Scroll the runs table, pick a range, and choose what a comparison plots against

backend/fluksio/api/routes/runs.py

@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ class MetricSeries(BaseModel):
 
 class SeriesAnswer(BaseModel):
     metric: str
+    #: What the x values are: "step", "time" (seconds since this run's first
+    #: reading), or the name of another metric this one was plotted against.
+    x: str = "step"
     lines: list[MetricSeries] = Field(default_factory=list)
 
 
@@ -356,13 +359,38 @@ def read_metrics(
     return rows
 
 
+def _points(session: Session, run_id: str, metric: str, x: str) -> list[list[float]]:
+    """One run's readings of ``metric``, against whichever x was asked for.
+
+    The step is the default because it is what every run has. Time answers
+    "which one got there sooner", and is measured from this run's own first
+    reading so that runs started hours apart still lie on top of each other.
+    Another metric answers "against what the loop was actually counting" — an
+    epoch, or samples seen — and is joined on the step the two share, which is
+    the only thing they have in common.
+    """
+    rows = _series(session, run_id, metric)
+    if x == "time":
+        if not rows:
+            return []
+        start = min(row.ts for row in rows)
+        return [[row.ts - start, row.value] for row in rows]
+    if x and x != "step":
+        against = {row.step: row.value for row in _series(session, run_id, x)}
+        return [[against[row.step], row.value] for row in rows if row.step in against]
+    return [[float(row.step), row.value] for row in rows]
+
+
 @router.get("/series/compare", response_model=SeriesAnswer)
-def compare_metric(session: SessionDep, ids: str, metric: str) -> Any:
+def compare_metric(session: SessionDep, ids: str, metric: str, x: str = "") -> Any:
     """One metric across several runs, as the chart widget's series shape.
 
     This is the comparison view: it answers in the same shape a flow answers a
     chart's query with, so putting three training curves beside each other is
     a widget binding rather than a screen of its own.
+
+    ``x`` names what to plot against — nothing or "step", "time", or another
+    metric of the same runs.
     """
     run_ids = [part for part in ids.split(",") if part]
     if not run_ids:
@@ -376,13 +404,10 @@ def compare_metric(session: SessionDep, ids: str, metric: str) -> Any:
         run = runs.get(run_id)
         if run is None:
             continue
-        rows = _series(session, run_id, metric)
         label = run_id
         if run.seed is not None:
             label = f"{run_id} (seed {run.seed})"
         lines.append(
-            MetricSeries(
-                label=label, points=[[float(row.step), row.value] for row in rows]
-            )
+            MetricSeries(label=label, points=_points(session, run_id, metric, x))
         )
-    return SeriesAnswer(metric=metric, lines=lines)
+    return SeriesAnswer(metric=metric, x=x or "step", lines=lines)

backend/tests/api/routes/test_runs.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import json
 from datetime import UTC, datetime
 
 import pytest
-from sqlmodel import Session, select
+from sqlmodel import Session, col, select
 
