Concrete perf metrics: live counters in --profile + benchmark suite

Live metrics (--profile):
- New metricsTracker instruments OnPTYOut, viewport renderer,
  stdout writes, libghostty-vt Write/Title CGO calls, sidebar /
  tabbar / status draws (with cache-hit accounting), snapshot
  replays, and the chrome ticker (so we can see ticker fires that
  did nothing).
- Writes metrics.jsonl (one snapshot per second) and metrics.json
  + summary.txt on exit, alongside the existing pprof files.
- All record* methods are nil-safe so disabled paths pay only a
  cheap nil check; counters are atomic so the per-PTY-chunk hot
  path stays lock-free.

Benchmark suite (go test -bench=.):
- Three workload fixtures — plain ASCII, SGR-styled lines, and a
  ratatui-style cursor-shuffling burst — plus a containsOSC
  microbenchmark. Reports ns/op, MB/s, allocs/op, B/op.
- Initial baseline numbers added to TODO under the perf-audit
  section, alongside two new findings (renderer allocs ~1 per 4
  bytes on styled chunks; styled throughput tops out near
  90 MB/s) those benchmarks surfaced.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -53,12 +53,29 @@ loosely follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
   `$XDG_STATE_HOME/patterm/debug/YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS` is used; pass an
   explicit path to override. All output goes to files — stdout/stderr
   are untouched.
-- `--profile[=DIR]` flag captures pprof data for performance work:
+- `--profile[=DIR]` flag captures pprof data plus concrete
-  `cpu.pprof` (running for the lifetime of the session), plus
+  performance counters for performance work: `cpu.pprof` (running
-  `heap.pprof` and `goroutine.pprof` snapshots written on shutdown.
+  for the lifetime of the session), plus `heap.pprof` and
-  Defaults to `$XDG_STATE_HOME/patterm/profile/YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS`.
+  `goroutine.pprof` snapshots written on shutdown; alongside them,
-  All diagnostics (startup, errors) are written to `profile.log`
+  a per-hot-path metrics tracker writes `metrics.jsonl` (one row
+  per second with chunk/byte rates, per-stage mean and max
+  latencies, and cache hit rates) plus a final `metrics.json`
+  aggregate and a human-readable `summary.txt` on exit.
+  Instrumented hot paths: `OnPTYOut`, viewport `renderer.Render`,
+  host stdout writes, libghostty-vt `emulator.Write` / `Title`,
+  sidebar / tab bar / status line draws (with cache-hit
+  accounting), snapshot replays, and the chrome ticker (so you can
+  see how often it fires with nothing to do). Defaults to
+  `$XDG_STATE_HOME/patterm/profile/YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS`. All
+  diagnostics (startup, errors) are written to `profile.log`
   inside the dir, never to stdout/stderr.
+- Renderer benchmark suite (`internal/app/bench_test.go`). Three
+  workload fixtures — plain ASCII, SGR-styled lines, and a
+  ratatui-style cursor-shuffling burst — plus an OSC-gate
+  micro-benchmark. Run via `go test -bench=. -benchmem
+  ./internal/app/`. Gives a stable reference for the per-chunk
+  cost of the viewport renderer so future changes can be compared
+  apples-to-apples.
 - "New Terminal" entry in the command palette spawns a bare interactive
   `$SHELL` pane (kind `terminal`). Unlike "Run process: …" presets,
   which are session-persistent and reachable via `restart_process`,

TODO.md

@@ -2,6 +2,44 @@
 Findings from a codebase sweep — not user-reported, needs review before
 action. Each item names the anchor and a sketched fix.
 
+Baseline benchmark numbers (`go test -bench=. ./internal/app/`, AMD
+Ryzen 7 7800X3D):
+
+```
+ViewportRenderer_PlainASCII       229 MB/s     1.3 KB/op    6 allocs/op
+ViewportRenderer_StyledLines       89 MB/s    91   KB/op  4325 allocs/op
+ViewportRenderer_RatatuiBurst      40 MB/s   365   KB/op 17306 allocs/op
+RendererThroughput_ReuseInstance   90 MB/s   316   KB/op 17380 allocs/op
+ContainsOSC_NoOSC                3050 MB/s     0   B/op     0 allocs/op
+```
+
+- [ ] **viewport renderer allocates ~1 alloc per 4 input bytes on SGR/CSI-heavy chunks.** [MEDIUM]
+  - `internal/app/viewport_renderer.go` — the styled-lines and
+    ratatui benchmarks show 4-17k allocs per chunk. The hot
+    contributors are likely (a) `string(vr.buf)` / `string(params)`
+    conversions in `emitCSI` for every escape sequence, (b) the
+    `pending strings.Builder` resizing as fragments arrive, and (c)
+    `vr.shifter.Shift(vr.buf)` returning a fresh slice per CSI.
+  - Fix direction: switch CSI param parsing to byte-slice
+    comparison (no string conversion); reuse `vr.buf` and
+    `vr.pending` backing arrays across `Render` calls by
+    pre-growing in `newViewportRenderer`; have `cursorShifter.Shift`
+    return into a caller-owned buffer instead of allocating.
+    Profile-guided: run the styled-lines bench, point pprof at the
+    allocs profile, fix the top three call sites.
+
+- [ ] **viewport renderer throughput (~90 MB/s styled) limits codex steady-state.** [MEDIUM]
+  - The styled-lines and ratatui benchmarks come in at 89 MB/s and
+    40 MB/s respectively. A 100 KB/s codex burst is far under that
+    limit, but a session-resume dump of a 5 MiB chat history takes
+    50-130 ms of pure renderer time at those rates — enough to be
+    user-visible at the start of a long resume.
+  - Fix direction: same as the alloc fix above; once the per-call
+    allocation cost drops, the throughput ceiling rises with it.
+    Worth re-running the benches after fixing the allocs and only
+    investing further if the styled-lines bench is still under
+    ~300 MB/s.
+
 - [ ] **Session.Children() allocates a fresh slice on every call.** [MEDIUM]
   - `internal/app/session.go:530-541` walks `s.order` under `s.mu` and
     builds a new `[]*Child` slice every time. Callers on hot paths:

cmd/patterm/main.go

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func main() {
 		projectDir  = flag.String("project", "", "project directory (default $PWD)")
 		showVersion = flag.Bool("version", false, "print version and exit")
 		debugDir    = flag.String("debug", "", "write debug logs + per-child raw PTY output to DIR (auto-picks a dated subdir under $XDG_STATE_HOME/patterm/debug when DIR is omitted)")
-		profileDir  = flag.String("profile", "", "write CPU+heap+goroutine pprof files to DIR (auto-picks a dated subdir under $XDG_STATE_HOME/patterm/profile when DIR is omitted)")
+		profileDir  = flag.String("profile", "", "write pprof files (cpu/heap/goroutine) and live perf counters (metrics.jsonl per-second, metrics.json + summary.txt on exit) to DIR (auto-picks a dated subdir under $XDG_STATE_HOME/patterm/profile when DIR is omitted)")
 	)
 	// Allow bare `--debug` / `--profile` with no value — pflag treats
 	// them as boolean-shaped strings, picking a sensible default dir.
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ func main() {
 		ProjectDir: cwd,
 		ProjectKey: key,
 		DebugDir:   resolvedDebug,
+		ProfileDir: resolvedProfile,
 	}); err != nil {
 		die("%v", err)
 	}

internal/app/app.go

@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ type Options struct {
 	// <DebugDir>/<child-id>.raw. The dir is created if missing. Events
 	// (spawn / exit / state change) land in <DebugDir>/events.jsonl.
 	DebugDir string
+	// ProfileDir, when non-empty, enables in-process performance
+	// counters. patterm writes a per-second JSONL snapshot stream to
+	// <ProfileDir>/metrics.jsonl, a final aggregate to metrics.json,
+	// and a human-readable summary.txt on shutdown. The pprof files
+	// written by --profile sit alongside these in the same dir.
+	ProfileDir string
 }
 
 const keyCtrlK byte = 0x0b
@@ -134,6 +140,18 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	defer cancel()
 
+	// Performance tracker — instrumented hot-path timings written to
+	// <ProfileDir>. nil when --profile is off, in which case every
+	// record*() call is a fast nil check.
+	metrics, err := newMetricsTracker(opts.ProfileDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("app: metrics tracker: %w", err)
+	}
+	if metrics != nil {
+		go metrics.run(ctx)
+		defer metrics.close()
+	}
+
 	// Per-session idle-detection classifier. One goroutine ticks every
 	// 250ms over every live child and updates IdleState. It stops when
 	// ctx is cancelled.
@@ -150,7 +168,9 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 		hostCols:   cols,
 		hostRows:   rows,
 		stdinTTY:   term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdin.Fd())),
+		metrics:    metrics,
 	}
+	sess.SetMetrics(metrics)
 	host.attention = st
 	host.focus = st
 	host.prompter = st
@@ -271,7 +291,9 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 			}
 			chromeChanged := st.chromeDirty.Swap(false)
 			sidebarChanged := st.sidebarDirty.Swap(false)
-			if !chromeChanged && !sidebarChanged {
+			didWork := chromeChanged || sidebarChanged
+			st.metrics.recordTickerFire(didWork)
+			if !didWork {
 				continue
 			}
 			if chromeChanged {
@@ -383,6 +405,11 @@ type uiState struct {
 	hostCols, hostRows uint16
 	stdinTTY           bool
 
+	// metrics is the optional performance tracker. nil when --profile
+	// is off. Hot paths call metrics.recordX which is a fast nil
+	// check on the disabled path.
+	metrics *metricsTracker
+
 	// chromeCacheMu guards the last-rendered byte cache for each chrome
 	// element. The tab bar, sidebar, and status line all repaint on
 	// many state changes and on every PTY chunk, but their content
@@ -787,6 +814,10 @@ func (st *uiState) scheduleAutoRestart(c *Child) {
 // disabled only around the replay so long styled runs cannot wrap into
 // the right rail.
 func (st *uiState) OnPTYOut(childID string, chunk []byte) {
+	var entry time.Time
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		entry = time.Now()
+	}
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	focus := st.focusedID
@@ -803,16 +834,31 @@ func (st *uiState) OnPTYOut(childID string, chunk []byte) {
 	}
 	st.mu.Unlock()
 	if palOpen || focus != childID || renderer == nil {
+		st.metrics.recordPTYOutDrop()
 		return
 	}
 	var out []byte
 	if forceRepaint {
+		var snapStart time.Time
+		if st.metrics != nil {
+			snapStart = time.Now()
+		}
 		out = st.renderFocusedSnapshot(childID, renderer, layout)
+		if st.metrics != nil {
+			st.metrics.recordSnapshot(time.Since(snapStart))
+		}
 		if len(out) == 0 {
 			return
 		}
 	} else {
+		var rstart time.Time
+		if st.metrics != nil {
+			rstart = time.Now()
+		}
 		out = renderer.Render(chunk)
+		if st.metrics != nil {
+			st.metrics.recordRender(time.Since(rstart))
+		}
 	}
 	// One write covers the autowrap-disable prelude, the chunk, and the
 	// autowrap-restore postlude — three syscalls collapsed into one
@@ -822,9 +868,16 @@ func (st *uiState) OnPTYOut(childID string, chunk []byte) {
 	wrapped = append(wrapped, "\x1b[?7l"...)
 	wrapped = append(wrapped, out...)
 	wrapped = append(wrapped, "\x1b[?7h"...)
+	var wstart time.Time
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		wstart = time.Now()
+	}
 	st.outMu.Lock()
 	_, _ = os.Stdout.Write(wrapped)
 	st.outMu.Unlock()
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		st.metrics.recordStdout(time.Since(wstart), len(wrapped))
+	}
 	// RI / IND / NEL / SU / SD / IL / DL and bottom-margin LF / VT / FF
 	// scroll content within the host's scroll region, which spans every
 	// column — so any of them drags the right-hand sidebar's session-tree
@@ -851,6 +904,9 @@ func (st *uiState) OnPTYOut(childID string, chunk []byte) {
 	// avoiding the string build, FindChild, and locking on every
 	// chunk pulls steady-state CPU off the hot path.
 	st.markChromeDirty()
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		st.metrics.recordPTYOut(time.Since(entry), len(chunk))
+	}
 }
 
