multi-stage Dockerfile + player recap styles

Dockerfile: split into whisperx-base and runtime stages so app-only
changes skip the 10min pip install on rebuild. Example compose updated.

Player recap: replace hardcoded 'story so far' prompt with selectable
styles (story/diary/bullets/custom) via dropdown in Setup and Settings.

Settings: add NAT20_ONBOARDING_COMPLETED env var; fix merge logic so
env vars properly override defaults (not just empty DB values).

backend/Dockerfile

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # ==========================================
-# STAGE 1: Builder Environment
+# STAGE 1 — builder: compile Python deps
 # ==========================================
+# Changes only when requirements.txt is modified.
 FROM python:3.11-slim AS builder
 
 WORKDIR /build
@@ -28,25 +29,32 @@ RUN find /root/.local -type d -name "__pycache__" -exec rm -rf {} + \
     && find /root/.local -name "*.dist-info" -exec sh -c 'rm -f "$1"/RECORD "$1"/INSTALLER' _ {} \;
 
 # ==========================================
-# STAGE 2: Lightweight Final Runtime
+# STAGE 2 — whisperx-base: deps only, no app
 # ==========================================
-FROM python:3.11-slim AS runtime
+# Targeted by docker-compose for dev caching.
+# If you only need this layer: docker build --target=whisperx-base -t nat20-whisperx-base .
+FROM python:3.11-slim AS whisperx-base
 
-WORKDIR /app
-
-# ffmpeg is mandatory for the audio-extraction step.
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
     ffmpeg \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
-# Copy the (now stripped) site-packages from the builder stage. None of the
-# build-essential/gcc toolchain from Stage 1 ends up here.
 COPY --from=builder /root/.local /root/.local
-COPY app /app/app
 
 ENV PATH=/root/.local/bin:$PATH
 ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
 
+# ==========================================
+# STAGE 3 — runtime: full release image
+# ==========================================
+# Build for production: docker build --target=runtime -t nat20-notes-backend .
+# Layers app code on top of whisperx-base in a single Dockerfile pass.
+FROM whisperx-base AS runtime
+
+WORKDIR /app
+
+COPY app /app/app
+
 EXPOSE 8000
 
 CMD ["uvicorn", "app.main:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"]

backend/app/config.py

@@ -46,4 +46,8 @@ DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
     # Optional world context injected into every summarization prompt
     "world_context": "",
     "world_context_path": "",
+
+    # Player recap style: "story" | "diary" | "bullets" | "custom"
+    "player_recap_style": "story",
+    "player_recap_custom_prompt": "",
 }

backend/app/pipeline/summarize.py

@@ -52,12 +52,29 @@ Chunk summaries:
 {summaries}
 """
 
-PLAYER_FINAL_PROMPT = """Combine these chunk summaries into a single "previously on" style recap for the players, in-character perspective only.
+PLAYER_FINAL_PROMPTS = {
+    "story": """Combine these chunk summaries into a single "previously on" style recap for the players, in-character perspective only.
 Write it like a story recap they could reread before the next session. No GM secrets, no OOC content. Keep it engaging but concise.
 
 Chunk summaries:
 {summaries}
-"""
+""",
+    "diary": """Combine these chunk summaries into a "dear diary" style entry written from the collective party's first-person ("we") perspective.
+Focus on the party's emotions, reactions, and personal reflections alongside the events.
+No GM secrets, no OOC content.
+
+Chunk summaries:
+{summaries}
+""",
+    "bullets": """Combine these chunk summaries into clean, scannable bullet points for the players.
+Group related items under headers (Exploration, Combat, NPCs, Loot, Decisions).
+Each bullet is one concise fact — no narrative fluff or transitions. No GM secrets, no OOC content.
+
+Chunk summaries:
+{summaries}
+""",
+}
+
 
 
 def _call_ollama(host: str, model: str, prompt: str) -> str:
@@ -125,7 +142,9 @@ def make_llm_caller(settings: dict):
     return lambda prompt: _call_ollama(host, model, prompt)
 
