diff --git a/src/beaver_gateway/conversations/context.py b/src/beaver_gateway/conversations/context.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa2458f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/beaver_gateway/conversations/context.py
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+"""What a conversation's model holds: prompt granules, skills, tools, files touched."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from collections import Counter
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Iterable, Mapping
+
+    from beaver_gateway.agents.claude import ClaudeAgent
+    from beaver_gateway.conversations.kinds import Kind
+
+__all__ = ["compose", "files_touched", "granules", "skill_sets"]
+
+CHARS_PER_TOKEN = 3.2
+READ_TOOLS = frozenset({"Read", "NotebookRead"})
+WRITE_TOOLS = frozenset({"Write", "Edit", "MultiEdit", "NotebookEdit"})
+SEARCH_TOOLS = frozenset({"Glob", "Grep"})
+PATH_KEYS = ("file_path", "notebook_path", "path", "file", "filename")
+_FRONTMATTER = re.compile(r"^---\s*\n(.*?)\n---", re.DOTALL)
+
+
+def _tokens(chars: int) -> int:
+    return round(chars / CHARS_PER_TOKEN)
+
+
+def _relative(path: str, cwd: Path | None) -> str:
+    if cwd is None:
+        return path
+    try:
+        return str(Path(path).relative_to(cwd))
+    except ValueError:
+        return path
+
+
+def _tool_uses(entries: Iterable[Mapping[str, Any]]) -> Iterable[tuple[str, Any, str]]:
+    for entry in entries:
+        message = entry.get("message")
+        if entry.get("type") != "assistant" or not isinstance(message, dict):
+            continue
+        content = message.get("content")
+        if not isinstance(content, list):
+            continue
+        stamp = str(entry.get("timestamp") or "")
+        for block in content:
+            if isinstance(block, dict) and block.get("type") == "tool_use":
+                yield str(block.get("name") or "?"), block.get("input"), stamp
+
+
+def files_touched(
+    entries: Iterable[Mapping[str, Any]], *, cwd: Path | None = None
+) -> tuple[list[dict[str, Any]], dict[str, int]]:
+    """Files named in tool inputs, with how they were touched, plus tool counts."""
+    files: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] = {}
+    counts: Counter[str] = Counter()
+    for name, tool_input, stamp in _tool_uses(entries):
+        counts[name] += 1
+        if not isinstance(tool_input, dict):
+            continue
+        raw = next(
+            (v for k in PATH_KEYS if isinstance(v := tool_input.get(k), str) and v),
+            None,
+        )
+        if raw is None or (name in SEARCH_TOOLS and "file_path" not in tool_input):
+            continue
+        key = _relative(raw, cwd)
+        row = files.setdefault(
+            key, {"path": key, "reads": 0, "writes": 0, "other": 0, "last_at": stamp}
+        )
+        if name in READ_TOOLS:
+            row["reads"] += 1
+        elif name in WRITE_TOOLS:
+            row["writes"] += 1
+        else:
+            row["other"] += 1
+        row["last_at"] = max(row["last_at"], stamp)
+    ordered = sorted(files.values(), key=lambda r: r["last_at"], reverse=True)
+    return ordered, dict(counts)
+
+
+def granules(agent: ClaudeAgent, kind: Kind) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """The system prompt as its sources: tag, path, size, token estimate."""
+    sources = agent.prompt_for(kind) if agent.serves(kind) else None
+    rows: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    if sources is None:
+        chars = len(agent.system_prompt)
+        if chars:
+            rows.append(
+                {
+                    "tag": None,
+                    "path": None,
+                    "bytes": chars,
+                    "tokens_est": _tokens(chars),
+                }
+            )
+    else:
+        for source in sources:
+            tag, raw = source if isinstance(source, tuple) else (None, source)
+            path = Path(raw)
+            try:
+                chars = len(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+            except OSError:
+                chars = 0
+            rows.append(
+                {
+                    "tag": tag,
+                    "path": _relative(str(path), agent.cwd),
+                    "bytes": chars,
+                    "tokens_est": _tokens(chars),
+                }
+            )
+    total = sum(r["bytes"] for r in rows)
+    return {"bytes": total, "tokens_est": _tokens(total), "granules": rows}
+
+
+def _skill_meta(skill_md: Path) -> dict[str, str]:
+    try:
+        text = skill_md.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    except OSError:
+        return {}
+    match = _FRONTMATTER.match(text)
+    meta: dict[str, str] = {}
+    if match:
+        for line in match.group(1).splitlines():
+            key, sep, value = line.partition(":")
+            if sep:
+                meta[key.strip()] = value.strip()
+    return meta
+
+
+def skill_sets(agent: ClaudeAgent, kind: Kind) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Skill-set directories the kind loads, with each skill's name and description."""
+    out: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for directory in agent.skills_for(kind):
+        skills = []
+        try:
+            children = sorted(p for p in directory.iterdir() if p.is_dir())
+        except OSError:
+            children = []
+        for child in children:
+            skill_md = child / "SKILL.md"
+            if skill_md.is_file():
+                meta = _skill_meta(skill_md)
+                skills.append(
+                    {
+                        "name": meta.get("name") or child.name,
+                        "description": meta.get("description", ""),
+                        "path": _relative(str(child), agent.cwd),
+                    }
+                )
+        out.append(
+            {
+                "set": directory.name,
+                "path": _relative(str(directory), agent.cwd),
+                "skills": skills,
+            }
+        )
+    return out
+
+
+def compose(
+    agent: ClaudeAgent,
+    kind: Kind,
+    entries: Iterable[Mapping[str, Any]],
+    *,
+    context_tokens: int,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    files, counts = files_touched(entries, cwd=agent.cwd)
+    prompt = granules(agent, kind)
+    skills = skill_sets(agent, kind)
+    skills_chars = sum(
+        len(s["name"]) + len(s["description"])
+        for group in skills
+        for s in group["skills"]
+    )
+    return {
+        "agent": {
+            "name": agent.name,
+            "model": agent.model,
+            "effort": agent.options.effort,
+        },
+        "kind": kind,
+        "context_tokens": context_tokens,
+        "prompt": prompt,
+        "skills": skills,
+        "skills_tokens_est": _tokens(skills_chars),
+        "tools": {
+            "allowed": list(agent.options.tools) if agent.options.tools else None,
+            "disallowed": list(agent.options.disallowed_tools),
+            "gateway": list(agent.gateway_tools),
+            "mcps": [m.name for m in agent.expose_mcps],
+        },
+        "files": files,
+        "tool_counts": counts,
+        "history_tokens_est": max(
+            0, context_tokens - prompt["tokens_est"] - _tokens(skills_chars)
+        ),
+    }
diff --git a/src/beaver_gateway/conversations/rows.py b/src/beaver_gateway/conversations/rows.py
index d42fcec..7f3e845 100644
--- a/src/beaver_gateway/conversations/rows.py
+++ b/src/beaver_gateway/conversations/rows.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ from datetime import UTC, datetime
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 from uuid import uuid4
 
+from sqlalchemy import String, func
+from sqlalchemy import cast as sa_cast
 from sqlmodel import col, select
 
 from beaver_gateway.backends.transcript import (
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@ from beaver_gateway.storage.models import (
     ConversationBinding,
     ConversationMessage,
     RateLimit,
+    TranscriptEntry,
     Usage,
 )
 
@@ -132,6 +135,30 @@ class Rows(State):
         async with self._db.session() as session:
             return list((await session.exec(stmt)).all())
 
+    async def search(self, query: str, *, limit: int = 20) -> list[Conversation]:
+        needle = f"%{query}%"
+        by_title = select(Conversation.id).where(col(Conversation.title).ilike(needle))
+        by_first = select(ConversationMessage.conversation_id).where(
+            ConversationMessage.seq == 0,
+            col(ConversationMessage.content_json).ilike(needle),
+        )
+        by_entry = (
+            select(Conversation.id)
+            .join(
+                TranscriptEntry,
+                col(TranscriptEntry.session_id) == col(Conversation.session_id),
+            )
+            .where(sa_cast(col(TranscriptEntry.entry), String).ilike(needle))
+        )
+        stmt = (
+            select(Conversation)
+            .where(col(Conversation.id).in_(by_title.union(by_first, by_entry)))
+            .order_by(col(Conversation.id).desc())
+            .limit(limit)
+        )
+        async with self._db.session() as session:
+            return list((await session.exec(stmt)).all())
+
     async def bindings(self, conv: Conversation) -> list[ConversationBinding]:
         async with self._db.session() as session:
             result = await session.exec(
@@ -317,6 +344,7 @@ class Rows(State):
     async def describe(self, conv: Conversation) -> dict[str, Any]:
         out = self.public(conv)
         out["title"] = await self.implied_title(conv)
+        out["context_tokens"] = await self.context_tokens(conv)
         parent = await self.get_row(conv.parent_id) if conv.parent_id else None
         out["parent"] = parent.external_id if parent is not None else None
         out["bindings"] = [
@@ -359,6 +387,25 @@ class Rows(State):
             ).first()
         return context_of(row)
 
+    async def context_tokens_by_id(self, ids: Iterable[str]) -> dict[str, int]:
+        wanted = list(ids)
+        if not wanted:
+            return {}
+        latest = (
+            select(func.max(Usage.id))
+            .where(col(Usage.conversation_id).in_(wanted))
+            .group_by(Usage.conversation_id)
+        )
+        async with self._db.session() as session:
+            rows = (
+                await session.exec(select(Usage).where(col(Usage.id).in_(latest)))
+            ).all()
+        return {
+            cast("str", row.conversation_id): context_of(row)
+            for row in rows
+            if row.conversation_id
+        }
+
     async def usage_tokens(self, since: datetime) -> int:
         async with self._db.session() as session:
             rows = (
diff --git a/src/beaver_gateway/frontends/api/frontend.py b/src/beaver_gateway/frontends/api/frontend.py
index 440cccd..c271f52 100644
--- a/src/beaver_gateway/frontends/api/frontend.py
+++ b/src/beaver_gateway/frontends/api/frontend.py
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse, StreamingResponse
 from sqlmodel import col, select
 
+from beaver_gateway.agents.claude import ClaudeAgent
+from beaver_gateway.agents.prompts import assemble
+from beaver_gateway.backends.transcript import prompt_count
+from beaver_gateway.conversations.context import compose
 from beaver_gateway.conversations.injects import URGENCY
 from beaver_gateway.conversations.kinds import Kind, as_kind
 from beaver_gateway.conversations.service import SEEDS, implied_title
@@ -45,6 +49,7 @@ from beaver_gateway.storage.models import (
     Token,
     Usage,
 )
+from beaver_gateway.vault.links import LinkIndex
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import AsyncIterator, Iterable, Sequence
@@ -70,6 +75,10 @@ WINDOWS: dict[str, timedelta] = {
 MEMORY_MAX_DEPTH = 12
 MEMORY_MAX_FILE = 2_000_000
 MEMORY_MAX_ENTRIES = 5000
+SEARCH_MIN = 2
+GRAPH_LIMIT = 120
+SEARCH_LIMIT = 20
+SNIPPET_MAX = 160
 
 
 class ApiFrontend(Frontend):
@@ -85,12 +94,14 @@ class ApiFrontend(Frontend):
         deep_agent: str | None = None,
         job_agent: str | None = None,
         memory_root: Path | None = None,
+        vault_root: Path | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         self.master_agent = master_agent
         self.branch_agent = branch_agent
         self.deep_agent = deep_agent
         self.job_agent = job_agent
         self.memory_root = memory_root.resolve() if memory_root is not None else None
+        self.vault_root = vault_root.resolve() if vault_root is not None else None
         self._app: FastAPI | None = None
 
     def agent_for(self, kind: Kind) -> str | None:
@@ -105,14 +116,22 @@ class ApiFrontend(Frontend):
         if runtime.conversations is None or runtime.bus is None:
             msg = "ApiFrontend needs runtime.conversations and runtime.bus"
             raise RuntimeError(msg)
-        self._app = build_app(runtime, memory_root=self.memory_root)
+        self._app = build_app(
+            runtime, memory_root=self.memory_root, vault_root=self.vault_root
+        )
 
     def app(self) -> FastAPI | None:
         return self._app
 
 
-def build_app(runtime: GatewayRuntime, *, memory_root: Path | None = None) -> FastAPI:  # noqa: PLR0915
+def build_app(  # noqa: PLR0915
+    runtime: GatewayRuntime,
+    *,
+    memory_root: Path | None = None,
+    vault_root: Path | None = None,
+) -> FastAPI:
     app = FastAPI(title="beaver-gateway / API")
+    links = LinkIndex(vault_root) if vault_root is not None else None
     app.add_middleware(
         CORSMiddleware,
         allow_origins=["*"],
@@ -218,17 +237,49 @@ def build_app(runtime: GatewayRuntime, *, memory_root: Path | None = None) -> Fa
         firsts = await conversations.first_user_texts(
             cast("int", r.id) for r in rows if not r.title
         )
+        contexts = await conversations.context_tokens_by_id(r.external_id for r in rows)
+        public_ids = {r.id: r.external_id for r in rows}
         return {
             "conversations": [
                 {
                     **conversations.public(r),
                     "title": r.title or implied_title(firsts.get(cast("int", r.id))),
                     "last_item": _queue_item(latest.get(cast("int", r.id))),
+                    "context_tokens": contexts.get(r.external_id, 0),
+                    "parent": public_ids.get(r.parent_id) if r.parent_id else None,
                 }
                 for r in rows
             ]
         }
 
+    @app.get("/search")
+    async def search(request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        await require_token(request, runtime, scope=SCOPE)
+        query = (request.query_params.get("q") or "").strip()
+        if len(query) < SEARCH_MIN:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, f"q must be at least {SEARCH_MIN} chars"
+            )
+        limit = min(query_int(request, "limit", SEARCH_LIMIT), SEARCH_LIMIT)
+        rows = await conversations.search(query, limit=limit)
+        firsts = await conversations.first_user_texts(
+            cast("int", r.id) for r in rows if not r.title
+        )
+        contexts = await conversations.context_tokens_by_id(r.external_id for r in rows)
+        files = _grep_memory(memory_root, query, limit=limit) if memory_root else []
+        return {
+            "query": query,
+            "conversations": [
+                {
+                    **conversations.public(r),
+                    "title": r.title or implied_title(firsts.get(cast("int", r.id))),
+                    "context_tokens": contexts.get(r.external_id, 0),
+                }
+                for r in rows
+            ],
+            "files": files,
+        }
+
     @app.post("/conversations", status_code=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
     async def create_conversation(request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
         token = await require_token(request, runtime, scope=SCOPE)
@@ -301,6 +352,45 @@ def build_app(runtime: GatewayRuntime, *, memory_root: Path | None = None) -> Fa
         conv = await conv_of(public_id)
         return {"id": conv.external_id, "messages": await conversations.history(conv)}
 
+    @app.get("/conversations/{public_id}/context")
+    async def get_context(public_id: str, request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        await require_token(request, runtime, scope=SCOPE)
+        conv = await conv_of(public_id)
+        agent = runtime.agents.get(conv.agent_name)
+        if not isinstance(agent, ClaudeAgent):
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, f"no claude agent behind {public_id}"
+            )
+        entries = list(await conversations.entries(conv))
+        for sub in await conversations.subpaths(conv):
+            entries.extend(await conversations.entries(conv, subpath=sub))
+        out = compose(
+            agent,
+            as_kind(conv.kind),
+            entries,
+            context_tokens=await conversations.context_tokens(conv),
+        )
+        out["id"] = conv.external_id
+        out["turns"] = prompt_count(entries)
+        if request.query_params.get("prompt"):
+            sources = agent.prompt_for(as_kind(conv.kind))
+            out["prompt_text"] = (
+                assemble(sources) if sources is not None else agent.system_prompt
+            )
+        return out
+
+    @app.get("/vault/graph")
+    async def vault_graph(request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        await require_token(request, runtime, scope=SCOPE)
+        if links is None:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
+                "no vault root: set ApiFrontend(vault_root=...)",
+            )
+        paths = [p for p in request.query_params.getlist("path") if p]
+        limit = min(query_int(request, "limit", GRAPH_LIMIT), GRAPH_LIMIT)
+        return {"root": str(links.root), **links.neighbours(paths, limit=limit)}
+
     @app.get("/conversations/{public_id}/entries")
     async def get_entries(public_id: str, request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
         await require_token(request, runtime, scope=SCOPE)
@@ -993,6 +1083,35 @@ def _memory_path(root: Path, raw: str) -> Path:
     return target
 
 
+def _grep_memory(root: Path, query: str, *, limit: int) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    needle = query.casefold()
+    hits: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for path in sorted(root.rglob("*")):
+        if len(hits) >= limit:
+            break
+        if not path.is_file() or any(part.startswith(".") for part in path.parts):
+            continue
+        if path.suffix not in (".md", ".txt", ".json", ".yaml", ".yml"):
+            continue
+        try:
+            if path.stat().st_size > MEMORY_MAX_FILE:
+                continue
+            text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        except (OSError, UnicodeDecodeError):
+            continue
+        rel = str(path.relative_to(root))
+        if needle in rel.casefold():
+            hits.append({"path": rel, "line": 0, "snippet": ""})
+            continue
+        for number, line in enumerate(text.splitlines(), 1):
+            if needle in line.casefold():
+                hits.append(
+                    {"path": rel, "line": number, "snippet": line.strip()[:SNIPPET_MAX]}
+                )
+                break
+    return hits
+
+
 def _tree(root: Path, directory: Path, *, depth: int) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     if depth > MEMORY_MAX_DEPTH:
         return []
diff --git a/src/beaver_gateway/vault/links.py b/src/beaver_gateway/vault/links.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ad22ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/beaver_gateway/vault/links.py
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+"""Wikilink index over a vault: which note links to which, refreshed by mtime."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import re
+import time
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+__all__ = ["LinkIndex"]
+
+_WIKILINK = re.compile(r"\[\[([^\]|#\n]+)(?:#[^\]|\n]*)?(?:\|[^\]\n]*)?\]\]")
+_MD = ".md"
+
+
+@dataclass(slots=True)
+class _Note:
+    mtime: float
+    links: set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
+
+
+class LinkIndex:
+    """Forward and backward links between the vault's markdown notes."""
+
+    def __init__(self, root: Path, *, max_age: float = 20.0) -> None:
+        self.root = root.resolve()
+        self.max_age = max_age
+        self._notes: dict[str, _Note] = {}
+        self._raw: dict[str, set[str]] = {}
+        self._scanned_at = 0.0
+
+    def refresh(self, *, force: bool = False) -> None:
+        if not force and time.monotonic() - self._scanned_at < self.max_age:
+            return
+        seen: set[str] = set()
+        for dirpath, dirnames, filenames in os.walk(self.root):
+            dirnames[:] = [d for d in dirnames if not d.startswith(".")]
+            for name in filenames:
+                if not name.endswith(_MD):
+                    continue
+                path = Path(dirpath) / name
+                rel = str(path.relative_to(self.root))
+                seen.add(rel)
+                try:
+                    mtime = path.stat().st_mtime
+                except OSError:
+                    continue
+                note = self._notes.get(rel)
+                if note is None or note.mtime != mtime:
+                    self._notes[rel] = _Note(mtime=mtime)
+                    self._raw[rel] = self._targets(path)
+        for rel in list(self._notes):
+            if rel not in seen:
+                self._notes.pop(rel, None)
+                self._raw.pop(rel, None)
+        self._resolve()
+        self._scanned_at = time.monotonic()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _targets(path: Path) -> set[str]:
+        try:
+            text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        except (OSError, UnicodeDecodeError):
+            return set()
+        return {m.group(1).strip() for m in _WIKILINK.finditer(text)}
+
+    def _resolve(self) -> None:
+        by_stem: dict[str, str] = {}
+        for rel in sorted(self._notes):
+            by_stem.setdefault(Path(rel).stem.casefold(), rel)
+        by_path = {rel.casefold(): rel for rel in self._notes}
+        for rel, targets in self._raw.items():
+            links: set[str] = set()
+            for target in targets:
+                candidate = target if target.endswith(_MD) else f"{target}{_MD}"
+                found = by_path.get(candidate.casefold()) or by_stem.get(
+                    Path(target).stem.casefold()
+                )
+                if found and found != rel:
+                    links.add(found)
+            self._notes[rel].links = links
+
+    def resolve(self, raw: str) -> str:
+        """A path as a tool named it (absolute or relative) as an index key."""
+        path = Path(raw)
+        if path.is_absolute():
+            try:
+                return str(path.resolve().relative_to(self.root))
+            except (ValueError, OSError):
+                return raw
+        return raw
+
+    def neighbours(self, paths: list[str], *, limit: int = 80) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        """Nodes for ``paths`` plus every note one link away, and their edges."""
+        self.refresh()
+        touched = [self.resolve(p) for p in paths]
+        backlinks: dict[str, set[str]] = {}
+        for rel, note in self._notes.items():
+            for target in note.links:
+                backlinks.setdefault(target, set()).add(rel)
+        nodes: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] = {}
+        for rel in touched:
+            nodes[rel] = {
+                "path": rel,
+                "title": Path(rel).stem,
+                "touched": True,
+                "exists": rel in self._notes,
+            }
+        for rel in touched:
+            note = self._notes.get(rel)
+            around = (note.links if note else set()) | backlinks.get(rel, set())
+            for other in sorted(around):
+                if len(nodes) >= limit:
+                    break
+                nodes.setdefault(
+                    other,
+                    {
+                        "path": other,
+                        "title": Path(other).stem,
+                        "touched": False,
+                        "exists": True,
+                    },
+                )
+        edges: list[dict[str, str]] = []
+        for rel in nodes:
+            note = self._notes.get(rel)
+            if note is None:
+                continue
+            edges.extend(
+                {"from": rel, "to": target}
+                for target in sorted(note.links)
+                if target in nodes
+            )
+        return {"nodes": list(nodes.values()), "edges": edges}
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 19521c9..fefa132 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from beaver_gateway.frontends.api import ApiFrontend
 from beaver_gateway.frontends.api.frontend import build_app as build_api
 from beaver_gateway.frontends.base import Frontend, GatewayRuntime
 from beaver_gateway.frontends.root import build_root_app
-from beaver_gateway.storage.models import RateLimit, Usage
+from beaver_gateway.storage.models import RateLimit, TranscriptEntry, Usage
 
 TOKEN = "tok"
 HEADERS = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {TOKEN}"}
@@ -525,3 +525,91 @@ async def test_bind_without_a_window_materializes_one(world: World) -> None:
         headers=HEADERS,
     )
     assert unknown.status_code == 400
+
+
+async def test_search_finds_conversations_and_memory_files(world: World) -> None:
+    root = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="beaver-mem-"))
+    (root / "notes").mkdir()
+    (root / "notes" / "studio.md").write_text("# studio\nthe kiln is warm\n")
+    api = Api(world, memory_root=root)
+    conv = await world.conversations.create(kind="master", agent="a", origin="test")
+    await world.conversations.set_title(conv, "kiln schedule")
+    other = await world.conversations.create(kind="deep", agent="d", origin="test")
+    await world.conversations.post(other, "go")
+    await world.settle(other, 1)
+    other = await world.conversations.get(other.external_id)
+    assert other is not None and other.session_id is not None
+    async with world.db.session() as db:
+        db.add(
+            TranscriptEntry(
+                project_key="p",
+                session_id=other.session_id,
+                seq=0,
+                entry={"type": "assistant", "message": {"content": "warm kiln"}},
+            )
+        )
+        await db.commit()
+    found = await api.get("/search", {"q": "kiln"})
+    assert {c["id"] for c in found["conversations"]} == {
+        conv.external_id,
+        other.external_id,
+    }
+    assert found["files"] == [
+        {"path": "notes/studio.md", "line": 2, "snippet": "the kiln is warm"}
+    ]
+    short = await api.http.get("/search", params={"q": "k"}, headers=HEADERS)
+    assert short.status_code == 400
+
+
+async def test_context_endpoint_reports_prompt_and_files(world: World) -> None:
+    api = Api(world)
+    conv = await world.conversations.create(kind="master", agent="a", origin="test")
+    await world.conversations.post(conv, "go")
+    await world.settle(conv, 1)
+    conv = await world.conversations.get(conv.external_id)
+    assert conv is not None and conv.session_id is not None
+    await world.store.append(
+        world.key(conv.session_id),
+        build_entries(
+            [
+                {"role": "user", "content": "go"},
+                {
+                    "role": "assistant",
+                    "content": [
+                        {
+                            "type": "tool_use",
+                            "id": "t1",
+                            "name": "Read",
+                            "input": {"file_path": str(world.root / "note.md")},
+                        }
+                    ],
+                },
+                {
+                    "role": "user",
+                    "content": [
+                        {"type": "tool_result", "tool_use_id": "t1", "content": "x"}
+                    ],
+                },
+            ],
+            session_id=conv.session_id,
+            cwd=str(world.root),
+            model="m",
+        ),
+    )
+    ctx = await api.get(f"/conversations/{conv.external_id}/context", {"prompt": 1})
+    assert ctx["agent"]["name"] == "a"
+    assert ctx["prompt"]["granules"][0]["bytes"] == len("hi")
+    assert ctx["prompt_text"] == "hi"
+    assert ctx["files"] == [
+        {
+            "path": "note.md",
+            "reads": 1,
+            "writes": 0,
+            "other": 0,
+            "last_at": ctx["files"][0]["last_at"],
+        }
+    ]
+    assert ctx["tool_counts"] == {"Read": 1}
+    assert ctx["turns"] == 1
+    graph = await api.http.get("/vault/graph", headers=HEADERS)
+    assert graph.status_code == 404
diff --git a/tests/test_context.py b/tests/test_context.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc3684c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_context.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from beaver_gateway.agents.claude import ClaudeAgent, Prompts
+from beaver_gateway.conversations.context import compose, files_touched, granules
+from beaver_gateway.vault.links import LinkIndex
+
+
+def entry(name: str, tool_input: dict, stamp: str = "2026-09-02T10:00:00Z") -> dict:
+    return {
+        "type": "assistant",
+        "timestamp": stamp,
+        "message": {
+            "content": [{"type": "tool_use", "name": name, "input": tool_input}]
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def test_files_touched_groups_by_path_relative_to_cwd() -> None:
+    cwd = Path("/vault")
+    files, counts = files_touched(
+        [
+            entry("Read", {"file_path": "/vault/a.md"}, "2026-09-02T10:00:00Z"),
+            entry("Edit", {"file_path": "/vault/a.md"}, "2026-09-02T10:05:00Z"),
+            entry("Grep", {"pattern": "x", "path": "/vault"}),
+            entry("Bash", {"command": "ls"}),
+            entry("Read", {"file_path": "/elsewhere/b.md"}, "2026-09-02T09:00:00Z"),
+        ],
+        cwd=cwd,
+    )
+    assert [f["path"] for f in files] == ["a.md", "/elsewhere/b.md"]
+    assert files[0] == {
+        "path": "a.md",
+        "reads": 1,
+        "writes": 1,
+        "other": 0,
+        "last_at": "2026-09-02T10:05:00Z",
+    }
+    assert counts == {"Read": 2, "Edit": 1, "Grep": 1, "Bash": 1}
+
+
+def test_compose_reads_granules_and_skills() -> None:
+    root = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="beaver-ctx-"))
+    (root / "voice.md").write_text("be brief " * 40)
+    (root / "env.md").write_text("you are in the master thread")
+    skills = root / "skills" / "common"
+    (skills / "ops").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (skills / "ops" / "SKILL.md").write_text(
+        "---\nname: ops\ndescription: servers\n---\n"
+    )
+    agent = ClaudeAgent(
+        name="a",
+        model="m",
+        cwd=root,
+        prompts=Prompts(master=(("voice", root / "voice.md"), root / "env.md")),
+        skill_sets=(skills,),
+        gateway_tools=("say",),
+    )
+    out = compose(
+        agent,
+        "master",
+        [entry("Read", {"file_path": str(root / "env.md")})],
+        context_tokens=50_000,
+    )
+    assert [g["path"] for g in out["prompt"]["granules"]] == ["voice.md", "env.md"]
+    assert out["prompt"]["granules"][0]["tag"] == "voice"
+    assert out["prompt"]["tokens_est"] > 0
+    assert out["skills"] == [
+        {
+            "set": "common",
+            "path": "skills/common",
+            "skills": [
+                {"name": "ops", "description": "servers", "path": "skills/common/ops"}
+            ],
+        }
+    ]
+    assert out["tools"]["gateway"] == ["say"]
+    assert out["files"][0]["path"] == "env.md"
+    assert out["history_tokens_est"] < 50_000
+    assert granules(agent, "deep")["granules"] == []
+
+
+def test_link_index_resolves_stems_and_neighbours() -> None:
+    root = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="beaver-links-"))
+    (root / "people").mkdir()
+    (root / "people" / "Marta.md").write_text("works at [[Studio]] with [[Ilya|him]]")
+    (root / "Studio.md").write_text("see [[people/Marta]] and [[nowhere]]")
+    (root / "Ilya.md").write_text("plain")
+    (root / ".obsidian").mkdir()
+    (root / ".obsidian" / "x.md").write_text("[[Studio]]")
+    index = LinkIndex(root)
+    graph = index.neighbours([str(root / "people" / "Marta.md")])
+    nodes = {n["path"]: n for n in graph["nodes"]}
+    assert nodes["people/Marta.md"]["touched"] is True
+    assert set(nodes) == {"people/Marta.md", "Studio.md", "Ilya.md"}
+    assert {(e["from"], e["to"]) for e in graph["edges"]} == {
+        ("people/Marta.md", "Studio.md"),
+        ("people/Marta.md", "Ilya.md"),
+        ("Studio.md", "people/Marta.md"),
+    }
+    missing = index.neighbours(["gone.md"])
+    assert missing["nodes"] == [
+        {"path": "gone.md", "title": "gone", "touched": True, "exists": False}
+    ]
diff --git a/ui/src/app.html b/ui/src/app.html
index 52146a4..0786ad2 100644
--- a/ui/src/app.html
+++ b/ui/src/app.html
@@ -10,18 +10,21 @@
 	</head>
 	<body data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover">
 		<!--
-		impeccable direction contract (seed 20df1617, mode operate, brief-pinned world)
-		THESIS: activity first. The console opens on what the agents are doing right now, as a live
-		ledger of turns and tool calls, and refuses the hero-metric dashboard grid of cards.
-		OWN-WORLD: msos mauve/pink tokens on Inter; two neutral layers (cooler sidebar, content surface);
-		one accent for selection and the live state; kind hues from the msos status palette; hairline
-		borders, tabular numerals, rows and rails instead of cards; no cards inside cards.
-		STORY: the operator lands, sees what runs and how much quota is left, opens a thread, watches
-		tools and subagents stream, answers a question, checks spend, manages tokens and memory.
-		FIRST VIEWPORT: sidebar left with the gateway connection dot; main opens with the "now" ledger
-		(running turns as live rows), then quota bars and the 5 h / 7 d spend row, then live sessions.
-		Primary action: open a running conversation.
-		FORM: dense operator console, brief-pinned (roll assigned index 7, superseded by the pin).
+		impeccable direction contract (seed 071a8c77, reroll 1 bolder, mode operate, user-steered fusion)
+		THESIS: the dispatcher's strip board under a live island. What is alive is a strip in a bay
+		(waiting for you, in motion, quiet); the island at the top of every screen carries the live
+		state and opens into the board. Refuses the sidebar-and-cards admin dashboard.
+		OWN-WORLD: plum signal on a warm rack ground; strips as white/aubergine objects with a state
+		edge (plum pulse = running, amber = waiting), fixed columns, hairline rules, tabular numerals,
+		system sans; amber only for what waits for the operator; no cards inside cards, no badges as
+		pills, no decorative motion.
+		STORY: the operator lands on the board, answers a question on its strip, watches a running
+		strip, opens a thread where only the thread lives, reads context as a counter, finds anything
+		with ⌘K, and reaches the text-heavy rooms (memory, usage, system) as wide documents.
+		FIRST VIEWPORT: top bar with four section words left, the island centered (pulse, questions,
+		context, quota), System right. Below: the instrument row (context / 5 h / 7 d / spend), then
+		the bays with strips, the living graph of the master's neighbourhood on the right.
+		FORM: strip board × live activity; user-steered over the dealt hand; seed key 071a8c77.
 		FINISH: unreviewed and undocumented is unfinished; this build ends with the finish review,
 		the verdict, and DESIGN.md
 		-->
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/api/client.ts b/ui/src/lib/api/client.ts
index 72a9a10..961c84a 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/api/client.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/api/client.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type {
   AgentsResponse,
   AuditPage,
   BusEvent,
+  ContextResponse,
   ConversationInfo,
   ConversationSummary,
   EntriesPage,
@@ -11,10 +12,12 @@ import type {
   LimitsResponse,
   MemoryFile,
   MemoryTree,
+  SearchResponse,
   SessionsResponse,
   TokenRow,
   UsageGroup,
   UsageResponse,
+  VaultGraph,
 } from "./types";
 
 const TRAILING_SLASHES = /\/+$/;
@@ -182,6 +185,23 @@ export class ApiClient {
     return this.get(`/api/conversations/${id}/history`);
   }
 
