merge: blitz/spawn-v2 into spawn-v2/67-fastforward

Two new effects: ProbeGitRoot resolves the draft target's base repo via
/api/gitroot (seq-guarded, a miss unticks the toggle) and LoadBranches
fills the existing-branch picker from /api/branches, both applied back
to the tab that requested them. Branch loads triggered by a successful
probe are served inline so perform() stays recursion-free.

crates/maestro-e2e/src/client.rs

@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use futures_util::{SinkExt, StreamExt};
-use maestro_protocol::{CatalogEvent, CreateSessionRequest, DaemonClient, Session};
+use maestro_protocol::{
+    BranchInfo, CatalogEvent, CreateSessionRequest, DaemonClient, Project, Session,
+};
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::client::IntoClientRequest;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::Message as WsMessage;
 use tokio_tungstenite::{connect_async, MaybeTlsStream, WebSocketStream};
@@ -62,6 +64,14 @@ impl TestClient {
         Ok(self.daemon.kill_session(id).await?)
     }
 
+    pub async fn list_projects(&self) -> Result<Vec<Project>, ClientError> {
+        Ok(self.daemon.list_projects().await?)
+    }
+
+    pub async fn list_branches(&self, path: &str) -> Result<Vec<BranchInfo>, ClientError> {
+        Ok(self.daemon.list_branches(path).await?)
+    }
+
     /// Connect to the daemon's per-session WS and return the stream. The
     /// caller drives the conversation.
     pub async fn attach(

crates/maestro-e2e/src/daemon.rs

@@ -29,11 +29,32 @@ impl Daemon {
         Self::spawn_at(SocketAddr::from((Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST, free_port()))).await
     }
 
+    /// Spawn with a config file pre-seeded at the daemon's expected path
+    /// (`$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/maestro/config.toml`).
+    pub async fn spawn_with_config(toml: &str) -> Self {
+        Self::spawn_config_at(
+            SocketAddr::from((Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST, free_port())),
+            Some(toml),
+        )
+        .await
+    }
+
     /// Spawn on a caller-supplied bind address.
     pub async fn spawn_at(bind: SocketAddr) -> Self {
+        Self::spawn_config_at(bind, None).await
+    }
+
+    /// Spawn on a caller-supplied bind address, with an optional config file.
+    async fn spawn_config_at(bind: SocketAddr, config: impl Into<Option<&str>>) -> Self {
         let home = TempDir::new().expect("home tmpdir");
         let tmux = TempDir::new().expect("tmux tmpdir");
 
+        if let Some(toml) = config.into() {
+            let dir = home.path().join(".config").join("maestro");
+            std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).expect("config dir");
+            std::fs::write(dir.join("config.toml"), toml).expect("write config.toml");
+        }
+
         let child = launch(bind, home.path(), tmux.path());
         let me = Self {
             bind_addr: bind,

crates/maestro-e2e/src/lib.rs

@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@ pub mod daemon;
 pub mod util;
 
 pub use build::workspace_target_bin;
-pub use client::TestClient;
+pub use client::{ClientError, TestClient};
 pub use daemon::Daemon;

crates/maestro-e2e/tests/e2e.rs

@@ -35,6 +35,22 @@ fn create_req(cwd: &std::path::Path, command: &str) -> CreateSessionRequest {
     }
 }
 
+/// Spawn request carrying a worktree spec against `base`.
+fn worktree_req(base: &std::path::Path, branch: &str, create_branch: bool) -> CreateSessionRequest {
+    CreateSessionRequest {
+        cwd: base.to_path_buf(),
+        command: "sleep 30".into(),
+        env: HashMap::new(),
+        metadata: HashMap::new(),
+        worktree: Some(WorktreeSpec {
+            base_repo: base.to_path_buf(),
+            branch: branch.into(),
+            cleanup_on_kill: true,
+            create_branch,
+        }),
+    }
+}
+
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn lists_spawned_sessions() {
     let (_daemon, client) = bring_up().await;
@@ -204,6 +220,19 @@ async fn kill_spares_worktree_with_uncommitted_changes() {
         wt_path.exists(),
         "guarded worktree must be left on disk after kill"
     );
+    // Left findable, not silently half-deleted: git still registers it and
+    // the uncommitted edit survives byte for byte (#66).
+    assert!(
+        git_worktree_list(base.path())
+            .iter()
+            .any(|w| w.contains("feature/unsaved")),
+        "guarded worktree must stay registered in git worktree list"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        std::fs::read(wt_path.join("README")).unwrap(),
+        b"unsaved edits\n",
+        "uncommitted changes must survive the guarded kill"
+    );
 }
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
@@ -240,6 +269,276 @@ async fn spawn_on_existing_branch_checks_it_out() {
     client.kill_session(s.id).await.expect("kill");
 }
 
