Add custom download destinations, confirmations, and the bot error feed

CURRENT.md

@@ -40,6 +40,13 @@ mobile draft at 390px.
   - [x] C11 preview caching: Discord-hosted image/GIF previews (WebP 320px, hash-addressed, 5 MiB
     cap, one attempt) run after every walk in both modes. Live run `...-20260916090722`:
     `previewed: 2`; thumbs served over `/api/media/<scrape>/<item>/thumb` (200).
+  - [x] C15 Scrape UX: custom download destination (absolute path per scrape; files there,
+    previews local, embed thumbnails copied to both, custom files not served), confirmation popup
+    before Links/Download, New scrape/History right-aligned with New scrape furthest right, modal
+    X and backdrop close, active-only progress strip, and a Bot error feed with a red unseen badge
+    that clears on open plus a Clear button. Live run `...-20260916095029`: 6 files and 7 embed
+    thumbnails in `/tmp/opencode/media-dest/<id>/`, 11 local previews, 0 local files, `localUrl`
+    null; error record and clear verified over the API.
   - [x] C14 Links-mode embed thumbnails, item metadata, filters, and the scrape popup. Metadata:
     poster (`author_id`/`author_name`), `posted_at`, `width`/`height`, `aspect_ratio`, with an
     `ffprobe` fallback after downloads. Filters: poster, aspect preset (vertical/square/4:3/16:9/

docs/media-mcp.md

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ preset keys from `filter-presets.ts`; `after`/`before` are ISO times on `posted_
 
 | Tool | Access | Purpose |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| `scrape_media` | trusted | Start a scrape (`channelId`, `mode`) |
+| `scrape_media` | trusted | Start a scrape (`channelId`, `guildId?`, `mode?`, `backend?`, `downloadDir?`) |
 | `list_media_scrapes` | trusted | Every scrape with state, size, and counts |
 | `get_media_scrape` | trusted | One scrape, live counters and cursor |
 | `stop_media_scrape` | trusted | Stop the active scrape |

docs/media-scraper.md

@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ Downloads run after a finished walk when the scrape used `mode: "download"`:
   `file_bytes` are written to the row, so the run resumes and dedupes by content.
 - Only attachment and sticker rows are targets. Embed rows are excluded in SQL
   (`source != 'embed'`).
+- With a custom destination, files go to `<destination>/<scrape-id>/media/` and the row stores the
+  absolute path; without one they stay in `<scrape>/media/`. Embed previews are copied to
+  `<destination>/<scrape-id>/thumbnails/` while the local copy stays for the Media tab.
 - Progress counters: `downloaded`, `downloadErrors`.
 
 Previews run after every walk:

docs/media.md

@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ media-scrape/db/
 - `download` fetches attachment bytes into `media/`, one file at a time, hash-addressed. Embed rows
   are never download targets. The Media tab prefers the local file when one exists, so the archive
   survives CDN URL expiry.
+- A custom download destination sends the bytes to `<dir>/<scrape-id>/media/` instead. Previews
+  stay local, and embed thumbnails are copied to `<dir>/<scrape-id>/thumbnails/` so the download
+  has a poster. Files in a custom destination are not served or linked by the Media tab; the user
+  owns that path.
 - Third-party embeds are **never downloaded as media**: YouTube, Instagram, X, TikTok, and every
   other embed stays a link. Its thumbnail is cached (below); the video itself is never fetched.
 - Previews are cached small (WebP, 320px) in `thumbs/` after every walk, in both modes: Discord
@@ -134,10 +138,13 @@ that deletion is irreversible. The delete button is disabled for a 5 second coun
   21:9, Other), resolution (SD, HD, FHD, QHD, 4K+, Unknown), and a posted-date range (from/to).
   Grid with lazy loading; previews come from the cache, then the local file, then the CDN; each
   tile's tooltip shows the poster and posted time. A scrape strip shows live progress with Stop.
-  **New scrape…** opens a popup with Server and Group chat trees (servers expand to channels; each
+  **New scrape…** (rightmost) opens a popup with Server and Group chat trees (servers expand to
-  row has Links and Download), and **History** lists each scrape with its start time, duration,
+  channels; each row has Links and Download). Every scrape button asks for confirmation, and
-  pages, messages, media counts, bytes, files, and previews. The view fills the window below the
+  Download can target a custom absolute destination. **History** lists each scrape with its start
-  header and the call strip.
+  time, duration, pages, messages, media counts, bytes, files, and previews. The popups close on
+  backdrop click, X, or Close. Only active scrapes show in the strip; the view fills the window
+  below the header and the call strip. The Bot tab lists bot and scrape errors with a red badge
+  that disappears when the tab is opened and a Clear button.
 - **Bot** tab: slopbot connection state, the scrape queue, and the storage limit with a usage bar.
   The bar is segmented and colour coded by media kind (images, GIFs, video, audio, other) plus the
   database overhead.

