.requests[0].Text != "New status" {
+				t.Fatalf("later title = %+v", queue.requests)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestScheduledNativeIntroductionPreservesSwitchAndRepeatInput(t *testing.T) {
+	titles, queue, _ := titleControllerFixture(t)
+	titles.state.owner.clear()
+	tracker := &input.IntentTracker{}
+	titles.inputSource = tracker
+	source := &titleProbeSource{title: atspi.ForegroundTitle{Epoch: 1, Title: xorg.WindowTitle{Window: 20, TitleWindow: 20, Title: "Other window"}}}
+	titles.source, titles.foreground = source, source
+	// Input initiating a switch precedes discovery of its destination title.
+	tracker.Observe(input.NewKeyEvent(0, true, "Tab"))
+	titles.nativeChanged()
+	repeat := input.NewKeyEvent(0, true, "Tab")
+	repeat.Repeat = true
+	tracker.Observe(repeat)
+	titles.flush()
+	if len(queue.requests) != 1 || queue.requests[0].Text != "Other window" {
+		t.Fatalf("destination title = %+v", queue.requests)
+	}
+	// Fresh typing after a subsequent switch cancels its delayed introduction.
+	source.title.Epoch++
+	source.title.Title.Window, source.title.Title.TitleWindow = 21, 21
+	source.title.Title.Title = "Next window"
+	titles.nativeChanged()
+	tracker.Observe(input.NewKeyEvent(0, true, "c"))
+	repeat = input.NewKeyEvent(0, true, "c")
+	repeat.Repeat = true
+	tracker.Observe(repeat)
+	titles.flush()
+	if len(queue.requests) != 1 {
+		t.Fatal("typing interruption was hidden by its later repeat")
+	}
+	// Returning to that window must introduce it again despite cancellation.
+	source.title.Epoch++
+	titles.nativeChanged()
+	titles.flush()
+	if len(queue.requests) != 2 || queue.requests[1].Text != "Next window" {
+		t.Fatalf("return title = %+v", queue.requests)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestScheduledTitleCannotReviveWhileWaitingForSettings(t *testing.T) {
+	titles, queue, changed := titleControllerFixture(t)
+	tracker := &input.IntentTracker{}
+	titles.inputSource = tracker
+	titles.live.onApplication = func(string) {}
+	titles.application = "Example Application"
+	changed.Source.Name = "Pending application title"
+	titles.accessible(changed)
+	titles.flush() // Requeued until the application override is committed.
+	tracker.Observe(input.NewKeyEvent(0, true, "c"))
+	application := titles.application
+	titles.live.application.Store(&application)
+	titles.flush()
+	if len(queue.requests) != 0 || titles.pending != nil {
+		t.Fatal("settings retry revived an interrupted title")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAutomaticTitleUsesBrailleMessagePathAndKeepsFocus(t *testing.T) {
 	titles, queue, changed := titleControllerFixture(t)
 	display := &flashRecorder{}

internal/input/input.go

@@ -123,3 +123,9 @@ func (modifiers ModifierKeycodes) Contains(keycode uint8) bool {
 func ShouldInterruptSpeech(event Event) bool {
 	return event.Pressed
 }
+
+// Automatic titles survive held-key repeats, but fresh input and explicit
+// stop keys cancel both scheduled and already queued title speech.
+func ShouldInterruptTitle(event Event) bool {
+	return event.Pressed && (!event.Repeat || event.Name == "Control_L" || event.Name == "Control_R" || event.Name == "Escape")
+}

internal/input/intent.go

@@ -24,10 +24,13 @@ const (
 )
 
 type Activity struct {
-	Selecting bool
-	Intent    Intent
-	Sequence  uint64
-	Clipboard ClipboardAction
+	// Unlike presentation intent, this counter never expires. Deferred titles
+	// may be waiting for application settings after ordinary input has aged out.
+	TitleInterruptionSequence uint64
+	Selecting                 bool
+	Intent                    Intent
+	Sequence                  uint64
+	Clipboard                 ClipboardAction
 }
 
 type ClipboardAction uint8
@@ -40,13 +43,14 @@ const (
 )
 
