fix(maestro): suffix branch name on new-branch worktree collision

git worktree add -b fails outright when the branch already exists, even
if the target directory is free. A random fast-forward handle commonly
collides with a branch an earlier, already-removed worktree left behind.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

crates/maestro-cli/src/dispatch.rs

@@ -96,20 +96,32 @@ pub async fn dispatch(
 }
 
 /// `maestro hooks install` (#106): write the shipped hook script under the
-/// user's data dir and register it in their Claude Code settings. Idempotent
-/// and foreign-hook-preserving — the guarantees live in [`maestro_hooks`].
+/// user's data dir and register it in every agent's hook file. Idempotent and
+/// foreign-hook-preserving — the guarantees live in [`maestro_hooks`]. One
+/// agent failing is reported and does not stop the others.
 #[allow(clippy::result_large_err)]
 fn run_hooks_install() -> Result<(), CliError> {
     let home = dirs::home_dir().ok_or(CliError::NoHome)?;
-    let changed = maestro_hooks::install_for_home(&home)?;
-    if changed {
-        println!(
-            "installed claude-code activity hook: {} → {}",
-            maestro_hooks::script_path(&home).display(),
-            maestro_hooks::settings_path(&home).display()
-        );
-    } else {
-        println!("claude-code activity hook already up to date");
+    let script = maestro_hooks::script_path(&home);
+    for (target, result) in maestro_hooks::install_for_home(&home) {
+        let agent = target.label();
+        let settings = target.settings_path(&home);
+        match result {
+            Ok(true) => {
+                println!(
+                    "installed {agent} activity hook: {} → {}",
+                    script.display(),
+                    settings.display()
+                );
+                if target == maestro_hooks::Target::Codex {
+                    // Codex will not run a hook it has not been told to
+                    // trust, and that approval is the operator's to give.
+                    println!("  codex will ask you to trust this hook the next time it starts");
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(false) => println!("{agent} activity hook already up to date"),
+            Err(e) => eprintln!("{agent} activity hook not installed: {e}"),
+        }
     }
     Ok(())
 }

crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs

@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ pub const FILE_NAME: &str = "config.toml";
 /// Last-resort daemon HTTP base, matching the daemon's own default `bind_addr`.
 pub const DEFAULT_DAEMON_URL: &str = "http://127.0.0.1:7070";
 
+/// Leader key both clients use when `[tui].leader` is unset (#159). Canonical
+/// key form, the spelling `InputKey::parse` and the web's `canonicalizeKey`
+/// both produce.
+pub const DEFAULT_LEADER: &str = "ctrl-a";
+
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
 pub enum ConfigError {
     #[error("io: {0}")]
@@ -152,6 +157,15 @@ pub struct TuiSection {
     pub keymap_insert: BTreeMap<String, String>,
 }
 
+impl TuiSection {
+    /// The configured leader, or [`DEFAULT_LEADER`]. Named `[tui].leader` for
+    /// history, but read by every client: the daemon serves it on
+    /// `GET /api/info` so the web follows the same knob (#159).
+    pub fn leader(&self) -> &str {
+        self.leader.as_deref().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_LEADER)
+    }
+}
+
 /// Palette presets supported by the TUI's `[tui].theme` setting.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum TuiTheme {

crates/maestro-daemon/src/attach.rs

@@ -26,11 +26,17 @@ pub(crate) async fn serve(
 ) -> Result<(), axum::Error> {
     let (mut sink, mut stream) = socket.split();
 
+    // This client's claim on the shared window size. Registered up front and
+    // released on every exit below, so a socket that dies mid-session stops
+    // constraining the size for the clients still attached.
+    let viewport = manager.attach_viewport();
+
     // NAP-229: send buffered scrollback up-front so the client sees the last
     // screenful immediately instead of a blank terminal. The replay lock the
     // bridge held during snapshot+subscribe guarantees no byte appears both
     // here and on the live receiver, and none is dropped at the seam.
     if !replay.is_empty() && sink.send(Message::Binary(replay)).await.is_err() {
+        manager.release_viewport(id, viewport).await;
         return Ok(());
     }
 
@@ -70,7 +76,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn serve(
                     if let Ok(ctrl) = serde_json::from_str::<ClientControl>(&text) {
                         match ctrl {
                             ClientControl::Resize { cols, rows } => {
-                                let _ = manager.resize(id, cols, rows).await;
+                                let _ = manager.set_viewport(id, viewport, cols, rows).await;
                             }
                             ClientControl::Ping => {
                                 let pong = serde_json::to_string(&ClientControl::Pong)
@@ -88,6 +94,8 @@ pub(crate) async fn serve(
         }
     }
 
+    manager.release_viewport(id, viewport).await;
+
     if session_ended {
         let _ = sink.send(Message::Close(None)).await;
     }

crates/maestro-daemon/src/cli.rs

@@ -51,17 +51,23 @@ async fn run(config_override: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     // First-start hook auto-install (#106). Best-effort, before serving: a
     // session spawned right away should already carry the hook.
     if config.hooks_auto_install {
-        match crate::hooks::auto_install(&config.home_dir) {
-            crate::hooks::AutoInstallOutcome::Installed => {
-                tracing::info!("installed claude-code activity hook (#106)");
+        for (target, outcome) in crate::hooks::auto_install(&config.home_dir) {
+            let agent = target.label();
+            match outcome {
+                crate::hooks::AutoInstallOutcome::Installed => {
+                    tracing::info!(agent, "installed activity hook (#106)");
+                }
+                crate::hooks::AutoInstallOutcome::Upgraded => {
+                    tracing::info!(agent, "updated activity hook to this build (#106)");
+                }
+                crate::hooks::AutoInstallOutcome::Failed => {
+                    tracing::warn!(
+                        agent,
+                        "hooks auto-install failed; run `maestro hooks install` manually"
+                    );
+                }
+                _ => {}
             }
-            crate::hooks::AutoInstallOutcome::Upgraded => {
-                tracing::info!("updated claude-code activity hook to this build (#106)");
-            }
-            crate::hooks::AutoInstallOutcome::Failed => {
-                tracing::warn!("hooks auto-install failed; run `maestro hooks install` manually");
-            }
-            _ => {}
         }
     }
     // No worktree dir to pre-create: without an override the worktrees live
@@ -105,6 +111,7 @@ async fn run(config_override: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
         config.home_dir.clone(),
         config.spawn_presets.clone(),
         projects,
+        config.leader.clone(),
     ));
 
     let listener = TcpListener::bind(config.bind_addr).await?;

crates/maestro-daemon/src/config.rs

@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ pub struct DaemonConfig {
     /// start when none is present (#106): `[hooks].auto_install`, default
     /// `true`.
     pub hooks_auto_install: bool,
+    /// Canonical leader key advertised to clients in `GET /api/info` (#159):
+    /// `[tui].leader`, default [`maestro_config::DEFAULT_LEADER`]. The daemon
+    /// never binds it itself; it serves it so the web client and the TUI read
+    /// one knob.
+    pub leader: String,
 }
 
 impl DaemonConfig {
@@ -197,6 +202,7 @@ pub fn load_config(path: &Path, env: EnvOverrides) -> Result<DaemonConfig, Confi
         project_roots,
         project_scan_depth,
         hooks_auto_install: file.hooks.auto_install(),
+        leader: file.tui.leader().to_string(),
     })
 }
 
@@ -233,6 +239,29 @@ pub fn system_hostname() -> String {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    /// #159: the leader the operator set for the TUI is what the daemon
+    /// advertises, so rebinding it once moves both clients' chord.
+    #[test]
+    fn leader_defaults_to_ctrl_a_and_follows_the_tui_section() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let path = dir.path().join("config.toml");
+
+        std::fs::write(&path, "").unwrap();
+        let cfg = load_config(&path, EnvOverrides::default()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cfg.leader, "ctrl-a");
+
+        std::fs::write(
+            &path,
+            r#"
+[tui]
+leader = "ctrl-b"
+"#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let cfg = load_config(&path, EnvOverrides::default()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cfg.leader, "ctrl-b");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn hooks_auto_install_defaults_true_and_is_opt_out() {
         let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();

crates/maestro-daemon/src/hooks.rs

@@ -1,37 +1,53 @@
 //! First-start hook auto-install (#106).
 //!
-//! The daemon runs [`auto_install`] once at startup: unless the user's
-//! `~/.claude/settings.json` already carries exactly what this build ships
-//! (and `[hooks].auto_install` hasn't opted out — checked by the caller), the
-//! same installer `maestro hooks install` uses writes it. That covers
-//! upgrades as well as first starts: an install from a maestro that had fewer
-//! events — #131 added `UserPromptSubmit` to a hook #106 had already put in
-//! everyone's settings — is rewritten rather than left half-wired. Best-effort:
-//! a failure is warned about and never blocks startup. The same global hook
-//! serves every Claude Code session on the machine, so nothing here targets
-//! repositories or worktrees.
+//! The daemon runs [`auto_install`] once at startup: for every agent maestro
+//! knows how to hook ([`maestro_hooks::Target`]), unless that agent's hook
+//! file already carries exactly what this build ships (and `[hooks]
+//! .auto_install` hasn't opted out — checked by the caller), the same
+//! installer `maestro hooks install` uses writes it. That covers upgrades as
+//! well as first starts: an install from a maestro that had fewer events —
+//! #131 added `UserPromptSubmit` to a hook #106 had already put in everyone's
+//! settings — is rewritten rather than left half-wired. Best-effort: a
+//! failure is warned about and never blocks startup, and one target failing
+//! does not stop the others. The same global hook serves every session on the
+//! machine, so nothing here targets repositories or worktrees.
 
 use std::path::Path;
 
-/// Install the Claude Code activity hook for `home_dir` unless the current
-/// one is already there or the home dir is unresolvable (`""`). Returns what
-/// happened; an older install being brought up to date is
-/// [`AutoInstallOutcome::Upgraded`], so the log can say so.
-pub fn auto_install(home_dir: &str) -> AutoInstallOutcome {
+use maestro_hooks::Target;
+
+/// Install the activity hook for every [`Target`] under `home_dir`, skipping
+/// any whose install is already current. Returns what happened per target —
+/// an older install being brought up to date is
+/// [`AutoInstallOutcome::Upgraded`], so the log can say so. An unresolvable
+/// home dir (`""`) reports every target as [`AutoInstallOutcome::Skipped`].
+pub fn auto_install(home_dir: &str) -> Vec<(Target, AutoInstallOutcome)> {
+    Target::ALL
+        .iter()
+        .map(|&target| (target, auto_install_target(target, home_dir)))
+        .collect()
+}
+
+fn auto_install_target(target: Target, home_dir: &str) -> AutoInstallOutcome {
     if home_dir.is_empty() {
         return AutoInstallOutcome::Skipped;
     }
-    let settings = maestro_hooks::settings_path(Path::new(home_dir));
-    let script = maestro_hooks::script_path(Path::new(home_dir));
-    if maestro_hooks::is_current(&settings, &script) {
+    let home = Path::new(home_dir);
+    let settings = target.settings_path(home);
+    let script = maestro_hooks::script_path(home);
+    if maestro_hooks::is_current(target, &settings, &script) {
         return AutoInstallOutcome::AlreadyPresent;
     }
     let stale = maestro_hooks::is_installed(&settings);
-    match maestro_hooks::install_for_home(Path::new(home_dir)) {
+    match maestro_hooks::install_target(target, home) {
         Ok(_) if stale => AutoInstallOutcome::Upgraded,
         Ok(_) => AutoInstallOutcome::Installed,
         Err(e) => {
-            tracing::warn!(error = %e, "hooks auto-install failed (non-fatal)");
+            tracing::warn!(
+                target = target.label(),
+                error = %e,
+                "hooks auto-install failed (non-fatal)"
+            );
             AutoInstallOutcome::Failed
         }
     }
@@ -52,15 +68,50 @@ pub enum AutoInstallOutcome {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    /// The outcome recorded for one target.
+    fn outcome(outcomes: &[(Target, AutoInstallOutcome)], target: Target) -> AutoInstallOutcome {
+        outcomes
+            .iter()
+            .find(|(t, _)| *t == target)
+            .map(|(_, o)| *o)
+            .expect("every target is reported")
+    }
+
     /// Everything happens under a temp `$HOME`; the developer's own
-    /// `~/.claude/settings.json` is never read or written.
+    /// `~/.claude/settings.json` and `~/.codex/hooks.json` are never read or
+    /// written.
     #[test]
     fn installs_when_settings_carry_no_maestro_hook() {
         let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
-        let outcome = auto_install(dir.path().to_str().unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(outcome, AutoInstallOutcome::Installed);
-        let settings = dir.path().join(".claude/settings.json");
-        assert!(maestro_hooks::is_installed(&settings));
+        let outcomes = auto_install(dir.path().to_str().unwrap());
+        for target in Target::ALL {
+            assert_eq!(
+                outcome(&outcomes, target),
+                AutoInstallOutcome::Installed,
+                "{}",
+                target.label()
+            );
+            assert!(maestro_hooks::is_installed(
+                &target.settings_path(dir.path())
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Every agent maestro knows about is hooked, not just Claude Code: a
+    /// codex session reports activity and its first prompt the same way.
+    #[test]
+    fn codex_gets_its_own_hook_file() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        auto_install(dir.path().to_str().unwrap());
+        let hooks = dir.path().join(".codex/hooks.json");
+        let root: serde_json::Value =
+            serde_json::from_str(&std::fs::read_to_string(&hooks).unwrap()).unwrap();
+        let events = root["hooks"].as_object().unwrap();
+        assert!(events.contains_key("PermissionRequest"));
+        assert!(
+            !events.contains_key("Notification"),
+            "codex has no Notification"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -69,14 +120,22 @@ mod tests {
         let home = dir.path().to_str().unwrap();
         auto_install(home);
         // A current install is left exactly as it is.
-        let settings = dir.path().join(".claude/settings.json");
-        let before = std::fs::read_to_string(&settings).unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(auto_install(home), AutoInstallOutcome::AlreadyPresent);
-        assert_eq!(
-            before,
-            std::fs::read_to_string(&settings).unwrap(),
-            "already-installed settings must not be rewritten"
-        );
+        let before: Vec<String> = Target::ALL
+            .iter()
+            .map(|t| std::fs::read_to_string(t.settings_path(dir.path())).unwrap())
+            .collect();
+        let outcomes = auto_install(home);
+        for (i, target) in Target::ALL.iter().enumerate() {
+            assert_eq!(
+                outcome(&outcomes, *target),
+                AutoInstallOutcome::AlreadyPresent
+            );
+            assert_eq!(
+                before[i],
+                std::fs::read_to_string(target.settings_path(dir.path())).unwrap(),
+                "already-installed settings must not be rewritten"
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     /// An install from an older maestro — present, but missing an event this
@@ -87,7 +146,7 @@ mod tests {
         let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let home = dir.path().to_str().unwrap();
         auto_install(home);
-        let settings = dir.path().join(".claude/settings.json");
+        let settings = Target::ClaudeCode.settings_path(dir.path());
         let script = maestro_hooks::script_path(dir.path());
 
         let mut root: serde_json::Value =
@@ -96,12 +155,23 @@ mod tests {
         std::fs::write(&settings, serde_json::to_string_pretty(&root).unwrap()).unwrap();
         std::fs::write(&script, "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n").unwrap();
 
-        assert_eq!(auto_install(home), AutoInstallOutcome::Upgraded);
-        assert!(maestro_hooks::is_current(&settings, &script));
+        let outcomes = auto_install(home);
+        assert_eq!(
+            outcome(&outcomes, Target::ClaudeCode),
+            AutoInstallOutcome::Upgraded
+        );
+        assert!(maestro_hooks::is_current(
+            Target::ClaudeCode,
+            &settings,
+            &script
+        ));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn unresolvable_home_is_skipped() {
-        assert_eq!(auto_install(""), AutoInstallOutcome::Skipped);
+        let outcomes = auto_install("");
+        for target in Target::ALL {
+            assert_eq!(outcome(&outcomes, target), AutoInstallOutcome::Skipped);
+        }
     }
 }

crates/maestro-daemon/src/lib.rs

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ pub mod spawn_history;
 #[cfg(feature = "web")]
 pub mod static_bundle;
 pub mod tmux;
+pub mod viewport;
 pub mod worktree;
 pub mod worktree_probe;
 

crates/maestro-daemon/src/local_api.rs

@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ pub struct LocalApiState {
     pub presets: Arc<Vec<SpawnPreset>>,
     /// Project discovery (#54) backing `GET /api/projects`.
     pub projects: Arc<crate::projects::ProjectScanner>,
+    /// Configured leader key (`[tui].leader`) advertised in `GET /api/info`
+    /// (#159), so the web client binds the chord the operator configured
+    /// rather than its own default.
+    pub leader: Arc<String>,
 }
 
 pub fn router(state: LocalApiState) -> Router {
@@ -219,6 +223,7 @@ async fn daemon_info(State(s): State<LocalApiState>) -> Json<DaemonInfo> {
         presets: (*s.presets).clone(),
         build: crate::release::build_info(),
         instance: crate::release::instance_id().to_string(),
+        leader: (*s.leader).clone(),
     })
 }
 
@@ -374,6 +379,7 @@ pub fn state_for(
     home_dir: impl Into<String>,
     presets: Vec<SpawnPreset>,
     projects: Arc<crate::projects::ProjectScanner>,
+    leader: impl Into<String>,
 ) -> LocalApiState {
     LocalApiState {
         manager,
@@ -381,6 +387,7 @@ pub fn state_for(
         home_dir: Arc::new(home_dir.into()),
         presets: Arc::new(presets),
         projects,
+        leader: Arc::new(leader.into()),
     }
 }
 

crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ use crate::pty::{pipe_pane_command, PtyBridge};
 use crate::sidecar::{SidecarError, SidecarStore};
 use crate::spawn_history::{RecentDir, SpawnHistory, SpawnHistoryRecord};
 use crate::tmux::TmuxError;
+use crate::viewport::{ViewportId, Viewports};
 use crate::worktree::{WorktreeError, WorktreeManager};
 
 /// Capacity of the session-events broadcast channel. A subscriber that falls
@@ -166,6 +168,14 @@ struct Inner {
     report_ttl: Duration,
     sessions: Mutex<HashMap<Uuid, SessionRecord>>,
     events: broadcast::Sender<CatalogEvent>,
+    /// Sizes reported by the clients attached to each session, and what tmux
+    /// was last told. See [`crate::viewport`] for why the window is not simply
+    /// set to whatever arrived most recently.
+    viewports: Mutex<Viewports>,
+    /// Hands out [`ViewportId`]s. Monotonic for the daemon's lifetime, so a
+    /// client that reconnects never collides with the registration its
+    /// previous socket has not finished releasing.
+    next_viewport: AtomicU64,
 }
 
 impl SessionManager {
@@ -206,6 +216,8 @@ impl SessionManager {
                 report_ttl: crate::activity::REPORT_TTL,
                 sessions: Mutex::new(HashMap::new()),
                 events,
+                viewports: Mutex::new(Viewports::new()),
+                next_viewport: AtomicU64::new(0),
             }),
         }
     }
@@ -770,6 +782,52 @@ impl SessionManager {
             .map_err(SessionError::Tmux)
     }
 