docs/webui.md

@@ -263,7 +263,9 @@ replaceable.
 | GET | `/api/media/status` | none | Slopbot connection state and the scrape list |
 | GET | `/api/media/authors` | none | Distinct posters across every scrape, with counts |
 | GET | `/api/media/storage` | none | Usage against the limit, per-kind sizes, `nearLimit`; marks old scrapes when over |
-| POST | `/api/media/scrape` | `channelId`, `guildId?`, `mode?`, `backend?`, `confirm?` | Start a media scrape. `backend` is `auto` (default), `slopbot`, or `puppet`. Near the limit: `409` with code `MEDIA_LIMIT` unless `confirm: true` |
+| POST | `/api/media/scrape` | `channelId`, `guildId?`, `mode?`, `backend?`, `confirm?`, `downloadDir?` | Start a media scrape. `backend` is `auto` (default), `slopbot`, or `puppet`; `downloadDir` is an absolute path for downloaded files (previews stay local). Near the limit: `409` with code `MEDIA_LIMIT` unless `confirm: true` |
+| GET | `/api/media/errors` | none | Bot and scrape errors, newest first |
+| POST | `/api/media/errors/clear` | none | Clear the error list |
 | POST | `/api/media/scrape/stop` | `id` | Stop a media scrape |
 | POST | `/api/media/clean` | `ids?` | Delete the given scrapes, or every scrape when `ids` is absent |
 | GET | `/api/logs` | `limit` | The persistent action log |

media-scrape/src/download.ts

@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ export interface DownloadOptions {
     maxRetries?: number;
     /** Preview size cap. Default 5 MiB. */
     previewMaxBytes?: number;
-    /** Cache third-party embed thumbnails. Download mode only. */
+    /** Cache third-party embed thumbnails. */
     embedPreviews?: boolean;
+    /** Absolute destination for downloaded files. Null or unset keeps them under the scrape dir. */
+    destinationDir?: string | null;
     sleep?: (ms: number) => Promise<void>;
     random?: () => number;
     log?: (line: string) => void;
@@ -134,7 +136,7 @@ export async function downloadOne(
                 const file = `${hash}.${extension}`;
                 writeFileSync(join(dir, file), buffer);
 
-                return { id: media.id, state: "downloaded", path: join("media", file), hash, bytes: buffer.byteLength };
+                return { id: media.id, state: "downloaded", path: file, hash, bytes: buffer.byteLength };
             }
         } catch (error) {
             lastError = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);

media-scrape/src/engine.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
  * Rules: docs/media-scraper.md.
  */
 
-import { join } from "node:path";
+import { copyFileSync, mkdirSync } from "node:fs";
+import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import {
     downloadGapMs,
     downloadOne,
@@ -58,6 +59,8 @@ export interface ScrapeEngineOptions {
     previews?: boolean;
     /** Read dimensions from a downloaded file. Defaults to ffprobe. */
     probe?: (path: string) => Promise<{ width: number; height: number } | null>;
+    /** Called when a scrape fails. */
+    onError?: (scrapeId: string, message: string) => void;
 }
 
 interface QueuedJob {
@@ -91,6 +94,7 @@ export class ScrapeEngine {
         guildId: string | null;
         mode: ScrapeMode;
         backend: ScrapeBackend;
+        downloadDir?: string | null;
     }): Promise<ScrapeMeta> {
         const now = this.now();
         const id = uniqueScrapeId(this.options.rootDir, input.channelId, new Date(now));
@@ -111,7 +115,8 @@ export class ScrapeEngine {
             messages: 0,
             media: emptyMediaCounts(),
             errors: 0,
-            lastError: null
+            lastError: null,
+            downloadDir: input.downloadDir ?? null
         };
 
         writeScrapeMeta(dir, meta);
@@ -251,6 +256,7 @@ export class ScrapeEngine {
             meta.state = "failed";
             meta.lastError = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
             this.log(`${meta.id}: failed: ${meta.lastError}`);
+            this.options.onError?.(meta.id, meta.lastError);
         } finally {
             if ((meta.state === "done" || meta.state === "failed") && !meta.finishedAt) {
                 meta.finishedAt = new Date(this.now()).toISOString();
@@ -263,7 +269,13 @@ export class ScrapeEngine {
 
