diff --git a/docs/packages/cli.mdx b/docs/packages/cli.mdx
index ffb25e040b..d4e18da596 100644
--- a/docs/packages/cli.mdx
+++ b/docs/packages/cli.mdx
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ npm install -g hyperframes
 | You want to              | Use                                                                                                                                                                                            |
 | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 | Start a project          | [`init`](#init), [`add`](#add), [`catalog`](#catalog)                                                                                                                                          |
-| Bring in source material | [`capture`](#capture), [`transcribe`](#transcribe), [`tts`](#tts), [`remove-background`](#remove-background), [`media-treatment`](#media-treatment), [`beats`](#beats)                          |
+| Bring in source material | [`capture`](#capture), [`transcribe`](#transcribe), [`tts`](#tts), [`remove-background`](#remove-background), [`media-treatment`](#media-treatment), [`beats`](#beats), [`normalize-audio`](#normalize-audio) |
 | Look at it, or share it  | [`preview`](#preview), [`present`](#present-and-play), [`play`](#present-and-play), [`publish`](#publish)                                                                                       |
 | Find problems            | [`lint`](#lint), [`check`](#check), [`snapshot`](#snapshot), [`keyframes`](#keyframes), [`compare`](#compare-and-grade-compare), [`grade-compare`](#compare-and-grade-compare)                  |
 | Make a file              | [`render`](#render), [`benchmark`](#benchmark)                                                                                                                                                  |
@@ -428,6 +428,30 @@ Needs a local Chrome, the same one `render` uses. Run
 within a frame or two — a different headless-Chrome audio sample rate can shift
 a beat slightly.
 
+### `normalize-audio`
+
+Match one authored audio clip to a reference using the exact local media bytes
+and FFmpeg's integrated EBU R128 loudness measurement.
+
+```bash
+# Measure only (the default)
+npx hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio
+
+# Persist the computed gain on #user-audio
+npx hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio --write
+
+# Agent-readable result
+npx hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio --json
+```
+
+`--reference` and `--target` are `<audio>` element ids, with or without `#`.
+The reference stays unchanged; the command accounts for both clips' current
+`data-volume` and writes the target's absolute matched gain. It measures
+`data-media-start` and `data-duration`, rejects remote or out-of-project sources,
+and refuses a result that exceeds Studio's +12 dB ceiling or would clip. Dry-run
+is deliberate: inspect the measurement before passing `--write`. Use
+`--tolerance <LU>` to change the default 0.5 LU no-op threshold.
+
 ## Look at it
 
 ### `preview`
@@ -438,6 +462,8 @@ Start a live preview server with hot reload.
 npx hyperframes preview [dir]
 npx hyperframes preview --port 4567
 npx hyperframes preview --background     # keep running after the command exits
+npx hyperframes preview --foreground     # stay attached in a non-interactive shell
+npx hyperframes preview --status --json  # inspect a managed preview from an agent
 npx hyperframes preview --list           # every running preview
 ```
 
@@ -446,6 +472,8 @@ npx hyperframes preview --list           # every running preview
 | `--port`                             | Server port (default 3002)                                                                                |
 | `--open` / `--no-open`               | Open a browser, or leave it closed                                                                        |
 | `--background`                       | Keep an embedded preview running after the command exits                                                  |
+| `--foreground`                       | Keep the preview attached even when the shell is non-interactive                                          |
+| `--json`                             | Emit one versioned JSON result for managed start, status, stop, list, and kill-all operations              |
 | `--browser-gpu` / `--no-browser-gpu` | Hardware GPU for Studio thumbnails and frame capture, or deterministic SwiftShader (default: auto-detect)  |
 | `--proxy` / `--no-proxy`             | Auto-transcode browser-hostile codecs (HEVC, ProRes, AV1) to a cached authoring proxy (default: on)        |
 | `--browser-path`                     | Open a specific browser. `--user-data-dir`, `--remote-debugging-port`, and `--browser-no-gpu` require it.  |
@@ -455,6 +483,13 @@ background preview, `--list` and `--kill-all` act on all of them, and
 `--force-new` starts a second server for a project that already has one. Each
 exits straight after.
 
+Bare `preview` chooses the safest lifecycle for its caller: it stays in the
+foreground in a human interactive terminal, while a non-interactive or agent
+shell starts a managed background preview. Re-running the command for the same
+project reuses the healthy preview. Every start or status result includes the
+exact Studio project URL as well as the underlying server URL, so agents can
+hand off the intended project without guessing from the port.
+
 To read a running Studio from a script: `--selection` prints the selected
 element and `--context` prints the agent-readable context, both with `--json`.
 Narrow the context with `--context-fields` (`server`, `selection`, `lint`,
diff --git a/packages/cli/README.md b/packages/cli/README.md
index fffe6cc26e..f6a604f11e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/README.md
@@ -33,11 +33,33 @@ Start the live preview studio in your browser:
 
 ```bash
 npx hyperframes preview
-# Studio running at http://localhost:3002
+# Studio: http://localhost:3002/#project/my-video
+# Server: http://localhost:3002
 
 npx hyperframes preview --port 4567
 ```
 
+In an interactive terminal, the preview stays attached until you press
+Ctrl+C. In a non-interactive shell such as a coding-agent session, the same
+command starts a managed preview that survives after the command returns. Use
+`--background` or `--foreground` to choose explicitly, and manage persistent
+previews with `--status`, `--stop`, `--list`, and `--kill-all`. Add `--json` to
+managed lifecycle commands for machine-readable output. `--foreground --json`
+prints the ready-session envelope once, then remains attached until stopped.
+
+### `normalize-audio`
+
+Measure two local authored audio clips with integrated LUFS and match the target
+to the unchanged reference. The command is a dry run unless `--write` is passed:
+
+```bash
+npx hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio
+npx hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio --write
+```
+
+It updates only the target element's `data-volume` and refuses unsafe boosts
+that exceed Studio's +12 dB ceiling or would clip.
+
 ### `render`
 
 Render a composition to MP4. Run from the project directory; the positional
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/cli.ts b/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
index 36b6ffad68..44aceb12e8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ const commandLoaders = {
   lint: () => import("./commands/lint.js").then((m) => m.default),
   check: () => import("./commands/check.js").then((m) => m.default),
   beats: () => import("./commands/beats.js").then((m) => m.default),
+  "normalize-audio": () => import("./commands/normalize-audio.js").then((m) => m.default),
   inspect: () => import("./commands/inspect.js").then((m) => m.default),
   keyframes: () => import("./commands/keyframes.js").then((m) => m.default),
   layout: () => import("./commands/layout.js").then((m) => m.default),
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/coreSkillContent.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/coreSkillContent.test.ts
index fe25f5764d..635579de30 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/coreSkillContent.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/coreSkillContent.test.ts
@@ -125,4 +125,15 @@ describe("media treatment routing documentation", () => {
       expect(template).toContain("do not improvise equivalent CSS/SVG filters or overlays");
     }
   });
+
+  it("gives agents a process-owned preview lifecycle in new project instructions", () => {
+    for (const file of ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md"]) {
+      const template = read("packages", "cli", "src", "templates", "_shared", file);
+      expect(template).toContain("npx hyperframes preview --background");
+      expect(template).toContain("npx hyperframes preview --status");
+      expect(template).toContain("npx hyperframes preview --stop");
+      expect(template).toContain("leaving refreshes at `ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT`");
+      expect(template).not.toContain("run_in_background: true");
+    }
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/normalize-audio.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/normalize-audio.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..48a8965685
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/normalize-audio.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+import { resolve } from "node:path";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  audioNormalizationPlan,
+  audioTags,
+  parseEbur128Summary,
+  resolveLocalAudioPath,
+  updateAudioVolume,
+} from "./normalize-audio.js";
+
+const PROJECT = "/tmp/example-project";
+
+describe("audioTags", () => {
+  it("reads quoted attributes without treating a quoted > as the end of the tag", () => {
+    const html = `<audio id='reference' title="a > b" src="assets/ref.mp4" data-volume="1"></audio>`;
+    expect(audioTags(html)).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ id: "reference", src: "assets/ref.mp4", volume: 1 }),
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects duplicate ids instead of normalizing an arbitrary element", () => {
+    const html = `<audio id="voice" src="a.wav"></audio><audio id="voice" src="b.wav"></audio>`;
+    expect(() => audioTags(html)).toThrow(/duplicate audio id "voice"/i);
+  });
+
+  it("ignores audio-like text in comments, scripts, and styles", () => {
+    const html = `
+      <!-- <audio id="comment" src="comment.wav"></audio> -->
+      <script>const example = '<audio id="script" src="script.wav"></audio>';</script>
+      <style>.demo::after { content: '<audio id="style" src="style.wav">'; }</style>
+      <audio id="real" src="real.wav"></audio>
+    `;
+    expect(audioTags(html).map((tag) => tag.id)).toEqual(["real"]);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    [`<audio id="bad" src="a.wav" data-volume="loud"></audio>`, /data-volume/i],
+    [`<audio id="bad" src="a.wav" data-media-start="-1"></audio>`, /data-media-start/i],
+    [`<audio id="bad" src="a.wav" data-duration="0"></audio>`, /data-duration/i],
+  ])("rejects an invalid authored number", (html, expected) => {
+    expect(() => audioTags(html)).toThrow(expected);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("resolveLocalAudioPath", () => {
+  it("resolves a local source and strips query and fragment suffixes", () => {
+    expect(resolveLocalAudioPath(PROJECT, "assets/voice%20one.wav?v=2#clip")).toBe(
+      resolve(PROJECT, "assets/voice one.wav"),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it.each(["https://cdn.example.com/a.wav", "/etc/passwd", "../outside.wav", "data:x"])(
+    "rejects a non-project source: %s",
+    (src) => expect(() => resolveLocalAudioPath(PROJECT, src)).toThrow(/local project file/i),
+  );
+});
+
+describe("parseEbur128Summary", () => {
+  it("takes the final integrated loudness and true-peak summary", () => {
+    const stderr = `
+[Parsed_ebur128_0] t: 1.0 I: -18.2 LUFS
+[Parsed_ebur128_0] Summary:
+  Integrated loudness:
+    I:         -15.5 LUFS
+    Threshold: -25.5 LUFS
+  True peak:
+    Peak:       -3.2 dBFS
+`;
+    expect(parseEbur128Summary(stderr)).toEqual({ integratedLufs: -15.5, truePeakDbfs: -3.2 });
+  });
+
+  it("fails when FFmpeg did not produce a usable summary", () => {
+    expect(() => parseEbur128Summary("no audio stream")).toThrow(/integrated loudness/i);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("audioNormalizationPlan", () => {
+  it("preserves the reference and attenuates the louder target", () => {
+    const plan = audioNormalizationPlan(
+      { id: "target-audio", volume: 1, integratedLufs: -15.5, truePeakDbfs: -3.2 },
+      { id: "user-audio", volume: 1, integratedLufs: -11.7, truePeakDbfs: -0.2 },
+    );
+
+    expect(plan.gainDb).toBeCloseTo(-3.8, 6);
+    expect(plan.volume).toBeCloseTo(0.645654, 5);
+    expect(plan.projectedLufs).toBeCloseTo(-15.5, 6);
+    expect(plan.projectedTruePeakDbfs).toBeCloseTo(-4, 6);
+  });
+
+  it("includes the reference's authored gain in the target", () => {
+    const plan = audioNormalizationPlan(
+      { id: "reference", volume: 2, integratedLufs: -20, truePeakDbfs: -8 },
+      { id: "target", volume: 0.5, integratedLufs: -18, truePeakDbfs: -6 },
+    );
+
+    expect(plan.referenceLufs).toBeCloseTo(-13.9794, 4);
+    expect(plan.volume).toBeCloseTo(1.588656, 6);
+    expect(plan.projectedLufs).toBeCloseTo(plan.referenceLufs, 6);
+  });
+
+  it("refuses a gain beyond Studio's +12 dB ceiling", () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      audioNormalizationPlan(
+        { id: "reference", volume: 1, integratedLufs: -5, truePeakDbfs: -1 },
+        { id: "target", volume: 1, integratedLufs: -30, truePeakDbfs: -30 },
+      ),
+    ).toThrow(/\+12 dB/i);
+  });
+
+  it("refuses a boost that would clip", () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      audioNormalizationPlan(
+        { id: "reference", volume: 1, integratedLufs: -10, truePeakDbfs: -1 },
+        { id: "target", volume: 1, integratedLufs: -15, truePeakDbfs: -2 },
+      ),
+    ).toThrow(/clip/i);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("updateAudioVolume", () => {
+  it("updates only the selected audio element and preserves surrounding source", () => {
+    const html = `<!doctype html>\n<audio id="ref" src="a.wav" data-volume="1"></audio>\n<audio data-volume='1' id='target' src='b.wav'></audio>\n`;
+    expect(updateAudioVolume(html, "target", 0.645654)).toBe(
+      `<!doctype html>\n<audio id="ref" src="a.wav" data-volume="1"></audio>\n<audio data-volume='0.645654' id='target' src='b.wav'></audio>\n`,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("adds data-volume when it is absent", () => {
+    expect(updateAudioVolume(`<audio id="target" src="b.wav" />`, "target", 2)).toBe(
