feat: implement background podcast generation with Celery and task polling in UI

surfsense_backend/app/agents/new_chat/podcast.py

@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 Podcast generation tool for the new chat agent.
 
 This module provides a factory function for creating the generate_podcast tool
-that integrates with the existing podcaster agent. Podcasts are saved to the
+that submits a Celery task for background podcast generation. The frontend
-database like the old system, providing authentication and persistence.
+polls for completion and auto-updates when the podcast is ready.
 """
 
 from typing import Any
@@ -11,10 +11,6 @@ from typing import Any
 from langchain_core.tools import tool
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
-from app.agents.podcaster.graph import graph as podcaster_graph
-from app.agents.podcaster.state import State as PodcasterState
-from app.db import Podcast
-
 
 def create_generate_podcast_tool(
     search_space_id: int,
@@ -26,7 +22,7 @@ def create_generate_podcast_tool(
 
     Args:
         search_space_id: The user's search space ID
-        db_session: Database session
+        db_session: Database session (not used - Celery creates its own)
         user_id: The user's ID (as string)
 
     Returns:
@@ -50,8 +46,8 @@ def create_generate_podcast_tool(
         - "Make a podcast about..."
         - "Turn this into a podcast"
 
-        The tool will generate a complete audio podcast with two speakers
+        The tool will start generating a podcast in the background.
-        discussing the provided content in an engaging conversational format.
+        The podcast will be available once generation completes.
 
         Args:
             source_content: The text content to convert into a podcast.
@@ -63,108 +59,43 @@ def create_generate_podcast_tool(
 
         Returns:
             A dictionary containing:
-            - status: "success" or "error"
+            - status: "processing" (task submitted) or "error"
-            - podcast_id: The database ID of the saved podcast (for API access)
+            - task_id: The Celery task ID for polling status
             - title: The podcast title
-            - transcript: Full podcast transcript with all dialogue entries
-            - duration_ms: Estimated podcast duration in milliseconds
-            - transcript_entries: Number of dialogue entries
         """
         try:
-            # Configure the podcaster graph
+            # Import Celery task here to avoid circular imports
-            config = {
+            from app.tasks.celery_tasks.podcast_tasks import (
-                "configurable": {
+                generate_content_podcast_task,
-                    "podcast_title": podcast_title,
+            )
-                    "user_id": str(user_id),
-                    "search_space_id": search_space_id,
-                    "user_prompt": user_prompt,
-                }
-            }
 
-            # Initialize the podcaster state with the source content
+            # Submit Celery task for background processing
-            initial_state = PodcasterState(
+            task = generate_content_podcast_task.delay(
                 source_content=source_content,
-                db_session=db_session,
-            )
-
-            # Run the podcaster graph
-            result = await podcaster_graph.ainvoke(initial_state, config=config)
-
-            # Extract results
-            podcast_transcript = result.get("podcast_transcript", [])
-            file_path = result.get("final_podcast_file_path", "")
-
-            # Calculate estimated duration (rough estimate: ~150 words per minute)
-            total_words = sum(
-                len(entry.dialog.split()) if hasattr(entry, "dialog") else len(entry.get("dialog", "").split())
-                for entry in podcast_transcript
-            )
-            estimated_duration_ms = int((total_words / 150) * 60 * 1000)
-
-            # Create full transcript for display (all entries, complete dialog)
-            full_transcript = []
-            for entry in podcast_transcript:
-                if hasattr(entry, "speaker_id"):
-                    speaker = f"Speaker {entry.speaker_id + 1}"
-                    dialog = entry.dialog
-                else:
-                    speaker = f"Speaker {entry.get('speaker_id', 0) + 1}"
-                    dialog = entry.get("dialog", "")
-                full_transcript.append(f"{speaker}: {dialog}")
-
-            # Convert podcast transcript entries to serializable format (like old system)
-            serializable_transcript = []
-            for entry in podcast_transcript:
-                if hasattr(entry, "speaker_id"):
-                    serializable_transcript.append({
-                        "speaker_id": entry.speaker_id,
-                        "dialog": entry.dialog
-                    })
-                else:
-                    serializable_transcript.append({
-                        "speaker_id": entry.get("speaker_id", 0),
-                        "dialog": entry.get("dialog", "")
-                    })
-
-            # Save podcast to database (like old system)
-            # This provides authentication and persistence
-            podcast = Podcast(
-                title=podcast_title,
-                podcast_transcript=serializable_transcript,
-                file_location=file_path,
                 search_space_id=search_space_id,
-                # chat_id is None since new-chat uses LangGraph threads, not DB chats
+                user_id=str(user_id),
-                chat_id=None,
+                podcast_title=podcast_title,
-                chat_state_version=None,
+                user_prompt=user_prompt,
             )
-            db_session.add(podcast)
-            await db_session.commit()
-            await db_session.refresh(podcast)
 