     /** Fetch attachment bytes for a finished walk. Serial, hash-addressed, resumable. */
     private async runDownloads(store: ScrapeStore, dir: string, meta: ScrapeMeta): Promise<void> {
-        const options = this.options.download ?? {};
+        const customDir = meta.downloadDir ?? null;
+        const options: DownloadOptions = {
+            ...(this.options.download ?? {}),
+            destinationDir: customDir
+        };
+        const targetDir = customDir ? join(customDir, meta.id, "media") : join(dir, "media");
+        mkdirSync(targetDir, { recursive: true });
         const pending = store.pendingDownloads();
 
         for (const row of pending) {
@@ -272,21 +284,24 @@ export class ScrapeEngine {
                 return;
             }
 
-            const outcome = await downloadOne(row, join(dir, "media"), {
+            const outcome = await downloadOne(row, targetDir, {
                 ...options,
                 log: line => this.log(`${meta.id}: ${line}`)
             });
 
             if (outcome.state === "downloaded" && outcome.path && outcome.hash) {
+                const filePath = customDir ? join(targetDir, outcome.path) : join("media", outcome.path);
                 store.markDownloaded(row.id, {
-                    path: outcome.path,
+                    path: filePath,
                     hash: outcome.hash,
                     bytes: outcome.bytes ?? 0
                 });
                 meta.downloaded = (meta.downloaded ?? 0) + 1;
 
                 if (row.width === null || row.height === null) {
-                    const dimensions = await (this.options.probe ?? probeDimensions)(join(dir, outcome.path));
+                    const dimensions = await (this.options.probe ?? probeDimensions)(
+                        join(targetDir, outcome.path)
+                    );
                     if (dimensions) store.updateDimensions(row.id, dimensions.width, dimensions.height);
                 }
             } else {
@@ -301,7 +316,11 @@ export class ScrapeEngine {
 
     /** Cache small previews. Embed thumbnails are cached in both modes. */
     private async runPreviews(store: ScrapeStore, dir: string, meta: ScrapeMeta): Promise<void> {
-        const options = { ...(this.options.download ?? {}), embedPreviews: true };
+        const options = {
+            ...(this.options.download ?? {}),
+            embedPreviews: true,
+            destinationDir: meta.downloadDir ?? null
+        };
         const pending = store.pendingPreviews(5000, true);
 
         for (const row of pending) {
@@ -315,6 +334,14 @@ export class ScrapeEngine {
             if (outcome.state === "downloaded" && outcome.hash) {
                 store.markPreview(row.id, { hash: outcome.hash, bytes: outcome.bytes ?? 0 });
                 meta.previewed = (meta.previewed ?? 0) + 1;
+
+                // Embed thumbnails also land in the custom destination, so the download has a
+                // viewable poster for embeds while the media tab keeps its local copy.
+                if (options.destinationDir && row.source === "embed") {
+                    const target = join(options.destinationDir, meta.id, "thumbnails", `${outcome.hash}.webp`);
+                    mkdirSync(dirname(target), { recursive: true });
+                    copyFileSync(join(dir, "thumbs", `${outcome.hash}.webp`), target);
+                }
             } else {
                 store.markPreviewError(row.id, outcome.error ?? outcome.state);
             }

media-scrape/src/types.ts

@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ export interface ScrapeMeta {
     previewed?: number;
     /** When the scrape reached done or failed. */
     finishedAt?: string | null;
+    /** Absolute destination for downloaded files. Null means the local `media/` folder. */
+    downloadDir?: string | null;
 }
 
 export function emptyMediaCounts(): Record<MediaKind, number> {

media-scrape/test/run.ts

@@ -637,6 +637,79 @@ void (async () => {
         assert.equal(existsSync(join(root, started.id, "thumbs", `${row.preview_hash}.webp`)), true);
     });
 