+    /// Register a client that is about to start reporting its display size,
+    /// and hand back the handle it reports under.
+    ///
+    /// Cheap and infallible: the session it will report against is not
+    /// consulted until the first [`Self::set_viewport`].
+    pub fn attach_viewport(&self) -> ViewportId {
+        self.inner.next_viewport.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed)
+    }
+
+    /// A client reported the size it can display.
+    ///
+    /// The shared tmux window is resized only when the size arbitrated across
+    /// every attached client actually changes — see [`crate::viewport`]. Two
+    /// clients of different sizes used to resize the window past each other on
+    /// every report, which leaves a full-screen agent repainting into rows it
+    /// never clears and looking, to the operator, like a pane that has stopped
+    /// accepting input.
+    pub async fn set_viewport(
+        &self,
+        id: Uuid,
+        viewport: ViewportId,
+        cols: u16,
+        rows: u16,
+    ) -> Result<(), SessionError> {
+        let target = self
+            .inner
+            .viewports
+            .lock()
+            .await
+            .set(id, viewport, cols, rows);
+        match target {
+            Some((cols, rows)) => self.resize(id, cols, rows).await,
+            None => Ok(()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Drop a detached client's claim on the window size, resizing to what the
+    /// clients still attached can display. Errors are the caller's to ignore:
+    /// a socket closing because its session died has nothing left to resize.
+    pub async fn release_viewport(&self, id: Uuid, viewport: ViewportId) {
+        let target = self.inner.viewports.lock().await.release(id, viewport);
+        if let Some((cols, rows)) = target {
+            let _ = self.resize(id, cols, rows).await;
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Rename a session (#125): set `metadata.name`, or clear it when the
     /// requested name is blank so the session falls back to its command.
     ///

crates/maestro-daemon/src/viewport.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+//! What size the shared tmux window should be, given every client watching it.
+//!
+//! A tmux window has one size, but a session can have several clients attached
+//! at once — two browser panes, a browser and the TUI. Each reports the size
+//! *it* can display, and applying whichever arrived last makes the window
+//! flip-flop. Every flip forces a full-screen application (Claude Code, vim) to
+//! repaint at a new height, and the rows it drew at the old height are never
+//! cleared: the operator ends up looking at a stale input box, types into a
+//! box that is not where the screen says it is, and concludes the pane is
+//! stuck.
+//!
+//! So the window is sized to the smallest attached client on each axis — the
+//! same rule tmux uses for its own multiple clients, and the only size every
+//! client can render without truncation. The size last handed to tmux is
+//! remembered, so a report that changes nothing costs no `tmux` fork at all.
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+/// One attached client within a session. Allocated by
+/// [`crate::session::SessionManager`] and opaque to everything else.
+pub type ViewportId = u64;
+
+/// Per-session client sizes, and what tmux was last told.
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct Viewports {
+    clients: HashMap<Uuid, HashMap<ViewportId, (u16, u16)>>,
+    applied: HashMap<Uuid, (u16, u16)>,
+}
+
+impl Viewports {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self::default()
+    }
+
+    /// Record what `viewport` can display. Returns the size tmux must be set
+    /// to, or `None` when the window already has it.
+    pub fn set(
+        &mut self,
+        session: Uuid,
+        viewport: ViewportId,
+        cols: u16,
+        rows: u16,
+    ) -> Option<(u16, u16)> {
+        self.clients
+            .entry(session)
+            .or_default()
+            .insert(viewport, (cols, rows));
+        self.settle(session)
+    }
+
+    /// Drop a client that has detached. Returns the size tmux must be set to
+    /// now that it no longer constrains the window.
+    ///
+    /// The last client leaving settles nothing: the window keeps the size it
+    /// has rather than snapping to some remembered default no one is watching.
+    pub fn release(&mut self, session: Uuid, viewport: ViewportId) -> Option<(u16, u16)> {
+        let clients = self.clients.get_mut(&session)?;
+        clients.remove(&viewport);
+        if clients.is_empty() {
+            self.clients.remove(&session);
+            self.applied.remove(&session);
+            return None;
+        }
+        self.settle(session)
+    }
+
+    /// The smallest size every attached client can render, but only when it
+    /// differs from what tmux was last told.
+    ///
+    /// A zero on either axis is a client that cannot display anything yet — a
+    /// pane still laying out, a hidden tab — and must not drag the shared
+    /// window down with it, so it is held but left out of the arbitration.
+    fn settle(&mut self, session: Uuid) -> Option<(u16, u16)> {
+        let clients = self.clients.get(&session)?;
+        let mut cols = u16::MAX;
+        let mut rows = u16::MAX;
+        for &(c, r) in clients.values() {
+            if c == 0 || r == 0 {
+                continue;
+            }
+            cols = cols.min(c);
+            rows = rows.min(r);
+        }
+        if cols == u16::MAX || rows == u16::MAX {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let target = (cols, rows);
+        if self.applied.get(&session) == Some(&target) {
+            return None;
+        }
+        self.applied.insert(session, target);
+        Some(target)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn the_first_report_settles_the_window() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 1, 80, 24), Some((80, 24)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_report_that_changes_nothing_costs_no_resize() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        v.set(s, 1, 80, 24);
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 1, 80, 24), None);
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 1, 80, 24), None);
+    }
+
+    /// The bug this module exists for: two clients of different sizes used to
+    /// resize the window past each other on every report.
+    #[test]
+    fn two_clients_settle_on_the_smaller_instead_of_fighting() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 1, 53, 46), Some((53, 46)));
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 2, 53, 20), Some((53, 20)));
+        // Whatever order they re-report in, the answer stays the smaller one.
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 1, 53, 46), None);
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 2, 53, 20), None);
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 1, 53, 46), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn each_axis_is_arbitrated_on_its_own() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        v.set(s, 1, 200, 20);
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 2, 53, 46), Some((53, 20)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_zero_sized_client_does_not_shrink_the_window() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 1, 80, 24), Some((80, 24)));
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 2, 0, 0), None);
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 2, 0, 30), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn releasing_the_small_client_gives_the_window_back() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        v.set(s, 1, 80, 46);
+        v.set(s, 2, 80, 20);
+        assert_eq!(v.release(s, 2), Some((80, 46)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn releasing_the_last_client_settles_nothing() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        v.set(s, 1, 80, 24);
+        assert_eq!(v.release(s, 1), None);
+        // ...and the session is forgotten, so a fresh attach settles again.
+        assert_eq!(v.set(s, 2, 80, 24), Some((80, 24)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn releasing_an_unknown_viewport_is_harmless() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let s = Uuid::new_v4();
+        assert_eq!(v.release(s, 7), None);
+        v.set(s, 1, 80, 24);
+        assert_eq!(v.release(s, 7), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sessions_do_not_arbitrate_against_each_other() {
+        let mut v = Viewports::new();
+        let a = Uuid::new_v4();
+        let b = Uuid::new_v4();
+        assert_eq!(v.set(a, 1, 80, 24), Some((80, 24)));
+        assert_eq!(v.set(b, 2, 53, 20), Some((53, 20)));
+        assert_eq!(v.set(a, 1, 80, 24), None);
+    }
+}

crates/maestro-daemon/src/worktree.rs

@@ -111,16 +111,33 @@ impl WorktreeManager {
         // Clear registrations whose directory is gone first, so a
         // previously-leaked entry doesn't push this branch to a suffix.
         prune(base_repo)?;
-        // Anything occupying the target — a tree we left behind, one the
-        // operator made, an unrelated directory — is sidestepped with a
-        // numeric suffix on the directory; the branch stays whatever was
-        // requested (#77). The daemon never adopts what it finds.
-        let mut path = self.target_path(base_repo, branch);
-        let mut n = 1;
-        while path.symlink_metadata().is_ok() {
-            n += 1;
-            path = self.target_path_suffixed(base_repo, branch, n);
-        }
+        let (branch, path) = if create_branch {
+            // Worktrees are commonly abandoned without deleting their branch,
+            // so a random handle can collide with one of its own past runs.
+            // Unlike the `add_existing` arm below, the suffix goes on the
+            // branch name itself — the path is derived from it anyway.
+            let mut candidate = branch.to_string();
+            let mut path = self.target_path(base_repo, &candidate);
+            let mut n = 1;
+            while path.symlink_metadata().is_ok() || branch_exists(base_repo, &candidate) {
+                n += 1;
+                candidate = format!("{branch}-{n}");
+                path = self.target_path(base_repo, &candidate);
+            }
+            (candidate, path)
+        } else {
+            // Existing branch: the name must stay exact, so only the
+            // directory — anything occupying it, ours or the operator's — is
+            // sidestepped with a numeric suffix (#77). The daemon never
+            // adopts what it finds.
+            let mut path = self.target_path(base_repo, branch);
+            let mut n = 1;
+            while path.symlink_metadata().is_ok() {
+                n += 1;
+                path = self.target_path_suffixed(base_repo, branch, n);
+            }
+            (branch.to_string(), path)
+        };
         // The parent (`<repo>/worktrees` or the override root) may not exist
         // yet; the target itself must not.
         if let Some(parent) = path.parent() {
@@ -129,10 +146,10 @@ impl WorktreeManager {
         let mut cmd = Command::new("git");
         cmd.arg("-C").arg(base_repo).args(["worktree", "add"]);
         if create_branch {
-            cmd.arg("-b").arg(branch).arg(&path);
+            cmd.arg("-b").arg(&branch).arg(&path);
         } else {
             // Existing branch: `worktree add <path> <branch>` with no `-b`.
-            cmd.arg(&path).arg(branch);
+            cmd.arg(&path).arg(&branch);
         }
         let out = cmd.output()?;
         check(out)?;
@@ -266,6 +283,17 @@ fn branch_relpath(branch: &str) -> Option<PathBuf> {
     Some(candidate.to_path_buf())
 }
 
+/// Whether `refs/heads/<branch>` already exists in `base_repo`.
+fn branch_exists(base_repo: &Path, branch: &str) -> bool {
+    Command::new("git")
+        .arg("-C")
+        .arg(base_repo)
+        .args(["show-ref", "--verify", "--quiet"])
+        .arg(format!("refs/heads/{branch}"))
+        .status()
+        .is_ok_and(|s| s.success())
+}
+
 /// `git -C <base_repo> worktree prune` — drops registrations whose directory
 /// no longer exists.
 fn prune(base_repo: &Path) -> Result<(), WorktreeError> {

crates/maestro-daemon/tests/attach.rs

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ async fn spawn_daemon_ws() -> Harness {
         "/home/test",
         Vec::new(),
         std::sync::Arc::new(maestro_daemon::projects::ProjectScanner::disabled()),
+        maestro_config::DEFAULT_LEADER,
     ));
     let listener = TcpListener::bind(SocketAddr::from((Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST, 0)))
         .await

crates/maestro-daemon/tests/branches.rs

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ async fn spawn() -> Harness {
         "/home/test",
         presets,
         Arc::new(maestro_daemon::projects::ProjectScanner::disabled()),
+        maestro_config::DEFAULT_LEADER,
     ));
     let listener = TcpListener::bind(SocketAddr::from((Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST, 0)))
         .await

crates/maestro-daemon/tests/local_api.rs

@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ async fn spawn(hostname: &str) -> Harness {
 async fn spawn_with(
     hostname: &str,
     projects: std::sync::Arc<maestro_daemon::projects::ProjectScanner>,
+) -> Harness {
+    spawn_with_leader(hostname, projects, maestro_config::DEFAULT_LEADER).await
+}
+
+async fn spawn_with_leader(
+    hostname: &str,
+    projects: std::sync::Arc<maestro_daemon::projects::ProjectScanner>,
+    leader: &str,
 ) -> Harness {
     let fx = DaemonFixture::new();
     let manager = fx.manager.clone();
@@ -48,6 +56,7 @@ async fn spawn_with(
         "/home/test",
         presets,
         projects,
+        leader,
     ));
     let listener = TcpListener::bind(SocketAddr::from((Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST, 0)))
         .await
@@ -91,6 +100,38 @@ async fn info_returns_daemon_identity() {
     assert!(resp["version"].is_string());
 }
 
+/// #159: the web client reads its leader off `/api/info` instead of a
+/// hardcoded constant, so the payload has to carry the configured one — not
+/// the default dressed up as one.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn info_advertises_the_configured_leader() {
+    let h = spawn_with_leader(
+        "naps-laptop",
+        std::sync::Arc::new(maestro_daemon::projects::ProjectScanner::disabled()),
+        "ctrl-b",
+    )
+    .await;
+    let resp: serde_json::Value = reqwest::get(url(h.addr, "/api/info"))
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .json()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp["leader"], "ctrl-b");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn info_reports_the_default_leader_when_unconfigured() {
+    let h = spawn("naps-laptop").await;
+    let resp: serde_json::Value = reqwest::get(url(h.addr, "/api/info"))
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .json()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp["leader"], "ctrl-a");
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn info_reports_build_and_instance() {
     // The status indicator needs a release to name and a process to compare

crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_decisions.rs

@@ -555,3 +555,63 @@ async fn spawn_overrides_client_supplied_maestro_variables() {
         Some(&"http://127.0.0.1:7070".to_string())
     );
 }
+
+/// Two clients attached to one session used to resize the shared window past
+/// each other on every report they made. Every flip repaints a full-screen
+/// agent at a new height and orphans the rows it drew at the old one, which
+/// reads to the operator as a pane that has stopped taking input.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn clients_of_different_sizes_do_not_resize_the_window_past_each_other() {
+    let fx = Fx::new();
+    let s = fx.manager.create(fx.request("bash")).await.expect("create");
+    let web = fx.manager.attach_viewport();
+    let tui = fx.manager.attach_viewport();
+
+    fx.manager.set_viewport(s.id, web, 53, 46).await.unwrap();
+    fx.manager.set_viewport(s.id, tui, 53, 20).await.unwrap();
+    // Both keep reporting, as a browser's ResizeObserver and the TUI's own
+    // redraw loop do. Neither report changes the arbitrated size.
+    for _ in 0..5 {
+        fx.manager.set_viewport(s.id, web, 53, 46).await.unwrap();
+        fx.manager.set_viewport(s.id, tui, 53, 20).await.unwrap();
+    }
+
+    let resizes: Vec<_> = fx
+        .fake
+        .calls()
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter_map(|c| match c {
+            Call::ResizeWindow { cols, rows, .. } => Some((cols, rows)),
+            _ => None,
+        })
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(
+        resizes,
+        vec![(53, 46), (53, 20)],
+        "the window was resized more than the arbitrated size actually changed"
+    );
+}
+
+/// The smaller client leaving hands the window back to the one still attached.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn releasing_a_client_resizes_to_what_is_left() {
+    let fx = Fx::new();
+    let s = fx.manager.create(fx.request("bash")).await.expect("create");
+    let web = fx.manager.attach_viewport();
+    let tui = fx.manager.attach_viewport();
+    fx.manager.set_viewport(s.id, web, 80, 46).await.unwrap();
+    fx.manager.set_viewport(s.id, tui, 80, 20).await.unwrap();
+
+    fx.manager.release_viewport(s.id, tui).await;
+
+    let resizes: Vec<_> = fx
+        .fake
+        .calls()
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter_map(|c| match c {
+            Call::ResizeWindow { cols, rows, .. } => Some((cols, rows)),
+            _ => None,
+        })
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(resizes, vec![(80, 46), (80, 20), (80, 46)]);
+}

crates/maestro-daemon/tests/web_ui.rs

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ async fn spawn() -> Harness {
         "/home/test",
         maestro_config::SpawnSection::default().resolve().unwrap(),
         std::sync::Arc::new(maestro_daemon::projects::ProjectScanner::disabled()),
+        maestro_config::DEFAULT_LEADER,
     ));
     let listener = TcpListener::bind(SocketAddr::from((Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST, 0)))
         .await

crates/maestro-e2e/tests/e2e.rs

@@ -497,6 +497,57 @@ async fn occupied_path_gets_suffixed_directory_and_both_worktrees_work() {
     );
 }
 
+/// A random handle can reuse the name of a branch left behind by an earlier,
+/// already-removed worktree — `git worktree add -b` refuses outright in that
+/// case, even though the directory is free. The daemon suffixes the branch
+/// itself (not just the directory) and both land on `-2`.
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn colliding_branch_name_gets_suffixed_too() {
+    let (_daemon, client) = bring_up().await;
+
+    let base = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    init_repo(base.path());
+
+    // No worktree directory in the way, but the branch already exists.
+    run_git(&["branch", "handle"], base.path());
+
+    let s = client
+        .spawn_session(&worktree_req(base.path(), "handle", true))
+        .await
+        .expect("spawn onto a taken branch name");
+
+    let suffixed = base.path().join("worktrees").join("handle-2");
+    assert_eq!(
+        s.cwd, suffixed,
+        "the directory must follow the suffixed branch name"
+    );
+    assert!(suffixed.is_dir());
+
+    let registrations = git_worktree_list(base.path());
+    assert!(
+        registrations.iter().any(|l| l.contains("handle-2")),
+        "the -2 branch's worktree must be registered: {registrations:?}"
+    );
+
+    let branches = String::from_utf8(
+        std::process::Command::new("git")
+            .arg("-C")
+            .arg(base.path())
+            .args(["branch", "--list"])
+            .output()
+            .unwrap()
+            .stdout,
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        branches.contains("handle-2"),
+        "the branch itself must be named handle-2: {branches}"
+    );
+
+    let _origin = throwaway_origin(base.path());
+    client.kill_session(s.id).await.expect("kill");
+}
+
 /// #77/#88: the target path holds a plain directory the daemon never made and
 /// git has never heard of. The daemon neither adopts it nor errors — it builds
 /// beside it and leaves every byte of it alone.

crates/maestro-hooks/src/lib.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//! Claude Code activity hook (#106).
+//! Agent activity hook (#106).
 //!
 //! Two halves, both shared by the `maestro hooks install` CLI subcommand and
 //! the daemon's first-start auto-install:
@@ -6,28 +6,40 @@
 //! * [`HOOK_SCRIPT`] — the hook itself, written to disk at install time. It
 //!   posts an [`ActivityState`](maestro-protocol) to
 //!   `$MAESTRO_URL/api/sessions/$MAESTRO_SESSION_ID/activity` (#105). The same
-//!   global hook runs in every Claude Code session on the machine, so it exits
+//!   global hook runs in every agent session on the machine, so it exits
 //!   0 and silently when either #103 env var is unset, and it never lets a
 //!   daemon failure escape (short curl timeout, status ignored).
-//! * [`install`] — idempotent registration of that script in
-//!   `~/.claude/settings.json`. Only entries maestro itself wrote (identified
-//!   by [`HOOK_MARKER`]) are touched; every other hook and every other field
-//!   in the file is preserved verbatim.
+//! * [`install`] — idempotent registration of that script in one [`Target`]'s
+//!   hook file. Only entries maestro itself wrote (identified by
+//!   [`HOOK_MARKER`]) are touched; every other hook and every other field in
+//!   the file is preserved verbatim.
+//!
+//! One script serves every [`Target`]: Claude Code and Codex read the same
+//! `{"hooks": {Event: [{"hooks": [{"type": "command", "command": …}]}]}}`
+//! shape and hand the hook the same JSON on stdin. Only the file's location
+//! and the event set differ.
 
 use std::path::Path;
 
 /// Marker substring every maestro-installed hook command carries. The
 /// installer rewrites or removes exactly these entries — nothing else in the
 /// user's settings file.
+///
+/// It still says `claude` although the script now serves every [`Target`]:
+/// the marker is how an install from an older maestro is recognised, and
+/// renaming it would orphan every entry already on disk.
 pub const HOOK_MARKER: &str = "maestro-claude-hook";
 
-/// File name of the installed script (carries [`HOOK_MARKER`]).
+/// File name of the installed script (carries [`HOOK_MARKER`]). One script
+/// for every [`Target`] — see the note on [`HOOK_MARKER`] for the name.
 pub const SCRIPT_FILE_NAME: &str = "maestro-claude-hook.sh";
 
-/// Hook events installed only with the `haiku-autoname` feature (#131).
-/// `UserPromptSubmit` carries the prompt the user just submitted; the script
-/// forwards the whole payload to `/api/sessions/:id/prompt`, which names a
-/// still-provisionally-named session after its first one.
+/// Hook events installed only with the `haiku-autoname` feature (#131), for
+/// every [`Target`] — Claude Code and Codex both spell the event
+/// `UserPromptSubmit` and both put the submitted text in the payload's
+/// `prompt`. The script forwards the whole payload to
+/// `/api/sessions/:id/prompt`, which names a still-provisionally-named
+/// session after its first one.
 #[cfg(feature = "haiku-autoname")]
 pub const PROMPT_EVENTS: [(&str, &str); 1] = [("UserPromptSubmit", "Prompt")];
 
@@ -43,7 +55,7 @@ pub const PROMPT_EVENTS: [(&str, &str); 0] = [];
 /// Claude Code's own name for "the turn ended on an API error"; there is no
 /// failure signal in `Stop` or `SessionEnd` payloads, so those never report
 /// `Error`.
-pub const HOOK_EVENTS: [(&str, &str); 5] = [
+pub const CLAUDE_EVENTS: [(&str, &str); 5] = [
     // Tool starting: the agent is demonstrably producing work, even if the
     // tool itself runs for minutes.
     ("PreToolUse", "Active"),
@@ -58,17 +70,86 @@ pub const HOOK_EVENTS: [(&str, &str); 5] = [
     ("StopFailure", "Error"),
 ];
 
+/// Codex hook event → `ActivityState` spelling posted to the daemon.
+///
+/// Codex's event set is close to Claude Code's but not identical: a pending
+/// approval arrives as `PermissionRequest` rather than `Notification`, and
+/// there is no `StopFailure`, so a codex session never reports `Error`.
+pub const CODEX_EVENTS: [(&str, &str); 4] = [
+    ("PreToolUse", "Active"),
+    ("PostToolUse", "Active"),
+    // Codex is blocked on the operator approving a tool call.
+    ("PermissionRequest", "AwaitingInput"),
+    ("Stop", "AwaitingInput"),
+];
+
+/// An agent whose hook file maestro writes into.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Target {
+    /// `~/.claude/settings.json`.
+    ClaudeCode,
+    /// `~/.codex/hooks.json`. Codex asks the operator to trust a hook it has
+    /// not seen before, so an install here does nothing until they approve it
+    /// once inside codex — maestro never writes that approval itself.
+    Codex,
+}
+
+impl Target {
+    /// Every target an install covers. Both files are written whether or not
+    /// the agent is on the machine: an unused hook file costs nothing, and
+    /// the alternative is a session spawned after the daemon started missing
+    /// the hook because its agent arrived later.
+    pub const ALL: [Target; 2] = [Target::ClaudeCode, Target::Codex];
+
+    /// How the target is named in logs and CLI output.
+    pub fn label(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Target::ClaudeCode => "claude-code",
+            Target::Codex => "codex",
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The file this target's hook entries are registered in, under `home`.
+    pub fn settings_path(self, home: &Path) -> std::path::PathBuf {
+        match self {
+            Target::ClaudeCode => home.join(".claude/settings.json"),
+            Target::Codex => home.join(".codex/hooks.json"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The activity events this target emits.
+    pub fn activity_events(self) -> &'static [(&'static str, &'static str)] {
+        match self {
+            Target::ClaudeCode => &CLAUDE_EVENTS,
+            Target::Codex => &CODEX_EVENTS,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Every event installed for this target: its activity events plus, with
+    /// `haiku-autoname` on, the prompt event both agents spell the same way.
+    pub fn events(self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&'static str, &'static str)> {
+        self.activity_events()
+            .iter()
+            .chain(PROMPT_EVENTS.iter())
+            .copied()
+    }
+}
+
 /// The shipped hook script. POSIX sh so any `/bin/sh` works.
 pub const HOOK_SCRIPT: &str = r#"#!/bin/sh
-# Installed by maestro (#106): report Claude Code activity to its daemon.
-# Exits silently unless running inside a session maestro spawned (#103 env).
+# Installed by maestro (#106): report agent activity to its daemon.
+# One script for every agent maestro installs hooks into; the state to post
+# is chosen by the caller, so the two event sets differ only in what is
+# registered where. Exits silently unless running inside a session maestro
+# spawned (#103 env).
 # Event -> ActivityState mapping:
-#   PreToolUse    -> Active         (tool started; agent is working)
-#   PostToolUse   -> Active         (tool finished)
-#   Notification  -> AwaitingInput  (permission / idle notice)
-#   Stop          -> AwaitingInput  (turn ended; waiting on the user)
-#   StopFailure   -> Error          (turn ended on an API error)
-#   Prompt        -> the payload is forwarded to the prompt route (#131)
+#   PreToolUse         -> Active         (tool started; agent is working)
+#   PostToolUse        -> Active         (tool finished)
+#   Notification       -> AwaitingInput  (claude code: permission / idle)
+#   PermissionRequest  -> AwaitingInput  (codex: waiting on an approval)
+#   Stop               -> AwaitingInput  (turn ended; waiting on the user)
+#   StopFailure        -> Error          (claude code: turn ended on an error)
+#   Prompt             -> the payload is forwarded to the prompt route (#131)
 state="$1"
 [ -n "$MAESTRO_SESSION_ID" ] || exit 0
 [ -n "$MAESTRO_URL" ] || exit 0
@@ -115,34 +196,29 @@ pub fn script_path(home: &Path) -> std::path::PathBuf {
     home.join(".local/share/maestro").join(SCRIPT_FILE_NAME)
 }
 
