@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@
 - **Menu bar** (`menubar/main.swift`): `×1 ✓3 ◐2` in herdr's colors; the
   menu lists every agent in priority order, oldest waiting first. Clicking a
   row jumps to that pane.
+- **Floating panel** (`menubar/panel.swift`): an always-on-top HUD that never
+  takes focus, on every Space and over full-screen apps. It lists the agents
+  waiting for you (blocked, done) and summarizes the rest
+  (`◐ 2 working · ○ 15 idle`); click a row to jump there, drag to move it.
+  **⌃⌥⌘E** shows or hides it from anywhere. Modes (menu bar, "Show Panel
+  Automatically"): *When agents are waiting* (default; appears when
+  something is blocked or done, hides when you have attended to everything),
+  *Always*, *Off*. Hiding it with the shortcut lasts until another agent
+  starts waiting. Change the shortcut in `~/.config/dingger/config.toml`
+  (menu bar, Settings…); it reloads when you save.
 - **tmux status line** (`packaging/tmux/dingger.tmux`): the same summary after
   the clock. Clicking it jumps to the top waiting agent (the menu's top row),
   skipping the window you already look at.
@@ -71,8 +81,8 @@ ```bash
 cargo build --release
 cp target/release/dingger ~/.local/bin/dingger      # do not strip: invalidates
 codesign --force --sign - ~/.local/bin/dingger      # the signature, macOS kills it
-swiftc -O -o target/dingger-menu menubar/main.swift # menu bar, bundled as
-                                                    # ~/Applications/dingger.app
+swiftc -O -o target/dingger-menu menubar/*.swift    # menu bar + panel, bundled
+                                                    # as ~/Applications/dingger.app
 ```
 
 - launchd agents (start at login, restart on exit):
@@ -94,7 +104,8 @@ `tests/e2e.sh` starts its own tmux server, its own daemon (polling only every
 30 s, so everything asserted must arrive through events), fake agents driven
 over the hook protocol, and a real tmux client whose focus it controls. It
 asserts every status transition, attendance by navigation, both click paths
-(including the real menu bar binary), the status-line segment, latency with a
+(including the real menu bar binary), the floating panel's visibility rules
+and content, the status-line segment, latency with a
 deliberately slow notifier, and state surviving a daemon restart. It never
 touches your tmux server.
 
@@ -102,6 +113,7 @@ ## Layout
 
 - `crates/detect-core`: the detection engine and 22 manifests, from herdr.
 - `crates/dinggerd`: the `dingger` binary (watcher, hooks, focus, CLI).
-- `menubar/`: the menu bar app.
+- `menubar/`: the menu bar app (`model.swift` rows and colors, `panel.swift`
+  the floating panel, `hotkey.swift` the global shortcut and settings).
 - `packaging/`: launchd agents and the tmux snippet.
 - `tests/e2e.sh`: the end-to-end suite.

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+// The global shortcut and the settings file it comes from.
+//
+// The shortcut uses Carbon's RegisterEventHotKey: no Accessibility or Input
+// Monitoring permission, the key is consumed, and a clash with another app
+// is reported instead of failing silently.
+
+import AppKit
+import Carbon.HIToolbox
+
+// MARK: settings file
+
+struct Settings: Equatable {
+    var hotkey = "ctrl+opt+cmd+e"
+
+    static var directory: String {
+        environment["DINGGER_CONFIG_DIR"] ?? (NSHomeDirectory() + "/.config/dingger")
+    }
+    static var path: String { directory + "/config.toml" }
+
+    static let template = """
+        # dingger settings. The menu bar app reloads this file when you save it.
+
+        [panel]
+        # Global shortcut that shows or hides the floating panel.
+        # Modifiers: ctrl, opt, cmd, shift. Keys: a-z, 0-9, f1-f12, space.
+        hotkey = "ctrl+opt+cmd+e"
+
+        """
+
+    /// Create the file with defaults and comments if it does not exist yet.
+    static func ensureFile() {
+        guard !FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: path) else { return }
+        try? FileManager.default.createDirectory(atPath: directory, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+        try? template.write(toFile: path, atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+    }
+
+    /// Read `key = "value"` lines; unknown keys are ignored.
+    static func load() -> Settings {
+        var settings = Settings()
+        guard let text = try? String(contentsOfFile: path, encoding: .utf8) else { return settings }
+        for line in text.split(separator: "\n") {
+            let parts = line.split(separator: "=", maxSplits: 1).map {
+                $0.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces)
+            }
+            guard parts.count == 2, !parts[0].hasPrefix("#") else { continue }
+            let value = parts[1].trimmingCharacters(in: CharacterSet(charactersIn: "\""))
+            if parts[0] == "hotkey" { settings.hotkey = value }
+        }
+        return settings
+    }
+
+    static func modified() -> Date? {
+        (try? FileManager.default.attributesOfItem(atPath: path))?[.modificationDate] as? Date
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: shortcut parsing
+
+struct Hotkey: Equatable {
+    let keyCode: UInt32
+    let carbonModifiers: UInt32
+    let modifierFlags: NSEvent.ModifierFlags
+    let key: String
+
+    /// How macOS writes the shortcut, e.g. "⌃⌥⌘E".
