diff --git a/bun.lock b/bun.lock
index a8bbe7f..1946f60 100644
--- a/bun.lock
+++ b/bun.lock
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
       "name": "tui-claude-director",
       "dependencies": {
         "@opentui/core": "^0.1.81",
+        "node-pty": "^1.1.0",
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/bun": "latest",
@@ -146,6 +147,10 @@
 
     "mime": ["mime@3.0.0", "", { "bin": { "mime": "cli.js" } }, "sha512-jSCU7/VB1loIWBZe14aEYHU/+1UMEHoaO7qxCOVJOw9GgH72VAWppxNcjU+x9a2k3GSIBXNKxXQFqRvvZ7vr3A=="],
 
+    "node-addon-api": ["node-addon-api@7.1.1", "", {}, "sha512-5m3bsyrjFWE1xf7nz7YXdN4udnVtXK6/Yfgn5qnahL6bCkf2yKt4k3nuTKAtT4r3IG8JNR2ncsIMdZuAzJjHQQ=="],
+
+    "node-pty": ["node-pty@1.1.0", "", { "dependencies": { "node-addon-api": "^7.1.0" } }, "sha512-20JqtutY6JPXTUnL0ij1uad7Qe1baT46lyolh2sSENDd4sTzKZ4nmAFkeAARDKwmlLjPx6XKRlwRUxwjOy+lUg=="],
+
     "omggif": ["omggif@1.0.10", "", {}, "sha512-LMJTtvgc/nugXj0Vcrrs68Mn2D1r0zf630VNtqtpI1FEO7e+O9FP4gqs9AcnBaSEeoHIPm28u6qgPR0oyEpGSw=="],
 
     "pako": ["pako@1.0.11", "", {}, "sha512-4hLB8Py4zZce5s4yd9XzopqwVv/yGNhV1Bl8NTmCq1763HeK2+EwVTv+leGeL13Dnh2wfbqowVPXCIO0z4taYw=="],
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index fd05060..f47b484 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
     "typescript": "^5"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@opentui/core": "^0.1.81"
+    "@opentui/core": "^0.1.81",
+    "node-pty": "^1.1.0"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/actions/launcher.ts b/src/actions/launcher.ts
index 5c66bdd..260a49a 100644
--- a/src/actions/launcher.ts
+++ b/src/actions/launcher.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { Project } from "../lib/types"
+import { loadSessions } from "../data/sessions"
 
 interface LaunchItem {
   path: string
@@ -19,7 +20,16 @@ export async function launchSelections(
     const targetBranch = selectedBranches.get(path)
     const project = projects.find(p => p.path === path)
     const needsBranch = targetBranch && project && targetBranch !== project.branch
-    byProject.get(path)!.push({ path, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
+    // Auto-resume most recent session
+    let lastSessionId: string | undefined
+    if (project) {
+      if (!project.sessions) {
+        project.sessions = await loadSessions(project.path)
+        project.sessionCount = project.sessions.length
+      }
+      lastSessionId = project.sessions[0]?.id
+    }
+    byProject.get(path)!.push({ path, sessionId: lastSessionId, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
   }
 