 from fluksio.core.config import settings
 from fluksio.core.db import engine as db_engine
@@ -380,3 +380,85 @@ def test_a_curve_whose_run_is_gone_is_empty_rather_than_an_error(
     )
     assert answer.status_code == 200
     assert answer.json() == []
+
+
+def _metric(run_id: str, name: str, step: int, value: float, ts: float) -> RunMetric:
+    return RunMetric(run_id=run_id, name=name, step=step, value=value, ts=ts)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def plotted():
+    """A run with a loss curve and an epoch counter beside it."""
+    run_id = new_run_id()
+    with Session(db_engine) as session:
+        session.add(
+            Run(id=run_id, flow="study", status="ok", created_at=datetime.now(UTC))
+        )
+        for step, (loss, epoch) in enumerate([(1.0, 10.0), (0.5, 20.0), (0.25, 30.0)]):
+            session.add(_metric(run_id, "study.loss", step, loss, 100.0 + step * 5))
+            session.add(_metric(run_id, "study.epoch", step, epoch, 100.0 + step * 5))
+        session.commit()
+    yield run_id
+    with Session(db_engine) as session:
+        for row in session.exec(
+            select(RunMetric).where(col(RunMetric.run_id) == run_id)
+        ).all():
+            session.delete(row)
+        session.delete(session.get(Run, run_id))
+        session.commit()
+
+
+def test_a_comparison_is_plotted_against_the_step_by_default(
+    client, superuser_token_headers, plotted
+):
+    answer = client.get(
+        f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/runs/series/compare",
+        params={"ids": plotted, "metric": "study.loss"},
+        headers=superuser_token_headers,
+    ).json()
+
+    assert answer["x"] == "step"
+    assert answer["lines"][0]["points"] == [[0.0, 1.0], [1.0, 0.5], [2.0, 0.25]]
+
+
+def test_time_is_measured_from_this_runs_own_first_reading(
+    client, superuser_token_headers, plotted
+):
+    """Runs started hours apart still lie on top of each other."""
+    answer = client.get(
+        f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/runs/series/compare",
+        params={"ids": plotted, "metric": "study.loss", "x": "time"},
+        headers=superuser_token_headers,
+    ).json()
+
+    assert answer["x"] == "time"
+    assert answer["lines"][0]["points"] == [[0.0, 1.0], [5.0, 0.5], [10.0, 0.25]]
+
+
+def test_one_metric_can_be_plotted_against_another(
+    client, superuser_token_headers, plotted
+):
+    answer = client.get(
+        f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/runs/series/compare",
+        params={"ids": plotted, "metric": "study.loss", "x": "study.epoch"},
+        headers=superuser_token_headers,
+    ).json()
+
+    assert answer["lines"][0]["points"] == [[10.0, 1.0], [20.0, 0.5], [30.0, 0.25]]
+
+
+def test_a_step_the_x_metric_never_reached_is_left_out(
+    client, superuser_token_headers, plotted
+):
+    """The join is on the step, which is the only thing two series share."""
+    with Session(db_engine) as session:
+        session.add(_metric(plotted, "study.loss", 3, 0.1, 120.0))
+        session.commit()
+
+    answer = client.get(
+        f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/runs/series/compare",
+        params={"ids": plotted, "metric": "study.loss", "x": "study.epoch"},
+        headers=superuser_token_headers,
+    ).json()
+
+    assert [point[0] for point in answer["lines"][0]["points"]] == [10.0, 20.0, 30.0]

docs/code/api.md

@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ published to. Flows own the namespace; everything else is a client of it.
 | `GET` | `/runs/{id}` | one run in full: params, result, per-node record, artifacts |
 | `POST` | `/runs/{id}/cancel` | stop it |
 | `GET` | `/runs/{id}/metrics?name=&stride=` | one metric's series, in step order; every series of the run without `name` |
-| `GET` | `/runs/series/compare?ids=a,b,c&metric=` | that metric across several runs |
+| `GET` | `/runs/series/compare?ids=a,b,c&metric=&x=` | that metric across several runs. `x` is what to plot against: nothing or `step`, `time` (seconds since each run's own first reading), or another metric's name, joined on the step the two share |
 
 Submitting answers immediately with a `queued` run. Wrong parameters — an
 undeclared name, a value of the wrong type — come back as a 422 naming the

docs/concepts/runs.md

@@ -295,9 +295,16 @@ flow, by status, or down to one sweep. A sweep is worth filtering to — the
 table then draws a column per parameter that actually varied, which is what
 makes fifty runs of one flow readable.
 
-Tick two or more and their curves go side by side. That comparison is the
+Tick two or more and their curves go side by side — shift-click to take a
+range, or the header box to take everything on screen. That comparison is the
 address, so a link to it is a link someone else can open.
 
+The curves are drawn against the step by default. They can also be drawn
+against elapsed seconds, which answers "which one got there sooner" and is
+measured from each run's own first reading so that runs started hours apart
+still lie on top of each other; or against another metric of the same runs —
+an epoch, or samples seen — joined on the step the two share.
+
 One run in full is params, the per-node record with its logs and traceback,
 the artifacts it made, its metrics and its result.
 

frontend/src/client/schemas.gen.ts

@@ -2622,6 +2622,11 @@ export const SeriesAnswerSchema = {
             type: 'string',
             title: 'Metric'
         },
+        x: {
+            type: 'string',
+            title: 'X',
+            default: 'step'
+        },
         lines: {
             items: {
                 '$ref': '#/components/schemas/MetricSeries'

