diff --git a/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8ad9f182bc65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+---
+name: prototype-openclaw-tui
+description: Build throwaway, fixture-driven OpenClaw Clack or Pi TUI prototypes and compare multiple interactive variants side by side in tmux without running the full application or touching live state.
+user-invocable: true
+disable-model-invocation: true
+---
+
+# Prototype OpenClaw TUI
+
+Use this skill to isolate one OpenClaw terminal surface, render it with the
+real OpenClaw TUI stack, and compare two to six design variants in tmux.
+
+## Rules
+
+- Read the root and scoped `AGENTS.md` files before editing.
+- Keep the prototype beside the target and name it `*.prototype.ts`.
+- When iterating on an existing surface, include its current implementation as
+  the first `baseline` variant with the same fixture data. Only omit the
+  baseline when the user explicitly asks for a greenfield comparison.
+- Use the real OpenClaw renderer, theme, copy, and component where practical.
+- Replace scanning, models, network calls, installs, config writes, SQLite, and
+  other durable effects with deterministic in-memory fixtures.
+- Do not run the full OpenClaw application when the isolated surface is enough.
+- Treat prototype code as throwaway. Do not promote it directly to production.
+- Preserve unrelated and pre-existing worktree changes.
+
+## Choose the renderer
+
+- Wizard, onboarding, configuration, doctor, selection, or progress surface:
+  use `createClackPrompter()` from `src/wizard/clack-prompter.ts`.
+- Agent shell, chat, overlay, editor, selector, or `src/tui/**` component:
+  use `@earendil-works/pi-tui` and the existing OpenClaw component.
+
+Do not invent a shared Clack/Pi abstraction. They are separate prototype
+recipes joined only by the tmux comparison loop.
+
+## Workflow
+
+1. Read the target module, its renderer adapter, callers, and adjacent tests.
+2. Create the smallest executable harness that reaches the target surface.
+3. If the surface already exists, make the no-argument invocation render its
+   current implementation unchanged as `--variant=baseline`.
+4. Add structurally different alternatives behind `--variant=<id>`, for two
+   to six total variants including the baseline.
+5. Give every variant the same fixture data and terminal dimensions.
+6. Run each variant directly in its own tmux pane. Do not pipe interactive TUI
+   output; tmux must provide the PTY.
+7. Iterate on the harness with the launcher's `--refresh` mode. Respawn the
+   panes in the existing session; do not kill the session or reopen the user's
+   terminal.
+8. After the user chooses a direction, carry the decision into production code
+   with normal tests and validation. Remove or separately capture the prototype.
+
+## Launch the comparison grid
+
+Run the bundled launcher with a session name, repository path, then title and
+command pairs:
+
+```bash
+.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/scripts/launch-tmux-grid.sh \
+  --open \
+  app-recommendations-prototype "$PWD" \
+  "A - Baseline" "node --import tsx src/wizard/setup.app-recommendations.prototype.ts --variant=baseline" \
+  "B - Grouped" "node --import tsx src/wizard/setup.app-recommendations.prototype.ts --variant=grouped" \
+  "C - Focused" "node --import tsx src/wizard/setup.app-recommendations.prototype.ts --variant=focused"
+```
+
+After editing the prototype, run the same command with `--refresh` instead of
+`--open`. This preserves the tmux session, attached external terminal, window,
+and first pane while restarting all pane commands and reapplying the grid:
+
+```bash
+.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/scripts/launch-tmux-grid.sh \
+  --refresh \
+  app-recommendations-prototype "$PWD" \
+  "A - Baseline" "node --import tsx src/wizard/setup.app-recommendations.prototype.ts --variant=baseline" \
+  "B - Grouped" "node --import tsx src/wizard/setup.app-recommendations.prototype.ts --variant=grouped" \
+  "C - Focused" "node --import tsx src/wizard/setup.app-recommendations.prototype.ts --variant=focused"
+```
+
+The launcher refuses to replace an existing session unless `--refresh` is
+explicitly provided. `--open` uses the user's
+`.command`-associated terminal app on macOS, Windows Terminal from WSL, or the
+first available Linux launcher from `xdg-terminal-exec`, `$TERMINAL`, and
+`x-terminal-emulator`. If no supported launcher is available, the tmux session
+remains ready at equal detached dimensions and the script exits successfully
+after printing the manual attach command. Attach, then run `--refresh` once to
+adopt the terminal's larger dimensions. The same guidance applies if an
+external terminal opens but does not attach within ten seconds. When invoked
+from a non-interactive `TERM=dumb` environment, the launcher removes its
+inherited `NO_COLOR` only from prototype pane processes so the external
+terminal can detect and render its normal colors. Prefer the external terminal
+over the Codex in-app terminal unless the user asks for the in-app surface.
