Add stackable toast notifications

Replaces the single-slot status-line flash with a top-right toast
stack over the focused pane. flashError, flashTransient, and
notifyAttention all push onto the same stack (cap 5, FIFO drop).
Ctrl-N dismisses the most recent toast; empty stack falls through to
the focused PTY so readline / nano / emacs / opencode bindings keep
working. A new "Clear notifications" palette item empties the stack.

.gitea/workflows/release.yml

@@ -11,14 +11,19 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+      - uses: jdx/mise-action@v2
         with:
-          go-version-file: go.mod
           cache: true
 
-      - uses: mlugg/setup-zig@v1
+      - name: Cache Go modules
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-          version: 0.15.2
+          path: |
+            ~/.cache/go-build
+            ~/go/pkg/mod
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-go-${{ hashFiles('**/go.sum') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-go-
 
       - name: Build libghostty-vt
         run: make deps

.mise.toml

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 # libghostty-vt is built from a pinned upstream Ghostty commit; that
 # commit's build.zig.zon pins minimum_zig_version = 0.15.2. We match
 # it here so contributors don't have to puzzle out the version from
-# a deep upstream file.
+# a deep upstream file. The go pin matches go.mod so CI and local
+# builds use the same toolchain.
 [tools]
 zig = "0.15.2"
+go = "1.26.3"

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,150 @@ loosely follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+- Replaced the single-slot status-line "flash" with a stackable toast
+  surface anchored at the top-right of the focused pane. `flashError`,
+  `flashTransient`, and MCP `request_human_attention` now push onto
+  the toast stack (cap 5, oldest drops). Toasts persist until
+  dismissed with `Ctrl-N`, or cleared via the new
+  "Clear notifications" palette command. The status line no longer
+  shows the `[!]` prefix.
+- `Ctrl-N` is consumed by the host only when there is a toast to
+  dismiss; an empty stack lets `Ctrl-N` pass through to the focused
+  child so readline / nano / emacs / opencode keep their bindings.
+
+## [0.0.4] - 2026-05-15
+
+### Changed
+- Release workflow (`.gitea/workflows/release.yml`) now provisions
+  Zig and Go through `jdx/mise-action@v2`, reading the versions from
+  `.mise.toml` (zig 0.15.2, go 1.26.3). Both toolchains were
+  previously installed via `mlugg/setup-zig` and `actions/setup-go`,
+  whose mirror chase / GitHub fetch combined for ~8 minutes per run
+  before any patterm code compiled. mise pulls each tool once and
+  caches the install dir, so subsequent runs hit the cache instead of
+  re-downloading. `make deps` still resolves zig via `mise which zig`
+  with a PATH fallback; `go.mod` already pinned `go 1.26.3`, so the
+  new `go` entry in `.mise.toml` just keeps CI and local builds on
+  the same toolchain.
+- A Go module/build cache step (`actions/cache@v4`, keyed on
+  `go.sum`) was added so `go build` doesn't re-download dependencies
+  on every tag push.
+
+## [0.0.3] - 2026-05-15
+
+### 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. Cadence choices match Solo: `15s`, `30s`, and
+  `1m`; the value is a minimum quiet/activity gap before another
+  summary attempt for the same top-level agent, not a background
+  periodic timer.
+
+### Changed
+- Command palette UX overhaul. The single flat list grew section
+  bands (`── Focused ──`, `── Open ──`, `── Spawn ──`, `── Quit ──`)
+  so the rows are scannable at a glance; cursor navigation skips
+  the dim header rows transparently. A chip strip — `[All] Open
+  Spawn Close` — sits below the query line and tracks the active
+  macro filter; `Tab` / `Shift-Tab` cycle through the chips, and
+  the typed-prefix macros (`sw `, `sp `, `k `) still work and now
+  collapse the whole prefix on a single backspace instead of
+  leaving a stray `sw` behind. The title bar surfaces the current
+  focus subject (`on: <child>` / `pad: <name>`) so the user knows
+  which Focused row is targeting what. The duplicate global Close
+  list is gone — close is reachable via the Focused-section action,
+  the `k ` macro / `[Close]` chip, or the new `Ctrl-X` inline close
+  on a Switch row. The "(current)" marker on the focused Switch row
+  became a leading `▶`. The empty-state hint now reads `no matches
+  · ⌫ to widen` instead of bare `no matches`. The middle divider
+  shows a `▼ N more` / `▲ N above` scroll indicator when the list
+  overflows, and the footer carries a `cursor/total` counter.
+- Spawn verbs are unified on **Spawn**: `Run process: …` →
+  `Spawn process: …`, `New Terminal` → `Spawn terminal`, and the
+  freeform-form row is now `Spawn process… (custom)` so the
+  trailing ellipsis still signals it opens a form.
+- Filtering switched from binary fuzzy-include to scored ranking.
+  Prefix matches beat word-boundary matches beat substring matches
+  beat scattered-fuzzy matches; ties fall back to section order so
+  a Focused-section hit always outranks an equally tight Spawn
+  hit. The matched characters in the rendered label render in
+  accent+bold so the user can see why a row matched.
+- Rename forms split the long subject (`scratchpad:
+  some-really-long-name.md`) onto its own dim row above the input
+  so the title bar no longer truncates with an ellipsis when the
+  subject name is wide.
+- New palette accelerators: `Alt-1` … `Alt-9` quick-pick the Nth
+  visible row, `Home` / `End` jump to first / last selectable row,
+  `?` (with empty query) opens an inline keybinding cheat-sheet
+  which any further keystroke dismisses, and `Ctrl-R` inside the
+  Spawn-process form toggles "Relaunch on exit" without leaving
+  the command field.
+
+### Fixed
+- Error/status flashes now restore the currently focused pane instead
+  of drawing the empty-state hint over a running agent or process.
+- Release workflow (`.gitea/workflows/release.yml`) now uses
+  `mlugg/setup-zig@v2` instead of the deprecated `@v1`. v1 hard-coded
+  the pre-0.14 tarball name (`zig-linux-x86_64-<ver>.tar.xz`), so
+  every mirror and the official `ziglang.org/builds` returned 404 for
+  Zig 0.15.2 and the v0.0.1 / v0.0.2 tag pushes never produced a
+  release asset. v2 uses the post-0.14 `zig-x86_64-linux-<ver>.tar.xz`
+  layout, so the runner can fetch Zig and build patterm.
+- Typing into a focused child while its emulator viewport is
+  scrolled up into scrollback history now auto-snaps the viewport
+  back to the live area. Previously the keystroke reached the
+  child PTY but the input box was off-screen below the visible
+  region, so it looked like typing did nothing. Wheel scrolling
+  and Ctrl-B are unchanged; only forwarded keystrokes snap.
+- Top tab bar now keeps the top-level agent's tab highlighted
+  when focus is on one of its sub-agents (or on a Processes pane
+  entry, matching the existing agent-tree behavior). Previously
+  the tab would lose its highlight as soon as you stepped into a
+  child agent, even though you were still within that thread.
+
+### Changed
+- MCP tool descriptions and `help('coordination')` /
+  `help('readiness')` now spell out that a sub-agent's reply to
+  `send_message` lands in the caller's own pane (tagged
+  `[sub-agent:<name>]`), not in the sub-agent's output. The canonical
+  wait-for-reply pattern — `send_message` → `timer_fire_when_idle_any`
+  on the sub-agent → read your own pane — is now called out on
+  `send_message`, `wait_for_pattern`, both `timer_fire_when_idle_*`,
+  the help topics, and the server-instructions preamble every agent
+  reads at startup. Previously `wait_for_pattern` was the obvious
+  blocking primitive in the catalog, and agents routinely called it
+  against the sub-agent for a reply that had already arrived in their
+  own pane, deadlocking until the wait timed out. No behaviour
+  changes; descriptions only.
+- Agent-initiated `spawn_agent` and `spawn_process` MCP calls no
+  longer steal viewport focus from the currently active tab. The
+  new child still appears in the sidebar and tab bar; switch to it
+  explicitly via the palette or `select_process`. Palette-initiated
+  spawns and persistence restores are unchanged — they still auto-
+  focus the new pane.
+- Sidebar rows (Processes, Agent Tree, Scratchpads) now truncate
+  overflowing names with a trailing `…` instead of spilling into
+  the main viewport. The focused row marquees its name when it
+  overflows — 1 s hold on the head, ~150 ms per cell scroll until
+  the tail is visible, 1 s hold on the tail, snap back. Row
+  position never moves while the marquee animates. When budget is
+  tight, the trailing timer indicator drops before the name
+  ellipses, since the name is the only identifier the row carries.
+
 ## [0.0.2] - 2026-05-15
 