frontend/src/client/sdk.gen.ts

@@ -1899,9 +1899,13 @@ export class RunsService {
      * This is the comparison view: it answers in the same shape a flow answers a
      * chart's query with, so putting three training curves beside each other is
      * a widget binding rather than a screen of its own.
+     *
+     * ``x`` names what to plot against — nothing or "step", "time", or another
+     * metric of the same runs.
      * @param data The data for the request.
      * @param data.ids
      * @param data.metric
+     * @param data.x
      * @returns SeriesAnswer Successful Response
      * @throws ApiError
      */
@@ -1911,7 +1915,8 @@ export class RunsService {
             url: '/api/v1/runs/series/compare',
             query: {
                 ids: data.ids,
-                metric: data.metric
+                metric: data.metric,
+                x: data.x
             },
             errors: {
                 422: 'Validation Error'

frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts

@@ -929,6 +929,7 @@ export type SecretValue = {
 
 export type SeriesAnswer = {
     metric: string;
+    x?: string;
     lines?: Array<MetricSeries>;
 };
 
@@ -1611,6 +1612,7 @@ export type RunsReadMetricsResponse = (Array<MetricPoint>);
 export type RunsCompareMetricData = {
     ids: string;
     metric: string;
+    x?: string;
 };
 
 export type RunsCompareMetricResponse = (SeriesAnswer);

frontend/src/components/Dashboard/ChartWidget.tsx

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   compareQueryOptions,
   NO_CURVE,
   runsListQueryOptions,
+  STEP_AXIS,
   shortenRunLabel,
 } from "@/components/Runs/queries"
 import { type DataContext, useDataContext } from "./dataContext"
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ function RunsChart({ widget }: WidgetProps) {
     : (found.data ?? []).slice(0, MAX_SERIES).map((run) => run.id)
 
   const { data, isPending } = useQuery(
-    compareQueryOptions(ids, metric, refreshMs),
+    compareQueryOptions(ids, metric, STEP_AXIS, refreshMs),
   )
   const palette = usePalette()
   const lines = (data?.lines ?? []).slice(0, MAX_SERIES)

frontend/src/components/Runs/MetricChart.tsx

@@ -9,11 +9,14 @@ import {
   SelectTrigger,
   SelectValue,
 } from "@/components/ui/select"
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils"
 import {
   compareQueryOptions,
   NO_CURVE,
   runMetricsQueryOptions,
+  STEP_AXIS,
   shortenRunLabel,
+  TIME_AXIS,
 } from "./queries"
 
 /** The metrics one run recorded, in the order they are worth offering. */
@@ -28,32 +31,41 @@ export function useMetricNames(runId: string | undefined) {
 }
 
 /**
- * One metric across one or more runs, drawn on a step axis.
+ * One metric across one or more runs.
  *
  * The endpoint answers in the chart widget's own series shape, so comparing
  * three curves and showing one are the same call with a different id list.
+ *
+ * `x` is what the readings are plotted against: the step they were recorded
+ * at, the seconds since the run's own first one, or another metric of the same
+ * runs. Never a clock — even "time" is an elapsed count, which is what makes
+ * two runs started hours apart comparable.
  */
 export function RunMetricChart({
   ids,
   metric,
+  x = STEP_AXIS,
   refreshMs,
+  className,
 }: {
   ids: string[]
   metric: string
+  x?: string
   refreshMs?: number
+  className?: string
 }) {
   const { data, isPending } = useQuery(
-    compareQueryOptions(ids, metric, refreshMs),
+    compareQueryOptions(ids, metric, x, refreshMs),
   )
   const lines = (data?.lines ?? []).slice(0, MAX_SERIES)
   const labels = lines.map((line) => shortenRunLabel(line.label))
   const plots: HistoryPoint[][] = lines.map((line) =>
-    (line.points ?? []).map(([step, value]) => ({ ts: step, value })),
+    (line.points ?? []).map(([at, value]) => ({ ts: at, value })),
   )
   const drawn = plots.reduce((total, plot) => total + plot.length, 0)
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex h-64 flex-col gap-2">
+    <div className={cn("flex min-h-0 flex-col gap-2", className ?? "h-64")}>
       <UplotChart
         labels={labels}
         plots={plots}
@@ -84,7 +96,7 @@ export function MetricPicker({
   if (names.length === 0) return null
   return (
     <Select value={value} onValueChange={onChange}>
-      <SelectTrigger className="h-8 w-56">
+      <SelectTrigger className="h-8 w-56" aria-label="Metric">
         <SelectValue placeholder="Metric" />
       </SelectTrigger>
       <SelectContent>
@@ -97,3 +109,44 @@ export function MetricPicker({
     </Select>
   )
 }
+
+/**
+ * What the comparison is plotted against.
+ *
+ * Doubles as the axis label — it sits directly above the chart, and naming the
+ * axis twice is one caption too many.
+ */
+export function AxisPicker({
+  names,
+  metric,
+  value,
+  onChange,
+}: {
+  names: string[]
+  /** Excluded from the choices: a metric against itself is a straight line. */
+  metric: string
+  value: string
+  onChange: (x: string) => void
+}) {
+  const options = [
+    { value: STEP_AXIS, label: "vs step" },
+    { value: TIME_AXIS, label: "vs time (s)" },
+    ...names
+      .filter((name) => name !== metric)
+      .map((name) => ({ value: name, label: `vs ${name}` })),
+  ]
+  return (
+    <Select value={value} onValueChange={onChange}>
+      <SelectTrigger className="h-8 w-44" aria-label="Plotted against">
+        <SelectValue />
+      </SelectTrigger>
+      <SelectContent>
+        {options.map((option) => (
+          <SelectItem key={option.value} value={option.value}>
+            {option.label}
+          </SelectItem>
+        ))}
+      </SelectContent>
+    </Select>
+  )
+}

