widen project switcher dropdown, fix labels and shortcuts

Dropdown width 380 → 480 to prevent RenderFlex overflow on recent project rows. "Close Workspace" → "Close Project". Keyboard shortcuts show ⌘ on macOS instead of Ctrl. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
lazy backend boot and rename workspace to project
2026-04-26 14:16:59 +02:00 · 2026-04-26 14:16:46 +02:00 · 2026-04-26 13:53:33 +02:00
13 changed files with 731 additions and 196 deletions
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
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      "file_path": "decisions/questions-extensions.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-11",
@@ -668,7 +678,7 @@
      "title": "Coverage gates — hard thresholds vs soft reporting",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-testing.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-12",
@@ -677,7 +687,7 @@
      "title": "Screen-reader automation (axe-core via Playwright)",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-testing.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-13",
@@ -686,7 +696,7 @@
      "title": "Web production-mode a11y",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-accessibility.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-14",
@@ -695,7 +705,7 @@
      "title": "i18n plurals / gender / date-format tooling",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-accessibility.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-15",
@@ -704,7 +714,7 @@
      "title": "Editor tab — full LSP vs tree-sitter-only highlight",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-process.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-16",
@@ -713,7 +723,7 @@
      "title": "`tree-sitter-dart` grammar maintenance",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-process.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-17",
@@ -722,7 +732,7 @@
      "title": "Icon set growth",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-process.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-18",
@@ -731,7 +741,7 @@
      "title": "Theme hot-reload in release builds",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-process.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-19",
@@ -740,7 +750,7 @@
      "title": "(withdrawn)",
      "status": "resolved",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-process.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-20",
@@ -749,7 +759,7 @@
      "title": "Kernel DB service — namespaced SQL access?",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-process.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-21",
@@ -758,7 +768,7 @@
      "title": "Pql absorbs planning vs keeps separate",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-22",
@@ -767,7 +777,7 @@
      "title": "Ticket persistence strategy",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-23",
@@ -776,7 +786,7 @@
      "title": "SSH-remote development — run clide against a remote workspace",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-25",
@@ -785,7 +795,7 @@
      "title": "Body text face — mono everywhere vs Josefin Sans UI + mono code",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-26",
@@ -794,7 +804,7 @@
      "title": "Small screen layout (\u003c 1000px)",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-27",
@@ -803,7 +813,7 @@
      "title": "Two-editor split",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-28",
@@ -812,7 +822,7 @@
      "title": "Terminal strip scope — shell only or logs/errors/tests",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-29",
@@ -821,7 +831,7 @@
      "title": "Branch picker location",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-30",
@@ -830,7 +840,7 @@
      "title": "Focus behavior when editor is dirty and viewer is peeked",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "Q-31",
@@ -839,7 +849,7 @@
      "title": "XWayland fallback for frameless — proper Wayland protocol needed",
      "status": "open",
      "file_path": "decisions/questions-architecture.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-2",
@@ -849,7 +859,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-20",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-3",
@@ -859,7 +869,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-4",
@@ -869,7 +879,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-5",
@@ -879,7 +889,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-6",
@@ -889,7 +899,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-7",
@@ -899,7 +909,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-8",
@@ -909,7 +919,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-9",
@@ -919,7 +929,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-10",
@@ -929,7 +939,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-11",
@@ -939,7 +949,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-21",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    },
    {
      "id": "R-12",
@@ -949,7 +959,7 @@
      "status": "active",
      "date": "2026-04-22",
      "file_path": "decisions/rejected.md",
-      "synced_at": "2026-04-25 11:11:15"
+      "synced_at": "2026-04-26 12:12:18"
    }
  ],
  "decision_refs": [
@@ -1355,6 +1365,18 @@
      "ref_type": "references",
      "note": "**Cross-reference:** [D-31](#d-31-prefer-zero-deps-exact-pin), [D-42](#d-42-dependencies-documented-in-licensesyaml)."
    },
+    {
+      "source_id": "D-59",
+      "target_id": "D-31",
+      "ref_type": "references",
+      "note": "**Cross-reference:** [D-31](#d-31-prefer-zero-deps-exact-pin), [D-42](#d-42-dependencies-documented-in-licensesyaml)."
+    },
+    {
+      "source_id": "D-59",
+      "target_id": "D-42",
+      "ref_type": "references",
+      "note": "**Cross-reference:** [D-31](#d-31-prefer-zero-deps-exact-pin), [D-42](#d-42-dependencies-documented-in-licensesyaml)."
+    },
    {
      "source_id": "D-6",
      "target_id": "D-1",
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ heading, and (b) bumping `pubspec.yaml` `version:` in the same commit.