 type IntentTracker struct {
-	sequence  uint64
-	mutex     sync.Mutex
-	held      map[string]bool
-	intent    Intent
-	clipboard ClipboardAction
-	selecting bool
-	at        time.Time
+	titleInterruptionSequence uint64
+	sequence                  uint64
+	mutex                     sync.Mutex
+	held                      map[string]bool
+	intent                    Intent
+	clipboard                 ClipboardAction
+	selecting                 bool
+	at                        time.Time
 }
 
 func (tracker *IntentTracker) Observe(event Event) {
@@ -55,6 +59,9 @@ func (tracker *IntentTracker) Observe(event Event) {
 	if event.Pressed {
 		tracker.sequence++
 	}
+	if ShouldInterruptTitle(event) {
+		tracker.titleInterruptionSequence++
+	}
 	if tracker.held == nil {
 		tracker.held = make(map[string]bool)
 	}
@@ -129,7 +136,8 @@ func (tracker *IntentTracker) RecentInput() Activity {
 	tracker.mutex.Lock()
 	defer tracker.mutex.Unlock()
 	if time.Since(tracker.at) > time.Second {
-		return Activity{}
+		return Activity{TitleInterruptionSequence: tracker.titleInterruptionSequence}
 	}
-	return Activity{Intent: tracker.intent, Sequence: tracker.sequence, Clipboard: tracker.clipboard, Selecting: tracker.selecting}
+	return Activity{Intent: tracker.intent, Sequence: tracker.sequence, Clipboard: tracker.clipboard, Selecting: tracker.selecting,
+		TitleInterruptionSequence: tracker.titleInterruptionSequence}
 }

internal/input/intent_test.go

@@ -83,3 +83,33 @@ func TestSelectionIntentEndsWithPlainNavigation(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Right = %+v", got)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestTitleInterruptionTracksFreshPressesAndStopKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	tracker := &IntentTracker{}
+	for _, step := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		pressed bool
+		repeat  bool
+		want    uint64
+	}{
+		{"a", true, false, 1}, {"a", false, false, 1},
+		{"a", true, true, 1}, {"Down", true, false, 2},
+		{"Down", true, true, 2}, {"Control_L", true, true, 3},
+		{"Control_R", true, true, 4}, {"Escape", true, true, 5},
+	} {
+		event := NewKeyEvent(0, step.pressed, step.name)
+		event.Repeat = step.repeat
+		tracker.Observe(event)
+		if got := tracker.RecentInput().TitleInterruptionSequence; got != step.want {
+			t.Fatalf("%+v: title interruption sequence = %d", step, got)
+		}
+	}
+	tracker.at = time.Now().Add(-2 * time.Second)
+	if got := tracker.RecentInput(); got.Intent != NoIntent || got.TitleInterruptionSequence != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("expired activity = %+v", got)
+	}
+	tracker.Reset()
+	if got := tracker.RecentInput().TitleInterruptionSequence; got != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("reset lost interruption history: %d", got)
+	}
+}

internal/platform/xorg/commands_native.h

@@ -30,11 +30,14 @@ typedef struct {
     unsigned long window;
 } Foreground;
 typedef struct { int known, pid, x, y; unsigned long window; } PointerPosition;
+typedef struct { int known, pid, steam, innerFocus; Window window, focus; } SteamFocusSample;
 
 int cthulhu_active_window_is_xterm(void);
 int cthulhu_display_active_window_xterm_match(Display *display);
 Foreground read_foreground(Display *display);
 PointerPosition cthulhu_read_pointer(Display *display);
+SteamFocusSample cthulhu_read_steam_focus(Display *display);
+int cthulhu_restore_steam_focus(Display *display, Window wrapper, int pid, Window target);
 void cthulhu_x11_begin_read(Display *display);
 int cthulhu_x11_end_read(Display *display);
 int set_command_keys(CommandDevice *device, int enabled);

internal/platform/xorg/commands_owner_loop.go

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ type commandOwner struct {
 	uiWindow, uiFocus             C.Window
 	lastLocks, lastFocusMatch     C.int
 	lastFocusCheck, drainDeadline time.Time
+	steamFocus                    steamFocusRepair
 }
 