+/// #66: a fresh branch spawns a worktree at `<repo>/worktrees/<branch>` and
+/// the session actually runs inside it — `current_cwd` comes from tmux's live
+/// pane state, not from the spawn request.
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn spawn_new_branch_creates_worktree_and_runs_in_it() {
+    let (_daemon, client) = bring_up().await;
+
+    let base = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    init_repo(base.path());
+    let wt_path = base.path().join("worktrees").join("feature-fresh");
+
+    let s = client
+        .spawn_session(&worktree_req(base.path(), "feature/fresh", true))
+        .await
+        .expect("spawn new-branch worktree");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        s.cwd, wt_path,
+        "session must report the worktree as its cwd"
+    );
+    assert!(wt_path.is_dir(), "worktree directory must exist on disk");
+
+    // The activity watcher fills `current_cwd` from tmux's pane_current_path,
+    // so this is the daemon confirming where the process really runs.
+    wait_for_async(
+        "session's live cwd is the worktree",
+        Duration::from_secs(20),
+        || {
+            let client = client.clone();
+            let id = s.id;
+            let want = wt_path.clone();
+            async move {
+                client
+                    .list_sessions()
+                    .await
+                    .ok()
+                    .and_then(|ss| ss.iter().find(|s| s.id == id).cloned())
+                    .map(|s| s.current_cwd == Some(want.clone()))
+                    .unwrap_or(false)
+            }
+        },
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    client.kill_session(s.id).await.expect("kill");
+}
+
+/// #66: a second spawn onto a branch that already has a worktree is rejected
+/// with a structured worktree error; the first worktree stays intact.
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn second_spawn_on_same_branch_is_rejected() {
+    let (_daemon, client) = bring_up().await;
+
+    let base = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    init_repo(base.path());
+
+    let first = client
+        .spawn_session(&worktree_req(base.path(), "feature/dup", true))
+        .await
+        .expect("first spawn");
+    let dup = client
+        .spawn_session(&worktree_req(base.path(), "feature/dup", true))
+        .await;
+    match dup {
+        Err(maestro_e2e::ClientError::Api(maestro_protocol::ClientError::Api { info, .. })) => {
+            assert_eq!(
+                info.code, "worktree_failed",
+                "expected worktree error: {info:?}"
+            );
+        }
+        other => panic!("expected rejection for duplicate branch, got {other:?}"),
+    }
+
+    // Exactly one registration, one directory, still usable.
+    let holders = git_worktree_list(base.path())
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|w| w.contains("feature/dup"))
+        .count();
+    assert_eq!(holders, 1, "duplicate spawn must not register another tree");
+    assert!(
+        base.path().join("worktrees").join("feature-dup").is_dir(),
+        "original worktree must be untouched"
+    );
+
+    client.kill_session(first.id).await.expect("kill");
+}
+
+/// #66/#56: when the client picks a *linked worktree* as base_repo, placement
+/// resolves through `--git-common-dir` to the main checkout, so the new tree
+/// lands at `<main>/worktrees/<branch>` instead of nesting inside another
+/// worktree.
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn spawn_from_linked_worktree_places_in_main_checkout() {
+    let (_daemon, client) = bring_up().await;
+
+    let base = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    init_repo(base.path());
+    let linked = base.path().join("linked");
+    run_git(
+        &[
+            "worktree",
+            "add",
+            "-q",
+            "-b",
+            "other",
+            &linked.to_string_lossy(),
+        ],
+        base.path(),
+    );
+
+    let s = client
+        .spawn_session(&worktree_req(&linked, "feature/nested", true))
+        .await
+        .expect("spawn from linked worktree");
+
+    let want = base.path().join("worktrees").join("feature-nested");
+    assert_eq!(
+        s.cwd, want,
+        "worktree must be placed under the main checkout"
+    );
+    assert!(want.is_dir());
+    assert!(
+        !s.cwd.starts_with(&linked),
+        "worktrees must never nest inside another worktree"
+    );
+
+    client.kill_session(s.id).await.expect("kill");
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// GET /api/projects + /api/branches (#54/#55/#66)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// #66: two repos under a configured `[spawn].project_roots` root are both
+/// discovered by `GET /api/projects`; git activity gives every repo a
+/// `last_activity`, and spawning inside one merges its command into the
+/// project entry via spawn history.
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn projects_endpoint_discovers_roots_and_merges_activity() {
+    let root = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    let alpha = make_repo(root.path(), "alpha");
+    make_repo(root.path(), "beta");
+
+    let daemon = Daemon::spawn_with_config(&format!(
+        "[spawn]\nproject_roots = [\"{}\"]\nproject_scan_depth = 2\n",
+        root.path().display()
+    ))
+    .await;
+    let client = TestClient::new(&daemon.http_base());
+
+    let projects = client.list_projects().await.expect("list projects");
+    let names: Vec<&str> = projects.iter().map(|p| p.name.as_str()).collect();
+    assert!(
+        names.contains(&"alpha") && names.contains(&"beta"),
+        "both repos must be discovered, got: {names:?}"
+    );
+
+    let find = |name: &str| {
+        projects
+            .iter()
+            .find(|p| p.name == name)
+            .cloned()
+            .expect("project present")
+    };
+    // Both have commits, so git activity alone populates last_activity…
+    assert!(
+        find("alpha").last_activity.is_some(),
+        "git activity must surface"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        find("beta").last_activity.is_some(),
+        "git activity must surface"
+    );
+    // …and neither has been spawned into yet.
+    assert_eq!(find("alpha").last_command, None);
+    assert_eq!(find("beta").last_command, None);
+
+    // Spawning inside alpha writes durable history; /api/projects folds it in.
+    let s = client
+        .spawn_session(&create_req(&alpha, "sleep 30"))
+        .await
+        .expect("spawn in alpha");
+
+    wait_for_async(
+        "alpha's project entry reflects spawn history",
+        Duration::from_secs(5),
+        || {
+            let client = client.clone();
+            async move {
+                client
+                    .list_projects()
+                    .await
+                    .ok()
+                    .map(|ps| {
+                        ps.iter()
+                            .find(|p| p.name == "alpha")
+                            .map(|p| p.last_command.as_deref() == Some("sleep 30"))
+                            .unwrap_or(false)
+                    })
+                    .unwrap_or(false)
+            }
+        },
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    // beta was never spawned into: no command recorded there.
+    let beta_after = client
+        .list_projects()
+        .await
+        .expect("list after spawn")
+        .into_iter()
+        .find(|p| p.name == "beta")
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(beta_after.last_command, None);
+
+    client.kill_session(s.id).await.expect("kill");
+}
+
+/// #66: `GET /api/branches` lists every local branch, flags the main
+/// checkout's HEAD with `is_head`, and reports which linked worktree holds an
+/// occupied branch.
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn branches_endpoint_lists_branches_and_flags_occupied() {
+    let (_daemon, client) = bring_up().await;
+
+    let base = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    init_repo(base.path());
+    run_git(&["branch", "feature/taken"], base.path());
+    run_git(&["branch", "feature/free"], base.path());
+    let holder = base.path().join("holder-wt");
+    run_git(
+        &[
+            "worktree",
+            "add",
+            "-q",
+            &holder.to_string_lossy(),
+            "feature/taken",
+        ],
+        base.path(),
+    );
+
+    let branches = client
+        .list_branches(&base.path().to_string_lossy())
+        .await
+        .expect("list branches");
+    let by_name = |name: &str| {
+        branches
+            .iter()
+            .find(|b| b.name == name)
+            .cloned()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("branch {name} missing from {branches:?}"))
+    };
+
+    let main = by_name("main");
+    assert!(main.is_head, "main is the main checkout's HEAD");
+    assert_eq!(main.worktree, None);
+
+    let taken = by_name("feature/taken");
+    assert!(!taken.is_head);
+    assert_eq!(
+        taken.worktree.as_deref(),
+        Some(holder.canonicalize().unwrap().as_path()),
+        "occupied branch must report its holding worktree"
+    );
+
+    let free = by_name("feature/free");
+    assert!(!free.is_head);
+    assert_eq!(free.worktree, None, "unoccupied branch must be spawnable");
+}
+
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn daemon_restart_recovers_session() {
     let (mut daemon, client) = bring_up().await;
@@ -428,6 +727,15 @@ fn init_repo(dir: &std::path::Path) {
     run_git(&["commit", "-q", "-m", "initial"], dir);
 }
 