 func (st *uiState) enterScreen() {
@@ -990,6 +1046,10 @@ func (st *uiState) renderPaletteLocked() {
 // attention ask. Right side: palette hint. The PTY child occupies
 // host_rows-1 rows so this row is exclusively ours.
 func (st *uiState) drawStatusLine() {
+	var entry time.Time
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		entry = time.Now()
+	}
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	palOpen := st.palette != nil
 	focusID := st.focusedID
@@ -1076,10 +1136,16 @@ func (st *uiState) drawStatusLine() {
 	st.chromeCacheMu.Lock()
 	if line == st.statusLineCache {
 		st.chromeCacheMu.Unlock()
+		if st.metrics != nil {
+			st.metrics.recordStatus(time.Since(entry), true)
+		}
 		return
 	}
 	st.statusLineCache = line
 	st.chromeCacheMu.Unlock()
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		defer func() { st.metrics.recordStatus(time.Since(entry), false) }()
+	}
 
 	st.outMu.Lock()
 	defer st.outMu.Unlock()

internal/app/bench_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// Benchmarks for patterm's hot paths. Run with:
+//
+//	go test -bench=. -benchmem ./internal/app/
+//
+// or target one:
+//
+//	go test -bench=BenchmarkViewportRenderer_PlainASCII -benchmem ./internal/app/
+//
+// The fixtures below model the three workloads we care about most:
+//
+//   - PlainASCII: long-running text output (claude streaming a code
+//     diff, codex outputting a tool result body). Fast-path territory.
+//   - StyledLines: SGR-heavy output (claude/codex chat history with
+//     coloured tokens). State-machine path.
+//   - RatatuiBurst: many short cursor-positioning / SGR transitions in
+//     a tight chunk, matching codex/ratatui's incremental diff
+//     updates.
+//   - SnapshotReplay: full styled-grid replay (focus switch).
+
+// buildPlainASCIIChunk returns a roughly N-byte chunk of pure
+// printable ASCII text with the occasional newline — the cheapest
+// workload, exercises the fast path in viewport_renderer.Render.
+func buildPlainASCIIChunk(n int) []byte {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.Grow(n)
+	line := "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog 0123456789 "
+	for b.Len() < n {
+		b.WriteString(line)
+		if b.Len()%80 < len(line) {
+			b.WriteByte('\n')
+		}
+	}
+	return []byte(b.String()[:n])
+}
+
+// buildStyledLinesChunk simulates SGR-heavy output: every word wears
+// a colour, so the renderer breaks out of its fast path on every
+// escape sequence.
+func buildStyledLinesChunk(n int) []byte {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.Grow(n)
+	colours := []string{"31", "32", "33", "34", "35", "36"}
+	words := []string{"package", "func", "return", "import", "struct", "type", "const", "var"}
+	i := 0
+	for b.Len() < n {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[%sm%s\x1b[0m ", colours[i%len(colours)], words[i%len(words)])
+		if i%10 == 9 {
+			b.WriteByte('\n')
+		}
+		i++
+	}
+	return []byte(b.String()[:n])
+}
+
+// buildRatatuiBurst simulates a single ratatui-style diff frame:
+// CUP, SGR, a few chars, CUP, SGR, a few chars… for a viewport's
+// worth of cells.
+func buildRatatuiBurst(cells int) []byte {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	for i := 0; i < cells; i++ {
+		row := (i / 80) + 1
+		col := (i % 80) + 1
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[%d;%dH\x1b[3%dm%c", row, col, i%8, byte('A'+(i%26)))
+	}
+	b.WriteString("\x1b[0m")
+	return []byte(b.String())
+}
+
+// BenchmarkViewportRenderer_PlainASCII drives a 16 KiB plain-text
+// chunk through Render once per iteration. Reports ns/op,
+// allocations, and B/op.
+func BenchmarkViewportRenderer_PlainASCII(b *testing.B) {
+	chunk := buildPlainASCIIChunk(16 * 1024)
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(chunk)))
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
+		_ = vr.Render(chunk)
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkViewportRenderer_StyledLines exercises the per-byte CSI
+// path on SGR-heavy output. Most claude/codex chat resume traffic
+// looks like this — coloured prose with frequent style toggles.
+func BenchmarkViewportRenderer_StyledLines(b *testing.B) {
+	chunk := buildStyledLinesChunk(16 * 1024)
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(chunk)))
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
+		_ = vr.Render(chunk)
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkViewportRenderer_RatatuiBurst measures the worst-case
+// cursor-shuffling workload: full-frame diff updates dominated by
+// CUP + SGR + single-char writes.
+func BenchmarkViewportRenderer_RatatuiBurst(b *testing.B) {
+	chunk := buildRatatuiBurst(80 * 24) // one screenful of cells
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(chunk)))
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
+		_ = vr.Render(chunk)
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkContainsOSC measures the OSC-gate fast path used by
+// pumpChild before deciding whether to fire the per-chunk Title()
+// CGO call. Inputs:
+//   - "hot": SGR-styled output without OSC — the common case for
+//     codex/ratatui. We want this near zero.
+//   - "cold": chunk with an OSC sequence in the middle.
+func BenchmarkContainsOSC_NoOSC(b *testing.B) {
+	chunk := buildStyledLinesChunk(8 * 1024)
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(chunk)))
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		_ = containsOSC(chunk)
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkContainsOSC_WithOSC(b *testing.B) {
+	chunk := append(buildStyledLinesChunk(8*1024), []byte("\x1b]0;new title\x07")...)
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(chunk)))
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		_ = containsOSC(chunk)
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkRendererThroughput_ReuseInstance approximates real
+// session behaviour: a single viewport renderer fed many chunks in
+// sequence, no per-iteration allocation. Reports a throughput
+// closer to the steady-state OnPTYOut path. Chunks are 4 KiB to
+// match typical PTY read sizes; the renderer is reset every
+// benchmark run.
+func BenchmarkRendererThroughput_ReuseInstance(b *testing.B) {
+	chunks := make([][]byte, 16)
+	for i := range chunks {
+		chunks[i] = buildStyledLinesChunk(4 * 1024)
+	}
+	totalBytes := 0
+	for _, c := range chunks {
+		totalBytes += len(c)
+	}
+	b.SetBytes(int64(totalBytes))
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
+		for _, c := range chunks {
+			_ = vr.Render(c)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/app/metrics.go