   for (const project of projects) {
diff --git a/src/components/direct-grid.ts b/src/components/direct-grid.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84ec3a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/direct-grid.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,538 @@
+// Direct grid renderer: bypasses OpenTUI entirely for grid mode.
+// Draws chrome (borders/titles) and pane content using raw ANSI cursor-addressed writes.
+// Each pane renders independently via PTY capture push callbacks.
+
+import { DirectPane } from "./direct-pane"
+import { startCapture, stopCapture, resizeCapture, resetHash, getLatestFrame, scrollPane, getScrollOffset } from "../pty/capture"
+import { writeToSession, resizeSession, killSession, type PtySession } from "../pty/session-manager"
+
+export type PaneStatus = "busy" | "idle" | null
+
+export interface GridPaneInfo {
+  session: PtySession
+  directPane: DirectPane
+  status: PaneStatus
+  statusSince: number
+}
+
+const PROJECT_COLORS = [
+  "#7aa2f7", "#9ece6a", "#e0af68", "#f7768e", "#bb9af7",
+  "#7dcfff", "#ff9e64", "#c0caf5", "#73daca", "#b4f9f8",
+]
+
+function getColor(idx: number): string {
+  return PROJECT_COLORS[idx % PROJECT_COLORS.length]!
+}
+
+function hexFg(hex: string): string {
+  const r = parseInt(hex.slice(1, 3), 16)
+  const g = parseInt(hex.slice(3, 5), 16)
+  const b = parseInt(hex.slice(5, 7), 16)
+  return `\x1b[38;2;${r};${g};${b}m`
+}
+
+const RESET = "\x1b[0m"
+const BOLD = "\x1b[1m"
+const DIM = "\x1b[2m"
+const WHITE = "\x1b[38;2;255;255;255m"
+const HIDE_CURSOR = "\x1b[?25l"
+const SHOW_CURSOR = "\x1b[?25h"
+const SYNC_START = "\x1b[?2026h"
+const SYNC_END = "\x1b[?2026l"
+const CLEAR = "\x1b[2J\x1b[H"
+
+function fmtElapsed(sinceMs: number): string {
+  if (!sinceMs) return ""
+  const sec = Math.floor((Date.now() - sinceMs) / 1000)
+  if (sec < 1) return "0s"
+  if (sec < 60) return `${sec}s`
+  const m = Math.floor(sec / 60)
+  const s = sec % 60
+  if (m < 60) return `${m}m${s > 0 ? String(s).padStart(2, "0") + "s" : ""}`
+  const h = Math.floor(m / 60)
+  const rm = m % 60
+  return `${h}h${rm > 0 ? String(rm).padStart(2, "0") + "m" : ""}`
+}
+
+export class DirectGridRenderer {
+  private panes: GridPaneInfo[] = []
+  private _focusIndex = 0
+  private writeRaw: (s: string) => boolean
+  private flashTimers = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof setInterval>>()
+  private titleTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+  private running = false
+  private _selectMode = false
+  private _expandedIndex = -1  // -1 = grid view, >=0 = expanded pane index
+
+  constructor(rawWrite: (s: string) => boolean) {
+    this.writeRaw = rawWrite
+  }
+
+  // ─── Lifecycle ─────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  start() {
+    this.running = true
+    this.writeRaw(HIDE_CURSOR + CLEAR)
+    this.drawChrome()
+    this.titleTimer = setInterval(() => this.refreshTitles(), 1000)
+  }
+
+  stop() {
+    this.running = false
+    if (this.titleTimer) { clearInterval(this.titleTimer); this.titleTimer = null }
+    for (const timer of this.flashTimers.values()) clearInterval(timer)
+    this.flashTimers.clear()
+    for (const p of this.panes) {
+      p.directPane.detach()
+      stopCapture(p.session.name)
+    }
+    this.writeRaw(SHOW_CURSOR)
+  }
+
+  // ─── Getters ───────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  get focusIndex() { return this._focusIndex }
+  get paneCount() { return this.panes.length }
+  get focusedPane(): GridPaneInfo | null { return this.panes[this._focusIndex] ?? null }
+  get selectMode() { return this._selectMode }
+  get isExpanded() { return this._expandedIndex >= 0 }
+
+  enterSelectMode() {
+    if (!this.isExpanded) return // Only allow in expanded mode
+    this._selectMode = true
+    this.writeRaw("\x1b[?1000l\x1b[?1006l") // Disable mouse reporting
+    this.writeRaw(SHOW_CURSOR)
+    this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  exitSelectMode() {
+    this._selectMode = false
+    this.writeRaw("\x1b[?1000h\x1b[?1006h") // Re-enable mouse reporting
+    this.writeRaw(HIDE_CURSOR)
+    this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  expandPane(index?: number) {
+    const idx = index ?? this._focusIndex
+    if (idx < 0 || idx >= this.panes.length) return
+    this._expandedIndex = idx
+    this._focusIndex = idx
+    this.repositionAll()
+  }
+
+  collapsePane() {
+    if (this._selectMode) this.exitSelectMode()
+    this._expandedIndex = -1
+    this.repositionAll()
+  }
+
+  // Check if a click hit a button on the top border. Returns action + pane index.
+  checkButtonClick(col: number, row: number): { action: "max" | "min" | "sel", paneIndex: number } | null {
+    const indicesToCheck = this.isExpanded ? [this._expandedIndex] : this.panes.map((_, i) => i)
+    for (const i of indicesToCheck) {
+      const dp = this.panes[i]!.directPane
+      const bx = dp.screenX - 1
+      const by = dp.screenY - 3
+      const bw = dp.width + 2
+      const btnRow = by
+
+      if (row !== btnRow) continue
+
+      if (this.isExpanded) {
+        // Expanded: buttons are [SEL] and [MIN] at top-right
+        // Layout: ...hz [SEL] hz [MIN] hz tr
+        const minRight = bx + bw - 2
+        const minLeft = minRight - 4
+        if (col >= minLeft && col <= minRight) return { action: "min", paneIndex: i }
+        const selRight = minLeft - 2
+        const selLeft = selRight - 4
+        if (col >= selLeft && col <= selRight) return { action: "sel", paneIndex: i }
+      } else {
+        // Grid: button is [MAX] at top-right
+        const btnLeft = bx + bw - 7
+        const btnRight = bx + bw - 3
+        if (col >= btnLeft && col <= btnRight) return { action: "max", paneIndex: i }
+      }
+    }
+    return null
+  }
+
+  // ─── Pane management ───────────────────────────────────
+
+  async addPane(session: PtySession): Promise<GridPaneInfo> {
+    const regions = this.calcPaneRegions(this.panes.length + 1)
+    const idx = this.panes.length
+    const region = regions[idx]!
+
+    const dp = new DirectPane(region.screenX, region.screenY, region.contentW, region.contentH)
+    const info: GridPaneInfo = { session, directPane: dp, status: null, statusSince: 0 }
+    this.panes.push(info)
+
+    // Resize PTY to match content area
+    resizeSession(session.name, region.contentW, region.contentH)
+
+    // Start capture (reads PTY stdout and pushes frames)
+    startCapture(session)
+
+    // Subscribe to push frames (must set callback AFTER attach, since attach calls detach which nulls onFrame)
+    dp.attach(session.name)
+    dp.onFrame = (lines) => {
+      if (!this.running) return
+      this.drawPane(idx, lines)
+    }
+
+    // Reposition all existing panes
+    this.repositionAll()
+
+    return info
+  }
+
+  removePane(sessionName: string) {
+    const idx = this.panes.findIndex(p => p.session.name === sessionName)
+    if (idx < 0) return
+
+    const pane = this.panes[idx]!
+    pane.directPane.detach()
+    stopCapture(pane.session.name)
+    killSession(pane.session.name)
+    this.clearFlash(sessionName)
+    this.panes.splice(idx, 1)
+
+    if (this._focusIndex >= this.panes.length) {
+      this._focusIndex = Math.max(0, this.panes.length - 1)
+    }
+
+    this.repositionAll()
+  }
+
+  // ─── Focus ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  setFocus(index: number) {
+    if (index < 0 || index >= this.panes.length) return
+    this._focusIndex = index
+    this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  focusNext() {
+    if (this.panes.length === 0) return
+    this.setFocus((this._focusIndex + 1) % this.panes.length)
+  }
+
+  focusPrev() {
+    if (this.panes.length === 0) return
+    this.setFocus((this._focusIndex - 1 + this.panes.length) % this.panes.length)
+  }
+
+  focusByDirection(dir: "up" | "down" | "left" | "right") {
+    const n = this.panes.length
+    if (n <= 1) return
+    const { cols } = this.calcGrid(n)
+    const rows = Math.ceil(n / cols)
+    const curCol = this._focusIndex % cols
+    const curRow = Math.floor(this._focusIndex / cols)
+    let nc = curCol, nr = curRow
+    switch (dir) {
+      case "left":  nc = (curCol - 1 + cols) % cols; break
+      case "right": nc = (curCol + 1) % cols; break
+      case "up":    nr = (curRow - 1 + rows) % rows; break
+      case "down":  nr = (curRow + 1) % rows; break
+    }
+    const idx = nr * cols + nc
+    if (idx >= 0 && idx < n) this.setFocus(idx)
+  }
+
+  focusByClick(col: number, row: number): boolean {
+    const n = this.panes.length
+    if (n === 0) return false
+    const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
+    const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
+    const { cols } = this.calcGrid(n)
+    const rows = Math.ceil(n / cols)
+    const cellW = Math.floor(termW / cols)
+    const cellH = Math.floor((termH - 2) / rows)
+    const gc = Math.floor((col - 1) / cellW)
+    const gr = Math.floor((row - 2) / cellH)
+    const idx = gr * cols + gc
+    if (idx >= 0 && idx < n) {
+      this.setFocus(idx)
+      return true
+    }
+    return false
+  }
+
+  // ─── Chrome ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  drawChrome() {
+    if (!this.running) return
+    const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
+    const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
+
+    let out = SYNC_START
+
+    // Header (row 1)
+    const n = this.panes.length
+    const fi = this._focusIndex + 1
+    let headerLeft: string, headerRight: string
+    if (this._selectMode) {
+      headerLeft = `  ${BOLD}cladm grid${RESET} — ${hexFg("#9ece6a")}${BOLD}SELECT MODE${RESET}`
+      headerRight = `${DIM}drag to select │ cmd+c copy │ ${BOLD}Esc${RESET}${DIM} exit select${RESET}`
+    } else if (this.isExpanded) {
+      headerLeft = `  ${BOLD}cladm grid${RESET} — ${hexFg("#7dcfff")}${BOLD}EXPANDED${RESET} │ ${fi}/${n}`
+      headerRight = `${DIM}click ${BOLD}[SEL]${RESET}${DIM} select text │ click ${BOLD}[MIN]${RESET}${DIM} restore │ ctrl+\` picker${RESET}`
+    } else {
+      headerLeft = `  ${BOLD}cladm grid${RESET} — ${n} sessions │ focus: ${fi}/${n}`
+      headerRight = `${DIM}shift+arrows nav │ scroll/pgup/dn │ click ${BOLD}[MAX]${RESET}${DIM} expand │ ctrl+\` picker │ ctrl+w close${RESET}`
+    }
+    out += `\x1b[1;1H\x1b[${termW}X${headerLeft}   ${headerRight}`
+
+    // Pane borders + titles
+    if (this.isExpanded) {
+      out += this.drawPaneBorder(this._expandedIndex)
+    } else {
+      for (let i = 0; i < this.panes.length; i++) {
+        out += this.drawPaneBorder(i)
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Footer (last row)
+    const pane = this.focusedPane
+    if (this._selectMode) {
+      out += `\x1b[${termH};1H\x1b[${termW}X  ${hexFg("#9ece6a")}${BOLD}SELECT MODE${RESET}  ${DIM}drag to select text │ cmd+c to copy │ press ${BOLD}Esc${RESET}${DIM} to exit${RESET}`
+    } else if (this.isExpanded && pane) {
+      const color = getColor(pane.session.colorIndex)
+      out += `\x1b[${termH};1H\x1b[${termW}X  ${hexFg(color)}▸${RESET} ${BOLD}${pane.session.projectName}${RESET}   ${DIM}expanded │ Esc or [MIN] to restore grid${RESET}`
+    } else if (pane) {
+      const color = getColor(pane.session.colorIndex)
+      const sid = pane.session.sessionId ? ` ${DIM}#${pane.session.sessionId.slice(0, 8)}${RESET}` : ""
+      out += `\x1b[${termH};1H\x1b[${termW}X  ${hexFg(color)}▸${RESET} ${BOLD}${pane.session.projectName}${RESET}${sid}   ${DIM}all input goes to focused pane${RESET}`
+    } else {
+      out += `\x1b[${termH};1H\x1b[${termW}X  ${DIM}No sessions. Press ctrl+\` to return to picker.${RESET}`
+    }
+
+    out += SYNC_END
+    this.writeRaw(out)
+  }
+
+  private drawPaneBorder(index: number): string {
+    const pane = this.panes[index]!
+    const dp = pane.directPane
+    const isFocused = index === this._focusIndex
+    const isFlashing = this.flashTimers.has(pane.session.name)
+
+    const color = getColor(pane.session.colorIndex)
+    let borderColor: string
+    if (isFocused) borderColor = WHITE
+    else if (isFlashing) borderColor = hexFg("#ff9e64")
+    else borderColor = hexFg(color)
+
+    const tl = isFocused ? "┏" : "╭"
+    const tr = isFocused ? "┓" : "╮"
+    const bl = isFocused ? "┗" : "╰"
+    const br = isFocused ? "┛" : "╯"
+    const hz = isFocused ? "━" : "─"
+    const vt = isFocused ? "┃" : "│"
+
+    const bx = dp.screenX - 1
+    const by = dp.screenY - 3
+    const bw = dp.width + 2
+    const bh = dp.height + 4
+
+    let out = ""
+
+    // Top border with buttons
+    let btnSection: string
+    let btnVisibleLen: number
+    if (this.isExpanded) {
+      // Expanded: [SEL] [MIN] at right
+      const selColor = this._selectMode ? `${hexFg("#9ece6a")}${BOLD}` : `${DIM}`
+      btnSection = `${RESET}${selColor}[SEL]${RESET}${borderColor}${hz}${RESET}${hexFg("#7dcfff")}[MIN]${RESET}${borderColor}`
+      btnVisibleLen = 5 + 1 + 5  // [SEL] + hz + [MIN]
+    } else {
+      // Grid: [MAX] at right
+      btnSection = `${RESET}${DIM}[MAX]${RESET}${borderColor}`
+      btnVisibleLen = 5  // [MAX]
+    }
+    const hzFill = Math.max(0, bw - 2 - btnVisibleLen - 1) // -2 corners, -1 trailing hz
+    out += `\x1b[${by};${bx}H${borderColor}${tl}${hz.repeat(hzFill)}${btnSection}${hz}${tr}${RESET}`
+
+    // Title row
+    const nameColor = hexFg(color)
+    const name = pane.session.projectName
+    const elapsed = pane.statusSince ? fmtElapsed(pane.statusSince) : ""
+    const scrollOff = getScrollOffset(pane.session.name)
+    const scrollTag = scrollOff > 0 ? ` ${hexFg("#ff9e64")}[SCROLL +${scrollOff}]${RESET}` : ""
+    let titleContent: string
+    if (pane.status === "idle") {
+      titleContent = ` ${nameColor}${BOLD}${name}${RESET} ${hexFg("#e0af68")}IDLE${RESET} ${DIM}${elapsed}${RESET}${scrollTag}`
+    } else if (pane.status === "busy") {
+      titleContent = ` ${nameColor}${BOLD}${name}${RESET} ${hexFg("#9ece6a")}RUNNING${RESET} ${DIM}${elapsed}${RESET}${scrollTag}`
+    } else {
+      const sid = pane.session.sessionId ? ` ${DIM}#${pane.session.sessionId.slice(0, 8)}${RESET}` : ""
+      titleContent = ` ${nameColor}${BOLD}${name}${RESET}${sid}${scrollTag}`
+    }
+    out += `\x1b[${by + 1};${bx}H${borderColor}${vt}${RESET}\x1b[${bw - 2}X${titleContent}`
+    out += `\x1b[${by + 1};${bx + bw - 1}H${borderColor}${vt}${RESET}`
+
+    // Subtitle row
+    out += `\x1b[${by + 2};${bx}H${borderColor}${vt}${RESET}\x1b[${bw - 2}X ${DIM}${pane.session.projectPath}${RESET}`
+    out += `\x1b[${by + 2};${bx + bw - 1}H${borderColor}${vt}${RESET}`
+
+    // Side borders for content rows
+    for (let r = 0; r < dp.height; r++) {
+      out += `\x1b[${dp.screenY + r};${bx}H${borderColor}${vt}${RESET}`
+      out += `\x1b[${dp.screenY + r};${bx + bw - 1}H${borderColor}${vt}${RESET}`
+    }
+
+    // Bottom border
+    out += `\x1b[${by + bh - 1};${bx}H${borderColor}${bl}${hz.repeat(bw - 2)}${br}${RESET}`
+
+    return out
+  }
+
+  // ─── Content rendering ─────────────────────────────────
+
+  private drawPane(index: number, lines: string[]) {
+    // In expanded mode, only draw the expanded pane
+    if (this.isExpanded && index !== this._expandedIndex) return
+    const pane = this.panes[index]
+    if (!pane) return
+    const frame = pane.directPane.buildFrame(lines)
+    this.writeRaw(SYNC_START + frame + SYNC_END)
+  }
+
+  // ─── Input ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  sendInputToFocused(rawSequence: string) {
+    const pane = this.focusedPane
+    if (!pane) return
+    // Reset scroll offset when user types (back to live view)
+    const offset = getScrollOffset(pane.session.name)
+    if (offset > 0) {
+      scrollPane(pane.session.name, "down", offset)
+      this.drawChrome()
+    }
+    writeToSession(pane.session.name, rawSequence)
+  }
+
+  sendScrollToFocused(direction: "up" | "down", lines = 5) {
+    const pane = this.focusedPane
+    if (!pane) return
+    const offset = scrollPane(pane.session.name, direction, lines)
+    // Update title to show scroll indicator
+    this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  // ─── Status ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  markIdle(sessionName: string) {
+    const pane = this.panes.find(p => p.session.name === sessionName)
+    if (!pane) return
+    if (pane.status !== "idle") { pane.status = "idle"; pane.statusSince = Date.now() }
+    this.startFlash(sessionName)
+    this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  markBusy(sessionName: string) {
+    const pane = this.panes.find(p => p.session.name === sessionName)
+    if (!pane) return
+    if (pane.status !== "busy") { pane.status = "busy"; pane.statusSince = Date.now() }
+    this.clearFlash(sessionName)
+    this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  clearMark(sessionName: string) {
+    const pane = this.panes.find(p => p.session.name === sessionName)
+    if (!pane) return
+    pane.status = null; pane.statusSince = 0
+    this.clearFlash(sessionName)
+    this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  startFlash(sessionName: string) {
+    if (this.flashTimers.has(sessionName)) return
+    const timer = setInterval(() => this.drawChrome(), 400)
+    this.flashTimers.set(sessionName, timer)
+  }
+
+  clearFlash(sessionName: string) {
+    const timer = this.flashTimers.get(sessionName)
+    if (timer) { clearInterval(timer); this.flashTimers.delete(sessionName) }
+  }
+
+  // ─── Layout ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  private calcGrid(n?: number): { cols: number, rows: number } {
+    const count = n ?? this.panes.length
+    const cols = count <= 1 ? 1 : count <= 2 ? 2 : count <= 4 ? 2 : count <= 6 ? 3 : count <= 9 ? 3 : 4
+    return { cols, rows: Math.ceil(count / cols) }
+  }
+
+  private calcPaneRegions(count?: number): { screenX: number, screenY: number, contentW: number, contentH: number }[] {
+    const n = count ?? this.panes.length
+    const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
+    const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
+    const { cols, rows } = this.calcGrid(n)
+    const cellW = Math.floor(termW / cols)
+    const cellH = Math.floor((termH - 2) / rows)
+
+    const regions: { screenX: number, screenY: number, contentW: number, contentH: number }[] = []
+    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+      const gc = i % cols
+      const gr = Math.floor(i / cols)
+      const contentW = cellW - 2
+      const contentH = cellH - 4
+      const screenX = gc * cellW + 2
+      const screenY = 2 + gr * cellH + 3
+      regions.push({
+        screenX,
+        screenY,
+        contentW: Math.max(contentW, 10),
+        contentH: Math.max(contentH, 2),
+      })
+    }
+    return regions
+  }
+
+  repositionAll() {
+    if (this.isExpanded) {
+      // Expanded: give the expanded pane full screen area
+      const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
+      const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
+      const contentW = termW - 2
+      const contentH = termH - 2 - 4  // -2 header/footer, -4 border chrome
+      const pane = this.panes[this._expandedIndex]!
+      pane.directPane.reposition(2, 5, Math.max(contentW, 10), Math.max(contentH, 2))
+      resizeSession(pane.session.name, Math.max(contentW, 10), Math.max(contentH, 2))
+      resizeCapture(pane.session.name, Math.max(contentW, 10), Math.max(contentH, 2))
+      resetHash(`dp_${pane.session.name}`)
+    } else {
+      const regions = this.calcPaneRegions()
+      for (let i = 0; i < this.panes.length; i++) {
+        const pane = this.panes[i]!
+        const region = regions[i]!
+        pane.directPane.reposition(region.screenX, region.screenY, region.contentW, region.contentH)
+        resizeSession(pane.session.name, region.contentW, region.contentH)
+        resizeCapture(pane.session.name, region.contentW, region.contentH)
+        resetHash(`dp_${pane.session.name}`)
+      }
+    }
+    if (this.running) {
+      this.writeRaw(CLEAR)
+      this.drawChrome()
+    }
+  }
+
+  private refreshTitles() {
+    let needsDraw = false
+    for (const pane of this.panes) {
+      if (pane.status && pane.statusSince) needsDraw = true
+    }
+    if (needsDraw) this.drawChrome()
+  }
+
+  destroyAll() {
+    this.stop()
+    this.panes = []
+    this._focusIndex = 0
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/components/direct-pane.ts b/src/components/direct-pane.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb9fe12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/direct-pane.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+// Lightweight terminal pane: writes raw ANSI from PTY capture directly to stdout.
+// No parsing, no FrameBuffer, no OpenTUI. Just cursor-addressed raw lines.
+
+import { onFrame, hasChanged, resetHash, type CaptureResult } from "../pty/capture"
+
+export class DirectPane {
+  screenX: number   // 1-based screen column of content area
+  screenY: number   // 1-based screen row of content area
+  width: number     // content columns
+  height: number    // content rows
+  sessionName = ""
+
+  private unsub: (() => void) | null = null
+
+  // Set by DirectGridRenderer to receive frame updates
+  onFrame: ((lines: string[], pane: DirectPane) => void) | null = null
+
+  constructor(x: number, y: number, w: number, h: number) {
+    this.screenX = x
+    this.screenY = y
+    this.width = w
+    this.height = h
+  }
+
+  attach(sessionName: string) {
+    this.detach()
+    this.sessionName = sessionName
+    resetHash(`dp_${sessionName}`)
+    this.unsub = onFrame(sessionName, (result) => {
+      if (!hasChanged(result.lines, `dp_${sessionName}`)) return
+      if (this.onFrame) this.onFrame(result.lines, this)
+    })
+  }
+
+  detach() {
+    if (this.unsub) { this.unsub(); this.unsub = null }
+    if (this.sessionName) resetHash(`dp_${this.sessionName}`)
+    this.sessionName = ""
+    this.onFrame = null
+  }
+
+  reposition(x: number, y: number, w: number, h: number) {
+    this.screenX = x
+    this.screenY = y
+    this.width = w
+    this.height = h
+  }
+
+  // Build cursor-addressed ANSI output for this pane's content.
+  // Returns a string ready for stdout.write(). No allocations beyond the string.
+  buildFrame(lines: string[]): string {
+    let out = ""
+    const x = this.screenX
+    const y = this.screenY
+    const w = this.width
+    const h = this.height
+
+    for (let row = 0; row < h; row++) {
+      // Position cursor at start of this row
+      out += `\x1b[${y + row};${x}H`
+      // Erase w characters (clears old content)
+      out += `\x1b[${w}X`
+
+      if (row < lines.length) {
+        // Write raw ANSI line from PTY (already correct width)
+        out += lines[row]
+        // Reset SGR to prevent color bleed into border
+        out += "\x1b[0m"
+      }
+    }
+
+    return out
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/components/session-grid.ts b/src/components/session-grid.ts
index 0304bdd..ea6b253 100644
--- a/src/components/session-grid.ts
+++ b/src/components/session-grid.ts
@@ -10,13 +10,31 @@ import {
 } from "@opentui/core"
 import { TerminalView, getProjectColor } from "./terminal-view"
 import type { TmuxSession } from "../tmux/session-manager"
-import { sendKeys } from "../tmux/input-bridge"
+import { sendKeys, sendMouseEvent } from "../tmux/input-bridge"
+
+export type PaneStatus = "busy" | "idle" | null
 