+/// Real git repo at `<root>/<name>`, canonicalized (the scanner canonicalizes
+/// discovered paths too, so comparisons must agree on the real path).
+fn make_repo(root: &std::path::Path, name: &str) -> std::path::PathBuf {
+    let dir = root.join(name);
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+    init_repo(&dir);
+    dir.canonicalize().unwrap()
+}
+
 fn run_git(args: &[&str], cwd: &std::path::Path) {
     let out = Command::new("git")
         .arg("-C")

crates/maestro-protocol/src/client.rs

@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ use uuid::Uuid;
 
 use crate::routes::{self, UrlError};
 use crate::{
-    ApiError, CreateSessionRequest, DaemonInfo, DirListing, ErrorInfo, GitRoot, Project,
-    RecentDirs, Session,
+    ApiError, BranchInfo, CreateSessionRequest, DaemonInfo, DirListing, ErrorInfo, GitRoot,
+    Project, RecentDirs, Session,
 };
 
 /// Time budget for establishing a TCP connection to the daemon.
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ impl DaemonClient {
         self.get(routes::PROJECTS, &[]).await
     }
 
+    pub async fn list_branches(&self, path: &str) -> Result<Vec<BranchInfo>, ClientError> {
+        self.get(routes::BRANCHES, &[(routes::PATH_QUERY, path)])
+            .await
+    }
+
     // -- plumbing -----------------------------------------------------------
 
     async fn get<T: DeserializeOwned>(

crates/maestro-tui/src/action.rs

@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ pub enum Action {
     AttachHighlighted,
     ToggleAttachHighlighted,
     NewDraftPane,
+    /// Fast-forward spawn (#67): spawn immediately with every default
+    /// resolved; unresolvable defaults open a pre-filled draft instead.
+    FastForwardSpawn,
     KillHighlighted,
 
     // Tabs
@@ -79,6 +82,7 @@ impl Action {
             "AttachHighlighted" => return Ok(Action::AttachHighlighted),
             "ToggleAttachHighlighted" => return Ok(Action::ToggleAttachHighlighted),
             "NewDraftPane" => return Ok(Action::NewDraftPane),
+            "FastForwardSpawn" => return Ok(Action::FastForwardSpawn),
             "KillHighlighted" => return Ok(Action::KillHighlighted),
             "NewTab" => return Ok(Action::NewTab),
             "CloseTab" => return Ok(Action::CloseTab),
@@ -197,6 +201,16 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(err, ActionParseError::Malformed("GotoTab(3".into()));
     }
 
+    /// The fast-forward pair sits next to the draft-pane key (#67).
+    #[test]
+    fn fast_forward_spawn_round_trips() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            Action::parse("FastForwardSpawn").unwrap(),
+            Action::FastForwardSpawn
+        );
+        assert_eq!(Action::FastForwardSpawn.to_string(), "FastForwardSpawn");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn display_round_trips() {
         for a in [

crates/maestro-tui/src/app.rs

@@ -12,12 +12,13 @@
 
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::io::Stdout;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use chrono::Utc;
 use crossterm::event::{Event as CtEvent, EventStream};
 use futures_util::StreamExt;
-use maestro_protocol::{routes, CreateSessionRequest, DaemonClient, NameBatch};
+use maestro_protocol::{routes, BranchInfo, CreateSessionRequest, DaemonClient, NameBatch};
 use ratatui::backend::CrosstermBackend;
 use ratatui::Terminal;
 use uuid::Uuid;
@@ -86,8 +87,20 @@ pub enum Effect {
     },
     /// Fetch presets / projects / names for a freshly opened draft (#64).
     LoadDraft(usize),
+    /// Fast-forward spawn (#67): resolve every default from the daemon and
+    /// spawn with no form; unresolvable defaults open a pre-filled draft.
+    FastForward,
     /// A reroll drained the draft's local name batch (#64).
     RefillNames(usize),
+    /// The draft's target changed: probe `/api/gitroot` so the worktree
+    /// section knows its base repo (#65). `seq` guards stale answers.
+    ProbeGitRoot {
+        tab: usize,
+        seq: u32,
+        path: PathBuf,
+    },
+    /// Fetch the draft target's branches from `/api/branches` (#65).
+    LoadBranches(usize),
 }
 
 impl App {
@@ -192,7 +205,12 @@ impl App {
                 Effect::Spawn(req) => self.submit_spawn(req).await,
                 Effect::Kill(id) => self.submit_kill(id).await,
                 Effect::LoadDraft(tab_idx) => self.load_draft_data(tab_idx).await,
+                Effect::FastForward => self.fast_forward_spawn().await,
                 Effect::RefillNames(tab_idx) => self.refill_names(tab_idx).await,
+                Effect::ProbeGitRoot { tab, seq, path } => {
+                    self.probe_git_root(tab, seq, path).await
+                }
+                Effect::LoadBranches(tab) => self.load_branches(tab).await,
                 Effect::Forward { id, bytes } => {
                     if let Some(handle) = self.emulators.get(id) {
                         let _ = handle.tx.send(SessionInput::Bytes(bytes)).await;
@@ -273,6 +291,7 @@ impl App {
                 self.state.open_draft_pane();
                 effects.push(Effect::LoadDraft(self.state.active_tab_idx));
             }
+            Action::FastForwardSpawn => effects.push(Effect::FastForward),
             Action::AttachHighlighted | Action::ToggleAttachHighlighted => {
                 if let Some(sid) = self.pick_sidebar_target() {
                     effects.push(Effect::Attach(sid));
@@ -349,6 +368,16 @@ impl App {
         if draft.take_name_refill() {
             effects.push(Effect::RefillNames(tab_idx));
         }
+        if let Some((seq, path)) = draft.take_gitroot_probe() {
+            effects.push(Effect::ProbeGitRoot {
+                tab: tab_idx,
+                seq,
+                path,
+            });
+        }
+        if draft.take_branch_load().is_some() {
+            effects.push(Effect::LoadBranches(tab_idx));
+        }
         effects
     }
 
