I think I broke it

PianobarManager.cs

@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData),
             "PianobarHelper",
             "pianobar-io.log");
+        private readonly object _stationsLock = new object();
+        private readonly SortedDictionary<int, string> _knownStations = new();
+        private readonly object _stationPromptLock = new object();
+        private TaskCompletionSource<bool>? _stationPromptTcs;
+        private readonly object _inputLock = new object();
+        private readonly object _logLock = new object();
+        private readonly List<string> _ioLogLines = new();
+        private int? _pendingStationIndex;
 
         public event EventHandler<SongChangedEventArgs>? SongChanged;
         public event EventHandler<string>? StationChanged;
@@ -67,6 +75,14 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             _receivedStdOut = false;
             _receivedStdErr = false;
 
+            lock (_stationPromptLock)
+            {
+                _pendingStationIndex = null;
+                _stationPromptTcs = null;
+            }
+
+            ResetIoLog();
+
             // Check if pianobar is already running (check both with and without .exe)
             var existingProcesses = Process.GetProcessesByName("pianobar");
             if (existingProcesses.Length == 0)
@@ -267,8 +283,7 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
 
             try
             {
-                _inputWriter.WriteLine(command);
+                WriteInputCommand(command.ToString());
-                _inputWriter.Flush();
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
@@ -283,8 +298,7 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
 
             try
             {
-                _inputWriter.WriteLine(command);
+                WriteInputCommand(command);
-                _inputWriter.Flush();
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
@@ -292,6 +306,22 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             }
         }
 
+        private void WriteInputCommand(string command)
+        {
+            if (_inputWriter == null)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("Standard input is not available.");
+
+            lock (_inputLock)
+            {
+                // Use LF explicitly to avoid CRLF handling issues with redirected stdin.
+                _inputWriter.Write(command);
+                _inputWriter.Write('\n');
+                _inputWriter.Flush();
+            }
+
+            LogIoLine("STDIN", command);
+        }
+
         public void PlayPause()
         {
             SendCommand('p');
@@ -310,12 +340,68 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             SendCommand('s');
         }
 
+        public async Task SelectStationAsync(int stationIndex)
+        {
+            if (stationIndex < 0)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(stationIndex));
+
+            if (!IsConnected || _inputWriter == null)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("Not connected to Pianobar.");
+
+            bool isInitialSelection = IsInitialStationSelection(stationIndex);
+
+            if (isInitialSelection)
+            {
+                // Startup flow: station list already printed by Pianobar, submit index directly.
+                SendCommand(stationIndex.ToString());
+                RaiseEvent($"Initial station selection submitted: {stationIndex}");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // Station change flow: request station mode, then submit index quickly.
+            ShowStations();
+            await Task.Delay(150);
+            SendCommand(stationIndex.ToString());
+            RaiseEvent($"Station change submitted: {stationIndex}");
+        }
+
+        private bool IsInitialStationSelection(int stationIndex)
+        {
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(CurrentSong))
+                return false;
+
+            lock (_stationsLock)
+            {
+                return _knownStations.ContainsKey(stationIndex) && _knownStations.Count > 0;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public IReadOnlyList<(int Index, string Name)> GetKnownStationEntries()
+        {
+            lock (_stationsLock)
+            {
+                return _knownStations
+                    .OrderBy(kvp => kvp.Key)
+                    .Select(kvp => (kvp.Key, kvp.Value))
+                    .ToList();
+            }
+        }
+
+        public IReadOnlyList<string> GetKnownStations()
+        {
+            lock (_stationsLock)
+            {
+                return _knownStations.OrderBy(kvp => kvp.Key).Select(kvp => kvp.Value).ToList();
+            }
+        }
+
         private void Process_OutputDataReceived(object? sender, DataReceivedEventArgs e)
         {
             if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(e.Data))
                 return;
 
             string line = e.Data;
+            CaptureStationLine(line);
             if (!_receivedStdOut)
             {
                 _receivedStdOut = true;
@@ -332,6 +418,7 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
         {
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(e.Data))
             {
+                CaptureStationLine(e.Data);
                 if (!_receivedStdErr)
                 {
                     _receivedStdErr = true;
@@ -344,13 +431,83 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             }
         }
 
-        private void Process_Exited(object? sender, EventArgs e)
+        private void CaptureStationLine(string line)
         {
-            if (!_receivedStdOut)
+            var clean = StripAnsiCodes(line).Trim();
-                RaiseEvent("No STDOUT data received before process exit");
 