 func (listener *CommandListener) runCommandLoop(workerContext context.Context, device *C.CommandDevice, layout input.KeyboardLayout, modifiers []string, core, tentacles []input.BindingOverride, symbols []uint32) {
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ func (owner *commandOwner) run() {
 		}
 		if time.Since(owner.lastFocusCheck) >= xtermFocusCheckInterval {
 			owner.publishFocus()
+			owner.check_steam_focus()
 		}
 		owner.resetForSecureInput()
 		if !owner.syncGrabs() {

internal/platform/xorg/steam_focus.c

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Storm Dragon
+// Authors: Storm Dragon, Angus Kola
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "commands_native.h"
+#include <X11/Xatom.h>
+#include <X11/Xutil.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+static int steam_active_window(Display *display, Window *window) {
+    Atom type; int format;
+    unsigned long count, remaining;
+    unsigned char *data = NULL;
+    int known = XGetWindowProperty(display, DefaultRootWindow(display), XInternAtom(display, "_NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW", False),
+                                   0, 1, False, XA_WINDOW, &type, &format, &count, &remaining, &data) == Success &&
+        data != NULL && type == XA_WINDOW && format == 32 && count == 1;
+    if (known) *window = ((Window *)data)[0];
+    if (data != NULL) XFree(data);
+    return known;
+}
+
+static int steam_window_pid(Display *display, Window window) {
+    Atom type; int format;
+    unsigned long count, remaining;
+    unsigned char *data = NULL;
+    int pid = 0;
+    if (XGetWindowProperty(display, window, XInternAtom(display, "_NET_WM_PID", False),
+                           0, 1, False, XA_CARDINAL, &type, &format, &count,
+                           &remaining, &data) == Success && data != NULL &&
+        type == XA_CARDINAL && format == 32 && count == 1) {
+        pid = (int)((unsigned long *)data)[0];
+    }
+    if (data != NULL) XFree(data);
+    return pid;
+}
+
+static int steam_wrapper(Display *display, Window window) {
+    XClassHint hint = {0};
+    int matches = XGetClassHint(display, window, &hint) &&
+        hint.res_name != NULL && hint.res_class != NULL &&
+        strcmp(hint.res_name, "steamwebhelper") == 0 && strcmp(hint.res_class, "steam") == 0;
+    if (hint.res_name != NULL) XFree(hint.res_name);
+    if (hint.res_class != NULL) XFree(hint.res_class);
+    return matches;
+}
+
+static int steam_browser_child(Display *display, Window wrapper, int pid, Window child) {
+    XWindowAttributes attributes;
+    if (child == None || child == PointerRoot || child == wrapper ||
+        !XGetWindowAttributes(display, child, &attributes) || attributes.map_state != IsViewable ||
+        attributes.class != InputOutput || steam_window_pid(display, child) != pid) return 0;
+    for (int depth = 0; depth < 32; depth++) {
+        Window root, parent, *children = NULL;
+        unsigned int count;
+        if (!XQueryTree(display, child, &root, &parent, &children, &count)) return 0;
+        if (children != NULL) XFree(children);
+        if (parent == wrapper) return 1;
+        if (parent == None || parent == root) return 0;
+        child = parent;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+SteamFocusSample cthulhu_read_steam_focus(Display *display) {
+    SteamFocusSample sample = {0};
+    cthulhu_x11_begin_read(display);
+    sample.known = steam_active_window(display, &sample.window);
+    if (sample.known && sample.window != None && steam_wrapper(display, sample.window)) {
+        sample.pid = steam_window_pid(display, sample.window);
+        sample.steam = sample.pid > 0;
+        int revert;
+        XGetInputFocus(display, &sample.focus, &revert);
+        if (sample.steam) sample.innerFocus = steam_browser_child(display, sample.window, sample.pid, sample.focus);
+    }
+    if (cthulhu_x11_end_read(display)) sample = (SteamFocusSample){0};
+    return sample;
+}
+
+int cthulhu_restore_steam_focus(Display *display, Window wrapper, int pid, Window target) {
+    cthulhu_x11_begin_read(display);
+    int restored = 0, revert;
+    Window focus, active = None;
+    XGetInputFocus(display, &focus, &revert);
+    char heldKeys[32];
+    XQueryKeymap(display, heldKeys);
+    int keyHeld = 0;
+    for (int i = 0; i < 32; i++) keyHeld |= heldKeys[i];
+    if (!keyHeld && focus == wrapper && steam_active_window(display, &active) && active == wrapper &&
+        steam_wrapper(display, wrapper) &&
+        steam_window_pid(display, wrapper) == pid && steam_browser_child(display, wrapper, pid, target)) {
+        // Recheck foreground immediately before changing input focus: cached
+        // children must never pull keyboard input out of a different client.
+        if (steam_active_window(display, &active) && active == wrapper) {
+            XGetInputFocus(display, &focus, &revert);
+            if (focus == wrapper) {
+                XSetInputFocus(display, target, RevertToParent, CurrentTime);
+                XSync(display, False);
+                XGetInputFocus(display, &focus, &revert);
+                restored = focus == target;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    if (cthulhu_x11_end_read(display)) restored = 0;
+    return restored;
+}