@@ -406,6 +435,46 @@ impl App {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Fast-forward spawn (#67): one keystroke, every default resolved, no
+    /// form. The most recent project, its last command (or the first
+    /// non-custom preset), a freshly generated name, worktree on with a new
+    /// branch named after that name. Anything unresolvable — no projects
+    /// known yet, no command, no name — downgrades to a draft pane seeded
+    /// with whatever did resolve.
+    async fn fast_forward_spawn(&mut self) {
+        let (info, projects) = tokio::join!(self.daemon.daemon_info(), self.daemon.list_projects());
+        let names = self.fetch_names(crate::draft::NAME_BATCH_SIZE).await;
+        let presets = match info {
+            Ok(info) if !info.presets.is_empty() => info.presets,
+            _ => Vec::new(),
+        };
+        let discovered = projects.unwrap_or_default();
+        let resolved =
+            crate::fast_forward::resolve(&discovered, &presets, names.first().cloned(), Utc::now());
+        if let Some(req) = resolved.build_request() {
+            // Never eat a pane already showing something: the spawn takes a
+            // fresh tab, same as opening a draft over a session would.
+            if self.state.active_tab().pane.is_some() {
+                self.state.new_tab();
+            }
+            self.submit_spawn(req).await;
+            return;
+        }
+        // Unresolved defaults: a draft pre-filled with what did resolve.
+        self.state.open_draft_pane();
+        let Some(PaneRef::Draft(draft)) = self.state.active_tab_mut().pane.as_mut() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        if !presets.is_empty() {
+            draft.set_presets(presets);
+        }
+        draft.set_projects(discovered, Utc::now());
+        resolved.apply_to_draft(draft);
+        // A missing generated name still arrives here; seeding is a no-op
+        // once apply_to_draft has set a touched name.
+        draft.seed_names(names);
+    }
+
     /// Fetch a fresh name batch after a reroll drained the local queue.
     async fn refill_names(&mut self, tab_idx: usize) {
         let names = self.fetch_names(crate::draft::NAME_BATCH_SIZE).await;
@@ -422,6 +491,72 @@ impl App {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Resolve the draft target's enclosing repository via `/api/gitroot`
+    /// (#65). A miss unticks the worktree toggle inside `resolve_gitroot`;
+    /// a hit may schedule a branch load (Existing mode), served inline.
+    async fn probe_git_root(&mut self, tab_idx: usize, seq: u32, path: PathBuf) {
+        let root = self
+            .daemon
+            .git_root(&path.to_string_lossy())
+            .await
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|g| g.root);
+        let Some(PaneRef::Draft(draft)) = self
+            .state
+            .tabs
+            .get_mut(tab_idx)
+            .and_then(|t| t.pane.as_mut())
+        else {
+            return;
+        };
+        draft.resolve_gitroot(seq, root);
+        if draft.take_branch_load().is_some() {
+            self.load_branches(tab_idx).await;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// One `/api/branches` batch for the draft's current cwd (#65). Same
+    /// reqwest route as [`Self::fetch_names`]: no typed client call exists.
+    async fn load_branches(&mut self, tab_idx: usize) {
+        let Some(path) = self
+            .state
+            .tabs
+            .get(tab_idx)
+            .and_then(|t| t.pane.as_ref())
+            .and_then(|p| match p {
+                PaneRef::Draft(d) => d.cwd(),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+        else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let url = format!(
+            "{}{}",
+            maestro_protocol::routes::normalize_base(self.daemon.base()),
+            routes::BRANCHES
+        );
+        let resp = self
+            .http
+            .get(url)
+            .query(&[(routes::PATH_QUERY, path.to_string_lossy().as_ref())])
+            .send()
+            .await;
+        // On failure the picker stays empty; "new" mode still works.
+        let branches = match resp {
+            Ok(resp) => resp.json::<Vec<BranchInfo>>().await.unwrap_or_default(),
+            Err(_) => return,
+        };
+        let Some(PaneRef::Draft(draft)) = self
+            .state
+            .tabs
+            .get_mut(tab_idx)
+            .and_then(|t| t.pane.as_mut())
+        else {
+            return;
+        };
+        draft.set_branches(&path, branches);
+    }
+
     async fn submit_spawn(&mut self, req: CreateSessionRequest) {
         match self.daemon.create_session(&req).await {
             Ok(session) => {
@@ -613,6 +748,7 @@ fn render_help_lines(cfg: &TuiConfig) -> Vec<String> {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::action::Action;
+    use crate::draft::DraftField;
     use crate::keymap::Mode;
     use maestro_config::TuiSection;
 