-/// The user-level Claude Code settings file for a given home directory.
-pub fn settings_path(home: &Path) -> std::path::PathBuf {
-    home.join(".claude/settings.json")
-}
-
-/// Whether `settings_path` already carries a maestro hook (#106). Presence
-/// only: an install from an older release answers `true` even when it is
-/// missing events this build ships — see [`is_current`].
+/// Whether the file at `settings_path` already carries a maestro hook
+/// (#106). Presence only: an install from an older release answers `true`
+/// even when it is missing events this build ships — see [`is_current`].
 pub fn is_installed(settings_path: &Path) -> bool {
     settings_json(settings_path)
         .map(|root| find_maestro_commands(&root).next().is_some())
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
-/// Whether what is on disk is what this build ships: the script at
-/// `script_path` byte-for-byte, and exactly one settings entry per event in
-/// [`HOOK_EVENTS`] and [`PROMPT_EVENTS`], pointing at that script.
+/// Whether what is on disk is what this build ships for `target`: the script
+/// at `script_path` byte-for-byte, and exactly one settings entry per one of
+/// the target's [`Target::events`], pointing at that script.
 ///
-/// This is the upgrade question. A maestro that gains an event — #131 added
-/// `UserPromptSubmit` long after #106 had installed itself — leaves every
-/// existing user with a present but incomplete install, which
-/// [`is_installed`] cannot tell apart from a current one.
-pub fn is_current(settings_path: &Path, script_path: &Path) -> bool {
+/// This is the upgrade question, asked per [`Target`]. A maestro that gains
+/// an event — #131 added `UserPromptSubmit` long after #106 had installed
+/// itself — leaves every existing user with a present but incomplete
+/// install, which [`is_installed`] cannot tell apart from a current one.
+pub fn is_current(target: Target, settings_path: &Path, script_path: &Path) -> bool {
     if std::fs::read_to_string(script_path).ok().as_deref() != Some(HOOK_SCRIPT) {
         return false;
     }
     settings_json(settings_path)
-        .map(|root| maestro_entries(&root) == expected_entries(script_path))
+        .map(|root| maestro_entries(&root) == expected_entries(target, script_path))
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
@@ -173,14 +249,13 @@ fn maestro_entries(root: &serde_json::Value) -> Vec<(String, String)> {
     found
 }
 
-/// What [`install`] writes for `script_path`, in the same shape.
-fn expected_entries(script_path: &Path) -> Vec<(String, String)> {
-    let mut want: Vec<(String, String)> = HOOK_EVENTS
-        .iter()
-        .chain(PROMPT_EVENTS.iter())
+/// What [`install`] writes for `target` and `script_path`, in the same shape.
+fn expected_entries(target: Target, script_path: &Path) -> Vec<(String, String)> {
+    let mut want: Vec<(String, String)> = target
+        .events()
         .map(|(event, state)| {
             (
-                (*event).to_string(),
+                event.to_string(),
                 format!("{} {state}", script_path.display()),
             )
         })
@@ -207,28 +282,40 @@ pub fn write_script(path: &Path) -> Result<(), HooksError> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-/// Install the full hook setup for `home`: write the script under
-/// `.local/share/maestro/` and register it in `.claude/settings.json`.
+/// Install the full hook setup for one target under `home`: write the script
+/// under `.local/share/maestro/` and register it in the target's hook file.
 /// Idempotent; returns whether anything changed on disk.
-pub fn install_for_home(home: &Path) -> Result<bool, HooksError> {
+pub fn install_target(target: Target, home: &Path) -> Result<bool, HooksError> {
     let script = script_path(home);
-    let settings = settings_path(home);
+    let settings = target.settings_path(home);
     // A script left over from an older release counts as a change even when
     // the settings entries pointing at it are already right.
-    let changed = !is_current(&settings, &script);
+    let changed = !is_current(target, &settings, &script);
     write_script(&script)?;
-    install(&settings, &script)?;
+    install(target, &settings, &script)?;
     Ok(changed)
 }
 
-/// Register the hook command for every event in [`HOOK_EVENTS`] in the
-/// settings file at `settings_path`. Idempotent: existing maestro entries are
-/// updated in place wherever they sit, stale ones removed, duplicates folded;
-/// every non-maestro entry and every unrelated top-level field survives.
+/// Install for every [`Target::ALL`], reporting each one separately. One
+/// target failing — an unwritable file, unparseable JSON — never stops the
+/// others: an agent whose hook could not be written is one agent without
+/// activity reporting, not a failed install.
+pub fn install_for_home(home: &Path) -> Vec<(Target, Result<bool, HooksError>)> {
+    Target::ALL
+        .iter()
+        .map(|&target| (target, install_target(target, home)))
+        .collect()
+}
+
+/// Register the hook command for every one of `target`'s [`Target::events`]
+/// in the settings file at `settings_path`. Idempotent: existing maestro
+/// entries are updated in place wherever they sit, stale ones removed,
+/// duplicates folded; every non-maestro entry and every unrelated top-level
+/// field survives.
 ///
 /// Never inspects or writes anywhere but `settings_path` — callers pass the
 /// user's real home or a temp one in tests, never a repository.
-pub fn install(settings_path: &Path, script_path: &Path) -> Result<(), HooksError> {
+pub fn install(target: Target, settings_path: &Path, script_path: &Path) -> Result<(), HooksError> {
     let mut root = settings_json(settings_path)?;
 
     // Strip every maestro entry wherever it currently sits, so an older
@@ -236,7 +323,7 @@ pub fn install(settings_path: &Path, script_path: &Path) -> Result<(), HooksErro
     strip_maestro_entries(&mut root);
 
     let hooks = ensure_object(&mut root, "hooks");
-    for (event, state) in HOOK_EVENTS.iter().chain(PROMPT_EVENTS.iter()).copied() {
+    for (event, state) in target.events() {
         let groups = ensure_array(hooks, event);
         let mut group = serde_json::Map::new();
         group.insert(

crates/maestro-hooks/src/tests.rs

@@ -1,15 +1,24 @@
 //! Tests for the shipped hook script (run as a real `/bin/sh` subprocess)
 //! and the settings-file installer. Everything happens under a temp `$HOME`;
-//! the developer's own `~/.claude/settings.json` is never touched.
+//! the developer's own `~/.claude/settings.json` and `~/.codex/hooks.json`
+//! are never touched.
 
 use std::io::{Read, Write};
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
 
 use super::*;
 
-/// How many commands one install writes: every activity event, plus the
-/// prompt event when `haiku-autoname` is on (#131).
-const INSTALLED_EVENTS: usize = HOOK_EVENTS.len() + PROMPT_EVENTS.len();
+/// How many commands one install writes for a target: its activity events,
+/// plus the prompt event when `haiku-autoname` is on (#131).
+fn installed_events(target: Target) -> usize {
+    target.events().count()
+}
+
+/// The Claude Code hook file under a temp home. Most installer tests only
+/// need one target, and this is the one they were written against.
+fn settings_path(home: &Path) -> std::path::PathBuf {
+    Target::ClaudeCode.settings_path(home)
+}
 
 fn sh(script: &str, args: &[&str], envs: &[(&str, &str)], payload: &[u8]) -> std::process::Output {
     let mut cmd = Command::new("/bin/sh");
@@ -70,7 +79,7 @@ fn owned_envs<'a>(envs: &'a [(&'static str, String)]) -> Vec<(&'static str, &'a
 /// exit 0, no output, stdin drained.
 #[test]
 fn script_exits_silently_without_maestro_env() {
-    for (event, _) in HOOK_EVENTS {
+    for (event, _) in CLAUDE_EVENTS {
         let out = sh(HOOK_SCRIPT, &[event], &[], br#"{"session_id":"x"}"#);
         assert!(out.status.success(), "{event:?}: {:?}", out.stderr);
         assert!(out.stdout.is_empty(), "{event:?}: {:?}", out.stdout);
@@ -103,7 +112,7 @@ fn script_posts_mapped_state_to_the_activity_endpoint() {
 /// Every event maps to the state the contract specifies.
 #[test]
 fn event_state_mapping_matches_the_contract() {
-    let map: std::collections::HashMap<&str, &str> = HOOK_EVENTS.into_iter().collect();
+    let map: std::collections::HashMap<&str, &str> = CLAUDE_EVENTS.into_iter().collect();
     assert_eq!(map["PreToolUse"], "Active");
     assert_eq!(map["PostToolUse"], "Active");
     assert_eq!(map["Notification"], "AwaitingInput");
@@ -203,10 +212,10 @@ fn fresh_install_registers_every_event() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
     write_script(&script_path(home)).unwrap();
-    install(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
+    install(Target::ClaudeCode, &settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
 
     let cmds = installed_commands(&settings_path(home));
-    assert_eq!(cmds.len(), INSTALLED_EVENTS);
+    assert_eq!(cmds.len(), installed_events(Target::ClaudeCode));
     let joined = cmds.join("\n");
     assert_eq!(joined.matches("Active").count(), 2);
     assert!(joined.contains("Error"));
@@ -221,15 +230,15 @@ fn fresh_install_registers_every_event() {
 fn install_is_idempotent() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    install(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
+    install(Target::ClaudeCode, &settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
     let once = std::fs::read_to_string(settings_path(home)).unwrap();
 
-    install(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
+    install(Target::ClaudeCode, &settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
     let twice = std::fs::read_to_string(settings_path(home)).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(once, twice);
     assert_eq!(
         installed_commands(&settings_path(home)).len(),
-        INSTALLED_EVENTS
+        installed_events(Target::ClaudeCode)
     );
 }
 
@@ -257,12 +266,12 @@ fn install_updates_an_older_maestro_hook_in_place() {
         .path()
         .join(".local/share/maestro")
         .join(SCRIPT_FILE_NAME);
-    install(&settings, &new_script).unwrap();
+    install(Target::ClaudeCode, &settings, &new_script).unwrap();
 
     let cmds = installed_commands(&settings);
     assert_eq!(
         cmds.len(),
-        INSTALLED_EVENTS,
+        installed_events(Target::ClaudeCode),
         "old entry replaced, not kept: {cmds:?}"
     );
     assert!(!cmds.iter().any(|c| c == old_script));
@@ -298,7 +307,7 @@ fn install_preserves_foreign_hooks_and_removes_stale_maestro_ones() {
         .path()
         .join(".local/share/maestro")
         .join(SCRIPT_FILE_NAME);
-    install(&settings, &new_script).unwrap();
+    install(Target::ClaudeCode, &settings, &new_script).unwrap();
 
     let root: serde_json::Value =
         serde_json::from_str(&std::fs::read_to_string(&settings).unwrap()).unwrap();
@@ -311,7 +320,7 @@ fn install_preserves_foreign_hooks_and_removes_stale_maestro_ones() {
     let cmds = installed_commands(&settings);
     assert_eq!(
         cmds.iter().filter(|c| c.contains(HOOK_MARKER)).count(),
-        INSTALLED_EVENTS,
+        installed_events(Target::ClaudeCode),
         "{cmds:?}"
     );
 }
@@ -321,9 +330,15 @@ fn install_preserves_foreign_hooks_and_removes_stale_maestro_ones() {
 fn is_installed_tracks_reality() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    assert!(!is_installed(&settings_path(home)));
-    install_for_home(home).unwrap();
-    assert!(is_installed(&settings_path(home)));
+    for target in Target::ALL {
+        assert!(!is_installed(&target.settings_path(home)));
+    }
+    for (_, result) in install_for_home(home) {
+        result.unwrap();
+    }
+    for target in Target::ALL {
+        assert!(is_installed(&target.settings_path(home)));
+    }
 }
 
 /// The full home-level install leaves the script executable.
@@ -331,7 +346,9 @@ fn is_installed_tracks_reality() {
 fn install_for_home_writes_an_executable_script() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    install_for_home(home).unwrap();
+    for (_, result) in install_for_home(home) {
+        result.unwrap();
+    }
     #[cfg(unix)]
     {
         use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
@@ -350,7 +367,7 @@ fn install_for_home_writes_an_executable_script() {
 fn install_registers_the_prompt_event() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    install(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
+    install(Target::ClaudeCode, &settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
 
     let root: serde_json::Value =
         serde_json::from_str(&std::fs::read_to_string(settings_path(home)).unwrap()).unwrap();
@@ -367,7 +384,7 @@ fn install_registers_the_prompt_event() {
 fn install_registers_no_prompt_event_without_the_feature() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    install(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
+    install(Target::ClaudeCode, &settings_path(home), &script_path(home)).unwrap();
 
     let root: serde_json::Value =
         serde_json::from_str(&std::fs::read_to_string(settings_path(home)).unwrap()).unwrap();
@@ -436,8 +453,12 @@ fn the_script_posts_a_prompt_payload_unchanged() {
 fn is_current_rejects_an_install_missing_an_event() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    install_for_home(home).unwrap();
-    assert!(is_current(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)));
+    install_target(Target::ClaudeCode, home).unwrap();
+    assert!(is_current(
+        Target::ClaudeCode,
+        &settings_path(home),
+        &script_path(home)
+    ));
 
     // Drop one event, as an older install would have left the file.
     let mut root: serde_json::Value =
@@ -450,7 +471,11 @@ fn is_current_rejects_an_install_missing_an_event() {
     .unwrap();
 
     assert!(is_installed(&settings_path(home)));
-    assert!(!is_current(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)));
+    assert!(!is_current(
+        Target::ClaudeCode,
+        &settings_path(home),
+        &script_path(home)
+    ));
 }
 
 /// A settings file that is complete but points at a script from an older
@@ -459,9 +484,13 @@ fn is_current_rejects_an_install_missing_an_event() {
 fn is_current_rejects_a_stale_script() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    install_for_home(home).unwrap();
+    install_target(Target::ClaudeCode, home).unwrap();
     std::fs::write(script_path(home), "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n").unwrap();
-    assert!(!is_current(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)));
+    assert!(!is_current(
+        Target::ClaudeCode,
+        &settings_path(home),
+        &script_path(home)
+    ));
 }
 
 /// Nothing installed at all is not current.
@@ -469,18 +498,93 @@ fn is_current_rejects_a_stale_script() {
 fn is_current_rejects_a_missing_install() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    assert!(!is_current(&settings_path(home), &script_path(home)));
+    assert!(!is_current(
+        Target::ClaudeCode,
+        &settings_path(home),
+        &script_path(home)
+    ));
 }
 
-/// `install_for_home` reports a stale script as a change, even when the
+/// `install_target` reports a stale script as a change, even when the
 /// settings entries pointing at it already read correctly.
 #[test]
-fn install_for_home_reports_a_stale_script_as_a_change() {
+fn install_target_reports_a_stale_script_as_a_change() {
     let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let home = dir.path();
-    assert!(install_for_home(home).unwrap());
-    assert!(!install_for_home(home).unwrap());
+    assert!(install_target(Target::ClaudeCode, home).unwrap());
+    assert!(!install_target(Target::ClaudeCode, home).unwrap());
 
     std::fs::write(script_path(home), "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n").unwrap();
-    assert!(install_for_home(home).unwrap());
+    assert!(install_target(Target::ClaudeCode, home).unwrap());
+}
+
+/// Codex is hooked in its own file, with its own event set: the two agents
+/// share the script but not the events, so neither file carries the other's
+/// spellings (#131 follow-up — a codex session was never named because
+/// nothing installed its `UserPromptSubmit` hook).
+#[test]
+fn each_target_gets_its_own_file_and_events() {
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let home = dir.path();
+    for (_, result) in install_for_home(home) {
+        result.unwrap();
+    }
+
+    let claude = events_in(&Target::ClaudeCode.settings_path(home));
+    let codex = events_in(&Target::Codex.settings_path(home));
+    assert_eq!(
+        Target::Codex.settings_path(home),
+        home.join(".codex/hooks.json")
+    );
+
+    // Claude Code's failure signal has no codex equivalent, and codex's
+    // approval notice is spelled differently.
+    assert!(claude.contains(&"StopFailure".to_string()));
+    assert!(claude.contains(&"Notification".to_string()));
+    assert!(!codex.contains(&"StopFailure".to_string()));
+    assert!(!codex.contains(&"Notification".to_string()));
+    assert!(codex.contains(&"PermissionRequest".to_string()));
+
+    // Both report work and both report a finished turn.
+    for event in ["PreToolUse", "PostToolUse", "Stop"] {
+        assert!(claude.contains(&event.to_string()), "claude {event}");
+        assert!(codex.contains(&event.to_string()), "codex {event}");
+    }
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        installed_commands(&Target::Codex.settings_path(home)).len(),
+        installed_events(Target::Codex)
+    );
+}
+
+/// #131: a codex session names itself the same way a Claude Code one does —
+/// same event spelling, same script, same `Prompt` argument.
+#[cfg(feature = "haiku-autoname")]
+#[test]
+fn codex_reports_its_first_prompt_too() {
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let home = dir.path();
+    install_target(Target::Codex, home).unwrap();
+
+    let root: serde_json::Value =
+        serde_json::from_str(&std::fs::read_to_string(Target::Codex.settings_path(home)).unwrap())
+            .unwrap();
+    let cmd = root["hooks"]["UserPromptSubmit"][0]["hooks"][0]["command"]
+        .as_str()
+        .unwrap()
+        .to_string();
+    assert!(cmd.ends_with(" Prompt"), "{cmd}");
+    assert!(cmd.contains(SCRIPT_FILE_NAME));
+}
+
+/// Every event name a settings file registers a maestro hook under.
+fn events_in(settings: &Path) -> Vec<String> {
+    serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(&std::fs::read_to_string(settings).unwrap())
+        .unwrap()
+        .get("hooks")
+        .and_then(|h| h.as_object())
+        .into_iter()
+        .flatten()
+        .map(|(event, _)| event.clone())
+        .collect()
 }

crates/maestro-protocol/src/lib.rs

@@ -554,6 +554,12 @@ pub struct DaemonInfo {
     /// network blip, even when the build did not change.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub instance: String,
+    /// Canonical leader key the operator configured (`[tui].leader`, default
+    /// `ctrl-a`), served so the web client binds the same chord the TUI does
+    /// instead of its own hardcoded constant (#159). Empty from a daemon too
+    /// old to serve it, which clients read as "use your default".
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub leader: String,
 }
 
 /// Payload of `GET /api/names?count=N` (#53) — a batch of fresh

crates/maestro-tui/src/action.rs

@@ -56,6 +56,14 @@ pub enum Action {
     /// Open the `ctrl-k` command bar (`docs/COMMAND-BAR.md`) — a query line
     /// over the sessions, ranked by the shared matcher.
     OpenCommandBar,
+    /// Escape hatch (#156): leader then `ctrl-k` sends the literal `0x0B`
+    /// byte to the focused pane instead of opening the command bar, giving
+    /// readline's kill-to-end-of-line back.
+    SendLiteralCtrlK,
+    /// Escape hatch (#158): the leader pressed twice sends one literal
+    /// leader byte to the focused pane and drops the pending chord, the way
+    /// tmux resolves a doubled prefix key.
+    SendLiteralLeader,
     ToggleSidebar,
     ShowHelp,
     Quit,
@@ -98,6 +106,8 @@ impl Action {
             Action::KillHighlighted => "Kill selected session".into(),
             Action::RenameHighlighted => "Rename selected session".into(),
             Action::OpenCommandBar => "Go to a session".into(),
+            Action::SendLiteralCtrlK => "Send literal Ctrl-K to session".into(),
+            Action::SendLiteralLeader => "Send literal leader key to session".into(),
             Action::ToggleSidebar => "Show or hide sidebar".into(),
             Action::ShowHelp => "Show help".into(),
             Action::Quit => "Quit Maestro".into(),
@@ -125,6 +135,8 @@ impl Action {
             "KillHighlighted" => return Ok(Action::KillHighlighted),
             "RenameHighlighted" => return Ok(Action::RenameHighlighted),
             "OpenCommandBar" => return Ok(Action::OpenCommandBar),
+            "SendLiteralCtrlK" => return Ok(Action::SendLiteralCtrlK),
+            "SendLiteralLeader" => return Ok(Action::SendLiteralLeader),
             "ToggleSidebar" => return Ok(Action::ToggleSidebar),
             "ShowHelp" => return Ok(Action::ShowHelp),
             "Quit" => return Ok(Action::Quit),
@@ -256,11 +268,26 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(Action::OpenCommandBar.help_label(), "Go to a session");
     }
 
+    /// The escape hatch (#156) is an ordinary action like any other.
+    #[test]
+    fn send_literal_ctrl_k_round_trips() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            Action::parse("SendLiteralCtrlK").unwrap(),
+            Action::SendLiteralCtrlK
+        );
+        assert_eq!(Action::SendLiteralCtrlK.to_string(), "SendLiteralCtrlK");
+        assert_eq!(
+            Action::SendLiteralCtrlK.help_label(),
+            "Send literal Ctrl-K to session"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn display_round_trips() {
         for a in [
             Action::EnterInsert,
             Action::OpenCommandBar,
+            Action::SendLiteralCtrlK,
             Action::RenameHighlighted,
             Action::Quit,
             Action::OpenSpawnModal,

crates/maestro-tui/src/app.rs

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use uuid::Uuid;
 
 use crate::action::Action;
 use crate::catalog::CatalogStore;
-use crate::command_bar::{BarOutcome, BarTarget, CommandBar};
+use crate::command_bar::{BarOutcome, BarTarget, CommandBar, SessionActionId};
 use crate::config::TuiConfig;
 use crate::daemon_link::DaemonLink;
 use crate::draft::{DraftInputResult, DraftPane};
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ impl App {
                     return Ok(true);
                 }
             }
+            self.chord.take_replay();
             return Ok(false);
         }
 