+Leave the session running for user review unless asked to stop it.
+
+## Handoff
+
+Report:
+
+- the prototype path and exact run command;
+- the tmux session name and attach command;
+- which effects were replaced with fixtures;
+- available variant ids;
+- whether the prototype changed production code (normally no).
diff --git a/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/agents/openai.yaml b/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/agents/openai.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..73d69e889216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/agents/openai.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+interface:
+  display_name: "Prototype OpenClaw TUI"
+  short_description: "Compare isolated OpenClaw TUI variants in tmux"
+  default_prompt: "Use $prototype-openclaw-tui to isolate an OpenClaw Clack or Pi TUI surface with fixture data and compare multiple interactive variants in tmux."
diff --git a/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/scripts/launch-tmux-grid.sh b/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/scripts/launch-tmux-grid.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..0e02d04a677c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/scripts/launch-tmux-grid.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,366 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -Eeuo pipefail
+
+usage() {
+  echo "usage: $0 [--open | --refresh] <session> <cwd> <title> <command> <title> <command> [<title> <command> ...] (2-6 variants)" >&2
+  exit 2
+}
+
+configure_tmux_session() {
+  local session_id=$1
+  local window_id=$2
+
+  tmux set-option -t "$session_id" mouse on
+  tmux set-option -t "$session_id" status-left " TUI PROTOTYPES "
+  tmux set-option -t "$session_id" status-right "Ctrl-b z: zoom"
+  tmux set-window-option -t "$window_id" pane-border-status top
+  tmux set-window-option -t "$window_id" pane-border-format ' #[bold]#{pane_title} #[default]'
+  tmux set-window-option -t "$window_id" allow-rename off
+  tmux set-window-option -t "$window_id" automatic-rename off
+  tmux set-window-option -t "$window_id" remain-on-exit on
+}
+
+prepare_grid_geometry() {
+  local window_id=$1
+  local pane_count=$2
+  local window_width window_height normalized_width normalized_height
+
+  case $pane_count in
+    2)
+      grid_columns=2
+      grid_rows=1
+      ;;
+    3)
+      grid_columns=3
+      grid_rows=1
+      ;;
+    4)
+      grid_columns=2
+      grid_rows=2
+      ;;
+    5)
+      grid_columns=5
+      grid_rows=1
+      ;;
+    6)
+      grid_columns=3
+      grid_rows=2
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "expected 2-6 prototype panes, got: $pane_count" >&2
+      return 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+
+  # Restore the attached session size before normalizing it so repeated
+  # refreshes do not progressively shrink the prototype window.
+  tmux resize-window -A -t "$window_id"
+  read -r window_width window_height < <(
+    tmux display-message -p -t "$window_id" '#{window_width} #{window_height}'
+  )
+  grid_pane_width=$(((window_width - grid_columns + 1) / grid_columns))
+  # pane-border-status=top consumes the outer top line, while row separators
+  # carry the remaining titles. Account for both so pane content heights match.
