fix: preserve cross-device evidence and render recorded reports

artemis/data_engine/engine.py

@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@ import socket
 import sqlite3
 import threading
 import time
-from typing import Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
 
 from artemis.config import PAUSE_FILE, get_ipc_port_file, read_ipc_port, settings
-from artemis.context import ArtemisContext
 from artemis.data_engine.models import (
     BackgroundTaskRecord,
     FailedOutputRecord,
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ from artemis.data_engine.models import (
     VideoRecordingRecord,
 )
 from artemis.data_engine.storage import StorageManager
-from artemis.data_engine.trace import CURRENT_TRACE_ID
+from artemis.data_engine.context_vars import CURRENT_TRACE_ID
 from artemis.utils.coordinates import (
     normalize_any_structure,
     normalize_step_actions,
@@ -48,6 +47,9 @@ from artemis.utils.coordinates import (
 from artemis.utils.logger import get_logger
 from artemis.utils.text import safe_extract_text
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from artemis.context import ArtemisContext
+
 logger = get_logger(__name__)
 
 _CURRENT_DATA_ENGINE = None
@@ -392,7 +394,7 @@ def friendly_step(
 class DataEngine:
     """Core engine for managing runtime data, storage, and streaming."""
 
-    def __init__(self, ctx: ArtemisContext):
+    def __init__(self, ctx: "ArtemisContext"):
         self.ctx = ctx
 
         # Determine paths from context
@@ -895,8 +897,8 @@ class DataEngine:
         post_image_name = (
             hashlib.sha256(post_screenshot_bytes).hexdigest() if post_screenshot_bytes else None
         )
-        if pre_image_name and post_image_name and pre_image_name == post_image_name:
-            post_image_name = None
+        # Identical post-captures are evidence of an observed unchanged frame.
+        # The content-addressed image store already deduplicates their bytes.
 
         # Persist the foreground app for the recall search surface (the
         # parameter was historically accepted but never stored). The explicit

artemis/data_engine/storage.py

@@ -824,15 +824,6 @@ class StorageManager:
                     "UPDATE steps SET pre_image_name = NULL WHERE step_id = ?",
                     (str(step_id),),
                 )
-            if post_image_name:
-                cursor = conn.execute(
-                    "SELECT pre_image_name FROM steps WHERE step_id = ?",
-                    (str(step_id),),
-                )
-                row = cursor.fetchone()
-                if row and row["pre_image_name"] == post_image_name:
-                    post_image_name = None
-
             if post_image_name:
                 conn.execute(
                     """