+    await test("custom download destination keeps files off-archive and copies embed previews", async () => {
+        const dest = join(root, "custom-dest");
+        mkdirSync(dest, { recursive: true });
+
+        const backend = new FakeBackend([
+            {
+                messages: [
+                    message("702", {
+                        attachments: [attachment({ filename: "offsite.png", contentType: "image/png" })],
+                        embeds: [
+                            {
+                                type: "video",
+                                url: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x",
+                                title: null,
+                                provider: "YouTube",
+                                videoUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/embed/x",
+                                imageUrl: null,
+                                thumbnailUrl: "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x/hqdefault.jpg"
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    })
+                ]
+            }
+        ]);
+
+        const engine = new ScrapeEngine({
+            rootDir: root,
+            pageSize: 2,
+            pageMinMs: 0,
+            pageMaxMs: 0,
+            sleep: async () => {},
+            random: () => 0,
+            log: () => {},
+            previews: true,
+            download: {
+                fetchImpl: async () =>
+                    new Response("bytes", { status: 200, headers: { "content-type": "image/png" } }),
+                minGapMs: 0,
+                maxGapMs: 0,
+                sleep: async () => {}
+            }
+        });
+
+        const started = await engine.start({
+            channelId: "130",
+            guildId: null,
+            mode: "download",
+            backend,
+            downloadDir: dest
+        });
+        await engine.processQueue();
+
+        const meta = engine.get(started.id);
+        assert.equal(meta?.downloadDir, dest);
+        assert.equal(meta?.downloaded, 1);
+
+        const store = new ScrapeStore(join(root, started.id));
+        const file = store.queryMedia({ kind: "image" })[0];
+        const filePath = file.file_path;
+        assert.ok(filePath && filePath.startsWith(dest));
+        assert.equal(existsSync(filePath), true);
+        assert.equal(existsSync(join(root, started.id, "media", filePath.split("/").pop() ?? "")), false);
+
+        const embed = store.queryMedia({ kind: "video" })[0];
+        assert.ok(embed.preview_hash);
+        assert.equal(
+            existsSync(join(dest, started.id, "thumbnails", `${embed.preview_hash}.webp`)),
+            true
+        );
+        assert.equal(existsSync(join(root, started.id, "thumbs", `${embed.preview_hash}.webp`)), true);
+        store.close();
+    });
+
     await test("retention marks the oldest completed scrapes up to the limit", () => {
         const scrapes = [
             { id: "old", state: "done", createdAt: "2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z", bytes: 600 },

poc/public/media.css

@@ -286,3 +286,37 @@
     background: var(--color-accent-400, #4f8cff);
     animation: vk-media-pulse 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
+
+.vk-media-spacer {
+    flex: 1;
+}
+
+.vk-media-check {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 6px;
+    font: 400 11px/1.4 ui-monospace, Menlo, monospace;
+    color: var(--color-neutral-300);
+}
+
+.vk-media-dest {
+    width: 100%;
+}
+
+.vk-media-error {
+    color: #ff8080;
+}
+
+.vk-media-badge {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    min-width: 14px;
+    height: 14px;
+    margin-left: 4px;
+    padding: 0 4px;
+    border-radius: 7px;
+    background: #e5484d;
+    color: #fff;
+    font: 600 9px/1 ui-monospace, Menlo, monospace;
+}

poc/public/media.js

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
         dms: [],
         loadedChannels: false,
         authors: null,
+        errors: [],
         filters: {
             source: "",
             channelId: "",
@@ -92,6 +93,13 @@
         document.querySelector("#scope-bot")?.classList.toggle("active", view === "bot");
         document.querySelector("#scope-guild")?.classList.remove("active");
         document.querySelector("#scope-dm")?.classList.remove("active");
+
+        if (view === "bot") {
+            localStorage.setItem("vk-media-errors-seen", String(errorCount));
+            updateErrorBadge();
+            void refreshErrors();
+        }
+
         render();
     }
 
@@ -191,7 +199,7 @@
         renderGrid();
     }
 
-    async function startScrape(channelId, guildId, mode) {
+    async function startScrape(channelId, guildId, mode, downloadDir) {
         if (!channelId) {
             setStatus("no channel selected");
             return;
@@ -202,7 +210,8 @@
                 channelId,
                 guildId: guildId ?? null,
                 mode,
-                backend: guildId ? "auto" : "puppet"
+                backend: guildId ? "auto" : "puppet",
+                downloadDir: downloadDir ?? null
             });
             setStatus(`started ${scrape.id} (${mode})`);
             scrapeModal.hidden = true;
@@ -219,8 +228,8 @@
     function renderScrapes() {
         scrapeList.replaceChildren();
         const active = state.scrapes.filter(scrape => ["queued", "running", "paused"].includes(scrape.state));
-        const rows = active.length ? active : state.scrapes.slice(0, 5);
+
-        for (const scrape of rows) {
+        for (const scrape of active) {
             const row = el("div", "vk-media-scrape");
             const media = scrape.media ?? {};
 
@@ -239,21 +248,79 @@
                 )
             );
 
