Update PTY start call sites

Scaffold loopback daemon client split
Add daemon client protocol frames
2026-05-27 13:21:18 +01:00 · 2026-05-27 13:19:56 +01:00 · 2026-05-27 13:19:42 +01:00 · 2026-05-27 13:19:35 +01:00
31 changed files with 1050 additions and 963 deletions
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,14 +13,9 @@ loosely follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 ### Changed
 - The tab bar now shows each visible agent tab's own summary instead
  of only rendering the focused tab's summary.
- `get_process_output` now returns aggressively canonical terminal text
-  by default, removing ANSI/control noise, decorative borders, duplicate
-  status churn, and volatile progress/timer fragments; raw PTY bytes are
-  opt-in with `raw:true`.
- MCP responses now use slimmer defaults: tool-call JSON is no longer
-  duplicated into text content, large output and scratchpad reads are
-  capped with truncation metadata, and `whoami` / `get_project_status`
-  only include full tool lists when `include_tools` is requested.
+- Grid-mode `get_process_output` now returns whitespace-normalized
+  text to avoid sending padded terminal rows and repeated blank lines
+  over MCP.

 ### Fixed
 - Injected agent input now sends the submit Enter as a separated,
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
- [ ] Pasting into codex is no longer clean, it sends loads of messages rather than one clean paste.
--- a/cmd/spike/main.go
+++ b/cmd/spike/main.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func run(argv []string, cols, rows uint16, idleMS int, followHost, stdinPassthro
 	}
 	defer em.Close()

-	child, err := pty.Start(argv, nil, cols, rows)
+	child, err := pty.Start(argv, nil, "", cols, rows)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("pty: %w", err)
 	}
--- a/internal/app/app.go
+++ b/internal/app/app.go
@@ -161,16 +161,37 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 	// ctx is cancelled.
 	go sess.runClassifier(ctx)

-	st := &uiState{
-		sess:         sess,
+	core := &headlessCore{
+		projectDir:   opts.ProjectDir,
+		projectKey:   opts.ProjectKey,
 		presets:      presets,
-		launcher:     launcher,
+		settings:     appSettings,
 		pads:         pads,
-		chromeWake:   make(chan struct{}, 1),
-		trust:        trustStore,
-		timers:       host.timers,
-		hostCols:     cols,
-		hostRows:     rows,
+		trustStore:   trustStore,
+		persistStore: persistStore,
+		mcpSrv:       mcpSrv,
+		sess:         sess,
+		launcher:     launcher,
+		host:         host,
+	}
+	_ = core
+
+	st := &uiState{
+		sess:       sess,
+		presets:    presets,
+		launcher:   launcher,
+		pads:       pads,
+		chromeWake: make(chan struct{}, 1),
+		trust:      trustStore,
+		timers:     host.timers,
+		hostCols:   cols,
+		hostRows:   rows,
+		view: ClientView{
+			ID:         "loopback",
+			ProjectKey: opts.ProjectKey,
+			Cols:       cols,
+			Rows:       rows,
+		},
 		stdinTTY:     term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdin.Fd())),
 		metrics:      metrics,
 		settings:     appSettings,
@@ -252,6 +273,7 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, opts Options) error {
 			}
 			st.dimsMu.Lock()
 			st.hostCols, st.hostRows = c, r
+			st.view.Resize(c, r)
 			l := st.layoutLocked()
 			st.dimsMu.Unlock()
 			st.mu.Lock()
@@ -408,6 +430,7 @@ type uiState struct {
 	outMu sync.Mutex

 	mu          sync.Mutex
+	view        ClientView
 	palette     *paletteState
 	focusedID   string
 	focusedName string
@@ -574,6 +597,21 @@ func (st *uiState) promptTrust(processID, presetName, reason string) {
 	st.drawStatusLine()
 }

+func (st *uiState) focusChildLocked(c *Child) {
+	st.focusedPad = ""
+	st.focusedID = c.ID
+	st.focusedName = c.DisplayName()
+	st.view.FocusChild(c.ID)
+}
+
+func (st *uiState) focusPadLocked(name string) {
+	st.view.FocusPad(name)
+	st.focusedPad = st.view.FocusedPad
+	st.focusedID = st.view.FocusedID
+	st.padOffset = st.view.PadOffset
+	st.padOffsetName = st.view.PadOffsetName
+}
+
 // focusProcess is the SPEC §7 select_process hook. Routes through the
 // normal focus-change path; only takes effect if the process exists.
 func (st *uiState) focusProcess(processID string) {
@@ -586,9 +624,7 @@ func (st *uiState) focusProcess(processID string) {
 	onAlt := childIsOnAlt(c)
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	leavingPad := st.focusedPad != ""
-	st.focusedPad = ""
-	st.focusedID = c.ID
-	st.focusedName = c.DisplayName()
+	st.focusChildLocked(c)
 	st.updateActiveAgentLocked(c)
 	r := newViewportRenderer(layout)
 	r.SetChildOnAlt(onAlt)
@@ -651,12 +687,7 @@ func (st *uiState) focusScratchpad(name string) {
 	}
 	st.marquee.reset()
 	st.mu.Lock()
-	if st.padOffsetName != name {
-		st.padOffset = 0
-		st.padOffsetName = name
-	}
-	st.focusedPad = name
-	st.focusedID = ""
+	st.focusPadLocked(name)
 	st.focusedName = name
 	st.renderer = nil
 	st.mu.Unlock()
@@ -711,8 +742,7 @@ func (st *uiState) restartFocusedCommand(processID string) {
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 	renderer := newViewportRenderer(layout)
 	st.mu.Lock()
-	st.focusedID = c.ID
-	st.focusedName = c.DisplayName()
+	st.focusChildLocked(c)
 	st.renderer = renderer
 	st.repaintNextPTY = c.ID
 	st.repaintNextPTYBudget = 2
@@ -747,6 +777,7 @@ func (st *uiState) updateActiveAgentLocked(c *Child) {
 	}
 	if c.ParentID == "" {
 		st.activeAgentID = c.ID
+		st.view.ActiveAgentID = c.ID
 		return
 	}
 	// Walk up to the top-level agent.
@@ -760,6 +791,7 @@ func (st *uiState) updateActiveAgentLocked(c *Child) {
 	}
 	if root.Kind == KindAgent && root.ParentID == "" {
 		st.activeAgentID = root.ID
+		st.view.ActiveAgentID = root.ID
 	}
 }

@@ -822,9 +854,7 @@ func (st *uiState) OnChildSpawned(c *Child) {
 	layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 	onAlt := childIsOnAlt(c)
 	st.mu.Lock()
-	st.focusedPad = ""
-	st.focusedID = c.ID
-	st.focusedName = c.DisplayName()
+	st.focusChildLocked(c)
 	st.updateActiveAgentLocked(c)
 	renderer := newViewportRenderer(layout)
 	renderer.SetChildOnAlt(onAlt)
@@ -899,10 +929,10 @@ func (st *uiState) OnChildExited(c *Child) {
 		if next == nil {
 			st.focusedID = ""
 			st.focusedName = ""
+			st.view.FocusedID = ""
 			renderEmpty = true
 		} else {
-			st.focusedID = next.ID
-			st.focusedName = next.DisplayName()
+			st.focusChildLocked(next)
 			st.updateActiveAgentLocked(next)
 			st.renderer = newViewportRenderer(layout)
 		}
@@ -911,6 +941,7 @@ func (st *uiState) OnChildExited(c *Child) {
 		// The active agent died; pin the agent tree to whatever agent
 		// root is still running, or clear it if none remain.
 		st.activeAgentID = firstRunningAgentID(st.sess.Children())
+		st.view.ActiveAgentID = st.activeAgentID
 	}
 	if st.palette != nil {
 		st.palette.children = st.sess.Children()
@@ -1387,7 +1418,10 @@ func (st *uiState) renderEmptyState() {
 func (st *uiState) hostSizeSnapshot() (uint16, uint16) {
 	st.dimsMu.Lock()
 	defer st.dimsMu.Unlock()
-	return st.hostCols, st.hostRows
+	if st.view.Cols == 0 || st.view.Rows == 0 {
+		return st.hostCols, st.hostRows
+	}
+	return st.view.Cols, st.view.Rows
 }

 func (st *uiState) layoutSnapshot() terminalLayout {
@@ -1397,7 +1431,10 @@ func (st *uiState) layoutSnapshot() terminalLayout {
 }

 func (st *uiState) layoutLocked() terminalLayout {
-	return newTerminalLayout(st.hostCols, st.hostRows)
+	if st.view.Cols == 0 || st.view.Rows == 0 {
+		return newTerminalLayout(st.hostCols, st.hostRows)
+	}
+	return newTerminalLayout(st.view.Cols, st.view.Rows)
 }

 // splitOnEnter walks input and returns each Enter byte (CR or LF) as
@@ -2086,9 +2123,7 @@ func (st *uiState) closePalette(action paletteAction) {
 		layout := st.layoutSnapshot()
 		st.mu.Lock()
 		leavingPad := st.focusedPad != ""
-		st.focusedPad = ""
-		st.focusedID = action.childID
-		st.focusedName = c.DisplayName()
+		st.focusChildLocked(c)
 		st.updateActiveAgentLocked(c)
 		st.renderer = newViewportRenderer(layout)
 		st.mu.Unlock()
@@ -2232,13 +2267,8 @@ func (st *uiState) handlePadDelete(name string) {
 		if entries := st.padsList(); len(entries) > 0 {
 			next := entries[0].Name
 			st.mu.Lock()
-			st.focusedPad = next
-			st.focusedID = ""
+			st.focusPadLocked(next)
 			st.focusedName = next
-			if st.padOffsetName != next {
-				st.padOffset = 0
-				st.padOffsetName = next
-			}
 			st.mu.Unlock()
 			st.repaintFocusedWithChrome()
 			return
@@ -2249,9 +2279,12 @@ func (st *uiState) handlePadDelete(name string) {
 		}
 		st.mu.Lock()
 		st.focusedPad = ""
+		st.view.FocusedPad = ""
 		st.focusedName = ""
 		st.padOffset = 0
 		st.padOffsetName = ""
+		st.view.PadOffset = 0
+		st.view.PadOffsetName = ""
 		st.mu.Unlock()
 		st.renderEmptyState()
 		st.drawTabBar()
@@ -2278,7 +2311,7 @@ func (st *uiState) handlePadRename(oldName, newName string) {
 	}
 	st.mu.Lock()
 	if st.focusedPad == oldName {
-		st.focusedPad = newName
+		st.focusPadLocked(newName)
 	}
 	st.mu.Unlock()
 	st.scratchpadsChanged()
@@ -2549,6 +2582,7 @@ func (st *uiState) renderPadView(name, content string, layout terminalLayout) []
 		st.padOffset = 0
 	}
 	offset := st.padOffset
+	st.view.PadOffset = offset
 	st.mu.Unlock()