internal/platform/xorg/steam_focus.go

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Storm Dragon
+// Authors: Storm Dragon, Angus Kola
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package xorg
+
+/*
+#include "commands_native.h"
+*/
+import "C"
+
+type steamFocusSample struct {
+	window, focus uint64
+	pid           int
+	known, steam  bool
+	innerFocus    bool
+}
+
+// The command owner retains one verified Steam browser child. A foreground
+// transition arms at most one repair during the next ten 100ms focus samples.
+// Steam's own restoration wins; we never choose a child from its geometry.
+type steamFocusRepair struct {
+	previousWindow, window, target uint64
+	pid                            int
+	checksLeft, outerSamples       int
+}
+
+func (repair *steamFocusRepair) observe(sample steamFocusSample) uint64 {
+	if !sample.known {
+		return 0
+	}
+	if sample.window != repair.previousWindow {
+		repair.previousWindow = sample.window
+		repair.checksLeft, repair.outerSamples = 10, 0
+	}
+	if !sample.steam {
+		repair.checksLeft, repair.outerSamples = 0, 0
+		return 0
+	}
+	if sample.innerFocus {
+		repair.window, repair.pid, repair.target = sample.window, sample.pid, sample.focus
+		repair.outerSamples = 0
+	}
+	if repair.checksLeft == 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	repair.checksLeft--
+	if sample.focus != sample.window {
+		repair.outerSamples = 0
+		return 0
+	}
+	repair.outerSamples++
+	if repair.outerSamples < 2 || sample.window != repair.window || sample.pid != repair.pid {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return repair.target
+}
+
+func read_steam_focus(display *C.Display) steamFocusSample {
+	value := C.cthulhu_read_steam_focus(display)
+	return steamFocusSample{window: uint64(value.window), focus: uint64(value.focus), pid: int(value.pid),
+		known: value.known != 0, steam: value.steam != 0, innerFocus: value.innerFocus != 0}
+}
+
+func restore_steam_focus(display *C.Display, window uint64, pid int, target uint64) bool {
+	return C.cthulhu_restore_steam_focus(display, C.Window(window), C.int(pid), C.Window(target)) != 0
+}
+
+func (owner *commandOwner) check_steam_focus() {
+	if owner.listener.secure.Load() || owner.workerContext.Err() != nil {
+		owner.steamFocus.checksLeft = 0
+		return
+	}
+	sample := read_steam_focus(owner.device.display)
+	target := owner.steamFocus.observe(sample)
+	if target == 0 || !owner.commandGrabsAllowed() || len(owner.held) != 0 || owner.device.active != 0 ||
+		owner.learnMode || owner.uiSession != 0 || owner.ocrReview || owner.ocrPending {
+		return
+	}
+	if restore_steam_focus(owner.device.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		owner.steamFocus.checksLeft = 0
+	}
+}

