Show colored icons for projects without an icon

The letter-on-grey placeholder is replaced by a fill whose color is a
deterministic hash of the project key, so each project keeps a stable
color across the sidebar, projects list, and settings header. Mid-
saturation tones keep the white letter legible in both themes.

packages/app/src/components/project-icon-view.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { useMemo } from "react";
+import {
+  Image,
+  type ImageStyle,
+  type StyleProp,
+  Text,
+  type TextStyle,
+  View,
+  type ViewStyle,
+} from "react-native";
+import { deriveProjectIconColor } from "@/utils/project-icon-color";
+
+const WHITE_TEXT = { color: "#ffffff" } as const;
+
+export function ProjectIconView({
+  iconDataUri,
+  initial,
+  projectKey,
+  imageStyle,
+  fallbackStyle,
+  textStyle,
+}: {
+  iconDataUri: string | null;
+  initial: string;
+  projectKey: string;
+  imageStyle: StyleProp<ImageStyle>;
+  fallbackStyle: StyleProp<ViewStyle>;
+  textStyle: StyleProp<TextStyle>;
+}) {
+  const imageSource = useMemo(() => ({ uri: iconDataUri ?? "" }), [iconDataUri]);
+  const fallbackStyles = useMemo(
+    () => [fallbackStyle, { backgroundColor: deriveProjectIconColor(projectKey) }],
+    [fallbackStyle, projectKey],
+  );
+  const textStyles = useMemo(() => [textStyle, WHITE_TEXT], [textStyle]);
+
+  if (iconDataUri) {
+    return <Image source={imageSource} style={imageStyle} />;
+  }
+  return (
+    <View style={fallbackStyles}>
+      <Text style={textStyles}>{initial}</Text>
+    </View>
+  );
+}

packages/app/src/components/sidebar-workspace-list.tsx

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import {
   View,
   Text,
   Pressable,
-  Image,
   Platform,
   ActivityIndicator,
   StatusBar,
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ import {
 import * as Haptics from "expo-haptics";
 import { useMutation, useQueries, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { slugify, validateBranchSlug, MAX_SLUG_LENGTH } from "@getpaseo/protocol/branch-slug";
+import { ProjectIconView } from "@/components/project-icon-view";
 import { AdaptiveRenameModal } from "@/components/rename-modal";
 import { invalidateCheckoutGitQueriesForClient } from "@/git/query-keys";
 import {
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ import { DraggableList, type DraggableRenderItemInfo } from "./draggable-list";
 import type { DraggableListDragHandleProps } from "./draggable-list.types";
 import { getHostRuntimeStore, isHostRuntimeConnected } from "@/runtime/host-runtime";
 import { useIsCompactFormFactor } from "@/constants/layout";
-import { projectIconQueryKey } from "@/hooks/use-project-icon-query";
+import { projectIconQueryKey, projectIconToDataUri } from "@/hooks/use-project-icon-query";
 import {
   buildHostNewWorkspaceRoute,
   buildProjectSettingsRoute,
@@ -119,13 +119,6 @@ import { WorkspaceHoverCard } from "@/components/workspace-hover-card";
 import { GitHubIcon } from "@/components/icons/github-icon";
 import { isWeb as platformIsWeb, isNative as platformIsNative } from "@/constants/platform";
 
-function toProjectIconDataUri(icon: { mimeType: string; data: string } | null): string | null {
-  if (!icon) {
-    return null;
-  }
-  return `data:${icon.mimeType};base64,${icon.data}`;
-}
-
 const workspaceKeyExtractor = (workspace: SidebarWorkspaceEntry) => workspace.workspaceKey;
 