 	var b strings.Builder
@@ -2606,6 +2640,7 @@ func (st *uiState) exitPadView() {
 		return
 	}
 	st.focusedPad = ""
+	st.view.FocusedPad = ""
 	st.focusedName = ""
 	st.mu.Unlock()
 	st.clearViewportArea()
@@ -2632,6 +2667,7 @@ func (st *uiState) padScroll(delta int) {
 	if st.padOffset < 0 {
 		st.padOffset = 0
 	}
+	st.view.PadOffset = st.padOffset
 	st.mu.Unlock()
 	st.repaintFocusedPad()
 }
--- a/internal/app/canonical.go
+++ b/internal/app/canonical.go
@@ -1,143 +0,0 @@
-package app
-
-import (
-	"regexp"
-	"strings"
-	"unicode"
-	"unicode/utf8"
-)
-
-var (
-	statusVolatileRE = regexp.MustCompile(`\b(?:\d+h\s*)?\d+m\s*\d+s\b|\b\d{1,2}:\d{2}(?::\d{2})?\b|\b\d+(?:\.\d+)?s\b`)
-	counterRE        = regexp.MustCompile(`\b\d+\s*/\s*\d+\b|\b\d{1,3}%`)
-	spinnerGlyphRE   = regexp.MustCompile(`^[\s⠁⠂⠄⡀⢀⠠⠐⠈⠋⠙⠹⠸⠼⠴⠦⠧⠇⠏•·∙◐◓◑◒]+`)
-)
-
-func canonicalizeTerminalText(s string, maxLines int) (string, bool, int) {
-	s = string(stripANSIBytes(nil, []byte(s)))
-	s = strings.ReplaceAll(s, "\r\n", "\n")
-	s = carriageReturnToLines(s)
-	s = strings.ReplaceAll(s, "\r", "\n")
-
-	lines := strings.Split(s, "\n")
-	out := make([]string, 0, len(lines))
-	pendingBlank := false
-	for _, raw := range lines {
-		line := strings.TrimRightFunc(stripControlRunes(raw), unicode.IsSpace)
-		if strings.TrimSpace(line) == "" {
-			if len(out) > 0 {
-				pendingBlank = true
-			}
-			continue
-		}
-		if isBorderOnlyLine(line) {
-			continue
-		}
-		line = canonicalStatusLine(line)
-		if len(out) > 0 && out[len(out)-1] == line {
-			pendingBlank = false
-			continue
-		}
-		if pendingBlank {
-			out = append(out, "")
-			pendingBlank = false
-		}
-		out = append(out, line)
-	}
-
-	if maxLines > 0 && len(out) > maxLines {
-		dropped := strings.Join(out[:len(out)-maxLines], "\n")
-		out = out[len(out)-maxLines:]
-		return strings.Join(out, "\n"), true, len(dropped)
-	}
-	return strings.Join(out, "\n"), false, 0
-}
-
-func carriageReturnToLines(s string) string {
-	var out []string
-	var current strings.Builder
-	flush := func() {
-		out = append(out, current.String())
-		current.Reset()
-	}
-	for len(s) > 0 {
-		r, size := utf8.DecodeRuneInString(s)
-		s = s[size:]
-		switch r {
-		case '\r':
-			current.Reset()
-		case '\n':
-			flush()
-		default:
-			current.WriteRune(r)
-		}
-	}
-	if current.Len() > 0 || len(out) == 0 {
-		flush()
-	}
-	return strings.Join(out, "\n")
-}
-
-func stripControlRunes(s string) string {
-	return strings.Map(func(r rune) rune {
-		if r == '\t' || r == '\n' {
-			return r
-		}
-		if unicode.IsControl(r) {
-			return -1
-		}
-		return r
-	}, s)
-}
-
-func isBorderOnlyLine(s string) bool {
-	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(s)
-	if trimmed == "" {
-		return false
-	}
-	seenBox := false
-	for _, r := range trimmed {
-		if r >= 0x2500 && r <= 0x257f {
-			seenBox = true
-			continue
-		}
-		switch r {
-		case ' ', '\t', '-', '_', '=', '+', '|', ':', '.', '\'', '"', '`', '*':
-			continue
-		default:
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return seenBox
-}
-
-func canonicalStatusLine(s string) string {
-	if !looksStatusLike(s) {
-		return s
-	}
-	leading := len(s) - len(strings.TrimLeftFunc(s, unicode.IsSpace))
-	prefix := s[:leading]
-	body := s[leading:]
-	body = spinnerGlyphRE.ReplaceAllString(body, "")
-	body = statusVolatileRE.ReplaceAllString(body, "[time]")
-	body = counterRE.ReplaceAllString(body, "[count]")
-	return prefix + strings.TrimRightFunc(body, unicode.IsSpace)
-}
-
-func looksStatusLike(s string) bool {
-	lower := strings.ToLower(s)
-	for _, token := range []string{
-		"status", "running", "remaining", "progress", "loading",
-		"building", "installing", "downloading", "waiting", "working",
-	} {
-		if strings.Contains(lower, token) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(s)
-	if trimmed == "" {
-		return false
-	}
-	r, _ := utf8.DecodeRuneInString(trimmed)
-	return strings.ContainsRune("⠁⠂⠄⡀⢀⠠⠐⠈⠋⠙⠹⠸⠼⠴⠦⠧⠇⠏•·∙◐◓◑◒", r)
-}
--- a/internal/app/canonical_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/canonical_test.go
@@ -1,167 +0,0 @@
-package app
-
-import (
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/mcp"
-	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/preset"
-)
-
-func TestCanonicalizeTerminalText(t *testing.T) {
-	cases := []struct {
-		name string
-		in   string
-		want string
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "ansi osc and controls",
-			in:   "\x1b]0;title\x07\x1b[31mred\x1b[0m\x00\nok",
-			want: "red\nok",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "noisy harness stream",
-			in:   "\x1b]0;noise\x07\x1b[31mStatus: running 12s\x1b[0m\nStatus: running 13s\n╭────╮\n│    │\nDownloading 10%\rDownloading 100%\nFINAL: deploy ready\n",
-			want: "Status: running [time]\nDownloading [count]\nFINAL: deploy ready",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "repeated blank collapse",
-			in:   "one\n\n\n two\n \n\t\nthree",
-			want: "one\n\n two\n\nthree",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "border only box drawing removal",
-			in:   "╭────────╮\n│        │\nimportant\n╰────────╯",
-			want: "important",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "carriage return progress coalesces final frame",
-			in:   "Downloading 10%\rDownloading 20%\rDownloading 100%\nDone",
-			want: "Downloading [count]\nDone",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "volatile timer duplicate collapse",
-			in:   "Status: running 12s\nStatus: running 13s\nStatus: running 01:23",
-			want: "Status: running [time]",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "duplicate status row collapse",
-			in:   "⠋ Building 1/4\n⠙ Building 2/4\n⠹ Building 3/4\nready",
-			want: "Building [count]\nready",
-		},
-		{
-			name: "preserve meaningful indented code and tables",
-			in:   "  if elapsed == 12s {\n    return value\n  }\n| name | value |\n| a    | 1     |",
-			want: "  if elapsed == 12s {\n    return value\n  }\n| name | value |\n| a    | 1     |",
-		},
-	}
-	for _, tc := range cases {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			got, truncated, _ := canonicalizeTerminalText(tc.in, 120)
-			if truncated {
-				t.Fatalf("unexpected truncation")
-			}
-			if got != tc.want {
-				t.Fatalf("got %q want %q", got, tc.want)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCanonicalizeTerminalTextMaxLines(t *testing.T) {
-	got, truncated, dropped := canonicalizeTerminalText("one\ntwo\nthree", 2)
-	if !truncated {
-		t.Fatalf("expected truncation")
-	}
-	if dropped == 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected dropped bytes")
-	}
-	if got != "two\nthree" {
-		t.Fatalf("got %q", got)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestGetProcessOutputStreamCanonicalByDefault(t *testing.T) {
-	sess := NewSession(t.TempDir(), "test")
-	c := newChildEntry("p1", "proc", KindCommand, nil, nil, "", "", "")
-	addChild(sess, c)
-	c.recordWrite([]byte("\x1b[31mStatus: running 12s\x1b[0m\nStatus: running 13s\nresult\n"))
-	host := newToolHost(sess, nil, nil, preset.Set{}, nil, 80, 24)
-
-	out, err := host.GetProcessOutput("", mcp.ProcessOutputArgs{ProcessID: c.ID, Mode: "stream"})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if !out.Canonicalized {
-		t.Fatalf("expected canonicalized output")
-	}
-	if out.Content != "Status: running [time]\nresult" {
-		t.Fatalf("content = %q", out.Content)
-	}
-	if out.Cursor != nil || out.Rows != 0 || out.Cols != 0 || out.ScreenVersion != 0 || out.IdleMS != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("default output should be metadata-light: %#v", out)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestGetProcessOutputRawReturnsStreamBytes(t *testing.T) {
-	sess := NewSession(t.TempDir(), "test")
-	c := newChildEntry("p1", "proc", KindCommand, nil, nil, "", "", "")
-	addChild(sess, c)
-	c.recordWrite([]byte("\x1b[31mred\x1b[0m"))
-	host := newToolHost(sess, nil, nil, preset.Set{}, nil, 80, 24)
-
-	out, err := host.GetProcessOutput("", mcp.ProcessOutputArgs{ProcessID: c.ID, Mode: "grid", Raw: true})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if out.Mode != "stream" {
-		t.Fatalf("raw grid mode should report stream semantics, got %q", out.Mode)
-	}
-	if out.Canonicalized {
-		t.Fatalf("raw output should not be canonicalized")
-	}
-	if out.Content != "\x1b[31mred\x1b[0m" {
-		t.Fatalf("content = %q", out.Content)
-	}
-	if out.NewOffset != int64(len(out.Content)) {
-		t.Fatalf("new_offset=%d want %d", out.NewOffset, len(out.Content))
-	}
-}
-
-func TestGetProcessOutputCanonicalAfterRawRead(t *testing.T) {
-	sess := NewSession(t.TempDir(), "test")
-	c := newChildEntry("p1", "proc", KindCommand, nil, nil, "", "", "")
-	addChild(sess, c)
-	c.recordWrite([]byte("\x1b[31mStatus: running 12s\x1b[0m\nStatus: running 13s\nDownloading 10%\rDownloading 100%\nFINAL: deploy ready\n"))
-	host := newToolHost(sess, nil, nil, preset.Set{}, nil, 80, 24)
-
-	if _, err := host.GetProcessOutput("", mcp.ProcessOutputArgs{ProcessID: c.ID, Mode: "stream", Raw: true}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	out, err := host.GetProcessOutput("", mcp.ProcessOutputArgs{ProcessID: c.ID, Mode: "stream", MaxLines: 20})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if out.Content != "Status: running [time]\nDownloading [count]\nFINAL: deploy ready" {
-		t.Fatalf("content = %q", out.Content)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestGetProcessOutputIncludeMetaRestoresFields(t *testing.T) {
-	sess := NewSession(t.TempDir(), "test")
-	c := newChildEntry("p1", "proc", KindCommand, nil, nil, "", "", "")
-	addChild(sess, c)
-	c.recordWrite([]byte("ok"))
-	host := newToolHost(sess, nil, nil, preset.Set{}, nil, 80, 24)
-
-	out, err := host.GetProcessOutput("", mcp.ProcessOutputArgs{ProcessID: c.ID, Mode: "stream", IncludeMeta: true})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if out.ScreenVersion == 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("screen_version missing with include_meta: %#v", out)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out.Content, "ok") {
-		t.Fatalf("content = %q", out.Content)
-	}
-}
--- a/internal/app/child.go
+++ b/internal/app/child.go
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func (c *Child) startPTY(cols, rows uint16) (uint64, error) {
 	}
 	starting := StatusStarting
 	c.status.Store(&starting)
-	p, err := pkgpty.Start(c.Argv, c.Env, cols, rows)
+	p, err := pkgpty.Start(c.Argv, c.Env, c.WorkDir, cols, rows)
 	if err != nil {
 		em.Close()
 		errored := StatusErrored
@@ -532,12 +532,6 @@ func (c *Child) StreamRead(since int64) ([]byte, int64) {
 	return out, end
 }