frontend/src/components/Runs/RunDetail.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight, Download } from "lucide-react"
 import { useState } from "react"
 
 import type { ArtifactRow, RunNodeRow } from "@/client"
+import { ValuePreview } from "@/components/Flow/ValuePreview"
 import { ago } from "@/components/Health/queries"
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton"
@@ -121,15 +122,7 @@ export function RunDetail({ id }: { id: string }) {
         ) : (
           <dl className="grid gap-x-6 gap-y-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
             {Object.entries(run.params).map(([key, value]) => (
-              <div
-                key={key}
-                className="flex justify-between gap-4 border-border border-b py-1"
-              >
-                <dt className={LABEL}>{key}</dt>
-                <dd className="truncate font-mono text-sm">
-                  {paramText(value)}
-                </dd>
-              </div>
+              <Entry key={key} name={key} value={value} />
             ))}
           </dl>
         )}
@@ -154,15 +147,7 @@ export function RunDetail({ id }: { id: string }) {
           <h2 className="font-medium text-sm">Result</h2>
           <dl className="grid gap-x-6 gap-y-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
             {Object.entries(run.result ?? {}).map(([key, value]) => (
-              <div
-                key={key}
-                className="flex justify-between gap-4 border-border border-b py-1"
-              >
-                <dt className={LABEL}>{key}</dt>
-                <dd className="truncate font-mono text-sm">
-                  {paramText(value)}
-                </dd>
-              </div>
+              <Entry key={key} name={key} value={value} />
             ))}
           </dl>
         </section>
@@ -175,6 +160,39 @@ export function RunDetail({ id }: { id: string }) {
   )
 }
 
+/**
+ * One named value: read directly when it is a scalar, unfolded when it is not.
+ *
+ * The same disclosure a node's ports use on the canvas — a run's report is a
+ * record like any other, and serialising it onto one truncated line answers
+ * nothing.
+ */
+function Entry({ name, value }: { name: string; value: unknown }) {
+  const structured = value !== null && typeof value === "object"
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={cn(
+        "gap-4 border-border border-b py-1",
+        structured ? "flex flex-col" : "flex justify-between",
+      )}
+    >
+      <dt className={LABEL}>{name}</dt>
+      <dd
+        className={cn(
+          "min-w-0",
+          structured ? "" : "truncate font-mono text-sm",
+        )}
+      >
+        {structured ? (
+          <ValuePreview value={value} defaultOpen />
+        ) : (
+          paramText(value)
+        )}
+      </dd>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
 function Fact({
   label,
   children,

frontend/src/components/Runs/RunsScreen.tsx

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import { useInfiniteQuery, useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query"
 import { Link } from "@tanstack/react-router"
 import { FlaskConical, X } from "lucide-react"
+import { useRef } from "react"
 