+      `<audio id="target" src="b.wav" data-volume="2" />`,
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/normalize-audio.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/normalize-audio.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c646f78792
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/normalize-audio.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,546 @@
+import { execFile } from "node:child_process";
+import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { isAbsolute, relative, resolve } from "node:path";
+import { promisify } from "node:util";
+import { MAX_AUDIO_GAIN_DB } from "@hyperframes/core/audio-gain";
+import { findFfBinary } from "@hyperframes/parsers/ff-binaries";
+import { defineCommand } from "citty";
+import { c } from "../ui/colors.js";
+import { resolveProject } from "../utils/project.js";
+import { failCommand } from "../utils/commandResult.js";
+import type { Example } from "./_examples.js";
+
+const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
+const FFMPEG_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000;
+const DEFAULT_TOLERANCE_LU = 0.5;
+
+interface AttributeSpan {
+  value: string;
+  valueStart: number;
+  valueEnd: number;
+}
+
+interface TagRange {
+  start: number;
+  end: number;
+}
+
+interface ParsedStartTag extends TagRange {
+  closing: boolean;
+  name: string;
+}
+
+interface ScanResult {
+  cursor: number;
+  audioRange: TagRange | null;
+}
+
+export interface AudioTag {
+  id: string;
+  src: string;
+  volume: number;
+  mediaStart: number;
+  duration: number | null;
+  start: number;
+  end: number;
+  volumeAttribute: AttributeSpan | null;
+}
+
+export interface LoudnessMeasurement {
+  integratedLufs: number;
+  truePeakDbfs: number;
+}
+
+export interface NormalizationTrack extends LoudnessMeasurement {
+  id: string;
+  volume: number;
+}
+
+export interface AudioNormalizationPlan {
+  referenceId: string;
+  targetId: string;
+  referenceLufs: number;
+  targetLufs: number;
+  previousVolume: number;
+  volume: number;
+  gainDb: number;
+  changeDb: number;
+  projectedLufs: number;
+  projectedTruePeakDbfs: number;
+}
+
+function authoredNumber(
+  raw: string | undefined,
+  fallback: number,
+  attribute: string,
+  id: string,
+  strictlyPositive = false,
+): number {
+  if (raw === undefined) return fallback;
+  const value = Number(raw);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(value) || (strictlyPositive ? value <= 0 : value < 0)) {
+    throw new Error(`Audio #${id} has an invalid ${attribute}: ${raw}`);
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+function attributeFromMatch(
+  match: RegExpMatchArray,
+  absoluteOffset: number,
+): [string, AttributeSpan] | null {
+  if (match.index === undefined) return null;
+  const name = match[1]?.toLowerCase();
+  const value = matchedAttributeValue(match);
+  if (!name || value === undefined) return null;
+
+  const whole = match[0];
+  const localValueStart = attributeValueStart(whole);
+  const valueStart = absoluteOffset + match.index + localValueStart;
+  return [name, { value, valueStart, valueEnd: valueStart + value.length }];
+}
+
+function matchedAttributeValue(match: RegExpMatchArray): string | undefined {
+  return match[2] ?? match[3] ?? match[4];
+}
+
+function attributeValueStart(attribute: string): number {
+  let cursor = attribute.indexOf("=") + 1;
+  while (/\s/.test(attribute[cursor] ?? "")) cursor += 1;
+  const quote = attribute[cursor];
+  return quote === '"' || quote === "'" ? cursor + 1 : cursor;
+}
+
+function attributesInTag(html: string, from: number, to: number): Map<string, AttributeSpan> {
+  const tag = html.slice(from, to);
+  const nameEnd = tag.search(/\s|\/?\s*>/);
+  const attributes = new Map<string, AttributeSpan>();
+  if (nameEnd < 0) return attributes;
+
+  const pattern = /([^\s=/>]+)\s*=\s*(?:"([^"]*)"|'([^']*)'|([^\s"'=<>`]+))/g;
+  for (const match of tag.slice(nameEnd).matchAll(pattern)) {
+    const attribute = attributeFromMatch(match, from + nameEnd);
+    if (attribute) attributes.set(...attribute);
+  }
+  return attributes;
+}
+
+function startTagEnd(html: string, start: number): number {
+  let quote = "";
+  let end = start + 1;
+  for (; end < html.length; end += 1) {
+    const char = html[end];
+    if (quote) {
+      if (char === quote) quote = "";
+    } else if (char === '"' || char === "'") {
+      quote = char;
+    } else if (char === ">") {
+      return end + 1;
+    }
+  }
+  throw new Error("Unterminated HTML start tag");
+}
+
+function commentEnd(html: string, start: number): number {
+  const end = html.indexOf("-->", start + 4);
+  if (end < 0) throw new Error("Unterminated HTML comment");
+  return end + 3;
+}
+
+function parsedStartTag(html: string, start: number): ParsedStartTag | null {
+  const match = html.slice(start).match(/^<\s*(\/?)\s*([a-z][a-z\d:-]*)\b/i);
+  if (!match) return null;
+  return {
+    start,
+    end: startTagEnd(html, start),
+    closing: match[1] === "/",
+    name: match[2]?.toLowerCase() ?? "",
+  };
+}
+
+function rawTextElementEnd(html: string, lower: string, tag: ParsedStartTag): number | null {
+  if (tag.closing || (tag.name !== "script" && tag.name !== "style")) return null;
+  const closeStart = lower.indexOf(`</${tag.name}`, tag.end);
+  if (closeStart < 0) throw new Error(`Unterminated <${tag.name}> element`);
+  return startTagEnd(html, closeStart);
+}
+
+function scanMarkup(html: string, lower: string, start: number): ScanResult {
+  if (html.startsWith("<!--", start)) {
+    return { cursor: commentEnd(html, start), audioRange: null };
+  }
+  const tag = parsedStartTag(html, start);
+  if (!tag) {
+    const marker = html[start + 1];
+    const cursor = marker === "!" || marker === "?" ? startTagEnd(html, start) : start + 1;
+    return { cursor, audioRange: null };
+  }
+  const rawTextEnd = rawTextElementEnd(html, lower, tag);
+  if (rawTextEnd !== null) return { cursor: rawTextEnd, audioRange: null };
+  const audioRange = !tag.closing && tag.name === "audio" ? { start, end: tag.end } : null;
+  return { cursor: tag.end, audioRange };
+}
+
+function audioTagRanges(html: string): TagRange[] {
+  const lower = html.toLowerCase();
+  const ranges: TagRange[] = [];
+  let cursor = 0;
+  while (cursor < html.length) {
+    const start = html.indexOf("<", cursor);
+    if (start < 0) break;
+    const scanned = scanMarkup(html, lower, start);
+    if (scanned.audioRange) ranges.push(scanned.audioRange);
+    cursor = scanned.cursor;
+  }
+  return ranges;
+}
+
+function trimmedAttribute(attributes: Map<string, AttributeSpan>, name: string): string {
+  return attributes.get(name)?.value.trim() ?? "";
+}
+
+function authoredDuration(attributes: Map<string, AttributeSpan>, id: string): number | null {
+  const raw = attributes.get("data-duration")?.value;
+  if (raw === undefined) return null;
+  return authoredNumber(raw, 0, "data-duration", id, true);
+}
+
+function requiredAudioIdentity(attributes: Map<string, AttributeSpan>) {
+  const id = trimmedAttribute(attributes, "id");
+  const src = trimmedAttribute(attributes, "src");
+  if (!id) throw new Error("Every normalized <audio> element needs an id");
+  if (!src) throw new Error(`Audio #${id} has no src`);
+  return { id, src };
+}
+
+function audioTagFromRange(html: string, range: TagRange): AudioTag {
+  const attributes = attributesInTag(html, range.start, range.end);
+  const { id, src } = requiredAudioIdentity(attributes);
+  const volumeAttribute = attributes.get("data-volume") ?? null;
+  return {
+    id,
+    src,
+    volume: authoredNumber(volumeAttribute?.value, 1, "data-volume", id),
+    mediaStart: authoredNumber(
+      attributes.get("data-media-start")?.value,
+      0,
+      "data-media-start",
+      id,
+    ),
+    duration: authoredDuration(attributes, id),
+    start: range.start,
+    end: range.end,
+    volumeAttribute,
+  };
+}
+
+/** Read the authored audio clips without reserializing the composition. */
+export function audioTags(html: string): AudioTag[] {
+  const seen = new Set<string>();
+  const tags: AudioTag[] = [];
+  for (const range of audioTagRanges(html)) {
+    const tag = audioTagFromRange(html, range);
+    if (seen.has(tag.id)) throw new Error(`Duplicate audio id "${tag.id}"`);
+    seen.add(tag.id);
+    tags.push(tag);
+  }
+  return tags;
+}
+
+/** Resolve only a file contained by the project. Remote and traversal sources are not measured. */
+export function resolveLocalAudioPath(projectDir: string, src: string): string {
+  const withoutSuffix = src.split(/[?#]/, 1)[0] ?? "";
+  let decoded = "";
+  try {
+    decoded = decodeURIComponent(withoutSuffix);
+  } catch {
+    throw new Error(`Audio source must be a local project file: ${src}`);
+  }
+  if (!decoded || isAbsolute(decoded) || /^(?:[a-z][a-z\d+.-]*:|\/\/)/i.test(decoded)) {
+    throw new Error(`Audio source must be a local project file: ${src}`);
+  }
+  const root = resolve(projectDir);
+  const file = resolve(root, decoded);
+  const rel = relative(root, file);
+  if (!rel || rel === ".." || rel.startsWith(`..${process.platform === "win32" ? "\\" : "/"}`)) {
+    throw new Error(`Audio source must be a local project file: ${src}`);
+  }
+  return file;
+}
+
+/** Parse FFmpeg's final EBU R128 summary, not its per-window log lines. */
+export function parseEbur128Summary(stderr: string): LoudnessMeasurement {
+  const summaryAt = stderr.lastIndexOf("Summary:");
+  const summary = summaryAt >= 0 ? stderr.slice(summaryAt) : "";
+  const integrated = summary.match(/\bI:\s*(-?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)\s+LUFS\b/);
+  const peak = summary.match(/\bPeak:\s*(-?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)\s+dBFS\b/);
+  const integratedLufs = Number(integrated?.[1]);
+  const truePeakDbfs = Number(peak?.[1]);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(integratedLufs)) {
+    throw new Error("FFmpeg did not report integrated loudness for this audio stream");
+  }
+  if (!Number.isFinite(truePeakDbfs)) {
+    throw new Error("FFmpeg did not report true peak for this audio stream");
+  }
+  return { integratedLufs, truePeakDbfs };
+}
+
+function gainDb(volume: number): number {
+  return volume > 0 ? 20 * Math.log10(volume) : Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY;
+}
+
+/** Calculate the target's absolute authored gain while keeping the reference unchanged. */
+export function audioNormalizationPlan(
+  referenceTrack: NormalizationTrack,
+  targetTrack: NormalizationTrack,
+): AudioNormalizationPlan {
+  if (!(referenceTrack.volume > 0) || !(targetTrack.volume > 0)) {
+    throw new Error("Muted audio cannot be used for loudness matching");
+  }
+  const referenceLufs = referenceTrack.integratedLufs + gainDb(referenceTrack.volume);
+  const targetLufs = targetTrack.integratedLufs + gainDb(targetTrack.volume);
+  const wantedGainDb = referenceLufs - targetTrack.integratedLufs;
+  if (wantedGainDb > MAX_AUDIO_GAIN_DB + 1e-9) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Matching #${targetTrack.id} needs ${wantedGainDb.toFixed(1)} dB, beyond Studio's +${MAX_AUDIO_GAIN_DB} dB ceiling`,
+    );
+  }
+  const volume = 10 ** (wantedGainDb / 20);
+  const projectedTruePeakDbfs = targetTrack.truePeakDbfs + wantedGainDb;
+  if (projectedTruePeakDbfs > 0) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Matching #${targetTrack.id} would clip at +${projectedTruePeakDbfs.toFixed(1)} dBFS; limit or preprocess the source first`,
+    );
+  }
+  return {
+    referenceId: referenceTrack.id,
+    targetId: targetTrack.id,
+    referenceLufs,
+    targetLufs,
+    previousVolume: targetTrack.volume,
+    volume,
+    gainDb: wantedGainDb,
+    changeDb: wantedGainDb - gainDb(targetTrack.volume),
+    projectedLufs: targetTrack.integratedLufs + wantedGainDb,
+    projectedTruePeakDbfs,
+  };
+}
+
+function serializedVolume(volume: number): string {
+  return volume.toFixed(6).replace(/\.?0+$/, "");
+}
+
+/** Patch one authored attribute in place so scripts/styles/comments remain byte-stable. */
+export function updateAudioVolume(html: string, id: string, volume: number): string {
+  const tag = audioTags(html).find((candidate) => candidate.id === id);
+  if (!tag) throw new Error(`Audio #${id} was not found`);
+  const value = serializedVolume(volume);
+  if (tag.volumeAttribute) {
+    return (
+      html.slice(0, tag.volumeAttribute.valueStart) +
+      value +
+      html.slice(tag.volumeAttribute.valueEnd)
+    );
+  }
+
+  let insertion = tag.end - 1;
+  let tail = insertion - 1;
+  while (tail >= tag.start && /\s/.test(html[tail] ?? "")) tail -= 1;
+  if (html[tail] === "/") {
+    insertion = tail;
+    while (insertion > tag.start && /\s/.test(html[insertion - 1] ?? "")) insertion -= 1;
+  } else {
+    while (insertion > tag.start && /\s/.test(html[insertion - 1] ?? "")) insertion -= 1;
+  }
+  return html.slice(0, insertion) + ` data-volume="${value}"` + html.slice(insertion);
+}
+
+async function measureAudio(
+  ffmpegPath: string,
+  file: string,
+  tag: Pick<AudioTag, "mediaStart" | "duration">,
+): Promise<LoudnessMeasurement> {
+  const args = ["-hide_banner", "-nostats", "-i", file];
+  if (tag.mediaStart > 0) args.push("-ss", String(tag.mediaStart));
+  if (tag.duration !== null && tag.duration > 0) args.push("-t", String(tag.duration));
+  args.push("-map", "0:a:0", "-vn", "-af", "ebur128=peak=true", "-f", "null", "-");
+  const result = await execFileAsync(ffmpegPath, args, {
+    encoding: "utf8",
+    maxBuffer: 16 * 1024 * 1024,
+    timeout: FFMPEG_TIMEOUT_MS,
+  });
+  return parseEbur128Summary(result.stderr);
+}
+
+function fail(message: string): never {
+  console.error(c.error(message));
+  failCommand();
+}
+
+function byId(tags: readonly AudioTag[], rawId: string, role: string): AudioTag {
+  const id = rawId.trim().replace(/^#/, "");
+  const tag = tags.find((candidate) => candidate.id === id);
+  if (!tag) throw new Error(`${role} audio #${id} was not found`);
+  return tag;
+}
+
+interface NormalizeAudioOptions {
+  dir?: string;
+  reference: string;
+  target: string;
+  tolerance: string;
+  write: boolean;
+}
+
+interface NormalizeAudioResult extends AudioNormalizationPlan {
+  ok: true;
+  wrote: boolean;
+  withinTolerance: boolean;
+  tolerance: number;
+  indexPath: string;
+}
+
+function selectedTags(html: string, referenceId: string, targetId: string) {
+  const tags = audioTags(html);
+  const referenceTag = byId(tags, referenceId, "Reference");
+  const targetTag = byId(tags, targetId, "Target");
+  if (referenceTag.id === targetTag.id) {
+    throw new Error("Reference and target must be different audio elements");
+  }
+  return { referenceTag, targetTag };
+}
+
+function requiredFfmpeg(): string {
+  const ffmpegPath = findFfBinary("ffmpeg", { configuredMustExist: true });
+  if (!ffmpegPath) throw new Error("FFmpeg is required to measure integrated loudness");
+  return ffmpegPath;