 export interface GridPane {
   session: TmuxSession
   termView: TerminalView
   borderBox: BoxRenderable
   titleText: TextRenderable
+  subtitleText: TextRenderable
+  status: PaneStatus
+  statusSince: number // Date.now() when status was set
+}
+
+function fmtElapsed(sinceMs: number): string {
+  if (!sinceMs) return ""
+  const sec = Math.floor((Date.now() - sinceMs) / 1000)
+  if (sec < 1) return "0s"
+  if (sec < 60) return `${sec}s`
+  const m = Math.floor(sec / 60)
+  const s = sec % 60
+  if (m < 60) return `${m}m${s > 0 ? String(s).padStart(2, "0") + "s" : ""}`
+  const h = Math.floor(m / 60)
+  const rm = m % 60
+  return `${h}h${rm > 0 ? String(rm).padStart(2, "0") + "m" : ""}`
 }
 
 export class SessionGrid {
@@ -25,17 +43,19 @@ export class SessionGrid {
   private panes: GridPane[] = []
   private _focusIndex = 0
   private flashTimers = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof setInterval>>()
+  private titleTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
 
   constructor(renderer: CliRenderer, container: BoxRenderable) {
     this.renderer = renderer
     this.container = container
+    this.titleTimer = setInterval(() => this.refreshTitles(), 1000)
   }
 
   get focusIndex() { return this._focusIndex }
   get paneCount() { return this.panes.length }
   get focusedPane(): GridPane | null { return this.panes[this._focusIndex] ?? null }
 
-  addSession(session: TmuxSession): GridPane {
+  addSession(session: TmuxSession, subtitle?: ReturnType<typeof t>): GridPane {
     const color = getProjectColor(session.colorIndex)
     const colorRGBA = RGBA.fromHex(color)
 
@@ -55,18 +75,27 @@ export class SessionGrid {
     })
     titleText.content = t` ${bold(fg(color)(session.projectName))}${session.sessionId ? dim(` #${session.sessionId.slice(0, 8)}`) : ""}`
 
-    // Calculate pane size (leave room for border + title)
+    const subtitleText = new TextRenderable(this.renderer, {
+      width: "100%",
+      height: 1,
+      flexShrink: 0,
+    })
+    if (subtitle) subtitleText.content = subtitle
+    else subtitleText.content = t` ${dim("...")}`
+
+    // Calculate pane size (leave room for border + title + subtitle)
     const dims = this.calcPaneDims()
     const termView = new TerminalView(this.renderer, {
       width: Math.max(dims.w - 2, 10),
-      height: Math.max(dims.h - 3, 4),
+      height: Math.max(dims.h - 4, 4),
     })
 
     borderBox.add(titleText)
+    borderBox.add(subtitleText)
     borderBox.add(termView)
     this.container.add(borderBox)
 
-    const pane: GridPane = { session, termView, borderBox, titleText }
+    const pane: GridPane = { session, termView, borderBox, titleText, subtitleText, status: null, statusSince: 0 }
     this.panes.push(pane)
 
     termView.attach(session)
@@ -114,10 +143,110 @@ export class SessionGrid {
     }
   }
 
-  async sendInputToFocused(rawSequence: string) {
+  flashFocused() {
     const pane = this.focusedPane
     if (!pane) return
-    await sendKeys(pane.session.name, rawSequence)
+    const flashColor = RGBA.fromHex("#7dcfff")
+    pane.borderBox.borderColor = flashColor
+    this.renderer.requestRender()
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      // Restore to heavy white (focused state)
+      pane.borderBox.borderColor = RGBA.fromHex("#ffffff")
+      this.renderer.requestRender()
+    }, 150)
+  }
+
+  focusByDirection(dir: "up" | "down" | "left" | "right") {
+    const n = this.panes.length
+    if (n <= 1) return
+    const cols = n <= 1 ? 1 : n <= 2 ? 2 : n <= 4 ? 2 : n <= 6 ? 3 : n <= 9 ? 3 : 4
+    const rows = Math.ceil(n / cols)
+    const curCol = this._focusIndex % cols
+    const curRow = Math.floor(this._focusIndex / cols)
+
+    let newCol = curCol
+    let newRow = curRow
+    switch (dir) {
+      case "left":  newCol = (curCol - 1 + cols) % cols; break
+      case "right": newCol = (curCol + 1) % cols; break
+      case "up":    newRow = (curRow - 1 + rows) % rows; break
+      case "down":  newRow = (curRow + 1) % rows; break
+    }
+    const idx = newRow * cols + newCol
+    if (idx >= 0 && idx < n) {
+      this._focusIndex = idx
+      this.updateBorders()
+    }
+  }
+
+  focusByClick(col: number, row: number): boolean {
+    const n = this.panes.length
+    if (n === 0) return false
+    const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
+    const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
+    const cols = n <= 1 ? 1 : n <= 2 ? 2 : n <= 4 ? 2 : n <= 6 ? 3 : n <= 9 ? 3 : 4
+    const rows = Math.ceil(n / cols)
+    const cellW = Math.floor(termW / cols)
+    const cellH = Math.floor((termH - 2) / rows) // -2 for header+footer
+    const gridCol = Math.floor(col / cellW)
+    const gridRow = Math.floor((row - 1) / cellH) // -1 for header line
+    const idx = gridRow * cols + gridCol
+    if (idx >= 0 && idx < n) {
+      this._focusIndex = idx
+      this.updateBorders()
+      return true
+    }
+    return false
+  }
+
+  sendInputToFocused(rawSequence: string) {
+    const pane = this.focusedPane
+    if (!pane) return
+    sendKeys(pane.session.name, rawSequence)
+    pane.termView.nudge()
+  }
+
+  // Hit-test: map absolute screen coords to pane index + relative terminal coords
+  hitTest(absCol: number, absRow: number): { index: number, relX: number, relY: number } | null {
+    const n = this.panes.length
+    if (n === 0) return null
+    const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
+    const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
+    const gridCols = n <= 1 ? 1 : n <= 2 ? 2 : n <= 4 ? 2 : n <= 6 ? 3 : n <= 9 ? 3 : 4
+    const gridRows = Math.ceil(n / gridCols)
+    const cellW = Math.floor(termW / gridCols)
+    const cellH = Math.floor((termH - 2) / gridRows)
+
+    // Convert 1-based screen coords to grid cell
+    const gc = Math.floor((absCol - 1) / cellW)
+    const gr = Math.floor((absRow - 2) / cellH) // row 2 is first grid row (row 1 = header)
+    if (gc < 0 || gc >= gridCols || gr < 0 || gr >= gridRows) return null
+
+    const idx = gr * gridCols + gc
+    if (idx < 0 || idx >= n) return null
+
+    // Terminal content within cell: after left border(1) + after top border(1)+title(1)+subtitle(1)
+    const termStartX = gc * cellW + 2   // 1-based + left border
+    const termStartY = 2 + gr * cellH + 3 // header(1) + top border(1) + title(1) + subtitle(1)
+
+    return {
+      index: idx,
+      relX: absCol - termStartX + 1, // 1-based for tmux
+      relY: absRow - termStartY + 1,
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Forward mouse event to the focused tmux pane with correct relative coordinates
+  sendMouseToFocused(absCol: number, absRow: number, btn: number, release: boolean) {
+    const pane = this.focusedPane
+    if (!pane) return
+
+    const hit = this.hitTest(absCol, absRow)
+    if (!hit || hit.index !== this._focusIndex) return
+    if (hit.relX < 1 || hit.relY < 1) return
+    if (hit.relX > pane.session.width || hit.relY > pane.session.height) return
+
+    sendMouseEvent(pane.session.name, hit.relX, hit.relY, btn, release)
   }
 
   // Flash a pane's border to draw attention (e.g., when session goes idle)
@@ -159,34 +288,69 @@ export class SessionGrid {
   markIdle(sessionName: string) {
     const pane = this.panes.find(p => p.session.name === sessionName)
     if (!pane) return
+    if (pane.status !== "idle") {
+      pane.status = "idle"
+      pane.statusSince = Date.now()
+    }
     this.startFlash(sessionName)
-    pane.titleText.content = t` ${bold(fg(getProjectColor(pane.session.colorIndex))(pane.session.projectName))} ${fg("#e0af68")("NEEDS INPUT")}`
-    this.renderer.requestRender()
+    this.renderPaneTitle(pane)
   }
 
   markBusy(sessionName: string) {
     const pane = this.panes.find(p => p.session.name === sessionName)
     if (!pane) return
+    if (pane.status !== "busy") {
+      pane.status = "busy"
+      pane.statusSince = Date.now()
+    }
     this.clearFlash(sessionName)
-    pane.titleText.content = t` ${bold(fg(getProjectColor(pane.session.colorIndex))(pane.session.projectName))} ${fg("#9ece6a")("RUNNING")}`
-    this.renderer.requestRender()
+    this.renderPaneTitle(pane)
   }
 
   clearMark(sessionName: string) {
     const pane = this.panes.find(p => p.session.name === sessionName)
     if (!pane) return
+    pane.status = null
+    pane.statusSince = 0
     this.clearFlash(sessionName)
+    this.renderPaneTitle(pane)
+  }
+
+  private renderPaneTitle(pane: GridPane) {
     const color = getProjectColor(pane.session.colorIndex)
-    pane.titleText.content = t` ${bold(fg(color)(pane.session.projectName))}${pane.session.sessionId ? dim(` #${pane.session.sessionId.slice(0, 8)}`) : ""}`
+    const name = bold(fg(color)(pane.session.projectName))
+    const elapsed = pane.statusSince ? fmtElapsed(pane.statusSince) : ""
+
+    if (pane.status === "idle") {
+      pane.titleText.content = t` ${name} ${fg("#e0af68")("IDLE")} ${dim(elapsed)}`
+    } else if (pane.status === "busy") {
+      pane.titleText.content = t` ${name} ${fg("#9ece6a")("RUNNING")} ${dim(elapsed)}`
+    } else {
+      pane.titleText.content = t` ${name}${pane.session.sessionId ? dim(` #${pane.session.sessionId.slice(0, 8)}`) : ""}`
+    }
     this.renderer.requestRender()
   }
 
+  private refreshTitles() {
+    let needsRender = false
+    for (const pane of this.panes) {
+      if (pane.status && pane.statusSince) {
+        this.renderPaneTitle(pane)
+        needsRender = true
+      }
+    }
+    if (needsRender) this.renderer.requestRender()
+  }
+
   private updateBorders() {
     for (let i = 0; i < this.panes.length; i++) {
       const pane = this.panes[i]
       const isFocused = i === this._focusIndex
       const color = getProjectColor(pane.session.colorIndex)
 
+      // Update terminal view focus state (controls poll rate)
+      pane.termView.focused = isFocused
+
       // Focused pane gets brighter border, others get dimmer
       if (isFocused) {
         pane.borderBox.borderColor = RGBA.fromHex("#ffffff")
@@ -241,6 +405,7 @@ export class SessionGrid {
   }
 
   destroyAll() {
+    if (this.titleTimer) { clearInterval(this.titleTimer); this.titleTimer = null }
     for (const timer of this.flashTimers.values()) clearInterval(timer)
     this.flashTimers.clear()
     for (const pane of this.panes) {
diff --git a/src/components/terminal-view.ts b/src/components/terminal-view.ts
index 901077d..38e2dbf 100644
--- a/src/components/terminal-view.ts
+++ b/src/components/terminal-view.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {
   RGBA,
   TextAttributes,
 } from "@opentui/core"
-import { capturePane, hasChanged, resetHash } from "../tmux/capture"
+import { startCapture, stopCapture, setCaptureRate, onFrame, hasChanged, resetHash, type CaptureResult } from "../tmux/capture"
 import { parseAnsiFrame, type ParsedFrame } from "../tmux/ansi-parser"
 import type { TmuxSession } from "../tmux/session-manager"
 
@@ -28,34 +28,52 @@ export function getProjectColor(colorIndex: number): string {
   return PROJECT_COLORS[colorIndex % PROJECT_COLORS.length]
 }
 
+// Push-based terminal view: no poll timers.
+// Subscribes to capture stream and renders only when content changes.
 export class TerminalView extends FrameBufferRenderable {
   session: TmuxSession | null = null
-  private pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+  private unsubCapture: (() => void) | null = null
   private lastFrame: ParsedFrame | null = null
   private _focused = false
-  private _flashUntil = 0  // timestamp until which border flashes
+  private _flashUntil = 0
   private _idleSince = 0
+  private _frameDirty = false
 
   constructor(ctx: RenderContext, options: FrameBufferOptions) {
     super(ctx, options)
   }
 
   get focused() { return this._focused }
-  set focused(v: boolean) { this._focused = v }
+  set focused(v: boolean) {
+    if (this._focused === v) return
+    this._focused = v
+    // Focused pane captures at ~60fps, unfocused at ~5fps
+    if (this.session) {
+      setCaptureRate(this.session.name, v ? 16 : 200)
+    }
+  }
 
   get idleSince() { return this._idleSince }
 
   attach(session: TmuxSession) {
     this.detach()
     this.session = session
-    resetHash()
-    this.startPolling()
+    resetHash(session.name)
+    const captureMs = this._focused ? 16 : 200
+    startCapture(session.name, captureMs)
+    // Subscribe to push notifications — no poll timer needed
+    this.unsubCapture = onFrame(session.name, (frame) => this.onNewFrame(frame))
   }
 
   detach() {
-    this.stopPolling()
+    if (this.unsubCapture) { this.unsubCapture(); this.unsubCapture = null }
+    if (this.session) {
+      stopCapture(this.session.name)
+      resetHash(this.session.name)
+    }
     this.session = null
     this.lastFrame = null
+    this._frameDirty = false
   }
 
   flash(durationMs = 2000) {
@@ -70,29 +88,19 @@ export class TerminalView extends FrameBufferRenderable {
     this._idleSince = 0
   }
 