@@ -325,32 +326,46 @@ impl App {
             return Ok(false);
         }
 
-        let known = self.cfg.keymap.known_bindings(self.state.mode);
-        match self.chord.feed(&key, &known) {
-            ChordResult::Pending => Ok(false),
-            ChordResult::Resolved(canon) => {
-                let act = self.cfg.keymap.resolve(self.state.mode, &canon);
-                if matches!(act, Some(Action::Quit)) {
-                    return Ok(true);
+        // A key bumped out of an abandoned chord (#156) is replayed as its
+        // own keystroke, against the mode dispatch may have just changed.
+        let mut current_key = key;
+        let mut result = self.chord.feed(
+            &current_key,
+            &self.cfg.keymap.known_bindings(self.state.mode),
+        );
+        loop {
+            let canon = match result {
+                ChordResult::Pending => return Ok(false),
+                ChordResult::Resolved(canon) => canon,
+            };
+            let act = self.cfg.keymap.resolve(self.state.mode, &canon);
+            if matches!(act, Some(Action::Quit)) {
+                return Ok(true);
+            }
+            let pty_owns_keys =
+                self.state.mode == Mode::Insert && matches!(self.state.focus, Focus::Pane);
+            match act {
+                // `Noop` suppresses a binding, and a key with no binding in
+                // Insert mode is the session's — so a key bound to `Noop`
+                // reaches the pty too. That is the escape hatch for taking
+                // a default binding back.
+                Some(Action::Noop) | None if pty_owns_keys => {
+                    let effects = self.forward_to_session(&current_key).into_iter().collect();
+                    self.perform(effects).await;
                 }
-                let pty_owns_keys =
-                    self.state.mode == Mode::Insert && matches!(self.state.focus, Focus::Pane);
-                match act {
-                    // `Noop` suppresses a binding, and a key with no binding in
-                    // Insert mode is the session's — so a key bound to `Noop`
-                    // reaches the pty too. That is the escape hatch for taking
-                    // a default binding back.
-                    Some(Action::Noop) | None if pty_owns_keys => {
-                        let effects = self.forward_to_session(&key).into_iter().collect();
-                        self.perform(effects).await;
-                    }
-                    Some(act) => {
-                        let effects = self.dispatch(act);
-                        self.perform(effects).await;
-                    }
-                    None => {}
+                Some(act) => {
+                    let effects = self.dispatch(act);
+                    self.perform(effects).await;
                 }
-                Ok(false)
+                None => {}
+            }
+            match self.chord.take_replay() {
+                Some(replay_key) => {
+                    let known = self.cfg.keymap.known_bindings(self.state.mode);
+                    result = self.chord.feed(&replay_key, &known);
+                    current_key = replay_key;
+                }
+                None => return Ok(false),
             }
         }
     }
@@ -479,6 +494,25 @@ impl App {
                         self.close_command_bar();
                         (OverlayDecision::Consumed, vec![Effect::FastForwardIn(dir)])
                     }
+                    // The action page raises the flow this client already has
+                    // — for kill that is `KillConfirm`, which the TUI puts in
+                    // front of every kill (#160). The bar names the target;
+                    // it never reimplements the flow.
+                    BarOutcome::Open(BarTarget::SessionAction { session, action }) => {
+                        self.close_command_bar();
+                        let effects = match action {
+                            SessionActionId::Kill => {
+                                self.confirm_kill(session);
+                                Vec::new()
+                            }
+                            SessionActionId::Rename => {
+                                self.prompt_rename(session);
+                                Vec::new()
+                            }
+                            SessionActionId::SpawnSimilar => self.open_spawn_similar(session),
+                        };
+                        (OverlayDecision::Consumed, effects)
+                    }
                 }
             }
             Some(OverlayKind::Help) => {
@@ -527,6 +561,16 @@ impl App {
                 self.state.show_overlay(OverlayKind::Help);
             }
             Action::OpenCommandBar => effects.extend(self.open_command_bar()),
+            // Escape hatch (#156): the literal byte, not the bar.
+            Action::SendLiteralCtrlK => {
+                effects.extend(self.forward_to_session(&InputKey::ctrl_char('k')));
+            }
+            // Escape hatch (#158): the leader's own byte, built from the
+            // configured leader rather than a hardcoded key.
+            Action::SendLiteralLeader => {
+                let leader = self.cfg.leader.clone();
+                effects.extend(self.forward_to_session(&leader));
+            }
             Action::OpenSpawnModal => {
                 self.open_spawn_modal();
                 effects.push(Effect::LoadDraft);
@@ -555,24 +599,12 @@ impl App {
             }
             Action::KillHighlighted => {
                 if let Some(sid) = self.pick_sidebar_target() {
-                    self.state.show_overlay(OverlayKind::KillConfirm(sid));
+                    self.confirm_kill(sid);
                 }
             }
             Action::RenameHighlighted => {
                 if let Some(sid) = self.pick_sidebar_target() {
-                    // Pre-fill with the custom name only: a session that has
-                    // none starts empty rather than with its command already
-                    // typed in, which Enter would then pin as the name.
-                    self.rename_input = TextInput::with_value(
-                        self.catalog
-                            .snapshot()
-                            .sessions
-                            .iter()
-                            .find(|s| s.id == sid)
-                            .and_then(crate::sidebar::custom_name_for)
-                            .unwrap_or_default(),
-                    );
-                    self.state.show_overlay(OverlayKind::Rename(sid));
+                    self.prompt_rename(sid);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -858,6 +890,30 @@ impl App {
         Some(None)
     }
 
+    /// Raise the kill confirmation for one session (`docs/WORKTREES.md`).
+    /// Shared by the keymap's own kill and the command bar's action page
+    /// (#155), which picks the action and hands off rather than reimplementing
+    /// it; the blockers the dialog names are read at render time.
+    fn confirm_kill(&mut self, sid: Uuid) {
+        self.state.show_overlay(OverlayKind::KillConfirm(sid));
+    }
+
+    /// Raise the rename prompt for one session, pre-filled with its custom
+    /// name only: a session that has none starts empty rather than with its
+    /// command already typed in, which Enter would then pin as the name.
+    fn prompt_rename(&mut self, sid: Uuid) {
+        self.rename_input = TextInput::with_value(
+            self.catalog
+                .snapshot()
+                .sessions
+                .iter()
+                .find(|s| s.id == sid)
+                .and_then(crate::sidebar::custom_name_for)
+                .unwrap_or_default(),
+        );
+        self.state.show_overlay(OverlayKind::Rename(sid));
+    }
+
     /// Put the spawn form up with a fresh draft behind it, preselecting the
     /// project of the session the operator was last on — so `n` then Enter
     /// spawns another session there, the way "spawn similar" would. A
@@ -871,6 +927,30 @@ impl App {
         self.state.open_spawn_modal();
     }
 
+    /// "Spawn similar" (#155): the spawn form seeded from one session's
+    /// directory and command, rather than from whatever the operator was last
+    /// looking at. Same base-repository rule as the plain seed, and the name
+    /// is left out on purpose — a clone is a new session and takes its own
+    /// generated handle, like `web/src/spawnSimilar.ts`.
+    fn open_spawn_similar(&mut self, sid: Uuid) -> Vec<Effect> {
+        let session = self
+            .catalog
+            .snapshot()
+            .sessions
+            .iter()
+            .find(|s| s.id == sid)
+            .cloned();
+        self.open_spawn_modal();
+        if let (Some(session), Some(draft)) = (session, self.draft.as_mut()) {
+            draft.seed_cwd = Some(match &session.worktree {
+                Some(wt) => wt.base_repo.clone(),
+                None => session.cwd.clone(),
+            });
+            draft.seed_command = (!session.command.is_empty()).then(|| session.command.clone());
+        }
+        vec![Effect::LoadDraft]
+    }
+
     /// The project of the session the operator was last on — its base
     /// repository for a worktree session, its cwd otherwise. Shared by the
     /// plain spawn modal seed and fast-forward's project pick (#67 review):
@@ -2857,6 +2937,55 @@ mod tests {
         CtEvent::Key(crossterm::event::KeyEvent::new(code, mods))
     }
 
+    fn ctrl_key_event(c: char) -> CtEvent {
+        key_event(
+            crossterm::event::KeyCode::Char(c),
+            crossterm::event::KeyModifiers::CONTROL,
+        )
+    }
+
+    /// Drive a sequence of key events through an app in Insert mode with a
+    /// session attached, and report the app afterwards plus every chunk of
+    /// bytes that reached that session, in order.
+    async fn drive_insert_sequence(
+        section: &TuiSection,
+        events: &[CtEvent],
+    ) -> (App, Vec<Vec<u8>>) {
+        use crate::session_task::{SessionHandle, SessionState};
+        use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, AtomicU8};
+        use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+        use tokio::sync::mpsc;
+
+        let sid = Uuid::from_u128(41);
+        let mut app = App::new(
+            TuiConfig::load(section).unwrap(),
+            CatalogStore::default(),
+            DaemonClient::new("http://127.0.0.1:7070"),
+            DaemonLink::default(),
+        );
+        let (tx, mut rx) = mpsc::channel(8);
+        app.emulators.insert(
+            sid,
+            SessionHandle {
+                tx,
+                screen: Arc::new(Mutex::new(vt100::Parser::new(24, 80, 0))),
+                state: Arc::new(AtomicU8::new(SessionState::Live as u8)),
+                revision: Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(0)),
+            },
+        );
+        app.state.attach_to_focused(sid);
+        app.state.mode = Mode::Insert;
+        app.state.focus = Focus::Pane;
+        for ev in events {
+            app.handle_event(ev.clone()).await.unwrap();
+        }
+        let mut sent = Vec::new();
+        while let Ok(SessionInput::Bytes(bytes)) = rx.try_recv() {
+            sent.push(bytes);
+        }
+        (app, sent)
+    }
+
     /// Escape belongs to the session: full-screen apps (vim, Claude Code) read
     /// it constantly, so no Insert-mode default may swallow it. The leader is
     /// the way back to the sidebar.
@@ -2875,19 +3004,120 @@ mod tests {
 
     /// `Noop` suppresses a binding, and in Insert mode a key with no binding is
     /// the session's — so binding a key to `Noop` hands it to the pty.
+    ///
+    /// Uses `ctrl-x`, not the leader: the leader is also a chord prefix
+    /// (#156), so a single fed keystroke on it resolves as `Pending`, not
+    /// `Resolved` — a different mechanism, covered separately below.
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn a_noop_insert_binding_forwards_the_key_to_the_session() {
         let mut section = TuiSection::default();
-        section.keymap_insert.insert("ctrl-a".into(), "Noop".into());
+        section.keymap_insert.insert("ctrl-x".into(), "Noop".into());
         let sent = bytes_sent_for(
             &section,
             key_event(
-                crossterm::event::KeyCode::Char('a'),
+                crossterm::event::KeyCode::Char('x'),
                 crossterm::event::KeyModifiers::CONTROL,
             ),
         )
         .await;
-        assert_eq!(sent, Some(vec![0x01]));
+        assert_eq!(sent, Some(vec![0x18]));
+    }
+
+    /// Leader then `ctrl-k` sends the literal byte and never opens the bar
+    /// (#156) — the default leader, `ctrl-a`.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn leader_then_ctrl_k_sends_the_literal_byte_and_does_not_open_the_bar() {
+        let (app, sent) = drive_insert_sequence(
+            &TuiSection::default(),
+            &[ctrl_key_event('a'), ctrl_key_event('k')],
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert_eq!(sent, vec![vec![0x0b]]);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.overlay(), None);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Insert, "still in Insert, not left");
+    }
+
+    /// The escape hatch is built from the configured leader, not a hardcoded
+    /// `ctrl-a` — rebinding `[tui].leader` rebinds it too (#156).
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn a_rebound_leader_still_reaches_the_literal_ctrl_k_escape() {
+        let section = TuiSection {
+            leader: Some("ctrl-b".into()),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let (app, sent) =
+            drive_insert_sequence(&section, &[ctrl_key_event('b'), ctrl_key_event('k')]).await;
+        assert_eq!(sent, vec![vec![0x0b]]);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.overlay(), None);
+    }
+
+    /// Leader alone, followed by an ordinary key, still leaves Insert mode —
+    /// the escape hatch chord doesn't cost the leader its existing meaning
+    /// (#156).
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn leader_alone_still_leaves_insert_when_followed_by_another_key() {
+        let (app, sent) = drive_insert_sequence(
+            &TuiSection::default(),
+            &[
+                ctrl_key_event('a'),
+                key_event(
+                    crossterm::event::KeyCode::Char('j'),
+                    crossterm::event::KeyModifiers::NONE,
+                ),
+            ],
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert!(
+            sent.is_empty(),
+            "no bytes for the leader chord itself: {sent:?}"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Normal, "leader still leaves Insert");
+    }
+
+    /// Leader pressed twice sends one literal leader byte, tmux-style, and
+    /// clears the pending chord rather than leaving Insert (#158) — the
+    /// default leader, `ctrl-a`.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn leader_twice_sends_the_literal_leader_byte_and_stays_in_insert() {
+        let (app, sent) = drive_insert_sequence(
+            &TuiSection::default(),
+            &[ctrl_key_event('a'), ctrl_key_event('a')],
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert_eq!(sent, vec![vec![0x01]]);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Insert, "still in Insert, not left");
+    }
+
+    /// The escape hatch is built from the configured leader, not a hardcoded
+    /// `ctrl-a` — rebinding `[tui].leader` rebinds it too (#158).
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn a_rebound_leader_still_reaches_the_literal_leader_escape() {
+        let section = TuiSection {
+            leader: Some("ctrl-b".into()),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let (app, sent) =
+            drive_insert_sequence(&section, &[ctrl_key_event('b'), ctrl_key_event('b')]).await;
+        assert_eq!(sent, vec![vec![0x02]]);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Insert);
+    }
+
+    /// After the literal-leader escape fires, the chord is gone — a further
+    /// leader press starts a fresh chord rather than resolving as a
+    /// three-deep sequence (#158).
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn leader_twice_then_ctrl_k_is_a_fresh_chord() {
+        let (_app, sent) = drive_insert_sequence(
+            &TuiSection::default(),
+            &[
+                ctrl_key_event('a'),
+                ctrl_key_event('a'),
+                ctrl_key_event('a'),
+                ctrl_key_event('k'),
+            ],
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert_eq!(sent, vec![vec![0x01], vec![0x0b]]);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -3379,4 +3609,79 @@ mod tests {
             }]
         );
     }
+
+    // ---- the session action page (#155) ----
+
+    /// Drill into the second row's session, then pick an action by name.
+    fn drill_and_pick(app: &mut App, action: &str) -> (OverlayDecision, Vec<Effect>) {
+        app.dispatch(Action::OpenCommandBar);
+        app.handle_overlay_input(&InputKey::Down);
+        app.handle_overlay_input(&InputKey::Tab);
+        type_into_bar(app, action);
+        app.handle_overlay_input(&InputKey::Enter)
+    }
+
+    /// The bar picks the action and hands off: kill goes through the confirm
+    /// this client puts in front of every kill, not straight to the daemon.
+    #[test]
+    fn the_action_page_raises_the_existing_kill_confirm() {
+        let mut app = make_app();
+        let (alpha, _bravo) = seed_two_sessions(&mut app);
+        let (decision, effects) = drill_and_pick(&mut app, "kill");
+        assert_eq!(decision, OverlayDecision::Consumed);
+        assert!(effects.is_empty(), "the confirm is the whole effect");
+        assert_eq!(app.state.overlay(), Some(&OverlayKind::KillConfirm(alpha)));
+        assert!(app.command_bar.is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn the_action_page_raises_the_existing_rename_prompt_prefilled() {
+        let mut app = make_app();
+        let (alpha, _bravo) = seed_two_sessions(&mut app);
+        let (decision, effects) = drill_and_pick(&mut app, "rename");
+        assert_eq!(decision, OverlayDecision::Consumed);
+        assert!(effects.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(app.state.overlay(), Some(&OverlayKind::Rename(alpha)));
+        assert_eq!(app.rename_input.value(), "alpha");
+        assert!(app.command_bar.is_none());
+    }
+
+    /// Spawn similar opens the spawn form seeded from that session's directory
+    /// and command — not from whatever the operator was last looking at.
+    #[test]
+    fn the_action_page_raises_the_spawn_form_seeded_from_the_session() {
+        let mut app = make_app();
+        seed_two_sessions(&mut app);
+        let (decision, effects) = drill_and_pick(&mut app, "spawn");
+        assert_eq!(decision, OverlayDecision::Consumed);
+        assert_eq!(effects, vec![Effect::LoadDraft]);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.overlay(), Some(&OverlayKind::Spawn));
+        let draft = app.draft.as_ref().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(draft.seed_cwd, Some(std::path::PathBuf::from("/")));
+        assert_eq!(draft.seed_command.as_deref(), Some("bash"));
+        assert!(app.command_bar.is_none());
+    }
+
+    /// Backing out is free: the result-list query survives the round trip.
+    #[test]
+    fn escape_on_the_action_page_returns_to_the_result_list() {
+        let mut app = make_app();
+        seed_two_sessions(&mut app);
+        app.dispatch(Action::OpenCommandBar);
+        type_into_bar(&mut app, "alp");
+        app.handle_overlay_input(&InputKey::Tab);
+        assert!(app.command_bar.as_ref().unwrap().on_action_page());
+
+        let (decision, _) = app.handle_overlay_input(&InputKey::Esc);
+        assert_eq!(decision, OverlayDecision::Consumed);
+        let bar = app.command_bar.as_ref().expect("escape backs out, not out");
+        assert!(!bar.on_action_page());
+        assert_eq!(bar.query(), "alp");
+        assert_eq!(app.state.overlay(), Some(&OverlayKind::CommandBar));
+
+        // A second escape is the way out again.
+        app.handle_overlay_input(&InputKey::Esc);
+        assert!(app.command_bar.is_none());
+        assert!(app.state.overlay().is_none());
+    }
 }

crates/maestro-tui/src/command_bar.rs

@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 //! result list, opened from Normal or Insert mode, closed with Escape.
 //!
 //! Three kinds live here: sessions and commands, ranked together by default,
-//! and directories, which need the `~` sigil (#154). The session action page
-//! (#155) and the leader's literal Ctrl-K (#156) land later.
+//! and directories, which need the `~` sigil (#154). `tab` on a session drills
+//! into its action page (#155), the same overlay over three actions. The
+//! leader's literal Ctrl-K (#156) lands later.
 //!
 //! Ranking is [`crate::matcher`]'s job and nothing here reorders it — the
 //! groups are a rendering of the ranked list, in the order their best-scoring
@@ -46,8 +47,42 @@ pub enum BarTarget {
     /// Fast-forward spawn in this directory, absolute — the abbreviated form
     /// is what the row shows and what the matcher ranked.
     Directory(PathBuf),
+    /// A row of the action page: run this action against this session (#155).
+    SessionAction {
+        session: Uuid,
+        action: SessionActionId,
+    },
 }
 
+/// The actions a session's action page offers, and no others: the bar picks
+/// one and hands off to the flow that already implements it
+/// (`docs/COMMAND-BAR.md`, "Drill-in"). Mirrors the web's `SessionActionId`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum SessionActionId {
+    Kill,
+    Rename,
+    SpawnSimilar,
+}
+
+impl SessionActionId {
+    /// The row's text, which is also the only field the matcher sees.
+    pub fn label(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Kill => "Kill session",
+            Self::Rename => "Rename session",
+            Self::SpawnSimilar => "Spawn similar",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The page's actions in the order an empty query lists them, since the
+/// matcher keeps input order.
+pub const SESSION_ACTIONS: [SessionActionId; 3] = [
+    SessionActionId::Kill,
+    SessionActionId::Rename,
+    SessionActionId::SpawnSimilar,
+];
+
 /// The first character of the query, when it is one of the two that narrow the
 /// list to a single kind.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -255,10 +290,23 @@ pub struct CommandBar {
     sessions: Vec<BarEntry>,
     commands: Vec<BarEntry>,
     directories: Vec<BarEntry>,
+    /// The action page while it is up (#155), and the result-list query it was
+    /// drilled into from — backing out restores that query, so the round trip
+    /// costs the operator nothing.
+    page: Option<ActionPage>,
+    stashed: String,
     rows: Vec<BarRow>,
     highlight: usize,
 }
 
+/// The session action page while it is up: the name the overlay titles itself
+/// with, and the three action rows the query line runs over.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct ActionPage {
+    name: String,
+    actions: Vec<BarEntry>,
+}
+
 impl CommandBar {
     /// Open the bar over the sessions the catalog has right now and the live
     /// keymap for the current mode. Directories arrive later
@@ -293,6 +341,8 @@ impl CommandBar {
             sessions,
             commands,
             directories: Vec::new(),
+            page: None,
+            stashed: String::new(),
             rows: Vec::new(),
             highlight: 0,
         };
@@ -381,7 +431,15 @@ impl CommandBar {
     /// "Keys") does not claim is ordinary editing.
     pub fn handle_key(&mut self, key: &InputKey) -> BarOutcome {
         match key {
-            InputKey::Esc => BarOutcome::Close,
+            // On the action page Escape is one level up, not the way out.
+            InputKey::Esc => {
+                if self.page.is_some() {
+                    self.leave_page();
+                    BarOutcome::Stay
+                } else {
+                    BarOutcome::Close
+                }
+            }
             InputKey::Enter => match self.selected() {
                 Some(row) => BarOutcome::Open(row.target.clone()),
                 // Nothing to open: the bar stays up rather than closing on a
@@ -402,9 +460,19 @@ impl CommandBar {
                 self.move_highlight(1);
                 BarOutcome::Stay
             }
-            // Tab drills into the highlighted session's action page (#155).
-            // Until then it is inert rather than a literal tab in the query.
-            InputKey::Tab | InputKey::BackTab => BarOutcome::Stay,
+            // Tab drills into the highlighted session's action page (#155);
+            // shift-tab is inert rather than a literal tab in the query.
+            InputKey::Tab => {
+                self.drill_in();
+                BarOutcome::Stay
+            }
+            InputKey::BackTab => BarOutcome::Stay,
+            // Ordinary editing, except at an empty query on the action page,
+            // where it is the second way back to the result list.
+            InputKey::Backspace if self.page.is_some() && self.input.value().is_empty() => {
+                self.leave_page();
+                BarOutcome::Stay
+            }
             other => {
                 let before = self.input.value().to_string();
                 self.input.handle_key(other);
@@ -416,15 +484,75 @@ impl CommandBar {
         }
     }
 
