chore(release): cut 0.1.87

Reanimated 4.1.x crashes on Android with a NullPointerException in
ViewGroup.dispatchDraw (ReactViewGroup.dispatchDraw) — a child view is
null mid-draw because Reanimated commits a ShadowTree change during the
Android draw pass, mutating the view hierarchy while it's being painted.
Fixed upstream in 4.3.0 (software-mansion/react-native-reanimated#9072).

4.3.x requires react-native-worklets 0.8.x, so worklets moves 0.5.1 ->
0.8.3 in lockstep. react-native is pinned to exact 0.81.5 so the
re-resolve can't pull 0.81.6 (which needs react ^19.1.4, conflicting with
the react 19.1.0 override), and reanimated/worklets are added to root
overrides to force a single version across the tree — two copies of the
worklets runtime throw a version-mismatch at startup.

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -69,18 +69,18 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
-      - name: Build highlight dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight
-
-      - name: Build relay dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay
-
-      - name: Build server dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server
+      - name: Build server stack
+        run: npm run build:server
 
       - name: Typecheck all packages
         run: npm run typecheck
 
+      - name: Verify public package contents
+        run: |
+          npm pack --dry-run --ignore-scripts --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol
+          npm pack --dry-run --ignore-scripts --workspace=@getpaseo/client
+          npm pack --dry-run --ignore-scripts --workspace=@getpaseo/server
+
   server-tests:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -107,11 +107,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install agent CLIs for provider tests
         run: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code opencode-ai
 
-      - name: Build highlight dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight
-
-      - name: Build relay dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay
+      - name: Build server dependencies
+        run: npm run build:server-deps
 
       - name: Run server tests
         run: npm run test --workspace=@getpaseo/server
@@ -137,14 +134,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
-      - name: Build highlight dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight
-
-      - name: Build relay dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay
-
-      - name: Build server dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server
+      - name: Build server stack
+        run: npm run build:server
 
       - name: Run desktop tests
         run: npm run test --workspace=@getpaseo/desktop
@@ -165,12 +156,37 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Playwright browsers
         run: npx playwright install --with-deps chromium
 
-      - name: Build highlight dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight
+      - name: Build app dependencies
+        run: npm run build:app-deps
 
       - name: Run app unit tests
         run: npm run test --workspace=@getpaseo/app
 
+  sdk-tests:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: "22"
+          cache: "npm"
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm ci
+
+      - name: Build client dependencies
+        run: npm run build:client
+
+      - name: Run protocol tests
+        run: npm run test --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol
+
+      - name: Run client tests
+        run: npm run test --workspace=@getpaseo/client
+
+      - name: Typecheck client examples
+        run: npm run typecheck:examples --workspace=@getpaseo/client
+
   playwright:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
@@ -187,14 +203,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Playwright browsers
         run: npx playwright install --with-deps chromium
 
-      - name: Build highlight dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight
+      - name: Build app dependencies
+        run: npm run build:app-deps
 
-      - name: Build relay dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay
-
-      - name: Build server dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server
+      - name: Build server stack
+        run: npm run build:server
 
       - name: Install agent CLIs for provider tests
         run: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code @openai/codex@0.105.0 opencode-ai
@@ -228,7 +241,7 @@ jobs:
         run: npm ci
 
       - name: Build relay
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay
+        run: npm run build:relay
 
       - name: Run relay tests
         run: npm run test --workspace=@getpaseo/relay
@@ -254,9 +267,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install agent CLIs for provider tests
         run: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code @openai/codex@0.105.0 opencode-ai
 
-      - name: Build highlight dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight
-
       - name: Run CLI tests
         run: npm run test --workspace=@getpaseo/cli
         env:

.github/workflows/deploy-app.yml

@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ jobs:
         env:
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
-      - name: Build highlight dependency
-        run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight
+      - name: Build app dependencies
+        run: npm run build:app-deps
 
       - name: Typecheck
         run: npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/app

.github/workflows/deploy-website.yml

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ on:
     branches: [main]
     paths:
       - "CHANGELOG.md"
+      - "public-docs/**"
       - "packages/website/**"
       - "package.json"
       - "package-lock.json"

.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml

@@ -183,6 +183,14 @@ jobs:
           fi
           gh release upload "$RELEASE_TAG" "${files[@]}" --clobber --repo "${{ github.repository }}"
 
+      - name: Upload desktop artifacts to workflow
+        if: env.SHOULD_PUBLISH != 'true'
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: desktop-macos-${{ matrix.electron_arch }}
+          path: ${{ env.DESKTOP_PACKAGE_PATH }}/release/*.dmg
+          retention-days: 7
+
       - name: Upload manifest artifact
         if: env.SHOULD_PUBLISH == 'true' && env.IS_SMOKE_TAG != 'true'
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -273,6 +281,14 @@ jobs:
           fi
           gh release upload "$RELEASE_TAG" "${files[@]}" --clobber --repo "${{ github.repository }}"
 
+      - name: Upload desktop artifacts to workflow
+        if: env.SHOULD_PUBLISH != 'true'
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: desktop-linux
+          path: ${{ env.DESKTOP_PACKAGE_PATH }}/release/*
+          retention-days: 7
+
       - name: Upload manifest artifact
         if: env.SHOULD_PUBLISH == 'true' && env.IS_SMOKE_TAG != 'true'
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -360,6 +376,14 @@ jobs:
           fi
           gh release upload "$RELEASE_TAG" "${files[@]}" --clobber --repo "${{ github.repository }}"
 
+      - name: Upload desktop artifacts to workflow
+        if: env.SHOULD_PUBLISH != 'true'
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: desktop-windows
+          path: ${{ env.DESKTOP_PACKAGE_PATH }}/release/*
+          retention-days: 7
+
       - name: Upload manifest artifact
         if: env.SHOULD_PUBLISH == 'true' && env.IS_SMOKE_TAG != 'true'
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4

.github/workflows/nix.yml

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ on:
       - "package.json"
       - "package-lock.json"
       - "packages/highlight/**"
+      - "packages/protocol/**"
+      - "packages/client/**"
       - "packages/server/**"
       - "packages/relay/**"
       - "packages/cli/**"

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,82 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.1.87 - 2026-05-30
+
+### Added
+
+- Permission prompts from OpenCode subagents now surface in Paseo so you can approve or deny them
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed an intermittent Android crash while animated views were drawing
+- Fixed mobile bottom sheets not reopening after being dismissed
+
+## 0.1.86 - 2026-05-29
+
+### Added
+
+- **Launch Grok (xAI) as a coding agent**
+- **Fast mode for Claude Opus**
+- **Multilingual local dictation with the new Parakeet v3 speech model**
+
+### Improved
+
+- Edit, Write, and Read tool calls are now syntax-highlighted
+- The model selector shows the error when a provider fails to load
+- The About page shows the versions of connected host daemons
+- Refresh git diffs on demand with a new refresh button
+- Previews can open readable files outside the current workspace
+- Projects without an icon now show a colored icon instead of a grey placeholder
+- Auto-generated agent titles and worktree branch names now use your configured provider fallbacks ([#1219](https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/1219) by [@mcowger](https://github.com/mcowger))
+- Local dictation keeps its speech models out of the daemon, lowering its memory use
+
+### Fixed
+
+- On mobile, the whole composer now stays above the keyboard so the subagents track and draft pills no longer hide behind it
+- The mobile agent timeline now catches up fully after reconnecting, so no messages go missing
+- The slash command menu no longer shows /clear twice
+
+## 0.1.85 - 2026-05-29
+
+### Added
+
+- **Opus 4.8 in the Claude model picker**, with a 1M-context variant
+
+### Improved
+
+- Archiving a worktree now keeps its agents under the archived list instead of removing them
+- Archiving an agent cleans up any schedules targeting it
+
+## 0.1.84 - 2026-05-28
+
+### Added
+
+- **Auto-accept tool calls for OpenCode agents**
+
+### Improved
+
+- Copy an OpenCode resume command to continue the session outside Paseo
+- Model selector lists every enabled provider, with a Retry button when one fails to load
+- Provider settings are easier to search and manage
+- Other agents connecting to Paseo via MCP see the same providers, models, and modes as the app ([#1198](https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/1198))
+- OpenCode Edit tool calls render as inline diffs
+- Typing a slash command shows the best match first
+- Daemon starts faster on workspaces with many git folders
+- Markdown lists have tighter spacing
+- Less jank when streaming agent responses
+- User message footer controls align with the rest of the chat
+- Agent mode controls use a cleaner monochrome treatment
+- Compact layouts move the context ring to the footer right edge
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Allow selecting text in the chat on mobile ([#1153](https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/1153) by [@muzhi1991](https://github.com/muzhi1991))
+- Submitting a Pi question no longer looks like a second prompt opened ([#1188](https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/1188) by [@yuruiz](https://github.com/yuruiz))
+- Daemon memory leak from unbounded workspace git caches ([#1200](https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/1200))
+- Provider diagnostics include the command override binary path ([#1191](https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/1191))
+- OpenCode MCP servers connect correctly when the daemon binds to wildcard addresses
+- Tool calls from MCP servers that return non-spec output no longer fail validation
+
 ## 0.1.83 - 2026-05-26
 
 ### Fixed

CLAUDE.md

@@ -71,8 +71,9 @@ See [docs/development.md](docs/development.md) for full setup, build sync requir
   - Never re-run a test suite that another agent already ran and reported green — trust the result.
   - For full suite verification, push to CI and check GitHub Actions instead.
 - **Always run typecheck and lint after every change.**
-- **Build workspace packages before diagnosing cross-package type errors.** This repo consumes generated declarations across workspaces. If typecheck fails in a package that depends on another workspace (especially CLI depending on server/daemon types), rebuild the owning package first so `dist` declarations are current:
-  - `npm run build:daemon` — rebuild highlight, relay, server, and CLI when daemon/server/CLI types may be stale.
+- **Build workspace packages before diagnosing cross-package type errors.** This repo consumes generated declarations across workspaces. If typecheck fails in a package that depends on another workspace, rebuild the owning stack first so `dist` declarations are current:
+  - `npm run build:client` — rebuild protocol and client declarations.
+  - `npm run build:server` — rebuild highlight, relay, protocol, client, server, and CLI when server/CLI types may be stale.
   - Do not patch inferred callback parameters or add local duplicate types just to silence stale declaration errors.
 - **Run `npm run format` before committing.** This repo uses Biome for formatting. Do not manually fix formatting — let the formatter handle it.
 - **Always use npm scripts for linting and formatting.** Do not run tools directly with `npx eslint`, `npx oxfmt`, `npx oxlint`, or package-local binaries. For targeted checks, pass file paths through the npm script:

README.md

@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
   <a href="https://discord.gg/jz8T2uahpH">
     <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Discord-555?logo=discord" alt="Discord">
   </a>
+  <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/PaseoAI/">
+    <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Reddit-555?logo=reddit" alt="Reddit">
+  </a>
 </p>
 
 <p align="center">One interface for Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, OpenCode, and Pi agents.</p>
@@ -131,8 +134,8 @@ npm run dev:app
 npm run dev:desktop
 npm run dev:website
 
-# build the daemon
-npm run build:daemon
+# build the server stack
+npm run build:server
 
 # repo-wide checks
 npm run typecheck

SECURITY.md

@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ By default, the daemon binds to `127.0.0.1`. With no password configured, the lo
 
 The daemon also supports an optional shared-secret password (set via `auth.password` in `config.json` or the `PASEO_PASSWORD` env var; stored bcrypt-hashed). When configured, every HTTP request must carry `Authorization: Bearer <password>` and every WebSocket upgrade must include a `Sec-WebSocket-Protocol: paseo.bearer.<password>` subprotocol. Browser WebSocket cannot set custom headers, which is why the token rides in the subprotocol. Health (`GET /api/health`) and CORS preflight (`OPTIONS`) are exempt. The password is intended for direct-TCP exposure (e.g. `tcp://host:port?ssl=true&password=...`); it is **not** a substitute for the relay's E2E encryption when traversing untrusted networks.
 
+Connected clients are trusted operators of the daemon user. File previews follow that authority: a preview request may read any regular file the daemon process can read, while keeping path normalization and symlink checks in the daemon file service. Workspace-relative paths remain a UI convenience, not a security boundary.
+
 If you expose the daemon beyond loopback, such as by binding to `0.0.0.0`, forwarding it through a tunnel or reverse proxy, or publishing it from a Docker container, you are responsible for restricting and securing that access. Setting a password is strongly recommended in that case.
 
 For remote access, use the relay connection. It is the supported path for reaching the daemon off-machine, and it adds end-to-end encryption plus a pairing handshake before commands are accepted.

docs/architecture.md

@@ -68,9 +68,20 @@ All paths are under `packages/server/src/`.
 | `server/schedule/`              | Cron-based scheduled agents                                                  |
 | `server/loop-service.ts`        | Looping agent runs that retry until an exit condition                        |
 | `server/chat/`                  | Chat rooms for agent-to-agent and human-to-agent messaging                   |
-| `client/daemon-client.ts`       | Client library for connecting to the daemon (used by CLI and app)            |
-| `shared/messages.ts`            | Zod schemas for the entire wire protocol                                     |
-| `shared/binary-frames/`         | Terminal stream and file transfer binary frame codecs                        |
+
+### `packages/protocol` — Wire schemas and shared protocol types
+
+The source of truth for WebSocket messages, binary frame codecs, endpoint parsing,
+agent timeline types, provider config schemas, and other values shared by daemon
+and clients. Server, app, CLI, and `@getpaseo/client` all depend on this package;
+it does not depend on the server.
+
+### `packages/client` — Daemon client library and SDK facade
+
+Owns the low-level daemon WebSocket driver plus the higher-level `PaseoClient`
+facade. App and CLI may import the low-level driver from
+`@getpaseo/client/internal/daemon-client` during migration, while new SDK-shaped
+code imports from `@getpaseo/client`.
 
 ### `packages/app` — Mobile + web client (Expo)
 
@@ -81,6 +92,7 @@ Cross-platform React Native app that connects to one or more daemons.
 - `SessionContext` wraps the daemon client for the active session
 - Composer UI and submit/draft behavior live in `packages/app/src/composer/`; screens and panels should integrate it from there instead of dropping composer internals into `components/`, `hooks/`, or `screens/workspace/`
 - Timeline reducers in `timeline/session-stream-reducers.ts` handle compaction, gap detection, sequence-based deduplication
+- Timeline sync correctness is documented in [docs/timeline-sync.md](timeline-sync.md): live streams are for immediacy, `fetch_agent_timeline_request` is authoritative, and catch-up is paged but complete.
 - Voice features: dictation (STT) and voice agent (realtime)
 
 ### `packages/cli` — Command-line client
@@ -126,7 +138,7 @@ TanStack Router + Cloudflare Workers. Serves paseo.sh.
 
 ## WebSocket protocol
 
-All clients speak the same WebSocket protocol over a single connection that mixes JSON text frames and a small binary framing for terminal streams. Schemas live in `packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts`.
+All clients speak the same WebSocket protocol over a single connection that mixes JSON text frames and a small binary framing for terminal streams. Schemas live in `packages/protocol/src/messages.ts`.
 
 **Handshake:**
 
@@ -211,7 +223,7 @@ initializing → idle ⇄ running
 - **AgentManager** is the source of truth for agent state and broadcasts updates to all subscribers
 - Timeline is append-only with epochs (each run starts a new epoch). Storage uses sequence numbers for client-side dedup; the default fetch page is 200 items
 - Timeline row `timestamp` values are canonical daemon-owned timestamps. Providers may supply original replay timestamps, but clients must not guess timestamp trust or hide time UI based on local clock heuristics.
-- Events stream to all subscribed clients in real time
+- Events stream to connected clients in real time; correctness is backed by authoritative timeline fetches and paged-to-completion catch-up.
 - Agent state persists to `$PASEO_HOME/agents/{cwd-with-dashes}/{agent-id}.json` (timeline rows live alongside the record)
 
 ## Agent providers

docs/custom-providers.md

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Provider IDs must be lowercase alphanumeric with hyphens (`/^[a-z][a-z0-9-]*$/`)
 - [Extending a built-in provider](#extending-a-built-in-provider)
 - [Z.AI (Zhipu) coding plan](#zai-zhipu-coding-plan)
 - [Alibaba Cloud (Qwen) coding plan](#alibaba-cloud-qwen-coding-plan)
+- [Codex with a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint](#codex-with-a-custom-openai-compatible-endpoint)
 - [Multiple profiles for the same provider](#multiple-profiles-for-the-same-provider)
 - [Custom binary for a provider](#custom-binary-for-a-provider)
 - [Disabling a provider](#disabling-a-provider)
@@ -59,29 +60,7 @@ Required fields for custom providers:
 - `extends` — which built-in provider to inherit from (or `"acp"`)
 - `label` — display name in the UI
 
-### Codex with an OpenAI-compatible endpoint
-
-Custom providers that extend `"codex"` can point Codex at an OpenAI-compatible API by setting `OPENAI_BASE_URL` and `OPENAI_API_KEY` in the provider `env`. Paseo still passes those variables through to the Codex app-server process, and also maps them into Codex's thread config (`model_provider` / `model_providers`) because Codex reads provider routing from config rather than from `OPENAI_BASE_URL`.
-
-```json
-{
-  "agents": {
-    "providers": {
-      "my-codex": {
-        "extends": "codex",
-        "label": "My Codex",
-        "env": {
-          "OPENAI_API_KEY": "sk-...",
-          "OPENAI_BASE_URL": "https://custom-relay.example.com"
-        },
-        "models": [{ "id": "custom-model", "label": "Custom Model", "isDefault": true }]
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
-```
-
-If the base URL does not end in `/v1`, Paseo appends `/v1` for Codex's OpenAI-compatible provider config. If it already ends in `/v1`, Paseo leaves it as-is.
+See [Codex with a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint](#codex-with-a-custom-openai-compatible-endpoint) below for the dedicated Codex example.
 
 ---
 
@@ -206,6 +185,62 @@ For pay-as-you-go, use `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` with a standard Model Studio key (`sk
 
 ---
 
+## Codex with a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint
+
+Codex talks to OpenAI's Responses API by default. Custom providers that extend `"codex"` can point Codex at any OpenAI-compatible endpoint (OpenRouter, LiteLLM, vLLM, llama.cpp server, an internal gateway, etc.) by setting `OPENAI_BASE_URL` and `OPENAI_API_KEY` in the provider `env`.
+
+Paseo passes those variables through to the Codex app-server process **and** maps them into Codex's thread config under `model_provider` / `model_providers`, because Codex reads provider routing from config rather than from `OPENAI_BASE_URL` alone.
+
+### Setup
+
+```json
+{
+  "agents": {
+    "providers": {
+      "my-codex": {
+        "extends": "codex",
+        "label": "My Codex",
+        "description": "Codex via custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint",
+        "env": {
+          "OPENAI_API_KEY": "sk-...",
+          "OPENAI_BASE_URL": "https://custom-relay.example.com"
+        },
+        "models": [{ "id": "custom-model", "label": "Custom Model", "isDefault": true }]
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### What Paseo wires up
+
+Under the hood, for each custom Codex provider Paseo injects this into Codex's config:
+
+```toml
+model_provider = "my-codex"
+
+[model_providers.my-codex]
+name = "My Codex"
+base_url = "https://custom-relay.example.com/v1"
+wire_api = "responses"
+env_key = "OPENAI_API_KEY"
+requires_openai_auth = false
+```
+
+- `base_url` — taken from `OPENAI_BASE_URL`. If it does not already end in `/v1`, Paseo appends `/v1`. Trailing slashes are stripped.
+- `wire_api` — always `"responses"` (OpenAI Responses API protocol).
+- `env_key` — set to `"OPENAI_API_KEY"` when that env var is present and non-empty, so Codex reads the key from the same env var Paseo passes through.
+- `requires_openai_auth` — forced to `false` when `OPENAI_API_KEY` is provided, so Codex skips its built-in OpenAI login flow.
+
+### Notes
+
+- The endpoint must speak the OpenAI **Responses API**, not just chat completions. Many gateways (OpenRouter, LiteLLM) support both — pick the Responses-compatible route.
+- Set `models` explicitly. Custom endpoints expose their own model IDs (`anthropic/claude-opus-4-7`, `qwen/qwen3-coder`, `local/llama`, etc.), and Paseo does not discover them automatically for Codex.
+- To run multiple endpoints side-by-side, define multiple entries that each extend `"codex"` with different IDs, labels, and env. Each appears as its own provider in the app.
+- If you only want to override the binary (e.g. a nightly Codex build) without changing the endpoint, omit `OPENAI_BASE_URL` and use `command` instead — see [Custom binary for a provider](#custom-binary-for-a-provider).
+
+---
+
 ## Multiple profiles for the same provider
 
 You can create multiple entries that extend the same built-in provider. Each gets its own entry in the provider list with independent credentials, models, and environment.

docs/data-model.md

@@ -155,7 +155,10 @@ Single file, validated with `PersistedConfigSchema`.
     // ProviderOverrideSchema; legacy entries with `command: { mode, ... }` are migrated to the
     // current shape on load via `migrateProviderSettings`. Custom provider IDs must declare
     // `extends` (one of the built-ins or `"acp"`) and `label`. See `provider-launch-config.ts`.
-    providers: Record<providerId, ProviderOverride>
+    providers: Record<providerId, ProviderOverride>,
+    metadataGeneration: {
+      providers: [{ provider, model?, thinkingOptionId? }]
+    }
   },
   features: {
     dictation: { enabled, stt: { provider, model, language, confidenceThreshold } },
@@ -171,6 +174,10 @@ Single file, validated with `PersistedConfigSchema`.
 
 All fields are optional with sensible defaults.
 
+`agents.metadataGeneration.providers` controls the preferred structured-generation fallback order for daemon-side metadata tasks such as commit messages, PR text, branch names, and generated agent titles. Entries are tried first in the configured order, then Paseo falls through to dynamically discovered defaults and finally the current selection when available.
+
+Local speech model ids are intentionally narrow: STT uses `parakeet-tdt-0.6b-v2-int8`, TTS uses `kokoro-en-v0_19`, and turn detection uses the bundled Silero VAD model.
+
 ---
 
 ## 3. Schedule

docs/development.md

@@ -109,23 +109,28 @@ Every `scripts` entry with `"type": "service"` receives these environment variab
 }
 ```
 
-## Build sync gotchas
+## Built workspace packages
 
-The daemon and CLI consume sibling workspaces from compiled `dist/` output, not `src/`. When you change a workspace that something else imports, rebuild the producer first or the consumer will speak a stale protocol and fail with handshake warnings, timeouts, or stale type errors.
+Package imports resolve through package exports to compiled `dist/` output, not sibling `src/` files. This is true in local dev and in published packages: the app, daemon, CLI, and SDK consumers should all exercise the same runtime paths.
 
-The fastest way to keep this consistent is to rebuild the whole daemon stack with one command:
+`npm run dev`, `npm run dev:server`, and `npm run dev:app` build the workspace packages they need once, then keep `@getpaseo/protocol` and `@getpaseo/client` fresh with TypeScript watch builds while the daemon or Expo runs. If you change protocol schemas or client code outside those watch workflows, rebuild the producer before trusting runtime behavior.
+
+Use the named root build targets instead of remembering workspace dependency chains:
 
