diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e2a3ed7..5fafdb7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,24 @@ loosely follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+- Auto-summarization for top-level agent tabs. patterm now loads
+  `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/patterm/settings.json`, enables Codex-based
+  summaries by default (`gpt-5.4-mini`; OpenCode defaults to
+  `opencode-go/minimax-m2.7`), and can run Codex, OpenCode, or opt-in
+  Claude summarizers with configurable model names. Summary
+  attempts are armed by meaningful human input, wait for recent output
+  to go quiet, and respect a minimum cadence so unchanged tabs are not
+  summarized on a timer. The active thread summary appears under the
+  top tab title and in the sidebar below the Agent Tree section.
+- Settings overlay reachable from the command palette via
+  `Open Settings`. The searchable Settings picker opens
+  `Agents / Auto-summarization`, where users can enable/disable
+  summaries, choose provider, edit provider model names, cycle cadence,
+  test the selected summarizer (`patterm okay`), summarize the current
+  top-level agent immediately, and explicitly save or cancel draft
+  settings changes.
+
 ### Changed
 - Command palette UX overhaul. The single flat list grew section
   bands (`── Focused ──`, `── Open ──`, `── Spawn ──`, `── Quit ──`)
diff --git a/internal/app/app.go b/internal/app/app.go
index 1dad7e3..a589f6a 100644
--- a/internal/app/app.go
+++ b/internal/app/app.go
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("app: load presets: %w", err)
 	}
+	appSettings, settingsPath, err := loadSettings()
+	if err != nil {
+		logf("settings load: %v", err)
+	}
 
 	// Ensure the per-project scratchpad dir exists so MCP and the UI
 	// can read/write into it. SPEC §3.
@@ -158,18 +162,35 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 	go sess.runClassifier(ctx)
 
 	st := &uiState{
-		sess:       sess,
-		presets:    presets,
-		launcher:   launcher,
-		pads:       pads,
-		chromeWake: make(chan struct{}, 1),
-		trust:      trustStore,
-		timers:     host.timers,
-		hostCols:   cols,
-		hostRows:   rows,
-		stdinTTY:   term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdin.Fd())),
-		metrics:    metrics,
+		sess:         sess,
+		presets:      presets,
+		launcher:     launcher,
+		pads:         pads,
+		chromeWake:   make(chan struct{}, 1),
+		trust:        trustStore,
+		timers:       host.timers,
+		hostCols:     cols,
+		hostRows:     rows,
+		stdinTTY:     term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdin.Fd())),
+		metrics:      metrics,
+		settings:     appSettings,
+		settingsPath: settingsPath,
+		ctx:          ctx,
 	}
+	st.summaries = newSummaryManager(sess, opts.ProjectDir, presets, func() autoSummarySettings {
+		st.settingsMu.Lock()
+		defer st.settingsMu.Unlock()
+		return st.settings.AutoSummary.clone()
+	}, func() {
+		st.markChromeDirty()
+		st.markSidebarDirty()
+	}, func(_ string, result summaryState) {
+		if result.Error != "" {
+			st.flashError(fmt.Sprintf("summary: %v", result.Error))
+			return
+		}
+		st.flashTransient("summary updated")
+	})
 	sess.SetMetrics(metrics)
 	host.attention = st
 	host.focus = st
@@ -177,6 +198,7 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 	host.scratch = st
 	st.lastExit.Store(-1)
 	sess.Subscribe(st)
+	go st.summaries.run(ctx)
 
 	st.enterScreen()
 	st.renderEmptyState()
@@ -398,7 +420,6 @@ type uiState struct {
 	// switch resets the offset cleanly.
 	padOffsetName string
 
-
 	// activeAgentID tracks which top-level agent tab "owns" the agent
 	// tree section of the sidebar. It only updates when focus lands on
 	// an agent (or one of its sub-agents), so the agent tree stays
@@ -432,6 +453,12 @@ type uiState struct {
 	// check on the disabled path.
 	metrics *metricsTracker
 
+	settingsMu   sync.Mutex
+	settings     settings
+	settingsPath string
+	ctx          context.Context
+	summaries    *summaryManager
+
 	// 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
@@ -478,6 +505,33 @@ func (st *uiState) dbgf(format string, args ...any) {
 	logf(format, args...)
 }
 
+func (st *uiState) activeSummaryText(width int) string {
+	if width <= 0 || st.summaries == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	st.settingsMu.Lock()
+	enabled := st.settings.AutoSummary.Enabled
+	st.settingsMu.Unlock()
+	if !enabled {
+		return ""
+	}
+	st.mu.Lock()
+	active := st.activeAgentID
+	st.mu.Unlock()
+	if active == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	sum := st.summaries.Summary(active)
+	text := strings.TrimSpace(sum.Text)
+	if text == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if visibleLen(text) > width {
+		text = clipRunes(text, width-1) + "…"
+	}
+	return text
+}
+
 // trustRequest is one outstanding SPEC §7 trust prompt: an agent tried
 // to spawn / start / restart against an untrusted command preset and
 // the host wants user confirmation before the next attempt succeeds.
@@ -707,6 +761,9 @@ func (st *uiState) scratchpadsChanged() {
 // on whatever the user was watching; the new child is still surfaced in
 // the sidebar/tab bar so it's reachable via the palette or select_process.
 func (st *uiState) OnChildSpawned(c *Child) {
+	if st.summaries != nil {
+		st.summaries.RegisterChild(c)
+	}
 	if c.ParentID != "" {
 		st.mu.Lock()
 		if st.palette != nil {
@@ -781,6 +838,9 @@ func (st *uiState) OnChildStateChanged(string, IdleState) {
 // OnChildExited drops focus and shows the empty state if it was the
 // focused child.
 func (st *uiState) OnChildExited(c *Child) {
+	if st.summaries != nil {
+		st.summaries.UnregisterChild(c.ID)
+	}
 	st.lastExit.Store(int32(c.ExitCode()))
 	st.marquee.reset()
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
@@ -868,6 +928,9 @@ func (st *uiState) OnPTYOut(childID string, chunk []byte) {
 	if st.metrics != nil {
 		entry = time.Now()
 	}
+	if st.summaries != nil {
+		st.summaries.ObserveOutput(childID)
+	}
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	focus := st.focusedID
@@ -1361,6 +1424,9 @@ func (st *uiState) processStdin(chunk []byte) {
 				// writes so claude / codex / opencode don't treat a
 				// "text\r" batch as a paste.
 				_ = c.InjectAsUser(forward)
+				if st.summaries != nil {
+					st.summaries.ObserveHumanInput(c.ID, forward)
+				}
 				if prev != OwnerUser {
 					go st.drawStatusLine()
 				}
@@ -1763,7 +1829,10 @@ func (st *uiState) scrollFocusedViewportToBottom() {
 }
 
 func (st *uiState) openPaletteLocked() {
-	st.palette = newPalette(st.sess.Children(), st.focusedID, st.focusedPad, st.presets)
+	st.settingsMu.Lock()
+	appSettings := st.settings.clone()
+	st.settingsMu.Unlock()
+	st.palette = newPalette(st.sess.Children(), st.focusedID, st.focusedPad, st.presets, appSettings)
 	// Push a "no kitty flags" entry onto the host terminal's keyboard
 	// stack so palette input arrives in plain legacy form regardless of
 	// what the focused child pushed. Codex/ratatui enables kitty mode
@@ -1936,9 +2005,85 @@ func (st *uiState) closePalette(action paletteAction) {
 
 	case "proc-restart":
 		st.handleProcRestart(action.childID)
+
+	case "settings-close":
+		st.applySettingsAction(action)
+		restoreView()
+		st.drawTabBar()
+		st.drawSidebar()
+		st.drawStatusLine()
+
+	case "settings-test":
+		st.applySettingsAction(action)
+		restoreView()
+		st.drawTabBar()
+		st.drawSidebar()
+		st.drawStatusLine()
+		go st.testSummarizer()
+
+	case "settings-run-now":
+		st.applySettingsAction(action)
+		restoreView()
+		st.drawTabBar()
+		st.drawSidebar()
+		st.drawStatusLine()
+		st.runSummaryNow()
 	}
 }
 