+    /// `tab`: drill into the highlighted session's action page. No effect on
+    /// any other kind, and none on the page itself, which has no session rows.
+    fn drill_in(&mut self) {
+        if self.page.is_some() {
+            return;
+        }
+        let Some(row) = self.selected() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let BarTarget::Session(session) = row.target else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let name = row.name.clone();
+        let actions = SESSION_ACTIONS
+            .iter()
+            .map(|&action| BarEntry {
+                candidate: MatchCandidate::Command(CommandCandidate {
+                    label: action.label().to_string(),
+                }),
+                target: BarTarget::SessionAction { session, action },
+                dead: false,
+                chords: Vec::new(),
+            })
+            .collect();
+        self.page = Some(ActionPage { name, actions });
+        self.stashed = self.input.value().to_string();
+        self.input = TextInput::default();
+        self.recompute();
+    }
+
+    /// Escape, or backspace at an empty query: back to the result list with
+    /// the query the drill-in was made from.
+    fn leave_page(&mut self) {
+        self.page = None;
+        self.input = TextInput::with_value(std::mem::take(&mut self.stashed));
+        self.recompute();
+    }
+
+    /// Whether the action page is up. The session it acts on is in every one
+    /// of its rows' targets.
+    pub fn on_action_page(&self) -> bool {
+        self.page.is_some()
+    }
+
+    /// What the matcher sees. On the action page the whole query is the query:
+    /// a sigil narrows the result list to one kind, and the page is one kind
+    /// already.
+    fn parsed_query(&self) -> BarQuery<'_> {
+        match self.page {
+            Some(_) => BarQuery {
+                sigil: None,
+                query: self.input.value(),
+            },
+            None => parse_bar_query(self.input.value()),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// The sigil in force for the query as it stands.
     pub fn sigil(&self) -> Option<BarSigil> {
-        parse_bar_query(self.input.value()).sigil
+        self.parsed_query().sigil
     }
 
     /// The candidates the query line asks for. A sigil narrows to one kind;
     /// with no sigil the list is mixed — sessions and commands ranked together
     /// — except on an empty query, where the bar is a session switcher.
     fn active_entries(&self, parsed: BarQuery<'_>) -> Vec<&BarEntry> {
+        if let Some(page) = &self.page {
+            return page.actions.iter().collect();
+        }
         match parsed.sigil {
             Some(BarSigil::Command) => self.commands.iter().collect(),
             Some(BarSigil::Directory) => self.directories.iter().collect(),
@@ -438,7 +566,7 @@ impl CommandBar {
     /// different result.
     fn recompute(&mut self) {
         let rows: Vec<BarRow> = {
-            let parsed = parse_bar_query(self.input.value());
+            let parsed = self.parsed_query();
             let entries = self.active_entries(parsed);
             let candidates: Vec<MatchCandidate> =
                 entries.iter().map(|e| e.candidate.clone()).collect();
@@ -482,12 +610,16 @@ impl CommandBar {
         let height = parent.height.saturating_sub(4).clamp(5, 20);
         let area = centered(parent, 72, height);
         f.render_widget(Clear, area);
+        // The page names the session being acted on, so the target is never
+        // ambiguous.
+        let title = match (&self.page, self.sigil()) {
+            (Some(page), _) => format!(" act on {} ", page.name),
+            (None, Some(BarSigil::Command)) => " run a command ".to_string(),
+            (None, Some(BarSigil::Directory)) => " spawn in ".to_string(),
+            (None, None) => " go to ".to_string(),
+        };
         let block = Block::default()
-            .title(match self.sigil() {
-                Some(BarSigil::Command) => " run a command ",
-                Some(BarSigil::Directory) => " spawn in ",
-                None => " go to ",
-            })
+            .title(title)
             .borders(Borders::ALL)
             .style(pal.card.base())
             .border_style(pal.border_style(true));
@@ -510,7 +642,11 @@ impl CommandBar {
             .render(query, f.buffer_mut(), pal.card.text_style());
         f.render_widget(
             Paragraph::new(Line::from(Span::styled(
-                "[enter] open   [esc] close",
+                if self.page.is_some() {
+                    "[enter] run   [esc] back"
+                } else {
+                    "[enter] open   [esc] close"
+                },
                 pal.card.dim_style(),
             ))),
             row(inner.height - 1),
@@ -540,8 +676,9 @@ impl CommandBar {
         let mut lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = Vec::new();
         let mut highlight_line = 0usize;
         // While a sigil is in force there is one kind, so the header is
-        // dropped — it would name what the whole list already is.
-        let headers = self.sigil().is_none();
+        // dropped — it would name what the whole list already is. The action
+        // page is one kind too.
+        let headers = self.sigil().is_none() && self.page.is_none();
         for group in self.groups() {
             if headers {
                 lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
@@ -1219,4 +1356,163 @@ mod tests {
         }
         assert_eq!(bold, vec!["w", "s"], "bold cells: {bold:?}");
     }
+
+    // ---- the session action page (#155) ----
+
+    fn targets(rows: &[BarRow]) -> Vec<BarTarget> {
+        rows.iter().map(|r| r.target.clone()).collect()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tab_on_a_session_opens_its_action_page() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        assert!(bar.on_action_page());
+        assert_eq!(
+            labels(bar.rows()),
+            vec!["Kill session", "Rename session", "Spawn similar"]
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            targets(bar.rows()),
+            SESSION_ACTIONS
+                .iter()
+                .map(|&action| BarTarget::SessionAction {
+                    session: Uuid::from_u128(1),
+                    action,
+                })
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Tab has no effect on any other kind, and none on the page itself, which
+    /// has no session rows.
+    #[test]
+    fn tab_on_a_command_or_directory_row_does_nothing() {
+        let keymap = vec![("x".to_string(), Action::KillHighlighted)];
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &keymap, "/home/me");
+        typed(&mut bar, ">");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        assert!(!bar.on_action_page());
+        assert_eq!(bar.query(), ">");
+
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.set_directories(&[PathBuf::from("/home/me/dev/api")]);
+        typed(&mut bar, "~");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        assert!(!bar.on_action_page());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tab_on_the_action_page_does_not_drill_further() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        assert!(bar.on_action_page());
+        assert_eq!(labels(bar.rows()).len(), 3);
+    }
+
+    /// The page drills into the highlighted session, not the first one.
+    #[test]
+    fn the_page_acts_on_the_highlighted_session() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha"), named(2, "bravo")], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.move_highlight(1);
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        assert_eq!(
+            bar.rows()[0].target,
+            BarTarget::SessionAction {
+                session: Uuid::from_u128(2),
+                action: SessionActionId::Kill,
+            }
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn the_action_page_stays_fuzzy_searchable() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        typed(&mut bar, "ren");
+        assert_eq!(labels(bar.rows()), vec!["Rename session"]);
+        assert_eq!(
+            bar.selected().map(|r| r.target.clone()),
+            Some(BarTarget::SessionAction {
+                session: Uuid::from_u128(1),
+                action: SessionActionId::Rename,
+            })
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// A sigil narrows the result list to one kind; the page is one kind
+    /// already, so `>` there is a query character like any other.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_sigil_is_an_ordinary_character_on_the_action_page() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        typed(&mut bar, ">");
+        assert_eq!(bar.sigil(), None);
+        assert!(bar.rows().is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn escape_returns_to_the_result_list_with_the_query_intact() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha"), named(2, "bravo")], &[], "/home/me");
+        typed(&mut bar, "alp");
+        assert_eq!(bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab), BarOutcome::Stay);
+        assert_eq!(bar.query(), "", "the page starts on an empty query");
+        // Escape is one level up, not the way out.
+        assert_eq!(bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Esc), BarOutcome::Stay);
+        assert!(!bar.on_action_page());
+        assert_eq!(bar.query(), "alp");
+        assert_eq!(labels(bar.rows()), vec!["alpha"]);
+        // Off the page it closes the bar again.
+        assert_eq!(bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Esc), BarOutcome::Close);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn backspace_at_an_empty_query_returns_to_the_result_list() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &[], "/home/me");
+        typed(&mut bar, "alp");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Backspace);
+        assert!(!bar.on_action_page());
+        assert_eq!(bar.query(), "alp");
+    }
+
+    /// Backspace with something typed is ordinary editing of the page's own
+    /// query, not the way out.
+    #[test]
+    fn backspace_on_a_non_empty_page_query_edits_it() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &[], "/home/me");
+        typed(&mut bar, "alp");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        typed(&mut bar, "kx");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Backspace);
+        assert!(bar.on_action_page());
+        assert_eq!(bar.query(), "k");
+        assert_eq!(labels(bar.rows()), vec!["Kill session"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn enter_on_the_page_opens_the_action_for_that_session() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "alpha")], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        typed(&mut bar, "spawn");
+        assert_eq!(
+            bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Enter),
+            BarOutcome::Open(BarTarget::SessionAction {
+                session: Uuid::from_u128(1),
+                action: SessionActionId::SpawnSimilar,
+            })
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn the_action_page_titles_itself_with_the_session_it_acts_on() {
+        let mut bar = CommandBar::new(&[named(1, "amber-falcon")], &[], "/home/me");
+        bar.handle_key(&InputKey::Tab);
+        let rendered = render_to_string(&bar, 90, 20);
+        assert!(rendered.contains("act on amber-falcon"), "{rendered}");
+        assert!(rendered.contains("Kill session"), "{rendered}");
+        // One kind, so the group header is dropped the way a sigil drops it.
+        assert!(!rendered.contains("Commands"), "{rendered}");
+    }
 }

crates/maestro-tui/src/config.rs

@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ impl TuiConfig {
             TuiTheme::Nord => Palette::NORD,
             TuiTheme::Dracula => Palette::DRACULA,
         };
-        let leader_str = section.leader.as_deref().unwrap_or("ctrl-a");
+        let leader_str = section.leader();
         let leader = InputKey::parse(leader_str)
             .map_err(|_| TuiConfigError::BadLeader(leader_str.to_string()))?;
         let chord_timeout = Duration::from_millis(section.chord_timeout_ms.unwrap_or(1000));
@@ -146,6 +146,25 @@ impl TuiConfig {
         keymap
             .set(Mode::Insert, &leader.canonical(), "LeaveInsert")
             .expect("leader canonical form is valid by construction");
+        // Leader, ctrl-k → the literal-Ctrl-K escape hatch (#156), built from
+        // the same leader spec so rebinding leader rebinds this chord too.
+        keymap
+            .set(
+                Mode::Insert,
+                &format!("{} ctrl-k", leader.canonical()),
+                "SendLiteralCtrlK",
+            )
+            .expect("leader canonical form is valid by construction");
+        // Leader, leader → the literal-leader escape hatch (#158), tmux-style:
+        // pressing it twice sends the leader byte itself. Built from the same
+        // leader spec, so rebinding leader rebinds this chord too.
+        keymap
+            .set(
+                Mode::Insert,
+                &format!("{} {}", leader.canonical(), leader.canonical()),
+                "SendLiteralLeader",
+            )
+            .expect("leader canonical form is valid by construction");
 
         for (input, action) in &section.keymap_normal {
             keymap.set(Mode::Normal, input, action).map_err(|source| {
@@ -278,6 +297,60 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Insert, "ctrl-a"), None);
     }
 
+    /// The literal-Ctrl-K escape hatch (#156) is chorded off the default
+    /// leader, `ctrl-a ctrl-k` — not the command bar.
+    #[test]
+    fn default_leader_escapes_a_literal_ctrl_k() {
+        let cfg = TuiConfig::load(&TuiSection::default()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Insert, "ctrl-a ctrl-k"),
+            Some(Action::SendLiteralCtrlK),
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Rebinding the leader must rebind the literal-Ctrl-K chord with it, not
+    /// just the Insert escape — proving the chord is built from the
+    /// configured leader rather than a hardcoded `ctrl-a`.
+    #[test]
+    fn rebinding_leader_moves_the_literal_ctrl_k_chord() {
+        let mut section = TuiSection::default();
+        section.leader = Some("ctrl-b".into());
+        let cfg = TuiConfig::load(&section).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Insert, "ctrl-b ctrl-k"),
+            Some(Action::SendLiteralCtrlK),
+        );
+        // The old leader's chord is gone along with its Insert escape.
+        assert_eq!(cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Insert, "ctrl-a ctrl-k"), None);
+    }
+
+    /// The literal-leader escape hatch (#158) is chorded off the leader
+    /// doubled: `ctrl-a ctrl-a` — tmux's doubled-prefix resolution.
+    #[test]
+    fn default_leader_escapes_a_literal_leader() {
+        let cfg = TuiConfig::load(&TuiSection::default()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Insert, "ctrl-a ctrl-a"),
+            Some(Action::SendLiteralLeader),
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Rebinding the leader must rebind the literal-leader chord with it,
+    /// not just the Insert escape and the Ctrl-K chord — proving it too is
+    /// built from the configured leader rather than a hardcoded `ctrl-a`.
+    #[test]
+    fn rebinding_leader_moves_the_literal_leader_chord() {
+        let mut section = TuiSection::default();
+        section.leader = Some("ctrl-b".into());
+        let cfg = TuiConfig::load(&section).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Insert, "ctrl-b ctrl-b"),
+            Some(Action::SendLiteralLeader),
+        );
+        // The old leader's chord is gone along with the rest of its bindings.
+        assert_eq!(cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Insert, "ctrl-a ctrl-a"), None);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn user_normal_override_replaces_default() {
         let mut section = TuiSection::default();

crates/maestro-tui/src/daemon_link.rs

@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ mod tests {
                 dirty: false,
             },
             instance: instance.into(),
+            leader: maestro_config::DEFAULT_LEADER.into(),
         }
     }
 

crates/maestro-tui/src/draft.rs

@@ -228,6 +228,10 @@ pub struct DraftPane {
     /// respawns there without touching the picker. Consumed by the first
     /// [`Self::set_projects`]; `None` once applied or when nothing seeded it.
     pub seed_cwd: Option<PathBuf>,
+    /// Command to preselect once the preset list lands — "spawn similar"'s
+    /// half of the clone (#155). Consumed by the first [`Self::set_presets`];
+    /// `None` once applied or when nothing seeded it.
+    pub seed_command: Option<String>,
     /// The repository picked in step one ([`group_key`] of its main box),
     /// `None` until a box is picked. Looked up fresh in `groups` rather than
     /// cached, so a project-list refresh can't leave it stale.
@@ -291,6 +295,7 @@ impl Default for DraftPane {
             id: NEXT_DRAFT_ID.fetch_add(1, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed),
             presets,
             selected_preset: 0,
+            seed_command: None,
             custom_command: crate::text_input::TextInput::default(),
             groups: Vec::new(),
             filter: crate::text_input::TextInput::default(),
@@ -342,6 +347,27 @@ impl DraftPane {
             .iter()
             .position(|p| !p.command.is_empty())
             .unwrap_or(0);
+        self.apply_seed_command();
+    }
+
+    /// Land a seeded command on the tile that runs it: its own preset when the
+    /// daemon offers one, otherwise the custom escape hatch with the command
+    /// typed in.
+    fn apply_seed_command(&mut self) {
+        let Some(command) = self.seed_command.take() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        match self.presets.iter().position(|p| p.command == command) {
+            Some(index) => self.selected_preset = index,
+            None => {
+                self.selected_preset = self
+                    .presets
+                    .iter()
+                    .position(|p| p.command.is_empty())
+                    .unwrap_or(self.selected_preset);
+                self.custom_command = crate::text_input::TextInput::with_value(command);
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /// Replace the project snapshot: sort fresh-first (#54), group by
@@ -1688,6 +1714,48 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(draft.presets.last().unwrap().id, "custom");
     }
 
+    /// "Spawn similar" (#155) seeds the cloned session's command: it lands on
+    /// the tile that runs it when the daemon offers one.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_seeded_command_selects_its_own_preset() {
+        let mut draft = DraftPane {
+            seed_command: Some("aider".into()),
+            ..DraftPane::default()
+        };
+        draft.set_presets(vec![
+            SpawnPreset {
+                id: "claude".into(),
+                label: "Claude".into(),
+                command: "claude".into(),
+            },
+            SpawnPreset {
+                id: "aider".into(),
+                label: "Aider".into(),
+                command: "aider".into(),
+            },
+        ]);
+        assert_eq!(draft.command(), "aider");
+        assert!(!draft.is_custom());
+        assert_eq!(draft.seed_command, None, "consumed by the first load");
+    }
+
+    /// A command no preset runs falls back to the custom tile with the command
+    /// typed in, so the clone still spawns what it cloned.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_seeded_command_with_no_preset_fills_the_custom_tile() {
+        let mut draft = DraftPane {
+            seed_command: Some("bash -l".into()),
+            ..DraftPane::default()
+        };
+        draft.set_presets(vec![SpawnPreset {
+            id: "claude".into(),
+            label: "Claude".into(),
+            command: "claude".into(),
+        }]);
+        assert!(draft.is_custom());
+        assert_eq!(draft.command(), "bash -l");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn left_right_cycles_presets_wrapping_into_custom() {
         let mut draft = DraftPane {

crates/maestro-tui/src/input.rs

@@ -387,6 +387,9 @@ pub struct ChordState {
     held: Vec<String>,
     last_press: Option<Instant>,
     timeout: Duration,
+    /// A key bumped out of an abandoned chord (see [`Self::feed`]), waiting
+    /// to be replayed as a fresh keystroke by the caller.
+    replay: Option<InputKey>,
 }
 
 impl ChordState {
@@ -395,6 +398,7 @@ impl ChordState {
             held: Vec::new(),
             last_press: None,
             timeout,
+            replay: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -404,6 +408,13 @@ impl ChordState {
     ///   binding; wait for the next key.
     /// * `Resolved(s)` — `s` is the canonical chord (or single key) to look
     ///   up in the keymap. The held buffer is cleared.
+    ///
+    /// A held prefix that is itself directly bound (e.g. a leader key bound
+    /// alone as well as chorded, like `ctrl-a` and `ctrl-a ctrl-k`) resolves
+    /// to that binding the moment the next key fails to extend it, rather
+    /// than swallowing the held key and losing its meaning — the new key
+    /// never belonged to the chord and is handed back via [`Self::take_replay`]
+    /// so the caller can process it as its own keystroke.
     pub fn feed(&mut self, key: &InputKey, known_bindings: &HashSet<String>) -> ChordResult {
         if let Some(t) = self.last_press {
             if t.elapsed() > self.timeout {
@@ -428,11 +439,31 @@ impl ChordState {
 
         if is_prefix {
             self.held.push(key_s);
-            ChordResult::Pending
-        } else {
-            self.held.clear();
-            ChordResult::Resolved(candidate)
+            return ChordResult::Pending;
         }
+
+        if known_bindings.contains(&candidate) {
+            self.held.clear();
+            return ChordResult::Resolved(candidate);
+        }
+
+        if !self.held.is_empty() {
+            let held_str = self.held.join(" ");
+            self.held.clear();
+            if known_bindings.contains(&held_str) {
+                self.replay = Some(key.clone());
+                return ChordResult::Resolved(held_str);
+            }
+        }
+
+        ChordResult::Resolved(candidate)
+    }
+
+    /// Take the key bumped out of an abandoned chord by the last [`Self::feed`]
+    /// call, if any. The caller feeds it through again as a brand new
+    /// keystroke.
+    pub fn take_replay(&mut self) -> Option<InputKey> {
+        self.replay.take()
     }
 }
 
@@ -733,6 +764,41 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(r, ChordResult::Resolved("g x".into()));
     }
 
+    /// A key bound both alone and as a chord prefix (the leader: `ctrl-a` and
+    /// `ctrl-a ctrl-k`) must still fire its own binding when the next key
+    /// doesn't complete the chord — the held key's meaning isn't lost, and
+    /// the new key comes back via `take_replay` for the caller to process on
+    /// its own (#156).
+    #[test]
+    fn a_bound_prefix_resolves_itself_and_replays_the_breaking_key() {
+        let mut chord = ChordState::new(Duration::from_secs(10));
+        let known: HashSet<String> = ["ctrl-a".into(), "ctrl-a ctrl-k".into()]
+            .into_iter()
+            .collect();
+
+        let r = chord.feed(&InputKey::ctrl_char('a'), &known);
+        assert_eq!(r, ChordResult::Pending);
+
+        let r = chord.feed(&InputKey::char('j'), &known);
+        assert_eq!(r, ChordResult::Resolved("ctrl-a".into()));
+        assert_eq!(chord.take_replay(), Some(InputKey::char('j')));
+    }
+
+    /// The full chord still resolves normally when the next key completes
+    /// it — no replay, no early fire of the shorter binding.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_completed_chord_off_a_bound_prefix_has_no_replay() {
+        let mut chord = ChordState::new(Duration::from_secs(10));
+        let known: HashSet<String> = ["ctrl-a".into(), "ctrl-a ctrl-k".into()]
+            .into_iter()
+            .collect();
+
+        chord.feed(&InputKey::ctrl_char('a'), &known);
+        let r = chord.feed(&InputKey::ctrl_char('k'), &known);
+        assert_eq!(r, ChordResult::Resolved("ctrl-a ctrl-k".into()));
+        assert_eq!(chord.take_replay(), None);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn chord_state_lone_key_resolves_immediately() {
         let mut chord = ChordState::new(Duration::from_secs(10));

docs/COMMAND-BAR.md

@@ -45,8 +45,21 @@ mirroring the TUI's. `ctrl-a` is select-all in a browser; the web
 `preventDefault`s it, since selecting all of a terminal pane does nothing
 useful.
 
-Only Ctrl-K gets an escape hatch. No other control character is intercepted, so
-none of them needs one.
+One knob drives both clients: the daemon serves `[tui].leader` as `leader` on
+`GET /api/info`, and the web binds that instead of its own constant (#159). A
+daemon too old to send the field, or an unreachable `/api/info`, leaves the web
+on `ctrl-a`. The section is named `[tui]` for history — it is the leader for
+every client, not the TUI's alone.
+
+The leader itself needs the same kind of way back: holding it consumes every
+press, on both clients, even before anything is bound behind it. Pressing it
+twice — `ctrl-a ctrl-a` by default — sends one literal leader byte to the
+focused pane and clears the pending chord, the way tmux resolves a doubled
+prefix key. This chord is also built from the configured leader, so a
+rebound leader carries its own escape hatch with it.
+
+Only Ctrl-K and the leader itself get an escape hatch. No other control
+character is intercepted, so none of them needs one.
 