+  context(id: string, prompt = false): Promise<ContextResponse> {
+    return this.get(`/api/conversations/${id}/context`, {
+      prompt: prompt ? 1 : undefined,
+    });
+  }
+
+  vaultGraph(paths: string[], limit?: number): Promise<VaultGraph> {
+    const search = new URLSearchParams();
+    for (const path of paths) {
+      search.append("path", path);
+    }
+    if (limit) {
+      search.set("limit", String(limit));
+    }
+    return this.get(`/api/vault/graph?${search.toString()}`);
+  }
+
   entries(
     id: string,
     params?: { subpath?: string; offset?: number; limit?: number }
@@ -283,6 +303,10 @@ export class ApiClient {
     return this.post("/api/conversations", body);
   }
 
+  search(q: string, limit?: number): Promise<SearchResponse> {
+    return this.get("/api/search", { limit, q });
+  }
+
   sessions(): Promise<SessionsResponse> {
     return this.get("/api/sessions");
   }
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/api/types.ts b/ui/src/lib/api/types.ts
index 77dc380..aaa7a90 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/api/types.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/api/types.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ export interface QueueItem {
 
 export interface ConversationSummary {
   agent: string;
+  context_tokens?: number;
   created_at: string | null;
   flags: Record<string, unknown>;
   id: string;
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ export interface ConversationSummary {
   last_item?: QueueItem | null;
   last_user_activity_at: string | null;
   origin: string;
+  parent?: string | null;
   parent_row: number | null;
   pending_question: boolean;
   running_turn: string | null;
@@ -310,3 +312,76 @@ export interface TurnUsage {
   input?: number;
   output?: number;
 }
+
+export interface SearchFile {
+  line: number;
+  path: string;
+  snippet: string;
+}
+
+export interface SearchResponse {
+  conversations: ConversationSummary[];
+  files: SearchFile[];
+  query: string;
+}
+
+export interface Granule {
+  bytes: number;
+  path: string | null;
+  tag: string | null;
+  tokens_est: number;
+}
+
+export interface SkillInfo {
+  description: string;
+  name: string;
+  path: string;
+}
+
+export interface SkillSetInfo {
+  path: string;
+  set: string;
+  skills: SkillInfo[];
+}
+
+export interface TouchedFile {
+  last_at: string;
+  other: number;
+  path: string;
+  reads: number;
+  writes: number;
+}
+
+export interface ContextResponse {
+  agent: { effort: string | null; model: string; name: string };
+  context_tokens: number;
+  files: TouchedFile[];
+  history_tokens_est: number;
+  id: string;
+  kind: Kind;
+  prompt: { bytes: number; granules: Granule[]; tokens_est: number };
+  prompt_text?: string;
+  skills: SkillSetInfo[];
+  skills_tokens_est: number;
+  tool_counts: Record<string, number>;
+  tools: {
+    allowed: string[] | null;
+    disallowed: string[];
+    gateway: string[];
+    mcps: string[];
+  };
+  turns: number;
+}
+
+export interface VaultNode {
+  exists: boolean;
+  path: string;
+  title: string;
+  touched: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface VaultGraph {
+  edges: { from: string; to: string }[];
+  nodes: VaultNode[];
+  root: string;
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/app-sidebar.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/app-sidebar.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 7c7fba7..0000000
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/app-sidebar.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,121 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-  import LogOutIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/log-out";
-  import PanelLeftCloseIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/panel-left-close";
-  import PanelLeftOpenIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/panel-left-open";
-  import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
-  import { base } from "$app/paths";
-  import { page } from "$app/state";
-  import LiveDot from "$lib/components/live-dot.svelte";
-  import ThemeToggle from "$lib/components/theme-toggle.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
-  import { isActive, NAV } from "$lib/nav";
-  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
-  import { ui } from "$lib/ui.svelte";
-  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
-
-  const running = $derived(gateway.running.length);
-  const open = $derived(ui.nav);
-
-  async function signOut() {
-    await session.logout();
-    await goto(`${base}/login`);
-  }
-</script>
-
-<aside
-  class={cn(
-    "hidden shrink-0 flex-col border-r bg-sidebar text-sidebar-foreground transition-[width] duration-150 sm:flex",
-    open ? "w-52" : "w-12"
-  )}
->
-  <a
-    class={cn(
-      "flex h-12 items-center gap-2 border-b font-semibold tracking-tight",
-      open ? "px-4" : "justify-center"
-    )}
-    href="{base}/"
-    title="Beaver"
-  >
-    <span class="size-2.5 shrink-0 rounded-sm bg-primary"></span>
-    {#if open}
-      Beaver
-    {/if}
-  </a>
-  <nav aria-label="Sections" class="flex flex-1 flex-col gap-0.5 p-2">
-    {#each NAV as item (item.href)}
-      {@const active = isActive(page.url.pathname, base, item.href)}
-      <a
-        aria-current={active ? "page" : undefined}
-        aria-label={item.label}
-        class={cn(
-          "relative flex h-8 items-center gap-2.5 rounded-md text-sm transition-colors",
-          open ? "px-2.5" : "justify-center",
-          active
-            ? "bg-sidebar-accent font-medium text-sidebar-accent-foreground"
-            : "text-sidebar-foreground/80 hover:bg-sidebar-accent/60 hover:text-sidebar-foreground"
-        )}
-        href="{base}{item.href}"
-        title={open ? undefined : item.label}
-      >
-        <item.icon class="size-4 shrink-0 text-icon" />
-        {#if open}
-          <span class="flex-1">{item.label}</span>
-        {/if}
-        {#if item.href === "/" && running > 0}
-          {#if open}
-            <span
-              class="tabular rounded-full bg-signal/12 px-1.5 font-medium text-signal text-xs"
-            >
-              {running}
-            </span>
-          {:else}
-            <span
-              class="absolute top-1 right-1 size-1.5 rounded-full bg-signal"
-            ></span>
-          {/if}
-        {/if}
-      </a>
-    {/each}
-  </nav>
-  <div
-    class={cn(
-      "flex items-center gap-1 border-t",
-      open ? "px-3 py-2" : "flex-col px-1 py-2"
-    )}
-  >
-    <span
-      class={cn(open && "mr-auto")}
-      title="event stream from the gateway (SSE)"
-    >
-      <LiveDot
-        detail={gateway.live.detail}
-        label={open}
-        state={gateway.live.state}
-      />
-    </span>
-    <ThemeToggle />
-    <Button
-      aria-label="Sign out"
-      onclick={signOut}
-      size="icon-sm"
-      title="Sign out"
-      variant="ghost"
-    >
-      <LogOutIcon class="size-4" />
-    </Button>
-    <Button
-      aria-label={open ? "Collapse sidebar" : "Expand sidebar"}
-      onclick={() => ui.toggleNav()}
-      size="icon-sm"
-      title="{open ? 'Collapse' : 'Expand'} sidebar (⌘B)"
-      variant="ghost"
-    >
-      {#if open}
-        <PanelLeftCloseIcon class="size-4" />
-      {:else}
-        <PanelLeftOpenIcon class="size-4" />
-      {/if}
-    </Button>
-  </div>
-</aside>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/bottom-nav.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/bottom-nav.svelte
index 71f814e..3d9625b 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/bottom-nav.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/bottom-nav.svelte
@@ -1,79 +1,42 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import MoreHorizontalIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/more-horizontal";
-  import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
+  import ActivityIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/activity";
+  import BrainIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/brain";
+  import GaugeIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/gauge";
+  import MessagesSquareIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/messages-square";
+  import SlidersHorizontalIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/sliders-horizontal";
+  import type { Component } from "svelte";
   import { base } from "$app/paths";
   import { page } from "$app/state";
-  import LiveDot from "$lib/components/live-dot.svelte";
-  import ThemeToggle from "$lib/components/theme-toggle.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import * as Sheet from "$lib/components/ui/sheet";
-  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
-  import { isActive, NAV } from "$lib/nav";
-  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import { isSectionActive, SECTIONS, SYSTEM } from "$lib/nav";
   import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
 
-  let moreOpen = $state(false);
-  const primary = NAV.filter((item) => item.mobile);
-  const secondary = NAV.filter((item) => !item.mobile);
-
-  async function signOut() {
-    moreOpen = false;
-    await session.logout();
-    await goto(`${base}/login`);
-  }
+  const ICONS: Record<string, Component<{ class?: string }>> = {
+    "/": ActivityIcon,
+    "/conversations": MessagesSquareIcon,
+    "/memory": BrainIcon,
+    "/system": SlidersHorizontalIcon,
+    "/usage": GaugeIcon,
+  };
+  const items = [...SECTIONS, SYSTEM];
 </script>
 
 <nav
   aria-label="Sections"
-  class="flex shrink-0 items-stretch border-t bg-sidebar pb-[env(safe-area-inset-bottom)] sm:hidden"
+  class="flex shrink-0 items-stretch border-t bg-rack/90 pb-[env(safe-area-inset-bottom)] backdrop-blur-md sm:hidden"
 >
-  {#each primary as item (item.href)}
-    {@const active = isActive(page.url.pathname, base, item.href)}
+  {#each items as item (item.href)}
+    {@const active = isSectionActive(page.url.pathname, base, item.href)}
+    {@const Icon = ICONS[item.href]}
     <a
       aria-current={active ? "page" : undefined}
       class={cn(
-        "flex h-14 flex-1 flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1 text-[11px]",
-        active ? "text-link" : "text-muted-foreground"
+        "flex h-13 flex-1 flex-col items-center justify-center gap-0.5 text-[10px] transition-colors",
+        active ? "text-primary" : "text-muted-foreground"
       )}
       href="{base}{item.href}"
     >
-      <item.icon class="size-5" />
-      {item.label}
+      <Icon class="size-5" />
+      {item.label.split(" ")[0]}
     </a>
   {/each}
-  <button
-    class="flex h-14 flex-1 flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1 text-[11px] text-muted-foreground"
-    onclick={() => {
-      moreOpen = true;
-    }}
-    type="button"
-  >
-    <MoreHorizontalIcon class="size-5" />
-    More
-  </button>
 </nav>
-
-<Sheet.Root bind:open={moreOpen}>
-  <Sheet.Content class="flex flex-col gap-1 pt-10" side="bottom">
-    <Sheet.Title class="px-2 pb-2">More</Sheet.Title>
-    {#each secondary as item (item.href)}
-      <a
-        class="flex h-11 items-center gap-3 rounded-md px-3 text-sm hover:bg-muted"
-        href="{base}{item.href}"
-        onclick={() => {
-          moreOpen = false;
-        }}
-      >
-        <item.icon class="size-4 text-icon" />
-        {item.label}
-      </a>
-    {/each}
-    <div class="mt-2 flex items-center justify-between border-t px-3 pt-3">
-      <LiveDot detail={gateway.live.detail} state={gateway.live.state} />
-      <div class="flex items-center gap-1">
-        <ThemeToggle />
-        <Button onclick={signOut} size="sm" variant="ghost">Sign out</Button>
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </Sheet.Content>
-</Sheet.Root>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/conversation-list.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/conversation-list.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 871c036..0000000
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/conversation-list.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,323 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-  import PanelLeftCloseIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/panel-left-close";
-  import PlusIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/plus";
-  import { toast } from "svelte-sonner";
-  import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
-  import { base } from "$app/paths";
-  import type { AgentInfo, ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
-  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import KindBadge from "$lib/components/kind-badge.svelte";
-  import StatusPill from "$lib/components/status-pill.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import * as Dialog from "$lib/components/ui/dialog";
-  import { Input } from "$lib/components/ui/input";
-  import { Label } from "$lib/components/ui/label";
-  import * as Select from "$lib/components/ui/select";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import { clip, fmtRelative, shortId } from "$lib/format";
-  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
-  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
-  import { ui } from "$lib/ui.svelte";
-  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
-
-  let { selected = null }: { selected?: string | null } = $props();
-
-  const KINDS = ["all", "master", "branch", "deep", "job", "fork"];
-  const STATUSES = ["open", "all", "merged", "closed", "archived"];
-  const TITLE_MAX = 60;
-  const PREVIEW_MAX = 90;
-
-  let kind = $state("all");
-  let statusFilter = $state("open");
-  let search = $state("");
-  let createOpen = $state(false);
-  let agents = $state<AgentInfo[]>([]);
-  let form = $state({
-    agent: "",
-    kind: "deep",
-    seed: "clean",
-    text: "",
-    title: "",
-  });
-  let busy = $state(false);
-
-  const rows = $derived.by(() => {
-    const needle = search.trim().toLowerCase();
-    return gateway.conversations
-      .filter((row) => kind === "all" || row.kind === kind)
-      .filter((row) => statusFilter === "all" || row.status === statusFilter)
-      .filter(
-        (row) =>
-          !needle ||
-          (row.title ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle) ||
-          row.id.startsWith(needle) ||
-          row.agent.toLowerCase().includes(needle) ||
-          (row.last_item?.text ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle)
-      )
-      .sort(byActivity);
-  });
-
-  function activityOf(row: ConversationSummary): string {
-    return row.last_activity_at ?? row.created_at ?? "";
-  }
-
-  function byActivity(a: ConversationSummary, b: ConversationSummary) {
-    if (Boolean(a.running_turn) !== Boolean(b.running_turn)) {
-      return a.running_turn ? -1 : 1;
-    }
-    return activityOf(b).localeCompare(activityOf(a));
-  }
-
-  function titleOf(row: ConversationSummary): string {
-    if (row.title) {
-      return clip(row.title, TITLE_MAX);
-    }
-    if (row.kind === "master") {
-      return `Master · ${shortId(row.id)}`;
-    }
-    return `${row.kind} · ${shortId(row.id)}`;
-  }
-
-  const agentsForKind = $derived(
-    agents.filter((a) =>
-      a.kinds.includes(form.kind as AgentInfo["kinds"][number])
-    )
-  );
-
-  async function openCreate() {
-    createOpen = true;
-    if (agents.length === 0 && session.client) {
-      ({ agents } = await session.client.agents());
-    }
-  }
-
-  async function create() {
-    if (!session.client) {
-      return;
-    }
-    busy = true;
-    try {
-      const created = await session.client.spawn({
-        agent: form.agent || undefined,
-        kind: form.kind,
-        seed: form.seed,
-        text: form.text || undefined,
-        title: form.title || undefined,
-      });
-      createOpen = false;
-      await goto(`${base}/conversations/${created.id}`);
-    } catch (error) {
-      toast.error(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
-    } finally {
-      busy = false;
-    }
-  }
-</script>
-
-<div class="flex h-full min-h-0 flex-col">
-  <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 border-b px-3 py-2">
-    <Select.Root
-      onValueChange={(value) => {
-        kind = value;
-      }}
-      type="single"
-      value={kind}
-    >
-      <Select.Trigger class="h-8 text-xs" size="sm">
-        {kind === "all" ? "any kind" : kind}
-      </Select.Trigger>
-      <Select.Content>
-        {#each KINDS as option (option)}
-          <Select.Item
-            label={option === "all" ? "any kind" : option}
-            value={option}
-          />
-        {/each}
-      </Select.Content>
-    </Select.Root>
-    <Select.Root
-      onValueChange={(value) => {
-        statusFilter = value;
-      }}
-      type="single"
-      value={statusFilter}
-    >
-      <Select.Trigger class="h-8 text-xs" size="sm">
-        {statusFilter === "all" ? "any status" : statusFilter}
-      </Select.Trigger>
-      <Select.Content>
-        {#each STATUSES as option (option)}
-          <Select.Item
-            label={option === "all" ? "any status" : option}
-            value={option}
-          />
-        {/each}
-      </Select.Content>
-    </Select.Root>
-    <Input
-      aria-label="Search conversations"
-      class="h-8 min-w-24 flex-1 text-xs"
-      placeholder="search"
-      bind:value={search}
-    />
-    <Button aria-label="New conversation" onclick={openCreate} size="icon-sm">
-      <PlusIcon class="size-4" />
-    </Button>
-    <Button
-      aria-label="Hide conversations"
-      class="hidden lg:inline-flex"
-      onclick={() => ui.toggleRail()}
-      size="icon-sm"
-      title="Hide conversations"
-      variant="ghost"
-    >
-      <PanelLeftCloseIcon class="size-4" />
-    </Button>
-  </div>
-  <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
-    {#if gateway.live.state === "failed"}
-      <div class="p-3">
-        <ErrorNote
-          message={gateway.live.detail ?? "event stream failed"}
-          retry={() => gateway.start()}
-        />
-      </div>
-    {:else if !gateway.loaded}
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-3">
-        <Skeleton class="h-12 w-full" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-12 w-full" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-12 w-full" />
-      </div>
-    {:else if rows.length === 0}
-      <div class="p-3">
-        <EmptyState
-          hint="Change the filters, or start one - a deep chat, a branch off the master, a headless job."
-          title="No conversations match"
-        >
-          <Button onclick={openCreate} size="sm" variant="outline">
-            New conversation
-          </Button>
-        </EmptyState>
-      </div>
-    {:else}
-      <ul class="flex flex-col">
-        {#each rows as row (row.id)}
-          <li>
-            <a
-              aria-current={selected === row.id ? "page" : undefined}
-              class={cn(
-                "row-hover flex flex-col gap-1 border-b px-3 py-2 text-sm",
-                selected === row.id && "bg-sidebar-accent"
-              )}
-              href="{base}/conversations/{row.id}"
-            >
-              <span class="flex items-center gap-2">
-                <KindBadge kind={row.kind} />
-                <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate font-medium">
-                  {titleOf(row)}
-                </span>
-                <span class="tabular shrink-0 text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                  {fmtRelative(activityOf(row))}
-                </span>
-              </span>
-              <span class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs">
-                <StatusPill
-                  status={row.running_turn ? "running" : row.status}
-                />
-                <span class="text-muted-foreground">{row.agent}</span>
-                {#if row.pending_question}
-                  <span class="font-medium text-link">question</span>
-                {/if}
-              </span>
-              {#if row.last_item}
-                <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                  <span class="text-foreground/70"
-                    >{row.last_item.origin}:</span
-                  >
-                  {clip(row.last_item.text, PREVIEW_MAX)}
-                </span>
-              {/if}
-            </a>
-          </li>
-        {/each}
-      </ul>
-    {/if}
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<Dialog.Root bind:open={createOpen}>
-  <Dialog.Content>
-    <Dialog.Header>
-      <Dialog.Title>New conversation</Dialog.Title>
-      <Dialog.Description>
-        It opens in the home window of its kind (a vault file, a Telegram topic)
-        and stays silent until someone speaks.
-      </Dialog.Description>
-    </Dialog.Header>
-    <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <Label>Kind</Label>
-        <Select.Root
-          onValueChange={(value) => {
-            form.kind = value;
-            form.agent = "";
-          }}
-          type="single"
-          value={form.kind}
-        >
-          <Select.Trigger class="w-full">{form.kind}</Select.Trigger>
-          <Select.Content>
-            {#each ["deep", "branch", "master", "job"] as option (option)}
-              <Select.Item label={option} value={option} />
-            {/each}
-          </Select.Content>
-        </Select.Root>
-      </div>
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <Label>Agent</Label>
-        <Select.Root
-          onValueChange={(value) => {
-            form.agent = value === "default" ? "" : value;
-          }}
-          type="single"
-          value={form.agent || "default"}
-        >
-          <Select.Trigger class="w-full">
-            {form.agent || "frontend default"}
-          </Select.Trigger>
-          <Select.Content>
-            <Select.Item label="frontend default" value="default" />
-            {#each agentsForKind as agent (agent.name)}
-              <Select.Item label={agent.name} value={agent.name} />
-            {/each}
-          </Select.Content>
-        </Select.Root>
-      </div>
-      <div class="col-span-2 flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <Label for="new-title">Title</Label>
-        <Input id="new-title" placeholder="optional" bind:value={form.title} />
-      </div>
-      <div class="col-span-2 flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <Label for="new-text">First message</Label>
-        <textarea
-          class="min-h-20 rounded-md border bg-input/30 px-3 py-2 text-sm focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-3 focus-visible:ring-ring/30"
-          id="new-text"
-          placeholder="optional - without it the window waits"
-          bind:value={form.text}
-        ></textarea>
-      </div>
-    </div>
-    <Dialog.Footer>
-      <Button
-        onclick={() => {
-          createOpen = false;
-        }}
-        variant="ghost"
-      >
-        Cancel
-      </Button>
-      <Button disabled={busy} onclick={create}>Create</Button>
-    </Dialog.Footer>
-  </Dialog.Content>
-</Dialog.Root>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/page-header.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/page-header.svelte
index b7c53d8..88e0f81 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/page-header.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/page-header.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import type { Snippet } from "svelte";
-  import LiveDot from "$lib/components/live-dot.svelte";
-  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
 
   let {
     title,
@@ -17,7 +15,7 @@
 </script>
 
 <header
-  class="flex min-h-12 flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-2 border-b px-4 py-2 sm:px-6"
+  class="flex min-h-12 flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-2 px-4 pt-4 pb-1 sm:px-6"
 >
   <div class="flex min-w-0 items-baseline gap-2">
     <h1 class="truncate font-semibold text-lg tracking-tight">{title}</h1>
@@ -30,15 +28,9 @@
       {@render children()}
     </div>
   {/if}
-  <div class="ml-auto flex items-center gap-2">
-    {#if actions}
+  {#if actions}
+    <div class="ml-auto flex items-center gap-2">
       {@render actions()}
-    {/if}
-    <LiveDot
-      class="sm:hidden"
-      detail={gateway.live.detail}
-      label={false}
-      state={gateway.live.state}
-    />
-  </div>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
 </header>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/format.ts b/ui/src/lib/format.ts
index 1dbac20..746b1ac 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/format.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/format.ts
@@ -123,19 +123,17 @@ export function fmtRelative(
   if (!date) {
     return "–";
   }
-  const diff = now - date.getTime();
-  const abs = Math.abs(diff);
-  const suffix = diff >= 0 ? "ago" : "from now";
-  if (abs < MINUTE_MS) {
-    return diff >= 0 ? "just now" : "in <1m";
+  const diff = Math.max(0, now - date.getTime());
+  if (diff < MINUTE_MS) {
+    return "just now";
   }
-  if (abs < HOUR_MS) {
-    return `${Math.round(abs / MINUTE_MS)}m ${suffix}`;
+  if (diff < HOUR_MS) {
+    return `${Math.round(diff / MINUTE_MS)}m ago`;
   }
-  if (abs < DAY_MS) {
-    return `${Math.round(abs / HOUR_MS)}h ${suffix}`;
+  if (diff < DAY_MS) {
+    return `${Math.round(diff / HOUR_MS)}h ago`;
   }
-  return `${Math.round(abs / DAY_MS)}d ${suffix}`;
+  return `${Math.round(diff / DAY_MS)}d ago`;
 }
 
 export function fmtCountdown(iso: string | null | undefined, now = Date.now()) {
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/nav.ts b/ui/src/lib/nav.ts
index 7299407..c0ed949 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/nav.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/nav.ts
@@ -1,35 +1,38 @@
-import ActivityIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/activity";
-import BrainIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/brain";
-import ClockIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/clock";
-import GaugeIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/gauge";
-import KeyRoundIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/key-round";
-import MessagesSquareIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/messages-square";
-import ScrollTextIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/scroll-text";
-import type { Component } from "svelte";
-
 export interface NavItem {
   href: string;
-  icon: Component<{ class?: string }>;
+  key: string;
   label: string;
-  mobile: boolean;
 }
 
-export const NAV: NavItem[] = [
-  { href: "/", icon: ActivityIcon, label: "Now", mobile: true },
-  {
-    href: "/conversations",
-    icon: MessagesSquareIcon,
-    label: "Conversations",
-    mobile: true,
-  },
-  { href: "/usage", icon: GaugeIcon, label: "Usage", mobile: true },
-  { href: "/memory", icon: BrainIcon, label: "Memory", mobile: true },
-  { href: "/tokens", icon: KeyRoundIcon, label: "Tokens", mobile: false },
-  { href: "/jobs", icon: ClockIcon, label: "Jobs", mobile: false },
-  { href: "/audit", icon: ScrollTextIcon, label: "Audit", mobile: false },
+export const SECTIONS: NavItem[] = [
+  { href: "/", key: "1", label: "Now" },
+  { href: "/conversations", key: "2", label: "Conversations" },
+  { href: "/memory", key: "3", label: "Memory" },
+  { href: "/usage", key: "4", label: "Usage" },
+];
+
+export const SYSTEM: NavItem = { href: "/system", key: "5", label: "System" };
+
+export const SYSTEM_PAGES: NavItem[] = [
+  { href: "/system", key: "", label: "Sessions" },
+  { href: "/system/agents", key: "", label: "Agents & endpoints" },
+  { href: "/system/jobs", key: "", label: "Jobs" },
+  { href: "/system/tokens", key: "", label: "Tokens" },
+  { href: "/system/audit", key: "", label: "Audit" },
 ];
 
 export function isActive(pathname: string, base: string, href: string) {
+  const path = pathname.startsWith(base)
+    ? pathname.slice(base.length)
+    : pathname;
+  const current = path || "/";
+  if (href === "/") {
+    return current === "/";
+  }
+  return current === href || current.startsWith(`${href}/`);
+}
+
+export function isSectionActive(pathname: string, base: string, href: string) {
   const path = pathname.startsWith(base)
     ? pathname.slice(base.length)
     : pathname;
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/cache.ts b/ui/src/lib/panel/cache.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ddf090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/cache.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// A small keyed cache behind the panel: the conversation index and the
+// last threads land here so the next open paints before the network
+// answers. localStorage when it exists, memory otherwise.
+export interface PanelCache {
+  get: <T>(key: string) => T | null;
+  set: (key: string, value: unknown) => void;
+}
+
+const memory = new Map<string, string>();
+
+function storage(): Pick<Storage, "getItem" | "setItem" | "removeItem"> {
+  try {
+    if (typeof localStorage !== "undefined") {
+      return localStorage;
+    }
+  } catch {
+    /* sandboxed */
+  }
+  return {
+    getItem: (key) => memory.get(key) ?? null,
+    removeItem: (key) => {
+      memory.delete(key);
+    },
+    setItem: (key, value) => {
+      memory.set(key, value);
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+export function panelCache(prefix: string): PanelCache {
+  const store = storage();
+  return {
+    get<T>(key: string): T | null {
+      try {
+        const raw = store.getItem(`${prefix}:${key}`);
+        return raw ? (JSON.parse(raw) as T) : null;
+      } catch {
+        return null;
+      }
+    },
+    set(key: string, value: unknown): void {
+      try {
+        store.setItem(`${prefix}:${key}`, JSON.stringify(value));
+      } catch {
+        store.removeItem(`${prefix}:${key}`);
+      }
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/chat-view.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/chat-view.svelte
index 50e33a2..707c16d 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/chat-view.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/chat-view.svelte
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { tick } from "svelte";
+  import { tick, untrack } from "svelte";
   import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
   import type { ContentBlock, HistoryMessage } from "$lib/api/types";
   import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
   import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import { Switch } from "$lib/components/ui/switch";
   import { clip } from "$lib/format";
   import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
   import type { ActivityModel } from "./activity.svelte";
   import { summarizeInput, toolLabel } from "./activity.svelte";
+  import { usePanelHost } from "./host";
   import Markdown from "./markdown.svelte";
   import QuestionCard from "./question-card.svelte";
   import TurnCard from "./turn-card.svelte";
@@ -27,6 +26,8 @@
   } = $props();
 
   const RESULT_CLIP = 600;
+  const CACHED_MESSAGES = 80;
+  const host = usePanelHost();
   const NEAR_BOTTOM_PX = 120;
   const TICK_MS = 1000;
 
@@ -53,9 +54,21 @@
 
   async function load() {
     failure = null;
+    if (messages === null) {
+      const cached = host.cache?.get<HistoryMessage[]>(
+        `history:${conversationId}`
+      );
+      if (cached) {
+        messages = cached;
+      }
+    }
     try {
       ({ messages } = await client.history(conversationId));
       loadedAt = new Date().toISOString();
+      host.cache?.set(
+        `history:${conversationId}`,
+        messages.slice(-CACHED_MESSAGES)
+      );
     } catch (cause) {
       failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
     }
@@ -80,7 +93,7 @@
   $effect(() => {
     if (refreshKey >= 0) {
       pinned = true;
-      load();
+      untrack(() => load());
     }
   });
 
@@ -115,6 +128,28 @@
     return () => clearInterval(timer);
   });
 
+  const SYSTEM_HEAD = /^\[[^\]\n]+\]/;
+  let openSystem = $state<Set<number>>(new Set());
+
+  function systemText(message: HistoryMessage): string | null {
+    if (message.role !== "user" || typeof message.content !== "string") {
+      return null;
+    }
+    return SYSTEM_HEAD.test(message.content.trimStart())
+      ? message.content
+      : null;
+  }
+
+  function toggleSystem(index: number) {
+    const next = new Set(openSystem);
+    if (next.has(index)) {
+      next.delete(index);
+    } else {
+      next.add(index);
+    }
+    openSystem = next;
+  }
+
   function blocks(message: HistoryMessage): ContentBlock[] {
     return typeof message.content === "string"
       ? [{ text: message.content, type: "text" }]
@@ -147,20 +182,22 @@
   bind:this={scroller}
 >
   <div class="flex flex-col gap-3" bind:this={body}>
-    <span
-      class="flex items-center gap-2 self-end text-muted-foreground text-xs"
+    <button
+      class="rule-word self-end text-xs"
+      data-active={showResults}
+      onclick={() => {
+        showResults = !showResults;
+      }}
+      type="button"
     >
-      <Switch aria-label="Show tool results" bind:checked={showResults} />
-      show tool results
-    </span>
+      {showResults ? "hide tool results" : "show tool results"}
+    </button>
     {#if failure}
       <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
     {:else if messages === null}
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <Skeleton class="h-10 w-2/3" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-16 w-full" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-10 w-1/2" />
-      </div>
+      <p class="py-6 text-center text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+        Loading the thread…
+      </p>
     {:else if messages.length === 0 && tail.length === 0}
       <EmptyState
         hint="Nothing has been said here yet. Write below, or wait for the first inject."
@@ -170,7 +207,21 @@
       {#each messages as message, index (index)}
         {@const parts = blocks(message)}
         {@const isResultOnly = parts.every((b) => b.type === "tool_result")}
-        {#if !(isResultOnly && !showResults)}
+        {@const system = systemText(message)}
+        {#if system}
+          <button
+            aria-expanded={openSystem.has(index)}
+            class="self-center max-w-[75ch] rounded-md px-2 py-1 text-left font-mono text-muted-foreground text-xs hover:bg-accent"
+            onclick={() => toggleSystem(index)}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            {#if openSystem.has(index)}
+              <span class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words">{system}</span>
+            {:else}
+              <span class="truncate">{clip(system.split("\n")[0], 120)}</span>
+            {/if}
+          </button>
+        {:else if !(isResultOnly && !showResults)}
           <div
             class={cn(
             "flex flex-col gap-1.5",
@@ -181,9 +232,11 @@
               {#if block.type === "text" && block.text}
                 <Markdown
                   class={cn(
-                  "max-w-[75ch] rounded-lg px-3 py-2",
-                  message.role === "user" ? "bg-primary/10" : "bg-muted/50"
-                )}
+                    "max-w-[75ch]",
+                    message.role === "user"
+                      ? "rounded-2xl rounded-br-md bg-primary/10 px-3.5 py-2"
+                      : "px-1 py-1"
+                  )}
                   text={block.text}
                 />
               {:else if block.type === "tool_use"}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/composer.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/composer.svelte
index 68506bd..3392cbb 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/composer.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/composer.svelte
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import SendHorizontalIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/send-horizontal";
+  import ArrowUpIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/arrow-up";
   import { toast } from "svelte-sonner";
   import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import * as Select from "$lib/components/ui/select";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
 
   let {
     client,
@@ -17,28 +16,31 @@
 
   type Mode = "message" | "inject" | "urgent";
   const MODES: { value: Mode; label: string; hint: string }[] = [
+    { hint: "as you, mirrored to the window", label: "Say", value: "message" },
     {
-      hint: "as the user, mirrored to Telegram",
-      label: "Message",
-      value: "message",
-    },
-    {
-      hint: "system note, rides with the next turn",
+      hint: "a system note for the next turn",
       label: "Inject",
       value: "inject",
     },
-    {
-      hint: "interrupts the running turn",
-      label: "Urgent inject",
-      value: "urgent",
-    },
+    { hint: "interrupts the running turn", label: "Urgent", value: "urgent" },
   ];
+  const MAX_ROWS = 10;
+  const LINE_PX = 22;
 
   let mode = $state<Mode>("message");
   let text = $state("");
   let busy = $state(false);
+  let area = $state<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
   const current = $derived(MODES.find((m) => m.value === mode) ?? MODES[0]);
 