 import type { fluksio__api__routes__runs__RunRow as RunRow } from "@/client"
 import { MAX_SERIES } from "@/components/Common/UplotChart"
+import { ValuePreview } from "@/components/Flow/ValuePreview"
 import { ago } from "@/components/Health/queries"
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
 import { Checkbox } from "@/components/ui/checkbox"
@@ -24,16 +26,22 @@ import {
   TableRow,
 } from "@/components/ui/table"
 import { cn, dur } from "@/lib/utils"
-import { MetricPicker, RunMetricChart, useMetricNames } from "./MetricChart"
+import {
+  AxisPicker,
+  MetricPicker,
+  RunMetricChart,
+  useMetricNames,
+} from "./MetricChart"
 import { OpenInDashboard } from "./OpenInDashboard"
 import {
   CARD,
   LIST_CAP,
-  paramsSummary,
+  MAX_SELECTION,
   paramText,
   runOverviewQueryOptions,
   runsInfiniteQueryOptions,
   STATUSES,
+  STEP_AXIS,
   shortCommit,
   shortId,
   varyingKeys,
@@ -47,6 +55,8 @@ export type RunsSearch = {
   /** The runs being compared, comma-joined — a comparison is a link. */
   compare?: string
   metric?: string
+  /** What the comparison is plotted against: a step, a time, or a metric. */
+  x?: string
 }
 
 export function RunsScreen({
@@ -68,11 +78,38 @@ export function RunsScreen({
   const runs: RunRow[] = data?.pages.flat() ?? []
   const selected = search.compare ? search.compare.split(",") : []
 
-  const toggle = (id: string) => {
-    const next = selected.includes(id)
-      ? selected.filter((one) => one !== id)
-      : [...selected, id]
-    update({ compare: next.length ? next.join(",") : undefined })
+  const put = (next: string[]) =>
+    update({
+      compare: next.length ? next.slice(0, MAX_SELECTION).join(",") : undefined,
+    })
+
+  // Where a shift-click measures from: the row last picked on its own. Held in
+  // a ref rather than the address — it is how the last click was made, not
+  // part of what the link says.
+  const anchor = useRef<number | null>(null)
+
+  const select = (index: number, shift: boolean) => {
+    const id = runs[index]?.id
+    if (!id) return
+    if (shift && anchor.current !== null && anchor.current !== index) {
+      const [from, to] = [anchor.current, index].sort((a, b) => a - b)
+      const span = runs.slice(from, to + 1).map((run) => run.id)
+      put([...selected, ...span.filter((one) => !selected.includes(one))])
+      return
+    }
+    anchor.current = index
+    put(
+      selected.includes(id)
+        ? selected.filter((one) => one !== id)
+        : [...selected, id],
+    )
+  }
+
+  const selectAll = () => {
+    const shown = runs.map((run) => run.id)
+    const already = shown.every((id) => selected.includes(id))
+    anchor.current = null
+    put(already ? [] : shown)
   }
 
   return (
@@ -130,7 +167,9 @@ export function RunsScreen({
             runs={runs}
             search={search}
             selected={selected}
-            onToggle={toggle}
+            compact={selected.length > 0}
+            onSelect={select}
+            onSelectAll={selectAll}
             onGroup={(group) => update({ group, compare: undefined })}
           />
         )}
@@ -148,6 +187,10 @@ export function RunsScreen({
           )}
           <p className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
             {runs.length} run{runs.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}
+            {selected.length > 0 ? `, ${selected.length} picked` : ""}
+            {selected.length >= MAX_SELECTION
+              ? ` — ${MAX_SELECTION} is as many as one comparison carries`
+              : ""}
             {!hasNextPage && runs.length >= LIST_CAP
               ? ` — the newest ${LIST_CAP}, which is as deep as this list reads`
               : ""}
@@ -238,130 +281,187 @@ function FlowRail({
   )
 }
 
+/** One parameter: read directly when it is a scalar, unfolded when it is not. */
+function ParamValue({ value }: { value: unknown }) {
+  if (value !== null && typeof value === "object") {
+    return <ValuePreview value={value} className="max-w-56" />
+  }
+  return <span className="font-mono text-xs">{paramText(value)}</span>
+}
+
 function RunsTable({
   runs,
   search,
   selected,
-  onToggle,
+  compact,
+  onSelect,
+  onSelectAll,
   onGroup,
 }: {
   runs: RunRow[]
   search: RunsSearch
   selected: string[]
-  onToggle: (id: string) => void
+  /** A comparison is open below, so the table gives up some of its height. */
+  compact: boolean
+  onSelect: (index: number, shift: boolean) => void
+  onSelectAll: () => void
   onGroup: (group: string) => void
 }) {
   // Under a sweep filter the shared parameters say nothing; the two or three
   // that were swept are the whole point, so they get columns of their own.
   const varying = search.group ? varyingKeys(runs).slice(0, 4) : []
   const showFlow = !search.flow
+  const columns = 6 + (showFlow ? 1 : 0) + Math.max(1, varying.length)
+
+  // Whether a click carried shift, read where the event still has it: Radix
+  // hands `onCheckedChange` the new state and nothing else.
+  const shift = useRef(false)
+  const remember = (event: { shiftKey: boolean }) => {
+    shift.current = event.shiftKey
+  }
+
+  const picked = runs.filter((run) => selected.includes(run.id)).length
+  const all = runs.length > 0 && picked === runs.length
 