-            if (active.includes(scrape)) {
+            row.append(
-                row.append(
+                button("Stop", async () => {
-                    button("Stop", async () => {
+                    await window.VK.api.post("/api/media/scrape/stop", { id: scrape.id });
-                        await window.VK.api.post("/api/media/scrape/stop", { id: scrape.id });
+                    void loadScrapes();
-                        void loadScrapes();
+                })
-                    })
+            );
-                );
-            } else {
-                row.append(el("span", "vk-media-status", durationLabel(scrape)));
-            }
 
             scrapeList.append(row);
         }
     }
 
+    // ---- Bot errors ----
+
+    let errorCount = 0;
+
+    function seenErrorCount() {
+        return Number(localStorage.getItem("vk-media-errors-seen") ?? 0);
+    }
+
+    function updateErrorBadge() {
+        const badge = document.querySelector("#scope-bot-badge");
+        if (!badge) return;
+
+        const unseen = Math.max(0, errorCount - seenErrorCount());
+        badge.textContent = String(unseen);
+        badge.hidden = unseen === 0;
+    }
+
+    function renderErrors() {
+        scrapeList.replaceChildren();
+
+        const head = el("div", "vk-media-scrape");
+        head.append(el("span", null, `${(state.errors ?? []).length} error(s)`));
+        head.append(
+            button("Clear errors", async () => {
+                try {
+                    await window.VK.api.post("/api/media/errors/clear", {});
+                } catch {
+                    // the list stays until the next refresh
+                }
+                state.errors = [];
+                errorCount = 0;
+                localStorage.setItem("vk-media-errors-seen", "0");
+                updateErrorBadge();
+                renderErrors();
+            })
+        );
+        scrapeList.append(head);
+
+        for (const entry of state.errors ?? []) {
+            scrapeList.append(
+                el(
+                    "div",
+                    "vk-media-scrape vk-media-error",
+                    `${new Date(entry.at).toLocaleTimeString()} · ${entry.source} · ${entry.message}`
+                )
+            );
+        }
+
+        if (!(state.errors ?? []).length) scrapeList.append(el("div", "vk-media-scrape", "No errors."));
+    }
+
+    async function refreshErrors() {
+        try {
+            state.errors = await window.VK.api.get("/api/media/errors");
+        } catch {
+            state.errors = [];
+        }
+        errorCount = (state.errors ?? []).length;
+        updateErrorBadge();
+        if (state.view === "bot") renderErrors();
+    }
+
     function renderGrid() {
         grid.replaceChildren();
         for (const item of state.items) {
@@ -319,8 +386,7 @@
                 toolbar.append(chip);
             }
 
-            toolbar.append(button("New scrape…", openScrapeModal));
+
-            toolbar.append(button("History", openHistoryModal));
 
             const sourceSelect = document.createElement("select");
             sourceSelect.className = "vk-chip vk-chip-off";
@@ -428,6 +494,10 @@
                     void loadMedia(true);
                 })
             );
+
+            toolbar.append(el("span", "vk-media-spacer"));
+            toolbar.append(button("History", openHistoryModal));
+            toolbar.append(button("New scrape…", openScrapeModal));
         } else {
             toolbar.append(el("span", null, "Slopbot is the dedicated bot core. Setup: docs/slopbot.md."));
         }
@@ -444,12 +514,14 @@
             statusLine.textContent = bot?.connected
                 ? `connected as ${bot.user} in ${bot.guilds.length} guild(s)`
                 : "slopbot is disabled or not logged in (VESKSLOP_SLOPBOT_ENABLED=1 and a token)";
+            void loadScrapes().then(renderScrapes);
+            void refreshErrors();
         } else {
             void loadChannels().then(renderToolbar);
             void loadAuthors().then(renderToolbar);
             void loadMedia(true);
+            void loadScrapes();
         }
-        void loadScrapes();
     }
 
     overlay.querySelector("#media-close").addEventListener("click", hide);
@@ -465,6 +537,16 @@
     document.querySelector("#scope-guild")?.addEventListener("click", hide);
     document.querySelector("#scope-dm")?.addEventListener("click", hide);
 
+    const errorBadge = el("span", "vk-media-badge");
+    errorBadge.id = "scope-bot-badge";
+    errorBadge.hidden = true;
+    scopeBot?.append(errorBadge);
+
+    void refreshErrors();
+    setInterval(() => {
+        if (state.view !== "bot") void refreshErrors();
+    }, 15000);
+
     // ---- Scrape popup: server or group-chat trees ----
 