+    var display: String {
+        var text = ""
+        if modifierFlags.contains(.control) { text += "⌃" }
+        if modifierFlags.contains(.option) { text += "⌥" }
+        if modifierFlags.contains(.shift) { text += "⇧" }
+        if modifierFlags.contains(.command) { text += "⌘" }
+        return text + key.uppercased()
+    }
+
+    private static let keyCodes: [String: Int] = {
+        var codes: [String: Int] = [
+            "a": kVK_ANSI_A, "b": kVK_ANSI_B, "c": kVK_ANSI_C, "d": kVK_ANSI_D, "e": kVK_ANSI_E,
+            "f": kVK_ANSI_F, "g": kVK_ANSI_G, "h": kVK_ANSI_H, "i": kVK_ANSI_I, "j": kVK_ANSI_J,
+            "k": kVK_ANSI_K, "l": kVK_ANSI_L, "m": kVK_ANSI_M, "n": kVK_ANSI_N, "o": kVK_ANSI_O,
+            "p": kVK_ANSI_P, "q": kVK_ANSI_Q, "r": kVK_ANSI_R, "s": kVK_ANSI_S, "t": kVK_ANSI_T,
+            "u": kVK_ANSI_U, "v": kVK_ANSI_V, "w": kVK_ANSI_W, "x": kVK_ANSI_X, "y": kVK_ANSI_Y,
+            "z": kVK_ANSI_Z,
+            "0": kVK_ANSI_0, "1": kVK_ANSI_1, "2": kVK_ANSI_2, "3": kVK_ANSI_3, "4": kVK_ANSI_4,
+            "5": kVK_ANSI_5, "6": kVK_ANSI_6, "7": kVK_ANSI_7, "8": kVK_ANSI_8, "9": kVK_ANSI_9,
+            "space": kVK_Space,
+        ]
+        let functionKeys = [kVK_F1, kVK_F2, kVK_F3, kVK_F4, kVK_F5, kVK_F6,
+                            kVK_F7, kVK_F8, kVK_F9, kVK_F10, kVK_F11, kVK_F12]
+        for (index, code) in functionKeys.enumerated() { codes["f\(index + 1)"] = code }
+        return codes
+    }()
+
+    /// Parse "ctrl+opt+cmd+e". Requires at least one modifier and one key.
+    static func parse(_ spec: String) -> Hotkey? {
+        var carbon: UInt32 = 0
+        var flags: NSEvent.ModifierFlags = []
+        var key: String?
+        for part in spec.lowercased().split(separator: "+").map({ $0.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces) }) {
+            switch part {
+            case "ctrl", "control": carbon |= UInt32(controlKey); flags.insert(.control)
+            case "opt", "option", "alt": carbon |= UInt32(optionKey); flags.insert(.option)
+            case "cmd", "command": carbon |= UInt32(cmdKey); flags.insert(.command)
+            case "shift": carbon |= UInt32(shiftKey); flags.insert(.shift)
+            default:
+                guard key == nil, keyCodes[part] != nil else { return nil }
+                key = part
+            }
+        }
+        guard let key, let code = keyCodes[key], carbon != 0 else { return nil }
+        return Hotkey(keyCode: UInt32(code), carbonModifiers: carbon, modifierFlags: flags, key: key)
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: registration
+
+/// One process-wide global shortcut.
+enum GlobalHotkey {
+    private static var reference: EventHotKeyRef?
+    private static var action: (() -> Void)?
+    private static var handlerInstalled = false
+
+    /// Register `hotkey`, replacing any previous one. Returns false if another
+    /// app already owns the combination.
+    static func register(_ hotkey: Hotkey, action newAction: @escaping () -> Void) -> Bool {
+        unregister()
+        action = newAction
+        if !handlerInstalled {
+            var spec = EventTypeSpec(eventClass: OSType(kEventClassKeyboard),
+                                     eventKind: UInt32(kEventHotKeyPressed))
+            InstallEventHandler(GetApplicationEventTarget(), { _, _, _ in
+                DispatchQueue.main.async { GlobalHotkey.action?() }
+                return noErr
+            }, 1, &spec, nil, nil)
+            handlerInstalled = true
+        }
+        let id = EventHotKeyID(signature: OSType(0x4447_4752), id: 1) // "DGGR"
+        let status = RegisterEventHotKey(hotkey.keyCode, hotkey.carbonModifiers, id,
+                                         GetApplicationEventTarget(), 0, &reference)
+        return status == noErr
+    }
+
+    static func unregister() {
+        if let reference { UnregisterEventHotKey(reference) }
+        reference = nil
+    }
+}

@@ -1,250 +1,130 @@
-// dingger menu bar: herdr's agent panel as a macOS status item.
+// dingger menu bar: herdr's agent panel as a macOS status item, plus a
+// floating always-on-top panel (panel.swift) toggled by a global shortcut
+// (hotkey.swift). Rows and colors come from model.swift.
 //
-// Reads the pane options the dingger daemon writes (@agent, @agent_state,
-// @dingger_since) and renders herdr's Symbols style with herdr's palette:
+// Reads the pane options the dingger daemon writes and renders herdr's
+// Symbols style with herdr's palette:
 //
 //   blocked × red   done ✓ teal   working ◐ yellow   idle ○ green
 //
-// in herdr's priority order (blocked > done > working > idle), oldest
-// waiting first. Clicking a row runs `dingger focus --pane`, the same tested
-// code path as the tmux status-line click.
+// in herdr's priority order, oldest waiting first. Clicking a row runs
+// `dingger focus --pane`, the same tested code path as the tmux status-line
+// click.
 //
 // Debug flags (used by tests/e2e.sh):
 //   --print          print the title and rows the menu would show, then exit
 //                    (rows: "<symbol> <status>\t<title>\t<subtitle>")
+//   --print-panel    print what the floating panel would show, then exit
 //   --click <pane>   perform a row click for <pane>, then exit
+//   --selftest       check the panel visibility rules, then exit
 
 import AppKit
 
-// MARK: herdr's palette (catppuccin mocha on dark, latte on light)
-
-func herdrColor(dark: (CGFloat, CGFloat, CGFloat), light: (CGFloat, CGFloat, CGFloat)) -> NSColor {
-    NSColor(name: nil) { appearance in
-        let isDark = appearance.bestMatch(from: [.darkAqua, .aqua]) == .darkAqua
-        let (r, g, b) = isDark ? dark : light
-        return NSColor(srgbRed: r / 255, green: g / 255, blue: b / 255, alpha: 1)
-    }
+func log(_ message: String) {
+    FileHandle.standardError.write(Data("\(Date()) \(message)\n".utf8))
 }
 
-let herdrRed = herdrColor(dark: (243, 139, 168), light: (210, 15, 57))
-let herdrTeal = herdrColor(dark: (148, 226, 213), light: (23, 146, 153))
-let herdrYellow = herdrColor(dark: (249, 226, 175), light: (223, 142, 29))
-let herdrGreen = herdrColor(dark: (166, 227, 161), light: (64, 160, 43))
-let herdrGray = herdrColor(dark: (108, 112, 134), light: (156, 160, 176))
-
-// MARK: herdr's status vocabulary
-
-enum Status: String {
-    case blocked, done, working, idle, unknown
+final class Menubar: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSMenuDelegate {
+    private let item = NSStatusBar.system.statusItem(withLength: NSStatusItem.variableLength)
+    private let menu = NSMenu()
+    private var panel: PanelController!