+func (st *uiState) applySettingsAction(action paletteAction) {
+	if action.settings == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	next := action.settings.clone()
+	st.settingsMu.Lock()
+	path := st.settingsPath
+	st.settingsMu.Unlock()
+	if err := saveSettings(path, next); err != nil {
+		st.flashError(fmt.Sprintf("save settings: %v", err))
+		return
+	}
+	st.settingsMu.Lock()
+	st.settings = next
+	st.settingsMu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (st *uiState) testSummarizer() {
+	if st.summaries == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	base := st.ctx
+	if base == nil {
+		base = context.Background()
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(base, summaryTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+	if err := st.summaries.Test(ctx); err != nil {
+		st.flashError(fmt.Sprintf("summarizer test: %v", err))
+		return
+	}
+	st.flashTransient("summarizer test passed")
+}
+
+func (st *uiState) runSummaryNow() {
+	if st.summaries == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	st.mu.Lock()
+	active := st.activeAgentID
+	st.mu.Unlock()
+	if active == "" {
+		st.flashError("no active top-level agent to summarize")
+		return
+	}
+	ctx := st.ctx
+	if ctx == nil {
+		ctx = context.Background()
+	}
+	st.summaries.RunNow(ctx, active)
+	st.flashTransient("summary requested")
+}
+
 func (st *uiState) handlePadDelete(name string) {
 	if name == "" || st.pads == nil {
 		st.repaintFocused()
diff --git a/internal/app/layout_test.go b/internal/app/layout_test.go
index dc796d5..515e929 100644
--- a/internal/app/layout_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/layout_test.go
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ func TestTerminalLayoutWideUsesMainViewport(t *testing.T) {
 	if l.childCols() != 91 {
 		t.Fatalf("child cols: got %d want 91", l.childCols())
 	}
-	if l.childRows() != 37 {
-		t.Fatalf("child rows: got %d want 37", l.childRows())
+	if l.childRows() != 36 {
+		t.Fatalf("child rows: got %d want 36", l.childRows())
 	}
-	if l.mainTop != 3 || l.statusRow != 40 {
+	if l.mainTop != 4 || l.statusRow != 40 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected vertical chrome: mainTop=%d statusRow=%d", l.mainTop, l.statusRow)
 	}
 }
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ func TestTerminalLayoutNarrowHidesSidebar(t *testing.T) {
 	if l.childCols() != 38 {
 		t.Fatalf("child cols: got %d want 38", l.childCols())
 	}
-	if l.childRows() != 9 {
-		t.Fatalf("child rows: got %d want 9", l.childRows())
+	if l.childRows() != 8 {
+		t.Fatalf("child rows: got %d want 8", l.childRows())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ func TestSpawnSizingUsesViewportDimensions(t *testing.T) {
 	l := newTerminalLayout(120, 40)
 	launcher := NewLauncher(nil, "", l.childCols(), l.childRows())
 	cols, rows := launcher.size()
-	if cols != 91 || rows != 37 {
-		t.Fatalf("launcher size: got %dx%d want 91x37", cols, rows)
+	if cols != 91 || rows != 36 {
+		t.Fatalf("launcher size: got %dx%d want 91x36", cols, rows)
 	}
 
 	host := newToolHost(nil, nil, nil, preset.Set{}, nil, l.childCols(), l.childRows())
 	cols, rows = host.size()
-	if cols != 91 || rows != 37 {
-		t.Fatalf("tool host size: got %dx%d want 91x37", cols, rows)
+	if cols != 91 || rows != 36 {
+		t.Fatalf("tool host size: got %dx%d want 91x36", cols, rows)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/palette.go b/internal/app/palette.go
index e3396d5..68d758a 100644
--- a/internal/app/palette.go
+++ b/internal/app/palette.go
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ type paletteAction struct {
 
 	// For *-rename-submit actions, the user-typed new name.
 	newName string
+
+	// For settings actions, the updated settings snapshot to persist.
+	settings *settings
 }
 
 // Group ids order the section bands the palette renders when no query
@@ -47,14 +50,16 @@ const (
 	groupFocused = iota
 	groupOpen
 	groupSpawn
+	groupSettings
 	groupQuit
 )
 
 var groupLabels = map[int]string{
-	groupFocused: "Focused",
-	groupOpen:    "Open",
-	groupSpawn:   "Spawn",
-	groupQuit:    "Quit",
+	groupFocused:  "Focused",
+	groupOpen:     "Open",
+	groupSpawn:    "Spawn",
+	groupSettings: "Settings",
+	groupQuit:     "Quit",
 }
 
 type paletteItem struct {
@@ -77,6 +82,9 @@ const (
 	paletteModePicker paletteMode = iota
 	paletteModeSpawnForm
 	paletteModeRenameForm
+	paletteModeSettings
+	paletteModeAutoSummary
+	paletteModeSettingsInput
 )
 
 // spawnProcessForm is the state for the "Spawn process…" two-field
@@ -101,6 +109,13 @@ type renameForm struct {
 	subjectLine string // e.g. "scratchpad: notes.md" rendered above the input
 }
 
+type settingsInputForm struct {
+	title    string
+	field    string
+	value    []rune
+	subtitle string
+}
+
 // paletteState is the in-memory model for the overlay. SPEC §4: a
 // single fuzzy-searchable list of commands scoped to the current focus.
 type paletteState struct {
@@ -110,12 +125,14 @@ type paletteState struct {
 	focused    string
 	focusedPad string
 	presets    preset.Set
+	settings   settings
 
 	items []paletteItem
 
-	mode       paletteMode
-	form       *spawnProcessForm
-	renameForm *renameForm
+	mode          paletteMode
+	form          *spawnProcessForm
+	renameForm    *renameForm
+	settingsInput *settingsInputForm
 
 	// showHelp swaps the item list for a static keybinding cheat-sheet
 	// until the next keystroke. Toggled by `?` in picker mode.
@@ -171,8 +188,12 @@ func findChildByID(children []*Child, id string) *Child {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func newPalette(children []*Child, focused, focusedPad string, presets preset.Set) *paletteState {
-	p := &paletteState{children: children, focused: focused, focusedPad: focusedPad, presets: presets}
+func newPalette(children []*Child, focused, focusedPad string, presets preset.Set, appSettings ...settings) *paletteState {
+	st := defaultSettings()
+	if len(appSettings) > 0 {
+		st = appSettings[0].clone()
+	}
+	p := &paletteState{children: children, focused: focused, focusedPad: focusedPad, presets: presets, settings: st}
 	p.rebuild()
 	return p
 }
@@ -325,7 +346,15 @@ func (p *paletteState) buildItems(macro string) []paletteItem {
 		group:  groupSpawn,
 	})
 
-	// Group 3: Quit.
+	// Group 3: Settings.
+	out = append(out, paletteItem{
+		label:  "Open Settings",
+		hint:   "configure agents and auto-summary",
+		action: paletteAction{kind: "settings-open"},
+		group:  groupSettings,
+	})
+
+	// Group 4: Quit.
 	out = append(out, paletteItem{
 		label:  "Quit",
 		hint:   "exit patterm; SIGTERM every child",
@@ -519,6 +548,15 @@ func (p *paletteState) handleInput(chunk []byte, i int) (action paletteAction, d
 	if p.mode == paletteModeRenameForm {
 		return p.handleRenameInput(chunk, i)
 	}
+	if p.mode == paletteModeSettings {
+		return p.handleSettingsInput(chunk, i)
+	}
+	if p.mode == paletteModeAutoSummary {
+		return p.handleAutoSummaryInput(chunk, i)
+	}
+	if p.mode == paletteModeSettingsInput {
+		return p.handleSettingsTextInput(chunk, i)
+	}
 
 	b := chunk[i]
 
