diff --git a/src/components/Discussion.svelte b/src/components/Discussion.svelte
index 7f037c260..2a36e10f5 100644
--- a/src/components/Discussion.svelte
+++ b/src/components/Discussion.svelte
@@ -1,14 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts" module>
-  export interface ActivityItem<T = unknown> {
-    key: string;
-    timestamp: number;
-    data: T;
-    /// Renders as a card or a filled band rather than a bare row of text.
-    /// Grouped rows are packed tight against each other, which reads as one
-    /// element when the things being packed have their own edges, so these are
-    /// never folded into a run.
-    standalone?: boolean;
-  }
+  import type { ActivityItem } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
+
+  export type { ActivityItem };
 </script>
 
 <script lang="ts" generics="A">
diff --git a/src/components/IssueActivityItem.svelte b/src/components/IssueActivityItem.svelte
index 6b7a832cf..9454d1499 100644
--- a/src/components/IssueActivityItem.svelte
+++ b/src/components/IssueActivityItem.svelte
@@ -1,18 +1,13 @@
 <script lang="ts" module>
   import type { Author } from "@bindings/cob/Author";
-  import type { Action } from "@bindings/cob/issue/Action";
 
-  export type FlattenedIssueOperation =
-    | (Action & {
-        id: string;
-        author: Author;
-        timestamp: number;
-        previous?: Action;
-      })
-    | { type: "opened"; id: string; author: Author; timestamp: number };
+  import type { FlattenedIssueOperation } from "@app/lib/issueTimeline";
+
+  export type { FlattenedIssueOperation };
 </script>
 
 <script lang="ts">
+  import { itemDiff } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
   import {
     absoluteTimestamp,
     authorForNodeId,
@@ -33,12 +28,6 @@
   }
 
   const { op, hideAuthor }: Props = $props();
-
-  function itemDiff<A>(previousState: A[], newState: A[]) {
-    const removed = previousState.filter(x => !newState.includes(x));
-    const added = newState.filter(x => !previousState.includes(x));
-    return { removed, added };
-  }
 </script>
 
 <style>
diff --git a/src/components/PatchActivityItem.svelte b/src/components/PatchActivityItem.svelte
index a49057c1f..cb357bcd5 100644
--- a/src/components/PatchActivityItem.svelte
+++ b/src/components/PatchActivityItem.svelte
@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
 <script lang="ts" module>
   import type { Author } from "@bindings/cob/Author";
-  import type { Action } from "@bindings/cob/patch/Action";
 
-  export type FlattenedPatchOperation = Action & {
-    id: string;
-    author: Author;
-    timestamp: number;
-    previous?: Action;
-  };
+  import type { FlattenedPatchOperation } from "@app/lib/patchTimeline";
+
+  export type { FlattenedPatchOperation };
 
   export function splitDescription(text: string): {
     subject?: string;
@@ -29,6 +25,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { slide } from "svelte/transition";
 
+  import { itemDiff } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
   import { cachedConfig, writeToClipboard } from "@app/lib/invoke";
   import {
     absoluteTimestamp,
@@ -81,12 +78,6 @@
     openedAsDraft = false,
   }: Props = $props();
 
-  function itemDiff<A>(previousState: A[], newState: A[]) {
-    const removed = previousState.filter(x => !newState.includes(x));
-    const added = newState.filter(x => !previousState.includes(x));
-    return { removed, added };
-  }
-
   let copyLinkIcon: "link" | "checkmark" = $state("link");
   async function copyRevisionLink() {
     if (!rid || !patchId) return;
diff --git a/src/components/Revision.svelte b/src/components/Revision.svelte
index 1e120b4c4..b944a49d6 100644
--- a/src/components/Revision.svelte
+++ b/src/components/Revision.svelte
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
     cachedListCommits,
     invoke,
   } from "@app/lib/invoke";
+  import type { PatchActivityData } from "@app/lib/patchTimeline";
+  import { patchTimeline } from "@app/lib/patchTimeline";
   import * as roles from "@app/lib/roles";
   import { push } from "@app/lib/router";
   import {
@@ -43,16 +45,13 @@
   import { announce } from "@app/components/AnnounceSwitch.svelte";
   import Changes from "@app/components/Changes.svelte";
   import CommitActivityItem from "@app/components/CommitActivityItem.svelte";
-  import Discussion, {
-    type ActivityItem,
-  } from "@app/components/Discussion.svelte";
+  import Discussion from "@app/components/Discussion.svelte";
   import ExtendedTextarea from "@app/components/ExtendedTextarea.svelte";
   import FileBlock from "@app/components/FileBlock.svelte";
   import Icon from "@app/components/Icon.svelte";
   import Markdown from "@app/components/Markdown.svelte";
   import NodeId from "@app/components/NodeId.svelte";
   import PatchActivityItem, {
-    type FlattenedPatchOperation,
     splitDescription,
   } from "@app/components/PatchActivityItem.svelte";
   import Path from "@app/components/Path.svelte";
@@ -64,27 +63,7 @@
   import ReviewItem from "@app/components/ReviewItem.svelte";
   import ThreadComponent from "@app/components/Thread.svelte";
 
-  type ActivityData =
-    | {
-        kind: "op";
-        op: FlattenedPatchOperation;
-        commits?: Commit[];
-        reviewThreads?: Thread<CodeLocation>[];
-        reviewComments?: Thread<CodeLocation>[];
-      }
-    | {
-        kind: "opened";
-        op: FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "revision" };
-        openedAsDraft: boolean;
-      }
-    | {
-        kind: "olderRevisions";
-        groupKey: string;
-        revisionIds: string[];
-        count: number;
-        author?: Author;
-        expanded: boolean;
-      };
+  type ActivityData = PatchActivityData;
 
   interface Props {
     rid: string;
@@ -172,21 +151,6 @@
   // Timeline order, as delivered — see `revisionPosition`.
   const latestRevisionId = $derived(revisions.at(-1)?.id);
   const firstRevisionId = $derived(revisions[0]?.id);
-  // The patch was opened as a draft when its first lifecycle change is a draft
-  // happening right at creation (the first or second operation), as opposed to
-  // being converted to draft later in its life.
-  const openingDraftOpId = $derived.by(() => {
-    const ops = [...activity].sort((a, b) => a.timestamp - b.timestamp);
-    const firstLifecycleIdx = ops.findIndex(op =>
-      op.actions.some(a => a.type === "lifecycle"),
-    );
-    if (firstLifecycleIdx === -1 || firstLifecycleIdx > 1) return undefined;
-    const op = ops[firstLifecycleIdx];
-    const lifecycle = op.actions.find(a => a.type === "lifecycle");
-    return lifecycle?.type === "lifecycle" && lifecycle.state.status === "draft"
-      ? op.id
-      : undefined;
-  });
   const targetBranch = $derived(
     patchTargetBranch === undefined
       ? undefined
@@ -675,25 +639,6 @@
       commitsByRevision = next;
     });
   });
-  const skippedActivityTypes = new Set<Action["type"]>([
-    "revision.comment",
-    "revision.comment.edit",
-    "revision.comment.redact",
-    "revision.comment.react",
-    "revision.react",
-    "revision.edit",
-    "revision.redact",
-    "review.comment",
-    "review.comment.edit",
-    "review.comment.redact",
-    "review.comment.react",
-    "review.comment.resolve",
-    "review.comment.unresolve",
-    "review.edit",
-    "review.redact",
-    "review.react",
-  ]);
-
   const olderRevisionIds = $derived(
     new Set(revisions.filter(r => r.id !== latestRevisionId).map(r => r.id)),
   );
@@ -718,268 +663,16 @@
     return map;
   });
 