+    private var visibility = PanelVisibility(
+        mode: PanelMode(rawValue: UserDefaults.standard.string(forKey: "panelMode") ?? "") ?? .auto)
+    private var settings = Settings()
+    private var settingsModified: Date?
+    private var hotkey: Hotkey?
+    private var hotkeyRegistered = false
+    private var rows: [Row] = []
 
-    var symbol: String {
-        switch self {
-        case .blocked: return "×"
-        case .done: return "✓"
-        case .working: return "◐"
-        case .idle: return "○"
-        case .unknown: return "·"
-        }
+    func applicationDidFinishLaunching(_: Notification) {
+        menu.delegate = self
+        item.menu = menu
+        panel = PanelController { [weak self] paneId in self?.jump(to: paneId) }
+        Settings.ensureFile()
+        reloadSettings()
+        refresh()
+        let timer = Timer(timeInterval: 1.0, repeats: true) { [weak self] _ in self?.refresh() }
+        RunLoop.main.add(timer, forMode: .common)
     }
 
-    var color: NSColor {
-        switch self {
-        case .blocked: return herdrRed
-        case .done: return herdrTeal
-        case .working: return herdrYellow
-        case .idle: return herdrGreen
-        case .unknown: return herdrGray
-        }
-    }
+    // MARK: settings and shortcut
 
-    var priority: Int {
-        switch self {
-        case .blocked: return 4
-        case .done: return 3
-        case .working: return 2
-        case .idle: return 1
-        case .unknown: return 0
+    private func reloadSettings() {
+        settingsModified = Settings.modified()
+        settings = Settings.load()
+        guard let parsed = Hotkey.parse(settings.hotkey) else {
+            GlobalHotkey.unregister()
+            hotkey = nil
+            hotkeyRegistered = false
+            log("settings: invalid hotkey \"\(settings.hotkey)\"")
+            return
         }
+        hotkey = parsed
+        hotkeyRegistered = GlobalHotkey.register(parsed) { [weak self] in self?.togglePanel() }
+        log("settings: hotkey \(parsed.display) \(hotkeyRegistered ? "registered" : "in use by another app")")
     }
-}
 
-struct Row {
-    let paneId: String
-    let agent: String
-    /// What the agent works on (its session/task name), if it has one.
-    let name: String
-    let status: Status
-    let session: String
-    let window: String
-    let since: Int
+    // MARK: refresh
 
-    var location: String { "\(session) · \(window)" }
-    var waiting: Bool { status == .blocked || status == .done }
+    private func refresh() {
+        if Settings.modified() != settingsModified { reloadSettings() }
+        rows = fetchRows()
+        item.button?.attributedTitle = title(for: rows)
+        var tip: [String] = []
+        for status in [Status.blocked, .done, .working, .idle] {
+            let count = rows.filter { $0.status == status }.count
+            if count > 0 { tip.append("\(count) \(status.rawValue)") }
+        }
+        let tipText = tip.isEmpty ? "No agents" : tip.joined(separator: " · ")
+        item.button?.toolTip = tipText
+        item.button?.setAccessibilityLabel("dingger, " + tipText)
 
-    /// The row's title text: the agent's name, or its harness when unnamed.
-    var label: String {
-        guard !name.isEmpty else { return agent }
-        return name.count > 80 ? String(name.prefix(79)) + "…" : name
+        visibility.update(waiting: Set(rows.filter(\.waiting).map(\.paneId)))
+        applyPanel()
     }
 
-    /// Dim second line: where it runs, which harness, and how long it waits.
-    var subtitle: String {
-        var parts = [location, agent]
-        if waiting, since != Int.max {
-            parts.append("\(status.rawValue) \(elapsed(sinceMs: since))")
+    private func applyPanel() {
+        if visibility.visible {
+            panel.render(PanelContent(rows: rows))
+            if !panel.isVisible {
+                panel.show()
+                log("panel: shown (\(visibility.mode.rawValue), forced: \(String(describing: visibility.forced)))")
+            }
+        } else if panel.isVisible {
+            panel.hide()
+            log("panel: hidden (\(visibility.mode.rawValue), forced: \(String(describing: visibility.forced)))")
         }
-        return parts.joined(separator: " · ")
     }
-}
 
-/// Compact age: "now", "4m", "2h", "3d".
-func elapsed(sinceMs: Int) -> String {
-    let seconds = max(0, Int(Date().timeIntervalSince1970) - sinceMs / 1000)
-    switch seconds {
-    case ..<60: return "now"
-    case ..<3600: return "\(seconds / 60)m"
-    case ..<86400: return "\(seconds / 3600)h"
-    default: return "\(seconds / 86400)d"
+    @objc private func togglePanel() {
+        visibility.toggle()
+        applyPanel()
     }
-}
 
-// MARK: tmux and dingger access
-
-let environment = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment
-
-func run(_ path: String, _ args: [String]) -> String? {
-    let process = Process()
-    process.executableURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: path)
-    process.arguments = args
-    let pipe = Pipe()
-    process.standardOutput = pipe
-    process.standardError = FileHandle.nullDevice
-    do {
-        try process.run()
-    } catch {
-        return nil
+    @objc private func selectMode(_ sender: NSMenuItem) {
+        guard let raw = sender.representedObject as? String, let mode = PanelMode(rawValue: raw) else { return }
+        visibility.setMode(mode)
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(mode.rawValue, forKey: "panelMode")
+        applyPanel()
     }
-    let data = pipe.fileHandleForReading.readDataToEndOfFile()
-    process.waitUntilExit()
-    guard process.terminationStatus == 0 else { return nil }
-    return String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
-}
 
-func tmux(_ args: [String]) -> String? {
-    var all = ["-u"]
-    if let socket = environment["DINGGER_TMUX_SOCKET"] {
-        all += ["-L", socket]
-    }
-    return run(environment["DINGGER_TMUX"] ?? "/opt/homebrew/bin/tmux", all + args)
-}
-
-let dinggerBinary = environment["DINGGER_BIN"] ?? (NSHomeDirectory() + "/.local/bin/dingger")
-
-/// Every agent pane, in herdr's priority order, oldest waiting first.