+  grid_pane_height=$(((window_height - grid_rows) / grid_rows))
+  if ((grid_pane_width < 1 || grid_pane_height < 1)); then
+    echo "terminal is too small for $pane_count equal prototype panes" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+  normalized_width=$((grid_pane_width * grid_columns + grid_columns - 1))
+  normalized_height=$((grid_pane_height * grid_rows + grid_rows))
+
+  tmux resize-window -t "$window_id" -x "$normalized_width" -y "$normalized_height"
+}
+
+build_comparison_grid() {
+  local window_id=$1
+  local first_pane=$2
+  local pane_count=${#pane_commands[@]}
+  local row column index remaining_columns right_width pane_id bottom_index
+  local current_pane first_dimensions dimensions
+  local row_anchors=()
+
+  prepare_grid_geometry "$window_id" "$pane_count"
+  row_anchors[0]=$first_pane
+  if ((grid_rows == 2)); then
+    bottom_index=$grid_columns
+    pane_id=$(tmux split-window -d -v -l "$grid_pane_height" -P -F '#{pane_id}' \
+      -t "$first_pane" -c "$prototype_cwd" \
+      "${pane_command_prefix[@]}" "${pane_commands[bottom_index]}")
+    tmux select-pane -t "$pane_id" -T "${pane_titles[bottom_index]}"
+    row_anchors[1]=$pane_id
+  fi
+
+  for ((row = 0; row < grid_rows; row++)); do
+    current_pane=${row_anchors[row]}
+    for ((column = 1; column < grid_columns; column++)); do
+      index=$((row * grid_columns + column))
+      remaining_columns=$((grid_columns - column))
+      right_width=$((grid_pane_width * remaining_columns + remaining_columns - 1))
+      pane_id=$(tmux split-window -d -h -l "$right_width" -P -F '#{pane_id}' \
+        -t "$current_pane" -c "$prototype_cwd" \
+        "${pane_command_prefix[@]}" "${pane_commands[index]}")
+      tmux select-pane -t "$pane_id" -T "${pane_titles[index]}"
+      current_pane=$pane_id
+    done
+  done
+
+  first_dimensions=""
+  while read -r dimensions; do
+    if [[ -z $first_dimensions ]]; then
+      first_dimensions=$dimensions
+    elif [[ $dimensions != "$first_dimensions" ]]; then
+      echo "tmux could not create equal prototype pane dimensions" >&2
+      return 1
+    fi
+  done < <(tmux list-panes -t "$window_id" -F '#{pane_width}x#{pane_height}')
+}
+
+open_external_terminal() {
+  local session_name=$1
+  local system_name
+  system_name=$(uname -s)
+
+  if [[ $system_name == "Darwin" ]] && command -v open >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    local attach_dir attach_command terminal_app tmux_path
+    attach_dir=$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/openclaw-tui-prototype.XXXXXX")
+    attach_command="$attach_dir/attach.command"
+    printf '#!/usr/bin/env bash\nattach_file=$0\nrm -f -- "$attach_file"\nrmdir -- "$(dirname "$attach_file")" 2>/dev/null || true\nexec tmux attach-session -t %q\n' \
+      "=$session_name" >"$attach_command"
+    chmod +x "$attach_command"
+
+    terminal_app=""
+    if command -v osascript >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      terminal_app=$(osascript -l JavaScript \
+        -e 'function run(argv) { ObjC.import("AppKit"); ObjC.import("Foundation"); const file = $.NSURL.fileURLWithPath(argv[0]); const app = $.NSWorkspace.sharedWorkspace.URLForApplicationToOpenURL(file); return app ? ObjC.unwrap(app.path) : ""; }' \
+        "$attach_command" 2>/dev/null || true)
+    fi
+
+    # Ghostty 1.3 drops the leading slash when LaunchServices opens a .command
+    # file. Use its documented command entry point while preserving the user's
+    # .command association as the source of truth for their terminal choice.