-  const activityItems: ActivityItem<ActivityData>[] = $derived.by(() => {
-    const tracker: Partial<Record<Action["type"], Action>> = {};
-    const items: ActivityItem<ActivityData>[] = [];
-    // eslint-disable-next-line svelte/prefer-svelte-reactivity
-    const reviewOpsByReviewId = new Map<
-      string,
-      FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "review" }
-    >();
-    // eslint-disable-next-line svelte/prefer-svelte-reactivity
-    const revisionOpsByRevisionId = new Map<
-      string,
-      FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "revision" }
-    >();
-    // eslint-disable-next-line svelte/prefer-svelte-reactivity
-    const redactedRevisionIds = new Set<string>();
-    // eslint-disable-next-line svelte/prefer-svelte-reactivity
-    const redactedReviewIds = new Set<string>();
-    activity.forEach(operation => {
-      operation.actions.forEach((action, actionIndex) => {
-        if (skippedActivityTypes.has(action.type)) {
-          if (action.type === "review.edit") {
-            const reviewOp = reviewOpsByReviewId.get(action.review);
-            if (reviewOp) {
-              if ("verdict" in action) reviewOp.verdict = action.verdict;
-              if ("summary" in action) reviewOp.summary = action.summary;
-              if ("labels" in action) reviewOp.labels = action.labels;
-            }
-          } else if (action.type === "revision.edit") {
-            const revisionOp = revisionOpsByRevisionId.get(action.revision);
-            if (revisionOp) {
-              revisionOp.description = action.description;
-            }
-          } else if (action.type === "revision.redact") {
-            redactedRevisionIds.add(action.revision);
-          } else if (action.type === "review.redact") {
-            redactedReviewIds.add(action.review);
-          }
-          tracker[action.type] = action;
-          return;
-        }
-        const previous = tracker[action.type];
-        // The first `edit` action has nothing to diff against, so the
-        // renderer skips it. Skip it here too so we don't leave a gap.
-        if (action.type === "edit" && !previous) {
-          tracker[action.type] = action;
-          return;
-        }
-        if (action.type === "label") {
-          const prev =
-            previous && previous.type === "label" ? previous.labels : [];
-          const added = action.labels.filter(l => !prev.includes(l));
-          const removed = prev.filter(l => !action.labels.includes(l));
-          if (added.length === 0 && removed.length === 0) {
-            tracker[action.type] = action;
-            return;
-          }
-        }
-        const op: FlattenedPatchOperation = {
-          ...action,
-          id: operation.id,
-          author: operation.author,
-          timestamp: operation.timestamp,
-          previous,
-        };
-        tracker[action.type] = action;
-        const commits =
-          action.type === "revision"
-            ? commitsByRevision[operation.id]
-            : undefined;
-        const reviewThreads =
-          action.type === "review"
-            ? threadsByReview.get(operation.id)
-            : undefined;
-        const reviewComments =
-          action.type === "review"
-            ? discussionThreadsByReview.get(operation.id)
-            : undefined;
-        if (action.type === "review") {
-          reviewOpsByReviewId.set(
-            operation.id,
-            op as FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "review" },
-          );
-        }
-        if (action.type === "revision") {
-          revisionOpsByRevisionId.set(
-            operation.id,
-            op as FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "revision" },
-          );
-        }
-        items.push({
-          key: `${operation.id}:${actionIndex}`,
-          timestamp: operation.timestamp,
-          data: { kind: "op", op, commits, reviewThreads, reviewComments },
-          // A merge draws a filled band and a review draws a card; both need
-          // the space around them that a run of bare rows deliberately drops.
-          standalone: op.type === "merge" || op.type === "review",
-        });
-      });
-    });
-
-    const filtered = items.filter(item => {
-      if (item.data.kind !== "op") return true;
-      if (
-        item.data.op.type === "revision" &&
-        redactedRevisionIds.has(item.data.op.id)
-      ) {
-        return false;
-      }
-      if (
-        item.data.op.type === "review" &&
-        redactedReviewIds.has(item.data.op.id)
-      ) {
-        return false;
-      }
-      // The opening-draft lifecycle is folded into the "opened a draft patch"
-      // label on the first revision, so drop the standalone item.
-      if (
-        item.data.op.type === "lifecycle" &&
-        item.data.op.state.status === "draft" &&
-        item.data.op.id === openingDraftOpId
-      ) {
-        return false;
-      }
-      return true;
-    });
-    filtered.sort((a, b) => a.timestamp - b.timestamp);
-
-    // Place each review immediately after the revision it belongs to, so it
-    // reads as the next timeline item under that revision rather than floating
-    // wherever its own timestamp lands.
-    // eslint-disable-next-line svelte/prefer-svelte-reactivity
-    const reviewsByRevision = new Map<string, ActivityItem<ActivityData>[]>();
-    for (const item of filtered) {
-      if (item.data.kind === "op" && item.data.op.type === "review") {
-        const revId = item.data.op.revision;
-        const list = reviewsByRevision.get(revId) ?? [];
-        list.push(item);
-        reviewsByRevision.set(revId, list);
-      }
-    }
-    const reordered: ActivityItem<ActivityData>[] = [];
-    // eslint-disable-next-line svelte/prefer-svelte-reactivity
-    const placedReviews = new Set<string>();
-    for (const item of filtered) {
-      if (item.data.kind === "op" && item.data.op.type === "review") continue;
-      reordered.push(item);
-      if (item.data.kind === "op" && item.data.op.type === "revision") {
-        const reviews = reviewsByRevision.get(item.data.op.id);
-        if (reviews) {
-          reordered.push(...reviews);
-          reviews.forEach(r => placedReviews.add(r.key));
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    // Reviews whose revision is gone (e.g. redacted) keep their original order.
-    for (const item of filtered) {
-      if (
-        item.data.kind === "op" &&
-        item.data.op.type === "review" &&
-        !placedReviews.has(item.key)
-      ) {
-        reordered.push(item);
-      }
-    }
-    items.length = 0;
-    items.push(...reordered);
-
-    // The patch creation is shown as a standalone "opened patch" marker; the
-    // first revision itself stays in the timeline below (and folds with other
-    // revisions). Synthesize the marker from the first revision operation.
-    const firstRevisionOp = revisionOpsByRevisionId.get(firstRevisionId);
-    const opened: ActivityItem<ActivityData>[] = firstRevisionOp
-      ? [
-          {
-            key: `opened:${firstRevisionId}`,
-            timestamp: firstRevisionOp.timestamp,
-            data: {
-              kind: "opened",
-              op: firstRevisionOp,
-              openedAsDraft: openingDraftOpId !== undefined,