-func (c *Child) StreamOffset() int64 {
-	c.ringMu.Lock()
-	defer c.ringMu.Unlock()
-	return c.ringWrites
-}
-
 func (c *Child) signal(sig syscall.Signal) error {
 	pty := c.PTY()
 	if pty == nil {
--- a/internal/app/chrome_model.go
+++ b/internal/app/chrome_model.go
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+package app
+
+import "github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/scratchpad"
+
+// chromeModel is the semantic host chrome state. Renderers continue to own
+// ANSI output; this model is the serializable shape a client can draw locally.
+type chromeModel struct {
+	ProjectKey    string            `json:"project_key"`
+	FocusedID     string            `json:"focused_id,omitempty"`
+	FocusedPad    string            `json:"focused_pad,omitempty"`
+	ActiveAgentID string            `json:"active_agent_id,omitempty"`
+	Tabs          []childModel      `json:"tabs"`
+	Processes     []childModel      `json:"processes"`
+	AgentTree     []childModel      `json:"agent_tree"`
+	Sidebar       []navEntryModel   `json:"sidebar"`
+	Scratchpads   []scratchpadModel `json:"scratchpads"`
+}
+
+type childModel struct {
+	ID       string `json:"id"`
+	Name     string `json:"name"`
+	Kind     string `json:"kind"`
+	ParentID string `json:"parent_id,omitempty"`
+	Status   string `json:"status"`
+	Owner    string `json:"owner"`
+}
+
+type navEntryModel struct {
+	ChildID string `json:"child_id,omitempty"`
+	Pad     string `json:"pad,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type scratchpadModel struct {
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+func buildChromeModel(projectKey string, view ClientView, children []*Child, pads []scratchpad.Entry) chromeModel {
+	active := view.ActiveAgentID
+	if active == "" {
+		active = activeRootID(children, view.FocusedID)
+	}
+	model := chromeModel{
+		ProjectKey:    projectKey,
+		FocusedID:     view.FocusedID,
+		FocusedPad:    view.FocusedPad,
+		ActiveAgentID: active,
+	}
+	for _, c := range runningTopLevels(children) {
+		model.Tabs = append(model.Tabs, serializeChildModel(c))
+	}
+	for _, c := range processList(children) {
+		model.Processes = append(model.Processes, serializeChildModel(c))
+	}
+	for _, c := range visibleAgentTree(children, active) {
+		model.AgentTree = append(model.AgentTree, serializeChildModel(c))
+	}
+	for _, n := range sidebarNav(children, active, pads) {
+		model.Sidebar = append(model.Sidebar, navEntryModel{ChildID: n.childID, Pad: n.pad})
+	}
+	for _, p := range pads {
+		model.Scratchpads = append(model.Scratchpads, scratchpadModel{Name: p.Name})
+	}
+	return model
+}
+
+func serializeChildModel(c *Child) childModel {
+	if c == nil {
+		return childModel{}
+	}
+	return childModel{
+		ID:       c.ID,
+		Name:     c.DisplayName(),
+		Kind:     string(c.Kind),
+		ParentID: c.ParentID,
+		Status:   string(c.Status()),
+		Owner:    string(c.Owner()),
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/app/chrome_model_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/chrome_model_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package app
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestBuildChromeModelSeparatesProcessesTabsAndSidebar(t *testing.T) {
+	running := StatusRunning
+	proc := testProcess("p1", "server", running)
+	agent := testAgent("a1", "codex", "", running)
+	sub := testAgent("a2", "worker", "a1", running)
+
+	model := buildChromeModel("project", ClientView{FocusedID: "p1", ActiveAgentID: "a1"}, []*Child{proc, agent, sub}, nil)
+	if len(model.Tabs) != 1 || model.Tabs[0].ID != "a1" {
+		t.Fatalf("tabs = %#v, want only top-level agent", model.Tabs)
+	}
+	if len(model.Processes) != 1 || model.Processes[0].ID != "p1" {
+		t.Fatalf("processes = %#v, want process section", model.Processes)
+	}
+	if len(model.AgentTree) != 2 || model.AgentTree[0].ID != "a1" || model.AgentTree[1].ID != "a2" {
+		t.Fatalf("agent tree = %#v", model.AgentTree)
+	}
+	if len(model.Sidebar) != 3 || model.Sidebar[0].ChildID != "p1" || model.Sidebar[1].ChildID != "a1" {
+		t.Fatalf("sidebar = %#v", model.Sidebar)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/app/client_subscriber.go
+++ b/internal/app/client_subscriber.go
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/protocol"
+)
+
+const defaultClientSubscriberQueue = 256
+
+// clientSubscriber is the daemon-to-client event bridge. Unlike daemon-local
+// listeners such as timers, debug capture, and waiters, it never blocks the PTY
+// pump: PTY chunks are copied before enqueue, and overflow marks the pane as
+// needing a fresh snapshot.
+type clientSubscriber struct {
+	projectKey string
+	frames     chan protocol.Frame
+
+	mu               sync.Mutex
+	snapshotRequired map[string]bool
+	lifecycleDirty   bool
+}
+
+func newClientSubscriber(projectKey string, size int) *clientSubscriber {
+	if size <= 0 {
+		size = defaultClientSubscriberQueue
+	}
+	return &clientSubscriber{
+		projectKey:       projectKey,
+		frames:           make(chan protocol.Frame, size),
+		snapshotRequired: make(map[string]bool),
+		lifecycleDirty:   false,
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) Recv() (protocol.Frame, bool) {
+	f, ok := <-s.frames
+	return f, ok
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) SnapshotRequired(childID string) bool {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	return s.snapshotRequired[childID]
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) OnChildSpawned(c *Child) {
+	s.sendLifecycle(protocol.LifecycleSpawned, c, "")
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) OnChildExited(c *Child) {
+	s.sendLifecycle(protocol.LifecycleExited, c, "")
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) OnChildClosed(id string) {
+	s.sendFrame(protocol.Frame{Type: protocol.FrameLifecycle, Payload: mustJSON(protocol.Lifecycle{
+		Kind:       protocol.LifecycleClosed,
+		ProjectKey: s.projectKey,
+		ChildID:    id,
+	})})
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) OnChildStateChanged(id string, state IdleState) {
+	s.sendFrame(protocol.Frame{Type: protocol.FrameLifecycle, Payload: mustJSON(protocol.Lifecycle{
+		Kind:       protocol.LifecycleStateChanged,
+		ProjectKey: s.projectKey,
+		ChildID:    id,
+		State:      string(state),
+	})})
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) OnPTYOut(childID string, chunk []byte) {
+	cp := append([]byte(nil), chunk...)
+	f, err := protocol.NewFrame(protocol.FramePaneChunk, protocol.PaneChunk{PaneID: childID, Bytes: cp})
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	select {
+	case s.frames <- f:
+	default:
+		s.mu.Lock()
+		s.snapshotRequired[childID] = true
+		s.mu.Unlock()
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) sendLifecycle(kind protocol.LifecycleKind, c *Child, state string) {
+	var child json.RawMessage
+	if c != nil {
+		child = mustJSON(serializeChildModel(c))
+	}
+	childID := ""
+	if c != nil {
+		childID = c.ID
+	}
+	s.sendFrame(protocol.Frame{Type: protocol.FrameLifecycle, Payload: mustJSON(protocol.Lifecycle{
+		Kind:       kind,
+		ProjectKey: s.projectKey,
+		ChildID:    childID,
+		Child:      child,
+		State:      state,
+	})})
+}
+
+func (s *clientSubscriber) sendFrame(f protocol.Frame) {
+	select {
+	case s.frames <- f:
+	default:
+		s.mu.Lock()
+		s.lifecycleDirty = true
+		s.mu.Unlock()
+	}
+}
+
+func mustJSON(v any) json.RawMessage {
+	b, err := json.Marshal(v)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return b
+}
--- a/internal/app/client_subscriber_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/client_subscriber_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/protocol"
+)
+
+func TestClientSubscriberCopiesChunksAndMarksSnapshotOnOverflow(t *testing.T) {
+	sub := newClientSubscriber("project", 1)
+	chunk := []byte("first")
+	sub.OnPTYOut("p_123456", chunk)
+	chunk[0] = 'X'
+
+	f, ok := sub.Recv()
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("Recv closed")
+	}
+	payload, err := protocol.Decode[protocol.PaneChunk](f)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Decode: %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(payload.Bytes) != "first" {
+		t.Fatalf("payload retained pump buffer: %q", string(payload.Bytes))
+	}
+
+	sub.OnPTYOut("p_123456", []byte("queued"))
+	sub.OnPTYOut("p_123456", []byte("dropped"))
+	if !sub.SnapshotRequired("p_123456") {
+		t.Fatalf("overflow did not mark pane snapshot required")
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/app/client_view.go
+++ b/internal/app/client_view.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package app
+
+// ClientView is the per-client UI cursor over daemon-owned project/process
+// state. In loopback mode there is one view, owned by uiState; future network
+// clients will each get their own copy.
+type ClientView struct {
+	ID            string
+	ProjectKey    string
+	FocusedID     string
+	FocusedPad    string
+	ActiveAgentID string
+	PadOffset     int
+	PadOffsetName string
+	Cols          uint16
+	Rows          uint16
+}
+
+func (v *ClientView) FocusChild(id string) {
+	v.FocusedID = id
+	v.FocusedPad = ""
+}
+
+func (v *ClientView) FocusPad(name string) {
+	v.FocusedID = ""
+	v.FocusedPad = name
+	if v.PadOffsetName != name {
+		v.PadOffset = 0
+		v.PadOffsetName = name
+	}
+}
+
+func (v *ClientView) ClearPadFocus() {
+	v.FocusedPad = ""
+}
+
+func (v *ClientView) Resize(cols, rows uint16) {
+	v.Cols = cols
+	v.Rows = rows
+}
--- a/internal/app/daemon_core.go
+++ b/internal/app/daemon_core.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/mcp"
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/persist"
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/preset"
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/scratchpad"
+	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/trust"
+)
+
+// headlessCore is the daemon-owned half of today's single-process app. It is
+// intentionally small for the foundation phase: it groups process/project
+// state while the existing loopback client still renders in-process.
+type headlessCore struct {
+	projectDir string
+	projectKey string
+
+	presets  preset.Set
+	settings settings
+
+	pads         *scratchpad.Store
+	trustStore   *trust.Store
+	persistStore *persist.Store
+
+	mcpSrv   *mcp.Server
+	sess     *Session
+	launcher *Launcher
+	host     *toolHost
+}
--- a/internal/app/host.go
+++ b/internal/app/host.go
@@ -65,17 +65,6 @@ type toolHost struct {
 	timers *timerManager
 }

-const (
-	defaultMCPContentBytes     = 12_000
-	maxMCPContentBytes         = 65_536
-	defaultMCPCanonicalLines   = 120
-	maxMCPCanonicalLines       = 500
-	defaultMCPTailBytes        = 8_000
-	defaultScratchpadReadBytes = 12_000
-	defaultSearchLineBytes     = 2_000
-	maxSearchMatches           = 50
-)
-
 func newToolHost(sess *Session, pads *scratchpad.Store, launcher *Launcher, presets preset.Set, tr *trust.Store, cols, rows uint16) *toolHost {
 	h := &toolHost{
 		sess:       sess,
@@ -364,8 +353,8 @@ func (h *toolHost) GetProcessStatus(callerID, processID string) (mcp.ProcessStat
 	return st, nil
 }

-func (h *toolHost) GetProjectStatus(callerID string, includeTools bool) (mcp.ProjectStatus, error) {
-	caller := h.WhoAmI(callerID, includeTools)
+func (h *toolHost) GetProjectStatus(callerID string) (mcp.ProjectStatus, error) {
+	caller := h.WhoAmI(callerID)
 	processes := h.ListProcesses(callerID, "")
 	pads, _ := h.pads.List()
 	return mcp.ProjectStatus{
@@ -376,48 +365,27 @@ func (h *toolHost) GetProjectStatus(callerID string, includeTools bool) (mcp.Pro
 	}, nil
 }

-func (h *toolHost) GetProcessOutput(callerID string, args mcp.ProcessOutputArgs) (mcp.ProcessOutput, error) {
-	processID, mode, sinceOffset := args.ProcessID, args.Mode, args.SinceOffset
+func (h *toolHost) GetProcessOutput(callerID, processID, mode string, sinceOffset int64) (mcp.ProcessOutput, error) {
 	c := h.sess.FindChild(processID)
 	if c == nil {
 		return mcp.ProcessOutput{}, mcp.Errorf(mcp.ErrorKindNotFound, "no such process %q", processID)
 	}
-	if mode == "" {
-		mode = "grid"
-	}
-	if args.Raw {
-		b, end := c.StreamRead(sinceOffset)
-		content, contentBytes, truncated, truncatedBytes := capBytesTail(b, capLimit(args.MaxBytes, defaultMCPContentBytes))
-		return mcp.ProcessOutput{
-			Content:        content,
-			Mode:           "stream",
-			NewOffset:      end,
-			Status:         string(c.Status()),
-			ContentBytes:   contentBytes,
-			Truncated:      truncated,
-			TruncatedBytes: truncatedBytes,
-		}, nil
-	}
 	out := mcp.ProcessOutput{
 		Mode:          mode,
+		IdleMS:        c.IdleMS(),
 		Status:        string(c.Status()),
-		Canonicalized: true,
+		ScreenVersion: c.ScreenVersion(),
 	}
-	if args.IncludeMeta {
-		out.IdleMS = c.IdleMS()
-		out.ScreenVersion = c.ScreenVersion()
-		if em := c.Emulator(); em != nil {
-			if sc, err := em.ActiveScreen(); err == nil {
-				out.ActiveScreen = activeScreenName(sc)
-			}
-			if cur, err := em.Cursor(); err == nil {
-				out.Cursor = &mcp.Cursor{X: int(cur.Col), Y: int(cur.Row)}
-			}
-			cols, rows := em.Size()
-			out.Cols, out.Rows = int(cols), int(rows)
+	if em := c.Emulator(); em != nil {
+		if sc, err := em.ActiveScreen(); err == nil {
+			out.ActiveScreen = activeScreenName(sc)
 		}
+		if cur, err := em.Cursor(); err == nil {
+			out.Cursor = mcp.Cursor{X: int(cur.Col), Y: int(cur.Row)}
+		}
+		cols, rows := em.Size()
+		out.Cols, out.Rows = int(cols), int(rows)
 	}
-	maxLines := canonicalLineLimit(args.MaxLines)
 	switch mode {
 	case "grid":
 		em := c.Emulator()
@@ -431,21 +399,11 @@ func (h *toolHost) GetProcessOutput(callerID string, args mcp.ProcessOutputArgs)
 		if c.Kind == KindAgent {
 			txt = applyChromeTrim(txt, h.chromeHintsFor(c.PresetRef))
 		}
-		content, lineTruncated, lineDroppedBytes := canonicalizeTerminalText(txt, maxLines)
-		out.Content, out.ContentBytes, out.Truncated, out.TruncatedBytes = capTextMiddle(content, capLimit(args.MaxBytes, defaultMCPContentBytes))
-		if lineTruncated {
-			out.Truncated = true
-			out.TruncatedBytes += lineDroppedBytes
-		}
+		out.Content = normalizeGridText(txt)
 		return out, nil
 	case "stream":
 		b, end := c.StreamRead(sinceOffset)
-		content, lineTruncated, lineDroppedBytes := canonicalizeTerminalText(string(b), maxLines)
-		out.Content, out.ContentBytes, out.Truncated, out.TruncatedBytes = capTextTail(content, capLimit(args.MaxBytes, defaultMCPContentBytes))
-		if lineTruncated {
-			out.Truncated = true
-			out.TruncatedBytes += lineDroppedBytes
-		}
+		out.Content = string(stripANSIBytes(nil, b))
 		out.NewOffset = end
 		return out, nil
 	default:
@@ -453,46 +411,34 @@ func (h *toolHost) GetProcessOutput(callerID string, args mcp.ProcessOutputArgs)
 	}
 }