   return (
-    <div className={cn(CARD, "overflow-x-auto p-0")}>
-      <Table>
-        <TableHeader>
-          <TableRow className="hover:bg-transparent">
-            <TableHead className="w-8" />
-            <TableHead>Run</TableHead>
-            {showFlow && <TableHead>Flow</TableHead>}
-            <TableHead>Status</TableHead>
-            {varying.length > 0 ? (
-              varying.map((key) => <TableHead key={key}>{key}</TableHead>)
-            ) : (
-              <TableHead>Parameters</TableHead>
-            )}
-            <TableHead>Seed</TableHead>
-            <TableHead>Code</TableHead>
-            <TableHead className="text-right">Took</TableHead>
-            <TableHead>Started</TableHead>
-            <TableHead>By</TableHead>
-          </TableRow>
-        </TableHeader>
-        <TableBody>
-          {runs.length === 0 && (
-            <TableRow className="hover:bg-transparent">
-              <TableCell
-                colSpan={10}
-                className="h-24 text-center text-muted-foreground"
-              >
-                No runs match this filter.
-              </TableCell>
-            </TableRow>
+    <Table
+      containerClassName={cn(
+        "overflow-y-auto",
+        // Bounded so the page does not scroll away from the comparison drawn
+        // under it: the table is the thing with a scrollbar, not the screen.
+        // While one is open the room left over is what the chart does not
+        // need, which is a height rather than a share of the window — a short
+        // laptop screen has the same chart on it as a tall one.
+        compact ? "max-h-[calc(100svh-33rem)] min-h-40" : "max-h-[72svh]",
+      )}
+    >
+      <TableHeader className="sticky top-0 z-10 bg-muted">
+        <TableRow className="hover:bg-transparent">
+          <TableHead className="w-8">
+            <Checkbox
+              checked={all ? true : picked > 0 ? "indeterminate" : false}
+              onCheckedChange={onSelectAll}
+              aria-label={
+                all ? "Clear the selection" : "Select every run shown"
+              }
+              data-testid="run-select-all"
+            />
+          </TableHead>
+          <TableHead>Run</TableHead>
+          {showFlow && <TableHead>Flow</TableHead>}
+          <TableHead>Status</TableHead>
+          {varying.length > 0 ? (
+            varying.map((key) => <TableHead key={key}>{key}</TableHead>)
+          ) : (
+            <TableHead>Parameters</TableHead>
           )}
-          {runs.map((run) => (
-            <TableRow key={run.id} data-testid="run-row">
-              <TableCell>
-                <Checkbox
-                  checked={selected.includes(run.id)}
-                  onCheckedChange={() => onToggle(run.id)}
-                  aria-label={`Compare ${run.id}`}
-                  data-testid="run-select"
-                />
-              </TableCell>
-              <TableCell>
-                <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                  <Link
-                    to="/runs/$id"
-                    params={{ id: run.id }}
-                    className="font-mono text-sm hover:underline"
-                    data-testid="run-link"
+          <TableHead>Seed</TableHead>
+          <TableHead>Code</TableHead>
+          <TableHead>Duration</TableHead>
+        </TableRow>
+      </TableHeader>
+      <TableBody>
+        {runs.length === 0 && (
+          <TableRow className="hover:bg-transparent">
+            <TableCell
+              colSpan={columns}
+              className="h-24 text-center text-muted-foreground"
+            >
+              No runs match this filter.
+            </TableCell>
+          </TableRow>
+        )}
+        {runs.map((run, index) => (
+          <TableRow key={run.id} data-testid="run-row">
+            <TableCell>
+              <Checkbox
+                checked={selected.includes(run.id)}
+                onPointerDown={remember}
+                onKeyDown={remember}
+                onCheckedChange={() => onSelect(index, shift.current)}
+                aria-label={`Compare ${run.id}`}
+                data-testid="run-select"
+              />
+            </TableCell>
+            <TableCell>
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                <Link
+                  to="/runs/$id"
+                  params={{ id: run.id }}
+                  className="font-mono text-sm hover:underline"
+                  data-testid="run-link"
+                >
+                  {shortId(run.id)}
+                </Link>
+                {run.group_id && !search.group && (
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => onGroup(run.group_id as string)}
+                    className="rounded-full border border-border px-1.5 text-muted-foreground text-xs hover:bg-accent"
                   >
-                    {shortId(run.id)}
-                  </Link>
-                  {run.group_id && !search.group && (
-                    <button
-                      type="button"
