fix(tui): capture the auto-attach baseline before the exec starts

internal/cli/exec.go

@@ -49,14 +49,6 @@ const (
 	exitInterrupted = 130
 )
 
-// defaultExecMaxTurns is the headless tool-turn budget when no source sets one.
-// An interactive run can be continued past the shared interactive default by the
-// user; an exec run has nobody to unstick it, so evals and automation would
-// truncate mid-task at 80 turns. The ceiling is the already-justified bound —
-// still finite against a genuinely runaway loop, which the loop's empty-turn
-// guard also cuts independently of this budget.
-const defaultExecMaxTurns = config.MaxTurnsCeiling
-
 type execOutputFormat string
 type execInputFormat string
 
@@ -328,7 +320,6 @@ func runExec(args []string, stdout io.Writer, stderr io.Writer, deps appDeps) in
 		}
 		return writeExecProviderError(stdout, stderr, options.outputFormat, "provider_error", err.Error())
 	}
-	resolved.MaxTurns = execTurnBudget(resolved)
 	var displacedMaxTurns int
 	resolved.MaxTurns, displacedMaxTurns = applyProfileTurnBudget(execProfile, options.maxTurns, resolved.MaxTurns)
 	execScope, err := sandbox.NewScope(workspaceRoot, append(append([]string{}, resolved.Sandbox.AdditionalWriteRoots...), options.addDirs...))
@@ -1231,20 +1222,6 @@ func specProfileEffortFilled(effortFilled bool, specReasoningEffort string) bool
 	return effortFilled && strings.TrimSpace(specReasoningEffort) == ""
 }
 
-// execTurnBudget applies the headless default to the resolved turn budget: an
-// interactive run can be continued past the shared default by the user, but an
-// exec run has nobody to unstick it, so an unconfigured budget starts at the
-// documented ceiling instead of truncating mid-task. Explicit sources
-// (--max-turns, mode presets, ZERO_MAX_TURNS, config files) resolve as
-// MaxTurnsSet and pass through; an exec-profile budget still wins via
-// applyProfileTurnBudget afterward.
-func execTurnBudget(resolved config.ResolvedConfig) int {
-	if resolved.MaxTurnsSet {
-		return resolved.MaxTurns
-	}
-	return defaultExecMaxTurns
-}
-
 // applyProfileTurnBudget decides the run's turn budget once config is resolved.
 // The profile displaces the RESOLVED value, not the flag: a pinned budget
 // always wins and the profile backs off entirely, while an env/config budget

internal/cli/exec_test.go

@@ -1975,23 +1975,3 @@ func TestRunExecTopTierDeclineNoSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("provider model = %q, want claude-opus-4.1", providerModels[0])
 	}
 }
-
-func TestExecTurnBudgetDefaultsToCeilingUnlessSet(t *testing.T) {
-	cases := []struct {
-		name     string
-		resolved config.ResolvedConfig
-		want     int
-	}{
-		// A headless run has no user to continue past the shared interactive
-		// default, so an unconfigured budget starts at the ceiling.
-		{"unconfigured default", config.ResolvedConfig{MaxTurns: 80, MaxTurnsSet: false}, config.MaxTurnsCeiling},
-		// A user who configured 80 on purpose (e.g. cost control in CI) keeps 80.
-		{"explicit default value", config.ResolvedConfig{MaxTurns: 80, MaxTurnsSet: true}, 80},
-		{"configured value passes through", config.ResolvedConfig{MaxTurns: 42, MaxTurnsSet: true}, 42},
-	}
-	for _, tc := range cases {
-		if got := execTurnBudget(tc.resolved); got != tc.want {
-			t.Fatalf("%s: execTurnBudget = %d, want %d", tc.name, got, tc.want)
-		}
-	}
-}

internal/config/resolver.go

@@ -166,7 +166,6 @@ func Resolve(options ResolveOptions) (ResolvedConfig, error) {
 		Providers:           providers,
 		Provider:            active,
 		MaxTurns:            cfg.MaxTurns,
-		MaxTurnsSet:         cfg.maxTurnsSet,
 		MCP:                 cfg.MCP,
 		Sandbox:             cfg.Sandbox,
 		Notify:              cfg.Notify,
@@ -235,7 +234,6 @@ func mergeConfig(dst *FileConfig, src FileConfig) {
 	}
 	if src.MaxTurns > 0 {
 		dst.MaxTurns = src.MaxTurns
-		dst.maxTurnsSet = true
 	}
 	for _, provider := range src.Providers {
 		mergeProvider(dst, provider)
@@ -296,7 +294,6 @@ func mergeProjectConfig(dst *FileConfig, src FileConfig) error {
 	}
 	if src.MaxTurns > 0 {
 		dst.MaxTurns = src.MaxTurns
-		dst.maxTurnsSet = true
 	}
 	for _, provider := range src.Providers {
 		candidate := providerMergeCandidate(*dst, provider)
@@ -609,7 +606,6 @@ func applyEnv(cfg *FileConfig, env map[string]string) {
 				n = MaxTurnsCeiling
 			}
 			cfg.MaxTurns = n
-			cfg.maxTurnsSet = true
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -730,7 +726,6 @@ func applyOverrides(cfg *FileConfig, overrides Overrides) {
 	}
 	if overrides.MaxTurns > 0 {
 		cfg.MaxTurns = overrides.MaxTurns
-		cfg.maxTurnsSet = true
 	}
 	if overrides.Sandbox.Enabled != nil {
 		cfg.Sandbox.Enabled = overrides.Sandbox.Enabled

internal/config/resolver_test.go

@@ -2252,45 +2252,3 @@ func TestResolveRejectsInvalidCrossSessionInbound(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("error = %v", err)
 	}
 }
-
-func TestResolveReportsExplicitMaxTurns(t *testing.T) {
-	const providerJSON = `{
-		"activeProvider": "p",
-		"providers": [{"name": "p", "provider_kind": "openai-compatible", "base_url": "https://x.example/v1", "apiKey": "k", "model": "m"}]
-	}`
-	providerWithTurns := strings.Replace(providerJSON, `"activeProvider": "p"`, `"activeProvider": "p", "maxTurns": 40`, 1)
-
-	cases := []struct {
-		name string
-		opts ResolveOptions
-		set  bool
-	}{
-		{"built-in default only", ResolveOptions{
-			Overrides: Overrides{Provider: ProviderProfile{Name: "p", ProviderKind: "openai-compatible", BaseURL: "https://x.example/v1", APIKey: "k", Model: "m"}},
-		}, false},
-		{"user config", ResolveOptions{UserConfigPath: writeConfig(t, providerWithTurns)}, true},
-		{"project config", ResolveOptions{
-			UserConfigPath:    writeConfig(t, providerJSON),
-			ProjectConfigPath: writeConfig(t, `{"maxTurns": 40}`),
-		}, true},
-		{"env", ResolveOptions{
-			Env:       map[string]string{MaxTurnsEnv: "120"},
-			Overrides: Overrides{Provider: ProviderProfile{Name: "p", ProviderKind: "openai-compatible", BaseURL: "https://x.example/v1", APIKey: "k", Model: "m"}},
-		}, true},
-		{"cli override", ResolveOptions{
-			Overrides: Overrides{
-				MaxTurns: 42,
-				Provider: ProviderProfile{Name: "p", ProviderKind: "openai-compatible", BaseURL: "https://x.example/v1", APIKey: "k", Model: "m"},
-			},
-		}, true},
-	}
-	for _, tc := range cases {
-		resolved, err := Resolve(tc.opts)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("%s: Resolve() error = %v", tc.name, err)
-		}
-		if resolved.MaxTurnsSet != tc.set {
-			t.Fatalf("%s: MaxTurnsSet = %v, want %v (MaxTurns=%d)", tc.name, resolved.MaxTurnsSet, tc.set, resolved.MaxTurns)
-		}
-	}
-}

internal/config/types.go

@@ -364,10 +364,6 @@ type FileConfig struct {
 	LocalControl        LocalControlConfig `json:"localControl,omitempty"`
 	STT                 STTConfig          `json:"stt,omitempty"`
 	CrossSessionInbound string             `json:"crossSessionInbound,omitempty"`
-	// maxTurnsSet records that some merge source supplied a positive maxTurns —
-	// i.e. the value is configured, not the built-in default. Unexported like
-	// Tools.deferThresholdSet: merge bookkeeping, not a config key.
-	maxTurnsSet bool
 	// Extra preserves top-level fields written by newer Zero versions or
 	// extensions so a read-modify-write through this version is non-destructive.
 	Extra map[string]json.RawMessage `json:"-"`
@@ -465,15 +461,10 @@ type Overrides struct {
 }
 
 type ResolvedConfig struct {
-	ActiveProvider string
-	Providers      []ProviderProfile
-	Provider       ProviderProfile
-	MaxTurns       int
-	// MaxTurnsSet reports whether MaxTurns came from an explicit source (a
-	// config file, a provider command, ZERO_MAX_TURNS, or CLI overrides) rather
-	// than the built-in default — callers that need a different default can
-	// tell the two apart.
-	MaxTurnsSet         bool
+	ActiveProvider      string
+	Providers           []ProviderProfile
+	Provider            ProviderProfile
+	MaxTurns            int
 	MCP                 MCPConfig
 	Sandbox             SandboxConfig
 	Notify              NotifyConfig

internal/execution/process_manager.go

@@ -224,6 +224,49 @@ func (manager *ProcessManager) Continue(ctx context.Context, input ProcessContin
 	return result, nil
 }
 