@@ -755,6 +891,133 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    /// The fast-forward keystroke itself is side-effect-free until its
+    /// daemon fetches come back.
+    #[test]
+    fn fast_forward_spawn_dispatches_the_fast_forward_effect() {
+        let mut app = make_app();
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.dispatch(Action::FastForwardSpawn),
+            vec![Effect::FastForward]
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Every default resolves: the POST goes straight out — most recent
+    /// project, its last command, generated name, worktree branch named
+    /// after it (#67).
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn fast_forward_spawns_immediately_when_every_default_resolves() {
+        use axum::routing::{get, post};
+        use axum::Json;
+        use serde_json::json;
+        use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+
+        async fn info() -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
+            Json(json!({
+                "hostname": "box", "version": "0.1.0", "home_dir": "/home/u",
+                "presets": [{"id": "claude", "label": "Claude", "command": "claude"}]
+            }))
+        }
+        async fn projects() -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
+            Json(json!([
+                {"path": "/repos/old", "name": "old",
+                 "last_activity": chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(), "last_command": "zsh"},
+                {"path": "/repos/fresh", "name": "fresh", "base_repo": "/repos/fresh",
+                 "last_activity": chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(), "last_command": "aider"}
+            ]))
+        }
+        async fn names() -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
+            Json(json!({"names": ["crimson-otter"]}))
+        }
+        let posted: Arc<Mutex<Vec<serde_json::Value>>> = Arc::default();
+        let seen = posted.clone();
+        async fn spawn_session(
+            axum::extract::State(seen): axum::extract::State<Arc<Mutex<Vec<serde_json::Value>>>>,
+            Json(body): Json<serde_json::Value>,
+        ) -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
+            seen.lock().unwrap().push(body);
+            Json(json!({
+                "id": uuid::Uuid::from_u128(77).to_string(),
+                "cwd": "/repos/fresh", "command": "aider",
+                "status": "Running", "created_at": chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339()
+            }))
+        }
+
+        let app_router = axum::Router::new()
+            .route(maestro_protocol::routes::INFO, get(info))
+            .route(maestro_protocol::routes::PROJECTS, get(projects))
+            .route(maestro_protocol::routes::NAMES, get(names))
+            .route(
+                maestro_protocol::routes::SESSIONS,
+                post(spawn_session).with_state(seen),
+            );
+        let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.unwrap();
+        let base = format!("http://{}", listener.local_addr().unwrap());
+        tokio::spawn(async move { axum::serve(listener, app_router).await.unwrap() });
+
+        let mut app = make_app_at(&base);
+        let effects = app.dispatch(Action::FastForwardSpawn);
+        app.perform(effects).await;
+
+        let posts = posted.lock().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(posts.len(), 1, "one immediate POST, no form shown");
+        let req = &posts[0];
+        assert_eq!(req["cwd"], json!("/repos/fresh"));
+        assert_eq!(req["command"], json!("aider"));
+        assert_eq!(req["metadata"]["name"], json!("crimson-otter"));
+        assert_eq!(req["worktree"]["base_repo"], json!("/repos/fresh"));
+        assert_eq!(req["worktree"]["branch"], json!("crimson-otter"));
+        assert_eq!(req["worktree"]["create_branch"], json!(true));
+    }
+
+    /// No projects known yet: nothing can resolve, so the keystroke opens a
+    /// draft pane (focused, Insert mode) instead of guessing (#67).
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn unresolvable_defaults_open_a_prefilled_draft_instead() {
+        use axum::routing::get;
+        use axum::Json;
+        use serde_json::json;
+
+        async fn info() -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
+            Json(json!({
+                "hostname": "box", "version": "0.1.0", "home_dir": "/home/u",
+                "presets": [{"id": "claude", "label": "Claude", "command": "claude"}]
+            }))
+        }
+        async fn projects() -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
+            Json(json!([]))
+        }
+        async fn names() -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
+            Json(json!({"names": ["amber-falcon"]}))
+        }
+
+        let app_router = axum::Router::new()
+            .route(maestro_protocol::routes::INFO, get(info))
+            .route(maestro_protocol::routes::PROJECTS, get(projects))
+            .route(maestro_protocol::routes::NAMES, get(names));
+        let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.unwrap();
+        let base = format!("http://{}", listener.local_addr().unwrap());
+        tokio::spawn(async move { axum::serve(listener, app_router).await.unwrap() });
+
+        let mut app = make_app_at(&base);
+        let effects = app.dispatch(Action::FastForwardSpawn);
+        app.perform(effects).await;
+
+        assert!(
+            matches!(app.state.active_tab().pane, Some(PaneRef::Draft(_))),
+            "the fallback is a draft pane"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(app.state.focus, Focus::Pane);
+        assert_eq!(app.state.mode, Mode::Insert);
+        let PaneRef::Draft(draft) = app.state.active_tab().pane.as_ref().unwrap() else {
+            panic!("expected a draft pane");
+        };
+        // Whatever did resolve (nothing project-side) is seeded; the
+        // generated name still lands so the form is ready to go.
+        assert_eq!(draft.name.value(), "amber-falcon");
+        assert_eq!(draft.command(), "claude");
+    }
+
     /// A valid form flows through: pick a project (set directly — the picker
     /// itself is covered in `draft.rs`), select the custom tile, type a
     /// command, then submit from the Spawn row.
@@ -767,6 +1030,8 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         draft.picked_cwd = Some(std::path::PathBuf::from("/srv/work"));
+        draft.base_repo = Some(std::path::PathBuf::from("/srv/work"));
+        draft.probed_cwd = Some(std::path::PathBuf::from("/srv/work"));
         draft.selected_preset = draft.presets.len() - 1; // custom
         app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Tab); // preset → custom command
         for c in "claude".chars() {
@@ -777,6 +1042,9 @@ mod tests {
         for c in "crimson-otter".chars() {
             app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::char(c));
         }
+        app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Tab); // → worktree toggle
+        app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Tab); // → branch mode
+        app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Tab); // → new-branch name
         app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Tab); // → submit
 
         match app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Enter).as_slice() {
@@ -793,6 +1061,49 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Editing the raw path with the worktree toggle on schedules a
+    /// `/api/gitroot` probe so the section learns its base repo (#65).
+    #[test]
+    fn typing_a_raw_path_schedules_a_gitroot_probe() {
+        let mut app = make_app();
+        app.dispatch(Action::NewDraftPane);
+        let PaneRef::Draft(draft) = app.state.active_tab_mut().pane.as_mut().unwrap() else {
+            panic!("expected a draft pane");
+        };
+        draft.cwd_raw_visible = true;
+        draft.focused_field = DraftField::CwdRaw;
+
+        let effects = app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::char('/'));
+        assert!(
+            matches!(
+                effects.as_slice(),
+                [Effect::ProbeGitRoot { tab: 0, seq: 2, .. }]
+            ),
+            "{effects:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Switching the worktree branch source to Existing schedules one
+    /// `/api/branches` load for the current target (#65).
+    #[test]
+    fn switching_to_existing_branch_mode_schedules_a_branch_load() {
+        let mut app = make_app();
+        app.dispatch(Action::NewDraftPane);
+        let PaneRef::Draft(draft) = app.state.active_tab_mut().pane.as_mut().unwrap() else {
+            panic!("expected a draft pane");
+        };
+        draft.picked_cwd = Some(std::path::PathBuf::from("/srv/repo"));
+        draft.base_repo = Some(std::path::PathBuf::from("/srv/repo"));
+        draft.probed_cwd = Some(std::path::PathBuf::from("/srv/repo"));
+        draft.focused_field = DraftField::BranchMode;
+
+        let effects = app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Right);
+        assert!(
+            matches!(effects.as_slice(), [Effect::LoadBranches(0)]),
+            "{effects:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
     /// Submitting with no directory names the missing field inside the form
     /// and posts nothing (#64).
     #[test]
@@ -800,7 +1111,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut app = make_app();
         app.dispatch(Action::NewDraftPane);
         // Walk to Submit without picking anything.
-        for _ in 0..3 {
+        for _ in 0..4 {
             app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Tab);
         }
         assert!(app.handle_draft_input(&InputKey::Enter).is_empty());

crates/maestro-tui/src/config.rs

@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ const DEFAULT_NORMAL: &[(&str, &str)] = &[
     // Catalog actions
     ("enter", "AttachHighlighted"),
     ("s", "NewDraftPane"),
+    // Fast-forward spawn (#67): the draft-pane key's neighbour does the same
+    // thing with every default resolved and no form.
+    ("S", "FastForwardSpawn"),
     ("x", "KillHighlighted"),
     // Tabs
     ("ctrl-t", "NewTab"),
@@ -159,6 +162,10 @@ mod tests {
             cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Normal, "s"),
             Some(Action::NewDraftPane),
         );
+        assert_eq!(
+            cfg.keymap.resolve(Mode::Normal, "S"),
+            Some(Action::FastForwardSpawn),
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]