-                      onClick={() => onGroup(run.group_id as string)}
-                      className="rounded-full border border-border px-1.5 text-muted-foreground text-xs hover:bg-accent"
-                    >
-                      sweep
-                    </button>
-                  )}
-                </div>
-              </TableCell>
-              {showFlow && (
-                <TableCell className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
-                  {run.flow}
-                </TableCell>
-              )}
-              <TableCell>
-                <RunStatusBadge run={run} />
-              </TableCell>
-              {varying.length > 0 ? (
-                varying.map((key) => (
-                  <TableCell key={key} className="font-mono text-sm">
-                    {paramText(run.params[key])}
-                  </TableCell>
-                ))
-              ) : (
-                <TableCell className="max-w-64 truncate font-mono text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                  {paramsSummary(run.params) || "—"}
-                </TableCell>
-              )}
-              <TableCell className="text-muted-foreground text-sm tabular-nums">
-                {run.seed ?? "—"}
-              </TableCell>
-              <TableCell className="font-mono text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                {/* The user's own repository when there is one: for a flow
-                    declared in code, the store's commit names a generated
-                    shim rather than anything anyone wrote. A canvas flow has
-                    only the store's, which is then the whole answer. */}
-                {shortCommit(run.origin_commit || run.commit || "") || "—"}
-              </TableCell>
-              <TableCell className="text-right text-muted-foreground text-sm tabular-nums">
-                {run.duration_ms ? dur(run.duration_ms) : "—"}
-              </TableCell>
+                    sweep
+                  </button>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            </TableCell>
+            {showFlow && (
               <TableCell className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
-                {ago(String(run.created_at ?? ""))}
+                {run.flow}
               </TableCell>
-              <TableCell className="max-w-40 truncate text-muted-foreground text-sm">
-                {run.actor || "—"}
+            )}
+            <TableCell>
+              <RunStatusBadge run={run} />
+            </TableCell>
+            {varying.length > 0 ? (
+              varying.map((key) => (
+                <TableCell key={key}>
+                  <ParamValue value={run.params[key]} />
+                </TableCell>
+              ))
+            ) : (
+              <TableCell>
+                {Object.keys(run.params).length === 0 ? (
+                  <span className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">—</span>
+                ) : (
+                  <div className="flex max-w-96 flex-wrap items-baseline gap-x-3 gap-y-0.5">
+                    {Object.entries(run.params).map(([key, value]) => (
+                      <span
+                        key={key}
+                        className="flex min-w-0 items-baseline gap-1 whitespace-nowrap"
+                      >
+                        <span className="font-mono text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                          {key}
+                        </span>
+                        <ParamValue value={value} />
+                      </span>
+                    ))}
+                  </div>
+                )}
               </TableCell>
-            </TableRow>
-          ))}
-        </TableBody>
-      </Table>
-    </div>
+            )}
+            <TableCell className="text-muted-foreground text-sm tabular-nums">
+              {run.seed ?? "—"}
+            </TableCell>
+            <TableCell className="font-mono text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              {/* The user's own repository when there is one: for a flow
+                  declared in code, the store's commit names a generated
+                  shim rather than anything anyone wrote. A canvas flow has
+                  only the store's, which is then the whole answer. */}
+              {shortCommit(run.origin_commit || run.commit || "") || "—"}
+            </TableCell>
+            <TableCell className="whitespace-nowrap text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+              {/* When it started, and how long it then took. Two readings of
+                  one thing, so one column rather than two. */}
+              {ago(String(run.created_at ?? ""))}
+              <span className="px-1.5 text-border">|</span>
+              <span className="tabular-nums">
+                {run.duration_ms ? dur(run.duration_ms) : "—"}
+              </span>
+            </TableCell>
+          </TableRow>
+        ))}
+      </TableBody>
+    </Table>
   )
 }
 