+// WriteInput writes bytes to a retained interactive process's stdin without
+// collecting output. Unlike Continue it never drains the pending output
+// buffer, so a concurrent write_stdin poll still sees everything the process
+// emitted; callers that only need the rolling tail use Snapshot instead.
+func (manager *ProcessManager) WriteInput(id int, data []byte) error {
+	process, ok := manager.get(id)
+	if !ok {
+		return ErrProcessNotFound
+	}
+	process.touch()
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if !process.tty || process.stdin == nil {
+		return ErrProcessStdinDisabled
+	}
+	if _, err := process.stdin.Write(data); err != nil && !process.doneClosed() {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ResizeInput updates the PTY window size of a retained interactive process
+// so an attached terminal can fill its viewport. Non-positive dimensions are
+// a no-op; platforms without PTY support report the transport's error.
+func (manager *ProcessManager) ResizeInput(id int, cols, rows int) error {
+	if cols <= 0 || rows <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	process, ok := manager.get(id)
+	if !ok {
+		return ErrProcessNotFound
+	}
+	process.touch()
+	if !process.tty || process.stdin == nil {
+		return ErrProcessStdinDisabled
+	}
+	if err := resizePTY(process.stdin, cols, rows); err != nil && !process.doneClosed() {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func clampInitialProcessWait(wait time.Duration) time.Duration {
 	return min(wait, maxInteractiveYield)
 }

internal/execution/process_manager_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package execution
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
@@ -85,6 +86,126 @@ func TestProcessManagerInterruptsRetainedProcess(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestProcessManagerWriteInputUnknownProcess(t *testing.T) {
+	manager := NewProcessManager(ProcessManagerOptions{})
+	if err := manager.WriteInput(4242, []byte("x")); !errors.Is(err, ErrProcessNotFound) {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteInput unknown id = %v, want ErrProcessNotFound", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessManagerWriteInputRejectsPipeProcess(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("test command uses a POSIX shell")
+	}
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	manager := NewProcessManager(ProcessManagerOptions{})
+	command := exec.Command("/bin/sh", "-c", "sleep 30")
+	started, err := manager.Start(context.Background(), ProcessStart{
+		Prepared: PreparedCommand{Command: command}, Request: processManagerRequest(root, command),
+	}, time.Millisecond)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Start: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer manager.Stop(started.ProcessID)
+	if started.TTY {
+		t.Fatal("pipe process reported a TTY")
+	}
+	if err := manager.WriteInput(started.ProcessID, []byte("x")); !errors.Is(err, ErrProcessStdinDisabled) {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteInput pipe process = %v, want ErrProcessStdinDisabled", err)
+	}
+	if err := manager.WriteInput(started.ProcessID, nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteInput empty data = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessManagerWriteInputDoesNotDrainPendingOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "linux" {
+		t.Skip("PTY sessions are only available on Linux")
+	}
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	manager := NewProcessManager(ProcessManagerOptions{})
+	command := exec.CommandContext(context.Background(), "cat")
+	started, err := manager.Start(context.Background(), ProcessStart{
+		Prepared: PreparedCommand{Command: command}, Request: processManagerRequest(root, command),
+		CommandText: "cat", TTY: true,
+	}, 50*time.Millisecond)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("PTY transport unavailable: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !started.TTY {
+		t.Skip("PTY transport fell back to pipes")
+	}
+	defer manager.Stop(started.ProcessID)
+
+	if err := manager.WriteInput(started.ProcessID, []byte("hello\r")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteInput: %v", err)
+	}
+	// The PTY echoes input back into the output stream, so the rolling recent
+	// tail shows what was typed without anything being drained.
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		snapshot, ok := manager.Snapshot(started.ProcessID)
+		if ok && strings.Contains(snapshot.RecentOutput, "hello") {
+			break
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatalf("recent output never echoed the input: %q", snapshot.RecentOutput)
+		}
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	// WriteInput must not have consumed the pending buffer: a write_stdin-style
+	// Continue still collects the echoed bytes.
+	continued, err := manager.Continue(context.Background(), ProcessContinue{
+		ProcessID: started.ProcessID, Wait: 200 * time.Millisecond,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Continue: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(continued.Output, "hello") {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteInput drained the pending output: continued output = %q", continued.Output)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessManagerResizeInputUnknownProcess(t *testing.T) {
+	manager := NewProcessManager(ProcessManagerOptions{})
+	if err := manager.ResizeInput(4242, 100, 40); !errors.Is(err, ErrProcessNotFound) {
+		t.Fatalf("ResizeInput unknown id = %v, want ErrProcessNotFound", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessManagerResizeInputUpdatesWindowSize(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "linux" {
+		t.Skip("PTY sessions are only available on Linux")
+	}
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	manager := NewProcessManager(ProcessManagerOptions{})
+	command := exec.CommandContext(context.Background(), "/bin/sh", "-c", "sleep 0.3; stty size")
+	started, err := manager.Start(context.Background(), ProcessStart{
+		Prepared: PreparedCommand{Command: command}, Request: processManagerRequest(root, command),
+		CommandText: "stty size", TTY: true,
+	}, time.Millisecond)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("PTY transport unavailable: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !started.TTY {
+		t.Skip("PTY transport fell back to pipes")
+	}
+	defer manager.Stop(started.ProcessID)
+
+	if err := manager.ResizeInput(started.ProcessID, 100, 40); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResizeInput: %v", err)
+	}
+	continued, err := manager.Continue(context.Background(), ProcessContinue{
+		ProcessID: started.ProcessID, Wait: 2 * time.Second,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Continue: %v", err)
+	}
+	if combined := started.Output + continued.Output; !strings.Contains(combined, "40 100") {
+		t.Fatalf("stty size output = %q, want %q", combined, "40 100")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestManagedProcessTerminateSkipsReapedProcess(t *testing.T) {
 	reaped := make(chan struct{})
 	close(reaped)

internal/execution/pty_fallback.go

@@ -11,3 +11,7 @@ import (
 func startPTYProcess(_ *exec.Cmd, _ io.Writer) (io.WriteCloser, func(), error) {
 	return nil, nil, errors.New("pty transport is unavailable on this platform")
 }
+
+func resizePTY(_ io.Writer, _, _ int) error {
+	return errors.New("pty transport is unavailable on this platform")
+}

internal/execution/pty_linux.go

@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func openPTY() (*os.File, *os.File, error) {
 		_ = master.Close()
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
+	// A fresh PTY defaults to a 0x0 window; seed a sane size so the process
+	// never sees zero dimensions before an attached client reports its own.
+	_ = unix.IoctlSetWinsize(masterFD, unix.TIOCSWINSZ, &unix.Winsize{Row: 24, Col: 80})
 	pts, err := unix.IoctlGetInt(masterFD, unix.TIOCGPTN)
 	if err != nil {
 		_ = master.Close()
@@ -80,3 +83,16 @@ func hardenPTYProcess(command *exec.Cmd) {
 		return nil
 	}
 }
+
+// resizePTY reports a new window size to the PTY behind an interactive
+// process's stdin writer, so full-screen attached terminals drive the
+// session's own line wrapping.
+func resizePTY(w io.Writer, cols, rows int) error {
+	file, ok := w.(interface{ Fd() uintptr })
+	if !ok {
+		return errors.New("pty transport is unavailable on this platform")
+	}
+	return unix.IoctlSetWinsize(int(file.Fd()), unix.TIOCSWINSZ, &unix.Winsize{
+		Row: uint16(rows), Col: uint16(cols),
+	})
+}

internal/tools/exec_command.go

@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ type ExecSessionSnapshot = execution.ProcessSnapshot
 
 type ExecSessionController interface {
 	ExecSessions() []ExecSessionSnapshot
+	ExecSession(id int) (ExecSessionSnapshot, bool)
 	StopExecSession(id int) bool
 	StopAllExecSessions() []int
+	WriteExecSessionInput(id int, data []byte) error
+	ResizeExecSession(id int, cols, rows int) error
 }
 
 type execCommandTool struct {
@@ -95,7 +98,7 @@ func NewScopedExecCommandTool(workspaceRoot string, scope PathScope, manager *ex
 					},
 					"justification": {Type: "string", Description: "User-facing approval question for `require_escalated`; omit otherwise."},
 					"prefix_rule":   {Type: "array", Items: &PropertySchema{Type: "string"}, Description: "Reusable approval prefix for this command, only with `sandbox_permissions: \"require_escalated\"`; keep it narrow, for example [\"git\", \"pull\"]."},
-					"tty":           {Type: "boolean", Description: "True allocates a PTY for the command; false or omitted uses plain pipes.", Default: false},
+					"tty":           {Type: "boolean", Description: "True allocates a PTY for the command; false or omitted uses plain pipes. Use true for commands that may prompt for input (sudo, ssh, interactive installers): the user can then type into the session directly. Setuid tools such as sudo also need sandbox_permissions \"require_escalated\", since the sandbox blocks privilege escalation.", Default: false},
 				},
 				Required:             []string{"cmd"},
 				AdditionalProperties: false,
@@ -131,6 +134,10 @@ func (tool execCommandTool) ExecSessions() []ExecSessionSnapshot {
 	return tool.manager.List()
 }
 
+func (tool execCommandTool) ExecSession(id int) (ExecSessionSnapshot, bool) {
+	return tool.manager.Snapshot(id)
+}
+
 func (tool execCommandTool) StopExecSession(id int) bool {
 	return tool.manager.Stop(id)
 }
@@ -139,6 +146,14 @@ func (tool execCommandTool) StopAllExecSessions() []int {
 	return tool.manager.StopAll()
 }
 
+func (tool execCommandTool) WriteExecSessionInput(id int, data []byte) error {
+	return tool.manager.WriteInput(id, data)
+}
+
+func (tool execCommandTool) ResizeExecSession(id int, cols, rows int) error {
+	return tool.manager.ResizeInput(id, cols, rows)
+}
+
 func (tool execCommandTool) run(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any, engine *zeroSandbox.Engine, directBudget bool) Result {
 	commandText, err := execCommandArg(args)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -172,8 +187,14 @@ func (tool execCommandTool) run(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any, engine
 	if issue := detectShellCommandIssueForRuntime(commandText, detectShellRuntime(runtimeGOOS())); issue != nil && !msysGuardBypassed(issue, commandEngine) {
 		return shellIssueBlockResult(*issue)
 	}
-	if interactive := zeroSandbox.DetectInteractiveCommand(commandText, runtimeGOOS()); interactive.Interactive {
-		return interactiveBlockResult(interactive)
+	// tty:true exists exactly to run prompting commands, so the
+	// non-interactive guard steps aside and the PTY path gets the session.
+	if !ttyRequested {
+		if interactive := zeroSandbox.DetectInteractiveCommand(commandText, runtimeGOOS()); interactive.Interactive {
+			result := interactiveBlockResult(interactive)
+			result.Output += "\nRerun with tty:true if the user should interact with it."
+			return result
+		}
 	}
 	absoluteCwd, relativeCwd, err := resolveScopedPath(tool.workspaceRoot, tool.scope, workdir)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -453,7 +474,7 @@ func execToolResultWithBudget(input execToolResultInput, directBudget bool) Resu
 	if input.exited && input.exitCode != 0 && !input.interrupted {
 		status = StatusError
 	}
-	body := formatExecCommandOutput(output, input.sessionID, input.exited, input.exitCode, input.interrupted)
+	body := formatExecCommandOutput(output, input.sessionID, input.exited, input.exitCode, input.interrupted, input.tty)
 	if status == StatusError && input.exited && !input.interrupted {
 		if issue := detectShellOutputIssueForRuntime(output, detectShellRuntime(runtimeGOOS())); issue != nil {
 			meta["shell_issue"] = issue.Kind
@@ -575,7 +596,7 @@ func executionChangeSummaries(changes []execution.Change) []execution.Change {
 	return summaries
 }
 