crates/maestro-tui/src/fast_forward.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+//! Fast-forward spawn (#67): one keystroke, every default resolved, no form.
+//!
+//! The defaults mirror what a draft pane would settle on after the operator
+//! picked the most recent project and kept their hands off everything else:
+//! its last command (or the first non-custom preset), a freshly generated
+//! name, and a worktree with a branch named after that name. Any default
+//! that cannot be resolved — no projects yet, no command, no generated
+//! name — downgrades the keystroke to a draft pane pre-filled with whatever
+//! did resolve ([`FastForwardDefaults::apply_to_draft`]).
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
+use maestro_protocol::{CreateSessionRequest, Project, SpawnPreset, WorktreeSpec};
+
+use crate::draft::DraftPane;
+
+/// What one fast-forward keystroke resolved. Every field optional: `None`
+/// anywhere means "open a draft instead of spawning".
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct FastForwardDefaults {
+    pub project: Option<Project>,
+    pub command: Option<String>,
+    pub name: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Resolve the fast-forward defaults from the daemon's answers. `name` is
+/// `None` when `/api/names` yielded nothing; `presets` may be empty (the
+/// caller falls back to the built-ins it already has).
+pub fn resolve(
+    projects: &[Project],
+    presets: &[SpawnPreset],
+    name: Option<String>,
+    now: DateTime<Utc>,
+) -> FastForwardDefaults {
+    let project = crate::projects::sort_projects(projects.to_vec(), now)
+        .into_iter()
+        .next();
+    let command = project
+        .as_ref()
+        .and_then(|p| p.last_command.clone())
+        .filter(|c| !c.trim().is_empty())
+        .or_else(|| {
+            presets
+                .iter()
+                .find(|p| !p.command.is_empty())
+                .map(|p| p.command.clone())
+        });
+    FastForwardDefaults {
+        project,
+        command,
+        name,
+    }
+}
+
+impl FastForwardDefaults {
+    /// The spawn request when *every* default resolved: worktree on, new
+    /// branch named after the generated session name, base repo from the
+    /// scan (`None` means the project is itself a main checkout).
+    pub fn build_request(&self) -> Option<CreateSessionRequest> {
+        let project = self.project.as_ref()?;
+        let command = self.command.as_deref()?.trim();
+        let name = self.name.as_deref()?;
+        if command.is_empty() || name.is_empty() {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let mut metadata = std::collections::HashMap::new();
+        metadata.insert(
+            "name".to_string(),
+            serde_json::Value::String(name.to_string()),
+        );
+        Some(CreateSessionRequest {
+            cwd: project.path.clone(),
+            command: command.to_string(),
+            env: Default::default(),
+            metadata,
+            worktree: Some(WorktreeSpec {
+                base_repo: project
+                    .base_repo
+                    .clone()
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| project.path.clone()),
+                branch: name.to_string(),
+                cleanup_on_kill: true,
+                create_branch: true,
+            }),
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Seed a fresh draft pane with whatever did resolve — the fallback when
+    /// [`Self::build_request`] is `None`. The operator fills in the rest.
+    pub fn apply_to_draft(&self, draft: &mut DraftPane) {
+        if let Some(project) = &self.project {
+            draft.picked_cwd = Some(PathBuf::from(&project.path));
+            // The scan already knows this directory's repo (#61): no probe
+            // round trip needed, exactly like picking the row by hand.
+            draft.base_repo = Some(
+                project
+                    .base_repo
+                    .clone()
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| project.path.clone()),
+            );
+            draft.probed_cwd = Some(PathBuf::from(&project.path));
+        }
+        if let Some(command) = &self.command {
+            if let Some(idx) = draft.presets.iter().position(|p| &p.command == command) {
+                draft.selected_preset = idx;
+            } else if !command.trim().is_empty() {
+                // A last_command no preset advertises lands in custom free text.
+                draft.selected_preset = draft.presets.len().saturating_sub(1);
+                draft.custom_command = crate::text_input::TextInput::with_value(command);
+            }
+        }
+        if let Some(name) = &self.name {
+            draft.set_name(name.clone());
+            // Seeded, not generated: a later refill must not clobber it.
+            draft.name_touched = true;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use chrono::TimeDelta;
+
+    fn project(path: &str, days_ago: i64, cmd: Option<&str>) -> Project {
+        Project {
+            path: PathBuf::from(path),
+            name: path.rsplit('/').next().unwrap_or(path).into(),
+            is_worktree: false,
+            base_repo: None,
+            last_activity: Some(Utc::now() - TimeDelta::days(days_ago)),
+            last_command: cmd.map(String::from),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn repo_project(path: &str, base: &str, days_ago: i64, cmd: Option<&str>) -> Project {
+        Project {
+            base_repo: Some(PathBuf::from(base)),
+            ..project(path, days_ago, cmd)
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn preset(id: &str, command: &str) -> SpawnPreset {
+        SpawnPreset {
+            id: id.into(),
+            label: id.into(),
+            command: command.into(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn resolves_every_default_from_the_most_recent_project() {
+        let projects = vec![
+            project("/repos/old", 30, Some("zsh")),
+            repo_project("/repos/fresh", "/repos/fresh", 0, Some("claude")),
+        ];
+        let presets = vec![preset("aider", "aider"), preset("custom", "")];
+        let r = resolve(&projects, &presets, Some("amber-falcon".into()), Utc::now());
+        assert_eq!(
+            r.project.as_ref().unwrap().path,
+            PathBuf::from("/repos/fresh")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(r.command.as_deref(), Some("claude"));
+        assert_eq!(r.name.as_deref(), Some("amber-falcon"));
+
+        let req = r.build_request().expect("all defaults resolved");
+        assert_eq!(req.cwd, PathBuf::from("/repos/fresh"));
+        assert_eq!(req.command, "claude");
+        assert_eq!(
+            req.metadata.get("name").and_then(|v| v.as_str()),
+            Some("amber-falcon")
+        );
+        let wt = req.worktree.expect("worktree on");
+        assert_eq!(wt.base_repo, PathBuf::from("/repos/fresh"));
+        assert_eq!(wt.branch, "amber-falcon");
+        assert!(wt.create_branch, "fresh branch named after the session");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn worktree_of_the_most_recent_project_targets_its_base_repo() {
+        let projects = vec![repo_project("/repos/main/wt-x", "/repos/main", 0, None)];
+        let r = resolve(
+            &projects,
+            &[preset("zsh", "zsh")],
+            Some("s".into()),
+            Utc::now(),
+        );
+        let wt = r.build_request().unwrap().worktree.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(wt.base_repo, PathBuf::from("/repos/main"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn missing_last_command_falls_back_to_the_first_non_custom_preset() {
+        let projects = vec![project("/repos/p", 0, None)];
+        let presets = vec![preset("custom", ""), preset("claude", "claude")];
+        let r = resolve(&projects, &presets, Some("n".into()), Utc::now());
+        assert_eq!(r.command.as_deref(), Some("claude"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn an_empty_last_command_is_no_command_at_all() {
+        let projects = vec![project("/repos/p", 0, Some(""))];
+        let presets = vec![preset("custom", "")];
+        let r = resolve(&projects, &presets, Some("n".into()), Utc::now());
+        assert_eq!(r.command, None);
+        assert!(r.build_request().is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn nothing_resolves_when_no_projects_are_known_yet() {
+        let r = resolve(
+            &[],
+            &[preset("claude", "claude")],
+            Some("n".into()),
+            Utc::now(),
+        );
+        assert_eq!(r.project, None);
+        // No project → no directory → no request, even with command + name.
+        assert!(r.build_request().is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_missing_generated_name_downgrades_to_a_draft() {
+        let projects = vec![project("/repos/p", 0, Some("claude"))];
+        let r = resolve(&projects, &[preset("claude", "claude")], None, Utc::now());
+        assert!(r.build_request().is_none(), "no name → no immediate spawn");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn unresolvable_defaults_still_seed_the_draft_with_what_resolved() {
+        let projects = vec![repo_project("/repos/p", "/repos/p", 0, Some("aider"))];
+        let r = resolve(&projects, &[preset("aider", "aider")], None, Utc::now());
+
+        let mut draft = DraftPane::default();
+        r.apply_to_draft(&mut draft);
+        assert_eq!(draft.cwd(), Some(PathBuf::from("/repos/p")));
+        assert_eq!(draft.base_repo, Some(PathBuf::from("/repos/p")));
+        assert_eq!(draft.command(), "aider");
+        assert!(
+            draft.name.value().is_empty(),
+            "nothing to seed the name with"
+        );
+        assert!(draft.worktree_enabled);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_resolved_name_survives_late_refills_and_tracks_the_branch() {
+        let projects = vec![project("/repos/p", 0, Some("claude"))];
+        let named = resolve(
+            &projects,
+            &[preset("claude", "claude")],
+            Some("amber-falcon".into()),
+            Utc::now(),
+        );
+        let mut draft = DraftPane::default();
+        named.apply_to_draft(&mut draft);
+        // A later batch must not overwrite the name the spawn was seeded with.
+        draft.seed_names(vec!["late-name".into()]);
+        assert_eq!(draft.name.value(), "amber-falcon");
+        assert_eq!(draft.branch.value(), "amber-falcon");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn an_unresolved_name_still_gets_generated_by_a_later_batch() {
+        let projects = vec![project("/repos/p", 0, Some("claude"))];
+        let r = resolve(&projects, &[preset("claude", "claude")], None, Utc::now());
+        let mut draft = DraftPane::default();
+        r.apply_to_draft(&mut draft);
+        draft.seed_names(vec!["late-name".into()]);
+        assert_eq!(draft.name.value(), "late-name");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_last_command_no_preset_advertises_lands_in_custom_text() {
+        let projects = vec![project("/repos/p", 0, Some("nvim -d"))];
+        let r = resolve(&projects, &[preset("claude", "claude")], None, Utc::now());
+        let mut draft = DraftPane::default();
+        r.apply_to_draft(&mut draft);
+        assert_eq!(draft.command(), "nvim -d");
+        assert!(draft.is_custom());
+    }
+}