-            IsConnected = false;
+            SignalStationPromptIfWaiting(clean);
-            RaiseEvent("Pianobar process exited");
+
+            if (clean.Contains("Get stations... Ok.", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                lock (_stationsLock)
+                {
+                    _knownStations.Clear();
+                }
+                return;
+            }
+
+            var match = Regex.Match(clean, @"^\s*(\d+)\)\s*(?:[qQ]\s+)?(.+?)\s*$");
+            if (!match.Success)
+                return;
+
+            int index = int.Parse(match.Groups[1].Value);
+            string stationName = match.Groups[2].Value.Trim();
+
+            lock (_stationsLock)
+            {
+                _knownStations[index] = stationName;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void SignalStationPromptIfWaiting(string cleanLine)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(cleanLine))
+                return;
+
+            bool isStationPrompt =
+                cleanLine.Contains("Select station:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) ||
+                cleanLine.StartsWith("[?]", StringComparison.Ordinal);
+            if (!isStationPrompt)
+                return;
+
+            int? pendingIndex = null;
+            TaskCompletionSource<bool>? tcs = null;
+
+            lock (_stationPromptLock)
+            {
+                pendingIndex = _pendingStationIndex;
+                _pendingStationIndex = null;
+                tcs = _stationPromptTcs;
+                _stationPromptTcs = null;
+            }
+
+            if (pendingIndex.HasValue)
+            {
+                SendCommand(pendingIndex.Value.ToString());
+                RaiseEvent($"Station change submitted: {pendingIndex.Value}");
+            }
+
+            tcs?.TrySetResult(true);
+        }
+
+        private void ResetIoLog()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var logDir = Path.GetDirectoryName(_ioLogPath);
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(logDir))
+                    Directory.CreateDirectory(logDir);
+
+                lock (_logLock)
+                {
+                    _ioLogLines.Clear();
+                    File.WriteAllText(_ioLogPath, string.Empty);
+                }
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                // Ignore logging errors
+            }
         }
 
         private void LogIoLine(string source, string line)
@@ -361,7 +518,13 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
                 if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(logDir))
                     Directory.CreateDirectory(logDir);
 
-                File.AppendAllText(_ioLogPath, $"[{DateTime.Now:yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.fff}] [{source}] {line}{Environment.NewLine}");
+                string entry = $"[{DateTime.Now:yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.fff}] [{source}] {line}";
+
+                lock (_logLock)
+                {
+                    _ioLogLines.Add(entry);
+                    File.WriteAllText(_ioLogPath, string.Join(Environment.NewLine, _ioLogLines) + Environment.NewLine);
+                }
             }
             catch
             {
@@ -544,6 +707,20 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
         {
             Disconnect();
         }
+
+        private static string StripAnsiCodes(string value)
+        {
+            return Regex.Replace(value, @"\x1B\[[0-9;]*[A-Za-z]", string.Empty);
+        }
+
+        private void Process_Exited(object? sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            if (!_receivedStdOut)
+                RaiseEvent("No STDOUT data received before process exit");
+
+            IsConnected = false;
+            RaiseEvent("Pianobar process exited");
+        }
     }
 
     public class SongChangedEventArgs : EventArgs

StationForm.cs

@@ -3,18 +3,25 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
     public partial class StationForm : Form
     {
         private readonly PianobarManager _pianobarManager;
-        private List<string> _stations;
+        private List<StationItem> _stations;
-        private List<string> _filteredStations;
+        private List<StationItem> _filteredStations;
         private bool _stationsLoaded = false;
         private bool _stationEntriesStarted = false;
 
+        private sealed class StationItem
+        {
+            public int Index { get; set; }
+            public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+            public override string ToString() => Name;
+        }
+
         public StationForm(PianobarManager pianobarManager)
         {
             InitializeComponent();
 
             _pianobarManager = pianobarManager;
-            _stations = new List<string>();
+            _stations = new List<StationItem>();
-            _filteredStations = new List<string>();
+            _filteredStations = new List<StationItem>();
 
             InitializeControls();
         }
@@ -30,6 +37,11 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             {
                 lstStations.DoubleClick += LstStations_DoubleClick;
             }
+
+            if (refresh_button != null)
+            {
+                refresh_button.Click += refresh_button_Click;
+            }
         }
 
         protected override void OnShown(EventArgs e)
@@ -40,23 +52,39 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
                 LoadStations();
         }
 
-        private void LoadStations()
+        private void LoadStations(bool forceRefresh = false)
         {
-            _stations.Clear();
             _filteredStations.Clear();
             _stationsLoaded = false;
             _stationEntriesStarted = false;
 
-            // Subscribe to output to capture station list
+            if (forceRefresh)
+                _stations.Clear();
+
+            var knownStations = _pianobarManager.GetKnownStationEntries();
+            if (knownStations.Count > 0)
+            {
+                _stations = knownStations
+                    .Select(s => new StationItem { Index = s.Index, Name = s.Name })
+                    .OrderBy(s => s.Index)
+                    .ToList();
+
+                _stationEntriesStarted = true;
+                if (lstStations != null)
+                    UpdateStationList();
+            }
+
+            _pianobarManager.OutputReceived -= PianobarManager_OutputReceived;
             _pianobarManager.OutputReceived += PianobarManager_OutputReceived;
 