internal/platform/xorg/steam_focus_native_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Storm Dragon
+// Authors: Storm Dragon, Angus Kola
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package xorg
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestNativeSteamFocusRepair(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("CTHULHU_NATIVE_STEAM_FOCUS") != "1" {
+		t.Skip("requires private X11 Steam fixture")
+	}
+	runtime.LockOSThread()
+	defer runtime.UnlockOSThread()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	fixture := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "python3", "-u", "../../../tests/steam_focus_fixture.py")
+	stdin, err := fixture.StdinPipe()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	stdout, err := fixture.StdoutPipe()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fixture.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	if err := fixture.Start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer func() { stdin.Close(); fixture.Wait() }()
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(stdout)
+	if !scanner.Scan() {
+		t.Fatal("Steam fixture did not start")
+	}
+	var windows map[string]uint64
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(scanner.Bytes(), &windows); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	command := func(action, window string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		data, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"action": action, "window": window})
+		if _, err := stdin.Write(append(data, '\n')); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if !scanner.Scan() || scanner.Text() != "ready" {
+			t.Fatal("Steam fixture command failed")
+		}
+	}
+	key := func(action, name string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		if out, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "xdotool", action, name).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("key: %v %s", err, out)
+		}
+	}
+	reader := OpenForegroundReader()
+	if reader == nil {
+		t.Fatal("cannot open private X11 display")
+	}
+	defer reader.Close()
+	sample := read_steam_focus(reader.display)
+	if !sample.steam || !sample.innerFocus || sample.focus != windows["browser"] {
+		t.Fatalf("initial browser focus not recognized: %+v", sample)
+	}
+	repair := steamFocusRepair{}
+	repair.observe(sample)
+	roundTrip := func() uint64 {
+		t.Helper()
+		command("activate", "other")
+		repair.observe(read_steam_focus(reader.display))
+		command("activate", "steam")
+		if target := repair.observe(read_steam_focus(reader.display)); target != 0 {
+			t.Fatal("Steam restoration grace sample was skipped")
+		}
+		return repair.observe(read_steam_focus(reader.display))
+	}
+	target := roundTrip()
+	if target != windows["browser"] || !restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		t.Fatal("main browser keyboard focus was not repaired")
+	}
+	key("key", "Escape")
+	data, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"action": "events"})
+	if _, err := stdin.Write(append(data, '\n')); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !scanner.Scan() {
+		t.Fatal("fixture key delivery missing")
+	}
+	var events []struct {
+		Window  uint64
+		Pressed bool
+		Escape  bool
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(scanner.Bytes(), &events); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(events) != 2 || !events[0].Escape || !events[0].Pressed || !events[1].Escape || events[1].Pressed ||
+		events[0].Window != target || events[1].Window != target {
+		t.Fatalf("Escape was not delivered to restored browser: %+v", events)
+	}
+	command("focus", "popup")
+	if target := repair.observe(read_steam_focus(reader.display)); target != 0 {
+		t.Fatal("valid popup focus was overridden")
+	}
+	target = roundTrip()
+	if target != windows["popup"] || !restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		t.Fatal("popup keyboard focus was not repaired")
+	}
+	command("focus", "browser")
+	if restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		t.Fatal("valid search/control browser focus was overridden")
+	}
+	command("activate", "steam")
+	key("keydown", "Control_L")
+	blocked := restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target)
+	key("keyup", "Control_L")
+	if blocked {
+		t.Fatal("focus moved while a physical modifier was held")
+	}
+	command("activate", "other")
+	if restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		t.Fatal("repair stole focus from another application")
+	}
+	command("activate", "steam")
+	if restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, windows["otherChild"]) {
+		t.Fatal("repair targeted an unrelated child")
+	}
+	command("unmap", "popupHost")
+	if restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		t.Fatal("repair focused a hidden popup")
+	}
+	command("map", "popupHost")
+	command("pid", "popup")
+	if restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		t.Fatal("repair focused a child from a different process")
+	}
+	command("destroy", "popup")
+	if restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, target) {
+		t.Fatal("repair focused a destroyed popup")
+	}
+	command("class", "steam")
+	if read_steam_focus(reader.display).steam || restore_steam_focus(reader.display, sample.window, sample.pid, windows["browser"]) {
+		t.Fatal("repair changed focus in an ordinary application")
+	}
+}

