src/app/features/desk/DeskView.test.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
 import { ScreenSize, ScreenSizeProvider } from '../../hooks/useScreenSize';
 import { DeskEntry } from './DeskEntry';
 import { DeskView, SIGN_IN_NOTE } from './DeskView';
+import { ForkList } from './forkContract';
 import { STATES } from './fixtures';
 import { setDeskSource } from './source';
 
@@ -121,6 +122,88 @@ describe('DeskView', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("a question's age", () => {
+  const NOW = Date.parse('2026-11-11T12:00:00Z');
+  const listRaised = (raisedAt: string | null): ForkList => {
+    const entry = STATES.noAnswers.forks[0];
+    return {
+      ...STATES.noAnswers,
+      forks: [{ ...entry, card: { ...entry.card, raised_at: raisedAt } }],
+    };
+  };
+  const html = (raisedAt: string | null) =>
+    renderToStaticMarkup(
+      <ScreenSizeProvider value={ScreenSize.Desktop}>
+        <DeskView mind="void" label="Void" list={listRaised(raisedAt)} now={NOW} />
+      </ScreenSizeProvider>
+    );
+  it('reads days since the card was first admitted', () => {
+    expect(html('2026-11-06T12:00:00Z')).toContain('raised 5d ago');
+  });
+  it('reads hours inside a day, and just now inside an hour', () => {
+    expect(html('2026-11-11T07:30:00Z')).toContain('raised 4h ago');
+    expect(html('2026-11-11T11:40:00Z')).toContain('raised just now');
+  });
+  it('shows no age when the card carries none, or an instant that does not parse or is ahead of the clock', () => {
+    ['null', 'yesterday', '2027-01-01T00:00:00Z', '2026-11-06', 'Nov 6 2026', '0', '2026-02-30T00:00:00Z'].forEach((v) => {
+      expect(html(v === 'null' ? null : v)).not.toContain('raised ');
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('counts when the ids are withheld', () => {
+  const withheld = (): ForkList => {
+    const entry = STATES.noAnswers.forks[0];
+    return {
+      ...STATES.noAnswers,
+      forks: [
+        {
+          ...entry,
+          card: { ...entry.card, deciders: [], decider_count: 3 },
+          record: { ...entry.record, answerer_count: 2 },
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+  };
+  it('shows how many deciders and answerers there are, naming none', () => {
+    const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
+      <ScreenSizeProvider value={ScreenSize.Desktop}>
+        <DeskView mind="void" label="Void" list={withheld()} />
+      </ScreenSizeProvider>
+    );
+    expect(html).toContain('3 deciders · 2 answerers');
+  });
+  it('shows no count line for a served count outside the contract', () => {
+    const bad = (card: object, record: object): string => {
+      const entry = STATES.noAnswers.forks[0];
+      const list = {
+        ...STATES.noAnswers,
+        forks: [{ card: { ...entry.card, ...card }, record: { ...entry.record, ...record } }],
+      } as ForkList;
+      return renderToStaticMarkup(
+        <ScreenSizeProvider value={ScreenSize.Desktop}>
+          <DeskView mind="void" label="Void" list={list} />
+        </ScreenSizeProvider>
+      );
+    };
+    [
+      [{ decider_count: 0 }, {}],
+      [{ decider_count: 65 }, {}],
+      [{ decider_count: undefined }, {}],
+      [{}, { answerer_count: -1 }],
+      [{}, { answerer_count: 1.5 }],
+    ].forEach(([c, r]) => {
+      const out = bad(c, r);
+      expect(out).not.toContain('undefined');
+      expect(out).not.toMatch(/deciders? ·/);
+    });
+  });
+  it('says the singular for one', () => {
+    const html = view('noAnswers', ScreenSize.Desktop);
+    expect(html).toContain('1 decider · 0 answerers');
+  });
+});
+
 describe('DeskEntry', () => {
   afterEach(() => setDeskSource(() => undefined));
   const entry = (mind: string) =>

src/app/features/desk/DeskView.tsx

@@ -6,11 +6,14 @@ import { ScreenSize, useScreenSizeContext } from '../../hooks/useScreenSize';
 import { AnswerRow, Desk, buildDesk, DeskRow } from './buildDesk';
 import { ForkList } from './forkContract';
 import { deskMood } from './deskMood';
+import { raisedAge } from './age';
 import * as css from './DeskView.css';
 
 /** Slice 1 has no session: every viewer is signed out, and the note says why it cannot be used. */
 export const SIGN_IN_NOTE = 'Answering opens with sign-in. Until then you can read the questions.';
 
+const plural = (n: number, word: string) => `${n} ${word}${n === 1 ? '' : 's'}`;
+
 const date = (iso: string) => iso.slice(0, 10);
 
 const OUTCOME: Record<AnswerRow['outcome'], string> = {
@@ -45,7 +48,7 @@ function Answers({ answers }: { answers: AnswerRow[] }) {
   );
 }
 