+  function grow() {
+    if (!area) {
+      return;
+    }
+    area.style.height = "auto";
+    area.style.height = `${Math.min(area.scrollHeight, LINE_PX * MAX_ROWS)}px`;
+  }
+
   async function send() {
     const body = text.trim();
     if (!body || busy) {
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@
         );
       }
       text = "";
+      queueMicrotask(grow);
     } catch (error) {
       toast.error(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
     } finally {
@@ -72,57 +75,60 @@
 </script>
 
 <form
-  class="flex flex-col gap-2 border-t bg-background px-3 py-2"
+  class="flex flex-col gap-1.5 px-3 pt-2 pb-[max(0.5rem,var(--beaver-inset-bottom,0px))] @md:px-6"
   onsubmit={(event) => {
     event.preventDefault();
     send();
   }}
 >
-  <textarea
-    aria-label="Message"
-    class="min-h-16 w-full resize-y rounded-md border bg-input/30 px-3 py-2 text-sm focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-3 focus-visible:ring-ring/30"
-    {disabled}
-    onkeydown={onKeydown}
-    placeholder={mode === "message"
-      ? "Say something to the agent…"
-      : "Text of the inject…"}
-    rows="2"
-    bind:value={text}
-  ></textarea>
-  <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
-    <Select.Root
-      onValueChange={(value) => {
-        mode = value as Mode;
-      }}
-      type="single"
-      value={mode}
-    >
-      <Select.Trigger class="h-8 text-xs" size="sm"
-        >{current.label}</Select.Trigger
-      >
-      <Select.Content>
-        {#each MODES as option (option.value)}
-          <Select.Item label={option.label} value={option.value}>
-            <span class="flex flex-col">
-              <span>{option.label}</span>
-              <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">{option.hint}</span>
-            </span>
-          </Select.Item>
-        {/each}
-      </Select.Content>
-    </Select.Root>
-    <span class="hidden text-muted-foreground text-xs @md:inline"
-      >{current.hint}</span
-    >
-    <Button
-      class="ml-auto"
+  <div
+    class={cn(
+      "flex items-end gap-2 rounded-xl bg-strip px-3 py-2 shadow-lift ring-1 ring-border focus-within:ring-ring",
+      disabled && "opacity-60"
+    )}
+  >
+    <textarea
+      aria-label="Message"
+      class="max-h-56 min-h-6 w-full resize-none bg-transparent py-0.5 text-sm leading-[22px] outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground"
+      {disabled}
+      oninput={grow}
+      onkeydown={onKeydown}
+      placeholder={disabled
+        ? "This conversation is closed."
+        : `${current.label} something… (⌘↩)`}
+      rows="1"
+      bind:this={area}
+      bind:value={text}
+    ></textarea>
+    <button
+      aria-label="Send"
+      class="inline-flex size-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary text-primary-foreground transition-opacity disabled:opacity-30"
       disabled={disabled || busy || !text.trim()}
-      size="sm"
       type="submit"
     >
-      <SendHorizontalIcon class="size-4" />
-      Send
-      <kbd class="hidden text-[10px] opacity-70 @md:inline">⌘↩</kbd>
-    </Button>
+      <ArrowUpIcon class="size-4" />
+    </button>
+  </div>
+  <div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-1">
+    {#each MODES as option (option.value)}
+      <button
+        class={cn(
+          "rule-word text-xs",
+          mode === option.value && "text-foreground",
+          option.value === "urgent" && mode === option.value && "text-destructive"
+        )}
+        data-active={mode === option.value}
+        onclick={() => {
+          mode = option.value;
+        }}
+        title={option.hint}
+        type="button"
+      >
+        {option.label}
+      </button>
+    {/each}
+    <span class="hidden truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs @md:inline">
+      {current.hint}
+    </span>
   </div>
 </form>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/context-view.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/context-view.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93c3903
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/context-view.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,395 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
+  import type { ContextResponse, VaultGraph } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
+  import { fmtRelative, fmtTokens } from "$lib/format";
+  import Graph, {
+    type GraphEdge,
+    type GraphNode,
+  } from "$lib/shell/graph.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import { usePanelHost } from "./host";
+
+  let {
+    client,
+    conversationId,
+    window = 1_000_000,
+  }: {
+    client: ApiClient;
+    conversationId: string;
+    window?: number;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const HARNESS_EST = 15_000;
+  const FILES_SHOWN = 12;
+  const MD_SUFFIX = /\.md$/;
+
+  const host = usePanelHost();
+  let data = $state<ContextResponse | null>(null);
+  let graph = $state<VaultGraph | null>(null);
+  let graphError = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let promptOpen = $state(false);
+  let promptText = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let filesOpen = $state(false);
+
+  async function load() {
+    failure = null;
+    try {
+      data = await client.context(conversationId);
+    } catch (cause) {
+      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+      return;
+    }
+    const paths = data.files.map((f) => f.path);
+    if (paths.length === 0) {
+      graph = null;
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      graph = await client.vaultGraph(paths.slice(0, 40));
+      graphError = null;
+    } catch (cause) {
+      graph = null;
+      graphError = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function showPrompt() {
+    promptOpen = !promptOpen;
+    if (promptOpen && promptText === null) {
+      try {
+        const full = await client.context(conversationId, true);
+        promptText = full.prompt_text ?? "";
+      } catch (cause) {
+        promptText = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  onMount(load);
+
+  interface Layer {
+    label: string;
+    tokens: number;
+    tone: string;
+  }
+
+  const layers = $derived.by((): Layer[] => {
+    if (!data) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    const prompt = data.prompt.tokens_est;
+    const skills = data.skills_tokens_est;
+    const harness = Math.min(
+      HARNESS_EST,
+      Math.max(0, data.context_tokens - prompt - skills)
+    );
+    const history = Math.max(
+      0,
+      data.context_tokens - prompt - skills - harness
+    );
+    return [
+      { label: "harness", tokens: harness, tone: "bg-muted-foreground/40" },
+      { label: "prompt", tokens: prompt, tone: "bg-primary" },
+      { label: "skills", tokens: skills, tone: "bg-kind-deep" },
+      { label: "history & tools", tokens: history, tone: "bg-kind-branch" },
+    ];
+  });
+  const total = $derived(data?.context_tokens ?? 0);
+  const share = (tokens: number) =>
+    total > 0 ? `${Math.max(0.5, (tokens / total) * 100)}%` : "0%";
+
+  const graphNodes = $derived.by((): GraphNode[] => {
+    if (!graph) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    const single = graph.nodes.filter((n) => n.touched).length === 1;
+    return graph.nodes.map((n) => ({
+      href: n.exists ? n.path : undefined,
+      id: n.path,
+      kind: "file",
+      label: n.title,
+      ring: ringOf(n.touched, single),
+      state: stateOf(n.touched, n.exists),
+    }));
+  });
+  const graphEdges = $derived.by((): GraphEdge[] =>
+    graph ? graph.edges.map((e) => ({ from: e.from, to: e.to })) : []
+  );
+  const files = $derived(
+    filesOpen ? (data?.files ?? []) : (data?.files ?? []).slice(0, FILES_SHOWN)
+  );
+
+  function ringOf(touched: boolean, single: boolean): number {
+    if (!touched) {
+      return 2;
+    }
+    return single ? 0 : 1;
+  }
+
+  function stateOf(touched: boolean, exists: boolean): GraphNode["state"] {
+    if (!touched) {
+      return "ghost";
+    }
+    return exists ? "quiet" : "closed";
+  }
+
+  function openNote(path: string) {
+    host.openLink(path.replace(MD_SUFFIX, ""), "internal");
+  }
+
+  function touch(file: {
+    reads: number;
+    writes: number;
+    other: number;
+  }): string {
+    const parts: string[] = [];
+    if (file.reads) {
+      parts.push(`read ×${file.reads}`);
+    }
+    if (file.writes) {
+      parts.push(`wrote ×${file.writes}`);
+    }
+    if (file.other) {
+      parts.push(`touched ×${file.other}`);
+    }
+    return parts.join(" · ");
+  }
+</script>
+
+<div class="@container flex max-w-5xl flex-col gap-8">
+  {#if failure}
+    <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
+  {:else if !data}
+    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Reading the context…</p>
+  {:else}
+    <section class="flex flex-col gap-3">
+      <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
+        <span
+          class="tabular font-semibold text-3xl leading-none tracking-tight"
+        >
+          {fmtTokens(total)}
+        </span>
+        <span class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+          of {fmtTokens(window)} · {data.turns}
+          {data.turns === 1 ? "turn" : "turns"}
+          · {data.agent.model}
+          {data.agent.effort
+            ? ` · ${data.agent.effort}`
+            : ""}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+      <div class="flex h-2 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-muted">
+        {#each layers as layer (layer.label)}
+          {#if layer.tokens > 0}
+            <span
+              class={cn("h-full", layer.tone)}
+              style="width: {share(layer.tokens)}"
+              title="{layer.label}: {fmtTokens(layer.tokens)}"
+            ></span>
+          {/if}
+        {/each}
+      </div>
+      <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-x-5 gap-y-1 text-xs">
+        {#each layers as layer (layer.label)}
+          <span class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+            <span class={cn("size-2 rounded-full", layer.tone)}></span>
+            <span class="text-muted-foreground">{layer.label}</span>
+            <span class="tabular">{fmtTokens(layer.tokens)}</span>
+          </span>
+        {/each}
+        <span class="text-muted-foreground/70"
+          >estimates, except the total</span
+        >
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
+    <div class="grid gap-8 @3xl:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_22rem]">
+      <div class="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-8">
+        <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+          <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
+            <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">System prompt</h2>
+            <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              {fmtTokens(data.prompt.tokens_est)}
+              · {data.prompt.granules.length} granules
+            </span>
+            <button
+              class="rule-word ml-auto text-xs"
+              data-active={promptOpen}
+              onclick={showPrompt}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              {promptOpen ? "hide text" : "read it"}
+            </button>
+          </div>
+          <div class="bay-rack">
+            {#each data.prompt.granules as g, index (index)}
+              <div class="strip text-sm">
+                <span
+                  class="size-2 justify-self-center rounded-full bg-primary"
+                ></span>
+                <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col leading-tight">
+                  <button
+                    class="truncate text-left font-medium hover:underline"
+                    onclick={() => g.path && openNote(g.path)}
+                    type="button"
+                  >
+                    {g.path ?? "verbatim prompt"}
+                  </button>
+                  {#if g.tag}
+                    <span
+                      class="truncate font-mono text-[10px] text-muted-foreground"
+                    >
+                      &lt;{g.tag}&gt;
+                    </span>
+                  {/if}
+                </span>
+                <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                  {fmtTokens(g.tokens_est)}
+                </span>
+              </div>
+            {/each}
+          </div>
+          {#if promptOpen}
+            <pre
+              class="max-h-[32rem] overflow-auto rounded-lg border bg-strip p-3 text-xs whitespace-pre-wrap break-words"
+            >{promptText ?? "…"}</pre>
+          {/if}
+        </section>
+
+        <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+          <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
+            <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Skills</h2>
+            <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              {data.skills.reduce((n, s) => n + s.skills.length, 0)}
+              loaded
+            </span>
+          </div>
+          {#if data.skills.length === 0}
+            <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">None for this kind.</p>
+          {:else}
+            <div class="bay-rack">
+              {#each data.skills as set (set.path)}
+                {#each set.skills as skill (skill.path)}
+                  <div class="strip text-sm">
+                    <span
+                      class="size-2 justify-self-center rounded-full bg-kind-deep"
+                    ></span>
+                    <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col leading-tight">
+                      <span class="truncate font-medium">{skill.name}</span>
+                      {#if skill.description}
+                        <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                          {skill.description}
+                        </span>
+                      {/if}
+                    </span>
+                    <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">{set.set}</span>
+                  </div>
+                {/each}
+              {/each}
+            </div>
+          {/if}
+        </section>
+
+        <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+          <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Tools</h2>
+          <dl
+            class="grid grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)] gap-x-3 gap-y-1 text-xs"
+          >
+            {#if Object.keys(data.tool_counts).length > 0}
+              <dt class="text-muted-foreground">used</dt>
+              <dd class="tabular">
+                {Object.entries(data.tool_counts)
+                  .sort((a, b) => b[1] - a[1])
+                  .map(([name, n]) => `${name.replace("mcp__", "")} ×${n}`)
+                  .join("  ")}
+              </dd>
+            {/if}
+            {#if data.tools.gateway.length}
+              <dt class="text-muted-foreground">gateway</dt>
+              <dd>{data.tools.gateway.join(", ")}</dd>
+            {/if}
+            {#if data.tools.mcps.length}
+              <dt class="text-muted-foreground">mcp</dt>
+              <dd>{data.tools.mcps.join(", ")}</dd>
+            {/if}
+            {#if data.tools.allowed}
+              <dt class="text-muted-foreground">allowed</dt>
+              <dd>{data.tools.allowed.join(", ")}</dd>
+            {/if}
+            {#if data.tools.disallowed.length}
+              <dt class="text-muted-foreground">off</dt>
+              <dd class="text-muted-foreground">
+                {data.tools.disallowed.join(", ")}
+              </dd>
+            {/if}
+          </dl>
+        </section>
+      </div>
+
+      <div class="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-8">
+        <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+          <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
+            <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Notes it reached</h2>
+            <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs"
+              >{data.files.length}</span
+            >
+          </div>
+          {#if graph && graph.nodes.length > 0}
+            <div class="rounded-lg border bg-strip/60 p-2">
+              <Graph edges={graphEdges} nodes={graphNodes} onOpen={openNote} />
+            </div>
+            <p class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              Solid: read or written by this thread. Hollow: one link away, not
+              reached.
+            </p>
+          {:else if graphError}
+            <p class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">{graphError}</p>
+          {/if}
+          {#if data.files.length === 0}
+            <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">No files touched yet.</p>
+          {:else}
+            <div class="bay-rack">
+              {#each files as file (file.path)}
+                <button
+                  class="strip w-full text-left text-sm"
+                  onclick={() => openNote(file.path)}
+                  type="button"
+                >
+                  <span
+                    class={cn(
+                      "size-2 justify-self-center rounded-full",
+                      file.writes ? "bg-primary" : "bg-kind-branch"
+                    )}
+                  ></span>
+                  <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col leading-tight">
+                    <span class="truncate font-medium">{file.path}</span>
+                    <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs"
+                      >{touch(file)}</span
+                    >
+                  </span>
+                  <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                    {fmtRelative(file.last_at)}
+                  </span>
+                </button>
+              {/each}
+            </div>
+            {#if data.files.length > FILES_SHOWN}
+              <button
+                class="rule-word self-start text-xs"
+                onclick={() => {
+                  filesOpen = !filesOpen;
+                }}
+                type="button"
+              >
+                {filesOpen ? "fewer" : `all ${data.files.length}`}
+              </button>
+            {/if}
+          {/if}
+        </section>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-header.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-header.svelte
index 191ecee..167cd79 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-header.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-header.svelte
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+  import ChevronDownIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/chevron-down";
   import GitBranchIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/git-branch";
   import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
   import type { LiveState } from "$lib/api/live.svelte";
   import type { ConversationInfo } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import KindBadge from "$lib/components/kind-badge.svelte";
-  import LiveDot from "$lib/components/live-dot.svelte";
-  import StatusPill from "$lib/components/status-pill.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import { clip, fmtRelative, shortId } from "$lib/format";
+  import { fmtRelative, fmtTokens, shortId } from "$lib/format";
+  import KindMark from "$lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import BindingsList from "./bindings-list.svelte";
   import BranchDialog from "./branch-dialog.svelte";
   import ConversationMenu from "./conversation-menu.svelte";
+  import QueueList from "./queue-list.svelte";
 
   let {
     client,
@@ -20,63 +21,119 @@
     onChanged,
     onOpen,
     showTitle = true,
+    view = $bindable("chat"),
+    onContext,
   }: {
     client: ApiClient;
     info: ConversationInfo;
     liveState: LiveState;
     liveDetail?: string | null;
-    // Where another conversation lives as a link; without it, parents open in place.
     href?: ((id: string) => string) | null;
     onChanged: () => void;
     onOpen: (id: string) => void;
     showTitle?: boolean;
+    view?: string;
+    onContext?: () => void;
   } = $props();
 
-  let branchOpen = $state(false);
+  const VIEWS = [
+    { label: "Thread", value: "chat" },
+    { label: "Activity", value: "activity" },
+    { label: "Raw", value: "raw" },
+    { label: "Context", value: "context" },
+  ];
 
-  const WINDOW_MAX = 56;
-  const windows = $derived(info.bindings.filter((b) => b.visible));
+  let branchOpen = $state(false);
+  let detailsOpen = $state(false);
+
+  const mood = $derived.by(() => {
+    if (info.running_turn) {
+      return {
+        dot: "bg-signal animate-pulse-dot",
+        text: "in motion",
+        tone: "text-signal",
+      };
+    }
+    if (info.pending_question) {
+      return {
+        dot: "bg-attention",
+        text: "waiting for you",
+        tone: "text-attention-foreground",
+      };
+    }
+    if (info.status !== "open") {
+      return {
+        dot: "bg-muted-foreground/50",
+        text: info.status,
+        tone: "text-muted-foreground",
+      };
+    }
+    return {
+      dot: "bg-muted-foreground/50",
+      text: `quiet · ${fmtRelative(info.last_activity_at)}`,
+      tone: "text-muted-foreground",
+    };
+  });
   const queued = $derived(
     info.queue.filter((item) => item.status === "queued").length
   );
+  const connection = $derived(
+    liveState === "open" ? null : (liveDetail ?? liveState)
+  );
 </script>
 
-<header class="flex flex-col gap-1.5 border-b px-3 py-2.5 @md:px-6">
-  <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1">
+<header class="flex flex-col border-b bg-background/80 backdrop-blur-md">
+  <div class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 @md:px-6">
     {#if showTitle}
-      <KindBadge kind={info.kind} />
+      <KindMark kind={info.kind} />
       <h1 class="min-w-0 truncate font-semibold text-base tracking-tight">
         {info.title || `${info.kind} ${shortId(info.id)}`}
       </h1>
     {/if}
-    <StatusPill status={info.running_turn ? "running" : info.status} />
-    {#if info.pending_question}
-      <span class="font-medium text-link text-xs">question pending</span>
+    <span class={cn("flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5 text-xs", mood.tone)}>
+      <span class={cn("size-1.5 rounded-full", mood.dot)}></span>
+      <span class="hidden @sm:inline">{mood.text}</span>
+    </span>
+    {#if queued > 0}
+      <span
+        class="tabular text-note text-xs"
+        title="messages waiting for the next turn"
+      >
+        +{queued}
+      </span>
     {/if}
-    <div class="ml-auto flex items-center gap-1">
-      <LiveDot
-        class="hidden @md:inline-flex"
-        detail={liveDetail}
-        state={liveState}
-      />
-      <LiveDot
-        class="@md:hidden"
-        detail={liveDetail}
-        label={false}
-        state={liveState}
-      />
-      <Button
+    {#if connection}
+      <span class="truncate text-warn text-xs" title={liveDetail ?? undefined}>
+        {connection}
+      </span>
+    {/if}
+    <div class="ml-auto flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1">
+      {#if info.context_tokens}
+        <button
+          class="rule-word tabular inline-flex h-7 items-center gap-1 rounded-md px-2 text-xs hover:bg-accent"
+          onclick={() => {
+            view = "context";
+            onContext?.();
+          }}
+          title="context of the last turn - what the model is holding"
+          type="button"
+        >
+          {fmtTokens(info.context_tokens)}
+          <span class="text-muted-foreground/70">/ 1M</span>
+        </button>
+      {/if}
+      <button
         aria-label="Branch off this conversation"
+        class="rule-word inline-flex size-7 items-center justify-center rounded-md hover:bg-accent disabled:opacity-40"
         disabled={info.status !== "open"}
         onclick={() => {
           branchOpen = true;
         }}
-        size="sm"
-        variant="outline"
+        title="Branch off"
+        type="button"
       >
         <GitBranchIcon class="size-4" />
-        <span class="hidden @md:inline">Branch</span>
-      </Button>
+      </button>
       <ConversationMenu
         {client}
         current
@@ -86,59 +143,99 @@
         {onChanged}
         {onOpen}
       />
+      <button
+        aria-expanded={detailsOpen}
+        aria-label="Details"
+        class={cn(
+          "rule-word inline-flex size-7 items-center justify-center rounded-md hover:bg-accent",
+          detailsOpen && "bg-accent text-foreground"
+        )}
+        onclick={() => {
+          detailsOpen = !detailsOpen;
+        }}
+        title="Details"
+        type="button"
+      >
+        <ChevronDownIcon
+          class={cn("size-4 transition-transform", detailsOpen && "rotate-180")}
+        />
+      </button>
     </div>
   </div>
-  <!-- Below @md the column is the live thread's; the rest of this lives in Meta. -->
-  <div
-    class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-0.5 text-muted-foreground text-xs"
-  >
-    <span class="hidden @md:inline">{info.agent}</span>
-    <span class="hidden @md:inline">via {info.origin}</span>
-    {#if info.parent}
-      {#if href}
-        <a class="text-link hover:underline" href={href(info.parent)}>
-          parent {shortId(info.parent)}
-        </a>
-      {:else}
-        <button
-          class="text-link hover:underline"
-          onclick={() => info.parent && onOpen(info.parent)}
-          type="button"
-        >
-          parent {shortId(info.parent)}
-        </button>
-      {/if}
-    {/if}
-    <span class="tabular hidden @md:inline" title={info.id}>
-      {shortId(info.id)}
-    </span>
-    <span class="tabular hidden @md:inline">
-      {info.live ? "session live" : "no live session"}
-      {info.busy ? " · busy" : ""}
-    </span>
-    <span class="tabular">
-      last activity {fmtRelative(info.last_activity_at)}
-    </span>
-    {#if queued > 0}
-      <span
-        class="tabular font-medium text-note"
-        title="messages waiting for the next turn"
+  <div class="flex items-center gap-4 px-3 pb-1.5 @md:px-6">
+    {#each VIEWS as item (item.value)}
+      <button
+        class="rule-word text-xs"
+        data-active={view === item.value}
+        onclick={() => {
+          view = item.value;
+        }}
+        type="button"
       >
-        {queued}
-        queued
-      </span>
-    {/if}
+        {item.label}
+      </button>
+    {/each}
   </div>
-  {#if windows.length > 0}
+  {#if detailsOpen}
     <div
-      class="hidden flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-0.5 text-muted-foreground text-xs @md:flex"
+      class="animate-fade-in grid gap-x-6 gap-y-3 border-t px-3 py-3 text-xs @md:grid-cols-2 @md:px-6"
     >
-      {#each windows as window (window.frontend + window.external_id)}
-        <span class="truncate" title="{window.frontend}: {window.external_id}">
-          <span class="text-foreground/70">{window.frontend}</span>
-          {clip(window.external_id, WINDOW_MAX)}
-        </span>
-      {/each}
+      <dl class="grid grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)] gap-x-3 gap-y-1">
+        <dt class="text-muted-foreground">agent</dt>
+        <dd>{info.agent}</dd>
+        <dt class="text-muted-foreground">opened via</dt>
+        <dd>{info.origin}</dd>
+        {#if info.parent}
+          <dt class="text-muted-foreground">parent</dt>
+          <dd>
+            {#if href}
+              <a class="text-link hover:underline" href={href(info.parent)}>
+                {shortId(info.parent)}
+              </a>
+            {:else}
+              <button
+                class="text-link hover:underline"
+                onclick={() => info.parent && onOpen(info.parent)}
+                type="button"
+              >
+                {shortId(info.parent)}
+              </button>
+            {/if}
+          </dd>
+        {/if}
+        <dt class="text-muted-foreground">id</dt>
+        <dd class="tabular break-all">{info.id}</dd>
+        <dt class="text-muted-foreground">session</dt>
+        <dd class="tabular break-all">
+          {info.session_id ?? "none yet"}
+          {info.live ? " · process alive" : ""}
+        </dd>
+        {#if Object.keys(info.flags).length > 0}
+          <dt class="text-muted-foreground">flags</dt>
+          <dd class="tabular">
+            {Object.entries(info.flags)
+              .map(([k, v]) => `${k}=${JSON.stringify(v)}`)
+              .join(" ")}
+          </dd>
+        {/if}
+      </dl>
+      <div class="flex flex-col gap-3">
+        <div class="flex flex-col gap-1">
+          <span class="text-muted-foreground">windows</span>
+          <BindingsList
+            bindings={info.bindings}
+            {client}
+            conversationId={info.id}
+            {onChanged}
+          />
+        </div>
+        {#if info.queue.length > 0}
+          <div class="flex flex-col gap-1">
+            <span class="text-muted-foreground">queue</span>
+            <QueueList items={info.queue} />
+          </div>
+        {/if}
+      </div>
     </div>
   {/if}
 </header>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-picker.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-picker.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 95c433f..0000000
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-picker.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,219 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-  import CheckIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/check";
-  import Link2Icon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/link-2";
-  import Link2OffIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/link-2-off";
-  import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
-  import type { ConversationSummary, Kind } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
-  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import { Input } from "$lib/components/ui/input";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import ConversationRow from "./conversation-row.svelte";
-  import type { ConversationIndex } from "./index.svelte";
-
-  let {
-    client,
-    index,
-    selected = null,
-    onOpen,
-    follow = $bindable(false),
-    showFollow = false,
-    autofocus = false,
-  }: {
-    client: ApiClient;
-    index: ConversationIndex;
-    selected?: string | null;
-    onOpen: (id: string) => void;
-    follow?: boolean;
-    showFollow?: boolean;
-    autofocus?: boolean;
-  } = $props();
-
-  const GROUPS: { kind: Kind; label: string }[] = [
-    { kind: "master", label: "Master" },
-    { kind: "branch", label: "Branches" },
-    { kind: "deep", label: "Deep chats" },
-    { kind: "job", label: "Jobs" },
-    { kind: "fork", label: "Forks" },
-  ];
-
-  let search = $state("");
-  let withClosed = $state(false);
-  let list = $state<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
-  let searchInput = $state<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
-
-  function activityOf(row: ConversationSummary): string {
-    return row.last_activity_at ?? row.created_at ?? "";
-  }
-
-  function byActivity(a: ConversationSummary, b: ConversationSummary) {
-    if (Boolean(a.running_turn) !== Boolean(b.running_turn)) {
-      return a.running_turn ? -1 : 1;
-    }
-    return activityOf(b).localeCompare(activityOf(a));
-  }
-
-  const rows = $derived.by(() => {
-    const needle = search.trim().toLowerCase();
-    return index.conversations
-      .filter(
-        (row) => withClosed || row.status === "open" || row.id === selected
-      )
-      .filter(
-        (row) =>
-          !needle ||
-          (row.title ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle) ||
-          row.id.startsWith(needle) ||
-          row.agent.toLowerCase().includes(needle) ||
-          (row.last_item?.text ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle)
-      )
-      .sort(byActivity);
-  });
-  const groups = $derived(
-    GROUPS.map((group) => ({
-      ...group,
-      rows: rows.filter((row) => row.kind === group.kind),
-    })).filter((group) => group.rows.length > 0)
-  );
-
-  function refresh() {
-    index.load().catch(() => undefined);
-  }
-
-  // ↑/↓ walk the rows, / jumps to the search box, Enter is the button's own.
-  function onKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
-    if (event.key === "/" && event.target !== searchInput) {
-      event.preventDefault();
-      searchInput?.focus();
-      return;
-    }
-    if (event.key !== "ArrowDown" && event.key !== "ArrowUp") {
-      return;
-    }
-    const buttons = [
-      ...(list?.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>("[data-row]") ?? []),
-    ];
-    if (buttons.length === 0) {
-      return;
-    }
-    event.preventDefault();
-    const at = buttons.indexOf(document.activeElement as HTMLButtonElement);
-    const step = event.key === "ArrowDown" ? 1 : -1;
-    const next = at < 0 ? 0 : (at + step + buttons.length) % buttons.length;
-    buttons[next].focus();
-  }
-
-  $effect(() => {
-    if (autofocus) {
-      searchInput?.focus();
-    }
-  });
-</script>
-
-<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_noninteractive_element_interactions -->
-<div
-  aria-label="Conversations"
-  class="flex h-full min-h-0 flex-col"
-  onkeydown={onKeydown}
-  role="listbox"
-  tabindex="-1"
->
-  <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5 border-b px-2 py-1.5">
-    <Input
-      aria-label="Search conversations"
-      class="h-8 min-w-0 flex-1 text-xs"
-      placeholder="search"
-      bind:ref={searchInput}
-      bind:value={search}
-    />
-    <Button
-      aria-pressed={withClosed}
-      class="text-xs"
-      onclick={() => {
-        withClosed = !withClosed;
-      }}
-      size="xs"
-      title={withClosed
-        ? "Hide closed conversations"
-        : "Show closed conversations"}
-      variant={withClosed ? "secondary" : "ghost"}
-    >
-      {#if withClosed}
-        <CheckIcon class="size-3" />
-      {/if}
-      closed
-    </Button>
-    {#if showFollow}
-      <Button
-        aria-label="Follow the active note"
-        aria-pressed={follow}
-        onclick={() => {
-          follow = !follow;
-        }}
-        size="icon-sm"
-        title={follow
-          ? "Following the active note - click to pin this conversation"
-          : "Pinned - click to follow the active note"}
-        variant={follow ? "secondary" : "ghost"}
-      >
-        {#if follow}
-          <Link2Icon class="size-4" />
-        {:else}
-          <Link2OffIcon class="size-4" />
-        {/if}
-      </Button>
-    {/if}
-  </div>
-  <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto" bind:this={list}>
-    {#if index.live.state === "failed"}
-      <div class="p-3">
-        <ErrorNote
-          message={index.live.detail ?? "event stream failed"}
-          retry={() => index.start()}
-        />
-      </div>
-    {:else if !index.loaded}
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-3">
-        <Skeleton class="h-12 w-full" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-12 w-full" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-12 w-full" />
-      </div>
-    {:else if rows.length === 0}
-      <div class="p-3">
-        <EmptyState
-          hint={search
-            ? "Nothing matches. Try fewer letters, or include closed ones."
-            : "Nothing is open. Say something to the master in Telegram, or send a note from Obsidian."}
-          title="No conversations"
-        />
-      </div>
-    {:else}
-      {#each groups as group (group.kind)}
-        <section class="flex flex-col">
-          <h2
-            class="sticky top-0 z-10 bg-background/95 px-3 pt-3 pb-1 font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide backdrop-blur-sm"
-          >
-            {group.label}
-            <span class="tabular ml-1 normal-case tracking-normal">
-              {group.rows.length}
-            </span>
-          </h2>
-          <ul class="flex flex-col">
-            {#each group.rows as row (row.id)}
-              <li class="border-b last:border-b-0">
-                <ConversationRow
-                  {client}
-                  onChanged={refresh}
-                  {onOpen}
-                  {row}
-                  selected={selected === row.id}
-                />
-              </li>
-            {/each}
-          </ul>
-        </section>
-      {/each}
-    {/if}
-  </div>
-</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-row.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-row.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 0b09583..0000000
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-row.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,91 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-  import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
-  import type { ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import KindBadge from "$lib/components/kind-badge.svelte";
-  import StatusPill from "$lib/components/status-pill.svelte";
-  import { clip, fmtRelative, shortId } from "$lib/format";
-  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
-  import ConversationMenu from "./conversation-menu.svelte";
-  import { usePanelHost } from "./host";
-
-  let {
-    client,
-    row,
-    selected = false,
-    onOpen,
-    onChanged,
-  }: {
-    client: ApiClient;
-    row: ConversationSummary;
-    selected?: boolean;
-    onOpen: (id: string) => void;
-    onChanged: () => void;
-  } = $props();
-
-  const host = usePanelHost();
-  const TITLE_MAX = 60;
-  const PREVIEW_MAX = 90;
-
-  const title = $derived(
-    row.title
-      ? clip(row.title, TITLE_MAX)
-      : `${row.kind === "master" ? "Master" : row.kind} · ${shortId(row.id)}`
-  );
-  const when = $derived(row.last_activity_at ?? row.created_at ?? null);
-</script>
-
-<ConversationMenu
-  class={cn("group/row block", selected && "bg-sidebar-accent")}
-  {client}
-  current={selected}
-  id={row.id}
-  mode="context"
-  {onChanged}
-  {onOpen}
->
-  <div class="relative">
-    <button
-      aria-current={selected ? "true" : undefined}
-      class="row-hover flex w-full flex-col items-stretch justify-start gap-1 px-3 py-2 text-left text-sm"
-      data-row={row.id}
-      onclick={() => onOpen(row.id)}
-      type="button"
-    >
-      <span class="flex w-full items-center gap-2">
-        <KindBadge kind={row.kind} />
-        <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate font-medium">{title}</span>
-        <span class="tabular shrink-0 text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-          {fmtRelative(when)}
-        </span>
-      </span>
-      <span class="flex w-full items-center gap-2 pr-7 text-xs">
-        <StatusPill status={row.running_turn ? "running" : row.status} />
-        <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground">{row.agent}</span>
-        {#if row.pending_question}
-          <span class="shrink-0 font-medium text-link">question</span>
-        {/if}
-      </span>
-      {#if row.last_item}
-        <span
-          class="block w-full min-w-0 truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs"
-        >
-          <span class="text-foreground/70">{row.last_item.origin}:</span>
-          {clip(row.last_item.text, PREVIEW_MAX)}
-        </span>
-      {/if}
-    </button>
-    <ConversationMenu
-      class={cn(
-        "absolute right-1.5 bottom-1 size-7 opacity-0 transition-opacity focus-visible:opacity-100 group-hover/row:opacity-100 aria-expanded:opacity-100",
-        host.touch && "opacity-100",
-        row.last_item && "bottom-6"
-      )}
-      {client}
-      current={selected}
-      id={row.id}
-      mode="button"
-      {onChanged}
-      {onOpen}
-    />
-  </div>
-</ConversationMenu>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-view.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-view.svelte
index 5ca9f7e..e294ce6 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-view.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/conversation-view.svelte
@@ -2,15 +2,12 @@
   import { onMount, untrack } from "svelte";
   import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
   import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import * as Tabs from "$lib/components/ui/tabs";
   import ActivityFeed from "./activity-feed.svelte";
-  import BindingsList from "./bindings-list.svelte";
   import ChatView from "./chat-view.svelte";
   import Composer from "./composer.svelte";
+  import ContextView from "./context-view.svelte";
   import { ConversationFeed } from "./conversation.svelte";
   import ConversationHeader from "./conversation-header.svelte";
-  import QueueList from "./queue-list.svelte";
   import RawEntries from "./raw-entries.svelte";
 