-            },
-          },
-        ]
-      : [];
-
-    const isOlderRevisionItem = (item: ActivityItem<ActivityData>) =>
-      item.data.kind === "op" &&
-      item.data.op.type === "revision" &&
-      olderRevisionIds.has(item.data.op.id);
-    // A review belonging to an older revision folds together with that revision.
-    const isFoldableReview = (item: ActivityItem<ActivityData>) =>
-      item.data.kind === "op" &&
-      item.data.op.type === "review" &&
-      olderRevisionIds.has(item.data.op.revision);
-    const isFoldable = (item: ActivityItem<ActivityData>) =>
-      isOlderRevisionItem(item) || isFoldableReview(item);
-    const itemOpAuthorDid = (item: ActivityItem<ActivityData>) =>
-      item.data.kind === "op" ? item.data.op.author.did : undefined;
-
-    // Fold each maximal run of *consecutive* older revisions by the *same
-    // author* (and the reviews nested under them) into one "<author> created N
-    // revisions" toggle. A lifecycle change, comment, or a switch to another
-    // author breaks the run, so a fold is always attributed to one person.
-    const folded: ActivityItem<ActivityData>[] = [];
-    let i = 0;
-    while (i < items.length) {
-      if (!isFoldable(items[i])) {
-        folded.push(items[i]);
-        i += 1;
-        continue;
-      }
-      let j = i;
-      const runAuthorDid = itemOpAuthorDid(items[i]);
-      while (
-        j < items.length &&
-        isFoldable(items[j]) &&
-        itemOpAuthorDid(items[j]) === runAuthorDid
-      ) {
-        j += 1;
-      }
-      const run = items.slice(i, j);
-      const revisionItems = run.filter(isOlderRevisionItem);
-      if (revisionItems.length < 2) {
-        // A lone older revision (with its reviews) isn't worth folding.
-        folded.push(...run);
-      } else {
-        const head = run[0];
-        const groupKey = `older:${head.data.kind === "op" ? head.data.op.id : head.key}`;
-        const runExpanded = expandedRevisionRuns[groupKey] ?? false;
-        const revisionIds = revisionItems
-          .map(item => (item.data.kind === "op" ? item.data.op.id : undefined))
-          .filter((id): id is string => id !== undefined);
-        // Only attribute the fold to an author when every folded revision is by
-        // the same person; a mixed-author run stays unattributed so it isn't
-        // wrongly labelled "<first author> created N revisions".
-        const runAuthors = revisionItems
-          .map(item =>
-            item.data.kind === "op" ? item.data.op.author : undefined,
-          )
-          .filter((a): a is Author => a !== undefined);
-        const uniqueDids = new Set(runAuthors.map(a => a.did));
-        const commonAuthor = uniqueDids.size === 1 ? runAuthors[0] : undefined;
-        folded.push({
-          key: groupKey,
-          timestamp: head.timestamp,
-          data: {
-            kind: "olderRevisions",
-            groupKey,
-            revisionIds,
-            count: revisionItems.length,
-            author: commonAuthor,
-            expanded: runExpanded,
-          },
-        });
-        if (runExpanded) {
-          folded.push(...run);
-        }
-      }
-      i = j;
-    }
-    return [...opened, ...folded];
-  });
+  const activityItems = $derived(
+    patchTimeline({
+      activity,
+      revisions,
+      commitsByRevision,
+      threadsByReview,
+      discussionThreadsByReview,
+      expandedRevisionRuns,
+    }),
+  );
   const reviewSummaryFingerprints = $derived(
     new Set(
       revisions
diff --git a/src/lib/cobActivity.ts b/src/lib/cobActivity.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2a2687122
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/cobActivity.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import type { Author } from "@bindings/cob/Author";
+import type { Operation } from "@bindings/cob/Operation";
+
+export interface ActivityItem<T = unknown> {
+  key: string;
+  timestamp: number;
+  data: T;
+  /// Renders as a card or a filled band rather than a bare row of text.
+  /// Grouped rows are packed tight against each other, which reads as one
+  /// element when the things being packed have their own edges, so these are
+  /// never folded into a run.
+  standalone?: boolean;
+}
+
+/// One action of an operation, with the operation's metadata and the previous
+/// action of the same type, which the timeline diffs against.
+export type FlattenedAction<A> = A & {
+  id: string;
+  author: Author;
+  timestamp: number;
+  previous?: A;
+};
+
+/// What was added and removed between two lists.
+export function itemDiff<T>(previous: T[], next: T[]) {
+  return {
+    removed: previous.filter(x => !next.includes(x)),
+    added: next.filter(x => !previous.includes(x)),
+  };
+}
+
+function labelsOf(action: { type: string }): string[] | undefined {
+  if (action.type !== "label" || !("labels" in action)) return undefined;
+  return action.labels as string[];
+}
+
+/// Turn a COB's operations into one timeline entry per action, dropping the
+/// actions that would render nothing:
+///
+/// - types in `skip`, which the timeline shows elsewhere or not at all;
+/// - the first `edit`, since there is nothing to diff it against;
+/// - a `label` action that neither adds nor removes a label.
+///
+/// Skipped actions still count as the previous action of their type.
+/// `onSkipped` sees each action in `skip` and `onKept` each entry as it is
+/// made, both in operation order, so a caller can fold edits into the entries
+/// they belong to.
+export function flattenActivity<A extends { type: string }>(
+  activity: Operation<A>[],
+  options: {
+    skip: ReadonlySet<A["type"]>;
+    onSkipped?: (action: A) => void;
+    onKept?: (op: FlattenedAction<A>) => void;
+  },
+): ActivityItem<FlattenedAction<A>>[] {
+  const previousByType = new Map<A["type"], A>();
+  const items: ActivityItem<FlattenedAction<A>>[] = [];
+
+  for (const operation of activity) {
+    operation.actions.forEach((action, actionIndex) => {
+      const previous = previousByType.get(action.type);
+      previousByType.set(action.type, action);
+
+      if (options.skip.has(action.type)) {
+        options.onSkipped?.(action);
+        return;
+      }
+      if (action.type === "edit" && !previous) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const labels = labelsOf(action);
+      if (labels) {
+        const { added, removed } = itemDiff(
+          (previous && labelsOf(previous)) ?? [],
+          labels,
+        );
+        if (added.length === 0 && removed.length === 0) {
+          return;
+        }
+      }
+
+      const op: FlattenedAction<A> = {
+        ...action,
+        id: operation.id,
+        author: operation.author,
+        timestamp: operation.timestamp,
+        previous,
+      };
+      options.onKept?.(op);
+      items.push({
+        key: `${operation.id}:${actionIndex}`,
+        timestamp: operation.timestamp,
+        data: op,
+      });
+    });
+  }
+  return items;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/issueTimeline.ts b/src/lib/issueTimeline.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f59e08972
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/issueTimeline.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import type { Author } from "@bindings/cob/Author";