 ### Added

TODO.md

@@ -1,184 +1,3 @@
-# Perf Audit (auto-generated 2026-05-15)
+The close action in the command palette should just be "Close current agent" rather than "Close codex"
-Findings from a codebase sweep — not user-reported, needs review before
+Same with the other "focused" parts. It seems a bit clunky right now. "Close current agent"
-action. Each item names the anchor and a sketched fix.
+In general I think while the feature set has grown, the actual refinement of it isn't great, it feels a bit cluttered.
-
-Baseline benchmark numbers (`go test -bench=. ./internal/app/`, AMD
-Ryzen 7 7800X3D, libghostty-vt **ReleaseFast** after the Makefile
-fix landed):
-
-```
-# Renderer alone
-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
-
-# ASCII-video stream (renderer only — 3 sec at the target fps)
-ASCIIVideo_Stream_8Color_120fps     260 µs/frame  3845 fps_ceiling   3.1% budget
-ASCIIVideo_Stream_TrueColor_120fps  576 µs/frame  1735 fps_ceiling   6.9% budget
-
-# Full pipeline (em.Write + renderer + io.Discard write)
-Pipeline_ASCIIVideo_8Color_120fps     493 µs/frame  2030 fps_ceiling   5.9% budget
-Pipeline_ASCIIVideo_TrueColor_120fps 1075 µs/frame   931 fps_ceiling  12.9% budget
-
-# Emulator alone (libghostty-vt CSI/SGR parser)
-Emulator_Write_Stream_8Color_120fps    257 µs/frame  3890 fps_ceiling
-Emulator_Write_Stream_TrueColor_120fps 488 µs/frame  2051 fps_ceiling
-```
-
-Result of the fix below: 27-32× pipeline speedup, 60× emulator
-speedup. Pipeline hits 930-2030 fps end-to-end — 7-16× headroom
-over the 120 fps target on the heaviest workload (truecolor
-full-screen redraws).
-
-
-- [ ] **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:
-    `drawSidebar` calls it twice per frame
-    (`internal/app/sidebar.go:139` and `:171`); `drawTabBar` calls it
-    once per frame (`internal/app/tabbar.go:37`); the classifier
-    iterates it every 250 ms (`internal/app/classifier.go:38`); and
-    palette/navigation hit it on every Ctrl-A/D/W/S keystroke.
-  - Fix direction: store the snapshot in an `atomic.Pointer[[]*Child]`
-    on `Session`, refresh it under `s.mu` only when `Spawn` / `delete`
-    mutates the map. Readers get O(1) `Load()` with zero allocation —
-    same pattern already used for `listeners` (session.go:118-123).
-
-- [ ] **wait_for_pattern re-scans the entire stream/grid every iteration.** [MEDIUM]
-  - `internal/app/host.go:476-493` (the `check` closure). On `scope =
-    "scrollback"` it calls `c.StreamRead(0)` followed by
-    `stripANSIBytes(nil, b)` over the entire ring on every wake — a
-    full O(ring size) walk per chunk arrival. On `grid` it goes
-    through PlainText (one CGO call) plus a regex match against the
-    full grid string. For an agent waiting on a marker in a chatty
-    pane, every PTY chunk fires `check()`.
-  - Fix direction: for `scrollback`, track the offset of the last
-    check and run the regex only over the new tail, reusing a
-    per-call scratch buffer for ANSI stripping. For `grid`, dedupe
-    on `ScreenVersion()` — skip when version hasn't changed.
-
-- [ ] **search_output compiles regex + strips ANSI on every call.** [MEDIUM]
-  - `internal/app/host.go:428` compiles a fresh `regexp.Regexp` per
-    invocation; `:434` strips ANSI over the entire ring buffer when
-    `kind="rendered"`. Agents that poll `search_output` with the same
-    pattern (the typical "watch for marker" loop) repay both costs on
-    every call.
-  - Fix direction: small LRU of compiled regexes keyed by pattern
-    string (cap maybe 32) on `toolHost`. Cache the stripped-ANSI
-    buffer keyed by `c.ScreenVersion()` so consecutive searches over
-    an unchanged ring reuse the strip.
-
-- [ ] **GetProcessOutput grid mode acquires the emulator twice.** [MEDIUM]
-  - `internal/app/host.go:375-391` does `em := c.Emulator()` for
-    ActiveScreen / Cursor / Size, then at line 387 re-fetches
-    `em := c.Emulator()` for PlainText. Each `Emulator()` call goes
-    through `ptyMu` and inspects the live PTY pointer. Under a
-    chatty agent polling `get_process_output` every 100 ms this is
-    a redundant lock and pointer chase per call.
-  - Fix direction: hold the emulator reference from the first
-    lookup; reuse it for PlainText. The check `if em == nil` still
-    runs cleanly because the variable is captured.
-
-- [ ] **FindChildByIdentity is O(N) under the session lock.** [LOW]
-  - `internal/app/session.go:553-565` scans the children map looking
-    for a matching `Identity` token on every new mcp-stdio
-    connection. Not a steady-state hot path — only fires once per
-    child spawn — but with many short-lived sub-agents it adds up
-    and contends with everyone else taking `s.mu`.
-  - Fix direction: maintain an `identityIndex map[string]string`
-    (identity → child id) updated alongside spawn / exit, give the
-    lookup an O(1) read.
-
-- [ ] **Per-promoter regex matches in the idle classifier.** [LOW]
-  - `internal/app/idle.go:175-182` (`matchAny`) walks each compiled
-    pattern and runs the DFA over the same 4 KiB tail. A preset with
-    five permission patterns + five error patterns is ten DFA
-    invocations per child per 250 ms tick.
-  - Fix direction: at preset load time, compile each `_patterns`
-    list into a single alternation regex (`(?:p1)|(?:p2)|…`). The
-    classifier then makes one Match call per category per tick.
-
-- [ ] **Port-detection dedup is O(N²) over c.ports.** [LOW]
-  - `internal/app/child.go:461-467`: for each fresh URL match the
-    code linearly scans the existing port list. The list rarely
-    grows past a handful, but a dev server that lists "all open
-    ports" in one log line interacts badly: M new matches × N
-    existing entries.
-  - Fix direction: keep a `seenPorts map[int]struct{}` next to
-    `c.ports`, rebuilt on prune (none today). O(1) per match.
-
-- [ ] **Port-sighting string allocations happen before the dedup check.** [LOW]
-  - `internal/app/child.go:455-456` allocates `urlForm` and `portStr`
-    before line 461's `seen` walk. Both strings are wasted when the
-    port is already in `c.ports`. Inside `c.portsMu` for the whole
-    loop body too, blocking the `Ports()` reader path.
-  - Fix direction: bind the port int first (cheap parse from
-    `m[1]`), do the seen check, only then allocate the URL string
-    for the surviving sighting.
-
-- [ ] **classifier `time.Now()` syscall per child per tick.** [LOW]
-  - `internal/app/classifier.go:54` (and the `IdleMS` /
-    `TitleIdleMS` helpers it transitively calls in
-    `internal/app/child.go:343-374`) each call `time.Now()`.
-    Reading time on Linux is fast (vDSO) but with N children × 4
-    `time.Now()` per tick × 4 ticks/sec it's wasted work that can
-    be batched.
-  - Fix direction: capture `now := time.Now().UnixNano()` once at
-    the top of `classifyAll` and thread it into `classifyOne` and
-    the helpers as a parameter.
-
-- [ ] **wait_for_pattern subscribes a listener for every call.** [LOW]
-  - `internal/app/host.go:472-474`: each invocation calls
-    `Session.Subscribe(wake)` which clones the listener slice and
-    swaps the atomic pointer; the `defer Unsubscribe` does the same
-    on exit. Two allocations per `wait_for_pattern`. The agent
-    pattern of looping on `wait_for_pattern` after every tool call
-    pays this churn on the steady-state path.
-  - Fix direction: a per-child `chunkBroadcaster` registered once
-    at child spawn that hands out lightweight subscriber tokens,
-    rather than going through the full session listener machinery.
-
-# On Hold
-- [ ] There's a unicode <?> being displayed in opencode [ON HOLD]
-  - Investigated 2026-05-14: patterm passes ghostty grapheme codepoints
-    through unchanged (vt/ghostty.go:452-462), so the `<?>` glyph is
-    most likely the *host* terminal's font fallback for opencode's
-    Nerd Font private-use codepoints, not a patterm substitution.
-    Need a concrete reproduction (which codepoint, which host
-    terminal/font) before changing rendering.
-- [ ] After codex rips for like 15 minutes, the terminal becomes quite slow. [ON HOLD / VERIFYING]
-  - 2026-05-14: Perf plan P1-P11 landed (see CHANGELOG). Needs a real
-    long-running codex session to confirm whether the steady-state
-    slowdown is gone or some hotspot remains. Capture a pprof if it
-    still feels slow after ≥15 minutes — the structural drivers the
-    audit named are all addressed, so a remaining symptom is a new
-    one and probably wants fresh profiling.

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.
@@ -169,7 +173,24 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 		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()
@@ -306,6 +328,28 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// Marquee ticker: while a focused sidebar row's name overflows the
+	// rail width, advance the pause-scroll-pause animation by marking
+	// the sidebar dirty every marqueeStep. The chrome ticker above does
+	// the actual repaint. When no row is animating, this is a single
+	// cheap wakeup with no work.
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		ticker := time.NewTicker(marqueeStep)
+		defer ticker.Stop()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return
+			case <-ticker.C:
+			}
+			if st.marquee.active() {
+				st.markSidebarDirty()
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
 	// External termination: SPEC §2 step 4 (SIGTERM/SIGHUP → graceful exit).
 	wg.Add(1)
 	sigCh := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
@@ -376,7 +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
@@ -389,10 +432,11 @@ type uiState struct {
 	repaintNextPTY       string
 	repaintNextPTYBudget int
 
-	// attention is the latest request_human_attention surfaced via MCP;
+	// toasts is the stackable notification surface. flashError,
-	// rendered in the status line until cleared.
+	// flashTransient, and notifyAttention all push onto it; the user
-	attentionText string
+	// dismisses entries with Ctrl-N or the "Clear notifications"
-	attentionAt   string
+	// palette command.
+	toasts toastStack
 
 	// pendingTrust is the most recent trust prompt — surfaced in the
 	// status line until the user resolves it with Ctrl-K. v1 keeps the
@@ -410,6 +454,12 @@ 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
@@ -436,6 +486,11 @@ type uiState struct {
 	sidebarDirty atomic.Bool
 	chromeWake   chan struct{}
 
+	// marquee animates the focused sidebar row's name when it overflows
+	// the rail width. The dedicated 150ms ticker below flips
+	// sidebarDirty while a row is animating; idle case is free.
+	marquee marqueeState
+
 	// padsCacheMu guards the cached scratchpad listing. The sidebar
 	// and palette/sidebar nav helpers read it on every chunk-driven
 	// repaint; the cache invalidates in scratchpadsChanged() which is
@@ -451,6 +506,33 @@ 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.
@@ -476,6 +558,7 @@ func (st *uiState) focusProcess(processID string) {
 	if c == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	st.marquee.reset()
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 	onAlt := childIsOnAlt(c)
 	st.mu.Lock()
@@ -543,6 +626,7 @@ func (st *uiState) focusScratchpad(name string) {
 	if name == "" {
 		return
 	}
+	st.marquee.reset()
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	if st.padOffsetName != name {
 		st.padOffset = 0
@@ -586,6 +670,7 @@ func (st *uiState) restartFocusedCommand(processID string) {
 	if c == nil || c.Kind != KindCommand {
 		return
 	}
+	st.marquee.reset()
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 	renderer := newViewportRenderer(layout)
 	st.mu.Lock()
@@ -638,20 +723,15 @@ func (st *uiState) updateActiveAgentLocked(c *Child) {
 }
 
 // notifyAttention is the request_human_attention sink (SPEC §7). We
-// surface a one-line toast in the status row and remember the most
+// push a toast onto the stack; the focused-pane render path picks it
-// recent ask so the status line keeps showing it. The sidebar-blink is
+// up. The sidebar-blink is deferred until the §4 chrome lands.
-// deferred until the §4 chrome lands.
 func (st *uiState) notifyAttention(childID, reason string) {
 	c := st.sess.FindChild(childID)
 	name := childID
 	if c != nil {
 		name = c.DisplayName()
 	}
-	st.mu.Lock()
+	st.notifyToast(toastAttention, fmt.Sprintf("%s — %s", name, reason))
-	st.attentionText = fmt.Sprintf("attention: %s — %s", name, reason)
-	st.attentionAt = childID
-	st.mu.Unlock()
-	st.drawStatusLine()
 }
 
 func (st *uiState) scratchpadsChanged() {
@@ -670,8 +750,30 @@ func (st *uiState) scratchpadsChanged() {
 	}
 }
 