   let {
@@ -19,6 +16,7 @@
     href = null,
     onOpen,
     showTitle = true,
+    initialView = "chat",
   }: {
     client: ApiClient;
     id: string;
@@ -26,13 +24,15 @@
     onOpen: (id: string) => void;
     // Off when a switcher above the thread already names it.
     showTitle?: boolean;
+    // "activity" beside a deep chat's own note: the file is the thread.
+    initialView?: string;
   } = $props();
 
   const feed = new ConversationFeed(
     () => client,
     untrack(() => id)
   );
-  let tab = $state("chat");
+  let view = $state(untrack(() => initialView));
   let historyKey = $state(0);
 
   onMount(() => {
@@ -61,9 +61,10 @@
   {#if feed.error && !info}
     <div class="p-4"><ErrorNote message={feed.error} retry={refresh} /></div>
   {:else if !info}
-    <div class="flex flex-col gap-3 p-4">
-      <Skeleton class="h-8 w-1/2" />
-      <Skeleton class="h-24 w-full" />
+    <div class="flex flex-1 items-center justify-center p-4">
+      <span
+        class="size-2 animate-pulse-dot rounded-full bg-muted-foreground/40"
+      ></span>
     </div>
   {:else}
     <ConversationHeader
@@ -75,49 +76,36 @@
       onChanged={refresh}
       {onOpen}
       {showTitle}
+      bind:view
     />
     <div class="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col">
-      <Tabs.Root class="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-0" bind:value={tab}>
-        <div class="border-b px-3 py-2 @md:px-6">
-          <Tabs.List class="w-fit max-w-full">
-            <Tabs.Trigger value="chat">Chat</Tabs.Trigger>
-            <Tabs.Trigger value="activity">Activity</Tabs.Trigger>
-            <Tabs.Trigger value="raw">Raw</Tabs.Trigger>
-            <Tabs.Trigger value="meta">Meta</Tabs.Trigger>
-          </Tabs.List>
-        </div>
-        <Tabs.Content class="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col" value="chat">
-          <ChatView
-            {client}
-            conversationId={id}
-            model={feed.model}
-            refreshKey={historyKey}
-          />
-        </Tabs.Content>
-        <Tabs.Content
-          class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-3 py-3 @md:px-6"
-          value="activity"
-        >
+      {#if view === "chat"}
+        <ChatView
+          {client}
+          conversationId={id}
+          model={feed.model}
+          refreshKey={historyKey}
+        />
+      {:else if view === "activity"}
+        <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-3 py-3 @md:px-6">
           <ActivityFeed
             {client}
             connected={feed.live.state === "open"}
             conversationId={id}
             model={feed.model}
           />
-        </Tabs.Content>
-        <Tabs.Content
-          class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-3 py-3 @md:px-6"
-          value="raw"
-        >
+        </div>
+      {:else if view === "context"}
+        <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-3 py-4 @md:px-6">
+          {#key historyKey}
+            <ContextView {client} conversationId={id} />
+          {/key}
+        </div>
+      {:else}
+        <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-3 py-3 @md:px-6">
           <RawEntries {client} conversationId={id} />
-        </Tabs.Content>
-        <Tabs.Content
-          class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-3 py-3 @md:px-6"
-          value="meta"
-        >
-          {@render meta()}
-        </Tabs.Content>
-      </Tabs.Root>
+        </div>
+      {/if}
       <Composer
         {client}
         conversationId={id}
@@ -126,60 +114,3 @@
     </div>
   {/if}
 </div>
-
-{#snippet meta()}
-  {#if info}
-    <div class="flex max-w-3xl flex-col gap-5">
-      <section class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Queue
-        </h2>
-        <QueueList items={info.queue} />
-      </section>
-      <section class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Windows
-        </h2>
-        <BindingsList
-          bindings={info.bindings}
-          {client}
-          conversationId={id}
-          onChanged={refresh}
-        />
-      </section>
-      <section class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Flags
-        </h2>
-        {#if Object.keys(info.flags).length === 0}
-          <p class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">No flags set.</p>
-        {:else}
-          <dl
-            class="grid grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)] gap-x-3 gap-y-1 text-xs"
-          >
-            {#each Object.entries(info.flags) as [key, value] (key)}
-              <dt class="text-muted-foreground">{key}</dt>
-              <dd class="truncate">{JSON.stringify(value)}</dd>
-            {/each}
-          </dl>
-        {/if}
-      </section>
-      <section class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Session
-        </h2>
-        <p class="tabular break-all text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-          {info.session_id ?? "no session yet"}
-        </p>
-      </section>
-    </div>
-  {/if}
-{/snippet}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/host.ts b/ui/src/lib/panel/host.ts
index ae02c80..eac9242 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/host.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/host.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getContext, setContext } from "svelte";
+import { type PanelCache, panelCache } from "./cache";
 
 export type LinkKind = "internal" | "external";
 
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@ export type LinkKind = "internal" | "external";
 // Obsidian plugin renders through MarkdownRenderer and opens notes in
 // place. Anything the host leaves undefined falls back to the browser way.
 export interface PanelHost {
+  // Where the index and the last threads persist between opens.
+  cache?: PanelCache;
   // Renders ``text`` into ``node``; returns the cleanup. Absent: marked + DOMPurify.
   markdown?: (node: HTMLElement, text: string) => (() => void) | undefined;
   name: "browser" | "obsidian";
@@ -35,6 +38,7 @@ export function browserHost(): PanelHost {
     return browser;
   }
   browser = {
+    cache: panelCache("beaver.panel"),
     name: "browser",
     openLink(target, kind) {
       if (kind === "internal") {
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/index.svelte.ts b/ui/src/lib/panel/index.svelte.ts
index 39af635..c48d503 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/index.svelte.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/index.svelte.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
 import { LiveStream } from "$lib/api/live.svelte";
 import type { BusEvent, ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
+import type { PanelCache } from "./cache";
 
 const RELOAD_DEBOUNCE_MS = 1500;
 const PAGE = 500;
+const CACHED_ROWS = 200;
+const INDEX_KEY = "index";
 
 // The conversation index kept fresh by ``/api/events``: rows land as
 // ``conversation.*`` events arrive, turn markers flip ``running_turn``
@@ -14,10 +17,17 @@ export class ConversationIndex {
   loaded = $state(false);
   readonly live: LiveStream;
   protected readonly client: () => ApiClient | null;
+  private readonly cache: PanelCache | null;
   private reloadTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
 
-  constructor(client: () => ApiClient | null) {
+  constructor(client: () => ApiClient | null, cache: PanelCache | null = null) {
     this.client = client;
+    this.cache = cache;
+    const cached = cache?.get<ConversationSummary[]>(INDEX_KEY);
+    if (cached && cached.length > 0) {
+      this.conversations = cached;
+      this.loaded = true;
+    }
     this.live = new LiveStream(client, "/api/events", {
       onEvent: (event) => this.apply(event),
       prepare: () => this.load(),
@@ -44,6 +54,7 @@ export class ConversationIndex {
     const list = await client.conversations({ limit: PAGE });
     this.conversations = list.conversations;
     this.loaded = true;
+    this.cache?.set(INDEX_KEY, list.conversations.slice(0, CACHED_ROWS));
   }
 
   apply(event: BusEvent): void {
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-bar.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-bar.svelte
index 0085ecc..c73f87e 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-bar.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-bar.svelte
@@ -3,19 +3,20 @@
   import Link2Icon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/link-2";
   import Link2OffIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/link-2-off";
   import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
-  import KindBadge from "$lib/components/kind-badge.svelte";
-  import LiveDot from "$lib/components/live-dot.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
   import * as Popover from "$lib/components/ui/popover";
   import { clip, shortId } from "$lib/format";
-  import ConversationPicker from "./conversation-picker.svelte";
+  import Rail from "$lib/rail/rail.svelte";
+  import KindMark from "$lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
   import type { ConversationIndex } from "./index.svelte";
+  import PanelIsland from "./panel-island.svelte";
 
   let {
     client,
     index,
     selected = null,
     onOpen,
+    onOpenFile,
     follow = $bindable(false),
     showFollow = false,
   }: {
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@
     index: ConversationIndex;
     selected?: string | null;
     onOpen: (id: string) => void;
+    onOpenFile?: (path: string) => void;
     follow?: boolean;
     showFollow?: boolean;
   } = $props();
@@ -30,10 +32,10 @@
   const TITLE_MAX = 48;
   let switcherOpen = $state(false);
   const current = $derived(selected ? index.byId(selected) : undefined);
-  const running = $derived(index.running.length);
 </script>
 
-<div class="flex items-center gap-1 border-b px-2 py-1.5">
+<div class="flex items-center gap-1.5 border-b px-2 py-1.5">
+  <PanelIsland compact {index} {onOpen} />
   <Popover.Root bind:open={switcherOpen}>
     <Popover.Trigger>
       {#snippet child({ props })}
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@
           type="button"
         >
           {#if current}
-            <KindBadge kind={current.kind} />
+            <KindMark kind={current.kind} />
             <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate font-medium">
               {current.title
                 ? clip(current.title, TITLE_MAX)
@@ -59,14 +61,6 @@
               Pick a conversation
             </span>
           {/if}
-          {#if running > 0 && !current?.running_turn}
-            <span
-              class="tabular shrink-0 rounded-full bg-signal/12 px-1.5 font-medium text-signal text-xs"
-              title="{running} running elsewhere"
-            >
-              {running}
-            </span>
-          {/if}
           <ChevronDownIcon class="size-3.5 shrink-0 text-icon" />
         </button>
       {/snippet}
@@ -76,44 +70,44 @@
       class="w-[min(24rem,calc(100vw-1rem))] gap-0 overflow-hidden p-0"
       sideOffset={6}
     >
-      <div class="flex max-h-[min(70vh,32rem)] flex-col">
-        <ConversationPicker
-          autofocus
+      <div class="flex h-[min(70vh,32rem)] flex-col">
+        <Rail
           {client}
           {index}
           onOpen={(id) => {
             switcherOpen = false;
             onOpen(id);
           }}
+          onOpenFile={(path) => {
+            switcherOpen = false;
+            onOpenFile?.(path);
+          }}
           {selected}
         />
       </div>
     </Popover.Content>
   </Popover.Root>
-  <LiveDot
-    class="px-1"
-    detail={index.live.detail}
-    label={false}
-    state={index.live.state}
-  />
   {#if showFollow}
-    <Button
+    <button
       aria-label="Follow the active note"
       aria-pressed={follow}
+      class={cn(
+        "rule-word inline-flex size-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-md",
+        follow && "bg-accent text-foreground"
+      )}
       onclick={() => {
         follow = !follow;
       }}
-      size="icon-sm"
       title={follow
         ? "Following the active note - click to pin this conversation"
         : "Pinned - click to follow the active note"}
-      variant={follow ? "secondary" : "ghost"}
+      type="button"
     >
       {#if follow}
         <Link2Icon class="size-4" />
       {:else}
         <Link2OffIcon class="size-4" />
       {/if}
-    </Button>
+    </button>
   {/if}
 </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-island.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-island.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7b94fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-island.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import type { ConversationIndex } from "./index.svelte";
+
+  let {
+    index,
+    onOpen,
+    compact = false,
+    class: className = "",
+  }: {
+    index: ConversationIndex;
+    onOpen: (id: string) => void;
+    compact?: boolean;
+    class?: string;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const waiting = $derived(index.open.filter((row) => row.pending_question));
+  const running = $derived(
+    index.open.filter((row) => row.running_turn && !row.pending_question)
+  );
+  const live = $derived(index.live.state);
+  const dot = $derived.by(() => {
+    if (live === "failed") {
+      return "bg-destructive";
+    }
+    if (live !== "open") {
+      return "bg-warn";
+    }
+    return running.length > 0 ? "bg-signal animate-pulse-dot" : "bg-ok";
+  });
+  const headline = $derived.by(() => {
+    if (live === "failed") {
+      return "offline";
+    }
+    if (live !== "open") {
+      return "connecting";
+    }
+    if (running.length === 0) {
+      return "idle";
+    }
+    return running.length === 1 ? "1 in motion" : `${running.length} in motion`;
+  });
+  const target = $derived(waiting[0] ?? running[0] ?? null);
+  const questions = $derived.by(() => {
+    if (compact) {
+      return String(waiting.length);
+    }
+    return waiting.length === 1 ? "1 question" : `${waiting.length} questions`;
+  });
+</script>
+
+<button
+  aria-label={target ? `Open ${target.title ?? target.kind}` : headline}
+  class={cn("island", compact && "gap-1.5 px-2.5", className)}
+  disabled={!target}
+  onclick={() => target && onOpen(target.id)}
+  title={index.live.detail ?? headline}
+  type="button"
+>
+  <span class={cn("size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full", dot)}></span>
+  {#if !compact}
+    <span class="font-medium">{headline}</span>
+  {/if}
+  {#if waiting.length > 0}
+    {#if !compact}
+      <span class="island-sep"></span>
+    {/if}
+    <span class="font-medium text-attention-foreground">{questions}</span>
+  {/if}
+</button>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-shell.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-shell.svelte
index 0393da4..cb0ea0d 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-shell.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel-shell.svelte
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { onMount } from "svelte";
   import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
-  import ConversationPicker from "./conversation-picker.svelte";
+  import Rail from "$lib/rail/rail.svelte";
   import ConversationView from "./conversation-view.svelte";
   import type { ConversationIndex } from "./index.svelte";
   import PanelBar from "./panel-bar.svelte";
+  import PanelIsland from "./panel-island.svelte";
 
   let {
     client,
@@ -13,12 +13,17 @@
     selected = $bindable(null),
     follow = $bindable(false),
     showFollow = false,
+    companion = false,
+    onOpenFile,
   }: {
     client: ApiClient;
     index: ConversationIndex;
     selected?: string | null;
     follow?: boolean;
     showFollow?: boolean;
+    // The thread lives in the note beside this panel: open on activity.
+    companion?: boolean;
+    onOpenFile?: (path: string) => void;
   } = $props();
 
   // 48rem of panel: below it the switcher names the thread, above it the rail does.
@@ -37,19 +42,17 @@
 </script>
 