+import type { Action } from "@bindings/cob/issue/Action";
+import type { Issue } from "@bindings/cob/issue/Issue";
+import type { Operation } from "@bindings/cob/Operation";
+
+import type { ActivityItem, FlattenedAction } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
+import { flattenActivity } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
+
+export type FlattenedIssueOperation =
+  | FlattenedAction<Action>
+  | { type: "opened"; id: string; author: Author; timestamp: number };
+
+// Comments render as threads beside the timeline, not as entries in it.
+const skip = new Set<Action["type"]>([
+  "comment",
+  "comment.edit",
+  "comment.react",
+  "comment.redact",
+]);
+
+/// The issue's timeline: an "opened" entry, then one entry per action worth
+/// showing.
+export function issueTimeline(
+  issue: Issue,
+  activity: Operation<Action>[],
+): ActivityItem<FlattenedIssueOperation>[] {
+  const opened = issue.body?.edits[0]?.timestamp ?? issue.timestamp;
+  return [
+    {
+      key: `${issue.id}:opened`,
+      timestamp: opened,
+      data: {
+        type: "opened",
+        id: issue.id,
+        author: issue.author,
+        timestamp: opened,
+      },
+    },
+    ...flattenActivity(activity, { skip }),
+  ];
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/patchTimeline.ts b/src/lib/patchTimeline.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6716fe5ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/patchTimeline.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,326 @@
+import type { Author } from "@bindings/cob/Author";
+import type { Operation } from "@bindings/cob/Operation";
+import type { Action } from "@bindings/cob/patch/Action";
+import type { Revision } from "@bindings/cob/patch/Revision";
+import type { CodeLocation } from "@bindings/cob/thread/CodeLocation";
+import type { Thread } from "@bindings/cob/thread/Thread";
+import type { Commit } from "@bindings/repo/Commit";
+
+import type { ActivityItem, FlattenedAction } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
+import { flattenActivity } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
+
+export type FlattenedPatchOperation = FlattenedAction<Action>;
+
+export type PatchActivityData =
+  | {
+      kind: "op";
+      op: FlattenedPatchOperation;
+      commits?: Commit[];
+      reviewThreads?: Thread<CodeLocation>[];
+      reviewComments?: Thread<CodeLocation>[];
+    }
+  | {
+      kind: "opened";
+      op: FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "revision" };
+      openedAsDraft: boolean;
+    }
+  | {
+      kind: "olderRevisions";
+      groupKey: string;
+      revisionIds: string[];
+      count: number;
+      author?: Author;
+      expanded: boolean;
+    };
+
+// Shown elsewhere in the patch view, or folded into the entry they change.
+const skip = new Set<Action["type"]>([
+  "revision.comment",
+  "revision.comment.edit",
+  "revision.comment.redact",
+  "revision.comment.react",
+  "revision.react",
+  "revision.edit",
+  "revision.redact",
+  "review.comment",
+  "review.comment.edit",
+  "review.comment.redact",
+  "review.comment.react",
+  "review.comment.resolve",
+  "review.comment.unresolve",
+  "review.edit",
+  "review.redact",
+  "review.react",
+]);
+
+// The patch was opened as a draft when its first lifecycle change is a draft
+// happening right at creation (the first or second operation), as opposed to
+// being converted to draft later in its life.
+export function openingDraftOpId(
+  activity: Operation<Action>[],
+): string | undefined {
+  const ops = [...activity].sort((a, b) => a.timestamp - b.timestamp);
+  const firstLifecycleIdx = ops.findIndex(op =>
+    op.actions.some(a => a.type === "lifecycle"),
+  );
+  if (firstLifecycleIdx === -1 || firstLifecycleIdx > 1) return undefined;
+  const op = ops[firstLifecycleIdx];
+  const lifecycle = op.actions.find(a => a.type === "lifecycle");
+  return lifecycle?.type === "lifecycle" && lifecycle.state.status === "draft"
+    ? op.id
+    : undefined;
+}
+
+export interface PatchTimelineInput {
+  activity: Operation<Action>[];
+  /// In timeline order.
+  revisions: Revision[];
+  commitsByRevision: Record<string, Commit[]>;
+  threadsByReview: Map<string, Thread<CodeLocation>[]>;
+  discussionThreadsByReview: Map<string, Thread<CodeLocation>[]>;
+  /// Which folded runs of older revisions the reader expanded, by group key.
+  expandedRevisionRuns: Record<string, boolean>;
+}
+
+/// The patch's activity timeline, built from its operation log.
+export function patchTimeline({
+  activity,
+  revisions,
+  commitsByRevision,
+  threadsByReview,
+  discussionThreadsByReview,
+  expandedRevisionRuns,
+}: PatchTimelineInput): ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>[] {
+  const latestRevisionId = revisions.at(-1)?.id;
+  const firstRevisionId = revisions[0]?.id;
+  const olderRevisionIds = new Set(
+    revisions.filter(r => r.id !== latestRevisionId).map(r => r.id),
+  );
+  const draftOpId = openingDraftOpId(activity);
+
+  const reviewOpsByReviewId = new Map<
+    string,
+    FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "review" }
+  >();
+  const revisionOpsByRevisionId = new Map<
+    string,
+    FlattenedPatchOperation & { type: "revision" }
+  >();
+  const redactedRevisionIds = new Set<string>();
+  const redactedReviewIds = new Set<string>();
+
+  const flattened = flattenActivity(activity, {
+    skip,
+    onSkipped: action => {
+      if (action.type === "review.edit") {
+        const reviewOp = reviewOpsByReviewId.get(action.review);
+        if (reviewOp) {
+          if ("verdict" in action) reviewOp.verdict = action.verdict;
+          if ("summary" in action) reviewOp.summary = action.summary;
+          if ("labels" in action) reviewOp.labels = action.labels;
+        }
+      } else if (action.type === "revision.edit") {
+        const revisionOp = revisionOpsByRevisionId.get(action.revision);
+        if (revisionOp) {
+          revisionOp.description = action.description;
+        }
+      } else if (action.type === "revision.redact") {
+        redactedRevisionIds.add(action.revision);
+      } else if (action.type === "review.redact") {
+        redactedReviewIds.add(action.review);
+      }
+    },
+    onKept: op => {
+      if (op.type === "review") {
+        reviewOpsByReviewId.set(op.id, op);
+      } else if (op.type === "revision") {
+        revisionOpsByRevisionId.set(op.id, op);
+      }
+    },
+  });
+
+  const items: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>[] = flattened.map(item => {
+    const op = item.data;
+    return {
+      key: item.key,
+      timestamp: item.timestamp,
+      data: {
+        kind: "op",
+        op,
+        commits: op.type === "revision" ? commitsByRevision[op.id] : undefined,
+        reviewThreads:
+          op.type === "review" ? threadsByReview.get(op.id) : undefined,
+        reviewComments:
+          op.type === "review"
+            ? discussionThreadsByReview.get(op.id)
+            : undefined,
+      },
+      // A merge draws a filled band and a review draws a card; both need
+      // the space around them that a run of bare rows deliberately drops.
+      standalone: op.type === "merge" || op.type === "review",