crates/maestro-tui/src/lib.rs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pub mod cli;
 pub mod config;
 pub mod draft;
 pub mod emulators;
+pub mod fast_forward;
 pub mod input;
 pub mod keymap;
 pub mod overlays;

web/src/catalog.ts

@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ export function renderTopbar(store: CatalogStore, onToggleSidebar?: () => void):
   spawnBtn.type = "button";
   spawnBtn.className = "btn btn-primary spawn-btn";
   spawnBtn.textContent = "+ Spawn";
+  // The keyboard pair sits right here in the tooltip (#67).
+  spawnBtn.title = "Draft pane: n — fast-forward spawn: N";
   spawnBtn.addEventListener("click", () => requestOpenSpawn());
   actions.appendChild(spawnBtn);
   return header;

web/src/fastForward.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  buildFastForwardRequest,
+  fastForwardSeed,
+  resolveFastForward,
+} from "./fastForward.js";
+import type { Project, SpawnPreset } from "./types.js";
+
+const presets: SpawnPreset[] = [
+  { id: "custom", label: "Custom…", command: "" },
+  { id: "claude", label: "Claude", command: "claude" },
+];
+
+function project(overrides: Partial<Project>): Project {
+  return {
+    path: "/repos/p",
+    name: "p",
+    last_activity: new Date().toISOString(),
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+describe("resolveFastForward (#67)", () => {
+  it("resolves every default from the most recent project", () => {
+    const projects = [
+      project({ path: "/repos/old", name: "old", last_activity: "2020-01-01T00:00:00Z" }),
+      project({
+        path: "/repos/fresh",
+        name: "fresh",
+        base_repo: "/repos/fresh",
+        last_command: "aider",
+      }),
+    ];
+    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");
+
+    const req = buildFastForwardRequest(res)!;
+    expect(req.cwd).toBe("/repos/fresh");
+    expect(req.command).toBe("aider");
+    expect(req.metadata).toEqual({ name: "amber-falcon" });
+    expect(req.worktree).toEqual({
+      base_repo: "/repos/fresh",
+      branch: "amber-falcon",
+      cleanup_on_kill: true,
+      create_branch: true,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to the first non-custom preset when there is no last command", () => {
+    const res = resolveFastForward([project({ last_command: undefined })], presets, "n");
+    expect(res.command).toBe("claude");
+  });
+
+  it("treats an empty last command as no command", () => {
+    const res = resolveFastForward([project({ last_command: "" })], [presets[0]], "n");
+    expect(res.command).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(buildFastForwardRequest(res)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("resolves nothing when no projects are known yet", () => {
+    const res = resolveFastForward([], presets, "n");
+    expect(res.project).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(buildFastForwardRequest(res)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("downgrades to a draft when the generated name is missing", () => {
+    const res = resolveFastForward([project({ last_command: "claude" })], presets);
+    expect(res.name).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(buildFastForwardRequest(res)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("seeds the fallback draft with whatever did resolve", () => {
+    const res = resolveFastForward(
+      [project({ path: "/repos/p", base_repo: "/repos/p", last_command: "aider" })],
+      presets,
+    );
+    expect(fastForwardSeed(res)).toEqual({
+      cwd: "/repos/p",
+      command: "aider",
+      name: "",
+      worktreeEnabled: true,
+      worktreeBranch: undefined,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("seeds worktree off when not even a project resolved", () => {
+    const seed = fastForwardSeed(resolveFastForward([], presets));
+    expect(seed.worktreeEnabled).toBe(false);
+    expect(seed.cwd).toBe("");
+  });
+});