-func fetchRows() -> [Row] {
-    let format = [
-        "#{pane_id}", "#{@agent}", "#{@agent_state}", "#{@dingger_since}", "#{@agent_name}",
-        "#{session_name}", "#{window_name}", "#{window_panes}", "#{pane_index}",
-    ].joined(separator: "\t")
-    guard let out = tmux(["list-panes", "-a", "-F", format]) else { return [] }
-    let rows: [Row] = out.split(separator: "\n").compactMap { line in
-        let f = line.split(separator: "\t", omittingEmptySubsequences: false).map(String.init)
-        guard f.count >= 9, !f[1].isEmpty else { return nil }
-        let status = Status(rawValue: f[2]) ?? .unknown
-        guard status != .unknown else { return nil }
-        let window = (Int(f[7]) ?? 1) > 1 ? "\(f[6]).\(f[8])" : f[6]
-        return Row(paneId: f[0], agent: f[1], name: f[4], status: status,
-                   session: f[5], window: window, since: Int(f[3]) ?? Int.max)
-    }
-    return rows.sorted {
-        if $0.status.priority != $1.status.priority { return $0.status.priority > $1.status.priority }
-        if $0.since != $1.since { return $0.since < $1.since }
-        return $0.location < $1.location
+    @objc private func openSettings() {
+        Settings.ensureFile()
+        _ = run("/usr/bin/open", ["-t", Settings.path])
     }
-}
-
-/// Show the pane and mark it attended; the same code path as the tmux
-/// status-line click.
-func focus(_ paneId: String) {
-    _ = run(dinggerBinary, ["focus", "--pane", paneId])
-}
-
-// MARK: rendering
 
-/// herdr-style summary: `×1 ✓3 ◐2` in priority order; `○` when every agent
-/// is idle; `·` when there are none.
-func title(for rows: [Row]) -> NSAttributedString {
-    let font = NSFont.monospacedDigitSystemFont(ofSize: 13, weight: .medium)
-    let text = NSMutableAttributedString()
-    for status in [Status.blocked, .done, .working] {
-        let count = rows.filter { $0.status == status }.count
-        guard count > 0 else { continue }
-        if text.length > 0 {
-            text.append(NSAttributedString(string: " ", attributes: [.font: font]))
+    private func jump(to paneId: String) {
+        DispatchQueue.global().async {
+            focus(paneId)
+            DispatchQueue.main.async { self.refresh() }
         }
-        text.append(NSAttributedString(
-            string: "\(status.symbol)\(count)",
-            attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: status.color]))
-    }
-    if text.length == 0 {
-        let status: Status = rows.isEmpty ? .unknown : .idle
-        text.append(NSAttributedString(
-            string: status.symbol, attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: status.color]))
     }
-    return text
-}
 
-func plainTitle(for rows: [Row]) -> String {
-    title(for: rows).string
-}
-
-/// Row title: the colored status symbol, then the agent's name. Unnamed
-/// agents show their harness, dimmed, so it never competes with real names.
-func rowTitle(_ row: Row) -> NSAttributedString {
-    let font = NSFont.menuFont(ofSize: 0)
-    let mono = NSFont.monospacedSystemFont(ofSize: font.pointSize, weight: .medium)
-    let text = NSMutableAttributedString()
-    text.append(NSAttributedString(
-        string: "\(row.status.symbol)  ", attributes: [.font: mono, .foregroundColor: row.status.color]))
-    let labelColor = row.name.isEmpty ? NSColor.secondaryLabelColor : NSColor.labelColor
-    text.append(NSAttributedString(
-        string: row.label, attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: labelColor]))
-    return text
-}
-
-// MARK: app
+    // MARK: menu (rebuilt from fresh data every time it opens)
 
-final class Menubar: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSMenuDelegate {
-    private let item = NSStatusBar.system.statusItem(withLength: NSStatusItem.variableLength)
-    private let menu = NSMenu()
-
-    func applicationDidFinishLaunching(_: Notification) {
-        menu.delegate = self
-        item.menu = menu
-        refreshTitle()
-        let timer = Timer(timeInterval: 1.0, repeats: true) { [weak self] _ in
-            self?.refreshTitle()
-        }
-        RunLoop.main.add(timer, forMode: .common)
-    }
-
-    private func refreshTitle() {
-        let rows = fetchRows()
-        item.button?.attributedTitle = title(for: rows)
-        var tip: [String] = []
-        for status in [Status.blocked, .done, .working, .idle] {
-            let count = rows.filter { $0.status == status }.count
-            if count > 0 { tip.append("\(count) \(status.rawValue)") }
-        }
-        let tipText = tip.isEmpty ? "No agents" : tip.joined(separator: " · ")
-        item.button?.toolTip = tipText
-        item.button?.setAccessibilityLabel("dingger, " + tipText)
-    }
-
-    // Rebuilt from fresh data every time the menu opens.