 
-def summarize_session(turns: list[dict], settings: dict, progress_cb=None) -> tuple[str, str]:
+def summarize_session(turns: list[dict], settings: dict, progress_cb=None,
+                      player_recap_style: str | None = None,
+                      player_recap_custom_prompt: str | None = None) -> tuple[str, str]:
     call = make_llm_caller(settings)
     ctx_path = settings.get("world_context_path") or ""
     if ctx_path and Path(ctx_path).exists():
@@ -148,5 +167,13 @@ def summarize_session(turns: list[dict], settings: dict, progress_cb=None) -> tu
     if progress_cb:
         progress_cb("Writing final notes...")
     dm_final = call(DM_FINAL_PROMPT.format(summaries="\n\n".join(dm_summaries)))
-    player_final = call(PLAYER_FINAL_PROMPT.format(summaries="\n\n".join(player_summaries)))
+
+    # Select player recap prompt based on style setting
+    style = (player_recap_style or settings.get("player_recap_style") or "story")
+    if style == "custom":
+        raw = (player_recap_custom_prompt or settings.get("player_recap_custom_prompt") or "").strip()
+        player_template = raw if raw else PLAYER_FINAL_PROMPTS["story"]
+    else:
+        player_template = PLAYER_FINAL_PROMPTS.get(style, PLAYER_FINAL_PROMPTS["story"])
+    player_final = call(player_template.format(summaries="\n\n".join(player_summaries)))
     return dm_final, player_final

backend/app/routers/notes.py

@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ def generate_notes(session_id: str):
 
     def run(progress_cb):
         turns = load_turns(Path(session["transcript_path"]), speaker_map)
-        dm_notes, player_recap = summarize_session(turns, settings, progress_cb=progress_cb)
+        dm_notes, player_recap = summarize_session(
+            turns, settings, progress_cb=progress_cb,
+            player_recap_style=settings.get("player_recap_style"),
+            player_recap_custom_prompt=settings.get("player_recap_custom_prompt"),
+        )
         with db.tx() as conn:
             conn.execute(
                 "INSERT INTO notes (session_id, dm_notes, player_recap, generated_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?) "

backend/app/routers/settings.py

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ router = APIRouter(prefix="/api/settings", tags=["settings"])
 
 # Env var overrides — set these in docker-compose.yml to prefill the setup wizard
 _ENV_OVERRIDES = {
+    "onboarding_completed": "NAT20_ONBOARDING_COMPLETED",
     "hf_token": "NAT20_HF_TOKEN",
     "whisper_model": "NAT20_WHISPER_MODEL",
     "whisper_compute_type": "NAT20_WHISPER_COMPUTE_TYPE",
@@ -36,13 +37,16 @@ def _coerce(key: str, value: str):
 
 
 def _merge_with_env(raw: dict) -> dict:
-    """DB values win, env vars fill gaps, DEFAULT_SETTINGS fill remaining gaps."""
+    """Priority: explicit user DB saves (non-default) > env vars > DEFAULT_SETTINGS."""
-    merged = {**config.DEFAULT_SETTINGS, **raw}
+    merged = {**config.DEFAULT_SETTINGS}
     for key, env_name in _ENV_OVERRIDES.items():
-        if not raw.get(key, "").strip():
+        val = os.environ.get(env_name)
-            val = os.environ.get(env_name)
+        if val is not None:
-            if val is not None:
+            merged[key] = val
-                merged[key] = val
+    for key, val in raw.items():
+        db_val = val.strip()
+        if db_val and db_val != config.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.get(key, ""):
+            merged[key] = db_val
     return merged
 