 ```bash
-npm run build:daemon
+npm run build:client       # protocol -> client
+npm run build:server-deps  # highlight -> relay -> protocol -> client
+npm run build:server       # server-deps -> server -> cli
+npm run build:app-deps     # highlight -> protocol -> client -> expo-two-way-audio
 ```
 
-This rebuilds, in order, `@getpaseo/highlight` → `@getpaseo/relay` → `@getpaseo/server` → `@getpaseo/cli`. Use it whenever you have changed any of those four and need clean cross-package types or runtime behavior.
+Use `npm run build:server` whenever you have changed any daemon/server-facing package and need clean cross-package types or runtime behavior.
 
 For tighter loops, you can rebuild a single workspace:
 
-- Changed `packages/relay/src/*`: `npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay` (server imports `@getpaseo/relay` from `dist/*`).
-- Changed `packages/server/src/client/*` (especially `daemon-client.ts`) or shared WS protocol types: `npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server` (CLI imports `@getpaseo/server` via package exports resolving to `dist/*`).
-- Changed `packages/highlight/src/*`: `npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight` (server depends on it).
+- Changed `packages/protocol/src/*` or `packages/client/src/*`: `npm run build:client`.
+- Changed `packages/server/src/*`, `packages/cli/src/*`, `packages/relay/src/*`, or `packages/highlight/src/*`: `npm run build:server`.
+- Changed app build dependencies: `npm run build:app-deps`.
 
 ## CLI reference
 

docs/diagnostics/git-snapshot-startup-reshaping-2026-05-27.md

@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+# Git Snapshot Startup Reshaping - 2026-05-27
+
+## What changed
+
+The sidebar PR badge no longer has a special per-row fetch path. It is derived from the workspace snapshot, the same way the sidebar already gets branch/diff metadata.
+
+```text
+daemon startup / workspace subscription
+  -> WorkspaceGitService.refreshSnapshot(cwd)
+    -> getCheckoutSnapshotFacts(cwd)
+    -> getCheckoutStatus(cwd, { facts })
+    -> getCheckoutShortstat(cwd, { facts })
+    -> getPullRequestStatus(cwd, github, ..., { facts })
+    -> WorkspaceGitRuntimeSnapshot
+  -> session workspace descriptor githubRuntime.pullRequest
+  -> app useSidebarWorkspacesList()
+  -> SidebarWorkspaceEntry.prHint
+  -> Sidebar row badge + hover card checks
+```
+
+The remaining `checkout_pr_status_request` path is still present for explicit PR surfaces and compatibility, but the sidebar row badge no longer calls `useWorkspacePrHint()` and therefore no longer generates ad hoc checkout PR status requests per visible row.
+
+## Shared Git Facts
+
+`getCheckoutSnapshotFacts()` is now the first git read in the workspace snapshot builder. It gathers facts that were previously rediscovered by separate functions:
+
+- worktree root: `rev-parse --show-toplevel`
+- current branch: `rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD`
+- origin remote URL
+- Paseo worktree ownership and stored base ref
+- resolved base ref and best comparison base
+- main repo root
+- branch remote/merge config
+- tracked origin branch
+- pull request lookup target for fork/PR worktrees
+
+Those facts are then passed through `CheckoutContext` so status, shortstat, and PR status reuse the same answers instead of independently re-reading them.
+
+## Current Data Flow
+
+```text
+Workspace subscription / fetch_workspaces
+  -> session workspace registry
+  -> workspaceGitService.getSnapshot(cwd, includeGitHub)
+     -> refresh queue/throttle/dedupe per normalized cwd
+     -> refreshGitSnapshot()
+        -> getCheckoutSnapshotFacts()
+        -> getCheckoutStatus({ facts })
+        -> getCheckoutShortstat({ facts })
+     -> refreshGitHubSnapshot()
+        -> getPullRequestStatus({ facts })
+     -> cached WorkspaceGitRuntimeSnapshot
+  -> WorkspaceDescriptorPayload.gitRuntime
+  -> WorkspaceDescriptorPayload.githubRuntime
+  -> app session store
+  -> useSidebarWorkspacesList()
+     -> diffStat from descriptor
+     -> prHint from descriptor.githubRuntime.pullRequest
+```
+
+## Startup Benchmark
+
+Added deterministic real-home benchmark:
+
+`packages/server/scripts/benchmark-startup-git-real-home.ts`
+
+The script freezes the current Paseo home using the same metadata-copy shape as `scripts/dev-home.sh`: JSON under `agents`, JSON under `projects`, and `config.json`. It then starts an isolated in-process daemon against that frozen home, subscribes to workspaces/agents, records git invocations through `runGitCommand`, and reports elapsed time, git count, max concurrency, CPU, and memory deltas.
+
+The frozen home used for the comparison contained 22 workspaces.
+
+### Before/After
+
+| run         | code shape                 | client shape                              | git commands | failures | elapsed |
+| ----------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | -----------: | -------: | ------: |
+| baseline    | before change              | legacy sidebar PR fanout                  |          529 |       20 | 39039ms |
+| split check | after change               | legacy sidebar PR fanout                  |          375 |       15 | 39039ms |
+| after       | after change               | snapshot-only sidebar, no PR badge fanout |          372 |       15 | 31273ms |
+| after 2     | after service fact sharing | snapshot-only sidebar, no PR badge fanout |          308 |       15 | 31334ms |
+
+The server-side fact reuse accounts for nearly all measured git command reduction: `529 -> 375` (`-154`, `-29.1%`) even when the old PR fanout is still forced. Removing the sidebar fanout removes the ad hoc request path, but in this run it only changed command count by `3` because the refreshed workspace snapshots already carried the PR data by the time the fanout ran.
+
+The second pass shares checkout facts between workspace observation setup and snapshot refresh. That removes another `64` git commands from the same frozen-home run: `372 -> 308` (`-17.2%` from the previous after, `-41.8%` from baseline).
+
+### Baseline: before change + legacy PR fanout
+
+```json
+{
+  "scenario": "legacyPrFanout",
+  "workspaceCount": 22,
+  "elapsedMs": 39039,
+  "git": {
+    "total": 529,
+    "failed": 20,
+    "maxConcurrent": 8,
+    "byCommand": [
+      { "key": "show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/main", "count": 66 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --git-common-dir", "count": 58 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD", "count": 50 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --git-dir", "count": 36 },
+      { "key": "show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/main", "count": 35 },
+      { "key": "symbolic-ref --quiet refs/remotes/origin/HEAD", "count": 35 },
+      { "key": "config --get remote.origin.url", "count": 32 },
+      { "key": "ls-files --others --exclude-standard", "count": 18 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --absolute-git-dir", "count": 18 },
+      { "key": "merge-base HEAD origin/main", "count": 17 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --show-toplevel", "count": 14 },
+      { "key": "status --porcelain", "count": 14 }
+    ]
+  },
+  "process": {
+    "cpuUserMs": 2009,
+    "cpuSystemMs": 2428,
+    "rssDeltaMb": -1.5,
+    "heapUsedDeltaMb": 16.9
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### After: after change + snapshot-only sidebar
+
+```json
+{
+  "scenario": "snapshotOnly",
+  "workspaceCount": 22,
+  "elapsedMs": 31273,
+  "git": {
+    "total": 372,
+    "failed": 15,
+    "maxConcurrent": 8,
+    "byCommand": [
+      { "key": "config --get remote.origin.url", "count": 35 },
+      { "key": "show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/main", "count": 34 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --git-common-dir", "count": 31 },
+      { "key": "show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/main", "count": 22 },
+      { "key": "status --porcelain", "count": 22 },
+      { "key": "ls-files --others --exclude-standard", "count": 18 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --absolute-git-dir", "count": 18 },
+      { "key": "merge-base HEAD origin/main", "count": 17 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD", "count": 17 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --show-toplevel", "count": 17 },
+      { "key": "symbolic-ref --quiet refs/remotes/origin/HEAD", "count": 17 },
+      { "key": "rev-list --count main..origin/main", "count": 7 }
+    ]
+  },
+  "process": {
+    "cpuUserMs": 1871,
+    "cpuSystemMs": 2152,
+    "rssDeltaMb": 4.4,
+    "heapUsedDeltaMb": 8.8
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### After 2: shared service-level facts
+
+```json
+{
+  "scenario": "snapshotOnly",
+  "workspaceCount": 22,
+  "elapsedMs": 31334,
+  "git": {
+    "total": 308,
+    "failed": 15,
+    "maxConcurrent": 8,
+    "byCommand": [
+      { "key": "show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/main", "count": 31 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --git-common-dir", "count": 26 },
+      { "key": "show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/main", "count": 22 },
+      { "key": "ls-files --others --exclude-standard", "count": 18 },
+      { "key": "status --porcelain", "count": 18 },
+      { "key": "merge-base HEAD origin/main", "count": 17 },
+      { "key": "config --get remote.origin.url", "count": 13 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD", "count": 13 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --absolute-git-dir", "count": 13 },
+      { "key": "rev-parse --show-toplevel", "count": 13 },
+      { "key": "symbolic-ref --quiet refs/remotes/origin/HEAD", "count": 13 },
+      { "key": "fetch origin --prune", "count": 5 }
+    ]
+  },
+  "process": {
+    "cpuUserMs": 1817,
+    "cpuSystemMs": 1869,
+    "rssDeltaMb": 16.7,
+    "heapUsedDeltaMb": 10.4
+  }
+}
+```
+
+## Snapshot Equivalence Guard
+
+Added a focused utility test proving that status, shortstat, and PR status return the same data when run from shared snapshot facts. The same test records git calls and asserts the facts-backed path does not re-run:
+
+- `rev-parse --show-toplevel`
+- `rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD`
+
+Test:
+
+`packages/server/src/utils/checkout-git.test.ts` -> `reuses checkout snapshot facts across status, shortstat, and PR status reads`
+
+## Remaining Waste Visible In Baseline
+
+This pass reshaped the data flow and removed the sidebar PR badge special path. It did not try to optimize every command.
+
+The benchmark still shows repeated per-workspace reads that are candidates for the next pass:
+
+- base ref existence checks still repeat as `show-ref` probes.
+- default branch resolution still repeats `symbolic-ref refs/remotes/origin/HEAD`.
+- repo common-dir lookup is lower, but still above the apparent git workspace count.
+- shortstat still runs its own merge-base/diff/untracked scan per workspace.
+
+The important invariant now is clearer: sidebar-visible git data should flow from `WorkspaceGitService` snapshots, and snapshot builders should receive reusable git facts through `CheckoutContext`.

docs/diagnostics/opencode-provider-snapshot-timeout-2026-05-27.md

@@ -0,0 +1,389 @@
+# OpenCode Provider Snapshot Startup Timeout Diagnosis - 2026-05-27
+
+## Answer
+
+The startup timeout is real OpenCode provider snapshot work, not an agent resume path.
+
+In the dev-style copied-home reproduction, the OpenCode snapshot misses the 30s budget because several expensive things stack:
+
+1. Paseo starts from a copied `PASEO_HOME` containing 4,851 agent records.
+2. Clients ask for provider snapshots for three cwd scopes at almost the same time:
+   - `/Users/moboudra`
+   - `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo`
+   - `/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor`
+3. Each OpenCode snapshot runs two OpenCode SDK calls:
+   - `GET /provider?directory=...` through `client.provider.list()`
+   - `GET /agent?directory=...` through `client.app.agents()`
+4. One cold `opencode serve` process is shared by the three cwd scopes. It took 8.562s to become ready.
+5. After OpenCode was listening, Paseo issued six OpenCode HTTP calls concurrently.
+6. The OpenCode `/provider` responses are large: about 3,549,620 decompressed bytes per cwd.
+7. During the same window, the daemon was still doing heavy startup workspace git work. In the exact 18:14:19-18:14:43 window, the daemon log has 292 git spawn/close events.
+8. The `/provider` calls eventually succeeded, but too late: they completed about 32.2s-32.5s after the snapshot fetch started, while the snapshot timeout is 30s.
+
+So the root cause is:
+
+```text
+Cold OpenCode server startup + three concurrent cwd snapshots + large OpenCode /provider responses + daemon startup git contention causes client.provider.list() to complete after Paseo's 30s snapshot budget.
+```
+
+More precise wording: the contention is machine-level process/CPU/filesystem contention created by daemon startup work, especially git work. It is not proven to be an OpenCode internal lock or a Paseo-only event-loop issue. A daemon-free repro with only OpenCode plus an external git storm slowed the same six OpenCode calls from about 1s to about 30s total.
+
+Manual settings refresh works because it runs after startup contention is gone and uses `force: true`, which creates fresh OpenCode runtime/server state. The same OpenCode provider refreshes then complete in about 1.7s-2.2s.
+
+The daemon does not auto-retry error snapshots. A failed provider snapshot is cached as `status: "error"` until an explicit refresh resets it to loading.
+
+## Follow-up: Normal Copied-Home Startup Check
+
+I later reran a normal dev-daemon startup against a fresh copy of the same Paseo home metadata and drove the app startup request path:
+
+```text
+fetchWorkspaces
+fetchAgents
+getProvidersSnapshot(home scope)
+getProvidersSnapshot(first workspace scope)
+```
+
+That run did not reproduce the 30s OpenCode timeout.
+
+```text
+home scope:
+  OpenCode ready at ~8s
+  availability: 1.6s
+  fetch total: 5.2s
+
+first workspace scope:
+  OpenCode ready at ~26s
+  availability: 2.0s
+  fetch total: 15.4s
+```
+
+The slowest OpenCode operation in that successful run was the workspace-scoped `/provider` response body read: `13.6s`. The daemon log had no `Timed out refreshing OpenCode` entry and no OpenCode provider snapshot failure.
+
+This means the timeout is reproducible under the heavier multi-scope startup contention captured below, but it is not guaranteed on every copied-home dev startup.
+
+## Reproduction Used
+
+The user's correction was right: the useful reproduction is not a random isolated home. It must match `dev.sh` worktree behavior.
+
+Relevant scripts:
+
+- `scripts/dev.sh`
+- `scripts/dev-daemon.sh`
+- `scripts/dev-home.sh`
+
+`dev-home.sh` only seeds this metadata into the dev home:
+
+```text
+agents/**/*.json
+projects/**/*.json
+config.json
+```
+
+It does not copy `chat`, `loops`, `schedules`, sockets, pid files, logs, or worktree contents.
+
+I ran a separate daemon, not the main daemon:
+
+```text
+PASEO_HOME=/var/folders/xl/kkk9drfd3ms_t8x7rmy4z6900000gn/T/paseo-devseed.Wms6pi
+PASEO_LISTEN=127.0.0.1:51116
+PASEO_LOG_LEVEL=trace
+```
+
+Startup facts:
+
+```text
+18:13:39.552 Agent storage initialized: 712ms
+18:13:39.559 Workspace registries bootstrapped: 719ms
+18:13:39.961 Agent registry loaded: 4851 records
+18:13:39.972 Server listening: http://127.0.0.1:51116
+```
+
+The probe then connected four client sessions and requested:
+
+- workspaces
+- active agents
+- provider snapshots for home, paseo, and blankpage/editor
+
+Client-visible result:
+
+```text
+18:14:30.263 /Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor opencode error:
+  OpenCode app.agents timed out after 10s
+
+18:14:41.687 /Users/moboudra/dev/paseo opencode error:
+  Timed out refreshing OpenCode after 30000ms
+
+18:14:41.688 /Users/moboudra opencode error:
+  Timed out refreshing OpenCode after 30000ms
+```
+
+## Exact OpenCode Timeline
+
+OpenCode snapshot requests began at `18:14:10`.
+
+Availability checks:
+
+```text
+18:14:10.780 opencode availability start for /Users/moboudra
+18:14:10.787 opencode availability start for /Users/moboudra/dev/paseo
+18:14:10.800 opencode availability start for /Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor
+
+18:14:11.363 paseo availability complete: 576ms
+18:14:11.376 home availability complete: 597ms
+18:14:11.391 blankpage availability complete: 591ms
+```
+
+OpenCode server acquisition:
+
+```text
+18:14:11.364 OpenCode server spawn start: opencode serve --port 56376
+18:14:19.926 OpenCode server listening after 8562ms
+```
+
+Six SDK calls were then issued:
+
+```text
+18:14:19.931 GET /provider directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo
+18:14:19.931 GET /agent    directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo
+18:14:19.931 GET /provider directory=/Users/moboudra
+18:14:19.931 GET /agent    directory=/Users/moboudra
+18:14:19.931 GET /provider directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor
+18:14:19.936 GET /agent    directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor
+```
+
+Why six:
+
+| Cwd                                    | Why that scope exists                                      | Model call                              | Mode call                         |
+| -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
+| `/Users/moboudra`                      | home/settings provider snapshot                            | `client.provider.list()` -> `/provider` | `client.app.agents()` -> `/agent` |
+| `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo`            | workspace-scoped provider snapshot for the Paseo workspace | `client.provider.list()` -> `/provider` | `client.app.agents()` -> `/agent` |
+| `/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor` | workspace/agent cwd snapshot for blankpage/editor          | `client.provider.list()` -> `/provider` | `client.app.agents()` -> `/agent` |
+
+Multiple clients can request the same snapshot scope during startup, but non-forced provider loads are deduped by `(cwd, provider)`. Different cwd scopes are separate loads. Three cwd scopes times two OpenCode SDK calls each is the six OpenCode calls in this repro.
+
+Headers arrived before the 30s timeout:
+
+| Call        | Cwd                             | Headers after request |
+| ----------- | ------------------------------- | --------------------- |
+| `/provider` | `/Users/moboudra`               | 6.462s                |
+| `/agent`    | `/Users/moboudra`               | 6.681s                |
+| `/agent`    | `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo`     | 6.681s                |
+| `/provider` | `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo`     | 8.192s                |
+| `/provider` | `/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage` | 8.654s                |
+| `/agent`    | `/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage` | 8.649s                |
+
+But body consumption and completion lagged:
+
+```text
+18:14:29.380 /agent home complete, total app.agents duration 9450ms
+18:14:29.813 /agent paseo complete, total app.agents duration 9883ms
+18:14:30.263 /agent blankpage timed out at 10s
+18:14:31.332 /agent blankpage body finally finished, after the 10s app.agents timeout
+
+18:14:41.687 paseo snapshot outer 30s timeout fires
+18:14:41.688 home snapshot outer 30s timeout fires
+
+18:14:43.593 /provider home completes, provider.list duration 23664ms, total listModels 32218ms
+18:14:43.798 /provider blankpage completes, provider.list duration 23868ms, total listModels 32411ms
+18:14:43.839 /provider paseo completes, provider.list duration 23911ms, total listModels 32476ms
+```
+
+The useful `/provider` results arrived about 1.9s-2.2s after the snapshot manager had already marked home and paseo as failed.
+
+## Why Settings Refresh Works
+
+After the daemon settled, I ran the same refresh path through the daemon on port `51116`, using `refreshProvidersSnapshot({ providers: ["opencode"] })`.
+
+Results:
+
+```text
+home refresh:
+  total: 2165ms
+  status: ready
+  models: 409
+  modes: 5
+
+/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo refresh:
+  total: 1675ms
+  status: ready
+  models: 409
+  modes: 5
+
+/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor refresh:
+  total: 1794ms
+  status: ready
+  models: 409
+  modes: 5
+```
+
+Trace details for the manual-style refresh:
+
+```text
+OpenCode server acquisition: 708ms-1291ms
+/agent completion: 433ms-592ms after request start
+/provider completion: 524ms-618ms after request start
+```
+
+That proves the startup failure is not bad credentials, not a permanently wedged OpenCode install, and not OpenCode generally taking more than 30s. It is startup timing and contention.
+
+## Minimal OpenCode-Only Repros
+
+### OpenCode Only, No Daemon, No Artificial Load
+
+I started a fresh `opencode serve`, waited for stdout `listening on`, then issued the same six HTTP calls concurrently:
+
+```text
+GET /provider?directory=/Users/moboudra
+GET /agent?directory=/Users/moboudra
+GET /provider?directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo
+GET /agent?directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo
+GET /provider?directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor
+GET /agent?directory=/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor
+```
+
+Three runs:
+
+| Run | `opencode serve` ready | All six calls complete |
+| --- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- |
+| 1   | 1376ms                 | 1295ms                 |
+| 2   | 906ms                  | 1050ms                 |
+| 3   | 939ms                  | 898ms                  |
+
+Slowest individual call in those runs:
+
+```text
+/provider /Users/moboudra/dev/paseo: 1270ms total
+/agent /Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor: 1251ms total
+```
+
+So six concurrent OpenCode calls alone are not the bug.
+
+### OpenCode Only Plus External Git Storm, No Daemon
+
+I then ran the same OpenCode-only six-call test while an external shell spawned repeated git commands across the same real workspaces/worktrees. This did not use the Paseo daemon.
+
+Result:
+
+```text
+opencode serve ready: 15479ms
+all six OpenCode calls complete: 15176ms after server ready
+combined cold-start + calls: about 30655ms
+```
+
+Individual calls under the external git storm:
+
+| Call        | Cwd                                    |   Total |
+| ----------- | -------------------------------------- | ------: |
+| `/provider` | `/Users/moboudra`                      | 10684ms |
+| `/agent`    | `/Users/moboudra`                      | 10767ms |
+| `/provider` | `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo`            | 13220ms |
+| `/agent`    | `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo`            | 13147ms |
+| `/provider` | `/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor` | 14675ms |
+| `/agent`    | `/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor` | 15038ms |
+
+This is the daemon-free minimal evidence that process/filesystem contention can push the same OpenCode cold-start + six-call workload to the same 30s boundary.
+
+## Why It Does Not Retry
+
+`ProviderSnapshotManager.getSnapshot()` only starts background warmup for:
+
+- no existing snapshot
+- missing providers
+- entries still in `loading` with no active load
+
+When refresh fails, `refreshProvider()` stores:
+
+```text
+status: "error"
+error: "Timed out refreshing OpenCode after 30000ms"
+```
+
+An `error` entry is not treated as stale/loading by `getSnapshot()`, so normal reads keep returning the cached error.
+
+Settings refresh calls `refresh_providers_snapshot_request`, which routes to:
+
+```text
+refreshSettingsSnapshot()
+clearCachedProviders()
+resetSnapshotToLoading()
+refreshProviders(... force: true)
+```
+
+That is why you have to force a manual refresh.
+
+## Git Work During The Repro
+
+This is not the final optimization report, but it matters for the timeout because it overlaps exactly with OpenCode response handling.
+
+Total git commands in the dev-style copied-home daemon log:
+
+```text
+632 spawned
+632 closed
+```
+
+Top cwd counts:
+
+| Count | Cwd                                                                                   |
+| ----: | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+|    44 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/merry-ladybug`                             |
+|    44 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/hopeful-eel`                               |
+|    44 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/fix-compaction-cancel-loading`             |
+|    44 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/fix-archive-worktree-session-history`      |
+|    44 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/0vpo9h4b/breezy-toad`                               |
+|    36 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/steering-policy-refactor-detached`                  |
+|    36 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/integration-session-mcp-command-stack`     |
+|    36 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/fix-provider-diagnostic-binary-resolution` |
+|    36 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/feat-voice-runtime-on-demand`              |
+|    36 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/feat-find-in-pane`                         |
+|    36 | `/Users/moboudra/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/epic-paseo-client-sdk`                     |
+|    24 | `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo`                                                           |
+|    24 | `/Users/moboudra/dev/blankpage/editor`                                                |
+|    24 | `/Users/moboudra/dev/faro/main`                                                       |
+|    24 | `/Users/moboudra/dev/konbert/web`                                                     |
+|    24 | `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo-cloud`                                                     |
+
+In the exact OpenCode pressure window, `18:14:19` through `18:14:43`, there were:
+
+```text
+142 git command spawns
+150 git command closes
+```
+
+The main repeated command shapes were:
+
+```text
+76  git rev-parse --show-toplevel
+72  git status --porcelain
+72  git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/main
+72  git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/main
+16  git config --get branch.main.remote
+16  git config --get branch.main.merge
+16  git rev-list --count main..origin/main
+16  git rev-list --count origin/main..main
+```
+
+## Original `log.txt` Alignment
+
+The original startup showed the same home and paseo outer timeout shape:
+
+```text
+16:04:22.466 /Users/moboudra/dev/paseo:
+  Timed out refreshing OpenCode after 30000ms
+
+16:04:22.482 /Users/moboudra:
+  Timed out refreshing OpenCode after 30000ms
+```
+
+The original logs did not include SDK fetch/header/body timing, so they could only show the wrapper-level timeout. The dev-style copied-home reproduction with instrumentation now shows the missing link: the `/provider` calls completed just after the 30s snapshot budget.
+
+## Files Instrumented For Diagnosis
+
+Temporary trace instrumentation was added to:
+
+- `packages/server/src/server/agent/provider-snapshot-manager.ts`
+- `packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/opencode-agent.ts`
+- `packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/opencode/runtime.ts`
+- `packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/opencode/server-manager.ts`
+
+The instrumentation is behavior-neutral and only emits trace logs.

docs/diagnostics/startup-sequence-analysis-2026-05-27.md

@@ -0,0 +1,381 @@
+# Daemon Startup Sequence Analysis - 2026-05-27
+
+Source log: `log.txt` at repository root.
+
+Scope: current sliced startup log, starting at daemon worker startup and ending after workspace registry reconciliation and the first OpenCode heartbeat.
+
+This report is descriptive only. It does not propose optimizations.
+
+## Executive Summary
+
+The daemon becomes ready quickly, then does a heavy post-listen startup pass driven by reconnecting clients and workspace/app hydration.
+
+- Worker start: `16:03:46.678`, line 1.
+- Server listening: `16:03:48.285`, line 47, elapsed `602ms`.
+- First client hello: `16:03:50.285`, line 66.
+- Workspace registries reconciled: `16:04:33.666`, line 1777, elapsed `45983ms`.
+
+The startup shape is therefore:
+
+- Daemon listen readiness: about `0.6s`.
+- Client reconnect plus workspace/app/provider hydration: about `45s`.
+- No git commands after workspace registry reconciliation in this slice.
+
+## Method
+
+I parsed structured trace lines from `log.txt`, especially:
+
+- `Git command closed`
+- `agent.session.inbound`
+- `agent.session.outbound`
+- `ws_slow_request`
+- provider snapshot warnings
+- provider resume events
+
+Important limitation: git command logs do not carry a websocket request id, so per-request attribution is inferred from timing and server code paths. Per-workspace git counts, command shapes, durations, and failures are exact for this log.
+
+Relevant code paths checked:
+
+- `packages/server/src/server/session.ts`
+  - `fetch_workspaces_request` calls `syncWorkspaceGitObservers(payload.entries)`.
+  - `checkout_status_request` calls `workspaceGitService.getSnapshot(resolvedCwd)`.
+  - `checkout_pr_status_request` calls `workspaceGitService.getSnapshot(cwd)`.
+- `packages/server/src/server/workspace-git-service.ts`
+  - checkout snapshot/root resolution uses `git rev-parse --show-toplevel`.
+  - snapshot refresh collects dirty state, upstream/ahead/behind, ref existence, and base divergence.
+- `packages/app/src/contexts/session-context.tsx`
+  - initial workspace hydration calls `client.fetchWorkspaces({ sort: activity_at desc, subscribe, page limit 200 })`.
+- `packages/app/src/hooks/use-sidebar-workspaces-list.ts`
+  - sidebar workspace refresh also calls `client.fetchWorkspaces({ sort: activity_at desc, page limit 200 })`.
+
+## Startup Timeline
+
+| time           | line | event                                                              |
+| -------------- | ---: | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
+| `16:03:46.678` |    1 | `DaemonRunner` starts daemon worker                                |
+| `16:03:47.683` |    4 | worker spawned                                                     |
+| `16:03:47.684` |    6 | daemon keypair loaded                                              |
+| `16:03:48.281` |   44 | bootstrap complete, ready to listen                                |
+| `16:03:48.285` |   47 | server listening on `0.0.0.0:6767`                                 |
+| `16:03:50.274` |   60 | first websocket awaiting hello                                     |
+| `16:03:50.285` |   66 | first client connected via hello                                   |
+| `16:04:22.466` |  987 | OpenCode provider snapshot timeout for `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo` |
+| `16:04:22.482` | 1002 | OpenCode provider snapshot timeout for `/Users/moboudra`           |
+| `16:04:24.183` | 1201 | OpenCode provider subscribe starts                                 |
+| `16:04:24.183` | 1202 | OpenCode provider subscribe ready                                  |
+| `16:04:24.306` | 1214 | OpenCode server connected event                                    |
+| `16:04:25.933` | 1321 | OpenCode agent resumed from persistence                            |
+| `16:04:33.666` | 1777 | workspace registries reconciled                                    |
+| `16:04:34.197` | 1783 | OpenCode heartbeat                                                 |
+| `16:04:44.200` | 1789 | OpenCode heartbeat                                                 |
+
+## Git Command Totals
+
+Total git commands in the sliced startup: `444`.
+
+| phase                           | commands | failures | summed process time |
+| ------------------------------- | -------: | -------: | ------------------: |
+| daemon bootstrap before listen  |       13 |        4 |               445ms |
+| post-listen before first client |        1 |        0 |              2020ms |
+| client reconnect + reconcile    |      430 |       71 |            120813ms |
+| after reconcile                 |        0 |        0 |                 0ms |
+| total                           |      444 |       75 |            123278ms |
+
+Summed process time is not wall-clock time. Many commands overlap.
+
+## Git Command Categories
+
+| category                                             | commands | failures | summed process time | max duration |
+| ---------------------------------------------------- | -------: | -------: | ------------------: | -----------: |
+| ahead/behind: `rev-list --count ...`                 |      115 |       30 |             35815ms |       1557ms |
+| refs: `show-ref --verify --quiet ...`                |       86 |        2 |             14680ms |       1303ms |
+| upstream config: `config --get branch.*`             |       85 |       13 |             26437ms |       1624ms |
+| root detection: `rev-parse --show-toplevel`          |       80 |       30 |             24164ms |       1426ms |
+| dirty status: `status --porcelain`                   |       50 |        0 |             12670ms |       2020ms |
+| base divergence: `rev-list --left-right --count ...` |       28 |        0 |              9512ms |       1085ms |
+
+What those categories mean in the app:
+
+- Root detection: determine whether a cwd is inside a git repo and find its checkout root.
+- Dirty status: show dirty/clean workspace state.
+- Upstream config and ahead/behind: show branch tracking and sync state.
+- Ref existence and base divergence: compare checkout branch against candidate base refs for checkout/PR status.
+
+## Per-Workspace Git Work
+
+Columns:
+
+- `phase`: `pre/warm/reconnect/after`
+- `cats`: `root/dirty/upstream/ahead/refs/base/other`
+- `total_ms`: summed process time for that workspace
+
+| workspace                                                               | cmds | fail | phase      | cats              | total_ms | max_ms | window                      | failing command shapes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
+| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---: | ---: | ---------- | ----------------- | -------: | -----: | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/fix-compaction-cancel-loading`             |   33 |    9 | `0/0/33/0` | `3/3/3/9/12/3/0`  |     8255 |   1460 | `16:03:52.908-16:04:24.019` | `3x config --get branch.fix-compaction-cancel-loading.remote`; `3x rev-list --count fix-compaction-cancel-loading..origin/fix-compaction-cancel-loading`; `3x rev-list --count origin/fix-compaction-cancel-loading..fix-compaction-cancel-loading`                                           |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/hopeful-eel`                               |   33 |    9 | `0/0/33/0` | `3/3/3/9/12/3/0`  |     8468 |   1544 | `16:03:53.245-16:04:27.334` | `3x config --get branch.feat/markdown-annotations.remote`; `3x rev-list --count feat/markdown-annotations..origin/feat/markdown-annotations`; `3x rev-list --count origin/feat/markdown-annotations..feat/markdown-annotations`                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/merry-ladybug`                             |   33 |    9 | `0/0/33/0` | `3/3/3/9/12/3/0`  |     7154 |   1099 | `16:03:53.696-16:04:29.644` | `3x config --get branch.feat/mcp-configuration.remote`; `3x rev-list --count feat/mcp-configuration..origin/feat/mcp-configuration`; `3x rev-list --count origin/feat/mcp-configuration..feat/mcp-configuration`                                                                              |
+| `~/dev/paseo`                                                           |   30 |    0 | `2/0/28/0` | `5/5/10/10/0/0/0` |     7457 |   1624 | `16:03:48.171-16:04:27.284` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/0vpo9h4b/dazzling-duck`                             |   27 |    0 | `0/0/27/0` | `3/3/6/6/6/3/0`   |     7617 |   1269 | `16:03:51.918-16:04:23.971` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/epic-paseo-client-sdk`                     |   27 |    0 | `0/0/27/0` | `3/3/6/6/6/3/0`   |     7428 |   1426 | `16:03:52.445-16:04:23.991` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/fix-provider-diagnostic-binary-resolution` |   27 |    0 | `0/0/27/0` | `3/3/6/6/6/3/0`   |     7764 |   1091 | `16:03:52.681-16:04:23.971` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/emdash`                                                          |   22 |    6 | `0/0/22/0` | `2/2/2/6/8/2/0`   |     3031 |    453 | `16:04:27.351-16:04:29.583` | `2x config --get branch.heads/main.remote`; `2x rev-list --count heads/main..origin/heads/main`; `2x rev-list --count origin/heads/main..heads/main`                                                                                                                                          |
+| `~/dev/opencode`                                                        |   22 |    4 | `0/0/22/0` | `2/2/2/6/8/2/0`   |     2279 |    313 | `16:04:24.058-16:04:24.970` | `2x rev-list --count ecosystem-paseo..origin/ecosystem-paseo`; `2x rev-list --count origin/ecosystem-paseo..ecosystem-paseo`                                                                                                                                                                  |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/integration-session-mcp-command-stack`     |   18 |    0 | `0/0/18/0` | `3/3/6/6/0/0/0`   |     7467 |   1242 | `16:03:53.781-16:04:23.971` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/blankpage/editor`                                                |   18 |    0 | `2/0/16/0` | `3/3/6/6/0/0/0`   |     2418 |    520 | `16:03:48.174-16:04:26.411` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/konbert/web`                                                     |   18 |    0 | `1/1/16/0` | `3/3/6/6/0/0/0`   |     7324 |   2020 | `16:03:48.190-16:04:23.685` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/openchamber`                                                     |   12 |    0 | `0/0/12/0` | `2/2/4/4/0/0/0`   |     1554 |    336 | `16:04:27.399-16:04:29.616` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/superset`                                                        |   12 |    0 | `0/0/12/0` | `2/2/4/4/0/0/0`   |     1019 |    215 | `16:04:27.341-16:04:29.617` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/t3code`                                                          |   12 |    0 | `0/0/12/0` | `2/2/4/4/0/0/0`   |     2761 |    588 | `16:04:27.356-16:04:29.603` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/0vpo9h4b/breezy-toad`                               |   11 |    5 | `0/0/11/0` | `1/1/1/3/4/1/0`   |     6465 |   1290 | `16:03:51.307-16:04:18.112` | `1x config --get branch.fix/user-delete-dark-mode.remote`; `1x rev-list --count fix/user-delete-dark-mode..origin/fix/user-delete-dark-mode`; `1x rev-list --count origin/fix/user-delete-dark-mode..fix/user-delete-dark-mode`; `2x show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/my-branch` |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/fix-archive-worktree-session-history`      |   11 |    3 | `0/0/11/0` | `1/1/1/3/4/1/0`   |     4303 |    757 | `16:03:52.539-16:04:19.011` | `1x config --get branch.fix-archive-worktree-session-history.remote`; `1x rev-list --count fix-archive-worktree-session-history..origin/fix-archive-worktree-session-history`; `1x rev-list --count origin/fix-archive-worktree-session-history..fix-archive-worktree-session-history`        |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/0vpo9h4b/codex-github-mention-implement-db-garbage` |    9 |    0 | `0/0/9/0`  | `1/1/2/2/2/1/0`   |     4986 |   1005 | `16:03:51.261-16:04:16.878` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/feat-find-in-pane`                         |    9 |    0 | `0/0/9/0`  | `1/1/2/2/2/1/0`   |     5273 |   1130 | `16:03:52.391-16:04:17.682` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/1luy0po7/feat-voice-runtime-on-demand`              |    9 |    0 | `0/0/9/0`  | `1/1/2/2/2/1/0`   |     5176 |    839 | `16:03:52.110-16:04:18.254` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/.paseo/worktrees/steering-policy-refactor-detached`                  |    9 |    0 | `0/0/9/0`  | `1/1/2/2/2/1/0`   |     5993 |   1243 | `16:03:53.984-16:04:17.673` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/faro/main`                                                       |    6 |    0 | `2/0/4/0`  | `1/1/2/2/0/0/0`   |     4964 |   1603 | `16:03:48.168-16:04:03.748` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/paseo-cloud`                                                     |    6 |    0 | `2/0/4/0`  | `1/1/2/2/0/0/0`   |     2123 |   1154 | `16:03:48.159-16:03:56.377` |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