@@ -602,6 +640,12 @@ func (p *paletteState) acceptOrEnterForm(adv int) (paletteAction, bool, int) {
 		p.mode = paletteModeSpawnForm
 		p.form = &spawnProcessForm{}
 		return paletteAction{}, false, adv
+	case "settings-open":
+		p.mode = paletteModeSettings
+		p.query = nil
+		p.cursor = 0
+		p.rebuildSettings()
+		return paletteAction{}, false, adv
 	case "pad-rename-form":
 		p.enterRenameForm("pad", a.padName, a.padName, "scratchpad: "+a.padName)
 		return paletteAction{}, false, adv
@@ -1112,6 +1156,427 @@ func (p *paletteState) focusedSubject() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
+func (p *paletteState) rebuildSettings() {
+	items := []paletteItem{{
+		label:  "Agents / Auto-summarization",
+		hint:   "provider, models, cadence, test",
+		action: paletteAction{kind: "settings-auto-summary"},
+		group:  groupSettings,
+	}}
+	q := strings.TrimSpace(strings.ToLower(string(p.query)))
+	if q == "" {
+		p.items = items
+		p.cursor = 0
+		return
+	}
+	p.items = p.items[:0]
+	for _, it := range items {
+		if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(it.label+" "+it.hint), q) {
+			p.items = append(p.items, it)
+		}
+	}
+	p.clampCursor()
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) handleSettingsInput(chunk []byte, i int) (paletteAction, bool, int) {
+	b := chunk[i]
+	if b == 0x1b {
+		if n := csiLen(chunk, i); n > 0 {
+			final := chunk[i+n-1]
+			switch final {
+			case 'A':
+				p.cursorUp()
+			case 'B':
+				p.cursorDown()
+			}
+			return paletteAction{}, false, n
+		}
+		return paletteAction{kind: "cancel"}, true, 1
+	}
+	switch b {
+	case '\r', '\n':
+		if len(p.items) == 0 {
+			return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+		}
+		a := p.items[p.cursor].action
+		if a.kind == "settings-auto-summary" {
+			p.mode = paletteModeAutoSummary
+			p.cursor = 0
+			return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+		}
+	case 0x7f, 0x08:
+		p.backspace()
+		p.rebuildSettings()
+	case 0x15:
+		p.query = nil
+		p.rebuildSettings()
+	case 0x0e:
+		p.cursorDown()
+	case 0x10:
+		p.cursorUp()
+	default:
+		if b >= 0x20 && b < 0x7f {
+			p.query = append(p.query, rune(b))
+			p.rebuildSettings()
+		}
+	}
+	return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) handleAutoSummaryInput(chunk []byte, i int) (paletteAction, bool, int) {
+	b := chunk[i]
+	if b == 0x1b {
+		if n := csiLen(chunk, i); n > 0 {
+			final := chunk[i+n-1]
+			switch final {
+			case 'A':
+				p.cursor--
+				if p.cursor < 0 {
+					p.cursor = len(autoSummaryRows()) - 1
+				}
+			case 'B':
+				p.cursor++
+				if p.cursor >= len(autoSummaryRows()) {
+					p.cursor = 0
+				}
+			}
+			return paletteAction{}, false, n
+		}
+		return paletteAction{kind: "cancel"}, true, 1
+	}
+	switch b {
+	case '\r', '\n':
+		return p.activateAutoSummaryRow()
+	case 0x0e:
+		p.cursor++
+	case 0x10:
+		p.cursor--
+	}
+	if p.cursor < 0 {
+		p.cursor = len(autoSummaryRows()) - 1
+	}
+	if p.cursor >= len(autoSummaryRows()) {
+		p.cursor = 0
+	}
+	return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) handleSettingsTextInput(chunk []byte, i int) (paletteAction, bool, int) {
+	if p.settingsInput == nil {
+		p.mode = paletteModeAutoSummary
+		return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+	}
+	b := chunk[i]
+	if b == 0x1b {
+		if n := csiLen(chunk, i); n > 0 {
+			return paletteAction{}, false, n
+		}
+		p.mode = paletteModeAutoSummary
+		return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+	}
+	switch b {
+	case '\r', '\n':
+		p.applySettingsInput()
+		p.mode = paletteModeAutoSummary
+	case 0x7f, 0x08:
+		if len(p.settingsInput.value) > 0 {
+			p.settingsInput.value = p.settingsInput.value[:len(p.settingsInput.value)-1]
+		}
+	case 0x15:
+		p.settingsInput.value = nil
+	default:
+		if b >= 0x20 && b < 0x7f {
+			p.settingsInput.value = append(p.settingsInput.value, rune(b))
+		}
+	}
+	return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+}
+
+type autoSummaryRow struct {
+	key   string
+	label string
+}
+
+func autoSummaryRows() []autoSummaryRow {
+	return []autoSummaryRow{
+		{key: "enabled", label: "Enabled"},
+		{key: "provider", label: "Provider"},
+		{key: "codex_model", label: "Codex model"},
+		{key: "opencode_model", label: "OpenCode model"},
+		{key: "claude_model", label: "Claude model"},
+		{key: "cadence", label: "Cadence"},
+		{key: "test", label: "Test summarizer"},
+		{key: "run_now", label: "Summarize current top-level agent now"},
+		{key: "save", label: "Save settings"},
+		{key: "cancel", label: "Cancel"},
+		{key: "back", label: "Back to Settings"},
+	}
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) activateAutoSummaryRow() (paletteAction, bool, int) {
+	rows := autoSummaryRows()
+	if p.cursor < 0 || p.cursor >= len(rows) {
+		return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+	}
+	switch rows[p.cursor].key {
+	case "enabled":
+		p.settings.AutoSummary.Enabled = !p.settings.AutoSummary.Enabled
+	case "provider":
+		switch p.settings.AutoSummary.Provider {
+		case "codex":
+			p.settings.AutoSummary.Provider = "opencode"
+		case "opencode":
+			p.settings.AutoSummary.Provider = "claude"
+		default:
+			p.settings.AutoSummary.Provider = "codex"
+		}
+	case "codex_model", "opencode_model", "claude_model":
+		provider := strings.TrimSuffix(rows[p.cursor].key, "_model")
+		p.settingsInput = &settingsInputForm{
+			title:    provider + " model",
+			field:    rows[p.cursor].key,
+			value:    []rune(p.settings.AutoSummary.modelFor(provider)),
+			subtitle: "model flag passed to " + provider,
+		}
+		p.mode = paletteModeSettingsInput
+	case "cadence":
+		switch p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence {
+		case "5m":
+			p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence = "15m"
+		case "15m":
+			p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence = "30m"
+		default:
+			p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence = "5m"
+		}
+	case "test":
+		return p.settingsAction("settings-test"), true, 1
+	case "run_now":
+		return p.settingsAction("settings-run-now"), true, 1
+	case "save":
+		return p.settingsAction("settings-close"), true, 1
+	case "cancel":
+		return paletteAction{kind: "cancel"}, true, 1
+	case "back":
+		p.mode = paletteModeSettings
+		p.cursor = 0
+		p.query = nil
+		p.rebuildSettings()
+	}
+	p.settings.normalize()
+	return paletteAction{}, false, 1
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) applySettingsInput() {
+	if p.settingsInput == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	val := strings.TrimSpace(string(p.settingsInput.value))
+	if val == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	if p.settings.AutoSummary.Models == nil {
+		p.settings.AutoSummary.Models = defaultSummaryModels()
+	}
+	switch p.settingsInput.field {
+	case "codex_model":
+		p.settings.AutoSummary.Models["codex"] = val
+	case "opencode_model":
+		p.settings.AutoSummary.Models["opencode"] = val
+	case "claude_model":
+		p.settings.AutoSummary.Models["claude"] = val
+	}
+	p.settings.normalize()
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) settingsCloseAction() paletteAction {
+	return p.settingsAction("settings-close")
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) settingsAction(kind string) paletteAction {
+	st := p.settings.clone()
+	return paletteAction{kind: kind, settings: &st}
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) renderSettings(out writeFlusher, cols, rows int) {
+	p.renderSimplePicker(out, cols, rows, "Settings", "esc cancel", "search settings")
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) renderSimplePicker(out writeFlusher, cols, rows int, title, hint, placeholder string) {
+	width, leftPad, content := paletteBox(cols)
+	maxItems := rows - 7
+	if maxItems > 10 {
+		maxItems = 10
+	}
+	if maxItems < 1 {
+		maxItems = 1
+	}
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("\x1b[?25l\x1b[H\x1b[2J\x1b[3J")
+	row := 2
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "╭─ " + styleActive + title + styleReset + styleBorder + " " + strings.Repeat("─", max(2, width-visibleLen(title)-visibleLen(hint)-9)) + " " + styleHint + hint + styleReset + styleBorder + " ─╮" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	query := string(p.query)
+	if query == "" {
+		query = styleDim + placeholder + styleReset
+	}
+	pad := content - 2 - visibleLen(query)
+	if pad < 0 {
+		pad = 0
+	}
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "│" + styleReset + " " + styleAccent + "❯" + styleReset + " " + query + strings.Repeat(" ", pad) + " " + styleBorder + "│" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "├" + strings.Repeat("─", width-2) + "┤" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	p.renderItemRows(&b, &row, leftPad, width, content, maxItems)
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "├" + strings.Repeat("─", width-2) + "┤" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	footer := styleHint + "↵ open · esc cancel · ↑↓ navigate" + styleReset
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "│" + styleReset + " " + footer + strings.Repeat(" ", max(0, content-visibleLen(footer))) + " " + styleBorder + "│" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "╰" + strings.Repeat("─", width-2) + "╯" + styleReset)
+	_, _ = out.Write([]byte(b.String()))
+	_ = out.Flush()
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) renderAutoSummary(out writeFlusher, cols, rows int) {
+	width, leftPad, content := paletteBox(cols)
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("\x1b[?25l\x1b[H\x1b[2J\x1b[3J")
+	row := 2
+	title := "Auto-summarization"
+	hint := "esc cancel"
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "╭─ " + styleActive + title + styleReset + styleBorder + " " + strings.Repeat("─", max(2, width-visibleLen(title)-visibleLen(hint)-9)) + " " + styleHint + hint + styleReset + styleBorder + " ─╮" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	lines := p.autoSummaryDisplayRows()
+	for i, line := range lines {
+		moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+		prefix := "  "
+		if i == p.cursor {
+			prefix = styleAccent + "▎" + styleReset + " "
+			line = styleBold + line + styleReset
+		}
+		pad := content - visibleLen(prefix) - visibleLen(line)
+		if pad < 0 {
+			pad = 0
+		}
+		b.WriteString(styleBorder + "│" + styleReset + " " + prefix + line + strings.Repeat(" ", pad) + " " + styleBorder + "│" + styleReset)
+		row++
+	}
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "├" + strings.Repeat("─", width-2) + "┤" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	footer := styleHint + "↵ edit/toggle · save row commits · esc cancel" + styleReset
+	if visibleLen(footer) > content {
+		footer = clipRunes(footer, content-1) + "…"
+	}
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "│" + styleReset + " " + footer + strings.Repeat(" ", max(0, content-visibleLen(footer))) + " " + styleBorder + "│" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "╰" + strings.Repeat("─", width-2) + "╯" + styleReset)