-function Row({ row }: { row: DeskRow }) {
+function Row({ row, now }: { row: DeskRow; now: number }) {
   const phone = useScreenSizeContext() === ScreenSize.Mobile;
   // Phones list titles; a tap opens one. Wide screens show every row open.
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(!phone);
@@ -77,6 +80,14 @@ function Row({ row }: { row: DeskRow }) {
       </h3>
       {open && (
         <>
+          {raisedAge(row.raisedAt, now) && (
+            <p className={css.Quiet}>{raisedAge(row.raisedAt, now)}</p>
+          )}
+          {row.deciderCount !== undefined && row.answererCount !== undefined && (
+            <p className={css.Quiet}>
+              {`${plural(row.deciderCount, 'decider')} · ${plural(row.answererCount, 'answerer')}`}
+            </p>
+          )}
           <p className={css.Body}>{row.context}</p>
           <ul className={css.Options}>
             {row.options.map((o) => (
@@ -126,10 +137,12 @@ type DeskViewProps = {
   list?: ForkList;
   /** Fork ids whose options_hash failed the recompute (optionsHash.ts). */
   unverified?: ReadonlySet<string>;
+  /** The clock the ages are read against; the page's own, a test's fixed one. */
+  now?: number;
 };
 
 /** One Mind's desk, read-only: a stream of rows, the recorded rulings, and the booth Persona. */
-export function DeskView({ mind, label, list, unverified }: DeskViewProps) {
+export function DeskView({ mind, label, list, unverified, now = Date.now() }: DeskViewProps) {
   const desk = buildDesk(list, unverified);
   // Slice 1 has no session, so nothing on the desk is the viewer's answer yet.
   const mood = deskMood(desk.counts.open, 0);
@@ -139,7 +152,7 @@ export function DeskView({ mind, label, list, unverified }: DeskViewProps) {
       <div className={css.Layout}>
         <ol className={css.Rows}>
           {desk.open.map((row) => (
-            <Row key={row.forkId} row={row} />
+            <Row key={row.forkId} row={row} now={now} />
           ))}
         </ol>
         {/* Only Minds with art in the catalogue get a booth; none gets another Mind's face. */}

src/app/features/desk/age.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+const MINUTE = 60 * 1000;
+const HOUR = 60 * MINUTE;
+const DAY = 24 * HOUR;
+
+/**
+ * How long ago a question was raised, from the card's `raised_at` (an RFC3339 instant) and the clock the caller
+ * holds. Nothing when there is no instant, it does not parse, or it is ahead of the clock: the desk shows no age
+ * rather than a wrong one.
+ */
+const RFC3339 = /^(\d{4})-(\d{2})-(\d{2})T(\d{2}):(\d{2}):(\d{2})(?:\.\d+)?(?:Z|[+-]\d{2}:\d{2})$/;
+
+/** Date.parse is lenient ("2026-11-06", "Nov 6 2026", "0"); the card's instant is RFC3339 and a real calendar day. */
+const parseRfc3339 = (s: string): number => {
+  const m = RFC3339.exec(s);
+  if (!m) return NaN;
+  const [y, mo, d] = [Number(m[1]), Number(m[2]), Number(m[3])];
+  const day = new Date(Date.UTC(y, mo - 1, d));
+  if (day.getUTCMonth() !== mo - 1 || day.getUTCDate() !== d) return NaN;
+  return Date.parse(s);
+};
+
+export const raisedAge = (raisedAt: string | undefined, now: number): string | undefined => {
+  const then = raisedAt === undefined ? NaN : parseRfc3339(raisedAt);
+  const ms = now - then;
+  if (Number.isNaN(ms) || ms < 0) return undefined;
+  if (ms < HOUR) return 'raised just now';
+  if (ms < DAY) return `raised ${Math.floor(ms / HOUR)}h ago`;
+  return `raised ${Math.floor(ms / DAY)}d ago`;
+};

src/app/features/desk/buildDesk.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ export type DeskRow =
       /** The recommendation resolved to its option's text; absent if it names no option. */
       recommended?: string;
       depends: string[];
+      /** When the question was first admitted, as served; absent when the card carries none. */
+      raisedAt?: string;
+      /** Counts as served: the same in the decider and the withheld view, so they show either way. Absent when the served number is outside the contract's range or not an integer. */
+      deciderCount?: number;
+      answererCount?: number;
       /** In admission order, as served. */
       answers: AnswerRow[];
     };
@@ -57,6 +62,9 @@ const answerRow = (a: DeskAnswer, entry: ForkEntry): AnswerRow => ({
   counted: entry.record.counted_answer_id === a.answer_id,
 });
 