-func (h *toolHost) GetProcessRawOutput(callerID string, args mcp.RawOutputArgs) (mcp.RawOutput, error) {
-	c := h.sess.FindChild(args.ProcessID)
+func (h *toolHost) GetProcessRawOutput(callerID, processID string, sinceOffset int64) (mcp.RawOutput, error) {
+	c := h.sess.FindChild(processID)
 	if c == nil {
-		return mcp.RawOutput{}, mcp.Errorf(mcp.ErrorKindNotFound, "no such process %q", args.ProcessID)
+		return mcp.RawOutput{}, mcp.Errorf(mcp.ErrorKindNotFound, "no such process %q", processID)
 	}
-	b, end := c.StreamRead(args.SinceOffset)
-	content, contentBytes, truncated, truncatedBytes := capBytesTail(b, capLimit(args.MaxBytes, defaultMCPContentBytes))
+	b, end := c.StreamRead(sinceOffset)
 	return mcp.RawOutput{
-		Content:        content,
-		NewOffset:      end,
-		Status:         string(c.Status()),
-		ContentBytes:   contentBytes,
-		Truncated:      truncated,
-		TruncatedBytes: truncatedBytes,
+		Content:   string(b),
+		NewOffset: end,
+		Status:    string(c.Status()),
 	}, nil
 }

-func (h *toolHost) SearchOutput(callerID string, args mcp.SearchOutputArgs) (mcp.SearchResult, error) {
-	c := h.sess.FindChild(args.ProcessID)
+func (h *toolHost) SearchOutput(callerID, processID, pattern, kind string, limit int) (mcp.SearchResult, error) {
+	c := h.sess.FindChild(processID)
 	if c == nil {
-		return mcp.SearchResult{}, mcp.Errorf(mcp.ErrorKindNotFound, "no such process %q", args.ProcessID)
+		return mcp.SearchResult{}, mcp.Errorf(mcp.ErrorKindNotFound, "no such process %q", processID)
 	}
-	re, err := regexp.Compile(args.Pattern)
+	re, err := regexp.Compile(pattern)
 	if err != nil {
 		return mcp.SearchResult{}, mcp.Errorf(mcp.ErrorKindInvalidArgs, "regex: %v", err)
 	}
 	b, _ := c.StreamRead(0)
-	if args.Kind == "rendered" {
+	if kind == "rendered" {
 		b = stripANSIBytes(nil, b)
 	}
 	text := string(b)
 	lines := strings.Split(text, "\n")
-	limit := args.Limit
-	if limit <= 0 {
-		limit = 10
-	}
-	if limit > maxSearchMatches {
-		limit = maxSearchMatches
-	}
-	lineLimit := capLimit(args.MaxBytes, defaultSearchLineBytes)
 	matches := make([]mcp.SearchMatch, 0, limit)
 	truncated := false
 	for i, line := range lines {
@@ -501,8 +447,6 @@ func (h *toolHost) SearchOutput(callerID string, args mcp.SearchOutputArgs) (mcp
 				truncated = true
 				break
 			}
-			line, _, lineTruncated, _ := capTextTail(line, lineLimit)
-			truncated = truncated || lineTruncated
 			matches = append(matches, mcp.SearchMatch{LineNo: i + 1, Text: line})
 		}
 	}
@@ -644,7 +588,6 @@ func (h *toolHost) SendInput(callerID string, args mcp.SendInputArgs) (mcp.SendI
 	if err != nil {
 		return mcp.SendInputResult{}, err
 	}
-	tailSince := c.StreamOffset()
 	if err := c.InjectAsOrchestrator(payload); err != nil {
 		return mcp.SendInputResult{}, err
 	}
@@ -656,12 +599,7 @@ func (h *toolHost) SendInput(callerID string, args mcp.SendInputArgs) (mcp.SendI
 		}
 		if mode != "none" {
 			time.Sleep(time.Duration(args.WaitMS) * time.Millisecond)
-			tail, err := h.GetProcessOutput(callerID, mcp.ProcessOutputArgs{
-				ProcessID:   args.ProcessID,
-				Mode:        mode,
-				SinceOffset: tailSince,
-				MaxBytes:    capLimit(args.TailMaxBytes, defaultMCPTailBytes),
-			})
+			tail, err := h.GetProcessOutput(callerID, args.ProcessID, mode, 0)
 			if err == nil {
 				res.Tail = &tail
 			}
@@ -875,30 +813,8 @@ func (h *toolHost) TimerList(callerID string) ([]mcp.TimerInfo, error) {

 func (h *toolHost) ScratchpadList() ([]scratchpad.Entry, error) { return h.pads.List() }

-func (h *toolHost) ScratchpadRead(args mcp.ScratchpadReadArgs) (mcp.ScratchpadReadResult, error) {
-	content, rev, err := h.pads.Read(args.Name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return mcp.ScratchpadReadResult{}, err
-	}
-	offset := args.Offset
-	if offset < 0 {
-		offset = 0
-	}
-	if offset > len(content) {
-		offset = len(content)
-	}
-	limited, contentBytes, truncated, truncatedBytes := capTextHead(content[offset:], capLimit(args.MaxBytes, defaultScratchpadReadBytes))
-	next := offset + contentBytes
-	return mcp.ScratchpadReadResult{
-		Content:        limited,
-		Revision:       rev,
-		Offset:         offset,
-		NextOffset:     next,
-		ContentBytes:   contentBytes,
-		TotalBytes:     len(content),
-		Truncated:      truncated,
-		TruncatedBytes: truncatedBytes,
-	}, nil
+func (h *toolHost) ScratchpadRead(name string) (string, string, error) {
+	return h.pads.Read(name)
 }

 func (h *toolHost) ScratchpadWrite(name, content, expectedRevision string) (string, error) {
@@ -925,7 +841,7 @@ func (h *toolHost) ScratchpadDelete(name string) error {
 	return err
 }

-func (h *toolHost) WhoAmI(callerID string, includeTools bool) mcp.WhoAmI {
+func (h *toolHost) WhoAmI(callerID string) mcp.WhoAmI {
 	w := mcp.WhoAmI{
 		ProcessID: callerID,
 		Role:      h.CallerRole(callerID),
@@ -933,9 +849,7 @@ func (h *toolHost) WhoAmI(callerID string, includeTools bool) mcp.WhoAmI {
 			Path: h.sess.projectDir,
 			Key:  h.sess.projectKey,
 		},
-	}
-	if includeTools {
-		w.AvailableTools = availableToolsForRole(h.CallerRole(callerID))
+		AvailableTools: availableToolsForRole(h.CallerRole(callerID)),
 	}
 	if c := h.sess.FindChild(callerID); c != nil {
 		w.Name = c.DisplayName()
@@ -1095,10 +1009,11 @@ func activeScreenName(s pkgvt.Screen) string {
 	}
 }

-// ansiRegexp strips CSI/OSC escape sequences and common single-character
-// controls from the stream. The vt emulator already handles full
-// rendering for grid mode; this is only for stream-mode text output.
-var ansiRegexp = regexp.MustCompile(`\x1b\][^\x07\x1b]*(?:\x07|\x1b\\)|\x1b\[[\x30-\x3f]*[\x20-\x2f]*[\x40-\x7e]|\x1b[\x40-\x5f]|\x07`)
+// ansiRegexp strips CSI escape sequences and common single-character
+// controls (BEL, OSC terminators) from the stream. The vt emulator
+// already handles full rendering for grid mode; this is only for
+// stream-mode ANSI-stripped output.
+var ansiRegexp = regexp.MustCompile(`\x1b\[[\x30-\x3f]*[\x20-\x2f]*[\x40-\x7e]|\x1b[\x40-\x5f]|\x07`)

 func stripANSI(s string) string {
 	return ansiRegexp.ReplaceAllString(s, "")
@@ -1128,68 +1043,12 @@ func normalizeGridText(s string) string {
 	return strings.Join(out, "\n")
 }

-func capLimit(requested, def int) int {
-	if requested <= 0 {
-		requested = def
-	}
-	if requested > maxMCPContentBytes {
-		requested = maxMCPContentBytes
-	}
-	if requested < 0 {
-		return 0
-	}
-	return requested
-}
-
-func canonicalLineLimit(requested int) int {
-	if requested <= 0 {
-		return defaultMCPCanonicalLines
-	}
-	if requested > maxMCPCanonicalLines {
-		return maxMCPCanonicalLines
-	}
-	return requested
-}
-
-func capBytesTail(b []byte, limit int) (string, int, bool, int) {
-	if limit <= 0 || len(b) <= limit {
-		return string(b), len(b), false, 0
-	}
-	dropped := len(b) - limit
-	return string(b[dropped:]), limit, true, dropped
-}
-
-func capTextTail(s string, limit int) (string, int, bool, int) {
-	return capBytesTail([]byte(s), limit)
-}
-
-func capTextHead(s string, limit int) (string, int, bool, int) {
-	if limit <= 0 || len(s) <= limit {
-		return s, len(s), false, 0
-	}
-	return s[:limit], limit, true, len(s) - limit
-}
-
-func capTextMiddle(s string, limit int) (string, int, bool, int) {
-	if limit <= 0 || len(s) <= limit {
-		return s, len(s), false, 0
-	}
-	const marker = "\n...[truncated]...\n"
-	if limit <= len(marker)+2 {
-		return s[len(s)-limit:], limit, true, len(s) - limit
-	}
-	head := (limit - len(marker)) / 2
-	tail := limit - len(marker) - head
-	return s[:head] + marker + s[len(s)-tail:], limit, true, len(s) - limit
-}
-
 // stripANSIBytes is the byte-slice form of stripANSI. Skips the
 // string conversion and the regex DFA — useful when the caller will
 // itself walk the result line-by-line (SearchOutput) or feed it to a
 // pattern match (WaitForPattern scrollback). Recognises the same
 // shapes the regex did:
 //   - `\x1b[ <params> <intermediate> <final-byte>` (CSI / SGR)
-//   - `\x1b] ... (BEL|ST)` (OSC)
 //   - `\x1b<final-byte>` for `@..._` (one-byte escapes)
 //   - `\x07` (BEL)
 //
@@ -1219,24 +1078,6 @@ func stripANSIBytes(dst, src []byte) []byte {
 			continue
 		}
 		next := src[i+1]
-		if next == ']' {
-			j := i + 2
-			for j < len(src) {
-				if src[j] == 0x07 {
-					i = j + 1
-					break
-				}
-				if src[j] == 0x1b && j+1 < len(src) && src[j+1] == '\\' {
-					i = j + 2
-					break
-				}
-				j++
-			}
-			if j >= len(src) {
-				i = len(src)
-			}
-			continue
-		}
 		if next != '[' {
 			// One-byte ESC sequence (`\x1b<final>` where final is
 			// `@..._` per the regex; we drop anything that follows).
@@ -1319,7 +1160,7 @@ func helpFor(topic string) mcp.HelpResponse {
 	case "inspection":
 		return mcp.HelpResponse{
 			Topic:        "inspection",
-			Content:      "get_process_output gives you canonical terminal text by default: the visible pane (grid mode) or recent stream text from since_offset (stream mode), with ANSI/control noise, borders, duplicate status churn, and volatile timers removed. Use raw:true only when you need diagnostic PTY bytes; include_meta:true restores cursor, geometry, and screen-version fields. list_processes is for the whole session. get_project_status batches everything you need to orient yourself.",
+			Content:      "get_process_output gives you the visible pane (grid mode) or a byte slice from since_offset (stream mode). list_processes is for the whole session. get_project_status batches everything you need to orient yourself.",
 			RelatedTools: []string{"list_processes", "get_process_status", "get_process_output", "search_output", "wait_for_pattern", "get_project_status"},
 		}
 	case "io":
--- a/internal/app/host_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/host_test.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/mcp"
-	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/scratchpad"
 )

