diff --git a/app/routers/runs.py b/app/routers/runs.py
index d3593db..eda4cda 100644
--- a/app/routers/runs.py
+++ b/app/routers/runs.py
@@ -110,6 +110,19 @@ async def get_run(
         else:
             run["username"] = actor_id or "Unknown"
 
+        # Helper to normalize input refs to just node IDs
+        def normalize_inputs(inputs):
+            """Convert input refs (may be dicts or strings) to list of node IDs."""
+            result = []
+            for inp in inputs:
+                if isinstance(inp, dict):
+                    node_id = inp.get("node") or inp.get("input") or inp.get("id")
+                else:
+                    node_id = inp
+                if node_id:
+                    result.append(node_id)
+            return result
+
         # Try to load the recipe to show the plan
         plan = None
         recipe_id = run.get("recipe")
@@ -132,7 +145,7 @@ async def get_run(
                                 "name": node_id,
                                 "type": node.get("type", "EFFECT"),
                                 "status": "completed",  # Run completed
-                                "inputs": node.get("inputs", []),
+                                "inputs": normalize_inputs(node.get("inputs", [])),
                                 "config": node.get("config", {}),
                             })
                     elif isinstance(nodes, dict):
@@ -142,7 +155,7 @@ async def get_run(
                                 "name": node_id,
                                 "type": node.get("type", "EFFECT"),
                                 "status": "completed",
-                                "inputs": node.get("inputs", []),
+                                "inputs": normalize_inputs(node.get("inputs", [])),
                                 "config": node.get("config", {}),
                             })
 
@@ -230,12 +243,18 @@ async def get_run(
                     }
                 })
                 for inp in step.get("inputs", []):
-                    dag_elements.append({
-                        "data": {
-                            "source": inp,
-                            "target": step_id,
-                        }
-                    })
+                    # Handle both string and dict inputs
+                    if isinstance(inp, dict):
+                        source = inp.get("node") or inp.get("input") or inp.get("id")
+                    else:
+                        source = inp
+                    if source:
+                        dag_elements.append({
+                            "data": {
+                                "source": source,
+                                "target": step_id,
+                            }
+                        })
 
         templates = get_templates(request)
         return render(templates, "runs/detail.html", request,
@@ -336,23 +355,32 @@ async def run_detail(
             "analyze": "#ec4899",
             "transform": "#10b981",
             "output": "#f59e0b",
+            "SOURCE": "#3b82f6",
+            "EFFECT": "#8b5cf6",
+            "SEQUENCE": "#ec4899",
         }
         for i, step in enumerate(plan["steps"]):
+            step_id = step.get("id", f"step-{i}")
             dag_elements.append({
                 "data": {
-                    "id": step.get("id", f"step-{i}"),
+                    "id": step_id,
                     "label": step.get("name", f"Step {i+1}"),
                     "color": node_colors.get(step.get("type", "effect"), "#6b7280"),
                 }
             })
-            # Add edges from inputs
+            # Add edges from inputs (handle both string and dict formats)
             for inp in step.get("inputs", []):
-                dag_elements.append({
-                    "data": {
-                        "source": inp,
-                        "target": step.get("id", f"step-{i}"),
-                    }
-                })
+                if isinstance(inp, dict):
+                    source = inp.get("node") or inp.get("input") or inp.get("id")
+                else:
+                    source = inp
+                if source:
+                    dag_elements.append({
+                        "data": {
+                            "source": source,
+                            "target": step_id,
+                        }
+                    })
 
     if wants_json(request):
         return {
@@ -404,6 +432,9 @@ async def run_plan(
         "analyze": "#ec4899",
         "transform": "#10b981",
         "output": "#f59e0b",
+        "SOURCE": "#3b82f6",
+        "EFFECT": "#8b5cf6",
+        "SEQUENCE": "#ec4899",
     }
 
     for i, step in enumerate(plan.get("steps", [])):
@@ -416,9 +447,15 @@ async def run_plan(
             }
         })
         for inp in step.get("inputs", []):
-            dag_elements.append({
-                "data": {"source": inp, "target": step_id}
-            })
+            # Handle both string and dict formats
+            if isinstance(inp, dict):
+                source = inp.get("node") or inp.get("input") or inp.get("id")
+            else:
+                source = inp
+            if source:
+                dag_elements.append({
+                    "data": {"source": source, "target": step_id}
+                })
 
     templates = get_templates(request)
     return render(templates, "runs/plan.html", request,
diff --git a/database.py b/database.py
index f22ec16..0cf1bad 100644
--- a/database.py
+++ b/database.py
@@ -1159,11 +1159,11 @@ def _parse_inputs(inputs_value):
         return inputs_value
     if isinstance(inputs_value, str):
         try:
-            parsed = json.loads(inputs_value)
+            parsed = _json.loads(inputs_value)
             if isinstance(parsed, list):
                 return parsed
             return []
-        except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
+        except (_json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
             return []
     return []