-  private startPolling() {
-    if (this.pollTimer) return
-    this.pollTimer = setInterval(() => this.refresh(), 80)
+  // Hint that input was sent — request immediate render
+  nudge() {
+    this.requestRender()
   }
 
-  private stopPolling() {
-    if (this.pollTimer) {
-      clearInterval(this.pollTimer)
-      this.pollTimer = null
-    }
-  }
-
-  private async refresh() {
+  private onNewFrame(result: CaptureResult) {
     if (!this.session) return
-
-    const result = await capturePane(this.session.name)
-    if (!result) return
-
-    if (!hasChanged(result.lines)) return
+    if (!hasChanged(result.lines, this.session.name)) return
 
     const frame = parseAnsiFrame(result.lines, result.width, result.height)
     this.lastFrame = frame
-    this.renderFrameToBuffer(frame)
+    this._frameDirty = true
+    this.requestRender()
   }
 
   private renderFrameToBuffer(frame: ParsedFrame) {
@@ -113,17 +121,20 @@ export class TerminalView extends FrameBufferRenderable {
     }
   }
 
+  // Only write to framebuffer when content actually changed (dirty flag)
+  // Previously this re-rendered EVERY paint cycle — major CPU waste
   protected renderSelf(buffer: OptimizedBuffer) {
-    if (this.lastFrame) {
+    if (this._frameDirty && this.lastFrame) {
       this.renderFrameToBuffer(this.lastFrame)
+      this._frameDirty = false
     }
     super.renderSelf(buffer)
   }
 
   protected onResize(width: number, height: number) {
     super.onResize(width, height)
+    this._frameDirty = true // Re-render frame to new buffer size
     if (this.session) {
-      // Resize tmux pane to match (async, fire-and-forget)
       import("../tmux/session-manager").then(m => {
         if (this.session) m.resizePane(this.session.name, width, height)
       })
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 584a872..468fd65 100755
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ import { generateMockProjects, generateMockSessions, generateMockBranches, gener
 import { detectActiveSessions, updateProjectSessions, generateMockActiveSessions, focusTerminalByPath, checkTransitions, snapshotBusy, playDoneSound, bounceDock, getSessionStatus, populateMockSessionStatus, getIdleSessions } from "./data/monitor"
 import { getUsageSummary, formatCost, formatWindow, makeBar, pct, PLAN_LIMITS, type UsageSummary } from "./data/usage"
 import { launchSelections } from "./actions/launcher"
-import { createSession, getSessions, refreshAlive, type TmuxSession } from "./tmux/session-manager"
-import { SessionGrid } from "./components/session-grid"
-import { getProjectColor } from "./components/terminal-view"
+import { createSession, getSessions, refreshAlive, type PtySession } from "./pty/session-manager"
+import { stopAllCaptures } from "./pty/capture"
+import { DirectGridRenderer } from "./components/direct-grid"
 import type { Project, DisplayRow } from "./lib/types"
 import { timeAgo, formatSize, elapsedCompact } from "./lib/time"
 
@@ -57,11 +57,9 @@ let cachedIdleSessions: import("./data/monitor").IdleSessionInfo[] = []
 // ─── Grid Mode State ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 type ViewMode = "picker" | "grid"
 let viewMode: ViewMode = "picker"
-let sessionGrid: SessionGrid | null = null
-let gridContainer: BoxRenderable | null = null
-let gridHeader: TextRenderable | null = null
-let gridFooter: TextRenderable | null = null
+let directGrid: DirectGridRenderer | null = null
 let mainBox: BoxRenderable | null = null
+let rawStdoutWrite: (s: string) => boolean
 
 // ─── UI Refs ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 let renderer: CliRenderer
@@ -384,7 +382,7 @@ function updateFooter() {
     )}`
   } else {
     footerText.content = t`  ${dim(
-      "↑↓ nav │ space select │ → expand │ ← collapse │ f folder │ g go to │ i idle │ a all │ n none │ s sort │ enter launch │ q quit"
+      "↑↓ nav │ space select │ → expand │ ← collapse │ f folder │ g go to │ i idle │ a all │ n none │ s sort │ enter grid │ o external │ q quit"
     )}`
   }
 }
@@ -518,6 +516,82 @@ function updateAll() {
   updateFooter()
 }
 
+// ─── Mouse Parsing ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+interface MouseEvent { btn: number; col: number; row: number; release: boolean }
+
+function parseMouseEvent(seq: string): MouseEvent | null {
+  // SGR encoding: \x1b[<btn;col;rowM (press) or \x1b[<btn;col;rowm (release)
+  const sgr = seq.match(/\x1b\[<(\d+);(\d+);(\d+)([Mm])/)
+  if (sgr) {
+    return {
+      btn: parseInt(sgr[1]),
+      col: parseInt(sgr[2]),
+      row: parseInt(sgr[3]),
+      release: sgr[4] === "m",
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Legacy X10/normal encoding: \x1b[M followed by 3 bytes (btn+32, col+32, row+32)
+  if (seq.length >= 6 && seq.startsWith("\x1b[M")) {
+    const raw = seq.charCodeAt(3) - 32
+    const col = seq.charCodeAt(4) - 32
+    const row = seq.charCodeAt(5) - 32
+    // In legacy mode, btn 3 = release, lower 2 bits = button
+    const release = (raw & 3) === 3
+    const btn = release ? 0 : (raw & 3)
+    // Scroll: bit 6 set means scroll. 64 = scroll up, 65 = scroll down
+    const scroll = raw & 64
+    return { btn: scroll ? (raw & 67) : btn, col, row, release: release && !scroll }
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
+// ─── Mouse ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+function hitTestListRow(screenRow: number): number {
+  // List starts at row 2 (header=0, colHeader=1)
+  const listStartY = 2
+  const relY = screenRow - listStartY + listBox.scrollTop
+  if (relY < 0) return -1
+
+  let y = 0
+  for (let i = 0; i < displayRows.length; i++) {
+    const h = displayRows[i].type === "session" ? 3 : 1
+    if (relY >= y && relY < y + h) return i
+    y += h
+  }
+  return -1
+}
+
+function handlePickerClick(_col: number, screenRow: number) {
+  const idx = hitTestListRow(screenRow)
+  if (idx < 0 || idx >= displayRows.length) return
+
+  cursor = idx
+  const row = displayRows[idx]
+  const project = projects[row.projectIndex]
+
+  // Toggle selection (same as space key)
+  if (row.type === "project" || row.type === "new-session") {
+    const path = project.path
+    if (selectedProjects.has(path)) selectedProjects.delete(path)
+    else selectedProjects.add(path)
+  } else if (row.type === "session") {
+    const session = project.sessions![row.sessionIndex!]
+    if (selectedSessions.has(session.id)) selectedSessions.delete(session.id)
+    else selectedSessions.add(session.id)
+  } else if (row.type === "branch") {
+    const path = project.path
+    if (selectedBranches.get(path) === row.branchName) {
+      selectedBranches.delete(path)
+    } else {
+      selectedBranches.set(path, row.branchName!)
+    }
+  }
+
+  updateAll()
+}
+
 // ─── Keyboard ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 async function handleKeypress(key: KeyEvent) {
   try {
@@ -597,7 +671,6 @@ async function handleKeypress(key: KeyEvent) {
           selectedBranches.set(path, row.branchName!)
         }
       }
-      if (cursor < total - 1) cursor++
       break
     }
 
@@ -676,16 +749,36 @@ async function handleKeypress(key: KeyEvent) {
       break
     }
 
+    case "o": {
+      // Open selected projects in external Terminal.app windows
+      const hasOSel = selectedProjects.size > 0 || selectedSessions.size > 0
+      if (!hasOSel) {
+        // If nothing selected, select current row's project
+        const oRow = displayRows[cursor]
+        if (oRow) selectedProjects.add(projects[oRow.projectIndex].path)
+      }
+      if (selectedProjects.size > 0 || selectedSessions.size > 0) {
+        await launchSelections(projects, selectedProjects, selectedSessions, selectedBranches)
+        selectedProjects.clear()
+        selectedSessions.clear()
+        selectedBranches.clear()
+      }
+      break
+    }
+
     case "q":
     case "escape":
       destroyed = true
       if (monitorInterval) clearInterval(monitorInterval)
+      stopAllCaptures()
+      process.stdout.write("\x1b[?1006l")
+      process.stdout.write("\x1b[?1000l")
       renderer.destroy()
       return
 
     case "t":
-      // Switch to grid view if there are tmux sessions
-      if (sessionGrid && sessionGrid.paneCount > 0) {
+      // Switch to grid view if there are panes
+      if (directGrid && directGrid.paneCount > 0) {
         switchToGrid()
         return
       }
@@ -751,7 +844,13 @@ async function doLaunch() {
     if (!project) continue
     const targetBranch = selectedBranches.get(path)
     const needsBranch = targetBranch && targetBranch !== project.branch
-    items.push({ path, name: project.name, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
+    // Auto-resume most recent session (loaded lazily if needed)
+    if (!project.sessions) {
+      project.sessions = await loadSessions(project.path)
+      project.sessionCount = project.sessions.length
+    }
+    const lastSessionId = project.sessions[0]?.id
+    items.push({ path, name: project.name, sessionId: lastSessionId, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
   }
 
   for (const project of projects) {
@@ -767,16 +866,17 @@ async function doLaunch() {
 
   if (items.length === 0) return
 
-  // Create tmux sessions and switch to grid view
+  // Create PTY sessions and switch to grid view
   ensureGridView()
 
+  // DirectGridRenderer calculates pane sizes internally
   const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
   const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
-  const n = items.length + (sessionGrid?.paneCount || 0)
-  const cols = n <= 1 ? 1 : n <= 2 ? 2 : n <= 4 ? 2 : 3
-  const rows = Math.ceil(n / cols)
-  const paneW = Math.floor(termW / cols) - 2
-  const paneH = Math.floor((termH - 4) / rows) - 3
+  const totalPanes = items.length + (directGrid?.paneCount || 0)
+  const cols = totalPanes <= 1 ? 1 : totalPanes <= 2 ? 2 : totalPanes <= 4 ? 2 : 3
+  const rows = Math.ceil(totalPanes / cols)
+  const paneW = Math.max(Math.floor(termW / cols) - 2, 20)
+  const paneH = Math.max(Math.floor((termH - 2) / rows) - 4, 6)
 
   for (const item of items) {
     const session = await createSession({
@@ -784,102 +884,76 @@ async function doLaunch() {
       projectName: item.name,
       sessionId: item.sessionId,
       targetBranch: item.targetBranch,
-      width: Math.max(paneW, 20),
-      height: Math.max(paneH, 6),
+      width: paneW,
+      height: paneH,
     })
-    sessionGrid!.addSession(session)
+    await directGrid!.addPane(session)
   }
 
   selectedProjects.clear()
   selectedSessions.clear()
   selectedBranches.clear()
-  updateGridHeader()
-  updateGridFooter()
-  renderer.requestRender()
 }
 
-// ─── Grid View ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// ─── Grid View (Direct Renderer) ────────────────────────────────────
 function ensureGridView() {
-  if (viewMode === "grid" && sessionGrid) return
+  if (viewMode === "grid" && directGrid) return
   switchToGrid()
 }
 
 function switchToGrid() {
   viewMode = "grid"
-  if (mainBox) mainBox.visible = false
 
-  if (!gridContainer) {
-    gridHeader = new TextRenderable(renderer, {
-      width: "100%",
-      height: 1,
-      flexShrink: 0,
-    })
-
-    gridContainer = new BoxRenderable(renderer, {
-      flexDirection: "row",
-      flexWrap: "wrap",
-      flexGrow: 1,
-      width: "100%",
-      overflow: "hidden",
-    })
-
-    gridFooter = new TextRenderable(renderer, {
-      width: "100%",
-      height: 1,
-      flexShrink: 0,
-    })
-
-    const gridRoot = new BoxRenderable(renderer, {
-      flexDirection: "column",
-      width: "100%",
-      height: "100%",
-    })
-    gridRoot.add(gridHeader!)
-    gridRoot.add(gridContainer!)
-    gridRoot.add(gridFooter!)
-    renderer.root.add(gridRoot)
-
-    sessionGrid = new SessionGrid(renderer, gridContainer)
+  if (!directGrid) {
+    directGrid = new DirectGridRenderer(rawStdoutWrite)
   }
 