-            # Return podcast_id - frontend will use it to call the API endpoint
+            print(f"[generate_podcast] Submitted Celery task: {task.id}")
-            # GET /api/v1/podcasts/{podcast_id}/stream (like the old system)
+
+            # Return immediately with task_id for polling
             return {
-                "status": "success",
+                "status": "processing",
-                "podcast_id": podcast.id,
+                "task_id": task.id,
                 "title": podcast_title,
-                "transcript": "\n\n".join(full_transcript),
+                "message": "Podcast generation started. This may take a few minutes.",
-                "duration_ms": estimated_duration_ms,
-                "transcript_entries": len(podcast_transcript),
             }
 
         except Exception as e:
             error_message = str(e)
-            print(f"[generate_podcast] Error: {error_message}")
+            print(f"[generate_podcast] Error submitting task: {error_message}")
-            # Rollback on error
-            await db_session.rollback()
             return {
                 "status": "error",
                 "error": error_message,
                 "title": podcast_title,
-                "podcast_id": None,
+                "task_id": None,
-                "duration_ms": 0,
-                "transcript_entries": 0,
             }
 
     return generate_podcast
-

surfsense_backend/app/routes/podcasts_routes.py

@@ -444,3 +444,66 @@ async def get_podcast_by_chat_id(
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=500, detail=f"Error fetching podcast: {e!s}"
         ) from e
+
+
+@router.get("/podcasts/task/{task_id}/status")
+async def get_podcast_task_status(
+    task_id: str,
+    user: User = Depends(current_active_user),
+):
+    """
+    Get the status of a podcast generation task.
+    Used by new-chat frontend to poll for completion.
+
+    Returns:
+    - status: "processing" | "success" | "error"
+    - podcast_id: (only if status == "success")
+    - title: (only if status == "success")
+    - error: (only if status == "error")
+    """
+    try:
+        from celery.result import AsyncResult
+
+        from app.celery_app import celery_app
+
+        result = AsyncResult(task_id, app=celery_app)
+
+        if result.ready():
+            # Task completed
+            if result.successful():
+                task_result = result.result
+                if isinstance(task_result, dict):
+                    if task_result.get("status") == "success":
+                        return {
+                            "status": "success",
+                            "podcast_id": task_result.get("podcast_id"),
+                            "title": task_result.get("title"),
+                            "transcript_entries": task_result.get("transcript_entries"),
+                        }
+                    else:
+                        return {
+                            "status": "error",
+                            "error": task_result.get("error", "Unknown error"),
+                        }
+                else:
+                    return {
+                        "status": "error",
+                        "error": "Unexpected task result format",
+                    }
+            else:
+                # Task failed
+                return {
+                    "status": "error",
+                    "error": str(result.result) if result.result else "Task failed",
+                }
+        else:
+            # Task still processing
+            return {
+                "status": "processing",
+                "state": result.state,
+            }
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=500, detail=f"Error checking task status: {e!s}"
+        ) from e

surfsense_backend/app/tasks/celery_tasks/podcast_tasks.py

@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ from app.celery_app import celery_app
 from app.config import config
 from app.tasks.podcast_tasks import generate_chat_podcast
 