@@ -382,6 +482,13 @@ function Compare({
     search.metric && names.includes(search.metric)
       ? search.metric
       : (names[0] ?? "")
+  // An axis naming a metric these runs stopped recording falls back to the
+  // step, which every run has.
+  const x =
+    search.x &&
+    (search.x === STEP_AXIS || search.x === "time" || names.includes(search.x))
+      ? search.x
+      : STEP_AXIS
   const tooMany = ids.length > MAX_SERIES
 
   return (
@@ -395,6 +502,16 @@ function Compare({
           value={metric}
           onChange={(name) => update({ metric: name })}
         />
+        {names.length > 0 && (
+          <AxisPicker
+            names={names}
+            metric={metric}
+            value={x}
+            onChange={(next) =>
+              update({ x: next === STEP_AXIS ? undefined : next })
+            }
+          />
+        )}
         <OpenInDashboard flow={flow} ids={ids} />
         <Button
           variant="ghost"
@@ -414,7 +531,12 @@ function Compare({
       )}
 
       {metric ? (
-        <RunMetricChart ids={ids.slice(0, MAX_SERIES)} metric={metric} />
+        <RunMetricChart
+          ids={ids.slice(0, MAX_SERIES)}
+          metric={metric}
+          x={x}
+          className="h-56"
+        />
       ) : (
         <p className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
           These runs recorded no metric series to compare.

frontend/src/components/Runs/queries.ts

@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ export const runKeys = {
   detail: (id: string) => ["runs", "detail", id] as const,
   metrics: (id: string, name: string) =>
     ["runs", "detail", id, "metrics", name] as const,
-  compare: (ids: string[], metric: string) =>
-    ["runs", "compare", ids.join(","), metric] as const,
+  compare: (ids: string[], metric: string, x: string) =>
+    ["runs", "compare", ids.join(","), metric, x] as const,
 }
 
 /** The resting surface these screens are built from, as Health names it. */
@@ -93,17 +93,31 @@ export const runMetricsQueryOptions = (id: string, name = "") => ({
   queryFn: () => RunsService.readMetrics({ runId: id, name }),
 })
 
+/** What a comparison can be plotted against, beside another metric's name. */
+export const STEP_AXIS = "step"
+export const TIME_AXIS = "time"
+
 export const compareQueryOptions = (
   ids: string[],
   metric: string,
+  x = STEP_AXIS,
   refetchInterval?: number,
 ) => ({
-  queryKey: runKeys.compare(ids, metric),
-  queryFn: () => RunsService.compareMetric({ ids: ids.join(","), metric }),
+  queryKey: runKeys.compare(ids, metric, x),
+  queryFn: () => RunsService.compareMetric({ ids: ids.join(","), metric, x }),
   enabled: ids.length > 0 && Boolean(metric),
   ...(refetchInterval ? { refetchInterval } : {}),
 })
 
+/**
+ * How many runs one selection carries.
+ *
+ * The selection is the address, which is what makes a comparison a link — and
+ * a URL is not a place to put five hundred 22-character ids. A chart draws
+ * five of them anyway; the rest of the room is for changing your mind.
+ */
+export const MAX_SELECTION = 50
+
 export function useCancelRun() {
   const client = useQueryClient()
   return useMutation({

frontend/src/components/ui/table.tsx

@@ -2,11 +2,23 @@ import * as React from "react"
 
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils"
 
-function Table({ className, ...props }: React.ComponentProps<"table">) {
+function Table({
+  className,
+  containerClassName,
+  ...props
+}: React.ComponentProps<"table"> & {
+  /** For the scroll container rather than the table — a bounded height here is
+   *  what lets a long table scroll inside the page instead of with it, and it
+   *  is the box a sticky header sticks to. */
+  containerClassName?: string
+}) {
   return (
     <div
       data-slot="table-container"
-      className="relative w-full overflow-x-auto rounded-lg border"
+      className={cn(
+        "relative w-full overflow-x-auto rounded-lg border",
+        containerClassName,
+      )}
     >
       <table
         data-slot="table"

frontend/src/routes/_layout/runs/index.tsx

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export const Route = createFileRoute("/_layout/runs/")({
     group: text(search.group),
     compare: text(search.compare),
     metric: text(search.metric),
+    x: text(search.x),
   }),
   head: () => ({ meta: [{ title: "Runs - Fluksio" }] }),
 })