 ### Added

+- Backend isolate — all subprocess and file I/O runs in a dedicated
+  isolate, keeping the merged UI/platform thread on macOS free for
+  rendering. Communicates via SendPort using the existing IPC protocol.
+  Two-phase boot: resolve toolchain on spawn, initialize services on
+  project open. Scheduler ticker only runs while a project is active.
+
 - Toolchain — centralized binary resolution replacing five ad-hoc
  mechanisms. Resolves git, pql, tmux, ptyc, shell once at boot via
  background isolate. Status bar reads `toolchain.missing` directly.
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ class _ProjectSwitcherDropdownState extends State<_ProjectSwitcherDropdown> {
      focusNode: _focus,
      onKeyEvent: _onKey,
      child: Container(
-        width: 380,
+        width: 480,
        constraints: const BoxConstraints(maxHeight: 420),
        decoration: BoxDecoration(
          color: tokens.dropdownBackground,
@@ -513,10 +513,10 @@ class _ProjectSwitcherDropdownState extends State<_ProjectSwitcherDropdown> {
              decoration: BoxDecoration(border: Border(top: BorderSide(color: tokens.dividerColor))),
              child: Column(
                children: [
-                  _ActionRow(label: 'Open Local Project', shortcut: 'Ctrl+O', tokens: tokens, onTap: _openFolder),
-                  _ActionRow(label: 'New Window', shortcut: 'Ctrl+Shift+N', tokens: tokens, onTap: _newWindow),
+                  _ActionRow(label: 'Open Local Project', shortcut: Platform.isMacOS ? '⌘O' : 'Ctrl+O', tokens: tokens, onTap: _openFolder),
+                  _ActionRow(label: 'New Window', shortcut: Platform.isMacOS ? '⌘⇧N' : 'Ctrl+Shift+N', tokens: tokens, onTap: _newWindow),
                  if (widget.kernel.project.isOpen)
-                    _ActionRow(label: 'Close Workspace', shortcut: '', tokens: tokens, onTap: _closeWorkspace),
+                    _ActionRow(label: 'Close Project', shortcut: '', tokens: tokens, onTap: _closeWorkspace),
                ],
              ),
            ),
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+/// Manages the backend isolate lifecycle.
+///
+/// Two-phase boot:
+///   1. [spawn] — starts the isolate, resolves toolchain (binary checks only).
+///   2. [openWorkspace] — initializes services for a specific project root.
+library;
+
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:isolate';
+
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/backend_entry.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/ipc/isolate_client.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/toolchain.dart';
+
+class Backend {
+  Backend._({
+    required this.client,
+    required this.toolchain,
+    required SendPort backendRequestPort,
+    required Isolate isolate,
+    required ReceivePort receivePort,
+  })  : _backendRequestPort = backendRequestPort,
+        _isolate = isolate,
+        _receivePort = receivePort;
+
+  final IsolateClient client;
+  final Toolchain toolchain;
+  final SendPort _backendRequestPort;
+  final Isolate _isolate;
+  final ReceivePort _receivePort;
+
+  Completer<void>? _projectCompleter;
+  final Map<String, Completer<String?>> _validateCompleters = {};
+  int _validateId = 0;
+
+  /// Spawn the backend isolate. Returns when the toolchain is resolved.
+  /// No services are active yet — call [openWorkspace] to activate.
+  static Future<Backend> spawn({
+    required IsolateClient Function(SendPort backendPort) clientFactory,
+    String? hintRoot,
+  }) async {
+    final receivePort = ReceivePort();
+    final completer = Completer<Backend>();
+
+    late final IsolateClient client;
+    late final Isolate isolate;
+    late final SendPort backendRequestPort;
+    late final Backend backend;
+
+    receivePort.listen((message) {
+      if (message is Map<String, Object?>) {
+        final type = message['type'] as String?;
+        if (type == 'ready') {
+          backendRequestPort = message['requestPort'] as SendPort;
+          client = clientFactory(backendRequestPort);
+
+          final tcData = message['toolchain'] as Map<String, Object?>;
+          final toolchain = Toolchain();
+          toolchain.applyResolved(ResolvedPaths(
+            git: tcData['git'] as String?,
+            pql: tcData['pql'] as String?,
+            tmux: tcData['tmux'] as String?,
+            ptyc: tcData['ptyc'] as String?,
+            shell: tcData['shell'] as String?,
+            gitEnv: (tcData['gitEnv'] as Map?)?.cast<String, String>(),
+          ));
+
+          backend = Backend._(
+            client: client,
+            toolchain: toolchain,
+            backendRequestPort: backendRequestPort,
+            isolate: isolate,
+            receivePort: receivePort,
+          );
+
+          if (!completer.isCompleted) completer.complete(backend);
+        } else if (type == 'project.validated') {
+          final id = message['id'] as String;
+          final root = message['root'] as String?;
+          final c = backend._validateCompleters.remove(id);
+          if (c != null && !c.isCompleted) c.complete(root);
+        } else if (type == 'project.ready') {
+          // Update toolchain with project-specific paths.
+          final tcData = message['toolchain'] as Map<String, Object?>;
+          backend.toolchain.applyResolved(ResolvedPaths(
+            git: tcData['git'] as String?,
+            pql: tcData['pql'] as String?,
+            tmux: tcData['tmux'] as String?,
+            ptyc: tcData['ptyc'] as String?,
+            shell: tcData['shell'] as String?,
+            gitEnv: (tcData['gitEnv'] as Map?)?.cast<String, String>(),
+          ));
+          backend._projectCompleter?.complete();
+          backend._projectCompleter = null;
+        } else {
+          // Response or event — forward to the client.