@@ -0,0 +1,462 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// metricsTracker collects per-hot-path counters and timings. All
+// fields are atomic so callers can record from the per-PTY-chunk path
+// without taking a lock. Enabled only when --profile is set.
+//
+// Sampled rates ("X per second", "p99 latency") are not tracked here
+// directly — the snapshotter goroutine writes a row to metrics.jsonl
+// every second, and analysis tools compute rates from the deltas.
+// Aggregate totals are written to metrics.json on shutdown.
+type metricsTracker struct {
+	startedAt time.Time
+
+	// PTY chunk arrival → stdout write pipeline (per OnPTYOut call).
+	ptyChunks      atomic.Int64
+	ptyBytes       atomic.Int64
+	onPTYOutNs     atomic.Int64
+	onPTYOutMaxNs  atomic.Int64
+	onPTYOutDrops  atomic.Int64 // chunks for non-focused children — fast-path returns
+	stdoutWrites   atomic.Int64
+	stdoutBytes    atomic.Int64
+	stdoutNs       atomic.Int64
+	stdoutMaxNs    atomic.Int64
+
+	// Viewport renderer (state-machine over child PTY bytes).
+	renderCalls atomic.Int64
+	renderNs    atomic.Int64
+	renderMaxNs atomic.Int64
+
+	// CGO into libghostty-vt (counted from pumpChild).
+	emuWriteCalls atomic.Int64
+	emuWriteNs    atomic.Int64
+	emuWriteMaxNs atomic.Int64
+	emuTitleCalls atomic.Int64
+	emuTitleNs    atomic.Int64
+	emuTitleSkips atomic.Int64 // OSC-gate fast path — title poll skipped
+
+	// Chrome paint pipeline.
+	sidebarDraws     atomic.Int64
+	sidebarCacheHits atomic.Int64
+	sidebarNs        atomic.Int64
+	sidebarMaxNs     atomic.Int64
+
+	tabbarDraws     atomic.Int64
+	tabbarCacheHits atomic.Int64
+	tabbarNs        atomic.Int64
+
+	statusDraws     atomic.Int64
+	statusCacheHits atomic.Int64
+	statusNs        atomic.Int64
+
+	// Snapshot replay (focus / spawn / nudge).
+	snapshotReplays atomic.Int64
+	snapshotNs      atomic.Int64
+	snapshotMaxNs   atomic.Int64
+
+	// Chrome ticker — distinguishes useful work from idle wakeups.
+	tickerFires      atomic.Int64
+	tickerIdleFires  atomic.Int64 // nothing dirty when the ticker fired
+
+	// Output destination (set when enabled).
+	rowFile *os.File // metrics.jsonl
+	dir     string
+}
+
+// newMetricsTracker creates an enabled tracker writing to <dir>/.
+// Returns nil + nil err if dir is empty (feature off). Caller must
+// call tracker.run(ctx) in a goroutine and tracker.close() at exit.
+func newMetricsTracker(dir string) (*metricsTracker, error) {
+	if dir == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o700); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	row, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(dir, "metrics.jsonl"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &metricsTracker{
+		startedAt: time.Now(),
+		rowFile:   row,
+		dir:       dir,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// observeMax updates dst to max(dst, v) using a CAS loop. Atomic max
+// isn't a hardware primitive on most CPUs; this is the standard idiom.
+// Spurious wakeups can race but the result settles at the true max.
+func observeMax(dst *atomic.Int64, v int64) {
+	for {
+		old := dst.Load()
+		if v <= old {
+			return
+		}
+		if dst.CompareAndSwap(old, v) {
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// recordPTYOut is called once at the end of each OnPTYOut invocation.
+// `dur` is the full per-chunk wall time (renderer + stdout + chrome
+// signals); `bytes` is the chunk's byte count.
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordPTYOut(dur time.Duration, bytes int) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.ptyChunks.Add(1)
+	m.ptyBytes.Add(int64(bytes))
+	ns := dur.Nanoseconds()
+	m.onPTYOutNs.Add(ns)
+	observeMax(&m.onPTYOutMaxNs, ns)
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordPTYOutDrop() {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.onPTYOutDrops.Add(1)
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordRender(dur time.Duration) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.renderCalls.Add(1)
+	ns := dur.Nanoseconds()
+	m.renderNs.Add(ns)
+	observeMax(&m.renderMaxNs, ns)
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordStdout(dur time.Duration, bytes int) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.stdoutWrites.Add(1)
+	m.stdoutBytes.Add(int64(bytes))
+	ns := dur.Nanoseconds()
+	m.stdoutNs.Add(ns)
+	observeMax(&m.stdoutMaxNs, ns)
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordEmuWrite(dur time.Duration) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.emuWriteCalls.Add(1)
+	ns := dur.Nanoseconds()
+	m.emuWriteNs.Add(ns)
+	observeMax(&m.emuWriteMaxNs, ns)
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordEmuTitle(dur time.Duration, skipped bool) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if skipped {
+		m.emuTitleSkips.Add(1)
+		return
+	}
+	m.emuTitleCalls.Add(1)
+	m.emuTitleNs.Add(dur.Nanoseconds())
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordSidebar(dur time.Duration, cacheHit bool) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.sidebarDraws.Add(1)
+	if cacheHit {
+		m.sidebarCacheHits.Add(1)
+	}
+	ns := dur.Nanoseconds()
+	m.sidebarNs.Add(ns)