+	_, _ = out.Write([]byte(b.String()))
+	_ = out.Flush()
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) autoSummaryDisplayRows() []string {
+	a := p.settings.AutoSummary
+	enabled := "off"
+	if a.Enabled {
+		enabled = "on"
+	}
+	values := map[string]string{
+		"enabled":        enabled,
+		"provider":       a.Provider,
+		"codex_model":    a.modelFor("codex"),
+		"opencode_model": a.modelFor("opencode"),
+		"claude_model":   a.modelFor("claude"),
+		"cadence":        a.Cadence + " minimum after activity",
+	}
+	var out []string
+	for _, row := range autoSummaryRows() {
+		if v, ok := values[row.key]; ok {
+			out = append(out, row.label+": "+v)
+		} else {
+			out = append(out, row.label)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func (p *paletteState) renderSettingsInput(out writeFlusher, cols, rows int) {
+	if p.settingsInput == nil {
+		p.settingsInput = &settingsInputForm{title: "Setting"}
+	}
+	width, leftPad, content := paletteBox(cols)
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("\x1b[?25l\x1b[H\x1b[2J\x1b[3J")
+	row := 2
+	title := p.settingsInput.title
+	hint := "esc cancel"
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "╭─ " + styleActive + title + styleReset + styleBorder + " " + strings.Repeat("─", max(2, width-visibleLen(title)-visibleLen(hint)-9)) + " " + styleHint + hint + styleReset + styleBorder + " ─╮" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	if p.settingsInput.subtitle != "" {
+		sub := p.settingsInput.subtitle
+		if visibleLen(sub) > content {
+			sub = clipRunes(sub, content-1) + "…"
+		}
+		moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+		b.WriteString(styleBorder + "│" + styleReset + " " + styleHint + sub + styleReset + strings.Repeat(" ", max(0, content-visibleLen(sub))) + " " + styleBorder + "│" + styleReset)
+		row++
+	}
+	value := string(p.settingsInput.value)
+	if visibleLen(value) > content-2 {
+		value = clipRunes(value, content-3) + "…"
+	}
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "│" + styleReset + " " + styleAccent + "❯" + styleReset + " " + value + strings.Repeat(" ", max(0, content-2-visibleLen(value))) + " " + styleBorder + "│" + styleReset)
+	inputRow := row
+	row++
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "├" + strings.Repeat("─", width-2) + "┤" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	footer := styleHint + "↵ save · esc cancel · ⌃u clear" + styleReset
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "│" + styleReset + " " + footer + strings.Repeat(" ", max(0, content-visibleLen(footer))) + " " + styleBorder + "│" + styleReset)
+	row++
+	moveTo(&b, row, leftPad)
+	b.WriteString(styleBorder + "╰" + strings.Repeat("─", width-2) + "╯" + styleReset)
+	moveTo(&b, inputRow, leftPad+4+visibleLen(value))
+	b.WriteString("\x1b[?25h")
+	_, _ = out.Write([]byte(b.String()))
+	_ = out.Flush()
+}
+
+func paletteBox(cols int) (width, leftPad, content int) {
+	if cols < 32 {
+		cols = 32
+	}
+	width = cols - 8
+	if width > 72 {
+		width = 72
+	}
+	if width < 40 {
+		width = cols - 2
+	}
+	if width < 32 {
+		width = 32
+	}
+	leftPad = (cols - width) / 2
+	if leftPad < 1 {
+		leftPad = 1
+	}
+	content = width - 4
+	return width, leftPad, content
+}
+
 // render draws the palette onto out. Layout is a rounded box with a
 // title bar, query line, chip strip, divider, item list, divider, and
 // footer. The caller is responsible for the screen clear before the
@@ -1125,6 +1590,18 @@ func (p *paletteState) render(out writeFlusher, cols, rows int) {
 		p.renderRename(out, cols, rows)
 		return
 	}
+	if p.mode == paletteModeSettings {
+		p.renderSettings(out, cols, rows)
+		return
+	}
+	if p.mode == paletteModeAutoSummary {
+		p.renderAutoSummary(out, cols, rows)
+		return
+	}
+	if p.mode == paletteModeSettingsInput {
+		p.renderSettingsInput(out, cols, rows)
+		return
+	}
 	if cols < 32 {
 		cols = 32
 	}
diff --git a/internal/app/settings.go b/internal/app/settings.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f18463
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/settings.go
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/preset"
+)
+
+const (
+	defaultSummaryProvider = "codex"
+	defaultCodexModel      = "gpt-5.4-mini"
+	defaultOpenCodeModel   = "opencode-go/minimax-m2.7"
+	defaultClaudeModel     = "claude-haiku-4-5"
+)
+
+type settings struct {
+	AutoSummary autoSummarySettings `json:"auto_summary"`
+}
+
+type autoSummarySettings struct {
+	Enabled         bool              `json:"enabled"`
+	Provider        string            `json:"provider"`
+	Models          map[string]string `json:"models"`
+	Cadence         string            `json:"cadence"`
+	QuietWindowMS   int               `json:"quiet_window_ms"`
+	MinInputChars   int               `json:"min_input_chars"`
+	MaxHistoryChars int               `json:"max_history_chars"`
+}
+
+func defaultSettings() settings {
+	return settings{
+		AutoSummary: autoSummarySettings{
+			Enabled:         true,
+			Provider:        defaultSummaryProvider,
+			Models:          defaultSummaryModels(),
+			Cadence:         "5m",
+			QuietWindowMS:   3000,
+			MinInputChars:   4,
+			MaxHistoryChars: 12000,
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func defaultSummaryModels() map[string]string {
+	return map[string]string{
+		"codex":    defaultCodexModel,
+		"opencode": defaultOpenCodeModel,
+		"claude":   defaultClaudeModel,
+	}
+}
+
+func loadSettings() (settings, string, error) {
+	base, err := preset.ConfigDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return settings{}, "", err
+	}
+	path := filepath.Join(base, "settings.json")
+	st := defaultSettings()
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return st, path, nil
+		}
+		return st, path, fmt.Errorf("settings: read %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &st); err != nil {
+		return defaultSettings(), path, fmt.Errorf("settings: parse %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	st.normalize()
+	return st, path, nil
+}
+
+func saveSettings(path string, st settings) error {
+	if path == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("settings: empty path")
+	}
+	st.normalize()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o700); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	b, err := json.MarshalIndent(st, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	b = append(b, '\n')
+	return os.WriteFile(path, b, 0o600)
+}
+
+func (st *settings) normalize() {
+	def := defaultSettings()
+	if st.AutoSummary.Provider == "" {
+		st.AutoSummary.Provider = def.AutoSummary.Provider
+	}
+	switch st.AutoSummary.Provider {
+	case "codex", "opencode", "claude":
+	default:
+		st.AutoSummary.Provider = def.AutoSummary.Provider
+	}
+	if st.AutoSummary.Models == nil {
+		st.AutoSummary.Models = defaultSummaryModels()
+	} else {
+		for k, v := range defaultSummaryModels() {
+			if st.AutoSummary.Models[k] == "" {
+				st.AutoSummary.Models[k] = v
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if st.AutoSummary.Cadence == "" {
+		st.AutoSummary.Cadence = def.AutoSummary.Cadence
+	}
+	if st.AutoSummary.QuietWindowMS <= 0 {
+		st.AutoSummary.QuietWindowMS = def.AutoSummary.QuietWindowMS
+	}
+	if st.AutoSummary.MinInputChars <= 0 {
+		st.AutoSummary.MinInputChars = def.AutoSummary.MinInputChars
+	}
+	if st.AutoSummary.MaxHistoryChars <= 0 {
+		st.AutoSummary.MaxHistoryChars = def.AutoSummary.MaxHistoryChars
+	}
+}
+
+func (st settings) clone() settings {
+	st.normalize()
+	if st.AutoSummary.Models != nil {
+		models := make(map[string]string, len(st.AutoSummary.Models))
+		for k, v := range st.AutoSummary.Models {
+			models[k] = v
+		}
+		st.AutoSummary.Models = models
+	}
+	return st
+}
+
+func (a autoSummarySettings) clone() autoSummarySettings {
+	st := settings{AutoSummary: a}.clone()
+	return st.AutoSummary
+}
+
+func (a autoSummarySettings) modelFor(provider string) string {
+	if a.Models == nil {
+		return defaultSummaryModels()[provider]
+	}
+	if m := a.Models[provider]; m != "" {
+		return m
+	}
+	return defaultSummaryModels()[provider]
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/settings_test.go b/internal/app/settings_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ab7850
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/settings_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestLoadSettingsDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", t.TempDir())
+	st, path, err := loadSettings()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("loadSettings: %v", err)
+	}
+	if filepath.Base(path) != "settings.json" {
+		t.Fatalf("settings path = %q", path)
+	}
+	if !st.AutoSummary.Enabled {
+		t.Fatal("auto-summary should default enabled")
+	}
+	if st.AutoSummary.Provider != "codex" {
+		t.Fatalf("provider = %q want codex", st.AutoSummary.Provider)
+	}
+	if got := st.AutoSummary.modelFor("codex"); got != "gpt-5.4-mini" {
+		t.Fatalf("codex model = %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := st.AutoSummary.modelFor("opencode"); got != "opencode-go/minimax-m2.7" {
+		t.Fatalf("opencode model = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSettingsCloneDoesNotShareModelMap(t *testing.T) {
+	st := defaultSettings()
+	cp := st.clone()
+	cp.AutoSummary.Models["codex"] = "changed"
+	if st.AutoSummary.Models["codex"] == "changed" {
+		t.Fatal("clone shared Models map with original")
+	}
+	a := st.AutoSummary.clone()
+	a.Models["opencode"] = "changed"
+	if st.AutoSummary.Models["opencode"] == "changed" {
+		t.Fatal("autoSummarySettings clone shared Models map with original")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSaveAndLoadSettings(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	t.Setenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", dir)
+	st := defaultSettings()
+	st.AutoSummary.Provider = "opencode"
+	st.AutoSummary.Models["opencode"] = "minimax/test"
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "patterm", "settings.json")
+	if err := saveSettings(path, st); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("saveSettings: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("settings file missing: %v", err)
+	}
+	got, _, err := loadSettings()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("loadSettings: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.AutoSummary.Provider != "opencode" {
+		t.Fatalf("provider = %q", got.AutoSummary.Provider)
+	}
+	if got.AutoSummary.modelFor("opencode") != "minimax/test" {
+		t.Fatalf("opencode model = %q", got.AutoSummary.modelFor("opencode"))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/sidebar.go b/internal/app/sidebar.go
index 9817f66..1184020 100644
--- a/internal/app/sidebar.go
+++ b/internal/app/sidebar.go
@@ -331,6 +331,16 @@ func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
 		write(prefix + openStyle + nameCell + styleReset + suffix)
 	}
 