+| `~/dev/assistant`                                                       |    3 |    3 | `1/0/2/0`  | `3/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |       85 |     29 | `16:03:48.165-16:04:24.048` | `3x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/review`                           |    3 |    3 | `1/0/2/0`  | `3/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      224 |    105 | `16:03:48.197-16:04:26.560` | `3x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/research/orchestrator-worker`                                    |    3 |    3 | `1/0/2/0`  | `3/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      285 |    144 | `16:03:48.194-16:04:26.575` | `3x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `/tmp`                                                                  |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      113 |     77 | `16:04:27.388-16:04:27.471` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev`                                                                 |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |       86 |     58 | `16:04:27.384-16:04:27.457` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/01-claude-opus`                   |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      216 |    185 | `16:04:26.525-16:04:26.543` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/02-codex-gpt55`                   |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |       98 |     68 | `16:04:26.353-16:04:26.554` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/03-opencode-zai-glm51`            |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      209 |    158 | `16:04:26.512-16:04:26.576` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/04-opencode-zen-minimax27`        |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      148 |    101 | `16:04:26.431-16:04:26.549` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/05-opencode-zen-kimi26`           |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      231 |    172 | `16:04:26.517-16:04:26.577` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/06-opencode-or-deepseek4pro`      |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |       93 |     73 | `16:04:27.365-16:04:27.380` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/07-opencode-zen-gemini35flash`    |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |       78 |     66 | `16:04:27.363-16:04:27.375` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/benchmark/dashboard-2026-05-25/08-opencode-zen-gpt55`            |    2 |    2 | `0/0/2/0`  | `2/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |      120 |     65 | `16:04:27.359-16:04:27.430` | `2x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+| `~/dev/assistant/game`                                                  |    1 |    1 | `1/0/0/0`  | `1/0/0/0/0/0/0`   |       13 |     13 | `16:03:48.155-16:03:48.155` | `1x rev-parse --show-toplevel`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+
+## Git Failure Shape
+
+There were 75 nonzero git exits.
+
+Most failures were not timeouts. They were expected probe failures:
+
+- Non-repo checks: `rev-parse --show-toplevel` fails for paths that are not git repositories.
+- Missing upstream config: `config --get branch.<branch>.remote` fails for branches without configured upstream.
+- Missing remote branch graph: `rev-list --count <branch>..origin/<branch>` fails when the remote branch/ref does not exist.
+- Missing ref checks: `show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/my-branch` fails when a candidate ref does not exist.
+
+The `~/dev/opencode` git failures are branch graph probes for `ecosystem-paseo` versus `origin/ecosystem-paseo`, not OpenCode provider startup failures.
+
+## Inbound Client Work
+
+Inbound session messages during the startup window:
+
+| request                           | count |
+| --------------------------------- | ----: |
+| `client_heartbeat`                |    19 |
+| `checkout_pr_status_request`      |    18 |
+| `fetch_agents_request`            |    11 |
+| `fetch_workspaces_request`        |     9 |
+| `get_providers_snapshot_request`  |     9 |
+| `project_icon_request`            |     9 |
+| `fetch_agent_timeline_request`    |     7 |
+| `clear_agent_attention`           |     6 |
+| `list_terminals_request`          |     5 |
+| `subscribe_terminals_request`     |     5 |
+| `list_available_editors_request`  |     2 |
+| `subscribe_checkout_diff_request` |     2 |
+| `checkout_status_request`         |     1 |
+| `fetch_agent_request`             |     1 |
+| `file_explorer_request`           |     1 |
+| `read_project_config_request`     |     1 |
+| `workspace_setup_status_request`  |     1 |
+
+Inbound by client:
+
+| client                                                      | count | top work                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
+| ----------------------------------------------------------- | ----: | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
+| Electron `cid_d555...`, origin `http://localhost:8082`      |    68 | `checkout_pr_status_request:18`, `project_icon_request:9`, `clear_agent_attention:6`, `fetch_agent_timeline_request:4`, `fetch_workspaces_request:3`, `fetch_agents_request:3`, `get_providers_snapshot_request:3` |
+| HeadlessChrome `cid_d39...`, origin `http://localhost:8081` |    13 | `client_heartbeat:4`, `fetch_workspaces_request:2`, `fetch_agents_request:2`, `get_providers_snapshot_request:2`                                                                                                   |
+| local web `cid_a2b...`, origin `http://localhost:6767`      |    13 | `client_heartbeat:4`, `fetch_workspaces_request:2`, `fetch_agents_request:2`, `get_providers_snapshot_request:2`                                                                                                   |
+| Android `cid_24c...`, origin `http://10.0.2.2:6767`         |    11 | `client_heartbeat:2`, `fetch_workspaces_request:2`, `fetch_agents_request:2`, `get_providers_snapshot_request:2`                                                                                                   |
+| `cid_70d...`, host `0.0.0.0:6767`                           |     2 | `fetch_agents_request:2`                                                                                                                                                                                           |
+
+## Outbound Client Work
+
+Outbound session messages during the startup window:
+
+| message                            | count |
+| ---------------------------------- | ----: |
+| `providers_snapshot_update`        |   129 |
+| `workspace_update`                 |    81 |
+| `checkout_status_update`           |    76 |
+| `agent_update`                     |    47 |
+| `checkout_pr_status_response`      |    18 |
+| `fetch_agents_response`            |    11 |
+| `fetch_workspaces_response`        |     9 |
+| `get_providers_snapshot_response`  |     9 |
+| `project_icon_response`            |     9 |
+| `fetch_agent_timeline_response`    |     7 |
+| `list_terminals_response`          |     5 |
+| `terminals_changed`                |     5 |
+| `list_available_editors_response`  |     2 |
+| `subscribe_checkout_diff_response` |     2 |
+| `checkout_status_response`         |     1 |
+| `fetch_agent_response`             |     1 |
+| `file_explorer_response`           |     1 |
+| `read_project_config_response`     |     1 |
+| `workspace_setup_status_response`  |     1 |
+
+Provider snapshot updates were large and repeated:
+
+- Around lines 982-986: five `providers_snapshot_update` messages, each `215932` bytes.
+- Around lines 997-1001: five `providers_snapshot_update` messages, each `215898` bytes.
+- Around lines 1250-1254: five `providers_snapshot_update` messages, each `414735` bytes.
+
+## Slow Requests
+
+Slow requests logged during startup:
+
+| time           |                           request | duration | client                | line |
+| -------------- | --------------------------------: | -------: | --------------------- | ---: |
+| `16:04:29.702` |    `fetch_agent_timeline_request` |  39372ms | HeadlessChrome        | 1767 |
+| `16:04:29.702` |    `fetch_agent_timeline_request` |  39212ms | Electron              | 1768 |
+| `16:04:29.702` |    `fetch_agent_timeline_request` |  38914ms | local web             | 1769 |
+| `16:04:33.665` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  20181ms | Electron              | 1776 |
+| `16:04:08.109` | `subscribe_checkout_diff_request` |  17618ms | Electron              |  565 |
+| `16:04:29.702` |    `fetch_agent_timeline_request` |  16216ms | Electron              | 1770 |
+| `16:04:06.624` |    `fetch_agent_timeline_request` |  16134ms | Electron              |  524 |
+| `16:04:29.396` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15911ms | Electron              | 1671 |
+| `16:04:29.256` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15772ms | Electron              | 1651 |
+| `16:04:29.149` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15665ms | Electron              | 1638 |
+| `16:04:29.054` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15569ms | Electron              | 1628 |
+| `16:04:28.932` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15448ms | Electron              | 1611 |
+| `16:04:28.809` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15324ms | Electron              | 1601 |
+| `16:04:28.672` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15188ms | Electron              | 1582 |
+| `16:04:28.555` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  15071ms | Electron              | 1567 |
+| `16:04:28.421` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  14936ms | Electron              | 1556 |
+| `16:04:28.323` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  14839ms | Electron              | 1549 |
+| `16:04:28.324` |         `checkout_status_request` |  14839ms | Electron              | 1550 |
+| `16:04:28.189` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  14705ms | Electron              | 1536 |
+| `16:04:29.634` |            `fetch_agents_request` |  14590ms | `0.0.0.0:6767` client | 1759 |
+| `16:04:28.006` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  14522ms | Electron              | 1526 |
+| `16:04:27.628` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  14143ms | Electron              | 1496 |
+| `16:04:27.061` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  13576ms | Electron              | 1405 |
+| `16:04:29.645` |            `fetch_agents_request` |  13384ms | `0.0.0.0:6767` client | 1762 |
+| `16:04:02.812` |    `fetch_agent_timeline_request` |  12321ms | Electron              |  440 |
+| `16:04:25.740` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  12256ms | Electron              | 1309 |
+| `16:04:25.352` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  11867ms | Electron              | 1296 |
+| `16:04:04.217` |    `fetch_agent_timeline_request` |  11751ms | Android               |  462 |
+| `16:04:25.155` |      `checkout_pr_status_request` |  11671ms | Electron              | 1284 |
+| `16:04:23.196` |             `fetch_agent_request` |   9711ms | Electron              | 1070 |
+| `16:04:17.563` |            `project_icon_request` |   4079ms | Electron              |  877 |
+| `16:03:53.022` |  `list_available_editors_request` |   2533ms | Electron              |  254 |
+| `16:04:15.703` |            `project_icon_request` |   2218ms | Electron              |  824 |
+| `16:04:15.696` |            `project_icon_request` |   2211ms | Electron              |  822 |
+| `16:04:15.694` |            `project_icon_request` |   2209ms | Electron              |  820 |
+| `16:04:15.103` |           `file_explorer_request` |   1618ms | Electron              |  806 |
+| `16:04:14.107` |          `list_terminals_request` |    621ms | Electron              |  764 |
+| `16:03:50.945` |          `list_terminals_request` |    614ms | HeadlessChrome        |  156 |
+
+The checkout PR requests are especially clustered: 18 Electron `checkout_pr_status_request` messages arrive together at `16:04:13.484`, lines 699-716. Their slow-request completions drain over the next ~20s, with `inflightRequests` dropping from 20 to 0.
+
+## Provider Findings
+
+### OpenCode
+
+OpenCode provider snapshot refresh had two timeouts:
+
+| time           | line | cwd                         | error                                         |
+| -------------- | ---: | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
+| `16:04:22.466` |  987 | `/Users/moboudra/dev/paseo` | `Timed out refreshing OpenCode after 30000ms` |
+| `16:04:22.482` | 1002 | `/Users/moboudra`           | `Timed out refreshing OpenCode after 30000ms` |
+
+These are provider snapshot failures, not OpenCode agent resume failures.
+
+The persisted OpenCode agent did resume:
+
+| time           | line | event                                                 |
+| -------------- | ---: | ----------------------------------------------------- |
+| `16:04:24.183` | 1201 | `provider.opencode.subscribe.start`                   |
+| `16:04:24.183` | 1202 | `provider.opencode.subscribe.ready`                   |
+| `16:04:24.306` | 1214 | raw event `server.connected`                          |
+| `16:04:25.933` | 1321 | `Agent resumed from persistence`, provider `opencode` |
+| `16:04:34.197` | 1783 | raw event `server.heartbeat`                          |
+| `16:04:44.200` | 1789 | raw event `server.heartbeat`                          |
+
+There are no `provider.opencode.subscribe.error` or OpenCode agent fatal errors in this slice.
+
+OpenCode-related git:
+
+- `~/dev/opencode` had 22 git commands.
+- Four failed.
+- The failed commands were branch graph probes for `ecosystem-paseo` versus `origin/ecosystem-paseo`.
+- Those failures are git state/probe failures, not OpenCode provider process failures.
+
+### Codex
+
+Codex provider startup observations:
+
+- `provider.codex.spawn` appears multiple times for provider snapshot/config discovery.
+- A persisted Codex agent resumes successfully at `16:04:06.357`, line 518.
+- Debug logs show failed reads of Codex saved config defaults, but these are debug-level and do not become provider startup warnings/errors in this slice.
+- There are unhandled Codex trace event types such as remote-control/status and thread/goal status, but no Codex timeout or fatal provider startup failure in this slice.
+
+### Claude
+
+Claude agents resume successfully:
+
+| time           | line | client   | agent                                  |
+| -------------- | ---: | -------- | -------------------------------------- |
+| `16:04:02.540` |  434 | Electron | `f884552a-1383-4dba-8583-7ae0b6a62353` |
+| `16:04:03.772` |  456 | Android  | `0c89a057-05f2-4e23-9895-84c8e1952310` |
+
+## What Work The App Asked For
+
+The startup work visible in the app/server protocol is:
+
+- Workspace list/sidebar hydration:
+  - `fetch_workspaces_request`, 9 total.
+  - This asks for the workspace list sorted by `activity_at desc`, usually page limit 200.
+  - On the server this triggers workspace git observer sync and workspace update flushing.
+
+- Agent list and agent detail hydration:
+  - `fetch_agents_request`, 11 total.
+  - `fetch_agent_request`, 1 total.
+  - `fetch_agent_timeline_request`, 7 total.
+  - Timeline requests are among the slowest requests in this slice.
+
+- Checkout/PR status UI:
+  - `checkout_pr_status_request`, 18 total, all Electron.
+  - `checkout_status_request`, 1 total.
+  - `subscribe_checkout_diff_request`, 2 total.
+  - These correspond to git snapshot consumers and are clustered during Electron reconnect.
+
+- Provider/model/mode UI:
+  - `get_providers_snapshot_request`, 9 total.
+  - `providers_snapshot_update`, 129 outbound updates.
+  - OpenCode provider snapshot refresh times out twice during this flow.
+
+- Workspace chrome:
+  - `project_icon_request`, 9 total.
+  - `file_explorer_request`, 1 total.
+
+- Terminal panel:
+  - `list_terminals_request`, 5 total.
+  - `subscribe_terminals_request`, 5 total.
+  - `terminals_changed`, 5 outbound updates.
+
+- Attention state:
+  - `clear_agent_attention`, 6 total.
+  - Some failures appear while clearing attention for persisted agents, but these are not provider startup failures.
+
+## Concrete Waste-Looking Work, Without Optimizing Yet
+
+The log shows repeated work in these exact forms:
+
+- 444 git commands total, but only 14 complete before the first client hello. The rest are post-listen startup/client hydration work.
+- Several workspaces get repeated full checkout snapshot patterns:
+  - three 33-command worktrees each get `3` root checks, `3` dirty checks, `3` upstream config probes, `9` ahead/behind probes, `12` ref checks, and `3` base divergence checks.
+  - three 27-command worktrees each get `3` root checks, `3` dirty checks, `6` upstream config probes, `6` ahead/behind probes, `6` ref checks, and `3` base divergence checks.
+  - `~/dev/paseo` gets `5` root checks, `5` dirty checks, `10` upstream config probes, and `10` ahead/behind probes.
+- Electron sends 18 `checkout_pr_status_request` messages at the same timestamp, then they drain slowly over ~20s.
+- Provider snapshot updates are broadcast very frequently: 129 outbound `providers_snapshot_update` messages, including large repeated payloads around 216KB and 415KB.
+- OpenCode snapshot refresh times out twice after 30s, but the actual OpenCode agent connection/resume succeeds.
+
+Again, this section names repeated work observed in the startup. It does not claim which repetition should be removed.

docs/floating-panels.md

@@ -155,6 +155,20 @@ The "render invisible to measure, then reveal" pattern is the canonical
 solution to chicken-and-egg positioning in this codebase. Reach for it before
 anything fancier.
 
+## Gotcha 6 — Bottom sheet refs are not lifecycle truth
+
+`@gorhom/bottom-sheet` modals churn their imperative ref while presenting and
+dismissing. Do not treat `ref != null` as permission to call `present()`, and do
+not treat `ref == null` as the sheet being closed. The user-visible lifecycle is
+the desired `visible` prop plus the sheet callbacks (`onChange(-1)`,
+`onDismiss`).
+
+If a user closes a sheet with the backdrop or a pan gesture, the sheet may detach
+and reattach before React state has acknowledged `visible=false`. Re-presenting
+on that attach races Gorhom's dismiss path and leaves the modal unable to reopen.
+Track an explicit phase (`closed` / `presenting` / `presented` / `dismissing`) and
+ignore ref churn while dismissing.
+
 ## Recipe for a new anchored panel
 
 Before you write a new one, ask:

docs/glossary.md

@@ -3,24 +3,24 @@
 Authoritative terminology. UI label wins. Don't invent synonyms; use what's here.
 
 - **Project** — Logical grouping of workspaces sharing a git remote (or main repo root). UI: "Project" / "Add project". Code: `ProjectSummary` (`packages/app/src/utils/projects.ts:22`), `projectKey` (`packages/server/src/server/workspace-registry-model.ts:16`). Forbidden: "Repo", "Repository" as UI label.
-- **Workspace** — One concrete `cwd` on one daemon, with git state; belongs to exactly one project. UI: "Workspace". Code: `WorkspaceDescriptorPayload` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:2178`). Don't confuse with: Branch (one branch can back many workspaces via worktrees). Forbidden: "Folder", "Directory" as UI label.
+- **Workspace** — One concrete `cwd` on one daemon, with git state; belongs to exactly one project. UI: "Workspace". Code: `WorkspaceDescriptorPayload` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:2178`). Don't confuse with: Branch (one branch can back many workspaces via worktrees). Forbidden: "Folder", "Directory" as UI label.
 - **Workspace kind** — `"directory" | "local_checkout" | "worktree"`. Code: `PersistedWorkspaceKind` (`packages/server/src/server/workspace-registry-model.ts:8`).
-- **Agent** — One AI coding agent run on a daemon (one provider, one model, one cwd, one timeline). UI: "Agent" / "New Agent". Code: `AgentSnapshotPayload` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:608`). Forbidden: "Task", "Job", "Run".
-- **Daemon** — Local Paseo server process; identified by `serverId`. UI: "Daemon" (system contexts only). Code: `serverId` in `ServerInfoStatusPayloadSchema` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:1936`), `DaemonClient` (`packages/server/src/client/daemon-client.ts`).
+- **Agent** — One AI coding agent run on a daemon (one provider, one model, one cwd, one timeline). UI: "Agent" / "New Agent". Code: `AgentSnapshotPayload` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:608`). Forbidden: "Task", "Job", "Run".
+- **Daemon** — Local Paseo server process; identified by `serverId`. UI: "Daemon" (system contexts only). Code: `serverId` in `ServerInfoStatusPayloadSchema` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:1936`), `DaemonClient` (`packages/client/src/daemon-client.ts`).
 - **Host** — Client-side connection profile pointing at a daemon; bundles one or more `HostConnection`s. UI: "Host" / "Add host" / "Switch host". Code: `HostProfile` (`packages/app/src/types/host-connection.ts:37`). Forbidden: "Connection" (means `HostConnection`, not host).
 - **Project host entry** — One row in a project for a single (project, daemon) pair, aggregating that daemon's workspaces in the project. Internal. Code: `ProjectHostEntry` (`packages/app/src/utils/projects.ts:11`). Don't introduce "Checkout" as a synonym.
-- **Placement** — One workspace's relationship to its project (projectKey, projectName, git checkout snapshot). Internal. Code: `ProjectPlacementPayload` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:2113`).
-- **Branch** — Plain git branch. UI: "Switch branch". Code: `currentBranch` in `WorkspaceGitRuntimePayloadSchema` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:2136`); `BranchSwitcher` (`packages/app/src/components/branch-switcher.tsx`).
-- **Worktree** — Paseo-managed git worktree (`~/.paseo/worktrees/{name}`); also a `workspaceKind` value. UI: CLI + `paseo.json` keys (`worktree.setup`, `worktree.teardown`) only. Code: `ProjectCheckoutLiteGitPaseoPayload` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:2092`); CLI `paseo worktree` (`packages/cli/src/commands/worktree/index.ts:8`). Forbidden: "Checkout" as a synonym.
+- **Placement** — One workspace's relationship to its project (projectKey, projectName, git checkout snapshot). Internal. Code: `ProjectPlacementPayload` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:2113`).
+- **Branch** — Plain git branch. UI: "Switch branch". Code: `currentBranch` in `WorkspaceGitRuntimePayloadSchema` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:2136`); `BranchSwitcher` (`packages/app/src/components/branch-switcher.tsx`).
+- **Worktree** — Paseo-managed git worktree (`~/.paseo/worktrees/{name}`); also a `workspaceKind` value. UI: CLI + `paseo.json` keys (`worktree.setup`, `worktree.teardown`) only. Code: `ProjectCheckoutLiteGitPaseoPayload` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:2092`); CLI `paseo worktree` (`packages/cli/src/commands/worktree/index.ts:8`). Forbidden: "Checkout" as a synonym.
 - **Repository / Remote** — Internal git inputs (`remoteUrl`, `mainRepoRoot`) used to derive `projectKey`. No UI label.
 - **Session** — Per-client connection to a daemon. Internal. Code: `Session` (`packages/server/src/server/session.ts`). Don't confuse with: provider-side agent session log.
 - **Profile** — Internal name for the persisted shape of a host. Code: `HostProfile` (`packages/app/src/types/host-connection.ts:37`). Never user-facing.
-- **Provider** — Agent backend (Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, OpenCode, Pi). UI: "Provider". Code: `ProviderSnapshotEntry` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:198`).
-- **Model** — A specific LLM offered by a provider. UI: "Model" / "Select model". Code: `AgentModelDefinition` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:187`).
-- **Terminal** — Workspace-scoped PTY shell streamed over the binary mux channel. UI: "Terminal". Code: `TerminalStreamFrame` (`packages/server/src/shared/terminal-stream-protocol.ts`).
-- **Schedule** — Cron-style trigger that creates remote agents. UI: CLI only (`paseo schedule`). Code: `ScheduleCreateRequest` (re-exported from `packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts`). Don't confuse with: Loop (iterative re-execution of one agent).
-- **Mode** — Provider-specific operational mode (plan, default, full-access, …). UI: icon-only. Code: `modeId` in `AgentSessionConfig` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:257`).
-- **Attachment** — GitHub PR or Issue bound to an agent prompt. UI: "Attach issue or PR". Code: `AgentAttachment` (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:782`).
+- **Provider** — Agent backend (Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, OpenCode, Pi). UI: "Provider". Code: `ProviderSnapshotEntry` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:198`).
+- **Model** — A specific LLM offered by a provider. UI: "Model" / "Select model". Code: `AgentModelDefinition` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:187`).
+- **Terminal** — Workspace-scoped PTY shell streamed over the binary mux channel. UI: "Terminal". Code: `TerminalStreamFrame` (`packages/protocol/src/terminal-stream-protocol.ts`).
+- **Schedule** — Cron-style trigger that creates remote agents. UI: CLI only (`paseo schedule`). Code: `ScheduleCreateRequest` (re-exported from `packages/protocol/src/messages.ts`). Don't confuse with: Loop (iterative re-execution of one agent).
+- **Mode** — Provider-specific operational mode (plan, default, full-access, …). UI: icon-only. Code: `modeId` in `AgentSessionConfig` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:257`).
+- **Attachment** — GitHub PR or Issue bound to an agent prompt. UI: "Attach issue or PR". Code: `AgentAttachment` (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:782`).
 - **Composer** — The whole prompt surface for sending work to an agent. Code: `Composer` (`packages/app/src/composer/index.tsx`). Don't call this "message input" except for the text-entry subcomponent.
 - **Composer input** — The text-entry surface inside the composer. Code: `MessageInput` (`packages/app/src/composer/input/input.tsx`).
 - **Composer toolbar** — The bottom control row inside the composer input. Contains agent controls, attachment button, voice controls, and stop/send controls. Code: `leftContent`, `beforeVoiceContent`, and `rightContent` slots in `MessageInput` (`packages/app/src/composer/input/input.tsx`). Forbidden: "Status bar".
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ Authoritative terminology. UI label wins. Don't invent synonyms; use what's here
 ## Inconsistencies (documented, not papered over)
 
 - CLI `--host <host>` description `"Daemon host target"` (`packages/cli/src/utils/command-options.ts:5`) blurs daemon/host; the app keeps them distinct.
-- `WorkspaceDescriptorPayloadSchema.workspaceKind` accepts legacy `"checkout"` on the wire (`packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts:2187`) while `PersistedWorkspaceKind` does not (`packages/server/src/server/workspace-registry-model.ts:8`).
+- `WorkspaceDescriptorPayloadSchema.workspaceKind` accepts legacy `"checkout"` on the wire (`packages/protocol/src/messages.ts:2187`) while `PersistedWorkspaceKind` does not (`packages/server/src/server/workspace-registry-model.ts:8`).

docs/providers.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Pi MCP support depends on the open-source `pi-mcp-adapter` extension being loade
 
 Pi import discovery reads Pi's persisted JSONL session files because Pi RPC does not expose a recent-session listing command. Resume and full history hydration still go through `pi --mode rpc` using the session file as `nativeHandle`.
 
-Pi RPC extension UI dialog requests (`select`, `input`, `editor`, `confirm`) are bridged into Paseo question permissions and answered with `extension_ui_response`. Fire-and-forget extension UI requests such as notifications are intentionally ignored by the provider adapter unless Paseo grows first-class UI for them.
+Pi RPC extension UI dialog requests (`select`, `input`, `editor`, `confirm`) are bridged into Paseo question permissions and answered with `extension_ui_response`. Pi extensions such as `ask_user` may chain dialogs: for example, a `select` can be followed by an optional-comment `input`. When an `ask_user` tool call declares `allowComment: true`, Paseo presents the selection and optional comment as one question permission, answers Pi's initial `select` immediately, then auto-answers the follow-up optional `input` with the comment the user already supplied (or an empty string). Preserve placeholders and optional/skip semantics for standalone optional inputs so the app can still distinguish "skip this optional input" from "cancel the whole dialog." Fire-and-forget extension UI requests such as notifications are intentionally ignored by the provider adapter unless Paseo grows first-class UI for them.
 
 OpenCode MCP injection is dynamic and session-scoped. Call OpenCode's `mcp.add` endpoint with the MCP server config and do not follow it with `mcp.connect`; `connect` only toggles MCP servers already present in OpenCode's own config. New OpenCode versions return `McpServerNotFoundError`/404 for `connect` after a dynamic add because the server is not config-backed, while older versions silently swallowed the same missing-config path.
 

docs/refactors/session-decomposition-plan.md

@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+# Session God-File Decomposition Plan
+
+`packages/server/src/server/session.ts` — 9116 lines, one `Session` class (declared line 724), 128 handlers, ~60 instance fields, 7 entangled domains. Goal: a **strictly behavior-preserving, incremental** decomposition into per-domain controllers, mirroring the existing `TerminalSessionController`.
+
+## Chosen strategy: controller-context (per-domain option-bag controllers)
+
+Each domain becomes a controller class in its own file with the **exact** contract the repo already proved twice (`TerminalSessionController` at `packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-session-controller.ts`, and `CreateAgentLifecycleDispatch`):
+
+- An **options-bag constructor** injecting only what that domain reads.
+- An **owned-type `ReadonlySet`** of message types.
+- A **NON-async `dispatch(msg): Promise<void> | undefined`** that checks the owned-type set FIRST and returns `undefined` synchronously on a miss (verified at terminal-session-controller.ts:140-143).
+- `start()` wired from `subscribeToOptionalManagers`, `dispose()` called by the shell's ordered `cleanup()`.
+
+Session shrinks to a connection/dispatch shell: it keeps `handleMessage`, the `??` chain (1739-1751), `emit`/`emitBinary`, `sessionLogger`, connection identity, inflight metrics, lifecycle intents, and the **ordered** `cleanup()`. Each `dispatchXMessage` collapses to `return this.xController.dispatch(msg)`.
+
+### Why this is safe at the dispatch seam (verified)
+
+`dispatchInboundMessage` builds `a() ?? b() ?? ... ?? dispatchMiscMessage()` and short-circuits on the first non-`undefined` **Promise object** (not its resolved value). Message-type spaces are **disjoint** (no duplicate `case` labels across switches), so at most one dispatcher matches any message — collapsing to delegation cannot change which handler runs. `dispatchTerminalMessage` (2150-2153) already proves this. Two quirks preserved verbatim: schedule/\* is reached via the chat dispatcher's OWN `default` arm (2183), not the top-level `??`; and `start_workspace_script_request` (a workspace type) is special-cased before terminal delegation (2150).
+
+Rejected alternatives: **feature-module** (free functions + wide context bag) cannot own the live state machines (workspaceUpdatesSubscription, agentUpdatesSubscription, ~25 voice fields) and adds a competing idiom; **mixin-composition** preserves the shared-`this` god object verbatim and requires widening ~325 private fields to protected.
+
+## Slice ordering (least-coupled first)
+
+The task recommended **git/checkout as the first slice — OVERRIDDEN.** Verification: `emitCheckoutStatusUpdate` is called from exactly ONE site (session.ts:4915), inside the workspace-owned `syncWorkspaceGitObserver` callback that ALSO fires workspace effects over shared watch-target maps. Extracting checkout first forces splitting the hardest workspace/git seam before workspace is touched. The strictly safer first cuts are **chat-schedule-loop** (only knot: `handleChatPostRequest`; touches no shared observer/git/voice state) and **provider-catalog** (one shared collaborator + injected predicates).
+
+| #   | Slice                                                                         | Effort | Risk   |
+| --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------ |
+| 0   | Test net + disjointness tripwire (no extraction)                              | M      | low    |
+| 1   | ChatScheduleLoopController — **STOP FOR REVIEW after green**                  | M      | low    |
+| 2   | ProviderCatalogController                                                     | M      | medium |
+| 3   | Split shared workspace-git observer + agent-subscribe fan-out (no controller) | M      | high   |
+| 4   | GitCheckoutController                                                         | L      | medium |
+| 5   | WorkspaceController                                                           | XL     | high   |
+| 6   | Voice prereqs: emit() purity + abortController ownership                      | M      | high   |
+| 7   | VoiceSessionController                                                        | XL     | high   |
+| 8a  | Agent-lifecycle config setters                                                | M      | medium |
+| 8b  | AgentLifecycleController                                                      | XL     | high   |
+
+---
+
+## Slice 0 — Test net + disjointness tripwire (prerequisite)
+
+No production code moves. Add `session.dispatch-seam.test.ts`. This is the gate the whole plan rests on, because chat/schedule/loop have **zero** handleMessage coverage today (verified).
+
+Write RED-then-GREEN against the **current in-place** Session:
+
+- `chat/post` happy path (asserts `chat/post` response emitted) + fanout-limit error path (asserts the `chat/post` error envelope, NOT a bubbled `rpc_error`).
+- one `schedule/*` and one `loop/*` round-trip.
+- a handler that throws **synchronously** emits `rpc_error{code:"handler_error"}` + an `activity_log` error frame.
+- a handler that **rejects async** emits the SAME pair.
+- a table-driven assertion that the union of all controllers' owned-type `ReadonlySet`s is pairwise disjoint and covers the dispatched `SessionInboundMessage` union (grows as controllers land).
+
+**Tests:** `session.dispatch-seam.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 1 — ChatScheduleLoopController ← STOP FOR HUMAN REVIEW after this ships green
+
+**Move:** all 21 handlers (`handleChat*` ×7, `handleSchedule*` ×9, `handleLoop*` ×5), the three rpc-error emitters (`emitChatRpcError`/`emitScheduleRpcError`/`emitLoopRpcError` — **kept separate, not merged**), `toScheduleSummary` → `packages/server/src/server/chat/chat-schedule-loop-controller.ts`. Collapse `dispatchChatScheduleLoopMessage` + `dispatchScheduleMessage` to `return this.chatScheduleLoopController.dispatch(msg)`.
+
+**SessionContext surface:** `emit`, `sessionLogger`, `clientId` (authorAgentId fallback), `chatService`, `scheduleService`, `loopService`, and a narrow agent-control port `{ listAgents, resolveAgentIdentifier, agentStorage.list }` for `handleChatPostRequest` mention fanout.
+
+**Owned-type set MUST include all 7 `chat/*` + 5 `loop/*` + 9 `schedule/*` types** — schedule/\* is currently routed via the chat dispatcher's own `default` arm, so it must stay inside this one controller, or schedule requests silently no-op.
+
+**Behavior note:** least-coupled domain. Move the three rpc-error emitters verbatim (they differ in default code + the `ChatServiceError` branch). **Tests:** `session.dispatch-seam.test.ts`, `loop-service.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 2 — ProviderCatalogController
+
+**Move:** 7 provider handlers + `emitProviderDisabledResponse` + `getProviderSnapshotEntryForRead` → `packages/server/src/server/provider/provider-catalog-controller.ts`. Move the `providers_snapshot_update` PUSH wiring (1235-1254) into the controller's `start()`/`dispose()`. Collapse `dispatchProviderMessage`.
+
+**SessionContext surface:** `emit`, `sessionLogger`, `providerSnapshotManager` (**shared by reference** — stays a daemon singleton read by checkout/lifecycle/workspace), `isProviderVisibleToClient` (predicate closing over `this`, reads `appVersion` live), `downgradeModeIconsForClient`, `downgradeEntryModesForClient`, agent-control reads `{ listProviderAvailability, listDraftFeatures }`.
+
+**Behavior note:** COMPAT correctness — PUSH and PULL paths MUST call the SAME injected visibility/downgrade closures, reading `appVersion` LIVE (mutated post-construction via `updateAppVersion`). Keep `COMPAT(providersSnapshot)` and `COMPAT(customModeIcons)` comments verbatim. Do NOT pull `resolveStructuredGenerationProviders`/`getFocusedAgentSelectionForCwd` in. **Tests:** `session.dispatch-seam.test.ts`, `daemon-e2e/models.e2e.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 3 — Split the shared observer seams (prerequisite, no controller)
+
+In-place refactor on the shell, two named fan-outs:
+
+1. **workspace-git observer** (4910-4917): make `emitCheckoutStatusUpdate` and `onBranchChanged` injectable callbacks; keep `workspaceGitWatchTargets`/`workspaceGitSubscriptions` shared by reference.
+2. **agentManager.subscribe callback** (~1298): refactor into `{ onAgentUpdate, shouldAutoAllowVoicePermission(event), onStreamEvent }`.
+
+**Behavior note:** the single hardest seam, split exactly once before the two domains that co-own it. The observer fires BOTH workspace (`handleWorkspaceGitBranchSnapshot`, `emitWorkspaceUpdateForCwd`) and checkout (`emitCheckoutStatusUpdate`) effects; the agent-subscribe callback is invoked by agent EVENTS (not the `??` chain) and does lifecycle + voice work. Add a test asserting BOTH a `workspace_update` and a `checkout_status_update` fire from one simulated git snapshot change, and a voice-permission test for the auto-allow path. **Tests:** `session.workspace-git-watch.test.ts`, `session.workspaces.test.ts`, `voice-permission-policy.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 4 — GitCheckoutController
+
+**Move:** ~22 `checkout_*`/`stash_*`/PR/github handlers + `handleSubscribeCheckoutDiffRequest`/`handleUnsubscribeCheckoutDiffRequest` + `emitCheckoutStatusUpdate` + `checkoutDiffSubscriptions` → `packages/server/src/server/checkout/git-checkout-controller.ts`. Collapse `dispatchCheckoutMessage`.
+
+**SessionContext surface:** `emit`, `sessionLogger`, `checkoutDiffManager` (move in + dispose teardown), `github` (shared), `workspaceGitService` (**shared spine**), `workspaceGitWatchTargets`/`workspaceGitSubscriptions` (**shared**), `providerSnapshotManager.listRegisteredProviderIds`. `emitCheckoutStatusUpdate` is now owned here and injected back into the workspace observer seam from Slice 3.
+
+**Behavior note:** safe now that Slice 3 split the observer. `checkoutDiffSubscriptions` teardown moves to `dispose()`, called by `cleanup()` at its current ordinal (8530). **Tests:** `session.dispatch-seam.test.ts`, `checkout-diff-manager.test.ts`, `daemon-e2e/checkout-diff-subscription.e2e.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 5 — WorkspaceController (XL)
+
+**Move:** all workspace handlers (incl. re-homed `handleProjectRenameRequest` and `start_workspace_script_request`) + ~25 private workspace helpers + the whole `workspaceUpdatesSubscription` state machine → `packages/server/src/server/workspace/workspace-controller.ts`.
+
+**SessionContext surface:** `emit`, `sessionLogger`, `projectRegistry`/`workspaceRegistry`/`downloadTokenStore`/script stores/editor cache (**owned**), `workspaceGitService` + watch maps (**shared with checkout**), injected `emitCheckoutStatusUpdate`/`onBranchChanged`, `terminalManager`/`killTerminalsUnderPath`, an `agentUpdatesSubscription` write via a narrow `bufferAgentUpdate` command, `providerSnapshotManager.listRegisteredProviderIds`.
+
+**Behavior note:** the workspaceUpdatesSubscription machine moves WHOLE. The eight already-public workspace methods stay a public surface re-exposed via the shell. Re-homes are atomic remove-from-old-dispatcher + add-to-new-owned-set. **Tests:** `session.workspaces.test.ts`, `session.workspace-git-watch.test.ts`, `session.workspace-resolution-invariants.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 6 — Voice prerequisites (emit purity + abort ownership)
+
+In-place, separately reviewable. Split the `audio_output` TTS-debug branch out of `emit()` (8421-8468, bypasses to `onMessage` at 8454) so `emit` is a pure trace+onMessage sink. Move `convertPCMToWavBuffer` (674-701) to `speech/audio.ts`. Decide abortController ownership.
+
+**Behavior note:** TTS-debug split and abortController ownership are the SAME decision (`ttsDebugStreams.clear()` is tied to `createAbortController` reassignment at 8359). Keep `emit` (with the universal trace) on the shell and inject it everywhere — no trace-less emit. Do NOT inject the AbortController by value. Add: a TTS-debug persistence test (with the debug env flag) before the move, and a barge-in→cleanup regression test asserting the NEW run's signal is aborted. **Tests:** `voice-roundtrip.e2e.test.ts`, `voice-permission-policy.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 7 — VoiceSessionController (XL)
+