+}
+
+function existingAudioFile(projectDir: string, tag: AudioTag): string {
+  const file = resolveLocalAudioPath(projectDir, tag.src);
+  if (!existsSync(file)) {
+    throw new Error(`Audio #${tag.id} file was not found: ${relative(projectDir, file)}`);
+  }
+  return file;
+}
+
+async function measuredPlan(
+  projectDir: string,
+  referenceTag: AudioTag,
+  targetTag: AudioTag,
+): Promise<AudioNormalizationPlan> {
+  const ffmpegPath = requiredFfmpeg();
+  const referenceFile = existingAudioFile(projectDir, referenceTag);
+  const targetFile = existingAudioFile(projectDir, targetTag);
+  const [referenceMeasurement, targetMeasurement] = await Promise.all([
+    measureAudio(ffmpegPath, referenceFile, referenceTag),
+    measureAudio(ffmpegPath, targetFile, targetTag),
+  ]);
+  return audioNormalizationPlan(
+    { id: referenceTag.id, volume: referenceTag.volume, ...referenceMeasurement },
+    { id: targetTag.id, volume: targetTag.volume, ...targetMeasurement },
+  );
+}
+
+function parsedTolerance(raw: string): number {
+  const tolerance = Number(raw);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(tolerance) || tolerance < 0) {
+    throw new Error("--tolerance must be a non-negative number");
+  }
+  return tolerance;
+}
+
+async function normalizeAudio(options: NormalizeAudioOptions): Promise<NormalizeAudioResult> {
+  const project = resolveProject(options.dir);
+  const html = readFileSync(project.indexPath, "utf8");
+  const { referenceTag, targetTag } = selectedTags(html, options.reference, options.target);
+  const plan = await measuredPlan(project.dir, referenceTag, targetTag);
+  const tolerance = parsedTolerance(options.tolerance);
+  const withinTolerance = Math.abs(plan.referenceLufs - plan.targetLufs) <= tolerance;
+  const wrote = options.write && !withinTolerance;
+  if (wrote) writeFileSync(project.indexPath, updateAudioVolume(html, targetTag.id, plan.volume));
+  return { ok: true, wrote, withinTolerance, tolerance, indexPath: project.indexPath, ...plan };
+}
+
+function printHumanResult(result: NormalizeAudioResult): void {
+  console.log(
+    `${c.bold(`#${result.referenceId}`)} ${result.referenceLufs.toFixed(1)} LUFS → ` +
+      `${c.bold(`#${result.targetId}`)} ${result.targetLufs.toFixed(1)} LUFS`,
+  );
+  if (result.withinTolerance) {
+    console.log(
+      c.success(`Already matched within ${result.tolerance.toFixed(1)} LU; no change needed.`),
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log(
+    `Set #${result.targetId} data-volume ${result.previousVolume.toFixed(3)} → ${result.volume.toFixed(6)} ` +
+      `(${result.changeDb >= 0 ? "+" : ""}${result.changeDb.toFixed(1)} dB).`,
+  );
+  console.log(
+    result.wrote
+      ? c.success(`Updated ${relative(process.cwd(), result.indexPath) || "index.html"}.`)
+      : c.dim("Dry run only. Pass --write to persist this gain."),
+  );
+}
+
+export const examples: Example[] = [
+  [
+    "Measure two authored clips and preview the matching gain",
+    "hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio",
+  ],
+  [
+    "Persist the measured gain into index.html",
+    "hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio --write",
+  ],
+];
+
+export default defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "normalize-audio",
+    description: "Match one local audio clip to another using integrated LUFS",
+  },
+  args: {
+    dir: { type: "positional", description: "Project directory", required: false },
+    reference: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Audio element id whose effective loudness should be preserved",
+      required: true,
+    },
+    target: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Audio element id whose data-volume should be matched",
+      required: true,
+    },
+    write: {
+      type: "boolean",
+      description: "Persist the measured target gain into index.html",
+      default: false,
+    },
+    tolerance: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: `Skip writes within this many LU (default ${DEFAULT_TOLERANCE_LU})`,
+      default: String(DEFAULT_TOLERANCE_LU),
+    },
+    json: { type: "boolean", description: "Print machine-readable output", default: false },
+  },
+  async run({ args }) {
+    try {
+      const result = await normalizeAudio({
+        dir: args.dir,
+        reference: args.reference,
+        target: args.target,
+        tolerance: args.tolerance,
+        write: args.write,
+      });
+      if (args.json) {
+        const { indexPath: _, ...jsonResult } = result;
+        console.log(JSON.stringify(jsonResult, null, 2));
+        return;
+      }
+      printHumanResult(result);
+    } catch (error) {
+      fail(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
+    }
+  },
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.test.ts
index 38b02f58e6..a9586179de 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.test.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,32 @@
 import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { studioLandingSearch } from "./preview.js";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { runCommand } from "citty";
+import {
+  default as previewCommand,
+  foregroundPreviewReadyPayload,
+  handlePreviewKillAll,
+  handlePreviewList,
+  previewLaunchMode,
+  previewLaunchModeError,
+  previewPortError,
+  publicPreviewPid,
+  previewViteArgs,
+  reportPreviewShutdown,
+  studioReadyUrl,
+  studioDeepLink,
+  studioLandingSearch,
+  studioSummaryUrls,
+  waitForStudioChildClose,
+} from "./preview.js";
 
 const tempDirs: string[] = [];
 
 afterEach(() => {
   for (const dir of tempDirs.splice(0)) rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  process.exitCode = undefined;
 });
 
 function projectWith(storyboard: string | null, frameFiles: string[] = []): string {
@@ -51,3 +70,363 @@ describe("studioLandingSearch", () => {
     expect(studioLandingSearch(dir)).toBe("");
   });
 });
+
+describe("Studio handoff URLs", () => {
+  it("hands off the exact timeline project route", () => {
+    const dir = projectWith(null);
+    expect(studioDeepLink("http://127.0.0.1:3002", "demo", dir)).toBe(
+      "http://127.0.0.1:3002/#project/demo",
+    );
+    expect(studioSummaryUrls("demo", "http://127.0.0.1:3002", dir)).toEqual({
+      serverUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:3002",
+      studioUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:3002/#project/demo",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("hands off the exact storyboard route while a project is still planning", () => {
+    const dir = projectWith(FRAME(1, "outline"));
+    expect(studioDeepLink("http://127.0.0.1:3002", "demo", dir)).toBe(
+      "http://127.0.0.1:3002/?view=storyboard#project/demo",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("URL-encodes project names that have hash-route metacharacters", () => {
+    const dir = projectWith(null);
+    expect(studioDeepLink("http://127.0.0.1:3002", "Launch #1? 50%", dir)).toBe(
+      "http://127.0.0.1:3002/#project/Launch%20%231%3F%2050%25",
+    );
+  });
+});
+
+describe("previewLaunchMode", () => {
+  it.each([
+    [
+      {
+        background: false,
+        foreground: false,
+        interactive: false,
+        devMode: false,
+        localStudio: false,
+      },
+      "background",
+    ],
+    [
+      {
+        background: false,
+        foreground: false,
+        interactive: true,
+        devMode: false,
+        localStudio: false,
+      },
+      "embedded",
+    ],
+    [
+      {
+        background: false,
+        foreground: true,
+        interactive: false,
+        devMode: true,
+        localStudio: false,
+      },
+      "dev",
+    ],
+    [
+      {
+        background: false,
+        foreground: true,
+        interactive: false,
+        devMode: false,
+        localStudio: true,
+      },
+      "local",
+    ],
+    [
+      {
+        background: true,
+        foreground: false,
+        interactive: true,
+        devMode: true,
+        localStudio: true,
+      },
+      "background",
+    ],
+  ] as const)("resolves %o to %s", (options, expected) => {
+    expect(previewLaunchMode(options)).toBe(expected);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects conflicting lifecycle overrides and actions", () => {
+    expect(
+      previewLaunchModeError({
+        background: true,
+        foreground: true,
+        status: false,
+        stop: false,
+        list: false,
+        killAll: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("--background and --foreground cannot be used together");
+    expect(
+      previewLaunchModeError({
+        background: false,
+        foreground: false,
+        status: true,
+        stop: true,
+        list: false,
+        killAll: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("Only one of --status, --stop, --list, or --kill-all can be used at a time");
+    expect(
+      previewLaunchModeError({
+        background: true,
+        foreground: false,
+        status: false,
+        stop: false,
+        list: false,
+        killAll: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBeNull();
+    expect(
+      previewLaunchModeError({
+        background: true,
+        foreground: false,
+        status: true,
+        stop: false,
+        list: false,
+        killAll: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("Preview launch overrides cannot be combined with lifecycle actions");
+    expect(
+      previewLaunchModeError({
+        background: false,
+        foreground: true,
+        status: false,
+        stop: false,
+        list: false,
+        killAll: true,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("Preview launch overrides cannot be combined with lifecycle actions");
+    expect(
+      previewLaunchModeError({
+        background: false,
+        foreground: false,
+        forceNew: true,
+        status: true,
+        stop: false,
+        list: false,
+        killAll: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("Preview launch overrides cannot be combined with lifecycle actions");
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    [undefined, null],
+    ["3002", null],
+    ["1", null],
+    ["65535", null],
+    ["banana", "--port must be an integer between 1 and 65535"],
+    ["3002oops", "--port must be an integer between 1 and 65535"],
+    ["0", "--port must be an integer between 1 and 65535"],
+    ["65536", "--port must be an integer between 1 and 65535"],
+  ])("validates preview port %j", (value, expected) => {
+    expect(previewPortError(value)).toBe(expected);
+  });
+
+  it("prefers the live server PID over its launcher PID", () => {
+    expect(publicPreviewPid("9876", 4321)).toBe(9876);
+    expect(publicPreviewPid(null, 4321)).toBe(4321);
+  });
+
+  it("pins detached Vite to the port the lifecycle scanner waits on", () => {
+    expect(previewViteArgs(3032)).toEqual(["--host", "127.0.0.1", "--port", "3032"]);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ["  Local:   http://localhost:43127/", "http://localhost:43127"],
+    ["  Local:   http://127.0.0.1:43127/", "http://127.0.0.1:43127"],
+    [
+      "\u001b[32m  Local:\u001b[0m   \u001b[36mhttp://127.0.0.1:43127/\u001b[0m",
+      "http://127.0.0.1:43127",
+    ],
+  ])("extracts the ready URL from Vite output %j", (output, expected) => {
+    expect(studioReadyUrl(output)).toBe(expected);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("preview lifecycle JSON failures", () => {
+  it.each([
+    [
+      "list",
+      () =>
+        handlePreviewList(3002, true, {
+          scan: async () => {
+            throw new Error("list probe failed");
+          },
+          listManaged: async () => [],
+        }),
+      "preview-list-failed",
+    ],
+    [
+      "kill-all",
+      () =>
+        handlePreviewKillAll(3002, true, {
+          listManaged: async () => [
+            {
+              pid: 4321,
+              port: 41402,
+              projectDir: "/tmp/managed-preview",
+              logPath: "/tmp/managed-preview.log",
+            },
+          ],
+          stopManaged: async () => {
+            throw new Error("ownership failed");
+          },
+          killScanned: async () => 0,
+        }),
+      "preview-kill-all-failed",
+    ],
+  ] as const)("wraps %s failures in one JSON document", async (operation, run, code) => {
+    const log = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const error = vi.spyOn(console, "error").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    await run();
+
+    expect(log).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    const [line] = log.mock.calls[0] as [string];
+    expect(JSON.parse(line)).toMatchObject({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation,
+      ok: false,
+      error: { code },
+    });
+    expect(error).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("wraps managed-start validation failures in one JSON document", async () => {
+    const dir = projectWith(null);
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, "index.html"), "<html></html>");
+    const log = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    await runCommand(previewCommand, {
+      rawArgs: [dir, "--background", "--json", "--user-data-dir", join(dir, "profile")],
+    });
+
+    expect(log).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    const [line] = log.mock.calls[0] as [string];
+    expect(JSON.parse(line)).toMatchObject({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation: "start",
+      ok: false,
+      error: { code: "preview-validation-failed" },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("wraps stop failures in one JSON document", async () => {
+    const missing = join(tmpdir(), `hf-preview-missing-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`);
+    const log = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const error = vi.spyOn(console, "error").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    await runCommand(previewCommand, {
+      rawArgs: [missing, "--stop", "--json"],
+    });
+
+    expect(log).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    const [line] = log.mock.calls[0] as [string];
+    expect(JSON.parse(line)).toMatchObject({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation: "stop",
+      ok: false,
+      error: { code: "preview-stop-failed" },
+    });
+    expect(error).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("wraps missing-project start failures without human stderr", async () => {
+    const missing = join(tmpdir(), `hf-preview-missing-start-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`);
+    const log = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const error = vi.spyOn(console, "error").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    await runCommand(previewCommand, { rawArgs: [missing, "--background", "--json"] });