+# Import for content-based podcast (new-chat)
+from app.agents.podcaster.graph import graph as podcaster_graph
+from app.agents.podcaster.state import State as PodcasterState
+from app.db import Podcast
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
@@ -86,3 +91,131 @@ async def _generate_chat_podcast(
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Error generating podcast from chat: {e!s}")
             raise
+
+
+# =============================================================================
+# Content-based podcast generation (for new-chat)
+# =============================================================================
+
+
+@celery_app.task(name="generate_content_podcast", bind=True)
+def generate_content_podcast_task(
+    self,
+    source_content: str,
+    search_space_id: int,
+    user_id: str,
+    podcast_title: str = "SurfSense Podcast",
+    user_prompt: str | None = None,
+) -> dict:
+    """
+    Celery task to generate podcast from source content (for new-chat).
+
+    Unlike generate_chat_podcast which requires a chat_id, this task
+    generates a podcast directly from provided content.
+
+    Args:
+        source_content: The text content to convert into a podcast
+        search_space_id: ID of the search space
+        user_id: ID of the user (as string)
+        podcast_title: Title for the podcast
+        user_prompt: Optional instructions for podcast style/tone
+
+    Returns:
+        dict with podcast_id on success, or error info on failure
+    """
+    loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+    asyncio.set_event_loop(loop)
+
+    try:
+        result = loop.run_until_complete(
+            _generate_content_podcast(
+                source_content,
+                search_space_id,
+                user_id,
+                podcast_title,
+                user_prompt,
+            )
+        )
+        loop.run_until_complete(loop.shutdown_asyncgens())
+        return result
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error generating content podcast: {e!s}")
+        return {"status": "error", "error": str(e)}
+    finally:
+        asyncio.set_event_loop(None)
+        loop.close()
+
+
+async def _generate_content_podcast(
+    source_content: str,
+    search_space_id: int,
+    user_id: str,
+    podcast_title: str = "SurfSense Podcast",
+    user_prompt: str | None = None,
+) -> dict:
+    """Generate content-based podcast with new session."""
+    async with get_celery_session_maker()() as session:
+        try:
+            # Configure the podcaster graph
+            graph_config = {
+                "configurable": {
+                    "podcast_title": podcast_title,
+                    "user_id": str(user_id),
+                    "search_space_id": search_space_id,
+                    "user_prompt": user_prompt,
+                }
+            }
+
+            # Initialize the podcaster state with the source content
+            initial_state = PodcasterState(
+                source_content=source_content,
+                db_session=session,
+            )
+
+            # Run the podcaster graph
+            result = await podcaster_graph.ainvoke(initial_state, config=graph_config)
+
+            # Extract results
+            podcast_transcript = result.get("podcast_transcript", [])
+            file_path = result.get("final_podcast_file_path", "")
+
+            # Convert transcript to serializable format
+            serializable_transcript = []
+            for entry in podcast_transcript:
+                if hasattr(entry, "speaker_id"):
+                    serializable_transcript.append({
+                        "speaker_id": entry.speaker_id,
+                        "dialog": entry.dialog
+                    })
+                else:
+                    serializable_transcript.append({
+                        "speaker_id": entry.get("speaker_id", 0),
+                        "dialog": entry.get("dialog", "")
+                    })
+
+            # Save podcast to database
+            podcast = Podcast(
+                title=podcast_title,
+                podcast_transcript=serializable_transcript,
+                file_location=file_path,
+                search_space_id=search_space_id,
+                chat_id=None,  # No chat_id for new-chat podcasts
+                chat_state_version=None,
+            )
+            session.add(podcast)
+            await session.commit()
+            await session.refresh(podcast)
+
+            logger.info(f"Successfully generated content podcast: {podcast.id}")
+
+            return {
+                "status": "success",
+                "podcast_id": podcast.id,
+                "title": podcast_title,
+                "transcript_entries": len(serializable_transcript),
+            }
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error in _generate_content_podcast: {e!s}")
+            await session.rollback()
+            raise

surfsense_web/components/tool-ui/generate-podcast.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { makeAssistantToolUI } from "@assistant-ui/react";
 import { AlertCircleIcon, Loader2Icon, MicIcon } from "lucide-react";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { Audio } from "@/components/tool-ui/audio";
+import { baseApiService } from "@/lib/apis/base-api.service";
 import { podcastsApiService } from "@/lib/apis/podcasts-api.service";
 
 /**
@@ -16,12 +17,21 @@ interface GeneratePodcastArgs {
 }
 
 interface GeneratePodcastResult {
-	status: "success" | "error";
+	status: "processing" | "success" | "error";
+	task_id?: string;
 	podcast_id?: number;
 	title?: string;
-	transcript?: string;
-	duration_ms?: number;
 	transcript_entries?: number;
+	message?: string;
+	error?: string;
+}
+
+interface TaskStatusResponse {
+	status: "processing" | "success" | "error";
+	podcast_id?: number;
+	title?: string;
+	transcript_entries?: number;
+	state?: string;
 	error?: string;
 }
 