-// OnChildSpawned auto-focuses the new child.
+// OnChildSpawned auto-focuses the new child when the spawn came from
+// the user (palette, persistence restore, or an external MCP client with
+// no resolved identity). When ParentID is set — meaning a patterm-managed
+// agent spawned this child via spawn_agent/spawn_process — focus stays
+// 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 {
+			st.palette.children = st.sess.Children()
+			st.palette.focused = st.focusedID
+			st.palette.rebuild()
+			st.renderPaletteLocked()
+		}
+		st.mu.Unlock()
+		st.drawTabBar()
+		st.drawSidebar()
+		return
+	}
+	st.marquee.reset()
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 	onAlt := childIsOnAlt(c)
 	st.mu.Lock()
@@ -732,7 +834,11 @@ 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()
 	renderEmpty := false
 	st.mu.Lock()
@@ -818,6 +924,9 @@ 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
@@ -1054,8 +1163,6 @@ func (st *uiState) drawStatusLine() {
 	palOpen := st.palette != nil
 	focusID := st.focusedID
 	focusName := st.focusedName
-	attention := st.attentionText
-	attentionAt := st.attentionAt
 	var trustMsg string
 	if st.pendingTrust != nil {
 		trustMsg = fmt.Sprintf("trust preset %q? [y]es / [n]o", st.pendingTrust.presetName)
@@ -1095,13 +1202,6 @@ func (st *uiState) drawStatusLine() {
 			left = owner
 		}
 	}
-	if attention != "" && attentionAt == focusID {
-		left = "[!] " + attention
-	}
-	if attention != "" && attentionAt == "" {
-		// Sticky attention/flash from somewhere outside the focused pane.
-		left = "[!] " + attention
-	}
 	if trustMsg != "" {
 		left = "[trust] " + trustMsg
 	}
@@ -1157,8 +1257,6 @@ func (st *uiState) drawStatusLine() {
 // child is focused.
 func (st *uiState) renderEmptyState() {
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
-	st.outMu.Lock()
-	defer st.outMu.Unlock()
 	line := "Press Ctrl-K to spawn an agent or process"
 	row := int(layout.mainTop) + (int(layout.childRows()) / 2)
 	col := int(layout.mainLeft) + ((int(layout.childCols()) - len(line)) / 2)
@@ -1168,7 +1266,10 @@ func (st *uiState) renderEmptyState() {
 	if col < int(layout.mainLeft) {
 		col = int(layout.mainLeft)
 	}
+	st.outMu.Lock()
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stdout, "\x1b[?25l\x1b[H\x1b[2J\x1b[%d;%dH\x1b[2m%s\x1b[0m", row, col, line)
+	st.outMu.Unlock()
+	st.renderToasts()
 }
 
 func (st *uiState) hostSizeSnapshot() (uint16, uint16) {
@@ -1291,6 +1392,16 @@ func (st *uiState) processStdin(chunk []byte) {
 	}
 
 	forward := make([]byte, 0, len(chunk))
+
+	var pendingAction *paletteAction
+	var pendingNav navEntry
+	var pendingRestartID string
+	var pendingViewportDelta int
+	var pendingViewportBottom bool
+	var pendingPadStep int
+	var pendingPadExit bool
+	var pendingDismissToast bool
+
 	flushForward := func() {
 		if len(forward) == 0 {
 			return
@@ -1302,22 +1413,22 @@ 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()
 				}
+				// Auto-snap the emulator viewport to the live area
+				// on any forwarded keystroke. Without this, typing
+				// while scrolled into history leaves the cursor /
+				// echoed bytes off-screen below the visible region.
+				pendingViewportBottom = true
 			}
 		}
 		forward = forward[:0]
 	}
 
-	var pendingAction *paletteAction
-	var pendingNav navEntry
-	var pendingRestartID string
-	var pendingViewportDelta int
-	var pendingViewportBottom bool
-	var pendingPadStep int
-	var pendingPadExit bool
-
 	// childOnPrimary captures whether the focused child is on its primary
 	// screen at the start of this chunk. Wheel events on the primary
 	// screen scroll the emulator viewport (inline scrollback); on the
@@ -1476,6 +1587,11 @@ func (st *uiState) processStdin(chunk []byte) {
 			} else if hit, _ := matchCtrlChar(chunk, i, 'd'); hit {
 			} else if hit, _ := matchCtrlChar(chunk, i, 'w'); hit {
 			} else if hit, _ := matchCtrlChar(chunk, i, 's'); hit {
+			} else if hit, _ := matchCtrlChar(chunk, i, 'n'); hit {
+				// Ctrl-N is the toast dismiss key. In pad view we
+				// allow it through the chord block so the handler
+				// below can fire even though pads otherwise swallow
+				// bytes.
 			} else {
 				i++
 				continue
@@ -1574,6 +1690,22 @@ func (st *uiState) processStdin(chunk []byte) {
 				break
 			}
 		}
+		// Ctrl-N dismisses the most recent toast. We only consume the
+		// chord when there's actually a toast to dismiss; otherwise the
+		// bytes fall through to the focused PTY so readline /
+		// nano / emacs / opencode keep working in shells and editors.
+		if hit, adv := matchCtrlChar(chunk, i, 'n'); hit {
+			if st.toasts.length() > 0 {
+				flushForward()
+				pendingDismissToast = true
+				i += adv
+				continue
+			}
+			forward = append(forward, chunk[i:i+adv]...)
+			i += adv
+			continue
+		}
+
 		// Ctrl-B snaps the focused child's emulator viewport back to the
 		// active area. Use this as the escape hatch from a scrolled-up
 		// state — wheel scrolls move the viewport into the libghostty
@@ -1655,6 +1787,11 @@ func (st *uiState) processStdin(chunk []byte) {
 	if pendingPadExit {
 		st.exitPadView()
 	}
+	if pendingDismissToast {
+		if st.toasts.dismissTop() {
+			st.refreshToastSurface()
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // scrollFocusedViewport scrolls the focused child's emulator viewport by
@@ -1707,7 +1844,10 @@ 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
@@ -1860,6 +2000,11 @@ func (st *uiState) closePalette(action paletteAction) {
 	case "quit":
 		st.requestExit()
 
+	case "toasts-clear":
+		if st.toasts.clear() {
+			st.refreshToastSurface()
+		}
+
 	case "pad-delete":
 		st.handlePadDelete(action.padName)
 
@@ -1880,9 +2025,85 @@ 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()
@@ -2060,28 +2281,18 @@ func (st *uiState) handleProcRestart(childID string) {
 	st.drawStatusLine()
 }
 
-// flashError surfaces a spawn/etc. failure in the status line until the
+// flashError surfaces a spawn/etc. failure as an error toast over the
-// next attention update overwrites it. stderr is hidden under the alt
+// focused pane. stderr is hidden under the alt screen so we can't rely
-// screen so we can't rely on Fprintln(os.Stderr).
+// on Fprintln(os.Stderr).
 func (st *uiState) flashError(msg string) {
-	st.mu.Lock()
+	st.notifyToast(toastError, msg)
-	st.attentionText = msg
-	st.attentionAt = "" // shows on every focus until cleared
-	st.mu.Unlock()
-	st.renderEmptyState()
-	st.drawTabBar()
-	st.drawSidebar()
-	st.drawStatusLine()
 }
 
 // flashTransient is the softer cousin of flashError used for
-// trust-prompt resolutions. Same status-line surface; the prefix differs.
+// trust-prompt resolutions and other ack-style notices. Same
+// stackable surface, info styling.
 func (st *uiState) flashTransient(msg string) {
-	st.mu.Lock()
+	st.notifyToast(toastInfo, msg)
-	st.attentionText = msg
-	st.attentionAt = ""
-	st.mu.Unlock()
-	st.drawStatusLine()
 }
 
 // repaintFocused redraws the current focused child's screen snapshot.
@@ -2125,8 +2336,9 @@ func (st *uiState) repaintFocused() {
 	}
 	st.mu.Unlock()
 	st.outMu.Lock()
-	defer st.outMu.Unlock()
 	_, _ = os.Stdout.Write(out)
+	st.outMu.Unlock()
+	st.renderToasts()
 }
 
 // repaintFocusedPad paints the focused scratchpad's content into the
@@ -2150,8 +2362,9 @@ func (st *uiState) repaintFocusedPad() {
 		return
 	}
 	st.outMu.Lock()
-	defer st.outMu.Unlock()
 	_, _ = os.Stdout.Write(out)
+	st.outMu.Unlock()
+	st.renderToasts()
 }
 
 // renderPadView builds the bytes that paint a scratchpad's content

internal/app/host.go

@@ -1135,8 +1135,9 @@ func helpFor(topic string) mcp.HelpResponse {
 	case "coordination":
 		return mcp.HelpResponse{
 			Topic: "coordination",
-			Content:      "send_message tags the message with the caller's role (parent → [orchestrator], child → [sub-agent:<name>]). Siblings must route through their parent. request_human_attention raises a UI notification when you can't safely decide.",
+			Content: "send_message tags the message with the caller's role (parent → [orchestrator], child → [sub-agent:<name>]). Siblings must route through their parent. request_human_attention raises a UI notification when you can't safely decide.\n\n" +
-			RelatedTools: []string{"send_message", "request_human_attention"},
+				"Reply routing: a sub-agent's reply to your send_message lands in YOUR pane tagged `[sub-agent:<name>]`, not in the sub-agent's output. Anti-pattern: `wait_for_pattern(sub_agent, …)` to wait for a reply — the sub-agent is already idle, its output won't change, and the call spins to timeout. Pattern: send_message → timer_fire_when_idle_any([sub_agent_id], body=\"[system] sub-agent finished\") → when the timer fires, the reply is already queued as your next user turn (or visible via get_process_output on your own pane).",
+			RelatedTools: []string{"send_message", "request_human_attention", "timer_fire_when_idle_any", "timer_fire_when_idle_all"},
 		}
 	case "scratchpads":
 		return mcp.HelpResponse{
@@ -1162,8 +1163,13 @@ func helpFor(topic string) mcp.HelpResponse {
 	case "readiness":
 		return mcp.HelpResponse{
 			Topic: "readiness",
-			Content:      "A pane is 'idle' once nothing has been written to its PTY for ~1s (SPEC §11). Treat idle as a signal to read, not a guarantee of completion. wait_for_pattern lets you wait on a known terminal marker for stronger evidence.",
+			Content: "A pane is 'idle' once nothing has been written to its PTY for ~1s (SPEC §11). Treat idle as a signal to read, not a guarantee of completion.\n\n" +
-			RelatedTools: []string{"wait_for_pattern", "get_process_status"},
+				"Waiting for a sub-agent's reply (canonical pattern):\n" +
+				"  1. send_message(sub_agent_id, request)\n" +
+				"  2. timer_fire_when_idle_any(watched=[sub_agent_id], body=\"[system] sub-agent done\")\n" +
+				"  3. When the timer fires you re-enter as a fresh user turn; the sub-agent's reply is already in your own pane tagged `[sub-agent:<name>]` (read via get_process_output on yourself if you need it explicitly).\n\n" +
+				"wait_for_pattern is for waiting on text a process emits in its OWN output (a shell prompt, a build's \"tests passed\" line). It does NOT see send_message replies, because those land in the caller's pane, not the target's — calling wait_for_pattern on a sub-agent to wait for its reply deadlocks until timeout.",
+			RelatedTools: []string{"wait_for_pattern", "get_process_status", "timer_fire_when_idle_any", "send_message"},
 		}
 	case "permissions":
 		return mcp.HelpResponse{