+          client.handleMessage(message);
+        }
+      }
+    });
+
+    isolate = await Isolate.spawn(
+      backendEntry,
+      BackendBootMessage(frontendPort: receivePort.sendPort, hintRoot: hintRoot),
+    );
+
+    return completer.future;
+  }
+
+  /// Validate a path as a git repo. Returns the repo root or null.
+  /// Runs git rev-parse in the backend isolate (no main-thread I/O).
+  Future<String?> validateProject(String path) {
+    final id = '${_validateId++}';
+    final c = Completer<String?>();
+    _validateCompleters[id] = c;
+    _backendRequestPort.send({
+      'type': 'project.validate',
+      'path': path,
+      'id': id,
+    });
+    return c.future;
+  }
+
+  /// Activate a project. The backend (re)initializes all services
+  /// for the given root directory. Returns when services are ready.
+  Future<void> openProject(String path) {
+    _projectCompleter = Completer<void>();
+    _backendRequestPort.send({
+      'type': 'project.open',
+      'path': path,
+    });
+    return _projectCompleter!.future;
+  }
+
+  /// Shut down the backend isolate.
+  void dispose() {
+    _isolate.kill(priority: Isolate.beforeNextEvent);
+    _receivePort.close();
+  }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+/// Backend isolate entry point.
+///
+/// Two-phase boot:
+///   1. Resolve toolchain (find binaries) → report ready.
+///   2. On `project.open` message → initialize services for the project.
+///
+/// The dispatcher only registers command handlers after a project is
+/// activated. IPC requests arriving before that get an error response.
+library;
+
+import 'dart:io';
+import 'dart:isolate';
+
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/toolchain.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/daemon/dispatcher.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/daemon/editor_commands.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/daemon/files_commands.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/daemon/git_commands.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/daemon/pane_commands.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/daemon/pql_commands.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/editor/registry.dart' show EditorRegistry;
+import 'package:clide/src/git/client.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/ipc/envelope.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/ipc/schema_v1.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/panes/event_sink.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/panes/registry.dart';
+import 'package:clide/src/pql/client.dart';
+
+/// Message sent from main isolate to bootstrap the backend.
+class BackendBootMessage {
+  const BackendBootMessage({required this.frontendPort, this.hintRoot});
+  final SendPort frontendPort;
+  /// Optional path hint for initial toolchain resolution (e.g. CLIDE_WORKSPACE).
+  /// Used to find project-local binaries like dugite before a project opens.
+  final String? hintRoot;
+}
+
+/// Top-level entry point for the backend isolate.
+void backendEntry(BackendBootMessage boot) {
+  final frontendPort = boot.frontendPort;
+  final requestPort = ReceivePort();
+  final eventSink = _IsolateEventSink(frontendPort);
+  final dispatcher = DaemonDispatcher();
+  late Toolchain toolchain;
+
+  // Phase 1: resolve toolchain — just find binaries, don't init services.
+  // We need a project root for ptyc/dugite paths. Use a sensible
+  // default; the real project comes from project.open.
+  final resolveRoot = boot.hintRoot ?? Platform.environment['HOME'] ?? '/tmp';
+  toolchain = Toolchain();
+  toolchain.applyResolved(resolveToolchainPaths(resolveRoot));
+
+  // Listen for messages from the frontend.
+  requestPort.listen((message) async {
+    if (message is! Map<String, Object?>) return;
+    final type = message['type'] as String?;
+
+    if (type == 'project.validate') {
+      // Validate a path as a git repo. Runs git rev-parse in the backend
+      // isolate (safe from the merged thread). Returns the repo root or null.
+      final path = message['path'] as String;
+      final id = message['id'] as String;
+      try {
+        final r = await Process.run(toolchain.git, ['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel'],
+            workingDirectory: path, environment: toolchain.gitEnv);
+        if (r.exitCode == 0) {
+          final root = (r.stdout as String).trim();
+          frontendPort.send({'type': 'project.validated', 'id': id, 'root': root});
+        } else {
+          frontendPort.send({'type': 'project.validated', 'id': id, 'root': null});
+        }
+      } catch (_) {
+        frontendPort.send({'type': 'project.validated', 'id': id, 'root': null});
+      }
+    } else if (type == 'project.open') {
+      // Phase 2: (re)initialize services for the given project.
+      final projectPath = message['path'] as String;
+      final workDir = Directory(projectPath);
+
+      // Re-resolve toolchain with the actual project root (finds
+      // dugite in native/dugite/, ptyc in ptyc/bin/, etc.)
+      toolchain = Toolchain();
+      toolchain.applyResolved(resolveToolchainPaths(projectPath));
+
+      // Clear existing handlers and re-register with new project.
+      dispatcher.clear();
+
+      final filesService = FilesService(root: workDir, events: eventSink);
+      registerFilesCommands(dispatcher, filesService);
+
+      final editorRegistry = EditorRegistry(events: eventSink, workspaceRoot: workDir);
+      registerEditorCommands(dispatcher, editorRegistry);
+
+      final gitClient = GitClient(toolchain: toolchain, workDir: workDir);
+      registerGitCommands(dispatcher, gitClient, eventSink);
+
+      final pql = PqlClient(workDir: workDir, toolchain: toolchain);
+      registerPqlCommands(dispatcher, pql);