+    };
+  });
+
+  const filtered = items.filter(item => {
+    if (item.data.kind !== "op") return true;
+    if (
+      item.data.op.type === "revision" &&
+      redactedRevisionIds.has(item.data.op.id)
+    ) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (
+      item.data.op.type === "review" &&
+      redactedReviewIds.has(item.data.op.id)
+    ) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    // The opening-draft lifecycle is folded into the "opened a draft patch"
+    // label on the first revision, so drop the standalone item.
+    if (
+      item.data.op.type === "lifecycle" &&
+      item.data.op.state.status === "draft" &&
+      item.data.op.id === draftOpId
+    ) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+  });
+  filtered.sort((a, b) => a.timestamp - b.timestamp);
+
+  // Place each review immediately after the revision it belongs to, so it
+  // reads as the next timeline item under that revision rather than floating
+  // wherever its own timestamp lands.
+  const reviewsByRevision = new Map<
+    string,
+    ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>[]
+  >();
+  for (const item of filtered) {
+    if (item.data.kind === "op" && item.data.op.type === "review") {
+      const revId = item.data.op.revision;
+      const list = reviewsByRevision.get(revId) ?? [];
+      list.push(item);
+      reviewsByRevision.set(revId, list);
+    }
+  }
+  const reordered: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>[] = [];
+  const placedReviews = new Set<string>();
+  for (const item of filtered) {
+    if (item.data.kind === "op" && item.data.op.type === "review") continue;
+    reordered.push(item);
+    if (item.data.kind === "op" && item.data.op.type === "revision") {
+      const reviews = reviewsByRevision.get(item.data.op.id);
+      if (reviews) {
+        reordered.push(...reviews);
+        reviews.forEach(r => placedReviews.add(r.key));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  // Reviews whose revision is gone (e.g. redacted) keep their original order.
+  for (const item of filtered) {
+    if (
+      item.data.kind === "op" &&
+      item.data.op.type === "review" &&
+      !placedReviews.has(item.key)
+    ) {
+      reordered.push(item);
+    }
+  }
+  items.length = 0;
+  items.push(...reordered);
+
+  // The patch creation is shown as a standalone "opened patch" marker; the
+  // first revision itself stays in the timeline below (and folds with other
+  // revisions). Synthesize the marker from the first revision operation.
+  const firstRevisionOp = revisionOpsByRevisionId.get(firstRevisionId);
+  const opened: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>[] = firstRevisionOp
+    ? [
+        {
+          key: `opened:${firstRevisionId}`,
+          timestamp: firstRevisionOp.timestamp,
+          data: {
+            kind: "opened",
+            op: firstRevisionOp,
+            openedAsDraft: draftOpId !== undefined,
+          },
+        },
+      ]
+    : [];
+
+  const isOlderRevisionItem = (item: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>) =>
+    item.data.kind === "op" &&
+    item.data.op.type === "revision" &&
+    olderRevisionIds.has(item.data.op.id);
+  // A review belonging to an older revision folds together with that revision.
+  const isFoldableReview = (item: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>) =>
+    item.data.kind === "op" &&
+    item.data.op.type === "review" &&
+    olderRevisionIds.has(item.data.op.revision);
+  const isFoldable = (item: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>) =>
+    isOlderRevisionItem(item) || isFoldableReview(item);
+  const itemOpAuthorDid = (item: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>) =>
+    item.data.kind === "op" ? item.data.op.author.did : undefined;
+
+  // Fold each maximal run of *consecutive* older revisions by the *same
+  // author* (and the reviews nested under them) into one "<author> created N
+  // revisions" toggle. A lifecycle change, comment, or a switch to another
+  // author breaks the run, so a fold is always attributed to one person.
+  const folded: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>[] = [];
+  let i = 0;
+  while (i < items.length) {
+    if (!isFoldable(items[i])) {
+      folded.push(items[i]);
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    let j = i;
+    const runAuthorDid = itemOpAuthorDid(items[i]);
+    while (
+      j < items.length &&
+      isFoldable(items[j]) &&
+      itemOpAuthorDid(items[j]) === runAuthorDid
+    ) {
+      j += 1;
+    }
+    const run = items.slice(i, j);
+    const revisionItems = run.filter(isOlderRevisionItem);
+    if (revisionItems.length < 2) {
+      // A lone older revision (with its reviews) isn't worth folding.
+      folded.push(...run);
+    } else {
+      const head = run[0];
+      const groupKey = `older:${head.data.kind === "op" ? head.data.op.id : head.key}`;
+      const runExpanded = expandedRevisionRuns[groupKey] ?? false;
+      const revisionIds = revisionItems
+        .map(item => (item.data.kind === "op" ? item.data.op.id : undefined))
+        .filter((id): id is string => id !== undefined);
+      // Only attribute the fold to an author when every folded revision is by
+      // the same person; a mixed-author run stays unattributed so it isn't
+      // wrongly labelled "<first author> created N revisions".
+      const runAuthors = revisionItems
+        .map(item =>
+          item.data.kind === "op" ? item.data.op.author : undefined,
+        )
+        .filter((a): a is Author => a !== undefined);
+      const uniqueDids = new Set(runAuthors.map(a => a.did));
+      const commonAuthor = uniqueDids.size === 1 ? runAuthors[0] : undefined;
+      folded.push({
+        key: groupKey,
+        timestamp: head.timestamp,
+        data: {
+          kind: "olderRevisions",
+          groupKey,
+          revisionIds,
+          count: revisionItems.length,
+          author: commonAuthor,
+          expanded: runExpanded,
+        },
+      });
+      if (runExpanded) {
+        folded.push(...run);
+      }
+    }
+    i = j;
+  }
+  return [...opened, ...folded];
+}
diff --git a/src/views/repo/Issue.svelte b/src/views/repo/Issue.svelte
index 7b96a61d7..ac79493ee 100644
--- a/src/views/repo/Issue.svelte
+++ b/src/views/repo/Issue.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
   import { nodeRunning } from "@app/lib/events";
   import { invoke } from "@app/lib/invoke";
+  import { issueTimeline } from "@app/lib/issueTimeline";
   import { show } from "@app/lib/modal";
   import * as roles from "@app/lib/roles";
   import * as router from "@app/lib/router";
@@ -22,9 +23,7 @@
   import { announce } from "@app/components/AnnounceSwitch.svelte";
   import Button from "@app/components/Button.svelte";
   import ConfirmDeleteButton from "@app/components/ConfirmDeleteButton.svelte";
-  import Discussion, {
-    type ActivityItem,
-  } from "@app/components/Discussion.svelte";
+  import Discussion from "@app/components/Discussion.svelte";
   import EditableTitle from "@app/components/EditableTitle.svelte";
   import Icon from "@app/components/Icon.svelte";
   import IssueActivityItem, {
@@ -64,73 +63,7 @@
     publicKeyFromDid(issue.author.did) === config.publicKey,
   );
 