-  if (gridContainer) gridContainer.visible = true
-  if (gridHeader) gridHeader.visible = true
-  if (gridFooter) gridFooter.visible = true
-  updateGridHeader()
-  updateGridFooter()
-  renderer.requestRender()
+  // Suspend OpenTUI render loop — this pauses stdin, exits raw mode, disables mouse
+  renderer.suspend()
+
+  // Restore terminal state for direct rendering
+  if (process.stdin.isTTY) process.stdin.setRawMode(true)
+  process.stdin.resume()  // Re-enable stdin data events (suspend pauses them)
+  rawStdoutWrite("\x1b[?1049h")  // Alternate screen
+  // Enable mouse reporting in grid mode — only for scroll wheel and click-to-focus.
+  // With direct PTY (no tmux), mouse events stay in our stdin handler and never leak to subprocesses.
+  rawStdoutWrite("\x1b[?1000h")  // Basic mouse tracking (clicks + scroll)
+  rawStdoutWrite("\x1b[?1006h")  // SGR extended mouse coordinates
+  directGrid.start()
 }
 
 function switchToPicker() {
   viewMode = "picker"
+  if (directGrid) {
+    if (directGrid.selectMode) directGrid.exitSelectMode()
+    if (directGrid.paneCount > 0) directGrid.stop()
+  }
+  // Resume OpenTUI — it will re-enter alternate screen and redraw
+  renderer.resume()
+  // Remove any data listeners OpenTUI re-adds during resume (we handle stdin ourselves)
+  process.stdin.removeAllListeners("data")
+  process.stdin.on("data", stdinHandler)
+  // Re-enable mouse reporting (resume may not restore it)
+  process.stdout.write("\x1b[?1000h")
+  process.stdout.write("\x1b[?1006h")
   if (mainBox) mainBox.visible = true
-  if (gridContainer) gridContainer.visible = false
-  if (gridHeader) gridHeader.visible = false
-  if (gridFooter) gridFooter.visible = false
   updateAll()
   renderer.requestRender()
 }
 
-function updateGridHeader() {
-  if (!gridHeader) return
-  const n = sessionGrid?.paneCount || 0
-  const fi = (sessionGrid?.focusIndex ?? 0) + 1
-  gridHeader.content = t`  ${bold("cladm grid")} — ${String(n)} sessions │ focus: ${String(fi)}/${String(n)}   ${dim("ctrl+` picker │ ctrl+n/p switch │ ctrl+w close")}`
-}
-
-function updateGridFooter() {
-  if (!gridFooter || !sessionGrid) return
-  const pane = sessionGrid.focusedPane
-  if (pane) {
-    const color = getProjectColor(pane.session.colorIndex)
-    gridFooter.content = t`  ${fg(color)("▸")} ${bold(pane.session.projectName)}${pane.session.sessionId ? dim(` #${pane.session.sessionId.slice(0, 8)}`) : ""}   ${dim("all input goes to focused pane")}`
-  } else {
-    gridFooter.content = t`  ${dim("No sessions. Press ctrl+\` to return to picker.")}`
-  }
+function resizeGridPanes() {
+  if (!directGrid || directGrid.paneCount === 0) return
+  directGrid.repositionAll()
 }
 
 async function handleGridInput(rawSequence: string): Promise<boolean> {
-  if (viewMode !== "grid") return false
+  if (viewMode !== "grid" || !directGrid) return false
+
+  // Esc — collapse expanded pane back to grid
+  if (rawSequence === "\x1b" && directGrid.isExpanded) {
+    directGrid.collapsePane()
+    return true
+  }
 
   // Ctrl+` (0x1e) or ESC+` — return to picker
   if (rawSequence === "\x1e" || rawSequence === "\x1b`") {
@@ -889,40 +963,50 @@ async function handleGridInput(rawSequence: string): Promise<boolean> {
 
   // Ctrl+N — focus next pane
   if (rawSequence === "\x0e") {
-    sessionGrid?.focusNext()
-    updateGridHeader()
-    updateGridFooter()
+    directGrid.focusNext()
     return true
   }
 
   // Ctrl+P — focus previous pane
   if (rawSequence === "\x10") {
-    sessionGrid?.focusPrev()
-    updateGridHeader()
-    updateGridFooter()
+    directGrid.focusPrev()
+    return true
+  }
+
+  // Ctrl+F — open focused pane's project in Finder
+  if (rawSequence === "\x06") {
+    const pane = directGrid.focusedPane
+    if (pane) Bun.spawn(["open", pane.session.projectPath])
     return true
   }
 
   // Ctrl+W — close focused pane
   if (rawSequence === "\x17") {
-    const pane = sessionGrid?.focusedPane
+    const pane = directGrid.focusedPane
     if (pane) {
-      const { killSession } = await import("./tmux/session-manager")
-      sessionGrid!.removeSession(pane.session.name)
+      if (directGrid.isExpanded) directGrid.collapsePane()
+      const { killSession } = await import("./pty/session-manager")
+      directGrid.removePane(pane.session.name)
       await killSession(pane.session.name)
-      updateGridHeader()
-      updateGridFooter()
-      if (sessionGrid!.paneCount === 0) {
+      if (directGrid.paneCount === 0) {
         switchToPicker()
       }
     }
     return true
   }
 
-  // Forward everything else to the focused tmux pane
-  if (sessionGrid) {
-    await sessionGrid.sendInputToFocused(rawSequence)
+  // PageUp / PageDown (Fn+Up/Down on Mac) — scroll focused pane
+  if (rawSequence === "\x1b[5~") {
+    directGrid.sendScrollToFocused("up")
+    return true
   }
+  if (rawSequence === "\x1b[6~") {
+    directGrid.sendScrollToFocused("down")
+    return true
+  }
+
+  // Forward everything else to the focused PTY pane
+  directGrid.sendInputToFocused(rawSequence)
   return true
 }
 
@@ -950,16 +1034,25 @@ async function main() {
   sortedIndices = projects.map((_, i) => i)
   rebuildDisplayRows()
 
+  // Save raw stdout.write BEFORE OpenTUI intercepts it
+  rawStdoutWrite = process.stdout.write.bind(process.stdout) as (s: string) => boolean
+
   renderer = await createCliRenderer({
     exitOnCtrlC: true,
     useAlternateScreen: true,
-    useMouse: true,
+    useMouse: false, // We handle mouse ourselves to avoid OpenTUI consuming events
     onDestroy: () => {
       destroyed = true
       if (monitorInterval) { clearInterval(monitorInterval); monitorInterval = null }
+      if (directGrid) directGrid.destroyAll()
+      stopAllCaptures()
     },
   })
 
+  // Enable mouse reporting manually (SGR mode for full coordinates)
+  process.stdout.write("\x1b[?1000h") // Basic click tracking
+  process.stdout.write("\x1b[?1006h") // SGR extended coordinates
+
   // Build layout
   mainBox = new BoxRenderable(renderer, {
     flexDirection: "column",
@@ -1055,15 +1148,273 @@ async function main() {
     updateUsagePanel()
   }).catch(() => {})
 
-  // Intercept raw input for grid mode (before OpenTUI processes it)
-  renderer.prependInputHandler((sequence: string) => {
-    if (viewMode !== "grid") return false
-    // Handle grid input asynchronously, consume the event
-    handleGridInput(sequence)
-    return true
+  // Resize PTY panes when terminal window is resized
+  process.stdout.on("resize", () => {
+    if (viewMode !== "grid" || !directGrid) return
+    resizeGridPanes()
   })
 
-  renderer.keyInput.on("keypress", handleKeypress)
+  // Shift+arrow sequences across terminal emulators
+  const SHIFT_ARROWS: Record<string, "up" | "down" | "left" | "right"> = {
+    "\x1b[1;2A": "up",    // xterm/iTerm2/most terminals
+    "\x1b[1;2B": "down",
+    "\x1b[1;2C": "right",
+    "\x1b[1;2D": "left",
+    "\x1b[a": "up",       // rxvt
+    "\x1b[b": "down",
+    "\x1b[c": "right",
+    "\x1b[d": "left",
+  }
+
+  // Take over stdin completely — removes OpenTUI's data listeners
+  // We parse all keys ourselves to avoid double-processing issues
+  process.stdin.removeAllListeners("data")
+
+  // Extract only safe keyboard input from stdin data.
+  // WHITELIST approach: only recognized keyboard sequences pass through.
+  // Everything else (mouse events, terminal responses, OSC, DCS, etc.) is dropped.
+  function extractKeyboardInput(data: string): string {
+    let keyboard = ""
+    let i = 0
+
+    while (i < data.length) {
+      const c = data.charCodeAt(i)
+
+      // ESC sequences
+      if (c === 0x1b) {
+        if (i + 1 >= data.length) { keyboard += "\x1b"; i++; continue } // lone ESC = Escape key
+
+        const next = data[i + 1]
+
+        // OSC: \x1b] ... (terminated by BEL \x07 or ST \x1b\\) — drop entirely
+        if (next === "]") {
+          let j = i + 2
+          while (j < data.length) {
+            if (data[j] === "\x07") { j++; break }
+            if (data[j] === "\x1b" && j + 1 < data.length && data[j + 1] === "\\") { j += 2; break }
+            j++
+          }
+          i = j; continue
+        }
+
+        // DCS: \x1bP ... ST  |  APC: \x1b_ ... ST  |  PM: \x1b^ ... ST — drop entirely
+        if (next === "P" || next === "_" || next === "^") {
+          let j = i + 2
+          while (j < data.length) {
+            if (data[j] === "\x1b" && j + 1 < data.length && data[j + 1] === "\\") { j += 2; break }
+            j++
+          }
+          i = j; continue
+        }
+
+        // CSI: \x1b[
+        if (next === "[") {
+          let j = i + 2
+          // Consume parameter bytes (0x30-0x3F: digits, ;, <, =, >, ?)
+          while (j < data.length && data.charCodeAt(j) >= 0x30 && data.charCodeAt(j) <= 0x3F) j++
+          // Consume intermediate bytes (0x20-0x2F)
+          while (j < data.length && data.charCodeAt(j) >= 0x20 && data.charCodeAt(j) <= 0x2F) j++
+          // Final byte (0x40-0x7E)
+          if (j < data.length && data.charCodeAt(j) >= 0x40 && data.charCodeAt(j) <= 0x7E) {
+            const final = data[j]
+            // Legacy X10 mouse: \x1b[M followed by 3 raw bytes (btn+32, col+32, row+32)
+            // Must consume the 3 payload bytes or they leak as keyboard input
+            // (btn+32 for left click = 0x20 = ASCII space!)
+            if (final === "M" && j === i + 2) {
+              i = Math.min(j + 4, data.length); continue
+            }
+            // ONLY keep: arrows (A-D), Home (H), End (F), shift-tab (Z), function keys (~)
+            if ("ABCDHFZ~".includes(final)) {
+              keyboard += data.slice(i, j + 1)
+            }
+            i = j + 1; continue
+          }
+          // Incomplete/malformed CSI — drop
+          i = j; continue
+        }
+
+        // SS3: \x1bO + letter (F1-F4, keypad)
+        if (next === "O" && i + 2 < data.length) {
+          keyboard += data.slice(i, i + 3)
+          i += 3; continue
+        }
+
+        // \x1b` (ctrl+backtick) — keep as keyboard shortcut
+        if (next === "`") {
+          keyboard += "\x1b`"
+          i += 2; continue
+        }
+
+        // Any other \x1b+char — drop (unknown escape sequence)
+        i += 2; continue
+      }
+
+      // Regular character: printable ASCII, control chars, UTF-8 — keep
+      keyboard += data[i]
+      i++
+    }
+
+    return keyboard
+  }
+
+  // Parse SGR mouse events from raw data. Returns array of {btn, col, row, release, consumed}.
+  function extractMouseEvents(data: string): { btn: number, col: number, row: number, release: boolean, start: number, end: number }[] {
+    const events: { btn: number, col: number, row: number, release: boolean, start: number, end: number }[] = []
+    const re = /\x1b\[<(\d+);(\d+);(\d+)([Mm])/g
+    let m
+    while ((m = re.exec(data)) !== null) {
+      events.push({
+        btn: parseInt(m[1]),
+        col: parseInt(m[2]),
+        row: parseInt(m[3]),
+        release: m[4] === "m",
+        start: m.index,
+        end: m.index + m[0].length,
+      })
+    }
+    return events
+  }
+
+  function stdinHandler(data: string | Buffer) {
+    const str = typeof data === "string" ? data : data.toString("utf8")
+
+    if (viewMode === "grid" && directGrid) {
+      // In select mode, only listen for Esc to exit — everything else is native terminal
+      if (directGrid.selectMode) {
+        const keyboard = extractKeyboardInput(str)
+        if (keyboard === "\x1b") {
+          directGrid.exitSelectMode()
+        }
+        return
+      }
+
+      // Handle mouse events first (scroll wheel + click-to-focus)
+      const mouseEvents = extractMouseEvents(str)
+      for (const me of mouseEvents) {
+        // Scroll: btn 64 = scroll up, btn 65 = scroll down
+        if (me.btn === 64) {
+          directGrid.sendScrollToFocused("up", 3)
+          continue
+        }
+        if (me.btn === 65) {
+          directGrid.sendScrollToFocused("down", 3)
+          continue
+        }
+        // Click (btn 0, press only): check buttons first, then focus pane
+        if (me.btn === 0 && !me.release) {
+          const btn = directGrid.checkButtonClick(me.col, me.row)
+          if (btn?.action === "max") {
+            directGrid.expandPane(btn.paneIndex)
+          } else if (btn?.action === "min") {
+            directGrid.collapsePane()
+          } else if (btn?.action === "sel") {
+            directGrid.enterSelectMode()
+          } else {
+            directGrid.focusByClick(me.col, me.row)
+          }
+          continue
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Strip mouse events from the data before keyboard filtering
+      let stripped = str
+      // Remove mouse events from end to start to preserve indices
+      for (let i = mouseEvents.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+        const me = mouseEvents[i]
+        stripped = stripped.slice(0, me.start) + stripped.slice(me.end)
+      }
+
+      const keyboard = extractKeyboardInput(stripped)
+      if (keyboard) {
+        const dir = SHIFT_ARROWS[keyboard]
+        if (dir) {
+          directGrid.focusByDirection(dir)
+        } else {
+          handleGridInput(keyboard)
+        }
+      }
+      return
+    }
+
+    // Picker mode: handle mouse clicks (scroll + click-to-select)
+    const pickerMouse = extractMouseEvents(str)
+    for (const me of pickerMouse) {
+      if (me.btn === 0 && !me.release) handlePickerClick(me.col, me.row)
+      if (me.btn === 64) { if (cursor > 0) { cursor--; updateAll() } }
+      if (me.btn === 65) { if (cursor < displayRows.length - 1) { cursor++; updateAll() } }
+    }
+
+    // Parse keys directly (bypass OpenTUI pipeline to avoid double-firing)
+    const keyboard = extractKeyboardInput(str)
+    if (!keyboard) return
+
+    // Map raw sequences to KeyEvent-like objects and call handleKeypress directly
+    const keyMap: Record<string, { name: string; shift?: boolean; ctrl?: boolean }> = {
+      "\x1b[A": { name: "up" },
+      "\x1b[B": { name: "down" },
+      "\x1b[C": { name: "right" },
+      "\x1b[D": { name: "left" },
+      "\x1b[5~": { name: "pageup" },
+      "\x1b[6~": { name: "pagedown" },
+      "\x1b[H": { name: "home" },
+      "\x1b[F": { name: "end" },
+      "\x1bOH": { name: "home" },
+      "\x1bOF": { name: "end" },
+      "\x1b[Z": { name: "tab", shift: true },
+      "\x1b[1;2A": { name: "up", shift: true },
+      "\x1b[1;2B": { name: "down", shift: true },
+      "\x1b[1;2C": { name: "right", shift: true },
+      "\x1b[1;2D": { name: "left", shift: true },
+      "\x09": { name: "tab" },
+      "\x0d": { name: "return" },
+      "\x1b": { name: "escape" },
+      " ": { name: "space" },
+    }
+
+    // Parse sequences from the keyboard string
+    let ki = 0
+    while (ki < keyboard.length) {
+      let matched = false
+      // Try longest match first (up to 8 chars for CSI sequences)
+      for (let len = Math.min(8, keyboard.length - ki); len >= 1; len--) {
+        const seq = keyboard.slice(ki, ki + len)
+        const mapped = keyMap[seq]
+        if (mapped) {
+          const syntheticKey = {
+            name: mapped.name,
+            shift: mapped.shift || false,
+            ctrl: mapped.ctrl || false,
+            meta: false,
+            preventDefault: () => {},
+            stopPropagation: () => {},
+          } as KeyEvent
+          handleKeypress(syntheticKey)
+          ki += len
+          matched = true
+          break
+        }
+      }
+      if (!matched) {
+        // Single printable character
+        const ch = keyboard[ki]
+        const code = ch.charCodeAt(0)
+        // Map printable ASCII to key name
+        if (code >= 0x21 && code <= 0x7e) {
+          const syntheticKey = {
+            name: ch,
+            shift: false,
+            ctrl: false,
+            meta: false,
+            preventDefault: () => {},
+            stopPropagation: () => {},
+          } as KeyEvent
+          handleKeypress(syntheticKey)
+        }
+        ki++
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  process.stdin.on("data", stdinHandler)
 