+    if [[ $terminal_app == */Ghostty.app ]]; then
+      tmux_path=$(command -v tmux)
+      if open -n -a "$terminal_app" --args -e \
+        "$tmux_path" attach-session -t "=$session_name"; then
+        rm -f -- "$attach_command"
+        rmdir -- "$attach_dir" 2>/dev/null || true
+        return 0
+      fi
+    fi
+
+    if open "$attach_command"; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+    rm -f -- "$attach_command"
+    rmdir -- "$attach_dir" 2>/dev/null || true
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if [[ $system_name == "Linux" && -n ${WSL_DISTRO_NAME:-} ]] &&
+    command -v wt.exe >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if wt.exe new-tab --title "OpenClaw TUI prototypes" \
+      wsl.exe --distribution "$WSL_DISTRO_NAME" --exec \
+      tmux attach-session -t "=$session_name"; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+  fi
+
+  if [[ $system_name == "Linux" ]]; then
+    if command -v xdg-terminal-exec >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      if xdg-terminal-exec --title="OpenClaw TUI prototypes" \
+        tmux attach-session -t "=$session_name"; then
+        return 0
+      fi
+    fi
+
+    if [[ -n ${TERMINAL:-} ]] && command -v "$TERMINAL" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      if "$TERMINAL" -e tmux attach-session -t "=$session_name"; then
+        return 0
+      fi
+    fi
+
+    if command -v x-terminal-emulator >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      if x-terminal-emulator -e tmux attach-session -t "=$session_name"; then
+        return 0
+      fi
+    fi
+  fi
+
+  return 1
+}
+
+tmux_session_has_client() {
+  local session_id=$1
+  [[ -n $(tmux list-clients -t "$session_id" -F '#{client_name}' 2>/dev/null) ]]
+}
+
+wait_for_tmux_client() {
+  local session_id=$1
+  local attempt=0
+
+  while ((attempt < 100)); do
+    if tmux_session_has_client "$session_id"; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 0.1
+    attempt=$((attempt + 1))
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
+open_external=false
+refresh_session=false
+while [[ ${1:-} == --* ]]; do
+  case $1 in
+    --open)
+      open_external=true
+      ;;
+    --refresh)
+      refresh_session=true
+      ;;
+    *)
+      usage
+      ;;
+  esac
+  shift
+done
+
+if [[ $open_external == true && $refresh_session == true ]]; then
+  echo "--refresh reuses the attached terminal and cannot be combined with --open" >&2
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+if (( $# < 6 || $# > 14 || ($# - 2) % 2 != 0 )); then
+  usage
+fi
+
+session_name=$1
+prototype_cwd=$2
+shift 2
+
+if ! command -v tmux >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "tmux is required" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $prototype_cwd ]]; then
+  echo "working directory does not exist: $prototype_cwd" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+session_exists=false
+if tmux has-session -t "=$session_name" 2>/dev/null; then
+  session_exists=true
+fi
+if [[ $refresh_session == true && $session_exists == false ]]; then
+  echo "tmux session does not exist: $session_name" >&2
+  echo "create it first with --open" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+if [[ $refresh_session == false && $session_exists == true ]]; then
+  echo "tmux session already exists: $session_name" >&2
+  echo "attach with: tmux attach-session -t '=$session_name'" >&2
+  echo "refresh it with: $0 --refresh '$session_name' '$prototype_cwd' ..." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+pane_titles=()
+pane_commands=()
+while (( $# > 0 )); do
+  pane_titles[${#pane_titles[@]}]=$1
+  pane_commands[${#pane_commands[@]}]=$2
+  shift 2
+done
+
+pane_command_prefix=(/bin/sh -c)
+if [[ ${TERM:-} == "dumb" && -n ${NO_COLOR:-} ]]; then
+  pane_command_prefix=(env -u NO_COLOR /bin/sh -c)
+fi