 ### Focus round-trip
 
@@ -145,12 +158,12 @@ searchable — the query line keeps working, now over those actions.
   ambiguous.
 - Escape, or backspace at an empty query, returns to the result list **with the
   previous query intact**. Drilling in and backing out is free.
-- Each action raises the flow it already has: kill goes through the existing
-  confirm-and-blockers dialog (`docs/WORKTREES.md`), rename through the
-  existing prompt pre-filled with the session's own name
-  (`docs/SIDEBAR.md`), spawn similar through the spawn form seeded from the
-  session's directory and command. The bar picks the action; it never
-  reimplements one.
+- Each action raises the flow it already has: kill through the confirmation
+  both clients ask for (`docs/SIDEBAR.md`) and the blockers dialog behind it
+  (`docs/WORKTREES.md`), rename through the existing prompt pre-filled with the
+  session's own name (`docs/SIDEBAR.md`), spawn similar through the spawn form
+  seeded from the session's directory and command. The bar picks the action; it
+  never reimplements one.
 
 No actions beyond those three, and no action across more than one session.
 

docs/INSTALL.md

@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ cover every v1 action — only override what you want to change:
 ```toml
 [tui]
 theme = "dark"              # see the theme list below
-leader = "ctrl-a"            # one byte that escapes Insert mode
+leader = "ctrl-a"            # one byte that escapes Insert mode; the web reads
+                             # the same setting off /api/info
 chord_timeout_ms = 1000      # how long to hold a partial chord like `ctrl-w`
 
 [tui.keymap.normal]

docs/PREVIEW.md

@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ Web client (`--preview` and friends in `web/src/styles.css`):
 | The previewed pane's titlebar | Tinted in the preview hue, at full strength, in place of the focused pane's accent tint. |
 | The canvas | A `preview` chip, top right, and a dashed inset ring. |
 | A throwaway tab | Dashed border, italic label. |
-| The sidebar row being previewed | Filled with the preview hue, over whatever open/focused state the row already had. |
+| The sidebar row being previewed | Filled with the preview hue, over whatever open state the row already had — but the row of the session already showing in the pane keeps its accent fill, since previewing it changes nothing on screen. |
+| The sidebar row of the session the operator picked | Keeps its accent fill for the whole preview. A preview never moves the accent; only opening another session does. |
 | A hovered sidebar row, and the keyboard cursor on a session | A lighter wash of the same hue, because both are what previews a row. |
 
 Rows say it with fill, not with an edge — see the tier ladder in

docs/SIDEBAR.md

@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ furthest down wins the paint.
 | Under the pointer or the keyboard walk | preview hue, light | selection surface, while the sidebar holds the keyboard |
 | Open in some pane, not the focused one | 6% accent wash (`.is-open`) | — (the `●` glyph carries it) |
 | Showing in the pane | `--accent-fill` | `pane_row_bg()` — partway from the card surface to the selection surface |
-| Previewing (`docs/PREVIEW.md`) | `--preview-tint` | — (no preview colour role yet) |
+| Previewing (`docs/PREVIEW.md`), unless that row is the one showing in the pane | `--preview-tint` | — (no preview colour role yet) |
 
 The web ladder is written as one ordered run of equal-specificity rules in
 `styles.css`, every qualifier inside `:where()`, so the order they appear in
@@ -250,6 +250,10 @@ Two rulings specific to a reported `Error` (#114):
   process changes do not clear it — only the agent itself may withdraw what
   the agent itself reported. Re-reporting `Error` extends the TTL rather than
   stacking reports.
+- **Only Claude Code reports `Error`.** Codex has no counterpart to
+  `StopFailure` in its hook event set, so a codex turn that ends on an API
+  error reports `AwaitingInput` and its card carries no error mark. A card
+  without the mark means "nothing reported a failure", not "nothing failed".
 
 If a client receives an `ActivityState` variant it does not know, it must not
 fail rendering: treat it as `Idle` (neutral/dim, line-2 rules apply as usual)
@@ -316,7 +320,7 @@ Everything else is the same key on both clients:
 | `Tab`   | hand the keyboard to the pane               |
 | `c`     | collapse or expand the highlighted folder   |
 | `r`     | rename the highlighted session              |
-| `x`     | kill the highlighted session                |
+| `x`     | kill the highlighted session (confirms)     |
 | `n`     | open the spawn form                         |
 | `N`     | spawn with every default resolved           |
 | `?`     | show the shortcut overlay                   |
@@ -324,3 +328,18 @@ Everything else is the same key on both clients:
 The TUI binds these through its keymap, so a user can rebind any of them; the
 web client's are fixed. A binding added to one client belongs in this table and
 in both help overlays.
+
+## Killing a session
+
+**Every kill confirms first, in both clients** (#160). A kill is destructive
+and unattended agents live in these sessions, so neither client sends
+`DELETE /api/sessions/:id` off a single press. The TUI raises
+`OverlayKind::KillConfirm` (`[y]`/`[n]`); the web raises the same dialog its
+`✕` button and the command bar's action page both use. Cancel holds the focus
+in the web's dialog, so nothing kills on a stray Enter.
+
+The confirmation names what the card last saw in the way, when anything was —
+the daemon will refuse an unforced kill over such a worktree, and saying so
+before the attempt is cheaper than a refusal. What comes back from that refusal
+is a second, separate prompt offering `force=true`; `docs/WORKTREES.md` owns
+what a forced kill leaves behind.

docs/WORKTREES.md

@@ -35,10 +35,18 @@ The branch name is used verbatim as a relative path, so `feature/login` becomes
 back to a short hash of the branch.
 
 If that path exists, the daemon appends `-2`, then `-3`, and so on until it finds
-a free one. The suffix names the **directory only**. The branch is whatever was
-requested; a second worktree of the same branch is not what happens here, because
-git refuses to check the same branch out twice and the branch picker already
-marks branches that are checked out elsewhere.
+a free one.
+
+For a *new* branch (`create_branch: true`), the suffix goes on the branch name
+itself, and the directory follows since it is derived from the branch — a
+random handle can otherwise reuse the name of a branch some earlier, already
+removed worktree left behind, and `git worktree add -b` refuses outright even
+though the directory is free.
+
+For an *existing* branch (`create_branch: false`) the name must stay exact, so
+only the directory is suffixed — a second worktree of the same branch is not
+what happens here, because git refuses to check the same branch out twice and
+the branch picker already marks branches that are checked out elsewhere.
 
 ### The `worktree_root` override
 

web/src/barActions.test.ts

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ async function flush(): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 describe("kill from the action page", () => {
-  it("goes through the daemon, without a first confirmation", async () => {
+  it("goes through the same confirmation the sidebar raises (#160)", async () => {
     const calls: string[] = [];
     window.fetch = ((url: string, init?: RequestInit) => {
       calls.push(`${init?.method ?? "GET"} ${url}`);
@@ -75,6 +75,12 @@ describe("kill from the action page", () => {
     mount(s);
     raise(KILL_SESSION_EVENT, s);
     await flush();
+    expect(document.querySelector(".kill-dialog")?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(
+      "Kill amber-falcon",
+    );
+    expect(calls.filter((c) => c.startsWith("DELETE"))).toHaveLength(0);
+    document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-kill")?.click();
+    await flush();
     expect(calls).toContain(`DELETE /api/sessions/${s.id}`);
     expect(document.querySelector(".kill-dialog")).toBeNull();
   });
@@ -101,6 +107,8 @@ describe("kill from the action page", () => {
     mount(s);
     raise(KILL_SESSION_EVENT, s);
     await flush();
+    document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-kill")?.click();
+    await flush();
     const dialog = document.querySelector(".kill-dialog");
     expect(dialog?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Kill amber-falcon");
     expect(dialog?.textContent).toContain("1 untracked file");

web/src/catalog.test.ts

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ describe("blocked-work indicator (#83)", () => {
     expect(rowFor(el, unprobed.id)?.querySelector(".leaf-blocked")).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("kills straight away, without a first confirmation", async () => {
+  it("confirms before an unguarded kill (#160)", async () => {
     const calls: string[] = [];
     window.fetch = ((url: string, init?: RequestInit) => {
       calls.push(`${init?.method ?? "GET"} ${url}`);
@@ -108,10 +108,45 @@ describe("blocked-work indicator (#83)", () => {
     const el = renderSidebar(storeWith([plain])).el;
     rowFor(el, plain.id)?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".leaf-kill")?.click();
     await flush();
+    const dialog = document.querySelector(".kill-dialog");
+    expect(dialog?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Kill claude");
+    expect(calls.filter((c) => c.startsWith("DELETE"))).toHaveLength(0);
+    dialog?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-kill")?.click();
+    await flush();
     expect(calls).toContain(`DELETE /api/sessions/${plain.id}`);
     expect(document.querySelector(".kill-dialog")).toBeNull();
   });
 
+  it("kills nothing when the confirmation is cancelled (#160)", async () => {
+    const calls: string[] = [];
+    window.fetch = ((url: string, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      calls.push(`${init?.method ?? "GET"} ${url}`);
+      return Promise.resolve(new Response(null, { status: 204 }));
+    }) as typeof fetch;
+    const plain = session({ id: "aaaaaaaa-0000-0000-0000-000000000007" });
+    const el = renderSidebar(storeWith([plain])).el;
+    rowFor(el, plain.id)?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".leaf-kill")?.click();
+    await flush();
+    document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-cancel")?.click();
+    await flush();
+    expect(document.querySelector(".kill-dialog")).toBeNull();
+    expect(calls.filter((c) => c.startsWith("DELETE"))).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it("names the blockers in the confirmation, before the daemon refuses (#160)", async () => {
+    window.fetch = (() => Promise.reject(new Error("never called"))) as typeof fetch;
+    const blocked = session({
+      id: "aaaaaaaa-0000-0000-0000-000000000008",
+      blocked_work: { untracked_files: 1 },
+    });
+    const el = renderSidebar(storeWith([blocked])).el;
+    rowFor(el, blocked.id)?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".leaf-kill")?.click();
+    await flush();
+    const dialog = document.querySelector(".kill-dialog");
+    expect(dialog?.textContent).toContain("1 untracked file");
+    expect(dialog?.textContent).toContain("refused unless it is forced");
+  });
+
   it("offers the override when the daemon refuses a guarded kill", async () => {
     const calls: string[] = [];
     window.fetch = ((url: string, init?: RequestInit) => {
@@ -138,6 +173,8 @@ describe("blocked-work indicator (#83)", () => {
     const el = renderSidebar(storeWith([blocked])).el;
     rowFor(el, blocked.id)?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".leaf-kill")?.click();
     await flush();
+    document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-kill")?.click();
+    await flush();
     const dialog = document.querySelector(".kill-dialog");
     expect(dialog?.textContent).toContain("1 untracked file");
     dialog?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-force")?.click();
@@ -166,6 +203,8 @@ describe("blocked-work indicator (#83)", () => {
     const el = renderSidebar(storeWith([blocked])).el;
     rowFor(el, blocked.id)?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".leaf-kill")?.click();
     await flush();
+    document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-kill")?.click();
+    await flush();
     document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-cancel")?.click();
     expect(document.querySelector(".kill-dialog")).toBeNull();
     expect(calls.filter((c) => c.includes("force=true"))).toHaveLength(0);

web/src/catalog.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { escapeHtml } from "./html.js";
 import { ApiRequestError, getDaemonInfo, killSession, renameSession } from "./api.js";
-import { openForceKillDialog } from "./killDialog.js";
+import { openForceKillDialog, openKillConfirmDialog } from "./killDialog.js";
 import { openContextMenu } from "./contextMenu.js";
 import { toggleHelp } from "./help.js";
 import { CommandSet, defineCommands } from "./commands.js";
@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ export function requestOpenSpawn(): void {
   document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(OPEN_SPAWN_EVENT));
 }
 
+/** Ask the shell to open the command bar with an empty query. Dispatched by
+ *  the sidebar's search field, which is the touch entry point to the bar
+ *  (#157, docs/COMMAND-BAR.md "Touch entry"): there is no `ctrl-k` on a phone.
+ *  Handled in main.ts, which owns the session snapshot the bar needs. */
+export const OPEN_COMMAND_BAR_EVENT = "catalog-open-command-bar";
+export function requestOpenCommandBar(): void {
+  document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(OPEN_COMMAND_BAR_EVENT));
+}
+
 /** Ask the shell to hand the keyboard back to the focused pane's terminal —
  *  what Tab in the sidebar list does. Handled in main.ts, which owns the
  *  connection pool. */
@@ -221,7 +230,7 @@ function renderNode(node: TreeNode, depth: number): HTMLElement {
   killBtn.addEventListener("click", (ev) => {
     ev.preventDefault();
     ev.stopPropagation();
-    void requestKill(cur, sessionName(cur));
+    requestKill(cur, sessionName(cur));
   });
   row.addEventListener("click", () => {
     document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(SESSION_SELECT_EVENT, { detail: cur.id }));
@@ -239,7 +248,7 @@ function renderNode(node: TreeNode, depth: number): HTMLElement {
       {
         label: "Kill session",
         danger: true,
-        onSelect: () => void requestKill(cur, sessionName(cur)),
+        onSelect: () => requestKill(cur, sessionName(cur)),
       },
     ]);
   });
@@ -284,26 +293,33 @@ function treeSignature(node: TreeNode): string {
 }
 
 /**
- * Kill on the first click (#81): the daemon is the one that decides whether a
- * session may go, and it refuses over a worktree holding unsaved work. Only
- * that refusal is worth a prompt, and it needs one `confirm()` cannot give —
- * a forced kill. Anything else surfaces as an alert.
+ * Kill behind a confirmation (#160): a kill is destructive and unattended
+ * agents live in these sessions, so the web asks first, the way the TUI always
+ * has. The daemon decides the rest — it refuses a kill over a worktree holding
+ * unsaved work, and that refusal needs a prompt the confirmation cannot give,
+ * a forced kill. Anything else surfaces in the dialog that asked.
  */
-async function requestKill(s: Session, name: string): Promise<void> {
-  try {
-    await killSession(s.id);
-  } catch (e) {
-    if (e instanceof ApiRequestError && e.code === "kill_guarded") {
-      openForceKillDialog({
-        name,
-        blockers: e.unsavedWork ?? sessionBlockers(s),
-        reason: e.detail,
-        onForce: () => killSession(s.id, true),
-      });
-      return;
-    }
-    alert(`Failed to kill: ${(e as Error).message}`);
-  }
+function requestKill(s: Session, name: string): void {
+  openKillConfirmDialog({
+    name,
+    blockers: sessionBlockers(s),
+    onKill: async () => {
+      try {
+        await killSession(s.id);
+      } catch (e) {
+        if (e instanceof ApiRequestError && e.code === "kill_guarded") {
+          openForceKillDialog({
+            name,
+            blockers: e.unsavedWork ?? sessionBlockers(s),
+            reason: e.detail,
+            onForce: () => killSession(s.id, true),
+          });
+          return;
+        }
+        throw e;
+      }
+    },
+  });
 }
 
 /**
@@ -361,16 +377,12 @@ function beginRename(row: HTMLElement, s: Session): void {
   input.select();
 }
 
-function renderEmpty(filtering: boolean, onSpawn: () => void): HTMLElement {
+// The tree has one empty state: no sessions at all. The old "No matches" one
+// belonged to the inline substring filter, which the command bar replaced
+// (#157) — the bar's own no-results state took over with it.
+function renderEmpty(onSpawn: () => void): HTMLElement {
   const el = document.createElement("div");
   el.className = "empty";
-  if (filtering) {
-    el.innerHTML = `
-      <div class="empty-glyph" aria-hidden="true">⌕</div>
-      <div class="empty-title">No matches</div>
-      <p class="empty-hint">No sessions match your search. Clear it to see everything.</p>`;
-    return el;
-  }
   el.innerHTML = `
     <div class="empty-glyph" aria-hidden="true">+</div>
     <div class="empty-title">No sessions yet</div>
@@ -441,12 +453,16 @@ export function renderSidebar(store: CatalogStore, opts: SidebarOptions = {}): S
   // renders with absolute paths until it lands.
   let homeDir: string | undefined;
 
+  // The field never holds a query: it is the touch entry point to the command
+  // bar (#157), so it is `readonly` — a tap opens the bar instead of raising an
+  // on-screen keyboard over a field nothing is typed into.
   const searchHeader = document.createElement("header");
   searchHeader.className = "sidebar-search";
   searchHeader.innerHTML = `
     <input
       type="search"
       class="search"
+      readonly
       placeholder="Search sessions…"
       aria-label="Search sessions"
       autocomplete="off"
@@ -555,11 +571,23 @@ export function renderSidebar(store: CatalogStore, opts: SidebarOptions = {}): S
   handle.addEventListener("pointerup", endDrag);
   handle.addEventListener("pointercancel", endDrag);
 
+  // Touch entry (#157): the field is a button that looks like a field. It
+  // never holds a query — focusing or tapping it hands the keyboard straight
+  // to the bar's own input, which is also why it blurs first: leaving the
+  // focus here would make the bar impossible to close without reopening it.
   const search = searchHeader.querySelector(".search") as HTMLInputElement;
-  let filter = "";
-  search.addEventListener("input", () => {
-    filter = search.value;
-    refresh();
+  const openBar = () => {
+    search.value = "";
+    search.blur();
+    requestOpenCommandBar();
+  };
+  search.addEventListener("focus", openBar);
+  // A tap can land without a focus event (iOS Safari on a blurred field), so
+  // the pointer path opens the bar too; the blur above keeps the two from
+  // stacking two overlays.
+  search.addEventListener("pointerdown", (e) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    openBar();
   });
 
   let highlights: SidebarHighlights = { open: new Set(), focused: null };
@@ -698,7 +726,7 @@ export function renderSidebar(store: CatalogStore, opts: SidebarOptions = {}): S
       },
       "list.kill": () => {
         const hit = highlightedSession();
-        if (hit) void requestKill(hit.session, sessionName(hit.session));
+        if (hit) requestKill(hit.session, sessionName(hit.session));
       },
       "list.focusPane": () => document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(FOCUS_PANE_EVENT)),
     }),
@@ -716,8 +744,8 @@ export function renderSidebar(store: CatalogStore, opts: SidebarOptions = {}): S
     if (renamingId !== null) return;
     const state = store.snapshot();
     const sessions = [...state.sessions.values()];
-    const tree = buildTree(sessions, homeDir, filter);
-    const signature = sessions.length === 0 ? `EMPTY:${filter.trim()}` : treeSignature(tree);
+    const tree = buildTree(sessions, homeDir);
+    const signature = sessions.length === 0 ? "EMPTY" : treeSignature(tree);
     if (signature === renderedSignature) {
       for (const row of treeHost.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>(".tree-leaf")) {
         const s = row.dataset.sessionId ? state.sessions.get(row.dataset.sessionId) : undefined;
@@ -728,9 +756,7 @@ export function renderSidebar(store: CatalogStore, opts: SidebarOptions = {}): S
     renderedSignature = signature;
     treeHost.replaceChildren();
     if (sessions.length === 0) {
-      treeHost.appendChild(
-        renderEmpty(filter.trim().length > 0, () => requestOpenSpawn()),
-      );
+      treeHost.appendChild(renderEmpty(() => requestOpenSpawn()));
       return;
     }
     if (tree.kind === "folder") {
@@ -763,7 +789,7 @@ export function renderSidebar(store: CatalogStore, opts: SidebarOptions = {}): S
   // than by row.
   const killHandler = (ev: Event) => {
     const s = (ev as CustomEvent<Session>).detail;
-    void requestKill(s, sessionName(s));
+    requestKill(s, sessionName(s));
   };
   const renameHandler = (ev: Event) => {
     const s = (ev as CustomEvent<Session>).detail;

web/src/commands.test.ts

@@ -4,14 +4,17 @@ import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import {
   COMMAND_SPECS,
   CommandSet,
+  commandSpecs,
   DEFAULT_LEADER,
   canonicalizeKey,
+  controlByte,
   defineCommands,
   isBarTypingTarget,
   isTerminalTextarea,
   isTypingTarget,
   keyCaps,
   publishedCommands,
+  type Command,
 } from "./commands.js";
 
 function key(k: string, init: KeyboardEventInit = {}): KeyboardEvent {
@@ -163,6 +166,37 @@ describe("the leader", () => {
     expect(DEFAULT_LEADER).toBe("ctrl-a");
   });
 
+  // #159: the leader is the operator's, served on `/api/info`. Every chord
+  // behind it is built from it, so a rebound leader carries its escape hatches
+  // with it instead of leaving them on a stale ctrl-a.
+  it("builds the chords behind it from the configured leader", () => {
+    const byId = new Map(commandSpecs("ctrl-b").map((s) => [s.id, s]));
+    expect(byId.get("pane.literalCtrlK")?.keys).toEqual(["ctrl-b ctrl-k"]);
+    expect(byId.get("pane.literalLeader")?.keys).toEqual(["ctrl-b ctrl-b"]);
+    // Commands that do not hang off the leader are untouched.
+    expect(byId.get("bar.open")?.keys).toEqual(["ctrl-k"]);
+  });
+
+  it("dispatches a configured leader's chord and not the default's", () => {
+    const literalCtrlK = vi.fn();
+    const set = new CommandSet(defineCommands({ "pane.literalCtrlK": literalCtrlK }, "ctrl-b"), {
+      leader: "ctrl-b",
+    });
+    set.handle(key("b", { ctrlKey: true }));
+    expect(set.handle(key("k", { ctrlKey: true }))).toBe(true);