     func menuNeedsUpdate(_ menu: NSMenu) {
         menu.removeAllItems()
-        let rows = fetchRows()
+        rows = fetchRows()
         if rows.isEmpty {
             let none = NSMenuItem(title: "No agents", action: nil, keyEquivalent: "")
             none.isEnabled = false
@@ -263,6 +143,44 @@ entry.toolTip = row.name.isEmpty ? nil : row.name
             entry.representedObject = row.paneId
             menu.addItem(entry)
         }
+
+        menu.addItem(.separator())
+        let toggle = NSMenuItem(title: visibility.visible ? "Hide Panel" : "Show Panel",
+                                action: #selector(togglePanel), keyEquivalent: "")
+        toggle.target = self
+        if let hotkey, hotkeyRegistered {
+            toggle.keyEquivalent = hotkey.key.count == 1 ? hotkey.key : ""
+            toggle.keyEquivalentModifierMask = hotkey.modifierFlags
+        }
+        menu.addItem(toggle)
+
+        let modeMenu = NSMenu()
+        for mode in PanelMode.allCases {
+            let option = NSMenuItem(title: mode.label, action: #selector(selectMode(_:)), keyEquivalent: "")
+            option.target = self
+            option.representedObject = mode.rawValue
+            option.state = visibility.mode == mode ? .on : .off
+            modeMenu.addItem(option)
+        }
+        let modeItem = NSMenuItem(title: "Show Panel Automatically", action: nil, keyEquivalent: "")
+        modeItem.submenu = modeMenu
+        menu.addItem(modeItem)
+
+        if let hotkey, !hotkeyRegistered {
+            let clash = NSMenuItem(title: "Shortcut \(hotkey.display) is used by another app", action: nil,
+                                   keyEquivalent: "")
+            clash.isEnabled = false
+            menu.addItem(clash)
+        } else if hotkey == nil {
+            let invalid = NSMenuItem(title: "Shortcut \"\(settings.hotkey)\" is not valid", action: nil,
+                                     keyEquivalent: "")
+            invalid.isEnabled = false
+            menu.addItem(invalid)
+        }
+        let settingsItem = NSMenuItem(title: "Settings…", action: #selector(openSettings), keyEquivalent: ",")
+        settingsItem.target = self
+        menu.addItem(settingsItem)
+
         menu.addItem(.separator())
         menu.addItem(NSMenuItem(title: "Quit dingger", action: #selector(NSApplication.terminate(_:)),
                                 keyEquivalent: "q"))
@@ -270,20 +188,31 @@ }
 
     @objc private func rowClicked(_ sender: NSMenuItem) {
         guard let paneId = sender.representedObject as? String else { return }
-        DispatchQueue.global().async {
-            focus(paneId)
-            DispatchQueue.main.async { self.refreshTitle() }
-        }
+        jump(to: paneId)
     }
 }
 
 let arguments = CommandLine.arguments
+if arguments.contains("--selftest") {
+    var failures = panelSelftest()
+    if Hotkey.parse("ctrl+opt+cmd+e")?.display != "⌃⌥⌘E" { failures.append("hotkey: parse ctrl+opt+cmd+e") }
+    if Hotkey.parse("e") != nil { failures.append("hotkey: a key without modifiers is rejected") }
+    if Hotkey.parse("ctrl+opt+bogus") != nil { failures.append("hotkey: unknown keys are rejected") }
+    if Hotkey.parse("cmd+shift+f12")?.display != "⇧⌘F12" { failures.append("hotkey: parse cmd+shift+f12") }
+    failures.forEach { print("FAIL \($0)") }
+    print(failures.isEmpty ? "selftest ok" : "selftest: \(failures.count) failed")
+    exit(failures.isEmpty ? 0 : 1)
+}
 if arguments.contains("--print") {
     let rows = fetchRows()
     print("title: \(plainTitle(for: rows))")
     for row in rows {
         print("\(row.status.symbol) \(row.status.rawValue)\t\(row.label)\t\(row.subtitle)")
     }
+    exit(0)
+}
+if arguments.contains("--print-panel") {
+    print(PanelContent(rows: fetchRows()).plainText)
     exit(0)
 }
 if let index = arguments.firstIndex(of: "--click"), index + 1 < arguments.count {

@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+// Shared model for the menu bar and the floating panel: herdr's palette and
+// status vocabulary, agent rows read from tmux, and the focus action.
+
+import AppKit
+
+// MARK: herdr's palette (catppuccin mocha on dark, latte on light)
+
+func herdrColor(dark: (CGFloat, CGFloat, CGFloat), light: (CGFloat, CGFloat, CGFloat)) -> NSColor {
+    NSColor(name: nil) { appearance in
+        let isDark = appearance.bestMatch(from: [.darkAqua, .aqua]) == .darkAqua
+        let (r, g, b) = isDark ? dark : light
+        return NSColor(srgbRed: r / 255, green: g / 255, blue: b / 255, alpha: 1)
+    }
+}
+
+let herdrRed = herdrColor(dark: (243, 139, 168), light: (210, 15, 57))
+let herdrTeal = herdrColor(dark: (148, 226, 213), light: (23, 146, 153))
+let herdrYellow = herdrColor(dark: (249, 226, 175), light: (223, 142, 29))
+let herdrGreen = herdrColor(dark: (166, 227, 161), light: (64, 160, 43))
+let herdrGray = herdrColor(dark: (108, 112, 134), light: (156, 160, 176))
+
+// MARK: herdr's status vocabulary
+
+enum Status: String {
+    case blocked, done, working, idle, unknown
+
+    var symbol: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .blocked: return "×"
+        case .done: return "✓"
+        case .working: return "◐"
+        case .idle: return "○"
+        case .unknown: return "·"
+        }
+    }
+
+    var color: NSColor {
+        switch self {
+        case .blocked: return herdrRed
+        case .done: return herdrTeal
+        case .working: return herdrYellow
+        case .idle: return herdrGreen
+        case .unknown: return herdrGray
+        }
+    }
+
+    var priority: Int {
+        switch self {
+        case .blocked: return 4
+        case .done: return 3
+        case .working: return 2
+        case .idle: return 1
+        case .unknown: return 0
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+struct Row {
+    let paneId: String
+    let agent: String
+    /// What the agent works on (its session/task name), if it has one.
+    let name: String
+    let status: Status
+    let session: String
+    let window: String
+    let since: Int
+
+    var location: String { "\(session) · \(window)" }
+    var waiting: Bool { status == .blocked || status == .done }
+
+    /// The row's title text: the agent's name, or its harness when unnamed.
+    var label: String {
+        guard !name.isEmpty else { return agent }
+        return name.count > 80 ? String(name.prefix(79)) + "…" : name
+    }
+
+    /// Dim second line: where it runs, which harness, and how long it waits.