-func formatExecCommandOutput(output string, sessionID int, exited bool, exitCode int, interrupted bool) string {
+func formatExecCommandOutput(output string, sessionID int, exited bool, exitCode int, interrupted bool, tty bool) string {
 	output = strings.TrimRight(output, "\r\n")
 	parts := []string{}
 	if output != "" {
@@ -593,12 +614,18 @@ func formatExecCommandOutput(output string, sessionID int, exited bool, exitCode
 			parts = append(parts, "interrupted: true")
 		}
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("exit_code: %d", exitCode))
+		if exitCode != 0 && strings.Contains(output, "no new privileges") {
+			parts = append(parts, `Hint: this command needs sandbox_permissions "require_escalated" (the sandbox blocks setuid); retry with it and tty:true if it prompts.`)
+		}
 	} else {
 		if output == "" {
 			parts = append(parts, "Command is still running.")
 		}
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("session_id: %d", sessionID))
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("Use write_stdin with session_id %d and empty chars to poll; send chars \"\\u0003\" to interrupt/stop it.", sessionID))
+		if tty {
+			parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("This session has a terminal and the user can already type into it (it opened in their TUI; /attach %d reopens it). If it is waiting on a password or confirmation, say so in one line, then keep polling with write_stdin (empty chars, yield_time_ms 60000) until it exits. Do not end your turn while it is running, and never ask for the password in chat.", sessionID))
+		}
 	}
 	return strings.Join(parts, "\n")
 }

internal/tools/exec_command_test.go

@@ -894,3 +894,56 @@ func TestTruncateExecOutputPreservesUTF8(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("truncated output is not valid UTF-8: %q", truncated)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestFormatExecCommandOutputTTYAttachHint(t *testing.T) {
+	running := formatExecCommandOutput("", 1007, false, 0, false, true)
+	if !strings.Contains(running, "/attach 1007 reopens it") || !strings.Contains(running, "Do not end your turn while it is running") {
+		t.Fatalf("tty running session should point at /attach and keep-poll guidance: %q", running)
+	}
+	exited := formatExecCommandOutput("", 1007, true, 0, false, true)
+	if strings.Contains(exited, "/attach") {
+		t.Fatalf("exited session should not mention /attach: %q", exited)
+	}
+	pipes := formatExecCommandOutput("", 1007, false, 0, false, false)
+	if strings.Contains(pipes, "/attach") {
+		t.Fatalf("non-tty session should not mention /attach: %q", pipes)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecCommandInteractiveBlockSuggestsTTY(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := NewScopedExecCommandTool(t.TempDir(), nil, newExecSessionManager())
+	result := tool.Run(context.Background(), map[string]any{"cmd": "ssh host.example.com"})
+	if result.Status != StatusError || result.Meta["safety_block"] != "interactive_command" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected interactive safety block, got meta=%#v output=%q", result.Meta, result.Output)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(result.Output, "tty:true") {
+		t.Fatalf("block output should suggest tty:true: %q", result.Output)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecCommandTTYSkipsInteractiveBlock(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := NewScopedExecCommandTool(t.TempDir(), nil, newExecSessionManager())
+	// ssh to a bogus host fails fast on its own; the point is that the
+	// interactive guard must not fire ahead of the tty path.
+	result := tool.Run(context.Background(), map[string]any{
+		"cmd": "ssh host.example.com", "tty": true, "yield_time_ms": 250,
+	})
+	if result.Meta["safety_block"] == "interactive_command" {
+		t.Fatalf("tty:true should not hit the interactive block: %#v", result.Meta)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatExecCommandOutputNoNewPrivilegesHint(t *testing.T) {
+	blocked := formatExecCommandOutput(`sudo: The "no new privileges" flag is set`, 1007, true, 1, false, true)
+	if !strings.Contains(blocked, `sandbox_permissions "require_escalated"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("no_new_privs failure should hint at require_escalated: %q", blocked)
+	}
+	normal := formatExecCommandOutput("some other error", 1007, true, 1, false, true)
+	if strings.Contains(normal, "require_escalated") {
+		t.Fatalf("unrelated failure should not hint at require_escalated: %q", normal)
+	}
+	blockedOK := formatExecCommandOutput(`sudo: The "no new privileges" flag is set`, 1007, true, 0, false, true)
+	if strings.Contains(blockedOK, "require_escalated") {
+		t.Fatalf("zero-exit output should not hint at require_escalated: %q", blockedOK)
+	}
+}

internal/tui/attachment_preview.go

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func (m model) attachmentThumbnailVisible(width int) bool {
 	}
 	if m.pendingPermission != nil || m.pendingAskUser != nil || m.pendingSpecReview != nil ||
 		m.providerWizard != nil || m.mcpAddWizard != nil || m.mcpManager != nil || m.picker != nil ||
-		m.sttKeyPrompt != nil || m.renamePrompt != nil || m.setup.visible || m.helpOverlay || m.leaderHelpOverlay {
+		m.sttKeyPrompt != nil || m.renamePrompt != nil || m.terminalAttach != nil || m.setup.visible || m.helpOverlay || m.leaderHelpOverlay {
 		return false
 	}
 	for index := 0; index < m.attachmentThumbnailSlots(width); index++ {

internal/tui/background_terminals.go

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	tea "charm.land/bubbletea/v2"
+
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/tools"
 )
 
@@ -30,15 +32,21 @@ func (m model) backgroundTerminalSessions() []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot {
 }
 
 func (m model) backgroundTerminalSummary() string {
-	count := len(m.backgroundTerminalSessions())
-	if count == 0 {
+	sessions := m.backgroundTerminalSessions()
+	if len(sessions) == 0 {
 		return ""
 	}
 	plural := ""
-	if count != 1 {
+	if len(sessions) != 1 {
 		plural = "s"
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%d background terminal%s running · /ps to view · /stop to close", count, plural)
+	summary := fmt.Sprintf("%d background terminal%s running · /ps to view · /stop to close", len(sessions), plural)
+	for _, session := range sessions {
+		if session.TTY {
+			return summary + " · /attach to type into it"
+		}
+	}
+	return summary
 }
 
 func (m model) stopAllBackgroundTerminalSessions() []int {
@@ -71,6 +79,12 @@ func (m model) backgroundTerminalsText() string {
 		Rows:  rows,
 	}}
 	card.Actions = []string{"/stop <session_id>", "/stop"}
+	for _, session := range sessions {
+		if session.TTY {
+			card.Actions = append([]string{"/attach <session_id>"}, card.Actions...)
+			break
+		}
+	}
 	return renderCommandCardTranscript(card)
 }
 
@@ -112,6 +126,82 @@ func (m model) stopBackgroundTerminalsText(input string) string {
 	return renderStopBackgroundTerminalsCard([]int{id}, "")
 }
 
+// attachTerminalCommand implements /attach: with an explicit session id it
+// validates and opens the attach overlay; bare, it picks the one interactive
+// session or lists the choices.
+func (m model) attachTerminalCommand(input string) (model, tea.Cmd) {
+	controller, ok := m.execSessionController()
+	if !ok {
+		m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{kind: actionAppendSystem, text: renderCommandCardTranscript(commandCard{
+			Title:   "Background Terminals",
+			Summary: []string{"unavailable"},
+			Sections: []commandCardSection{{
+				Rows: []commandRow{{Text: "exec_command is not registered."}},
+			}},
+		})})
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	// The overlay composites into the main transcript viewport; in a view that
+	// replaces it (subchat, detailed transcript, another overlay) it would
+	// capture keystrokes while invisible, so refuse to open there.
+	if !m.terminalAttachCanOpen() {
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline("Leave the current view first", transientNoticeInfo), nil
+	}
+	input = strings.TrimSpace(input)
+	if input != "" {
+		id, err := strconv.Atoi(input)
+		if err != nil || id <= 0 {
+			return m.appendAttachCard("invalid session id", "Usage: /attach [session_id]"), nil
+		}
+		snapshot, found := controller.ExecSession(id)
+		if !found {
+			return m.appendAttachCard("not found", fmt.Sprintf("No running terminal session %d.", id)), nil
+		}
+		if !snapshot.TTY {
+			return m.appendAttachCard("not interactive", fmt.Sprintf("Session %d has no terminal — it was started without tty:true (or this platform has no PTY), so it can't take input. Use /stop %d to end it.", id, id)), nil
+		}
+		return m.openTerminalAttach(id)
+	}
+	var interactive []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot
+	for _, session := range controller.ExecSessions() {
+		if session.TTY {
+			interactive = append(interactive, session)
+		}
+	}
+	switch len(interactive) {
+	case 0:
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline("No interactive terminal sessions running.", transientNoticeInfo), nil
+	case 1:
+		return m.openTerminalAttach(interactive[0].ID)
+	}
+	rows := make([]commandRow, 0, len(interactive))
+	now := m.now()
+	for _, session := range interactive {
+		rows = append(rows, commandRow{Text: formatBackgroundTerminalRow(session, now)})
+	}
+	m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{kind: actionAppendSystem, text: renderCommandCardTranscript(commandCard{
+		Title:   "Background Terminals",
+		Summary: []string{fmt.Sprintf("%d interactive sessions", len(interactive))},
+		Sections: []commandCardSection{{
+			Title: "running",
+			Rows:  rows,
+		}},
+		Actions: []string{"/attach <session_id>"},
+	})})
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+func (m model) appendAttachCard(summary string, text string) model {
+	m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{kind: actionAppendSystem, text: renderCommandCardTranscript(commandCard{
+		Title:   "Background Terminals",
+		Summary: []string{summary},
+		Sections: []commandCardSection{{
+			Rows: []commandRow{{Text: text}},
+		}},
+	})})
+	return m
+}
+
 func renderStopBackgroundTerminalsCard(stopped []int, note string) string {
 	card := commandCard{Title: "Background Terminals"}
 	if len(stopped) == 0 {

internal/tui/background_terminals_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/execution"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/tools"
 )
 
@@ -13,6 +14,11 @@ type fakeExecSessionTool struct {
 	sessions []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot
 	stopped  []int
 	stopAll  bool
+	writes   [][]byte
+
+	resizeCalls int
+	resizeCols  int
+	resizeRows  int
 }
 
 func (tool *fakeExecSessionTool) Name() string { return tools.ExecCommandToolName }
@@ -35,6 +41,15 @@ func (tool *fakeExecSessionTool) ExecSessions() []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot {
 	return append([]tools.ExecSessionSnapshot(nil), tool.sessions...)
 }
 
+func (tool *fakeExecSessionTool) ExecSession(id int) (tools.ExecSessionSnapshot, bool) {
+	for _, session := range tool.sessions {
+		if session.ID == id {
+			return session, true
+		}
+	}
+	return tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{}, false
+}
+
 func (tool *fakeExecSessionTool) StopExecSession(id int) bool {
 	for _, session := range tool.sessions {
 		if session.ID == id {
@@ -54,6 +69,35 @@ func (tool *fakeExecSessionTool) StopAllExecSessions() []int {
 	return ids
 }
 