+
+    expect(log).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    const [line] = log.mock.calls[0] as [string];
+    expect(JSON.parse(line)).toMatchObject({
+      operation: "start",
+      ok: false,
+      error: { code: "preview-start-failed" },
+    });
+    expect(error).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("foreground preview JSON", () => {
+  it("emits the same ready session contract before remaining attached", () => {
+    const dir = projectWith(null);
+    expect(foregroundPreviewReadyPayload("Launch #1", "http://localhost:4567", dir, 4321)).toEqual({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation: "start",
+      ok: true,
+      result: {
+        state: "started",
+        mode: "foreground",
+        projectName: "Launch #1",
+        projectDir: dir,
+        host: "127.0.0.1",
+        port: 4567,
+        pid: 4321,
+        serverUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:4567",
+        studioUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:4567/#project/Launch%20%231",
+        ready: true,
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps embedded shutdown silent after the readiness envelope", () => {
+    const log = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    reportPreviewShutdown(true);
+
+    expect(log).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("waitForStudioChildClose", () => {
+  it("resolves when the child closed before the listener was attached", async () => {
+    const signalTarget = { once: vi.fn(), off: vi.fn() };
+    const child = {
+      exitCode: 1,
+      signalCode: null,
+      once: vi.fn(),
+    } as unknown as Parameters<typeof waitForStudioChildClose>[0];
+
+    await expect(waitForStudioChildClose(child, signalTarget)).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    expect(child.once).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(signalTarget.once).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(signalTarget.off).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  it("reaps on process exit even when stdio never emits close", async () => {
+    let exit: (() => void) | undefined;
+    const signalTarget = { once: vi.fn(), off: vi.fn() };
+    const child = {
+      exitCode: null,
+      signalCode: null,
+      once: vi.fn((event: string, listener: () => void) => {
+        if (event === "exit") exit = listener;
+      }),
+    } as unknown as Parameters<typeof waitForStudioChildClose>[0];
+
+    let resolved = false;
+    const waiting = waitForStudioChildClose(child, signalTarget).then(() => {
+      resolved = true;
+    });
+
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    expect(resolved).toBe(false);
+    expect(child.once).toHaveBeenCalledWith("exit", expect.any(Function));
+
+    exit?.();
+    await waiting;
+    expect(resolved).toBe(true);
+    expect(signalTarget.off).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.ts
index 1c297427f4..822eb99a65 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/preview.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const examples: Example[] = [
   ["Use a custom port", "hyperframes preview --port 8080"],
   ["Force a new server even if one is already running", "hyperframes preview --force-new"],
   ["Keep preview running after this command exits", "hyperframes preview --background"],
+  ["Force an attached preview in a non-interactive shell", "hyperframes preview --foreground"],
   ["Show the background preview for this project", "hyperframes preview --status"],
   ["Stop the background preview for this project", "hyperframes preview --stop"],
   ["Start without opening the browser", "hyperframes preview --no-open"],
@@ -55,20 +56,30 @@ import {
 import { lintProject } from "../utils/lintProject.js";
 import { formatLintFindings } from "../utils/lintFormat.js";
 import {
+  activeServerOnPort,
   findPortAndServe,
   scanActiveServers,
   killActiveServers,
   type FindPortResult,
 } from "../server/portUtils.js";
 import { killOrphanedProcesses, killProcessTree } from "../utils/orphanCleanup.js";
-import { resolveProject } from "../utils/project.js";
+import { resolveProject, resolveProjectOrThrow } from "../utils/project.js";
 import { resolveAutoProxy } from "../utils/projectConfig.js";
 import { studioProxyEnv } from "../utils/studioProxyEnv.js";
 import {
+  listBackgroundPreviewStatuses,
   readBackgroundPreviewStatus,
   startBackgroundPreview,
   stopBackgroundPreview,
 } from "./previewLifecycle.js";
+import {
+  lifecycleFailurePayload,
+  lifecyclePayload,
+  writeLifecycleJson,
+  type PreviewLifecycleOperation,
+  type PreviewLifecyclePayload,
+  type PreviewLifecycleSession,
+} from "./previewLifecycleOutput.js";
 import { resolveLocalBrowserGpuMode, type BrowserGpuMode } from "../browser/gpuPolicy.js";
 
 interface BrowserLaunchOptions {
@@ -83,6 +94,8 @@ interface StudioLaunchOptions extends BrowserLaunchOptions {
   projectName?: string;
   autoProxy?: boolean;
   browserGpuMode?: BrowserGpuMode;
+  port?: number;
+  json?: boolean;
 }
 
 interface EmbeddedStudioOptions extends StudioLaunchOptions {
@@ -91,6 +104,10 @@ interface EmbeddedStudioOptions extends StudioLaunchOptions {
 }
 
 type StudioChildProcess = ChildProcessByStdio<null, Readable, Readable>;
+interface StudioSignalTarget {
+  once(event: "SIGINT" | "SIGTERM", listener: () => void): unknown;
+  off(event: "SIGINT" | "SIGTERM", listener: () => void): unknown;
+}
 type ContextField = "server" | "selection" | "lint" | "capabilities";
 type CompactSelectionPayload = Pick<
   StudioSelectionSnapshot,
@@ -110,10 +127,21 @@ type CompactSelectionPayload = Pick<
 const DEFAULT_CONTEXT_FIELDS: ContextField[] = ["server", "selection", "lint", "capabilities"];
 
 export default defineCommand({
-  meta: { name: "preview", description: "Start the studio for previewing compositions" },
+  meta: {
+    name: "preview",
+    description: "Start the studio for previewing compositions",
+  },
   args: {
-    dir: { type: "positional", description: "Project directory", required: false },
-    port: { type: "string", description: "Port to run the preview server on", default: "3002" },
+    dir: {
+      type: "positional",
+      description: "Project directory",
+      required: false,
+    },
+    port: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Port to run the preview server on",
+      default: "3002",
+    },
     "force-new": {
       type: "boolean",
       description: "Start a new server even if one is already running for this project",
@@ -121,7 +149,12 @@ export default defineCommand({
     },
     background: {
       type: "boolean",
-      description: "Start an embedded preview that remains running after the command exits",
+      description: "Start a preview that remains running after the command exits",
+      default: false,
+    },
+    foreground: {
+      type: "boolean",
+      description: "Keep preview attached even when the shell is non-interactive",
       default: false,
     },
     status: {
@@ -156,7 +189,7 @@ export default defineCommand({
     },
     json: {
       type: "boolean",
-      description: "Output preview selection/context as JSON (only with --selection or --context)",
+      description: "Output selection, context, or managed lifecycle state as JSON",
       default: false,
     },
     context: {
@@ -207,6 +240,58 @@ export default defineCommand({
     },
   },
   async run({ args }) {
+    const launchModeError = previewLaunchModeError({
+      background: Boolean(args.background),
+      foreground: Boolean(args.foreground),
+      forceNew: Boolean(args["force-new"]),
+      status: Boolean(args.status),
+      stop: Boolean(args.stop),
+      list: Boolean(args.list),
+      killAll: Boolean(args["kill-all"]),
+    });
+    if (launchModeError) {
+      if (args.json) {
+        writeLifecycleJson(
+          lifecycleFailurePayload(
+            args.status
+              ? "status"
+              : args.stop
+                ? "stop"
+                : args.list
+                  ? "list"
+                  : args["kill-all"]
+                    ? "kill-all"
+                    : "start",
+            "conflicting-lifecycle-flags",
+            launchModeError,
+          ),
+        );
+      } else {
+        clack.log.error(launchModeError);
+      }
+      setCommandExitCode(1);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const portError = previewPortError(args.port);
+    if (portError) {
+      reportPreviewFailure(
+        Boolean(args.json),
+        args.status
+          ? "status"
+          : args.stop
+            ? "stop"
+            : args.list
+              ? "list"
+              : args["kill-all"]
+                ? "kill-all"
+                : "start",
+        "preview-validation-failed",
+        portError,
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+
     const browserGpuMode = resolveLocalBrowserGpuMode(args["browser-gpu"] as boolean | undefined);
     if (args["browser-gpu"] === true) process.env.PRODUCER_BROWSER_GPU_MODE = "hardware";
     if (args["browser-gpu"] === false) process.env.PRODUCER_BROWSER_GPU_MODE = "software";
@@ -214,56 +299,83 @@ export default defineCommand({
     const preferredContextPort = hasExplicitPreviewPort(process.argv) ? startPort : undefined;
 
     if (args.status || args.stop) {
-      const project = resolveProject(args.dir);
-      if (args.stop) {
-        const stopped = await stopBackgroundPreview(project.dir, startPort);
-        console.log(
-          stopped
-            ? `\n  ${c.success("Stopped background preview")} ${c.dim(project.dir)}\n`
-            : `\n  ${c.dim("No background preview is running for")} ${project.dir}\n`,
-        );
+      try {
+        const project = args.json ? resolveProjectOrThrow(args.dir) : resolveProject(args.dir);
+        if (args.stop) {
+          const stopped = await stopBackgroundPreview(project.dir, startPort);
+          if (args.json) {
+            writeLifecycleJson(
+              lifecyclePayload(
+                "stop",
+                stopped
+                  ? { state: "stopped", projectDir: project.dir }
+                  : { state: "not-running", projectDir: project.dir },
+              ),
+            );
+          } else {
+            console.log(
+              stopped
+                ? `\n  ${c.success("Stopped background preview")} ${c.dim(project.dir)}\n`
+                : `\n  ${c.dim("No background preview is running for")} ${project.dir}\n`,
+            );
+          }
+          return;
+        }
+        const status = await readBackgroundPreviewStatus(project.dir, startPort);
+        if (!status) {
+          if (args.json) {
+            writeLifecycleJson(
+              lifecyclePayload("status", {
+                state: "not-running",
+                projectDir: project.dir,
+              }),
+            );
+          } else {
+            console.log(`\n  ${c.dim("No background preview is running for")} ${project.dir}\n`);
+          }
+          return;
+        }
+        if (args.json) {
+          writeLifecycleJson(
+            lifecyclePayload(
+              "status",
+              previewLifecycleSession({
+                state: "running",
+                mode: "background",
+                projectName: project.name,
+                projectDir: project.dir,
+                port: status.port,
+                pid: status.pid,
+                logPath: status.logPath,
+              }),
+            ),
+          );
+          return;
+        }
+        printStudioSummary(project.name, previewBaseUrl(status.port), project.dir, {
+          details: [`Background preview running (PID ${status.pid}).`, `Log: ${status.logPath}`],
+        });
         return;
-      }
-      const status = await readBackgroundPreviewStatus(project.dir, startPort);
-      if (!status) {
-        console.log(`\n  ${c.dim("No background preview is running for")} ${project.dir}\n`);
+      } catch (error) {
+        reportPreviewFailure(
+          Boolean(args.json),
+          args.stop ? "stop" : "status",
+          args.stop ? "preview-stop-failed" : "preview-status-failed",
+          errorMessage(error),
+        );
         return;
       }
-      console.log(`\n  ${c.success("Background preview running")}`);
-      console.log(
-        `  ${c.accent(`http://localhost:${status.port}`)} ${c.dim(`(PID ${status.pid})`)}`,
-      );
-      console.log(`  ${c.dim(status.logPath)}\n`);
-      return;
     }
 
     // --list: scan and display active servers
     if (args.list) {
-      const servers = await scanActiveServers(startPort);
-      if (servers.length === 0) {
-        console.log("\n  No active preview servers found.\n");
-        return;
-      }
-      console.log(`\n  ${c.bold("Active preview servers:")}\n`);
-      for (const s of servers) {
-        const pidStr = s.pid ? c.dim(` (PID ${s.pid})`) : "";
-        console.log(
-          `  ${c.accent(`Port ${s.port}`)}  ${s.projectName}  ${c.dim(s.projectDir)}${pidStr}`,
-        );
-      }
-      console.log(`\n  ${servers.length} server${servers.length === 1 ? "" : "s"} running.\n`);
+      await handlePreviewList(startPort, Boolean(args.json));
       return;
     }
 
     // --kill-all: kill all active servers
     if (args["kill-all"]) {
-      const servers = await scanActiveServers(startPort);
-      if (servers.length === 0) {
-        console.log("\n  No active preview servers to kill.\n");
-        return;
-      }
-      const killed = await killActiveServers(startPort);
-      console.log(`\n  Killed ${killed} preview server${killed === 1 ? "" : "s"}.\n`);
+      await handlePreviewKillAll(startPort, Boolean(args.json));
       return;
     }
 
@@ -289,7 +401,7 @@ export default defineCommand({
 
     // Kill orphaned chrome-headless-shell processes from previous crashed sessions.
     const orphansKilled = killOrphanedProcesses();
-    if (orphansKilled > 0) {
+    if (orphansKilled > 0 && !args.json) {
       console.log(
         `  ${c.dim(`Cleaned up ${orphansKilled} orphaned process${orphansKilled === 1 ? "" : "es"} from a previous session.`)}`,
       );
@@ -297,13 +409,24 @@ export default defineCommand({
 
     const rawArg = args.dir;
     const isImplicitCwd = !rawArg || rawArg === "." || rawArg === "./";
-    const project = resolveProject(rawArg);
+    let project;
+    try {
+      project = args.json ? resolveProjectOrThrow(rawArg) : resolveProject(rawArg);
+    } catch (error) {
+      reportPreviewFailure(
+        Boolean(args.json),
+        "start",
+        "preview-start-failed",
+        errorMessage(error),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
     const dir = project.dir;
     const projectName = isImplicitCwd ? basename(process.env.PWD ?? dir) : project.name;
 
     // Lint before starting — surface issues for the agent to fix.