 <!--
-impeccable direction contract (mode operate, brief-pinned world: beaver-calendar's Obsidian skin)
-THESIS: the agent's terminal, not a chat app. The thread is always on screen; picking a
-conversation is a header switch, never a screen of its own. Refuses the messenger's list-first
-layout and the admin's chrome.
-OWN-WORLD: Obsidian's own variables through .beaver-root - its font, radii, accent, and status
-colors; hairline rows, tabular numerals, uppercase 12px section labels; nothing pink.
-STORY: the operator opens a note, the panel follows to its conversation, they watch tools and
-subagents stream, answer a question, branch off with a chosen seed, send the branch back to
-Telegram, and close a deep chat with memory on or off - all from the sidedock.
-FIRST VIEWPORT: narrow column: the switcher (kind badge, title, live dot, follow toggle) over
-the thread header, tabs, the live thread and the composer pinned at the bottom. Wide tab:
-the same with the grouped conversation rail on the left. Primary action: write to the agent.
-FORM: two-pane operator console; pinned by the brief, no roll.
+impeccable direction contract (seed 071a8c77, mode operate, strip board × live activity, in Obsidian's skin)
+THESIS: the agent's front inside the vault, not a website in a pane. The island carries what is
+alive, the rail is the day's strips, the thread owns its column.
+OWN-WORLD: Obsidian's own variables through .beaver-root; strips with a state edge, hairline
+rules, tabular numerals; amber only for a question waiting; nothing decorative.
+STORY: the operator opens the tab and reads the island, picks today's strip, answers a question,
+watches tools stream; beside a deep chat the sidedock shows the agent's activity, never a
+second copy of the note.
+FIRST VIEWPORT: narrow: island + switcher over the thread and the composer pinned low. Wide:
+the rail with the island on top, the thread to the right.
+FORM: strip board × live activity; user-steered; seed key 071a8c77.
 FINISH: unreviewed and undocumented is unfinished; this build ends with the finish review,
 the verdict, and DESIGN.md
 -->
@@ -59,15 +62,11 @@ the verdict, and DESIGN.md
 >
   <div class="flex min-h-0 flex-1">
     {#if wide}
-      <aside class="flex w-72 shrink-0 flex-col border-r bg-sidebar/40">
-        <ConversationPicker
-          {client}
-          {index}
-          onOpen={open}
-          {selected}
-          {showFollow}
-          bind:follow
-        />
+      <aside class="flex w-80 shrink-0 flex-col border-r">
+        <div class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 pt-3 pb-1">
+          <PanelIsland {index} onOpen={open} />
+        </div>
+        <Rail {client} {index} onOpen={open} {onOpenFile} {selected} />
       </aside>
     {/if}
     <section class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col">
@@ -76,6 +75,7 @@ the verdict, and DESIGN.md
           {client}
           {index}
           onOpen={open}
+          {onOpenFile}
           {selected}
           {showFollow}
           bind:follow
@@ -86,19 +86,18 @@ the verdict, and DESIGN.md
           <ConversationView
             {client}
             id={selected}
+            initialView={companion ? "activity" : "chat"}
             onOpen={open}
             showTitle={wide}
           />
         {/key}
       {:else}
         <div class="flex flex-1 items-start justify-center p-4 @md:p-6">
-          <EmptyState
-            class="w-full max-w-md"
-            hint={showFollow
-              ? "Open a note with conversation_id in its frontmatter, or pick one from the list."
-              : "Pick one from the list: the master, a branch, a deep chat."}
-            title="No conversation on screen"
-          />
+          <p class="max-w-md text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+            {showFollow
+              ? "Open a note with a conversation in its frontmatter, or pick a strip."
+              : "Pick a strip: the master, a branch, a deep chat."}
+          </p>
         </div>
       {/if}
     </section>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/panel.css b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel.css
index 3bd943d..055249f 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/panel.css
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/panel.css
@@ -68,3 +68,146 @@
   column-gap: 0.75rem;
   align-items: center;
 }
+
+/* Strips: the one row vocabulary of the console. A strip is a physical
+   object in a bay: fixed columns, a state edge, lifts on hover, cocked
+   (pushed out) while it waits for the operator. */
+@layer components {
+  .strip {
+    position: relative;
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: 1.5rem minmax(0, 1fr) auto;
+    column-gap: 0.75rem;
+    align-items: center;
+    min-height: 2.75rem;
+    padding: 0.375rem 0.875rem 0.375rem 0.625rem;
+    color: var(--foreground);
+    text-decoration: none;
+    background: var(--strip);
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+    transition:
+      transform 200ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 1),
+      box-shadow 200ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 1),
+      background-color 150ms ease-out;
+  }
+  .strip::before {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 0.375rem;
+    bottom: 0.375rem;
+    left: 0;
+    width: 3px;
+    content: "";
+    background: transparent;
+    border-radius: 0 2px 2px 0;
+    transition: background-color 200ms ease-out;
+  }
+  .strip:first-child {
+    border-top-left-radius: var(--radius-md);
+    border-top-right-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  }
+  .strip:last-child {
+    border-bottom: 0;
+    border-bottom-right-radius: var(--radius-md);
+    border-bottom-left-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  }
+  .strip:hover,
+  .strip:focus-visible {
+    z-index: 1;
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow-lift);
+    transform: translateY(-1px);
+  }
+  .strip[data-state="running"]::before {
+    background: var(--signal);
+    animation: pulse-edge 1.6s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) infinite;
+  }
+  .strip[data-state="waiting"] {
+    z-index: 1;
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow-lift);
+    transform: translateX(0.5rem);
+  }
+  .strip[data-state="waiting"]::before {
+    background: var(--attention);
+  }
+  .strip[data-state="waiting"]:hover {
+    transform: translateX(0.5rem) translateY(-1px);
+  }
+  .strip[aria-current="true"] {
+    background: color-mix(in oklab, var(--strip) 85%, var(--primary) 15%);
+  }
+  .strip[data-state="closed"] {
+    color: var(--muted-foreground);
+  }
+  .strip-open {
+    display: block;
+    padding: 0.25rem 0.875rem 0.875rem 3rem;
+    background: var(--strip);
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+  }
+  .strip-open:last-child {
+    border-bottom: 0;
+    border-bottom-right-radius: var(--radius-md);
+    border-bottom-left-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  }
+  .bay {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: 0.5rem;
+  }
+  .bay-rack {
+    background: color-mix(in oklab, var(--rack) 70%, var(--strip) 30%);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border);
+    border-radius: calc(var(--radius-md) + 1px);
+    box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0
+      color-mix(in oklab, var(--foreground) 4%, transparent);
+  }
+  .island {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    gap: 0.625rem;
+    align-items: center;
+    height: 2.125rem;
+    padding: 0 0.875rem 0 0.75rem;
+    font-size: var(--text-sm);
+    color: var(--foreground);
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    background: var(--strip);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border);
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    box-shadow: 0 1px 2px oklch(0.2 0.06 340 / 0.06);
+    transition:
+      transform 220ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.9, 0.25, 1.1),
+      box-shadow 220ms ease-out,
+      background-color 150ms ease-out;
+  }
+  .island:hover,
+  .island[aria-expanded="true"] {
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow-lift);
+    transform: scale(1.02);
+  }
+  .island-sep {
+    width: 1px;
+    height: 1rem;
+    background: var(--border);
+  }
+  .doc {
+    max-width: 78ch;
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes pulse-edge {
+  0%,
+  100% {
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
+  50% {
+    opacity: 0.35;
+  }
+}
+
+@layer components {
+  .strip-child {
+    padding-left: 1.75rem;
+  }
+  .strip-child::before {
+    left: 1.125rem;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/panel/turn-card.svelte b/ui/src/lib/panel/turn-card.svelte
index a182fd6..d138fa6 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/panel/turn-card.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/panel/turn-card.svelte
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 <article
   class={cn(
-    "flex animate-rise flex-col gap-2 border-b py-3",
+    "flex flex-col gap-2 border-b py-3",
     turn.status === "running" && "bg-signal/[0.03]"
   )}
 >
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/rail/days.ts b/ui/src/lib/rail/days.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a43a829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/rail/days.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+import type { ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
+import { parseDate } from "$lib/format";
+import { byActivity } from "$lib/shell/state";
+
+export interface DayGroup {
+  branches: ConversationSummary[];
+  day: string;
+  deep: ConversationSummary[];
+  label: string;
+  live: boolean;
+  master: ConversationSummary | null;
+  others: ConversationSummary[];
+}
+
+const DAY_MS = 86_400_000;
+
+function localDay(iso: string | null | undefined): string {
+  const date = parseDate(iso) ?? new Date();
+  const y = date.getFullYear();
+  const m = String(date.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, "0");
+  const d = String(date.getDate()).padStart(2, "0");
+  return `${y}-${m}-${d}`;
+}
+
+export function dayLabel(day: string, now = new Date()): string {
+  const today = localDay(now.toISOString());
+  const yesterday = localDay(new Date(now.getTime() - DAY_MS).toISOString());
+  if (day === today) {
+    return "Today";
+  }
+  if (day === yesterday) {
+    return "Yesterday";
+  }
+  const date = new Date(`${day}T12:00:00`);
+  return date.toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
+    day: "numeric",
+    month: "short",
+    weekday: "short",
+  });
+}
+
+function activityOf(row: ConversationSummary): string {
+  return row.last_activity_at ?? row.created_at ?? "";
+}
+
+// Days as the operator remembers them: a master per day, its branches
+// under it, deep chats by the day they last moved, forks with their
+// parent's day. Jobs never enter the rail.
+export function groupByDay(
+  rows: ConversationSummary[],
+  now = new Date()
+): DayGroup[] {
+  const groups = new Map<string, DayGroup>();
+  const dayOfMaster = new Map<string, string>();
+  const group = (day: string): DayGroup => {
+    let found = groups.get(day);
+    if (!found) {
+      found = {
+        branches: [],
+        day,
+        deep: [],
+        label: dayLabel(day, now),
+        live: false,
+        master: null,
+        others: [],
+      };
+      groups.set(day, found);
+    }
+    return found;
+  };
+  const masters = rows
+    .filter((row) => row.kind === "master")
+    .sort((a, b) => (b.created_at ?? "").localeCompare(a.created_at ?? ""));
+  for (const master of masters) {
+    const day = localDay(master.created_at);
+    dayOfMaster.set(master.id, day);
+    const g = group(day);
+    if (!g.master || master.status === "open") {
+      g.master = master;
+    } else {
+      g.others.push(master);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const row of rows) {
+    if (row.kind === "master" || row.kind === "job") {
+      continue;
+    }
+    const parentDay = row.parent ? dayOfMaster.get(row.parent) : undefined;
+    const day = parentDay ?? localDay(activityOf(row));
+    const g = group(day);
+    if (row.kind === "branch") {
+      g.branches.push(row);
+    } else if (row.kind === "deep") {
+      g.deep.push(row);
+    } else {
+      g.others.push(row);
+    }
+  }
+  const out = [...groups.values()];
+  for (const g of out) {
+    g.branches.sort(byActivity);
+    g.deep.sort(byActivity);
+    g.others.sort(byActivity);
+    g.live = [g.master, ...g.branches, ...g.deep, ...g.others].some(
+      (row) => row && (row.running_turn || row.pending_question)
+    );
+  }
+  return out.sort((a, b) => b.day.localeCompare(a.day));
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/rail/new-conversation.svelte b/ui/src/lib/rail/new-conversation.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7db5c72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/rail/new-conversation.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { toast } from "svelte-sonner";
+  import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
+  import type { AgentInfo } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
+  import * as Dialog from "$lib/components/ui/dialog";
+  import { Input } from "$lib/components/ui/input";
+  import { Label } from "$lib/components/ui/label";
+  import * as Select from "$lib/components/ui/select";
+
+  let {
+    client,
+    open = $bindable(false),
+    onCreated,
+  }: {
+    client: ApiClient;
+    open?: boolean;
+    onCreated: (id: string) => void;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const KINDS = ["deep", "branch", "master", "job"];
+  let agents = $state<AgentInfo[]>([]);
+  let form = $state({ agent: "", kind: "deep", text: "", title: "" });
+  let busy = $state(false);
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (open && agents.length === 0) {
+      client
+        .agents()
+        .then((result) => {
+          ({ agents } = result);
+        })
+        .catch(() => undefined);
+    }
+  });
+
+  const agentsForKind = $derived(
+    agents.filter((a) =>
+      a.kinds.includes(form.kind as AgentInfo["kinds"][number])
+    )
+  );
+
+  async function create() {
+    busy = true;
+    try {
+      const created = await client.spawn({
+        agent: form.agent || undefined,
+        kind: form.kind,
+        seed: "clean",
+        text: form.text || undefined,
+        title: form.title || undefined,
+      });
+      open = false;
+      form = { agent: "", kind: "deep", text: "", title: "" };
+      onCreated(created.id);
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast.error(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
+    } finally {
+      busy = false;
+    }
+  }
+</script>
+
+<Dialog.Root bind:open>
+  <Dialog.Content>
+    <Dialog.Header>
+      <Dialog.Title>New conversation</Dialog.Title>
+      <Dialog.Description>
+        It opens in the home window of its kind (a vault file, a Telegram topic)
+        and stays silent until someone speaks.
+      </Dialog.Description>
+    </Dialog.Header>
+    <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
+      <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+        <Label>Kind</Label>
+        <Select.Root
+          onValueChange={(value) => {
+            form.kind = value;
+            form.agent = "";
+          }}
+          type="single"
+          value={form.kind}
+        >
+          <Select.Trigger class="w-full">{form.kind}</Select.Trigger>
+          <Select.Content>
+            {#each KINDS as option (option)}
+              <Select.Item label={option} value={option} />
+            {/each}
+          </Select.Content>
+        </Select.Root>
+      </div>
+      <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+        <Label>Agent</Label>
+        <Select.Root
+          onValueChange={(value) => {
+            form.agent = value === "default" ? "" : value;
+          }}
+          type="single"
+          value={form.agent || "default"}
+        >
+          <Select.Trigger class="w-full">
+            {form.agent || "frontend default"}
+          </Select.Trigger>
+          <Select.Content>
+            <Select.Item label="frontend default" value="default" />
+            {#each agentsForKind as agent (agent.name)}
+              <Select.Item label={agent.name} value={agent.name} />
+            {/each}
+          </Select.Content>
+        </Select.Root>
+      </div>
+      <div class="col-span-2 flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+        <Label for="new-title">Title</Label>
+        <Input id="new-title" placeholder="optional" bind:value={form.title} />
+      </div>
+      <div class="col-span-2 flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+        <Label for="new-text">First message</Label>
+        <textarea
+          class="min-h-20 rounded-md border bg-input/30 px-3 py-2 text-sm focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-3 focus-visible:ring-ring/30"
+          id="new-text"
+          placeholder="optional - without it the window waits"
+          bind:value={form.text}
+        ></textarea>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+    <Dialog.Footer>
+      <Button
+        onclick={() => {
+          // biome-ignore lint/suspicious/noGlobalAssign: bindable prop, not window.open
+          open = false;
+        }}
+        variant="ghost"
+      >
+        Cancel
+      </Button>
+      <Button disabled={busy} onclick={create}>Create</Button>
+    </Dialog.Footer>
+  </Dialog.Content>
+</Dialog.Root>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/rail/rail.svelte b/ui/src/lib/rail/rail.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed2dbd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/rail/rail.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,320 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import ChevronRightIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/chevron-right";
+  import PlusIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/plus";
+  import SearchIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/search";
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import type { ApiClient } from "$lib/api/client";
+  import type {
+    ConversationSummary,
+    SearchFile,
+    SearchResponse,
+  } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
+  import { clip } from "$lib/format";
+  import type { ConversationIndex } from "$lib/panel/index.svelte";
+  import Strip from "$lib/shell/strip.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import { type DayGroup, groupByDay } from "./days";
+  import NewConversation from "./new-conversation.svelte";
+
+  let {
+    client,
+    index,
+    selected = null,
+    href,
+    onOpen,
+    onOpenFile,
+    class: className = "",
+  }: {
+    client: ApiClient;
+    index: ConversationIndex;
+    selected?: string | null;
+    href?: (id: string) => string;
+    onOpen?: (id: string) => void;
+    onOpenFile?: (path: string) => void;
+    class?: string;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const SEARCH_MIN = 2;
+  const SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 250;
+  const DAYS_SHOWN = 14;
+  const TICK_MS = 30_000;
+
+  let query = $state("");
+  let expanded = $state<Set<string>>(new Set());
+  let remote = $state<SearchResponse | null>(null);
+  let searching = $state(false);
+  let createOpen = $state(false);
+  let now = $state(Date.now());
+  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    const tick = setInterval(() => {
+      now = Date.now();
+    }, TICK_MS);
+    return () => clearInterval(tick);
+  });
+
+  const needle = $derived(query.trim().toLowerCase());
+  const groups = $derived(groupByDay(index.conversations, new Date(now)));
+
+  const local = $derived.by((): ConversationSummary[] => {
+    if (!needle) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    return index.conversations.filter(
+      (row) =>
+        row.kind !== "job" &&
+        ((row.title ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle) ||
+          row.id.startsWith(needle) ||
+          (row.last_item?.text ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle))
+    );
+  });
+
+  const found = $derived.by((): ConversationSummary[] => {
+    const seen = new Set(local.map((row) => row.id));
+    const extra = (remote?.query === needle ? remote.conversations : []).filter(
+      (row) => !seen.has(row.id)
+    );
+    return [...local, ...extra];
+  });
+  const files = $derived<SearchFile[]>(
+    remote?.query === needle ? remote.files : []
+  );
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    const q = needle;
+    clearTimeout(timer);
+    if (q.length < SEARCH_MIN) {
+      remote = null;
+      searching = false;
+      return;
+    }
+    searching = true;
+    timer = setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const result = await client.search(q);
+        if (result.query === query.trim().toLowerCase()) {
+          remote = result;
+        }
+      } catch {
+        remote = null;
+      } finally {
+        searching = false;
+      }
+    }, SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS);
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
+  });
+
+  function isOpen(group: DayGroup, position: number): boolean {
+    return position === 0 || group.live || expanded.has(group.day);
+  }
+
+  function toggle(day: string) {
+    const next = new Set(expanded);
+    if (next.has(day)) {
+      next.delete(day);
+    } else {
+      next.add(day);
+    }
+    expanded = next;
+  }
+
+  function summary(group: DayGroup): string {
+    const parts: string[] = [];
+    if (group.branches.length) {
+      parts.push(
+        `${group.branches.length} ${group.branches.length === 1 ? "branch" : "branches"}`
+      );
+    }
+    if (group.deep.length) {
+      parts.push(`${group.deep.length} deep`);
+    }
+    if (group.others.length) {
+      parts.push(`${group.others.length} more`);
+    }
+    return parts.join(" · ");
+  }
+
+  const linkOf = (id: string) => href?.(id);
+</script>
+
+<div class={cn("flex h-full min-h-0 flex-col", className)}>
+  <div class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2">
+    <label
+      class="flex h-8 min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-2 rounded-md bg-strip px-2 ring-1 ring-border focus-within:ring-ring"
+    >
+      <SearchIcon class="size-3.5 shrink-0 text-icon" />
+      <input
+        aria-label="Search conversations and memory"
+        class="h-full w-full bg-transparent text-sm outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground"
+        placeholder="Search"
+        spellcheck="false"
+        type="search"
+        bind:value={query}
+      >
+      {#if searching}
+        <span
+          class="size-1.5 shrink-0 animate-pulse-dot rounded-full bg-signal"
+        ></span>
+      {/if}
+    </label>
+    <button
+      aria-label="New conversation"
+      class="rule-word inline-flex size-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md hover:bg-accent"
+      onclick={() => {
+        createOpen = true;
+      }}
+      type="button"
+    >
+      <PlusIcon class="size-4" />
+    </button>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-3 pb-6">
+    {#if index.live.state === "failed"}
+      <ErrorNote
+        message={index.live.detail ?? "event stream failed"}
+        retry={() => index.start()}
+      />
+    {:else if !index.loaded}
+      <p class="px-1 py-3 text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
+    {:else if needle}
+      <section class="flex flex-col gap-2 pt-1">
+        <h2 class="label-quiet px-1">
+          {found.length === 0 && !searching ? "Nothing matches" : "Conversations"}
+        </h2>
+        {#if found.length > 0}
+          <div class="bay-rack">
+            {#each found as row (row.id)}
+              <Strip
+                current={row.id === selected}
+                detail={row.last_item?.text ?? ""}
+                href={linkOf(row.id)}
+                {now}
+                onclick={onOpen}
+                {row}
+              />
+            {/each}
+          </div>
+        {/if}
+        {#if files.length > 0}
+          <h2 class="label-quiet px-1 pt-2">Memory</h2>
+          <div class="bay-rack">
+            {#each files as file (file.path)}
+              <button
+                class="strip w-full text-left text-sm"
+                onclick={() => onOpenFile?.(file.path)}
+                type="button"
+              >
+                <span class="size-5"></span>
+                <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col leading-tight">
+                  <span class="truncate font-medium">{file.path}</span>
+                  {#if file.snippet}
+                    <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                      {clip(file.snippet, 96)}
+                    </span>
+                  {/if}
+                </span>
+                <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                  {file.line ? `:${file.line}` : ""}
+                </span>
+              </button>
+            {/each}
+          </div>
+        {/if}
+      </section>
+    {:else}
+      {#each groups.slice(0, DAYS_SHOWN) as group, position (group.day)}
+        {@const shown = isOpen(group, position)}
+        <section class="flex flex-col gap-1.5 pt-2">
+          <button
+            aria-expanded={shown}
+            class="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-1 text-left"
+            onclick={() => toggle(group.day)}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            <ChevronRightIcon
+              class={cn(
+                "size-3.5 text-icon transition-transform duration-150",
+                shown && "rotate-90"
+              )}
+            />
+            <span
+              class={cn(
+                "font-medium text-sm",
+                position === 0 ? "text-foreground" : "text-muted-foreground"
+              )}
+            >
+              {group.label}
+            </span>
+            {#if group.live}
+              <span
+                class="size-1.5 rounded-full bg-signal animate-pulse-dot"
+              ></span>
+            {/if}
+            <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              {summary(group)}
+            </span>
+          </button>
+          {#if shown}
+            <div class="bay-rack">
+              {#if group.master}
+                <Strip
+                  current={group.master.id === selected}
+                  detail={group.master.last_item?.text ?? ""}
+                  href={linkOf(group.master.id)}
+                  {now}
+                  onclick={onOpen}
+                  row={group.master}
+                />
+              {/if}
+              {#each group.branches as row (row.id)}
+                <Strip
+                  class="strip-child"
+                  current={row.id === selected}
+                  detail={row.last_item?.text ?? ""}
+                  href={linkOf(row.id)}
+                  {now}
+                  onclick={onOpen}
+                  {row}
+                />
+              {/each}
+              {#each group.deep as row (row.id)}
+                <Strip
+                  current={row.id === selected}
+                  detail={row.last_item?.text ?? ""}
+                  href={linkOf(row.id)}
+                  {now}
+                  onclick={onOpen}
+                  {row}
+                />
+              {/each}
+              {#each group.others as row (row.id)}
+                <Strip
+                  class="strip-child"
+                  current={row.id === selected}
+                  href={linkOf(row.id)}
+                  {now}
+                  onclick={onOpen}
+                  {row}
+                />
+              {/each}
+            </div>
+          {/if}
+        </section>
+      {/each}
+      {#if groups.length === 0}
+        <p class="px-1 py-3 text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+          No conversations yet. Start one, or wait for the morning master.
+        </p>
+      {/if}
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<NewConversation
+  {client}
+  onCreated={(id) => onOpen?.(id)}
+  bind:open={createOpen}
+/>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/bay.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/bay.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da53c2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/bay.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import type { Snippet } from "svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  let {
+    label,
+    count = null,
+    tone = "default",
+    hint = "",
+    class: className = "",
+    children,
+    aside,
+  }: {
+    label: string;
+    count?: number | null;
+    tone?: "default" | "attention" | "signal";
+    hint?: string;
+    class?: string;
+    children?: Snippet;
+    aside?: Snippet;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const TONE: Record<string, string> = {
+    attention: "text-attention-foreground",
+    default: "text-muted-foreground",
+    signal: "text-signal",
+  };
+</script>
+
+<section class={cn("bay", className)}>
+  <header class="flex items-baseline gap-2 px-1">
+    <h2 class={cn("font-medium text-sm", TONE[tone])}>{label}</h2>
+    {#if count !== null}
+      <span class={cn("tabular text-xs", TONE[tone])}>{count}</span>
+    {/if}
+    {#if hint}
+      <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">{hint}</span>
+    {/if}
+    {#if aside}
+      <span class="ml-auto">{@render aside()}</span>
+    {/if}
+  </header>
+  <div class="bay-rack">
+    {@render children?.()}
+  </div>
+</section>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/board.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/board.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b4c040
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/board.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,376 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount, untrack } from "svelte";
+  import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
+  import { base } from "$app/paths";
+  import type { ConversationSummary, VaultGraph } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import { clip, fmtTime, shortId } from "$lib/format";
+  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
+  import { summarizeInput, toolLabel } from "$lib/panel/activity.svelte";
+  import QuestionCard from "$lib/panel/question-card.svelte";
+  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import { ui } from "$lib/ui.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import Bay from "./bay.svelte";
+  import Graph, { type GraphEdge, type GraphNode } from "./graph.svelte";
+  import Instruments from "./instruments.svelte";
+  import { now as board } from "./now.svelte";
+  import { stateOf } from "./state";
+  import Strip from "./strip.svelte";
+
+  let {
+    compact = false,
+  }: {
+    compact?: boolean;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const TICK_MS = 1000;
+  const QUIET_SHOWN = 6;
+  const TAPE_SHOWN = 24;
+  const HOURS_DAY = 24;
+
+  let now = $state(Date.now());
+  let spend = $state<number | null>(null);
+  let vault = $state<VaultGraph | null>(null);
+  let vaultFor = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let quietOpen = $state(false);
+  let tapeOpen = $state(false);
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    const tick = setInterval(() => {
+      now = Date.now();
+    }, TICK_MS);
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (client) {
+      client
+        .usage({ group_by: "agent", hours: HOURS_DAY })
+        .then((usage) => {
+          spend = usage.total.cost_usd;
+        })
+        .catch(() => undefined);
+    }
+    return () => clearInterval(tick);
+  });
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    const key = board.liveIds.join("|");
+    if (key.length >= 0) {
+      untrack(() => board.refreshSnapshots().catch(() => undefined));
+    }
+  });
+
+  const href = (id: string) => `${base}/conversations/${id}`;
+  const GRAPH_FILES = 24;
+
+  async function loadVault(masterId: string) {
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (!client) {
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      const context = await client.context(masterId);
+      const paths = context.files.slice(0, GRAPH_FILES).map((f) => f.path);
+      vault = paths.length > 0 ? await client.vaultGraph(paths, 60) : null;
+    } catch {
+      vault = null;
+    }
+    vaultFor = masterId;
+  }
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    const { master } = board;
+    if (!master || master.running_turn) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const key = `${master.id}:${master.last_activity_at ?? ""}`;
+    if (vaultFor !== key) {
+      vaultFor = key;
+      untrack(() => loadVault(master.id));
+    }
+  });
+
+  function open(id: string) {
+    ui.closeAll();
+    goto(href(id));
+  }
+
+  function lastTool(row: ConversationSummary): string {
+    const info = board.snapshots[row.id];
+    const tools = info?.turn?.tools ?? [];
+    const live = tools.filter((t) => !t.ended_at);
+    const tool = live.at(-1) ?? tools.at(-1);
+    if (!tool) {
+      return info?.turn?.text ? clip(info.turn.text, 80) : "thinking";
+    }
+    const what = summarizeInput(tool.name, tool.input);
+    const short = what.startsWith("/")
+      ? what.split("/").slice(-2).join("/")
+      : what;
+    return `${toolLabel(tool.name)} · ${clip(short, 72)}`;
+  }
+
+  const quiet = $derived(
+    quietOpen ? board.quiet : board.quiet.slice(0, QUIET_SHOWN)
+  );
+  const windows = $derived(gateway.limits?.windows ?? []);
+  const tape = $derived(gateway.tape.slice(0, TAPE_SHOWN));
+
+  const MD_SUFFIX = /\.md$/;
+
+  function conversationNodes(master: ConversationSummary | null): {
+    nodes: GraphNode[];
+    edges: GraphEdge[];
+  } {
+    const nodes: GraphNode[] = [];
+    const edges: GraphEdge[] = [];
+    const rows = gateway.conversations.filter(
+      (row) => row.status === "open" || row.running_turn
+    );
+    if (master) {
+      nodes.push({
+        href: href(master.id),
+        id: master.id,
+        kind: "master",
+        label: master.title ?? "master",
+        ring: 0,
+        state: stateOf(master),
+      });
+    }
+    for (const row of rows) {
+      if (row.id === master?.id || row.kind === "master") {
+        continue;
+      }
+      const child = row.kind === "branch" || row.kind === "fork";
+      nodes.push({
+        href: href(row.id),
+        id: row.id,
+        kind: row.kind,
+        label: row.title ?? `${row.kind} ${shortId(row.id)}`,
+        ring: child ? 1 : 2,
+        state: stateOf(row),
+      });
+      if (master && child) {
+        edges.push({ from: master.id, to: row.id });
+      }
+    }
+    return { edges, nodes };
+  }
+
+  function noteState(touched: boolean, exists: boolean): GraphNode["state"] {
+    if (!touched) {
+      return "ghost";
+    }
+    return exists ? "quiet" : "closed";
+  }
+
+  function vaultNodes(
+    master: ConversationSummary,
+    graphData: VaultGraph
+  ): { nodes: GraphNode[]; edges: GraphEdge[] } {
+    const nodes: GraphNode[] = graphData.nodes.map((note) => ({
+      href: note.exists ? note.path : undefined,
+      id: note.path,
+      kind: "file",
+      label: note.title,
+      ring: note.touched ? 1 : 2,
+      state: noteState(note.touched, note.exists),
+    }));
+    const edges: GraphEdge[] = graphData.nodes
+      .filter((note) => note.touched)
+      .map((note) => ({ from: master.id, to: note.path }));
+    for (const edge of graphData.edges) {
+      edges.push({ from: edge.from, to: edge.to });
+    }
+    return { edges, nodes };
+  }
+
+  const graph = $derived.by((): { nodes: GraphNode[]; edges: GraphEdge[] } => {
+    const { master } = board;
+    const own = conversationNodes(master);
+    if (!(vault && master)) {
+      return own;
+    }
+    const extra = vaultNodes(master, vault);
+    return {
+      edges: [...own.edges, ...extra.edges],
+      nodes: [...own.nodes, ...extra.nodes],
+    };
+  });
+
+  function openNode(id: string) {
+    if (id.endsWith(".md")) {
+      window.open(
+        `obsidian://open?file=${encodeURIComponent(id.replace(MD_SUFFIX, ""))}`
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+    open(id);
+  }
+</script>
+
+<div
+  class={cn(
+    "@container grid gap-8",
+    compact
+      ? "grid-cols-1"
+      : "grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_20rem] xl:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_24rem]"
+  )}
+>
+  <div class="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-8">
+    <Instruments
+      {compact}
+      contextTokens={board.contextTokens}
+      contextWindow={board.contextWindow}
+      {now}
+      {spend}
+      {windows}
+    />
+
+    {#if board.waiting.length > 0}
+      <Bay
+        count={board.waiting.length}
+        hint="the agent asked and stopped"
+        label="Waiting for you"
+        tone="attention"
+      >
+        {#each board.waiting as row (row.id)}
+          {@const info = board.snapshots[row.id]}
+          <Strip
+            detail={info?.question?.questions[0]?.question ?? "question pending"}
+            href={href(row.id)}
+            {now}
+            open={Boolean(info?.question)}
+            {row}
+            state="waiting"
+          >
+            {#if info?.question && session.client}
+              <QuestionCard
+                client={session.client}
+                conversationId={row.id}
+                question={info.question}
+              />
+            {/if}
+          </Strip>
+        {/each}
+      </Bay>
+    {/if}
+
+    <Bay
+      count={board.running.length}
+      hint={board.running.length === 0 ? "nothing in a turn" : ""}
+      label="In motion"
+      tone="signal"
+    >
+      {#if board.running.length === 0}
+        <p class="px-4 py-3 text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+          Idle. The next message or inject lights a strip here.
+        </p>
+      {:else}
+        {#each board.running as row (row.id)}
+          <Strip
+            detail={lastTool(row)}
+            href={href(row.id)}
+            {now}
+            {row}
+            state="running"
+          />
+        {/each}
+      {/if}
+    </Bay>
+
+    <Bay
+      count={board.quiet.length}
+      hint="open, waiting for the next word"
+      label="Quiet"
+    >
+      {#snippet aside()}
+        {#if board.quiet.length > QUIET_SHOWN}
+          <button
+            class="rule-word text-xs"
+            onclick={() => {
+              quietOpen = !quietOpen;
+            }}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            {quietOpen ? "fewer" : `all ${board.quiet.length}`}
+          </button>
+        {/if}
+      {/snippet}
+      {#if !gateway.loaded}
+        <p class="px-4 py-3 text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
+      {:else if quiet.length === 0}
+        <p class="px-4 py-3 text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+          No open conversations.
+        </p>
+      {:else}
+        {#each quiet as row (row.id)}
+          <Strip
+            detail={row.last_item?.text ?? ""}
+            href={href(row.id)}
+            {now}
+            {row}
+            state="quiet"
+          />
+        {/each}
+      {/if}
+    </Bay>
+
+    {#if !compact}
+      <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+        <button
+          aria-expanded={tapeOpen}
+          class="rule-word flex items-center gap-2 self-start px-1 text-sm"
+          onclick={() => {
+            tapeOpen = !tapeOpen;
+          }}
+          type="button"
+        >
+          Recent events
+          <span class="tabular text-xs">{gateway.tape.length}</span>
+        </button>
+        {#if tapeOpen}
+          <ul class="flex flex-col px-1 text-xs">
+            {#each tape as item (item.seq)}
+              <li
+                class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[5rem_8rem_minmax(0,1fr)] py-0.5"
+              >
+                <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground">
+                  {fmtTime(item.ts)}
+                </span>
+                <span class="truncate">{item.type}</span>
+                <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground">
+                  {#if item.conversation_id}
+                    <a
+                      class="hover:underline"
+                      href={href(item.conversation_id)}
+                    >
+                      {shortId(item.conversation_id)}
+                    </a>
+                  {/if}
+                  {#if typeof item.name === "string"}
+                    {item.name}
+                  {/if}
+                  {#if typeof item.text === "string"}
+                    {item.text.slice(0, 80)}
+                  {/if}
+                </span>
+              </li>
+            {/each}
+          </ul>
+        {/if}
+      </section>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+
+  {#if !compact}
+    <aside class="hidden flex-col gap-2 lg:flex">
+      <h2 class="label-quiet px-1">Around the master</h2>
+      <div class="rounded-lg border bg-strip/60 p-2">
+        <Graph edges={graph.edges} nodes={graph.nodes} onOpen={openNode} />
+      </div>
+      <p class="px-1 text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+        Inner ring: branches and the notes the master touched today. Hollow dots
+        are one link away, not reached. Click a note to open it in Obsidian.
+      </p>
+    </aside>
+  {/if}
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/graph.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/graph.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc0fa5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/graph.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import { clip } from "$lib/format";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  export interface GraphNode {
+    href?: string;
+    id: string;
+    kind: string;
+    label: string;
+    // 0 = hub, 1 = first ring, 2 = second ring, 3 = ghost
+    ring: number;
+    state: "running" | "waiting" | "quiet" | "closed" | "ghost";
+  }
+
+  export interface GraphEdge {
+    from: string;
+    to: string;
+  }
+
+  let {
+    nodes,
+    edges,
+    onOpen,
+    class: className = "",
+  }: {
+    nodes: GraphNode[];
+    edges: GraphEdge[];
+    onOpen?: (id: string) => void;
+    class?: string;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const SIZE = 320;
+  const CENTER = SIZE / 2;
+  const RING = [0, 74, 118, 148];
+  const DRIFT = 3.5;
+  const LABEL_MAX = 18;
+  const TAU = Math.PI * 2;
+  const HASH_MOD = 1_000_003;
+  const HASH_BASE = 31;
+
+  let time = $state(0);
+  let reduced = false;
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    reduced = window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches;
+    if (reduced) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let frame = 0;
+    const start = performance.now();
+    const tick = (ts: number) => {
+      time = (ts - start) / 1000;
+      frame = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    };
+    frame = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    return () => cancelAnimationFrame(frame);
+  });
+
+  function hash(id: string): number {
+    let h = 0;
+    for (const ch of id) {
+      h = (h * HASH_BASE + ch.charCodeAt(0)) % HASH_MOD;
+    }
+    return h;
+  }
+
+  interface Placed extends GraphNode {
+    x: number;
+    y: number;
+  }
+
+  function place(
+    node: GraphNode,
+    slot: number,
+    total: number,
+    t: number
+  ): Placed {
+    const ring = Math.min(node.ring, RING.length - 1);
+    const dist = RING[ring];
+    const seed = hash(node.id);
+    const angle = (slot / total) * TAU + (seed % 100) / 100 + node.ring * 0.7;
+    const wobble = reduced ? 0 : Math.sin(t * 0.35 + (seed % 7)) * DRIFT;
+    const wobble2 = reduced ? 0 : Math.cos(t * 0.27 + (seed % 5)) * DRIFT;
+    if (node.ring === 0) {
+      return { ...node, x: CENTER + wobble * 0.3, y: CENTER + wobble2 * 0.3 };
+    }
+    return {
+      ...node,
+      x: CENTER + Math.cos(angle) * dist + wobble,
+      y: CENTER + Math.sin(angle) * dist + wobble2,
+    };
+  }
+
+  const placed = $derived.by((): Placed[] => {
+    const byRing = new Map<number, GraphNode[]>();
+    for (const node of nodes) {
+      const list = byRing.get(node.ring) ?? [];
+      list.push(node);
+      byRing.set(node.ring, list);
+    }
+    const out: Placed[] = [];
+    for (const list of byRing.values()) {
+      let slot = 0;
+      for (const node of list) {
+        out.push(place(node, slot, list.length, time));
+        slot += 1;
+      }
+    }
+    return out;
+  });
+
+  const byId = $derived(new Map(placed.map((node) => [node.id, node])));
+
+  const RADIUS: Record<string, number> = {
+    closed: 3.5,
+    ghost: 2.5,
+    quiet: 4.5,
+    running: 6.5,
+    waiting: 6,
+  };
+  const FILL: Record<string, string> = {
+    branch: "var(--color-kind-branch)",
+    deep: "var(--color-kind-deep)",
+    file: "var(--foreground)",
+    fork: "var(--color-kind-fork)",
+    job: "var(--color-kind-job)",
+    master: "var(--color-kind-master)",
+  };
+
+  function radius(node: Placed): number {
+    const base = RADIUS[node.state] ?? 4;
+    return node.ring === 0 ? base + 4 : base;
+  }
+
+  function strokeOf(node: Placed): string {
+    if (node.state === "ghost") {
+      return "var(--muted-foreground)";
+    }
+    return node.state === "waiting" ? "var(--attention)" : "none";
+  }
+
+  function fillOf(node: Placed): string {
+    return node.state === "ghost"
+      ? "none"
+      : (FILL[node.kind] ?? "var(--foreground)");
+  }
+
+  function textOf(node: Placed): string {
+    return node.state === "ghost" || node.state === "closed"
+      ? "var(--muted-foreground)"
+      : "var(--foreground)";
+  }
+
+  function ghostEdge(edge: GraphEdge): boolean {
+    return (
+      byId.get(edge.from)?.state === "ghost" ||
+      byId.get(edge.to)?.state === "ghost"
+    );
+  }
+</script>
+
+{#snippet dot(node: Placed)}
+  {@const r = radius(node)}
+  {#if node.state === "running"}
+    <circle cx={node.x} cy={node.y} fill="url(#graph-glow)" r={r * 4} />
+  {/if}
+  <circle
+    cx={node.x}
+    cy={node.y}
+    fill={fillOf(node)}
+    fill-opacity={node.state === "closed" ? 0.35 : 1}
+    {r}
+    stroke={strokeOf(node)}
+    stroke-opacity={node.state === "ghost" ? 0.6 : 1}
+    stroke-width={node.state === "waiting" ? 2.5 : 1}
+  />
+  <text
+    dominant-baseline="hanging"
+    fill={textOf(node)}
+    font-size="10"
+    font-weight={node.ring === 0 ? 600 : 400}
+    text-anchor="middle"
+    x={node.x}
+    y={node.y + r + 4}
+  >
+    {clip(node.label, LABEL_MAX)}
+  </text>
+{/snippet}
+
+<svg
+  aria-label="what the agent is touching"
+  class={cn("h-auto w-full select-none", className)}
+  role="img"
+  viewBox="0 0 {SIZE} {SIZE}"
+>
+  <defs>
+    <radialGradient id="graph-glow">
+      <stop offset="0%" stop-color="var(--signal)" stop-opacity="0.35" />
+      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="var(--signal)" stop-opacity="0" />
+    </radialGradient>
+  </defs>
+  {#each edges as edge (edge.from + edge.to)}
+    {@const a = byId.get(edge.from)}
+    {@const b = byId.get(edge.to)}
+    {#if a && b}
+      <line
+        stroke="var(--foreground)"
+        stroke-dasharray={ghostEdge(edge) ? "2 4" : undefined}
+        stroke-opacity={ghostEdge(edge) ? 0.18 : 0.14}
+        stroke-width="1"
+        x1={a.x}
+        x2={b.x}
+        y1={a.y}
+        y2={b.y}
+      />
+    {/if}
+  {/each}
+  {#each placed as node (node.id)}
+    {#if node.href}
+      <a
+        class="cursor-pointer"
+        href={node.href}
+        onclick={(event) => {
+          event.preventDefault();
+          onOpen?.(node.id);
+        }}
+      >
+        {@render dot(node)}
+      </a>
+    {:else}
+      <g>{@render dot(node)}</g>
+    {/if}
+  {/each}
+</svg>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/instruments.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/instruments.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbfba36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/instruments.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import type { LimitWindow } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import { fmtCountdown, fmtMoney, fmtRelative, fmtTokens } from "$lib/format";
+  import { limitLabel } from "$lib/limits";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  let {
+    contextTokens,
+    contextWindow,
+    windows,
+    spend = null,
+    now,
+    compact = false,
+  }: {
+    contextTokens: number;
+    contextWindow: number;
+    windows: LimitWindow[];
+    spend?: number | null;
+    now: number;
+    compact?: boolean;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const TONE: Record<string, string> = {
+    allowed: "bg-primary",
+    allowed_warning: "bg-primary",
+    rejected: "bg-destructive",
+  };
+  const contextPct = $derived(
+    Math.min(100, Math.round((contextTokens / contextWindow) * 100))
+  );
+  const known = (w: LimitWindow) =>
+    w.utilization !== null && w.utilization !== undefined;
+  const pct = (w: LimitWindow) =>
+    Math.min(100, Math.round((w.utilization ?? 0) * 100));
+</script>
+
+<div
+  class={cn(
+    "grid gap-x-6 gap-y-4",
+    compact
+      ? "@lg:grid-cols-5 grid-cols-2"
+      : "grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-5"
+  )}
+>
+  <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+    <span class="label-quiet">Context</span>
+    <span class="tabular font-semibold text-2xl leading-none tracking-tight">
+      {fmtTokens(contextTokens)}
+      <span class="font-normal text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+        / {fmtTokens(contextWindow)}
+      </span>
+    </span>
+    <span
+      aria-label="context share"
+      aria-valuemax="100"
+      aria-valuemin="0"
+      aria-valuenow={contextPct}
+      class="h-0.5 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-muted"
+      role="progressbar"
+    >
+      <span
+        class="block h-full rounded-full bg-primary transition-[width] duration-500"
+        style="width: {contextPct}%"
+      ></span>
+    </span>
+  </div>
+  {#each windows as w (w.window)}
+    <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+      <span class="label-quiet">{limitLabel(w.window)}</span>
+      {#if known(w)}
+        <span
+          class={cn(
+            "tabular font-semibold text-2xl leading-none tracking-tight",
+            w.status === "rejected" && "text-destructive"
+          )}
+        >
+          {pct(w)}
+          <span class="font-normal text-muted-foreground text-sm">%</span>
+          <span class="font-normal text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+            {fmtCountdown(w.resets_at, now).replace("resets ", "")}
+          </span>
+        </span>
+        <span
+          aria-label="{limitLabel(w.window)} utilization"
+          aria-valuemax="100"
+          aria-valuemin="0"
+          aria-valuenow={pct(w)}
+          class="h-0.5 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-muted"
+          role="progressbar"
+        >
+          <span
+            class={cn(
+              "block h-full rounded-full transition-[width] duration-500",
+              TONE[w.status]
+            )}
+            style="width: {pct(w)}%"
+          ></span>
+        </span>
+      {:else}
+        <span class="text-muted-foreground text-sm leading-none">
+          no report
+        </span>
+        <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+          last seen {fmtRelative(w.ts, now)}
+        </span>
+      {/if}
+    </div>
+  {/each}
+  {#if spend !== null}
+    <div class="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+      <span class="label-quiet">Spend · 24 h</span>
+      <span class="tabular font-semibold text-2xl leading-none tracking-tight">
+        {fmtMoney(spend)}
+      </span>
+      <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">API-price equivalent</span>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/island.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/island.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9d6466
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/island.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { fmtTokens } from "$lib/format";
+  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
+  import { ui } from "$lib/ui.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import { now } from "./now.svelte";
+
+  let { class: className = "" }: { class?: string } = $props();
+
+  const running = $derived(now.running.length);
+  const waiting = $derived(now.waiting.length);
+  const worst = $derived.by(() => {
+    const windows = gateway.limits?.windows ?? [];
+    let top: number | null = null;
+    for (const w of windows) {
+      if (w.utilization !== null && w.utilization !== undefined) {
+        top = Math.max(top ?? 0, w.utilization);
+      }
+    }
+    return top;
+  });
+  const live = $derived(gateway.live.state);
+  const dot = $derived.by(() => {
+    if (live === "failed") {
+      return "bg-destructive";
+    }
+    if (live !== "open") {
+      return "bg-warn";
+    }
+    return running > 0 ? "bg-signal animate-pulse-dot" : "bg-ok";
+  });
+  const headline = $derived.by(() => {
+    if (live === "failed") {
+      return "offline";
+    }
+    if (live !== "open") {
+      return "connecting";
+    }
+    if (running === 0) {
+      return "idle";
+    }
+    return running === 1 ? "1 in motion" : `${running} in motion`;
+  });
+</script>
+
+<button
+  aria-expanded={ui.island}
+  aria-haspopup="dialog"
+  aria-label="What is happening now"
+  class={cn("island", className)}
+  onclick={() => ui.toggleIsland()}
+  type="button"
+>
+  <span class={cn("size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full", dot)}></span>
+  <span class="font-medium">{headline}</span>
+  {#if waiting > 0}
+    <span class="island-sep"></span>
+    <span class="font-medium text-attention-foreground">
+      {waiting === 1 ? "1 question" : `${waiting} questions`}
+    </span>
+  {/if}
+  {#if now.contextTokens > 0}
+    <span class="island-sep hidden sm:block"></span>
+    <span
+      class="tabular hidden text-muted-foreground sm:inline"
+      title="master context"
+    >
+      {fmtTokens(now.contextTokens)}
+    </span>
+  {/if}
+  {#if worst !== null}
+    <span class="island-sep hidden sm:block"></span>
+    <span
+      class="tabular hidden text-muted-foreground sm:inline"
+      title="highest quota window"
+    >
+      {Math.round(worst * 100)}%
+    </span>
+  {/if}
+  <kbd
+    class="ml-1 hidden rounded border px-1 font-sans text-[10px] text-muted-foreground md:inline"
+    title="open the board"
+  >
+    ⌘K
+  </kbd>
+</button>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae96bb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import type { Kind } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  let { kind, class: className = "" }: { kind: Kind | string; class?: string } =
+    $props();
+
+  const LETTER: Record<string, string> = {
+    branch: "B",
+    deep: "D",
+    fork: "F",
+    job: "J",
+    master: "M",
+  };
+  const TONE: Record<string, string> = {
+    branch: "text-kind-branch bg-kind-branch/12",
+    deep: "text-kind-deep bg-kind-deep/12",
+    fork: "text-kind-fork bg-kind-fork/12",
+    job: "text-kind-job bg-kind-job/12",
+    master: "text-kind-master bg-kind-master/12",
+  };
+</script>
+
+<span
+  aria-label={kind}
+  class={cn(
+    "inline-flex size-5 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full font-semibold text-[10px] leading-none",
+    TONE[kind] ?? "bg-muted text-muted-foreground",
+    className
+  )}
+  role="img"
+  title={kind}
+>
+  {LETTER[kind] ?? "?"}
+</span>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/now.svelte.ts b/ui/src/lib/shell/now.svelte.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c556ca0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/now.svelte.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+import type { ConversationInfo, ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
+import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
+import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+import { byActivity } from "./state";
+
+const CONTEXT_WINDOW = 1_000_000;
+const SNAPSHOT_MIN_GAP_MS = 400;
+
+// What the board shows: the open conversations sorted into bays, the
+// open master's context, and a snapshot (tools in flight, the pending
+// question) for every strip that is waiting or running.
+class Now {
+  snapshots = $state<Record<string, ConversationInfo>>({});
+  private snapshotAt = 0;
+  private inFlight: Promise<void> | null = null;
+
+  get master(): ConversationSummary | null {
+    return (
+      gateway.conversations.find(
+        (row) => row.kind === "master" && row.status === "open"
+      ) ?? null
+    );
+  }
+
+  get waiting(): ConversationSummary[] {
+    return gateway.open.filter((row) => row.pending_question).sort(byActivity);
+  }
+
+  get running(): ConversationSummary[] {
+    return gateway.open
+      .filter((row) => row.running_turn && !row.pending_question)
+      .sort(byActivity);
+  }
+
+  get quiet(): ConversationSummary[] {
+    return gateway.open
+      .filter(
+        (row) =>
+          !(row.running_turn || row.pending_question) && row.kind !== "job"
+      )
+      .sort(byActivity);
+  }
+
+  get contextTokens(): number {
+    return this.master?.context_tokens ?? 0;
+  }
+
+  get contextShare(): number {
+    return Math.min(1, this.contextTokens / CONTEXT_WINDOW);
+  }
+
+  get contextWindow(): number {
+    return CONTEXT_WINDOW;
+  }
+
+  get liveIds(): string[] {
+    return [...this.waiting, ...this.running].map((row) => row.id);
+  }
+
+  // One round of ``GET /api/conversations/{id}`` for every live strip,
+  // coalesced so a burst of turn events costs one fetch.
+  refreshSnapshots(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.inFlight) {
+      return this.inFlight;
+    }
+    const gap = Date.now() - this.snapshotAt;
+    this.inFlight = (async () => {
+      if (gap < SNAPSHOT_MIN_GAP_MS) {
+        await new Promise((resolve) =>
+          setTimeout(resolve, SNAPSHOT_MIN_GAP_MS - gap)
+        );
+      }
+      const { client } = session;
+      const ids = this.liveIds;
+      if (!client || ids.length === 0) {
+        this.snapshots = {};
+        return;
+      }
+      const results = await Promise.all(
+        ids.map((id) => client.conversation(id).catch(() => null))
+      );
+      const next: Record<string, ConversationInfo> = {};
+      for (const info of results) {
+        if (info) {
+          next[info.id] = info;
+        }
+      }
+      this.snapshots = next;
+      this.snapshotAt = Date.now();
+    })().finally(() => {
+      this.inFlight = null;
+    });
+    return this.inFlight;
+  }
+}
+
+export const now = new Now();
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/palette.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/palette.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16dc522
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/palette.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import SearchIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/search";
+  import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
+  import { base } from "$app/paths";
+  import type { ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import { clip, fmtRelative, shortId } from "$lib/format";
+  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
+  import { SECTIONS, SYSTEM_PAGES } from "$lib/nav";
+  import { ui } from "$lib/ui.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import KindMark from "./kind-mark.svelte";
+  import { byActivity } from "./state";
+
+  interface Item {
+    hint: string;
+    href: string;
+    id: string;
+    kind: "section" | "conversation";
+    label: string;
+    row?: ConversationSummary;
+  }
+
+  const LIMIT = 10;
+  let query = $state("");
+  let cursor = $state(0);
+  let input = $state<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
+
+  const items = $derived.by((): Item[] => {
+    const needle = query.trim().toLowerCase();
+    const sections: Item[] = [...SECTIONS, ...SYSTEM_PAGES]
+      .filter((s) => !needle || s.label.toLowerCase().includes(needle))
+      .map((s) => ({
+        hint: "section",
+        href: `${base}${s.href}`,
+        id: `s:${s.href}`,
+        kind: "section",
+        label: s.label,
+      }));
+    const conversations: Item[] = gateway.conversations
+      .filter(
+        (row) =>
+          !needle ||
+          (row.title ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle) ||
+          row.id.startsWith(needle) ||
+          row.agent.toLowerCase().includes(needle) ||
+          (row.last_item?.text ?? "").toLowerCase().includes(needle)
+      )
+      .sort(byActivity)
+      .slice(0, needle ? LIMIT : 5)
+      .map((row) => ({
+        hint: `${row.status === "open" ? "" : `${row.status} · `}${fmtRelative(row.last_activity_at ?? row.created_at)}`,
+        href: `${base}/conversations/${row.id}`,
+        id: row.id,
+        kind: "conversation",
+        label: row.title ?? `${row.kind} · ${shortId(row.id)}`,
+        row,
+      }));
+    return needle
+      ? [...conversations, ...sections]
+      : [...sections.slice(0, 4), ...conversations];
+  });
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (ui.palette) {
+      query = "";
+      cursor = 0;
+      queueMicrotask(() => input?.focus());
+    }
+  });
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (cursor >= items.length) {
+      cursor = Math.max(0, items.length - 1);
+    }
+  });
+
+  function go(item: Item) {
+    ui.closeAll();
+    goto(item.href);
+  }
+
+  function onKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
+    if (event.key === "ArrowDown") {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      cursor = Math.min(items.length - 1, cursor + 1);
+    } else if (event.key === "ArrowUp") {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      cursor = Math.max(0, cursor - 1);
+    } else if (event.key === "Enter" && items[cursor]) {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      go(items[cursor]);
+    }
+  }
+</script>
+
+{#if ui.palette}
+  <div
+    aria-label="Go to"
+    aria-modal="true"
+    class="fixed inset-0 z-40 flex items-start justify-center px-4 pt-[12vh]"
+    role="dialog"
+  >
+    <button
+      aria-label="Close"
+      class="absolute inset-0 animate-fade-in bg-foreground/15 backdrop-blur-[2px]"
+      onclick={() => ui.closePalette()}
+      type="button"
+    ></button>
+    <div
+      class="relative flex w-full max-w-lg animate-island-in flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-xl border bg-popover shadow-float"
+    >
+      <label class="flex items-center gap-2 border-b px-3">
+        <SearchIcon class="size-4 shrink-0 text-icon" />
+        <input
+          autocomplete="off"
+          class="h-11 w-full bg-transparent text-sm outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground"
+          onkeydown={onKeydown}
+          placeholder="Conversation, section…"
+          spellcheck="false"
+          type="text"
+          bind:this={input}
+          bind:value={query}
+        >
+        <kbd
+          class="rounded border px-1 font-sans text-[10px] text-muted-foreground"
+        >
+          esc
+        </kbd>
+      </label>
+      <div class="max-h-[50vh] overflow-y-auto py-1" role="listbox">
+        {#each items as item, index (item.id)}
+          <div
+            aria-selected={index === cursor}
+            class={cn(
+              "flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2.5 px-3 py-2 text-sm",
+              index === cursor && "bg-accent"
+            )}
+            onclick={() => go(item)}
+            onkeydown={(event) => event.key === "Enter" && go(item)}
+            onmousemove={() => {
+              cursor = index;
+            }}
+            role="option"
+            tabindex="-1"
+          >
+            {#if item.row}
+              <KindMark kind={item.row.kind} />
+            {:else}
+              <span class="size-5 shrink-0"></span>
+            {/if}
+            <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">{clip(item.label, 80)}</span>
+            <span class="tabular shrink-0 text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              {item.hint}
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        {:else}
+          <p class="px-3 py-3 text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+            Nothing matches.
+          </p>
+        {/each}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+{/if}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/state.ts b/ui/src/lib/shell/state.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e0ea04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/state.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import type { ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
+
+export type StripState = "waiting" | "running" | "quiet" | "closed";
+
+function activityOf(row: ConversationSummary): string {
+  return row.last_activity_at ?? row.created_at ?? "";
+}
+
+export function byActivity(a: ConversationSummary, b: ConversationSummary) {
+  return activityOf(b).localeCompare(activityOf(a));
+}
+
+export function stateOf(row: ConversationSummary): StripState {
+  if (row.status !== "open") {
+    return "closed";
+  }
+  if (row.pending_question) {
+    return "waiting";
+  }
+  return row.running_turn ? "running" : "quiet";
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/strip.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/strip.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49f0f84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/strip.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import type { Snippet } from "svelte";
+  import type { ConversationSummary } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import { clip, fmtRelative, fmtTokens, shortId } from "$lib/format";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import KindMark from "./kind-mark.svelte";
+  import { type StripState, stateOf } from "./state";
+
+  let {
+    row,
+    href,
+    state = stateOf(row),
+    current = false,
+    open = false,
+    detail = "",
+    now = Date.now(),
+    class: className = "",
+    children,
+    onclick,
+  }: {
+    row: ConversationSummary;
+    href?: string;
+    state?: StripState;
+    current?: boolean;
+    open?: boolean;
+    detail?: string;
+    now?: number;
+    class?: string;
+    children?: Snippet;
+    onclick?: (id: string) => void;
+  } = $props();
+
+  const TITLE_MAX = 72;
+  const DETAIL_MAX = 96;
+  const title = $derived(
+    row.title
+      ? clip(row.title, TITLE_MAX)
+      : `${row.kind === "master" ? "Master" : row.kind} · ${shortId(row.id)}`
+  );
+  const when = $derived(row.last_activity_at ?? row.created_at ?? null);
+  const tag = $derived(href ? "a" : "button");
+</script>
+
+<svelte:element
+  aria-current={current ? "true" : undefined}
+  class={cn("strip text-left text-sm", className)}
+  data-row={row.id}
+  data-state={state}
+  href={href ?? undefined}
+  onclick={onclick ? () => onclick?.(row.id) : undefined}
+  role={href ? undefined : "button"}
+  this={tag}
+  type={href ? undefined : "button"}
+>
+  <KindMark kind={row.kind} />
+  <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col leading-tight">
+    <span class="truncate font-medium">{title}</span>
+    {#if detail}
+      <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+        {clip(detail, DETAIL_MAX)}
+      </span>
+    {/if}
+  </span>
+  <span
+    class="tabular flex shrink-0 items-center gap-3 text-muted-foreground text-xs"
+  >
+    {#if row.context_tokens}
+      <span title="context of the last turn"
+        >{fmtTokens(row.context_tokens)}</span
+      >
+    {/if}
+    <span class="w-14 text-right">{fmtRelative(when, now)}</span>
+  </span>
+</svelte:element>
+{#if children && open}
+  <div class="strip-open">{@render children()}</div>
+{/if}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/shell/top-bar.svelte b/ui/src/lib/shell/top-bar.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8a70de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/shell/top-bar.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import LogOutIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/log-out";
+  import MoonIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/moon";
+  import SunIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/sun";
+  import { mode, toggleMode } from "mode-watcher";
+  import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
+  import { base } from "$app/paths";
+  import { page } from "$app/state";
+  import { isSectionActive, SECTIONS, SYSTEM } from "$lib/nav";
+  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+  import Island from "./island.svelte";
+
+  async function signOut() {
+    await session.logout();
+    await goto(`${base}/login`);
+  }
+</script>
+
+<header
+  class="relative z-30 grid h-12 shrink-0 grid-cols-[1fr_auto_1fr] items-center gap-3 border-b bg-rack/85 px-3 backdrop-blur-md sm:px-5"
+>
+  <nav aria-label="Sections" class="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-4">
+    <a
+      aria-label="Beaver"
+      class="flex size-6 shrink-0 items-center justify-center"
+      href="{base}/"
+    >
+      <span class="size-2.5 rounded-[3px] bg-primary"></span>
+    </a>
+    <div class="hidden items-center gap-4 sm:flex">
+      {#each SECTIONS as item (item.href)}
+        {@const active = isSectionActive(page.url.pathname, base, item.href)}
+        <a
+          aria-current={active ? "page" : undefined}
+          class={cn("rule-word", active && "text-foreground")}
+          href="{base}{item.href}"
+          title="{item.label} ({item.key})"
+        >
+          {item.label}
+        </a>
+      {/each}
+    </div>
+  </nav>
+  <Island />
+  <div class="flex min-w-0 items-center justify-end gap-3">
+    <a
+      aria-current={isSectionActive(page.url.pathname, base, SYSTEM.href)
+        ? "page"
+        : undefined}
+      class="rule-word hidden sm:inline"
+      href="{base}{SYSTEM.href}"
+      title="{SYSTEM.label} ({SYSTEM.key})"
+    >
+      {SYSTEM.label}
+    </a>
+    <button
+      aria-label="Toggle theme"
+      class="rule-word inline-flex size-7 items-center justify-center rounded-md"
+      onclick={toggleMode}
+      title="Toggle theme"
+      type="button"
+    >
+      {#if mode.current === "dark"}
+        <SunIcon class="size-4" />
+      {:else}
+        <MoonIcon class="size-4" />
+      {/if}
+    </button>
+    <button
+      aria-label="Sign out"
+      class="rule-word hidden size-7 items-center justify-center rounded-md sm:inline-flex"
+      onclick={signOut}
+      title="Sign out"
+      type="button"
+    >
+      <LogOutIcon class="size-4" />
+    </button>
+  </div>
+</header>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/ui.svelte.ts b/ui/src/lib/ui.svelte.ts
index 05e4837..e338bcd 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/ui.svelte.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/ui.svelte.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { browser } from "$app/environment";
 