+placeholder_command=(/bin/sh -c 'while :; do sleep 3600; done')
+
+if [[ $refresh_session == true ]]; then
+  session_id=$(tmux display-message -p -t "=$session_name" '#{session_id}')
+  previous_window_id=""
+  while read -r candidate_id candidate_name; do
+    if [[ $candidate_name == prototypes ]]; then
+      previous_window_id=$candidate_id
+      break
+    fi
+  done < <(tmux list-windows -t "$session_id" -F '#{window_id} #{window_name}')
+  if [[ -z $previous_window_id ]]; then
+    echo "tmux session has no prototypes window: $session_name" >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  refresh_window_created=false
+  previous_window_renamed=false
+  cleanup_failed_refresh() {
+    if [[ $previous_window_renamed == true ]]; then
+      tmux rename-window -t "$previous_window_id" prototypes 2>/dev/null || true
+    fi
+    if [[ $refresh_window_created == true ]]; then
+      tmux kill-window -t "$window_id" 2>/dev/null || true
+    fi
+  }
+  trap cleanup_failed_refresh ERR
+
+  first_pane=$(tmux new-window -d -P -F '#{pane_id}' \
+    -t "$session_id:" -n "prototypes-refresh-$$" -c "$prototype_cwd" \
+    "${placeholder_command[@]}")
+  refresh_window_created=true
+  window_id=$(tmux display-message -p -t "$first_pane" '#{window_id}')
+  configure_tmux_session "$session_id" "$window_id"
+
+  tmux respawn-pane -k -t "$first_pane" -c "$prototype_cwd" \
+    "${pane_command_prefix[@]}" "${pane_commands[0]}"
+  tmux select-pane -t "$first_pane" -T "${pane_titles[0]}"
+  build_comparison_grid "$window_id" "$first_pane"
+
+  tmux rename-window -t "$previous_window_id" "prototypes-previous-$$"
+  previous_window_renamed=true
+  tmux rename-window -t "$window_id" prototypes
+  tmux select-window -t "$window_id"
+  tmux kill-window -t "$previous_window_id"
+  previous_window_renamed=false
+  refresh_window_created=false
+  trap - ERR
+else
+  created_session=false
+  cleanup_partial_session() {
+    if [[ $created_session == true ]] && tmux has-session -t "=$session_name" 2>/dev/null; then
+      tmux kill-session -t "=$session_name"
+    fi
+  }
+  trap cleanup_partial_session ERR
+
+  first_pane=$(tmux new-session -d -P -F '#{pane_id}' \
+    -s "$session_name" -n prototypes -c "$prototype_cwd" \
+    "${placeholder_command[@]}")
+  created_session=true
+  session_id=$(tmux display-message -p -t "$first_pane" '#{session_id}')
+  window_id=$(tmux display-message -p -t "$first_pane" '#{window_id}')
+  configure_tmux_session "$session_id" "$window_id"
+  tmux respawn-pane -k -t "$first_pane" -c "$prototype_cwd" \
+    "${pane_command_prefix[@]}" "${pane_commands[0]}"
+  tmux select-pane -t "$first_pane" -T "${pane_titles[0]}"
+  if [[ $open_external == true ]]; then
+    if open_external_terminal "$session_name"; then
+      if ! wait_for_tmux_client "$session_id"; then
+        echo "external terminal opened but did not attach in time; run --refresh after attaching" >&2
+      fi
+    else
+      echo "could not open an external terminal; attach manually with:" >&2
+      printf "  tmux attach-session -t %q\n" "=$session_name" >&2
+    fi
+  fi
+  build_comparison_grid "$window_id" "$first_pane"
+fi
+
+tmux select-pane -t "$first_pane"
+
+trap - ERR
+if [[ $refresh_session == true ]]; then
+  echo "tmux session refreshed: $session_name"
+else
+  echo "tmux session ready: $session_name"
+fi
+echo "attach with: tmux attach-session -t '=$session_name'"
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 259b3b2d0420..b6a2496a3a4e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ USER.md
 !.agents/skills/openclaw-parallels-smoke/**
 !.agents/skills/openclaw-pr-maintainer/
 !.agents/skills/openclaw-pr-maintainer/**
+!.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/
+!.agents/skills/prototype-openclaw-tui/**
 !.agents/skills/openclaw-qa-testing/
 !.agents/skills/openclaw-qa-testing/**
 !.agents/skills/openclaw-refactor-docs/