+
+      final paneRegistry = PaneRegistry(events: eventSink);
+      registerPaneCommands(dispatcher, paneRegistry, toolchain: toolchain);
+
+      // Tell the frontend the project is active.
+      frontendPort.send({
+        'type': 'project.ready',
+        'path': projectPath,
+        'toolchain': _serializeToolchain(toolchain),
+      });
+    } else {
+      // IPC request — dispatch if we have handlers.
+      final req = IpcRequest.fromJson(message);
+      if (dispatcher.isEmpty) {
+        frontendPort.send(IpcResponse.err(
+          id: req.id,
+          error: IpcError(
+            code: IpcExitCode.toolError,
+            kind: IpcErrorKind.toolError,
+            message: 'No project active',
+            hint: 'Open a project first',
+          ),
+        ).toJson());
+      } else {
+        final resp = await dispatcher.dispatch(req);
+        frontendPort.send(resp.toJson());
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
+  // Send ready with toolchain state and request port.
+  frontendPort.send({
+    'type': 'ready',
+    'requestPort': requestPort.sendPort,
+    'toolchain': _serializeToolchain(toolchain),
+  });
+}
+
+Map<String, Object?> _serializeToolchain(Toolchain tc) => {
+      'git': tc.git,
+      'pql': tc.pql,
+      'tmux': tc.tmux,
+      'ptyc': tc.ptyc,
+      'shell': tc.shell,
+      'gitEnv': tc.gitEnv,
+      'missing': tc.missing,
+    };
+
+/// Sends IPC events to the frontend via SendPort.
+class _IsolateEventSink implements DaemonEventSink {
+  _IsolateEventSink(this._port);
+  final SendPort _port;
+
+  @override
+  void emit(IpcEvent event) {
+    _port.send(event.toJson());
+  }
+}
@@ -102,8 +102,11 @@ class KernelServices {
    List<Locale> availableLocales = const [Locale('en', 'US')],
    String? socketPath,
    DaemonClient Function(Logger, DaemonBus)? daemonClientFactory,
+    DaemonClient? isolateClient,
    bool autoStartDaemonClient = true,
    Toolchain? toolchain,
+    Future<void> Function(String path)? onProjectOpen,
+    Future<String?> Function(String path)? onValidateProject,
  }) async {
    final log = Logger();
    final events = DaemonBus();
@@ -147,14 +150,17 @@ class KernelServices {
      events: events,
      settings: settings,
      toolchain: tc,
+      onProjectOpen: onProjectOpen,
+      onValidateProject: onValidateProject,
    );
-    final ipc = daemonClientFactory != null
-        ? daemonClientFactory(log, events)
-        : DaemonClient(
-            socketPath: socketPath ?? defaultSocketPath(),
-            log: log,
-            events: events,
-          );
+    final ipc = isolateClient
+        ?? (daemonClientFactory != null
+            ? daemonClientFactory(log, events)
+            : DaemonClient(
+                socketPath: socketPath ?? defaultSocketPath(),
+                log: log,
+                events: events,
+              ));
    final extensions = ExtensionManager(
      log: log,
      events: events,
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/// IPC client that sends requests to a backend isolate via SendPort.
+///
+/// Replaces [InProcessClient] for production use. The backend isolate
+/// owns the [DaemonDispatcher] and all subprocess/file-I/O services.
+/// Requests and responses travel as serialized Maps over SendPort,
+/// reusing the existing IPC protocol (IpcRequest/IpcResponse/IpcEvent).
+library;
+
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:isolate';
+
+import 'package:clide/clide.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/events/bus.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/events/types.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/ipc/client.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/log.dart';
+
+class IsolateClient extends DaemonClient {
+  IsolateClient({
+    required Logger log,
+    required DaemonBus events,
+    required SendPort backendPort,
+  })  : _backendPort = backendPort,
+        _events = events,
+        super(socketPath: '', log: log, events: events);
+
+  final SendPort _backendPort;
+  final DaemonBus _events;
+  final Map<String, Completer<IpcResponse>> _pending = {};
+  int _nextId = 0;
+
+  /// Called by [Backend] to feed incoming messages from the backend isolate.
+  void handleMessage(Map<String, Object?> msg) {
+    final type = msg['type'] as String?;
+    switch (type) {
+      case 'response':
+        final resp = IpcResponse.fromJson(msg);
+        final c = _pending.remove(resp.id);
+        if (c != null && !c.isCompleted) c.complete(resp);
+      case 'event':
+        final evt = IpcEvent.fromJson(msg);
+        _events.emit(DaemonEvent(
+          subsystem: evt.subsystem,
+          kind: evt.kind,
+          data: evt.data,
+          ts: evt.timestamp,
+        ));
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  bool get isConnected => true;
+
+  @override
+  Future<void> start() async {}
+
+  @override
+  Future<void> stop() async {}
+
+  @override
+  Future<IpcResponse> request(String cmd, {Map<String, Object?> args = const {}}) {
+    final id = '${_nextId++}';
+    final req = IpcRequest(id: id, cmd: cmd, args: args);
+    final c = Completer<IpcResponse>();
+    _pending[id] = c;
+    _backendPort.send(req.toJson());
+    return c.future;
+  }
+}
@@ -49,15 +49,21 @@ class ProjectManager extends ChangeNotifier {
    required DaemonBus events,
    required SettingsStore settings,
    required Toolchain toolchain,
+    Future<void> Function(String path)? onProjectOpen,
+    Future<String?> Function(String path)? onValidateProject,
  })  : _log = log,
        _events = events,
        _settings = settings,
-        _toolchain = toolchain;
+        _toolchain = toolchain,
+        _onProjectOpen = onProjectOpen,
+        _onValidateProject = onValidateProject;