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 {
+	if l.childRows() != 36 {
-		t.Fatalf("child rows: got %d want 37", l.childRows())
+		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 {
+	if l.childRows() != 8 {
-		t.Fatalf("child rows: got %d want 9", l.childRows())
+		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 {
+	if cols != 91 || rows != 36 {
-		t.Fatalf("launcher size: got %dx%d want 91x37", cols, rows)
+		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 {
+	if cols != 91 || rows != 36 {
-		t.Fatalf("tool host size: got %dx%d want 91x37", cols, rows)
+		t.Fatalf("tool host size: got %dx%d want 91x36", cols, rows)
 	}
 }

internal/app/marquee.go

@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Phase ordering of the marquee state machine: hold the head, scroll
+// one cell per marqueeStep until the tail is visible, hold the tail,
+// snap back to the head.
+const (
+	phaseHoldStart = iota
+	phaseScroll
+	phaseHoldEnd
+)
+
+const (
+	marqueeHoldStart = time.Second
+	marqueeStep      = 150 * time.Millisecond
+	marqueeHoldEnd   = time.Second
+)
+
+// marqueeState drives the focused sidebar row's pause-scroll-pause
+// animation. State is wall-clock anchored (since), not tick-count
+// anchored, so a missed tick yields a slightly later frame rather
+// than a skipped one.
+type marqueeState struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	id      string
+	nameLen int
+	budget  int
+	state   int
+	offset  int
+	since   time.Time
+}
+
+// step advances the state machine for the row identified by id with
+// the given visible name length (in runes) and column budget. It
+// returns the current scroll offset, whether the row is animating
+// (i.e. nameLen > budget), and how long until the next visual change.
+//
+// When id changes, or nameLen <= budget, the state machine resets to
+// phaseHoldStart with offset 0 anchored at now.
+func (m *marqueeState) step(id string, nameLen, budget int, now time.Time) (offset int, animating bool, nextWake time.Duration) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if id != m.id || nameLen != m.nameLen || budget != m.budget {
+		m.id = id
+		m.nameLen = nameLen
+		m.budget = budget
+		m.state = phaseHoldStart
+		m.offset = 0
+		m.since = now
+	}
+
+	if nameLen <= budget || budget <= 0 {
+		return 0, false, 0
+	}
+
+	maxOffset := nameLen - budget
+
+	for {
+		elapsed := now.Sub(m.since)
+		switch m.state {
+		case phaseHoldStart:
+			if elapsed < marqueeHoldStart {
+				return 0, true, marqueeHoldStart - elapsed
+			}
+			m.state = phaseScroll
+			m.since = m.since.Add(marqueeHoldStart)
+			continue
+		case phaseScroll:
+			steps := int(elapsed / marqueeStep)
+			if steps >= maxOffset {
+				m.offset = maxOffset
+				m.state = phaseHoldEnd
+				m.since = m.since.Add(time.Duration(maxOffset) * marqueeStep)
+				continue
+			}
+			m.offset = steps
+			rem := marqueeStep - (elapsed % marqueeStep)
+			return m.offset, true, rem
+		case phaseHoldEnd:
+			if elapsed < marqueeHoldEnd {
+				return maxOffset, true, marqueeHoldEnd - elapsed
+			}
+			m.state = phaseHoldStart
+			m.offset = 0
+			m.since = m.since.Add(marqueeHoldEnd)
+			continue
+		default:
+			m.state = phaseHoldStart
+			m.offset = 0
+			m.since = now
+			return 0, true, marqueeHoldStart
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// active reports whether the marquee currently has an overflowing row
+// to animate. The marquee ticker goroutine uses this to gate dirty
+// flag flips so an idle sidebar costs nothing.
+func (m *marqueeState) active() bool {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	return m.id != "" && m.nameLen > m.budget && m.budget > 0
+}
+
+// reset clears all state, forcing the next step() call to start a
+// fresh phaseHoldStart. Call this when focus changes so the newly
+// focused row begins with a full head-hold instead of inheriting
+// whatever phase the previous focus was in.
+func (m *marqueeState) reset() {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	m.id = ""
+	m.nameLen = 0
+	m.budget = 0
+	m.state = phaseHoldStart
+	m.offset = 0
+	m.since = time.Time{}
+}

internal/app/marquee_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestMarqueeStepFits(t *testing.T) {
+	var m marqueeState
+	now := time.Unix(0, 0)
+	off, animating, _ := m.step("a", 5, 10, now)
+	if animating {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no animation when name fits in budget")
+	}
+	if off != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected offset 0, got %d", off)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMarqueePhaseProgression(t *testing.T) {
+	var m marqueeState
+	// name 10 runes, budget 5 → maxOffset = 5.
+	const nameLen, budget = 10, 5
+	t0 := time.Unix(0, 0)
+
+	// At t0: phaseHoldStart, offset 0, animating.
+	off, anim, wake := m.step("row", nameLen, budget, t0)
+	if off != 0 || !anim || wake != marqueeHoldStart {
+		t.Fatalf("t0: off=%d anim=%v wake=%v", off, anim, wake)
+	}
+
+	// Just before hold expires: still offset 0.
+	off, anim, _ = m.step("row", nameLen, budget, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart-time.Millisecond))
+	if off != 0 || !anim {
+		t.Fatalf("pre-expiry hold: off=%d anim=%v", off, anim)
+	}
+
+	// At hold expiry + 1 step: should have transitioned to scroll, offset 1.
+	off, anim, _ = m.step("row", nameLen, budget, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart+marqueeStep))
+	if !anim || off != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("first scroll step: off=%d anim=%v", off, anim)
+	}
+
+	// Mid-scroll: offset == 3.
+	off, _, _ = m.step("row", nameLen, budget, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart+3*marqueeStep))
+	if off != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("mid scroll: off=%d", off)
+	}
+
+	// Tail reached: offset == maxOffset == 5.
+	off, _, _ = m.step("row", nameLen, budget, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart+5*marqueeStep+time.Millisecond))
+	if off != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("tail: off=%d", off)
+	}
+
+	// Hold-end window still pegged at maxOffset.
+	off, _, _ = m.step("row", nameLen, budget, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart+5*marqueeStep+marqueeHoldEnd/2))
+	if off != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("hold-end mid: off=%d", off)
+	}
+
+	// After hold-end: snap back to offset 0.
+	off, _, _ = m.step("row", nameLen, budget, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart+5*marqueeStep+marqueeHoldEnd+time.Millisecond))
+	if off != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("snap back: off=%d", off)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMarqueeIDChangeResets(t *testing.T) {
+	var m marqueeState
+	t0 := time.Unix(0, 0)
+	_, _, _ = m.step("a", 10, 5, t0)
+	// Advance well into scroll for row "a".
+	_, _, _ = m.step("a", 10, 5, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart+3*marqueeStep))
+	// Now focus moves to "b": offset must reset to 0 and phase to hold-start.
+	off, anim, wake := m.step("b", 10, 5, t0.Add(marqueeHoldStart+3*marqueeStep))
+	if off != 0 || !anim || wake != marqueeHoldStart {
+		t.Fatalf("id reset: off=%d anim=%v wake=%v", off, anim, wake)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMarqueeActive(t *testing.T) {
+	var m marqueeState
+	if m.active() {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh marquee should not be active")
+	}
+	_, _, _ = m.step("row", 10, 5, time.Unix(0, 0))
+	if !m.active() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected active after overflow step")
+	}
+	_, _, _ = m.step("row", 4, 5, time.Unix(0, 0))
+	if m.active() {
+		t.Fatalf("should not be active when name fits")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMarqueeReset(t *testing.T) {
+	var m marqueeState
+	_, _, _ = m.step("row", 10, 5, time.Unix(0, 0))
+	m.reset()
+	if m.active() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected inactive after reset")
+	}
+	// After reset, stepping the same id starts fresh.
+	off, _, wake := m.step("row", 10, 5, time.Unix(5, 0))
+	if off != 0 || wake != marqueeHoldStart {
+		t.Fatalf("post-reset start: off=%d wake=%v", off, wake)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFitName(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name, in string
+		budget   int
+		want     string
+	}{
+		{"fits", "abc", 5, "abc"},
+		{"exact", "abcde", 5, "abcde"},
+		{"truncate", "abcdef", 5, "abcd…"},
+		{"budget1", "abcdef", 1, "…"},
+		{"budget0", "abc", 0, ""},
+		{"unicode", "αβγδεζη", 4, "αβγ…"},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := fitName(c.in, c.budget)
+			if got != c.want {
+				t.Fatalf("fitName(%q, %d) = %q want %q", c.in, c.budget, got, c.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMarqueeWindow(t *testing.T) {
+	got := marqueeWindow("abcdefgh", 4, 2)
+	if got != "cdef" {
+		t.Fatalf("window = %q", got)
+	}
+	// Clamp end-of-string overflow.
+	got = marqueeWindow("abcdef", 4, 10)
+	if got != "cdef" {
+		t.Fatalf("clamped window = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClampVisible(t *testing.T) {
+	// Plain string longer than width.
+	if got := clampVisible("abcdef", 3); visibleLen(got) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("plain clamp visible = %d (%q)", visibleLen(got), got)
+	}
+	// Already-fitting string is unchanged.
+	if got := clampVisible("abc", 5); got != "abc" {
+		t.Fatalf("unchanged = %q", got)
+	}
+	// SGR-wrapped string: visible portion must be <= width.
+	in := "\x1b[1mhello\x1b[0m world"
+	got := clampVisible(in, 5)
+	if visibleLen(got) != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("sgr clamp visible = %d (%q)", visibleLen(got), got)
+	}
+}

internal/app/palette_context_test.go

@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@ func findItem(p *paletteState, want string) (int, *paletteItem) {
 
 func TestContextItemsScratchpad(t *testing.T) {
 	p := newPalette(nil, "", "notes.md", preset.Set{})
-	if i, _ := findItem(p, "pad-delete"); i != 0 {
+	// pad-delete is the first selectable row; the Focused section header
-		t.Fatalf("pad-delete at %d; want top", i)
+	// (a non-selectable row) sits above it.
+	if i, _ := findItem(p, "pad-delete"); i != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("pad-delete at %d; want 1 (after Focused header)", i)
 	}
 	if _, it := findItem(p, "pad-rename-form"); it == nil || it.action.padName != "notes.md" {
 		t.Fatalf("pad-rename-form missing or wrong padName: %+v", it)