 // mkChild builds a Child without starting a PTY. Use sparingly — the
@@ -135,42 +134,6 @@ func TestWrapSubAgentPromptEmptyStaysEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func TestMCPContentCapsPreferRecentStreamBytes(t *testing.T) {
-	got, gotBytes, truncated, dropped := capBytesTail([]byte("abcdefghijklmnop"), 6)
-	if got != "klmnop" || gotBytes != 6 || !truncated || dropped != 10 {
-		t.Fatalf("capBytesTail = (%q, %d, %v, %d)", got, gotBytes, truncated, dropped)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestMCPGridCapKeepsHeadAndTail(t *testing.T) {
-	got, gotBytes, truncated, dropped := capTextMiddle("abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz", 24)
-	if gotBytes != 24 || !truncated || dropped != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("capTextMiddle metadata = (%d, %v, %d), content %q", gotBytes, truncated, dropped, got)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "...[truncated]...") {
-		t.Fatalf("capTextMiddle missing marker: %q", got)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestScratchpadReadPagesLargeContent(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Setenv("XDG_DATA_HOME", t.TempDir())
-	store, err := scratchpad.Open("test-project")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("scratchpad open: %v", err)
-	}
-	if _, err := store.Write("notes.md", "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz", ""); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("scratchpad write: %v", err)
-	}
-	h := &toolHost{pads: store}
-	res, err := h.ScratchpadRead(mcp.ScratchpadReadArgs{Name: "notes.md", Offset: 5, MaxBytes: 7})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("ScratchpadRead: %v", err)
-	}
-	if res.Content != "fghijkl" || !res.Truncated || res.NextOffset != 12 || res.TotalBytes != 26 {
-		t.Fatalf("ScratchpadRead result = %+v", res)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestHelpLifecycleTopicCoversCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 	resp := helpFor("lifecycle")
 	if resp.Topic != "lifecycle" {
--- a/internal/app/ring_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/ring_test.go
@@ -90,8 +90,6 @@ func TestStripANSIBytesEquivalence(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []string{
 		"hello world",
 		"\x1b[31mred\x1b[0m text",
-		"\x1b]0;title\x07after osc",
-		"\x1b]2;title\x1b\\after st",
 		"line1\nline2\r\nline3",
 		"bell\x07ish",
 		"weird \x1bA escape",
--- a/internal/app/session.go
+++ b/internal/app/session.go
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ type Session struct {
 	listenersMu sync.Mutex
 	listeners   atomic.Pointer[[]ChildEventListener]

+	// clientListeners is the network-client subscriber path. These
+	// listeners must be non-blocking and copy PTY chunks before enqueueing;
+	// daemon-internal observers (timers, debug capture, waiters) stay on
+	// listeners above so backpressure policy is isolated to clients.
+	clientListenersMu sync.Mutex
+	clientListeners   atomic.Pointer[[]ChildEventListener]
+
 	// persistStore records top-level command entries to a per-project
 	// JSON file so they can be re-spawned after patterm restarts.
 	// Optional; nil means "no persistence" (used by unit tests).
@@ -118,6 +125,16 @@ func (s *Session) Subscribe(l ChildEventListener) {
 	s.listeners.Store(&next)
 }

+func (s *Session) SubscribeClient(l ChildEventListener) {
+	s.clientListenersMu.Lock()
+	defer s.clientListenersMu.Unlock()
+	prev := s.clientListenersSnapshot()
+	next := make([]ChildEventListener, 0, len(prev)+1)
+	next = append(next, prev...)
+	next = append(next, l)
+	s.clientListeners.Store(&next)
+}
+
 // Unsubscribe removes a previously-registered listener. Safe to call
 // with a listener that wasn't registered (no-op).
 func (s *Session) Unsubscribe(l ChildEventListener) {
@@ -146,16 +163,30 @@ func (s *Session) listenersSnapshot() []ChildEventListener {
 	return *p
 }

+func (s *Session) clientListenersSnapshot() []ChildEventListener {
+	p := s.clientListeners.Load()
+	if p == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return *p
+}
+
 func (s *Session) emitSpawn(c *Child) {
 	for _, l := range s.listenersSnapshot() {
 		l.OnChildSpawned(c)
 	}
+	for _, l := range s.clientListenersSnapshot() {
+		l.OnChildSpawned(c)
+	}
 }

 func (s *Session) emitExit(c *Child) {
 	for _, l := range s.listenersSnapshot() {
 		l.OnChildExited(c)
 	}
+	for _, l := range s.clientListenersSnapshot() {
+		l.OnChildExited(c)
+	}
 }

 // emitPTYOut dispatches a fresh PTY chunk to every listener. Listeners
@@ -165,18 +196,27 @@ func (s *Session) emitPTYOut(id string, chunk []byte) {
 	for _, l := range s.listenersSnapshot() {
 		l.OnPTYOut(id, chunk)
 	}
+	for _, l := range s.clientListenersSnapshot() {
+		l.OnPTYOut(id, chunk)
+	}
 }

 func (s *Session) emitStateChanged(id string, state IdleState) {
 	for _, l := range s.listenersSnapshot() {
 		l.OnChildStateChanged(id, state)
 	}
+	for _, l := range s.clientListenersSnapshot() {
+		l.OnChildStateChanged(id, state)
+	}
 }

 func (s *Session) emitClosed(id string) {
 	for _, l := range s.listenersSnapshot() {
 		l.OnChildClosed(id)
 	}
+	for _, l := range s.clientListenersSnapshot() {
+		l.OnChildClosed(id)
+	}
 }

 func (s *Session) ChildEnv() []string {
--- a/internal/app/timers.go
+++ b/internal/app/timers.go
@@ -561,16 +561,14 @@ func (m *timerManager) TimerList(ownerID string) []mcp.TimerInfo {
 		if t.status != timerStatusPending && t.status != timerStatusPaused {
 			continue
 		}
-		body, bodyTruncated := timerBodyPreview(t.body)
 		info := mcp.TimerInfo{
-			ID:            t.id,
-			Label:         t.label,
-			Body:          body,
-			BodyTruncated: bodyTruncated,
-			Kind:          string(t.kind),
-			Status:        t.status,
-			OwnerID:       t.ownerID,
-			WatchedIDs:    append([]string(nil), t.watched...),
+			ID:         t.id,
+			Label:      t.label,
+			Body:       t.body,
+			Kind:       string(t.kind),
+			Status:     t.status,
+			OwnerID:    t.ownerID,
+			WatchedIDs: append([]string(nil), t.watched...),
 		}
 		if t.status == timerStatusPending && !t.firesAt.IsZero() {
 			info.FiresAtUnixMS = t.firesAt.UnixMilli()
@@ -583,14 +581,6 @@ func (m *timerManager) TimerList(ownerID string) []mcp.TimerInfo {
 	return out
 }

-func timerBodyPreview(body string) (string, bool) {
-	const max = 500
-	if len(body) <= max {
-		return body, false
-	}
-	return body[:max], true
-}
-
 // activeForChild returns the nearest pending or paused timer attached
 // to child id (either owned by it or watching it). Used by the sidebar
 // for the "⏱ 12s" indicator. nil when none.
--- a/internal/harness/restart_persist_test.go
+++ b/internal/harness/restart_persist_test.go
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ func TestRestartRestoresUserCommandProcess(t *testing.T) {
 	}

 	sc := &Scenario{
-		Name: "restart_persist",
-		Cols: 120,
-		Rows: 40,
+		Name:  "restart_persist",
+		Cols:  120,
+		Rows:  40,
 		Trust: []string{"persist-target"},
 		Presets: ScenarioPresets{
 			Processes: []ScenarioPreset{{
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func openSession(t *testing.T, env *testEnv, childEnv []string) *Session {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("vt emulator: %v", err)
 	}
-	p, err := pkgpty.Start([]string{env.PattermBin, "--project", env.ProjectDir}, childEnv, env.Cols, env.Rows)
+	p, err := pkgpty.Start([]string{env.PattermBin, "--project", env.ProjectDir}, childEnv, "", env.Cols, env.Rows)
 	if err != nil {
 		_ = em.Close()
 		t.Fatalf("pty start: %v", err)
--- a/internal/harness/scenarios/canonical_output_noise.json
+++ b/internal/harness/scenarios/canonical_output_noise.json
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "canonical_output_noise",
-  "steps": [
-    {
-      "type": "mcp_call",
-      "method": "spawn_process",
-      "params": {
-        "kind": "command",
-        "argv": [
-          "sh",
-          "-lc",
-          "printf '\\033[31mStatus: running 12s\\033[0m\\nStatus: running 13s\\n╭────╮\\n│    │\\nDownloading 10%%\\rDownloading 100%%\\nFINAL: deploy ready\\n'; sleep 5"
-        ],
-        "name": "noisy"
-      },
-      "save_as": "proc"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "wait_until_mcp",
-      "method": "get_process_output",
-      "params": {
-        "process_id": "{{proc.process_id}}",
-        "mode": "stream",
-        "raw": true,
-        "max_lines": 20
-      },
-      "path": "content",
-      "contains": "FINAL: deploy ready",
-      "timeout_ms": 5000,
-      "save_as": "raw"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "assert_saved",
-      "from": "raw",
-      "path": "content",
-      "contains": "FINAL: deploy ready"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "mcp_call",
-      "method": "get_process_output",
-      "params": {
-        "process_id": "{{proc.process_id}}",
-        "mode": "stream",
-        "since_offset": 0,
-        "max_lines": 20
-      },
-      "save_as": "canonical"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "assert_saved",
-      "from": "canonical",
-      "path": "content",
-      "equals": "Status: running [time]\nDownloading [count]\nFINAL: deploy ready"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "assert_saved",
-      "from": "canonical",
-      "path": "canonicalized",
-      "equals": true
-    }
-  ]
-}
--- a/internal/harness/session.go
+++ b/internal/harness/session.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func NewCLI(opts Options) (*Session, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	p, err := pkgpty.Start([]string{env.PattermBin, "--project", env.ProjectDir}, childEnv, env.Cols, env.Rows)
+	p, err := pkgpty.Start([]string{env.PattermBin, "--project", env.ProjectDir}, childEnv, "", env.Cols, env.Rows)
 	if err != nil {
 		_ = em.Close()
 		return nil, err
--- a/internal/mcp/mcp_test.go
+++ b/internal/mcp/mcp_test.go
@@ -134,16 +134,16 @@ func (h *blockingToolHost) ListProcesses(string, string) []ProcessInfo { return
 func (h *blockingToolHost) GetProcessStatus(string, string) (ProcessStatus, error) {
 	return ProcessStatus{ProcessInfo: ProcessInfo{ID: "p_fast", Status: "running"}}, nil
 }
-func (h *blockingToolHost) GetProjectStatus(string, bool) (ProjectStatus, error) {
+func (h *blockingToolHost) GetProjectStatus(string) (ProjectStatus, error) {
 	return ProjectStatus{}, nil
 }
-func (h *blockingToolHost) GetProcessOutput(string, ProcessOutputArgs) (ProcessOutput, error) {
+func (h *blockingToolHost) GetProcessOutput(string, string, string, int64) (ProcessOutput, error) {
 	return ProcessOutput{}, nil
 }
-func (h *blockingToolHost) GetProcessRawOutput(string, RawOutputArgs) (RawOutput, error) {
+func (h *blockingToolHost) GetProcessRawOutput(string, string, int64) (RawOutput, error) {
 	return RawOutput{}, nil
 }
-func (h *blockingToolHost) SearchOutput(string, SearchOutputArgs) (SearchResult, error) {
+func (h *blockingToolHost) SearchOutput(string, string, string, string, int) (SearchResult, error) {
 	return SearchResult{}, nil
 }
 func (h *blockingToolHost) WaitForPattern(string, string, string, float64, string) (bool, string, error) {
@@ -178,13 +178,13 @@ func (h *blockingToolHost) TimerList(string) ([]TimerInfo, error) {
 	return nil, nil
 }
 func (h *blockingToolHost) ScratchpadList() ([]scratchpad.Entry, error) { return nil, nil }
-func (h *blockingToolHost) ScratchpadRead(ScratchpadReadArgs) (ScratchpadReadResult, error) {
-	return ScratchpadReadResult{}, nil
+func (h *blockingToolHost) ScratchpadRead(string) (string, string, error) {
+	return "", "", nil
 }
 func (h *blockingToolHost) ScratchpadWrite(string, string, string) (string, error) {
 	return "", nil
 }
 func (h *blockingToolHost) ScratchpadAppend(string, string) error { return nil }
 func (h *blockingToolHost) ScratchpadDelete(string) error         { return nil }
-func (h *blockingToolHost) WhoAmI(string, bool) WhoAmI            { return WhoAmI{} }
+func (h *blockingToolHost) WhoAmI(string) WhoAmI                  { return WhoAmI{} }
 func (h *blockingToolHost) Help(string, string) HelpResponse      { return HelpResponse{} }
--- a/internal/mcp/protocol.go
+++ b/internal/mcp/protocol.go
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ package mcp
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-
-	"github.com/hjbdev/patterm/internal/scratchpad"
 )

 // MCP protocol surface. The patterm server originally exposed each
@@ -45,7 +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 inside patterm. Use these MCP tools; do not launch patterm or poke its Unix socket yourself. Use spawn_agent for sub-agents, close spawned panes when done, and use timer_fire_when_idle_* instead of wait_for_pattern to wait for send_message replies."
+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
@@ -78,41 +76,37 @@ func objectSchema(properties map[string]any, required []string) map[string]any {
 }

 func stringProp(desc string) map[string]any {
-	_ = desc
-	return map[string]any{"type": "string"}
+	return map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": desc}
 }

 func numberProp(desc string) map[string]any {
-	_ = desc
-	return map[string]any{"type": "number"}
+	return map[string]any{"type": "number", "description": desc}
 }

 func integerProp(desc string) map[string]any {
-	_ = desc
-	return map[string]any{"type": "integer"}
+	return map[string]any{"type": "integer", "description": desc}
 }

 func booleanProp(desc string) map[string]any {
-	_ = desc
-	return map[string]any{"type": "boolean"}
+	return map[string]any{"type": "boolean", "description": desc}
 }

 func arrayOfStringsProp(desc string) map[string]any {
-	_ = desc
 	return map[string]any{
-		"type":  "array",
-		"items": map[string]any{"type": "string"},
+		"type":        "array",
+		"description": desc,
+		"items":       map[string]any{"type": "string"},
 	}
 }