+**Move:** voice handlers + ~25 voice fields + the TTS-debug hook (Slice 6) + `voiceModeAgentId`/`isVoiceMode` + the `shouldAutoAllowVoicePermission` predicate (Slice 3) → `packages/server/src/server/voice/voice-session-controller.ts`. Carve voice types out of `dispatchVoiceAndControlMessage`, leaving infra (restart/shutdown/heartbeat/ping/abort) on the shell.
+
+**SessionContext surface:** pure `emit`, `emitBinary`, `hasBinaryChannel`, `sessionLogger`/`sessionId`/`paseoHome`, `getSpeechReadiness`, agent-control port `{ loadAgent, reloadWithSystemPrompt, interruptIfRunning, isRunning, sendSpokenText, buildAgentPrompt }`, `getSignal`/`abortCurrent` (Slice 6).
+
+**Behavior note:** depends on Slices 3 + 6. `cleanup()` stays the ordered orchestrator and calls `voiceController.dispose()` at the position the inlined voice teardown occupies today (8505-8525). **Tests:** `voice-roundtrip.e2e.test.ts`, `voice-local-agent.e2e.test.ts`, `session.voice-mcp-config.test.ts`, `session.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Slice 8a — Agent-lifecycle config setters
+
+Parameterize the 4 setter envelopes `handleSetAgentMode/Model/Feature/Thinking` (4209-4390) into one helper; re-home `handleListCommandsRequest` (misfiled in `dispatchMiscMessage`). Add a handleMessage-driven **failure** test per setter (force the command to reject, assert both the `*_response{accepted:false}` AND the `activity_log` error frame in order) BEFORE collapsing. **Tests:** `session.test.ts`, `session.lifecycle-boundary.test.ts`.
+
+## Slice 8b — AgentLifecycleController (XL, LAST)
+
+**Move:** remaining lifecycle handlers + the `agentUpdatesSubscription` fan-out (`bufferOrEmitAgentUpdate`, `flushBootstrappedAgentUpdates`, `matchesAgentFilter`, `forwardAgentUpdate`) → `packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-lifecycle-controller.ts`. Collapse the three lifecycle dispatchers.
+
+**SessionContext surface:** `emit`, `sessionLogger`, `agentManager`/`agentStorage` (**owned**), injected `forwardAgentUpdate` → `buildProjectPlacementForCwd` (backed by WorkspaceController), `agentUpdatesSubscription` accessor (owned; workspace writes via `bufferAgentUpdate`), `isProviderVisibleToClient`, `resolveCreateAgentWorkspace`, `supports`, `mcpBaseUrl`, `terminalController.killTerminalForClose`.
+
+**Behavior note:** done LAST — the shared-projection hub. `handleCloseItemsRequest` splits its terminal-kill half from its agent-archive half. **Tests:** `session.test.ts`, `session.wait-for-finish.test.ts`, `session.create-agent-title.test.ts`, `session.lifecycle-boundary.test.ts`, `daemon-client.e2e.test.ts`.
+
+---
+
+## Cross-cutting invariants (every slice)
+
+- **Always** run `npm run typecheck` and `npm run lint` after each slice; run `npm run build:server` before diagnosing cross-package type errors.
+- Controller `dispatch` is **NON-async**, guarded by an owned-type `ReadonlySet` check returning `undefined` synchronously on miss. Never `async dispatch`.
+- Controllers add **no** try/catch inside `dispatch` — error handling stays in `handleMessage`.
+- `cleanup()` stays the single ordered teardown orchestrator on the shell.
+- Move domain error emitters **verbatim**; treat any cross-domain emitter merge as a separate, test-guarded change.
+- Per-slice typecheck/lint/format via `npm run` scripts; never re-run the full suite locally (run only the listed files with `--bail=1`).

docs/release.md

@@ -2,6 +2,29 @@
 
 All workspaces share one version and release together.
 
+## Two steps
+
+A release has exactly two steps. The agent does the first, the user authorizes the second.
+
+**Preparation** (local, reversible — agent does this):
+
+- format, lint, typecheck all green
+- draft the changelog, show it to the user, wait for review
+- run the pre-release sanity check, surface findings to the user
+- confirm CI is green
+
+**Go-ahead** (user says "go ahead"):
+
+- commit the approved changelog
+- run the release
+
+Rules that apply to both steps:
+
+- Last-minute changes always need approval. Every time.
+- No code changes bundled into the changelog commit or the release commit. Code shims live in their own commit, reviewed on their own merits.
+- A sanity-check finding is information, not a directive. The agent surfaces it; the user decides.
+- Invoking a release skill is intent to start the flow, not blanket authorization to publish.
+
 ## Two paths
 
 There are two supported ways to ship from `main`:

docs/testing.md

@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ Vitest picks up tests by suffix. The suffix tells the runner which category it b
 
 App-level Playwright browser E2E lives in `packages/app/e2e/*.spec.ts` and runs via `npm run test:e2e --workspace=@getpaseo/app` (separate from Vitest E2E). App Playwright specs that hit real providers use `*.real.spec.ts` and run through `npm run test:e2e:real --workspace=@getpaseo/app`; the default app E2E project ignores that suffix so CI does not need provider credentials.
 
+Live provider smoke tests belong in `*.real.e2e.test.ts`, not `*.test.ts`, even when guarded by environment variables. Default unit suites must use deterministic provider adapters/fakes so missing credits, auth outages, and upstream model drift do not block normal CI.
+
 ### Test setup
 
 - Server: `packages/server/src/test-utils/vitest-setup.ts` loads `.env.test`, sets `PASEO_SUPERVISED=0`, and disables Git/SSH prompts. Add new global env shims here, not in individual tests.
@@ -155,3 +157,12 @@ If code isn't testable, refactor it. Signs:
 - Setup requires too much global state
 
 Aim for deep modules: small interface, deep implementation. Fewer methods = fewer tests needed, simpler params = simpler setup.
+
+## Two test categories, no others
+
+Every test in this repo lives in exactly one of these shapes:
+
+1. **Unit tests with ports and adapters** — production code receives its real-world dependencies (DB, HTTP, CLI process, clock, randomness, filesystem, other modules) through an injected interface. Tests wire a typed in-memory fake colocated with the production module. **No `vi.mock`, `vi.hoisted`, `vi.spyOn` of own exports, JSDOM, `@testing-library` component mounting, RN test renderer, monkey-patched globals, or fake-server fixtures.** If a test needs any of those, the production module is missing a port — fix the seam, then write the test against a fake adapter.
+2. **Real end-to-end tests** — real daemon, real network, real browser (Playwright for app code) or a real isolated server instance (for daemon code). No JSDOM, no mocked transport.
+
+Anything in between — component tests in JSDOM, vitest tests that mock the module under test, tests that assert on private state — is slop on its way out.

docs/timeline-sync.md

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Timeline sync
+
+Agent chat delivery has two paths:
+
+1. **Live stream** — `agent_stream` WebSocket messages for immediacy.
+2. **Authoritative history** — `fetch_agent_timeline_request` for correctness.
+
+The invariant is:
+
+> If the daemon has committed timeline rows for an agent, any connected client that opens or resumes that agent eventually displays every row through the daemon's current tail.
+
+## Presence is not delivery
+
+Client heartbeat reports presence:
+
+- device type
+- app visibility
+- focused agent
+- last activity time
+
+Heartbeat is used for notification routing. It must not be used as a correctness gate for `agent_stream` delivery. A stale mobile focus heartbeat may affect whether the user gets notified; it must not make timeline rows disappear from the live stream.
+
+## Catch-up is paged but complete
+
+Large unbounded timeline responses can exceed relay frame limits, so catch-up uses bounded pages. Bounded does not mean partial.
+
+When the app fetches `direction: "after"` and the daemon responds with `hasNewer: true`, the app must immediately fetch the next page from `endCursor`. The catch-up is complete only when `hasNewer: false`.
+
+The first load of an agent without a local cursor is different: it fetches a bounded latest tail page. Older history remains user-driven by scrolling upward.
+
+## Resume behavior
+
+When a client resumes with a known cursor, it catches up after that cursor to completion. It does not replace the view with a latest tail page, because tail pagination can skip the middle of a long background run.
+
+When a client resumes without a cursor, it fetches the latest tail page.
+
+## Relevant code
+
+- Server live stream forwarding: `packages/server/src/server/session.ts`
+- App sync planning: `packages/app/src/timeline/timeline-sync-plan.ts`
+- App stream/timeline reducer: `packages/app/src/timeline/session-stream-reducers.ts`
+- Session wiring: `packages/app/src/contexts/session-context.tsx`

lefthook.yml

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ pre-commit:
     - name: format
       glob: "*.{css,js,json,jsonc,jsx,md,ts,tsx,yaml,yml}"
       exclude:
+        - "package-lock.json"
         - "**/package-lock.json"
       run: npm run format:check:files -- {staged_files}
     - name: lint

nix/desktop-package.nix

@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ buildNpmPackage rec {
     # Native deps (terminal emulation; libuv-linked on Linux)
     npm rebuild node-pty
 
-    # Daemon workspaces (highlight + relay + server + cli)
-    npm run build:daemon
+    # Server workspaces (highlight + relay + protocol + client + server + cli)
+    npm run build:server
 
-    # App workspace deps not covered by build:daemon
+    # App workspace deps not covered by build:server
     npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/expo-two-way-audio
 
     # Expo web export for the Electron renderer

nix/npm-deps.hash

@@ -1 +1 @@
-sha256-WAxd4FSYNGYPT7v0QYTkYF5AacMrpYU+zjMyMTcWufo=
+sha256-B6xcv2QfqpmvZCwYZ34pF2HWu3Icjl3bylHcQr8lo8g=

nix/package.nix

@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ buildNpmPackage rec {
     # degrade when unavailable.
     npm rebuild node-pty
 
-    # Build all daemon packages in dependency order (defined in package.json)
-    npm run build:daemon
+    # Build all server packages in dependency order (defined in package.json)
+    npm run build:server
 
     runHook postBuild
   '';

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "paseo",
-  "version": "0.1.83",
+  "version": "0.1.87",
   "private": true,
   "description": "Paseo: voice-controlled development environment with OpenAI Realtime API",
   "keywords": [
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
   "workspaces": [
     "packages/expo-two-way-audio",
     "packages/highlight",
+    "packages/protocol",
+    "packages/client",
     "packages/server",
     "packages/app",
     "packages/relay",
@@ -34,16 +36,24 @@
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "./scripts/dev.sh",
     "dev:win": "powershell ./scripts/dev.ps1",
-    "dev:server": "npm run dev --workspace=@getpaseo/server",
+    "dev:server": "npm run build:server-deps && concurrently --kill-others --names protocol,client,server --prefix-colors yellow,blue,cyan \"npm run watch:protocol\" \"npm run watch:client\" \"npm run dev:server:raw\"",
+    "dev:server:raw": "npm run dev --workspace=@getpaseo/server",
     "dev:app": "npm run start --workspace=@getpaseo/app",
     "dev:website": "npm run dev --workspace=@getpaseo/website",
     "postinstall": "node scripts/postinstall-patches.mjs",
     "prepare": "lefthook install --force",
     "build": "npm run build --workspaces --if-present",
     "build:highlight": "npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight",
-    "build:daemon": "npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/cli",
+    "build:relay": "npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay",
+    "build:protocol": "npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol",
+    "build:client": "npm run build:protocol && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/client",
+    "build:server-deps": "npm run build:highlight && npm run build:relay && npm run build:client",
+    "build:server": "npm run build:server-deps && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/cli",
+    "build:app-deps": "npm run build:highlight && npm run build:client && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/expo-two-way-audio",
+    "watch:protocol": "tsc -p packages/protocol/tsconfig.json --watch --preserveWatchOutput",
+    "watch:client": "tsc -p packages/client/tsconfig.json --watch --preserveWatchOutput",
     "typecheck": "npm run typecheck --workspaces --if-present",
-    "typecheck:daemon": "npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/cli",
+    "typecheck:server": "npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/client && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/cli",
     "test": "npm run test --workspaces --if-present",
     "format": "oxfmt .",
     "format:files": "oxfmt",
@@ -63,7 +73,7 @@
     "web": "npm run web --workspace=@getpaseo/app",
     "dev:desktop": "npm run dev --workspace=@getpaseo/desktop",
     "dev:win:desktop": "npm run dev:win --workspace=@getpaseo/desktop",
-    "build:desktop": "npm run build:workspace-deps --workspace=@getpaseo/app && cd packages/app && cross-env PASEO_WEB_PLATFORM=electron npx expo export --platform web && cd ../.. && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/desktop --",
+    "build:desktop": "npm run build:app-deps && npm run build:server-deps && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server && cd packages/app && cross-env PASEO_WEB_PLATFORM=electron npx expo export --platform web && cd ../.. && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/desktop --",
     "db:query": "npm run db:query --workspace=@getpaseo/server --",
     "cli": "npx tsx packages/cli/src/index.js",
     "version": "npm run version:sync-internal && npm run release:prepare && git add -A",
@@ -77,9 +87,9 @@
     "version:all:beta:major": "node scripts/set-release-version.mjs --mode beta-major",
     "version:all:beta:next": "node scripts/set-release-version.mjs --mode beta-next",
     "version:all:promote": "node scripts/set-release-version.mjs --mode promote",
-    "release:check": "npm run release:prepare && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/cli && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/cli && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/cli",
-    "release:publish:dry-run": "npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/relay --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/server --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/cli --access public",
-    "release:publish": "npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/relay --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/server --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/cli --access public",
+    "release:check": "npm run release:prepare && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol && npm run build:client && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/client && npm run build:server && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm run typecheck --workspace=@getpaseo/cli && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/relay && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/client && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/server && npm pack --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/cli",
+    "release:publish:dry-run": "npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/relay --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/client --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/server --access public && npm publish --dry-run --workspace=@getpaseo/cli --access public",
+    "release:publish": "npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/relay --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/protocol --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/client --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/server --access public && npm publish --workspace=@getpaseo/cli --access public",
     "release:push": "node scripts/push-current-release-tag.mjs",
     "release:beta:patch": "npm run release:check && npm run version:all:beta:patch && npm run release:push",
     "release:beta:minor": "npm run release:check && npm run version:all:beta:minor && npm run release:push",
@@ -111,6 +121,8 @@
   "overrides": {
     "lightningcss": "1.30.1",
     "react": "19.1.0",
-    "react-dom": "19.1.0"
+    "react-dom": "19.1.0",
+    "react-native-reanimated": "4.3.1",
+    "react-native-worklets": "0.8.3"
   }
 }

packages/app/e2e/00-sessions-empty.spec.ts

@@ -2,15 +2,12 @@
 // Sessions history is daemon-global — any agent created by a prior spec hides the empty state.
 // If the beforeAll probe below fails, a spec sorted before this file is creating agents.
 import { test } from "./fixtures";
-import {
-  connectArchiveTabDaemonClient,
-  expectSessionsEmptyState,
-  openSessions,
-} from "./helpers/archive-tab";
+import { connectSeedClient } from "./helpers/seed-client";
+import { expectSessionsEmptyState, openSessions } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
 
 test.describe("Sessions screen empty state", () => {
   test.beforeAll(async () => {
-    const client = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
+    const client = await connectSeedClient();
     try {
       const history = await client.fetchAgentHistory({ page: { limit: 1 } });
       if (history.entries.length > 0) {

packages/app/e2e/acp-provider-catalog.spec.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { test } from "./fixtures";
 import { gotoAppShell, openSettings } from "./helpers/app";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import {
   expectProviderInstalledInSettings,
   installAcpCatalogProvider,
@@ -12,19 +13,11 @@ const ACP_PROVIDER = {
   name: "Hermes",
 };
 
-function getSeededServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
 test.describe("ACP provider catalog", () => {
   test("adds a catalog provider from settings", async ({ page }) => {
     await gotoAppShell(page);
     await openSettings(page);
-    await openSettingsHost(page, getSeededServerId());
+    await openSettingsHost(page, getServerId());
     await openAddProviderModal(page);
 
     await installAcpCatalogProvider(page, ACP_PROVIDER.name);

packages/app/e2e/archive-tab.spec.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import { test } from "./fixtures";
+import { connectSeedClient } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
 import {
   archiveAgentFromDaemon,
   archiveAgentFromSessions,
   clickSessionRow,
   closeWorkspaceAgentTab,
-  connectArchiveTabDaemonClient,
   createIdleAgent,
   expectArchivedAgentFocused,
   expectSessionRowArchived,
@@ -21,14 +21,14 @@ import {
 } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
 
 test.describe("Archive tab reconciliation", () => {
-  let client: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof connectArchiveTabDaemonClient>>;
+  let client: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof connectSeedClient>>;
   let tempRepo: { path: string; cleanup: () => Promise<void> };
 
   test.describe.configure({ timeout: 300_000 });
 
   test.beforeAll(async () => {
     tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo("archive-tab-");
-    client = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
+    client = await connectSeedClient();
   });
 
   test.afterAll(async () => {

packages/app/e2e/bottom-sheet-reopen.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import { expect, test, type Page } from "./fixtures";
+import { expectComposerVisible } from "./helpers/composer";
+import { openAgentRoute, seedMockAgentWorkspace } from "./helpers/mock-agent";
+
+const MOBILE_VIEWPORT = { width: 390, height: 844 };
+
+async function openMockAgentAtMobileBreakpoint(page: Page) {
+  await page.setViewportSize(MOBILE_VIEWPORT);
+  const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+    repoPrefix: "bottom-sheet-reopen-",
+    title: "Bottom sheet reopen e2e",
+    initialPrompt: "Prepare a bottom sheet reopen test agent.",
+  });
+  await openAgentRoute(page, session);
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("workspace-tab-switcher-trigger")).toBeVisible({
+    timeout: 30_000,
+  });
+  await expectComposerVisible(page);
+  await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: /Select model/ })).toBeVisible({
+    timeout: 30_000,
+  });
+  return session;
+}
+
+async function withMobileMockAgent(page: Page, run: () => Promise<void>) {
+  const session = await openMockAgentAtMobileBreakpoint(page);
+
+  try {
+    await run();
+  } finally {
+    await session.cleanup();
+  }
+}
+
+function bottomSheetBackdrop(page: Page) {
+  return page.getByRole("button", { name: "Bottom sheet backdrop" }).first();
+}
+
+async function expectBottomSheetOpen(page: Page) {
+  await expect(bottomSheetBackdrop(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+}
+
+async function closeBottomSheetWithBackdrop(page: Page) {
+  const box = await bottomSheetBackdrop(page).boundingBox();
+  expect(box).not.toBeNull();
+  await page.mouse.click(box!.x + box!.width / 2, box!.y + 24);
+  await expect(bottomSheetBackdrop(page)).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  // Guard against the regression where the sheet starts dismissing, then re-presents.
+  await page.waitForTimeout(500);
+  await expect(bottomSheetBackdrop(page)).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 1_000 });
+}
+
+async function openTabSwitcher(page: Page) {
+  const trigger = page.getByRole("button", { name: /Switch tabs/ });
+  await trigger.click();
+  await expectBottomSheetOpen(page);
+}
+
+async function openModelSelector(page: Page) {
+  await page.getByRole("button", { name: /Select model/ }).click();
+  await expectBottomSheetOpen(page);
+  await expect(
+    page.getByLabel("Bottom Sheet", { exact: true }).getByText("Ten second stream", {
+      exact: true,
+    }),
+  ).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+}
+
+async function openAndCloseTabSwitcherTwice(page: Page) {
+  await openTabSwitcher(page);
+  await closeBottomSheetWithBackdrop(page);
+  await openTabSwitcher(page);
+  await closeBottomSheetWithBackdrop(page);
+}
+
+async function openAndCloseModelSelectorTwice(page: Page) {
+  await openModelSelector(page);
+  await closeBottomSheetWithBackdrop(page);
+  await openModelSelector(page);
+  await closeBottomSheetWithBackdrop(page);
+}
+
+test.describe("mobile bottom sheet reopen", () => {
+  test("tab switcher can open, close, reopen, and close again", async ({ page }) => {
+    await withMobileMockAgent(page, async () => {
+      await openAndCloseTabSwitcherTwice(page);
+    });
+  });
+
+  test("model selector can open, close, reopen, and close again", async ({ page }) => {
+    await withMobileMockAgent(page, async () => {
+      await openAndCloseModelSelectorTwice(page);
+    });
+  });
+});

packages/app/e2e/client-slash-commands.spec.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, test, type Page } from "./fixtures";
-import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { composerLocator, expectComposerVisible, submitMessage } from "./helpers/composer";
-import { connectTerminalClient, type TerminalPerfDaemonClient } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { openAgentRoute, seedMockAgentWorkspace } from "./helpers/mock-agent";
 import {
   expectSessionRowArchived,
   expectWorkspaceTabHidden,
@@ -11,22 +9,12 @@ import {
 } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
 
 interface SlashCommandScenario {
-  agent: { id: string };
-  client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
-  cwd: string;
+  agentId: string;
   title: string;
 }
 
 const REPLACEMENT_PROMPT = "Replacement prompt after slash clear.";
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
 async function withOpenReadyMockAgent(
   page: Page,
   input: {
@@ -36,68 +24,23 @@ async function withOpenReadyMockAgent(
   },
   run: (scenario: SlashCommandScenario) => Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
-  const repo = await createTempGitRepo("client-slash-command-");
-  const client = await connectTerminalClient();
-
-  try {
-    await openProject(client, repo.path);
-    const agent = await createReadyMockAgent(client, {
-      cwd: repo.path,
-      title: input.title,
-      model: input.model,
-      modeId: input.modeId,
-    });
-    await openActiveAgentTab(page, { cwd: repo.path, agentId: agent.id });
-
-    await run({ agent, client, cwd: repo.path, title: input.title });
-  } finally {
-    await client.close();
-    await repo.cleanup();
-  }
-}
-
-async function openProject(client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient, cwd: string): Promise<void> {
-  const opened = await client.openProject(cwd);
-  if (!opened.workspace) {
-    throw new Error(opened.error ?? `Failed to open project ${cwd}`);
-  }
-}
-
-async function createReadyMockAgent(
-  client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient,
-  input: {
-    cwd: string;
-    title: string;
-    model?: string;
-    modeId?: string;
-  },
-): Promise<{ id: string }> {
-  const agent = await client.createAgent({
-    provider: "mock",
-    cwd: input.cwd,
+  const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+    repoPrefix: "client-slash-command-",
     title: input.title,
-    modeId: input.modeId ?? "load-test",
-    model: input.model ?? "ten-second-stream",
+    model: input.model,
+    modeId: input.modeId,
     initialPrompt: "Prepare a client slash command test agent.",
   });
-  return { id: agent.id };
-}
 
-async function openActiveAgentTab(
-  page: Page,
-  input: { cwd: string; agentId: string },
-): Promise<void> {
-  const agentUrl = `${buildHostWorkspaceRoute(
-    getServerId(),
-    input.cwd,
-  )}?open=${encodeURIComponent(`agent:${input.agentId}`)}`;
-  await page.goto(agentUrl);
-  await page.waitForURL(
-    (url) => url.pathname.includes("/workspace/") && !url.searchParams.has("open"),
-    { timeout: 60_000 },
-  );
-  await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, input.agentId);
-  await expectComposerVisible(page);
+  try {
+    await openAgentRoute(page, session);
+    await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, session.agentId);
+    await expectComposerVisible(page);
+
+    await run({ agentId: session.agentId, title: input.title });
+  } finally {
+    await session.cleanup();
+  }
 }
 
 async function runClientSlashCommand(page: Page, command: "/quit" | "/clear"): Promise<void> {
@@ -169,9 +112,9 @@ async function waitForReplacementAgentId(page: Page, oldAgentId: string): Promis
 
 test.describe("Client slash commands", () => {
   test("slash quit archives the active agent and removes its tab", async ({ page }) => {
-    await withOpenReadyMockAgent(page, { title: "Slash quit e2e" }, async ({ agent, title }) => {
+    await withOpenReadyMockAgent(page, { title: "Slash quit e2e" }, async ({ agentId, title }) => {
       await runClientSlashCommand(page, "/quit");
-      await expectWorkspaceTabHidden(page, agent.id);
+      await expectWorkspaceTabHidden(page, agentId);
       await expectAgentArchivedInSessions(page, title);
     });
   });
@@ -180,9 +123,9 @@ test.describe("Client slash commands", () => {
     await withOpenReadyMockAgent(
       page,
       { title: "Slash quit autocomplete e2e" },
-      async ({ agent, title }) => {
+      async ({ agentId, title }) => {
         await selectClientSlashCommand(page, "/qu", "/exit");
-        await expectWorkspaceTabHidden(page, agent.id);
+        await expectWorkspaceTabHidden(page, agentId);
         await expectAgentArchivedInSessions(page, title);
       },
     );
@@ -192,12 +135,12 @@ test.describe("Client slash commands", () => {
     await withOpenReadyMockAgent(
       page,
       { title: "Slash clear e2e", model: "ten-second-stream", modeId: "load-test" },
-      async ({ agent, title }) => {
+      async ({ agentId, title }) => {
         await runClientSlashCommand(page, "/clear");
-        await expectWorkspaceTabHidden(page, agent.id);
+        await expectWorkspaceTabHidden(page, agentId);
         await expectReplacementDraftMatchesPreviousSetup(page);
         await createAgentFromReplacementDraft(page);
-        await waitForReplacementAgentId(page, agent.id);
+        await waitForReplacementAgentId(page, agentId);
         await expectAgentArchivedInSessions(page, title);
       },
     );

packages/app/e2e/codex-plan-approval.spec.ts

@@ -1,16 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, test } from "./fixtures";
-import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { allowPermission, waitForPermissionPrompt } from "./helpers/permissions";
-import { connectTerminalClient } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
-
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
+import { openAgentRoute, seedMockAgentWorkspace } from "./helpers/mock-agent";
 
 test.describe("Codex plan approval", () => {
   test("shows a single actionable plan panel and removes it after implementation starts", async ({
@@ -18,29 +8,14 @@ test.describe("Codex plan approval", () => {
   }) => {
     test.setTimeout(180_000);
 
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("codex-plan-approval-");
-    const client = await connectTerminalClient();
+    const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "codex-plan-approval-",
+      title: "Codex plan approval e2e",
+      initialPrompt: "Emit synthetic plan approval.",
+    });
 
     try {
-      const workspaceResult = await client.openProject(repo.path);
-      if (!workspaceResult.workspace) {
-        throw new Error(workspaceResult.error ?? `Failed to open project ${repo.path}`);
-      }
-
-      const agent = await client.createAgent({
-        provider: "mock",
-        cwd: repo.path,
-        title: "Codex plan approval e2e",
-        modeId: "load-test",
-        model: "ten-second-stream",
-        initialPrompt: "Emit synthetic plan approval.",
-      });
-
-      const agentUrl = `${buildHostWorkspaceRoute(
-        getServerId(),
-        repo.path,
-      )}?open=${encodeURIComponent(`agent:${agent.id}`)}`;
-      await page.goto(agentUrl);
+      await openAgentRoute(page, session);
 
       await waitForPermissionPrompt(page, 120_000);
 
@@ -54,8 +29,7 @@ test.describe("Codex plan approval", () => {
       });
       await expect(page.getByTestId("timeline-plan-card")).toHaveCount(0);
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await session.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/composer-attachments.spec.ts

@@ -23,16 +23,12 @@ import {
   expectGithubAttachmentPill,
   openGithubWorkspace,
 } from "./helpers/composer";
-import {
-  connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient,
-  delayBrowserAgentCreatedStatus,
-  openNewWorkspaceComposer,
-  openProjectViaDaemon,
-} from "./helpers/new-workspace";
+import { delayBrowserAgentCreatedStatus, openNewWorkspaceComposer } from "./helpers/new-workspace";
 import { gotoAppShell } from "./helpers/app";
 import { waitForSidebarHydration, switchWorkspaceViaSidebar } from "./helpers/workspace-ui";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 import { hasGithubAuth, createTempGithubRepo } from "./helpers/github-fixtures";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 
 const MINIMAL_PNG = Buffer.from(
   "iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAADUlEQVR42mNk+M9QDwADhgGAWjR9awAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==",
@@ -237,27 +233,23 @@ test.describe("Composer attachments", () => {
 
   test("composer is locked while new workspace agent is being created", async ({ page }) => {
     test.setTimeout(120_000);
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("attach-lock-");
     const agentCreatedDelay = await delayBrowserAgentCreatedStatus(page);
-    const daemonClient = await connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient();
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "attach-lock-" });
 
     try {
-      const openedProject = await openProjectViaDaemon(daemonClient, repo.path);
-
       await gotoAppShell(page);
       await waitForSidebarHydration(page);
       await switchWorkspaceViaSidebar({
         page,
         serverId,
-        targetWorkspacePath: openedProject.workspaceId,
+        targetWorkspacePath: workspace.workspaceId,
       });
 
       await openNewWorkspaceComposer(page, {
-        projectKey: openedProject.projectKey,
-        projectDisplayName: openedProject.projectDisplayName,
+        projectKey: workspace.projectId,
+        projectDisplayName: workspace.projectDisplayName,
       });
       await fillComposerDraft(page, "lock test prompt");
       const createButton = page
@@ -277,8 +269,7 @@ test.describe("Composer attachments", () => {
       await expectComposerEditable(page);
     } finally {
       agentCreatedDelay.release();
-      await daemonClient.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/composer-autocomplete.spec.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { expect, test, type Page } from "./fixtures";
 import { composerLocator, expectComposerVisible } from "./helpers/composer";
-import { connectTerminalClient, type TerminalPerfDaemonClient } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { openAgentRoute, seedMockAgentWorkspace } from "./helpers/mock-agent";
 import { expectWorkspaceTabVisible } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
+import { daemonWsRoutePattern } from "./helpers/daemon-port";
 
 const TEST_COMMANDS = [
   {
@@ -99,28 +98,8 @@ async function getTopTestIdAtPoint(page: Page, x: number, y: number) {
   );
 }
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
-function getDaemonPort(): string {
-  const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!daemonPort || daemonPort === "6767") {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT must point at the isolated e2e daemon.");
-  }
-  return daemonPort;
-}
-
-function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
-  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-}
-
 async function installListCommandsStub(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  await page.routeWebSocket(new RegExp(`:${escapeRegex(getDaemonPort())}\\b`), (ws) => {
+  await page.routeWebSocket(daemonWsRoutePattern(), (ws) => {
     const server = ws.connectToServer();
 
     ws.onMessage((message) => {
@@ -163,58 +142,26 @@ async function installListCommandsStub(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   });
 }
 
-async function openProject(client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient, cwd: string): Promise<void> {
-  const opened = await client.openProject(cwd);
-  if (!opened.workspace) {
-    throw new Error(opened.error ?? `Failed to open project ${cwd}`);
-  }
-}
-
-async function cleanupWithin(timeoutMs: number, cleanup: () => Promise<void>): Promise<void> {
-  const operation = cleanup().catch(() => undefined);
-  await Promise.race([operation, new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, timeoutMs))]);
-}
-
 async function openReadyMockAgent(
   page: Page,
   options?: { expectWorkspaceTab?: boolean },
 ): Promise<{
   cleanup: () => Promise<void>;
 }> {
-  const repo = await createTempGitRepo("autocomplete-popover-");
-  const client = await connectTerminalClient();
+  const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+    repoPrefix: "autocomplete-popover-",
+    title: "Autocomplete popover regression",
+  });
 
   try {
-    await openProject(client, repo.path);
-    const agent = await client.createAgent({
-      provider: "mock",
-      cwd: repo.path,
-      title: "Autocomplete popover regression",
-      modeId: "load-test",
-      model: "ten-second-stream",
-    });
-    const route = `${buildHostWorkspaceRoute(
-      getServerId(),
-      repo.path,
-    )}?open=${encodeURIComponent(`agent:${agent.id}`)}`;
-    await page.goto(route);
-    await page.waitForURL(
-      (url) => url.pathname.includes("/workspace/") && !url.searchParams.has("open"),
-      { timeout: 60_000 },
-    );
+    await openAgentRoute(page, session);
     if (options?.expectWorkspaceTab !== false) {
-      await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, agent.id);
+      await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, session.agentId);
     }
     await expectComposerVisible(page);
-    return {
-      cleanup: async () => {
-        await cleanupWithin(2_000, () => client.close());
-        await cleanupWithin(2_000, () => repo.cleanup());
-      },
-    };
+    return { cleanup: session.cleanup };
   } catch (error) {
-    await cleanupWithin(2_000, () => client.close());
-    await cleanupWithin(2_000, () => repo.cleanup());
+    await session.cleanup();
     throw error;
   }
 }

packages/app/e2e/desktop-updates.spec.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { test } from "./fixtures";
 import { gotoAppShell } from "./helpers/app";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import {
   loadRealDaemonState,
   injectDesktopBridge,
@@ -17,20 +18,12 @@ import {
   expectDaemonStatusVersion,
 } from "./helpers/desktop-updates";
 
-function getSeededServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
 // No Playwright Electron runner exists; we simulate the desktop bridge via
 // addInitScript so Electron-gated UI activates without a real Electron process.
 test.describe("Desktop updates", () => {
   test("update banner appears in the sidebar when an app update is available", async ({ page }) => {
     await injectDesktopBridge(page, {
-      serverId: getSeededServerId(),
+      serverId: getServerId(),
       updateAvailable: true,
       latestVersion: "1.2.3",
     });
@@ -41,7 +34,7 @@ test.describe("Desktop updates", () => {
 
   test("clicking install shows the installing state on the callout", async ({ page }) => {
     await injectDesktopBridge(page, {
-      serverId: getSeededServerId(),
+      serverId: getServerId(),
       updateAvailable: true,
       latestVersion: "1.2.3",
       slowInstall: true,
@@ -58,7 +51,7 @@ test.describe("Desktop daemon management", () => {
   test("disabling built-in daemon management shows confirm dialog with correct copy", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
     await injectDesktopBridge(page, {
       serverId,
       manageBuiltInDaemon: true,
@@ -74,7 +67,7 @@ test.describe("Desktop daemon management", () => {
   });
 
   test("cancelling the confirm dialog leaves the daemon management toggle on", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
     await injectDesktopBridge(page, {
       serverId,
       manageBuiltInDaemon: true,
@@ -89,7 +82,7 @@ test.describe("Desktop daemon management", () => {
   });
 
   test("confirming the dialog disables built-in daemon management", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
     await injectDesktopBridge(page, {
       serverId,
       manageBuiltInDaemon: true,
@@ -106,7 +99,7 @@ test.describe("Desktop daemon management", () => {
   test("daemon status panel renders version, PID, and log path from the real daemon", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
     const realState = await loadRealDaemonState();
     await injectDesktopBridge(page, {
       serverId,
@@ -124,7 +117,7 @@ test.describe("Desktop daemon management", () => {
   });
 
   test("stopping and restarting the daemon updates the PID", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
     const realState = await loadRealDaemonState();
     await injectDesktopBridge(page, {
       serverId,

packages/app/e2e/file-explorer-collapse.spec.ts

@@ -9,41 +9,31 @@ import {
   openFileFromExplorer,
 } from "./helpers/file-explorer";
 import { gotoWorkspace } from "./helpers/launcher";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
-import {
-  connectWorkspaceSetupClient,
-  type WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient,
-} from "./helpers/workspace-setup";
+import { seedWorkspace, type SeededWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 
-let tempRepo: { path: string; cleanup: () => Promise<void> };
-let workspaceId: string;
-let seedClient: WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient;
+let workspace: SeededWorkspace;
 
 test.beforeAll(async () => {
-  tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo("file-explorer-collapse-", {
-    files: [
-      { path: "assets/logo.png", content: "image bytes for explorer e2e\n" },
-      { path: "docs/guide.md", content: "# Guide\n" },
-    ],
+  workspace = await seedWorkspace({
+    repoPrefix: "file-explorer-collapse-",
+    repo: {
+      files: [
+        { path: "assets/logo.png", content: "image bytes for explorer e2e\n" },
+        { path: "docs/guide.md", content: "# Guide\n" },
+      ],
+    },
   });
-  seedClient = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-  const result = await seedClient.openProject(tempRepo.path);
-  if (!result.workspace) {
-    throw new Error(result.error ?? "Failed to seed workspace");
-  }
-  workspaceId = result.workspace.id;
 });
 
 test.afterAll(async () => {
-  await seedClient?.close();
-  await tempRepo?.cleanup();
+  await workspace?.cleanup();
 });
 
 test.describe("File explorer collapse", () => {
   test("collapses an opened image file parent folder and still expands other folders", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
     await openFileExplorer(page);
 
     await expandFolder(page, "assets");

packages/app/e2e/fixtures.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { test as base, expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
+import { getE2EDaemonPort } from "./helpers/daemon-port";