+	if summary := st.activeSummaryText(width - 4); summary != "" && row+2 <= maxRow {
+		write("")
+		for _, line := range wrapSidebarSummary(summary, width-4) {
+			if row > maxRow {
+				break
+			}
+			write("   " + styleDim + line + styleReset)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Scratchpads list — names only. The preview pane used to live
 	// here and clobbered the main viewport when content overflowed the
 	// rail. Focus moves to a pad via Ctrl+W/S; the content renders in
@@ -390,3 +400,42 @@ func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stdout, "\x1b7%s\x1b8", frame)
 	st.outMu.Unlock()
 }
+
+func wrapSidebarSummary(s string, width int) []string {
+	if width < 1 {
+		width = 1
+	}
+	words := strings.Fields(s)
+	if len(words) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var out []string
+	var cur string
+	for _, word := range words {
+		if visibleLen(word) > width {
+			if cur != "" {
+				out = append(out, cur)
+				cur = ""
+			}
+			out = append(out, clipRunes(word, width-1)+"…")
+			continue
+		}
+		if cur == "" {
+			cur = word
+			continue
+		}
+		if visibleLen(cur)+1+visibleLen(word) <= width {
+			cur += " " + word
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, cur)
+		cur = word
+	}
+	if cur != "" {
+		out = append(out, cur)
+	}
+	if len(out) > 3 {
+		out = out[:3]
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/summarizer.go b/internal/app/summarizer.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38faa66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/summarizer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,463 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+	"unicode"
+
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/preset"
+)
+
+const (
+	summaryTickInterval = time.Second
+	summaryTimeout      = 90 * time.Second
+	summaryMaxLineCells = 240
+)
+
+type summaryState struct {
+	Text      string
+	State     IdleState
+	UpdatedAt time.Time
+	Error     string
+}
+
+type summaryManager struct {
+	sess       *Session
+	projectDir string
+	presets    preset.Set
+	settings   func() autoSummarySettings
+	onUpdate   func()
+	onResult   func(string, summaryState)
+
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	tracked map[string]bool
+	entries map[string]*summaryEntry
+}
+
+type summaryEntry struct {
+	armed          bool
+	dirty          bool
+	running        bool
+	lastInputAt    time.Time
+	lastOutputAt   time.Time
+	lastAttemptAt  time.Time
+	lastSummarized int64
+	state          summaryState
+}
+
+type summarizerResponse struct {
+	Summary string `json:"summary"`
+	State   string `json:"state"`
+}
+
+func newSummaryManager(sess *Session, projectDir string, presets preset.Set, settingsFn func() autoSummarySettings, onUpdate func(), onResult func(string, summaryState)) *summaryManager {
+	return &summaryManager{
+		sess:       sess,
+		projectDir: projectDir,
+		presets:    presets,
+		settings:   settingsFn,
+		onUpdate:   onUpdate,
+		onResult:   onResult,
+		tracked:    make(map[string]bool),
+		entries:    make(map[string]*summaryEntry),
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) run(ctx context.Context) {
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(summaryTickInterval)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			m.maybeStart(ctx, time.Now())
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) ObserveHumanInput(childID string, b []byte) {
+	if m == nil || !m.isTracked(childID) {
+		return
+	}
+	cfg := m.settings()
+	if len(strings.TrimSpace(string(b))) < cfg.MinInputChars {
+		return
+	}
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	e := m.entryLocked(childID)
+	e.armed = true
+	e.lastInputAt = time.Now()
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) ObserveOutput(childID string) {
+	if m == nil || !m.isTracked(childID) {
+		return
+	}
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	e := m.entryLocked(childID)
+	if e.armed {
+		e.dirty = true
+		e.lastOutputAt = time.Now()
+	}
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) RegisterChild(c *Child) {
+	if m == nil || c == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	if isTopLevelSummarizedAgent(c) {
+		m.tracked[c.ID] = true
+	} else {
+		delete(m.tracked, c.ID)
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) UnregisterChild(id string) {
+	if m == nil || id == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(m.tracked, id)
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) isTracked(id string) bool {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	return m.tracked[id]
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) Summary(childID string) summaryState {
+	if m == nil || childID == "" {
+		return summaryState{}
+	}
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	if e := m.entries[childID]; e != nil {
+		return e.state
+	}
+	return summaryState{}
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) RunNow(ctx context.Context, childID string) {
+	if m == nil || childID == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	c := m.sess.FindChild(childID)
+	if !isTopLevelSummarizedAgent(c) {
+		return
+	}
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	e := m.entryLocked(c.ID)
+	if e.running {
+		m.mu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	e.running = true
+	e.lastAttemptAt = time.Now()
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+	go m.runOne(ctx, c.ID, true)
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) Test(ctx context.Context) error {
+	cfg := m.settings()
+	return runSummarizerHealth(ctx, cfg, m.projectDir)
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) entryLocked(id string) *summaryEntry {
+	e := m.entries[id]
+	if e == nil {
+		e = &summaryEntry{}
+		m.entries[id] = e
+	}
+	return e
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) maybeStart(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) {
+	cfg := m.settings()
+	if !cfg.Enabled {
+		return
+	}
+	cadence, err := time.ParseDuration(cfg.Cadence)
+	if err != nil || cadence <= 0 {
+		cadence = 5 * time.Minute
+	}
+	quiet := time.Duration(cfg.QuietWindowMS) * time.Millisecond
+	var startID string
+	for _, c := range m.sess.Children() {
+		if !isTopLevelSummarizedAgent(c) {
+			continue
+		}
+		m.mu.Lock()
+		e := m.entryLocked(c.ID)
+		eligible := e.armed && e.dirty && !e.running &&
+			!e.lastOutputAt.IsZero() && now.Sub(e.lastOutputAt) >= quiet &&
+			(e.lastAttemptAt.IsZero() || now.Sub(e.lastAttemptAt) >= cadence) &&
+			c.ScreenVersion() != e.lastSummarized
+		if eligible {
+			e.running = true
+			e.lastAttemptAt = now
+			startID = c.ID
+		}
+		m.mu.Unlock()
+		if startID != "" {
+			go m.runOne(ctx, startID, false)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) runOne(ctx context.Context, childID string, manual bool) {
+	c := m.sess.FindChild(childID)
+	if c == nil {
+		m.finish(childID, summaryState{Error: "process disappeared"}, 0)
+		return
+	}
+	cfg := m.settings()
+	snapshot := buildSummarySnapshot(c, cfg.MaxHistoryChars, m.chromeHintsFor(c.PresetRef))
+	if strings.TrimSpace(snapshot) == "" {
+		m.finish(childID, summaryState{Error: "empty snapshot"}, c.ScreenVersion())
+		return
+	}
+	runCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, summaryTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+	resp, err := runSummarizer(runCtx, cfg, m.projectDir, snapshot)
+	st := summaryState{UpdatedAt: time.Now()}
+	if err != nil {
+		st.Error = err.Error()
+		m.finish(childID, st, c.ScreenVersion())
+		return
+	}
+	st.Text = strings.TrimSpace(resp.Summary)
+	st.State = summaryIdleState(resp.State)
+	if st.Text == "" {
+		st.Error = "empty summary"
+	}
+	if manual && st.Text != "" && st.State == StateUnknown {
+		st.State = c.IdleState()
+	}
+	m.finish(childID, st, c.ScreenVersion())
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) finish(childID string, st summaryState, version int64) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	e := m.entryLocked(childID)
+	e.running = false
+	if st.Text != "" || st.Error != "" {
+		if st.Text == "" && e.state.Text != "" {
+			st.Text = e.state.Text
+			st.State = e.state.State
+			st.UpdatedAt = e.state.UpdatedAt
+		}
+		e.state = st
+	}
+	if st.Text != "" {
+		e.armed = false
+		e.dirty = false
+		e.lastSummarized = version
+	}
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+	if m.onUpdate != nil {
+		m.onUpdate()
+	}
+	if m.onResult != nil && (st.Text != "" || st.Error != "") {
+		m.onResult(childID, st)
+	}
+}
+
+func isTopLevelSummarizedAgent(c *Child) bool {
+	return c != nil && c.Kind == KindAgent && c.ParentID == "" && c.Status() == StatusRunning
+}
+
+func (m *summaryManager) chromeHintsFor(presetName string) []string {
+	if presetName == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for _, p := range m.presets.Agents {
+		if p.Name == presetName {
+			return p.ChromeTrimHints
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func buildSummarySnapshot(c *Child, maxChars int, chromeHints []string) string {