   // Live session monitoring
   if (demoMode) {
@@ -1137,14 +1488,13 @@ async function main() {
       if (changed) updateAll()
 
       // Update grid pane statuses (flash idle sessions)
-      if (sessionGrid && viewMode === "grid") {
+      if (directGrid && viewMode === "grid") {
         await refreshAlive()
         for (const [, s] of getSessions()) {
-          // Use monitor.ts to check busy/idle
           const status = getSessionStatus(s.projectPath, s.sessionId)
-          if (status === "idle") sessionGrid.markIdle(s.name)
-          else if (status === "busy") sessionGrid.markBusy(s.name)
-          else sessionGrid.clearMark(s.name)
+          if (status === "idle") directGrid.markIdle(s.name)
+          else if (status === "busy") directGrid.markBusy(s.name)
+          else directGrid.clearMark(s.name)
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/pty/capture.ts b/src/pty/capture.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c3bdd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pty/capture.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,691 @@
+// PTY capture: reads raw ANSI output from pty-helper stdout,
+// maintains a virtual screen buffer, and pushes frame updates to subscribers.
+// Replaces tmux capture-pane — no screen-scraping, direct PTY output.
+
+import type { PtySession } from "./session-manager"
+
+export interface CaptureResult {
+  lines: string[]
+  cursorX: number
+  cursorY: number
+  width: number
+  height: number
+}
+
+type FrameCallback = (frame: CaptureResult) => void
+
+interface PaneState {
+  session: PtySession
+  screen: VtScreen
+  callbacks: Set<FrameCallback>
+  reader: ReadableStreamDefaultReader<Uint8Array> | null
+  running: boolean
+}
+
+const panes = new Map<string, PaneState>()
+
+// ─── VT Screen Buffer ─────────────────────────────────────────
+
+interface VtCell {
+  char: string
+  sgr: string  // accumulated SGR state as ANSI escape string
+}
+
+class VtScreen {
+  width: number
+  height: number
+  cursorX = 0
+  cursorY = 0
+  cells: VtCell[][]
+  scrollback: VtCell[][] = []  // lines that scrolled off the top
+  scrollOffset = 0             // 0 = live view, >0 = scrolled back N lines
+  private static MAX_SCROLLBACK = 5000
+  private currentSgr = ""
+  private savedCursorX = 0
+  private savedCursorY = 0
+  private scrollTop = 0
+  private scrollBottom: number
+  private altScreen: VtCell[][] | null = null
+  private altCursorX = 0
+  private altCursorY = 0
+
+  constructor(width: number, height: number) {
+    this.width = width
+    this.height = height
+    this.scrollBottom = height - 1
+    this.cells = this.makeGrid(width, height)
+  }
+
+  private makeGrid(w: number, h: number): VtCell[][] {
+    return Array.from({ length: h }, () =>
+      Array.from({ length: w }, () => ({ char: " ", sgr: "" }))
+    )
+  }
+
+  resize(width: number, height: number) {
+    const newCells = this.makeGrid(width, height)
+    for (let r = 0; r < Math.min(height, this.height); r++) {
+      for (let c = 0; c < Math.min(width, this.width); c++) {
+        newCells[r][c] = this.cells[r]?.[c] ?? { char: " ", sgr: "" }
+      }
+    }
+    this.cells = newCells
+    this.width = width
+    this.height = height
+    this.scrollTop = 0
+    this.scrollBottom = height - 1
+    if (this.cursorX >= width) this.cursorX = width - 1
+    if (this.cursorY >= height) this.cursorY = height - 1
+  }
+
+  // Write raw PTY output to the virtual screen
+  write(data: string) {
+    let i = 0
+    while (i < data.length) {
+      const c = data.charCodeAt(i)
+
+      // ESC sequences
+      if (c === 0x1b && i + 1 < data.length) {
+        const next = data[i + 1]
+
+        // CSI: \x1b[
+        if (next === "[") {
+          i = this.handleCSI(data, i + 2)
+          continue
+        }
+
+        // OSC: \x1b] ... BEL or ST — skip
+        if (next === "]") {
+          i = this.skipOSC(data, i + 2)
+          continue
+        }
+
+        // DCS/APC/PM: \x1bP, \x1b_, \x1b^ — skip to ST
+        if (next === "P" || next === "_" || next === "^") {
+          i = this.skipToST(data, i + 2)
+          continue
+        }
+
+        // SS3: \x1bO — skip the next char
+        if (next === "O" && i + 2 < data.length) {
+          i += 3
+          continue
+        }
+
+        // Save cursor: \x1b7 or \x1b[s
+        if (next === "7") {
+          this.savedCursorX = this.cursorX
+          this.savedCursorY = this.cursorY
+          i += 2; continue
+        }
+
+        // Restore cursor: \x1b8 or \x1b[u
+        if (next === "8") {
+          this.cursorX = this.savedCursorX
+          this.cursorY = this.savedCursorY
+          i += 2; continue
+        }
+
+        // Index (scroll up): \x1bD
+        if (next === "D") {
+          this.index()
+          i += 2; continue
+        }
+
+        // Reverse index (scroll down): \x1bM
+        if (next === "M") {
+          this.reverseIndex()
+          i += 2; continue
+        }
+
+        // Set tab stop, reset: skip
+        if (next === "H" || next === "c") {
+          i += 2; continue
+        }
+
+        // Unknown ESC — skip
+        i += 2; continue
+      }
+
+      // C0 control characters
+      if (c === 0x0d) { // CR
+        this.cursorX = 0
+        i++; continue
+      }
+      if (c === 0x0a) { // LF
+        if (this.cursorY === this.scrollBottom) {
+          this.scrollUp()
+        } else if (this.cursorY < this.height - 1) {
+          this.cursorY++
+        }
+        i++; continue
+      }
+      if (c === 0x08) { // BS
+        if (this.cursorX > 0) this.cursorX--
+        i++; continue
+      }
+      if (c === 0x09) { // TAB
+        this.cursorX = Math.min(((this.cursorX >> 3) + 1) << 3, this.width - 1)
+        i++; continue
+      }
+      if (c === 0x07) { // BEL
+        i++; continue
+      }
+      if (c < 0x20 && c !== 0x1b) {
+        i++; continue
+      }
+
+      // Printable character
+      if (this.cursorX >= this.width) {
+        // Auto-wrap
+        this.cursorX = 0
+        if (this.cursorY === this.scrollBottom) {
+          this.scrollUp()
+        } else if (this.cursorY < this.height - 1) {
+          this.cursorY++
+        }
+      }
+
+      const row = this.cells[this.cursorY]
+      if (row && this.cursorX < this.width) {
+        row[this.cursorX] = { char: data[i], sgr: this.currentSgr }
+      }
+      this.cursorX++
+      i++
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Get screen as lines with embedded ANSI SGR codes (like tmux capture-pane -e)
+  // When scrollOffset > 0, shows scrollback history mixed with screen content
+  getLines(): string[] {
+    const lines: string[] = []
+
+    if (this.scrollOffset > 0) {
+      // Viewing scrollback: combine scrollback + current screen, then take a window
+      const sbLen = this.scrollback.length
+      const totalRows = sbLen + this.height
+      const startRow = totalRows - this.height - this.scrollOffset
+      for (let r = 0; r < this.height; r++) {
+        const srcRow = startRow + r
+        let row: VtCell[]
+        if (srcRow < 0) {
+          // Beyond scrollback — empty line
+          lines.push("")
+          continue
+        } else if (srcRow < sbLen) {
+          row = this.scrollback[srcRow]
+        } else {
+          row = this.cells[srcRow - sbLen]
+        }
+        lines.push(this.renderRow(row))
+      }
+    } else {
+      // Live view: just render current screen
+      for (let r = 0; r < this.height; r++) {
+        lines.push(this.renderRow(this.cells[r]))
+      }
+    }
+
+    return lines
+  }
+
+  private renderRow(row: VtCell[]): string {
+    if (!row) return ""
+    let line = ""
+    let lastSgr = ""
+    let trailingSpaces = 0
+
+    for (let c = 0; c < this.width && c < row.length; c++) {
+      const cell = row[c]
+      if (cell.sgr !== lastSgr) {
+        if (trailingSpaces > 0) {
+          line += " ".repeat(trailingSpaces)
+          trailingSpaces = 0
+        }
+        line += cell.sgr ? `\x1b[${cell.sgr}m` : "\x1b[0m"
+        lastSgr = cell.sgr
+      }
+      if (cell.char === " " && !cell.sgr) {
+        trailingSpaces++
+      } else {
+        if (trailingSpaces > 0) {
+          line += " ".repeat(trailingSpaces)
+          trailingSpaces = 0
+        }
+        line += cell.char
+      }
+    }
+    if (lastSgr) line += "\x1b[0m"
+    return line
+  }
+
+  // ─── CSI Handler ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  private handleCSI(data: string, start: number): number {
+    let i = start
+    const params: number[] = []
+    let num = ""
+    let privateMode = ""
+
+    // Check for private mode prefix (?, >, =)
+    if (i < data.length && (data[i] === "?" || data[i] === ">" || data[i] === "=")) {
+      privateMode = data[i]
+      i++
+    }
+
+    // Parse parameters
+    while (i < data.length) {
+      const ch = data[i]
+      if (ch >= "0" && ch <= "9") {
+        num += ch; i++
+      } else if (ch === ";") {
+        params.push(num === "" ? 0 : parseInt(num))
+        num = ""; i++
+      } else {
+        params.push(num === "" ? 0 : parseInt(num))
+        break
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (i >= data.length) return i
+
+    const final = data[i]
+    i++
+
+    // Private mode sequences (h/l for set/reset)
+    if (privateMode === "?") {
+      if (final === "h" || final === "l") {
+        const mode = params[0] ?? 0
+        if (mode === 1049 || mode === 47 || mode === 1047) {
+          if (final === "h") {
+            // Enter alternate screen
+            this.altScreen = this.cells
+            this.altCursorX = this.cursorX
+            this.altCursorY = this.cursorY
+            this.cells = this.makeGrid(this.width, this.height)
+            this.cursorX = 0
+            this.cursorY = 0
+          } else {
+            // Leave alternate screen
+            if (this.altScreen) {
+              this.cells = this.altScreen
+              this.cursorX = this.altCursorX
+              this.cursorY = this.altCursorY
+              this.altScreen = null
+            }
+          }
+        }
+        // Ignore other private modes (cursor visibility, mouse, etc.)
+      }
+      return i
+    }
+
+    // Standard CSI sequences
+    switch (final) {
+      case "m": // SGR
+        this.currentSgr = this.buildSgrString(params)
+        break
+
+      case "H": case "f": { // Cursor position
+        const row = Math.max(0, (params[0] || 1) - 1)
+        const col = Math.max(0, (params[1] || 1) - 1)
+        this.cursorY = Math.min(row, this.height - 1)
+        this.cursorX = Math.min(col, this.width - 1)
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "A": // Cursor up
+        this.cursorY = Math.max(0, this.cursorY - (params[0] || 1))
+        break
+      case "B": // Cursor down
+        this.cursorY = Math.min(this.height - 1, this.cursorY + (params[0] || 1))
+        break
+      case "C": // Cursor right
+        this.cursorX = Math.min(this.width - 1, this.cursorX + (params[0] || 1))
+        break
+      case "D": // Cursor left
+        this.cursorX = Math.max(0, this.cursorX - (params[0] || 1))
+        break
+
+      case "G": // Cursor horizontal absolute
+        this.cursorX = Math.min(Math.max(0, (params[0] || 1) - 1), this.width - 1)
+        break
+      case "d": // Cursor vertical absolute
+        this.cursorY = Math.min(Math.max(0, (params[0] || 1) - 1), this.height - 1)
+        break
+
+      case "J": { // Erase in display
+        const mode = params[0] || 0
+        if (mode === 0) { // Erase below
+          this.clearRange(this.cursorY, this.cursorX, this.height - 1, this.width - 1)
+        } else if (mode === 1) { // Erase above
+          this.clearRange(0, 0, this.cursorY, this.cursorX)
+        } else if (mode === 2 || mode === 3) { // Erase all
+          this.cells = this.makeGrid(this.width, this.height)
+        }
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "K": { // Erase in line
+        const mode = params[0] || 0
+        const row = this.cells[this.cursorY]
+        if (!row) break
+        if (mode === 0) { // Erase to right
+          for (let c = this.cursorX; c < this.width; c++) row[c] = { char: " ", sgr: "" }
+        } else if (mode === 1) { // Erase to left
+          for (let c = 0; c <= this.cursorX; c++) row[c] = { char: " ", sgr: "" }
+        } else if (mode === 2) { // Erase entire line
+          for (let c = 0; c < this.width; c++) row[c] = { char: " ", sgr: "" }
+        }
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "X": { // Erase characters
+        const n = params[0] || 1
+        const row = this.cells[this.cursorY]
+        if (row) {
+          for (let c = this.cursorX; c < Math.min(this.cursorX + n, this.width); c++) {
+            row[c] = { char: " ", sgr: "" }
+          }
+        }
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "L": { // Insert lines
+        const n = Math.min(params[0] || 1, this.scrollBottom - this.cursorY + 1)
+        for (let j = 0; j < n; j++) {
+          this.cells.splice(this.scrollBottom, 1)
+          this.cells.splice(this.cursorY, 0,
+            Array.from({ length: this.width }, () => ({ char: " ", sgr: "" })))
+        }
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "M": { // Delete lines
+        const n = Math.min(params[0] || 1, this.scrollBottom - this.cursorY + 1)