 import { buildCreateAgentPreferences, buildSeededHost } from "./helpers/daemon-registry";
 import { createWithWorkspace, type WithWorkspace } from "./helpers/with-workspace";
 
@@ -17,20 +18,8 @@ const test = base.extend<{ paseoE2ESetup: void; withWorkspace: WithWorkspace }>(
   },
   paseoE2ESetup: [
     async ({ page }, provide, testInfo) => {
-      const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
+      const daemonPort = getE2EDaemonPort();
       const metroPort = process.env.E2E_METRO_PORT;
-      if (!daemonPort) {
-        throw new Error(
-          "E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set. Refusing to run e2e against the default daemon (e.g. localhost:6767). " +
-            "Ensure Playwright `globalSetup` starts the e2e daemon and exports E2E_DAEMON_PORT.",
-        );
-      }
-      if (daemonPort === "6767") {
-        throw new Error(
-          "E2E_DAEMON_PORT is 6767. Refusing to run e2e against the default local daemon. " +
-            "Fix Playwright globalSetup to start an isolated test daemon and export its port.",
-        );
-      }
       if (!metroPort) {
         throw new Error(
           "E2E_METRO_PORT is not set. Ensure Playwright `globalSetup` starts Metro and exports E2E_METRO_PORT.",

packages/app/e2e/global-setup.ts

@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ function ensureRelayBuildArtifact(repoRoot: string): void {
   }
 
   console.log("[e2e] Building @getpaseo/relay for daemon startup");
-  execSync("npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/relay", {
+  execSync("npm run build:relay", {
     cwd: repoRoot,
     stdio: "inherit",
   });

packages/app/e2e/helpers/agent-bottom-anchor.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,4 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-import path from "node:path";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
-import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
-import { createNodeWebSocketFactory, type NodeWebSocketFactory } from "./node-ws-factory";
-import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "../../src/utils/host-routes";
 
 const NEAR_BOTTOM_THRESHOLD_PX = 72;
 
@@ -14,157 +9,6 @@ export interface ScrollMetrics {
   distanceFromBottom: number;
 }
 
-export interface SeededAgent {
-  id: string;
-  title: string;
-  expectedTailText: string;
-  url: string;
-  workspaceUrl: string;
-}
-
-export interface DaemonClientInstance {
-  connect(): Promise<void>;
-  close(): Promise<void>;
-  createAgent(options: {
-    provider: string;
-    model: string;
-    thinkingOptionId: string;
-    modeId: string;
-    cwd: string;
-    title: string;
-    initialPrompt: string;
-  }): Promise<{ id: string }>;
-  sendAgentMessage(agentId: string, text: string): Promise<void>;
-  waitForFinish(agentId: string, timeout?: number): Promise<{ status: string }>;
-}
-
-function getDaemonWsUrl(): string {
-  const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!daemonPort) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-  }
-  return `ws://127.0.0.1:${daemonPort}/ws`;
-}
-
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
-function buildReplyBlock(label: string, lineCount = 14): string {
-  return Array.from({ length: lineCount }, (_, index) => {
-    const line = (index + 1).toString().padStart(2, "0");
-    return `${label} line ${line} anchor verification text keeps wrapping stable across resize and composer growth.`;
-  }).join("\n");
-}
-
-function buildProtocolMessage(label: string, lineCount = 14): string {
-  return [
-    "For every message in this chat, reply with exactly the text after the final line `REPLY:`.",
-    "Do not add extra words, bullets, markdown fences, or tool calls.",
-    "REPLY:",
-    buildReplyBlock(label, lineCount),
-  ].join("\n");
-}
-
-function buildReplyMessage(label: string, lineCount = 14): string {
-  return ["REPLY:", buildReplyBlock(label, lineCount)].join("\n");
-}
-
-export function createReplyTurn(label: string): {
-  message: string;
-  expectedReply: string;
-} {
-  return {
-    message: buildReplyMessage(label),
-    expectedReply: buildReplyBlock(label),
-  };
-}
-
-interface DaemonClientConfig {
-  url: string;
-  clientId: string;
-  clientType: "cli";
-  webSocketFactory?: NodeWebSocketFactory;
-}
-
-async function loadDaemonClientConstructor(): Promise<
-  new (config: DaemonClientConfig) => DaemonClientInstance
-> {
-  const repoRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "../../../../");
-  const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(
-    path.join(repoRoot, "packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js"),
-  ).href;
-  const mod = (await import(moduleUrl)) as {
-    DaemonClient: new (config: DaemonClientConfig) => DaemonClientInstance;
-  };
-  return mod.DaemonClient;
-}
-
-export async function connectDaemonClient(): Promise<DaemonClientInstance> {
-  const DaemonClient = await loadDaemonClientConstructor();
-  const webSocketFactory = createNodeWebSocketFactory();
-  const client = new DaemonClient({
-    url: getDaemonWsUrl(),
-    clientId: `app-e2e-${randomUUID()}`,
-    clientType: "cli",
-    webSocketFactory,
-  });
-  await client.connect();
-  return client;
-}
-
-export async function seedBottomAnchorAgent(input: {
-  client: DaemonClientInstance;
-  cwd: string;
-  title?: string;
-  turnCount?: number;
-  lineCount?: number;
-}): Promise<SeededAgent> {
-  const title = input.title ?? `bottom-anchor-${Date.now()}`;
-  const turnCount = Math.max(3, input.turnCount ?? 5);
-  const lineCount = Math.max(14, input.lineCount ?? 14);
-  const created = await input.client.createAgent({
-    provider: "codex",
-    model: "gpt-5.4-mini",
-    thinkingOptionId: "low",
-    modeId: "full-access",
-    cwd: input.cwd,
-    title,
-    initialPrompt: buildProtocolMessage(`${title}-turn-00`, lineCount),
-  });
-  const initialFinish = await input.client.waitForFinish(created.id, 120000);
-  if (initialFinish.status !== "idle") {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Expected seeded agent ${created.id} to become idle after initial prompt, got ${initialFinish.status}.`,
-    );
-  }
-
-  let expectedTailText = buildReplyBlock(`${title}-turn-00`, lineCount);
-  for (let index = 1; index < turnCount; index += 1) {
-    const label = `${title}-turn-${index.toString().padStart(2, "0")}`;
-    expectedTailText = buildReplyBlock(label, lineCount);
-    await input.client.sendAgentMessage(created.id, buildReplyMessage(label, lineCount));
-    const finish = await input.client.waitForFinish(created.id, 120000);
-    if (finish.status !== "idle") {
-      throw new Error(
-        `Expected seeded agent ${created.id} to become idle after turn ${index}, got ${finish.status}.`,
-      );
-    }
-  }
-
-  return {
-    id: created.id,
-    title,
-    expectedTailText,
-    url: `${buildHostWorkspaceRoute(getServerId(), input.cwd)}?open=${encodeURIComponent(`agent:${created.id}`)}`,
-    workspaceUrl: buildHostWorkspaceRoute(getServerId(), input.cwd),
-  };
-}
-
 function getVisibleChatScroll(page: Page) {
   return page.locator('[data-testid="agent-chat-scroll"]:visible').first();
 }
@@ -201,48 +45,6 @@ export async function readScrollMetrics(page: Page): Promise<ScrollMetrics> {
   });
 }
 
-export async function scrollUpFromBottom(page: Page, pixels: number): Promise<void> {
-  const scrollViewport = getVisibleChatScroll(page);
-  await expect(scrollViewport).toHaveCount(1, { timeout: 30000 });
-  let remaining = Math.max(0, pixels);
-  while (remaining > 0) {
-    const delta = Math.min(240, remaining);
-    await scrollViewport.evaluate((element: Element, step: number) => {
-      const scrollContainer = element as HTMLElement;
-      scrollContainer.dispatchEvent(
-        new WheelEvent("wheel", {
-          deltaY: -step,
-          bubbles: true,
-          cancelable: true,
-        }),
-      );
-      scrollContainer.scrollTop = Math.max(0, scrollContainer.scrollTop - step);
-      scrollContainer.dispatchEvent(new Event("scroll", { bubbles: true }));
-    }, delta);
-    remaining -= delta;
-
-    if ((await readScrollMetrics(page)).distanceFromBottom > NEAR_BOTTOM_THRESHOLD_PX) {
-      return;
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-export async function waitForAgentReady(page: Page, expectedTailText?: string): Promise<void> {
-  await expect(getVisibleChatScroll(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 60000 });
-  await expect(page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Message agent..." }).first()).toBeVisible({
-    timeout: 60000,
-  });
-  await expect(page.getByTestId("agent-loading")).toHaveCount(0, { timeout: 60000 });
-  if (expectedTailText) {
-    await expect
-      .poll(async () => {
-        const metrics = await readScrollMetrics(page);
-        return metrics.contentHeight;
-      })
-      .toBeGreaterThan(0);
-  }
-}
-
 export async function expectNearBottom(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await expect
     .poll(async () => {
@@ -252,15 +54,6 @@ export async function expectNearBottom(page: Page): Promise<void> {
     .toBeLessThanOrEqual(NEAR_BOTTOM_THRESHOLD_PX);
 }
 
-export async function expectDetachedFromBottom(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  await expect
-    .poll(async () => {
-      const metrics = await readScrollMetrics(page);
-      return metrics.distanceFromBottom;
-    })
-    .toBeGreaterThan(NEAR_BOTTOM_THRESHOLD_PX);
-}
-
 export async function waitForContentGrowth(
   page: Page,
   previousContentHeight: number,
@@ -273,11 +66,3 @@ export async function waitForContentGrowth(
     .toBeGreaterThan(previousContentHeight);
   return readScrollMetrics(page);
 }
-
-export async function getChatContainerKey(page: Page): Promise<string | null> {
-  return getVisibleChatScroll(page).evaluate((element) => {
-    const nativeId = (element as HTMLElement).id;
-    const prefix = "agent-chat-scroll-";
-    return nativeId.startsWith(prefix) ? nativeId.slice(prefix.length) : null;
-  });
-}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/app.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-
-function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
-  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-}
+import { escapeRegex } from "./regex";
 
 export const gotoAppShell = async (page: Page) => {
   await page.goto("/");

packages/app/e2e/helpers/archive-tab.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
-import path from "node:path";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { buildCreateAgentPreferences, buildSeededHost } from "./daemon-registry";
-import { createNodeWebSocketFactory, type NodeWebSocketFactory } from "./node-ws-factory";
+import { getE2EDaemonPort } from "./daemon-port";
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 import { waitForWorkspaceTabsVisible } from "./workspace-tabs";
 import {
   buildHostAgentDetailRoute,
@@ -17,100 +16,40 @@ export interface ArchiveTabAgent {
   cwd: string;
 }
 
-interface ArchiveTabDaemonClient {
-  connect(): Promise<void>;
-  close(): Promise<void>;
-  createAgent(options: {
-    provider: string;
-    model: string;
-    thinkingOptionId?: string;
-    modeId: string;
-    cwd: string;
-    title: string;
-    initialPrompt?: string;
-  }): Promise<{ id: string }>;
-  archiveAgent(agentId: string): Promise<{ archivedAt: string }>;
-  waitForFinish(agentId: string, timeout?: number): Promise<{ status: string }>;
-  waitForAgentUpsert(
-    agentId: string,
-    predicate: (snapshot: { status: string }) => boolean,
-    timeout?: number,
-  ): Promise<{ status: string }>;
-  fetchAgentHistory(options?: {
-    page?: { limit: number };
-  }): Promise<{ entries: Array<{ id: string }> }>;
-}
-
-function getDaemonPort(): string {
-  const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!daemonPort) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-  }
-  if (daemonPort === "6767") {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT must not point at the developer daemon.");
-  }
-  return daemonPort;
-}
-
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
-function getDaemonWsUrl(): string {
-  return `ws://127.0.0.1:${getDaemonPort()}/ws`;
-}
-
 function buildSeededStoragePayload() {
   const nowIso = new Date().toISOString();
   return {
     daemon: buildSeededHost({
       serverId: getServerId(),
-      endpoint: `127.0.0.1:${getDaemonPort()}`,
+      endpoint: `127.0.0.1:${getE2EDaemonPort()}`,
       nowIso,
     }),
     preferences: buildCreateAgentPreferences(getServerId()),
   };
 }
 
-interface ArchiveTabDaemonClientConfig {
-  url: string;
-  clientId: string;
-  clientType: "cli";
-  webSocketFactory?: NodeWebSocketFactory;
-}
-
-async function loadDaemonClientConstructor(): Promise<
-  new (config: ArchiveTabDaemonClientConfig) => ArchiveTabDaemonClient
-> {
-  const repoRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "../../../../");
-  const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(
-    path.join(repoRoot, "packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js"),
-  ).href;
-  const mod = (await import(moduleUrl)) as {
-    DaemonClient: new (config: ArchiveTabDaemonClientConfig) => ArchiveTabDaemonClient;
-  };
-  return mod.DaemonClient;
-}
-
-export async function connectArchiveTabDaemonClient(): Promise<ArchiveTabDaemonClient> {
-  const DaemonClient = await loadDaemonClientConstructor();
-  const webSocketFactory = createNodeWebSocketFactory();
-  const client = new DaemonClient({
-    url: getDaemonWsUrl(),
-    clientId: `app-e2e-archive-tab-${randomUUID()}`,
-    clientType: "cli",
-    webSocketFactory,
-  });
-  await client.connect();
-  return client;
+/**
+ * The slice of a daemon client `createIdleAgent` needs: spawn an agent and await
+ * its idle upsert. The shared seed client satisfies it, so a spec can seed an
+ * idle agent from the same client it uses for everything else.
+ */
+export interface IdleAgentSeedClient {
+  createAgent(options: {
+    provider: string;
+    model: string;
+    modeId: string;
+    cwd: string;
+    title: string;
+  }): Promise<{ id: string }>;
+  waitForAgentUpsert(
+    agentId: string,
+    predicate: (snapshot: { status: string }) => boolean,
+    timeout?: number,
+  ): Promise<{ status: string }>;
 }
 
 export async function createIdleAgent(
-  client: ArchiveTabDaemonClient,
+  client: IdleAgentSeedClient,
   input: { cwd: string; title: string },
 ): Promise<ArchiveTabAgent> {
   const created = await client.createAgent({
@@ -136,7 +75,7 @@ export async function createIdleAgent(
 }
 
 export async function archiveAgentFromDaemon(
-  client: ArchiveTabDaemonClient,
+  client: { archiveAgent(agentId: string): Promise<{ archivedAt: string }> },
   agentId: string,
 ): Promise<void> {
   await client.archiveAgent(agentId);

packages/app/e2e/helpers/composer.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { createTempGitRepo } from "./workspace";
-import { connectTerminalClient, type TerminalPerfDaemonClient } from "./terminal-perf";
+import { connectSeedClient, type SeedDaemonClient } from "./seed-client";
 import { connectWorkspaceSetupClient, openHomeWithProject } from "./workspace-setup";
 import { selectWorkspaceInSidebar } from "./sidebar";
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 import { waitForTabBar } from "./launcher";
 
 function composerInput(page: Page) {
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ export async function selectGithubOption(
 }
 
 export interface MockAgentSetup {
-  client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
+  client: SeedDaemonClient;
   repo: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof createTempGitRepo>>;
 }
 
@@ -154,11 +155,10 @@ export async function startRunningMockAgent(
   page: Page,
   opts: { prefix: string; model: string; prompt: string },
 ): Promise<MockAgentSetup> {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
+  const serverId = getServerId();
 
   const repo = await createTempGitRepo(opts.prefix);
-  const client = await connectTerminalClient();
+  const client = await connectSeedClient();
   const opened = await client.openProject(repo.path);
   if (!opened.workspace) throw new Error(opened.error ?? "Failed to open project");
   const agent = await client.createAgent({

packages/app/e2e/helpers/daemon-client-loader.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { getE2EDaemonPort } from "./daemon-port";
+import { createNodeWebSocketFactory, type NodeWebSocketFactory } from "./node-ws-factory";
+
+export async function loadDaemonClientConstructor<ClientConfig, ClientInstance>(): Promise<
+  new (config: ClientConfig) => ClientInstance
+> {
+  const repoRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "../../../../");
+  const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(
+    path.join(repoRoot, "packages/client/dist/daemon-client.js"),
+  ).href;
+  const mod = (await import(moduleUrl)) as {
+    DaemonClient: new (config: ClientConfig) => ClientInstance;
+  };
+  return mod.DaemonClient;
+}
+
+interface E2EDaemonClientConfig {
+  url: string;
+  clientId: string;
+  clientType: "cli";
+  appVersion?: string;
+  webSocketFactory?: NodeWebSocketFactory;
+}
+
+function resolveDaemonWsUrl(): string {
+  return `ws://127.0.0.1:${getE2EDaemonPort()}/ws`;
+}
+
+export interface ConnectDaemonClientOptions {
+  clientIdPrefix: string;
+  appVersion?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Connects an in-test daemon client over the isolated E2E daemon's WebSocket.
+ * The port-6767 guard keeps tests off the developer daemon. Each helper passes
+ * its own typed client interface as the generic.
+ */
+export async function connectDaemonClient<ClientInstance extends { connect(): Promise<void> }>(
+  options: ConnectDaemonClientOptions,
+): Promise<ClientInstance> {
+  const DaemonClient = await loadDaemonClientConstructor<E2EDaemonClientConfig, ClientInstance>();
+  const client = new DaemonClient({
+    url: resolveDaemonWsUrl(),
+    clientId: `${options.clientIdPrefix}-${randomUUID()}`,
+    clientType: "cli",
+    appVersion: options.appVersion,
+    webSocketFactory: createNodeWebSocketFactory(),
+  });
+  await client.connect();
+  return client;
+}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/daemon-port.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import { escapeRegex } from "./regex";
+
+/**
+ * Resolves the isolated E2E daemon's port, which Playwright's globalSetup
+ * publishes into the environment before any spec runs. Helpers and specs that
+ * build daemon WebSocket URLs, route patterns, or host endpoints share this
+ * accessor instead of re-reading the env var.
+ *
+ * The port-6767 guard is a hard guardrail: 6767 is the developer's default
+ * daemon, which manages real agents. The e2e port is never legitimately 6767,
+ * so refusing it here keeps every test off the developer daemon.
+ */
+export function getE2EDaemonPort(): string {
+  const port = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
+  if (!port) {
+    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
+  }
+  if (port === "6767") {
+    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT must not point at the developer daemon (6767).");
+  }
+  return port;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Playwright `routeWebSocket` matcher for a WebSocket on `port`. Matches the
+ * `:<port>` segment at a word boundary, so it catches the URL regardless of
+ * host or path. Use this when intercepting connections to an arbitrary port
+ * (e.g. blocking an unreachable test host); for the E2E daemon itself, prefer
+ * `daemonWsRoutePattern()`.
+ */
+export function wsRoutePatternForPort(port: string): RegExp {
+  return new RegExp(`:${escapeRegex(port)}\\b`);
+}
+
+/** `routeWebSocket` matcher for the isolated E2E daemon's WebSocket. */
+export function daemonWsRoutePattern(): RegExp {
+  return wsRoutePatternForPort(getE2EDaemonPort());
+}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/desktop-updates.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { openSettings } from "./app";
+import { getE2EDaemonPort } from "./daemon-port";
 import { openSettingsHost } from "./settings";
 
 interface DaemonApiStatus {
@@ -26,9 +27,8 @@ export interface RealDaemonState {
  * E2E_PASEO_HOME directory. Call this in Node test code (not in the browser).
  */
 export async function loadRealDaemonState(): Promise<RealDaemonState> {
-  const port = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
+  const port = getE2EDaemonPort();
   const paseoHome = process.env.E2E_PASEO_HOME;
-  if (!port) throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT not set — globalSetup must run first");
   if (!paseoHome) throw new Error("E2E_PASEO_HOME not set — globalSetup must run first");
 
   const resp = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/api/status`);

packages/app/e2e/helpers/launcher.ts

@@ -1,17 +1,10 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "../../src/utils/host-routes";
 import { createTempGitRepo } from "./workspace";
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 
 // ─── Navigation ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
 /** Navigate to a workspace and wait for the tab bar to appear. */
 export async function gotoWorkspace(page: Page, cwd: string): Promise<void> {
   const route = buildHostWorkspaceRoute(getServerId(), cwd);

packages/app/e2e/helpers/mock-agent.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import type { Page } from "@playwright/test";
+import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "../../src/utils/host-routes";
+import { seedWorkspace, type SeedDaemonClient } from "./seed-client";
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
+
+export interface MockAgentWorkspace {
+  agentId: string;
+  cwd: string;
+  client: SeedDaemonClient;
+  cleanup(): Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export interface MockAgentOptions {
+  repoPrefix: string;
+  title: string;
+  initialPrompt?: string;
+  model?: string;
+  modeId?: string;
+  featureValues?: Record<string, unknown>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Seeds a temp git repo, opens it as a project, and creates a ready mock-provider
+ * agent in it via the daemon. Returns the agent id plus a cleanup that closes the
+ * client and removes the repo. Pair with {@link openAgentRoute} to drive the UI.
+ */
+export async function seedMockAgentWorkspace(
+  options: MockAgentOptions,
+): Promise<MockAgentWorkspace> {
+  const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: options.repoPrefix });
+  try {
+    const agent = await workspace.client.createAgent({
+      provider: "mock",
+      cwd: workspace.repoPath,
+      title: options.title,
+      modeId: options.modeId ?? "load-test",
+      model: options.model ?? "ten-second-stream",
+      initialPrompt: options.initialPrompt,
+      featureValues: options.featureValues,
+    });
+    return {
+      agentId: agent.id,
+      cwd: workspace.repoPath,
+      client: workspace.client,
+      cleanup: workspace.cleanup,
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    await workspace.cleanup();
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+export function buildAgentRoute(cwd: string, agentId: string): string {
+  return `${buildHostWorkspaceRoute(getServerId(), cwd)}?open=${encodeURIComponent(
+    `agent:${agentId}`,
+  )}`;
+}
+
+/** Boots the app directly at the agent's workspace route and waits for the open intent to settle. */
+export async function openAgentRoute(
+  page: Page,
+  input: { cwd: string; agentId: string },
+): Promise<void> {
+  await page.goto(buildAgentRoute(input.cwd, input.agentId));
+  await page.waitForURL(
+    (url) => url.pathname.includes("/workspace/") && !url.searchParams.has("open"),
+    { timeout: 60_000 },
+  );
+}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/new-workspace.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
-import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
-import path from "node:path";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-import type { DaemonClient as ServerDaemonClient } from "@server/client/daemon-client";
+import type { DaemonClient as InternalDaemonClient } from "@getpaseo/client/internal/daemon-client";
 import { decodeWorkspaceIdFromPathSegment } from "@/utils/host-routes";
+import { connectDaemonClient } from "./daemon-client-loader";
+import { daemonWsRoutePattern } from "./daemon-port";
 import { expectWorkspaceHeader, workspaceLabelFromPath } from "./workspace-ui";
-import { createNodeWebSocketFactory, type NodeWebSocketFactory } from "./node-ws-factory";
 
 type NewWorkspaceDaemonClient = Pick<
-  ServerDaemonClient,
+  InternalDaemonClient,
   | "archivePaseoWorktree"
   | "archiveWorkspace"
   | "close"
@@ -17,13 +15,6 @@ type NewWorkspaceDaemonClient = Pick<
   | "openProject"
 >;
 
-interface NewWorkspaceDaemonClientConfig {
-  url: string;
-  clientId: string;
-  clientType: "cli";
-  webSocketFactory?: NodeWebSocketFactory;
-}
-
 type OpenProjectPayload = Awaited<ReturnType<NewWorkspaceDaemonClient["openProject"]>>;
 
 export interface OpenedProject {
@@ -33,34 +24,6 @@ export interface OpenedProject {
   workspaceName: string;
 }
 
-function getDaemonPort(): string {
-  const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!daemonPort) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-  }
-  if (daemonPort === "6767") {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT must not point at the developer daemon.");
-  }
-  return daemonPort;
-}
-
-function getDaemonWsUrl(): string {
-  return `ws://127.0.0.1:${getDaemonPort()}/ws`;
-}
-
-async function loadDaemonClientConstructor(): Promise<
-  new (config: NewWorkspaceDaemonClientConfig) => NewWorkspaceDaemonClient
-> {
-  const repoRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "../../../../");
-  const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(
-    path.join(repoRoot, "packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js"),
-  ).href;
-  const mod = (await import(moduleUrl)) as {
-    DaemonClient: new (config: NewWorkspaceDaemonClientConfig) => NewWorkspaceDaemonClient;
-  };
-  return mod.DaemonClient;
-}
-
 function requireWorkspace(payload: OpenProjectPayload) {
   if (payload.error) {
     throw new Error(payload.error);
@@ -83,16 +46,9 @@ function parseWorkspaceIdFromPageUrl(page: Page, serverId: string): string | nul
 }
 
 export async function connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient(): Promise<NewWorkspaceDaemonClient> {
-  const DaemonClient = await loadDaemonClientConstructor();
-  const webSocketFactory = createNodeWebSocketFactory();
-  const client = new DaemonClient({
-    url: getDaemonWsUrl(),
-    clientId: `app-e2e-new-workspace-${randomUUID()}`,
-    clientType: "cli",
-    webSocketFactory,
+  return connectDaemonClient<NewWorkspaceDaemonClient>({
+    clientIdPrefix: "app-e2e-new-workspace",
   });
-  await client.connect();
-  return client;
 }
 
 export async function openProjectViaDaemon(
@@ -327,12 +283,7 @@ export interface AgentCreatedDelayControl {
 export async function delayBrowserAgentCreatedStatus(
   page: Page,
 ): Promise<AgentCreatedDelayControl> {
-  const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!daemonPort) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-  }
-
-  const daemonPortPattern = new RegExp(`:${daemonPort.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&")}\\b`);
+  const daemonPortPattern = daemonWsRoutePattern();
   const createRequestIds = new Set<string>();
   const delayedForwards: Array<() => void> = [];
   let releaseRequested = false;

packages/app/e2e/helpers/project-settings.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import path from "node:path";
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import type { WebSocketRoute } from "@playwright/test";
 import { gotoAppShell, openSettings } from "./app";
+import { daemonWsRoutePattern } from "./daemon-port";
 
 // --- Navigation ---
 
@@ -170,19 +171,13 @@ export async function unblockPaseoConfigWrites(repoPath: string): Promise<void>
 
 // --- WebSocket helpers ---
 
-function buildDaemonPortPattern(): RegExp {
-  const port = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!port) throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT not set — globalSetup must run first");
-  return new RegExp(`:${port.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&")}\\b`);
-}
-
 // Proxies all daemon WS traffic transparently until a read_project_config_request
 // is seen, then closes that connection (triggering readQuery.isError). Subsequent
 // connections pass through so the Reload action can succeed.
 export async function installReadTransportFailure(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   let armed = true;
 
-  await page.routeWebSocket(buildDaemonPortPattern(), (ws) => {
+  await page.routeWebSocket(daemonWsRoutePattern(), (ws) => {
     const server = ws.connectToServer();
 
     ws.onMessage((message) => {
@@ -230,7 +225,7 @@ export async function installDaemonConnectionGate(
   let acceptingConnections = true;
   const activeSockets = new Set<WebSocketRoute>();
 
-  await page.routeWebSocket(buildDaemonPortPattern(), (ws) => {
+  await page.routeWebSocket(daemonWsRoutePattern(), (ws) => {
     if (!acceptingConnections) {
       void ws.close({ code: 1001 });
       return;

packages/app/e2e/helpers/regex.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Escape a literal string so it can be embedded safely inside a `RegExp`.
+ * Used across the suite to build dynamic patterns from daemon ports, URLs,
+ * workspace routes, and user-visible text without regex injection.
+ */
+export function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
+  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
+}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/rewind-flow.ts

@@ -4,14 +4,15 @@ import { existsSync, readFileSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { expectComposerEditable, submitMessage } from "./composer";
-import { connectTerminalClient, type TerminalPerfDaemonClient } from "./terminal-perf";
+import { connectSeedClient, type SeedDaemonClient } from "./seed-client";
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 
 export type RewindFlowProvider = "claude" | "codex" | "opencode" | "pi";
 export type RewindFlowMode = "conversation" | "files" | "both";
 
 export interface AgentHandle {
   page: Page;
-  client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
+  client: SeedDaemonClient;
   agentId: string;
   cwd: string;
   provider: RewindFlowProvider;
@@ -27,19 +28,12 @@ interface ProviderLaunchConfig {
   model?: string;
   thinkingOptionId?: string;
   modeId?: string;
+  featureValues?: Record<string, unknown>;
 }
 
 const SEND_TIMEOUT_MS = 240_000;
 const REWIND_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000;
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
 function fullAccessConfig(provider: RewindFlowProvider): ProviderLaunchConfig {
   switch (provider) {
     case "claude":
@@ -52,7 +46,12 @@ function fullAccessConfig(provider: RewindFlowProvider): ProviderLaunchConfig {
         modeId: "full-access",
       };
     case "opencode":
-      return { provider, model: "opencode/big-pickle", modeId: "full-access" };
+      return {
+        provider,
+        model: "opencode/big-pickle",
+        modeId: "build",
+        featureValues: { auto_accept: true },
+      };
     case "pi":
       return {
         provider,
@@ -167,7 +166,7 @@ export async function launchAgent(input: {
   writeFileSync(`${input.cwd}/README.md`, "# Paseo rewind flow\n", "utf8");
   execFileSync("git", ["add", "README.md"], { cwd: input.cwd, stdio: "ignore" });
   execFileSync("git", ["commit", "-m", "Initial commit"], { cwd: input.cwd, stdio: "ignore" });
-  const client = await connectTerminalClient();
+  const client = await connectSeedClient();
   const opened = await client.openProject(input.cwd);
   if (!opened.workspace) {
     throw new Error(opened.error ?? `Failed to open project ${input.cwd}`);
@@ -318,7 +317,7 @@ export async function cleanupRewindFlow(input: {
 }
 
 async function fetchTimelineEpoch(handle: AgentHandle): Promise<string | undefined> {
-  const client = handle.client as TerminalPerfDaemonClient & {
+  const client = handle.client as SeedDaemonClient & {
     fetchAgentTimeline: (
       agentId: string,
       options?: { direction?: "head" | "tail"; projection?: "canonical"; limit?: number },

packages/app/e2e/helpers/seed-client.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+import path from "node:path";
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { connectDaemonClient } from "./daemon-client-loader";
+import { createTempDirectory, createTempGitRepo } from "./workspace";
+
+/**
+ * The general-purpose E2E daemon client used to seed and drive state out of
+ * band (workspaces, agents, terminals) while the UI is exercised through the
+ * browser. Domain-specific helpers wrap it for their own flows; specs should
+ * prefer those wrappers over reaching for this client directly.
+ */
+export interface SeedDaemonClient {
+  connect(): Promise<void>;
+  close(): Promise<void>;
+  openProject(cwd: string): Promise<{
+    workspace: {
+      id: string;
+      name: string;
+      projectId: string;
+      projectDisplayName: string;
+      projectRootPath: string;
+      workspaceDirectory: string;
+    } | null;
+    error: string | null;
+  }>;
+  createTerminal(
+    cwd: string,
+    name?: string,
+  ): Promise<{
+    terminal: { id: string; name: string; cwd: string } | null;
+    error: string | null;
+  }>;
+  createAgent(options: {
+    provider: string;
+    cwd: string;
+    title?: string;
+    modeId?: string;
+    model?: string;
+    thinkingOptionId?: string;
+    featureValues?: Record<string, unknown>;
+    initialPrompt?: string;
+  }): Promise<{ id: string; status: string }>;
+  fetchAgents(options?: { scope?: "active" }): Promise<{
+    entries: Array<{ agent: { id: string; cwd: string; title?: string | null } }>;
+  }>;
+  updateAgent(agentId: string, updates: { name?: string }): Promise<void>;
+  waitForAgentUpsert(
+    agentId: string,
+    predicate: (snapshot: { status: string }) => boolean,
+    timeout?: number,
+  ): Promise<{ status: string }>;
+  sendAgentMessage(agentId: string, text: string): Promise<void>;
+  waitForFinish(
+    agentId: string,
+    timeout?: number,
+  ): Promise<{ status: string; final?: { lastError?: string | null } | null }>;
+  archiveAgent(agentId: string): Promise<{ archivedAt: string }>;
+  fetchAgentHistory(options?: {
+    page?: { limit: number };
+  }): Promise<{ entries: Array<{ id: string }> }>;
+  subscribeTerminal(
+    terminalId: string,
+  ): Promise<{ terminalId: string; slot: number; error: null } | { error: string }>;
+  sendTerminalInput(
+    terminalId: string,
+    message: { type: "input"; data: string } | { type: "resize"; rows: number; cols: number },
+  ): void;
+  onTerminalStreamEvent(
+    handler: (event: { terminalId: string; type: string; data?: Uint8Array }) => void,
+  ): () => void;
+  killTerminal(terminalId: string): Promise<{ error: string | null }>;
+}
+
+export async function connectSeedClient(): Promise<SeedDaemonClient> {
+  return connectDaemonClient<SeedDaemonClient>({
+    clientIdPrefix: "seed",
+    appVersion: loadAppVersion(),
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * A temp project opened as a workspace, with a seed client connected to drive
+ * it out of band. `cleanup` closes the client and removes the project. This is
+ * the canonical bootstrap for specs that need a real workspace plus daemon
+ * access; domain helpers (e.g. mock-agent) build on it rather than re-rolling
+ * the trio. `repoPath` is the project root on disk (git repo or plain dir).
+ */
+export interface SeededWorkspace {
+  client: SeedDaemonClient;
+  repoPath: string;
+  workspaceId: string;
+  workspaceName: string;
+  workspaceDirectory: string;
+  /** Stable project identity the daemon groups workspaces under. */
+  projectId: string;
+  /** Project label the UI shows (owner/repo for known remotes, else basename). */
+  projectDisplayName: string;
+  cleanup(): Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export async function seedWorkspace(options: {
+  repoPrefix: string;
+  /** Repo fixture options; only applies to git projects (the default). */
+  repo?: Parameters<typeof createTempGitRepo>[1];
+  /** Set to false to seed a plain non-git directory instead of a git repo. */
+  git?: boolean;
+}): Promise<SeededWorkspace> {
+  const project =
+    options.git === false
+      ? await createTempDirectory(options.repoPrefix)
+      : await createTempGitRepo(options.repoPrefix, options.repo);
+  const client = await connectSeedClient();
+  try {
+    const opened = await client.openProject(project.path);
+    if (!opened.workspace) {
+      throw new Error(opened.error ?? `Failed to open project ${project.path}`);
+    }
+    return {
+      client,
+      repoPath: project.path,
+      workspaceId: opened.workspace.id,
+      workspaceName: opened.workspace.name,
+      workspaceDirectory: opened.workspace.workspaceDirectory,
+      projectId: opened.workspace.projectId,
+      projectDisplayName: opened.workspace.projectDisplayName,
+      cleanup: async () => {
+        await client.close().catch(() => undefined);
+        await project.cleanup().catch(() => undefined);
+      },
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    await client.close().catch(() => undefined);
+    await project.cleanup().catch(() => undefined);
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+function loadAppVersion(): string {
+  const packageJsonPath = path.resolve(__dirname, "../../package.json");
+  const packageJson = JSON.parse(readFileSync(packageJsonPath, "utf8")) as { version?: unknown };
+  if (typeof packageJson.version !== "string" || packageJson.version.length === 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Missing app version in ${packageJsonPath}`);
+  }
+  return packageJson.version;
+}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/server-id.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+/**
+ * Resolves the isolated E2E daemon's server id, which Playwright's globalSetup
+ * publishes into the environment before any spec runs. Helpers and specs that
+ * build host routes or `sidebar-workspace-row-${serverId}:${id}` selectors share
+ * this accessor instead of re-reading the env var.
+ */
+export function getServerId(): string {
+  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
+  if (!serverId) {
+    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
+  }
+  return serverId;
+}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/settings.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-import { requireServerId } from "./sidebar";
-
-function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
-  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-}
+import { escapeRegex } from "./regex";
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 
 const SECTION_LABELS = {
   general: "General",
@@ -113,13 +110,13 @@ export async function expectHostSettingsUrl(page: Page, serverId: string): Promi
 }
 
 export async function verifyLegacyHostSettingsRedirect(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  const serverId = requireServerId();
+  const serverId = getServerId();
   await page.goto(`/h/${encodeURIComponent(serverId)}/settings`);
   await expectHostSettingsUrl(page, serverId);
 }
 
 export async function openCompactSettingsHost(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  const serverId = requireServerId();
+  const serverId = getServerId();
   await openSettingsHost(page, serverId);
   await expectHostSettingsUrl(page, serverId);
 }
@@ -159,7 +156,7 @@ export async function expectDiagnosticsContent(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 export async function expectAboutContent(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  await expect(page.getByText("Version", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText("App version", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible();
 }
 
 export async function expectGeneralContent(page: Page): Promise<void> {

packages/app/e2e/helpers/sidebar.ts

@@ -1,15 +1,8 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-
-export function requireServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 
 export async function selectWorkspaceInSidebar(page: Page, workspaceId: string): Promise<void> {
-  const row = page.getByTestId(`sidebar-workspace-row-${requireServerId()}:${workspaceId}`);
+  const row = page.getByTestId(`sidebar-workspace-row-${getServerId()}:${workspaceId}`);
   await expect(row).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
   await row.click();
 }

packages/app/e2e/helpers/startup-dsl.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "../fixtures";
 import { buildCreateAgentPreferences, buildSeededHost } from "./daemon-registry";
+import { wsRoutePatternForPort } from "./daemon-port";
 
 const DISABLE_DEFAULT_SEED_ONCE_KEY = "@paseo:e2e-disable-default-seed-once";
 const SEED_NONCE_KEY = "@paseo:e2e-seed-nonce";
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ class StartupScenario {
     }
 
     for (const port of this.blockedEndpointPorts) {
-      await this.page.routeWebSocket(new RegExp(`:${escapeRegex(port)}\\b`), async (ws) => {
+      await this.page.routeWebSocket(wsRoutePatternForPort(port), async (ws) => {
         await ws.close({ code: 1008, reason: "Blocked unreachable startup test host." });
       });
     }
@@ -227,7 +228,3 @@ function buildStoredHost(input: {