+	observeMax(&m.sidebarMaxNs, ns)
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordTabbar(dur time.Duration, cacheHit bool) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.tabbarDraws.Add(1)
+	if cacheHit {
+		m.tabbarCacheHits.Add(1)
+	}
+	m.tabbarNs.Add(dur.Nanoseconds())
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordStatus(dur time.Duration, cacheHit bool) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.statusDraws.Add(1)
+	if cacheHit {
+		m.statusCacheHits.Add(1)
+	}
+	m.statusNs.Add(dur.Nanoseconds())
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordSnapshot(dur time.Duration) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.snapshotReplays.Add(1)
+	ns := dur.Nanoseconds()
+	m.snapshotNs.Add(ns)
+	observeMax(&m.snapshotMaxNs, ns)
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) recordTickerFire(didWork bool) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.tickerFires.Add(1)
+	if !didWork {
+		m.tickerIdleFires.Add(1)
+	}
+}
+
+// snapshot captures the tracker's current state as a JSON-serialisable
+// map. Suitable for both the per-second JSONL row and the final
+// metrics.json aggregate.
+type metricsSnapshot struct {
+	WallSeconds   float64 `json:"wall_seconds"`
+	PTYChunks     int64   `json:"pty_chunks"`
+	PTYBytes      int64   `json:"pty_bytes"`
+	OnPTYOutNs    int64   `json:"on_pty_out_ns_total"`
+	OnPTYOutMaxNs int64   `json:"on_pty_out_ns_max"`
+	OnPTYOutDrops int64   `json:"on_pty_out_drops"`
+	StdoutWrites  int64   `json:"stdout_writes"`
+	StdoutBytes   int64   `json:"stdout_bytes"`
+	StdoutNs      int64   `json:"stdout_ns_total"`
+	StdoutMaxNs   int64   `json:"stdout_ns_max"`
+
+	RenderCalls int64 `json:"render_calls"`
+	RenderNs    int64 `json:"render_ns_total"`
+	RenderMaxNs int64 `json:"render_ns_max"`
+
+	EmuWriteCalls int64 `json:"emu_write_calls"`
+	EmuWriteNs    int64 `json:"emu_write_ns_total"`
+	EmuWriteMaxNs int64 `json:"emu_write_ns_max"`
+	EmuTitleCalls int64 `json:"emu_title_calls"`
+	EmuTitleNs    int64 `json:"emu_title_ns_total"`
+	EmuTitleSkips int64 `json:"emu_title_skips"`
+
+	SidebarDraws     int64 `json:"sidebar_draws"`
+	SidebarCacheHits int64 `json:"sidebar_cache_hits"`
+	SidebarNs        int64 `json:"sidebar_ns_total"`
+	SidebarMaxNs     int64 `json:"sidebar_ns_max"`
+
+	TabbarDraws     int64 `json:"tabbar_draws"`
+	TabbarCacheHits int64 `json:"tabbar_cache_hits"`
+	TabbarNs        int64 `json:"tabbar_ns_total"`
+
+	StatusDraws     int64 `json:"status_draws"`
+	StatusCacheHits int64 `json:"status_cache_hits"`
+	StatusNs        int64 `json:"status_ns_total"`
+
+	SnapshotReplays int64 `json:"snapshot_replays"`
+	SnapshotNs      int64 `json:"snapshot_ns_total"`
+	SnapshotMaxNs   int64 `json:"snapshot_ns_max"`
+
+	TickerFires     int64 `json:"ticker_fires"`
+	TickerIdleFires int64 `json:"ticker_idle_fires"`
+
+	// Derived rates (computed at snapshot time so consumers don't have
+	// to). All "per_second" values are averaged over wall_seconds.
+	PTYChunksPerSec      float64 `json:"pty_chunks_per_sec"`
+	PTYBytesPerSec       float64 `json:"pty_bytes_per_sec"`
+	OnPTYOutMeanUs       float64 `json:"on_pty_out_mean_us"`
+	StdoutMeanUs         float64 `json:"stdout_mean_us"`
+	EmuWriteMeanUs       float64 `json:"emu_write_mean_us"`
+	SidebarMeanUs        float64 `json:"sidebar_mean_us"`
+	SidebarCacheHitRate  float64 `json:"sidebar_cache_hit_rate"`
+	TabbarCacheHitRate   float64 `json:"tabbar_cache_hit_rate"`
+	StatusCacheHitRate   float64 `json:"status_cache_hit_rate"`
+	EmuTitleSkipRate     float64 `json:"emu_title_skip_rate"`
+	TickerIdleRate       float64 `json:"ticker_idle_rate"`
+	Timestamp            string  `json:"timestamp"`
+}
+
+func (m *metricsTracker) snapshotNow() metricsSnapshot {
+	wall := time.Since(m.startedAt).Seconds()
+	if wall <= 0 {
+		wall = 1
+	}
+	chunks := m.ptyChunks.Load()
+	bytes := m.ptyBytes.Load()
+	onptyTotal := m.onPTYOutNs.Load()
+	stdW := m.stdoutWrites.Load()
+	stdNs := m.stdoutNs.Load()
+	emuW := m.emuWriteCalls.Load()
+	emuWNs := m.emuWriteNs.Load()
+	sbDraws := m.sidebarDraws.Load()
+	sbHits := m.sidebarCacheHits.Load()
+	sbNs := m.sidebarNs.Load()
+	tbDraws := m.tabbarDraws.Load()
+	tbHits := m.tabbarCacheHits.Load()
+	stDraws := m.statusDraws.Load()
+	stHits := m.statusCacheHits.Load()
+	emuTC := m.emuTitleCalls.Load()
+	emuTS := m.emuTitleSkips.Load()
+	tickerF := m.tickerFires.Load()
+	tickerI := m.tickerIdleFires.Load()
+
+	div := func(num, denom int64) float64 {
+		if denom == 0 {
+			return 0
+		}
+		return float64(num) / float64(denom)
+	}
+
+	return metricsSnapshot{
+		WallSeconds:   wall,
+		PTYChunks:     chunks,
+		PTYBytes:      bytes,
+		OnPTYOutNs:    onptyTotal,
+		OnPTYOutMaxNs: m.onPTYOutMaxNs.Load(),
+		OnPTYOutDrops: m.onPTYOutDrops.Load(),
+		StdoutWrites:  stdW,
+		StdoutBytes:   m.stdoutBytes.Load(),
+		StdoutNs:      stdNs,
+		StdoutMaxNs:   m.stdoutMaxNs.Load(),
+
+		RenderCalls: m.renderCalls.Load(),
+		RenderNs:    m.renderNs.Load(),
+		RenderMaxNs: m.renderMaxNs.Load(),
+
+		EmuWriteCalls: emuW,
+		EmuWriteNs:    emuWNs,
+		EmuWriteMaxNs: m.emuWriteMaxNs.Load(),
+		EmuTitleCalls: emuTC,