+	if maxChars <= 0 {
+		maxChars = 12000
+	}
+	grid := ""
+	if em := c.Emulator(); em != nil {
+		if txt, err := em.PlainText(); err == nil {
+			grid = compactSummaryText(applyChromeTrim(txt, chromeHints))
+		}
+	}
+	tailBytes := max(maxChars*4, maxChars)
+	b := c.tailBytes(tailBytes)
+	history := compactSummaryText(applyChromeTrim(string(stripANSIBytes(nil, b)), chromeHints))
+	history = tailString(history, maxChars)
+	var out strings.Builder
+	if history != "" {
+		out.WriteString("Recent rendered history:\n")
+		out.WriteString(history)
+		out.WriteString("\n\n")
+	}
+	if grid != "" && !strings.Contains(history, grid) {
+		out.WriteString("Current visible grid:\n")
+		out.WriteString(grid)
+	}
+	return tailString(out.String(), maxChars)
+}
+
+func compactSummaryText(in string) string {
+	in = string(stripANSIBytes(nil, []byte(in)))
+	in = strings.ReplaceAll(in, "\r\n", "\n")
+	in = strings.ReplaceAll(in, "\r", "\n")
+	lines := strings.Split(in, "\n")
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(lines))
+	blank := false
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		line = strings.TrimRightFunc(line, unicode.IsSpace)
+		line = strings.Map(func(r rune) rune {
+			if r == '\t' || r == '\n' {
+				return r
+			}
+			if r < 0x20 || r == 0x7f {
+				return -1
+			}
+			return r
+		}, line)
+		line = truncateSummaryLine(line, summaryMaxLineCells)
+		if strings.TrimSpace(line) == "" {
+			if blank {
+				continue
+			}
+			blank = true
+			out = append(out, "")
+			continue
+		}
+		blank = false
+		out = append(out, line)
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(strings.Join(out, "\n"))
+}
+
+func truncateSummaryLine(s string, max int) string {
+	if max <= 0 || visibleLen(s) <= max {
+		return s
+	}
+	return clipRunes(s, max-1) + "…"
+}
+
+func tailString(s string, max int) string {
+	rs := []rune(s)
+	if len(rs) <= max {
+		return s
+	}
+	return string(rs[len(rs)-max:])
+}
+
+func runSummarizer(ctx context.Context, cfg autoSummarySettings, projectDir, snapshot string) (summarizerResponse, error) {
+	prompt := summaryPrompt(snapshot)
+	out, err := runSummarizerCommand(ctx, cfg, projectDir, prompt)
+	if err != nil {
+		return summarizerResponse{}, err
+	}
+	resp, err := parseSummarizerResponse(out)
+	if err != nil {
+		return summarizerResponse{}, err
+	}
+	if summaryIdleState(resp.State) == StateUnknown {
+		return summarizerResponse{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid summary state %q", resp.State)
+	}
+	return resp, nil
+}
+
+func runSummarizerHealth(ctx context.Context, cfg autoSummarySettings, projectDir string) error {
+	out, err := runSummarizerCommand(ctx, cfg, projectDir, "Reply with exactly: patterm okay")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(out) != "patterm okay" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("health check did not return patterm okay")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func runSummarizerCommand(ctx context.Context, cfg autoSummarySettings, projectDir, prompt string) (string, error) {
+	provider := cfg.Provider
+	model := cfg.modelFor(provider)
+	var cmd *exec.Cmd
+	switch provider {
+	case "opencode":
+		cmd = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "opencode", "run", "--model", model, "--dir", projectDir, prompt)
+	case "claude":
+		cmd = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "claude", "--print", "--model", model, prompt)
+	default:
+		cmd = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "codex", "exec", "--ephemeral", "--skip-git-repo-check", "--sandbox", "read-only", "--ask-for-approval", "never", "--model", model, "-")
+		cmd.Stdin = strings.NewReader(prompt)
+	}
+	cmd.Dir = projectDir
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
+	out, err := cmd.Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		msg := strings.TrimSpace(stderr.String())
+		if msg == "" {
+			msg = err.Error()
+		}
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s summarizer: %s", provider, msg)
+	}
+	return string(out), nil
+}
+
+func summaryPrompt(snapshot string) string {
+	return "Summarize this terminal/agent snapshot for a compact UI catch-up aid.\n" +
+		"Return only JSON with keys summary and state. State must be one of IDLE, PERMISSION, THINKING, WORKING, ERROR.\n" +
+		"Keep summary under 180 characters, concrete, and avoid mentioning that you are summarizing.\n\n" +
+		snapshot
+}
+
+func parseSummarizerResponse(out string) (summarizerResponse, error) {
+	var resp summarizerResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(strings.TrimSpace(out)), &resp); err == nil {
+		return resp, nil
+	}
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(out, "\n") {
+		line = strings.TrimSpace(line)
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(line, "{") || !strings.HasSuffix(line, "}") {
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(line), &resp); err == nil {
+			return resp, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return resp, fmt.Errorf("summary output was not JSON")
+}
+
+func summaryIdleState(s string) IdleState {
+	switch strings.ToUpper(strings.TrimSpace(s)) {
+	case "IDLE":
+		return StateIdle
+	case "PERMISSION":
+		return StatePermission
+	case "THINKING":
+		return StateThinking
+	case "WORKING":
+		return StateWorking
+	case "ERROR":
+		return StateError
+	default:
+		return StateUnknown
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/summarizer_test.go b/internal/app/summarizer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dba7599
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/summarizer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/preset"
+)
+
+func TestParseSummarizerResponseAllowsWrappedJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	resp, err := parseSummarizerResponse("log\n{\"summary\":\"Waiting for tests\",\"state\":\"WORKING\"}\n")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parseSummarizerResponse: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.Summary != "Waiting for tests" || summaryIdleState(resp.State) != StateWorking {
+		t.Fatalf("response = %+v", resp)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCompactSummaryTextDropsControlAndRedundantWhitespace(t *testing.T) {
+	got := compactSummaryText("hello\x00 world  \n\n\n\x1b[31mred\x1b[0m\n")
+	if strings.ContainsRune(got, '\x00') {
+		t.Fatalf("control byte survived: %q", got)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(got, "\n\n\n") {
+		t.Fatalf("redundant blanks survived: %q", got)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(got, "\x1b") {
+		t.Fatalf("ansi survived: %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWrapSidebarSummaryKeepsWordBoundaries(t *testing.T) {
+	got := wrapSidebarSummary("alpha beta gamma delta", 12)
+	want := []string{"alpha beta", "gamma delta"}
+	if len(got) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("lines = %#v", got)
+	}
+	for i := range want {
+		if got[i] != want[i] {
+			t.Fatalf("line %d = %q want %q", i, got[i], want[i])
+		}
+	}
+	long := wrapSidebarSummary("supercalifragilistic short", 8)
+	if len(long) == 0 || !strings.HasSuffix(long[0], "…") {
+		t.Fatalf("long word should clip with ellipsis: %#v", long)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSummaryManagerArmsOnlyTrackedTopLevelAgents(t *testing.T) {
+	sess := NewSession(t.TempDir(), "test")
+	c := newChildEntry("a1", "agent", KindAgent, []string{"fake"}, nil, "", "", "")
+	running := StatusRunning
+	c.status.Store(&running)
+	sess.children[c.ID] = c
+	sess.order = append(sess.order, c.ID)
+	cfg := defaultSettings().AutoSummary
+	m := newSummaryManager(sess, t.TempDir(), preset.Set{}, func() autoSummarySettings {
+		return cfg.clone()
+	}, nil, nil)
+	m.ObserveHumanInput(c.ID, []byte("please summarize"))
+	if got := m.Summary(c.ID); got.Text != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("untracked agent should not update summary state: %+v", got)
+	}
+	m.RegisterChild(c)
+	m.ObserveHumanInput(c.ID, []byte("please summarize"))
+	m.ObserveOutput(c.ID)
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	e := m.entries[c.ID]
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+	if e == nil || !e.armed || !e.dirty {
+		t.Fatalf("tracked top-level agent not armed/dirty: %+v", e)
+	}
+
+	sub := newChildEntry("a2", "sub", KindAgent, []string{"fake"}, nil, c.ID, "", "")
+	sub.status.Store(&running)
+	m.RegisterChild(sub)
+	m.ObserveHumanInput(sub.ID, []byte("please summarize"))
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	_, ok := m.entries[sub.ID]
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+	if ok {
+		t.Fatal("sub-agent should not get a summary entry")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/tabbar.go b/internal/app/tabbar.go
index 7eec361..538962e 100644
--- a/internal/app/tabbar.go
+++ b/internal/app/tabbar.go
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ import (
 	"unicode/utf8"
 )
 