+        for (let j = 0; j < n; j++) {
+          this.cells.splice(this.cursorY, 1)
+          this.cells.splice(this.scrollBottom, 0,
+            Array.from({ length: this.width }, () => ({ char: " ", sgr: "" })))
+        }
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "P": { // Delete characters
+        const n = params[0] || 1
+        const row = this.cells[this.cursorY]
+        if (row) {
+          row.splice(this.cursorX, n)
+          while (row.length < this.width) row.push({ char: " ", sgr: "" })
+        }
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "@": { // Insert characters
+        const n = params[0] || 1
+        const row = this.cells[this.cursorY]
+        if (row) {
+          for (let j = 0; j < n; j++) {
+            row.splice(this.cursorX, 0, { char: " ", sgr: "" })
+          }
+          row.length = this.width
+        }
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "S": { // Scroll up
+        const n = params[0] || 1
+        for (let j = 0; j < n; j++) this.scrollUp()
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "T": { // Scroll down
+        const n = params[0] || 1
+        for (let j = 0; j < n; j++) this.reverseIndex()
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "r": { // Set scroll region
+        this.scrollTop = Math.max(0, (params[0] || 1) - 1)
+        this.scrollBottom = Math.min(this.height - 1, (params[1] || this.height) - 1)
+        this.cursorX = 0
+        this.cursorY = 0
+        break
+      }
+
+      case "s": // Save cursor
+        this.savedCursorX = this.cursorX
+        this.savedCursorY = this.cursorY
+        break
+      case "u": // Restore cursor
+        this.cursorX = this.savedCursorX
+        this.cursorY = this.savedCursorY
+        break
+
+      case "n": // Device status report — ignore
+      case "c": // Device attributes — ignore
+      case "h": case "l": // Set/reset mode — ignore
+      case "t": // Window manipulation — ignore
+        break
+    }
+
+    return i
+  }
+
+  private buildSgrString(params: number[]): string {
+    // Reset
+    if (params.length === 1 && params[0] === 0) return ""
+    if (params.length === 0) return ""
+    return params.join(";")
+  }
+
+  private clearRange(r1: number, c1: number, r2: number, c2: number) {
+    for (let r = r1; r <= r2 && r < this.height; r++) {
+      const row = this.cells[r]
+      if (!row) continue
+      const startC = r === r1 ? c1 : 0
+      const endC = r === r2 ? c2 : this.width - 1
+      for (let c = startC; c <= endC && c < this.width; c++) {
+        row[c] = { char: " ", sgr: "" }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private scrollUp() {
+    // Save the line scrolling off the top into scrollback
+    const removedRow = this.cells.splice(this.scrollTop, 1)[0]
+    if (removedRow && this.scrollTop === 0) {
+      this.scrollback.push(removedRow)
+      if (this.scrollback.length > VtScreen.MAX_SCROLLBACK) {
+        this.scrollback.shift()
+      }
+    }
+    this.cells.splice(this.scrollBottom, 0,
+      Array.from({ length: this.width }, () => ({ char: " ", sgr: "" })))
+    // Auto-reset scroll offset when new output arrives
+    if (this.scrollOffset > 0) this.scrollOffset = 0
+  }
+
+  private index() {
+    if (this.cursorY === this.scrollBottom) {
+      this.scrollUp()
+    } else if (this.cursorY < this.height - 1) {
+      this.cursorY++
+    }
+  }
+
+  private reverseIndex() {
+    if (this.cursorY === this.scrollTop) {
+      this.cells.splice(this.scrollBottom, 1)
+      this.cells.splice(this.scrollTop, 0,
+        Array.from({ length: this.width }, () => ({ char: " ", sgr: "" })))
+    } else if (this.cursorY > 0) {
+      this.cursorY--
+    }
+  }
+
+  private skipOSC(data: string, start: number): number {
+    let i = start
+    while (i < data.length) {
+      if (data[i] === "\x07") return i + 1
+      if (data[i] === "\x1b" && i + 1 < data.length && data[i + 1] === "\\") return i + 2
+      i++
+    }
+    return i
+  }
+
+  private skipToST(data: string, start: number): number {
+    let i = start
+    while (i < data.length) {
+      if (data[i] === "\x1b" && i + 1 < data.length && data[i + 1] === "\\") return i + 2
+      i++
+    }
+    return i
+  }
+}
+
+// ─── Public API ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export function startCapture(session: PtySession): void {
+  if (panes.has(session.name)) return
+
+  const screen = new VtScreen(session.width, session.height)
+  const state: PaneState = {
+    session,
+    screen,
+    callbacks: new Set(),
+    reader: null,
+    running: true,
+  }
+  panes.set(session.name, state)
+
+  // Start reading stdout from pty-helper
+  if (session.proc.stdout) {
+    const reader = session.proc.stdout.getReader()
+    state.reader = reader
+    const decoder = new TextDecoder()
+
+    ;(async () => {
+      try {
+        while (state.running) {
+          const { done, value } = await reader.read()
+          if (done) break
+          const text = decoder.decode(value, { stream: true })
+          screen.write(text)
+
+          // Push frame to subscribers
+          const frame: CaptureResult = {
+            lines: screen.getLines(),
+            cursorX: screen.cursorX,
+            cursorY: screen.cursorY,
+            width: screen.width,
+            height: screen.height,
+          }
+          for (const cb of state.callbacks) {
+            try { cb(frame) } catch {}
+          }
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // Process died
+      }
+    })()
+  }
+}
+
+export function onFrame(sessionName: string, cb: FrameCallback): () => void {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (state) state.callbacks.add(cb)
+  return () => {
+    const s = panes.get(sessionName)
+    if (s) s.callbacks.delete(cb)
+  }
+}
+
+export function getLatestFrame(sessionName: string): CaptureResult | null {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (!state) return null
+  return {
+    lines: state.screen.getLines(),
+    cursorX: state.screen.cursorX,
+    cursorY: state.screen.cursorY,
+    width: state.screen.width,
+    height: state.screen.height,
+  }
+}
+
+export function stopCapture(sessionName: string): void {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (!state) return
+  state.running = false
+  state.callbacks.clear()
+  if (state.reader) {
+    try { state.reader.cancel() } catch {}
+  }
+  panes.delete(sessionName)
+}
+
+export function resizeCapture(sessionName: string, width: number, height: number): void {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (!state) return
+  state.screen.resize(width, height)
+}
+
+// Scroll the pane's view into scrollback history.
+// Returns the new scroll offset (0 = live view).
+export function scrollPane(sessionName: string, direction: "up" | "down", lines = 5): number {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (!state) return 0
+  const screen = state.screen
+  const maxOffset = screen.scrollback.length
+
+  if (direction === "up") {
+    screen.scrollOffset = Math.min(screen.scrollOffset + lines, maxOffset)
+  } else {
+    screen.scrollOffset = Math.max(screen.scrollOffset - lines, 0)
+  }
+
+  // Push a frame update so the pane redraws with the new scroll position
+  const frame: CaptureResult = {
+    lines: screen.getLines(),
+    cursorX: screen.cursorX,
+    cursorY: screen.cursorY,
+    width: screen.width,
+    height: screen.height,
+  }
+  for (const cb of state.callbacks) {
+    try { cb(frame) } catch {}
+  }
+
+  return screen.scrollOffset
+}
+
+export function getScrollOffset(sessionName: string): number {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  return state?.screen.scrollOffset ?? 0
+}
+
+export function stopAllCaptures(): void {
+  for (const [name] of panes) stopCapture(name)
+}
+
+// Hash for diffing — skip re-render if nothing changed
+const lastHashes = new Map<string, number>()
+
+export function hasChanged(lines: string[], key = "_default"): boolean {
+  let h = 5381
+  for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+    const line = lines[i]
+    for (let j = 0; j < line.length; j++) {
+      h = ((h << 5) + h + line.charCodeAt(j)) | 0
+    }
+    h = ((h << 5) + h + 10) | 0
+  }
+  const prev = lastHashes.get(key)
+  if (prev === h) return false
+  lastHashes.set(key, h)
+  return true
+}
+
+export function resetHash(key = "_default") {
+  lastHashes.delete(key)
+}
diff --git a/src/pty/session-manager.ts b/src/pty/session-manager.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eeb106a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pty/session-manager.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+// Direct PTY session management — no tmux.
+// Each session spawns a pty-helper subprocess that owns a real PTY.
+// I/O flows through Bun.spawn stdin/stdout pipes.
+
+import type { Subprocess } from "bun"
+import { resolve } from "path"
+
+export interface PtySession {
+  name: string
+  projectPath: string
+  projectName: string
+  sessionId?: string
+  targetBranch?: string
+  alive: boolean
+  width: number
+  height: number
+  colorIndex: number
+  proc: Subprocess<"pipe", "pipe", "pipe">
+}
+
+const sessions = new Map<string, PtySession>()
+let colorCounter = 0
+
+// Resolve pty-helper binary path relative to this source file
+const PTY_HELPER = resolve(import.meta.dir, "..", "..", "bin", "pty-helper")
+
+export function getSessions(): Map<string, PtySession> {
+  return sessions
+}
+
+export function getSessionByProject(projectPath: string): PtySession[] {
+  return [...sessions.values()].filter(s => s.projectPath === projectPath)
+}
+
+export async function createSession(opts: {
+  projectPath: string
+  projectName: string
+  sessionId?: string
+  targetBranch?: string
+  width: number
+  height: number
+}): Promise<PtySession> {
+  const slug = opts.projectName.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9-]/g, "-").slice(0, 20)
+  const ts = Date.now().toString(36)
+  const name = `cladm-${slug}-${ts}`
+
+  const cmd = buildClaudeCmd(opts.projectPath, opts.sessionId, opts.targetBranch)
+
+  const proc = Bun.spawn([
+    PTY_HELPER,
+    String(opts.height),
+    String(opts.width),
+    "bash", "-c", cmd,
+  ], {
+    stdin: "pipe",
+    stdout: "pipe",
+    stderr: "pipe",
+    env: { ...process.env, TERM: "xterm-256color", CLAUDECODE: "" },
+  })
+
+  // Assign color index based on project path (same project = same color)
+  const existingForProject = getSessionByProject(opts.projectPath)
+  const ci = existingForProject.length > 0
+    ? existingForProject[0].colorIndex
+    : colorCounter++
+
+  const session: PtySession = {
+    name,
+    projectPath: opts.projectPath,
+    projectName: opts.projectName,
+    sessionId: opts.sessionId,
+    targetBranch: opts.targetBranch,
+    alive: true,
+    width: opts.width,
+    height: opts.height,
+    colorIndex: ci,
+    proc,
+  }
+
+  sessions.set(name, session)
+
+  // Monitor for exit
+  proc.exited.then(() => {
+    session.alive = false
+  })
+
+  return session
+}
+
+export function killSession(name: string): void {
+  const session = sessions.get(name)
+  if (!session) return
+  if (!session.proc.killed) {
+    session.proc.stdin.end()
+    session.proc.kill()
+  }
+  session.alive = false
+  sessions.delete(name)
+}
+
+export function resizeSession(name: string, width: number, height: number): void {
+  const session = sessions.get(name)
+  if (!session || !session.alive) return
+  session.width = width
+  session.height = height
+  // Send APC resize command: \x1b_R<rows>;<cols>\x1b\\
+  const resizeCmd = `\x1b_R${height};${width}\x1b\\`
+  session.proc.stdin.write(resizeCmd)
+}
+
+export function writeToSession(name: string, data: string): void {
+  const session = sessions.get(name)
+  if (!session || !session.alive) return
+  session.proc.stdin.write(data)
+}
+
+export function isAlive(name: string): boolean {
+  const session = sessions.get(name)
+  if (!session) return false
+  return session.alive && !session.proc.killed
+}
+
+export function refreshAlive(): void {
+  for (const [name, session] of sessions) {
+    if (session.proc.killed || !session.alive) {
+      sessions.delete(name)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export function cleanupAll(): void {
+  for (const [name] of sessions) killSession(name)
+}
+
+function buildClaudeCmd(path: string, sessionId?: string, targetBranch?: string): string {
+  const base = `cd '${path}' && claude --dangerously-skip-permissions`
+  const branchFlag = targetBranch
+    ? ` -p "switch to branch ${targetBranch}, stash if needed"`
+    : ""
+  if (sessionId) return `${base} --resume '${sessionId}'${branchFlag}`
+  return `${base}${branchFlag}`
+}
diff --git a/src/tmux/capture.ts b/src/tmux/capture.ts
index 9134031..8f74fe0 100644
--- a/src/tmux/capture.ts
+++ b/src/tmux/capture.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+// Captures tmux pane content via persistent streaming subprocesses.
+// Push-based: notifies subscribers immediately when new frames arrive.
+// Zero polling overhead on the JS side — callbacks fire on stream data.
+
+import type { Subprocess } from "bun"
+
 export interface CaptureResult {
   lines: string[]
   cursorX: number
@@ -6,29 +12,157 @@ export interface CaptureResult {
   height: number
 }
 