web/src/fastForward.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+// Fast-forward spawn (#67): one keystroke, every default resolved, no form.
+// Pure resolution only — the caller (main.ts) owns the fetches and the POST,
+// and falls back to a seeded draft pane when anything is missing.
+
+import type { CreateSessionRequest, Project, SpawnPreset } from "./types.js";
+import { sortProjects } from "./projectList.js";
+
+/** What one fast-forward keystroke resolved. Anything absent means "open a
+ *  draft pre-filled with the rest instead of spawning". */
+export interface FastForwardResolution {
+  project?: Project;
+  command?: string;
+  name?: string;
+}
+
+/** The defaults: most recent project (fresh-first, same ordering the picker
+ *  shows), its last command falling back to the first non-custom preset, and
+ *  a freshly generated name when the daemon supplied one. */
+export function resolveFastForward(
+  projects: Project[],
+  presets: SpawnPreset[],
+  name?: string,
+): FastForwardResolution {
+  const project = sortProjects(projects, new Date())[0];
+  const lastCommand = project?.last_command?.trim();
+  const command =
+    lastCommand || presets.find((p) => p.command !== "")?.command || undefined;
+  return { project, command, name: name || undefined };
+}
+
+/** The immediate spawn request — worktree on, new branch named after the
+ *  generated session name — or `null` when any default is missing. */
+export function buildFastForwardRequest(
+  res: FastForwardResolution,
+): CreateSessionRequest | null {
+  const { project, command, name } = res;
+  if (!project || !command?.trim() || !name) return null;
+  return {
+    cwd: project.path,
+    command,
+    metadata: { name },
+    worktree: {
+      base_repo: project.base_repo ?? project.path,
+      branch: name,
+      cleanup_on_kill: true,
+      create_branch: true,
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+/** Seed for the fallback draft pane: whatever did resolve goes into the
+ *  form; the rest stays with its own defaults. */
+export function fastForwardSeed(res: FastForwardResolution) {
+  return {
+    cwd: res.project?.path ?? "",
+    command: res.command ?? "",
+    name: res.name ?? "",
+    worktreeEnabled: Boolean(res.project),
+    worktreeBranch:
+      res.project && res.name ? res.name : undefined,
+  };
+}

web/src/main.ts

@@ -3,13 +3,25 @@ import { ConnectionPool } from "./connections.js";
 import { installHudKeybind } from "./debug.js";
 import { CatalogStore } from "./events.js";
 import { shouldRetryClose } from "./reconnect.js";
+import {
+  createSession,
+  fetchNames,
+  getDaemonInfo,
+  projects as fetchProjects,
+} from "./api.js";
+import {
+  buildFastForwardRequest,
+  fastForwardSeed,
+  resolveFastForward,
+} from "./fastForward.js";
+import { FALLBACK_PRESETS } from "./spawnForm.js";
 import { mountHud, type Hud } from "./hud.js";
 import { emptyLayout, type Layout, openSessions } from "./layout.js";
 import { createMultiView, type MultiView } from "./multiview.js";
 import { loadLayout, saveLayout } from "./persistence.js";
 import { OPEN_SPAWN_EVENT } from "./catalog.js";
 import { initTheme } from "./theme.js";
-import { sessionName, type Session } from "./types.js";
+import { sessionName, type Project, type Session, type SpawnPreset } from "./types.js";
 import { installViewportSizing } from "./viewport.js";
 import "./styles.css";
 
@@ -212,6 +224,7 @@ function renderWelcome(): HTMLElement {
   spawn.type = "button";
   spawn.className = "btn btn-primary";
   spawn.textContent = "+ Spawn session";
+  spawn.title = "Draft pane: n — fast-forward spawn: N";
   spawn.addEventListener("click", () => requestOpenSpawn());
   (el.querySelector(".empty-actions") as HTMLElement).appendChild(spawn);
   return el;
@@ -265,6 +278,65 @@ document.addEventListener("catalog-spawn-similar", (ev) => {
   mv.openDraft({ cwd: s.cwd, command: s.command });
 });
 
+// Fast-forward spawn (#67): the draft pane's keystroke neighbour spawns
+// immediately with every default resolved — most recent project, its last
+// command (or the first non-custom preset), a fresh name, worktree on with
+// a new branch named after that name. Anything unresolvable (no projects
+// known yet, no command, no generated name) opens a draft pre-filled with
+// what did resolve instead.
+async function requestFastForward(): Promise<void> {
+  showMultiView();
+  const [discovered, name] = await Promise.all([
+    fetchProjects().catch(() => [] as Project[]),
+    fetchNames(1)
+      .then((batch) => batch.names[0])
+      .catch(() => undefined),
+  ]);
+  let presets: SpawnPreset[] = FALLBACK_PRESETS;
+  try {
+    const info = await getDaemonInfo();
+    if (info.presets?.length) presets = info.presets;
+  } catch {
+    /* keep fallbacks */
+  }
+  const resolved = resolveFastForward(discovered, presets, name);
+  const req = buildFastForwardRequest(resolved);
+  if (req) {
+    try {
+      await createSession(req);
+      return;
+    } catch {
+      // A failed POST degrades to the same pre-filled draft as an
+      // unresolvable default — never a silent dead keystroke.
+    }
+  }
+  mv.openDraft(fastForwardSeed(resolved));
+}
+
+// Keyboard pair (#67): `n` opens a draft pane, `N` fast-forwards a spawn.
+// Ignored while typing anywhere (form fields, the terminal's hidden
+// textarea, search) so an attached session's keys are never hijacked.
+document.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
+  if (e.ctrlKey || e.altKey || e.metaKey) return;
+  const target = e.target as HTMLElement | null;
+  if (
+    target &&
+    (target.tagName === "INPUT" ||
+      target.tagName === "TEXTAREA" ||
+      target.tagName === "SELECT" ||
+      target.isContentEditable)
+  ) {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (e.key === "n") {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    requestOpenSpawn();
+  } else if (e.key === "N") {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    void requestFastForward();
+  }
+});
+
 type Route =
   | { kind: "catalog" }
   | { kind: "attach"; sessionId: string }

web/src/spawnForm.ts

@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ export function buildSpawnRequest(
 }
 
 /** Built-ins used when the daemon's `/api/info` presets can't be fetched
- * (older daemon, transient error). Mirrors `maestro_config::builtin_presets`. */
-const FALLBACK_PRESETS: SpawnPreset[] = [
+ * (older daemon, transient error). Mirrors `maestro_config::builtin_presets`.
+ * Exported for the fast-forward spawn's preset fallback (#67). */
+export const FALLBACK_PRESETS: SpawnPreset[] = [
   { id: "claude", label: "Claude", command: "claude" },
   { id: "opencode", label: "opencode", command: "opencode" },
   { id: "zsh", label: "Shell", command: "zsh" },