+const validCount = (n: number, min: number, max: number): number | undefined =>
+  Number.isInteger(n) && n >= min && n <= max ? n : undefined;
+
 export const buildDesk = (
   list: ForkList | undefined,
   unverified: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set()
@@ -83,6 +91,9 @@ export const buildDesk = (
       options: card.options.map((o) => ({ ...o, recommended: o.id === card.recommendation })),
       recommended: card.options.find((o) => o.id === card.recommendation)?.text,
       depends: card.depends,
+      raisedAt: card.raised_at ?? undefined,
+      deciderCount: validCount(card.decider_count, 1, 64),
+      answererCount: validCount(record.answerer_count, 0, Infinity),
       answers: record.answers.map((a) => answerRow(a, entry)),
     });
   });

src/app/features/desk/fixtures.ts

@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ export const card = (label: string, over: Partial<ForkCard> = {}): ForkCard => (
   leans: null,
   flag: null,
   raised_in: null,
+  raised_at: null,
   deciders: ['d1'],
+  decider_count: 1,
   status: 'open',
   ruling: null,
   ruled_from: [],
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ export const entry = (
       fork_id: c.fork_id,
       options_hash: c.options_hash,
       counted_answer_id: counted,
+      answerer_count: new Set(answers.map((a) => a.answerer)).size,
       answers,
     },
   };

src/app/features/desk/forkContract.ts

@@ -24,7 +24,19 @@ export type ForkCard = {
   /** Not shown by the desk. */
   flag: string | null;
   raised_in: { kind: string; id: string } | null;
+  /**
+   * When the question was first admitted (an RFC3339 instant, as `answered_at`), or nil when the mind holds no
+   * admission time. Always written; outside `options_hash`; it never moves when the question is edited. Age is
+   * the client's: now minus `raised_at`.
+   */
+  raised_at: string | null;
+  /**
+   * Who may answer. Empty when this reader is not a decider (the ids are withheld); otherwise it holds exactly
+   * `decider_count` ids.
+   */
   deciders: string[];
+  /** How many deciders there are, 1..64: the same number in both reader views. */
+  decider_count: number;
   status: 'open' | 'closed';
   /** The ruling id when a ruling closed the fork; nil when open, and nil on a closed card withdrawn with no ruling. */
   ruling: string | null;
@@ -58,7 +70,8 @@ export type DeskAnswer = {
   answered_at: string;
   received_at: string;
   claim_in_future: boolean;
-  answerer: string;
+  /** Who answered; nil when this reader is not a decider (withheld). */
+  answerer: string | null;
   authority: string;
   request_id: string;
 };
@@ -69,6 +82,8 @@ export type ForkRecord = {
   options_hash: string;
   /** Derived by the receiver; the page renders it and never recomputes it. */
   counted_answer_id: string | null;
+  /** Distinct answerers over every stored answer, refusals included, at least 0: the same number in both views. */
+  answerer_count: number;
   /** In admission order. */
   answers: DeskAnswer[];
 };

src/preview-demo/deskForks.test.ts

@@ -18,14 +18,23 @@ const KEYS = {
     'leans',
     'flag',
     'raised_in',
+    'raised_at',
     'deciders',
+    'decider_count',
     'status',
     'ruling',
     'ruled_from',
     'order',
     'options_hash',
   ],
-  record: ['schemaVersion', 'fork_id', 'options_hash', 'counted_answer_id', 'answers'],
+  record: [
+    'schemaVersion',
+    'fork_id',
+    'options_hash',
+    'counted_answer_id',
+    'answerer_count',
+    'answers',
+  ],
   answer: [
     'schemaVersion',
     'answer_id',

src/preview-demo/deskForks.ts

@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ const card = (label: string, order: number, over: Partial<ForkCard>): ForkCard =
   leans: null,
   flag: null,
   raised_in: null,
+  raised_at: null,
   deciders: ['demo-decider'],
+  decider_count: 1,
   status: 'open',
   ruling: null,
   ruled_from: [],
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ const entry = (
     fork_id: c.fork_id,
     options_hash: c.options_hash,
     counted_answer_id: counted,
+    answerer_count: new Set(answers.map((a) => a.answerer)).size,
     answers,
   },
 });
@@ -90,6 +93,7 @@ const list = (mind: string, forks: ForkEntry[], stamp: string): ForkList => ({
 
 const nibu = (): ForkList => {
   const sky = card('sky-label', 4, {
+    raised_at: new Date(Date.now() - 5 * DAY).toISOString().replace(/\.\d+Z$/, 'Z'),
     title: 'Where should the sky label sit on a phone?',
     context:
       'The label can ride the horizon or sit in the header. The horizon is prettier; the header never moves.',