     const scrapeModal = document.createElement("div");
@@ -472,7 +554,11 @@
     scrapeModal.hidden = true;
     scrapeModal.innerHTML = `
         <div class="vk-media-modal-box vk-media-wide">
-            <strong>New scrape</strong>
+            <div class="vk-media-head">
+                <strong>New scrape</strong>
+                <span class="vk-media-spacer"></span>
+                <button id="scrape-x" class="btn btn-secondary vk-small-btn" type="button">X</button>
+            </div>
             <div class="vk-media-toolbar">
                 <button id="scrape-tab-server" class="vk-chip vk-chip-on" type="button">Server</button>
                 <button id="scrape-tab-group" class="vk-chip vk-chip-off" type="button">Group chat</button>
@@ -491,8 +577,8 @@
     function channelRow(channelId, guildId, label) {
         const row = el("div", "vk-media-channel");
         row.append(el("span", "vk-media-channel-name", label));
-        row.append(button("Links", () => void startScrape(channelId, guildId, "links")));
+        row.append(button("Links", () => askScrape(channelId, guildId, "links", label)));
-        row.append(button("Download", () => void startScrape(channelId, guildId, "download")));
+        row.append(button("Download", () => askScrape(channelId, guildId, "download", label)));
         return row;
     }
 
@@ -558,6 +644,78 @@
     scrapeModal.querySelector("#scrape-cancel").addEventListener("click", () => {
         scrapeModal.hidden = true;
     });
+    scrapeModal.querySelector("#scrape-x").addEventListener("click", () => {
+        scrapeModal.hidden = true;
+    });
+    scrapeModal.addEventListener("click", event => {
+        if (event.target === scrapeModal) scrapeModal.hidden = true;
+    });
+
+    // ---- Confirmation popup for Links / Download ----
+
+    const confirmModal = document.createElement("div");
+    confirmModal.className = "vk-media-modal";
+    confirmModal.hidden = true;
+    confirmModal.innerHTML = `
+        <div class="vk-media-modal-box">
+            <strong id="confirm-title">Start scrape?</strong>
+            <div id="confirm-note" class="vk-media-status"></div>
+            <label id="confirm-dest-row" class="vk-media-check" hidden>
+                <input id="confirm-custom-dest" type="checkbox" /> Custom download destination
+            </label>
+            <input
+                id="confirm-dest"
+                class="vk-media-input vk-media-dest"
+                type="text"
+                placeholder="/path/to/download/"
+                hidden
+            />
+            <div class="vk-media-toolbar">
+                <button id="confirm-cancel" class="btn btn-secondary vk-small-btn" type="button">Cancel</button>
+                <button id="confirm-start" class="btn btn-primary vk-small-btn" type="button">Start</button>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    `;
+    document.body.append(confirmModal);
+
+    let confirmAction = null;
+
+    function askScrape(channelId, guildId, mode, label) {
+        const isDownload = mode === "download";
+        const destRow = confirmModal.querySelector("#confirm-dest-row");
+        const destInput = confirmModal.querySelector("#confirm-dest");
+        const checkbox = confirmModal.querySelector("#confirm-custom-dest");
+
+        confirmModal.querySelector("#confirm-title").textContent =
+            isDownload ? "Download scrape?" : "Links scrape?";
+        confirmModal.querySelector("#confirm-note").textContent = isDownload
+            ? `${label} — downloads files${guildId ? "" : " with the puppet"}.`
+            : `${label} — indexes links and caches previews${guildId ? "" : " with the puppet"}.`;
+
+        destRow.hidden = !isDownload;
+        destInput.hidden = true;
+        destInput.value = "";
+        checkbox.checked = false;
+        checkbox.onchange = () => {
+            destInput.hidden = !checkbox.checked;
+        };
+
+        confirmAction = () =>
+            startScrape(channelId, guildId, mode, isDownload && checkbox.checked ? destInput.value.trim() : null);
+        confirmModal.hidden = false;
+    }
+
+    confirmModal.querySelector("#confirm-cancel").addEventListener("click", () => {
+        confirmModal.hidden = true;
+    });
+    confirmModal.querySelector("#confirm-start").addEventListener("click", () => {
+        const action = confirmAction;
+        confirmModal.hidden = true;
+        void action?.();
+    });
+    confirmModal.addEventListener("click", event => {
+        if (event.target === confirmModal) confirmModal.hidden = true;
+    });
 
     // ---- History popup ----
 
@@ -566,7 +724,11 @@
     historyModal.hidden = true;
     historyModal.innerHTML = `
         <div class="vk-media-modal-box vk-media-wide">
-            <strong>Scrape history</strong>
+            <div class="vk-media-head">
+                <strong>Scrape history</strong>
+                <span class="vk-media-spacer"></span>
+                <button id="history-x" class="btn btn-secondary vk-small-btn" type="button">X</button>
+            </div>
             <div id="history-list" class="vk-media-modal-list"></div>
             <div class="vk-media-toolbar">
                 <button id="history-close" class="btn btn-secondary vk-small-btn" type="button">Close</button>
@@ -630,6 +792,12 @@
     historyModal.querySelector("#history-close").addEventListener("click", () => {
         historyModal.hidden = true;
     });
+    historyModal.querySelector("#history-x").addEventListener("click", () => {
+        historyModal.hidden = true;
+    });
+    historyModal.addEventListener("click", event => {
+        if (event.target === historyModal) historyModal.hidden = true;
+    });
 