internal/app/palette_input_test.go

@@ -47,36 +47,50 @@ func TestPaletteBareEscCancels(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// firstSelectable returns the lowest item index whose action is
+// selectable (not a section header), or -1 if the palette has no
+// selectable rows.
+func firstSelectable(p *paletteState) int {
+	for i, it := range p.items {
+		if it.action.kind != "header" {
+			return i
+		}
+	}
+	return -1
+}
+
 func TestPaletteKittyArrowsNavigate(t *testing.T) {
 	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "a"}, {Name: "b"}, {Name: "c"}}
 	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
-	if p.cursor != 0 {
+	first := firstSelectable(p)
-		t.Fatalf("initial cursor %d", p.cursor)
+	if first < 0 || p.cursor != first {
+		t.Fatalf("initial cursor %d, want first selectable %d", p.cursor, first)
 	}
 	// Kitty functional Down arrow.
 	_, _, adv := p.handleInput([]byte("\x1b[57353u"), 0)
 	if adv != 8 {
 		t.Fatalf("advance %d", adv)
 	}
-	if p.cursor != 1 {
+	if p.cursor != first+1 {
-		t.Fatalf("cursor %d after Down, want 1", p.cursor)
+		t.Fatalf("cursor %d after Down, want %d", p.cursor, first+1)
 	}
 	// Kitty functional Up arrow.
 	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte("\x1b[57352u"), 0)
-	if p.cursor != 0 {
+	if p.cursor != first {
-		t.Fatalf("cursor %d after Up, want 0", p.cursor)
+		t.Fatalf("cursor %d after Up, want %d", p.cursor, first)
 	}
 }
 
 func TestPaletteLegacyArrowsStillWork(t *testing.T) {
 	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "a"}, {Name: "b"}}
 	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	first := firstSelectable(p)
 	_, _, adv := p.handleInput([]byte("\x1b[B"), 0)
 	if adv != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("advance %d", adv)
 	}
-	if p.cursor != 1 {
+	if p.cursor != first+1 {
-		t.Fatalf("cursor %d, want 1", p.cursor)
+		t.Fatalf("cursor %d, want %d", p.cursor, first+1)
 	}
 }
 

internal/app/palette_ux_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,385 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/preset"
+)
+
+// -- Phase 1: naming & dropped global Close list ---------------------
+
+func TestPaletteVerbsAreUnified(t *testing.T) {
+	procs := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "dev"}}
+	agents := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "claude"}}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: agents, Processes: procs})
+	gotLabels := make([]string, 0, len(p.items))
+	for _, it := range p.items {
+		if it.action.kind == "header" {
+			continue
+		}
+		gotLabels = append(gotLabels, it.label)
+	}
+	joined := strings.Join(gotLabels, "\n")
+
+	mustContain := []string{
+		"Spawn agent: claude",
+		"Spawn process: dev",
+		"Spawn terminal",
+		"Spawn process… (custom)",
+	}
+	for _, want := range mustContain {
+		if !strings.Contains(joined, want) {
+			t.Errorf("missing unified-verb label %q in:\n%s", want, joined)
+		}
+	}
+	// The pre-overhaul verb forms must not appear anywhere.
+	mustNotContain := []string{"Run process:", "New Terminal", "Spawn process… (custom)"}
+	for _, bad := range mustNotContain {
+		if strings.Contains(joined, bad) {
+			t.Errorf("leftover legacy verb %q present in:\n%s", bad, joined)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteDropsGlobalCloseList(t *testing.T) {
+	c1 := makeFakeChild("a", "claude", KindAgent)
+	c2 := makeFakeChild("b", "dev", KindCommand)
+	p := newPalette([]*Child{c1, c2}, "", "", preset.Set{})
+	// No focus → no Focused context, so no "kill" / "agent-close" /
+	// "proc-stop" rows should exist at all.
+	for _, kind := range []string{"kill", "agent-close", "proc-stop", "proc-delete"} {
+		if i, _ := findItem(p, kind); i != -1 {
+			t.Fatalf("kind %q present at %d; global Close list should be gone", kind, i)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// -- Phase 2: section headers and cursor skip ------------------------
+
+func TestPaletteSectionHeadersPresent(t *testing.T) {
+	c := makeFakeChild("a", "claude", KindAgent)
+	p := newPalette([]*Child{c}, "a", "", preset.Set{Agents: []*preset.Preset{{Name: "codex"}}})
+	wantSections := []string{"Focused", "Open", "Spawn", "Quit"}
+	for _, w := range wantSections {
+		found := false
+		for _, it := range p.items {
+			if it.action.kind == "header" && strings.Contains(it.label, w) {
+				found = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if !found {
+			t.Errorf("section header %q missing from items", w)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteCursorSkipsHeaders(t *testing.T) {
+	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "a"}, {Name: "b"}}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	// Initial cursor must land on a selectable row, never a header.
+	if p.items[p.cursor].action.kind == "header" {
+		t.Fatalf("initial cursor sits on a header: %+v", p.items[p.cursor])
+	}
+	// Walk to the end with cursorDown; every stop must be selectable.
+	for i := 0; i < len(p.items)*2; i++ {
+		p.cursorDown()
+		if p.items[p.cursor].action.kind == "header" {
+			t.Fatalf("cursorDown landed on a header at index %d", p.cursor)
+		}
+	}
+	// Walk back to top.
+	for i := 0; i < len(p.items)*2; i++ {
+		p.cursorUp()
+		if p.items[p.cursor].action.kind == "header" {
+			t.Fatalf("cursorUp landed on a header at index %d", p.cursor)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteEnterOnHeaderIsNoOp(t *testing.T) {
+	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "a"}}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	// Force the cursor onto a header.
+	for i, it := range p.items {
+		if it.action.kind == "header" {
+			p.cursor = i
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	_, done, _ := p.handleInput([]byte("\r"), 0)
+	if done {
+		t.Fatalf("Enter on header closed palette; expected no-op")
+	}
+}
+
+// -- Phase 3: filter chips & macro coexistence -----------------------
+
+func TestPaletteTabCyclesChip(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newTestPalette()
+	// All → Open
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{'\t'}, 0)
+	if string(p.query) != "sw " {
+		t.Fatalf("Tab #1: query %q, want %q", string(p.query), "sw ")
+	}
+	// Open → Spawn
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{'\t'}, 0)
+	if string(p.query) != "sp " {
+		t.Fatalf("Tab #2: query %q, want %q", string(p.query), "sp ")
+	}
+	// Spawn → Close
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{'\t'}, 0)
+	if string(p.query) != "k " {
+		t.Fatalf("Tab #3: query %q, want %q", string(p.query), "k ")
+	}
+	// Close → All (wraps)
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{'\t'}, 0)
+	if string(p.query) != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("Tab #4 wrap: query %q, want empty", string(p.query))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteShiftTabCyclesBackwards(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newTestPalette()
+	// Shift-Tab via legacy CSI Z: All → Close
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte("\x1b[Z"), 0)
+	if string(p.query) != "k " {
+		t.Fatalf("Shift-Tab: query %q, want %q", string(p.query), "k ")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteBackspaceThroughTrailingMacro(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newTestPalette()
+	p.query = []rune("sw ")
+	p.rebuild()
+	p.backspace()
+	if string(p.query) != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("backspace through 'sw ' left %q; want empty", string(p.query))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteMacroPreservesQueryCase(t *testing.T) {
+	// Tab cycling shouldn't downcase the user-typed search text.
+	p := newTestPalette()
+	p.query = []rune("Foo")
+	p.rebuild()
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{'\t'}, 0)
+	if string(p.query) != "sw Foo" {
+		t.Fatalf("query after Tab over 'Foo' = %q; want 'sw Foo'", string(p.query))
+	}
+}
+
+// -- Phase 4: scored matching ----------------------------------------
+
+func TestFuzzyScorePrefixBeatsBoundaryBeatsSubstring(t *testing.T) {
+	prefix, _ := fuzzyScore("spawn agent: foo", "", "spa")
+	boundary, _ := fuzzyScore("hello spam", "", "spa")
+	substring, _ := fuzzyScore("escapade", "", "spa")
+	if !(prefix > boundary && boundary > substring) {
+		t.Fatalf("score ordering wrong: prefix=%d boundary=%d substring=%d", prefix, boundary, substring)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFuzzyScoreReturnsMatchPositions(t *testing.T) {
+	_, pos := fuzzyScore("spawn process: dev", "", "dev")
+	want := []int{15, 16, 17}
+	if len(pos) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("positions = %v, want %v", pos, want)
+	}
+	for i, p := range pos {
+		if p != want[i] {
+			t.Fatalf("pos[%d] = %d, want %d (full %v)", i, p, want[i], pos)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteScoredResultsDropHeaders(t *testing.T) {
+	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "claude"}, {Name: "codex"}}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	// Type a needle that matches both.
+	p.query = []rune("c")
+	p.rebuild()
+	for _, it := range p.items {
+		if it.action.kind == "header" {
+			t.Fatalf("scored mode should not emit header rows; got %+v", it)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteScoringFloatsPrefixMatchToTop(t *testing.T) {
+	// "x" is a prefix of "xtest" preset; it's a scattered-fuzzy match
+	// against many other rows. Scoring should land the prefix match at
+	// the top regardless of group order.
+	pr := []*preset.Preset{
+		{Name: "alpha"},
+		{Name: "xtest"},
+		{Name: "beta"},
+	}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	p.query = []rune("xt")
+	p.rebuild()
+	if len(p.items) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no scored items for needle 'xt'")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(p.items[0].label, "xtest") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected xtest at top of scored list, got %q", p.items[0].label)
+	}
+}
+
+// -- Phase 5: power-user accelerators --------------------------------
+
+func TestPaletteCtrlXOnSwitchKills(t *testing.T) {
+	c := makeFakeChild("a", "claude", KindAgent)
+	p := newPalette([]*Child{c}, "", "", preset.Set{})
+	// Cursor should already be on the switch row (it's the first
+	// selectable item with no Focused section).
+	idx, _ := findItem(p, "switch")
+	if idx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no switch item in palette")
+	}
+	p.cursor = idx
+	action, done, _ := p.handleInput([]byte{0x18}, 0)
+	if !done {
+		t.Fatalf("Ctrl-X on switch row didn't close palette: action=%+v", action)
+	}
+	if action.kind != "kill" || action.childID != "a" {
+		t.Fatalf("Ctrl-X action = %+v, want kill of 'a'", action)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteCtrlXOnNonSwitchIsNoOp(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{})
+	// Cursor parks on Quit or Spawn entries — neither is a switch row.
+	_, done, _ := p.handleInput([]byte{0x18}, 0)
+	if done {
+		t.Fatalf("Ctrl-X on non-switch closed palette")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteHelpToggle(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newTestPalette()
+	// `?` with empty query opens help.
+	_, done, _ := p.handleInput([]byte("?"), 0)
+	if done {
+		t.Fatalf("? closed palette")
+	}
+	if !p.showHelp {
+		t.Fatalf("? didn't open help")
+	}
+	// Next keystroke dismisses.
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte("a"), 0)
+	if p.showHelp {
+		t.Fatalf("help still showing after dismissing keystroke")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteHelpDoesNotInterceptInQuery(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newTestPalette()
+	p.query = []rune("dev")
+	p.rebuild()
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte("?"), 0)
+	if p.showHelp {
+		t.Fatalf("? with non-empty query incorrectly opened help")
+	}
+	if string(p.query) != "dev?" {
+		t.Fatalf("? with non-empty query failed to append: %q", string(p.query))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteHomeEndJumpsOverHeaders(t *testing.T) {
+	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "a"}, {Name: "b"}}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	// End jumps to last selectable.
+	p.cursorEnd()
+	if p.items[p.cursor].action.kind == "header" {
+		t.Fatalf("End landed on header: %+v", p.items[p.cursor])
+	}
+	if p.items[p.cursor].action.kind != "quit" {
+		t.Fatalf("End on simple palette should park on Quit; got %+v", p.items[p.cursor])
+	}
+	// Home returns to first selectable.
+	p.cursorHome()
+	if p.items[p.cursor].action.kind == "header" {
+		t.Fatalf("Home landed on header: %+v", p.items[p.cursor])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteAltDigitQuickPick(t *testing.T) {
+	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "first"}, {Name: "second"}}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	// Alt-1 picks the first selectable item (Spawn agent: first).
+	action, done, adv := p.handleInput([]byte("\x1b1"), 0)
+	if adv != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("Alt-1 advance %d, want 2", adv)
+	}
+	if !done {
+		t.Fatalf("Alt-1 didn't close palette")
+	}
+	if action.kind != "spawn-agent" || action.preset == nil || action.preset.Name != "first" {
+		t.Fatalf("Alt-1 action = %+v, want spawn-agent first", action)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAutoSummaryCadenceCyclesSoloValues(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{}, defaultSettings())
+	p.mode = paletteModeAutoSummary
+	for i, row := range autoSummaryRows() {
+		if row.key == "cadence" {
+			p.cursor = i
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence != "1m" {
+		t.Fatalf("initial cadence = %q", p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence)
+	}
+	p.activateAutoSummaryRow()
+	if p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence != "15s" {
+		t.Fatalf("first cycle cadence = %q", p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence)
+	}
+	p.activateAutoSummaryRow()
+	if p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence != "30s" {
+		t.Fatalf("second cycle cadence = %q", p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence)
+	}
+	p.activateAutoSummaryRow()
+	if p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence != "1m" {
+		t.Fatalf("third cycle cadence = %q", p.settings.AutoSummary.Cadence)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPaletteFormCtrlRTogglesRelaunchFromCommandField(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{})
+	p.mode = paletteModeSpawnForm
+	p.form = &spawnProcessForm{}
+	// Type without leaving the command field, then Ctrl-R.
+	for _, b := range []byte("xyz") {
+		_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{b}, 0)
+	}
+	if p.form.field != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("field jumped to %d", p.form.field)
+	}
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{0x12}, 0)
+	if !p.form.relaunch {
+		t.Fatalf("Ctrl-R didn't toggle relaunch from command field")
+	}
+	// Second press toggles back.
+	_, _, _ = p.handleInput([]byte{0x12}, 0)
+	if p.form.relaunch {
+		t.Fatalf("second Ctrl-R didn't toggle off")
+	}
+}
+
+// -- Phase 6: counter / scroll indicator -----------------------------
+
+func TestPaletteFooterCounter(t *testing.T) {
+	pr := []*preset.Preset{{Name: "a"}, {Name: "b"}, {Name: "c"}}
+	p := newPalette(nil, "", "", preset.Set{Agents: pr})
+	total := p.visibleSelectableCount()
+	if total < 4 { // 3 spawn-agents + terminal + custom + quit
+		t.Fatalf("expected ≥4 selectables; got %d", total)
+	}
+	idx := p.selectableIndex()
+	if idx <= 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("selectable index = %d on freshly-built palette; want ≥1", idx)
+	}
+}