@@ -106,15 +116,11 @@ function PodcastPlayer({
 	title,
 	description,
 	durationMs,
-	transcript,
-	transcriptEntries,
 }: {
 	podcastId: number;
 	title: string;
 	description: string;
 	durationMs?: number;
-	transcript?: string;
-	transcriptEntries?: number;
 }) {
 	const [audioSrc, setAudioSrc] = useState<string | null>(null);
 	const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
@@ -194,29 +200,96 @@ function PodcastPlayer({
 				durationMs={durationMs}
 				className="w-full"
 			/>
-			{/* Full transcript */}
-			{transcript && (
-				<details className="mt-3 rounded-lg border bg-muted/30 p-3">
-					<summary className="cursor-pointer font-medium text-muted-foreground text-sm hover:text-foreground">
-						View full transcript{transcriptEntries ? ` (${transcriptEntries} entries)` : ""}
-					</summary>
-					<pre className="mt-2 max-h-96 overflow-y-auto whitespace-pre-wrap text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-						{transcript}
-					</pre>
-				</details>
-			)}
 		</div>
 	);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Polling component that checks task status and shows player when complete
+ */
+function PodcastTaskPoller({
+	taskId,
+	title,
+}: {
+	taskId: string;
+	title: string;
+}) {
+	const [taskStatus, setTaskStatus] = useState<TaskStatusResponse>({ status: "processing" });
+	const [pollCount, setPollCount] = useState(0);
+	const pollingRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
+
+	// Poll for task status
+	useEffect(() => {
+		const pollStatus = async () => {
+			try {
+				const response = await baseApiService.get<TaskStatusResponse>(
+					`/api/v1/podcasts/task/${taskId}/status`
+				);
+				setTaskStatus(response);
+
+				// Stop polling if task is complete or errored
+				if (response.status !== "processing") {
+					if (pollingRef.current) {
+						clearInterval(pollingRef.current);
+						pollingRef.current = null;
+					}
+				}
+			} catch (err) {
+				console.error("Error polling task status:", err);
+				// Don't stop polling on network errors, just increment count
+			}
+			setPollCount((prev) => prev + 1);
+		};
+
+		// Initial poll
+		pollStatus();
+
+		// Poll every 5 seconds
+		pollingRef.current = setInterval(pollStatus, 5000);
+
+		return () => {
+			if (pollingRef.current) {
+				clearInterval(pollingRef.current);
+			}
+		};
+	}, [taskId]);
+
+	// Show loading state while processing
+	if (taskStatus.status === "processing") {
+		return <PodcastGeneratingState title={title} />;
+	}
+
+	// Show error state
+	if (taskStatus.status === "error") {
+		return <PodcastErrorState title={title} error={taskStatus.error || "Generation failed"} />;
+	}
+
+	// Show player when complete
+	if (taskStatus.status === "success" && taskStatus.podcast_id) {
+		return (
+			<PodcastPlayer
+				podcastId={taskStatus.podcast_id}
+				title={taskStatus.title || title}
+				description={
+					taskStatus.transcript_entries
+						? `${taskStatus.transcript_entries} dialogue entries`
+						: "SurfSense AI-generated podcast"
+				}
+			/>
+		);
+	}
+
+	// Fallback
+	return <PodcastErrorState title={title} error="Unexpected state" />;
+}
+
 /**
  * Generate Podcast Tool UI Component
  *
  * This component is registered with assistant-ui to render custom UI
  * when the generate_podcast tool is called by the agent.
  *
- * It fetches the podcast audio with authentication (like the old system)
+ * It polls for task completion and auto-updates when the podcast is ready.
- * and displays it using the Audio component.
  */
 export const GeneratePodcastToolUI = makeAssistantToolUI<
 	GeneratePodcastArgs,
@@ -226,7 +299,7 @@ export const GeneratePodcastToolUI = makeAssistantToolUI<
 	render: function GeneratePodcastUI({ args, result, status }) {
 		const title = args.podcast_title || "SurfSense Podcast";
 
-		// Loading state - podcast is being generated
+		// Loading state - tool is still running (agent processing)
 		if (status.type === "running" || status.type === "requires-action") {
 			return <PodcastGeneratingState title={title} />;
 		}
@@ -263,12 +336,13 @@ export const GeneratePodcastToolUI = makeAssistantToolUI<
 			return <PodcastErrorState title={title} error={result.error || "Unknown error"} />;
 		}
 
-		// Success - need podcast_id to fetch with auth
+		// Processing - poll for completion
-		if (!result.podcast_id) {
+		if (result.status === "processing" && result.task_id) {
-			return <PodcastErrorState title={title} error="Missing podcast ID" />;
+			return <PodcastTaskPoller taskId={result.task_id} title={result.title || title} />;
 		}
 
-		// Render the podcast player (handles auth fetch internally)
+		// Success with podcast_id (direct result, not via polling)
+		if (result.status === "success" && result.podcast_id) {
 			return (
 				<PodcastPlayer
 					podcastId={result.podcast_id}
@@ -278,11 +352,11 @@ export const GeneratePodcastToolUI = makeAssistantToolUI<
 							? `${result.transcript_entries} dialogue entries`
 							: "SurfSense AI-generated podcast"
 					}
-				durationMs={result.duration_ms}
-				transcript={result.transcript}
-				transcriptEntries={result.transcript_entries}
 				/>
 			);
+		}
+
+		// Fallback - missing required data
+		return <PodcastErrorState title={title} error="Missing task ID or podcast ID" />;
 	},
 });
-