 // toolCatalog is the full list advertised via tools/list. Descriptions
 // are intentionally short — clients are expected to fetch help() for
 // detail. Schemas mirror the param structs in tools.go.
-func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
-	tools := []toolDescriptor{
+func toolCatalog() []toolDescriptor {
+	return []toolDescriptor{
 		{
 			Name:        "spawn_agent",
-			Description: "Spawn a sub-agent from an agent preset.",
+			Description: "Spawn a sub-agent from an agent preset and optionally seed it with initial instructions. This is the ONLY correct way to start a sub-agent under you — do not shell out to `claude` / `codex` / `opencode` and do not poke patterm's Unix socket via perl / nc / socat. Either bypasses caller identity and the new agent lands as a stray top-level tab instead of your child. Caller owns lifecycle: when the sub-agent's work is done (it reports back via send_message, or you no longer need it), call close_process on its process_id to free the pane and tear down the PTY. See help('spawning') and help('lifecycle').",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"agent":              stringProp("Preset name (e.g. \"claude\", \"codex\")."),
 				"agent_instructions": stringProp("Initial prompt typed into the agent after it's ready."),
@@ -121,14 +115,14 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "spawn_process",
-			Description: "Spawn a terminal, process preset, or argv command.",
+			Description: "Spawn a process: a terminal, a process preset, or a freeform argv command. Caller owns lifecycle: when the process is no longer needed, call close_process to remove its entry (live children are SIGKILL'd first). See help('lifecycle').",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"kind":        stringProp("\"terminal\" or \"command\"."),
 				"preset":      stringProp("Process preset name (mutually exclusive with argv)."),
-				"argv":        map[string]any{"type": "array", "items": map[string]any{"type": "string"}},
+				"argv":        map[string]any{"type": "array", "items": map[string]any{"type": "string"}, "description": "Argv vector for freeform commands."},
 				"name":        stringProp("Display name for the pane."),
 				"working_dir": stringProp("Working directory for the spawned process."),
-				"env":         map[string]any{"type": "object", "additionalProperties": map[string]any{"type": "string"}},
+				"env":         map[string]any{"type": "object", "additionalProperties": map[string]any{"type": "string"}, "description": "Extra environment variables."},
 				"shell":       booleanProp("Run argv through sh -lc."),
 			}, nil),
 		},
@@ -194,30 +188,23 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 		{
 			Name:        "get_project_status",
 			Description: "One-shot orientation: project, caller, processes, scratchpads.",
-			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
-				"include_tools": booleanProp("Include available_tools in caller metadata."),
-			}, nil),
+			InputSchema: objectSchema(nil, nil),
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "get_process_output",
-			Description: "Read canonical terminal text by default: visible grid (\"grid\") or recent stream (\"stream\") with ANSI/control noise, borders, duplicate status churn, and volatile timers removed. Set raw=true only for diagnostic ANSI-preserved PTY bytes.",
+			Description: "Read rendered grid (\"grid\") or ANSI-stripped stream (\"stream\") output, with screen-version watermark.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"process_id":   stringProp("Target process id."),
 				"mode":         stringProp("\"grid\" (default) or \"stream\"."),
 				"since_offset": integerProp("Watermark offset from a previous call."),
-				"max_bytes":    integerProp("Maximum content bytes to return."),
-				"max_lines":    integerProp("Maximum canonical lines to return (default 120, max 500)."),
-				"raw":          booleanProp("Return raw ANSI-preserved stream bytes instead of canonical text."),
-				"include_meta": booleanProp("Include verbose cursor, geometry, active screen, idle, and screen-version metadata."),
 			}, []string{"process_id"}),
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "get_process_raw_output",
-			Description: "Compatibility alias for raw=true get_process_output: read the raw ANSI byte stream since since_offset.",
+			Description: "Read the raw ANSI byte stream since since_offset.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
 				"process_id":   stringProp("Target process id."),
 				"since_offset": integerProp("Byte offset from a previous call."),
-				"max_bytes":    integerProp("Maximum content bytes to return."),
 			}, []string{"process_id"}),
 		},
 		{
@@ -227,13 +214,12 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 				"process_id": stringProp("Target process id."),
 				"pattern":    stringProp("Regex pattern."),
 				"kind":       stringProp("\"rendered\" (default) or \"raw\"."),
-				"limit":      integerProp("Max matches (default 10)."),
-				"max_bytes":  integerProp("Max bytes per returned match line."),
+				"limit":      integerProp("Max matches (default 20)."),
 			}, []string{"process_id", "pattern"}),
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "wait_for_pattern",
-			Description: "Block until pattern appears in the target process output.",
+			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."),
@@ -252,19 +238,18 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 			Name:        "send_input",
 			Description: "Type text, paste a block, or fire a named key into a process. Optional tail-after-send.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
-				"process_id":     stringProp("Target process id."),
-				"kind":           stringProp("\"text\", \"paste\", or \"key\"."),
-				"text":           stringProp("Text payload for kind=text/paste."),
-				"key":            stringProp("Named key for kind=key (e.g. \"enter\", \"escape\")."),
-				"submit":         booleanProp("Whether to append a submit keystroke."),
-				"wait_ms":        integerProp("After sending, wait this many ms before tailing."),
-				"tail_mode":      stringProp("\"none\" (default), \"stream\", or \"grid\"."),
-				"tail_max_bytes": integerProp("Maximum bytes in returned tail."),
+				"process_id": stringProp("Target process id."),
+				"kind":       stringProp("\"text\", \"paste\", or \"key\"."),
+				"text":       stringProp("Text payload for kind=text/paste."),
+				"key":        stringProp("Named key for kind=key (e.g. \"enter\", \"escape\")."),
+				"submit":     booleanProp("Whether to append a submit keystroke."),
+				"wait_ms":    integerProp("After sending, wait this many ms before tailing."),
+				"tail_mode":  stringProp("\"none\" (default), \"stream\", or \"grid\"."),
 			}, []string{"process_id", "kind"}),
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "send_message",
-			Description: "Send a tagged message to a parent or child process.",
+			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."),
@@ -298,7 +283,7 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "timer_fire_when_idle_any",
-			Description: "Fire when any watched process becomes idle.",
+			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."),
@@ -309,7 +294,7 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "timer_fire_when_idle_all",
-			Description: "Fire when all watched processes are idle.",
+			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."),
@@ -353,9 +338,7 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 			Name:        "scratchpad_read",
 			Description: "Read a scratchpad entry, returning content and revision.",
 			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
-				"name":      stringProp("Scratchpad name."),
-				"offset":    integerProp("Byte offset to start reading."),
-				"max_bytes": integerProp("Maximum content bytes to return."),
+				"name": stringProp("Scratchpad name."),
 			}, []string{"name"}),
 		},
 		{
@@ -384,10 +367,8 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "whoami",
-			Description: "Return caller identity, role, parent, and project metadata.",
-			InputSchema: objectSchema(map[string]any{
-				"include_tools": booleanProp("Include full available tool list."),
-			}, nil),
+			Description: "Return the caller's identity, role, parent, project metadata, and available tools.",
+			InputSchema: objectSchema(nil, nil),
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "help",
@@ -397,16 +378,6 @@ func toolCatalog(role CallerRole) []toolDescriptor {
 			}, nil),
 		},
 	}
-	if role != RoleSubAgent {
-		return tools
-	}
-	filtered := tools[:0]
-	for _, tool := range tools {
-		if tool.Name != "spawn_agent" {
-			filtered = append(filtered, tool)
-		}
-	}
-	return filtered
 }

 // handleProtocolMethod handles MCP protocol-level methods. Returns
@@ -445,14 +416,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleProtocolMethod(callerID, method string, params json.RawMe
 		return map[string]any{}, true, 0, "", nil

 	case "tools/list":
-		role := RoleOrchestrator
-		s.mu.Lock()
-		host := s.host
-		s.mu.Unlock()
-		if host != nil {
-			role = host.CallerRole(callerID)
-		}
-		return map[string]any{"tools": toolCatalog(role)}, true, 0, "", nil
+		return map[string]any{"tools": toolCatalog()}, true, 0, "", nil

 	case "tools/call":
 		var p struct {
@@ -508,12 +472,25 @@ func (s *Server) handleProtocolMethod(callerID, method string, params json.RawMe
 	return nil, false, 0, "", nil
 }

-// wrapToolResult turns a tool result into an MCP tools/call response.
-// Structured values are exposed once under structuredContent; content
-// carries only a short model-readable summary to avoid duplicating
-// large JSON payloads into the transcript.
+// wrapToolResult turns a structured tool result into an MCP tools/call
+// response. Plain strings (e.g. "ok") become text content; structured
+// values are JSON-encoded into a single text block and also exposed
+// under structuredContent so capable clients can read the shape.
 func wrapToolResult(result any) map[string]any {
-	text := summarizeToolResult(result)
+	var text string
+	switch v := result.(type) {
+	case nil:
+		text = "ok"
+	case string:
+		text = v
+	default:
+		b, err := json.Marshal(v)
+		if err != nil {
+			text = fmt.Sprintf("%v", v)
+		} else {
+			text = string(b)
+		}
+	}
 	out := map[string]any{
 		"content": []map[string]any{{"type": "text", "text": text}},
 		"isError": false,
@@ -528,70 +505,3 @@ func wrapToolResult(result any) map[string]any {
 	}
 	return out
 }
-
-func summarizeToolResult(result any) string {
-	switch v := result.(type) {
-	case nil:
-		return "ok"
-	case string:
-		return v
-	case ProcessInfo:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%s %s %s", v.ID, v.Kind, v.Status)
-	case []ProcessInfo:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%d processes", len(v))
-	case ProcessStatus:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%s %s %s", v.ID, v.Kind, v.Status)
-	case ProjectStatus:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%d processes, %d scratchpads", len(v.Processes), len(v.Scratchpads))
-	case ProcessOutput:
-		return outputSummary(v.Mode, v.ContentBytes, v.Truncated, v.NewOffset)
-	case RawOutput:
-		return outputSummary("raw", v.ContentBytes, v.Truncated, v.NewOffset)
-	case SearchResult:
-		if v.Truncated {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%d matches (truncated)", len(v.Matches))
-		}
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%d matches", len(v.Matches))
-	case SendInputResult:
-		if v.Tail != nil {
-			return "ok; tail included"
-		}
-		return "ok"
-	case TimerHandle:
-		return "timer " + v.ID
-	case TimerFireWhenIdleResponse:
-		if v.ID != "" {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%s timer %s", v.Status, v.ID)
-		}
-		return v.Status
-	case []TimerInfo:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%d timers", len(v))
-	case []scratchpad.Entry:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%d scratchpads", len(v))
-	case ScratchpadReadResult:
-		if v.Truncated {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%d/%d bytes from offset %d", v.ContentBytes, v.TotalBytes, v.Offset)
-		}
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%d bytes", v.ContentBytes)
-	case WhoAmI:
-		if v.ProcessID == "" {
-			return string(v.Role)
-		}
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", v.ProcessID, v.Role)
-	case HelpResponse:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("help: %s", v.Topic)
-	default:
-		return "ok"
-	}
-}
-
-func outputSummary(mode string, bytes int, truncated bool, offset int64) string {
-	s := fmt.Sprintf("%s output: %d bytes", mode, bytes)
-	if offset > 0 {
-		s += fmt.Sprintf(", offset %d", offset)
-	}
-	if truncated {
-		s += " (truncated)"
-	}
-	return s
-}
--- a/internal/mcp/protocol_test.go
+++ b/internal/mcp/protocol_test.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package mcp

 import (
 	"encoding/json"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )

@@ -44,9 +43,6 @@ func TestInitializeReturnsCapabilities(t *testing.T) {
 	if !ok || instructions == "" {
 		t.Fatalf("instructions missing or wrong type: %+v", parsed.Result)
 	}
-	if len(instructions) > 320 {
-		t.Fatalf("instructions too verbose: %d chars", len(instructions))
-	}
 }

 func TestInitializedNotificationSuppressesResponse(t *testing.T) {
@@ -78,9 +74,6 @@ func TestToolsListReturnsConcreteSchemas(t *testing.T) {
 	if parsed.Error != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("tools/list returned error: %+v", parsed.Error)
 	}
-	if len(resp) > 12000 {
-		t.Fatalf("tools/list response too large: %d bytes", len(resp))
-	}
 	tools, ok := parsed.Result["tools"].([]interface{})
 	if !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("tools not array: %+v", parsed.Result)
@@ -119,27 +112,6 @@ func TestToolsListReturnsConcreteSchemas(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func TestWrapToolResultDoesNotDuplicateStructuredJSON(t *testing.T) {
-	result := ProcessOutput{
-		Content:      strings.Repeat("x", 1024),
-		Mode:         "stream",
-		NewOffset:    2048,
-		ContentBytes: 1024,
-	}
-	wrapped := wrapToolResult(result)
-	if wrapped["structuredContent"] == nil {
-		t.Fatalf("structuredContent missing: %#v", wrapped)
-	}
-	content := wrapped["content"].([]map[string]any)
-	text := content[0]["text"].(string)
-	if strings.Contains(text, result.Content) {
-		t.Fatalf("content duplicated structured payload: %q", text)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(text, "stream output") {
-		t.Fatalf("summary text should identify output, got %q", text)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestPingReturnsEmptyObject(t *testing.T) {
 	s := &Server{}
 	req := []byte(`{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":3,"method":"ping"}`)
--- a/internal/mcp/tools.go
+++ b/internal/mcp/tools.go
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ type ToolHost interface {
 	// Inspection.
 	ListProcesses(callerID, kindFilter string) []ProcessInfo
 	GetProcessStatus(callerID, processID string) (ProcessStatus, error)
-	GetProjectStatus(callerID string, includeTools bool) (ProjectStatus, error)
-	GetProcessOutput(callerID string, args ProcessOutputArgs) (ProcessOutput, error)
-	GetProcessRawOutput(callerID string, args RawOutputArgs) (RawOutput, error)
-	SearchOutput(callerID string, args SearchOutputArgs) (SearchResult, error)
+	GetProjectStatus(callerID string) (ProjectStatus, error)
+	GetProcessOutput(callerID, processID, mode string, sinceOffset int64) (ProcessOutput, error)
+	GetProcessRawOutput(callerID, processID string, sinceOffset int64) (RawOutput, error)
+	SearchOutput(callerID, processID, pattern, kind string, limit int) (SearchResult, error)
 	WaitForPattern(callerID, processID, pattern string, timeoutSeconds float64, scope string) (matched bool, snippet string, err error)
 	GetProcessPorts(callerID, processID string) ([]PortSighting, error)

@@ -98,13 +98,13 @@ type ToolHost interface {

 	// Scratchpads.
 	ScratchpadList() ([]scratchpad.Entry, error)
-	ScratchpadRead(args ScratchpadReadArgs) (ScratchpadReadResult, error)
+	ScratchpadRead(name string) (content string, revision string, err error)
 	ScratchpadWrite(name, content, expectedRevision string) (revision string, err error)
 	ScratchpadAppend(name, content string) error
 	ScratchpadDelete(name string) error

 	// Meta.
-	WhoAmI(callerID string, includeTools bool) WhoAmI
+	WhoAmI(callerID string) WhoAmI
 	Help(callerID, topic string) HelpResponse
 }

@@ -157,60 +157,32 @@ type ProjectStatus struct {
 	Scratchpads []scratchpad.Entry `json:"scratchpads"`
 }

-type ProjectStatusArgs struct {
-	IncludeTools bool `json:"include_tools"`
-}
-
 // ProjectMeta is the project root info echoed in many payloads.
 type ProjectMeta struct {
 	Path string `json:"path"`
 	Key  string `json:"key"`
 }

-// ProcessOutput is the get_process_output payload. By default it is
-// canonical text with light metadata; include_meta restores screen
-// geometry + version, and raw requests return stream bytes.
+// ProcessOutput is the get_process_output payload. SPEC §7 enriches
+// the old read_output result with screen geometry + version.
 type ProcessOutput struct {
-	Content        string  `json:"content"`
-	Mode           string  `json:"mode"`
-	NewOffset      int64   `json:"new_offset,omitempty"`
-	ActiveScreen   string  `json:"active_screen,omitempty"`
-	Rows           int     `json:"rows,omitempty"`
-	Cols           int     `json:"cols,omitempty"`
-	Cursor         *Cursor `json:"cursor,omitempty"`
-	IdleMS         int64   `json:"idle_ms,omitempty"`
-	Status         string  `json:"status,omitempty"`
-	ScreenVersion  int64   `json:"screen_version,omitempty"`
-	ContentBytes   int     `json:"content_bytes,omitempty"`
-	Truncated      bool    `json:"truncated,omitempty"`
-	TruncatedBytes int     `json:"truncated_bytes,omitempty"`
-	Canonicalized  bool    `json:"canonicalized,omitempty"`
-}
-
-type ProcessOutputArgs struct {
-	ProcessID   string `json:"process_id"`
-	Mode        string `json:"mode"`
-	SinceOffset int64  `json:"since_offset"`
-	MaxBytes    int    `json:"max_bytes"`
-	MaxLines    int    `json:"max_lines"`
-	Raw         bool   `json:"raw"`
-	IncludeMeta bool   `json:"include_meta"`
+	Content       string `json:"content"`
+	Mode          string `json:"mode"`
+	NewOffset     int64  `json:"new_offset,omitempty"`
+	ActiveScreen  string `json:"active_screen,omitempty"`
+	Rows          int    `json:"rows,omitempty"`
+	Cols          int    `json:"cols,omitempty"`
+	Cursor        Cursor `json:"cursor"`
+	IdleMS        int64  `json:"idle_ms,omitempty"`
+	Status        string `json:"status,omitempty"`
+	ScreenVersion int64  `json:"screen_version,omitempty"`
 }

 // RawOutput is the get_process_raw_output payload — ANSI preserved.
 type RawOutput struct {
-	Content        string `json:"content"`
-	NewOffset      int64  `json:"new_offset"`
-	Status         string `json:"status,omitempty"`
-	ContentBytes   int    `json:"content_bytes,omitempty"`
-	Truncated      bool   `json:"truncated,omitempty"`
-	TruncatedBytes int    `json:"truncated_bytes,omitempty"`
-}
-
-type RawOutputArgs struct {
-	ProcessID   string `json:"process_id"`
-	SinceOffset int64  `json:"since_offset"`
-	MaxBytes    int    `json:"max_bytes"`
+	Content   string `json:"content"`
+	NewOffset int64  `json:"new_offset"`
+	Status    string `json:"status,omitempty"`
 }

 // SearchResult is search_output's payload.
@@ -219,14 +191,6 @@ type SearchResult struct {
 	Truncated bool          `json:"truncated"`
 }

-type SearchOutputArgs struct {
-	ProcessID string `json:"process_id"`
-	Pattern   string `json:"pattern"`
-	Kind      string `json:"kind"`
-	Limit     int    `json:"limit"`
-	MaxBytes  int    `json:"max_bytes"`
-}
-
 type SearchMatch struct {
 	LineNo int    `json:"line_no"`
 	Text   string `json:"text"`
@@ -281,7 +245,6 @@ type TimerInfo struct {
 	ID                string   `json:"timer_id"`
 	Label             string   `json:"label,omitempty"`
 	Body              string   `json:"body,omitempty"`
-	BodyTruncated     bool     `json:"body_truncated,omitempty"`
 	Kind              string   `json:"kind"`   // "delay" | "idle_any" | "idle_all"
 	Status            string   `json:"status"` // "pending" | "paused"
 	OwnerID           string   `json:"owner_process_id"`
@@ -318,14 +281,13 @@ type SpawnProcessArgs struct {
 // SendInputArgs is the input shape for send_input — covers text /
 // paste / key with the optional wait+tail tail-after-send.
 type SendInputArgs struct {
-	ProcessID    string `json:"process_id"`
-	Kind         string `json:"kind"` // "text" | "paste" | "key"
-	Text         string `json:"text"`
-	Key          string `json:"key"`
-	Submit       *bool  `json:"submit"`
-	WaitMS       int    `json:"wait_ms"`
-	TailMode     string `json:"tail_mode"` // "none" | "stream" | "grid"
-	TailMaxBytes int    `json:"tail_max_bytes"`
+	ProcessID string `json:"process_id"`
+	Kind      string `json:"kind"` // "text" | "paste" | "key"
+	Text      string `json:"text"`
+	Key       string `json:"key"`
+	Submit    *bool  `json:"submit"`
+	WaitMS    int    `json:"wait_ms"`
+	TailMode  string `json:"tail_mode"` // "none" | "stream" | "grid"
 }

 // SendInputResult is the return shape of send_input.
@@ -344,27 +306,6 @@ type WhoAmI struct {
 	AvailableTools  []string    `json:"available_tools"`
 }

-type WhoAmIArgs struct {
-	IncludeTools bool `json:"include_tools"`
-}
-
-type ScratchpadReadArgs struct {
-	Name     string `json:"name"`
-	Offset   int    `json:"offset"`
-	MaxBytes int    `json:"max_bytes"`
-}
-
-type ScratchpadReadResult struct {
-	Content        string `json:"content"`
-	Revision       string `json:"revision"`
-	Offset         int    `json:"offset,omitempty"`
-	NextOffset     int    `json:"next_offset,omitempty"`
-	ContentBytes   int    `json:"content_bytes,omitempty"`
-	TotalBytes     int    `json:"total_bytes,omitempty"`
-	Truncated      bool   `json:"truncated,omitempty"`
-	TruncatedBytes int    `json:"truncated_bytes,omitempty"`
-}
-
 // HelpResponse is the help return shape.
 type HelpResponse struct {
 	Topic        string   `json:"topic"`
@@ -566,51 +507,61 @@ func callTool(h ToolHost, callerID, method string, params json.RawMessage) (any,
 		return st, 0, "", nil

 	case "get_project_status":
-		var p ProjectStatusArgs
-		_ = unmarshalParamsOptional(params, &p)
-		ps, err := h.GetProjectStatus(callerID, p.IncludeTools)
+		ps, err := h.GetProjectStatus(callerID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return mapToolError(err)
 		}
 		return ps, 0, "", nil

 	case "get_process_output":
-		var p ProcessOutputArgs
+		var p struct {
+			ProcessID   string `json:"process_id"`
+			Mode        string `json:"mode"`
+			SinceOffset int64  `json:"since_offset"`
+		}
 		if err := unmarshalParams(params, &p); err != nil {
 			return nil, codeInvalidParams, err.Error(), nil
 		}
 		if p.Mode == "" {
 			p.Mode = "grid"
 		}
-		out, err := h.GetProcessOutput(callerID, p)
+		out, err := h.GetProcessOutput(callerID, p.ProcessID, p.Mode, p.SinceOffset)
 		if err != nil {
 			return mapToolError(err)
 		}
 		return out, 0, "", nil

 	case "get_process_raw_output":
-		var p RawOutputArgs
+		var p struct {
+			ProcessID   string `json:"process_id"`
+			SinceOffset int64  `json:"since_offset"`
+		}
 		if err := unmarshalParams(params, &p); err != nil {
 			return nil, codeInvalidParams, err.Error(), nil
 		}
-		out, err := h.GetProcessRawOutput(callerID, p)
+		out, err := h.GetProcessRawOutput(callerID, p.ProcessID, p.SinceOffset)
 		if err != nil {
 			return mapToolError(err)
 		}
 		return out, 0, "", nil

 	case "search_output":
-		var p SearchOutputArgs
+		var p struct {
+			ProcessID string `json:"process_id"`
+			Pattern   string `json:"pattern"`
+			Kind      string `json:"kind"`
+			Limit     int    `json:"limit"`
+		}
 		if err := unmarshalParams(params, &p); err != nil {
 			return nil, codeInvalidParams, err.Error(), nil
 		}
 		if p.Limit <= 0 {
-			p.Limit = 10
+			p.Limit = 20
 		}
 		if p.Kind == "" {
 			p.Kind = "rendered"
 		}
-		res, err := h.SearchOutput(callerID, p)
+		res, err := h.SearchOutput(callerID, p.ProcessID, p.Pattern, p.Kind, p.Limit)
 		if err != nil {
 			return mapToolError(err)
 		}
@@ -780,15 +731,17 @@ func callTool(h ToolHost, callerID, method string, params json.RawMessage) (any,
 		return entries, 0, "", nil

 	case "scratchpad_read":
-		var p ScratchpadReadArgs
+		var p struct {
+			Name string `json:"name"`
+		}
 		if err := unmarshalParams(params, &p); err != nil {
 			return nil, codeInvalidParams, err.Error(), nil
 		}
-		res, err := h.ScratchpadRead(p)
+		content, rev, err := h.ScratchpadRead(p.Name)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, codeInternal, err.Error(), nil
 		}
-		return res, 0, "", nil
+		return map[string]any{"content": content, "revision": rev}, 0, "", nil

 	case "scratchpad_write":
 		var p struct {
@@ -837,9 +790,7 @@ func callTool(h ToolHost, callerID, method string, params json.RawMessage) (any,
 		return map[string]any{"ok": true}, 0, "", nil

 	case "whoami":
-		var p WhoAmIArgs
-		_ = unmarshalParamsOptional(params, &p)
-		return h.WhoAmI(callerID, p.IncludeTools), 0, "", nil
+		return h.WhoAmI(callerID), 0, "", nil