+		EmuTitleNs:    m.emuTitleNs.Load(),
+		EmuTitleSkips: emuTS,
+
+		SidebarDraws:     sbDraws,
+		SidebarCacheHits: sbHits,
+		SidebarNs:        sbNs,
+		SidebarMaxNs:     m.sidebarMaxNs.Load(),
+
+		TabbarDraws:     tbDraws,
+		TabbarCacheHits: tbHits,
+		TabbarNs:        m.tabbarNs.Load(),
+
+		StatusDraws:     stDraws,
+		StatusCacheHits: stHits,
+		StatusNs:        m.statusNs.Load(),
+
+		SnapshotReplays: m.snapshotReplays.Load(),
+		SnapshotNs:      m.snapshotNs.Load(),
+		SnapshotMaxNs:   m.snapshotMaxNs.Load(),
+
+		TickerFires:     tickerF,
+		TickerIdleFires: tickerI,
+
+		PTYChunksPerSec:     float64(chunks) / wall,
+		PTYBytesPerSec:      float64(bytes) / wall,
+		OnPTYOutMeanUs:      div(onptyTotal/1000, chunks),
+		StdoutMeanUs:        div(stdNs/1000, stdW),
+		EmuWriteMeanUs:      div(emuWNs/1000, emuW),
+		SidebarMeanUs:       div(sbNs/1000, sbDraws),
+		SidebarCacheHitRate: div(sbHits, sbDraws),
+		TabbarCacheHitRate:  div(tbHits, tbDraws),
+		StatusCacheHitRate:  div(stHits, stDraws),
+		EmuTitleSkipRate:    div(emuTS, emuTC+emuTS),
+		TickerIdleRate:      div(tickerI, tickerF),
+		Timestamp:           time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339Nano),
+	}
+}
+
+// run is the snapshotter goroutine: write a JSONL row every second
+// until ctx is cancelled. Stops cleanly without flushing partial
+// rows.
+func (m *metricsTracker) run(ctx context.Context) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	enc := json.NewEncoder(m.rowFile)
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Second)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			snap := m.snapshotNow()
+			_ = enc.Encode(snap)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// close writes the final aggregate snapshot to metrics.json + a
+// short human-readable summary.txt, then closes the row file. Safe
+// to call on a nil receiver.
+func (m *metricsTracker) close() {
+	if m == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	snap := m.snapshotNow()
+	if f, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(m.dir, "metrics.json")); err == nil {
+		enc := json.NewEncoder(f)
+		enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
+		_ = enc.Encode(snap)
+		_ = f.Close()
+	}
+	if f, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(m.dir, "summary.txt")); err == nil {
+		writeSummary(f, snap)
+		_ = f.Close()
+	}
+	if m.rowFile != nil {
+		_ = m.rowFile.Close()
+		m.rowFile = nil
+	}
+}
+
+// writeSummary renders a brief human-readable digest of a snapshot.
+// Designed for `cat summary.txt` after a session — quick orientation
+// before diving into metrics.json / pprof.
+func writeSummary(w *os.File, s metricsSnapshot) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "patterm performance summary\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "===========================\n\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "session length:        %.1fs\n", s.WallSeconds)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "pty chunks:            %d  (%.1f /s)\n", s.PTYChunks, s.PTYChunksPerSec)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "pty bytes:             %d  (%.0f /s, %.1f KiB/s)\n",
+		s.PTYBytes, s.PTYBytesPerSec, s.PTYBytesPerSec/1024)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "pty chunks dropped:    %d  (focus not on caller — fast-path return)\n", s.OnPTYOutDrops)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "OnPTYOut mean:         %.1fµs   max: %.1fms\n",
+		s.OnPTYOutMeanUs, float64(s.OnPTYOutMaxNs)/1e6)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "viewport.Render calls: %d  total %.1fms  max %.1fms\n",
+		s.RenderCalls, float64(s.RenderNs)/1e6, float64(s.RenderMaxNs)/1e6)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "stdout writes:         %d  mean %.1fµs  max %.1fms  bytes %d\n",
+		s.StdoutWrites, s.StdoutMeanUs, float64(s.StdoutMaxNs)/1e6, s.StdoutBytes)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "emulator.Write (cgo):  %d  mean %.1fµs  max %.1fms\n",
+		s.EmuWriteCalls, s.EmuWriteMeanUs, float64(s.EmuWriteMaxNs)/1e6)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "emulator.Title polls:  %d real, %d gated   skip rate %.1f%%\n",
+		s.EmuTitleCalls, s.EmuTitleSkips, s.EmuTitleSkipRate*100)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "sidebar draws:         %d  mean %.1fµs  max %.1fms  cache-hit %.1f%%\n",
+		s.SidebarDraws, s.SidebarMeanUs, float64(s.SidebarMaxNs)/1e6, s.SidebarCacheHitRate*100)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "tabbar draws:          %d  cache-hit %.1f%%\n",
+		s.TabbarDraws, s.TabbarCacheHitRate*100)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "status draws:          %d  cache-hit %.1f%%\n",
+		s.StatusDraws, s.StatusCacheHitRate*100)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "snapshot replays:      %d  total %.1fms  max %.1fms\n",
+		s.SnapshotReplays, float64(s.SnapshotNs)/1e6, float64(s.SnapshotMaxNs)/1e6)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "chrome ticker:         %d fires, %d idle   idle rate %.1f%%\n",
+		s.TickerFires, s.TickerIdleFires, s.TickerIdleRate*100)
+}