-const NAV_KEY = "beaver.ui.nav";
 const RAIL_KEY = "beaver.ui.rail";
 
 function stored(key: string, fallback: boolean): boolean {
@@ -17,28 +16,48 @@ function store(key: string, value: boolean): void {
   }
 }
 
-// Chrome state: the section sidebar and the conversation rail. Explicit
-// toggles persist; the automatic collapse on the conversations pages does
-// not, so leaving them restores what the user had.
+// Chrome state: the island's board, the command palette, the conversation
+// rail. The rail toggle persists; the overlays never do.
 class Ui {
-  nav = $state(stored(NAV_KEY, true));
   rail = $state(stored(RAIL_KEY, true));
-
-  setNav(open: boolean, persist = false): void {
-    this.nav = open;
-    if (persist) {
-      store(NAV_KEY, open);
-    }
-  }
-
-  toggleNav(): void {
-    this.setNav(!this.nav, true);
-  }
+  island = $state(false);
+  palette = $state(false);
 
   toggleRail(): void {
     this.rail = !this.rail;
     store(RAIL_KEY, this.rail);
   }
+
+  openIsland(): void {
+    this.palette = false;
+    this.island = true;
+  }
+
+  closeIsland(): void {
+    this.island = false;
+  }
+
+  toggleIsland(): void {
+    if (this.island) {
+      this.closeIsland();
+    } else {
+      this.openIsland();
+    }
+  }
+
+  openPalette(): void {
+    this.island = false;
+    this.palette = true;
+  }
+
+  closePalette(): void {
+    this.palette = false;
+  }
+
+  closeAll(): void {
+    this.island = false;
+    this.palette = false;
+  }
 }
 
 export const ui = new Ui();
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index ef5e8e2..c8c68aa 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -1,27 +1,29 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import "./layout.css";
   import { ModeWatcher } from "mode-watcher";
-  import { onMount, untrack } from "svelte";
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
   import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
   import { base } from "$app/paths";
   import { page } from "$app/state";
   import favicon from "$lib/assets/favicon.svg";
-  import AppSidebar from "$lib/components/app-sidebar.svelte";
   import BottomNav from "$lib/components/bottom-nav.svelte";
   import { Toaster } from "$lib/components/ui/sonner";
   import * as Tooltip from "$lib/components/ui/tooltip";
   import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
+  import { SECTIONS, SYSTEM } from "$lib/nav";
   import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import Board from "$lib/shell/board.svelte";
+  import Palette from "$lib/shell/palette.svelte";
+  import TopBar from "$lib/shell/top-bar.svelte";
   import { ui } from "$lib/ui.svelte";
 
   let { children } = $props();
 
   const isLogin = $derived(page.url.pathname === `${base}/login`);
   const isPanel = $derived(page.url.pathname.startsWith(`${base}/panel`));
-  const inConversations = $derived(
-    page.url.pathname.startsWith(`${base}/conversations`)
+  const isHome = $derived(
+    page.url.pathname === `${base}/` || page.url.pathname === base
   );
-  let navBefore: boolean | null = null;
 
   onMount(() => {
     if (!isPanel) {
@@ -48,23 +50,47 @@
   });
 
   $effect(() => {
-    if (inConversations) {
-      untrack(() => {
-        if (navBefore === null) {
-          navBefore = ui.nav;
-          ui.setNav(false);
-        }
-      });
-    } else if (navBefore !== null) {
-      ui.setNav(navBefore);
-      navBefore = null;
+    if (page.url.pathname) {
+      ui.closeAll();
     }
   });
 
+  function typing(target: EventTarget | null): boolean {
+    const el = target as HTMLElement | null;
+    return Boolean(
+      el &&
+        (el.tagName === "INPUT" ||
+          el.tagName === "TEXTAREA" ||
+          el.isContentEditable)
+    );
+  }
+
   function onKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
-    if ((event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey) && event.key === "b") {
+    if ((event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey) && event.key === "k") {
       event.preventDefault();
-      ui.toggleNav();
+      if (ui.palette) {
+        ui.closePalette();
+      } else {
+        ui.openPalette();
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    if (event.key === "Escape" && (ui.island || ui.palette)) {
+      ui.closeAll();
+      return;
+    }
+    if (
+      event.metaKey ||
+      event.ctrlKey ||
+      event.altKey ||
+      typing(event.target)
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const section = [...SECTIONS, SYSTEM].find((s) => s.key === event.key);
+    if (section) {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      goto(`${base}${section.href}`);
     }
   }
 </script>
@@ -80,13 +106,34 @@
   {#if isLogin || isPanel}
     {@render children()}
   {:else if session.ready && session.user}
-    <div class="flex h-dvh flex-col overflow-hidden sm:flex-row">
-      <AppSidebar />
-      <main class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden">
-        {@render children()}
-      </main>
+    <div class="flex h-dvh flex-col overflow-hidden">
+      <TopBar />
+      <div class="relative flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col">
+        <main class="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden">
+          {@render children()}
+        </main>
+        {#if ui.island && !isHome}
+          <div
+            class="absolute inset-0 z-20 flex items-start justify-center px-3 pt-3 sm:px-6"
+          >
+            <button
+              aria-label="Close the board"
+              class="absolute inset-0 animate-fade-in bg-foreground/10 backdrop-blur-[1.5px]"
+              onclick={() => ui.closeIsland()}
+              type="button"
+            ></button>
+            <section
+              aria-label="Now"
+              class="relative max-h-full w-full max-w-4xl animate-island-in overflow-y-auto rounded-2xl border bg-background p-5 shadow-float sm:p-6"
+            >
+              <Board compact />
+            </section>
+          </div>
+        {/if}
+      </div>
       <BottomNav />
     </div>
+    <Palette />
   {:else if session.ready && session.error}
     <div class="flex h-dvh items-center justify-center p-6 text-sm">
       <p class="text-destructive">{session.error}</p>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/+page.svelte
index bc1b97d..96fb702 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -1,396 +1,11 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { onMount } from "svelte";
-  import { base } from "$app/paths";
-  import type {
-    AgentsResponse,
-    SessionsResponse,
-    UsageResponse,
-  } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
-  import Endpoints from "$lib/components/endpoints.svelte";
-  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import KindBadge from "$lib/components/kind-badge.svelte";
-  import LimitBar from "$lib/components/limit-bar.svelte";
-  import PageHeader from "$lib/components/page-header.svelte";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import {
-    cacheShare,
-    elapsedMs,
-    fmtBytes,
-    fmtDuration,
-    fmtMoney,
-    fmtPct,
-    fmtSeconds,
-    fmtTime,
-    fmtTokens,
-    shortId,
-  } from "$lib/format";
-  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
-  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
-  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
-
-  const HOURS_5H = 5;
-  const HOURS_WEEK = 168;
-  const SESSIONS_POLL_MS = 10_000;
-  const TICK_MS = 1000;
-
-  let sessions = $state<SessionsResponse | null>(null);
-  let usage5h = $state<UsageResponse | null>(null);
-  let usageWeek = $state<UsageResponse | null>(null);
-  let agents = $state<AgentsResponse | null>(null);
-  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
-  let now = $state(Date.now());
-
-  async function load() {
-    const { client } = session;
-    if (!client) {
-      return;
-    }
-    failure = null;
-    try {
-      [sessions, usage5h, usageWeek, agents] = await Promise.all([
-        client.sessions(),
-        client.usage({ group_by: "agent", hours: HOURS_5H }),
-        client.usage({ group_by: "agent", hours: HOURS_WEEK }),
-        client.agents(),
-      ]);
-      await gateway.refreshLimits();
-    } catch (cause) {
-      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
-    }
-  }
-
-  async function pollSessions() {
-    const { client } = session;
-    if (!client) {
-      return;
-    }
-    sessions = await client.sessions().catch(() => sessions);
-  }
-
-  onMount(() => {
-    load();
-    const poll = setInterval(pollSessions, SESSIONS_POLL_MS);
-    const tick = setInterval(() => {
-      now = Date.now();
-    }, TICK_MS);
-    return () => {
-      clearInterval(poll);
-      clearInterval(tick);
-    };
-  });
-
-  const running = $derived(gateway.running);
-  const subtitle = $derived.by(() => {
-    if (running.length > 0) {
-      return `${running.length} running`;
-    }
-    return gateway.loaded ? "idle" : "";
-  });
-  const windows = $derived(gateway.limits?.windows ?? []);
-  const tape = $derived(gateway.tape.slice(0, 40));
+  import Board from "$lib/shell/board.svelte";
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head><title>Now · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
 
-<PageHeader {subtitle} title="Now" />
-
 <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
-  <div class="flex flex-col gap-8 px-4 py-4 sm:px-6">
-    {#if failure}
-      <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
-    {/if}
-
-    <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-      <h2
-        class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-      >
-        Running
-      </h2>
-      {#if !gateway.loaded}
-        <Skeleton class="h-10 w-full" />
-      {:else if running.length === 0}
-        <EmptyState
-          hint="Nothing is in a turn. The ledger fills in the moment a message or an inject lands."
-          title="The agents are idle"
-        />
-      {:else}
-        <ul class="flex flex-col">
-          {#each running as row (row.id)}
-            <li>
-              <a
-                class="row-hover ledger-grid grid-cols-[auto_auto_minmax(0,1fr)_auto] border-b py-2 text-sm"
-                href="{base}/conversations/{row.id}"
-              >
-                <span
-                  class="size-2 animate-pulse-dot rounded-full bg-signal"
-                ></span>
-                <KindBadge kind={row.kind} />
-                <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col">
-                  <span class="truncate font-medium">
-                    {row.title || `${row.kind} ${shortId(row.id)}`}
-                  </span>
-                  <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                    {row.agent}
-                    {row.pending_question ? " · waiting for an answer" : ""}
-                  </span>
-                </span>
-                <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                  {fmtDuration(elapsedMs(row.last_activity_at ?? "", null, now))}
-                </span>
-              </a>
-            </li>
-          {/each}
-        </ul>
-      {/if}
-    </section>
-
-    <section class="grid gap-6 lg:grid-cols-[minmax(0,3fr)_minmax(0,2fr)]">
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Subscription quota
-        </h2>
-        {#if windows.length === 0}
-          <EmptyState
-            hint="The SDK reports a window the first time its state changes; until then there is nothing to show."
-            title="No rate-limit reports yet"
-          />
-        {:else}
-          <div class="flex flex-col divide-y">
-            {#each windows as w (w.window)}
-              <LimitBar {now} window={w} />
-            {/each}
-          </div>
-        {/if}
-      </div>
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Spend via gateway
-        </h2>
-        {#if usage5h && usageWeek}
-          <table class="w-full text-sm">
-            <thead class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-              <tr class="border-b text-left">
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">range</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">cost</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">turns</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">in / out</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">cache share</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 text-right font-medium">written</th>
-              </tr>
-            </thead>
-            <tbody>
-              {#each [["last 5 h", usage5h.total], ["last 7 d", usageWeek.total]] as [label, total] (label)}
-                {@const t = total as UsageResponse["total"]}
-                {@const share = cacheShare(t.input, t.cache_read)}
-                <tr class="border-b">
-                  <td class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">{label}</td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-semibold">
-                    {fmtMoney(t.cost_usd)}
-                  </td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">{t.turns}</td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
-                    {fmtTokens(t.input)}
-                    / {fmtTokens(t.output)}
-                  </td>
-                  <td
-                    class={cn("tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right", share !== null && share < 0.5 && t.turns > 0 && "text-warn")}
-                  >
-                    {fmtPct(share)}
-                  </td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 text-right">
-                    {fmtTokens(t.cache_creation)}
-                  </td>
-                </tr>
-              {/each}
-            </tbody>
-          </table>
-          <a class="text-link text-xs hover:underline" href="{base}/usage">
-            Full breakdown →
-          </a>
-        {:else}
-          <Skeleton class="h-32 w-full" />
-        {/if}
-      </div>
-    </section>
-
-    <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-      <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Live sessions
-        </h2>
-        {#if sessions}
-          <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-            {sessions.sessions.length}
-            processes · {fmtBytes(sessions.rss)}
-            {#if sessions.rss_limit}
-              of {fmtBytes(sessions.rss_limit)}
-            {/if}
-          </span>
-        {/if}
-      </div>
-      {#if !sessions}
-        <Skeleton class="h-10 w-full" />
-      {:else if sessions.sessions.length === 0}
-        <EmptyState
-          hint="Sessions spawn on the first turn and are reaped by idle time or memory pressure."
-          title="No claude processes alive"
-        />
-      {:else}
-        <div class="overflow-x-auto">
-          <table class="w-full text-sm">
-            <thead class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-              <tr class="border-b text-left">
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">agent</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">kind</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">state</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">rss</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">idle</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">age</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">turns</th>
-                <th class="py-1.5 font-medium">conversation</th>
-              </tr>
-            </thead>
-            <tbody>
-              {#each sessions.sessions as s (s.key)}
-                <tr class="row-hover border-b">
-                  <td class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">{s.agent}</td>
-                  <td class="py-1.5 pr-3"><KindBadge kind={s.kind} /></td>
-                  <td class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-xs">
-                    <span
-                      class={cn(s.busy ? "text-signal" : "text-muted-foreground")}
-                    >
-                      {s.busy ? "busy" : "idle"}
-                    </span>
-                    {#if s.pinned}
-                      <span class="ml-1 text-muted-foreground">pinned</span>
-                    {/if}
-                    {#if s.dirty}
-                      <span class="ml-1 text-warn">dirty</span>
-                    {/if}
-                    {#if s.pending_question}
-                      <span class="ml-1 text-link">question</span>
-                    {/if}
-                  </td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
-                    {fmtBytes(s.rss)}
-                  </td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
-                    {fmtSeconds(s.idle_seconds)}
-                  </td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
-                    {fmtSeconds(s.age_seconds)}
-                  </td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">{s.turns}</td>
-                  <td class="tabular py-1.5 text-xs">
-                    <a
-                      class="text-link hover:underline"
-                      href="{base}/conversations/{s.key}"
-                    >
-                      {shortId(s.key)}
-                    </a>
-                  </td>
-                </tr>
-              {/each}
-            </tbody>
-          </table>
-        </div>
-      {/if}
-    </section>
-
-    <section class="grid gap-6 lg:grid-cols-2">
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Agents
-        </h2>
-        {#if agents}
-          <ul class="flex flex-col">
-            {#each agents.agents as a (a.name)}
-              <li
-                class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_auto] border-b py-1.5 text-sm"
-              >
-                <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col">
-                  <span class="truncate font-medium">{a.name}</span>
-                  <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                    {a.model}{a.effort ? ` · ${a.effort}` : ""}
-                  </span>
-                </span>
-                <span class="flex gap-1">
-                  {#each a.kinds as k (k)}
-                    <KindBadge kind={k} />
-                  {/each}
-                </span>
-              </li>
-            {/each}
-          </ul>
-        {:else}
-          <Skeleton class="h-20 w-full" />
-        {/if}
-      </div>
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Endpoints
-        </h2>
-        {#if agents}
-          <Endpoints catalog={agents} />
-        {:else}
-          <Skeleton class="h-20 w-full" />
-        {/if}
-      </div>
-    </section>
-
-    <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-      <h2
-        class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-      >
-        Event tape
-      </h2>
-      {#if tape.length === 0}
-        <p class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-          Quiet. Bus events (turns, tools, injects, questions) scroll here as
-          they happen.
-        </p>
-      {:else}
-        <ul class="flex flex-col font-mono text-xs">
-          {#each tape as item (item.seq)}
-            <li class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[5rem_8rem_minmax(0,1fr)] py-0.5">
-              <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground"
-                >{fmtTime(item.ts)}</span
-              >
-              <span class="truncate">{item.type}</span>
-              <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground">
-                {#if item.conversation_id}
-                  <a
-                    class="hover:underline"
-                    href="{base}/conversations/{item.conversation_id}"
-                  >
-                    {shortId(item.conversation_id)}
-                  </a>
-                {/if}
-                {#if typeof item.name === "string"}
-                  {item.name}
-                {/if}
-                {#if typeof item.text === "string"}
-                  {item.text.slice(0, 80)}
-                {/if}
-                {#if typeof item.stop === "string"}
-                  {item.stop}
-                {/if}
-              </span>
-            </li>
-          {/each}
-        </ul>
-      {/if}
-    </section>
+  <div class="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-6xl flex-col gap-6 px-4 py-6 sm:px-6">
+    <Board />
   </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/audit/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/audit/+page.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 4ceca8e..0000000
--- a/ui/src/routes/audit/+page.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,105 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-  import { onMount } from "svelte";
-  import type { AuditRecord } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
-  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import PageHeader from "$lib/components/page-header.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import { fmtDateTime } from "$lib/format";
-  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
-
-  const PAGE = 100;
-  let records = $state<AuditRecord[] | null>(null);
-  let nextBefore = $state<number | null>(null);
-  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
-  let busy = $state(false);
-
-  async function load(more = false) {
-    const { client } = session;
-    if (!client) {
-      return;
-    }
-    failure = null;
-    busy = true;
-    try {
-      const page = await client.audit({
-        before: more && nextBefore ? nextBefore : undefined,
-        limit: PAGE,
-      });
-      records = more ? [...(records ?? []), ...page.records] : page.records;
-      nextBefore = page.next_before;
-    } catch (cause) {
-      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
-    } finally {
-      busy = false;
-    }
-  }
-
-  onMount(() => {
-    load();
-  });
-
-  function detail(record: AuditRecord): string {
-    if (typeof record.detail === "string") {
-      return record.detail;
-    }
-    return Object.entries(record.detail)
-      .map(
-        ([key, value]) =>
-          `${key}=${typeof value === "string" ? value : JSON.stringify(value)}`
-      )
-      .join("  ");
-  }
-</script>
-
-<svelte:head><title>Audit · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
-
-<PageHeader title="Audit" />
-
-<div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
-  <div class="flex flex-col gap-3 px-4 py-4 sm:px-6">
-    {#if failure}
-      <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={() => load()} />
-    {:else if records === null}
-      <Skeleton class="h-40 w-full" />
-    {:else if records.length === 0}
-      <EmptyState
-        hint="Logins, token changes and API writes land here."
-        title="Nothing audited yet"
-      />
-    {:else}
-      <ul class="flex flex-col text-xs">
-        {#each records as record (record.id)}
-          <li
-            class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[9rem_7rem_9rem_minmax(0,1fr)] border-b py-1.5"
-          >
-            <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground"
-              >{fmtDateTime(record.ts)}</span
-            >
-            <span class="truncate font-medium">{record.kind}</span>
-            <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground">{record.actor}</span>
-            <span class="truncate font-mono text-muted-foreground">
-              {#if record.agent}
-                {record.agent}
-                ·
-              {/if}
-              {detail(record)}
-            </span>
-          </li>
-        {/each}
-      </ul>
-      {#if nextBefore !== null}
-        <Button
-          class="self-start"
-          disabled={busy}
-          onclick={() => load(true)}
-          size="sm"
-          variant="outline"
-        >
-          Older
-        </Button>
-      {/if}
-    {/if}
-  </div>
-</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/conversations/+layout.svelte b/ui/src/routes/conversations/+layout.svelte
index c015cd2..bbaad83 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/conversations/+layout.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/conversations/+layout.svelte
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import PanelLeftOpenIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/panel-left-open";
+  import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
+  import { base } from "$app/paths";
   import { page } from "$app/state";
-  import ConversationList from "$lib/components/conversation-list.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
   import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
+  import Rail from "$lib/rail/rail.svelte";
+  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
   import { ui } from "$lib/ui.svelte";
   import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
 
   let { children } = $props();
 
   const selected = $derived(page.params.id ?? null);
-  const running = $derived(gateway.running.length);
+  const href = (id: string) => `${base}/conversations/${id}`;
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head><title>Conversations · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
@@ -20,39 +22,42 @@
     "grid min-h-0 flex-1 grid-cols-1",
     ui.rail
       ? "lg:grid-cols-[22rem_minmax(0,1fr)]"
-      : "lg:grid-cols-[2.75rem_minmax(0,1fr)]"
+      : "lg:grid-cols-[2.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)]"
   )}
 >
   <div
     class={cn(
-      "min-h-0 border-r bg-sidebar/40",
+      "min-h-0 border-r",
       selected ? "hidden lg:block" : "block"
     )}
   >
     {#if ui.rail}
-      <ConversationList {selected} />
+      {#if session.client}
+        <Rail
+          client={session.client}
+          {href}
+          index={gateway}
+          onOpenFile={(path) =>
+            goto(`${base}/memory?path=${encodeURIComponent(path)}`)}
+          {selected}
+        />
+      {/if}
     {:else}
-      <div class="hidden h-full flex-col items-center gap-2 py-2 lg:flex">
-        <Button
+      <div class="hidden h-full flex-col items-center py-2 lg:flex">
+        <button
           aria-label="Show conversations"
+          class="rule-word inline-flex size-7 items-center justify-center rounded-md"
           onclick={() => ui.toggleRail()}
-          size="icon-sm"
           title="Show conversations"
-          variant="ghost"
+          type="button"
         >
           <PanelLeftOpenIcon class="size-4" />
-        </Button>
-        {#if running > 0}
-          <span
-            class="tabular rounded-full bg-signal/12 px-1.5 font-medium text-signal text-xs"
-            title="{running} running"
-          >
-            {running}
-          </span>
-        {/if}
+        </button>
       </div>
       <div class="h-full lg:hidden">
-        <ConversationList {selected} />
+        {#if session.client}
+          <Rail client={session.client} {href} index={gateway} {selected} />
+        {/if}
       </div>
     {/if}
   </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte
index cda986f..f5b73b7 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte
@@ -5,12 +5,10 @@
 </script>
 