  final Logger _log;
  final DaemonBus _events;
  final SettingsStore _settings;
  final Toolchain _toolchain;
+  final Future<void> Function(String path)? _onProjectOpen;
+  final Future<String?> Function(String path)? _onValidateProject;

  Directory? _current;
  Directory? get current => _current;
@@ -81,12 +87,18 @@ class ProjectManager extends ChangeNotifier {
  }

  Future<bool> open(String path) async {
-    final root = await resolveWorkspace(path);
+    final root = await resolveProject(path);
    if (root == null) {
      _log.warn('project', 'not a git repo: $path');
      return false;
    }
    _current = Directory(root);
+
+    // Tell the backend isolate to (re)initialize services for this workspace.
+    if (_onProjectOpen != null) {
+      await _onProjectOpen!(root);
+    }
+
    await _settings.setProjectDir(_current);
    await _settings.set<String>('app.lastProject', root);

@@ -118,7 +130,13 @@ class ProjectManager extends ChangeNotifier {
    notifyListeners();
  }

-  Future<String?> resolveWorkspace(String path) async {
+  Future<String?> resolveProject(String path) async {
+    // Prefer backend validation (runs in the backend isolate, safe from
+    // the merged UI thread). Falls back to direct Process.run for tests
+    // and the CLI binary.
+    if (_onValidateProject != null) {
+      return _onValidateProject!(path);
+    }
    try {
      final r = await Process.run(_toolchain.git, ['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel'], workingDirectory: path, environment: _toolchain.gitEnv);
      if (r.exitCode != 0) return null;
@@ -36,9 +36,27 @@ class SchedulerService {
  Isolate? _isolate;
  ReceivePort? _port;
  StreamSubscription<dynamic>? _sub;
+  StreamSubscription<dynamic>? _projectSub;

+  /// Listen for project lifecycle events. The periodic ticker only runs
+  /// while a project is open — no wasted cycles on the welcome screen.
  void start() {
-    if (_isolate != null) return;
+    _projectSub = _events.on<ProjectOpened>().listen((_) => _startTicker());
+    _events.on<ProjectClosed>().listen((_) => _stopTicker());
+  }
+
+  /// Start the periodic ticker and fire an immediate first cycle so
+  /// all panels refresh without waiting for the first interval.
+  void _startTicker() {
+    _stopTicker();
+
+    // Immediate first tick for all tiers.
+    for (final tier in SchedulerTier.values) {
+      if (tier == SchedulerTier.midnight) continue;
+      _events.emit(SchedulerTick(tier: tier));
+    }
+
+    // Then start the periodic isolate.
    _port = ReceivePort();
    _sub = _port!.listen((msg) {
      if (msg is String) {
@@ -49,6 +67,15 @@ class SchedulerService {
    Isolate.spawn(_isolateEntry, _port!.sendPort).then((iso) => _isolate = iso);
  }