+func (tool *fakeExecSessionTool) WriteExecSessionInput(id int, data []byte) error {
+	for _, session := range tool.sessions {
+		if session.ID != id {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !session.TTY {
+			return execution.ErrProcessStdinDisabled
+		}
+		tool.writes = append(tool.writes, append([]byte(nil), data...))
+		return nil
+	}
+	return execution.ErrProcessNotFound
+}
+
+func (tool *fakeExecSessionTool) ResizeExecSession(id int, cols, rows int) error {
+	for _, session := range tool.sessions {
+		if session.ID != id {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !session.TTY {
+			return execution.ErrProcessStdinDisabled
+		}
+		tool.resizeCalls++
+		tool.resizeCols, tool.resizeRows = cols, rows
+		return nil
+	}
+	return execution.ErrProcessNotFound
+}
+
 func modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool *fakeExecSessionTool, now time.Time) model {
 	registry := tools.NewRegistry()
 	registry.Register(tool)
@@ -127,6 +171,103 @@ func TestStopBackgroundTerminalsTextRejectsInvalidSessionID(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestBackgroundTerminalsTextAdvertisesAttachForTTY(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(200, 0)
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(&fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{{
+			ID: 1000, Command: "sudo apt install x", StartedAt: now, Status: "running", TTY: true,
+		}},
+	}, now)
+
+	text := m.backgroundTerminalsText()
+	if !strings.Contains(text, "/attach <session_id>") {
+		t.Fatalf("/ps card should offer /attach for a tty session:\n%s", text)
+	}
+	if summary := m.backgroundTerminalSummary(); !strings.HasSuffix(summary, " · /attach to type into it") {
+		t.Fatalf("summary = %q, want /attach hint", summary)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAttachCommandNeedsController(t *testing.T) {
+	m := model{now: func() time.Time { return time.Unix(100, 0) }}
+	next, _ := m.attachTerminalCommand("7")
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "exec_command is not registered.") {
+		t.Fatalf("transcript = %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAttachCommandExplicitID(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(200, 0)
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: now},
+			{ID: 8, TTY: false, Status: "running", Command: "sleep 30", StartedAt: now},
+		},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, now)
+
+	next, cmd := m.attachTerminalCommand("7")
+	if cmd == nil || next.terminalAttach == nil || next.terminalAttach.sessionID != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected attach to session 7, state=%#v cmd=%v", next.terminalAttach, cmd)
+	}
+
+	next, _ = m.attachTerminalCommand("8")
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Session 8 has no terminal") {
+		t.Fatalf("non-tty session should be refused: %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	next, _ = m.attachTerminalCommand("9")
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "No running terminal session 9.") {
+		t.Fatalf("missing session should be reported: %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	next, _ = m.attachTerminalCommand("abc")
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Usage: /attach [session_id]") {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid id should show usage: %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAttachCommandBarePicksSingleTTY(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(200, 0)
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: now},
+			{ID: 8, TTY: false, Status: "running", Command: "sleep 30", StartedAt: now},
+		},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, now)
+
+	next, _ := m.attachTerminalCommand("")
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil || next.terminalAttach.sessionID != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("bare /attach should pick the only tty session, state=%#v", next.terminalAttach)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAttachCommandBareNoneOrSeveral(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(200, 0)
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(&fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 8, TTY: false, Status: "running", Command: "sleep 30", StartedAt: now},
+		},
+	}, now)
+	next, _ := m.attachTerminalCommand("")
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil || !strings.Contains(next.transientNotice.text, "No interactive terminal sessions running.") {
+		t.Fatalf("bare /attach with no tty sessions: notice=%q state=%#v", next.transientNotice.text, next.terminalAttach)
+	}
+
+	m = modelWithFakeExecSessions(&fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: now},
+			{ID: 9, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "top", StartedAt: now},
+		},
+	}, now)
+	next, _ = m.attachTerminalCommand("")
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("bare /attach with several tty sessions should list, not attach")
+	}
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "/attach <session_id>") || !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "cat") || !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "top") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected a choice card listing both sessions: %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestQuitStopsBackgroundTerminals(t *testing.T) {
 	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
 		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{{ID: 1000, StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0), Status: "running"}},

internal/tui/btw.go

@@ -306,6 +306,10 @@ func btwMessageRunID(msg tea.Msg) (int, bool) {
 		return typed.runID, true
 	case toolCallStreamStartMsg:
 		return typed.runID, true
+	case interactiveExecStartMsg:
+		return typed.runID, true
+	case terminalAutoAttachTickMsg:
+		return typed.runID, true
 	case toolCallStreamDeltaMsg:
 		return typed.runID, true
 	case planUpdateMsg:

internal/tui/commands.go

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const (
 	commandPermissions
 	commandPS
 	commandStop
+	commandAttach
 	commandSandboxSetup
 	commandProvider
 	commandModel
@@ -140,6 +141,13 @@ var commandDefinitions = []commandDefinition{
 		description: "Stop running background terminal sessions.",
 		kind:        commandStop,
 	},
+	{
+		name:        "/attach",
+		usage:       "/attach [session_id]",
+		group:       commandGroupRuntime,
+		description: "Type directly into a running interactive terminal session.",
+		kind:        commandAttach,
+	},
 	{
 		name:        "/sandbox-setup",
 		usage:       "/sandbox-setup",

internal/tui/commands_test.go

@@ -977,6 +977,8 @@ func TestParseBackgroundTerminalCommands(t *testing.T) {
 		{input: "/ps", kind: commandPS, text: ""},
 		{input: "/stop", kind: commandStop, text: ""},
 		{input: "/stop 1000", kind: commandStop, text: "1000"},
+		{input: "/attach", kind: commandAttach, text: ""},
+		{input: "/attach 7", kind: commandAttach, text: "7"},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range cases {
 		got := parseCommand(tc.input)

internal/tui/model.go

@@ -253,6 +253,9 @@ type model struct {
 	composerSelection      composerSelectionState
 	dictation              dictationController
 	sttKeyPrompt           *sttKeyPromptState
+	terminalAttach         *terminalAttachState
+	terminalAutoAttach     *terminalAutoAttachState
+	terminalAttachSeen     map[int]bool
 	// plan holds the sticky plan panel state (steps, expansion, timings)
 	// synced from the update_plan tool. See plan_panel.go.
 	plan            planPanelState
@@ -1245,7 +1248,7 @@ func (m *model) stopPRWatcher() {
 func (m model) noBlockingModal() bool {
 	return m.pendingPermission == nil && m.pendingAskUser == nil && m.pendingSpecReview == nil &&
 		m.providerWizard == nil && m.mcpAddWizard == nil && m.mcpManager == nil && m.picker == nil &&
-		m.sttKeyPrompt == nil && m.renamePrompt == nil
+		m.sttKeyPrompt == nil && m.renamePrompt == nil && m.terminalAttach == nil
 }
 
 func (m model) quit() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
@@ -1447,6 +1450,11 @@ func (m model) updateModel(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m, nil
 	case tea.MouseMsg:
+		// Attached to a live terminal: the overlay owns the viewport, so mouse
+		// events go nowhere rather than hitting transcript selection below.
+		if m.terminalAttach != nil {
+			return m, nil
+		}
 		if m.setup.visible {
 			return m.handleSetupMouse(msg)
 		}
@@ -1533,6 +1541,11 @@ func (m model) updateModel(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m.attachClipboardImage(msg.data, msg.mediaType), nil
 	case tea.PasteMsg:
+		// While attached to a live terminal, a paste forwards verbatim to the
+		// PTY stdin — never into the composer or transcript.
+		if m.terminalAttach != nil {
+			return m.handleTerminalAttachPaste(msg.Content)
+		}
 		// A paste into the cloud-STT key prompt fills the key (the common way to
 		// enter an API key), not the composer.
 		if m.sttKeyPrompt != nil {
@@ -1565,6 +1578,20 @@ func (m model) updateModel(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			return m.handleVoiceCaptureRelease()
 		}
 		return m, nil
+	case terminalAttachTickMsg:
+		return m.refreshTerminalAttach()
+	case interactiveExecStartMsg:
+		if msg.runID != m.activeRunID {
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		m.terminalAutoAttach = &terminalAutoAttachState{
+			runID:    msg.runID,
+			known:    msg.known,
+			deadline: m.now().Add(terminalAutoAttachTimeout),
+		}
+		return m, terminalAutoAttachTickCmd(msg.runID)
+	case terminalAutoAttachTickMsg:
+		return m.pollTerminalAutoAttach(msg)
 	case tea.KeyPressMsg:
 		if m.petDragActive {
 			pixelDrag := m.petPixelDrag
@@ -1604,6 +1631,11 @@ func (m model) updateModel(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		if m.sttKeyPrompt != nil {
 			return m.handleSTTKeyPromptKey(msg)
 		}
+		// Attached to a live terminal session: keystrokes (including Ctrl+C,
+		// which maps to 0x03 for the process) go to the PTY until Esc detaches.
+		if m.terminalAttach != nil {
+			return m.handleTerminalAttachKey(msg)
+		}
 		if m.renamePrompt != nil {
 			return m.handleSessionRenameKey(msg)
 		}
@@ -2457,6 +2489,9 @@ func (m model) updateModel(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		// Size the composer so long input scrolls horizontally with the cursor
 		// visible instead of being clipped invisibly past the right edge.
 		m.input.SetWidth(maxInt(20, chatWidth(msg.Width)-14))
+		// An attached terminal fills the viewport, so the PTY tracks the
+		// live size instead of a fixed default.
+		m = m.resizeAttachedTerminalPTY()
 		// The title bar prints once into native scrollback when the inline
 		// renderer is active. In alt-screen mode it stays pinned inside View.
 		if !m.altScreen && !m.headerPrinted && msg.Width > 0 {
@@ -2632,6 +2667,7 @@ func (m model) updateModel(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		m.runCancel = nil
 		m.activeRunID = 0
+		m.terminalAutoAttach = nil
 		m.plan.frozenAt = m.now() // freeze the plan clock while idle (no run in flight)
 		// A fully successful turn means the task is done. Weaker models often
 		// forget the final update_plan, leaving the panel stuck mid-progress;
@@ -3135,8 +3171,11 @@ func (m model) transcriptView() string {
 	mcpOverlay := m.mcpManagerOverlay(width)
 	pickerOverlay := m.pickerOverlay(width)
 	sttKeyOverlay := m.sttKeyPromptOverlay(width)
+	terminalAttachOverlay := m.terminalAttachOverlay(width)
 	viewportOverlay := ""
 	switch {
+	case terminalAttachOverlay != "":
+		viewportOverlay = terminalAttachOverlay
 	case sttKeyOverlay != "":
 		viewportOverlay = sttKeyOverlay
 	case helpOverlayContent != "":
@@ -3204,6 +3243,13 @@ func (m model) pinnedTitleBar(width int) string {
 