 <div
-  class="flex flex-1 items-center justify-center p-6 text-muted-foreground text-sm"
+  class="flex flex-1 flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1 p-6 text-center text-muted-foreground text-sm"
 >
+  <p>Pick a strip on the left.</p>
   {#if running > 0}
-    {running}
-    running - pick one on the left.
-  {:else}
-    Pick a conversation on the left.
+    <p class="text-signal">{running} in motion right now.</p>
   {/if}
 </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/jobs/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/jobs/+page.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 94b6b83..0000000
--- a/ui/src/routes/jobs/+page.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,251 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-  import { onDestroy, onMount } from "svelte";
-  import type { JobsResponse, QueuedJob } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
-  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import PageHeader from "$lib/components/page-header.svelte";
-  import StatusPill from "$lib/components/status-pill.svelte";
-  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import { clip, fmtDateTime, fmtPct, fmtRelative } from "$lib/format";
-  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
-  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
-
-  const TICK_MS = 15_000;
-  const PAYLOAD_MAX = 120;
-
-  let data = $state<JobsResponse | null>(null);
-  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
-  let busy = $state<string | null>(null);
-  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined;
-
-  async function load() {
-    const { client } = session;
-    if (!client) {
-      return;
-    }
-    failure = null;
-    try {
-      data = await client.jobs();
-    } catch (cause) {
-      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
-    }
-  }
-
-  async function run(name: string) {
-    const { client } = session;
-    if (!client) {
-      return;
-    }
-    busy = name;
-    try {
-      await client.runJob(name);
-      await load();
-    } catch (cause) {
-      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
-    } finally {
-      busy = null;
-    }
-  }
-
-  async function cancel(job: QueuedJob) {
-    const { client } = session;
-    if (!client) {
-      return;
-    }
-    busy = `queue:${job.id}`;
-    try {
-      await client.cancelJob(job.id);
-      await load();
-    } catch (cause) {
-      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
-    } finally {
-      busy = null;
-    }
-  }
-
-  function describe(job: QueuedJob): string {
-    const { payload } = job;
-    const { text } = payload;
-    if (typeof text === "string") {
-      return text;
-    }
-    const raw = JSON.stringify(payload);
-    return raw === "{}" ? "" : raw;
-  }
-
-  function triggers(job: JobsResponse["jobs"][number]): string {
-    const parts: string[] = [];
-    if (job.cron) {
-      parts.push(job.cron);
-    }
-    if (job.webhook) {
-      parts.push(`POST /hooks/${job.name}`);
-    }
-    for (const event of job.events) {
-      parts.push(`on ${event}`);
-    }
-    return parts.join(" · ") || "manual";
-  }
-
-  onMount(() => {
-    load();
-    timer = setInterval(load, TICK_MS);
-  });
-  onDestroy(() => clearInterval(timer));
-
-  const pending = $derived(
-    data?.queue.filter((q) => q.status === "queued") ?? []
-  );
-  const picked = $derived(
-    data?.queue.filter((q) => q.status !== "queued") ?? []
-  );
-</script>
-
-<svelte:head><title>Jobs · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
-
-<PageHeader
-  subtitle={data
-    ? `${data.jobs.length} jobs · ${pending.length} queued · window ${fmtPct(data.utilization)}${data.throttled ? " · throttled" : ""}`
-    : ""}
-  title="Jobs"
-/>
-
-<div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
-  <div class="flex flex-col gap-6 px-4 py-4 sm:px-6">
-    {#if failure}
-      <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
-    {:else if data === null}
-      <Skeleton class="h-24 w-full" />
-    {:else}
-      {#if !data.enabled}
-        <EmptyState
-          hint="The gateway is not on Postgres: cron and webhooks are off, `schedule` is unavailable. Event jobs still run in-process."
-          title="Scheduler is off"
-        />
-      {/if}
-      {#if data.throttled}
-        <p class="text-sm text-warn">
-          Subscription window at {fmtPct(data.utilization)} (threshold
-          {fmtPct(
-            data.threshold
-          )}): non-critical jobs are deferred.
-        </p>
-      {/if}
-
-      <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Jobs
-        </h2>
-        {#if data.jobs.length === 0}
-          <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">No jobs in config.</p>
-        {:else}
-          <ul class="flex flex-col">
-            {#each data.jobs as job (job.name)}
-              <li
-                class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[10rem_minmax(0,1fr)_9rem_9rem_5rem] items-center border-b py-2 text-sm"
-              >
-                <span class="truncate font-medium">
-                  {job.name}
-                  {#if !job.critical}
-                    <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">· soft</span>
-                  {/if}
-                </span>
-                <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                  {triggers(job)}
-                </span>
-                <span
-                  class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs"
-                  title={fmtDateTime(job.next_run)}
-                >
-                  {job.next_run ? `next ${fmtRelative(job.next_run)}` : ""}
-                </span>
-                <span class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs">
-                  {#if job.run}
-                    <StatusPill status={job.run.status} />
-                    <span
-                      class="text-muted-foreground"
-                      title={fmtDateTime(job.run.started_at)}
-                    >
-                      {fmtRelative(job.run.started_at)}
-                      · {job.run.trigger}
-                    </span>
-                  {:else if job.last_run}
-                    <span
-                      class="text-muted-foreground"
-                      title={fmtDateTime(job.last_run)}
-                    >
-                      ran {fmtRelative(job.last_run)}
-                    </span>
-                  {/if}
-                </span>
-                <Button
-                  disabled={busy === job.name}
-                  onclick={() => run(job.name)}
-                  size="sm"
-                  variant="outline"
-                >
-                  Run
-                </Button>
-              </li>
-            {/each}
-          </ul>
-        {/if}
-      </section>
-
-      <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Queue
-        </h2>
-        {#if data.queue.length === 0}
-          <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
-            Nothing queued: no deferred injects, no pending webhooks.
-          </p>
-        {:else}
-          <ul class="flex flex-col">
-            {#each [...picked, ...pending] as job (job.id)}
-              <li
-                class={cn(
-                  "ledger-grid grid-cols-[8rem_7rem_minmax(0,1fr)_9rem_5rem] items-center border-b py-2 text-sm",
-                  job.status !== "queued" && "text-muted-foreground"
-                )}
-              >
-                <span
-                  class="tabular text-xs"
-                  title={fmtDateTime(job.execute_after)}
-                >
-                  {job.status === "queued"
-                    ? fmtRelative(job.execute_after)
-                    : job.status}
-                </span>
-                <span class="truncate text-xs">{job.entrypoint}</span>
-                <span class="truncate" title={JSON.stringify(job.payload)}>
-                  {clip(describe(job), PAYLOAD_MAX)}
-                </span>
-                <span class="tabular text-right text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                  {fmtDateTime(job.execute_after)}
-                </span>
-                {#if job.status === "queued"}
-                  <Button
-                    disabled={busy === `queue:${job.id}`}
-                    onclick={() => cancel(job)}
-                    size="sm"
-                    variant="ghost"
-                  >
-                    Cancel
-                  </Button>
-                {:else}
-                  <span></span>
-                {/if}
-              </li>
-            {/each}
-          </ul>
-        {/if}
-      </section>
-    {/if}
-  </div>
-</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/layout.css b/ui/src/routes/layout.css
index 3d8ad84..0e38f8e 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/layout.css
+++ b/ui/src/routes/layout.css
@@ -10,27 +10,31 @@
 @custom-variant dark (&:is(.dark *));
 
 :root {
-  --background: oklch(0.99 0.004 340);
-  --foreground: oklch(0.24 0.03 340);
-  --card: oklch(0.985 0.006 340);
-  --card-foreground: oklch(0.24 0.03 340);
-  --popover: oklch(0.985 0.006 340);
-  --popover-foreground: oklch(0.24 0.03 340);
+  --rack: oklch(0.968 0.007 340);
+  --strip: oklch(0.996 0.002 340);
+  --background: var(--rack);
+  --foreground: oklch(0.23 0.03 340);
+  --card: var(--strip);
+  --card-foreground: oklch(0.23 0.03 340);
+  --popover: var(--strip);
+  --popover-foreground: oklch(0.23 0.03 340);
   --primary: oklch(0.47 0.13 340);
   --primary-foreground: oklch(0.99 0.005 340);
-  --secondary: oklch(0.96 0.012 340);
-  --secondary-foreground: oklch(0.24 0.03 340);
-  --muted: oklch(0.96 0.012 340);
-  --muted-foreground: oklch(0.5 0.04 340);
-  --accent: oklch(0.96 0.012 340);
-  --accent-foreground: oklch(0.24 0.03 340);
+  --secondary: oklch(0.95 0.012 340);
+  --secondary-foreground: oklch(0.23 0.03 340);
+  --muted: oklch(0.945 0.012 340);
+  --muted-foreground: oklch(0.5 0.035 340);
+  --accent: oklch(0.95 0.012 340);
+  --accent-foreground: oklch(0.23 0.03 340);
   --destructive: oklch(0.58 0.22 25);
   --destructive-foreground: oklch(0.99 0 0);
-  --border: oklch(0.9 0.02 340);
-  --input: oklch(0.9 0.02 340);
+  --border: oklch(0.9 0.016 340);
+  --input: oklch(0.9 0.016 340);
   --ring: oklch(0.55 0.2 342);
   --icon: oklch(0.55 0.03 340);
-  --signal: oklch(0.48 0.21 342);
+  --signal: oklch(0.5 0.21 342);
+  --attention: oklch(0.72 0.16 72);
+  --attention-foreground: oklch(0.5 0.14 70);
   --note: oklch(0.52 0.13 78);
   --warn: oklch(0.55 0.13 75);
   --link: var(--primary);
@@ -43,64 +47,81 @@
   --status-meeting: oklch(0.5 0.2 300);
   --status-work: oklch(0.55 0.13 195);
 
-  --radius: 0.45rem;
-  --sidebar: oklch(0.975 0.01 340);
-  --sidebar-foreground: oklch(0.24 0.03 340);
-  --sidebar-primary: oklch(0.47 0.13 340);
-  --sidebar-primary-foreground: oklch(0.99 0.005 340);
-  --sidebar-accent: oklch(0.94 0.016 340);
-  --sidebar-accent-foreground: oklch(0.24 0.03 340);
-  --sidebar-border: oklch(0.9 0.02 340);
-  --sidebar-ring: oklch(0.55 0.2 342);
+  --radius: 0.5rem;
+  --sidebar: var(--rack);
+  --sidebar-foreground: var(--foreground);
+  --sidebar-primary: var(--primary);
+  --sidebar-primary-foreground: var(--primary-foreground);
+  --sidebar-accent: oklch(0.93 0.016 340);
+  --sidebar-accent-foreground: var(--foreground);
+  --sidebar-border: var(--border);
+  --sidebar-ring: var(--ring);
+
+  --shadow-lift:
+    0 8px 20px -12px oklch(0.25 0.06 340 / 0.35),
+    0 1px 2px oklch(0.25 0.06 340 / 0.08);
+  --shadow-float:
+    0 24px 60px -24px oklch(0.2 0.06 340 / 0.45),
+    0 2px 6px oklch(0.2 0.06 340 / 0.08);
 }
 
 .dark {
-  --background: #22111e;
-  --foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --card: #341d2f;
-  --card-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --popover: #341d2f;
-  --popover-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --primary: #7c3871;
-  --primary-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --secondary: #341d2f;
-  --secondary-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --muted: #40283a;
-  --muted-foreground: #a989a3;
-  --accent: #40283a;
-  --accent-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --destructive: oklch(0.62 0.2 25);
-  --destructive-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --border: oklch(0.92 0.04 340 / 10%);
-  --input: oklch(0.92 0.04 340 / 14%);
-  --ring: #ff82f3;
-  --icon: #877384;
-  --signal: #ff82f3;
+  --rack: oklch(0.2 0.025 335);
+  --strip: oklch(0.255 0.028 335);
+  --background: var(--rack);
+  --foreground: oklch(0.96 0.005 340);
+  --card: var(--strip);
+  --card-foreground: oklch(0.96 0.005 340);
+  --popover: oklch(0.27 0.03 335);
+  --popover-foreground: oklch(0.96 0.005 340);
+  --primary: oklch(0.72 0.16 340);
+  --primary-foreground: oklch(0.18 0.03 340);
+  --secondary: oklch(0.29 0.03 335);
+  --secondary-foreground: oklch(0.96 0.005 340);
+  --muted: oklch(0.3 0.03 335);
+  --muted-foreground: oklch(0.72 0.03 340);
+  --accent: oklch(0.3 0.03 335);
+  --accent-foreground: oklch(0.96 0.005 340);
+  --destructive: oklch(0.66 0.2 25);
+  --destructive-foreground: oklch(0.98 0 0);
+  --border: oklch(0.96 0.02 340 / 10%);
+  --input: oklch(0.96 0.02 340 / 14%);
+  --ring: oklch(0.8 0.15 340);
+  --icon: oklch(0.65 0.03 340);
+  --signal: oklch(0.8 0.17 340);
+  --attention: oklch(0.8 0.15 75);
+  --attention-foreground: oklch(0.85 0.14 78);
   --note: oklch(0.84 0.14 88);
   --warn: oklch(0.8 0.13 75);
-  --link: #ff82f3;
+  --link: oklch(0.8 0.15 340);
 
-  --status-new: #ff82f3;
+  --status-new: oklch(0.8 0.17 340);
   --status-done: oklch(0.74 0.14 155);
-  --status-skip: #a989a3;
+  --status-skip: oklch(0.7 0.03 340);
   --status-reply: oklch(0.72 0.13 235);
   --status-snooze: oklch(0.8 0.13 75);
   --status-meeting: oklch(0.72 0.16 300);
   --status-work: oklch(0.75 0.12 195);
 
-  --sidebar: #2c1b29;
-  --sidebar-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --sidebar-primary: #ff82f3;
-  --sidebar-primary-foreground: #22111e;
-  --sidebar-accent: #341d2f;
-  --sidebar-accent-foreground: #f5f5f5;
-  --sidebar-border: oklch(0.92 0.04 340 / 10%);
-  --sidebar-ring: #ff82f3;
+  --sidebar: var(--rack);
+  --sidebar-foreground: var(--foreground);
+  --sidebar-primary: var(--primary);
+  --sidebar-primary-foreground: var(--primary-foreground);
+  --sidebar-accent: oklch(0.3 0.03 335);
+  --sidebar-accent-foreground: var(--foreground);
+  --sidebar-border: var(--border);
+  --sidebar-ring: var(--ring);
+
+  --shadow-lift:
+    0 8px 20px -12px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.7), 0 1px 2px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.3);
+  --shadow-float:
+    0 24px 60px -24px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.8), 0 2px 6px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.3);
 }
 
 @theme inline {
-  --font-sans: "Inter Variable", sans-serif;
-  --font-heading: "Inter Variable", sans-serif;
+  --font-sans:
+    -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Inter Variable", system-ui, sans-serif;
+  --font-heading: var(--font-sans);
 
   --text-xs: 0.75rem;
   --text-sm: 0.8125rem;
@@ -108,6 +129,12 @@
   --text-lg: 1rem;
   --text-xl: 1.25rem;
   --text-2xl: 1.5rem;
+  --text-3xl: 2rem;
+
+  --color-rack: var(--rack);
+  --color-strip: var(--strip);
+  --color-attention: var(--attention);
+  --color-attention-foreground: var(--attention-foreground);
 
   --color-sidebar-ring: var(--sidebar-ring);
   --color-sidebar-border: var(--sidebar-border);
@@ -150,11 +177,37 @@
   --color-foreground: var(--foreground);
   --color-background: var(--background);
 
+  --shadow-lift: var(--shadow-lift);
+  --shadow-float: var(--shadow-float);
+
   --radius-sm: calc(var(--radius) * 0.6);
   --radius-md: calc(var(--radius) * 0.8);
   --radius-lg: var(--radius);
   --radius-xl: calc(var(--radius) * 1.4);
   --radius-2xl: calc(var(--radius) * 1.8);
+
+  --animate-island-in: island-in 260ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.9, 0.25, 1.05) both;
+  --animate-fade-in: fade-in 180ms ease-out both;
+}
+
+@keyframes island-in {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: translateY(-6px) scale(0.985);
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: none;
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes fade-in {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
 }
 
 @layer base {
@@ -163,6 +216,7 @@
   }
   body {
     font-feature-settings: "cv11", "ss01";
+    -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
     @apply bg-background text-foreground;
   }
   html,
@@ -177,18 +231,6 @@
   ::selection {
     background: color-mix(in oklab, var(--primary) 28%, transparent);
   }
-}
-
-@utility hue-chip {
-  color: oklch(0.45 0.13 var(--hue));
-  background: oklch(0.6 0.09 var(--hue) / 0.12);
-  border-color: oklch(0.6 0.09 var(--hue) / 0.4);
-  .dark & {
-    color: oklch(0.82 0.08 var(--hue));
-  }
-}
-
-@layer base {
   * {
     scrollbar-color: color-mix(in oklab, var(--foreground) 22%, transparent)
       transparent;
@@ -210,6 +252,14 @@
   textarea {
     caret-color: var(--primary);
   }
+  input:focus,
+  textarea:focus,
+  select:focus {
+    --tw-ring-color: transparent;
+    outline: none;
+    border-color: var(--border);
+    box-shadow: none;
+  }
   a {
     text-underline-offset: 3px;
   }
@@ -229,10 +279,38 @@
   }
 }
 
+@utility hue-chip {
+  color: oklch(0.45 0.13 var(--hue));
+  background: oklch(0.6 0.09 var(--hue) / 0.12);
+  border-color: oklch(0.6 0.09 var(--hue) / 0.4);
+  .dark & {
+    color: oklch(0.82 0.08 var(--hue));
+  }
+}
+
 @utility hairline {
   border-color: color-mix(in oklab, var(--border) 100%, transparent);
 }
 
+@utility label-quiet {
+  font-size: var(--text-xs);
+  font-weight: 500;
+  color: var(--muted-foreground);
+  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+}
+
+@utility rule-word {
+  font-size: var(--text-sm);
+  font-weight: 500;
+  color: var(--muted-foreground);
+  transition: color 150ms ease-out;
+  &:hover,
+  &[aria-current="page"],
+  &[data-active="true"] {
+    color: var(--foreground);
+  }
+}
+
 /* chat markdown: typography plugin on the theme tokens, compact rhythm */
 .prose {
   --tw-prose-body: var(--foreground);
@@ -258,34 +336,25 @@
   :where(p, ul, ol, pre, blockquote, table):not(
     :where([class~="not-prose"] *)
   ) {
-  margin-block: 0.4em;
+  margin-top: 0.4em;
+  margin-bottom: 0.4em;
 }
 .prose :where(h1, h2, h3, h4):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *)) {
-  margin-block: 0.8em 0.4em;
+  margin-top: 0.9em;
+  margin-bottom: 0.3em;
   font-size: 1em;
   font-weight: 600;
 }
-.prose :where(li):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *)) {
-  margin-block: 0.15em;
+.prose :where(code):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *)) {
+  padding: 0.1em 0.3em;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  background: var(--muted);
+  border-radius: 0.3em;
 }
 .prose :where(code):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *))::before,
 .prose :where(code):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *))::after {
   content: none;
 }
-.prose :where(code):not(:where(pre *)):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *)) {
-  padding: 0.1em 0.3em;
-  font-weight: 500;
-  background: color-mix(in oklch, var(--muted) 70%, transparent);
-  border-radius: 0.25rem;
-}
-.prose :where(pre):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *)) {
-  padding: 0.6em 0.8em;
-  font-size: 0.8125rem;
-  border-radius: 0.375rem;
-}
-.prose > :first-child {
-  margin-top: 0;
-}
-.prose > :last-child {
-  margin-bottom: 0;
+.prose :where(a.internal-link):not(:where([class~="not-prose"] *)) {
+  text-decoration-style: dotted;
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/memory/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/memory/+page.svelte
index 03653da..c66b670 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/memory/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/memory/+page.svelte
@@ -1,14 +1,11 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import ChevronRightIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/chevron-right";
-  import FileTextIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/file-text";
-  import FolderIcon from "@lucide/svelte/icons/folder";
   import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import { page } from "$app/state";
   import type { MemoryFile, MemoryNode, MemoryTree } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
   import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import PageHeader from "$lib/components/page-header.svelte";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
   import { fmtBytes, fmtDateTime, fmtRelative } from "$lib/format";
+  import Markdown from "$lib/panel/markdown.svelte";
   import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
   import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
 
@@ -18,7 +15,9 @@
   let selected = $state<string | null>(null);
   let file = $state<MemoryFile | null>(null);
   let fileError = $state<string | null>(null);
-  let collapsed = $state<Set<string>>(new Set());
+  let expanded = $state<Set<string>>(new Set());
+  let raw = $state(false);
+  const MD_SUFFIX = /\.md$/;
 
   async function load() {
     const { client } = session;
@@ -47,6 +46,12 @@
     selected = path;
     file = null;
     fileError = null;
+    const parts = path.split("/");
+    const next = new Set(expanded);
+    for (let i = 1; i < parts.length; i += 1) {
+      next.add(parts.slice(0, i).join("/"));
+    }
+    expanded = next;
     try {
       file = await client.memoryFile(path);
     } catch (cause) {
@@ -55,16 +60,22 @@
   }
 
   function toggle(path: string) {
-    const next = new Set(collapsed);
+    const next = new Set(expanded);
     if (next.has(path)) {
       next.delete(path);
     } else {
       next.add(path);
     }
-    collapsed = next;
+    expanded = next;
   }
 
-  onMount(load);
+  onMount(async () => {
+    await load();
+    const wanted = page.url.searchParams.get("path");
+    if (wanted) {
+      open(wanted);
+    }
+  });
 
   const count = $derived.by(() => {
     let files = 0;
@@ -80,67 +91,94 @@
     walk(tree?.tree ?? []);
     return files;
   });
+
+  const isMarkdown = $derived(file?.path.endsWith(".md") ?? false);
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head><title>Memory · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
 