 function buildStoredCreateAgentPreferences(serverId: string) {
   return buildCreateAgentPreferences(serverId);
 }
-
-function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
-  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-}

packages/app/e2e/helpers/terminal-dsl.ts

@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 import type { Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { createTempGitRepo } from "./workspace";
-import {
-  connectTerminalClient,
-  navigateToTerminal,
-  setupDeterministicPrompt,
-  type TerminalPerfDaemonClient,
-} from "./terminal-perf";
+import { navigateToTerminal, setupDeterministicPrompt } from "./terminal-perf";
+import { connectSeedClient, type SeedDaemonClient } from "./seed-client";
 
 interface TempRepo {
   path: string;
@@ -19,12 +15,12 @@ export interface TerminalInstance {
 }
 
 export class TerminalE2EHarness {
-  readonly client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
+  readonly client: SeedDaemonClient;
   readonly tempRepo: TempRepo;
   readonly workspaceId: string;
 
   private constructor(input: {
-    client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
+    client: SeedDaemonClient;
     tempRepo: TempRepo;
     workspaceId: string;
   }) {
@@ -35,7 +31,7 @@ export class TerminalE2EHarness {
 
   static async create(input: { tempPrefix: string }): Promise<TerminalE2EHarness> {
     const tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo(input.tempPrefix);
-    const client = await connectTerminalClient();
+    const client = await connectSeedClient();
     const seedResult = await client.openProject(tempRepo.path);
     if (!seedResult.workspace) {
       await client.close().catch(() => {});

packages/app/e2e/helpers/terminal-perf.ts

@@ -1,121 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-import path from "node:path";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
-import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
-import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
-import { createNodeWebSocketFactory, type NodeWebSocketFactory } from "./node-ws-factory";
 import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "../../src/utils/host-routes";
-
-export interface TerminalPerfDaemonClient {
-  connect(): Promise<void>;
-  close(): Promise<void>;
-  openProject(cwd: string): Promise<{
-    workspace: { id: string; name: string; projectRootPath: string } | null;
-    error: string | null;
-  }>;
-  createTerminal(
-    cwd: string,
-    name?: string,
-  ): Promise<{
-    terminal: { id: string; name: string; cwd: string } | null;
-    error: string | null;
-  }>;
-  createAgent(options: {
-    provider: string;
-    cwd: string;
-    title?: string;
-    modeId?: string;
-    model?: string;
-    thinkingOptionId?: string;
-    featureValues?: Record<string, unknown>;
-    initialPrompt?: string;
-  }): Promise<{ id: string; status: string }>;
-  fetchAgents(options?: { scope?: "active" }): Promise<{
-    entries: Array<{ agent: { id: string; cwd: string; title?: string | null } }>;
-  }>;
-  updateAgent(agentId: string, updates: { name?: string }): Promise<void>;
-  waitForAgentUpsert(
-    agentId: string,
-    predicate: (snapshot: { status: string }) => boolean,
-    timeout?: number,
-  ): Promise<{ status: string }>;
-  sendAgentMessage(agentId: string, text: string): Promise<void>;
-  waitForFinish(
-    agentId: string,
-    timeout?: number,
-  ): Promise<{ status: string; final?: { lastError?: string | null } | null }>;
-  subscribeTerminal(
-    terminalId: string,
-  ): Promise<{ terminalId: string; slot: number; error: null } | { error: string }>;
-  sendTerminalInput(
-    terminalId: string,
-    message: { type: "input"; data: string } | { type: "resize"; rows: number; cols: number },
-  ): void;
-  onTerminalStreamEvent(
-    handler: (event: { terminalId: string; type: string; data?: Uint8Array }) => void,
-  ): () => void;
-  killTerminal(terminalId: string): Promise<{ error: string | null }>;
-}
-
-function getDaemonWsUrl(): string {
-  const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!daemonPort) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-  }
-  return `ws://127.0.0.1:${daemonPort}/ws`;
-}
-
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
-interface TerminalPerfDaemonClientConfig {
-  url: string;
-  clientId: string;
-  clientType: "cli";
-  appVersion?: string;
-  webSocketFactory?: NodeWebSocketFactory;
-}
-
-async function loadDaemonClientConstructor(): Promise<
-  new (config: TerminalPerfDaemonClientConfig) => TerminalPerfDaemonClient
-> {
-  const repoRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "../../../../");
-  const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(
-    path.join(repoRoot, "packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js"),
-  ).href;
-  const mod = (await import(moduleUrl)) as {
-    DaemonClient: new (config: TerminalPerfDaemonClientConfig) => TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
-  };
-  return mod.DaemonClient;
-}
-
-export async function connectTerminalClient(): Promise<TerminalPerfDaemonClient> {
-  const DaemonClient = await loadDaemonClientConstructor();
-  const webSocketFactory = createNodeWebSocketFactory();
-  const client = new DaemonClient({
-    url: getDaemonWsUrl(),
-    clientId: `terminal-perf-${randomUUID()}`,
-    clientType: "cli",
-    appVersion: loadAppVersion(),
-    webSocketFactory,
-  });
-  await client.connect();
-  return client;
-}
-
-function loadAppVersion(): string {
-  const packageJsonPath = path.resolve(__dirname, "../../package.json");
-  const packageJson = JSON.parse(readFileSync(packageJsonPath, "utf8")) as { version?: unknown };
-  if (typeof packageJson.version !== "string" || packageJson.version.length === 0) {
-    throw new Error(`Missing app version in ${packageJsonPath}`);
-  }
-  return packageJson.version;
-}
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 
 export function buildTerminalWorkspaceUrl(workspaceId: string, terminalId: string): string {
   const serverId = getServerId();

packages/app/e2e/helpers/with-workspace.ts

@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { realpath } from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
 import type { Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { waitForTabBar } from "./launcher";
 import { selectWorkspaceInSidebar } from "./sidebar";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./workspace";
+import { createTempGitRepo, resolveTempRoot } from "./workspace";
 import {
   connectWorkspaceSetupClient,
   openHomeWithProject,
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ export function createWithWorkspace(page: Page): WithWorkspaceHandle {
 
     let workspacePath = repo.path;
     if (options?.worktree) {
-      const tempRoot = await realpath("/tmp");
+      const tempRoot = await resolveTempRoot();
       workspacePath = path.join(
         tempRoot,
         `paseo-wt-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}`,

packages/app/e2e/helpers/workspace-setup.ts

@@ -1,59 +1,25 @@
 import { realpathSync } from "node:fs";
-import path from "node:path";
-import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
+import type { DaemonClient as InternalDaemonClient } from "@getpaseo/client/internal/daemon-client";
 import { parseHostWorkspaceRouteFromPathname } from "../../src/utils/host-routes";
 import { gotoAppShell } from "./app";
-import { createNodeWebSocketFactory, type NodeWebSocketFactory } from "./node-ws-factory";
+import { connectDaemonClient } from "./daemon-client-loader";
+import { getServerId } from "./server-id";
 import { switchWorkspaceViaSidebar } from "./workspace-ui";
-import type { SessionOutboundMessage } from "@server/shared/messages";
+import type { SessionOutboundMessage } from "@getpaseo/protocol/messages";
 
-interface WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient {
-  connect(): Promise<void>;
-  close(): Promise<void>;
-  openProject(cwd: string): Promise<{
-    workspace: {
-      id: string;
-      name: string;
-      workspaceDirectory: string;
-      projectRootPath: string;
-    } | null;
-    error: string | null;
-  }>;
-  createPaseoWorktree(input: { cwd: string; worktreeSlug?: string }): Promise<{
-    workspace: {
-      id: string;
-      name: string;
-      workspaceDirectory: string;
-      projectRootPath: string;
-    } | null;
-    error: string | null;
-  }>;
-  fetchWorkspaces(): Promise<{
-    entries: Array<{
-      id: string;
-      name: string;
-      workspaceDirectory: string;
-      projectRootPath: string;
-    }>;
-  }>;
-  fetchAgents(): Promise<{
-    entries: Array<{
-      agent: { id: string; cwd: string; workspaceId?: string | null };
-    }>;
-  }>;
-  fetchAgent(agentId: string): Promise<{
-    agent: { id: string; cwd: string } | null;
-    project: unknown;
-  } | null>;
-  listTerminals(cwd: string): Promise<{
-    cwd?: string;
-    terminals: Array<{ id: string; cwd: string; name: string }>;
-    error?: string | null;
-  }>;
-  subscribeRawMessages(handler: (message: SessionOutboundMessage) => void): () => void;
-}
+type WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient = Pick<
+  InternalDaemonClient,
+  | "close"
+  | "connect"
+  | "createPaseoWorktree"
+  | "fetchAgent"
+  | "fetchAgents"
+  | "fetchWorkspaces"
+  | "listTerminals"
+  | "openProject"
+  | "subscribeRawMessages"
+>;
 
 export type WorkspaceSetupProgressPayload = Extract<
   SessionOutboundMessage,
@@ -62,58 +28,30 @@ export type WorkspaceSetupProgressPayload = Extract<
 
 export type { WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient };
 
-function getDaemonWsUrl(): string {
-  const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!daemonPort) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-  }
-  return `ws://127.0.0.1:${daemonPort}/ws`;
-}
-
-async function loadDaemonClientConstructor(): Promise<
-  new (config: {
-    url: string;
-    clientId: string;
-    clientType: "cli";
-    webSocketFactory?: NodeWebSocketFactory;
-  }) => WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient
-> {
-  const repoRoot = path.resolve(process.cwd(), "../..");
-  const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(
-    path.join(repoRoot, "packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js"),
-  ).href;
-  const mod = (await import(moduleUrl)) as {
-    DaemonClient: new (config: {
-      url: string;
-      clientId: string;
-      clientType: "cli";
-      webSocketFactory?: NodeWebSocketFactory;
-    }) => WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient;
-  };
-  return mod.DaemonClient;
-}
-
 export async function connectWorkspaceSetupClient(): Promise<WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient> {
-  const DaemonClient = await loadDaemonClientConstructor();
-  const webSocketFactory = createNodeWebSocketFactory();
-  const client = new DaemonClient({
-    url: getDaemonWsUrl(),
-    clientId: `workspace-setup-${randomUUID()}`,
-    clientType: "cli",
-    webSocketFactory,
-  });
-  await client.connect();
-  return client;
+  return connectDaemonClient<WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient>({ clientIdPrefix: "workspace-setup" });
+}
+
+export async function openProjectViaDaemon(
+  client: WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient,
+  repoPath: string,
+): Promise<{ id: string; name: string; workspaceDirectory: string }> {
+  const result = await client.openProject(repoPath);
+  if (!result.workspace || result.error) {
+    throw new Error(result.error ?? `Failed to open project ${repoPath}`);
+  }
+  return {
+    id: result.workspace.id,
+    name: result.workspace.name,
+    workspaceDirectory: result.workspace.workspaceDirectory,
+  };
 }
 
 export async function seedProjectForWorkspaceSetup(
   client: WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient,
   repoPath: string,
 ): Promise<void> {
-  const result = await client.openProject(repoPath);
-  if (!result.workspace || result.error) {
-    throw new Error(result.error ?? `Failed to open project ${repoPath}`);
-  }
+  await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repoPath);
 }
 
 export function projectNameFromPath(repoPath: string): string {
@@ -320,11 +258,11 @@ export async function navigateToWorkspaceViaSidebar(
   page: Page,
   workspaceId: string,
 ): Promise<void> {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  await switchWorkspaceViaSidebar({ page, serverId, targetWorkspacePath: workspaceId });
+  await switchWorkspaceViaSidebar({
+    page,
+    serverId: getServerId(),
+    targetWorkspacePath: workspaceId,
+  });
 }
 
 export async function openWorkspaceScriptsMenu(page: Page): Promise<void> {

packages/app/e2e/helpers/workspace-ui.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { gotoHome } from "./app";
+import { escapeRegex } from "./regex";
 
 export async function openNewAgentComposer(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await gotoHome(page);
@@ -23,10 +24,6 @@ export function workspaceLabelFromPath(value: string): string {
   return parts[parts.length - 1] ?? normalized;
 }
 
-function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
-  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-}
-
 function candidateWorkspaceIds(inputPath: string): string[] {
   const trimmed = inputPath.replace(/\/+$/, "");
   const candidates = new Set<string>([trimmed]);

packages/app/e2e/helpers/workspace.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,20 @@ interface TempRepo {
   cleanup: () => Promise<void>;
 }
 
+export interface TempDirectory {
+  path: string;
+  cleanup: () => Promise<void>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The temp root for E2E fixtures. On macOS we resolve symlinks (/tmp →
+ * /private/tmp) so fixture paths match the daemon's resolved paths; on Windows
+ * `/tmp` doesn't exist, so fall back to the OS temp dir.
+ */
+export async function resolveTempRoot(): Promise<string> {
+  return process.platform === "win32" ? tmpdir() : await realpath("/tmp");
+}
+
 async function configureRemote(input: {
   repoPath: string;
   withRemote: boolean;
@@ -22,6 +36,15 @@ async function configureRemote(input: {
     execSync(`git init --bare -b main ${remoteDir}`, { cwd: repoPath, stdio: "ignore" });
     execSync(`git remote add origin ${remoteDir}`, { cwd: repoPath, stdio: "ignore" });
     execSync("git push -u origin --all", { cwd: repoPath, stdio: "ignore" });
+    if (originUrl) {
+      // Relabel origin to a display URL after the local tracking remote is set
+      // up, so project grouping shows the remote's owner/repo while branch
+      // tracking refs still resolve locally (no fetch from the synthetic URL).
+      execSync(`git remote set-url origin ${JSON.stringify(originUrl)}`, {
+        cwd: repoPath,
+        stdio: "ignore",
+      });
+    }
     return;
   }
   if (originUrl) {
@@ -44,9 +67,7 @@ export const createTempGitRepo = async (
   },
 ): Promise<TempRepo> => {
   // Keep E2E repo paths short so terminal prompt + typed commands stay visible without zsh clipping.
-  // Resolve symlinks (macOS: /tmp → /private/tmp) so paths match the daemon's resolved paths.
-  const tempRoot = process.platform === "win32" ? tmpdir() : await realpath("/tmp");
-  const repoPath = await mkdtemp(path.join(tempRoot, prefix));
+  const repoPath = await mkdtemp(path.join(await resolveTempRoot(), prefix));
   const withRemote = options?.withRemote ?? false;
 
   execSync("git init -b main", { cwd: repoPath, stdio: "ignore" });
@@ -110,6 +131,21 @@ export const createTempGitRepo = async (
   };
 };
 
+/**
+ * A plain (non-git) directory opened as a project. The daemon shows its
+ * basename as the project name, since there's no remote to group under.
+ */
+export async function createTempDirectory(prefix = "paseo-e2e-dir-"): Promise<TempDirectory> {
+  const dirPath = await mkdtemp(path.join(await resolveTempRoot(), prefix));
+  await writeFile(path.join(dirPath, "README.md"), "# Temp Directory\n");
+  return {
+    path: dirPath,
+    cleanup: async () => {
+      await rm(dirPath, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    },
+  };
+}
+
 export async function readWorktreeBranchInfo({ worktreePath }: { worktreePath: string }): Promise<{
   currentBranch: string;
   hasAncestor: (ref: string) => boolean;

packages/app/e2e/launcher-tab.spec.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { test, expect } from "./fixtures";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
 import {
   gotoWorkspace,
   assertNewChatTileVisible,
@@ -16,30 +15,19 @@ import {
   terminalSurfaceLocator,
 } from "./helpers/launcher";
 import { expectComposerVisible, composerLocator } from "./helpers/composer";
-import { expectTerminalSurfaceVisible } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
-import {
-  connectTerminalClient,
-  setupDeterministicPrompt,
-  type TerminalPerfDaemonClient,
-} from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
+import { expectTerminalSurfaceVisible, setupDeterministicPrompt } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
+import { seedWorkspace, type SeededWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 
 // ─── Shared state ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-let tempRepo: { path: string; cleanup: () => Promise<void> };
-let workspaceId: string;
-let seedClient: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
+let workspace: SeededWorkspace;
 
 test.beforeAll(async () => {
-  tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo("launcher-e2e-");
-  seedClient = await connectTerminalClient();
-  const result = await seedClient.openProject(tempRepo.path);
-  if (!result.workspace) throw new Error(result.error ?? "Failed to seed workspace");
-  workspaceId = result.workspace.id;
+  workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "launcher-e2e-" });
 });
 
 test.afterAll(async () => {
-  if (seedClient) await seedClient.close();
-  if (tempRepo) await tempRepo.cleanup();
+  await workspace?.cleanup();
 });
 
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
@@ -48,7 +36,7 @@ test.afterAll(async () => {
 
 test.describe("Tab creation", () => {
   test("Cmd+T opens a new agent tab with composer", async ({ page }) => {
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
     await pressNewTabShortcut(page);
 
@@ -56,7 +44,7 @@ test.describe("Tab creation", () => {
   });
 
   test("opening two new tabs creates two draft tabs", async ({ page }) => {
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
     const countBefore = await countTabsOfKind(page, "draft");
 
@@ -75,7 +63,7 @@ test.describe("Tab creation", () => {
   });
 
   test("clicking new agent tab creates a draft tab", async ({ page }) => {
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
     await clickNewChat(page);
 
@@ -88,7 +76,7 @@ test.describe("Tab creation", () => {
 
   test("clicking terminal button creates a standalone terminal", async ({ page }) => {
     test.setTimeout(45_000);
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
     await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
@@ -100,7 +88,7 @@ test.describe("Tab creation", () => {
   });
 
   test("tab bar shows action buttons per pane", async ({ page }) => {
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
     await assertSingleNewTabButton(page);
     await assertNewChatTileVisible(page);
     await assertTerminalTileVisible(page);
@@ -117,26 +105,16 @@ test.describe("Terminal title propagation", () => {
   // must re-render before the assertion deadline. Allow retries.
   test.describe.configure({ retries: 2 });
 
-  let client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
-
-  test.beforeAll(async () => {
-    client = await connectTerminalClient();
-  });
-
-  test.afterAll(async () => {
-    if (client) await client.close();
-  });
-
   test.skip("terminal tab title updates from OSC title escape sequence", async ({ page }) => {
     test.setTimeout(60_000);
 
-    const result = await client.createTerminal(tempRepo.path, "title-test");
+    const result = await workspace.client.createTerminal(workspace.repoPath, "title-test");
     if (!result.terminal) throw new Error(`Failed to create terminal: ${result.error}`);
     const terminalId = result.terminal.id;
 
     try {
       // Navigate to workspace and open a terminal
-      await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+      await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
       await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
       await expectTerminalSurfaceVisible(page);
@@ -153,19 +131,19 @@ test.describe("Terminal title propagation", () => {
       // Wait for the tab to reflect the new title
       await waitForTabWithTitle(page, testTitle, 15_000);
     } finally {
-      await client.killTerminal(terminalId).catch(() => {});
+      await workspace.client.killTerminal(terminalId).catch(() => {});
     }
   });
 
   test.skip("title debouncing coalesces rapid changes", async ({ page }) => {
     test.setTimeout(60_000);
 
-    const result = await client.createTerminal(tempRepo.path, "debounce-test");
+    const result = await workspace.client.createTerminal(workspace.repoPath, "debounce-test");
     if (!result.terminal) throw new Error(`Failed to create terminal: ${result.error}`);
     const terminalId = result.terminal.id;
 
     try {
-      await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+      await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
       await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
       await expectTerminalSurfaceVisible(page);
@@ -188,7 +166,7 @@ test.describe("Terminal title propagation", () => {
       // The tab should eventually settle on the final title
       await waitForTabWithTitle(page, finalTitle, 15_000);
     } finally {
-      await client.killTerminal(terminalId).catch(() => {});
+      await workspace.client.killTerminal(terminalId).catch(() => {});
     }
   });
 });
@@ -199,7 +177,7 @@ test.describe("Terminal title propagation", () => {
 
 test.describe("Tab transitions (no flash)", () => {
   test("New agent tab transition has no blank intermediate tab state", async ({ page }) => {
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
     // Sample tabs at high frequency across the transition
     const snapshots = await sampleTabsDuringTransition(page, () => clickNewChat(page), 2_000, 30);
@@ -221,7 +199,7 @@ test.describe("Tab transitions (no flash)", () => {
 
   test("Terminal transition completes within visual budget", async ({ page }) => {
     test.setTimeout(30_000);
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
     const elapsed = await measureTileTransition(
       page,
@@ -237,7 +215,7 @@ test.describe("Tab transitions (no flash)", () => {
   });
 
   test("New agent tab click shows composer without flash", async ({ page }) => {
-    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
+    await gotoWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
     const elapsed = await measureTileTransition(
       page,

packages/app/e2e/new-workspace.spec.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   selectPickerOptionByKeyboard,
 } from "./helpers/new-workspace";
 import { createTempGitRepo, readWorktreeBranchInfo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import {
   expectSidebarWorkspaceSelected,
   expectWorkspaceHeader,
@@ -61,10 +62,7 @@ test.describe("New workspace flow", () => {
   });
 
   test("sidebar workspace navigation updates URL and header", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     const firstRepo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-nav-a-");
     const secondRepo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-nav-b-");
@@ -118,10 +116,7 @@ test.describe("New workspace flow", () => {
   });
 
   test("same-project workspaces switch content without requiring refresh", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     const repo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-nav-same-project-");
 
@@ -201,10 +196,7 @@ test.describe("New workspace flow", () => {
   test("clicking new workspace redirects, renders header, shows sidebar row, and keeps one agent tab", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     const tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo("new-workspace-");
 
@@ -276,10 +268,7 @@ test.describe("New workspace flow", () => {
   });
 
   test("redirects to the optimistic draft tab before agent creation resolves", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     const tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo("new-workspace-optimistic-");
     const agentCreatedDelay = await delayBrowserAgentCreatedStatus(page);
@@ -355,10 +344,7 @@ test.describe("New workspace flow", () => {
   });
 
   test("selected branch becomes the base of a new workspace worktree", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     const tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo("new-workspace-ref-", {
       branches: ["main", "dev"],

packages/app/e2e/pr-pane.spec.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { gotoWorkspace } from "./helpers/launcher";
 import { hasGithubAuth, createTempGithubRepo, type GhRepoFixture } from "./helpers/github-fixtures";
 import {
   connectWorkspaceSetupClient,
+  openProjectViaDaemon,
   type WorkspaceSetupDaemonClient,
 } from "./helpers/workspace-setup";
 
@@ -50,11 +51,8 @@ test.describe("PR pane", () => {
     });
 
     for (const pr of repoFixture.prs) {
-      const result = await seedClient.openProject(pr.localPath);
-      if (!result.workspace) {
-        throw new Error(result.error ?? `Failed to open project ${pr.localPath}`);
-      }
-      workspaceByTitle.set(pr.title, result.workspace.id);
+      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(seedClient, pr.localPath);
+      workspaceByTitle.set(pr.title, workspace.id);
     }
   });
 

packages/app/e2e/projects-settings.spec.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import { chmod, readFile } from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { expect, test as base } from "./fixtures";
-import { connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient, openProjectViaDaemon } from "./helpers/new-workspace";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 import {
   blockPaseoConfigWrites,
   bumpPaseoConfigOnDisk,
@@ -63,38 +62,36 @@ const initialPaseoConfig = {
 
 const test = base.extend<ProjectsSettingsFixtures>({
   editableProject: async ({ page: _page }, provide) => {
-    const client = await connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("projects-settings-", {
-      paseoConfig: initialPaseoConfig,
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "projects-settings-",
+      repo: { paseoConfig: initialPaseoConfig },
     });
-    const openedProject = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
 
     await provide({
-      name: openedProject.projectDisplayName,
-      path: repo.path,
+      name: workspace.projectDisplayName,
+      path: workspace.repoPath,
     });
 
-    await client.close();
     // Defensive: restore directory write permission in case the test left it blocked
-    // (write_failed test), so that repo.cleanup() can remove files inside.
-    await chmod(repo.path, 0o755).catch(() => undefined);
-    await repo.cleanup();
+    // (write_failed test), so that cleanup can remove files inside.
+    await chmod(workspace.repoPath, 0o755).catch(() => undefined);
+    await workspace.cleanup();
   },
   gitlabRemoteProject: async ({ page: _page }, provide) => {
-    const client = await connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("projects-settings-gitlab-", {
-      paseoConfig: initialPaseoConfig,
-      originUrl: "https://gitlab.com/acme/app.git",
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "projects-settings-gitlab-",
+      repo: {
+        paseoConfig: initialPaseoConfig,
+        originUrl: "https://gitlab.com/acme/app.git",
+      },
     });
-    const openedProject = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
 
     await provide({
-      name: openedProject.projectDisplayName,
-      path: repo.path,
+      name: workspace.projectDisplayName,
+      path: workspace.repoPath,
     });
 
-    await client.close();
-    await repo.cleanup();
+    await workspace.cleanup();
   },
 });
 

packages/app/e2e/rewind-menu.ui-contract.spec.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test, type Page } from "./fixtures";
-import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
-import { connectTerminalClient } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { openAgentRoute, seedMockAgentWorkspace } from "./helpers/mock-agent";
 import {
   composerLocator,
   expectComposerDraft,
@@ -12,50 +10,24 @@ import {
 
 // UI plumbing contract against the dev mock provider. Real-provider behavior is tested in `daemon-e2e/*-rewind.real.e2e.test.ts`.
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
-async function openAgent(page: Page, input: { cwd: string; agentId: string }): Promise<void> {
-  const agentUrl = `${buildHostWorkspaceRoute(
-    getServerId(),
-    input.cwd,
-  )}?open=${encodeURIComponent(`agent:${input.agentId}`)}`;
-  await page.goto(agentUrl);
-  await page.waitForURL(
-    (url) => url.pathname.includes("/workspace/") && !url.searchParams.has("open"),
-    { timeout: 60_000 },
-  );
-  await expectComposerVisible(page);
-}
-
 async function expectUserMessageCount(page: Page, expected: number): Promise<void> {
   await expect(page.getByTestId("user-message")).toHaveCount(expected);
 }
 
 test.describe("Rewind sheet", () => {
   test("rewinds from a user message sheet option", async ({ page }) => {
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("rewind-e2e-");
-    const client = await connectTerminalClient();
     const firstPrompt = "emit 1 coalesced agent stream updates for first rewind turn.";
     const secondPrompt = "Prepare deleted rewind turn assistant content.";
     const replacementPrompt = "emit 1 coalesced agent stream updates for replacement rewind turn.";
+    const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "rewind-e2e-",
+      title: "Rewind e2e",
+      initialPrompt: firstPrompt,
+    });
 
     try {
-      await client.openProject(repo.path);
-      const agent = await client.createAgent({
-        provider: "mock",
-        cwd: repo.path,
-        title: "Rewind e2e",
-        modeId: "load-test",
-        model: "ten-second-stream",
-        initialPrompt: firstPrompt,
-      });
-      await openAgent(page, { cwd: repo.path, agentId: agent.id });
+      await openAgentRoute(page, session);
+      await expectComposerVisible(page);
 
       await expect(page.getByText(firstPrompt, { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
       await expectUserMessageCount(page, 1);
@@ -116,31 +88,25 @@ test.describe("Rewind sheet", () => {
       await expectComposerDraft(page, replacementPrompt);
       await expectUserMessageCount(page, 1);
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await session.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("surfaces rewind failures without crashing the page", async ({ page }) => {
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("rewind-failure-e2e-");
-    const client = await connectTerminalClient();
     const firstPrompt = "emit 1 coalesced agent stream updates for failed rewind turn.";
     const rewindError = "No file checkpoint found for message rewind-failure-e2e.";
+    const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "rewind-failure-e2e-",
+      title: "Rewind failure e2e",
+      initialPrompt: firstPrompt,
+      featureValues: {
+        mockRewindError: rewindError,
+      },
+    });
 
     try {
-      await client.openProject(repo.path);
-      const agent = await client.createAgent({
-        provider: "mock",
-        cwd: repo.path,
-        title: "Rewind failure e2e",
-        modeId: "load-test",
-        model: "ten-second-stream",
-        featureValues: {
-          mockRewindError: rewindError,
-        },
-        initialPrompt: firstPrompt,
-      });
-      await openAgent(page, { cwd: repo.path, agentId: agent.id });
+      await openAgentRoute(page, session);
+      await expectComposerVisible(page);
 
       await expect(page.getByText(firstPrompt, { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
 
@@ -160,8 +126,7 @@ test.describe("Rewind sheet", () => {
       await page.getByTestId("rewind-menu-trigger").first().click();
       await expect(page.getByTestId("rewind-menu-content")).toBeVisible();
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await session.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/settings-host-page.spec.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { test } from "./fixtures";
 import { gotoAppShell, openSettings } from "./helpers/app";
+import { getE2EDaemonPort } from "./helpers/daemon-port";
 import { TEST_HOST_LABEL } from "./helpers/daemon-registry";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import {
   expectSettingsHeader,
   openSettingsHost,
@@ -16,28 +18,12 @@ import {
   expectLocalHostEntryFirst,
 } from "./helpers/settings";
 
-function getSeededServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
-function getSeededDaemonPort(): string {
-  const port = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!port) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return port;
-}
-
 test.describe("Settings host page", () => {
   test("host page shows seeded label, connection endpoint, inject MCP toggle, and all action rows", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
-    const port = getSeededDaemonPort();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
+    const port = getE2EDaemonPort();
 
     await gotoAppShell(page);
     await openSettings(page);
@@ -51,7 +37,7 @@ test.describe("Settings host page", () => {
   });
 
   test("clicking the label pencil reveals the inline editor", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     await gotoAppShell(page);
     await openSettings(page);
@@ -65,7 +51,7 @@ test.describe("Settings host page", () => {
   test("host page does not render pair-device or daemon-lifecycle rows for a remote daemon", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     await gotoAppShell(page);
     await openSettings(page);
@@ -85,7 +71,7 @@ test.describe("Settings host page", () => {
   test("navigating to /settings/hosts/[serverId] directly renders the host page", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     await gotoAppShell(page);
     await page.goto(`/settings/hosts/${encodeURIComponent(serverId)}`);
@@ -97,7 +83,7 @@ test.describe("Settings host page", () => {
   });
 
   test("sidebar pins the local daemon host first with a Local marker", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = getSeededServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
     // Simulate the Electron desktop bridge so `useIsLocalDaemon` resolves the
     // seeded host to the local daemon. `manageBuiltInDaemon: false` (returned

packages/app/e2e/settings-toggle-tab-regression.spec.ts

@@ -1,21 +1,9 @@
 import { buildHostAgentDetailRoute, buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { expect, test } from "./fixtures";
-import {
-  archiveAgentFromDaemon,
-  connectArchiveTabDaemonClient,
-  createIdleAgent,
-  openWorkspaceWithAgents,
-} from "./helpers/archive-tab";
+import { createIdleAgent, openWorkspaceWithAgents } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
 import { waitForTabBar, expectAgentTabActive } from "./helpers/launcher";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
-
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 
 async function pressSettingsToggleShortcut(page: import("@playwright/test").Page) {
   const modifier = process.platform === "darwin" ? "Meta" : "Control";
@@ -61,20 +49,17 @@ test.describe("Settings toggle tab regression", () => {
     page,
   }) => {
     const serverId = getServerId();
-    const client = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("settings-toggle-tab-");
-    const agentIds: string[] = [];
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "settings-toggle-tab-" });
 
     try {
-      const firstAgent = await createIdleAgent(client, {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+      const firstAgent = await createIdleAgent(workspace.client, {
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         title: `settings-toggle-a-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      const secondAgent = await createIdleAgent(client, {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+      const secondAgent = await createIdleAgent(workspace.client, {
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         title: `settings-toggle-b-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      agentIds.push(firstAgent.id, secondAgent.id);
 
       await openWorkspaceWithAgents(page, [firstAgent, secondAgent]);
       await waitForTabBar(page);
@@ -89,7 +74,7 @@ test.describe("Settings toggle tab regression", () => {
       await expectSendBehavior(page, "interrupt");
 
       await pressSettingsToggleShortcut(page);
-      await expect(page).toHaveURL(buildHostWorkspaceRoute(serverId, repo.path));
+      await expect(page).toHaveURL(buildHostWorkspaceRoute(serverId, workspace.repoPath));
       await waitForTabBar(page);
       await expectAgentTabActive(page, secondAgent.id);
 
@@ -97,11 +82,7 @@ test.describe("Settings toggle tab regression", () => {
       await waitForTabBar(page);
       await expectAgentTabActive(page, secondAgent.id);
     } finally {
-      for (const agentId of agentIds) {
-        await archiveAgentFromDaemon(client, agentId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      await client.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
@@ -109,31 +90,28 @@ test.describe("Settings toggle tab regression", () => {
     page,
   }) => {
     const serverId = getServerId();
-    const client = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("agent-route-refresh-");
-    const agentIds: string[] = [];
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "agent-route-refresh-" });
 
     try {
-      const firstAgent = await createIdleAgent(client, {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+      const firstAgent = await createIdleAgent(workspace.client, {
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         title: `agent-route-refresh-a-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      const secondAgent = await createIdleAgent(client, {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+      const secondAgent = await createIdleAgent(workspace.client, {
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         title: `agent-route-refresh-b-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      agentIds.push(firstAgent.id, secondAgent.id);
 
       await openAgentRouteAndExpectFocused({
         page,
         serverId,
-        workspaceId: repo.path,
+        workspaceId: workspace.repoPath,
         agentId: firstAgent.id,
       });
       await openAgentRouteAndExpectFocused({
         page,
         serverId,
-        workspaceId: repo.path,
+        workspaceId: workspace.repoPath,
         agentId: secondAgent.id,
       });
 
@@ -143,11 +121,7 @@ test.describe("Settings toggle tab regression", () => {
         await expectAgentTabActive(page, secondAgent.id);
       }
     } finally {
-      for (const agentId of agentIds) {
-        await archiveAgentFromDaemon(client, agentId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      await client.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/sidebar-workspace-rename.spec.ts

@@ -1,17 +1,9 @@
 import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
 import { test, expect, type Page } from "./fixtures";
 import { gotoAppShell } from "./helpers/app";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
-import { connectWorkspaceSetupClient } from "./helpers/workspace-setup";
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 import { captureWsSessionFrames } from "./helpers/rename";
-
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 
 function workspaceRowTestId(workspaceId: string): string {
   return `sidebar-workspace-row-${getServerId()}:${workspaceId}`;
@@ -21,21 +13,6 @@ function workspaceRenameModalTestId(workspaceId: string, suffix: string): string
   return `sidebar-workspace-rename-modal-${getServerId()}:${workspaceId}-${suffix}`;
 }
 
-async function openProjectViaDaemon(
-  client: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof connectWorkspaceSetupClient>>,
-  cwd: string,
-): Promise<{ id: string; name: string; workspaceDirectory: string }> {
-  const result = await client.openProject(cwd);
-  if (!result.workspace || result.error) {
-    throw new Error(result.error ?? `Failed to open project ${cwd}`);
-  }
-  return {
-    id: String(result.workspace.id),
-    name: result.workspace.name,
-    workspaceDirectory: result.workspace.workspaceDirectory,
-  };
-}
-
 async function openRenameModal(page: Page, workspaceId: string) {
   const serverId = getServerId();
   const row = page.getByTestId(`sidebar-workspace-row-${serverId}:${workspaceId}`);
@@ -59,12 +36,10 @@ test.describe("Sidebar workspace rename", () => {
   test("renaming via kebab updates the branch name on disk and in the sidebar", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const client = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("sidebar-rename-");
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "sidebar-rename-" });
 