     // ---- Settings: media storage ----
 

poc/src/control-bridge.ts

@@ -774,11 +774,24 @@ function buildServer(): McpServer {
                     .enum(["auto", "slopbot", "puppet"])
                     .optional()
                     .describe("auto (default) picks slopbot for its guilds, the client otherwise"),
-                confirm: z.boolean().optional().describe("Accept the near-limit warning")
+                confirm: z.boolean().optional().describe("Accept the near-limit warning"),
+                downloadDir: z
+                    .string()
+                    .optional()
+                    .describe("Absolute destination for downloads; previews stay local")
             }
         },
-        async ({ channelId, guildId, mode, backend, confirm }) =>
+        async ({ channelId, guildId, mode, backend, confirm, downloadDir }) =>
-            jsonText(await media.startScrape({ channelId, guildId: guildId ?? null, mode, backend, confirm }))
+            jsonText(
+                await media.startScrape({
+                    channelId,
+                    guildId: guildId ?? null,
+                    mode,
+                    backend,
+                    confirm,
+                    downloadDir: downloadDir ?? null
+                })
+            )
     );
 
     server.registerTool(

poc/src/media.ts

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 import { rmSync } from "node:fs";
-import { join } from "node:path";
+import { isAbsolute, join } from "node:path";
 import {
     dirSizeBytes,
     isNearLimit,
@@ -49,6 +49,14 @@ export interface StartScrapeInput {
     backend?: "auto" | "slopbot" | "puppet";
     /** Set by a re-run of the command after the near-limit warning. */
     confirm?: boolean;
+    /** Absolute destination for downloaded files. Null keeps them under the scrape dir. */
+    downloadDir?: string | null;
+}
+
+export interface MediaErrorEntry {
+    at: string;
+    source: string;
+    message: string;
 }
 
 export interface ScrapeBytes {
@@ -138,6 +146,9 @@ export class MediaService {
     private botFetcher: SlopbotFetcher | null = null;
     private botStarting: Promise<void> | null = null;
 
+    /** The newest bot and scrape errors, capped. Surfaced in the Bot tab. */
+    private readonly errors: MediaErrorEntry[] = [];
+
     constructor(private readonly deps: MediaServiceDeps) {
         const number = (value: string | undefined, fallback: number) => {
             const parsed = Number(value);
@@ -147,6 +158,7 @@ export class MediaService {
         this.engine = new ScrapeEngine({
             rootDir: this.rootDir,
             log: line => this.deps.log?.(line),
+            onError: (scrapeId, message) => this.recordError("scrape", `${scrapeId}: ${message}`),
             download: {
                 maxFileBytes: number(process.env.VESKSLOP_MEDIA_MAX_FILE_BYTES, 50 * 1024 * 1024),
                 previewMaxBytes: number(process.env.VESKSLOP_MEDIA_PREVIEW_MAX_BYTES, 5 * 1024 * 1024),
@@ -171,7 +183,9 @@ export class MediaService {
                     this.deps.log?.("slopbot connected");
                 })
                 .catch(error => {
-                    this.deps.log?.(`slopbot login failed: ${String(error)}`);
+                    const message = `slopbot login failed: ${String(error)}`;
+                    this.deps.log?.(message);
+                    this.recordError("slopbot", message);
                 });
         }
 
@@ -264,6 +278,10 @@ export class MediaService {
     }
 
     async startScrape(input: StartScrapeInput): Promise<ScrapeMeta> {
+        if (input.downloadDir && !isAbsolute(input.downloadDir)) {
+            throw new Error("downloadDir must be an absolute path");
+        }
+
         this.applyRetention();
 
         const status = this.storageStatus();
@@ -275,30 +293,38 @@ export class MediaService {
             );
         }
 
-        const mode = input.mode ?? "links";
+        try {
-        let backend: ScrapeBackend;
+            const mode = input.mode ?? "links";
+            let backend: ScrapeBackend;
 