     const lintResult = await lintProject(dir);
-    if (lintResult.totalErrors > 0 || lintResult.totalWarnings > 0) {
+    if (!args.json && (lintResult.totalErrors > 0 || lintResult.totalWarnings > 0)) {
       console.log();
       for (const line of formatLintFindings(lintResult)) console.log(line);
       console.log();
@@ -311,8 +434,12 @@ export default defineCommand({
 
     // Validation: --user-data-dir requires --browser-path
     if (args["user-data-dir"] && !args["browser-path"]) {
-      clack.log.error("--user-data-dir requires --browser-path");
-      setCommandExitCode(1);
+      reportPreviewFailure(
+        Boolean(args.json),
+        "start",
+        "preview-validation-failed",
+        "--user-data-dir requires --browser-path",
+      );
       return;
     }
     // Validation: --remote-debugging-port deps
@@ -322,8 +449,7 @@ export default defineCommand({
       remoteDebuggingPort: args["remote-debugging-port"] as string | undefined,
     });
     if (depsError) {
-      clack.log.error(depsError);
-      setCommandExitCode(1);
+      reportPreviewFailure(Boolean(args.json), "start", "preview-validation-failed", depsError);
       return;
     }
 
@@ -331,10 +457,12 @@ export default defineCommand({
     const browserPath = args["browser-path"] as string | undefined;
     const browserNoGpu = !!args["browser-no-gpu"];
     if (browserNoGpu && !browserPath) {
-      clack.log.error(
+      reportPreviewFailure(
+        Boolean(args.json),
+        "start",
+        "preview-validation-failed",
         "--browser-no-gpu requires --browser-path (the system default browser cannot receive Chromium flags — use --no-open on GPU-unstable hosts)",
       );
-      setCommandExitCode(1);
       return;
     }
     const userDataDir = args["user-data-dir"] as string | undefined;
@@ -344,39 +472,86 @@ export default defineCommand({
         args["remote-debugging-port"] as string | undefined,
       );
     } catch (err) {
-      clack.log.error((err as Error).message);
-      setCommandExitCode(1);
+      reportPreviewFailure(
+        Boolean(args.json),
+        "start",
+        "preview-validation-failed",
+        (err as Error).message,
+      );
       return;
     }
     // Resolve once so embedded, monorepo-dev, and locally installed Studio
     // modes all receive identical --proxy/--no-proxy + config semantics.
     const autoProxy = resolveAutoProxy(dir, args.proxy as boolean | undefined);
 
-    if (isDevMode()) {
-      if (args.background) {
-        clack.log.error("--background currently supports the embedded preview server only");
+    const launchMode = previewLaunchMode({
+      background: Boolean(args.background),
+      foreground: Boolean(args.foreground),
+      interactive: Boolean(process.stdin.isTTY && process.stdout.isTTY),
+      devMode: isDevMode(),
+      localStudio: hasLocalStudio(dir),
+    });
+
+    if (launchMode === "background") {
+      let background;
+      try {
+        background = await startBackgroundPreview(dir, startPort, {
+          forceNew: Boolean(args["force-new"]),
+          // A bare launch promises same-project reuse, regardless of the mode
+          // the existing managed server resolved earlier. Only an explicit
+          // --browser-gpu/--no-browser-gpu request authorizes replacement.
+          browserGpuMode: args["browser-gpu"] === undefined ? undefined : browserGpuMode,
+        });
+      } catch (error) {
+        const message = errorMessage(error);
+        if (args.json) {
+          writeLifecycleJson(lifecycleFailurePayload("start", "preview-start-failed", message));
+        } else {
+          clack.log.error(message);
+        }
         setCommandExitCode(1);
         return;
       }
-      return runDevMode(dir, {
-        projectName,
+      const url = `http://localhost:${background.port}`;
+      if (args.json) {
+        writeLifecycleJson(
+          lifecyclePayload(
+            "start",
+            previewLifecycleSession({
+              state: background.type,
+              mode: "background",
+              projectName,
+              projectDir: dir,
+              port: background.port,
+              pid: background.pid,
+              ...(background.logPath ? { logPath: background.logPath } : {}),
+            }),
+          ),
+        );
+      } else {
+        clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview"));
+        printStudioSummary(projectName, url, dir, {
+          details: [
+            background.type === "reused"
+              ? "Reusing the background server already running for this project."
+              : `Running in the background. Log: ${background.logPath}`,
+            "Changes reload automatically in the studio.",
+          ],
+          footer: `Stop with: hyperframes preview ${JSON.stringify(dir)} --stop`,
+        });
+      }
+      openStudioBrowser(url, projectName, dir, {
         noOpen,
         browserPath,
         userDataDir,
         remoteDebuggingPort,
         browserNoGpu,
-        autoProxy,
       });
+      return;
     }
 
-    // If @hyperframes/studio is installed locally, use Vite for full HMR
-    if (hasLocalStudio(dir)) {
-      if (args.background) {
-        clack.log.error("--background currently supports the embedded preview server only");
-        setCommandExitCode(1);
-        return;
-      }
-      return runLocalStudioMode(dir, {
+    if (launchMode === "dev") {
+      return runDevMode(dir, {
         projectName,
         noOpen,
         browserPath,
@@ -384,40 +559,26 @@ export default defineCommand({
         remoteDebuggingPort,
         browserNoGpu,
         autoProxy,
+        browserGpuMode,
+        port: startPort,
+        json: Boolean(args.json),
       });
     }
 
-    if (args.background) {
-      let background;
-      try {
-        background = await startBackgroundPreview(dir, startPort, {
-          forceNew: Boolean(args["force-new"]),
-          browserGpuMode,
-        });
-      } catch (error) {
-        clack.log.error(errorMessage(error));
-        setCommandExitCode(1);
-        return;
-      }
-      const url = `http://localhost:${background.port}`;
-      clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview"));
-      printStudioSummary(projectName, url, {
-        details: [
-          background.type === "reused"
-            ? "Reusing the background server already running for this project."
-            : `Running in the background. Log: ${background.logPath}`,
-          "Changes reload automatically in the studio.",
-        ],
-        footer: `Stop with: hyperframes preview ${JSON.stringify(dir)} --stop`,
-      });
-      openStudioBrowser(url, projectName, dir, {
+    // If @hyperframes/studio is installed locally, use Vite for full HMR
+    if (launchMode === "local") {
+      return runLocalStudioMode(dir, {
+        projectName,
         noOpen,
         browserPath,
         userDataDir,
         remoteDebuggingPort,
         browserNoGpu,
+        autoProxy,
+        browserGpuMode,
+        port: startPort,
+        json: Boolean(args.json),
       });
-      return;
     }
 
     const forceNew = !!args["force-new"];
@@ -431,12 +592,179 @@ export default defineCommand({
       remoteDebuggingPort,
       browserNoGpu,
       browserGpuMode,
+      json: Boolean(args.json),
     });
   },
 });
 
-// `host` is the loopback the server actually bound (Vite binds `[::1]`, embedded
-// binds `127.0.0.1`); default to IPv4 for the embedded/legacy callers.
+export type PreviewLaunchMode = "background" | "dev" | "local" | "embedded";
+
+export function previewLaunchMode(options: {
+  background: boolean;
+  foreground: boolean;
+  interactive: boolean;
+  devMode: boolean;
+  localStudio: boolean;
+}): PreviewLaunchMode {
+  if (options.background) return "background";
+  if (!options.foreground && !options.interactive) return "background";
+  if (options.devMode) return "dev";
+  return options.localStudio ? "local" : "embedded";
+}
+
+export function previewLaunchModeError(options: {
+  background: boolean;
+  foreground: boolean;
+  forceNew?: boolean;
+  status: boolean;
+  stop: boolean;
+  list: boolean;
+  killAll: boolean;
+}): string | null {
+  if (options.background && options.foreground) {
+    return "--background and --foreground cannot be used together";
+  }
+  const actionCount = [options.status, options.stop, options.list, options.killAll].filter(
+    Boolean,
+  ).length;
+  if (actionCount > 1) {
+    return "Only one of --status, --stop, --list, or --kill-all can be used at a time";
+  }
+  if (actionCount > 0 && (options.background || options.foreground || options.forceNew)) {
+    return "Preview launch overrides cannot be combined with lifecycle actions";
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function previewPortError(port: string | undefined): string | null {
+  const value = port ?? "3002";
+  if (!/^\d+$/.test(value)) return "--port must be an integer between 1 and 65535";
+  const parsed = Number(value);
+  return parsed >= 1 && parsed <= 65535 ? null : "--port must be an integer between 1 and 65535";
+}
+
+export function publicPreviewPid(
+  serverPid: string | null | undefined,
+  fallbackPid: number | null,
+): number | null {
+  const parsed = Number(serverPid);
+  return Number.isInteger(parsed) && parsed > 0 ? parsed : fallbackPid;
+}
+
+function reportPreviewFailure(
+  json: boolean,
+  operation: PreviewLifecycleOperation,
+  code: string,
+  message: string,
+): void {
+  if (json) writeLifecycleJson(lifecycleFailurePayload(operation, code, message));
+  else clack.log.error(message);
+  setCommandExitCode(1);
+}
+
+interface PreviewActionDependencies {
+  scan?: typeof scanActiveServers;
+  listManaged?: typeof listBackgroundPreviewStatuses;
+  stopManaged?: typeof stopBackgroundPreview;
+  killScanned?: typeof killActiveServers;
+}
+
+export async function handlePreviewList(
+  startPort: number,
+  json: boolean,
+  dependencies: PreviewActionDependencies = {},
+): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    const [scannedServers, managedSessions] = await Promise.all([
+      (dependencies.scan ?? scanActiveServers)(startPort),
+      (dependencies.listManaged ?? listBackgroundPreviewStatuses)(),
+    ]);
+    const managedKeys = new Set(
+      managedSessions.map((session) => `${resolve(session.projectDir)}\0${session.port}`),
+    );
+    const servers = [
+      ...managedSessions.map((session) => ({
+        port: session.port,
+        host: "127.0.0.1",
+        projectName: basename(session.projectDir),
+        projectDir: session.projectDir,
+        version: "managed",
+        pid: String(session.pid),
+      })),
+      ...scannedServers.filter(
+        (server) => !managedKeys.has(`${resolve(server.projectDir)}\0${server.port}`),
+      ),
+    ];
+    if (json) {
+      writeLifecycleJson(
+        lifecyclePayload("list", {
+          state: "listed",
+          sessions: servers.map((server) =>
+            previewLifecycleSession({
+              state: "running",
+              mode: server.version === "managed" ? "background" : "unknown",
+              projectName: server.projectName,
+              projectDir: server.projectDir,
+              port: server.port,
+              pid: server.pid ? Number(server.pid) : null,
+              host: server.host,
+            }),
+          ),
+        }),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+    if (servers.length === 0) {
+      console.log("\n  No active preview servers found.\n");
+      return;
+    }
+    console.log(`\n  ${c.bold("Active preview servers:")}\n`);
+    for (const server of servers) {
+      const pid = server.pid ? c.dim(` (PID ${server.pid})`) : "";
+      console.log(
+        `  ${c.accent(`Port ${server.port}`)}  ${server.projectName}  ${c.dim(server.projectDir)}${pid}`,
+      );
+    }
+    console.log(`\n  ${servers.length} server${servers.length === 1 ? "" : "s"} running.\n`);
+  } catch (error) {
+    reportPreviewFailure(json, "list", "preview-list-failed", errorMessage(error));
+  }
+}
+
+export async function handlePreviewKillAll(
+  startPort: number,
+  json: boolean,
+  dependencies: PreviewActionDependencies = {},
+): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    const managedSessions = await (dependencies.listManaged ?? listBackgroundPreviewStatuses)();
+    let killed = 0;
+    for (const session of managedSessions) {
+      if (
+        await (dependencies.stopManaged ?? stopBackgroundPreview)(session.projectDir, session.port)
+      ) {
+        killed++;
+      }
+    }
+    killed += await (dependencies.killScanned ?? killActiveServers)(startPort);
+    if (json) {
+      writeLifecycleJson(lifecyclePayload("kill-all", { state: "killed-all", stopped: killed }));
+    } else if (killed === 0) {
+      console.log("\n  No active preview servers to kill.\n");
+    } else {
+      console.log(`\n  Killed ${killed} preview server${killed === 1 ? "" : "s"}.\n`);
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    reportPreviewFailure(json, "kill-all", "preview-kill-all-failed", errorMessage(error));
+  }
+}
+
+export function previewViteArgs(port: number | undefined): string[] {
+  return ["--host", "127.0.0.1", ...(port === undefined ? [] : ["--port", String(port)])];
+}
+
+// All preview modes bind the same IPv4 loopback so lifecycle probes and handed
+// URLs agree on the reachable server.
 function previewBaseUrl(port: number, host = "127.0.0.1"): string {
   return `http://${host}:${port}`;
 }
@@ -613,7 +941,12 @@ function countLintFindings(findings: Array<{ severity: string }>): {
 async function printCurrentContext(
   projectDir: string,
   startPort: number,
-  options: { json: boolean; fields?: string; detail?: string; preferredPort?: number },
+  options: {
+    json: boolean;
+    fields?: string;
+    detail?: string;
+    preferredPort?: number;
+  },
 ): Promise<void> {
   let fields: ContextField[];
   try {
@@ -700,7 +1033,10 @@ async function printCurrentContext(
           ok: false as const,
           error:
             selectionResult.status === "rejected"
-              ? { code: "selection-unavailable", message: errorMessage(selectionResult.reason) }
+              ? {
+                  code: "selection-unavailable",
+                  message: errorMessage(selectionResult.reason),
+                }
               : {
                   code: "no-selection",
                   message: "Studio is running, but no element is selected.",
@@ -718,8 +1054,14 @@ async function printCurrentContext(
           ok: false as const,
           error:
             lintResult.status === "rejected"
-              ? { code: "lint-unavailable", message: errorMessage(lintResult.reason) }
-              : { code: "lint-not-requested", message: "Lint was not requested." },
+              ? {
+                  code: "lint-unavailable",
+                  message: errorMessage(lintResult.reason),
+                }
+              : {
+                  code: "lint-not-requested",
+                  message: "Lint was not requested.",
+                },
         };
 
   const payload: Record<string, unknown> = { ok: true };
@@ -815,8 +1157,66 @@ export function studioLandingSearch(projectDir: string): string {
 // The full Studio URL to open or hand to the user: status-aware landing view
 // plus the project hash route. `url` never carries a trailing slash (both the
 // embedded server and the Vite `Local:` match strip it).