 	case "help":
 		var p struct {
--- a/internal/protocol/frame.go
+++ b/internal/protocol/frame.go
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+// Package protocol defines the daemon/client control frames shared by
+// transports. It intentionally contains data shapes only; app behavior stays
+// in internal/app until the headless daemon split is complete.
+package protocol
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// FrameType identifies one protocol message kind.
+type FrameType string
+
+const (
+	FrameHello          FrameType = "hello"
+	FrameAuthChallenge  FrameType = "auth_challenge"
+	FrameAuthOK         FrameType = "auth_ok"
+	FrameAttach         FrameType = "attach"
+	FrameDetach         FrameType = "detach"
+	FrameProjectList    FrameType = "project_list"
+	FrameChrome         FrameType = "chrome"
+	FramePaneSnapshot   FrameType = "pane_snapshot"
+	FramePaneChunk      FrameType = "pane_chunk"
+	FrameLifecycle      FrameType = "lifecycle"
+	FrameAttention      FrameType = "attention"
+	FrameTrustPrompt    FrameType = "trust_prompt"
+	FrameInput          FrameType = "input"
+	FrameFocus          FrameType = "focus"
+	FrameSwitchProject  FrameType = "switch_project"
+	FrameOpenProject    FrameType = "open_project"
+	FramePaletteCommand FrameType = "palette_command"
+	FrameTrustResponse  FrameType = "trust_response"
+	FrameResize         FrameType = "resize"
+)
+
+// Frame is the transport envelope. Payload is deliberately raw JSON so
+// network transports can frame without knowing every message type; loopback
+// transports may pass the same bytes without JSON re-encoding.
+type Frame struct {
+	Type      FrameType       `json:"type"`
+	RequestID string          `json:"request_id,omitempty"`
+	Payload   json.RawMessage `json:"payload,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// NewFrame marshals payload into a protocol frame.
+func NewFrame[T any](typ FrameType, payload T) (Frame, error) {
+	b, err := json.Marshal(payload)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Frame{}, fmt.Errorf("protocol: marshal %s: %w", typ, err)
+	}
+	return Frame{Type: typ, Payload: b}, nil
+}
+
+// Decode unmarshals f.Payload into v.
+func Decode[T any](f Frame) (T, error) {
+	var v T
+	if len(f.Payload) == 0 {
+		return v, nil
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(f.Payload, &v); err != nil {
+		return v, fmt.Errorf("protocol: decode %s: %w", f.Type, err)
+	}
+	return v, nil
+}
+
+type Hello struct {
+	Version    int    `json:"version"`
+	DaemonID   string `json:"daemon_id,omitempty"`
+	ClientID   string `json:"client_id,omitempty"`
+	ProjectKey string `json:"project_key,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type Attach struct {
+	Token      string `json:"token,omitempty"`
+	ProjectKey string `json:"project_key,omitempty"`
+	TermSize   Size   `json:"term_size"`
+}
+
+type Detach struct {
+	ClientID string `json:"client_id,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type Size struct {
+	Cols uint16 `json:"cols"`
+	Rows uint16 `json:"rows"`
+}
+
+type Project struct {
+	Key        string    `json:"key"`
+	Path       string    `json:"path"`
+	Name       string    `json:"name"`
+	LastActive time.Time `json:"last_active,omitempty"`
+	TabCount   int       `json:"tab_count"`
+}
+
+type ProjectList struct {
+	Projects []Project `json:"projects"`
+}
+
+type Chrome struct {
+	ProjectKey string          `json:"project_key"`
+	Model      json.RawMessage `json:"model"`
+}
+
+type PaneSnapshot struct {
+	PaneID string `json:"pane_id"`
+	Bytes  []byte `json:"bytes"`
+}
+
+type PaneChunk struct {
+	PaneID string `json:"pane_id"`
+	Bytes  []byte `json:"bytes"`
+}
+
+type LifecycleKind string
+
+const (
+	LifecycleSpawned      LifecycleKind = "spawned"
+	LifecycleExited       LifecycleKind = "exited"
+	LifecycleClosed       LifecycleKind = "closed"
+	LifecycleStateChanged LifecycleKind = "state_changed"
+)
+
+type Lifecycle struct {
+	Kind       LifecycleKind   `json:"kind"`
+	ProjectKey string          `json:"project_key,omitempty"`
+	ChildID    string          `json:"child_id,omitempty"`
+	Child      json.RawMessage `json:"child,omitempty"`
+	State      string          `json:"state,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type Input struct {
+	PaneID string `json:"pane_id"`
+	Bytes  []byte `json:"bytes"`
+}
+
+type Focus struct {
+	PaneID string `json:"pane_id,omitempty"`
+	Pad    string `json:"pad,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type SwitchProject struct {
+	Key string `json:"key"`
+}
+
+type OpenProject struct {
+	Path string `json:"path"`
+}
+
+type PaletteCommand struct {
+	Kind string          `json:"kind"`
+	Data json.RawMessage `json:"data,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type TrustResponse struct {
+	ProcessID string `json:"process_id"`
+	Preset    string `json:"preset"`
+	Allow     bool   `json:"allow"`
+}
+
+type Resize struct {
+	Size Size `json:"size"`
+}
--- a/internal/protocol/loopback.go
+++ b/internal/protocol/loopback.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package protocol
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+)
+
+const defaultLoopbackBuffer = 64
+
+// NewLoopbackPair returns connected in-process transports. Frames cross the
+// same Send/Recv boundary as network transports, but payload bytes are passed
+// directly without JSON re-encoding.
+func NewLoopbackPair() (client Transport, daemon Transport) {
+	c2d := make(chan Frame, defaultLoopbackBuffer)
+	d2c := make(chan Frame, defaultLoopbackBuffer)
+	return &loopbackTransport{send: c2d, recv: d2c}, &loopbackTransport{send: d2c, recv: c2d}
+}
+
+type loopbackTransport struct {
+	send chan<- Frame
+	recv <-chan Frame
+	once sync.Once
+	done chan struct{}
+}
+
+func (t *loopbackTransport) init() {
+	if t.done == nil {
+		t.done = make(chan struct{})
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *loopbackTransport) Send(f Frame) error {
+	t.init()
+	select {
+	case <-t.done:
+		return ErrTransportClosed
+	case t.send <- cloneFrame(f):
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *loopbackTransport) Recv() (Frame, error) {
+	t.init()
+	select {
+	case <-t.done:
+		return Frame{}, ErrTransportClosed
+	case f, ok := <-t.recv:
+		if !ok {
+			return Frame{}, ErrTransportClosed
+		}
+		return f, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *loopbackTransport) Close() error {
+	t.init()
+	t.once.Do(func() {
+		close(t.done)
+	})
+	return nil
+}
+
+func cloneFrame(f Frame) Frame {
+	if len(f.Payload) > 0 {
+		f.Payload = append([]byte(nil), f.Payload...)
+	}
+	return f
+}
--- a/internal/protocol/loopback_test.go
+++ b/internal/protocol/loopback_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package protocol
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestLoopbackUsesFramePayload(t *testing.T) {
+	client, daemon := NewLoopbackPair()
+	defer client.Close()
+	defer daemon.Close()
+
+	sent, err := NewFrame(FrameInput, Input{PaneID: "p_123456", Bytes: []byte("hello")})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewFrame: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := client.Send(sent); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Send: %v", err)
+	}
+	got, err := daemon.Recv()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Recv: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Type != FrameInput {
+		t.Fatalf("type = %q, want %q", got.Type, FrameInput)
+	}
+	payload, err := Decode[Input](got)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Decode: %v", err)
+	}
+	if payload.PaneID != "p_123456" || string(payload.Bytes) != "hello" {
+		t.Fatalf("payload = %#v", payload)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoopbackCopiesPayloadOnSend(t *testing.T) {
+	client, daemon := NewLoopbackPair()
+	defer client.Close()
+	defer daemon.Close()
+
+	f := Frame{Type: FramePaneChunk, Payload: []byte(`{"pane_id":"p","bytes":"aGVsbG8="}`)}
+	if err := client.Send(f); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Send: %v", err)
+	}
+	f.Payload[0] = 'x'
+
+	got, err := daemon.Recv()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Recv: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Payload[0] != '{' {
+		t.Fatalf("payload was retained instead of copied: %q", string(got.Payload))
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/protocol/transport.go
+++ b/internal/protocol/transport.go
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package protocol
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+)
+
+var ErrTransportClosed = errors.New("protocol: transport closed")
+
+// Transport carries framed daemon/client protocol messages.
+type Transport interface {
+	Send(Frame) error
+	Recv() (Frame, error)
+	Close() error
+}
+
+// ConnTransport is a JSON-lines implementation over a stream connection.
+type ConnTransport struct {
+	conn net.Conn
+	r    *bufio.Reader
+	w    *bufio.Writer
+}
+
+func NewConnTransport(conn net.Conn) *ConnTransport {
+	return &ConnTransport{
+		conn: conn,
+		r:    bufio.NewReader(conn),
+		w:    bufio.NewWriter(conn),
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *ConnTransport) Send(f Frame) error {
+	if t == nil || t.conn == nil {
+		return ErrTransportClosed
+	}
+	b, err := json.Marshal(f)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("protocol: encode frame: %w", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := t.w.Write(append(b, '\n')); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return t.w.Flush()
+}
+
+func (t *ConnTransport) Recv() (Frame, error) {
+	if t == nil || t.conn == nil {
+		return Frame{}, ErrTransportClosed
+	}
+	line, err := t.r.ReadBytes('\n')
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+			return Frame{}, ErrTransportClosed
+		}
+		return Frame{}, err
+	}
+	var f Frame
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(line, &f); err != nil {
+		return Frame{}, fmt.Errorf("protocol: decode frame: %w", err)
+	}
+	return f, nil
+}
+
+func (t *ConnTransport) Close() error {
+	if t == nil || t.conn == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return t.conn.Close()
+}
--- a/internal/pty/pty.go
+++ b/internal/pty/pty.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"syscall"

 	cpty "github.com/creack/pty"
 )
@@ -19,11 +20,13 @@ type PTY struct {
 // Start spawns argv with stdin/stdout/stderr attached to a new PTY sized
 // (cols, rows). The returned PTY exposes the master fd for the parent to
 // read from and write to.
-func Start(argv []string, env []string, cols, rows uint16) (*PTY, error) {
+func Start(argv []string, env []string, workDir string, cols, rows uint16) (*PTY, error) {
 	if len(argv) == 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("pty: empty argv")
 	}
 	cmd := exec.Command(argv[0], argv[1:]...)
+	cmd.Dir = workDir
+	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{Setsid: true, Setctty: true}
 	if env != nil {
 		cmd.Env = ensureTerm(env)
 	} else {
@@ -88,6 +91,10 @@ func (p *PTY) Close() error {
 		p.master = nil
 	}
 	if p.cmd != nil && p.cmd.Process != nil {
+		pid := p.cmd.Process.Pid
+		if pid > 0 {
+			_ = syscall.Kill(-pid, syscall.SIGKILL)
+		}
 		_ = p.cmd.Process.Kill()
 	}
 	return firstErr
--- a/internal/pty/pty_test.go
+++ b/internal/pty/pty_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package pty
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestStartUsesWorkDir(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p, err := Start([]string{"sh", "-c", "pwd"}, nil, dir, 80, 24)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Start: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer p.Close()
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	buf := make([]byte, 256)
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second)
+	for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+		n, err := p.Read(buf)
+		if n > 0 {
+			out.Write(buf[:n])
+			if strings.Contains(out.String(), dir) {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	_ = p.Wait()
+
+	if got := strings.TrimSpace(out.String()); got != dir {
+		t.Fatalf("pwd output = %q, want %q", got, dir)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCloseKillsProcessGroup(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	pidFile := filepath.Join(dir, "sleep.pid")
+	env := append(os.Environ(), "PIDFILE="+pidFile)
+	p, err := Start([]string{"sh", "-c", "sleep 30 & echo $! > \"$PIDFILE\"; wait"}, env, "", 80, 24)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Start: %v", err)
+	}
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second)
+	var childPID int
+	for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+		b, err := os.ReadFile(pidFile)
+		if err == nil {
+			childPID, _ = strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(string(b)))
+			if childPID > 0 {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		time.Sleep(20 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	if childPID <= 0 {
+		_ = p.Close()
+		t.Fatalf("background child pid was not written")
+	}
+
+	if err := p.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = p.Wait()
+
+	deadline = time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second)
+	for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+		err := syscall.Kill(childPID, 0)
+		if errors.Is(err, syscall.ESRCH) {
+			return
+		}
+		time.Sleep(20 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	t.Fatalf("background child pid %d still exists after PTY.Close", childPID)
+}
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Harry Bayliss	ec0c148164	Update PTY start call sites	2026-05-27 13:21:18 +01:00
Harry Bayliss	9aecc8b7a2	Scaffold loopback daemon client split	2026-05-27 13:19:56 +01:00
Harry Bayliss	e63bdad5e1	Add daemon client protocol frames	2026-05-27 13:19:42 +01:00
Harry Bayliss	b72a32bbc6	Fix PTY workdir and process group teardown	2026-05-27 13:19:35 +01:00
				`@@ -1 +0,0 @@`
				`- [ ] Pasting into codex is no longer clean, it sends loads of messages rather than one clean paste.`