 const projectKeyExtractor = (project: SidebarProjectEntry) => project.projectKey;
@@ -471,6 +464,7 @@ function ProjectLeadingVisual({
   displayName,
   iconDataUri,
   workspace,
+  projectKey,
   chevron = null,
   showChevron = false,
   isArchiving = false,
@@ -478,6 +472,7 @@ function ProjectLeadingVisual({
   displayName: string;
   iconDataUri: string | null;
   workspace: SidebarWorkspaceEntry | null;
+  projectKey: string;
   chevron?: "expand" | "collapse" | null;
   showChevron?: boolean;
   isArchiving?: boolean;
@@ -502,7 +497,11 @@ function ProjectLeadingVisual({
   if (!shouldShowWorkspaceStatus || !activeWorkspace) {
     return (
       <View style={styles.projectLeadingVisualSlot}>
-        <ProjectIcon iconDataUri={iconDataUri} placeholderInitial={placeholderInitial} />
+        <ProjectIcon
+          iconDataUri={iconDataUri}
+          placeholderInitial={placeholderInitial}
+          projectKey={projectKey}
+        />
       </View>
     );
   }
@@ -511,6 +510,7 @@ function ProjectLeadingVisual({
     <ProjectLeadingVisualStatus
       iconDataUri={iconDataUri}
       placeholderInitial={placeholderInitial}
+      projectKey={projectKey}
       isArchiving={isArchiving}
       shouldShowSyncedLoader={shouldShowSyncedLoader}
       activeWorkspace={activeWorkspace}
@@ -789,30 +789,35 @@ function WorkspaceKebabMenu({
 function ProjectIcon({
   iconDataUri,
   placeholderInitial,
+  projectKey,
 }: {
   iconDataUri: string | null;
   placeholderInitial: string;
+  projectKey: string;
 }) {
-  const imageSource = useMemo(() => ({ uri: iconDataUri ?? "" }), [iconDataUri]);
-  if (iconDataUri) {
-    return <Image source={imageSource} style={styles.projectIcon} />;
-  }
   return (
-    <View style={styles.projectIconFallback}>
+    <ProjectIconView
-      <Text style={styles.projectIconFallbackText}>{placeholderInitial}</Text>
+      iconDataUri={iconDataUri}
-    </View>
+      initial={placeholderInitial}
+      projectKey={projectKey}
+      imageStyle={styles.projectIcon}
+      fallbackStyle={styles.projectIconFallback}
+      textStyle={styles.projectIconFallbackText}
+    />
   );
 }
 
 function ProjectLeadingVisualStatus({
   iconDataUri,
   placeholderInitial,
+  projectKey,
   isArchiving,
   shouldShowSyncedLoader,
   activeWorkspace,
 }: {
   iconDataUri: string | null;
   placeholderInitial: string;
+  projectKey: string;
   isArchiving: boolean;
   shouldShowSyncedLoader: boolean;
   activeWorkspace: SidebarWorkspaceEntry;
@@ -852,7 +857,11 @@ function ProjectLeadingVisualStatus({
 
   return (
     <View style={styles.projectLeadingVisualSlot}>
-      <ProjectIcon iconDataUri={iconDataUri} placeholderInitial={placeholderInitial} />
+      <ProjectIcon
+        iconDataUri={iconDataUri}
+        placeholderInitial={placeholderInitial}
+        projectKey={projectKey}
+      />
       {dotColorStyle ? (
         <StatusDotOverlay
           dotColorStyle={dotColorStyle}
@@ -1244,6 +1253,7 @@ function ProjectHeaderRow({
           displayName={displayName}
           iconDataUri={iconDataUri}
           workspace={workspace}
+          projectKey={project.projectKey}
           chevron={chevron}
           showChevron={isHovered && chevron !== null}
           isArchiving={isArchiving}
@@ -2350,7 +2360,7 @@ export function SidebarWorkspaceList({
         const result = await client.requestProjectIcon(request.cwd);
         return result.icon;
       },
-      select: toProjectIconDataUri,
+      select: projectIconToDataUri,
       enabled: Boolean(
         getHostRuntimeStore().getClient(request.serverId) &&
         isHostRuntimeConnected(getHostRuntimeStore().getSnapshot(request.serverId)) &&
@@ -2713,13 +2723,10 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     width: "100%",
     height: "100%",
     borderRadius: theme.borderRadius.sm,
-    borderWidth: 1,
-    borderColor: theme.colors.border,
     alignItems: "center",
     justifyContent: "center",
   },
   projectIconFallbackText: {
-    color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
     fontSize: 9,
   },
   projectTitle: {

packages/app/src/hooks/use-project-icon-query.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@ export function projectIconQueryKey(serverId: string, cwd: string) {
   return ["projectIcon", serverId, cwd] as const;
 }
 