internal/platform/xorg/steam_focus_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Storm Dragon
+// Authors: Storm Dragon, Angus Kola
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package xorg
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestSteamFocusRepairActivation(t *testing.T) {
+	repair := steamFocusRepair{}
+	inner := steamFocusSample{known: true, steam: true, window: 10, focus: 12, pid: 123, innerFocus: true}
+	if target := repair.observe(inner); target != 0 {
+		t.Fatal("valid browser focus requested a repair")
+	}
+	repair.observe(steamFocusSample{known: true, window: 20, focus: 20})
+	outer := inner
+	outer.focus, outer.innerFocus = 10, false
+	if target := repair.observe(outer); target != 0 {
+		t.Fatal("repair did not allow Steam its first restoration sample")
+	}
+	if target := repair.observe(outer); target != 12 {
+		t.Fatalf("repair target = %d, want remembered browser child 12", target)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSteamFocusRepairPreservesControlAndWindowBoundaries(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		sample steamFocusSample
+	}{
+		{"other application", steamFocusSample{known: true, window: 20, focus: 20}},
+		{"other Steam window", steamFocusSample{known: true, steam: true, window: 30, focus: 30, pid: 123}},
+		{"reused window with different process", steamFocusSample{known: true, steam: true, window: 10, focus: 10, pid: 456}},
+		{"already focused browser popup", steamFocusSample{known: true, steam: true, window: 10, focus: 14, pid: 123, innerFocus: true}},
+		{"external keyboard focus", steamFocusSample{known: true, steam: true, window: 10, focus: 99, pid: 123}},
+		{"unknown foreground", steamFocusSample{}},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			repair := steamFocusRepair{}
+			repair.observe(steamFocusSample{known: true, steam: true, window: 10, focus: 12, pid: 123, innerFocus: true})
+			repair.observe(steamFocusSample{known: true, window: 20})
+			for i := 0; i < 12; i++ {
+				if target := repair.observe(test.sample); target != 0 {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected focus repair to %d", target)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSteamFocusRepairRemembersPopupAndExpires(t *testing.T) {
+	repair := steamFocusRepair{}
+	inner := steamFocusSample{known: true, steam: true, window: 10, focus: 12, pid: 123, innerFocus: true}
+	repair.observe(inner)
+	inner.focus = 14
+	repair.observe(inner)
+	repair.observe(steamFocusSample{known: true, window: 20})
+	outer := inner
+	outer.focus, outer.innerFocus = 10, false
+	repair.observe(outer)
+	if target := repair.observe(outer); target != 14 {
+		t.Fatalf("target = %d, want most recently focused popup 14", target)
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
+		repair.observe(inner)
+	}
+	if target := repair.observe(outer); target != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("repair remained armed after activation window expired: %d", target)
+	}
+}