-function studioDeepLink(url: string, projectName: string, projectDir: string): string {
-  return `${url}/${studioLandingSearch(projectDir)}#project/${projectName}`;
+export function studioDeepLink(url: string, projectName: string, projectDir: string): string {
+  return `${url}/${studioLandingSearch(projectDir)}#project/${encodeURIComponent(projectName)}`;
+}
+
+export function studioSummaryUrls(
+  projectName: string,
+  serverUrl: string,
+  projectDir: string,
+): { serverUrl: string; studioUrl: string } {
+  return {
+    serverUrl,
+    studioUrl: studioDeepLink(serverUrl, projectName, projectDir),
+  };
+}
+
+export function foregroundPreviewReadyPayload(
+  projectName: string,
+  serverUrl: string,
+  projectDir: string,
+  pid: number | null,
+): PreviewLifecyclePayload {
+  const port = Number(new URL(serverUrl).port);
+  return lifecyclePayload(
+    "start",
+    previewLifecycleSession({
+      state: "started",
+      mode: "foreground",
+      projectName,
+      projectDir,
+      port,
+      pid,
+    }),
+  );
+}
+
+function previewLifecycleSession(options: {
+  state: PreviewLifecycleSession["state"];
+  mode: PreviewLifecycleSession["mode"];
+  projectName: string;
+  projectDir: string;
+  port: number;
+  pid: number | null;
+  host?: string;
+  logPath?: string;
+}): PreviewLifecycleSession {
+  const host = options.host ?? "127.0.0.1";
+  const serverUrl = previewBaseUrl(options.port, host);
+  return {
+    state: options.state,
+    mode: options.mode,
+    projectName: options.projectName,
+    projectDir: options.projectDir,
+    host,
+    port: options.port,
+    pid: options.pid,
+    serverUrl,
+    studioUrl: studioDeepLink(serverUrl, options.projectName, options.projectDir),
+    ready: true,
+    ...(options.logPath ? { logPath: options.logPath } : {}),
+  };
 }
 
 function openStudioBrowser(
@@ -836,12 +1236,15 @@ function openStudioBrowser(
 
 function printStudioSummary(
   projectName: string,
-  url: string,
+  serverUrl: string,
+  projectDir: string,
   opts: { details?: string[]; footer?: string } = {},
 ): void {
+  const urls = studioSummaryUrls(projectName, serverUrl, projectDir);
   console.log();
   console.log(`  ${c.dim("Project")}   ${c.accent(projectName)}`);
-  console.log(`  ${c.dim("Studio")}    ${c.accent(url)}`);
+  console.log(`  ${c.dim("Studio")}    ${c.accent(urls.studioUrl)}`);
+  console.log(`  ${c.dim("Server")}    ${c.accent(urls.serverUrl)}`);
   console.log();
   for (const detail of opts.details ?? []) {
     console.log(`  ${c.dim(detail)}`);
@@ -893,17 +1296,33 @@ function removeSymlinkOnExit(createdSymlink: boolean, symlinkPath: string): void
   });
 }
 
-function registerChildTreeShutdown(child: StudioChildProcess): void {
+export function waitForStudioChildClose(
+  child: StudioChildProcess,
+  signalTarget: StudioSignalTarget = process,
+): Promise<void> {
   const shutdown = (): void => {
     if (child.pid) killProcessTree(child.pid);
   };
-  process.once("SIGINT", shutdown);
-  process.once("SIGTERM", shutdown);
-}
+  signalTarget.once("SIGINT", shutdown);
+  signalTarget.once("SIGTERM", shutdown);
+
+  // A short-lived Vite child can exit before launch setup reaches this point.
+  // ChildProcess does not replay lifecycle events to listeners attached later,
+  // so waiting unconditionally would strand the preview wrapper forever.
+  const closed =
+    child.exitCode !== null || child.signalCode !== null
+      ? Promise.resolve()
+      : new Promise<void>((resolveClose) => {
+          // `close` waits for stdio to close too. A Vite descendant can inherit
+          // those pipes, so the wrapper must key its lifetime to process exit.
+          child.once("exit", () => resolveClose());
+        });
 
-function waitForChildClose(child: StudioChildProcess): Promise<void> {
-  return new Promise<void>((resolveClose) => {
-    child.on("close", () => resolveClose());
+  return closed.finally(() => {
+    // Signal listeners keep Bun's event loop alive even after Vite exits. Leaving
+    // them registered makes `preview --stop` close the port but leak the wrapper.
+    signalTarget.off("SIGINT", shutdown);
+    signalTarget.off("SIGTERM", shutdown);
   });
 }
 
@@ -912,30 +1331,60 @@ function attachStudioReadyHandler(
   spinner: ReturnType<typeof clack.spinner>,
   projectName: string,
   projectDir: string,
-  options?: BrowserLaunchOptions,
+  options?: StudioLaunchOptions,
 ): void {
   let detected = false;
 
-  function handleOutput(data: Buffer): void {
-    const url = data.toString().match(/Local:\s+(http:\/\/localhost:\d+)/)?.[1];
+  async function handleOutput(data: Buffer): Promise<void> {
+    const url = studioReadyUrl(data.toString());
     if (!url || detected) return;
 
     detected = true;
-    spinner.stop(c.success("Studio running"));
-    printStudioSummary(projectName, url, { footer: "Press Ctrl+C to stop" });
+    if (options?.json) {
+      const port = Number(new URL(url).port);
+      const server = await activeServerOnPort(port);
+      writeLifecycleJson(
+        foregroundPreviewReadyPayload(
+          projectName,
+          url,
+          projectDir,
+          publicPreviewPid(server?.pid, child.pid ?? null),
+        ),
+      );
+    } else {
+      spinner.stop(c.success("Studio running"));
+      printStudioSummary(projectName, url, projectDir, {
+        footer: "Press Ctrl+C to stop",
+      });
+    }
     openStudioBrowser(url, projectName, projectDir, options);
     child.stdout.removeListener("data", handleOutput);
     child.stderr.removeListener("data", handleOutput);
   }
 
-  child.stdout.on("data", handleOutput);
-  child.stderr.on("data", handleOutput);
+  child.stdout.on("data", (data) => void handleOutput(data));
+  child.stderr.on("data", (data) => void handleOutput(data));
   child.on("error", (err) => {
-    spinner.stop(c.error("Failed to start studio"));
-    console.error(c.dim(err.message));
+    if (options?.json) {
+      reportPreviewFailure(true, "start", "preview-start-failed", err.message);
+    } else {
+      spinner.stop(c.error("Failed to start studio"));
+      console.error(c.dim(err.message));
+    }
   });
 }
 
+export function studioReadyUrl(output: string): string | null {
+  const localLine = output.split(/\r?\n/).find((line) => line.includes("Local:"));
+  return localLine?.match(/https?:\/\/(?:localhost|127\.0\.0\.1|\[::1\]):\d+/)?.[0] ?? null;
+}
+
+export function reportPreviewShutdown(json: boolean): void {
+  if (json) return;
+  console.log();
+  console.log(`  ${c.dim("Shutting down studio...")}`);
+}
+
 /**
  * Dev mode: spawn the studio dev server from the monorepo.
  */
@@ -949,17 +1398,21 @@ async function runDevMode(dir: string, options?: StudioLaunchOptions): Promise<v
   const pName = options?.projectName ?? basename(dir);
   const { symlinkPath, createdSymlink } = linkProjectIntoStudioData(dir, projectsDir, pName);
 
-  clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview"));
+  if (!options?.json) clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview"));
 
   const s = clack.spinner();
-  s.start("Starting studio...");
+  if (!options?.json) s.start("Starting studio...");
 
   // Run the new consolidated studio (single Vite dev server with API plugin)
   const studioPkgDir = join(repoRoot, "packages", "studio");
-  const child = spawn("bun", ["run", "dev"], {
+  const child = spawn("bun", ["run", "dev", "--", ...previewViteArgs(options?.port)], {
     cwd: studioPkgDir,
     stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
-    env: studioProxyEnv(options?.autoProxy ?? true),
+    env: studioProxyEnv(options?.autoProxy ?? true, process.env, {
+      projectDir: dir,
+      projectName: pName,
+      browserGpuMode: options?.browserGpuMode,
+    }),
   });
 
   attachStudioReadyHandler(child, s, pName, dir, options);
@@ -969,10 +1422,9 @@ async function runDevMode(dir: string, options?: StudioLaunchOptions): Promise<v
   // SIGINT to the foreground process group (covers the common case), but
   // `kill <pid>` only targets this process — the child tree (Vite + Chrome)
   // would survive without explicit cleanup.
-  // On Windows, killProcessTree is a no-op (pgrep/ps unavailable); Ctrl+C
-  // propagates via the console process group instead.
-  registerChildTreeShutdown(child);
-  return waitForChildClose(child);
+  // On Windows, killProcessTree delegates to taskkill /T so descendants are
+  // reaped even when the console signal reaches only this wrapper.
+  return waitForStudioChildClose(child);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1001,23 +1453,26 @@ async function runLocalStudioMode(dir: string, options?: StudioLaunchOptions): P
   const projectsDir = join(studioPkgPath, "data", "projects");
   const { symlinkPath, createdSymlink } = linkProjectIntoStudioData(dir, projectsDir, pName);
 
-  clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview") + c.dim(" (local studio)"));
+  if (!options?.json) clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview") + c.dim(" (local studio)"));
   const s = clack.spinner();
-  s.start("Starting studio...");
+  if (!options?.json) s.start("Starting studio...");
 
-  const viteCommand = buildNpxCommand(["vite"]);
+  const viteCommand = buildNpxCommand(["vite", ...previewViteArgs(options?.port)]);
   const child = spawn(viteCommand.command, viteCommand.args, {
     cwd: studioPkgPath,
     stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
-    env: studioProxyEnv(options?.autoProxy ?? true),
+    env: studioProxyEnv(options?.autoProxy ?? true, process.env, {
+      projectDir: dir,
+      projectName: pName,
+      browserGpuMode: options?.browserGpuMode,
+    }),
   });
 
   attachStudioReadyHandler(child, s, pName, dir, options);
   removeSymlinkOnExit(createdSymlink, symlinkPath);
 
-  // Same tree-kill handler as dev mode. No-op on Windows (see comment above).
-  registerChildTreeShutdown(child);
-  return waitForChildClose(child);
+  // Same cross-platform tree-kill handler as dev mode.
+  return waitForStudioChildClose(child);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1038,32 +1493,37 @@ async function runEmbeddedMode(
   const pName = options?.projectName ?? basename(dir);
   const studioBundle = resolveStudioBundle();
 
-  clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview"));
+  if (!options?.json) clack.intro(c.bold("hyperframes preview"));
   const s = clack.spinner();
-  s.start("Starting studio...");
+  if (!options?.json) s.start("Starting studio...");
 
   if (!studioBundle.available) {
-    s.stop(c.error("Studio build missing"));
-    console.error();
-    console.error(`  ${c.dim("Could not find")} ${c.accent("index.html")} ${c.dim("in:")}`);
-    for (const checkedPath of studioBundle.checkedPaths) {
-      console.error(`  ${c.dim("-")} ${checkedPath}`);
+    if (options?.json) {
+      reportPreviewFailure(true, "start", "preview-start-failed", "Studio build missing");
+    } else {
+      s.stop(c.error("Studio build missing"));
+      console.error();
+      console.error(`  ${c.dim("Could not find")} ${c.accent("index.html")} ${c.dim("in:")}`);
+      for (const checkedPath of studioBundle.checkedPaths) {
+        console.error(`  ${c.dim("-")} ${checkedPath}`);
+      }
+      console.error();
+      console.error(`  ${c.dim("Rebuild the CLI package with")} ${c.accent("bun run build")}`);
+      console.error();
     }
-    console.error();
-    console.error(`  ${c.dim("Rebuild the CLI package with")} ${c.accent("bun run build")}`);
-    console.error();
     setCommandExitCode(1);
     return;
   }
 
-  const { app } = createStudioServer({
+  // Compute everything that may throw before acquiring the fs.watch handle.
+  // Once createStudioServer returns, every subsequent exit path must close it.
+  const serverBuildSignature = await loadPreviewServerBuildSignature();
+  const { app, watcher } = createStudioServer({
     projectDir: dir,
     projectName: pName,
     autoProxy: options?.autoProxy,
     browserGpuMode: options?.browserGpuMode,
   });
-  const serverBuildSignature = await loadPreviewServerBuildSignature();
-
   let result: FindPortResult;
   try {
     result = await findPortAndServe(
@@ -1076,38 +1536,65 @@ async function runEmbeddedMode(
       options?.browserGpuMode,
     );
   } catch (err: unknown) {
-    s.stop(c.error("Failed to start studio"));
-    console.error();
-    console.error(`  ${(err as Error).message}`);
-    console.error();
-    setCommandExitCode(1);
+    watcher.close();
+    reportPreviewFailure(
+      Boolean(options?.json),
+      "start",
+      "preview-start-failed",
+      (err as Error).message,
+    );
     return;
   }
 
   if (result.type === "already-running") {
+    // createStudioServer acquires an fs.watch handle before port discovery.
+    // Reuse owns no local server, so release that handle before returning or
+    // the otherwise-finished CLI process remains alive indefinitely.