+  void _stopTicker() {
+    _sub?.cancel();
+    _port?.close();
+    _isolate?.kill(priority: Isolate.immediate);
+    _isolate = null;
+    _port = null;
+    _sub = null;
+  }
+
  static void _isolateEntry(SendPort send) {
    int lastDay = DateTime.now().day;
    for (final tier in SchedulerTier.values) {
@@ -67,11 +94,7 @@ class SchedulerService {
  }

  void dispose() {
-    _sub?.cancel();
-    _port?.close();
-    _isolate?.kill(priority: Isolate.immediate);
-    _isolate = null;
-    _port = null;
-    _sub = null;
+    _projectSub?.cancel();
+    _stopTicker();
  }
 }
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ import 'dart:io';

 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';

-import '../../src/pty/env.dart' show expandedPath;
-
 /// Serializable result of tool resolution (crosses isolate boundary).
 class ResolvedPaths {
  const ResolvedPaths({
@@ -129,7 +127,7 @@ class Toolchain extends ChangeNotifier {
  }

  static String? _findOnPath(String name) {
-    for (final dir in expandedPath.split(':')) {
+    for (final dir in _expandedPath().split(':')) {
      if (dir.isEmpty) continue;
      final f = File('$dir/$name');
      if (f.existsSync()) return f.path;
@@ -137,6 +135,23 @@ class Toolchain extends ChangeNotifier {
    return null;
  }

+  /// Build expanded PATH inline — must be self-contained for isolate use.
+  static String _expandedPath() {
+    final base = Platform.environment['PATH'] ?? '';
+    if (!Platform.isMacOS) return base;
+    final home = Platform.environment['HOME'] ?? '';
+    final extras = <String>[
+      if (home.isNotEmpty) '$home/.local/bin',
+      '/opt/homebrew/bin',
+      '/opt/homebrew/sbin',
+      '/usr/local/bin',
+    ];
+    final existing = base.split(':').toSet();
+    final missing = extras.where((p) => !existing.contains(p));
+    if (missing.isEmpty) return base;
+    return [...missing, ...existing].join(':');
+  }
+
  static String? _firstExisting(List<String> candidates) {
    for (final c in candidates) {
      if (File(c).existsSync()) return c;
@@ -144,3 +159,72 @@ class Toolchain extends ChangeNotifier {
    return null;
  }
 }
+
+/// Top-level function for compute/isolate use. Takes a single String
+/// argument (the workspace root) and returns a plain-data result.
+ResolvedPaths resolveToolchainPaths(String workspaceRoot) {
+  final dugite = '$workspaceRoot/native/dugite/bin';
+
+  String? git;
+  Map<String, String>? gitEnv;
+  final dugiteGit = _firstExistingStandalone(['$dugite/git']);
+  if (dugiteGit != null) {
+    git = dugiteGit;
+    final dugiteRoot = File(dugiteGit).parent.parent.path;
+    gitEnv = {
+      'GIT_EXEC_PATH': '$dugiteRoot/libexec/git-core',
+      'GIT_TEMPLATE_DIR': '$dugiteRoot/share/git-core/templates',
+    };
+  } else {
+    git = _findOnPathStandalone('git');
+  }
+
+  return ResolvedPaths(
+    git: git,
+    pql: _findOnPathStandalone('pql'),
+    tmux: _findOnPathStandalone('tmux'),
+    ptyc: _firstExistingStandalone([
+      '$workspaceRoot/ptyc/bin/ptyc',
+      '$workspaceRoot/native/linux-x64/ptyc',
+      '$workspaceRoot/native/macos-arm64/ptyc',
+      '$workspaceRoot/native/macos-x64/ptyc',
+      if (Platform.environment['HOME'] case final home?)
+        '$home/.local/bin/ptyc',
+    ]) ?? _findOnPathStandalone('ptyc'),
+    shell: _findOnPathStandalone(
+        Platform.environment['SHELL']?.split('/').last ?? 'bash'),
+    gitEnv: gitEnv,
+  );
+}
+
+String? _findOnPathStandalone(String name) {
+  for (final dir in _expandedPathStandalone().split(':')) {
+    if (dir.isEmpty) continue;
+    final f = File('$dir/$name');
+    if (f.existsSync()) return f.path;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+String? _firstExistingStandalone(List<String> candidates) {
+  for (final c in candidates) {
+    if (File(c).existsSync()) return c;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+String _expandedPathStandalone() {
+  final base = Platform.environment['PATH'] ?? '';
+  if (!Platform.isMacOS) return base;
+  final home = Platform.environment['HOME'] ?? '';
+  final extras = <String>[
+    if (home.isNotEmpty) '$home/.local/bin',
+    '/opt/homebrew/bin',
+    '/opt/homebrew/sbin',
+    '/usr/local/bin',
+  ];
+  final existing = base.split(':').toSet();
+  final missing = extras.where((p) => !existing.contains(p));
+  if (missing.isEmpty) return base;
+  return [...missing, ...existing].join(':');
+}
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import 'dart:async';
-
 import 'package:clide/app.dart';
 import 'package:clide/test_app.dart';
 import 'package:clide/builtin/canvas/canvas.dart';
@@ -25,24 +23,15 @@ import 'package:clide/builtin/theme_picker/theme_picker.dart';
 import 'package:clide/builtin/tickets/tickets.dart';
 import 'package:clide/builtin/todos/todos.dart';
 import 'package:clide/builtin/welcome/welcome.dart';
-import 'dart:io' show Directory, File, Platform;
+import 'dart:io' show Directory, Platform;