+    expect(literalCtrlK).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    // The old leader is an ordinary key again: it holds nothing, and the chord
+    // that used to follow it runs nothing.
+    set.handle(key("a", { ctrlKey: true }));
+    set.handle(key("k", { ctrlKey: true }));
+    expect(literalCtrlK).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("sends the configured leader's own byte for the doubled chord", () => {
+    expect(controlByte("ctrl-b")).toBe("\x02");
+  });
+
   it("holds the leader as a partial chord instead of selecting the page", () => {
     const set = new CommandSet(defineCommands({ "spawn.open": vi.fn() }), {
       leader: DEFAULT_LEADER,
@@ -307,3 +341,62 @@ describe("ctrl-k over a focused pane (#152)", () => {
     expect(spec?.keys).toEqual([`${DEFAULT_LEADER} ctrl-k`]);
   });
 });
+
+describe("leader pressed twice (#158)", () => {
+  it("sends one literal leader byte and clears the pending chord", () => {
+    const literal = vi.fn();
+    const run = vi.fn();
+    const set = new CommandSet(
+      defineCommands({ "pane.literalLeader": literal, "spawn.open": run }),
+      { leader: DEFAULT_LEADER },
+    );
+    const target = el('<textarea class="xterm-helper-textarea"></textarea>');
+    expect(pressOn(set, target, "a", { ctrlKey: true })).toBe(true);
+    expect(pressOn(set, target, "a", { ctrlKey: true })).toBe(true);
+    expect(literal).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    // The chord is cleared, not still held: the next key is ordinary again.
+    expect(set.handle(key("n"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(run).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("binds the escape hatch behind the default leader", () => {
+    const spec = COMMAND_SPECS.find((s) => s.id === "pane.literalLeader");
+    expect(spec?.keys).toEqual([`${DEFAULT_LEADER} ${DEFAULT_LEADER}`]);
+  });
+
+  // Not just the default: the chord is resolved from whatever leader this
+  // set was constructed with, so a rebound leader carries the escape hatch
+  // with it — the same proof #156 wrote for the TUI. The web has no config
+  // for this yet (#159), but the mechanism must not be hardcoded to ctrl-a.
+  it("follows a rebound leader, not just the default", () => {
+    const literal = vi.fn();
+    const rebound: Command = {
+      id: "pane.literalLeader",
+      label: "Send a literal leader key to the pane",
+      group: "Pane",
+      scope: "global",
+      keys: ["ctrl-b ctrl-b"],
+      run: literal,
+    };
+    const set = new CommandSet([rebound], { leader: "ctrl-b" });
+    const target = el('<textarea class="xterm-helper-textarea"></textarea>');
+    expect(pressOn(set, target, "b", { ctrlKey: true })).toBe(true);
+    expect(pressOn(set, target, "b", { ctrlKey: true })).toBe(true);
+    expect(literal).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    // The old leader no longer does anything special.
+    expect(pressOn(set, target, "a", { ctrlKey: true })).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("controlByte", () => {
+  it("computes the raw control byte from a plain ctrl chord", () => {
+    expect(controlByte("ctrl-a")).toBe("\x01");
+    expect(controlByte("ctrl-k")).toBe("\x0b");
+  });
+
+  it("rejects anything that isn't a single plain ctrl chord", () => {
+    expect(() => controlByte("ctrl-shift-a")).toThrow();
+    expect(() => controlByte("a")).toThrow();
+    expect(() => controlByte("ctrl-a ctrl-a")).toThrow();
+  });
+});

web/src/commands.ts

@@ -32,13 +32,26 @@ export interface Command extends CommandSpec {
   run: () => void;
 }
 
-/** Default leader, mirroring the TUI's `[tui].leader`. `ctrl-a` is select-all
- *  in a browser, so a set that owns the leader `preventDefault`s it. */
+/** Leader used when the daemon does not name one — an older daemon, or an
+ *  unreachable `/api/info`. Mirrors the TUI's `[tui].leader` default. `ctrl-a`
+ *  is select-all in a browser, so a set that owns the leader
+ *  `preventDefault`s it. */
 export const DEFAULT_LEADER = "ctrl-a";
 
-/** Every command the web client has. The single list this issue exists to
- *  create: labels, chords and grouping live here and nowhere else. */
-export const COMMAND_SPECS: readonly CommandSpec[] = [
+/** Every command the web client has, for one leader. The single list: labels,
+ *  chords and grouping live here and nowhere else. Chords behind the leader are
+ *  built from it (#159), so the configured leader — served on `/api/info` as
+ *  `leader` — is what the overlay renders and the sets dispatch. */
+export function commandSpecs(leader: string = DEFAULT_LEADER): readonly CommandSpec[] {
+  return SPECS.map(({ leaderKeys, ...spec }) =>
+    leaderKeys ? { ...spec, keys: leaderKeys(leader) } : spec,
+  );
+}
+
+/** A spec whose chords are fixed, or a spec that builds them from the leader. */
+type SpecSource = CommandSpec & { leaderKeys?: (leader: string) => string[] };
+
+const SPECS: readonly SpecSource[] = [
   {
     id: "spawn.open",
     label: "Open the spawn form",
@@ -65,6 +78,15 @@ export const COMMAND_SPECS: readonly CommandSpec[] = [
     label: "Send a literal Ctrl-K to the pane",
     group: "Pane",
     keys: [`${DEFAULT_LEADER} ctrl-k`],
+    leaderKeys: (leader) => [`${leader} ctrl-k`],
+    scope: "global",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "pane.literalLeader",
+    label: "Send a literal leader key to the pane",
+    group: "Pane",
+    keys: [`${DEFAULT_LEADER} ${DEFAULT_LEADER}`],
+    leaderKeys: (leader) => [`${leader} ${leader}`],
     scope: "global",
   },
   {
@@ -153,13 +175,20 @@ export const COMMAND_SPECS: readonly CommandSpec[] = [
   },
 ];
 
-const SPEC_BY_ID = new Map(COMMAND_SPECS.map((s) => [s.id, s]));
+/** The command list under the default leader. Iteration order everywhere else
+ *  (the help overlay, the bar) comes from here. */
+export const COMMAND_SPECS: readonly CommandSpec[] = commandSpecs();
 
 /** Attach handlers to specs, by id. Throws on an unknown id, so a typo is a
- *  test failure rather than a key that silently does nothing. */
-export function defineCommands(handlers: Record<string, () => void>): Command[] {
+ *  test failure rather than a key that silently does nothing. `leader` picks
+ *  the chords behind the leader; omit it for a set that has none. */
+export function defineCommands(
+  handlers: Record<string, () => void>,
+  leader: string = DEFAULT_LEADER,
+): Command[] {
+  const byId = new Map(commandSpecs(leader).map((s) => [s.id, s]));
   return Object.entries(handlers).map(([id, run]) => {
-    const spec = SPEC_BY_ID.get(id);
+    const spec = byId.get(id);
     if (!spec) throw new Error(`unknown command id: ${id}`);
     return { ...spec, run };
   });
@@ -227,6 +256,15 @@ export function canonicalizeKey(e: KeyboardEvent): string | null {
   return out + e.key.toLowerCase();
 }
 
+/** The raw control byte for a canonical `ctrl-<letter>` chord — `ctrl-a` is
+ *  `0x01` — mirroring the TUI's `encode_key`. Built from the chord string
+ *  itself so a different leader sends its own byte, not a hardcoded one. */
+export function controlByte(chord: string): string {
+  const m = /^ctrl-([a-z])$/.exec(chord);
+  if (!m) throw new Error(`not a plain ctrl chord: ${chord}`);
+  return String.fromCharCode(m[1].charCodeAt(0) - 96);
+}
+
 const MOD_PREFIX = /^(ctrl|alt|meta|shift)-/;
 
 /** True when a chord carries a modifier or more than one key. Plain single-key

web/src/fastForward.test.ts

@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@ describe("resolveFastForward (#67)", () => {
     const res = resolveFastForward(projects, presets, "amber-falcon");
     expect(res.project?.path).toBe("/repos/fresh");
     expect(res.command).toBe("aider");
-    expect(res.name).toBe("amber-falcon");
+    expect(res.handle).toBe("amber-falcon");
 
     const req = buildFastForwardRequest(res)!;
     expect(req.cwd).toBe("/repos/fresh");
     expect(req.command).toBe("aider");
-    expect(req.metadata).toEqual({ name: "amber-falcon" });
+    // No name (#131): the daemon names the session after its first prompt,
+    // and a name here would collide with the branch handle.
+    expect(req.metadata).toBeUndefined();
     expect(req.worktree).toEqual({
       base_repo: "/repos/fresh",
       branch: "amber-falcon",
@@ -88,9 +90,9 @@ describe("resolveFastForward (#67)", () => {
     expect(buildFastForwardRequest(res)).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("downgrades to a draft when the generated name is missing", () => {
+  it("downgrades to a draft when the generated handle is missing", () => {
     const res = resolveFastForward([project({ last_command: "claude" })], presets);
-    expect(res.name).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(res.handle).toBeUndefined();
     expect(buildFastForwardRequest(res)).toBeNull();
   });
 
@@ -108,6 +110,17 @@ describe("resolveFastForward (#67)", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("seeds the handle as the branch and leaves the name field empty (#131)", () => {
+    const res = resolveFastForward(
+      [project({ path: "/repos/p", base_repo: "/repos/p", last_command: "aider" })],
+      presets,
+      "amber-falcon",
+    );
+    const seed = fastForwardSeed(res);
+    expect(seed.name).toBe("");
+    expect(seed.worktreeBranch).toBe("amber-falcon");
+  });
+
   it("leaves the worktree default alone when not even a project resolved", () => {
     // Not `false`: the form defaults the toggle on and a false would stick,
     // so the fallback draft would disagree with a normally-opened draft and

web/src/fastForward.ts

@@ -10,19 +10,21 @@ import { sortProjects } from "./projectList.js";
 export interface FastForwardResolution {
   project?: Project;
   command?: string;
-  name?: string;
+  /** A generated handle for the worktree branch (#131). Not a session name:
+   *  the fast path names no session. */
+  handle?: string;
 }
 
 /** The defaults: the currently focused session's project when it's still a
  *  known project, else the most recent one (fresh-first, same ordering the
  *  picker shows) — so `N` lands where the operator currently is, matching
  *  what plain `n` seeds from `spawnSimilarProjectSeed`. Its last command
- *  falls back to the first non-custom preset, and the name is freshly
- *  generated when the daemon supplied one. */
+ *  falls back to the first non-custom preset, and the branch handle is
+ *  freshly generated when the daemon supplied one. */
 export function resolveFastForward(
   projects: Project[],
   presets: SpawnPreset[],
-  name?: string,
+  handle?: string,
   focusedCwd?: string,
 ): FastForwardResolution {
   const project =
@@ -30,41 +32,45 @@ export function resolveFastForward(
   const lastCommand = project?.last_command?.trim();
   const command =
     lastCommand || presets.find((p) => p.command !== "")?.command || undefined;
-  return { project, command, name: name || undefined };
+  return { project, command, handle: handle || undefined };
 }
 
 /** The immediate spawn request — worktree on, new branch named after the
- *  generated session name — or `null` when any default is missing. */
+ *  generated handle — or `null` when any default is missing.
+ *
+ *  The request carries no name (#131): the daemon assigns a provisional one
+ *  and replaces it once the session sees its first prompt. A name here would
+ *  also collide with the branch handle's own session. */
 export function buildFastForwardRequest(
   res: FastForwardResolution,
 ): CreateSessionRequest | null {
-  const { project, command, name } = res;
-  if (!project || !command?.trim() || !name) return null;
+  const { project, command, handle } = res;
+  if (!project || !command?.trim() || !handle) return null;
   return {
     cwd: project.path,
     command,
-    metadata: { name },
     worktree: {
       base_repo: project.base_repo ?? project.path,
-      branch: name,
+      branch: handle,
       create_branch: true,
     },
   };
 }
 
 /** Seed for the fallback spawn form: whatever did resolve goes into the
- *  form; the rest stays with its own defaults. */
+ *  form; the rest stays with its own defaults. The name field stays empty
+ *  (#131) — the handle seeds the branch, not the session name. */
 export function fastForwardSeed(res: FastForwardResolution) {
   return {
     cwd: res.project?.path ?? "",
     command: res.command ?? "",
-    name: res.name ?? "",
+    name: "",
     // Left undefined rather than false when nothing resolved: the form
     // defaults the toggle on, and `false` would stick, so the fallback form
     // would disagree with both a normally-opened form and the TUI's fast path
     // (#67 review).
     worktreeEnabled: res.project ? true : undefined,
     worktreeBranch:
-      res.project && res.name ? res.name : undefined,
+      res.project && res.handle ? res.handle : undefined,
   };
 }

web/src/help.test.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // @vitest-environment happy-dom
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { keyCaps, publishedCommands } from "./commands.js";
+import { defineCommands, keyCaps, publishCommands, publishedCommands } from "./commands.js";
 import { closeHelp, groupedCommands, installHelpKeybind, isHelpOpen, openHelp } from "./help.js";
 
 beforeEach(() => {
@@ -44,6 +44,33 @@ describe("help overlay", () => {
       .toEqual(publishedCommands().map((c) => c.id));
   });
 
+  // #159: the leader comes from the daemon, so the overlay must render the
+  // configured chord — a hardcoded `Ctrl A` is the visible half of the bug.
+  it("renders the configured leader's chord, not a hardcoded Ctrl A", () => {
+    const bound = defineCommands(
+      { "pane.literalCtrlK": () => {}, "pane.literalLeader": () => {} },
+      "ctrl-b",
+    );
+    publishCommands(bound);
+    try {
+      openHelp();
+      const keysOf = (id: string) =>
+        [
+          ...(document.querySelector(`.help-row[data-command-id="${id}"]`) as HTMLElement)
+            .querySelectorAll("kbd"),
+        ]
+          .map((k) => k.textContent)
+          .join(" ");
+      expect(keysOf("pane.literalCtrlK")).toBe("Ctrl B then Ctrl K");
+      expect(keysOf("pane.literalLeader")).toBe("Ctrl B then Ctrl B");
+    } finally {
+      // Leave the registry as the rest of the suite expects it.
+      publishCommands(
+        defineCommands({ "pane.literalCtrlK": () => {}, "pane.literalLeader": () => {} }),
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
   it("opens on ? and closes on a second ?", () => {
     press("?", { shiftKey: true });
     expect(isHelpOpen()).toBe(true);

web/src/killDialog.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  closeForceKillDialog,
+  openForceKillDialog,
+  openKillConfirmDialog,
+} from "./killDialog.js";
+
+describe("kill dialogs", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    closeForceKillDialog();
+    document.body.innerHTML = "";
+  });
+
+  it("focuses the kill button, so Enter confirms", () => {
+    const el = openKillConfirmDialog({
+      name: "alpha",
+      blockers: null,
+      onKill: () => Promise.resolve(),
+    });
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(el.querySelector(".kill-dialog-kill"));
+  });
+
+  it("focuses the force button too", () => {
+    const el = openForceKillDialog({
+      name: "alpha",
+      blockers: null,
+      reason: "worktree is dirty.",
+      onForce: () => Promise.resolve(),
+    });
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(el.querySelector(".kill-dialog-force"));
+  });
+});

web/src/killDialog.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,44 @@
 /**
- * Forced-kill prompt (#81).
+ * The two kill prompts (#81, #160).
  *
- * The daemon refuses to kill a session whose worktree still holds uncommitted
- * or unpushed work. `confirm()` can only ask the same question twice, so the
- * refusal gets its own dialog: it names what is in the way and offers the
- * override the daemon's `force=true` already implements. A kill the daemon
- * accepts never reaches here — there is nothing to warn about.
+ * A kill is destructive and unattended agents live in these sessions, so both
+ * clients ask before one goes through — the TUI's `KillConfirm`, and
+ * `openKillConfirmDialog` here (#160). Where the session's worktree still
+ * holds uncommitted or unpushed work, the confirmation says so up front, the
+ * same way the TUI's does.
+ *
+ * The daemon decides the rest: it refuses a kill over such a worktree, and
+ * that refusal needs an answer the confirmation cannot give — a forced kill.
+ * `openForceKillDialog` is that second prompt. A kill the daemon accepts never
+ * reaches it.
  */
 import { formatInTheWay, type InTheWay } from "./types.js";
 
+/** What both prompts need: a target to name and a button that acts on it. */
+interface KillDialogSpec {
+  /** Session name, as the sidebar shows it. */
+  name: string;
+  /** Sentence under the title. */
+  body: string;
+  /** Label on the acting button. */
+  confirmLabel: string;
+  /** Extra class on the acting button, so tests and styles can find it. */
+  confirmClass: string;
+  /** Run it. A rejection is rendered in the dialog, which stays open so the
+   *  press can be retried. */
+  onConfirm: () => Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export interface KillConfirmPrompt {
+  name: string;
+  /** What the card last saw in the way, when anything was. Shown before the
+   *  attempt, so "this will be refused" is not a surprise. */
+  blockers: InTheWay | null;
+  /** Run the plain kill. Opening a further dialog from here is allowed: the
+   *  confirmation only closes itself if it is still the one on screen. */
+  onKill: () => Promise<void>;
+}
+
 export interface ForceKillPrompt {
   /** Session name, as the sidebar shows it. */
   name: string;
@@ -30,9 +60,9 @@ export function closeForceKillDialog(): void {
   open = null;
 }
 
-/** Mount the prompt. Opening while one is up replaces it, so a second refusal
- *  can never stack two dialogs. */
-export function openForceKillDialog(p: ForceKillPrompt): HTMLElement {
+/** Mount one of the prompts. Opening while one is up replaces it, so the
+ *  confirmation and a refusal that follows it can never stack. */
+function mount(p: KillDialogSpec): HTMLElement {
   closeForceKillDialog();
 
   const el = document.createElement("div");
@@ -50,9 +80,7 @@ export function openForceKillDialog(p: ForceKillPrompt): HTMLElement {
 
   const body = document.createElement("p");
   body.className = "kill-dialog-body";
-  body.textContent = p.blockers
-    ? `Its worktree still has ${formatInTheWay(p.blockers)}. Forcing the kill removes the session and leaves the worktree on disk.`
-    : `${p.reason} Forcing the kill removes the session and leaves the worktree on disk.`;
+  body.textContent = p.body;
 
   const error = document.createElement("p");
   error.className = "kill-dialog-error";
@@ -65,22 +93,27 @@ export function openForceKillDialog(p: ForceKillPrompt): HTMLElement {
   cancel.className = "btn btn-ghost kill-dialog-cancel";
   cancel.textContent = "Cancel";
   cancel.addEventListener("click", closeForceKillDialog);
-  const force = document.createElement("button");
-  force.type = "button";
-  force.className = "btn btn-danger kill-dialog-force";
-  force.textContent = "Force kill";
-  force.addEventListener("click", () => {
-    force.disabled = true;
+  const confirm = document.createElement("button");
+  confirm.type = "button";
+  confirm.className = `btn btn-danger ${p.confirmClass}`;
+  confirm.textContent = p.confirmLabel;
+  confirm.addEventListener("click", () => {
+    confirm.disabled = true;
     void p
-      .onForce()
-      .then(closeForceKillDialog)
+      .onConfirm()
+      .then(() => {
+        // A handler that opened the refusal prompt has already replaced this
+        // dialog; closing here would take that one down with it.
+        if (open?.el === el) closeForceKillDialog();
+      })
       .catch((e: unknown) => {
-        force.disabled = false;
+        if (open?.el !== el) return;
+        confirm.disabled = false;
         error.hidden = false;
         error.textContent = `Failed to kill: ${(e as Error).message}`;
       });
   });
-  actions.append(cancel, force);
+  actions.append(cancel, confirm);
 
   panel.append(title, body, error, actions);
 
@@ -99,6 +132,34 @@ export function openForceKillDialog(p: ForceKillPrompt): HTMLElement {
   };
   window.addEventListener("keydown", onKeydown, true);
   open = { el, onKeydown };
-  cancel.focus();
+  // The acting button takes the focus in both prompts: the operator already
+  // asked for the kill, so Enter confirms it. Escape and the scrim cancel.
+  confirm.focus();
   return el;
 }
+
+/** Ask before a kill the daemon has not seen yet (#160). */
+export function openKillConfirmDialog(p: KillConfirmPrompt): HTMLElement {
+  return mount({
+    name: p.name,
+    body: p.blockers
+      ? `Its worktree still has ${formatInTheWay(p.blockers)}. The kill will be refused unless it is forced.`
+      : "The session and everything running in it go away. Its worktree stays on disk.",
+    confirmLabel: "Kill",
+    confirmClass: "kill-dialog-kill",
+    onConfirm: p.onKill,
+  });
+}
+
+/** Offer the override after the daemon refuses a guarded kill (#81). */
+export function openForceKillDialog(p: ForceKillPrompt): HTMLElement {
+  return mount({
+    name: p.name,
+    body: p.blockers
+      ? `Its worktree still has ${formatInTheWay(p.blockers)}. Forcing the kill removes the session and leaves the worktree on disk.`
+      : `${p.reason} Forcing the kill removes the session and leaves the worktree on disk.`,
+    confirmLabel: "Force kill",
+    confirmClass: "kill-dialog-force",
+    onConfirm: p.onForce,
+  });
+}

web/src/main.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { ConnectionPool } from "./connections.js";
 import { installDrawer, installDrawerSwipe, requestToggleDrawer } from "./drawer.js";
 import { installHudKeybind } from "./debug.js";
 import { installHelpKeybind, isHelpOpen } from "./help.js";
-import { CommandSet, DEFAULT_LEADER, defineCommands, isBarTypingTarget } from "./commands.js";
+import { CommandSet, DEFAULT_LEADER, controlByte, defineCommands, isBarTypingTarget } from "./commands.js";
 import { isCommandBarOpen, openCommandBar, SPAWN_DIRECTORY_EVENT } from "./commandBar.js";
 import { DaemonLink } from "./daemonLink.js";
 import { CatalogStore } from "./events.js";
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import { createPreviewSchedule } from "./previewSchedule.js";
 import {
   FOCUS_PANE_EVENT,
   FOCUS_SIDEBAR_EVENT,
+  OPEN_COMMAND_BAR_EVENT,
   OPEN_SPAWN_EVENT,
   SESSION_SELECT_EVENT,
   SPAWN_SIMILAR_EVENT,
@@ -86,9 +87,15 @@ const store = new CatalogStore();
 // Absolute paths are a fine fallback until it lands.
 let homeDir: string | undefined;
 void getDaemonInfo()
-  .then((info) => (homeDir = info.home_dir))
+  .then((info) => {
+    homeDir = info.home_dir;
+    // The leader is the operator's, not this module's (#159): a daemon that
+    // names one rebinds the chords hanging off it, and the `?` overlay and the