+    watcher.close();
     const url = `http://localhost:${result.port}`;
-    s.stop(c.success("Already running"));
-    printStudioSummary(pName, url, {
-      details: ["Reusing existing server. Use --force-new to start a fresh instance."],
-    });
+    if (options?.json) {
+      const server = await activeServerOnPort(result.port);
+      writeLifecycleJson(
+        lifecyclePayload(
+          "start",
+          previewLifecycleSession({
+            state: "reused",
+            mode: "foreground",
+            projectName: pName,
+            projectDir: dir,
+            port: result.port,
+            pid: publicPreviewPid(server?.pid, null),
+          }),
+        ),
+      );
+    } else {
+      s.stop(c.success("Already running"));
+      printStudioSummary(pName, url, dir, {
+        details: ["Reusing existing server. Use --force-new to start a fresh instance."],
+      });
+    }
     openStudioBrowser(url, pName, dir, options);
     return;
   }
 
   const url = `http://localhost:${result.port}`;
-  s.stop(c.success("Studio running"));
-  console.log();
-  if (result.port !== startPort) {
-    console.log(`  ${c.warn(`Port ${startPort} is in use, using ${result.port} instead`)}`);
+  if (options?.json) {
+    writeLifecycleJson(foregroundPreviewReadyPayload(pName, url, dir, process.pid));
+  } else {
+    s.stop(c.success("Studio running"));
     console.log();
+    if (result.port !== startPort) {
+      console.log(`  ${c.warn(`Port ${startPort} is in use, using ${result.port} instead`)}`);
+      console.log();
+    }
+    printStudioSummary(pName, url, dir, {
+      details: [
+        "Edit with your AI agent — it has HyperFrames skills installed.",
+        "Changes reload automatically in the studio.",
+      ],
+      footer: "Press Ctrl+C to stop",
+    });
   }
-  printStudioSummary(pName, url, {
-    details: [
-      "Edit with your AI agent — it has HyperFrames skills installed.",
-      "Changes reload automatically in the studio.",
-    ],
-    footer: "Press Ctrl+C to stop",
-  });
   openStudioBrowser(url, pName, dir, options);
 
   // Block until Ctrl+C. Node would normally exit on SIGINT, but the listening
@@ -1123,7 +1610,10 @@ async function runEmbeddedMode(
   let rl: import("node:readline").Interface | undefined;
   if (process.platform === "win32") {
     const readline = await import("node:readline");
-    rl = readline.createInterface({ input: process.stdin, output: process.stdout });
+    rl = readline.createInterface({
+      input: process.stdin,
+      output: process.stdout,
+    });
     rl.on("SIGINT", () => {
       process.emit("SIGINT", "SIGINT");
     });
@@ -1137,8 +1627,7 @@ async function runEmbeddedMode(
       process.off("SIGINT", shutdown);
       process.off("SIGTERM", shutdown);
       rl?.close();
-      console.log();
-      console.log(`  ${c.dim("Shutting down studio...")}`);
+      reportPreviewShutdown(Boolean(options?.json));
 
       // Hard deadline: if cleanup hangs (e.g. dead Chrome never responds to
       // browser.close()), force exit. Armed before awaiting cleanup so it
@@ -1157,6 +1646,7 @@ async function runEmbeddedMode(
       cleanup()
         .catch(() => {})
         .finally(() => {
+          watcher.close();
           result.server.close(() => resolveRun());
         });
     };
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.test.ts
index 1f0fbdb0aa..a3a8f4b3a2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.test.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-import { existsSync, mkdtempSync } from "node:fs";
+import { existsSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import type { ActiveServer } from "../server/portUtils.js";
 import {
   buildBackgroundPreviewArgs,
+  listBackgroundPreviewStatuses,
   previewSessionPath,
   readBackgroundPreviewStatus,
   startBackgroundPreview,
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("builds a detached child invocation without recursively preserving --background", () => {
+  it("forces the detached child foreground without inheriting launcher-only flags", () => {
     expect(
       buildBackgroundPreviewArgs([
         "/opt/hyperframes/cli.js",
@@ -56,8 +57,9 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
         projectDir,
         "--background",
         "--open",
+        "--json",
       ]),
-    ).toEqual(["/opt/hyperframes/cli.js", "preview", projectDir, "--no-open"]);
+    ).toEqual(["/opt/hyperframes/cli.js", "preview", projectDir, "--foreground", "--no-open"]);
   });
 
   it("reuses an already-running server for the same project", async () => {
@@ -76,6 +78,77 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
     expect(spawn).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it("reuses a saved managed preview on a custom port without repeating --port", async () => {
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+    writePreviewSession(
+      { pid: 4321, port: 41402, projectDir, logPath: "/tmp/custom.log" },
+      stateHome,
+    );
+    const customServer = { ...server, port: 41402, browserGpuMode: "software" as const };
+    const scan = vi.fn(async (startPort?: number) => (startPort === 41402 ? [customServer] : []));
+    const spawn = vi.fn();
+
+    const result = await startBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
+      scan,
+      spawn,
+      stateHome,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ type: "reused", port: 41402, pid: 4321 });
+    expect(scan).toHaveBeenCalledWith(41402);
+    expect(spawn).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("discovers managed previews outside the default port scan and removes stale records", async () => {
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+    const otherProjectDir = resolve("/tmp/hyperframes-preview-managed-custom-port");
+    const staleProjectDir = resolve("/tmp/hyperframes-preview-managed-stale");
+    writePreviewSession(
+      {
+        pid: 8765,
+        port: 41402,
+        projectDir: otherProjectDir,
+        logPath: "/tmp/custom.log",
+      },
+      stateHome,
+    );
+    writePreviewSession(
+      {
+        pid: 9999,
+        port: 45000,
+        projectDir: staleProjectDir,
+        logPath: "/tmp/stale.log",
+      },
+      stateHome,
+    );
+
+    const statuses = await listBackgroundPreviewStatuses({
+      stateHome,
+      scan: async (startPort) =>
+        startPort === 41402
+          ? [
+              {
+                port: 41402,
+                projectName: "managed-custom-port",
+                projectDir: otherProjectDir,
+                version: "test",
+                pid: "8765",
+              },
+            ]
+          : [],
+    });
+
+    expect(statuses).toEqual([
+      {
+        pid: 8765,
+        port: 41402,
+        projectDir: otherProjectDir,
+        logPath: "/tmp/custom.log",
+      },
+    ]);
+    expect(existsSync(previewSessionPath(staleProjectDir, stateHome))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("force-new waits for a different server instead of reusing the existing one", async () => {
     const replacement = { ...server, port: 3211, pid: "5432" };
     let scans = 0;
@@ -94,6 +167,104 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
     expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
 
+  it.each([
+    ["force-new", true],
+    ["a GPU-policy change", false],
+  ])(
+    "%s replaces a previously managed server instead of orphaning it",
+    async (_label, forceNew) => {
+      const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+      const oldServer = { ...server, port: 41490, browserGpuMode: "hardware" as const };
+      writePreviewSession(
+        { pid: 4321, port: 41490, projectDir, logPath: "/tmp/preview.log" },
+        stateHome,
+      );
+      const replacement = {
+        ...server,
+        port: 41491,
+        pid: "5432",
+        browserGpuMode: "software" as const,
+      };
+      let oldRunning = true;
+      let replacementRunning = false;
+      const scan = vi.fn(async () =>
+        oldRunning ? [oldServer] : replacementRunning ? [replacement] : [],
+      );
+      const kill = vi.fn((pid: number) => {
+        if (pid === 4321) oldRunning = false;
+      });
+      const spawn = vi.fn(() => {
+        replacementRunning = true;
+        return { pid: 5432, unref: vi.fn() };
+      });
+
+      const result = await startBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 41491, {
+        browserGpuMode: "software",
+        forceNew,
+        kill,
+        scan,
+        sleep: async () => {},
+        spawn,
+        stateHome,
+      });
+
+      expect(scan).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, 41490);
+      expect(kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(4321);
+      expect(result).toMatchObject({ type: "started", port: 41491, pid: 5432 });
+      expect(readFileSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome), "utf8")).toContain(
+        '"port": 41491',
+      );
+    },
+  );
+
+  it("replaces the owned preview instead of reusing an unmanaged policy-matching sibling", async () => {
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+    const owned = { ...server, port: 41490, browserGpuMode: "hardware" as const };
+    const sibling = {
+      ...server,
+      port: 41491,
+      pid: "8765",
+      browserGpuMode: "software" as const,
+    };
+    const replacement = {
+      ...server,
+      port: 41492,
+      pid: "5432",
+      browserGpuMode: "software" as const,
+    };
+    writePreviewSession(
+      { pid: 4321, port: owned.port, projectDir, logPath: "/tmp/preview.log" },
+      stateHome,
+    );
+    let ownedRunning = true;
+    let replacementRunning = false;
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => [
+      ...(ownedRunning ? [owned] : []),
+      sibling,
+      ...(replacementRunning ? [replacement] : []),
+    ]);
+    const kill = vi.fn((pid: number) => {
+      if (pid === 4321) ownedRunning = false;
+    });
+    const spawn = vi.fn(() => {
+      replacementRunning = true;
+      return { pid: 5432, unref: vi.fn() };
+    });
+
+    const result = await startBackgroundPreview(projectDir, replacement.port, {
+      browserGpuMode: "software",
+      kill,
+      scan,
+      sleep: async () => {},
+      spawn,
+      stateHome,
+    });
+
+    expect(kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(4321);
+    expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ type: "started", port: replacement.port, pid: 5432 });
+  });
+
   it("starts a replacement when the existing server uses a different GPU policy", async () => {
     const hardwareServer = { ...server, browserGpuMode: "hardware" as const };
     const softwareServer = {
@@ -102,11 +273,15 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
       pid: "5432",
       browserGpuMode: "software" as const,
     };
-    let scans = 0;
-    const scan = vi.fn(async () =>
-      ++scans < 2 ? [hardwareServer] : [hardwareServer, softwareServer],
-    );
-    const spawn = vi.fn(() => ({ pid: 5432, unref: vi.fn() }));
+    let replacementRunning = false;
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => [
+      hardwareServer,
+      ...(replacementRunning ? [softwareServer] : []),
+    ]);
+    const spawn = vi.fn(() => {
+      replacementRunning = true;
+      return { pid: 5432, unref: vi.fn() };
+    });
 
     const result = await startBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
       browserGpuMode: "software",
@@ -121,10 +296,13 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
   });
 
   it("returns after a detached child becomes reachable and records its session", async () => {
-    let scans = 0;
-    const scan = vi.fn(async () => (++scans < 2 ? [] : [server]));
+    let spawned = false;
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => (spawned ? [server] : []));
     const unref = vi.fn();
-    const spawn = vi.fn(() => ({ pid: 4321, unref }));
+    const spawn = vi.fn(() => {
+      spawned = true;
+      return { pid: 4321, unref };
+    });
     const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
 
     const result = await startBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
@@ -141,6 +319,46 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
     expect(existsSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome))).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it("reports the live server PID while retaining the wrapper PID for cleanup", async () => {
+    const liveServer = { ...server, pid: "9876" };
+    let spawned = false;
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => (spawned ? [liveServer] : []));
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+
+    const result = await startBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
+      scan,
+      spawn: () => {
+        spawned = true;
+        return { pid: 4321, unref: vi.fn() };
+      },
+      stateHome,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ type: "started", pid: 9876 });
+    expect(
+      JSON.parse(readFileSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome), "utf8")),
+    ).toMatchObject({ pid: 4321 });
+  });
+
+  it("reaps a detached child that never becomes reachable without recording ownership", async () => {
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+    const kill = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      startBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
+        scan: async () => [],
+        spawn: () => ({ pid: 4321, unref: vi.fn() }),
+        sleep: async () => {},
+        kill,
+        stateHome,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/did not become ready/i);
+
+    expect(kill).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(4321);
+    expect(existsSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("removes a stale session when no matching server or process survives", async () => {
     const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
     writePreviewSession(
@@ -163,7 +381,10 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
     savePreviewSession(stateHome);
     const scan = vi.fn(async () => [server]);
 
-    const status = await readBackgroundPreviewStatus(projectDir, 3002, { scan, stateHome });
+    const status = await readBackgroundPreviewStatus(projectDir, 3002, {
+      scan,
+      stateHome,
+    });
 
     expect(status?.port).toBe(3210);
     expect(scan).toHaveBeenCalledWith(3210);
@@ -204,27 +425,87 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
     expect(existsSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome))).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("uses the saved child PID when a matching live server cannot report one", async () => {
+  it("refuses to stop when the live server cannot prove its own PID", async () => {
     const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
     writePreviewSession(
       { pid: 4321, port: 3210, projectDir, logPath: "/tmp/preview.log" },
       stateHome,
     );
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => [{ ...server, pid: null }]);
+    const kill = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      stopBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
+        scan,
+        kill,
+        sleep: async () => {},
+        stateHome,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/ownership/i);
+
+    expect(kill).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("reaps the saved wrapper when the live server is proven to be its descendant", async () => {