 import 'package:clide/kernel/kernel.dart';
-import 'package:clide/kernel/src/ipc/in_process.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/backend.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/events/bus.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/ipc/isolate_client.dart';
+import 'package:clide/kernel/src/log.dart';
 import 'package:clide/kernel/src/toolchain.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/git/client.dart';
 import 'package:clide/kernel/src/syntax/tree_sitter_ffi.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/daemon/dispatcher.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/daemon/editor_commands.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/daemon/files_commands.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/daemon/git_commands.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/daemon/pane_commands.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/daemon/pql_commands.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/editor/registry.dart' show EditorRegistry;
-import 'package:clide/src/panes/registry.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/ipc/envelope.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/panes/event_sink.dart';
-import 'package:clide/src/pql/client.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart' show rootBundle;
 import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
@@ -64,7 +53,20 @@ Future<void> main() async {
  final appDir = await _resolveAppDir();
  final themes = await _loadBundledThemes();

-  final toolchain = Toolchain();
+  // Spawn the backend isolate — all subprocess and file I/O runs there.
+  // Phase 1: resolve toolchain (binary availability only, no workspace).
+  // Phase 2: openProject() initializes services when a project opens.
+  const workspace = String.fromEnvironment('CLIDE_WORKSPACE');
+  final backend = kIsWeb ? null : await Backend.spawn(
+    hintRoot: workspace.isNotEmpty ? workspace : null,
+    clientFactory: (backendPort) => IsolateClient(
+      log: Logger(),
+      events: DaemonBus(),
+      backendPort: backendPort,
+    ),
+  );
+
+  final toolchain = backend?.toolchain ?? Toolchain();

  final services = await KernelServices.boot(
    appDir: appDir,
@@ -73,22 +75,13 @@ Future<void> main() async {
    preloadNamespaces: _tier0Namespaces,
    autoStartDaemonClient: false,
    toolchain: toolchain,
-    daemonClientFactory: kIsWeb ? null : (log, events) {
-      final dispatcher = DaemonDispatcher();
-      final eventSink = _BusEventSink(events);
-      final filesService = FilesService.atCwd(events: eventSink);
-      final workRoot = filesService.root;
-      final paneRegistry = PaneRegistry(events: eventSink);
-      registerPaneCommands(dispatcher, paneRegistry, toolchain: toolchain);
-      registerFilesCommands(dispatcher, filesService);
-      final editorRegistry = EditorRegistry(events: eventSink, workspaceRoot: workRoot);
-      registerEditorCommands(dispatcher, editorRegistry);
-      final gitClient = GitClient(toolchain: toolchain, workDir: workRoot);
-      registerGitCommands(dispatcher, gitClient, eventSink);
-      final pql = PqlClient(workDir: workRoot, toolchain: toolchain);
-      registerPqlCommands(dispatcher, pql);
-      return InProcessClient(log: log, events: events, dispatcher: dispatcher);
-    },
+    isolateClient: backend?.client,
+    onProjectOpen: backend != null
+        ? (path) => backend.openProject(path)
+        : null,
+    onValidateProject: backend != null
+        ? (path) => backend.validateProject(path)
+        : null,
  );

  // Register every built-in. Tier 0 activates only the four that do
@@ -127,32 +120,7 @@ Future<void> main() async {

  await services.extensions.activateAll();