 func (m model) footerView(width int) string {
 	var footer strings.Builder
+	// An attached terminal owns the keyboard and the viewport; the composer is
+	// inert, so like the ask_user and permission modals only the status line
+	// renders. Frame math routes through footerView, so this also shrinks the
+	// footer rect the overlay's row budget is derived from.
+	if m.terminalAttach != nil {
+		return m.footerStatusLine(width)
+	}
 	if m.renamePrompt != nil {
 		footer.WriteString(m.sessionRenamePromptView(width))
 		footer.WriteString("\n")
@@ -4739,6 +4785,8 @@ func (m model) dispatchCommand(command parsedCommand) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case commandStop:
 		m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{kind: actionAppendSystem, text: m.stopBackgroundTerminalsText(command.text)})
 		return m, nil
+	case commandAttach:
+		return m.attachTerminalCommand(command.text)
 	case commandSandboxSetup:
 		return m.startSandboxSetupCommand(command.text)
 	case commandProvider:
@@ -5240,6 +5288,7 @@ func (m model) beginRun(cancel context.CancelFunc) model {
 	}
 	m.runID++
 	m.activeRunID = m.runID
+	m.terminalAutoAttach = nil
 	m.runCancel = cancel
 	m.pending = true
 	// Clear per-run tracking state so stale specialists and plans from the
@@ -5397,6 +5446,7 @@ func (m *model) cancelRun() {
 	m.pending = false
 	m.runCancel = nil
 	m.activeRunID = 0
+	m.terminalAutoAttach = nil
 	m.cancelConfirmActive = false // whatever path got here, there's nothing left to confirm cancelling
 	m.plan.frozenAt = m.now()     // freeze the plan clock while idle (no run in flight)
 	m.pendingPermission = nil
@@ -5760,6 +5810,18 @@ func (m model) runAgentWithOptions(runID int, runCtx context.Context, prompt str
 			// live status. The child session ID is not known yet (it's created
 			// inside the executor), so we use the tool call ID as a temporary
 			// key and reconcile on the result.
+			// A tty exec_command wants the attach overlay: the session registers
+			// with the process manager inside the tool's Run, so the update loop
+			// polls for it on a tick.
+			if call.Name == tools.ExecCommandToolName && execCallWantsTTY(call.Arguments) && m.runtimeMessageSink != nil {
+				known := map[int]bool{}
+				if controller, ok := m.execSessionController(); ok {
+					for _, session := range controller.ExecSessions() {
+						known[session.ID] = true
+					}
+				}
+				m.runtimeMessageSink(interactiveExecStartMsg{runID: runID, known: known})
+			}
 			if call.Name == "Task" {
 				name, desc := parseTaskCallArgs(call.Arguments)
 				if m.runtimeMessageSink != nil {

internal/tui/mouse.go

@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ func (m model) wantsMouseCapture() bool {
 	if m.mouseReleased {
 		return false // user released the mouse for native text selection/copy
 	}
-	return m.altScreen && (m.setupWantsMouseCapture() || m.chatWantsMouseCapture() || m.providerWizard != nil || m.mcpAddWizard != nil || m.mcpManager != nil || m.picker != nil || m.suggestionsActive())
+	return m.altScreen && (m.setupWantsMouseCapture() || m.chatWantsMouseCapture() || m.providerWizard != nil || m.mcpAddWizard != nil || m.mcpManager != nil || m.picker != nil || m.terminalAttach != nil || m.suggestionsActive())
 }
 
 func (m model) setupWantsMouseCapture() bool {

internal/tui/pets.go

@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ func (m model) petLayoutActive() bool {
 func (m model) petObscuringModalActive() bool {
 	return m.pendingAskUser != nil || m.pendingSpecReview != nil || m.providerWizard != nil ||
 		m.mcpAddWizard != nil || m.mcpManager != nil || m.picker != nil ||
-		m.sttKeyPrompt != nil || m.renamePrompt != nil
+		m.sttKeyPrompt != nil || m.renamePrompt != nil || m.terminalAttach != nil
 }
 
 func (m model) petComposerReservedColumns(width int) int {

internal/tui/session_test.go

@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ func TestPromptSubmitPersistsPermissionSessionEvents(t *testing.T) {
 		// not one of the 4 semantic steps this test drives — process them so the
 		// model state advances, but don't count them toward the budget.
 		switch runtimeMsg.(type) {
-		case toolCallStreamStartMsg, toolCallStreamDeltaMsg:
+		case toolCallStreamStartMsg, toolCallStreamDeltaMsg, interactiveExecStartMsg:
 			continue
 		}
 		received++
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ func TestPermissionWaitDoesNotCountTowardTurnElapsed(t *testing.T) {
 		updated, _ = next.Update(runtimeMsg)
 		next = updated.(model)
 		switch runtimeMsg.(type) {
-		case toolCallStreamStartMsg, toolCallStreamDeltaMsg:
+		case toolCallStreamStartMsg, toolCallStreamDeltaMsg, interactiveExecStartMsg:
 			continue
 		case permissionRequestMsg:
 			clockNanos.Store(base.Add(92 * time.Second).UnixNano())