+export function projectIconToDataUri(icon: ProjectIcon | null): string | null {
+  if (!icon) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return `data:${icon.mimeType};base64,${icon.data}`;
+}
+
 interface UseProjectIconQueryOptions {
   serverId: string;
   cwd: string;

packages/app/src/screens/project-settings-screen.tsx

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
-import { Image, Pressable, Text, TextInput, View } from "react-native";
+import { Pressable, Text, TextInput, View } from "react-native";
 import { router } from "expo-router";
 import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { ArrowLeft, Check, ChevronDown, MoreVertical, Pencil, Plus, X } from "lucide-react-native";
-import { useProjectIconQuery } from "@/hooks/use-project-icon-query";
+import { ProjectIconView } from "@/components/project-icon-view";
+import { projectIconToDataUri, useProjectIconQuery } from "@/hooks/use-project-icon-query";
 import type {
   PaseoConfigRaw,
   PaseoConfigRevision,
@@ -234,7 +235,11 @@ function ProjectSettingsBody({
 
       <View style={styles.headerBlock}>
         <View style={styles.titleRow}>
-          <ProjectTitleIcon host={selectedHost} projectName={project.projectName} />
+          <ProjectTitleIcon
+            host={selectedHost}
+            projectName={project.projectName}
+            projectKey={project.projectKey}
+          />
           <ProjectNameEditor project={project} client={client} />
         </View>
         <HostContext hosts={hosts} selectedHost={selectedHost} onSelectHost={onSelectHost} />
@@ -880,19 +885,26 @@ function ProjectNameEditor({ project, client }: ProjectNameEditorProps) {
   );
 }
 
-function ProjectTitleIcon({ host, projectName }: { host: ProjectHostEntry; projectName: string }) {
+function ProjectTitleIcon({
+  host,
+  projectName,
+  projectKey,
+}: {
+  host: ProjectHostEntry;
+  projectName: string;
+  projectKey: string;
+}) {
   const initial = projectName.trim().charAt(0).toUpperCase() || "?";
   const { icon } = useProjectIconQuery({ serverId: host.serverId, cwd: host.repoRoot });
-  const iconDataUri =
-    icon && icon.data && icon.mimeType ? `data:${icon.mimeType};base64,${icon.data}` : null;
-  const imageSource = useMemo(() => ({ uri: iconDataUri ?? "" }), [iconDataUri]);
-  if (iconDataUri) {
-    return <Image source={imageSource} style={styles.titleIcon} />;
-  }
   return (
-    <View style={styles.titleIconFallback}>
+    <ProjectIconView
-      <Text style={styles.titleIconFallbackText}>{initial}</Text>
+      iconDataUri={projectIconToDataUri(icon)}
-    </View>
+      initial={initial}
+      projectKey={projectKey}
+      imageStyle={styles.titleIcon}
+      fallbackStyle={styles.titleIconFallback}
+      textStyle={styles.titleIconFallbackText}
+    />
   );
 }
 