-export async function capturePane(sessionName: string): Promise<CaptureResult | null> {
-  try {
-    const [contentProc, infoProc] = [
-      Bun.spawn(["tmux", "capture-pane", "-t", sessionName, "-p", "-e"], { stdout: "pipe", stderr: "ignore" }),
-      Bun.spawn(["tmux", "display-message", "-t", sessionName, "-p", "#{cursor_x} #{cursor_y} #{pane_width} #{pane_height}"], { stdout: "pipe", stderr: "ignore" }),
-    ]
+const SEP = "%%CLADM_FRAME%%"
 
-    const [contentText, infoText] = await Promise.all([
-      new Response(contentProc.stdout).text(),
-      new Response(infoProc.stdout).text(),
-    ])
+type FrameCallback = (frame: CaptureResult) => void
 
-    const [codeContent, codeInfo] = await Promise.all([contentProc.exited, infoProc.exited])
-    if (codeContent !== 0 || codeInfo !== 0) return null
+interface PaneCapture {
+  proc: Subprocess<"ignore", "pipe", "ignore">
+  latest: CaptureResult | null
+  buf: string
+  callbacks: Set<FrameCallback>
+}
 
-    const parts = infoText.trim().split(" ")
+const panes = new Map<string, PaneCapture>()
+
+export function startCapture(sessionName: string, intervalMs = 100): void {
+  if (panes.has(sessionName)) return
+
+  const script = `while true; do
+tmux capture-pane -t '${sessionName}' -p -e 2>/dev/null
+echo '${SEP}'
+tmux display-message -t '${sessionName}' -p '#{cursor_x} #{cursor_y} #{pane_width} #{pane_height}' 2>/dev/null
+echo '${SEP}END'
+sleep ${(intervalMs / 1000).toFixed(3)}
+done`
+
+  const proc = Bun.spawn(["sh", "-c", script], {
+    stdin: "ignore",
+    stdout: "pipe",
+    stderr: "ignore",
+  })
+
+  const state: PaneCapture = { proc, latest: null, buf: "", callbacks: new Set() }
+  panes.set(sessionName, state)
+
+  const reader = proc.stdout.getReader()
+  const decoder = new TextDecoder()
+
+  ;(async () => {
+    try {
+      while (true) {
+        const { done, value } = await reader.read()
+        if (done) break
+        state.buf += decoder.decode(value, { stream: true })
+        processBuffer(sessionName, state)
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // Process died
+    }
+  })()
+}
+
+function processBuffer(sessionName: string, state: PaneCapture) {
+  while (true) {
+    const endMarker = SEP + "END"
+    const endIdx = state.buf.indexOf(endMarker)
+    if (endIdx < 0) break
+
+    const frame = state.buf.slice(0, endIdx)
+    state.buf = state.buf.slice(endIdx + endMarker.length)
+    if (state.buf.startsWith("\n")) state.buf = state.buf.slice(1)
+
+    const sepIdx = frame.indexOf(SEP)
+    if (sepIdx < 0) continue
+
+    const contentText = frame.slice(0, sepIdx)
+    const infoText = frame.slice(sepIdx + SEP.length).trim()
+
+    const parts = infoText.split(" ")
+    const cursorX = parseInt(parts[0]) || 0
+    const cursorY = parseInt(parts[1]) || 0
+    const width = parseInt(parts[2]) || 80
+    const height = parseInt(parts[3]) || 24
+
+    const lines = contentText.split("\n")
+    if (lines.length > 0 && lines[lines.length - 1] === "") lines.pop()
+
+    state.latest = { lines, cursorX, cursorY, width, height }
+
+    // Push to all subscribers immediately
+    for (const cb of state.callbacks) {
+      try { cb(state.latest) } catch {}
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// Subscribe to frame updates. Returns unsubscribe function.
+export function onFrame(sessionName: string, cb: FrameCallback): () => void {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (state) state.callbacks.add(cb)
+  // Unsub looks up current state (handles setCaptureRate restarts)
+  return () => {
+    const s = panes.get(sessionName)
+    if (s) s.callbacks.delete(cb)
+  }
+}
+
+export function getLatestFrame(sessionName: string): CaptureResult | null {
+  return panes.get(sessionName)?.latest ?? null
+}
+
+export function stopCapture(sessionName: string): void {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (!state) return
+  if (!state.proc.killed) state.proc.kill()
+  state.callbacks.clear()
+  panes.delete(sessionName)
+}
+
+// Change capture rate without losing subscribers
+export function setCaptureRate(sessionName: string, intervalMs: number): void {
+  const state = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (!state) return
+  const savedCallbacks = new Set(state.callbacks)
+  stopCapture(sessionName)
+  startCapture(sessionName, intervalMs)
+  const newState = panes.get(sessionName)
+  if (newState) {
+    for (const cb of savedCallbacks) newState.callbacks.add(cb)
+  }
+}
+
+export function stopAllCaptures(): void {
+  for (const [name] of panes) stopCapture(name)
+}
+
+// Legacy one-shot capture (for non-grid use)
+export async function capturePane(sessionName: string): Promise<CaptureResult | null> {
+  const latest = getLatestFrame(sessionName)
+  if (latest) return latest
+
+  try {
+    const proc = Bun.spawn(["sh", "-c",
+      `tmux capture-pane -t '${sessionName}' -p -e && echo '${SEP}' && tmux display-message -t '${sessionName}' -p '#{cursor_x} #{cursor_y} #{pane_width} #{pane_height}'`
+    ], { stdout: "pipe", stderr: "ignore" })
+
+    const text = await new Response(proc.stdout).text()
+    const code = await proc.exited
+    if (code !== 0) return null
+
+    const sepIdx = text.lastIndexOf(SEP)
+    if (sepIdx < 0) return null
+
+    const contentText = text.slice(0, sepIdx)
+    const infoText = text.slice(sepIdx + SEP.length).trim()
+
+    const parts = infoText.split(" ")
     const cursorX = parseInt(parts[0]) || 0
     const cursorY = parseInt(parts[1]) || 0
     const width = parseInt(parts[2]) || 80
     const height = parseInt(parts[3]) || 24
 
     const lines = contentText.split("\n")
-    // Remove trailing empty line from split
     if (lines.length > 0 && lines[lines.length - 1] === "") lines.pop()
 
     return { lines, cursorX, cursorY, width, height }
@@ -37,17 +171,24 @@ export async function capturePane(sessionName: string): Promise<CaptureResult |
   }
 }
 
-// Hash for diffing - skip re-render if nothing changed
-let lastHash = ""
+// Hash for diffing — skip re-render if nothing changed
+const lastHashes = new Map<string, number>()
 
-export function hasChanged(lines: string[]): boolean {
-  // Simple fast hash: join first+last few lines + length
-  const h = lines.length + ":" + (lines[0] || "") + (lines[lines.length - 1] || "")
-  if (h === lastHash) return false
-  lastHash = h
+export function hasChanged(lines: string[], key = "_default"): boolean {
+  let h = 5381
+  for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+    const line = lines[i]
+    for (let j = 0; j < line.length; j++) {
+      h = ((h << 5) + h + line.charCodeAt(j)) | 0
+    }
+    h = ((h << 5) + h + 10) | 0
+  }
+  const prev = lastHashes.get(key)
+  if (prev === h) return false
+  lastHashes.set(key, h)
   return true
 }
 
-export function resetHash() {
-  lastHash = ""
+export function resetHash(key = "_default") {
+  lastHashes.delete(key)
 }
diff --git a/src/tmux/input-bridge.ts b/src/tmux/input-bridge.ts
index 01d912f..9b23eb9 100644
--- a/src/tmux/input-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/tmux/input-bridge.ts
@@ -1,31 +1,77 @@
-// Forwards raw terminal input sequences to a tmux session
+// Forwards raw terminal input to tmux sessions via a persistent shell.
+// Zero process-spawn overhead per keystroke — writes to stdin of a long-lived sh.
 
-export async function sendKeys(sessionName: string, rawSequence: string): Promise<void> {
-  // Use -l for literal text to avoid tmux key-name interpretation
-  // But special keys need to be sent without -l
+import type { Subprocess } from "bun"
+
+let shell: Subprocess<"ignore", "pipe", "ignore"> | null = null
+
+function getShell() {
+  if (shell && !shell.killed) return shell
+  shell = Bun.spawn(["sh"], {
+    stdin: "pipe",
+    stdout: "ignore",
+    stderr: "ignore",
+  })
+  return shell
+}
+
+export function sendKeys(sessionName: string, rawSequence: string): void {
+  const sh = getShell()
   const special = mapSpecialSequence(rawSequence)
 
+  let cmd: string
   if (special) {
-    const proc = Bun.spawn(["tmux", "send-keys", "-t", sessionName, special], {
-      stdout: "ignore", stderr: "ignore",
-    })
-    await proc.exited
+    cmd = `tmux send-keys -t '${sessionName}' ${special}\n`
   } else {
-    // Literal text - send as hex to avoid escaping issues
-    const hexBytes = [...rawSequence].map(c => {
-      const code = c.charCodeAt(0)
-      return code.toString(16).padStart(2, "0")
-    })
-    const proc = Bun.spawn(["tmux", "send-keys", "-t", sessionName, "-H", ...hexBytes], {
-      stdout: "ignore", stderr: "ignore",
-    })
-    await proc.exited
+    const hex = [...rawSequence].map(c => c.charCodeAt(0).toString(16).padStart(2, "0")).join(" ")
+    cmd = `tmux send-keys -t '${sessionName}' -H ${hex}\n`
   }
+
+  sh.stdin.write(cmd)
+}
+
+// Forward mouse events to tmux as SGR escape sequences
+export function sendMouseEvent(sessionName: string, x: number, y: number, btn: number, release: boolean): void {
+  const sh = getShell()
+  const end = release ? "m" : "M"
+  const seq = `\x1b[<${btn};${x};${y}${end}`
+  const hex = [...seq].map(c => c.charCodeAt(0).toString(16).padStart(2, "0")).join(" ")
+  const cmd = `tmux send-keys -t '${sessionName}' -H ${hex}\n`
+  sh.stdin.write(cmd)
+}
+
+// Scroll a tmux pane using copy-mode (works with any application in the pane)
+export function sendScroll(sessionName: string, direction: "up" | "down", lines = 3): void {
+  const sh = getShell()
+  if (direction === "up") {
+    // Enter copy mode (no-op if already in it) then scroll up
+    sh.stdin.write(`tmux copy-mode -t '${sessionName}' 2>/dev/null; tmux send-keys -t '${sessionName}' -X -N ${lines} scroll-up 2>/dev/null\n`)
+  } else {
+    // Scroll down in copy mode; if we hit bottom, exit copy mode
+    sh.stdin.write(`tmux send-keys -t '${sessionName}' -X -N ${lines} scroll-down 2>/dev/null\n`)
+  }
+}
+
+// Exit copy mode (e.g., when user starts typing)
+export function exitCopyMode(sessionName: string): void {
+  const sh = getShell()
+  sh.stdin.write(`tmux send-keys -t '${sessionName}' -X cancel 2>/dev/null\n`)
+}
+
+export function cleanupInputQueue(_sessionName: string) {
+  // No per-session cleanup needed with shared shell
+}
+
+export function destroyShell() {
+  if (shell && !shell.killed) {
+    shell.stdin.end()
+    shell.kill()
+  }
+  shell = null
 }
 
 // Map known ANSI escape sequences to tmux key names
 function mapSpecialSequence(seq: string): string | null {
-  // Common escape sequences -> tmux key names
   const MAP: Record<string, string> = {
     "\r": "Enter",
     "\n": "Enter",
diff --git a/src/tmux/session-manager.ts b/src/tmux/session-manager.ts
index ad39888..3d33964 100644
--- a/src/tmux/session-manager.ts
+++ b/src/tmux/session-manager.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ export async function createSession(opts: {
   }
 
   sessions.set(name, session)
+
+  // Enable mouse mode so clicks/scrolls forward to the application
+  Bun.spawn(["tmux", "set", "-t", name, "mouse", "on"], {
+    stdout: "ignore", stderr: "ignore",
+  })
+
   return session
 }