-  const activityItems: ActivityItem<FlattenedIssueOperation>[] = $derived.by(
-    () => {
-      // Actions `IssueActivityItem` has no branch for. Left in, they still
-      // group under an author, so the timeline grows a heading with nothing
-      // beneath it.
-      const skipped = new Set<Action["type"]>([
-        "comment",
-        "comment.edit",
-        "comment.react",
-        "comment.redact",
-      ]);
-      const tracker: Partial<Record<Action["type"], Action>> = {};
-      const items: ActivityItem<FlattenedIssueOperation>[] = [];
-      const openedTimestamp =
-        issue.body?.edits[0]?.timestamp ?? issue.timestamp;
-      items.push({
-        key: `${issue.id}:opened`,
-        timestamp: openedTimestamp,
-        data: {
-          type: "opened",
-          id: issue.id,
-          author: issue.author,
-          timestamp: openedTimestamp,
-        },
-      });
-      activity.forEach(operation => {
-        operation.actions.forEach((action, actionIndex) => {
-          if (skipped.has(action.type)) {
-            tracker[action.type] = action;
-            return;
-          }
-          const previous = tracker[action.type];
-          // The first `edit` action has nothing to diff against, so the
-          // renderer skips it. Skip it here too so we don't leave a gap.
-          if (action.type === "edit" && !previous) {
-            tracker[action.type] = action;
-            return;
-          }
-          // A label action that neither adds nor removes renders nothing.
-          if (action.type === "label") {
-            const prev =
-              previous && previous.type === "label" ? previous.labels : [];
-            const added = action.labels.filter(l => !prev.includes(l));
-            const removed = prev.filter(l => !action.labels.includes(l));
-            if (added.length === 0 && removed.length === 0) {
-              tracker[action.type] = action;
-              return;
-            }
-          }
-          const op: FlattenedIssueOperation = {
-            ...action,
-            id: operation.id,
-            author: operation.author,
-            timestamp: operation.timestamp,
-            previous,
-          };
-          tracker[action.type] = action;
-          items.push({
-            key: `${operation.id}:${actionIndex}`,
-            timestamp: operation.timestamp,
-            data: op,
-          });
-        });
-      });
-      return items;
-    },
-  );
+  const activityItems = $derived(issueTimeline(issue, activity));
 