internal/app/metrics_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestMetricsTrackerDisabledByEmptyDir(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := newMetricsTracker("")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("newMetricsTracker(\"\") err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if m != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected nil tracker for empty dir, got %v", m)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetricsTrackerRecordsAndWrites(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	m, err := newMetricsTracker(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("newMetricsTracker: %v", err)
+	}
+	if m == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected non-nil tracker")
+	}
+
+	m.recordPTYOut(2*time.Millisecond, 1024)
+	m.recordPTYOut(5*time.Millisecond, 4096)
+	m.recordRender(800 * time.Microsecond)
+	m.recordStdout(300*time.Microsecond, 1100)
+	m.recordEmuWrite(150 * time.Microsecond)
+	m.recordEmuTitle(0, true)
+	m.recordEmuTitle(20*time.Microsecond, false)
+	m.recordSidebar(100*time.Microsecond, true)
+	m.recordSidebar(900*time.Microsecond, false)
+	m.recordTabbar(50*time.Microsecond, true)
+	m.recordStatus(40*time.Microsecond, true)
+	m.recordSnapshot(2 * time.Millisecond)
+	m.recordTickerFire(false)
+	m.recordTickerFire(true)
+	m.recordPTYOutDrop()
+
+	m.close()
+
+	// metrics.json should exist and parse, and reflect what we recorded.
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "metrics.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read metrics.json: %v", err)
+	}
+	var snap metricsSnapshot
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &snap); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse metrics.json: %v", err)
+	}
+	if snap.PTYChunks != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("PTYChunks = %d, want 2", snap.PTYChunks)
+	}
+	if snap.PTYBytes != 5120 {
+		t.Errorf("PTYBytes = %d, want 5120", snap.PTYBytes)
+	}
+	if snap.OnPTYOutMaxNs != (5 * time.Millisecond).Nanoseconds() {
+		t.Errorf("OnPTYOutMaxNs = %d, want %d",
+			snap.OnPTYOutMaxNs, (5 * time.Millisecond).Nanoseconds())
+	}
+	if snap.SidebarDraws != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("SidebarDraws = %d, want 2", snap.SidebarDraws)
+	}
+	if snap.SidebarCacheHits != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("SidebarCacheHits = %d, want 1", snap.SidebarCacheHits)
+	}
+	if snap.SidebarCacheHitRate != 0.5 {
+		t.Errorf("SidebarCacheHitRate = %v, want 0.5", snap.SidebarCacheHitRate)
+	}
+	if snap.EmuTitleCalls != 1 || snap.EmuTitleSkips != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("emu title accounting: calls=%d skips=%d, want 1/1",
+			snap.EmuTitleCalls, snap.EmuTitleSkips)
+	}
+	if snap.TickerFires != 2 || snap.TickerIdleFires != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("ticker accounting: fires=%d idle=%d, want 2/1",
+			snap.TickerFires, snap.TickerIdleFires)
+	}
+	if snap.OnPTYOutDrops != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("OnPTYOutDrops = %d, want 1", snap.OnPTYOutDrops)
+	}
+
+	// summary.txt should also be present and non-empty.
+	info, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "summary.txt"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stat summary.txt: %v", err)
+	}
+	if info.Size() == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("summary.txt is empty")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetricsTrackerNilSafe(t *testing.T) {
+	// Every record* method must be safe to call on a nil receiver
+	// because the hot paths use that to avoid an enabled-check.
+	var m *metricsTracker
+	m.recordPTYOut(time.Millisecond, 100)
+	m.recordPTYOutDrop()
+	m.recordRender(time.Microsecond)
+	m.recordStdout(time.Microsecond, 50)
+	m.recordEmuWrite(time.Microsecond)
+	m.recordEmuTitle(time.Microsecond, false)
+	m.recordEmuTitle(0, true)
+	m.recordSidebar(time.Microsecond, true)
+	m.recordTabbar(time.Microsecond, false)
+	m.recordStatus(time.Microsecond, true)
+	m.recordSnapshot(time.Microsecond)
+	m.recordTickerFire(true)
+	m.close()
+}