internal/tui/terminal_attach.go

@@ -0,0 +1,446 @@
+package tui
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+	"unicode"
+
+	tea "charm.land/bubbletea/v2"
+	"charm.land/lipgloss/v2"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/x/ansi"
+
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/execution"
+)
+
+// terminalAttachState is the modal "attach to a live terminal" overlay: while
+// it is set, keystrokes are forwarded verbatim to the session's PTY stdin and
+// the overlay shows a rolling tail of its output. The bytes the user types are
+// never inspected, stored, or logged — the PTY's own line discipline (e.g.
+// sudo's no-echo prompt) handles masking.
+type terminalAttachState struct {
+	sessionID      int
+	command        string
+	output         string
+	ptyCols        int
+	ptyRows        int
+	bracketedPaste bool
+}
+
+const terminalAttachTickInterval = 100 * time.Millisecond
+
+type terminalAttachTickMsg struct{}
+
+func terminalAttachTickCmd() tea.Cmd {
+	return tea.Tick(terminalAttachTickInterval, func(time.Time) tea.Msg {
+		return terminalAttachTickMsg{}
+	})
+}
+
+// terminalAutoAttachState watches a run for a brand-new tty exec session so the
+// attach overlay can open on it without the user typing /attach.
+type terminalAutoAttachState struct {
+	runID    int
+	known    map[int]bool
+	deadline time.Time
+}
+
+const terminalAutoAttachTimeout = 60 * time.Second
+
+// interactiveExecStartMsg signals that the active run just invoked exec_command
+// with tty:true; the session registers with the process manager moments later,
+// so the tick polls for it. The baseline session set is captured in OnToolCall,
+// before the tool runs: Program.Send only queues the message, so snapshotting
+// in Update could already see the new session and exclude it as pre-existing.
+type interactiveExecStartMsg struct {
+	runID int
+	known map[int]bool
+}
+
+// The tick carries the run it belongs to so the /btw router can deliver it to
+// the hidden parent model instead of dropping it on the visible side model.
+type terminalAutoAttachTickMsg struct {
+	runID int
+}
+
+func terminalAutoAttachTickCmd(runID int) tea.Cmd {
+	return tea.Tick(terminalAttachTickInterval, func(time.Time) tea.Msg {
+		return terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: runID}
+	})
+}
+
+// execCallWantsTTY reports whether an exec_command tool call's arguments JSON
+// requests a PTY. Malformed JSON means false.
+func execCallWantsTTY(arguments string) bool {
+	var args struct {
+		TTY bool `json:"tty"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(arguments), &args); err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return args.TTY
+}
+
+// openTerminalAttach attaches to an interactive exec session. Callers check
+// TTY eligibility first; a session that is already gone or exited surfaces as a
+// transient notice instead of an empty overlay.
+func (m model) openTerminalAttach(id int) (model, tea.Cmd) {
+	state := &terminalAttachState{sessionID: id}
+	if controller, ok := m.execSessionController(); ok {
+		snapshot, found := controller.ExecSession(id)
+		switch {
+		case !found:
+			return m.showTransientNoticeInline(fmt.Sprintf("Terminal session %d ended.", id), transientNoticeInfo), nil
+		case snapshot.Status != "running":
+			exitCode := 0
+			if snapshot.ExitCode != nil {
+				exitCode = *snapshot.ExitCode
+			}
+			return m.showTransientNoticeInline(fmt.Sprintf("Terminal session %d finished (exit %d).", id, exitCode), transientNoticeInfo), nil
+		default:
+			state.command = snapshot.Command
+			state.output = snapshot.RecentOutput
+			state.bracketedPaste = bracketedPasteMode(snapshot.RecentOutput, false)
+		}
+	}
+	m.terminalAttach = state
+	if m.terminalAttachSeen == nil {
+		m.terminalAttachSeen = map[int]bool{}
+	}
+	m.terminalAttachSeen[id] = true
+	m.clearSuggestions()
+	m = m.resizeAttachedTerminalPTY()
+	return m, terminalAttachTickCmd()
+}
+
+// resizeAttachedTerminalPTY reports the overlay's output area to the PTY so
+// the session lays out at the size it is actually displayed at. Errors are
+// ignored: platforms without PTY support have nothing to resize.
+func (m model) resizeAttachedTerminalPTY() model {
+	state := m.terminalAttach
+	if state == nil {
+		return m
+	}
+	width := chatWidth(m.width)
+	// The box border and inset take 4 cells; one more is the cursor
+	// reservation, matching the width renderTerminalTail draws at.
+	cols := maxInt(1, width-5)
+	rows := m.terminalAttachViewportRows(width)
+	if cols == state.ptyCols && rows == state.ptyRows {
+		return m
+	}
+	controller, ok := m.execSessionController()
+	if !ok {
+		return m
+	}
+	state.ptyCols, state.ptyRows = cols, rows
+	_ = controller.ResizeExecSession(state.sessionID, cols, rows)
+	return m
+}
+
+// refreshTerminalAttach polls the session snapshot for the overlay tail. When
+// the session exits or disappears the overlay closes itself with a notice;
+// detaching also stops the tick because the handler drops it while
+// terminalAttach is nil.
+func (m model) refreshTerminalAttach() (model, tea.Cmd) {
+	state := m.terminalAttach
+	if state == nil {
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	controller, ok := m.execSessionController()
+	if !ok {
+		m.terminalAttach = nil
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	snapshot, found := controller.ExecSession(state.sessionID)
+	if !found {
+		m.terminalAttach = nil
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline(fmt.Sprintf("Terminal session %d ended.", state.sessionID), transientNoticeInfo), nil
+	}
+	state.output = snapshot.RecentOutput
+	state.bracketedPaste = bracketedPasteMode(snapshot.RecentOutput, state.bracketedPaste)
+	if snapshot.Status != "running" {
+		m.terminalAttach = nil
+		exitCode := 0
+		if snapshot.ExitCode != nil {
+			exitCode = *snapshot.ExitCode
+		}
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline(fmt.Sprintf("Terminal session %d finished (exit %d).", state.sessionID, exitCode), transientNoticeInfo), nil
+	}
+	return m, terminalAttachTickCmd()
+}
+
+// pollTerminalAutoAttach runs the auto-attach watcher: while the run is live it
+// looks for a new tty session and opens the overlay on it, giving up at the
+// deadline (a permission prompt can hold the session start for a while).
+func (m model) pollTerminalAutoAttach(msg terminalAutoAttachTickMsg) (model, tea.Cmd) {
+	state := m.terminalAutoAttach
+	if state == nil || msg.runID != state.runID {
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	if m.activeRunID != state.runID || !m.pending || m.now().After(state.deadline) {
+		m.terminalAutoAttach = nil
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	controller, ok := m.execSessionController()
+	if !ok {
+		return m, terminalAutoAttachTickCmd(state.runID)
+	}
+	for _, session := range controller.ExecSessions() {
+		if !session.TTY || session.Status != "running" || state.known[session.ID] || m.terminalAttachSeen[session.ID] {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !m.terminalAttachCanOpen() || m.terminalAttach != nil {
+			// A modal (permission prompt, picker, …) or an existing attach owns
+			// the viewport; keep watching so the overlay opens once it clears.
+			return m, terminalAutoAttachTickCmd(state.runID)
+		}
+		m.terminalAutoAttach = nil
+		return m.openTerminalAttach(session.ID)
+	}
+	return m, terminalAutoAttachTickCmd(state.runID)
+}
+
+// terminalAttachCanOpen reports whether the attach overlay would actually be
+// rendered right now: beyond the modal prompts, the subchat drill-in, file
+// view, setup wizard, help/run-details overlays, the detailed transcript, and
+// active suggestions each replace or cover the viewport it draws into, so
+// opening then would capture keys into an invisible overlay.
+func (m model) terminalAttachCanOpen() bool {
+	return m.noBlockingModalExceptAttach() &&
+		!m.helpOverlay && !m.leaderHelpOverlay && !m.runDetailsOpen &&
+		!m.subchat.active && !m.fileView.active && !m.setup.visible &&
+		!m.transcriptDetailed && !m.suggestionsActive()
+}
+
+// noBlockingModalExceptAttach is noBlockingModal without the attach overlay's
+// own term, for the auto-attach watcher deciding whether another modal owns
+// the viewport.
+func (m model) noBlockingModalExceptAttach() bool {
+	return m.pendingPermission == nil && m.pendingAskUser == nil && m.pendingSpecReview == nil &&
+		m.providerWizard == nil && m.mcpAddWizard == nil && m.mcpManager == nil && m.picker == nil &&
+		m.sttKeyPrompt == nil && m.renamePrompt == nil
+}
+
+// writeTerminalAttachInput forwards bytes to the session stdin. The bytes are
+// written through untouched and never echoed into the transcript, a notice, or
+// the overlay. Errors only update overlay state or a generic notice.
+func (m model) writeTerminalAttachInput(state *terminalAttachState, data []byte) model {
+	controller, ok := m.execSessionController()
+	if !ok {
+		m.terminalAttach = nil
+		return m
+	}
+	err := controller.WriteExecSessionInput(state.sessionID, data)
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, execution.ErrProcessNotFound):
+		m.terminalAttach = nil
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline(fmt.Sprintf("Terminal session %d ended.", state.sessionID), transientNoticeInfo)
+	case errors.Is(err, execution.ErrProcessStdinDisabled):
+		m.terminalAttach = nil
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline(fmt.Sprintf("Terminal session %d no longer accepts input.", state.sessionID), transientNoticeWarning)
+	case err != nil:
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline("Could not send input to session "+strconv.Itoa(state.sessionID)+".", transientNoticeWarning)
+	}
+	return m
+}
+
+// handleTerminalAttachKey owns every keystroke while attached: Esc detaches,
+// anything else maps to PTY bytes and goes to the process (so Ctrl+C reaches
+// it as 0x03 instead of triggering the TUI's own exit confirmation).
+func (m model) handleTerminalAttachKey(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	state := m.terminalAttach
+	if keyIs(msg, tea.KeyEsc) {
+		m.terminalAttach = nil
+		return m.showTransientNoticeInline(
+			fmt.Sprintf("Detached from session %d — it keeps running; /attach %d to return.", state.sessionID, state.sessionID),
+			transientNoticeInfo), nil
+	}
+	data, ok := ptyInputBytes(msg)
+	if !ok {
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	return m.writeTerminalAttachInput(state, data), nil
+}
+
+// handleTerminalAttachPaste forwards a paste to the PTY. Bubble Tea strips
+// the outer terminal's bracketed-paste markers, so when the child enabled
+// bracketed paste itself the framing is re-added around the content.
+func (m model) handleTerminalAttachPaste(content string) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	state := m.terminalAttach
+	if content == "" {
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	data := []byte(content)
+	if state.bracketedPaste {
+		data = append(append([]byte("\x1b[200~"), data...), "\x1b[201~"...)
+	}
+	return m.writeTerminalAttachInput(state, data), nil
+}
+
+// bracketedPasteMode tracks the child's bracketed-paste mode from its output:
+// the last enable/disable sequence wins, and output without either keeps the
+// previous state since RecentOutput is a rolling window that can lose it.
+func bracketedPasteMode(output string, current bool) bool {
+	on := strings.LastIndex(output, "\x1b[?2004h")
+	off := strings.LastIndex(output, "\x1b[?2004l")
+	switch {
+	case on < 0 && off < 0:
+		return current
+	case on > off:
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+// ptyInputBytes maps a keystroke to the byte sequence a terminal would send.
+// Esc is deliberately unmapped: it detaches instead of reaching the process.
+func ptyInputBytes(msg tea.KeyMsg) ([]byte, bool) {
+	key := msg.Key()
+	if keyHasMod(msg, tea.ModCtrl) {
+		if key.Code >= 'a' && key.Code <= 'z' {
+			return []byte{byte(key.Code - 'a' + 1)}, true
+		}
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	if keyAlt(msg) {
+		if text := keyText(msg); text != "" {
+			return append([]byte{0x1b}, text...), true
+		}
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	switch key.Code {
+	case tea.KeyEnter:
+		return []byte("\r"), true
+	case tea.KeyTab:
+		return []byte("\t"), true
+	case tea.KeyBackspace:
+		return []byte{0x7f}, true
+	case tea.KeyDelete:
+		return []byte("\x1b[3~"), true
+	case tea.KeyUp:
+		return []byte("\x1b[A"), true
+	case tea.KeyDown:
+		return []byte("\x1b[B"), true
+	case tea.KeyRight:
+		return []byte("\x1b[C"), true
+	case tea.KeyLeft:
+		return []byte("\x1b[D"), true
+	case tea.KeyHome:
+		return []byte("\x1b[H"), true
+	case tea.KeyEnd:
+		return []byte("\x1b[F"), true
+	case tea.KeyPgUp:
+		return []byte("\x1b[5~"), true
+	case tea.KeyPgDown:
+		return []byte("\x1b[6~"), true
+	}
+	if text := keyText(msg); text != "" {
+		return []byte(text), true
+	}
+	return nil, false
+}
+
+// renderTerminalTail turns raw PTY output into display lines: carriage returns
+// overwrite their line from column 0 (progress-bar style), ANSI sequences are
+// stripped, remaining control runes are dropped (tab expands to spaces), and
+// the result is the last rows lines top-aligned and padded to exactly rows.
+func renderTerminalTail(raw string, width, rows int) []string {
+	if rows < 0 {
+		rows = 0
+	}
+	raw = strings.ReplaceAll(raw, "\r\n", "\n")
+	source := strings.Split(raw, "\n")
+	lines := make([]string, 0, len(source))
+	for _, line := range source {
+		lines = append(lines, sanitizeTerminalLine(line, width))
+	}
+	if len(lines) > rows {
+		lines = lines[len(lines)-rows:]
+	}
+	for len(lines) < rows {
+		lines = append(lines, "")
+	}
+	return lines
+}
+
+func sanitizeTerminalLine(line string, width int) string {
+	var resolved []rune
+	for _, segment := range strings.Split(line, "\r") {
+		runes := []rune(segment)
+		if len(runes) < len(resolved) {
+			runes = append(runes, resolved[len(runes):]...)
+		}
+		resolved = runes
+	}
+	stripped := ansi.Strip(string(resolved))
+	var builder strings.Builder
+	for _, r := range stripped {
+		switch {
+		case r == '\t':
+			builder.WriteString("    ")
+		case unicode.IsControl(r):
+		default:
+			builder.WriteRune(r)
+		}
+	}
+	if width <= 0 {
+		return builder.String()
+	}
+	return fitStyledLine(builder.String(), width)
+}
+
+// terminalAttachViewportRows is the number of output rows the attached
+// terminal gets: the transcript viewport's body height minus the box's two
+// border lines and its footer hint line, so the bordered overlay fills the
+// viewport exactly. The same frame math the compositor uses keeps the two in
+// sync — and footerView already collapses to the status line while attached.
+func (m model) terminalAttachViewportRows(width int) int {
+	if m.height <= 0 {
+		return 10
+	}
+	frame := m.scrollableTranscriptFrame(m.pinnedTitleBar(width), m.footerView(width))
+	return maxInt(6, frame.bodyRect.height-3)
+}
+
+func (m model) terminalAttachOverlay(width int) string {
+	state := m.terminalAttach
+	if state == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	command := compactCommandOutputText(state.command)
+	if command == "" {
+		command = "command"
+	}
+	// styledBlockFillTitle drops the title when it can't fit the top rule, so
+	// truncate the command to whatever the border can carry.
+	titlePrefix := zeroTheme.accent.Render("●") + " Terminal  "
+	titleSuffix := "  [running]"
+	titleBudget := width - 5 - lipgloss.Width(titleSuffix)
+	title := titlePrefix + truncateRunes(command, maxInt(0, titleBudget-lipgloss.Width(titlePrefix))) + titleSuffix
+	innerWidth := maxInt(1, width-4)
+	// Reserve one cell so the cursor never pushes a full line past the edge.
+	tail := renderTerminalTail(state.output, innerWidth-1, m.terminalAttachViewportRows(width))
+	cursor := -1
+	for index := len(tail) - 1; index >= 0; index-- {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(ansi.Strip(tail[index])) != "" {
+			cursor = index
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if cursor < 0 && len(tail) > 0 {
+		cursor = 0
+	}
+	if cursor >= 0 {
+		tail[cursor] += zeroTheme.accent.Render("▌")
+	}
+	footer := fmt.Sprintf("Esc detach · Ctrl+C goes to the process · /stop %d to kill", state.sessionID)
+	lines := make([]string, 0, len(tail)+1)
+	lines = append(lines, tail...)
+	lines = append(lines, zeroTheme.faint.Render(footer))
+	return styledBlockFillTitle(width, title, lines, zeroTheme.lineStrong, lipgloss.NewStyle())
+}