   async function reload() {
     [issue, activity, threads] = await Promise.all([
diff --git a/tests/unit/cobActivity.test.ts b/tests/unit/cobActivity.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d20f86306
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/cobActivity.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+import type { Action } from "@bindings/cob/issue/Action";
+
+import { describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import { flattenActivity, itemDiff } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
+
+import { author, operation } from "./support/cobs";
+
+const alice = author("alice");
+
+function op(id: string, timestamp: number, actions: Action[]) {
+  return { ...operation(alice, timestamp, []), id, actions };
+}
+
+test("itemDiff lists added and removed items", () => {
+  expect(itemDiff(["a", "b"], ["b", "c"])).toEqual({
+    removed: ["a"],
+    added: ["c"],
+  });
+  expect(itemDiff([], [])).toEqual({ removed: [], added: [] });
+});
+
+describe("flattenActivity", () => {
+  const none = new Set<Action["type"]>();
+
+  test("makes one entry per action with its operation's metadata", () => {
+    const items = flattenActivity(
+      [
+        op("o1", 10, [
+          { type: "lifecycle", state: { status: "closed", reason: "solved" } },
+          { type: "assign", assignees: [alice] },
+        ]),
+      ],
+      { skip: none },
+    );
+
+    expect(items).toEqual([
+      {
+        key: "o1:0",
+        timestamp: 10,
+        data: {
+          type: "lifecycle",
+          state: { status: "closed", reason: "solved" },
+          id: "o1",
+          author: alice,
+          timestamp: 10,
+          previous: undefined,
+        },
+      },
+      {
+        key: "o1:1",
+        timestamp: 10,
+        data: {
+          type: "assign",
+          assignees: [alice],
+          id: "o1",
+          author: alice,
+          timestamp: 10,
+          previous: undefined,
+        },
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  test("gives each entry the previous action of its type", () => {
+    const first = {
+      type: "lifecycle" as const,
+      state: { status: "open" as const },
+    };
+    const items = flattenActivity(
+      [
+        op("o1", 1, [first]),
+        op("o2", 2, [
+          { type: "lifecycle", state: { status: "closed", reason: "other" } },
+        ]),
+      ],
+      { skip: none },
+    );
+
+    expect(items[1].data.previous).toEqual(first);
+  });
+
+  test("drops the first edit but diffs later ones against it", () => {
+    const opening = { type: "edit" as const, title: "Opening title" };
+    const items = flattenActivity(
+      [
+        op("o1", 1, [opening]),
+        op("o2", 2, [{ type: "edit", title: "Renamed" }]),
+      ],
+      { skip: none },
+    );
+
+    expect(items.map(i => i.key)).toEqual(["o2:0"]);
+    expect(items[0].data.previous).toEqual(opening);
+  });
+
+  test("drops label actions that change nothing", () => {
+    const items = flattenActivity(
+      [
+        op("o1", 1, [{ type: "label", labels: ["bug"] }]),
+        op("o2", 2, [{ type: "label", labels: ["bug"] }]),
+        op("o3", 3, [{ type: "label", labels: ["bug", "ux"] }]),
+        op("o4", 4, [{ type: "label", labels: [] }]),
+      ],
+      { skip: none },
+    );
+
+    expect(items.map(i => i.key)).toEqual(["o1:0", "o3:0", "o4:0"]);
+  });
+
+  test("drops skipped types, which still count as the previous action", () => {
+    const onSkipped = vi.fn();
+    const skipped = { type: "comment" as const, body: "hello" };
+    const items = flattenActivity(
+      [
+        op("o1", 1, [skipped]),
+        op("o2", 2, [{ type: "comment", body: "again" }]),
+      ],
+      { skip: new Set(["comment"]), onSkipped },
+    );
+
+    expect(items).toEqual([]);
+    expect(onSkipped.mock.calls).toEqual([
+      [skipped],
+      [{ type: "comment", body: "again" }],
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  test("passes each entry to onKept as it is made", () => {
+    const kept: string[] = [];
+    const items = flattenActivity(
+      [
+        op("o1", 1, [
+          { type: "assign", assignees: [] },
+          { type: "label", labels: ["x"] },
+        ]),
+      ],
+      {
+        skip: none,
+        onKept: entry => {
+          kept.push(entry.type);
+          if (entry.type === "label") entry.labels = ["changed"];
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect(kept).toEqual(["assign", "label"]);
+    // Callers fold later edits into the entry they were handed.
+    expect(items[1].data).toMatchObject({ labels: ["changed"] });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/issueTimeline.test.ts b/tests/unit/issueTimeline.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..283f64e01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/issueTimeline.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import type { Issue } from "@bindings/cob/issue/Issue";
+
+import { expect, test } from "vitest";
+
+import { issueTimeline } from "@app/lib/issueTimeline";
+
+import { author, operation } from "./support/cobs";
+
+const alice = author("alice");
+const bob = author("bob");
+
+function issue(props: Partial<Issue> = {}): Issue {
+  return {
+    id: "issue",
+    author: alice,
+    title: "Title",
+    state: { status: "open" },
+    assignees: [],
+    commentCount: 0,
+    labels: [],
+    timestamp: 50,
+    ...props,
+  };
+}
+
+test("starts with the opening, timed by the first edit of the body", () => {
+  const [opened] = issueTimeline(
+    issue({
+      body: {
+        id: "body",
+        author: alice,
+        edits: [{ author: alice, timestamp: 7, body: "Description" }],
+        reactions: [],
+        replyTo: null,
+        location: null,
+        resolved: false,
+      },
+    }),
+    [],
+  );
+
+  expect(opened).toEqual({
+    key: "issue:opened",
+    timestamp: 7,
+    data: { type: "opened", id: "issue", author: alice, timestamp: 7 },
+  });
+});
+
+test("falls back to the issue's timestamp without a body", () => {
+  expect(issueTimeline(issue(), [])[0].timestamp).toBe(50);
+});
+
+test("leaves comments out of the timeline", () => {
+  const items = issueTimeline(issue(), [
+    operation(bob, 60, [
+      { type: "comment", body: "Hi" },
+      { type: "comment.edit", id: "c", body: "Hello" },
+      { type: "comment.react", id: "c", reaction: "👍", active: true },
+      { type: "comment.redact", id: "c" },
+      { type: "label", labels: ["bug"] },
+    ]),
+  ]);
+
+  expect(items.map(i => i.data.type)).toEqual(["opened", "label"]);
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/patchTimeline.test.ts b/tests/unit/patchTimeline.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..321c47722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/patchTimeline.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,374 @@
+import type { Author } from "@bindings/cob/Author";
+import type { Operation } from "@bindings/cob/Operation";
+import type { Action } from "@bindings/cob/patch/Action";
+import type { Commit } from "@bindings/repo/Commit";
+
+import { describe, expect, test } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ActivityItem } from "@app/lib/cobActivity";
+import type { PatchActivityData } from "@app/lib/patchTimeline";
+import { openingDraftOpId, patchTimeline } from "@app/lib/patchTimeline";
+
+import { author, comment, location, revision, thread } from "./support/cobs";
+
+const alice = author("alice");
+const bob = author("bob");
+
+function op(
+  id: string,
+  timestamp: number,
+  actions: Action[],
+  by: Author = alice,
+): Operation<Action> {
+  return { id, author: by, timestamp, actions };
+}
+
+function revisionOp(id: string, timestamp: number, by: Author = alice) {
+  return op(
+    id,
+    timestamp,
+    [{ type: "revision", description: `Revision ${id}`, base: "b", oid: "o" }],
+    by,
+  );
+}
+
+function reviewOp(id: string, timestamp: number, of: string, by = bob) {
+  return op(id, timestamp, [{ type: "review", revision: of }], by);
+}
+
+function timeline(
+  activity: Operation<Action>[],
+  props: {
+    revisionIds?: string[];
+    expanded?: Record<string, boolean>;
+    commits?: Record<string, Commit[]>;
+  } = {},
+) {
+  const revisionIds =
+    props.revisionIds ??
+    activity
+      .filter(o => o.actions.some(a => a.type === "revision"))
+      .map(o => o.id);
+  return patchTimeline({
+    activity,
+    revisions: revisionIds.map(id => revision({ id })),
+    commitsByRevision: props.commits ?? {},
+    threadsByReview: new Map(),
+    discussionThreadsByReview: new Map(),
+    expandedRevisionRuns: props.expanded ?? {},
+  });
+}
+
+// A compact view of the timeline: `opened`, `older(n)` for a fold, and the
+// operation type and id for everything else.
+function shape(items: ActivityItem<PatchActivityData>[]): string[] {
+  return items.map(item => {
+    const data = item.data;
+    if (data.kind === "opened") {
+      return data.openedAsDraft ? "opened-draft" : "opened";
+    }
+    if (data.kind === "olderRevisions") return `older(${data.count})`;
+    return `${data.op.type}:${data.op.id}`;
+  });
+}
+
+describe("openingDraftOpId", () => {
+  const draft = {
+    type: "lifecycle" as const,