     try {
-      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
-      expect(workspace.name).toBe("main");
+      expect(workspace.workspaceName).toBe("main");
 
       const renameRequests = captureWsSessionFrames(
         page,
@@ -76,18 +51,18 @@ test.describe("Sidebar workspace rename", () => {
       );
 
       await gotoAppShell(page);
-      await expect(page.getByTestId(workspaceRowTestId(workspace.id))).toBeVisible({
+      await expect(page.getByTestId(workspaceRowTestId(workspace.workspaceId))).toBeVisible({
         timeout: 30_000,
       });
 
-      const input = await openRenameModal(page, workspace.id);
+      const input = await openRenameModal(page, workspace.workspaceId);
       await expect(input).toHaveValue("main");
       await input.fill("Feature Rename 2");
 
-      await page.getByTestId(workspaceRenameModalTestId(workspace.id, "submit")).click();
+      await page.getByTestId(workspaceRenameModalTestId(workspace.workspaceId, "submit")).click();
 
       await expect(input).toHaveCount(0, { timeout: 15_000 });
-      await expect(page.getByTestId(workspaceRowTestId(workspace.id))).toContainText(
+      await expect(page.getByTestId(workspaceRowTestId(workspace.workspaceId))).toContainText(
         "feature-rename-2",
         { timeout: 15_000 },
       );
@@ -99,40 +74,42 @@ test.describe("Sidebar workspace rename", () => {
       });
 
       const currentBranchOnDisk = execSync("git branch --show-current", {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         stdio: "pipe",
       })
         .toString()
         .trim();
       expect(currentBranchOnDisk).toBe("feature-rename-2");
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("rename surfaces server errors inline and keeps the modal open", async ({ page }) => {
-    const client = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("sidebar-rename-error-", { branches: ["taken"] });
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "sidebar-rename-error-",
+      repo: { branches: ["taken"] },
+    });
 
     try {
-      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
-
       await gotoAppShell(page);
-      const input = await openRenameModal(page, workspace.id);
+      const input = await openRenameModal(page, workspace.workspaceId);
       await expect(input).toHaveValue("main");
 
       await input.fill("taken");
-      await page.getByTestId(workspaceRenameModalTestId(workspace.id, "submit")).click();
+      await page.getByTestId(workspaceRenameModalTestId(workspace.workspaceId, "submit")).click();
 
-      const errorNode = page.getByTestId(workspaceRenameModalTestId(workspace.id, "error"));
+      const errorNode = page.getByTestId(
+        workspaceRenameModalTestId(workspace.workspaceId, "error"),
+      );
       await expect(errorNode).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
       await expect(errorNode).toContainText(/already exists|branch/i);
       await expect(input).toBeVisible();
-      await expect(page.getByTestId(workspaceRowTestId(workspace.id))).toContainText("main");
+      await expect(page.getByTestId(workspaceRowTestId(workspace.workspaceId))).toContainText(
+        "main",
+      );
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/sidebar-workspace.spec.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { mkdtemp, realpath, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
-import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { test, expect } from "./fixtures";
 import { gotoAppShell } from "./helpers/app";
@@ -10,59 +7,17 @@ import {
   expectMobileAgentSidebarVisible,
   openMobileAgentSidebar,
 } from "./helpers/sidebar";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 import { expectWorkspaceHeader } from "./helpers/workspace-ui";
-import { connectWorkspaceSetupClient } from "./helpers/workspace-setup";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
+import { escapeRegex } from "./helpers/regex";
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
+const GITHUB_REMOTE_URL = "https://github.com/test-owner/test-repo.git";
 
 function getWorkspaceRowTestId(workspaceId: string): string {
   return `sidebar-workspace-row-${getServerId()}:${workspaceId}`;
 }
 
-function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
-  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-}
-
-function setGitHubRemote(repoPath: string): void {
-  execSync("git remote set-url origin https://github.com/test-owner/test-repo.git", {
-    cwd: repoPath,
-    stdio: "ignore",
-  });
-}
-
-async function createTempDirectory(prefix = "paseo-e2e-dir-") {
-  const tempRoot = process.platform === "win32" ? tmpdir() : await realpath("/tmp");
-  const dirPath = await mkdtemp(path.join(tempRoot, prefix));
-  await writeFile(path.join(dirPath, "README.md"), "# Temp Directory\n");
-  return {
-    path: dirPath,
-    cleanup: async () => {
-      await rm(dirPath, { recursive: true, force: true });
-    },
-  };
-}
-
-async function openProjectViaDaemon(
-  client: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof connectWorkspaceSetupClient>>,
-  cwd: string,
-): Promise<{ id: string; name: string }> {
-  const result = await client.openProject(cwd);
-  if (!result.workspace || result.error) {
-    throw new Error(result.error ?? `Failed to open project ${cwd}`);
-  }
-  return {
-    id: result.workspace.id,
-    name: result.workspace.name,
-  };
-}
-
 async function openWorkspaceFromSidebar(
   page: import("@playwright/test").Page,
   workspaceId: string,
@@ -92,15 +47,15 @@ async function waitForSidebarWorkspace(page: import("@playwright/test").Page, wo
 
 test.describe("Sidebar workspace list", () => {
   test("project with GitHub remote shows owner/repo name in sidebar", async ({ page }) => {
-    const client = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("sidebar-remote-", { withRemote: true });
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "sidebar-remote-",
+      repo: { withRemote: true, originUrl: GITHUB_REMOTE_URL },
+    });
 
     try {
-      setGitHubRemote(repo.path);
-      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
       await gotoAppShell(page);
       await waitForSidebarProject(page, "test-owner/test-repo");
-      await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.id);
+      await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
       const projectRow = page
         .locator('[data-testid^="sidebar-project-row-"]')
@@ -108,81 +63,73 @@ test.describe("Sidebar workspace list", () => {
         .first();
 
       await expect(projectRow).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
-      await expect(projectRow).not.toContainText(path.basename(repo.path));
+      await expect(projectRow).not.toContainText(path.basename(workspace.repoPath));
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("project shows workspace under it", async ({ page }) => {
-    const client = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("sidebar-workspace-under-project-");
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "sidebar-workspace-under-project-" });
 
     try {
-      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
       await gotoAppShell(page);
 
-      await waitForSidebarProject(page, path.basename(repo.path));
-      await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.id);
+      await waitForSidebarProject(page, path.basename(workspace.repoPath));
+      await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("non-git project shows directory name", async ({ page }) => {
-    const client = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-    const project = await createTempDirectory("sidebar-directory-");
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "sidebar-directory-", git: false });
 
     try {
-      await openProjectViaDaemon(client, project.path);
       await gotoAppShell(page);
 
-      const projectRow = await waitForSidebarProject(page, path.basename(project.path));
-      await expect(projectRow).toContainText(path.basename(project.path));
+      const directoryName = path.basename(workspace.repoPath);
+      const projectRow = await waitForSidebarProject(page, directoryName);
+      await expect(projectRow).toContainText(directoryName);
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await project.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("workspace header shows correct title and subtitle", async ({ page }) => {
-    const client = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("sidebar-header-", { withRemote: true });
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "sidebar-header-",
+      repo: { withRemote: true, originUrl: GITHUB_REMOTE_URL },
+    });
 
     try {
-      setGitHubRemote(repo.path);
-      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
       await gotoAppShell(page);
       await waitForSidebarProject(page, "test-owner/test-repo");
-      await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.id);
-      await openWorkspaceFromSidebar(page, workspace.id);
+      await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId);
+      await openWorkspaceFromSidebar(page, workspace.workspaceId);
 
       await expectWorkspaceHeader(page, {
-        title: workspace.name,
+        title: workspace.workspaceName,
         subtitle: "test-owner/test-repo",
       });
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("git project shows branch name in workspace row", async ({ page }) => {
-    const client = await connectWorkspaceSetupClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("sidebar-branch-");
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "sidebar-branch-" });
 
     try {
-      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(client, repo.path);
       await gotoAppShell(page);
-      await waitForSidebarProject(page, path.basename(repo.path));
+      await waitForSidebarProject(page, path.basename(workspace.repoPath));
 
-      expect(workspace.name).toBe("main");
-      await expect(await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.id)).toContainText("main");
+      expect(workspace.workspaceName).toBe("main");
+      await expect(await waitForSidebarWorkspace(page, workspace.workspaceId)).toContainText(
+        "main",
+      );
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/startup-loading.spec.ts

@@ -1,22 +1,8 @@
 import { test } from "./fixtures";
+import { getE2EDaemonPort } from "./helpers/daemon-port";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import { startupScenario } from "./helpers/startup-dsl";
 
-function getE2EDaemonPort(): string {
-  const port = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!port) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-  }
-  return port;
-}
-
-function getE2EServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
 test.describe("Startup loading presentation", () => {
   test("mobile reconnect keeps connection recovery actions visible", async ({ page }) => {
     const startup = await startupScenario(page)
@@ -49,7 +35,7 @@ test.describe("Startup loading presentation", () => {
   test("host-route refresh does not render route chrome around the bootstrap splash", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = getE2EServerId();
+    const serverId = getServerId();
     const startup = await startupScenario(page)
       .withPendingDesktopDaemon()
       .withBlockedPort(getE2EDaemonPort())

packages/app/e2e/terminal-performance.spec.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
 import { test, expect } from "./fixtures";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { TerminalE2EHarness } from "./helpers/terminal-dsl";
 import {
-  connectTerminalClient,
-  navigateToTerminal,
-  setupDeterministicPrompt,
   waitForTerminalContent,
   measureKeystrokeLatency,
   computePercentile,
   round2,
-  type TerminalPerfDaemonClient,
   type LatencySample,
 } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
 
@@ -20,43 +16,26 @@ const RUN_MANUAL_TERMINAL_PERF = process.env.PASEO_TERMINAL_PERF_E2E === "1";
 const terminalPerfDescribe = RUN_MANUAL_TERMINAL_PERF ? test.describe : test.describe.skip;
 
 terminalPerfDescribe("Terminal wire performance", () => {
-  let client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient;
-  let tempRepo: { path: string; cleanup: () => Promise<void> };
-  let workspaceId: string;
+  let harness: TerminalE2EHarness;
 
   test.beforeAll(async () => {
-    tempRepo = await createTempGitRepo("perf-");
-    client = await connectTerminalClient();
-    // Seed the workspace in the daemon so the app can resolve the path
-    const seedResult = await client.openProject(tempRepo.path);
-    if (!seedResult.workspace) throw new Error(seedResult.error ?? "Failed to seed workspace");
-    workspaceId = seedResult.workspace.id;
+    harness = await TerminalE2EHarness.create({ tempPrefix: "perf-" });
   });
 
   test.afterAll(async () => {
-    if (client) {
-      await client.close();
-    }
-    if (tempRepo) {
-      await tempRepo.cleanup();
-    }
+    await harness?.cleanup();
   });
 
   test("throughput: bulk terminal output renders within budget", async ({ page }, testInfo) => {
     test.setTimeout(90_000);
 
-    const result = await client.createTerminal(tempRepo.path, "throughput");
-    if (!result.terminal) {
-      throw new Error(`Failed to create terminal: ${result.error}`);
-    }
-    const terminalId = result.terminal.id;
-
+    const created = await harness.createTerminal({ name: "throughput" });
     try {
-      await navigateToTerminal(page, { workspaceId, terminalId });
-      await setupDeterministicPrompt(page);
+      await harness.openTerminal(page, { terminalId: created.id });
+      await harness.setupPrompt(page);
 
       const sentinel = `PERF_DONE_${Date.now()}`;
-      const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
+      const terminal = harness.terminalSurface(page);
       const startMs = Date.now();
 
       await terminal.pressSequentially(`seq 1 ${LINE_COUNT}; echo ${sentinel}\n`, { delay: 0 });
@@ -97,25 +76,20 @@ terminalPerfDescribe("Terminal wire performance", () => {
         `${LINE_COUNT} lines should render within ${THROUGHPUT_BUDGET_MS}ms`,
       ).toBeLessThan(THROUGHPUT_BUDGET_MS);
     } finally {
-      await client.killTerminal(terminalId).catch(() => {});
+      await harness.killTerminal(created.id);
     }
   });
 
   test("keystroke latency: echo round-trip under budget", async ({ page }, testInfo) => {
     test.setTimeout(60_000);
 
-    const result = await client.createTerminal(tempRepo.path, "latency");
-    if (!result.terminal) {
-      throw new Error(`Failed to create terminal: ${result.error}`);
-    }
-    const terminalId = result.terminal.id;
-
+    const created = await harness.createTerminal({ name: "latency" });
     try {
-      await navigateToTerminal(page, { workspaceId, terminalId });
-      await setupDeterministicPrompt(page);
+      await harness.openTerminal(page, { terminalId: created.id });
+      await harness.setupPrompt(page);
 
       // Ensure clean prompt state
-      const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
+      const terminal = harness.terminalSurface(page);
       await terminal.press("Control+c");
       await page.waitForTimeout(200);
 
@@ -166,7 +140,7 @@ terminalPerfDescribe("Terminal wire performance", () => {
         `Keystroke p95 latency should be under ${KEYSTROKE_P95_BUDGET_MS}ms`,
       ).toBeLessThan(KEYSTROKE_P95_BUDGET_MS);
     } finally {
-      await client.killTerminal(terminalId).catch(() => {});
+      await harness.killTerminal(created.id);
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/user-message-contract.ui-contract.spec.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test, type Page } from "./fixtures";
-import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
-import { connectTerminalClient } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { openAgentRoute, seedMockAgentWorkspace } from "./helpers/mock-agent";
 import {
   composerLocator,
   expectComposerEditable,
@@ -10,27 +8,6 @@ import {
   submitMessage,
 } from "./helpers/composer";
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
-async function openAgent(page: Page, input: { cwd: string; agentId: string }): Promise<void> {
-  const agentUrl = `${buildHostWorkspaceRoute(
-    getServerId(),
-    input.cwd,
-  )}?open=${encodeURIComponent(`agent:${input.agentId}`)}`;
-  await page.goto(agentUrl);
-  await page.waitForURL(
-    (url) => url.pathname.includes("/workspace/") && !url.searchParams.has("open"),
-    { timeout: 60_000 },
-  );
-  await expectComposerVisible(page);
-}
-
 async function expectUserMessageCount(page: Page, expected: number): Promise<void> {
   await expect(page.getByTestId("user-message")).toHaveCount(expected, { timeout: 15_000 });
 }
@@ -50,8 +27,10 @@ async function expectNoLoadingRegressionAfterIdle(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 
 test.describe("User message UI contract", () => {
   test("dedupes mock provider user_message echoes across multi-turn sends", async ({ page }) => {
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("user-message-contract-e2e-");
-    const client = await connectTerminalClient();
+    const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "user-message-contract-e2e-",
+      title: "User message contract e2e",
+    });
     const prompts = [
       "emit 1 coalesced agent stream updates for user message contract turn one.",
       "emit 1 coalesced agent stream updates for user message contract turn two.",
@@ -59,15 +38,8 @@ test.describe("User message UI contract", () => {
     ];
 
     try {
-      await client.openProject(repo.path);
-      const agent = await client.createAgent({
-        provider: "mock",
-        cwd: repo.path,
-        title: "User message contract e2e",
-        modeId: "load-test",
-        model: "ten-second-stream",
-      });
-      await openAgent(page, { cwd: repo.path, agentId: agent.id });
+      await openAgentRoute(page, session);
+      await expectComposerVisible(page);
 
       for (let index = 0; index < prompts.length; index += 1) {
         const prompt = prompts[index]!;
@@ -85,8 +57,7 @@ test.describe("User message UI contract", () => {
       await expectUserMessageCount(page, 3);
       await expectIdleComposer(page);
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await session.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/workspace-agent-tab-rename.spec.ts

@@ -1,22 +1,11 @@
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import { test, expect, type Page } from "./fixtures";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
-import {
-  connectArchiveTabDaemonClient,
-  createIdleAgent,
-  expectWorkspaceTabVisible,
-} from "./helpers/archive-tab";
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
+import { createIdleAgent, expectWorkspaceTabVisible } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
 import { waitForWorkspaceTabsVisible } from "./helpers/workspace-tabs";
 import { buildHostAgentDetailRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { captureWsSessionFrames, renameModalInput, renameModalSubmit } from "./helpers/rename";
-
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 
 async function openAgentInWorkspace(page: Page, agent: { id: string; cwd: string }) {
   await page.goto(buildHostAgentDetailRoute(getServerId(), agent.id, agent.cwd));
@@ -34,13 +23,12 @@ test.describe("Workspace agent tab rename", () => {
   }) => {
     test.setTimeout(120_000);
 
-    const client = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-agent-rename-");
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "workspace-agent-rename-" });
 
     try {
       const initialTitle = `agent-rename-${randomUUID().slice(0, 8)}`;
-      const agent = await createIdleAgent(client, {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+      const agent = await createIdleAgent(workspace.client, {
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         title: initialTitle,
       });
 
@@ -81,8 +69,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace agent tab rename", () => {
       expect(lastFrame.name).toBe(renamed);
       expect(lastFrame.requestId.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
     } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/workspace-agent-title-handoff.spec.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { test, expect, type Page } from "./fixtures";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
 import { expectComposerVisible, submitMessage } from "./helpers/composer";
-import { connectTerminalClient, type TerminalPerfDaemonClient } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
+import { seedWorkspace, type SeedDaemonClient } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 import { waitForWorkspaceTabsVisible } from "./helpers/workspace-tabs";
 import { captureWsSessionFrames } from "./helpers/rename";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import { buildHostWorkspaceRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 
 interface WorkspaceTabProbeRecord {
@@ -20,14 +20,6 @@ interface CapturedCreateAgentFrame {
   configTitle: string | null;
 }
 
-function getServerId(): string {
-  const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!serverId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-  }
-  return serverId;
-}
-
 async function installWorkspaceTabProbe(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await page.evaluate(() => {
     type ProbeRecord = WorkspaceTabProbeRecord;
@@ -122,10 +114,7 @@ function recordHasLoadingTitle(record: WorkspaceTabProbeRecord): boolean {
   return record.tabs.some(tabHasLoadingTitle);
 }
 
-async function waitForCreatedAgentId(
-  client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient,
-  cwd: string,
-): Promise<string> {
+async function waitForCreatedAgentId(client: SeedDaemonClient, cwd: string): Promise<string> {
   await expect
     .poll(
       async () => {
@@ -146,7 +135,7 @@ async function waitForCreatedAgentId(
 }
 
 async function fetchActiveAgentTitle(
-  client: TerminalPerfDaemonClient,
+  client: SeedDaemonClient,
   agentId: string,
 ): Promise<string | null> {
   const result = await client.fetchAgents({ scope: "active" });
@@ -179,15 +168,9 @@ test.describe("Workspace agent title handoff", () => {
     test.setTimeout(120_000);
     await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1440, height: 900 });
 
-    const client = await connectTerminalClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-title-handoff-");
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "workspace-title-handoff-" });
 
     try {
-      const opened = await client.openProject(repo.path);
-      if (!opened.workspace) {
-        throw new Error(opened.error ?? "Failed to open test workspace");
-      }
-
       const createFrames = captureWsSessionFrames(page, "create_agent_request", (inner) => {
         const config = (inner.config ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
         return {
@@ -196,7 +179,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace agent title handoff", () => {
         };
       });
 
-      await page.goto(buildHostWorkspaceRoute(getServerId(), opened.workspace.id));
+      await page.goto(buildHostWorkspaceRoute(getServerId(), workspace.workspaceId));
       await waitForWorkspaceTabsVisible(page);
       await page.getByTestId("workspace-new-agent-tab").click();
       await expectComposerVisible(page);
@@ -206,7 +189,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace agent title handoff", () => {
       await installWorkspaceTabProbe(page);
       await submitMessage(page, `${promptTitle}\n\nMake the UI state deterministic.`);
 
-      const agentId = await waitForCreatedAgentId(client, repo.path);
+      const agentId = await waitForCreatedAgentId(workspace.client, workspace.repoPath);
       await expect
         .poll(() => countCreateFramesForPrompt(createFrames, promptTitle), {
           timeout: 10_000,
@@ -219,9 +202,9 @@ test.describe("Workspace agent title handoff", () => {
 
       await waitForPromptTabAgentActions(page, promptTitle);
 
-      await client.updateAgent(agentId, { name: generatedTitle });
+      await workspace.client.updateAgent(agentId, { name: generatedTitle });
       await expect
-        .poll(() => fetchActiveAgentTitle(client, agentId), { timeout: 10_000 })
+        .poll(() => fetchActiveAgentTitle(workspace.client, agentId), { timeout: 10_000 })
         .toBe(generatedTitle);
       await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: generatedTitle }).first()).toBeVisible({
         timeout: 15_000,
@@ -232,8 +215,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace agent title handoff", () => {
       expect(records.some((record) => recordHasTabLabel(record, generatedTitle))).toBe(true);
       expect(records.filter(recordHasLoadingTitle)).toEqual([]);
     } finally {
-      await client.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/workspace-cwd.spec.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-import { expect, type Page, test } from "./fixtures";
+import { expect, test } from "./fixtures";
 import { clickNewChat, clickNewTerminal } from "./helpers/launcher";
+import { captureWsSessionFrames } from "./helpers/rename";
 import {
   expectTerminalSurfaceVisible,
   focusTerminalSurface,
@@ -8,53 +9,13 @@ import {
   waitForTerminalContent,
 } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
 
-async function installCreateAgentRequestRecorder(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  await page.addInitScript(() => {
-    const requests: unknown[] = [];
-    (
-      window as typeof window & {
-        __paseoE2eCreateAgentRequests?: unknown[];
-      }
-    ).__paseoE2eCreateAgentRequests = requests;
-    const originalSend = WebSocket.prototype.send;
-    WebSocket.prototype.send = function (data) {
-      if (typeof data === "string") {
-        try {
-          const parsed = JSON.parse(data) as {
-            type?: unknown;
-            message?: { type?: unknown };
-          };
-          if (parsed.type === "session" && parsed.message?.type === "create_agent_request") {
-            requests.push(parsed.message);
-          }
-        } catch {
-          // Ignore non-JSON frames.
-        }
-      }
-      return originalSend.call(this, data);
-    };
-  });
+interface CreateAgentFrame {
+  initialPrompt: string | null;
+  cwd: string | null;
 }
 
-async function getRecordedCreateAgentCwd(page: Page, message: string): Promise<string | null> {
-  return page.evaluate((expectedMessage) => {
-    const requests =
-      (
-        window as typeof window & {
-          __paseoE2eCreateAgentRequests?: Array<{
-            initialPrompt?: string;
-            config?: { cwd?: string };
-          }>;
-        }
-      ).__paseoE2eCreateAgentRequests ?? [];
-
-    for (const request of requests) {
-      if (request.initialPrompt === expectedMessage) {
-        return request.config?.cwd ?? null;
-      }
-    }
-    return null;
-  }, message);
+function cwdForPrompt(frames: CreateAgentFrame[], prompt: string): string | null {
+  return frames.find((frame) => frame.initialPrompt === prompt)?.cwd ?? null;
 }
 
 test.describe("Workspace cwd correctness", () => {
@@ -78,7 +39,14 @@ test.describe("Workspace cwd correctness", () => {
   test("draft tab creates an agent in the workspace cwd", async ({ page, withWorkspace }) => {
     test.setTimeout(60_000);
 
-    await installCreateAgentRequestRecorder(page);
+    const createAgentFrames = captureWsSessionFrames(page, "create_agent_request", (inner) => {
+      const config = (inner.config ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
+      return {
+        initialPrompt: typeof inner.initialPrompt === "string" ? inner.initialPrompt : null,
+        cwd: typeof config.cwd === "string" ? config.cwd : null,
+      };
+    });
+
     const workspace = await withWorkspace({ prefix: "workspace-cwd-draft-agent-" });
     await workspace.navigateTo();
 
@@ -97,7 +65,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace cwd correctness", () => {
     });
 
     await expect
-      .poll(async () => getRecordedCreateAgentCwd(page, message), { timeout: 30_000 })
+      .poll(() => cwdForPrompt(createAgentFrames, message), { timeout: 30_000 })
       .toBe(workspace.repoPath);
   });
 

packages/app/e2e/workspace-navigation-regression.spec.ts

@@ -3,20 +3,14 @@ import type { WebSocketRoute } from "@playwright/test";
 import { expect, test, type Page } from "./fixtures";
 import { gotoAppShell, openSettings } from "./helpers/app";
 import {
-  archiveAgentFromDaemon,
-  connectArchiveTabDaemonClient,
   createIdleAgent,
   expectWorkspaceTabHidden,
   expectWorkspaceTabVisible,
   openWorkspaceWithAgents,
 } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
-import {
-  archiveLocalWorkspaceFromDaemon,
-  connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient,
-  openProjectViaDaemon,
-} from "./helpers/new-workspace";
 import { expectComposerVisible } from "./helpers/composer";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { daemonWsRoutePattern } from "./helpers/daemon-port";
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
 import {
   getVisibleWorkspaceAgentTabIds,
   expectOnlyWorkspaceAgentTabsVisible,
@@ -37,13 +31,10 @@ import {
   expectWorkspaceDeckEntryCount,
 } from "./helpers/workspace-ui";
 import { clickSettingsBackToWorkspace } from "./helpers/settings";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 
 const LOADING_WORKSPACE_TEXT_PATTERN = /Loading workspace/i;
 
-function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
-  return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-}
-
 async function expectNoLoadingWorkspacePane(
   page: Page,
   input: { label: string; durationMs?: number },
@@ -88,11 +79,11 @@ async function closeFirstVisibleDraftTab(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await closeButton.first().click();
 }
 
-async function installDaemonWebSocketGate(page: Page, daemonPort: string) {
+async function installDaemonWebSocketGate(page: Page) {
   let acceptingConnections = true;
   const activeSockets = new Set<WebSocketRoute>();
 
-  await page.routeWebSocket(new RegExp(`:${escapeRegex(daemonPort)}\\b`), (ws) => {
+  await page.routeWebSocket(daemonWsRoutePattern(), (ws) => {
     if (!acceptingConnections) {
       void ws.close({ code: 1008, reason: "Blocked by workspace reconnect regression test." });
       return;
@@ -166,32 +157,17 @@ test.describe("Workspace navigation regression", () => {
   });
 
   test("keeps the workspace rendered while reconnecting to the host", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
-    if (!daemonPort) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
-    const daemonGate = await installDaemonWebSocketGate(page, daemonPort);
+    const daemonGate = await installDaemonWebSocketGate(page);
 
-    const workspaceClient = await connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient();
-    const archiveClient = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
-    const workspaceIds = new Set<string>();
-    const agentIds: string[] = [];
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-reconnect-");
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "workspace-reconnect-" });
 
     try {
-      const workspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(workspaceClient, repo.path);
-      workspaceIds.add(workspace.workspaceId);
-
-      const agent = await createIdleAgent(archiveClient, {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+      const agent = await createIdleAgent(workspace.client, {
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         title: `workspace-reconnect-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      agentIds.push(agent.id);
 
       await gotoAppShell(page);
       await waitForSidebarHydration(page);
@@ -231,31 +207,16 @@ test.describe("Workspace navigation regression", () => {
       await expectComposerVisible(page);
     } finally {
       daemonGate.restore();
-      for (const agentId of agentIds) {
-        await archiveAgentFromDaemon(archiveClient, agentId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      for (const workspaceId of workspaceIds) {
-        await archiveLocalWorkspaceFromDaemon(workspaceClient, workspaceId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      await archiveClient.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await workspaceClient.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("cold offline workspace route gates the screen interior but keeps settings reachable", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    const daemonPort = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
-    if (!daemonPort) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
-    await page.routeWebSocket(new RegExp(`:${escapeRegex(daemonPort)}\\b`), async (ws) => {
+    await page.routeWebSocket(daemonWsRoutePattern(), async (ws) => {
       await ws.close({ code: 1008, reason: "Blocked cold offline workspace route test." });
     });
 
@@ -272,22 +233,12 @@ test.describe("Workspace navigation regression", () => {
   });
 
   test("cold workspace URL keeps sidebar workspace navigation functional", async ({ page }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
-    const workspaceClient = await connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient();
-    const workspaceIds = new Set<string>();
-    const firstRepo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-cold-url-a-");
-    const secondRepo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-cold-url-b-");
+    const firstWorkspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "workspace-cold-url-a-" });
+    const secondWorkspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "workspace-cold-url-b-" });
 
     try {
-      const firstWorkspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(workspaceClient, firstRepo.path);
-      const secondWorkspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(workspaceClient, secondRepo.path);
-      workspaceIds.add(firstWorkspace.workspaceId);
-      workspaceIds.add(secondWorkspace.workspaceId);
-
       await page.goto(buildHostWorkspaceRoute(serverId, firstWorkspace.workspaceId));
       await waitForSidebarHydration(page);
       await expect(page).toHaveURL(buildHostWorkspaceRoute(serverId, firstWorkspace.workspaceId), {
@@ -304,45 +255,28 @@ test.describe("Workspace navigation regression", () => {
         timeout: 30_000,
       });
     } finally {
-      for (const workspaceId of workspaceIds) {
-        await archiveLocalWorkspaceFromDaemon(workspaceClient, workspaceId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      await workspaceClient.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await secondRepo.cleanup();
-      await firstRepo.cleanup();
+      await secondWorkspace.cleanup();
+      await firstWorkspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 
   test("sidebar navigation and reload keep workspace selection and tabs aligned", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
-    const workspaceClient = await connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient();
-    const archiveClient = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
-    const workspaceIds = new Set<string>();
-    const agentIds: string[] = [];
-    const firstRepo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-nav-reg-a-");
-    const secondRepo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-nav-reg-b-");
+    const firstWorkspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "workspace-nav-reg-a-" });
+    const secondWorkspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "workspace-nav-reg-b-" });
 
     try {
-      const firstWorkspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(workspaceClient, firstRepo.path);
-      const secondWorkspace = await openProjectViaDaemon(workspaceClient, secondRepo.path);
-      workspaceIds.add(firstWorkspace.workspaceId);
-      workspaceIds.add(secondWorkspace.workspaceId);
-
-      const firstAgent = await createIdleAgent(archiveClient, {
-        cwd: firstRepo.path,
+      const firstAgent = await createIdleAgent(firstWorkspace.client, {
+        cwd: firstWorkspace.repoPath,
         title: `workspace-nav-a-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      const secondAgent = await createIdleAgent(archiveClient, {
-        cwd: secondRepo.path,
+      const secondAgent = await createIdleAgent(secondWorkspace.client, {
+        cwd: secondWorkspace.repoPath,
         title: `workspace-nav-b-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      agentIds.push(firstAgent.id, secondAgent.id);
 
       await gotoAppShell(page);
       await waitForSidebarHydration(page);
@@ -487,16 +421,8 @@ test.describe("Workspace navigation regression", () => {
         `workspace-tab-agent_${firstAgent.id}`,
       ]);
     } finally {
-      for (const agentId of agentIds) {
-        await archiveAgentFromDaemon(archiveClient, agentId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      for (const workspaceId of workspaceIds) {
-        await archiveLocalWorkspaceFromDaemon(workspaceClient, workspaceId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      await archiveClient.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await workspaceClient.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await secondRepo.cleanup();
-      await firstRepo.cleanup();
+      await secondWorkspace.cleanup();
+      await firstWorkspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/workspace-pane-remount.spec.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 import { buildHostAgentDetailRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { expect, test } from "./fixtures";
-import {
-  archiveAgentFromDaemon,
-  connectArchiveTabDaemonClient,
-  createIdleAgent,
-} from "./helpers/archive-tab";
+import { createIdleAgent } from "./helpers/archive-tab";
 import { expectComposerVisible } from "./helpers/composer";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
+import { seedWorkspace } from "./helpers/seed-client";
+import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import { waitForWorkspaceTabsVisible } from "./helpers/workspace-tabs";
 
 test.describe("Workspace pane mounting", () => {
@@ -14,21 +11,15 @@ test.describe("Workspace pane mounting", () => {
     page,
   }) => {
     test.setTimeout(90_000);
-    const serverId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-    if (!serverId) {
-      throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set.");
-    }
+    const serverId = getServerId();
 
-    const client = await connectArchiveTabDaemonClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("pane-remount-");
-    let agentId: string | null = null;
+    const workspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "pane-remount-" });
 
     try {
-      const agent = await createIdleAgent(client, {
-        cwd: repo.path,
+      const agent = await createIdleAgent(workspace.client, {
+        cwd: workspace.repoPath,
         title: `pane-remount-${Date.now()}`,
       });
-      agentId = agent.id;
 
       await page.goto(buildHostAgentDetailRoute(serverId, agent.id, agent.cwd));
       await page.waitForURL(
@@ -54,11 +45,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace pane mounting", () => {
       const originalStillConnected = await originalComposer!.evaluate((node) => node.isConnected);
       expect(originalStillConnected).toBe(true);
     } finally {
-      if (agentId) {
-        await archiveAgentFromDaemon(client, agentId).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
-      await client.close().catch(() => undefined);
-      await repo.cleanup();
+      await workspace.cleanup();
     }
   });
 });

packages/app/e2e/workspace-setup-runtime.spec.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   findWorktreeWorkspaceForProject,
   navigateToWorkspaceViaSidebar,
   openHomeWithProject,
+  seedProjectForWorkspaceSetup,
 } from "./helpers/workspace-setup";
 
 test.describe("Workspace setup runtime authority", () => {
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace setup runtime authority", () => {
     const repo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-setup-chat-");
 
     try {
-      await client.openProject(repo.path);
+      await seedProjectForWorkspaceSetup(client, repo.path);
       const workspace = await createWorkspaceThroughDaemon(client, {
         cwd: repo.path,
         worktreeSlug: `setup-chat-${Date.now()}`,
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace setup runtime authority", () => {
     const repo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-setup-terminal-");
 
     try {
-      await client.openProject(repo.path);
+      await seedProjectForWorkspaceSetup(client, repo.path);
 
       // Create workspace via daemon API since the new workspace screen
       // no longer has a standalone terminal button

packages/app/e2e/workspace-terminal-tab-rename.spec.ts

@@ -1,50 +1,42 @@
 import { test, expect } from "./fixtures";
-import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
-import { connectTerminalClient, navigateToTerminal } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
+import { TerminalE2EHarness, withTerminalInApp } from "./helpers/terminal-dsl";
 import { captureWsSessionFrames, renameModalInput, renameModalSubmit } from "./helpers/rename";
 
 test.describe("Workspace terminal tab rename", () => {
+  let harness: TerminalE2EHarness;
+