@@ -1288,12 +1300,10 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     width: 28,
     height: 28,
     borderRadius: theme.borderRadius.md,
-    backgroundColor: theme.colors.surface2,
     alignItems: "center",
     justifyContent: "center",
   },
   titleIconFallbackText: {
-    color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
     fontWeight: theme.fontWeight.medium,
   },

packages/app/src/screens/projects-screen.tsx

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-import { useCallback, useMemo } from "react";
+import { useCallback } from "react";
-import { Image, Pressable, Text, View, type PressableStateCallbackType } from "react-native";
+import { Pressable, Text, View, type PressableStateCallbackType } from "react-native";
 import { router } from "expo-router";
 import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { ChevronRight } from "lucide-react-native";
+import { ProjectIconView } from "@/components/project-icon-view";
 import { LoadingSpinner } from "@/components/ui/loading-spinner";
-import { useProjectIconQuery } from "@/hooks/use-project-icon-query";
+import { projectIconToDataUri, useProjectIconQuery } from "@/hooks/use-project-icon-query";
 import { useProjects, type ProjectHostError } from "@/hooks/use-projects";
 import { settingsStyles } from "@/styles/settings";
 import { buildProjectSettingsRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ function ProjectRow({ project, isFirst, isSelected }: ProjectRowProps) {
     >
       <View style={styles.rowMain}>
         <View style={styles.leading}>
-          <ProjectRowIcon host={leadingHost} projectName={projectName} />
+          <ProjectRowIcon host={leadingHost} projectName={projectName} projectKey={projectKey} />
         </View>
         <Text style={settingsStyles.rowTitle} numberOfLines={1}>
           {projectName}
@@ -115,26 +116,26 @@ function ProjectRow({ project, isFirst, isSelected }: ProjectRowProps) {
 function ProjectRowIcon({
   host,
   projectName,
+  projectKey,
 }: {
   host: ProjectHostEntry | undefined;
   projectName: string;
+  projectKey: string;
 }) {
   const initial = projectName.trim().charAt(0).toUpperCase() || "?";
   const { icon } = useProjectIconQuery({
     serverId: host?.serverId ?? "",
     cwd: host?.repoRoot ?? "",
   });
-  const iconDataUri =
-    icon && icon.data && icon.mimeType ? `data:${icon.mimeType};base64,${icon.data}` : null;
-  const imageSource = useMemo(() => ({ uri: iconDataUri ?? "" }), [iconDataUri]);
-
-  if (iconDataUri) {
-    return <Image source={imageSource} style={styles.iconImage} />;
-  }
   return (
-    <View style={styles.iconFallback}>
+    <ProjectIconView
-      <Text style={styles.iconFallbackText}>{initial}</Text>
+      iconDataUri={projectIconToDataUri(icon)}
-    </View>
+      initial={initial}
+      projectKey={projectKey}
+      imageStyle={styles.iconImage}
+      fallbackStyle={styles.iconFallback}
+      textStyle={styles.iconFallbackText}
+    />
   );
 }
 
@@ -195,12 +196,10 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     width: 16,
     height: 16,
     borderRadius: theme.borderRadius.sm,
-    backgroundColor: theme.colors.surface2,
     alignItems: "center",
     justifyContent: "center",
   },
   iconFallbackText: {
-    color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.xs,
   },
   spinnerColor: {

packages/app/src/utils/project-icon-color.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Medium-saturation tones chosen so a white letter stays legible on top in both
+// light and dark themes. Soft and colorful, but not pale pastels.
+const PROJECT_ICON_COLORS = [
+  "#8b5cf6", // violet
+  "#0ea5e9", // sky
+  "#10b981", // emerald
+  "#f97316", // orange
+  "#ec4899", // pink
+  "#6366f1", // indigo
+  "#14b8a6", // teal
+  "#ef4444", // red
+  "#eab308", // amber
+  "#3b82f6", // blue
+];
+
+function hashProjectKey(projectKey: string): number {
+  let hash = 0;
+  for (const character of projectKey) {
+    hash = (hash * 31 + character.charCodeAt(0)) >>> 0;
+  }
+  return hash;
+}
+
+export function deriveProjectIconColor(projectKey: string): string {
+  return PROJECT_ICON_COLORS[hashProjectKey(projectKey) % PROJECT_ICON_COLORS.length];
+}