+    state: { status: "draft" as const },
+  };
+
+  test("finds a draft set in the first or second operation", () => {
+    expect(openingDraftOpId([op("d", 1, [draft])])).toBe("d");
+    expect(openingDraftOpId([revisionOp("r", 1), op("d", 2, [draft])])).toBe(
+      "d",
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("goes by timestamp, not array order", () => {
+    expect(
+      openingDraftOpId([
+        op("d", 3, [draft]),
+        revisionOp("r", 1),
+        op("x", 2, [{ type: "label", labels: ["a"] }]),
+      ]),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  test("ignores a draft set later in the patch's life", () => {
+    expect(
+      openingDraftOpId([
+        revisionOp("r", 1),
+        op("x", 2, [{ type: "label", labels: ["a"] }]),
+        op("d", 3, [draft]),
+      ]),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  test("ignores an opening lifecycle change that isn't to draft", () => {
+    expect(
+      openingDraftOpId([
+        op("o", 1, [{ type: "lifecycle", state: { status: "open" } }]),
+      ]),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(
+      openingDraftOpId([
+        op("a", 1, [{ type: "lifecycle", state: { status: "archived" } }]),
+      ]),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("patchTimeline", () => {
+  test("starts with the opening, then the first revision", () => {
+    expect(shape(timeline([revisionOp("r1", 1)]))).toEqual([
+      "opened",
+      "revision:r1",
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  test("folds a draft at creation into the opening", () => {
+    expect(
+      shape(
+        timeline([
+          revisionOp("r1", 1),
+          op("d", 2, [{ type: "lifecycle", state: { status: "draft" } }]),
+        ]),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual(["opened-draft", "revision:r1"]);
+  });
+
+  test("keeps a later switch to draft as its own entry", () => {
+    expect(
+      shape(
+        timeline([
+          revisionOp("r1", 1),
+          op("l", 2, [{ type: "label", labels: ["x"] }]),
+          op("d", 3, [{ type: "lifecycle", state: { status: "draft" } }]),
+        ]),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual(["opened", "revision:r1", "label:l", "lifecycle:d"]);
+  });
+
+  test("places each review right after its revision", () => {
+    expect(
+      shape(
+        timeline([
+          revisionOp("r1", 1),
+          revisionOp("r2", 2),
+          reviewOp("v1", 3, "r1"),
+        ]),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual(["opened", "revision:r1", "review:v1", "revision:r2"]);
+  });
+
+  test("orders entries by timestamp", () => {
+    expect(
+      shape(
+        timeline([
+          op("l", 5, [{ type: "label", labels: ["x"] }]),
+          revisionOp("r1", 1),
+        ]),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual(["opened", "revision:r1", "label:l"]);
+  });
+
+  test("folds review and revision edits into the entries they change", () => {
+    const items = timeline([
+      revisionOp("r1", 1),
+      reviewOp("v1", 2, "r1"),
+      op("e1", 3, [
+        {
+          type: "review.edit",
+          review: "v1",
+          verdict: "accept",
+          summary: "LGTM",
+        },
+        { type: "revision.edit", revision: "r1", description: "Edited" },
+      ]),
+    ]);
+
+    expect(shape(items)).toEqual(["opened", "revision:r1", "review:v1"]);
+    expect(items[1].data).toMatchObject({
+      op: { description: "Edited" },
+    });
+    expect(items[2].data).toMatchObject({
+      op: { verdict: "accept", summary: "LGTM" },
+    });
+  });
+
+  test("drops redacted revisions and reviews", () => {
+    expect(
+      shape(
+        timeline(
+          [
+            revisionOp("r1", 1),
+            revisionOp("r2", 2),
+            reviewOp("v1", 3, "r1"),
+            op("x", 4, [
+              { type: "revision.redact", revision: "r2" },
+              { type: "review.redact", review: "v1" },
+            ]),
+          ],
+          { revisionIds: ["r1"] },
+        ),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual(["opened", "revision:r1"]);
+  });
+
+  test("keeps a review of a redacted revision, at the end", () => {
+    expect(
+      shape(
+        timeline(
+          [
+            revisionOp("r1", 1),
+            revisionOp("r2", 2),
+            reviewOp("v2", 3, "r2"),
+            op("l", 4, [{ type: "label", labels: ["x"] }]),
+            op("x", 5, [{ type: "revision.redact", revision: "r2" }]),
+          ],
+          { revisionIds: ["r1"] },
+        ),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual(["opened", "revision:r1", "label:l", "review:v2"]);
+  });
+
+  test("attaches commits and marks merges and reviews as standalone", () => {
+    const commits = [{ id: "c1" } as Commit];
+    const items = timeline(
+      [
+        revisionOp("r1", 1),
+        reviewOp("v1", 2, "r1"),
+        op("m", 3, [{ type: "merge", revision: "r1", commit: "c1" }]),
+      ],
+      { commits: { r1: commits } },
+    );
+
+    expect(items[1].data).toMatchObject({ kind: "op", commits });
+    expect(items.map(i => i.standalone)).toEqual([
+      undefined,
+      false,
+      true,
+      true,
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  test("attaches a review's code and discussion threads", () => {
+    const code = [thread(comment({ location: location("a.ts", "new", 1) }))];
+    const discussion = [thread(comment())];
+    const [, , review] = patchTimeline({
+      activity: [revisionOp("r1", 1), reviewOp("v1", 2, "r1")],
+      revisions: [revision({ id: "r1" })],
+      commitsByRevision: {},
+      threadsByReview: new Map([["v1", code]]),
+      discussionThreadsByReview: new Map([["v1", discussion]]),
+      expandedRevisionRuns: {},
+    });
+
+    expect(review.data).toMatchObject({
+      reviewThreads: code,
+      reviewComments: discussion,
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("older revisions", () => {
+    const activity = [
+      revisionOp("r1", 1),
+      reviewOp("v1", 2, "r1", alice),
+      revisionOp("r2", 3),
+      revisionOp("r3", 4),
+    ];
+
+    test("folds a run of older revisions, with their reviews, by one author", () => {
+      const items = timeline(activity);
+
+      expect(shape(items)).toEqual(["opened", "older(2)", "revision:r3"]);
+      expect(items[1].data).toEqual({
+        kind: "olderRevisions",
+        groupKey: "older:r1",
+        revisionIds: ["r1", "r2"],
+        count: 2,
+        author: alice,
+        expanded: false,
+      });
+    });
+
+    test("shows the folded entries when the run is expanded", () => {
+      expect(
+        shape(timeline(activity, { expanded: { "older:r1": true } })),
+      ).toEqual([
+        "opened",
+        "older(2)",
+        "revision:r1",
+        "review:v1",
+        "revision:r2",
+        "revision:r3",
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    // Current behaviour, which may not be intended: a review by someone else
+    // breaks the run, so reviewed revisions rarely fold.
+    test("a review by another author breaks the run", () => {
+      expect(
+        shape(
+          timeline([
+            revisionOp("r1", 1),
+            reviewOp("v1", 2, "r1", bob),
+            revisionOp("r2", 3),
+            revisionOp("r3", 4),
+          ]),
+        ),
+      ).toEqual([
+        "opened",
+        "revision:r1",
+        "review:v1",
+        "revision:r2",
+        "revision:r3",
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    test("doesn't fold a lone older revision", () => {
+      expect(
+        shape(timeline([revisionOp("r1", 1), revisionOp("r2", 2)])),
+      ).toEqual(["opened", "revision:r1", "revision:r2"]);
+    });
+
+    test("a different author breaks the run", () => {
+      expect(
+        shape(
+          timeline([
+            revisionOp("r1", 1),
+            revisionOp("r2", 2, bob),
+            revisionOp("r3", 3),
+            revisionOp("r4", 4),
+          ]),
+        ),
+      ).toEqual([
+        "opened",
+        "revision:r1",
+        "revision:r2",
+        "revision:r3",
+        "revision:r4",
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    test("another entry between revisions breaks the run", () => {
+      expect(
+        shape(
+          timeline([
+            revisionOp("r1", 1),
+            op("l", 2, [{ type: "label", labels: ["x"] }]),
+            revisionOp("r2", 3),
+            revisionOp("r3", 4),
+          ]),
+        ),
+      ).toEqual([
+        "opened",
+        "revision:r1",
+        "label:l",
+        "revision:r2",
+        "revision:r3",
+      ]);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/support/cobs.ts b/tests/unit/support/cobs.ts
index a74d4c66b..d5114f486 100644
--- a/tests/unit/support/cobs.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/support/cobs.ts
@@ -72,10 +72,10 @@ export function revision(props: Partial<Revision> = {}): Revision {
   };
 }
 
-export function operation(
+export function operation<A = Action>(
   by: Author,
   timestamp: number,
-  actions: Action[],
-): Operation<Action> {
+  actions: A[],
+): Operation<A> {
   return { id: `op-${timestamp}`, author: by, timestamp, actions };
 }