+  test.beforeAll(async () => {
+    harness = await TerminalE2EHarness.create({ tempPrefix: "workspace-terminal-rename-" });
+  });
+
+  test.afterAll(async () => {
+    await harness?.cleanup();
+  });
+
   test("right-click rename sends terminal.rename.request and updates the tab label", async ({
     page,
   }) => {
     test.setTimeout(60_000);
 
-    const client = await connectTerminalClient();
-    const repo = await createTempGitRepo("workspace-terminal-rename-");
+    const renameFrames = captureWsSessionFrames(page, "terminal.rename.request", (inner) => ({
+      terminalId: String(inner.terminalId ?? ""),
+      title: String(inner.title ?? ""),
+      requestId: String(inner.requestId ?? ""),
+    }));
 
-    try {
-      const seeded = await client.openProject(repo.path);
-      if (!seeded.workspace) {
-        throw new Error(seeded.error ?? "Failed to seed workspace");
-      }
-      const workspaceId = seeded.workspace.id;
-
-      const created = await client.createTerminal(repo.path);
-      if (!created.terminal) {
-        throw new Error(created.error ?? "Failed to create terminal");
-      }
-      const terminalId = created.terminal.id;
-
-      const renameFrames = captureWsSessionFrames(page, "terminal.rename.request", (inner) => ({
-        terminalId: String(inner.terminalId ?? ""),
-        title: String(inner.title ?? ""),
-        requestId: String(inner.requestId ?? ""),
-      }));
-
-      await navigateToTerminal(page, { workspaceId, terminalId });
-
-      const tab = page.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-terminal_${terminalId}`).first();
+    await withTerminalInApp(page, harness, { name: "rename-target" }, async (terminal) => {
+      const tab = page.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-terminal_${terminal.id}`).first();
       await expect(tab).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
 
       await tab.click({ button: "right" });
-      await expect(page.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-context-terminal_${terminalId}`)).toBeVisible({
+      await expect(page.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-context-terminal_${terminal.id}`)).toBeVisible({
         timeout: 10_000,
       });
-      const renameItem = page.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-context-terminal_${terminalId}-rename`);
+      const renameItem = page.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-context-terminal_${terminal.id}-rename`);
       await expect(renameItem).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
       await renameItem.click();
 
-      const modalPrefix = `workspace-tab-rename-modal-terminal-${terminalId}`;
+      const modalPrefix = `workspace-tab-rename-modal-terminal-${terminal.id}`;
       const input = renameModalInput(page, modalPrefix);
       await expect(input).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
 
@@ -56,12 +48,9 @@ test.describe("Workspace terminal tab rename", () => {
 
       expect(renameFrames.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
       const lastFrame = renameFrames.at(-1)!;
-      expect(lastFrame.terminalId).toBe(terminalId);
+      expect(lastFrame.terminalId).toBe(terminal.id);
       expect(lastFrame.title).toBe("My Renamed Terminal");
       expect(lastFrame.requestId.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
-    } finally {
-      await client.close();
-      await repo.cleanup();
-    }
+    });
   });
 });

packages/app/maestro/record-workspace-create-android-focus.sh

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ OUT_DIR="/tmp/paseo-workspace-create-android-focus-$(date +%s)"
 VIDEO_DIR="/tmp/paseo-maestro-videos"
 DEVICE_VIDEO="/sdcard/paseo-maestro-workspace-create-focused.mp4"
 LOCAL_VIDEO="$VIDEO_DIR/paseo-maestro-workspace-create-focused.mp4"
+CLIENT_EXPORTS="$REPO_ROOT/packages/client/dist/daemon-client.js"
 
 export PASEO_MAESTRO_APP_ID="${PASEO_MAESTRO_APP_ID:-sh.paseo.debug}"
 export PASEO_MAESTRO_DIRECT_ENDPOINT="${PASEO_MAESTRO_DIRECT_ENDPOINT:-127.0.0.1:6767}"
@@ -55,6 +56,12 @@ require_command perl
 
 mkdir -p "$OUT_DIR" "$VIDEO_DIR"
 
+if [ ! -f "$CLIENT_EXPORTS" ]; then
+  echo "Missing client build artifact: $CLIENT_EXPORTS" >&2
+  echo "Run: npm run build:client" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 if [ -z "${PASEO_MAESTRO_PROJECT_PATH:-}" ]; then
   PROJECT_PARENT="$(mktemp -d /tmp/paseo-maestro-project-XXXXXX)"
   PROJECT_BASENAME="aaa-workspace-create-android-$(basename "$PROJECT_PARENT")"
@@ -96,7 +103,7 @@ if (!repoRoot || !projectPath || !daemonUrl) {
   throw new Error("Missing required environment for daemon project setup.");
 }
 
-const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(`${repoRoot}/packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js`).href;
+const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(`${repoRoot}/packages/client/dist/daemon-client.js`).href;
 const { DaemonClient } = await import(moduleUrl);
 const client = new DaemonClient({
   url: daemonUrl,

packages/app/maestro/test-workspace-create-android-crash.sh

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/../../.." && pwd)"
 FLOW_TEMPLATE="$REPO_ROOT/packages/app/maestro/workspace-create-android-crash.yaml"
 FLOW_TEMPLATE_DIR="$REPO_ROOT/packages/app/maestro"
 OUT_DIR="/tmp/paseo-workspace-create-android-$(date +%s)"
-SERVER_EXPORTS="$REPO_ROOT/packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js"
+CLIENT_EXPORTS="$REPO_ROOT/packages/client/dist/daemon-client.js"
 
 export PASEO_MAESTRO_APP_ID="${PASEO_MAESTRO_APP_ID:-sh.paseo.debug}"
 export PASEO_MAESTRO_DIRECT_ENDPOINT="${PASEO_MAESTRO_DIRECT_ENDPOINT:-127.0.0.1:6767}"
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ render_flow_tree() {
   done
 }
 
-if [ ! -f "$SERVER_EXPORTS" ]; then
-  echo "Missing server build artifact: $SERVER_EXPORTS" >&2
-  echo "Run: npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/server" >&2
+if [ ! -f "$CLIENT_EXPORTS" ]; then
+  echo "Missing client build artifact: $CLIENT_EXPORTS" >&2
+  echo "Run: npm run build:client" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ if (!repoRoot || !projectPath || !daemonUrl) {
   throw new Error("Missing required environment for daemon project setup.");
 }
 
-const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(`${repoRoot}/packages/server/dist/server/server/exports.js`).href;
+const moduleUrl = pathToFileURL(`${repoRoot}/packages/client/dist/daemon-client.js`).href;
 const { DaemonClient } = await import(moduleUrl);
 const client = new DaemonClient({
   url: daemonUrl,

packages/app/metro.config.cjs

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ const path = require("path");
 const projectRoot = __dirname;
 const appNodeModulesRoot = path.resolve(projectRoot, "node_modules");
 const appSrcRoot = path.resolve(projectRoot, "src");
-const serverSrcRoot = path.resolve(projectRoot, "../server/src");
 const relaySrcRoot = path.resolve(projectRoot, "../relay/src");
 const customWebPlatform = (process.env.PASEO_WEB_PLATFORM ?? "")
   .trim()
@@ -68,11 +67,7 @@ function resolveWithCustomWebOverlay(context, moduleName, platform) {
 
 config.resolver.resolveRequest = (context, moduleName, platform) => {
   const origin = context.originModulePath;
-  if (
-    origin &&
-    (origin.startsWith(serverSrcRoot) || origin.startsWith(relaySrcRoot)) &&
-    moduleName.endsWith(".js")
-  ) {
+  if (origin && origin.startsWith(relaySrcRoot) && moduleName.endsWith(".js")) {
     const tsModuleName = moduleName.replace(/\.js$/, ".ts");
     const candidatePath = path.resolve(path.dirname(origin), tsModuleName);
     if (fs.existsSync(candidatePath)) {

packages/app/package.json

@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 {
   "name": "@getpaseo/app",
-  "version": "0.1.83",
+  "version": "0.1.87",
   "private": true,
   "main": "index.ts",
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "cross-env APP_VARIANT=development expo start",
-    "build:terminal-webview": "node ./scripts/build-terminal-webview-html.mjs",
+    "start": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:client && concurrently --kill-others --names protocol,client,expo --prefix-colors yellow,blue,magenta \"npm --prefix ../.. run watch:protocol\" \"npm --prefix ../.. run watch:client\" \"npm run start:expo\"",
+    "start:expo": "cross-env APP_VARIANT=development expo start",
     "reset-project": "node ./scripts/reset-project.js",
-    "build:workspace-deps": "npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/highlight && npm run build --workspace=@getpaseo/expo-two-way-audio",
-    "eas-build-post-install": "npm run build:workspace-deps && npm run build:terminal-webview",
+    "eas-build-post-install": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:app-deps && npm run build:terminal-webview",
     "android": "npm run android:development",
-    "android:development": "cross-env APP_VARIANT=development expo prebuild --platform android --non-interactive && cross-env APP_VARIANT=development expo run:android --variant=debug",
-    "android:production": "cross-env APP_VARIANT=production expo prebuild --platform android --non-interactive && cross-env APP_VARIANT=production expo run:android --variant=release",
+    "android:development": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:client && cross-env APP_VARIANT=development expo prebuild --platform android --non-interactive && cross-env APP_VARIANT=development expo run:android --variant=debug",
+    "android:production": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:client && cross-env APP_VARIANT=production expo prebuild --platform android --non-interactive && cross-env APP_VARIANT=production expo run:android --variant=release",
     "android:release": "npm run android:production",
     "android:clear": "node -e \"require('node:fs').rmSync('android', { recursive: true, force: true })\"",
-    "ios": "expo run:ios",
-    "ios:release": "expo run:ios --configuration Release",
-    "web": "expo start --web",
+    "ios": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:client && expo run:ios",
+    "ios:release": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:client && expo run:ios --configuration Release",
+    "web": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:client && concurrently --kill-others --names protocol,client,expo --prefix-colors yellow,blue,magenta \"npm --prefix ../.. run watch:protocol\" \"npm --prefix ../.. run watch:client\" \"npm run web:expo\"",
+    "web:expo": "expo start --web",
     "lint": "expo lint",
     "typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit",
     "test": "vitest run",
@@ -25,16 +25,19 @@
     "test:e2e:real": "playwright test --project=real-provider",
     "test:e2e:ui": "playwright test --ui",
     "build": "npm run build:web",
-    "build:web": "npm run build:workspace-deps && expo export --platform web",
-    "deploy:web": "npm run build:web && wrangler pages deploy dist --project-name paseo-app --branch main"
+    "build:web": "npm --prefix ../.. run build:app-deps && expo export --platform web",
+    "deploy:web": "npm run build:web && wrangler pages deploy dist --project-name paseo-app --branch main",
+    "build:terminal-webview": "node ./scripts/build-terminal-webview-html.mjs"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@dnd-kit/core": "^6.3.1",
     "@dnd-kit/sortable": "^10.0.0",
     "@dnd-kit/utilities": "^3.2.2",
     "@floating-ui/react-native": "^0.10.7",
+    "@getpaseo/client": "*",
     "@getpaseo/expo-two-way-audio": "*",
     "@getpaseo/highlight": "*",
+    "@getpaseo/protocol": "*",
     "@gorhom/bottom-sheet": "^5.2.14",
     "@gorhom/portal": "^1.0.14",
     "@react-native-async-storage/async-storage": "2.2.0",
@@ -82,21 +85,22 @@
     "qrcode": "^1.5.4",
     "react": "19.1.0",
     "react-dom": "19.1.0",
-    "react-native": "^0.81.5",
+    "react-native": "0.81.5",
     "react-native-draggable-flatlist": "^4.0.3",
     "react-native-edge-to-edge": "^1.7.0",
     "react-native-gesture-handler": "~2.28.0",
     "react-native-keyboard-controller": "^1.19.2",
     "react-native-markdown-display": "^7.0.2",
     "react-native-nitro-modules": "0.35.5",
-    "react-native-reanimated": "~4.1.1",
+    "react-native-reanimated": "~4.3.1",
     "react-native-safe-area-context": "~5.6.0",
     "react-native-screens": "~4.16.0",
     "react-native-svg": "^15.14.0",
+    "react-native-uitextview": "^2.2.0",
     "react-native-unistyles": "^3.2.4",
     "react-native-web": "~0.21.0",
     "react-native-webview": "^13.16.0",
-    "react-native-worklets": "0.5.1",
+    "react-native-worklets": "~0.8.3",
     "tiny-invariant": "^1.3.3",
     "use-sync-external-store": "^1.6.0",
     "zod": "^3.23.8",
@@ -104,6 +108,7 @@
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@playwright/test": "^1.56.1",
+    "@testing-library/dom": "^10.4.1",
     "@testing-library/react": "^16.3.2",
     "@types/markdown-it": "^14.1.2",
     "@types/qrcode": "^1.5.6",

packages/app/src/agent-stream/layout.test.ts

@@ -123,6 +123,43 @@ function findLayoutItem(layout: StreamLayout, id: string): StreamLayoutItem {
 }
 
 describe("layoutStream", () => {
+  it.each(["web", "android"] as const)(
+    "keeps split assistant block spacing identical to unsplit history on %s",
+    (platform) => {
+      const firstBlock = assistantMessage("turn:block:0", 2, { groupId: "turn", index: 0 });
+      const secondBlock = assistantMessage("turn:block:1", 3, { groupId: "turn", index: 1 });
+      const thirdBlock = assistantMessage("turn:block:2", 4, { groupId: "turn", index: 2 });
+      const splitLayout = layoutFor({
+        platform,
+        agentStatus: "running",
+        tail: [userMessage("u1", 1), firstBlock],
+        head: [secondBlock, thirdBlock],
+        timingIds: [firstBlock.id, secondBlock.id, thirdBlock.id],
+      });
+      const unsplitLayout = layoutFor({
+        platform,
+        agentStatus: "running",
+        tail: [userMessage("u1", 1), firstBlock, secondBlock, thirdBlock],
+        timingIds: [firstBlock.id, secondBlock.id, thirdBlock.id],
+      });
+
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, firstBlock.id).belowItem?.id).toBe(secondBlock.id);
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, secondBlock.id).aboveItem?.id).toBe(firstBlock.id);
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, firstBlock.id).assistantSpacing).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, firstBlock.id).assistantSpacing,
+      );
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, secondBlock.id).assistantSpacing).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, secondBlock.id).assistantSpacing,
+      );
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, firstBlock.id).gapBelow).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, firstBlock.id).gapBelow,
+      );
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, secondBlock.id).gapBelow).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, secondBlock.id).gapBelow,
+      );
+    },
+  );
+
   it("does not duplicate footers when a native assistant turn spans history and live head", () => {
     const historyBlock = assistantMessage("turn:block:0", 2, { groupId: "turn", index: 0 });
     const headBlock = assistantMessage("turn:head", 3, { groupId: "turn", index: 1 });
@@ -195,6 +232,39 @@ describe("layoutStream", () => {
     expect(findLayoutItem(layout, headBlock.id).assistantSpacing).toBe("compactTop");
   });
 
+  it.each(["web", "android"] as const)(
+    "keeps split tool sequencing and gapBelow identical to unsplit history on %s",
+    (platform) => {
+      const shell = toolCall("tool-1", 2);
+      const thinking = thought("thought-1", 3);
+      const assistant = assistantMessage("a1", 4);
+      const splitLayout = layoutFor({
+        platform,
+        tail: [userMessage("u1", 1), shell],
+        head: [thinking, assistant],
+      });
+      const unsplitLayout = layoutFor({
+        platform,
+        tail: [userMessage("u1", 1), shell, thinking, assistant],
+      });
+
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, shell.id).belowItem?.id).toBe(thinking.id);
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, thinking.id).aboveItem?.id).toBe(shell.id);
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, shell.id).toolSequence).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, shell.id).toolSequence,
+      );
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, thinking.id).toolSequence).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, thinking.id).toolSequence,
+      );
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, shell.id).gapBelow).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, shell.id).gapBelow,
+      );
+      expect(findLayoutItem(splitLayout, thinking.id).gapBelow).toBe(
+        findLayoutItem(unsplitLayout, thinking.id).gapBelow,
+      );
+    },
+  );
+
   it("computes tool sequence position from strategy-aware neighbors", () => {
     const shell = toolCall("tool-1", 2);
     const thinking = thought("thought-1", 3);

packages/app/src/agent-stream/layout.ts

@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ export interface StreamLayout {
   history: StreamLayoutItem[];
   liveHead: StreamLayoutItem[];
   auxiliaryTurnFooter: TurnFooterHost | null;
-  historyToHeadGap: number;
 }
 
 export interface StreamLayoutInput {
@@ -243,6 +242,5 @@ export function layoutStream(input: StreamLayoutInput): StreamLayout {
     history,
     liveHead,
     auxiliaryTurnFooter,
-    historyToHeadGap: getGapBetweenStreamItems(historyBoundaryItem, liveHeadBoundaryItem),
   };
 }

packages/app/src/agent-stream/model.ts

@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ export interface StreamHistoryBoundary {
   hasVirtualizedHistory: boolean;
   hasMountedHistory: boolean;
   hasLiveHead: boolean;
-  historyToHeadGap: number;
 }
 
 export interface StreamRenderAuxiliary {
@@ -205,7 +204,6 @@ export function buildAgentStreamRenderModel(
       hasVirtualizedHistory: splitHistory.segments.historyVirtualized.length > 0,
       hasMountedHistory: splitHistory.segments.historyMounted.length > 0,
       hasLiveHead: orderedHead.length > 0,
-      historyToHeadGap: 0,
     },
     auxiliary: EMPTY_AUXILIARY,
   };

packages/app/src/agent-stream/strategy-web.test.tsx

@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@ describe("createWebStreamStrategy", () => {
               hasVirtualizedHistory: true,
               hasMountedHistory: false,
               hasLiveHead: false,
-              historyToHeadGap: 0,
             },
             renderers: createRenderers(rowRenderCount),
             listEmptyComponent: null,
@@ -171,7 +170,6 @@ describe("createWebStreamStrategy", () => {
               hasVirtualizedHistory: false,
               hasMountedHistory: true,
               hasLiveHead: false,
-              historyToHeadGap: 0,
             },
             renderers: createRenderers(vi.fn()),
             listEmptyComponent: null,

packages/app/src/agent-stream/strategy-web.tsx

@@ -584,9 +584,6 @@ function WebStreamViewport(props: StreamRenderInput & { isMobileBreakpoint: bool
             </div>
           ) : null}
           {mountedHistoryRows}
-          {boundary.hasMountedHistory && boundary.hasLiveHead && boundary.historyToHeadGap > 0 ? (
-            <HistoryToHeadSpacer height={boundary.historyToHeadGap} />
-          ) : null}
           {liveHeadRows}
           {liveAuxiliary}
           {shouldRenderEmpty ? listEmptyComponent : null}
@@ -634,12 +631,3 @@ export function createWebStreamStrategy(input: CreateWebStreamStrategyInput): St
     getBottomOffset: (metrics) => Math.max(0, metrics.contentHeight - metrics.viewportHeight),
   });
 }
-
-interface HistoryToHeadSpacerProps {
-  height: number;
-}
-
-function HistoryToHeadSpacer({ height }: HistoryToHeadSpacerProps) {
-  const spacerStyle = useMemo(() => ({ height, width: "100%" as const }), [height]);
-  return <div style={spacerStyle} />;
-}

packages/app/src/agent-stream/view.tsx

@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ import type { PendingPermission } from "@/types/shared";
 import type {
   AgentPermissionAction,
   AgentPermissionResponse,
-} from "@server/server/agent/agent-sdk-types";
+} from "@getpaseo/protocol/agent-types";
 import type { AgentScreenAgent } from "@/hooks/use-agent-screen-state-machine";
 import { useSessionStore } from "@/stores/session-store";
 import { useFileExplorerActions } from "@/hooks/use-file-explorer-actions";
 import { useLoadOlderAgentHistory } from "@/hooks/use-load-older-agent-history";
 import type { ToastApi } from "@/components/toast-host";
-import type { DaemonClient } from "@server/client/daemon-client";
+import type { DaemonClient } from "@getpaseo/client/internal/daemon-client";
 import { ToolCallDetailsContent } from "@/components/tool-call-details";
 import { QuestionFormCard } from "@/components/question-form-card";
 import { ToolCallSheetProvider } from "@/components/tool-call-sheet";
@@ -613,16 +613,13 @@ const AgentStreamViewComponent = forwardRef<AgentStreamViewHandle, AgentStreamVi
     const renderModel = useMemo<AgentStreamRenderModel>(() => {
       return {
         ...baseRenderModel,
-        boundary: {
-          ...baseRenderModel.boundary,
-          historyToHeadGap: streamLayout.historyToHeadGap,
-        },
+        boundary: baseRenderModel.boundary,
         auxiliary: {
           pendingPermissions: pendingPermissionsNode,
           turnFooter: turnFooterNode,
         },
       };
-    }, [baseRenderModel, pendingPermissionsNode, streamLayout.historyToHeadGap, turnFooterNode]);
+    }, [baseRenderModel, pendingPermissionsNode, turnFooterNode]);
 
     const emptyStateStyle = useMemo(() => [stylesheet.emptyState, stylesheet.contentWrapper], []);
     const listEmptyComponent = useMemo(
@@ -1053,7 +1050,7 @@ const stylesheet = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     paddingVertical: 0,
     flexGrow: 1,
     paddingHorizontal: {
-      xs: theme.spacing[2],
+      xs: theme.spacing[3],
       md: theme.spacing[4],
     },
   },

packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { QuittingOverlay } from "@/components/quitting-overlay";
 import { KeyboardShortcutsDialog } from "@/components/keyboard-shortcuts-dialog";
 import { LeftSidebar } from "@/components/left-sidebar";
 import { ProjectPickerModal } from "@/components/project-picker-modal";
+import { ProviderSettingsHost } from "@/components/provider-settings-host";
 import { WorkspaceSetupDialog } from "@/components/workspace-setup-dialog";
 import { WorkspaceShortcutTargetsSubscriber } from "@/components/workspace-shortcut-targets-subscriber";
 import { FloatingPanelPortalHost } from "@/components/ui/floating-panel-portal";
@@ -466,6 +467,7 @@ function AppContainer({
       <WorktreeSetupCalloutSource />
       <CommandCenter />
       <ProjectPickerModal />
+      <ProviderSettingsHost />
       <WorkspaceShortcutTargetsSubscriber
         enabled={keyboardShortcutsEnabled}
         serverId={activeServerId}

packages/app/src/app/index.test.tsx

@@ -1,149 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * @vitest-environment jsdom
- */
-import React from "react";
-import { act } from "@testing-library/react";
-import { createRoot, type Root } from "react-dom/client";
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import type { HostRuntimeBootstrapState } from "./_layout";
-import type { ActiveWorkspaceSelection } from "@/stores/navigation-active-workspace-store";
-
-const { redirectMock, state } = vi.hoisted(() => {
-  const hoistedState = {
-    pathname: "/",
-    bootstrapState: {
-      splashError: null,
-      retry: vi.fn(),
-      hasGivenUpWaitingForHost: false,
-      storeReady: false,
-    } as HostRuntimeBootstrapState,
-    anyOnlineHostServerId: null as string | null,
-    isWorkspaceSelectionLoaded: true,
-    workspaceSelection: null as ActiveWorkspaceSelection | null,
-  };
-
-  return {
-    redirectMock: vi.fn(),
-    state: hoistedState,
-  };
-});
-
-vi.mock("expo-router", () => ({
-  Redirect: ({ href }: { href: string }) => {
-    redirectMock(href);
-    return React.createElement("div", { "data-testid": "redirect", "data-href": href });
-  },
-  usePathname: () => state.pathname,
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@/app/_layout", () => ({
-  useHostRuntimeBootstrapState: () => state.bootstrapState,
-  useEarliestOnlineHostServerId: () => state.anyOnlineHostServerId,
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@/desktop/daemon/desktop-daemon", () => ({
-  shouldUseDesktopDaemon: () => false,
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@/screens/startup-splash-screen", () => ({
-  StartupSplashScreen: () => React.createElement("div", { "data-testid": "startup-splash" }),
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@/stores/navigation-active-workspace-store", () => ({
-  useIsLastWorkspaceSelectionHydrated: () => state.isWorkspaceSelectionLoaded,
-  useLastWorkspaceSelection: () => state.workspaceSelection,
-}));
-
-describe("Index route startup navigation", () => {
-  let container: HTMLDivElement;
-  let root: Root;
-
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    vi.resetModules();
-    state.pathname = "/";
-    state.bootstrapState = {
-      splashError: null,
-      retry: vi.fn(),
-      hasGivenUpWaitingForHost: false,
-      storeReady: false,
-    };
-    state.anyOnlineHostServerId = null;
-    state.isWorkspaceSelectionLoaded = true;
-    state.workspaceSelection = null;
-    redirectMock.mockReset();
-
-    container = document.createElement("div");
-    document.body.appendChild(container);
-    root = createRoot(container);
-  });
-
-  afterEach(() => {
-    act(() => {
-      root.unmount();
-    });
-    container.remove();
-  });
-
-  async function renderIndex() {
-    const { default: Index } = await import("./index");
-    await act(async () => {
-      root.render(<Index />);
-    });
-  }
-
-  it("shows the startup splash while no host is online and the welcome timer has not fired", async () => {
-    await renderIndex();
-
-    expect(container.querySelector("[data-testid='startup-splash']")).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(redirectMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-  });
-
-  it("shows the startup splash while the persisted workspace selection has not loaded", async () => {
-    state.anyOnlineHostServerId = "server-1";
-    state.isWorkspaceSelectionLoaded = false;
-
-    await renderIndex();
-
-    expect(container.querySelector("[data-testid='startup-splash']")).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(redirectMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-  });
-
-  it("restores the persisted workspace when the online host matches its server id", async () => {
-    state.anyOnlineHostServerId = "server-1";
-    state.workspaceSelection = { serverId: "server-1", workspaceId: "workspace-a" };
-
-    await renderIndex();
-
-    expect(redirectMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/h/server-1/workspace/workspace-a");
-    expect(container.querySelector("[data-testid='redirect']")).not.toBeNull();
-  });
-
-  it("restores the persisted workspace even when the first online host is different", async () => {
-    state.anyOnlineHostServerId = "server-2";
-    state.workspaceSelection = { serverId: "server-1", workspaceId: "workspace-a" };
-
-    await renderIndex();
-
-    expect(redirectMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/h/server-1/workspace/workspace-a");
-  });
-
-  it("navigates to the host root when no persisted workspace exists", async () => {
-    state.anyOnlineHostServerId = "server-2";
-    state.workspaceSelection = null;
-
-    await renderIndex();
-
-    expect(redirectMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/h/server-2");
-  });
-
-  it("falls back to welcome when the give-up timer fires with no host online", async () => {
-    state.bootstrapState = {
-      ...state.bootstrapState,
-      hasGivenUpWaitingForHost: true,
-    };
-
-    await renderIndex();
-
-    expect(redirectMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/welcome");
-  });
-});

packages/app/src/app/pair-scan.tsx

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import type { BarcodeScanningResult, BarcodeSettings } from "expo-camera";
 import { useHostMutations } from "@/runtime/host-runtime";
 import { decodeOfferFragmentPayload, normalizeHostPort } from "@/utils/daemon-endpoints";
 import { connectToDaemon } from "@/utils/test-daemon-connection";
-import { ConnectionOfferSchema } from "@server/shared/connection-offer";
+import { ConnectionOfferSchema } from "@getpaseo/protocol/connection-offer";
 import { buildHostRootRoute, buildSettingsHostRoute } from "@/utils/host-routes";
 import { isWeb } from "@/constants/platform";
 import { BackHeader } from "@/components/headers/back-header";

packages/app/src/assets/acp-provider-icons.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ export const ACP_PROVIDER_ICON_SVGS = {
     '<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"><title>Z.ai</title><path d="M8.07 1.333L6.618 3.302H.435L1.887 1.333h6.184zM15.503 12.699L14.052 14.667h-6.161l1.449-1.968h6.163zM16 1.333L6.176 14.667H0L9.824 1.333H16z"/></svg>\n',
   goose:
     '<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24">\n  <path fill="currentColor" d="M20.9093 19.3861L19.5185 18.2413C18.7624 17.619 18.1189 16.8713 17.6157 16.0313C16.9205 14.8706 15.9599 13.8912 14.8133 13.1735L14.2533 12.8475C14.0614 12.7141 13.9276 12.5062 13.9086 12.2716C13.8963 12.1204 13.9326 11.9852 14.0171 11.8662C14.3087 11.4553 15.896 9.74698 16.1722 9.51845C16.528 9.22442 16.9243 8.97987 17.2921 8.69986C17.3443 8.66 17.3968 8.62035 17.4485 8.57989C17.4503 8.57808 17.4529 8.57668 17.4545 8.57508C17.5725 8.48195 17.6838 8.383 17.7724 8.26563C18.2036 7.76631 18.195 7.3443 18.195 7.3443C18.195 7.3443 18.1954 7.3439 18.1956 7.3437C18.1497 7.23133 17.9847 6.88163 17.6492 6.71759C17.9458 6.71178 18.2805 6.82294 18.4323 6.97156C18.6148 6.68534 18.7328 6.49967 18.9162 6.18762C18.9599 6.11352 18.9831 5.97652 18.8996 5.89981C18.8996 5.89981 18.8992 5.89981 18.8988 5.89981C18.8988 5.89981 18.8988 5.8994 18.8988 5.899C18.8972 5.8974 18.8952 5.8962 18.8936 5.8946C18.892 5.893 18.891 5.89119 18.8892 5.88939C18.8892 5.88939 18.8888 5.88939 18.8884 5.88939C18.8884 5.88939 18.8884 5.88899 18.8884 5.88859C18.885 5.88518 18.8812 5.88258 18.8776 5.87938C18.8754 5.87717 18.8736 5.87457 18.8716 5.87217C18.8692 5.87016 18.8665 5.86836 18.8643 5.86616C18.8609 5.86275 18.8587 5.85855 18.8551 5.85534C18.8551 5.85534 18.8545 5.85514 18.8543 5.85534C18.8543 5.85534 18.8543 5.85494 18.8543 5.85454C18.8527 5.85294 18.8507 5.85174 18.8491 5.85013C18.8475 5.84853 18.8463 5.84653 18.8447 5.84493C18.8447 5.84493 18.8441 5.84473 18.8439 5.84493C18.8439 5.84493 18.8439 5.84453 18.8439 5.84413C18.7672 5.7606 18.6302 5.78384 18.5561 5.8275C18.1503 6.06625 17.7555 6.32322 17.3996 6.54855C17.3996 6.54855 16.9778 6.53973 16.4783 6.97116C16.3607 7.05989 16.2618 7.17125 16.1688 7.28902C16.167 7.29082 16.1654 7.29322 16.164 7.29503C16.1234 7.3465 16.0837 7.39898 16.0441 7.45145C15.7639 7.81939 15.5195 8.21556 15.2255 8.57128C14.9971 8.84768 13.2887 10.4348 12.8777 10.7264C12.7587 10.8109 12.6237 10.8474 12.4723 10.835C12.2379 10.8161 12.0298 10.6821 11.8965 10.4903L11.5704 9.93024C10.8527 8.78318 9.87332 7.82299 8.71264 7.12778C7.87262 6.62466 7.12514 5.98092 6.50264 5.22503L5.35778 3.83421C5.3013 3.76571 5.19314 3.77693 5.15268 3.85585C5.02249 4.10941 4.77393 4.64479 4.58346 5.36483C4.57885 5.38186 4.58286 5.39988 4.59407 5.4135C4.83082 5.69952 5.37901 6.32983 6.03196 6.863C6.07742 6.90005 6.04017 6.97336 5.98369 6.95774C5.42047 6.80432 4.87288 6.55796 4.46308 6.34805C4.42964 6.33103 4.38918 6.35226 4.38437 6.38951C4.32068 6.89985 4.30425 7.46027 4.37155 8.05112C4.37355 8.07035 4.38577 8.08697 4.4036 8.09479C4.87088 8.29808 5.61816 8.59311 6.40269 8.78078C6.45958 8.7944 6.45777 8.87632 6.40029 8.88733C5.78941 9.0023 5.14968 9.02794 4.62973 9.02113C4.59327 9.02073 4.56643 9.05518 4.57625 9.09023C4.6806 9.45896 4.822 9.8339 5.00847 10.2115C5.08559 10.3811 5.16951 10.5475 5.25944 10.7104C5.27486 10.7382 5.3047 10.7548 5.33655 10.7534C5.76577 10.7324 6.28452 10.6871 6.80608 10.595C6.89501 10.5794 6.94268 10.6964 6.86757 10.7466C6.51345 10.9834 6.13571 11.1873 5.7844 11.3551C5.73733 11.3777 5.72211 11.4378 5.75315 11.4797C5.96186 11.7625 6.19139 12.0301 6.44075 12.2794C6.44075 12.2794 7.66853 13.5441 7.70198 13.6432C8.41841 12.9096 9.59612 12.0964 10.8966 11.3864C9.15488 12.8036 8.18387 13.8499 7.69517 14.4444L7.35447 14.9225C7.17742 15.1708 7.02379 15.4346 6.89541 15.7112C6.46579 16.6356 5.75756 18.5051 5.75756 18.5051C5.70328 18.6515 5.74754 18.7959 5.84168 18.89C5.84388 18.8922 5.84609 18.8944 5.84849 18.8964C5.85069 18.8986 5.8527 18.901 5.8549 18.9032C5.94924 18.9976 6.09345 19.0416 6.23986 18.9874C6.23986 18.9874 8.10897 18.2791 9.03371 17.8495C9.31031 17.7211 9.57429 17.5673 9.82245 17.3905L10.349 17.0153C10.6278 16.8166 11.0096 16.8483 11.2517 17.0904L12.4655 18.3042C12.7148 18.5535 12.9824 18.7831 13.2652 18.9918C13.3073 19.0226 13.3672 19.0076 13.3898 18.9605C13.5579 18.6094 13.7618 18.2313 13.9983 17.8774C14.0486 17.8022 14.1657 17.8501 14.1499 17.9388C14.0576 18.4606 14.0127 18.9794 13.9915 19.4084C13.9899 19.44 14.0067 19.4701 14.0345 19.4855C14.1972 19.5756 14.3636 19.6595 14.5335 19.7364C14.911 19.9229 15.2862 20.0645 15.6547 20.1687C15.6897 20.1785 15.7242 20.1516 15.7238 20.1152C15.7168 19.595 15.7424 18.9553 15.8576 18.3446C15.8684 18.2869 15.9503 18.2851 15.9641 18.3422C16.1516 19.127 16.4466 19.8742 16.6501 20.3413C16.6579 20.3591 16.6744 20.3712 16.6938 20.3734C17.2847 20.4407 17.8451 20.4242 18.3554 20.3606C18.3929 20.3559 18.4141 20.3155 18.3969 20.2818C18.187 19.872 17.9406 19.3241 17.7872 18.7612C17.7718 18.7046 17.8449 18.6675 17.8819 18.713C18.4151 19.3659 19.0454 19.9141 19.3314 20.1508C19.345 20.1621 19.3633 20.1659 19.3801 20.1615C20.1003 19.9712 20.6357 19.7226 20.8891 19.5922C20.968 19.5518 20.9792 19.4436 20.9107 19.3871L20.9093 19.3861Z"/>\n</svg>\n',
+  grok: '<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 1024 1024" fill="none">\n  <path fill="currentColor" d="M395.479 633.828L735.91 381.105C752.599 368.715 776.454 373.548 784.406 392.792C826.26 494.285 807.561 616.253 724.288 699.996C641.016 783.739 525.151 802.104 419.247 760.277L303.556 814.143C469.49 928.202 670.987 899.995 796.901 773.282C896.776 672.843 927.708 535.937 898.785 412.476L899.047 412.739C857.105 231.37 909.358 158.874 1016.4 10.6326C1018.93 7.11771 1021.47 3.60279 1024 0L883.144 141.651V141.212L395.392 633.916"/>\n  <path fill="currentColor" d="M325.226 695.251C206.128 580.84 226.662 403.776 328.285 301.668C403.431 226.097 526.549 195.254 634.026 240.596L749.454 186.994C728.657 171.88 702.007 155.623 671.424 144.2C533.19 86.9942 367.693 115.465 255.323 228.382C147.234 337.081 113.244 504.215 171.613 646.833C215.216 753.423 143.739 828.818 71.7385 904.916C46.2237 931.893 20.6216 958.87 0 987.429L325.139 695.339"/>\n</svg>\n',
   junie:
     '<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 40 40" fill="none">\n  <path d="M25 15H35V16.75C35 29 30.5001 35 16.5001 35H15V25H16.5001C22.6251 25 25 22.875 25 16.75V15Z" fill="currentColor"/>\n  <rect x="5" y="15" width="10" height="10" fill="currentColor"/>\n  <rect x="15" y="5" width="10" height="10" fill="currentColor"/>\n</svg>\n',
   kilo: '<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 40 40">\n  <path fill="currentColor" d="M27.9998324,34.6666921h6.6666279v5.3333023h-8.3809037l-3.6190266-3.6190266v-8.3809037h5.3333023v6.6666279ZM39.9997627,26.2857884l-3.6190266-3.6190266h-8.3809037v5.3333023h6.6666279v6.6666279h5.3333023v-8.3809037ZM17.3332326,22.6667578h-5.3333023v5.3333023h5.3333023v-5.3333023ZM0,36.3809638l3.6190266,3.6190266h13.714206v-5.3333023H5.3333023v-11.9999302H0v13.714206ZM33.9600959,11.9999247V3.619021L30.3410693-.0000056h-7.6745392v5.3333023h5.9602634v6.6666279h-5.9602634v5.3333023h17.3332326v-5.3333023h-6.0396668ZM5.3333023,0H0v17.3332326h5.3333023v-5.9999651h6.6666279v5.9999651h5.3333023v-5.9999651l-5.3333023-5.3333023h-6.6666279V0ZM17.3332326,0h-5.3333023v5.9999651h5.3333023V0Z"/>\n</svg>\n',

packages/app/src/assistant-file-links/parse.test.ts

@@ -336,12 +336,50 @@ describe("parseAssistantFileLink", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("rejects absolute hrefs outside the workspace root", () => {
+  it("allows absolute hrefs outside the workspace root", () => {
     expect(
       parseAssistantFileLink("/tmp/outside.txt", {
         workspaceRoot: "/Users/test/project",
       }),
-    ).toBeNull();
+    ).toEqual({
+      raw: "/tmp/outside.txt",
+      path: "/tmp/outside.txt",
+      lineStart: undefined,
+      lineEnd: undefined,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps tilde hrefs as direct home-relative file targets", () => {
+    expect(
+      parseAssistantFileLink("~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md", {
+        workspaceRoot: "/Users/test/project",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      raw: "~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md",
+      path: "~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md",
+      lineStart: undefined,
+      lineEnd: undefined,
+    });
+    expect(
+      parseAssistantFileLink("~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md:12", {
+        workspaceRoot: "/Users/test/project",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      raw: "~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md:12",
+      path: "~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md",
+      lineStart: 12,
+      lineEnd: undefined,
+    });
+    expect(
+      parseAssistantFileLink("~\\.paseo\\plans\\file-preview.md", {
+        workspaceRoot: "/Users/test/project",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      raw: "~\\.paseo\\plans\\file-preview.md",
+      path: "~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md",
+      lineStart: undefined,
+      lineEnd: undefined,
+    });
   });
 
   it("rejects external URLs", () => {
@@ -408,6 +446,15 @@ describe("normalizeInlinePathTarget", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("keeps tilde paths as home-relative file targets", () => {
+    expect(
+      normalizeInlinePathTarget("~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md", "/Users/test/project"),
+    ).toEqual({
+      directory: "~/.paseo/plans",
+      file: "~/.paseo/plans/file-preview.md",
+    });
+  });
+
   it("treats cwd itself as the workspace root directory", () => {
     expect(normalizeInlinePathTarget("/Users/test/project", "/Users/test/project")).toEqual({
       directory: ".",

packages/app/src/assistant-file-links/parse.ts

@@ -233,10 +233,7 @@ export function parseFileProtocolUrl(value: string): InlinePathTarget | null {
   };
 }
 
-function parseAssistantInlinePathLink(
-  value: string,
-  options: AssistantHrefParseOptions,
-): InlinePathTarget | null {
+function parseAssistantInlinePathLink(value: string): InlinePathTarget | null {
   const inlinePathTarget = parseInlinePathToken(value);
   if (!inlinePathTarget) {
     return null;
@@ -247,10 +244,6 @@ function parseAssistantInlinePathLink(
     return null;
   }
 
-  if (!isAllowedAbsolutePath(normalizedPath, options.workspaceRoot)) {
-    return null;
-  }
-
   return {
     ...inlinePathTarget,
     path: normalizedPath,
@@ -314,9 +307,7 @@ export function parseAssistantFileLink(
     return null;
   }
 
-  const inlinePathTarget = parseAssistantInlinePathLink(trimmed, {
-    workspaceRoot: options.workspaceRoot,
-  });
+  const inlinePathTarget = parseAssistantInlinePathLink(trimmed);
   if (inlinePathTarget) {
     return inlinePathTarget;
   }
@@ -324,7 +315,7 @@ export function parseAssistantFileLink(
   const windowsPathMatch = trimmed.match(/^([A-Za-z]:[\\/][^?#]*)(#[^?]+)?$/);
   if (windowsPathMatch) {
     const normalizedPath = normalizePathToken(windowsPathMatch[1] ?? "");
-    if (!normalizedPath || !isAllowedAbsolutePath(normalizedPath, options.workspaceRoot)) {
+    if (!normalizedPath) {
       return null;
     }
 
@@ -363,10 +354,6 @@ export function parseAssistantFileLink(
     return null;
   }
 
-  if (!isAllowedAbsolutePath(normalizedPath, options.workspaceRoot)) {
-    return null;
-  }
-
   const lines = parseLineFragment(parsedUrl.hash);
   if (!lines) {
     return null;
@@ -402,13 +389,21 @@ function parseWorkspaceRelativeFileLink(
   value: string,
   options: AssistantHrefParseOptions,
 ): InlinePathTarget | null {
-  const workspaceRoot = normalizePathInput(options.workspaceRoot);
-  if (!workspaceRoot) {
+  const parsed = parseLocalPathParts(value);
+  if (!parsed || isAbsolutePath(parsed.path)) {
     return null;
   }
 
-  const parsed = parseLocalPathParts(value);
-  if (!parsed || isAbsolutePath(parsed.path)) {
+  if (isHomeRelativePath(parsed.path)) {
+    return {
+      raw: value,
+      path: parsed.path,
+      ...parsed.lines,
+    };
+  }
+
+  const workspaceRoot = normalizePathInput(options.workspaceRoot);
+  if (!workspaceRoot) {
     return null;
   }
 
@@ -529,6 +524,10 @@ function isAllowedAbsolutePath(pathValue: string, workspaceRoot?: string): boole
   return comparePath === compareWorkspaceRoot || comparePath.startsWith(comparePrefix);
 }
 
+function isHomeRelativePath(pathValue: string): boolean {
+  return pathValue === "~" || pathValue.startsWith("~/") || pathValue.startsWith("~\\");
+}
+
 function isExternalHref(value: string): boolean {
   if (value.includes("://")) {
     return !value.toLowerCase().startsWith(`${FILE_PROTOCOL}//`);