-// Two-row tab bar: labels row, underline row. The PTY viewport's top
+// Three-row tab bar: labels row, active-thread summary row, underline row. The PTY viewport's top
 // row is therefore mainTop == tabBarRows + 1.
-const tabBarRows = 2
+const tabBarRows = 3
 
 // drawTabBar renders the top tab strip across the full host width.
 // Tabs share the available width with a flex layout — each visible
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ func (st *uiState) drawTabBar() {
 	}
 
 	var b strings.Builder
-	// Clear both rows so a stale label from the previous frame can't
+	// Clear all tab-bar rows so stale labels or summaries from the
+	// previous frame can't
 	// bleed through. Use ECH clamped to `width` (= childCols) instead of
 	// `\x1b[2K`: 2K wipes the entire line including the sidebar columns,
 	// and if drawSidebar's chrome cache is fresh it won't repaint to
@@ -147,6 +148,7 @@ func (st *uiState) drawTabBar() {
 	// and content should be.
 	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[1;1H\x1b[%dX", width)
 	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[2;1H\x1b[%dX", width)
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[3;1H\x1b[%dX", width)
 
 	for _, t := range tabs {
 		// Row 1: centre-ish label inside the tab cell.
@@ -170,9 +172,9 @@ func (st *uiState) drawTabBar() {
 		b.WriteString(strings.Repeat(" ", rightPad))
 		b.WriteString(styleReset)
 
-		// Row 2: underline. Thick accent for the active tab, faint
+		// Row 3: underline. Thick accent for the active tab, faint
 		// border for the rest.
-		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[2;%dH", t.startCol)
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[3;%dH", t.startCol)
 		if t.active {
 			b.WriteString(styleAccent)
 			b.WriteString(strings.Repeat("━", t.width))
@@ -189,10 +191,14 @@ func (st *uiState) drawTabBar() {
 		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[1;%dH %s%s%s ", hintCol, styleDim, newHint, styleReset)
 		// Underline continues faintly under the hint so the strip
 		// reads as one bar.
-		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[2;%dH%s%s%s",
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[3;%dH%s%s%s",
 			hintCol, styleBorder, strings.Repeat("─", newHintW), styleReset)
 	}
 
