post 'working on it' placeholder, edit with response when done

gitea.py

@@ -41,6 +41,16 @@ class GiteaClient:
             r.raise_for_status()
             return r.json()
 
+    async def edit_comment(self, owner: str, repo: str, comment_id: int, body: str):
+        async with httpx.AsyncClient() as c:
+            r = await c.patch(
+                f"{self.base}/repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/comments/{comment_id}",
+                headers=self.headers,
+                json={"body": body},
+            )
+            r.raise_for_status()
+            return r.json()
+
     async def add_reaction(self, owner: str, repo: str, comment_id: int, reaction: str):
         async with httpx.AsyncClient() as c:
             r = await c.post(

main.py

@@ -148,10 +148,13 @@ async def process_mention(
     trigger_comment: dict | None,
     comment_id: int | None,
 ):
+    wip_comment_id = None
     try:
-        # React to acknowledge
-        if comment_id:
-            await gitea.add_reaction(owner, repo, comment_id, "eyes")
+        # Post "working on it" placeholder
+        wip = await gitea.create_comment(
+            owner, repo, issue_number, "⏳ Working on it…"
+        )
+        wip_comment_id = wip["id"]
 
         # Set up workspace
         rp = await ensure_repo(owner, repo, issue_number)
@@ -186,17 +189,18 @@ async def process_mention(
         prompt = build_prompt(owner, repo, issue, comments, trigger_comment, attachments, pr_info)
         response = await run_claude(prompt, str(rp))
 
-        # Post response
-        await gitea.create_comment(owner, repo, issue_number, response)
+        # Edit placeholder with actual response
+        await gitea.edit_comment(owner, repo, wip_comment_id, response)
         log.info(f"Responded to {owner}/{repo}#{issue_number}")
 
     except Exception:
         log.exception(f"Error processing {owner}/{repo}#{issue_number}")
+        error_msg = "*An error occurred while processing this request. Check bot logs for details.*"
         try:
-            await gitea.create_comment(
-                owner, repo, issue_number,
-                "*An error occurred while processing this request. Check bot logs for details.*",
-            )
+            if wip_comment_id:
+                await gitea.edit_comment(owner, repo, wip_comment_id, error_msg)
+            else:
+                await gitea.create_comment(owner, repo, issue_number, error_msg)
         except Exception:
             log.exception("Failed to post error comment")