 

docker-compose.example.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,24 @@
 # Example Docker Compose — uses a named volume so data persists across rebuilds
 # without needing a specific host path. Copy to docker-compose.yml and customise.
 services:
+  whisperx-base:
+    build:
+      context: ./backend
+      target: whisperx-base
+    image: nat20-whisperx-base:latest
+    restart: "no"
+
   backend:
-    build: ./backend
+    build:
+      context: ./backend
+      target: runtime
+    image: nat20-backend:latest
     restart: unless-stopped
+    depends_on:
+      - whisperx-base
+    environment:
+      # Skip setup wizard on container restart (or "false" to force re-run)
+      NAT20_ONBOARDING_COMPLETED: "true"
     volumes:
       - app_data:/data
       - hf_cache:/root/.cache/huggingface

frontend/src/api.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export interface AppSettings {
   chunk_word_target: string;
   world_context: string;
   world_context_path: string;
+  player_recap_style: 'story' | 'diary' | 'bullets' | 'custom';
+  player_recap_custom_prompt: string;
 }
 
 export type JobStatus = 'queued' | 'running' | 'done' | 'error';

frontend/src/pages/Settings.tsx

@@ -62,6 +62,19 @@ export default function Settings() {
         <input className="input w-full" value={settings.world_context_path} onChange={(e) => set("world_context_path", e.target.value)} placeholder="...or path to a file inside the container" />
       </div>
 
+      <div className="card p-6 space-y-3 mb-6">
+        <h2 className="eyebrow">Player recap style</h2>
+        <select className="input w-full" value={settings.player_recap_style} onChange={(e) => set("player_recap_style", e.target.value)}>
+          <option value="story">Story Recap (previously on…)</option>
+          <option value="diary">Dear Diary</option>
+          <option value="bullets">Bullet Points</option>
+          <option value="custom">Custom Prompt</option>
+        </select>
+        {settings.player_recap_style === "custom" && (
+          <textarea className="input w-full h-32" value={settings.player_recap_custom_prompt} onChange={(e) => set("player_recap_custom_prompt", e.target.value)} placeholder="Write your own final-combine prompt. Use {'{summaries}'} where the chunk summaries should be inserted." />
+        )}
+      </div>
+
       <button className="btn-primary" onClick={save}>{saved ? "Saved" : "Save settings"}</button>
     </div>
   );

frontend/src/pages/Setup.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: AppSettings = {
   chunk_word_target: '2500',
   world_context: '',
   world_context_path: '',
+  player_recap_style: 'story',
+  player_recap_custom_prompt: '',
 };
 
 export default function Setup({ onComplete }: { onComplete: () => void }) {
@@ -189,6 +191,28 @@ export default function Setup({ onComplete }: { onComplete: () => void }) {
               />
             </div>
 
+            <div className="border-t border-slate-700 pt-4 space-y-3">
+              <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-slate-300">Player recap style</h3>
+              <select
+                value={settings.player_recap_style}
+                onChange={e => setSettings({ ...settings, player_recap_style: e.target.value as AppSettings['player_recap_style'] })}
+                className="w-full bg-slate-900 border border-slate-700 rounded px-3 py-2"
+              >
+                <option value="story">Story Recap (previously on…)</option>
+                <option value="diary">Dear Diary</option>
+                <option value="bullets">Bullet Points</option>
+                <option value="custom">Custom Prompt</option>
+              </select>
+              {settings.player_recap_style === 'custom' && (
+                <textarea
+                  className="w-full bg-slate-900 border border-slate-700 rounded px-3 py-2 h-24 font-mono text-sm"
+                  placeholder="Write your own final-combine prompt. Use {summaries} where the chunk summaries should be inserted."
+                  value={settings.player_recap_custom_prompt}
+                  onChange={e => setSettings({ ...settings, player_recap_custom_prompt: e.target.value })}
+                />
+              )}
+            </div>
+
             <div className="flex justify-between pt-4 border-t border-slate-700">
               <button onClick={handleBack} className="bg-slate-700 hover:bg-slate-600 text-white px-5 py-2 rounded font-medium">
                 Back