internal/tui/terminal_attach_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,748 @@
+package tui
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	tea "charm.land/bubbletea/v2"
+	"charm.land/lipgloss/v2"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/x/ansi"
+
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/agent"
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/tools"
+)
+
+func attachedModel(t *testing.T) (model, *fakeExecSessionTool) {
+	t.Helper()
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{{
+			ID:           7,
+			TTY:          true,
+			Status:       "running",
+			Command:      "sudo apt install x",
+			RecentOutput: "[sudo] password for me: ",
+			StartedAt:    time.Unix(100, 0),
+		}},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	m.width = 100
+	m.height = 30
+	return m, tool
+}
+
+func TestOpenTerminalAttachSetsState(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _ := attachedModel(t)
+	next, cmd := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+	if cmd == nil {
+		t.Fatal("openTerminalAttach should schedule a refresh tick")
+	}
+	state := next.terminalAttach
+	if state == nil || state.sessionID != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("state = %#v", state)
+	}
+	if state.command != "sudo apt install x" || state.output != "[sudo] password for me: " {
+		t.Fatalf("state did not pick up the snapshot: %#v", state)
+	}
+	if !next.terminalAttachSeen[7] {
+		t.Fatal("openTerminalAttach should mark the session as seen")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachForwardsKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	m, tool := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	for _, msg := range []tea.Msg{testKeyText("s"), testKey(tea.KeyEnter)} {
+		updated, _ := next.Update(msg)
+		next = updated.(model)
+	}
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("typing should stay attached")
+	}
+	if len(tool.writes) != 2 || string(tool.writes[0]) != "s" || string(tool.writes[1]) != "\r" {
+		t.Fatalf("writes = %#v, want [s \\r]", tool.writes)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachForwardsCtrlC(t *testing.T) {
+	m, tool := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	updated, _ := next.Update(testKeyCtrl('c'))
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if len(tool.writes) != 1 || len(tool.writes[0]) != 1 || tool.writes[0][0] != 0x03 {
+		t.Fatalf("writes = %#v, want [0x03]", tool.writes)
+	}
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Ctrl+C detached the session — it should go to the process")
+	}
+	if next.exitConfirmActive {
+		t.Fatal("Ctrl+C armed the exit confirmation while attached")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachForwardsPaste(t *testing.T) {
+	m, tool := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	updated, _ := next.Update(testPaste("pw"))
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("paste should stay attached")
+	}
+	if len(tool.writes) != 1 || string(tool.writes[0]) != "pw" {
+		t.Fatalf("writes = %#v, want [pw]", tool.writes)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachPasteKeepsBracketedFraming(t *testing.T) {
+	m, tool := attachedModel(t)
+	tool.sessions[0].RecentOutput = "\x1b[?2004h[sudo] password for me: "
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	updated, _ := next.Update(testPaste("pw"))
+	next = updated.(model)
+	want := "\x1b[200~pw\x1b[201~"
+	if len(tool.writes) != 1 || string(tool.writes[0]) != want {
+		t.Fatalf("writes = %q, want [%q]", tool.writes, want)
+	}
+
+	// A disable sequence in later output turns framing back off once the
+	// refresh tick observes it.
+	tool.sessions[0].RecentOutput += "\x1b[?2004l"
+	updated, _ = next.Update(terminalAttachTickMsg{})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	_, _ = next.Update(testPaste("pw3"))
+	if last := string(tool.writes[len(tool.writes)-1]); last != "pw3" {
+		t.Fatalf("write after disable = %q, want raw pw3", last)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBracketedPasteMode(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name    string
+		output  string
+		current bool
+		want    bool
+	}{
+		{name: "enable last", output: "\x1b[?2004h", want: true},
+		{name: "disable last", output: "\x1b[?2004l", current: true, want: false},
+		{name: "neither keeps current", output: "plain output", current: true, want: true},
+		{name: "neither stays off", output: "plain output", want: false},
+		{name: "enable after disable", output: "\x1b[?2004ltext\x1b[?2004h", want: true},
+		{name: "disable after enable", output: "\x1b[?2004htext\x1b[?2004l", current: true, want: false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := bracketedPasteMode(tc.output, tc.current); got != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("bracketedPasteMode(%q, %v) = %v, want %v", tc.output, tc.current, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachEscDetaches(t *testing.T) {
+	m, tool := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	updated, _ := next.Update(testKey(tea.KeyEsc))
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Esc should detach")
+	}
+	if len(tool.writes) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Esc forwarded bytes to the process: %#v", tool.writes)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(next.transientNotice.text, "Detached from session 7") {
+		t.Fatalf("notice = %q", next.transientNotice.text)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachTickAutoClosesOnExit(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{{
+			ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "sudo apt install x",
+			StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0),
+		}},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	exitCode := 1
+	tool.sessions[0].Status = "exited"
+	tool.sessions[0].ExitCode = &exitCode
+	updated, _ := next.Update(terminalAttachTickMsg{})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("overlay should close itself when the session exits")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(next.transientNotice.text, "Terminal session 7 finished (exit 1).") {
+		t.Fatalf("notice = %q", next.transientNotice.text)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachTickAutoClosesOnMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{{
+			ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0),
+		}},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	tool.sessions = nil
+	updated, _ := next.Update(terminalAttachTickMsg{})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("overlay should close itself when the session disappears")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(next.transientNotice.text, "Terminal session 7 ended.") {
+		t.Fatalf("notice = %q", next.transientNotice.text)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachOverlay(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _ := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	overlay := next.terminalAttachOverlay(80)
+	for _, want := range []string{"Terminal", "sudo apt install x", "[running]", "[sudo] password for me:", "Esc detach", "/stop 7"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(overlay, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("overlay missing %q:\n%s", want, overlay)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachOverlayFillsViewport(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _ := attachedModel(t)
+	m.width, m.height = 120, 40
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	overlay := next.terminalAttachOverlay(120)
+	lines := strings.Split(overlay, "\n")
+	frame := next.scrollableTranscriptFrame(next.pinnedTitleBar(120), next.footerView(120))
+	if len(lines) != frame.bodyRect.height {
+		t.Fatalf("overlay lines = %d, want viewport body height %d", len(lines), frame.bodyRect.height)
+	}
+	for index, line := range lines {
+		if width := lipgloss.Width(line); width != 120 {
+			t.Fatalf("overlay line %d width = %d, want 120: %q", index, width, line)
+		}
+	}
+	plain := ansi.Strip(overlay)
+	if !strings.Contains(plain, "Terminal") || !strings.Contains(plain, "[running]") {
+		t.Fatalf("overlay missing border title: %q", lines[0])
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(plain, "╭") || !strings.Contains(lines[len(lines)-1], "╰") {
+		t.Fatal("overlay should be a bordered box")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFooterViewWhileAttachedDropsComposer(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _ := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	footer := ansi.Strip(next.footerView(100))
+	if strings.Contains(footer, "describe a task") {
+		t.Fatalf("attached footer still shows the composer: %q", footer)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(footer) == "" {
+		t.Fatal("attached footer should still render the status line")
+	}
+	m.input.SetValue("typed")
+	if plain := ansi.Strip(m.footerView(100)); !strings.Contains(plain, "typed") {
+		t.Fatalf("detached footer lost the composer: %q", plain)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachResizesPTYOnOpenAndResize(t *testing.T) {
+	m, tool := attachedModel(t)
+
+	// A resize while nothing is attached must not reach the controller.
+	if updated, _ := m.Update(tea.WindowSizeMsg{Width: 110, Height: 35}); updated != nil {
+		m = updated.(model)
+	}
+	if tool.resizeCalls != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("WindowSizeMsg while detached resized: %d calls", tool.resizeCalls)
+	}
+
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+	wantCols := chatWidth(m.width) - 5
+	wantRows := next.terminalAttachViewportRows(chatWidth(m.width))
+	if tool.resizeCalls != 1 || tool.resizeCols != wantCols || tool.resizeRows != wantRows {
+		t.Fatalf("open resize = %d calls %dx%d, want 1 call %dx%d", tool.resizeCalls, tool.resizeCols, tool.resizeRows, wantCols, wantRows)
+	}
+
+	updated, _ := next.Update(tea.WindowSizeMsg{Width: 120, Height: 40})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	wantCols, wantRows = 115, next.terminalAttachViewportRows(120)
+	if tool.resizeCalls != 2 || tool.resizeCols != wantCols || tool.resizeRows != wantRows {
+		t.Fatalf("resize = %d calls %dx%d, want 2 calls %dx%d", tool.resizeCalls, tool.resizeCols, tool.resizeRows, wantCols, wantRows)
+	}
+
+	// A no-change resize is not forwarded again.
+	_, _ = next.Update(tea.WindowSizeMsg{Width: 120, Height: 40})
+	if tool.resizeCalls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("unchanged size resized again: %d calls", tool.resizeCalls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecCallWantsTTY(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name string
+		args string
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"tty true", `{"cmd":"x","tty":true}`, true},
+		{"tty false", `{"cmd":"x","tty":false}`, false},
+		{"tty absent", `{"cmd":"x"}`, false},
+		{"garbage", `not json`, false},
+		{"empty", ``, false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := execCallWantsTTY(tc.args); got != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("execCallWantsTTY(%q) = %v, want %v", tc.args, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInteractiveExecStartAutoAttaches(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	m.activeRunID = 3
+	m.pending = true
+
+	updated, cmd := m.Update(interactiveExecStartMsg{runID: 3})
+	next := updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAutoAttach == nil || cmd == nil {
+		t.Fatal("interactiveExecStartMsg should arm the watcher and a tick")
+	}
+
+	tool.sessions = append(tool.sessions, tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+		ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0),
+	})
+	updated, _ = next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil || next.terminalAttach.sessionID != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("auto-attach did not open on the new session: %#v", next.terminalAttach)
+	}
+	if !next.terminalAttachSeen[7] {
+		t.Fatal("session 7 should be marked seen")
+	}
+	if next.terminalAutoAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher should stop once it attached")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAutoAttachSkipsKnownSession(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 5, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "top", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0)},
+		},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	m.activeRunID = 3
+	m.pending = true
+
+	// Session 5 predates the tool call — it is not this call's session.
+	updated, _ := m.Update(interactiveExecStartMsg{runID: 3, known: map[int]bool{5: true}})
+	next := updated.(model)
+	updated, cmd := next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher must not attach to a session that was already running")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil || next.terminalAutoAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher should keep ticking while nothing new appears")
+	}
+
+	tool.sessions = append(tool.sessions, tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+		ID: 6, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(200, 0),
+	})
+	updated, _ = next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil || next.terminalAttach.sessionID != 6 {
+		t.Fatalf("watcher should attach to the new session 6: %#v", next.terminalAttach)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInteractiveExecStartBaselinePredatesSessionRegistration(t *testing.T) {
+	// The baseline is captured when OnToolCall fires, before the tool's Run
+	// registers the session — a snapshot taken at Update time would already
+	// contain it and wrongly exclude it as pre-existing.
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 5, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "top", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0)},