+	if summary := st.activeSummaryText(width - 2); summary != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\x1b[2;1H %s%s%s", styleDim, summary, styleReset)
+	}
+
 	frame := b.String()
 	st.chromeCacheMu.Lock()
 	if frame == st.tabBarCache {
diff --git a/internal/app/viewport_renderer_test.go b/internal/app/viewport_renderer_test.go
index d285f34..e7998ae 100644
--- a/internal/app/viewport_renderer_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/viewport_renderer_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func bytesRepeat(b byte, n int) []byte {
 func TestViewportRendererShiftsCursor(t *testing.T) {
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
 	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[H")))
-	if got != "\x1b[3;1H" {
+	if got != "\x1b[4;1H" {
 		t.Fatalf("CUP home: got %q", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func TestViewportRendererSwallowsOriginModeToggles(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(got, "a") || !strings.Contains(got, "b") || !strings.Contains(got, "c") {
 		t.Fatalf("origin-mode toggles should not drop surrounding text: got %q", got)
 	}
-	if strings.Count(got, "\x1b[3;1H") != 2 {
+	if strings.Count(got, "\x1b[4;1H") != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("origin-mode set/reset should home inside the viewport twice: got %q", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -88,23 +88,23 @@ func TestViewportRendererOriginModeCUPUsesScrollTop(t *testing.T) {
 	if strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[?6h") {
 		t.Fatalf("origin-mode set leaked to host: %q", got)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[7;1H") {
-		t.Fatalf("CUP row 1 in origin mode should land at scrollTop row 5 shifted to host row 7: got %q", got)
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[8;1H") {
+		t.Fatalf("CUP row 1 in origin mode should land at scrollTop row 5 shifted to host row 8: got %q", got)
 	}
 }
 
 func TestViewportRendererClearScreenIsViewportOnly(t *testing.T) {
-	// hostRows=7 leaves four viewport rows after the 2-row tab bar and
+	// hostRows=7 leaves three viewport rows after the 3-row tab bar and
 	// 1-row status reservation.
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(20, 7))
 	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[2J")))
 	if strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[2J") {
 		t.Fatalf("host clear-screen leaked through: %q", got)
 	}
-	if strings.Count(got, "\x1b[20X") != 4 {
+	if strings.Count(got, "\x1b[20X") != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("clear rows: got %q", got)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[3;1H") || !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[6;1H") {
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[4;1H") || !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[6;1H") {
 		t.Fatalf("clear did not target viewport rows: %q", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -140,13 +140,12 @@ func TestViewportRendererClearToEndIsViewportOnly(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("host clear-to-end leaked through: %q", got)
 	}
 	// childCols == 19 (40 cols - 28 sidebar - 1 gap - 0-index fudge).
-	// Each of the 4 viewport rows should get a 19-cell erase.
 	// childCols == 11 with hostCols=40 (28 sidebar + 1 gap reserved).
-	// 4 viewport rows, but the cursor row uses ECH at cursor (col 1),
-	// so we expect 4 erases of 11 cells each.
+	// 3 viewport rows, but the cursor row uses ECH at cursor (col 1),
+	// so we expect 3 erases of 11 cells each.
 	count := strings.Count(got, "\x1b[11X")
-	if count != 4 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected 4 ECH-11 sequences, got %d in %q", count, got)
+	if count != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 3 ECH-11 sequences, got %d in %q", count, got)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -182,7 +181,7 @@ func TestViewportRendererClampsCUPColumn(t *testing.T) {
 	// column so the host cursor never lands in the sidebar.
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
 	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[5;95H")))
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[7;91H") {
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[8;91H") {
 		t.Fatalf("CUP col 95 should clamp to 91 (childCols): got %q", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -277,7 +276,7 @@ func TestViewportRendererFlagsScrollVerbs(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestViewportRendererFlagsLineFeedAtViewportBottomAsScrolling(t *testing.T) {
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
-	_ = vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[37;1H\n"))
+	_ = vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[36;1H\n"))
 	if !vr.TookScrollAction() {
 		t.Fatalf("LF at viewport bottom should flag scroll")
 	}
@@ -285,7 +284,7 @@ func TestViewportRendererFlagsLineFeedAtViewportBottomAsScrolling(t *testing.T)
 
 func TestViewportRendererDoesNotFlagLineFeedBeforeViewportBottom(t *testing.T) {
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
-	_ = vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[36;1H\n"))
+	_ = vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[35;1H\n"))
 	if vr.TookScrollAction() {
 		t.Fatalf("LF before viewport bottom should not flag scroll")
 	}
@@ -312,7 +311,7 @@ func TestViewportRendererClampsCUUAtViewportTop(t *testing.T) {
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
 	// CUP to viewport row 1 then CUU by 50.
 	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[1;1H\x1b[50ACLOBBER")))
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[3;1H") {
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[4;1H") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected CUP shifted to mainTop: got %q", got)
 	}
 	// The CUU should have been swallowed (n clamped to 0 from row 1).
@@ -339,10 +338,10 @@ func TestViewportRendererClampsCUUPartial(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestViewportRendererClampsCUDAtViewportBottom(t *testing.T) {
-	// childRows=37 for layout(120, 40). Park cursor at row 37, ask for
+	// childRows=36 for layout(120, 40). Park cursor at row 36, ask for
 	// 10 down → safe step is 0.
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
-	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[37;1H\x1b[10B")))
+	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[36;1H\x1b[10B")))
 	if strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[10B") {
 		t.Fatalf("CUD past viewport bottom should be dropped: got %q", got)
 	}
@@ -363,10 +362,10 @@ func TestViewportRendererClampsCPLAndHomesColumn(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestViewportRendererClampsCNL(t *testing.T) {
 	vr := newViewportRenderer(newTerminalLayout(120, 40))
-	// CUP to row 35 then CNL by 50 → safe step is 2 (childRows-35).
-	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[35;10H\x1b[50E")))
+	// CUP to row 34 then CNL by 50 → safe step is 2 (childRows-34).
+	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[34;10H\x1b[50E")))
 	if !strings.Contains(got, "\x1b[2E") {
-		t.Fatalf("CNL 50 from row 35 should clamp to 2: got %q", got)
+		t.Fatalf("CNL 50 from row 34 should clamp to 2: got %q", got)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/harness/scenarios/sidebar_survives_linefeed_scroll.json b/internal/harness/scenarios/sidebar_survives_linefeed_scroll.json
index 32198c5..05dcb06 100644
--- a/internal/harness/scenarios/sidebar_survives_linefeed_scroll.json
+++ b/internal/harness/scenarios/sidebar_survives_linefeed_scroll.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   "scripts": [
     {
       "name": "linefeed-scroll",
-      "body": "#!/bin/sh\n# Plain LF at the bottom of the child viewport scrolls the host's\n# DECSTBM region. Because that region spans every column, enough LFs\n# drag the sidebar border and section labels out of the visible region\n# unless patterm invalidates and repaints the sidebar cache.\ni=0\nwhile [ $i -lt 12 ]; do\n  printf 'warmup %02d\\n' \"$i\"\n  i=$((i + 1))\n  sleep 0.05\ndone\nprintf 'LINEFEED READY\\n'\nIFS= read -r _\nprintf '\\033[1;37r'\nprintf '\\033[37;1H'\ni=0\nwhile [ $i -lt 45 ]; do\n  printf 'scroll line %02d\\n' \"$i\"\n  i=$((i + 1))\ndone\nprintf 'LINEFEED DONE\\n'\nsleep 5\n"
+      "body": "#!/bin/sh\n# Plain LF at the bottom of the child viewport scrolls the host's\n# DECSTBM region. Because that region spans every column, enough LFs\n# drag the sidebar border and section labels out of the visible region\n# unless patterm invalidates and repaints the sidebar cache.\ni=0\nwhile [ $i -lt 12 ]; do\n  printf 'warmup %02d\\n' \"$i\"\n  i=$((i + 1))\n  sleep 0.05\ndone\nprintf 'LINEFEED READY\\n'\nIFS= read -r _\nprintf '\\033[1;36r'\nprintf '\\033[36;1H'\ni=0\nwhile [ $i -lt 45 ]; do\n  printf 'scroll line %02d\\n' \"$i\"\n  i=$((i + 1))\ndone\nprintf 'LINEFEED DONE\\n'\nsleep 5\n"
     }
   ],
   "steps": [
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@
     { "type": "mark_raw", "save_as": "before_scroll" },
     { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "enter" },
     { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "LINEFEED DONE", "timeout_ms": 5000 },
+    { "type": "wait_stable", "timeout_ms": 2000 },
     {
       "type": "assert_raw_since_regex",
       "from": "before_scroll",
-      "regex": "Agent Tree",
+      "regex": "LINEFEED DONE",
       "timeout_ms": 2000
     },
-    { "type": "wait_stable", "timeout_ms": 2000 },
     { "type": "assert_contains", "contains": "Processes" },
     { "type": "assert_contains", "contains": "Agent Tree" },
     { "type": "assert_contains", "contains": "Scratchpads" },