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:         "1m",
+			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]
+}

internal/app/settings_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+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 st.AutoSummary.Cadence != "1m" {
+		t.Fatalf("cadence = %q want 1m", st.AutoSummary.Cadence)
+	}
+	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"))
+	}
+}

internal/app/sidebar.go

@@ -12,6 +12,128 @@ const (
 	statusRows  = 1
 )
 
+// fitName returns name truncated to fit budget visible cells, with a
+// trailing "…" when it overflows. Operates on RAW (unstyled) input;
+// the caller wraps the result in SGR. Returns "" when budget <= 0.
+func fitName(name string, budget int) string {
+	if budget <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	runes := []rune(name)
+	if len(runes) <= budget {
+		return name
+	}
+	if budget == 1 {
+		return "…"
+	}
+	return string(runes[:budget-1]) + "…"
+}
+
+// marqueeWindow returns the window of name starting at offset, exactly
+// budget cells wide. Pre: caller has decided the name overflows budget
+// and offset is in [0, len([]rune(name))-budget]. Operates on RAW
+// (unstyled) input.
+func marqueeWindow(name string, budget, offset int) string {
+	if budget <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	runes := []rune(name)
+	if len(runes) <= budget {
+		return name
+	}
+	if offset < 0 {
+		offset = 0
+	}
+	end := offset + budget
+	if end > len(runes) {
+		end = len(runes)
+		offset = end - budget
+		if offset < 0 {
+			offset = 0
+		}
+	}
+	return string(runes[offset:end])
+}
+
+// clampVisible truncates s so that its visible (non-SGR) length is at
+// most width cells, preserving any active style by appending a reset.
+// Used as a defensive net by write() so a row whose decoration was
+// mis-sized still cannot spill past the sidebar band into the PTY area.
+func clampVisible(s string, width int) string {
+	if width <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if visibleLen(s) <= width {
+		return s
+	}
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.Grow(len(s))
+	visible := 0
+	inEsc := false
+	for _, r := range s {
+		if inEsc {
+			b.WriteRune(r)
+			if r == 'm' || r == 'H' {
+				inEsc = false
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if r == 0x1b {
+			inEsc = true
+			b.WriteRune(r)
+			continue
+		}
+		if visible >= width {
+			break
+		}
+		b.WriteRune(r)
+		visible++
+	}
+	b.WriteString(styleReset)
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// chooseSidebarSuffix decides whether to keep or drop the trailing
+// timer indicator from a sidebar row's suffix. When the row's name
+// would have to ellipsise with the timer present, but the budget
+// freed by dropping the timer still leaves at least 6 cells for the
+// name, the timer is dropped. The name is the only identifier the
+// user has for that row; the timer is recoverable from the status
+// line and palette.
+func chooseSidebarSuffix(nameRuneLen, width int, prefix, suffix, timer string) (string, int) {
+	prefixCost := visibleLen(prefix)
+	budget := width - prefixCost - visibleLen(suffix)
+	if nameRuneLen <= budget || timer == "" {
+		return suffix, budget
+	}
+	slim := strings.TrimSuffix(suffix, timer)
+	if slim == suffix {
+		return suffix, budget
+	}
+	slimBudget := width - prefixCost - visibleLen(slim)
+	if slimBudget >= 6 {
+		return slim, slimBudget
+	}
+	return suffix, budget
+}
+
+// rowNameSlot returns the unstyled name cell for a sidebar row.
+// Unfocused (or focused-and-fitting) rows get fitName with a trailing
+// "…" on overflow. The focused row, when its name overflows the
+// budget, gets the current marquee window — exactly budget cells
+// wide so the surrounding row geometry stays put while it animates.
+func (st *uiState) rowNameSlot(id, rawName string, budget int, focused bool) string {
+	if budget <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	runes := []rune(rawName)
+	if !focused || len(runes) <= budget {
+		return fitName(rawName, budget)
+	}
+	off, _, _ := st.marquee.step(id, len(runes), budget, time.Now())
+	return marqueeWindow(rawName, budget, off)
+}
+
 // formatShortDuration renders a duration as a short, sidebar-friendly
 // suffix: ms under 1s, "12s" under 60s, "3m" otherwise.
 func formatShortDuration(d time.Duration) string {
@@ -73,6 +195,9 @@ func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
 		if row > maxRow {
 			return
 		}
+		if visibleLen(content) > width {
+			content = clampVisible(content, width)
+		}
 		pad := width - visibleLen(content)
 		if pad < 0 {
 			pad = 0
@@ -154,14 +279,19 @@ func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
 		if c.AutoRestart() {
 			marker = " " + styleDim + "⟳" + styleReset
 		}
-		var line string
+		timer := timerIndicator(c)
+		var prefix, openStyle string
 		if focused {
-			line = " " + styleAccent + "▎" + styleReset + " " + glyph + " " +
+			prefix = " " + styleAccent + "▎" + styleReset + " " + glyph + " "
-				styleBold + c.DisplayName() + styleReset + marker + timerIndicator(c)
+			openStyle = styleBold
 		} else {
-			line = "   " + glyph + " " + styleHint + c.DisplayName() + styleReset + marker + timerIndicator(c)
+			prefix = "   " + glyph + " "
+			openStyle = styleHint
 		}
-		write(line)
+		raw := c.DisplayName()
+		suffix, budget := chooseSidebarSuffix(len([]rune(raw)), width, prefix, marker+timer, timer)
+		nameCell := st.rowNameSlot(c.ID, raw, budget, focused)
+		write(prefix + openStyle + nameCell + styleReset + suffix)
 	}
 
 	// Agent Tree section — formerly "Session tree". Shows the active
@@ -186,14 +316,29 @@ func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
 		}
 		focused := c.ID == focus
 		glyph := statusGlyph(c, focused)
-		var line string
+		timer := timerIndicator(c)
+		var prefix, openStyle string
 		if focused {
-			line = " " + styleAccent + "▎" + styleReset + " " + indent + glyph + " " +
+			prefix = " " + styleAccent + "▎" + styleReset + " " + indent + glyph + " "
-				styleBold + c.DisplayName() + styleReset + timerIndicator(c)
+			openStyle = styleBold
 		} else {
-			line = "   " + indent + glyph + " " + styleHint + c.DisplayName() + styleReset + timerIndicator(c)
+			prefix = "   " + indent + glyph + " "
+			openStyle = styleHint
+		}
+		raw := c.DisplayName()
+		suffix, budget := chooseSidebarSuffix(len([]rune(raw)), width, prefix, timer, timer)
+		nameCell := st.rowNameSlot(c.ID, raw, budget, focused)
+		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)
 		}
-		write(line)
 	}
 