+    var subtitle: String {
+        var parts = [location, agent]
+        if waiting, since != Int.max {
+            parts.append("\(status.rawValue) \(elapsed(sinceMs: since))")
+        }
+        return parts.joined(separator: " · ")
+    }
+}
+
+/// Compact age: "now", "4m", "2h", "3d".
+func elapsed(sinceMs: Int) -> String {
+    let seconds = max(0, Int(Date().timeIntervalSince1970) - sinceMs / 1000)
+    switch seconds {
+    case ..<60: return "now"
+    case ..<3600: return "\(seconds / 60)m"
+    case ..<86400: return "\(seconds / 3600)h"
+    default: return "\(seconds / 86400)d"
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: tmux and dingger access
+
+let environment = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment
+
+func run(_ path: String, _ args: [String]) -> String? {
+    let process = Process()
+    process.executableURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: path)
+    process.arguments = args
+    let pipe = Pipe()
+    process.standardOutput = pipe
+    process.standardError = FileHandle.nullDevice
+    do {
+        try process.run()
+    } catch {
+        return nil
+    }
+    let data = pipe.fileHandleForReading.readDataToEndOfFile()
+    process.waitUntilExit()
+    guard process.terminationStatus == 0 else { return nil }
+    return String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
+}
+
+func tmux(_ args: [String]) -> String? {
+    var all = ["-u"]
+    if let socket = environment["DINGGER_TMUX_SOCKET"] {
+        all += ["-L", socket]
+    }
+    return run(environment["DINGGER_TMUX"] ?? "/opt/homebrew/bin/tmux", all + args)
+}
+
+let dinggerBinary = environment["DINGGER_BIN"] ?? (NSHomeDirectory() + "/.local/bin/dingger")
+
+/// Every agent pane, in herdr's priority order, oldest waiting first.
+func fetchRows() -> [Row] {
+    let format = [
+        "#{pane_id}", "#{@agent}", "#{@agent_state}", "#{@dingger_since}", "#{@agent_name}",
+        "#{session_name}", "#{window_name}", "#{window_panes}", "#{pane_index}",
+    ].joined(separator: "\t")
+    guard let out = tmux(["list-panes", "-a", "-F", format]) else { return [] }
+    let rows: [Row] = out.split(separator: "\n").compactMap { line in
+        let f = line.split(separator: "\t", omittingEmptySubsequences: false).map(String.init)
+        guard f.count >= 9, !f[1].isEmpty else { return nil }
+        let status = Status(rawValue: f[2]) ?? .unknown
+        guard status != .unknown else { return nil }
+        let window = (Int(f[7]) ?? 1) > 1 ? "\(f[6]).\(f[8])" : f[6]
+        return Row(paneId: f[0], agent: f[1], name: f[4], status: status,
+                   session: f[5], window: window, since: Int(f[3]) ?? Int.max)
+    }
+    return rows.sorted {
+        if $0.status.priority != $1.status.priority { return $0.status.priority > $1.status.priority }
+        if $0.since != $1.since { return $0.since < $1.since }
+        return $0.location < $1.location
+    }
+}
+
+/// Show the pane and mark it attended; the same code path as the tmux
+/// status-line click.
+func focus(_ paneId: String) {
+    _ = run(dinggerBinary, ["focus", "--pane", paneId])
+}
+
+// MARK: rendering
+
+/// herdr-style summary: `×1 ✓3 ◐2` in priority order; `○` when every agent
+/// is idle; `·` when there are none.
+func title(for rows: [Row]) -> NSAttributedString {
+    let font = NSFont.monospacedDigitSystemFont(ofSize: 13, weight: .medium)
+    let text = NSMutableAttributedString()
+    for status in [Status.blocked, .done, .working] {
+        let count = rows.filter { $0.status == status }.count
+        guard count > 0 else { continue }
+        if text.length > 0 {
+            text.append(NSAttributedString(string: " ", attributes: [.font: font]))
+        }
+        text.append(NSAttributedString(
+            string: "\(status.symbol)\(count)",
+            attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: status.color]))
+    }
+    if text.length == 0 {
+        let status: Status = rows.isEmpty ? .unknown : .idle
+        text.append(NSAttributedString(
+            string: status.symbol, attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: status.color]))
+    }
+    return text
+}
+
+func plainTitle(for rows: [Row]) -> String {
+    title(for: rows).string
+}
+
+/// Row title: the colored status symbol, then the agent's name. Unnamed
+/// agents show their harness, dimmed, so it never competes with real names.
+func rowTitle(_ row: Row) -> NSAttributedString {
+    let font = NSFont.menuFont(ofSize: 0)
+    let mono = NSFont.monospacedSystemFont(ofSize: font.pointSize, weight: .medium)
+    let text = NSMutableAttributedString()
+    text.append(NSAttributedString(
+        string: "\(row.status.symbol)  ", attributes: [.font: mono, .foregroundColor: row.status.color]))
+    let labelColor = row.name.isEmpty ? NSColor.secondaryLabelColor : NSColor.labelColor
+    text.append(NSAttributedString(
+        string: row.label, attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: labelColor]))
+    return text
+}

@@ -0,0 +1,314 @@
+// The floating panel: an always-on-top HUD with the agents waiting for you.
+//
+// - Never takes focus: a non-activating panel, so typing stays in the
+//   terminal. Visible on every Space and over full-screen apps.
+// - Modes: off, on, auto (shown while something is blocked or done).
+//   The global shortcut shows or hides it on top of the mode.
+// - Compact: blocked and done agents in full; working and idle as one
+//   summary line. The menu keeps the full list.
+
+import AppKit
+
+// MARK: visibility (pure, tested by --selftest)
+
+enum PanelMode: String, CaseIterable {
+    case off, on, auto
+
+    var label: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .off: return "Off"
+        case .on: return "Always"
+        case .auto: return "When agents are waiting"
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+struct PanelVisibility: Equatable {
+    var mode: PanelMode = .auto
+    /// Set by the shortcut: true = shown, false = hidden, nil = follow mode.
+    var forced: Bool?
+    /// Pane ids of agents currently blocked or done.
+    var waiting: Set<String> = []
+
+    var visible: Bool {
+        forced ?? (mode == .on || (mode == .auto && !waiting.isEmpty))
+    }
+
+    /// The shortcut: flip what is on screen right now.