-  if (!kIsWeb) {
-    await services.project.loadRecents();
-    var opened = await services.project.openLast();
-    if (!opened) {
-      opened = await services.project.open(Directory.current.path);
-    }
-    if (opened) {
-      services.panels.activateTab(Slots.workspace, 'claude.primary');
-    }
-  }
-
  runApp(ClideApp(services: services));
-
-  // Resolve toolchain after the first frame — resolveSymbolicLinksSync()
-  // blocks the merged UI/platform thread on macOS and prevents rendering
-  // if called before runApp.
-  if (!kIsWeb) {
-    // Defer toolchain resolution. On macOS the merged UI/platform thread
-    // cannot tolerate synchronous file I/O or isolate spawning during the
-    // first few frames. A short delay lets Flutter settle first.
-    Future.delayed(const Duration(seconds: 1), () {
-      const workspace = String.fromEnvironment('CLIDE_WORKSPACE');
-      final root = workspace.isNotEmpty ? workspace : Directory.current.path;
-      toolchain.applyResolved(Toolchain.resolvePaths(workspaceRoot: root));
-    });
-  }
 }

 /// Resolve the app-settings directory.
@@ -188,21 +156,6 @@ Future<List<ThemeDefinition>> _loadBundledThemes() async {
 /// registered but not active (the 17 stubs) don't preload — their
 /// catalogs load lazily on activate in later tiers.

-class _BusEventSink implements DaemonEventSink {
-  _BusEventSink(this._bus);
-  final DaemonBus _bus;
-
-  @override
-  void emit(IpcEvent event) {
-    _bus.emit(DaemonEvent(
-      subsystem: event.subsystem,
-      kind: event.kind,
-      data: event.data,
-      ts: DateTime.now(),
-    ));
-  }
-}
-
 const List<String> _tier0Namespaces = [
  'builtin.default-layout',
  'builtin.welcome',
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ class DaemonDispatcher {
    _handlers[cmd] = handler;
  }

+  /// Remove all registered handlers except ping/version.
+  void clear() {
+    _handlers.removeWhere((k, _) => k != 'ping' && k != 'version');
+  }
+
+  bool get isEmpty => _handlers.length <= 2; // only ping + version
+
  Future<IpcResponse> dispatch(IpcRequest req) async {
    final h = _handlers[req.cmd];
    if (h == null) {
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ library;
 import 'dart:async';
 import 'dart:convert';
 import 'dart:io';
+import 'dart:isolate' show Isolate;

+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart' show compute;
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart' show rootBundle;
 import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';

@@ -134,6 +136,44 @@ class _ClideTestAppState extends State<ClideTestApp> {

    _log('gitEnv', '${tc.gitEnv}');
    print('[testmode]');
+
+    // Boot sequence simulation tests
+    print('[testmode] --- boot sequence ---');
+
+    await _testAsync('compute(resolveToolchainPaths)', () async {
+      final paths = await compute(resolveToolchainPaths, workDir);
+      return 'git=${paths.git} pql=${paths.pql}';
+    });
+
+    await _testAsync('Isolate.run(resolveToolchainPaths)', () async {
+      final paths = await Isolate.run(() => resolveToolchainPaths(workDir));
+      return 'git=${paths.git} pql=${paths.pql}';
+    });
+
+    await _testAsync('git rev-parse (project.open sim)', () async {
+      final r = await Process.run(tc.git, ['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel'],
+          workingDirectory: workDir, environment: tc.gitEnv);
+      return 'exit=${r.exitCode} ${(r.stdout as String).trim()}';
+    });
+
+    await _testAsync('sequential git calls', () async {
+      final r1 = await Process.run(tc.git, ['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel'],
+          workingDirectory: workDir, environment: tc.gitEnv);
+      final r2 = await Process.run(tc.git, ['rev-parse', '--abbrev-ref', 'HEAD'],
+          workingDirectory: workDir, environment: tc.gitEnv);
+      return 'root=${(r1.stdout as String).trim()} branch=${(r2.stdout as String).trim()}';
+    });
+
+    await _testAsync('compute + immediate Process.run', () async {
+      final paths = await compute(resolveToolchainPaths, workDir);
+      final tc2 = Toolchain();
+      tc2.applyResolved(paths);
+      final r = await Process.run(tc2.git, ['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel'],
+          workingDirectory: workDir, environment: tc2.gitEnv);
+      return 'exit=${r.exitCode} ${(r.stdout as String).trim()}';
+    });
+
+    print('[testmode]');
  }

  // -- ipc category ---------------------------------------------------------
@@ -279,6 +319,17 @@ class _ClideTestAppState extends State<ClideTestApp> {
    setState(() => _results.add(r));
  }

+  Future<void> _testAsync(String label, Future<String> Function() fn) async {
+    try {
+      final result = await fn().timeout(const Duration(seconds: 10));
+      _addResult(label, true, result);
+    } on TimeoutException {
+      _addResult(label, false, 'TIMEOUT (10s)');
+    } catch (e) {
+      _addResult(label, false, '$e');
+    }
+  }
+
  Future<void> _testExec(String label, String bin, List<String> args, String workDir, {Map<String, String>? env}) async {
    try {
      final r = await Process.run(bin, args, workingDirectory: workDir, environment: env)