 	// Scratchpads list — names only. The preview pane used to live
@@ -212,14 +357,18 @@ func (st *uiState) drawSidebar() {
 					if row > maxRow {
 						break
 					}
-					var line string
+					focused := e.Name == focusPad
-					if e.Name == focusPad {
+					var prefix, openStyle string
-						line = " " + styleAccent + "▎" + styleReset + " " +
+					if focused {
-							styleBold + e.Name + styleReset
+						prefix = " " + styleAccent + "▎" + styleReset + " "
+						openStyle = styleBold
 					} else {
-						line = "   " + styleHint + e.Name + styleReset
+						prefix = "   "
+						openStyle = styleHint
 					}
-					write(line)
+					budget := width - visibleLen(prefix)
+					nameCell := st.rowNameSlot("pad:"+e.Name, e.Name, budget, focused)
+					write(prefix + openStyle + nameCell + styleReset)
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -251,3 +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
+}

internal/app/spawn_focus_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// TestOnChildSpawnedAgentChildKeepsFocus verifies that when a child is
+// spawned with a ParentID set (i.e. a patterm-managed agent caused the
+// spawn over MCP), OnChildSpawned does NOT steal viewport focus from
+// the currently focused child.
+func TestOnChildSpawnedAgentChildKeepsFocus(t *testing.T) {
+	sess := NewSession(t.TempDir(), "test")
+	st := &uiState{sess: sess}
+
+	parent := newChildEntry("p_parent", "parent", KindAgent, nil, nil, "", "", "")
+	st.focusedID = parent.ID
+	st.focusedName = parent.Name
+
+	subAgent := newChildEntry("p_sub", "sub", KindAgent, nil, nil, parent.ID, "", "")
+
+	st.OnChildSpawned(subAgent)
+
+	if got := st.focusedID; got != parent.ID {
+		t.Fatalf("agent-initiated spawn should not change focusedID: want %q, got %q", parent.ID, got)
+	}
+	if got := st.focusedName; got != parent.Name {
+		t.Fatalf("focusedName changed: want %q, got %q", parent.Name, got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestOnChildSpawnedPaletteChildTakesFocus verifies the legacy path is
+// preserved: spawns with an empty ParentID (palette, restore, external
+// MCP caller) still auto-focus the new child.
+func TestOnChildSpawnedPaletteChildTakesFocus(t *testing.T) {
+	sess := NewSession(t.TempDir(), "test")
+	st := &uiState{sess: sess}
+	st.lastExit.Store(-1)
+
+	c := newChildEntry("p_new", "newchild", KindAgent, nil, nil, "", "", "")
+
+	st.OnChildSpawned(c)
+
+	if got := st.focusedID; got != c.ID {
+		t.Fatalf("palette-initiated spawn should auto-focus: want %q, got %q", c.ID, got)
+	}
+}

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 = 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
+	}
+}

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")
+	}
+}

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
@@ -24,7 +24,11 @@ func (st *uiState) drawTabBar() {
 	}
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	palOpen := st.palette != nil
-	focus := st.focusedID
+	// Highlight the top-level agent tab even when focus has stepped
+	// into a sub-agent (or a Processes pane entry). activeAgentID walks
+	// the parent chain to the root, so the user always sees which tab
+	// their current thread belongs to.
+	focus := st.activeAgentID
 	st.mu.Unlock()
 	if palOpen {
 		return
@@ -135,7 +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
@@ -143,6 +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.
@@ -166,9 +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))
@@ -185,10 +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 {

internal/app/toast.go

@@ -0,0 +1,288 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// toastKind classifies a toast for styling and for migrating the
+// pre-existing flashError / flashTransient / notifyAttention call
+// sites onto the new stack.
+type toastKind int
+
+const (
+	toastInfo toastKind = iota
+	toastError
+	toastAttention
+)
+
+// toast is one entry in the host-level notification stack. Toasts
+// persist until the user dismisses them with Ctrl-N or the
+// "Clear notifications" palette command — there's no auto-expiry.
+type toast struct {
+	id   uint64
+	kind toastKind
+	text string
+}
+
+// toastStackCap caps how many toasts can be visible at once.
+// Older entries drop off the bottom when a new push would exceed it.
+const toastStackCap = 5
+
+// toastBoxMaxWidth bounds the rendered box width so a wide pane
+// doesn't produce huge toasts. Boxes shrink below this when the pane
+// is narrow.
+const toastBoxMaxWidth = 50
+
+// toastBoxMinWidth is the floor below which we refuse to render —
+// any narrower and there's not enough room for borders + content.
+const toastBoxMinWidth = 20
+
+// toastStack owns the ordered list of live toasts. Oldest at
+// index 0, newest (visually topmost) at the end. The stack's own
+// mutex is intentionally separate from uiState.mu so push / dismiss
+// can be called from any goroutine without participating in the
+// host's bigger lock-ordering rules.
+type toastStack struct {
+	mu    sync.Mutex
+	items []toast
+	next  uint64
+}
+
+func (s *toastStack) push(kind toastKind, text string) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	s.next++
+	s.items = append(s.items, toast{id: s.next, kind: kind, text: text})
+	if len(s.items) > toastStackCap {
+		s.items = s.items[len(s.items)-toastStackCap:]
+	}
+}
+
+// dismissTop pops the most recent toast (the one rendered at the
+// top of the stack). Returns true if something was removed so
+// callers can decide whether to repaint.
+func (s *toastStack) dismissTop() bool {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(s.items) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	s.items = s.items[:len(s.items)-1]
+	return true
+}
+
+func (s *toastStack) clear() bool {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(s.items) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	s.items = s.items[:0]
+	return true
+}
+
+func (s *toastStack) snapshot() []toast {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(s.items) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]toast, len(s.items))
+	copy(out, s.items)
+	return out
+}
+
+func (s *toastStack) length() int {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	return len(s.items)
+}
+
+// notifyToast is the single entry point that the former flash
+// helpers now delegate to. It pushes onto the stack and triggers a
+// repaint of the focused surface so the new toast appears
+// immediately; the repaint path also re-renders the stack on top.
+func (st *uiState) notifyToast(kind toastKind, text string) {
+	st.toasts.push(kind, text)
+	st.refreshToastSurface()
+}
+
+// refreshToastSurface re-renders whatever surface the toasts are
+// drawn over (focused child, focused pad, or the empty-state
+// canvas). Each of those paths calls renderToasts at the end, so
+// the toast layer is always reapplied on top of a freshly-drawn
+// pane. Centralised so push / dismiss / clear share one code path.
+func (st *uiState) refreshToastSurface() {
+	st.mu.Lock()
+	focusedPad := st.focusedPad
+	focusedID := st.focusedID
+	palOpen := st.palette != nil
+	st.mu.Unlock()
+	if palOpen {
+		// Palette owns the whole screen while it's open; toasts will
+		// repaint via closePalette's restore path.
+		return
+	}
+	switch {
+	case focusedPad != "":
+		st.repaintFocusedPad()
+	case focusedID != "":
+		st.repaintFocused()
+	default:
+		st.renderEmptyState()
+	}
+}
+
+// renderToasts draws the toast stack over the top-right of the
+// focused pane. Called from repaintFocused / repaintFocusedPad /
+// renderEmptyState after they finish so toasts always sit on top of
+// freshly-redrawn pane content. Safe to call when the stack is
+// empty (no-op).
+func (st *uiState) renderToasts() {
+	items := st.toasts.snapshot()
+	if len(items) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	st.mu.Lock()
+	palOpen := st.palette != nil
+	st.mu.Unlock()
+	if palOpen {
+		return
+	}
+	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
+	paneCols := int(layout.childCols())
+	paneRows := int(layout.childRows())
+	if paneCols < toastBoxMinWidth+2 || paneRows < 3 {
+		return
+	}
+	boxWidth := toastBoxMaxWidth
+	if max := paneCols - 4; max < boxWidth {
+		boxWidth = max
+	}
+	if boxWidth < toastBoxMinWidth {
+		return
+	}
+	contentWidth := boxWidth - 4 // 2 border cells + 2 inner padding
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("\x1b7\x1b[?25l")
+
+	row := int(layout.mainTop) + 1
+	col := int(layout.mainLeft) + paneCols - boxWidth - 1
+	if col < int(layout.mainLeft) {
+		col = int(layout.mainLeft)
+	}
+
+	// Render newest first (visually on top), iterating items in
+	// reverse so the most recent push lands at the smallest row.
+	for idx := len(items) - 1; idx >= 0; idx-- {
+		t := items[idx]
+		isTopmost := idx == len(items)-1
+		hintLine := ""
+		if isTopmost && len(items) > 1 {
+			hintLine = fmt.Sprintf("Ctrl-N · %d more", len(items)-1)
+		}
+		height := 3
+		if hintLine != "" {
+			height++
+		}
+		// Stop if we'd run off the bottom of the pane.
+		if row+height > int(layout.mainTop)+paneRows {
+			break
+		}
+		border := toastBorderStyle(t.kind)
+
+		// Top border.
+		moveTo(&b, row, col)
+		b.WriteString(border)
+		b.WriteString("╭")
+		b.WriteString(strings.Repeat("─", boxWidth-2))
+		b.WriteString("╮")
+		b.WriteString(styleReset)
+		row++
+
+		// Content row.
+		moveTo(&b, row, col)
+		b.WriteString(border)
+		b.WriteString("│")
+		b.WriteString(styleReset)
+		b.WriteString(" ")
+		b.WriteString(toastIcon(t.kind))
+		body := t.text
+		bodyRoom := contentWidth - 2 // icon + space
+		if visibleLen(body) > bodyRoom {
+			body = clipRunes(body, bodyRoom-1) + "…"
+		}
+		b.WriteString(body)
+		b.WriteString(strings.Repeat(" ", max(0, bodyRoom-visibleLen(body))))
+		b.WriteString(" ")
+		b.WriteString(border)
+		b.WriteString("│")
+		b.WriteString(styleReset)
+		row++
+
+		// Hint row (topmost only, when stack has more than one).
+		if hintLine != "" {
+			if visibleLen(hintLine) > contentWidth {
+				hintLine = clipRunes(hintLine, contentWidth-1) + "…"
+			}
+			moveTo(&b, row, col)
+			b.WriteString(border)
+			b.WriteString("│")
+			b.WriteString(styleReset)
+			b.WriteString(" ")
+			b.WriteString(styleHint)
+			b.WriteString(hintLine)
+			b.WriteString(styleReset)
+			b.WriteString(strings.Repeat(" ", max(0, contentWidth-visibleLen(hintLine))))
+			b.WriteString(" ")
+			b.WriteString(border)
+			b.WriteString("│")
+			b.WriteString(styleReset)
+			row++
+		}
+
+		// Bottom border.
+		moveTo(&b, row, col)
+		b.WriteString(border)
+		b.WriteString("╰")
+		b.WriteString(strings.Repeat("─", boxWidth-2))
+		b.WriteString("╯")
+		b.WriteString(styleReset)
+		row++
+
+		// 1-row gap between stacked toasts.
+		row++
+	}
+
+	b.WriteString("\x1b[?25h\x1b8")
+
+	st.outMu.Lock()
+	defer st.outMu.Unlock()
+	_, _ = os.Stdout.WriteString(b.String())
+}
+
+func toastBorderStyle(kind toastKind) string {
+	switch kind {
+	case toastError:
+		return styleError
+	case toastAttention:
+		return styleAccent
+	default:
+		return styleBorder
+	}
+}
+
+func toastIcon(kind toastKind) string {
+	switch kind {
+	case toastError:
+		return styleError + "✗ " + styleReset
+	case toastAttention:
+		return styleAccent + "! " + styleReset
+	default:
+		return styleHint + "• " + styleReset
+	}
+}