-<PageHeader
-  subtitle={tree ? `${count} files · ${tree.root}` : ""}
-  title="Memory"
-/>
-
-<div class="grid min-h-0 flex-1 grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-[18rem_minmax(0,1fr)]">
+<div class="grid min-h-0 flex-1 grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-[20rem_minmax(0,1fr)]">
   <div
-    class="min-h-0 overflow-y-auto border-b bg-sidebar/50 p-2 md:border-r md:border-b-0"
+    class="min-h-0 overflow-y-auto border-b px-3 py-3 md:border-r md:border-b-0"
   >
+    <div class="flex items-baseline gap-2 px-1 pb-2">
+      <h1 class="font-semibold text-base tracking-tight">Memory</h1>
+      {#if tree}
+        <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">{count} files</span>
+      {/if}
+    </div>
     {#if failure}
       <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
     {:else if notConfigured}
-      <EmptyState
-        hint="Set ApiFrontend(memory_root=...) in config.py to the agent's zone of the vault."
-        title="No memory root"
-      />
+      <p class="doc px-1 text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+        No memory root. Point ApiFrontend(memory_root=…) at the agent's zone of
+        the vault.
+      </p>
     {:else if !tree}
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-1">
-        <Skeleton class="h-6 w-3/4" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-6 w-1/2" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-6 w-2/3" />
-      </div>
+      <p class="px-1 text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
     {:else if tree.tree.length === 0}
-      <EmptyState hint="The zone is empty." title="Nothing here" />
+      <p class="px-1 text-muted-foreground text-sm">The zone is empty.</p>
     {:else}
       {@render nodes(tree.tree, 0)}
     {/if}
   </div>
   <div class="min-h-0 overflow-y-auto">
     {#if !selected}
-      <div class="p-6 text-muted-foreground text-sm">
-        Pick a file to read it. This is the agent's own zone: state, handouts,
-        prompts, skills - everything it can write.
+      <div class="mx-auto max-w-2xl px-6 py-10 text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+        <p>
+          The agent's own zone: state, handouts, observations, prompts, skills.
+          Pick a file on the left, or search for a line with ⌘K.
+        </p>
       </div>
     {:else if fileError}
       <div class="p-4">
         <ErrorNote message={fileError} retry={() => open(selected ?? "")} />
       </div>
     {:else if !file}
-      <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
-        <Skeleton class="h-5 w-1/3" />
-        <Skeleton class="h-40 w-full" />
-      </div>
+      <p class="px-6 py-10 text-center text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+        Opening…
+      </p>
     {:else}
-      <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3 border-b px-4 py-2 text-xs sm:px-6">
-        <span class="font-medium text-sm">{file.path}</span>
-        <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground">{fmtBytes(file.size)}</span>
-        <span
-          class="tabular text-muted-foreground"
-          title={fmtDateTime(file.mtime)}
-        >
-          modified {fmtRelative(file.mtime)}
-        </span>
-      </div>
-      <pre
-        class="max-w-[90ch] px-4 py-3 text-sm whitespace-pre-wrap break-words sm:px-6"
-      >{file.content}</pre>
+      <article class="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-3xl flex-col gap-4 px-6 py-6">
+        <header class="flex flex-wrap items-baseline gap-x-3 gap-y-1">
+          <h2 class="min-w-0 truncate font-semibold text-lg tracking-tight">
+            {file.path.split("/").at(-1)?.replace(MD_SUFFIX, "")}
+          </h2>
+          {#if file.path.includes("/")}
+            <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              {file.path.split("/").slice(0, -1).join(" / ")}
+            </span>
+          {/if}
+          <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+            {fmtBytes(file.size)}
+          </span>
+          <span
+            class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs"
+            title={fmtDateTime(file.mtime)}
+          >
+            {fmtRelative(file.mtime)}
+          </span>
+          {#if isMarkdown}
+            <button
+              class="rule-word ml-auto text-xs"
+              data-active={raw}
+              onclick={() => {
+                raw = !raw;
+              }}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              {raw ? "rendered" : "source"}
+            </button>
+          {/if}
+        </header>
+        {#if isMarkdown && !raw}
+          <Markdown class="prose-base" text={file.content} />
+        {:else}
+          <pre
+            class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-sm leading-relaxed"
+          >{file.content}</pre>
+        {/if}
+      </article>
     {/if}
   </div>
 </div>
@@ -150,23 +188,28 @@
     {#each list as node (node.path)}
       <li>
         {#if node.type === "dir"}
+          {@const isOpen = expanded.has(node.path)}
           <button
-            aria-expanded={!collapsed.has(node.path)}
+            aria-expanded={isOpen}
             class="row-hover flex h-7 w-full items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md pr-2 text-left text-sm"
             onclick={() => toggle(node.path)}
-            style="padding-left: {depth * 0.75 + 0.25}rem"
+            style="padding-left: {depth * 0.875 + 0.25}rem"
             type="button"
           >
             <ChevronRightIcon
               class={cn(
                 "size-3.5 shrink-0 text-icon transition-transform duration-150",
-                !collapsed.has(node.path) && "rotate-90"
+                isOpen && "rotate-90"
               )}
             />
-            <FolderIcon class="size-4 shrink-0 text-icon" />
-            <span class="truncate">{node.name}</span>
+            <span class="truncate font-medium">{node.name}</span>
+            {#if !isOpen && node.children}
+              <span class="tabular ml-auto text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                {node.children.length}
+              </span>
+            {/if}
           </button>
-          {#if !collapsed.has(node.path) && node.children}
+          {#if isOpen && node.children}
             {@render nodes(node.children, depth + 1)}
           {/if}
         {:else}
@@ -174,14 +217,13 @@
             aria-current={selected === node.path ? "true" : undefined}
             class={cn(
               "row-hover flex h-7 w-full items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md pr-2 text-left text-sm",
-              selected === node.path && "bg-sidebar-accent font-medium"
+              selected === node.path && "bg-accent font-medium"
             )}
             onclick={() => open(node.path)}
-            style="padding-left: {depth * 0.75 + 1.5}rem"
+            style="padding-left: {depth * 0.875 + 1.5}rem"
             type="button"
           >
-            <FileTextIcon class="size-4 shrink-0 text-icon" />
-            <span class="truncate">{node.name}</span>
+            <span class="truncate">{node.name.replace(MD_SUFFIX, "")}</span>
             <span class="tabular ml-auto text-muted-foreground text-xs">
               {fmtBytes(node.size)}
             </span>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/system/+layout.svelte b/ui/src/routes/system/+layout.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1d41e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/routes/system/+layout.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { base } from "$app/paths";
+  import { page } from "$app/state";
+  import { isActive, SYSTEM_PAGES } from "$lib/nav";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  let { children } = $props();
+</script>
+
+<svelte:head><title>System · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
+
+<div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
+  <div class="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-5xl flex-col gap-6 px-4 py-6 sm:px-6">
+    <nav
+      aria-label="System pages"
+      class="flex flex-wrap items-baseline gap-x-5 gap-y-1"
+    >
+      <h1 class="font-semibold text-lg tracking-tight">System</h1>
+      {#each SYSTEM_PAGES as item (item.href)}
+        {@const active = isActive(page.url.pathname, base, item.href)}
+        <a
+          aria-current={active ? "page" : undefined}
+          class={cn("rule-word", active && "text-foreground")}
+          href="{base}{item.href}"
+        >
+          {item.label}
+        </a>
+      {/each}
+    </nav>
+    {@render children()}
+  </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/system/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/system/+page.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b856018
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/routes/system/+page.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import { base } from "$app/paths";
+  import type { SessionsResponse } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
+  import { fmtBytes, fmtSeconds, shortId } from "$lib/format";
+  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import KindMark from "$lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  const POLL_MS = 10_000;
+  let sessions = $state<SessionsResponse | null>(null);
+  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
+
+  async function load() {
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (!client) {
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      sessions = await client.sessions();
+      failure = null;
+    } catch (cause) {
+      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    }
+  }
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    load();
+    const poll = setInterval(load, POLL_MS);
+    return () => clearInterval(poll);
+  });
+</script>
+
+<section class="flex flex-col gap-3">
+  <div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
+    <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Live claude processes</h2>
+    {#if sessions}
+      <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+        {sessions.sessions.length}
+        · {fmtBytes(sessions.rss)}
+        {#if sessions.rss_limit}
+          of {fmtBytes(sessions.rss_limit)}
+        {/if}
+      </span>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+  {#if failure}
+    <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
+  {:else if !sessions}
+    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
+  {:else if sessions.sessions.length === 0}
+    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+      No claude processes alive. Sessions spawn on the first turn and are reaped
+      by idle time or memory pressure.
+    </p>
+  {:else}
+    <div class="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg border bg-strip">
+      <table class="w-full text-sm">
+        <thead class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+          <tr class="border-b text-left">
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">conversation</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">agent</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">state</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">rss</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">idle</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">age</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">turns</th>
+          </tr>
+        </thead>
+        <tbody>
+          {#each sessions.sessions as s (s.key)}
+            <tr class="row-hover border-b last:border-b-0">
+              <td class="px-3 py-1.5">
+                <a
+                  class="flex items-center gap-2 hover:underline"
+                  href="{base}/conversations/{s.key}"
+                >
+                  <KindMark kind={s.kind} />
+                  <span class="tabular text-xs">{shortId(s.key)}</span>
+                </a>
+              </td>
+              <td class="px-3 py-1.5">{s.agent}</td>
+              <td class="px-3 py-1.5 text-xs">
+                <span
+                  class={cn(s.busy ? "text-signal" : "text-muted-foreground")}
+                >
+                  {s.busy ? "busy" : "idle"}
+                </span>
+                {#if s.pinned}
+                  <span class="ml-1 text-muted-foreground">pinned</span>
+                {/if}
+                {#if s.dirty}
+                  <span class="ml-1 text-warn">dirty</span>
+                {/if}
+                {#if s.pending_question}
+                  <span class="ml-1 text-attention-foreground">question</span>
+                {/if}
+              </td>
+              <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">{fmtBytes(s.rss)}</td>
+              <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">
+                {fmtSeconds(s.idle_seconds)}
+              </td>
+              <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">
+                {fmtSeconds(s.age_seconds)}
+              </td>
+              <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">{s.turns}</td>
+            </tr>
+          {/each}
+        </tbody>
+      </table>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
+</section>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/system/agents/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/system/agents/+page.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7e89d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/routes/system/agents/+page.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import type { AgentsResponse } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import Endpoints from "$lib/components/endpoints.svelte";
+  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
+  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import KindMark from "$lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte";
+
+  let agents = $state<AgentsResponse | null>(null);
+  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
+
+  async function load() {
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (!client) {
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      agents = await client.agents();
+      failure = null;
+    } catch (cause) {
+      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    }
+  }
+
+  onMount(load);
+</script>
+
+{#if failure}
+  <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
+{:else if !agents}
+  <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
+{:else}
+  <section class="flex flex-col gap-3">
+    <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Agents</h2>
+    <ul class="rounded-lg border bg-strip">
+      {#each agents.agents as a (a.name)}
+        <li
+          class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_auto] border-b px-3 py-2 text-sm last:border-b-0"
+        >
+          <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col">
+            <span class="truncate font-medium">{a.name}</span>
+            <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+              {a.model}{a.effort ? ` · ${a.effort}` : ""}
+              · {a.type}
+            </span>
+          </span>
+          <span class="flex gap-1">
+            {#each a.kinds as k (k)}
+              <KindMark kind={k} />
+            {/each}
+          </span>
+        </li>
+      {/each}
+    </ul>
+  </section>
+  <section class="flex flex-col gap-3">
+    <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Endpoints</h2>
+    <p class="doc text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+      Where clients connect. Copy a URL into the Obsidian plugin, Cursor, or
+      curl together with a token of the matching scope.
+    </p>
+    <div class="rounded-lg border bg-strip px-3">
+      <Endpoints catalog={agents} />
+    </div>
+  </section>
+{/if}
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/system/audit/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/system/audit/+page.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7055b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/routes/system/audit/+page.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import type { AuditRecord } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
+  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
+  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
+  import { fmtDateTime } from "$lib/format";
+  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+
+  const PAGE = 100;
+  let records = $state<AuditRecord[] | null>(null);
+  let nextBefore = $state<number | null>(null);
+  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let busy = $state(false);
+
+  async function load(more = false) {
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (!client) {
+      return;
+    }
+    failure = null;
+    busy = true;
+    try {
+      const page = await client.audit({
+        before: more && nextBefore ? nextBefore : undefined,
+        limit: PAGE,
+      });
+      records = more ? [...(records ?? []), ...page.records] : page.records;
+      nextBefore = page.next_before;
+    } catch (cause) {
+      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    } finally {
+      busy = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    load();
+  });
+
+  function detail(record: AuditRecord): string {
+    if (typeof record.detail === "string") {
+      return record.detail;
+    }
+    return Object.entries(record.detail)
+      .map(
+        ([key, value]) =>
+          `${key}=${typeof value === "string" ? value : JSON.stringify(value)}`
+      )
+      .join("  ");
+  }
+</script>
+
+<div class="flex flex-col gap-6">
+  {#if failure}
+    <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={() => load()} />
+  {:else if records === null}
+    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
+  {:else if records.length === 0}
+    <EmptyState
+      hint="Logins, token changes and API writes land here."
+      title="Nothing audited yet"
+    />
+  {:else}
+    <ul class="flex flex-col text-xs">
+      {#each records as record (record.id)}
+        <li
+          class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[9rem_7rem_9rem_minmax(0,1fr)] border-b py-1.5"
+        >
+          <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground"
+            >{fmtDateTime(record.ts)}</span
+          >
+          <span class="truncate font-medium">{record.kind}</span>
+          <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground">{record.actor}</span>
+          <span class="truncate font-mono text-muted-foreground">
+            {#if record.agent}
+              {record.agent}
+              ·
+            {/if}
+            {detail(record)}
+          </span>
+        </li>
+      {/each}
+    </ul>
+    {#if nextBefore !== null}
+      <Button
+        class="self-start"
+        disabled={busy}
+        onclick={() => load(true)}
+        size="sm"
+        variant="outline"
+      >
+        Older
+      </Button>
+    {/if}
+  {/if}
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/system/jobs/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/system/jobs/+page.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da18c8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/routes/system/jobs/+page.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,269 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onDestroy, onMount } from "svelte";
+  import { base } from "$app/paths";
+  import type { JobsResponse, QueuedJob } from "$lib/api/types";
+  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
+  import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
+  import StatusPill from "$lib/components/status-pill.svelte";
+  import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
+  import { clip, fmtDateTime, fmtPct, fmtRelative } from "$lib/format";
+  import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
+  import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import Strip from "$lib/shell/strip.svelte";
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  const TICK_MS = 15_000;
+  const PAYLOAD_MAX = 120;
+
+  let data = $state<JobsResponse | null>(null);
+  let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let busy = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined;
+
+  async function load() {
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (!client) {
+      return;
+    }
+    failure = null;
+    try {
+      data = await client.jobs();
+    } catch (cause) {
+      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function run(name: string) {
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (!client) {
+      return;
+    }
+    busy = name;
+    try {
+      await client.runJob(name);
+      await load();
+    } catch (cause) {
+      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    } finally {
+      busy = null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function cancel(job: QueuedJob) {
+    const { client } = session;
+    if (!client) {
+      return;
+    }
+    busy = `queue:${job.id}`;
+    try {
+      await client.cancelJob(job.id);
+      await load();
+    } catch (cause) {
+      failure = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    } finally {
+      busy = null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  function describe(job: QueuedJob): string {
+    const { payload } = job;
+    const { text } = payload;
+    if (typeof text === "string") {
+      return text;
+    }
+    const raw = JSON.stringify(payload);
+    return raw === "{}" ? "" : raw;
+  }
+
+  function triggers(job: JobsResponse["jobs"][number]): string {
+    const parts: string[] = [];
+    if (job.cron) {
+      parts.push(job.cron);
+    }
+    if (job.webhook) {
+      parts.push(`POST /hooks/${job.name}`);
+    }
+    for (const event of job.events) {
+      parts.push(`on ${event}`);
+    }
+    return parts.join(" · ") || "manual";
+  }
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    load();
+    timer = setInterval(load, TICK_MS);
+  });
+  onDestroy(() => clearInterval(timer));
+
+  const runs = $derived(
+    gateway.conversations
+      .filter((row) => row.kind === "job" || row.kind === "fork")
+      .slice(0, 30)
+  );
+  const pending = $derived(
+    data?.queue.filter((q) => q.status === "queued") ?? []
+  );
+  const picked = $derived(
+    data?.queue.filter((q) => q.status !== "queued") ?? []
+  );
+</script>
+
+<div class="flex flex-wrap items-baseline gap-3">
+  <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Scheduler</h2>
+  {#if data}
+    <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+      {data.jobs.length}
+      jobs · {pending.length} queued · window {fmtPct(data.utilization)}
+      {data.throttled ? " · throttled" : ""}
+    </span>
+  {/if}
+</div>
+
+<div class="flex flex-col gap-6">
+  {#if failure}
+    <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={load} />
+  {:else if data === null}
+    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
+  {:else}
+    {#if !data.enabled}
+      <EmptyState
+        hint="The gateway is not on Postgres: cron and webhooks are off, `schedule` is unavailable. Event jobs still run in-process."
+        title="Scheduler is off"
+      />
+    {/if}
+    {#if data.throttled}
+      <p class="text-sm text-warn">
+        Subscription window at {fmtPct(data.utilization)} (threshold
+        {fmtPct(
+            data.threshold
+          )}): non-critical jobs are deferred.
+      </p>
+    {/if}
+
+    <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+      <h3 class="label-quiet">Jobs</h3>
+      {#if data.jobs.length === 0}
+        <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">No jobs in config.</p>
+      {:else}
+        <ul class="flex flex-col">
+          {#each data.jobs as job (job.name)}
+            <li
+              class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[10rem_minmax(0,1fr)_9rem_9rem_5rem] items-center border-b py-2 text-sm"
+            >
+              <span class="truncate font-medium">
+                {job.name}
+                {#if !job.critical}
+                  <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">· soft</span>
+                {/if}
+              </span>
+              <span class="truncate text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                {triggers(job)}
+              </span>
+              <span
+                class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs"
+                title={fmtDateTime(job.next_run)}
+              >
+                {job.next_run ? `next ${fmtRelative(job.next_run)}` : ""}
+              </span>
+              <span class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs">
+                {#if job.run}
+                  <StatusPill status={job.run.status} />
+                  <span
+                    class="text-muted-foreground"
+                    title={fmtDateTime(job.run.started_at)}
+                  >
+                    {fmtRelative(job.run.started_at)}
+                    · {job.run.trigger}
+                  </span>
+                {:else if job.last_run}
+                  <span
+                    class="text-muted-foreground"
+                    title={fmtDateTime(job.last_run)}
+                  >
+                    ran {fmtRelative(job.last_run)}
+                  </span>
+                {/if}
+              </span>
+              <Button
+                disabled={busy === job.name}
+                onclick={() => run(job.name)}
+                size="sm"
+                variant="outline"
+              >
+                Run
+              </Button>
+            </li>
+          {/each}
+        </ul>
+      {/if}
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+      <h3 class="label-quiet">Queue</h3>
+      {#if data.queue.length === 0}
+        <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+          Nothing queued: no deferred injects, no pending webhooks.
+        </p>
+      {:else}
+        <ul class="flex flex-col">
+          {#each [...picked, ...pending] as job (job.id)}
+            <li
+              class={cn(
+                  "ledger-grid grid-cols-[8rem_7rem_minmax(0,1fr)_9rem_5rem] items-center border-b py-2 text-sm",
+                  job.status !== "queued" && "text-muted-foreground"
+                )}
+            >
+              <span
+                class="tabular text-xs"
+                title={fmtDateTime(job.execute_after)}
+              >
+                {job.status === "queued"
+                    ? fmtRelative(job.execute_after)
+                    : job.status}
+              </span>
+              <span class="truncate text-xs">{job.entrypoint}</span>
+              <span class="truncate" title={JSON.stringify(job.payload)}>
+                {clip(describe(job), PAYLOAD_MAX)}
+              </span>
+              <span class="tabular text-right text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                {fmtDateTime(job.execute_after)}
+              </span>
+              {#if job.status === "queued"}
+                <Button
+                  disabled={busy === `queue:${job.id}`}
+                  onclick={() => cancel(job)}
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                >
+                  Cancel
+                </Button>
+              {:else}
+                <span></span>
+              {/if}
+            </li>
+          {/each}
+        </ul>
+      {/if}
+    </section>
+  {/if}
+  <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+    <h3 class="label-quiet">Background conversations</h3>
+    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+      Headless runs the scheduler and the merges spawned: they never enter the
+      rail.
+    </p>
+    {#if runs.length === 0}
+      <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">None yet.</p>
+    {:else}
+      <div class="bay-rack">
+        {#each runs as row (row.id)}
+          <Strip
+            detail={row.last_item?.text ?? ""}
+            href="{base}/conversations/{row.id}"
+            {row}
+          />
+        {/each}
+      </div>
+    {/if}
+  </section>
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/tokens/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/system/tokens/+page.svelte
similarity index 70%
rename from ui/src/routes/tokens/+page.svelte
rename to ui/src/routes/system/tokens/+page.svelte
index b66f050..6b8d29b 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/tokens/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/system/tokens/+page.svelte
@@ -5,13 +5,11 @@
   import type { TokenRow } from "$lib/api/types";
   import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
   import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import PageHeader from "$lib/components/page-header.svelte";
   import { Button } from "$lib/components/ui/button";
   import * as Dialog from "$lib/components/ui/dialog";
   import { Input } from "$lib/components/ui/input";
   import { Label } from "$lib/components/ui/label";
   import * as Select from "$lib/components/ui/select";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
   import { Switch } from "$lib/components/ui/switch";
   import { fmtDateTime, fmtRelative } from "$lib/format";
   import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
@@ -92,99 +90,98 @@
   }
 </script>
 
-<svelte:head><title>Tokens · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
-
-<PageHeader title="Tokens">
+<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-4">
+  <h2 class="font-medium text-sm">Bearer tokens</h2>
   <span class="flex items-center gap-2 text-muted-foreground text-xs">
     <Switch aria-label="Show revoked tokens" bind:checked={includeRevoked} />
     show revoked
   </span>
-  {#snippet actions()}
-    <Button
-      onclick={() => {
-        createOpen = true;
-      }}
-      size="sm"
-    >
-      <PlusIcon class="size-4" />
-      New token
-    </Button>
-  {/snippet}
-</PageHeader>
+  <Button
+    class="ml-auto"
+    onclick={() => {
+      createOpen = true;
+    }}
+    size="sm"
+    variant="outline"
+  >
+    <PlusIcon class="size-4" />
+    New token
+  </Button>
+</div>
 
-<div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
-  <div class="flex flex-col gap-4 px-4 py-4 sm:px-6">
-    {#if created}
-      <div
-        class="flex flex-col gap-2 rounded-lg border border-primary/40 bg-primary/5 p-3 text-sm"
-        role="status"
-      >
-        <p>
-          Token <span class="font-medium">{created.name}</span> created. This is
-          the only time the plaintext is shown - copy it into the client now.
-        </p>
-        <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
-          <code
-            class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate rounded-md bg-background px-2 py-1"
-          >
-            {created.plaintext}
-          </code>
-          <Button
-            onclick={() => copy(created?.plaintext ?? "")}
-            size="sm"
-            variant="outline"
-          >
-            <CopyIcon class="size-4" />
-            Copy
-          </Button>
-          <Button
-            onclick={() => {
-              created = null;
-            }}
-            size="sm"
-            variant="ghost"
-          >
-            Done
-          </Button>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-    {/if}
-    {#if failure}
-      <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={() => load()} />
-    {:else if tokens === null}
-      <Skeleton class="h-24 w-full" />
-    {:else if tokens.length === 0}
-      <EmptyState
-        hint="Bearer tokens let clients (Cursor, the Obsidian plugin, curl) reach the gateway. The plaintext is shown once at creation; only the hash is stored."
-        title="No tokens"
-      >
+<div class="flex flex-col gap-6">
+  {#if created}
+    <div
+      class="flex flex-col gap-2 rounded-lg border border-primary/40 bg-primary/5 p-3 text-sm"
+      role="status"
+    >
+      <p>
+        Token <span class="font-medium">{created.name}</span> created. This is
+        the only time the plaintext is shown - copy it into the client now.
+      </p>
+      <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+        <code
+          class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate rounded-md bg-background px-2 py-1"
+        >
+          {created.plaintext}
+        </code>
         <Button
-          onclick={() => {
-            createOpen = true;
-          }}
+          onclick={() => copy(created?.plaintext ?? "")}
           size="sm"
           variant="outline"
         >
-          Create the first token
+          <CopyIcon class="size-4" />
+          Copy
         </Button>
-      </EmptyState>
-    {:else}
+        <Button
+          onclick={() => {
+              created = null;
+            }}
+          size="sm"
+          variant="ghost"
+        >
+          Done
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
+  {#if failure}
+    <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={() => load()} />
+  {:else if tokens === null}
+    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Loading…</p>
+  {:else if tokens.length === 0}
+    <EmptyState
+      hint="Bearer tokens let clients (Cursor, the Obsidian plugin, curl) reach the gateway. The plaintext is shown once at creation; only the hash is stored."
+      title="No tokens"
+    >
+      <Button
+        onclick={() => {
+            createOpen = true;
+          }}
+        size="sm"
+        variant="outline"
+      >
+        Create the first token
+      </Button>
+    </EmptyState>
+  {:else}
+    <div class="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg border bg-strip">
       <table class="w-full text-sm">
         <thead class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
           <tr class="border-b text-left">
-            <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">name</th>
-            <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">scope</th>
-            <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">created</th>
-            <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">last used</th>
-            <th class="py-1.5 text-right font-medium"></th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">name</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">scope</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">created</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">last used</th>
+            <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium"></th>
           </tr>
         </thead>
         <tbody>
           {#each tokens as token (token.id)}
             <tr
-              class={cn("row-hover border-b", token.revoked_at && "text-muted-foreground")}
+              class={cn("row-hover border-b last:border-b-0", token.revoked_at && "text-muted-foreground")}
             >
-              <td class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">
+              <td class="px-3 py-1.5 font-medium">
                 {token.name}
                 {#if token.revoked_at}
                   <span class="ml-2 text-xs"
@@ -192,18 +189,18 @@
                   >
                 {/if}
               </td>
-              <td class="py-1.5 pr-3">
+              <td class="px-3 py-1.5">
                 <code class="rounded bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5"
                   >{token.scope}</code
                 >
               </td>
-              <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-xs">
+              <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-xs">
                 {fmtDateTime(token.created_at)}
               </td>
-              <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-xs">
+              <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-xs">
                 {token.last_used_at ? fmtRelative(token.last_used_at) : "never"}
               </td>
-              <td class="py-1.5 text-right">
+              <td class="px-3 py-1.5 text-right">
                 {#if !token.revoked_at}
                   <Button
                     onclick={() => revoke(token)}
@@ -218,8 +215,8 @@
           {/each}
         </tbody>
       </table>
-    {/if}
-  </div>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
 </div>
 
 <Dialog.Root bind:open={createOpen}>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/usage/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/usage/+page.svelte
index ebcce79..2bd6f7d 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/usage/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/usage/+page.svelte
@@ -2,26 +2,21 @@
   import { onMount } from "svelte";
   import { base } from "$app/paths";
   import type { UsageGroup, UsageResponse, UsageRow } from "$lib/api/types";
-  import EmptyState from "$lib/components/empty-state.svelte";
   import ErrorNote from "$lib/components/error-note.svelte";
-  import KindBadge from "$lib/components/kind-badge.svelte";
-  import LimitBar from "$lib/components/limit-bar.svelte";
-  import PageHeader from "$lib/components/page-header.svelte";
-  import Stat from "$lib/components/stat.svelte";
-  import StatusPill from "$lib/components/status-pill.svelte";
-  import { Skeleton } from "$lib/components/ui/skeleton";
-  import * as Tabs from "$lib/components/ui/tabs";
   import {
     cacheShare,
+    fmtCountdown,
     fmtDateTime,
     fmtMoney,
     fmtPct,
+    fmtRelative,
     fmtTokens,
     shortId,
   } from "$lib/format";
   import { gateway } from "$lib/gateway.svelte";
   import { limitLabel } from "$lib/limits";
   import { session } from "$lib/session.svelte";
+  import KindMark from "$lib/shell/kind-mark.svelte";
   import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
 
   const RANGES: { value: string; label: string; hours: number }[] = [
@@ -36,12 +31,19 @@
     { label: "by day", value: "day" },
   ];
   const TICK_MS = 30_000;
+  const LOW_CACHE = 0.5;
+  const BAR: Record<string, string> = {
+    allowed: "bg-primary",
+    allowed_warning: "bg-primary",
+    rejected: "bg-destructive",
+  };
 
   let range = $state("week");
   let group = $state<UsageGroup>("agent");
   let data = $state<UsageResponse | null>(null);
   let failure = $state<string | null>(null);
   let now = $state(Date.now());
+  let historyOpen = $state(false);
 
   async function load(rangeValue: string, groupValue: UsageGroup) {
     const { client } = session;
@@ -85,137 +87,181 @@
     }
     return row.key;
   }
+
+  const pct = (u: number | null | undefined) =>
+    Math.min(100, Math.round((u ?? 0) * 100));
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head><title>Usage · Beaver</title></svelte:head>
 
-<PageHeader
-  subtitle={data ? `${fmtDateTime(data.since)} → now` : ""}
-  title="Usage"
->
-  <Tabs.Root
-    onValueChange={(value) => {
-      range = value;
-    }}
-    value={range}
-  >
-    <Tabs.List>
-      {#each RANGES as r (r.value)}
-        <Tabs.Trigger value={r.value}>{r.label}</Tabs.Trigger>
-      {/each}
-    </Tabs.List>
-  </Tabs.Root>
-</PageHeader>
-
 <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
-  <div class="flex flex-col gap-8 px-4 py-4 sm:px-6">
+  <div class="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-5xl flex-col gap-10 px-4 py-6 sm:px-6">
     {#if failure}
       <ErrorNote message={failure} retry={() => load(range, group)} />
     {/if}
 
-    <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-      <h2
-        class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-      >
-        Subscription quota
-      </h2>
+    <section class="flex flex-col gap-4">
+      <h1 class="font-semibold text-lg tracking-tight">Subscription</h1>
       {#if windows.length === 0}
-        <EmptyState
-          hint="Windows show up once the SDK emits its first rate-limit event. Utilization is for the whole subscription; the gateway's own share is the line under each bar."
-          title="No rate-limit reports yet"
-        />
+        <p class="doc text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+          No rate-limit report yet. The SDK sends one the first time a window
+          changes state; until then there is nothing to show.
+        </p>
       {:else}
-        <div class="flex flex-col divide-y">
+        <div class="grid gap-6 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
           {#each windows as w (w.window)}
-            <LimitBar {now} window={w} />
+            {@const known = w.utilization !== null && w.utilization !== undefined}
+            <div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+              <span class="label-quiet">{limitLabel(w.window)}</span>
+              {#if known}
+                <span
+                  class={cn(
+                    "tabular font-semibold text-4xl leading-none tracking-tight",
+                    w.status === "rejected" && "text-destructive"
+                  )}
+                >
+                  {pct(w.utilization)}
+                  <span class="font-normal text-lg text-muted-foreground"
+                    >%</span
+                  >
+                </span>
+                <span
+                  aria-valuemax="100"
+                  aria-valuemin="0"
+                  aria-valuenow={pct(w.utilization)}
+                  class="h-1 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-muted"
+                  role="progressbar"
+                >
+                  <span
+                    class={cn("block h-full rounded-full", BAR[w.status])}
+                    style="width: {pct(w.utilization)}%"
+                  ></span>
+                </span>
+                <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                  {fmtCountdown(w.resets_at, now)}
+                  · gateway share
+                  {fmtTokens(
+                    w.gateway.input + w.gateway.output + w.gateway.cache_creation
+                  )}
+                  tokens · {fmtMoney(w.gateway.cost_usd)}
+                </span>
+              {:else}
+                <span class="text-2xl text-muted-foreground leading-none">
+                  no report
+                </span>
+                <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                  last seen {fmtRelative(w.ts, now)} ·
+                  {fmtCountdown(
+                    w.resets_at,
+                    now
+                  )}
+                </span>
+              {/if}
+            </div>
           {/each}
         </div>
       {/if}
     </section>
 
-    <section class="flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
-        >
-          Tokens and API-price equivalent
-        </h2>
-        <Tabs.Root
-          class="ml-auto"
-          onValueChange={(value) => {
-            group = value as UsageGroup;
-          }}
-          value={group}
-        >
-          <Tabs.List>
-            {#each GROUPS as g (g.value)}
-              <Tabs.Trigger value={g.value}>{g.label}</Tabs.Trigger>
-            {/each}
-          </Tabs.List>
-        </Tabs.Root>
+    <section class="flex flex-col gap-4">
+      <div class="flex flex-wrap items-baseline gap-x-5 gap-y-2">
+        <h2 class="font-semibold text-lg tracking-tight">Tokens</h2>
+        <span class="flex items-center gap-3">
+          {#each RANGES as r (r.value)}
+            <button
+              class="rule-word text-sm"
+              data-active={range === r.value}
+              onclick={() => {
+                range = r.value;
+              }}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              {r.label}
+            </button>
+          {/each}
+        </span>
+        <span class="ml-auto flex items-center gap-3">
+          {#each GROUPS as g (g.value)}
+            <button
+              class="rule-word text-xs"
+              data-active={group === g.value}
+              onclick={() => {
+                group = g.value;
+              }}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              {g.label}
+            </button>
+          {/each}
+        </span>
       </div>
       {#if !(data && total)}
-        <Skeleton class="h-40 w-full" />
+        <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Summing…</p>
       {:else}
         <div
-          class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4 border-y py-3 sm:grid-cols-4 lg:grid-cols-6"
+          class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-x-6 gap-y-4 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-6"
         >
-          <Stat label="cost" value={fmtMoney(total.cost_usd)} />
-          <Stat label="turns" value={String(total.turns)} />
-          <Stat label="input" value={fmtTokens(total.input)} />
-          <Stat label="output" value={fmtTokens(total.output)} />
-          <Stat
-            hint="cache read of all input"
-            label="cache share"
-            tone={share !== null && share < 0.5 && total.turns > 0 ? "warn" : "default"}
-            value={fmtPct(share)}
-          />
-          <Stat
-            hint={total.web_searches ? `${total.web_searches} web searches` : ""}
-            label="cache written"
-            value={fmtTokens(total.cache_creation)}
-          />
+          {#each [["spent", fmtMoney(total.cost_usd), ""], ["turns", String(total.turns), ""], ["input", fmtTokens(total.input), ""], ["output", fmtTokens(total.output), ""], ["cache share", fmtPct(share), share !== null && share < LOW_CACHE && total.turns > 0 ? "warn" : ""], ["cache written", fmtTokens(total.cache_creation), ""]] as [name, value, tone] (name)}
+            <div class="flex flex-col gap-1">
+              <span class="label-quiet">{name}</span>
+              <span
+                class={cn(
+                  "tabular font-semibold text-2xl leading-none tracking-tight",
+                  tone === "warn" && "text-primary"
+                )}
+              >
+                {value}
+              </span>
+            </div>
+          {/each}
         </div>
+        <p class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+          API-price equivalent of what went through the gateway since
+          {fmtDateTime(
+            data.since
+          )}; the subscription is billed differently.
+        </p>
         {#if data.rows.length === 0}
-          <EmptyState
-            hint="No turns in this range. Widen it, or wait for the agents to work."
-            title="Nothing to sum"
-          />
+          <p class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+            No turns in this range. Widen it, or wait for the agents to work.
+          </p>
         {:else}
-          <div class="overflow-x-auto">
+          <div class="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg border bg-strip">
             <table class="w-full text-sm">
               <thead class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
                 <tr class="border-b text-left">
-                  <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">{group}</th>
-                  <th class="w-32 py-1.5 pr-3 font-medium">cost</th>
-                  <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">turns</th>
-                  <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">in</th>
-                  <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">out</th>
-                  <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">cache read</th>
-                  <th class="py-1.5 pr-3 text-right font-medium">
-                    cache write
+                  <th class="px-3 py-2 font-medium">
+                    {group.replace("_", " ")}
                   </th>
-                  <th class="py-1.5 text-right font-medium">cache share</th>
+                  <th class="w-36 px-3 py-2 font-medium">spent</th>
+                  <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">turns</th>
+                  <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">in</th>
+                  <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">out</th>
+                  <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">cache read</th>
+                  <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">cache write</th>
+                  <th class="px-3 py-2 text-right font-medium">cache share</th>
                 </tr>
               </thead>
               <tbody>
                 {#each data.rows as row (row.key)}
                   {@const rowShare = cacheShare(row.input, row.cache_read)}
-                  <tr class="row-hover border-b">
-                    <td class="max-w-64 py-1.5 pr-3">
+                  <tr class="row-hover border-b last:border-b-0">
+                    <td class="max-w-64 px-3 py-1.5">
                       <span class="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2">
                         {#if group === "conversation"}
                           {#if row.kind}
-                            <KindBadge kind={row.kind} />
+                            <KindMark kind={row.kind} />
                           {/if}
                           <a
-                            class="truncate font-medium text-link hover:underline"
+                            class="truncate font-medium hover:underline"
                             href="{base}/conversations/{row.key}"
                           >
                             {label(row)}
                           </a>
                           {#if row.status && row.status !== "open"}
-                            <StatusPill status={row.status} />
+                            <span class="text-muted-foreground text-xs"
+                              >{row.status}</span
+                            >
                           {/if}
                         {:else}
                           <span class="truncate font-medium">{label(row)}</span>
@@ -227,10 +273,10 @@
                         {/if}
                       </span>
                     </td>
-                    <td class="py-1.5 pr-3">
+                    <td class="px-3 py-1.5">
                       <span class="flex items-center gap-2">
                         <span
-                          class="h-1.5 w-16 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-muted"
+                          class="h-1 w-16 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-muted"
                         >
                           <span
                             class="block h-full rounded-full bg-primary"
@@ -242,23 +288,23 @@
                         <span class="tabular">{fmtMoney(row.cost_usd)}</span>
                       </span>
                     </td>
-                    <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">{row.turns}</td>
-                    <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
+                    <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">{row.turns}</td>
+                    <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">
                       {fmtTokens(row.input)}
                     </td>
-                    <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
+                    <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">
                       {fmtTokens(row.output)}
                     </td>
-                    <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
+                    <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">
                       {fmtTokens(row.cache_read)}
                     </td>
-                    <td class="tabular py-1.5 pr-3 text-right">
+                    <td class="tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right">
                       {fmtTokens(row.cache_creation)}
                     </td>
                     <td
                       class={cn(
-                        "tabular py-1.5 text-right",
-                        rowShare !== null && rowShare < 0.5 && "text-warn"
+                        "tabular px-3 py-1.5 text-right",
+                        rowShare !== null && rowShare < LOW_CACHE && "text-primary"
                       )}
                     >
                       {fmtPct(rowShare)}
@@ -274,25 +320,35 @@
 
     {#if history.length > 0}
       <section class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-        <h2
-          class="font-medium text-muted-foreground text-xs uppercase tracking-wide"
+        <button
+          aria-expanded={historyOpen}
+          class="rule-word flex items-center gap-2 self-start text-sm"
+          onclick={() => {
+            historyOpen = !historyOpen;
+          }}
+          type="button"
         >
-          Rate-limit history
-        </h2>
-        <ul class="flex flex-col text-xs">
-          {#each history as h (h.id)}
-            <li
-              class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[9rem_7rem_4rem_minmax(0,1fr)] border-b py-1"
-            >
-              <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground"
-                >{fmtDateTime(h.ts)}</span
+          Rate-limit reports
+          <span class="tabular text-xs">{history.length}</span>
+        </button>
+        {#if historyOpen}
+          <ul class="flex flex-col text-xs">
+            {#each history as h (h.id)}
+              <li
+                class="ledger-grid grid-cols-[9rem_7rem_4rem_minmax(0,1fr)] border-b py-1"
               >
-              <span>{limitLabel(h.window)}</span>
-              <span class="tabular">{fmtPct(h.utilization)}</span>
-              <StatusPill status={h.status} />
-            </li>
-          {/each}
-        </ul>
+                <span class="tabular text-muted-foreground"
+                  >{fmtDateTime(h.ts)}</span
+                >
+                <span>{limitLabel(h.window)}</span>
+                <span class="tabular">{fmtPct(h.utilization)}</span>
+                <span class="text-muted-foreground"
+                  >{h.status.replace("_", " ")}</span
+                >
+              </li>
+            {/each}
+          </ul>
+        {/if}
       </section>
     {/if}
   </div>