-        if (input.backend === "puppet") {
+            if (input.backend === "puppet") {
-            backend = this.puppetBackend();
+                backend = this.puppetBackend();
-        } else {
+            } else {
-            const available = await this.ensureSlopbot();
+                const available = await this.ensureSlopbot();
-            const inGuild = !!input.guildId && (this.bot?.guilds.cache.has(input.guildId) ?? false);
+                const inGuild = !!input.guildId && (this.bot?.guilds.cache.has(input.guildId) ?? false);
 
-            if (input.backend === "slopbot" && (!available || !inGuild)) {
+                if (input.backend === "slopbot" && (!available || !inGuild)) {
-                throw new Error("slopbot is not connected to that guild");
+                    throw new Error("slopbot is not connected to that guild");
+                }
+
+                const fetcher = this.botFetcher;
+                backend =
+                    available && inGuild && fetcher
+                        ? new SlopbotBackend(fetcher)
+                        : this.puppetBackend();
             }
 
-            const fetcher = this.botFetcher;
+            return this.engine.start({
-            backend =
+                channelId: input.channelId,
-                available && inGuild && fetcher ? new SlopbotBackend(fetcher) : this.puppetBackend();
+                guildId: input.guildId ?? null,
+                mode,
+                backend,
+                downloadDir: input.downloadDir ?? null
+            });
+        } catch (error) {
+            this.recordError("scrape", error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
+            throw error;
         }
-
-        return this.engine.start({
-            channelId: input.channelId,
-            guildId: input.guildId ?? null,
-            mode,
-            backend
-        });
     }
 
     stopScrape(id: string): void {
@@ -322,6 +348,10 @@ export class MediaService {
 
     /** Absolute path and content type for a downloaded file, or null. */
     getMediaFile(scrapeId: string, itemId: number): { path: string; contentType: string } | null {
+        // A custom destination is the user's filesystem, outside the archive: not served.
+        const meta = this.engine.get(scrapeId);
+        if (meta?.downloadDir) return null;
+
         const item = this.getMediaItem(scrapeId, itemId);
         if (!item?.file_path) return null;
 
@@ -343,6 +373,22 @@ export class MediaService {
         };
     }
 
+    private recordError(source: string, message: string): void {
+        this.errors.unshift({ at: new Date().toISOString(), source, message });
+        if (this.errors.length > 50) this.errors.length = 50;
+    }
+
+    /** Bot and scrape errors, newest first. */
+    listErrors(): MediaErrorEntry[] {
+        return [...this.errors];
+    }
+
+    clearErrors(): number {
+        const count = this.errors.length;
+        this.errors.length = 0;
+        return count;
+    }
+
     /** Distinct posters across every scrape, biggest first. */
     listAuthors(): Array<{ id: string | null; name: string | null; count: number }> {
         const totals = new Map<string, { id: string | null; name: string | null; count: number }>();
@@ -434,7 +480,10 @@ export class MediaService {
                         height: row.height,
                         aspectRatio: row.aspect_ratio,
                         url: row.url,
-                        localUrl: row.file_path ? `/api/media/${meta.id}/${row.id}/file` : null,
+                        localUrl:
+                            row.file_path && !meta.downloadDir
+                                ? `/api/media/${meta.id}/${row.id}/file`
+                                : null,
                         thumbUrl: row.preview_hash ? `/api/media/${meta.id}/${row.id}/thumb` : null,
                         provider: row.provider,
                         downloaded: row.downloaded === 1,

poc/src/webui.ts

@@ -832,6 +832,20 @@ export function startWebUi(deps: WebUiDeps): WebUiHandle {
         })
     );
 
+    app.get(
+        "/api/media/errors",
+        wrap(async (_req, res) => {
+            res.json({ ok: true, result: deps.media.listErrors() });
+        })
+    );
+
+    app.post(
+        "/api/media/errors/clear",
+        wrap(async (_req, res) => {
+            res.json({ ok: true, result: { cleared: deps.media.clearErrors() } });
+        })
+    );
+
     app.post(
         "/api/media/scrape",
         wrap(async (req, res) => {
@@ -844,8 +858,16 @@ export function startWebUi(deps: WebUiDeps): WebUiHandle {
             const requested = String(req.body?.backend ?? "auto");
             const backend =
                 requested === "slopbot" || requested === "puppet" ? requested : "auto";
+            const downloadDir = req.body?.downloadDir ? String(req.body.downloadDir) : null;
 
-            const scrape = await deps.media.startScrape({ channelId, guildId, mode, confirm, backend });
+            const scrape = await deps.media.startScrape({
+                channelId,
+                guildId,
+                mode,
+                confirm,
+                backend,
+                downloadDir
+            });
             deps.getPuppet()?.appendAction({
                 type: "media",
                 action: "scrape",