+    mutating func toggle() {
+        forced = !visible
+    }
+
+    mutating func setMode(_ newMode: PanelMode) {
+        mode = newMode
+        forced = nil
+    }
+
+    /// A newly waiting agent cancels a manual hide (it needs you), except in
+    /// mode off, where nothing shows unless asked for.
+    mutating func update(waiting newWaiting: Set<String>) {
+        if forced == false, !newWaiting.subtracting(waiting).isEmpty {
+            forced = nil
+        }
+        waiting = newWaiting
+    }
+}
+
+/// Run the visibility rules against expectations; returns failure messages.
+func panelSelftest() -> [String] {
+    var failures: [String] = []
+    func check(_ condition: Bool, _ message: String) {
+        if !condition { failures.append(message) }
+    }
+
+    var auto = PanelVisibility(mode: .auto)
+    check(!auto.visible, "auto: hidden with nothing waiting")
+    auto.update(waiting: ["a"])
+    check(auto.visible, "auto: shown when an agent waits")
+    auto.toggle()
+    check(!auto.visible, "auto: shortcut hides")
+    auto.update(waiting: ["a"])
+    check(!auto.visible, "auto: stays hidden for the same waiting agents")
+    auto.update(waiting: ["a", "b"])
+    check(auto.visible, "auto: a newly waiting agent shows it again")
+    auto.update(waiting: [])
+    check(!auto.visible, "auto: hides when nothing waits")
+    auto.toggle()
+    check(auto.visible, "auto: shortcut shows it with nothing waiting")
+    auto.update(waiting: [])
+    check(auto.visible, "auto: a manual show stays")
+    auto.toggle()
+    check(!auto.visible, "auto: shortcut hides again")
+
+    var off = PanelVisibility(mode: .off)
+    off.update(waiting: ["a"])
+    check(!off.visible, "off: hidden even when an agent waits")
+    off.toggle()
+    check(off.visible, "off: shortcut shows")
+    off.toggle()
+    off.update(waiting: ["a", "b"])
+    check(!off.visible, "off: a new waiting agent does not show it")
+
+    var on = PanelVisibility(mode: .on)
+    check(on.visible, "on: shown with nothing waiting")
+    on.toggle()
+    check(!on.visible, "on: shortcut hides")
+    on.update(waiting: ["a"])
+    check(on.visible, "on: a newly waiting agent shows it again")
+
+    var changed = PanelVisibility(mode: .auto, forced: false, waiting: ["a"])
+    changed.setMode(.on)
+    check(changed.visible && changed.forced == nil, "mode change clears the shortcut override")
+    return failures
+}
+
+// MARK: compact content (pure, printed by --print-panel)
+
+struct PanelContent {
+    static let maxRows = 8
+
+    let waiting: [Row]
+    let overflow: Int
+    let working: Int
+    let idle: Int
+
+    init(rows: [Row]) {
+        let waitingRows = rows.filter(\.waiting)
+        waiting = Array(waitingRows.prefix(Self.maxRows))
+        overflow = max(0, waitingRows.count - Self.maxRows)
+        working = rows.filter { $0.status == .working }.count
+        idle = rows.filter { $0.status == .idle }.count
+    }
+
+    /// "◐ 2 working  ·  ○ 15 idle", or "No agents".
+    var summary: NSAttributedString {
+        let font = NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 11)
+        let text = NSMutableAttributedString()
+        for (status, count) in [(Status.working, working), (.idle, idle)] where count > 0 {
+            if text.length > 0 {
+                text.append(NSAttributedString(
+                    string: "  ·  ", attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: NSColor.tertiaryLabelColor]))
+            }
+            text.append(NSAttributedString(
+                string: "\(status.symbol) ", attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: status.color]))
+            text.append(NSAttributedString(
+                string: "\(count) \(status.rawValue)",
+                attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: NSColor.secondaryLabelColor]))
+        }
+        if waiting.isEmpty {
+            let lead = text.length > 0 ? "Nothing waiting  ·  " : "No agents waiting"
+            text.insert(NSAttributedString(
+                string: lead, attributes: [.font: font, .foregroundColor: NSColor.secondaryLabelColor]), at: 0)
+        }
+        return text
+    }
+
+    var plainText: String {
+        var lines = waiting.map { "\($0.status.symbol) \($0.status.rawValue)\t\($0.label)\t\($0.subtitle)" }
+        if overflow > 0 { lines.append("+\(overflow) more waiting") }
+        lines.append(summary.string)
+        return lines.joined(separator: "\n")
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: window
+
+private let panelWidth: CGFloat = 440
+private let inset: CGFloat = 8
+
+/// One clickable agent row; a drag anywhere moves the panel instead.