internal/app/session.go

@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ type Session struct {
 	// JSON file so they can be re-spawned after patterm restarts.
 	// Optional; nil means "no persistence" (used by unit tests).
 	persistStore *persist.Store
+
+	// metrics is the optional performance tracker. nil when --profile
+	// is off. The pump goroutine reads it via atomic Load so installing
+	// metrics post-construction doesn't race with running children.
+	metrics atomic.Pointer[metricsTracker]
 }
 
 // SetPersistStore attaches a process-persistence store. Future Spawn /
@@ -61,6 +66,18 @@ func (s *Session) SetPersistStore(p *persist.Store) {
 	s.mu.Unlock()
 }
 
+// SetMetrics installs the per-session performance tracker. Safe to
+// call with nil to disable (the default). Reads on the hot path go
+// through atomic.Pointer.Load() with no lock; SetMetrics swaps the
+// pointer once at startup.
+func (s *Session) SetMetrics(m *metricsTracker) {
+	s.metrics.Store(m)
+}
+
+func (s *Session) loadMetrics() *metricsTracker {
+	return s.metrics.Load()
+}
+
 // ChildEventListener is implemented by the TUI to react to lifecycle
 // events without polling.
 type ChildEventListener interface {
@@ -392,9 +409,17 @@ func (s *Session) pumpChild(c *Child, runID uint64) {
 			}
 			chunk := buf[:n]
 			if em := c.Emulator(); em != nil {
+				m := s.loadMetrics()
+				wstart := time.Time{}
+				if m != nil {
+					wstart = time.Now()
+				}
 				if _, werr := em.Write(chunk); werr != nil {
 					logf("emulator.Write(child %s): %v", c.ID, werr)
 				}
+				if m != nil {
+					m.recordEmuWrite(time.Since(wstart))
+				}
 				// OSC 0/2 title updates ride on the same byte stream as
 				// the rest of the output. Polling the emulator after each
 				// chunk is cheap on its own (one CGO call) but codex/
@@ -403,9 +428,18 @@ func (s *Session) pumpChild(c *Child, runID uint64) {
 				// the chunk doesn't carry an OSC start byte at all; the
 				// title can only change on chunks that include one.
 				if containsOSC(chunk) {
+					tstart := time.Time{}
+					if m != nil {
+						tstart = time.Now()
+					}
 					if t, terr := em.Title(); terr == nil {
 						c.recordTitle(t)
 					}
+					if m != nil {
+						m.recordEmuTitle(time.Since(tstart), false)
+					}
+				} else if m != nil {
+					m.recordEmuTitle(0, true)
 				}
 			}
 			c.recordWrite(chunk)

internal/app/sidebar.go

@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ func formatShortDuration(d time.Duration) string {
 // computed main viewport, so the sidebar region is outside the child's
 // cursor range. We can redraw freely without fighting the child for cells.
 func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
+	var entry time.Time
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		entry = time.Now()
+	}
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	palOpen := st.palette != nil
 	focus := st.focusedID
@@ -231,10 +235,16 @@ func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
 	st.chromeCacheMu.Lock()
 	if frame == st.sidebarCache {
 		st.chromeCacheMu.Unlock()
+		if st.metrics != nil {
+			st.metrics.recordSidebar(time.Since(entry), true)
+		}
 		return
 	}
 	st.sidebarCache = frame
 	st.chromeCacheMu.Unlock()
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		defer func() { st.metrics.recordSidebar(time.Since(entry), false) }()
+	}
 
 	st.outMu.Lock()
 	// Save cursor; emit the sidebar; restore.

internal/app/tabbar.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 )
 
@@ -17,6 +18,10 @@ const tabBarRows = 2
 // to the leftmost tabs so the strip fills the screen edge-to-edge.
 // A trailing "+ new" hint sits in the rightmost reserved slot.
 func (st *uiState) drawTabBar() {
+	var entry time.Time
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		entry = time.Now()
+	}
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	palOpen := st.palette != nil
 	focus := st.focusedID
@@ -188,10 +193,16 @@ func (st *uiState) drawTabBar() {
 	st.chromeCacheMu.Lock()
 	if frame == st.tabBarCache {
 		st.chromeCacheMu.Unlock()
+		if st.metrics != nil {
+			st.metrics.recordTabbar(time.Since(entry), true)
+		}
 		return
 	}
 	st.tabBarCache = frame
 	st.chromeCacheMu.Unlock()
+	if st.metrics != nil {
+		defer func() { st.metrics.recordTabbar(time.Since(entry), false) }()
+	}
 
 	st.outMu.Lock()
 	defer st.outMu.Unlock()