+    // command bar re-render from the rebuilt set.
+    if (info.leader) useLeader(info.leader);
+  })
   .catch(() => {
-    /* absolute paths are a fine fallback */
+    /* absolute paths and the default leader are fine fallbacks */
   });
 
 // The daemon's identity and liveness: names the release in the sidebar's status
@@ -349,14 +356,14 @@ async function spawnPresets(): Promise<SpawnPreset[]> {
 }
 
 async function requestFastForward(): Promise<void> {
-  const [discovered, name] = await Promise.all([
+  const [discovered, handle] = await Promise.all([
     fetchProjects().catch(() => [] as Project[]),
     fetchNames(1)
       .then((batch) => batch.names[0])
       .catch(() => undefined),
   ]);
   const presets = await spawnPresets();
-  const resolved = resolveFastForward(discovered, presets, name, focusedProjectCwd());
+  const resolved = resolveFastForward(discovered, presets, handle, focusedProjectCwd());
   const req = buildFastForwardRequest(resolved);
   if (req) {
     try {
@@ -383,7 +390,7 @@ async function requestFastForward(): Promise<void> {
 // one outside any repo spawns without a worktree, since there is no repo to cut
 // a branch from. Anything still unresolved opens the pre-filled form.
 async function requestSpawnInDirectory(path: string): Promise<void> {
-  const [discovered, name] = await Promise.all([
+  const [discovered, handle] = await Promise.all([
     fetchProjects().catch(() => [] as Project[]),
     fetchNames(1)
       .then((batch) => batch.names[0])
@@ -392,7 +399,7 @@ async function requestSpawnInDirectory(path: string): Promise<void> {
   const presets = await spawnPresets();
   const known = discovered.find((p) => p.path === path);
   const project: Project = known ?? { path, name: path.split("/").filter(Boolean).pop() ?? path };
-  const resolved = resolveFastForward([project], presets, name, path);
+  const resolved = resolveFastForward([project], presets, handle, path);
   const req = buildFastForwardRequest(resolved);
   if (req) {
     const inRepo =
@@ -438,41 +445,68 @@ const spawnKeys = new CommandSet(
 // terminal owns every plain keystroke, so nothing unmodified could ever get
 // the focus back out of it.
 //
-// This set also owns the leader (`ctrl-a`, the TUI's default): it holds the
-// key as a partial chord and takes select-all off it, so the escape hatch
-// docs/COMMAND-BAR.md describes has somewhere to land (#149).
-const focusKeys = new CommandSet(
-  defineCommands({
-    "focus.toggle": () => {
-      if (sidebar.hasListFocus()) {
-        pool.focusTerminal();
-      } else {
-        drawer.open(); // no-op on desktop; on mobile the list is off-canvas
-        sidebar.focusList();
-      }
-    },
-    // The escape hatch: binding ctrl-k takes readline's kill-to-end-of-line
-    // away from every pane, and leader ctrl-k gives it back as the literal
-    // 0x0B byte (docs/COMMAND-BAR.md). It resolves in this set, ahead of the
-    // bar's, so the chord never opens the bar.
-    "pane.literalCtrlK": () => pool.sendToFocused("\x0b"),
-  }),
-  { leader: DEFAULT_LEADER },
-);
+// This set also owns the leader (`[tui].leader`, `ctrl-a` by default, served
+// on `/api/info`): it holds the key as a partial chord and takes select-all off
+// it, so the escape hatch docs/COMMAND-BAR.md describes has somewhere to land
+// (#149).
+let currentLeader = DEFAULT_LEADER;
+
+function buildFocusKeys(leader: string): CommandSet {
+  return new CommandSet(
+    defineCommands(
+      {
+        "focus.toggle": () => {
+          if (sidebar.hasListFocus()) {
+            pool.focusTerminal();
+          } else {
+            drawer.open(); // no-op on desktop; on mobile the list is off-canvas
+            sidebar.focusList();
+          }
+        },
+        // The escape hatch: binding ctrl-k takes readline's
+        // kill-to-end-of-line away from every pane, and leader ctrl-k gives it
+        // back as the literal 0x0B byte (docs/COMMAND-BAR.md). It resolves in
+        // this set, ahead of the bar's, so the chord never opens the bar.
+        "pane.literalCtrlK": () => pool.sendToFocused("\x0b"),
+        // The leader itself, pressed twice, tmux-style: sends one literal
+        // leader byte and clears the pending chord instead of resolving as a
+        // dead chord (docs/COMMAND-BAR.md, #158). Built from the leader, not a
+        // hardcoded byte, so a rebound leader sends its own.
+        "pane.literalLeader": () => pool.sendToFocused(controlByte(leader)),
+      },
+      leader,
+    ),
+    { leader },
+  );
+}
+
+let focusKeys = buildFocusKeys(DEFAULT_LEADER);
+
+/** Rebind the leader-owning set to the daemon's leader. Re-registering the
+ *  same command ids replaces them, so the help overlay and the command bar —
+ *  both of which render the published registry when they open — show the
+ *  configured chord rather than the default. */
+function useLeader(leader: string): void {
+  if (leader === currentLeader) return;
+  currentLeader = leader;
+  focusKeys = buildFocusKeys(leader);
+}
 
 // Ctrl+K opens the command bar (docs/COMMAND-BAR.md). It is a registry command
 // like any other, so the `?` overlay lists it without a second list.
-const barKeys = new CommandSet(
-  defineCommands({
-    "bar.open": () => {
-      // Opening while a session is previewed discards the preview first, like
-      // any other real change (docs/PREVIEW.md): the bar is not previewed into.
-      schedulePreview.cancel();
-      mv?.previewSession(null);
-      openCommandBar({ sessions: [...store.snapshot().sessions.values()], homeDir });
-    },
-  }),
-);
+const openBar = () => {
+  // Opening while a session is previewed discards the preview first, like
+  // any other real change (docs/PREVIEW.md): the bar is not previewed into.
+  schedulePreview.cancel();
+  mv?.previewSession(null);
+  openCommandBar({ sessions: [...store.snapshot().sessions.values()], homeDir });
+};
+
+const barKeys = new CommandSet(defineCommands({ "bar.open": () => openBar() }));
+
+// The sidebar's search field is the touch entry point (#157): no `ctrl-k` on a
+// phone, so the field the operator already reaches for opens the same bar.
+document.addEventListener(OPEN_COMMAND_BAR_EVENT, () => openBar());
 
 // Capture phase: an attached xterm swallows every keystroke it is given, so the
 // bar's binding has to be seen ahead of the terminal (docs/COMMAND-BAR.md).

web/src/multiview.ts

@@ -215,6 +215,20 @@ export function createMultiView(opts: MultiViewOptions): MultiView {
     return fl?.sessionId ?? null;
   }
 
+  /** The session the operator actually picked — what `focusedLeafSession()`
+   *  would return with the preview undone. A preview moves the active tab and
+   *  its focus, but it is a view: the accent stays on the row the operator
+   *  chose until they choose another (docs/PREVIEW.md). */
+  function realFocusedSession(): string | null {
+    const p = preview;
+    if (!p) return focusedLeafSession();
+    const tab = layout.tabs.find((t) => t.id === p.prevActiveTabId) ?? activeTab(layout);
+    const leafId =
+      p.prevFocus && p.prevFocus.tabId === tab.id ? p.prevFocus.leafId : tab.focusedLeafId;
+    const fl = leafId ? findLeaf(tab.root, leafId) : null;
+    return fl?.sessionId ?? null;
+  }
+
   /** Update focus styling + pool focus + sidebar highlights without rebuilding
    *  the DOM (cheap path for click-to-focus). */
   function syncFocus(): void {
@@ -233,7 +247,7 @@ export function createMultiView(opts: MultiViewOptions): MultiView {
     if (!preview) pool.setFocus(focusedLeafSession());
     sidebar.setHighlights({
       open: realOpenSessions(),
-      focused: focusedLeafSession(),
+      focused: realFocusedSession(),
     });
     // The row the preview came from wears the same colour, so the sidebar and
     // the pane read as one thing rather than two unrelated highlights.
@@ -608,7 +622,7 @@ export function createMultiView(opts: MultiViewOptions): MultiView {
       { focus: !preview && !quietRender },
     );
     if (!preview) pool.setFocus(focused.sessionId ?? null);
-    sidebar.setHighlights({ open: realOpenSessions(), focused: focused.sessionId ?? null });
+    sidebar.setHighlights({ open: realOpenSessions(), focused: realFocusedSession() });
     sidebar.setPreview(preview?.sessionId ?? null);
   }
 
@@ -817,7 +831,7 @@ export function createMultiView(opts: MultiViewOptions): MultiView {
     openSessions: realOpenSessions,
     beginSessionDrag,
     render,
-    focusedSessionId: focusedLeafSession,
+    focusedSessionId: realFocusedSession,
     previewSession,
     previewedSessionId: () => preview?.sessionId ?? null,
   };

web/src/preview.test.ts

@@ -47,12 +47,20 @@ function fakePool(): Spy {
 
 /** Last value the controller pushed to `SidebarHandle.setPreview`. */
 const previewRow: { id: string | null } = { id: null };
+/** Last highlights the controller pushed to `SidebarHandle.setHighlights`. */
+const rowHighlights: { open: Set<string>; focused: string | null } = {
+  open: new Set(),
+  focused: null,
+};
 
 function fakeSidebar(): SidebarHandle {
   return {
     el: document.createElement("aside"),
     setActive() {},
-    setHighlights() {},
+    setHighlights(h) {
+      rowHighlights.open = h.open;
+      rowHighlights.focused = h.focused;
+    },
     setPreview(id: string | null) {
       previewRow.id = id;
     },
@@ -95,6 +103,8 @@ describe("sidebar preview", () => {
     stubFetch();
     document.body.replaceChildren();
     previewRow.id = null;
+    rowHighlights.open = new Set();
+    rowHighlights.focused = null;
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -134,6 +144,28 @@ describe("sidebar preview", () => {
     expect(mv.el.querySelectorAll(".mv-pane.is-preview")).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
+  it("leaves the accent on the session the pane actually holds", () => {
+    const layout = twoTabs();
+    const spy = fakePool();
+    const mv = makeMv(layout, spy.pool);
+    expect(rowHighlights.focused).toBe("s2");
+
+    // Walking past other rows never moves the accent off what the operator
+    // picked: only a real open does (docs/PREVIEW.md).
+    mv.previewSession("s1");
+    expect(rowHighlights.focused).toBe("s2");
+    expect(mv.focusedSessionId()).toBe("s2");
+
+    mv.previewSession("s9");
+    expect(rowHighlights.focused).toBe("s2");
+
+    mv.previewSession(null);
+    expect(rowHighlights.focused).toBe("s2");
+
+    mv.openSession("s1");
+    expect(rowHighlights.focused).toBe("s1");
+  });
+
   it("shows a session no pane holds in a throwaway tab that leaves no trace", () => {
     const layout = twoTabs();
     const before = serializeLayout(layout);

web/src/sidebarNav.test.ts

@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ describe("sidebar keyboard navigation", () => {
     field!.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent("keydown", { key: "Escape", bubbles: true }));
   });
 
-  it("x kills the highlighted session", async () => {
+  it("x kills the highlighted session, once confirmed (#160)", async () => {
     const { el } = twoFolders();
     const killed: string[] = [];
     window.fetch = ((input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
@@ -153,6 +153,8 @@ describe("sidebar keyboard navigation", () => {
 
     press(tree(el), "j");
     press(tree(el), "x");
+    expect(killed.some((r) => r.startsWith("DELETE"))).toBe(false);
+    document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".kill-dialog-kill")?.click();
     await Promise.resolve();
     expect(killed.some((r) => r.startsWith("DELETE") && r.includes(A))).toBe(true);
   });

web/src/sidebarSearch.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+//
+// The sidebar's search field is the touch entry point to the command bar
+// (#157, docs/COMMAND-BAR.md "Touch entry"): tapping or focusing it asks the
+// shell to open the bar with an empty query, instead of filtering the tree.
+import { beforeAll, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { OPEN_COMMAND_BAR_EVENT, renderSidebar } from "./catalog.js";
+import { sessionBarCandidates } from "./commandBar.js";
+import { matchAndRank } from "./matcher.js";
+import type { CatalogListener, CatalogStore } from "./events.js";
+import type { Session } from "./types.js";
+
+beforeAll(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(window, "localStorage", {
+    value: { getItem: () => null, setItem: () => {} },
+  });
+  window.fetch = () => Promise.reject(new Error("offline"));
+});
+
+function session(id: string, cwd: string): Session {
+  return {
+    id,
+    name: id,
+    cwd,
+    command: "claude",
+    env: {},
+    metadata: {},
+    status: "Running",
+    created_at: "2026-08-24T10:00:00Z",
+  } as Session;
+}
+
+function storeWith(sessions: Session[]): CatalogStore {
+  const state = { sessions: new Map(sessions.map((s) => [s.id, s])) };
+  return {
+    snapshot: () => state,
+    subscribe: (fn: CatalogListener) => {
+      fn(state);
+      return () => {};
+    },
+  } as unknown as CatalogStore;
+}
+
+function mount(sessions: Session[] = [session("alpha", "/home/n/alpha")]) {
+  const handle = renderSidebar(storeWith(sessions));
+  document.body.appendChild(handle.el);
+  const search = handle.el.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(".search")!;
+  const opens: number[] = [];
+  const listener = () => opens.push(1);
+  document.addEventListener(OPEN_COMMAND_BAR_EVENT, listener);
+  return {
+    handle,
+    search,
+    opens,
+    dispose: () => {
+      document.removeEventListener(OPEN_COMMAND_BAR_EVENT, listener);
+      handle.dispose();
+      handle.el.remove();
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+describe("sidebar search field opens the command bar (#157)", () => {
+  it("asks the shell to open the bar when the field is focused", () => {
+    const t = mount();
+    t.search.dispatchEvent(new FocusEvent("focus"));
+    expect(t.opens).toHaveLength(1);
+    t.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("opens on a tap, where a focus event may never arrive", () => {
+    const t = mount();
+    t.search.dispatchEvent(new Event("pointerdown", { bubbles: true }));
+    expect(t.opens).toHaveLength(1);
+    t.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("does not trap the keyboard in the field: it gives focus up on open", () => {
+    const t = mount();
+    t.search.focus();
+    expect(document.activeElement).not.toBe(t.search);
+    t.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("opens the bar with an empty query — the field never holds one", () => {
+    const t = mount();
+    t.search.focus();
+    expect(t.search.value).toBe("");
+    t.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("is readonly: no on-screen keyboard over a field nothing is typed into", () => {
+    const t = mount();
+    expect(t.search.readOnly).toBe(true);
+    t.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("no longer filters the tree in place", () => {
+    const t = mount([session("alpha", "/home/n/alpha"), session("beta", "/home/n/beta")]);
+    t.search.value = "alpha";
+    t.search.dispatchEvent(new Event("input"));
+    expect(t.handle.el.querySelectorAll(".tree-leaf")).toHaveLength(2);
+    t.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("has no 'No matches' state left: an empty catalog is empty, not filtered", () => {
+    const t = mount([]);
+    expect(t.handle.el.querySelector(".empty-title")?.textContent).toBe("No sessions yet");
+    t.dispose();
+  });
+});
+
+// The inline filter matched a session on its name and its directory, case- and
+// whitespace-insensitively. That behaviour did not go away with the field — it
+// moved into the bar, which ranks the same two fields (docs/COMMAND-BAR.md).
+describe("what the retired inline filter did, the bar now does", () => {
+  it("matches a session on both its name and its directory", () => {
+    const sessions = [session("alpha", "/home/n/alpha"), session("beta", "/home/n/beta")];
+    const candidates = sessionBarCandidates(sessions, "/home/n");
+
+    const byName = matchAndRank("alpha", candidates).map((r) => r.candidate.session.id);
+    expect(byName).toEqual(["alpha"]);
+
+    const byDir = matchAndRank("beta", candidates).map((r) => r.candidate.session.id);
+    expect(byDir).toEqual(["beta"]);
+  });
+
+  it("ignores case and surrounding whitespace, and shows nothing on no match", () => {
+    const candidates = sessionBarCandidates([session("alpha", "/home/n/Alpha")], "/home/n");
+
+    expect(matchAndRank("  ALPHA  ", candidates)).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(matchAndRank("zzz", candidates)).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+});

web/src/styles.css

@@ -1202,8 +1202,10 @@ textarea {
 }
 
 /* 5. The row the content pane is previewing right now. Last, so previewing a
-   session that is already open still reads as provisional. */
-.tree-leaf:where(.is-previewing) {
+   session that is already open still reads as provisional — except the session
+   already mounted in the pane (tier 4). Previewing that one changes nothing on
+   screen, so its accent stays put instead of blinking out under the pointer. */
+.tree-leaf:where(.is-previewing):where(:not(.is-active)) {
   background: var(--preview-tint);
 }
 
@@ -1558,7 +1560,10 @@ input.leaf-rename:focus {
 }
 
 /* Phone: the bottom-sheet treatment the spawn modal already uses. */
-@media (max-width: 600px) {
+/* Bottom sheet at phone width, the same treatment (and the same 599px break)
+   the spawn modal uses: the bar is reached by thumb here, through the sidebar's
+   search field (#157), so it rides the bottom of the screen. */
+@media (max-width: 599px) {
   .cmdbar-overlay {
     grid-template-rows: 1fr auto;
     padding: 0;
@@ -1567,9 +1572,21 @@ input.leaf-rename:focus {
   .cmdbar-panel {
     grid-row: 2;
     width: 100%;
-    max-height: 70vh;
+    max-height: 70dvh;
     border-radius: var(--r-3) var(--r-3) 0 0;
     border-bottom: 0;
+    padding-bottom: env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px);
+  }
+
+  /* Thumb-sized rows and a field that clears the on-screen keyboard's
+     zoom-on-focus threshold (16px). */
+  .cmdbar-input {
+    font-size: var(--fs-17);
+    min-height: 44px;
+  }
+
+  .cmdbar-row {
+    min-height: 44px;
   }
 }
 

web/src/tree.test.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ describe("buildTree", () => {
     const root = buildTree(
       [session("a", "/home/n/work"), session("b", "/home/n/work")],
       "/home/n",
-      "",
     ) as TreeFolder;
 
     expect(names(root)).toEqual(["~/work"]);
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ describe("buildTree", () => {
   });
 
   it("collapses a linear chain into one folder", () => {
-    const root = buildTree([session("a", "/home/n/git/naps62/maestro")], "/home/n", "") as TreeFolder;
+    const root = buildTree([session("a", "/home/n/git/naps62/maestro")], "/home/n") as TreeFolder;
     expect(names(root)).toEqual(["~/git/naps62/maestro"]);
   });
 
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ describe("buildTree", () => {
     const root = buildTree(
       [session("a", "/home/n/subvisual/bullish"), session("b", "/home/n/tea/maestro")],
       "/home/n",
-      "",
     ) as TreeFolder;
 
     expect(names(root).sort()).toEqual(["~/subvisual/bullish", "~/tea/maestro"]);
@@ -53,7 +51,6 @@ describe("buildTree", () => {
     const root = buildTree(
       [session("a", "/home/n/git/one"), session("b", "/home/n/git/two")],
       "/home/n",
-      "",
     ) as TreeFolder;
 
     expect(names(root)).toEqual(["~/git"]);
@@ -65,30 +62,11 @@ describe("buildTree", () => {
     const root = buildTree(
       [session("loose", ""), session("nested", "/home/n/work")],
       "/home/n",
-      "",
     ) as TreeFolder;
 
     expect(root.children[0].kind).toBe("folder");
     expect(root.children[1].kind).toBe("leaf");
   });
-
-  it("filters on both session name and directory", () => {
-    const sessions = [session("a", "/home/n/alpha", "claude"), session("b", "/home/n/beta", "bash")];
-
-    const byDir = buildTree(sessions, "/home/n", "alpha") as TreeFolder;
-    expect(names(byDir)).toEqual(["~/alpha"]);
-
-    const byCommand = buildTree(sessions, "/home/n", "claude") as TreeFolder;
-    expect(names(byCommand)).toEqual(["~/alpha"]);
-
-    const noMatch = buildTree(sessions, "/home/n", "zzz") as TreeFolder;
-    expect(noMatch.children).toEqual([]);
-  });
-
-  it("ignores case and surrounding whitespace in the filter", () => {
-    const root = buildTree([session("a", "/home/n/Alpha")], "/home/n", "  ALPHA  ") as TreeFolder;
-    expect(root.children).toHaveLength(1);
-  });
 });
 
 describe("mergeLinear", () => {
@@ -127,7 +105,6 @@ describe("worktree sessions group under their repository (#99)", () => {
         ),
       ],
       "/home/n",
-      "",
     ) as TreeFolder;
 
     expect(topFolders(root)).toEqual(["~/tea/agent-skills"]);
@@ -147,7 +124,6 @@ describe("worktree sessions group under their repository (#99)", () => {
         ),
       ],
       "/home/n",
-      "",
     ) as TreeFolder;
 
     expect(topFolders(root)).toEqual(["~/tea/agent-skills"]);
@@ -157,7 +133,7 @@ describe("worktree sessions group under their repository (#99)", () => {
   });
 
   it("leaves a session without a worktree where it is", () => {
-    const root = buildTree([session("a", "/home/n/tea/arr")], "/home/n", "") as TreeFolder;
+    const root = buildTree([session("a", "/home/n/tea/arr")], "/home/n") as TreeFolder;
     expect(topFolders(root)).toEqual(["~/tea/arr"]);
   });
 });

web/src/tree.ts

@@ -25,19 +25,14 @@ export function compareNodes(a: TreeNode, b: TreeNode): number {
   return an.localeCompare(bn);
 }
 
-export function buildTree(sessions: Session[], home: string | undefined, filter: string): TreeNode {
+export function buildTree(sessions: Session[], home: string | undefined): TreeNode {
   const root: TreeFolder = { kind: "folder", name: "", path: "", children: [] };
-  const lc = filter.trim().toLowerCase();
 
   for (const s of sessions) {
     // Grouped by repository, so a worktree session lands under its repo
     // rather than in a folder of its own (#99).
     const cwd = sessionTreePath(s);
     const dir = cwd ? abbreviateCwd(cwd, home) : "";
-    if (lc) {
-      const haystack = `${sessionName(s)} ${dir}`.toLowerCase();
-      if (!haystack.includes(lc)) continue;
-    }
     const parts = dir ? dir.split("/").filter(Boolean) : [];
     let cursor = root;
     for (const part of parts) {

web/src/types.ts

@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ export interface DaemonInfo {
    * value across a reconnect means the daemon restarted. Absent on older
    * daemons, which the restart flow treats as "cannot tell". */
   instance?: string;
+  /** Canonical leader key the operator configured (`[tui].leader`, default
+   * `ctrl-a`), so the web binds the same chord the TUI does (#159). Absent or
+   * empty on an older daemon; the client then keeps its own default. */
+  leader?: string;
 }
 
 /** Build provenance of the running daemon: what the status indicator names in