+private final class PanelRowView: NSView {
+    private let paneId: String
+    private let onClick: (String) -> Void
+    private var dragged = false
+    private var hovered = false { didSet { needsDisplay = true } }
+
+    init(row: Row, onClick: @escaping (String) -> Void) {
+        paneId = row.paneId
+        self.onClick = onClick
+        super.init(frame: .zero)
+        let title = NSTextField(labelWithAttributedString: rowTitle(row))
+        title.lineBreakMode = .byTruncatingTail
+        let subtitle = NSTextField(labelWithString: row.subtitle)
+        subtitle.font = .systemFont(ofSize: 11)
+        subtitle.textColor = .secondaryLabelColor
+        subtitle.lineBreakMode = .byTruncatingTail
+        let stack = NSStackView(views: [title, subtitle])
+        stack.orientation = .vertical
+        stack.alignment = .leading
+        stack.spacing = 1
+        stack.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
+        addSubview(stack)
+        NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
+            stack.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: leadingAnchor, constant: 8),
+            stack.trailingAnchor.constraint(lessThanOrEqualTo: trailingAnchor, constant: -8),
+            stack.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: topAnchor, constant: 5),
+            stack.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: bottomAnchor, constant: -5),
+        ])
+        toolTip = row.name.isEmpty ? nil : row.name
+    }
+
+    required init?(coder: NSCoder) { fatalError("not used") }
+
+    override func acceptsFirstMouse(for event: NSEvent?) -> Bool { true }
+
+    override func updateTrackingAreas() {
+        super.updateTrackingAreas()
+        trackingAreas.forEach(removeTrackingArea)
+        addTrackingArea(NSTrackingArea(rect: bounds, options: [.mouseEnteredAndExited, .activeAlways],
+                                       owner: self))
+    }
+
+    override func mouseEntered(with event: NSEvent) { hovered = true }
+    override func mouseExited(with event: NSEvent) { hovered = false }
+
+    override func draw(_ dirtyRect: NSRect) {
+        guard hovered else { return }
+        NSColor.white.withAlphaComponent(0.08).setFill()
+        NSBezierPath(roundedRect: bounds, xRadius: 6, yRadius: 6).fill()
+    }
+
+    override func mouseDown(with event: NSEvent) { dragged = false }
+
+    override func mouseDragged(with event: NSEvent) {
+        if !dragged {
+            dragged = true
+            window?.performDrag(with: event)
+        }
+    }
+
+    override func mouseUp(with event: NSEvent) {
+        if !dragged { onClick(paneId) }
+    }
+}
+
+final class PanelController {
+    private let panel: NSPanel
+    private let stack = NSStackView()
+    private let onClick: (String) -> Void
+
+    init(onClick: @escaping (String) -> Void) {
+        self.onClick = onClick
+        panel = NSPanel(contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: panelWidth, height: 60),
+                        styleMask: [.nonactivatingPanel, .borderless],
+                        backing: .buffered, defer: false)
+        panel.isFloatingPanel = true
+        panel.level = .floating
+        panel.collectionBehavior = [.canJoinAllSpaces, .fullScreenAuxiliary]
+        panel.hidesOnDeactivate = false
+        panel.isMovableByWindowBackground = true
+        panel.backgroundColor = .clear
+        panel.isOpaque = false
+        panel.hasShadow = true
+        panel.appearance = NSAppearance(named: .vibrantDark)
+
+        let effect = NSVisualEffectView()
+        effect.material = .hudWindow
+        effect.blendingMode = .behindWindow
+        effect.state = .active
+        effect.wantsLayer = true
+        effect.layer?.cornerRadius = 12
+        effect.layer?.masksToBounds = true
+        panel.contentView = effect
+
+        stack.orientation = .vertical
+        stack.alignment = .leading
+        stack.spacing = 0
+        stack.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
+        effect.addSubview(stack)
+        NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
+            stack.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: effect.leadingAnchor, constant: inset),
+            stack.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: effect.trailingAnchor, constant: -inset),
+            stack.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: effect.topAnchor, constant: inset),
+        ])
+
+        // Remember where the user put it; first time, top right of the screen.
+        if !panel.setFrameUsingName("dingger.panel"), let screen = NSScreen.main {
+            let area = screen.visibleFrame
+            panel.setFrameTopLeftPoint(NSPoint(x: area.maxX - panelWidth - 16, y: area.maxY - 16))
+        }
+        panel.setFrameAutosaveName("dingger.panel")
+    }
+
+    var isVisible: Bool { panel.isVisible }
+
+    func render(_ content: PanelContent) {
+        stack.arrangedSubviews.forEach { $0.removeFromSuperview() }
+        for row in content.waiting {
+            let view = PanelRowView(row: row, onClick: onClick)
+            stack.addArrangedSubview(view)
+            view.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: stack.widthAnchor).isActive = true
+        }
+        if content.overflow > 0 {
+            stack.addArrangedSubview(caption(NSAttributedString(
+                string: "+\(content.overflow) more waiting, see the menu bar",
+                attributes: [.font: NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 11),
+                             .foregroundColor: NSColor.secondaryLabelColor])))
+        }
+        stack.addArrangedSubview(caption(content.summary))
+
+        // Grow or shrink downward from the top edge.
+        stack.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
+        let height = stack.fittingSize.height + inset * 2
+        let top = panel.frame.maxY
+        panel.setFrame(NSRect(x: panel.frame.minX, y: top - height, width: panelWidth, height: height),
+                       display: true)
+    }
+
+    private func caption(_ text: NSAttributedString) -> NSView {
+        let label = NSTextField(labelWithAttributedString: text)
+        let box = NSView()
+        label.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
+        box.addSubview(label)
+        NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
+            label.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: box.leadingAnchor, constant: 8),
+            label.trailingAnchor.constraint(lessThanOrEqualTo: box.trailingAnchor, constant: -8),
+            label.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: box.topAnchor, constant: 6),
+            label.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: box.bottomAnchor, constant: -4),
+        ])
+        return box
+    }
+
+    func show() { panel.orderFrontRegardless() }
+    func hide() { panel.orderOut(nil) }
+}

@@ -282,6 +282,20 @@ else
   fail "node not found; cannot test the pi extension"
 fi
 
+# --- 13. the floating panel: visibility rules and compact content -----------
+echo "13. floating panel"
+if [ -x "$MENUBAR" ]; then
+  mb() { DINGGER_TMUX_SOCKET="$SOCK" DINGGER_BIN="$DINGGER" "$MENUBAR" "$@"; }
+  expect "panel visibility rules (selftest)" "mb --selftest | tail -1" "selftest ok"
+  expect "panel lists the waiting agent" "mb --print-panel | head -1 | cut -f1,2 | tr '\t' '|'" "✓ done|pi"
+  expect "panel summarizes the rest" "mb --print-panel | tail -1" "○ 3 idle"
+  DINGGER_TMUX_SOCKET="$SOCK" "$DINGGER" focus --client "$CLIENT" --pane "$A2"
+  expect "A2 idle after the jump" "opt $A2 @agent_state" idle
+  expect "panel with nothing waiting" "mb --print-panel" "Nothing waiting  ·  ○ 4 idle"
+else
+  fail "menu bar binary not found at $MENUBAR"
+fi
+
 echo
 echo "$PASSES passed, $FAILS failed"
 [ "$FAILS" -eq 0 ] || { echo "--- daemon log tail"; tail -30 "$DIR/daemon.log"; exit 1; }