-            // Send command to show stations
+            // Only request station list on explicit refresh.
+            if (forceRefresh)
+            {
                 try
                 {
                     _pianobarManager.ShowStations();
 
-                // Show loading message
+                    if (lstStations != null && _stations.Count == 0)
-                if (lstStations != null)
                     {
                         lstStations.Items.Clear();
                         lstStations.Items.Add("Loading stations...");
@@ -68,6 +96,16 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
                         MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
                 }
             }
+            else
+            {
+                _stationsLoaded = true;
+                if (_stations.Count == 0 && lstStations != null)
+                {
+                    lstStations.Items.Clear();
+                    lstStations.Items.Add("No cached stations. Click Refresh stations.");
+                }
+            }
+        }
 
         #endregion
 
@@ -79,16 +117,24 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(line))
                 return;
 
-            // Parse station list from Pianobar output
+            var match = System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Match(line, @"^\s*(\d+)\)\s*(?:[qQ]\s+)?(.+?)\s*$");
-            // Handles formats like: "0) Station", "*0) Station", "  12) Station"
-            var match = System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Match(line, @"^\s*\*?\s*(\d+)\)\s*(.+)$");
             if (match.Success)
             {
                 _stationEntriesStarted = true;
+                int stationIndex = int.Parse(match.Groups[1].Value);
                 string stationName = match.Groups[2].Value.Trim();
-                if (!_stations.Contains(stationName))
+
+                var existing = _stations.FirstOrDefault(s => s.Index == stationIndex);
+                if (existing == null)
                 {
-                    _stations.Add(stationName);
+                    _stations.Add(new StationItem { Index = stationIndex, Name = stationName });
+                    _stations = _stations.OrderBy(s => s.Index).ToList();
+                    if (!IsDisposed && IsHandleCreated)
+                        BeginInvoke(() => UpdateStationList());
+                }
+                else if (!string.Equals(existing.Name, stationName, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+                {
+                    existing.Name = stationName;
                     if (!IsDisposed && IsHandleCreated)
                         BeginInvoke(() => UpdateStationList());
                 }
@@ -96,7 +142,8 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             }
 
             // Detect end of station list only after we started receiving entries
-            if (_stationEntriesStarted && line.Contains("Select station:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            if (_stationEntriesStarted &&
+                (line.Contains("Select station:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) || line == "[?]"))
             {
                 _stationsLoaded = true;
                 _pianobarManager.OutputReceived -= PianobarManager_OutputReceived;
@@ -154,7 +201,7 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             else
             {
                 _filteredStations = _stations
-                    .Where(s => s.IndexOf(searchText, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) >= 0)
+                    .Where(s => s.Name.IndexOf(searchText, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) >= 0)
                     .ToList();
             }
 
@@ -166,17 +213,17 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
         #region Station Selection
 
         // Wire this to btnSelectStation.Click in the Designer
-        public void btnSelectStation_Click(object? sender, EventArgs e)
+        public async void btnSelectStation_Click(object? sender, EventArgs e)
         {
-            SelectCurrentStation();
+            await SelectCurrentStationAsync();
         }
 
-        private void LstStations_DoubleClick(object? sender, EventArgs e)
+        private async void LstStations_DoubleClick(object? sender, EventArgs e)
         {
-            SelectCurrentStation();
+            await SelectCurrentStationAsync();
         }
 
-        private void SelectCurrentStation()
+        private async Task SelectCurrentStationAsync()
         {
             if (lstStations == null)
                 return;
@@ -188,21 +235,12 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
                 return;
             }
 
-            string selectedStation = lstStations.SelectedItem?.ToString() ?? string.Empty;
+            if (lstStations.SelectedItem is not StationItem selectedStation)
-            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(selectedStation))
-                return;
-
-            // Find the index in the original station list
-            int stationIndex = _stations.IndexOf(selectedStation);
-            if (stationIndex < 0)
                 return;
 
             try
             {
-                // Send the station index to Pianobar
+                await _pianobarManager.SelectStationAsync(selectedStation.Index);
-                // Pianobar expects the station number (0-based index)
-                _pianobarManager.SendCommand(stationIndex.ToString());
-
                 DialogResult = DialogResult.OK;
                 Close();
             }
@@ -213,6 +251,11 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
             }
         }
 
+        public void refresh_button_Click(object? sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            LoadStations(forceRefresh: true);
+        }
+
         #endregion
 
         #region Cancel
@@ -220,13 +263,6 @@ namespace PainoBar_Helper
         // Wire this to btnCancelStation.Click in the Designer (or Cancel button)
         public void btnCancelStation_Click(object? sender, EventArgs e)
         {
-            // Send 'q' to cancel station selection in Pianobar
-            try
-            {
-                _pianobarManager.SendCommand('q');
-            }
-            catch { }
-
             DialogResult = DialogResult.Cancel;
             Close();
         }