internal/app/toast_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package app
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestToastStackPushAndOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	var s toastStack
+	s.push(toastInfo, "one")
+	s.push(toastError, "two")
+	s.push(toastAttention, "three")
+
+	snap := s.snapshot()
+	if len(snap) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("snapshot len = %d, want 3", len(snap))
+	}
+	if snap[0].text != "one" || snap[1].text != "two" || snap[2].text != "three" {
+		t.Fatalf("snapshot order wrong: %#v", snap)
+	}
+	if snap[0].kind != toastInfo || snap[1].kind != toastError || snap[2].kind != toastAttention {
+		t.Fatalf("snapshot kinds wrong: %#v", snap)
+	}
+	// IDs strictly increase.
+	if !(snap[0].id < snap[1].id && snap[1].id < snap[2].id) {
+		t.Fatalf("ids not increasing: %#v", snap)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToastStackCapDropsOldest(t *testing.T) {
+	var s toastStack
+	for i := 0; i < toastStackCap+3; i++ {
+		s.push(toastInfo, "msg")
+	}
+	snap := s.snapshot()
+	if len(snap) != toastStackCap {
+		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want %d", len(snap), toastStackCap)
+	}
+	// The earliest IDs should have been dropped, leaving the highest
+	// toastStackCap IDs.
+	for i := 1; i < len(snap); i++ {
+		if snap[i].id <= snap[i-1].id {
+			t.Fatalf("ordering broken after cap: %#v", snap)
+		}
+	}
+	// First retained id should be 4 (1,2,3 dropped; cap=5 leaves 4..8).
+	want := uint64(toastStackCap + 3 - toastStackCap + 1)
+	if snap[0].id != want {
+		t.Fatalf("first retained id = %d, want %d", snap[0].id, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToastStackDismissTop(t *testing.T) {
+	var s toastStack
+	if s.dismissTop() {
+		t.Fatalf("dismissTop on empty stack returned true")
+	}
+	s.push(toastInfo, "a")
+	s.push(toastError, "b")
+	if !s.dismissTop() {
+		t.Fatalf("dismissTop returned false with items present")
+	}
+	snap := s.snapshot()
+	if len(snap) != 1 || snap[0].text != "a" {
+		t.Fatalf("after dismissTop: %#v", snap)
+	}
+	if !s.dismissTop() {
+		t.Fatalf("dismissTop on last item returned false")
+	}
+	if s.length() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("length after final dismiss = %d, want 0", s.length())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToastStackClear(t *testing.T) {
+	var s toastStack
+	if s.clear() {
+		t.Fatalf("clear on empty returned true")
+	}
+	s.push(toastInfo, "a")
+	s.push(toastError, "b")
+	s.push(toastAttention, "c")
+	if !s.clear() {
+		t.Fatalf("clear returned false with items present")
+	}
+	if s.length() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("length after clear = %d, want 0", s.length())
+	}
+	if snap := s.snapshot(); snap != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("snapshot after clear = %#v, want nil", snap)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToastStackSnapshotIsCopy(t *testing.T) {
+	var s toastStack
+	s.push(toastInfo, "a")
+	snap := s.snapshot()
+	snap[0].text = "mutated"
+	again := s.snapshot()
+	if again[0].text != "a" {
+		t.Fatalf("snapshot is not an independent copy: %#v", again)
+	}
+}

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") {
+	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 7: got %q", got)
+		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),
+	// 3 viewport rows, but the cursor row uses ECH at cursor (col 1),
-	// so we expect 4 erases of 11 cells each.
+	// so we expect 3 erases of 11 cells each.
 	count := strings.Count(got, "\x1b[11X")
-	if count != 4 {
+	if count != 3 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected 4 ECH-11 sequences, got %d in %q", count, got)
+		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).
+	// CUP to row 34 then CNL by 50 → safe step is 2 (childRows-34).
-	got := string(vr.Render([]byte("\x1b[35;10H\x1b[50E")))
+	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)
 	}
 }
 

internal/harness/scenarios/error_flash_preserves_focused_pane.json

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+  "name": "error_flash_preserves_focused_pane",
+  "presets": {
+    "processes": [
+      {
+        "name": "steady",
+        "argv": ["sh", "-lc", "printf 'STEADY READY\\n'; sleep 5"]
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "trust": ["steady"],
+  "steps": [
+    {
+      "type": "mcp_call",
+      "method": "spawn_process",
+      "params": {"kind": "command", "preset": "steady", "name": "steady"},
+      "save_as": "proc"
+    },
+    { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "STEADY READY", "timeout_ms": 5000 },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-k" },
+    { "type": "send_text", "text": "Open Settings" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "enter" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "enter" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "enter" },
+    { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "no active top-level agent to summarize", "timeout_ms": 5000 },
+    { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "STEADY READY", "timeout_ms": 5000 },
+    { "type": "assert_contains", "contains": "STEADY READY" },
+    { "type": "assert_not_contains", "contains": "Press Ctrl-K to spawn an agent or process" }
+  ]
+}

internal/harness/scenarios/rename_process_via_palette.json

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-k" },
     { "type": "send_text", "text": "Rename process" },
     { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "enter" },
-    { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "Rename process", "timeout_ms": 3000 },
+    { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "process: original", "timeout_ms": 3000 },
     { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-u" },
     { "type": "send_text", "text": "renamed-pane" },
     { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "enter" },

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" },

internal/harness/scenarios/toast_dismiss.json

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+{
+  "name": "toast_dismiss",
+  "presets": {
+    "processes": [
+      {
+        "name": "steady",
+        "argv": ["sh", "-lc", "printf 'STEADY READY\\n'; sleep 30"]
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "trust": ["steady"],
+  "steps": [
+    {
+      "type": "mcp_call",
+      "method": "spawn_process",
+      "params": {"kind": "command", "preset": "steady", "name": "steady"},
+      "save_as": "proc"
+    },
+    { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "STEADY READY", "timeout_ms": 5000 },
+    {
+      "type": "mcp_call",
+      "method": "request_human_attention",
+      "params": {"process_id": "{{proc.process_id}}", "reason": "needs eyes on the deploy"}
+    },
+    { "type": "wait_text", "contains": "needs eyes on the deploy", "timeout_ms": 5000 },
+    { "type": "assert_contains", "contains": "STEADY READY" },
+    { "type": "send_chord", "chord": "ctrl-n" },
+    { "type": "wait_stable", "timeout_ms": 2000 },
+    { "type": "assert_contains", "contains": "STEADY READY" },
+    { "type": "assert_not_contains", "contains": "needs eyes on the deploy" }
+  ]
+}

internal/mcp/protocol.go

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ var serverInfo = map[string]any{
 //     up as sub-agents and won't be tied into the patterm lifecycle.
 //
 // Keep this short — clients vary in how much they surface to the LLM.
-const serverInstructions = "You are already running INSIDE patterm; the `patterm` MCP server is connected over the same stdio MCP transport you use for any other MCP server. Use the MCP tools you see in tools/list — do NOT (a) try to launch `patterm` or `patterm mcp-stdio` yourself, (b) poke the Unix socket through perl / nc / socat / curl, or (c) shell out to `claude` / `codex` / `opencode` to start a peer. Any of those bypasses caller-identity and the new agent will land as a stray top-level tab instead of a child under you. Start with `whoami` for your role and the full tool list, then `help('topics')` for orientation. `spawn_agent` is the only correct way to start a sub-agent; `spawn_process` is for non-LLM commands; `list_processes` / `get_process_output` inspect them; `send_input` / `send_message` drive them. Whatever you spawn is yours to `close_process` when done."
+const serverInstructions = "You are already running INSIDE patterm; the `patterm` MCP server is connected over the same stdio MCP transport you use for any other MCP server. Use the MCP tools you see in tools/list — do NOT (a) try to launch `patterm` or `patterm mcp-stdio` yourself, (b) poke the Unix socket through perl / nc / socat / curl, or (c) shell out to `claude` / `codex` / `opencode` to start a peer. Any of those bypasses caller-identity and the new agent will land as a stray top-level tab instead of a child under you. Start with `whoami` for your role and the full tool list, then `help('topics')` for orientation. `spawn_agent` is the only correct way to start a sub-agent; `spawn_process` is for non-LLM commands; `list_processes` / `get_process_output` inspect them; `send_input` / `send_message` drive them. Whatever you spawn is yours to `close_process` when done. When you `send_message` a sub-agent, its reply comes back into YOUR pane as `[sub-agent:<name>] …`, not into the sub-agent's output — to wait for it, use `timer_fire_when_idle_any([sub_agent])` and then read your own pane; do NOT `wait_for_pattern` on the sub-agent, that will deadlock until timeout."
 
 // toolDescriptor is the shape returned by `tools/list`. inputSchema is
 // a JSON Schema object — we provide a minimal `{type: "object"}` schema
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ func toolCatalog() []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "wait_for_pattern",
-			Description: "Block until pattern appears in process output or timeout elapses.",
+			Description: "Block until pattern appears in the TARGET process's own output, or timeout elapses. Use this for waiting on text the target itself will emit (a shell prompt, a build's \"tests passed\" line, etc.). Anti-pattern: do NOT use this to wait for a sub-agent's reply to send_message — replies are routed into the CALLER's pane tagged `[sub-agent:<name>]`, not into the sub-agent's output, so this call will spin to timeout. For sub-agent coordination use `timer_fire_when_idle_any` and then read your own pane.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"process_id":      stringProp("Target process id."),
 				"pattern":         stringProp("Regex pattern."),
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func toolCatalog() []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "send_message",
-			Description: "Deliver a text message to another process as orchestrator-owned input.",
+			Description: "Deliver a text message to another process as orchestrator-owned input. Fire-and-forget: returns immediately, without waiting for the recipient to read or act. If the recipient replies via send_message, that reply arrives in YOUR pane tagged `[sub-agent:<name>]` (child→parent) or `[orchestrator]` (parent→child) — NOT in the recipient's output. To wait for a sub-agent's reply, schedule `timer_fire_when_idle_any([sub_agent_id], body=…)` and then read your own pane when the timer fires. Do not `wait_for_pattern` on the recipient for a reply; it will deadlock.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"target_process_id": stringProp("Recipient process id."),
 				"message":           stringProp("Message body."),
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func toolCatalog() []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "timer_fire_when_idle_any",
-			Description: "Schedule a timer that fires when any watched process enters idle (already-idle entries excluded), or when max_wait_seconds elapses.",
+			Description: "Canonical way to wait for a sub-agent to finish working: send_message the sub-agent, then schedule this with watched=[sub_agent_id]; when it fires, the reply is already sitting in your own pane tagged `[sub-agent:<name>]`. Schedules a timer that fires when any watched process enters idle (already-idle entries excluded), or when max_wait_seconds elapses.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"watched":          arrayOfStringsProp("Process ids to watch."),
 				"body":             stringProp("Message delivered verbatim to the owning agent when the timer fires."),
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ func toolCatalog() []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "timer_fire_when_idle_all",
-			Description: "Schedule a timer that fires when all watched processes are idle (already-idle entries count as satisfied), or when max_wait_seconds elapses.",
+			Description: "Canonical way to wait for several sub-agents to finish working in parallel: send_message each one, then schedule this with watched=[…ids]; when it fires, each reply is in your own pane tagged `[sub-agent:<name>]`. Schedules a timer that fires when all watched processes are idle (already-idle entries count as satisfied), or when max_wait_seconds elapses.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"watched":          arrayOfStringsProp("Process ids to watch."),
 				"body":             stringProp("Message delivered verbatim to the owning agent when the timer fires."),