tests/steam_focus_fixture.py

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+"""Steam-shaped X11 browser and popup fixture for a private X server."""
+
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+
+from Xlib import X, Xatom, XK, display
+from Xlib.xobject.drawable import Window
+
+
+def main() -> None:
+    connection = display.Display()
+    root = connection.screen().root
+    activeAtom = connection.intern_atom("_NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW")
+    pidAtom = connection.intern_atom("_NET_WM_PID")
+
+    def make_window(parent: Window, width: int, height: int) -> Window:
+        window = parent.create_window(0, 0, width, height, 0,
+                                      connection.screen().root_depth,
+                                      event_mask=X.KeyPressMask | X.KeyReleaseMask)
+        window.change_property(pidAtom, Xatom.CARDINAL, 32, [os.getpid()])
+        window.map()
+        return window
+
+    steam = make_window(root, 800, 600)
+    steam.set_wm_class("steamwebhelper", "steam")
+    mainHost = make_window(steam, 800, 600)
+    browser = make_window(mainHost, 800, 600)
+    popupHost = make_window(steam, 300, 600)
+    popup = make_window(popupHost, 300, 600)
+    other = make_window(root, 800, 600)
+    other.set_wm_class("example", "Example")
+    otherChild = make_window(other, 800, 600)
+    windows = dict(steam=steam, browser=browser, popup=popup,
+                   popupHost=popupHost, other=other, otherChild=otherChild)
+    root.change_property(activeAtom, Xatom.WINDOW, 32, [steam.id])
+    browser.set_input_focus(X.RevertToParent, X.CurrentTime)
+    connection.sync()
+    print(json.dumps({name: window.id for name, window in windows.items()}), flush=True)
+    for line in sys.stdin:
+        command = json.loads(line)
+        action = command["action"]
+        window = windows[command.get("window", "steam")]
+        if action == "activate":
+            root.change_property(activeAtom, Xatom.WINDOW, 32, [window.id])
+            window.set_input_focus(X.RevertToParent, X.CurrentTime)
+        elif action == "focus":
+            window.set_input_focus(X.RevertToParent, X.CurrentTime)
+        elif action == "unmap":
+            window.unmap()
+        elif action == "map":
+            window.map()
+        elif action == "destroy":
+            window.destroy()
+        elif action == "class":
+            window.set_wm_class("example", "Example")
+        elif action == "pid":
+            window.change_property(pidAtom, Xatom.CARDINAL, 32, [os.getpid() + 1])
+        elif action == "events":
+            connection.sync()
+            events = []
+            while connection.pending_events():
+                event = connection.next_event()
+                if event.type in (X.KeyPress, X.KeyRelease):
+                    events.append({"window": event.window.id, "pressed": event.type == X.KeyPress,
+                                   "escape": event.detail == connection.keysym_to_keycode(XK.string_to_keysym("Escape"))})
+            print(json.dumps(events), flush=True)
+            continue
+        connection.sync()
+        print("ready", flush=True)
+    connection.close()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

tests/window_titles.md

@@ -6,10 +6,18 @@ that window once, retain its pending announcement across Wine control focus
 updates, and introduce it again after a foreground switch. Title changes
 within the window still follow the application's title-change preference.
 
+Fresh input cancels titles still waiting for their coalescing deadline or an
+application override, as well as titles already in the speech queue. Held-key
+repeats retain automatic titles; Control and Escape remain explicit stop keys.
+Input that initiates a window switch precedes the destination's title and must
+not cancel that new introduction. Later title changes remain enabled normally.
+
 Run the focused checks from the repository root:
 
 ```sh
 go test -race ./internal/app -run 'Title|WineReview|XTerm|Foreground' -count=1
+CTHULHU_NATIVE_BROWSER_TESTS=editing GOCACHE=/tmp/cthulhu-go-cache GOPROXY=off python3 tests/native_browser.py
+xvfb-run -a dbus-run-session -- env CTHULHU_NATIVE_WINDOW_TITLES=1 GOCACHE=/tmp/cthulhu-go-cache GOPROXY=off go test ./internal/app -run '^TestNativeAutomaticTitleDispatchLatency$' -count=1 -v
 dbus-run-session -- env CTHULHU_WINE_TITLE_DBUS=1 go test -race ./internal/app -run '^TestPrivateWineTitleSurvivesReviewFocusBurst$' -count=1 -v
 ```
 
@@ -33,6 +41,14 @@ replacement with its user. Review and listening are required before submission.
    stay quiet. With the preference enabled, changed titles should speak once.
 5. If used, repeat with a Wine virtual desktop and check title messages on a
    physical Braille display.
+6. In Brave, use Ctrl+L and immediately type several characters. Each character
+   should echo and interrupt previous speech without an older title following
+   it. Repeat while a long title is speaking, and use Control and Escape to stop
+   it. Switch away and back without typing; the window title must still speak.
+7. With automatic title reading enabled, change a page's title and verify it
+   speaks once. The editing fixture's F8 key changes its title to
+   "Cthulhu Browser Probe updated". Check address suggestions, deletion, and
+   native caret movement still announce their usual output.
 
 Automated queue assertions do not establish physical Alt+Tab, audible speech,
 installed-binary behavior, or physical Braille acceptance.