+		},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	m.activeRunID = 3
+	m.pending = true
+
+	msg := interactiveExecStartMsg{runID: 3, known: map[int]bool{5: true}}
+	tool.sessions = append(tool.sessions, tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+		ID: 6, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(200, 0),
+	})
+
+	updated, _ := m.Update(msg)
+	next := updated.(model)
+	updated, _ = next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil || next.terminalAttach.sessionID != 6 {
+		t.Fatalf("watcher should attach to the session registered after the baseline: %#v", next.terminalAttach)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAutoAttachDoesNotReattachSeen(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0)},
+		},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	m.activeRunID = 3
+	m.pending = true
+	m.terminalAttachSeen = map[int]bool{7: true} // user already attached and detached
+
+	updated, _ := m.Update(interactiveExecStartMsg{runID: 3})
+	next := updated.(model)
+	updated, cmd := next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher must not re-open a session the user detached")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher should keep ticking")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAutoAttachTickIgnoresStaleRun(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0)},
+		},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	m.activeRunID = 3
+	m.pending = true
+	m.terminalAutoAttach = &terminalAutoAttachState{
+		runID: 3, known: map[int]bool{}, deadline: m.now().Add(terminalAutoAttachTimeout),
+	}
+
+	updated, cmd := m.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 9})
+	next := updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("a stale tick must not attach")
+	}
+	if next.terminalAutoAttach == nil || cmd != nil {
+		t.Fatal("a stale tick should be dropped without touching the watcher")
+	}
+
+	updated, _ = next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil || next.terminalAttach.sessionID != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("the live tick should still attach: %#v", next.terminalAttach)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBTWRoutesAutoAttachTickToHiddenParent(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{}
+	m := newBTWTestModel(t)
+	registry := tools.NewRegistry()
+	registry.Register(tool)
+	m.registry = registry
+	m.pending = true
+	m.runID = 7
+	m.activeRunID = 7
+
+	side, _ := m.handleBTWCommand("")
+	routed, _, ok := side.routeBTWParentMessage(interactiveExecStartMsg{runID: 7})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("interactiveExecStartMsg was not routed to the parent")
+	}
+	side = routed
+	if side.btw.parent == nil || side.btw.parent.terminalAutoAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher was not armed on the hidden parent")
+	}
+
+	// A tick tagged for the side run must not reach the parent watcher.
+	if routed, _, ok := side.routeBTWParentMessage(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: side.btw.sideRunIDBase}); ok || routed.btw.parent.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("a side-run tick must not reach the parent watcher")
+	}
+
+	tool.sessions = append(tool.sessions, tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+		ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0),
+	})
+	routed, _, ok = side.routeBTWParentMessage(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 7})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("parent-run tick was not routed to the parent")
+	}
+	side = routed
+	if side.btw.parent == nil || side.btw.parent.terminalAttach == nil || side.btw.parent.terminalAttach.sessionID != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("parent overlay did not open: %#v", side.btw.parent)
+	}
+	if side.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("attach state leaked onto the side model")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAutoAttachDefersToOtherViews(t *testing.T) {
+	newWatchingModel := func(t *testing.T) (model, *fakeExecSessionTool) {
+		t.Helper()
+		tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+			sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+				{ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0)},
+			},
+		}
+		m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+		m.activeRunID = 3
+		m.pending = true
+		m.terminalAutoAttach = &terminalAutoAttachState{
+			runID: 3, known: map[int]bool{}, deadline: m.now().Add(terminalAutoAttachTimeout),
+		}
+		return m, tool
+	}
+
+	m, _ := newWatchingModel(t)
+	m.helpOverlay = true
+	updated, cmd := m.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next := updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("overlay must not open over the help overlay")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil || next.terminalAutoAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher should keep ticking while help owns the viewport")
+	}
+	next.helpOverlay = false
+	updated, _ = next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("overlay should open once help closes")
+	}
+
+	m, _ = newWatchingModel(t)
+	m.subchat.active = true
+	updated, cmd = m.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("overlay must not open inside the subchat view")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil || next.terminalAutoAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher should keep ticking while subchat owns the viewport")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAttachCommandRefusesWhileSubchatActive(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _ := attachedModel(t)
+	m.subchat.active = true
+
+	next, _ := m.attachTerminalCommand("7")
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("/attach must not open the overlay inside the subchat view")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(next.transientNotice.text, "Leave the current view first") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected the leave-view notice, got %q", next.transientNotice.text)
+	}
+	next.subchat.active = false
+	next, _ = next.attachTerminalCommand("7")
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("/attach should open once the subchat view is left")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAutoAttachIgnoresWrongRun(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _ := attachedModel(t)
+	m.activeRunID = 3
+	m.pending = true
+
+	updated, cmd := m.Update(interactiveExecStartMsg{runID: 9})
+	next := updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAutoAttach != nil || cmd != nil {
+		t.Fatal("a msg for another run must not arm the watcher")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAutoAttachWaitsForPermissionPrompt(t *testing.T) {
+	tool := &fakeExecSessionTool{
+		sessions: []tools.ExecSessionSnapshot{
+			{ID: 7, TTY: true, Status: "running", Command: "cat", StartedAt: time.Unix(100, 0)},
+		},
+	}
+	m := modelWithFakeExecSessions(tool, time.Unix(200, 0))
+	m.activeRunID = 3
+	m.pending = true
+	m.pendingPermission = &pendingPermissionPrompt{
+		request: agent.PermissionRequest{ToolName: "exec_command"},
+		decide:  func(agent.PermissionDecision) {},
+	}
+
+	// The watcher is armed before the session registers? Session already here —
+	// simplest equivalent: arm it directly and confirm the modal blocks opening.
+	m.terminalAutoAttach = &terminalAutoAttachState{
+		runID: 3, known: map[int]bool{}, deadline: m.now().Add(terminalAutoAttachTimeout),
+	}
+	updated, cmd := m.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next := updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach != nil {
+		t.Fatal("overlay must not open over a permission prompt")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil {
+		t.Fatal("watcher should keep ticking while the modal is up")
+	}
+
+	next.pendingPermission = nil
+	updated, _ = next.Update(terminalAutoAttachTickMsg{runID: 3})
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil || next.terminalAttach.sessionID != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("overlay should open once the modal clears: %#v", next.terminalAttach)
+	}
+}
+
+// The user's keystrokes go to the PTY and nowhere else: not the transcript,
+// not the composer, not a notice.
+func TestTerminalAttachNeverEchoesInput(t *testing.T) {
+	m, tool := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+
+	for _, msg := range []tea.Msg{testKeyText("s"), testKeyText("3"), testKeyText("c"), testKeyText("r"), testKeyText("e"), testKeyText("t"), testPaste("pw")} {
+		updated, _ := next.Update(msg)
+		next = updated.(model)
+	}
+	if len(tool.writes) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("nothing was forwarded")
+	}
+	for _, row := range next.transcript {
+		if strings.Contains(row.text, "s3cret") || strings.Contains(row.text, "pw") {
+			t.Fatalf("typed bytes leaked into transcript row: %q", row.text)
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(next.transientNotice.text, "s3cret") || strings.Contains(next.transientNotice.text, "pw") {
+		t.Fatalf("typed bytes leaked into the notice: %q", next.transientNotice.text)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(next.composerValue(), "s3cret") {
+		t.Fatal("typed bytes leaked into the composer")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTerminalAttachSwallowsMouse(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _ := attachedModel(t)
+	next, _ := m.openTerminalAttach(7)
+	updated, _ := next.Update(testMouseClick(tea.MouseLeft, 5, 5))
+	next = updated.(model)
+	if next.terminalAttach == nil {
+		t.Fatal("mouse click detached the session")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPtyInputBytes(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name string
+		msg  tea.KeyMsg
+		want string
+		ok   bool
+	}{
+		{"printable", testKeyText("a"), "a", true},
+		{"space", testKey(tea.KeySpace), " ", true},
+		{"enter", testKey(tea.KeyEnter), "\r", true},
+		{"tab", testKey(tea.KeyTab), "\t", true},
+		{"backspace", testKey(tea.KeyBackspace), "\x7f", true},
+		{"delete", testKey(tea.KeyDelete), "\x1b[3~", true},
+		{"up", testKey(tea.KeyUp), "\x1b[A", true},
+		{"down", testKey(tea.KeyDown), "\x1b[B", true},
+		{"right", testKey(tea.KeyRight), "\x1b[C", true},
+		{"left", testKey(tea.KeyLeft), "\x1b[D", true},
+		{"home", testKey(tea.KeyHome), "\x1b[H", true},
+		{"end", testKey(tea.KeyEnd), "\x1b[F", true},
+		{"pgup", testKey(tea.KeyPgUp), "\x1b[5~", true},
+		{"pgdn", testKey(tea.KeyPgDown), "\x1b[6~", true},
+		{"ctrl+c", testKeyCtrl('c'), "\x03", true},
+		{"ctrl+d", testKeyCtrl('d'), "\x04", true},
+		{"ctrl+a", testKeyCtrl('a'), "\x01", true},
+		{"alt+x", testKeyAltText("x"), "\x1bx", true},
+		{"esc unmapped", testKey(tea.KeyEsc), "", false},
+		{"ctrl+1 unmapped", testKeyCtrl('1'), "", false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, ok := ptyInputBytes(tc.msg)
+			if ok != tc.ok || string(got) != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("ptyInputBytes = %q, %v; want %q, %v", got, ok, tc.want, tc.ok)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderTerminalTail(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name  string
+		raw   string
+		width int
+		rows  int
+		want  []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "tail and padding",
+			raw:   "one\ntwo\nthree",
+			width: 10, rows: 4,
+			want: []string{"one", "two", "three", ""},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "keeps last rows",
+			raw:   "a\nb\nc\nd",
+			width: 10, rows: 2,
+			want: []string{"c", "d"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "carriage return overwrites",
+			raw:   "progress 10%\rprogress 90%",
+			width: 20, rows: 1,
+			want: []string{"progress 90%"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "shorter overwrite keeps remainder",
+			raw:   "downloading...\r100%",
+			width: 20, rows: 1,
+			want: []string{"100%loading..."},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "crlf normalized",
+			raw:   "line1\r\nline2",
+			width: 10, rows: 2,
+			want: []string{"line1", "line2"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "ansi stripped",
+			raw:   "\x1b[31mred\x1b[0m plain",
+			width: 20, rows: 1,
+			want: []string{"red plain"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "control runes dropped, tab expanded",
+			raw:   "a\x07b\tc",
+			width: 20, rows: 1,
+			want: []string{"ab    c"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "width truncation",
+			raw:   "abcdefghijklmnop",
+			width: 5, rows: 1,
+			want: []string{"abcd…"},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := renderTerminalTail(tc.raw, tc.width, tc.rows)
+			if len(got) != len(tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("renderTerminalTail = %#v, want %#v", got, tc.want)
+			}
+			for i := range got {
+				if got[i] != tc.want[i] {
+					t.Fatalf("renderTerminalTail[%d] = %q, want %q (all: %#v)", i, got[i], tc.want[i], got)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/tui/transcript_selection.go

@@ -1160,7 +1160,7 @@ func (m model) transcriptHitTestSource() (header string, items []transcriptBodyI
 // outright — a modal/overlay is up, or there's no alt-screen viewport at all.
 func (m model) transcriptHitTestBlocked() bool {
 	return !m.altScreen || m.height <= 0 || m.setup.visible || m.providerWizard != nil || m.mcpAddWizard != nil ||
-		m.mcpManager != nil || m.picker != nil || m.renamePrompt != nil || m.suggestionsActive()
+		m.mcpManager != nil || m.picker != nil || m.renamePrompt != nil || m.terminalAttach != nil || m.suggestionsActive()
 }
 
 // transcriptHitTestLayout computes the frame/window/layout mouse hit-testing needs,