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+    writePreviewSession(
+      {
+        pid: 4321,
+        wrapperIdentity: "wrapper-birth",
+        port: 3210,
+        projectDir,
+        logPath: "/tmp/preview.log",
+      },
+      stateHome,
+    );
     let running = true;
-    const scan = vi.fn(async () => (running ? [{ ...server, pid: null }] : []));
-    const kill = vi.fn(() => {
-      running = false;
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => (running ? [{ ...server, pid: "9876" }] : []));
+    const kill = vi.fn((pid: number) => {
+      if (pid === 4321) running = false;
     });
 
     const result = await stopBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
       scan,
       kill,
+      isDescendant: (childPid, ancestorPid) => childPid === 9876 && ancestorPid === 4321,
+      identity: (pid) => (pid === 4321 ? "wrapper-birth" : null),
       sleep: async () => {},
       stateHome,
     });
 
     expect(result).toBe(true);
-    expect(kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(4321);
+    expect(kill.mock.calls).toEqual([[4321]]);
+  });
+
+  it("kills only the live server when the saved wrapper birth identity has changed", async () => {
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+    writePreviewSession(
+      {
+        pid: 4321,
+        wrapperIdentity: "original-wrapper-birth",
+        port: 3210,
+        projectDir,
+        logPath: "/tmp/preview.log",
+      },
+      stateHome,
+    );
+    let running = true;
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => (running ? [{ ...server, pid: "9876" }] : []));
+    const kill = vi.fn((pid: number) => {
+      if (pid === 9876) running = false;
+    });
+
+    const result = await stopBackgroundPreview(projectDir, 3002, {
+      scan,
+      kill,
+      isDescendant: () => true,
+      identity: () => "reused-pid-birth",
+      sleep: async () => {},
+      stateHome,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
+    expect(kill.mock.calls).toEqual([[9876]]);
   });
 
   it("fails loudly when the server remains reachable after stop", async () => {
@@ -244,4 +525,30 @@ describe("background preview lifecycle", () => {
     ).rejects.toThrow(/did not stop/i);
     expect(existsSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome))).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it("verifies the owned port stopped even when another server serves the same project", async () => {
+    const stateHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-preview-state-"));
+    const owned = { ...server, port: 41490 };
+    const sibling = { ...server, port: 41491, pid: "8765" };
+    writePreviewSession(
+      { pid: 4321, port: owned.port, projectDir, logPath: "/tmp/preview.log" },
+      stateHome,
+    );
+    let ownedRunning = true;
+    const scan = vi.fn(async () => [...(ownedRunning ? [owned] : []), sibling]);
+    const kill = vi.fn((pid: number) => {
+      if (pid === 4321) ownedRunning = false;
+    });
+
+    const stopped = await stopBackgroundPreview(projectDir, owned.port, {
+      kill,
+      scan,
+      sleep: async () => {},
+      stateHome,
+    });
+
+    expect(stopped).toBe(true);
+    expect(kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(4321);
+    expect(existsSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome))).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.ts
index eaec7f91ab..f1af298f91 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycle.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   mkdirSync,
   openSync,
   readFileSync,
+  readdirSync,
   rmSync,
   writeFileSync,
 } from "node:fs";
@@ -13,10 +14,11 @@ import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { dirname, join, resolve } from "node:path";
 import { scanActiveServers, type ActiveServer } from "../server/portUtils.js";
 import type { BrowserGpuMode } from "../browser/gpuPolicy.js";
-import { killProcessTree } from "../utils/orphanCleanup.js";
+import { isProcessDescendant, killProcessTree, processIdentity } from "../utils/orphanCleanup.js";
 
 export interface PreviewSession {
   pid: number;
+  wrapperIdentity?: string;
   port: number;
   projectDir: string;
   logPath: string;
@@ -40,6 +42,8 @@ interface LifecycleDependencies {
   spawn?: SpawnPreview;
   sleep?: (ms: number) => Promise<void>;
   kill?: (pid: number) => void;
+  isDescendant?: (childPid: number, ancestorPid: number) => boolean;
+  identity?: (pid: number) => string | null;
   stateHome?: string;
   forceNew?: boolean;
   browserGpuMode?: BrowserGpuMode;
@@ -95,6 +99,43 @@ function readPreviewSession(
   }
 }
 
+function hasValidPreviewProcess(session: PreviewSession): boolean {
+  return Number.isInteger(session.pid) && session.pid > 0;
+}
+
+function hasValidPreviewEndpoint(session: PreviewSession): boolean {
+  return Number.isInteger(session.port) && session.port > 0 && session.port <= 65535;
+}
+
+function matchesPreviewSessionFile(
+  session: PreviewSession,
+  path: string,
+  stateHome: string,
+): boolean {
+  return (
+    typeof session.projectDir === "string" &&
+    typeof session.logPath === "string" &&
+    previewSessionPath(session.projectDir, stateHome) === path
+  );
+}
+
+function readPreviewSessionFile(path: string, stateHome: string): PreviewSession | null {
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(readFileSync(path, "utf8")) as PreviewSession;
+    if (
+      !hasValidPreviewProcess(parsed) ||
+      !hasValidPreviewEndpoint(parsed) ||
+      !matchesPreviewSessionFile(parsed, path, stateHome)
+    ) {
+      throw new Error("invalid preview session");
+    }
+    return parsed;
+  } catch {
+    rmSync(path, { force: true });
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
 function removePreviewSession(projectDir: string, stateHome = defaultStateHome()): void {
   rmSync(previewSessionPath(projectDir, stateHome), { force: true });
 }
@@ -113,6 +154,26 @@ function matchingServer(
   );
 }
 
+function matchingServerAtPort(
+  servers: ActiveServer[],
+  projectDir: string,
+  port: number,
+): ActiveServer | null {
+  return matchingServer(
+    servers.filter((server) => server.port === port),
+    projectDir,
+  );
+}
+
+function sameProjectPorts(servers: ActiveServer[], projectDir: string): Set<number> {
+  const project = normalized(projectDir);
+  return new Set(
+    servers
+      .filter((server) => normalized(server.projectDir) === project)
+      .map((server) => server.port),
+  );
+}
+
 function stopProcess(pid: number): void {
   killProcessTree(pid);
   if (process.platform === "win32") {
@@ -130,7 +191,7 @@ function spawnDetachedPreview(
   projectDir: string,
   stateHome: string,
   dependencies: LifecycleDependencies,
-): { pid: number; logPath: string } {
+): { pid: number; wrapperIdentity: string | undefined; logPath: string } {
   const logPath = previewLogPath(projectDir, stateHome);
   mkdirSync(dirname(logPath), { recursive: true });
   const logFd = openSync(logPath, "a", 0o600);
@@ -151,18 +212,20 @@ function spawnDetachedPreview(
   }
   if (!child.pid) throw new Error("background preview child did not report a PID");
   child.unref();
-  return { pid: child.pid, logPath };
+  return {
+    pid: child.pid,
+    wrapperIdentity: (dependencies.identity ?? processIdentity)(child.pid) ?? undefined,
+    logPath,
+  };
 }
 
 function startedServer(
   servers: ActiveServer[],
   projectDir: string,
-  existing: ActiveServer | null,
-  forceNew: boolean,
+  preLaunchPorts: Set<number>,
   browserGpuMode?: BrowserGpuMode,
 ): ActiveServer | null {
-  const candidates =
-    forceNew && existing ? servers.filter((server) => server.port !== existing.port) : servers;
+  const candidates = servers.filter((server) => !preLaunchPorts.has(server.port));
   return matchingServer(candidates, projectDir, browserGpuMode);
 }
 
@@ -171,10 +234,13 @@ export function buildBackgroundPreviewArgs(argv: string[]): string[] {
     (arg) =>
       arg !== "--background" &&
       !arg.startsWith("--background=") &&
+      arg !== "--foreground" &&
+      !arg.startsWith("--foreground=") &&
       arg !== "--open" &&
-      arg !== "--no-open",
+      arg !== "--no-open" &&
+      arg !== "--json",
   );
-  return [...filtered, "--no-open"];
+  return [...filtered, "--foreground", "--no-open"];
 }
 
 export async function readBackgroundPreviewStatus(
@@ -202,6 +268,92 @@ export async function readBackgroundPreviewStatus(
   return null;
 }
 
+export async function listBackgroundPreviewStatuses(
+  dependencies: LifecycleDependencies = {},
+): Promise<PreviewSession[]> {
+  const stateHome = dependencies.stateHome ?? defaultStateHome();
+  const directory = sessionDirectory(stateHome);
+  let files: string[];
+  try {
+    files = readdirSync(directory)
+      .filter((name) => name.endsWith(".json"))
+      .map((name) => join(directory, name));
+  } catch {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  const saved = files
+    .map((path) => readPreviewSessionFile(path, stateHome))
+    .filter((session): session is PreviewSession => session !== null);
+  const statuses = await Promise.all(
+    saved.map((session) =>
+      readBackgroundPreviewStatus(session.projectDir, session.port, {
+        ...dependencies,
+        stateHome,
+      }),
+    ),
+  );
+  return statuses.filter((status): status is PreviewSession => status !== null);
+}
+
+function readyPreviewSession(
+  server: ActiveServer,
+  pid: number,
+  wrapperIdentity: string | undefined,
+  projectDir: string,
+  logPath: string,
+  dependencies: LifecycleDependencies,
+): { session: PreviewSession; publicPid: number } {
+  const identity = wrapperIdentity ?? (dependencies.identity ?? processIdentity)(pid) ?? undefined;
+  const liveServerPid = Number(server.pid);
+  return {
+    session: {
+      pid,
+      wrapperIdentity: identity,
+      port: server.port,
+      projectDir: resolve(projectDir),
+      logPath,
+    },
+    publicPid: Number.isInteger(liveServerPid) && liveServerPid > 0 ? liveServerPid : pid,
+  };
+}
+
+function ownedStopTargetPid(
+  saved: PreviewSession | null,
+  liveServerPid: number,
+  dependencies: LifecycleDependencies,
+): number {
+  if (!saved?.wrapperIdentity) return liveServerPid;
+  const identity = dependencies.identity ?? processIdentity;
+  if (identity(saved.pid) !== saved.wrapperIdentity) return liveServerPid;
+  if (saved.pid === liveServerPid) return saved.pid;
+  const isDescendant = dependencies.isDescendant ?? isProcessDescendant;
+  return isDescendant(liveServerPid, saved.pid) ? saved.pid : liveServerPid;
+}
+
+async function stopOwnedPreviewBeforeReplacement(
+  owned: ActiveServer | null,
+  projectDir: string,
+  dependencies: LifecycleDependencies,
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (!owned) return;
+  const stopped = await stopBackgroundPreview(projectDir, owned.port, dependencies);
+  if (!stopped) throw new Error(`managed preview could not be replaced for ${resolve(projectDir)}`);
+}
+
+function savedOwnedPreview(
+  servers: ActiveServer[],
+  saved: PreviewSession | null,
+  projectDir: string,
+): ActiveServer | null {
+  if (!saved) return null;
+  // Ownership comes from the saved project+port, not the replacement's GPU
+  // policy. Filtering here would miss an owned hardware→software replacement
+  // and overwrite the only session record while leaving the old listener live.
+  const savedPortServers = servers.filter((server) => server.port === saved.port);
+  return matchingServer(savedPortServers, projectDir);
+}
+
 export async function startBackgroundPreview(
   projectDir: string,
   startPort: number,
@@ -211,37 +363,65 @@ export async function startBackgroundPreview(
   | { type: "started"; port: number; pid: number; logPath: string }
 > {
   const scan = dependencies.scan ?? scanActiveServers;
-  const existing = matchingServer(await scan(startPort), projectDir, dependencies.browserGpuMode);
-  if (existing && !dependencies.forceNew) {
+  const stateHome = dependencies.stateHome ?? defaultStateHome();
+  const saved = readPreviewSession(projectDir, stateHome);
+  // Always inspect a saved custom port first. `--force-new --port <new>` must
+  // replace that owned server before recording the replacement, otherwise the
+  // single per-project ownership record would orphan the old listener.
+  const scanStart = saved?.port ?? startPort;
+  const scanned = await scan(scanStart);
+  const requestedExisting = matchingServer(scanned, projectDir, dependencies.browserGpuMode);
+  const ownedExisting = savedOwnedPreview(scanned, saved, projectDir);
+  // A saved managed preview is the authoritative same-project instance. An
+  // explicit GPU-policy change replaces it; it must not silently adopt an
+  // unmanaged sibling that happens to match the new policy.
+  const reusableOwned = ownedExisting
+    ? matchingServer([ownedExisting], projectDir, dependencies.browserGpuMode)
+    : null;
+  const reusableExisting = reusableOwned ?? (ownedExisting ? null : requestedExisting);
+  if (reusableExisting && !dependencies.forceNew) {
     return {
       type: "reused",
-      port: existing.port,
-      pid: existing.pid ? Number(existing.pid) : null,
+      port: reusableExisting.port,
+      pid: reusableExisting.pid ? Number(reusableExisting.pid) : null,
       logPath: null,
     };
   }
+  await stopOwnedPreviewBeforeReplacement(ownedExisting, projectDir, dependencies);
+  // Snapshot every same-project listener in the prospective launch range only
+  // after the owned listener is gone. Readiness must identify a newly appeared
+  // server, never a pre-existing unmanaged sibling.
+  const preLaunchPorts = sameProjectPorts(await scan(startPort), projectDir);
 
-  const stateHome = dependencies.stateHome ?? defaultStateHome();
-  const { pid, logPath } = spawnDetachedPreview(projectDir, stateHome, dependencies);
+  const { pid, wrapperIdentity, logPath } = spawnDetachedPreview(
+    projectDir,
+    stateHome,
+    dependencies,
+  );
 
   const sleep = dependencies.sleep ?? delay;
   for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 50; attempt++) {
     const server = startedServer(
       await scan(startPort),
       projectDir,
-      existing,
-      dependencies.forceNew === true,
+      preLaunchPorts,
       dependencies.browserGpuMode,
     );
     if (server) {
-      const session = {
+      const ready = readyPreviewSession(
+        server,
         pid,
-        port: server.port,
-        projectDir: resolve(projectDir),
+        wrapperIdentity,
+        projectDir,
         logPath,
+        dependencies,
+      );
+      writePreviewSession(ready.session, stateHome);
+      return {
+        type: "started",
+        ...ready.session,
+        pid: ready.publicPid,
       };
-      writePreviewSession(session, stateHome);
-      return { type: "started", ...session };
     }
     await sleep(200);
   }
@@ -259,19 +439,28 @@ export async function stopBackgroundPreview(
   const stateHome = dependencies.stateHome ?? defaultStateHome();
   const saved = readPreviewSession(projectDir, stateHome);
   const scanStart = saved?.port ?? startPort;
-  const server = matchingServer(await scan(scanStart), projectDir);
-  // A saved PID can be reused after a crashed preview, so only trust it while
-  // a currently reachable server proves this exact project is still running.
-  const pid = Number(server ? (server.pid ?? saved?.pid) : undefined);
-  if (!Number.isInteger(pid) || pid <= 0) {
+  const scanned = await scan(scanStart);
+  const server = saved
+    ? matchingServerAtPort(scanned, projectDir, saved.port)
+    : matchingServer(scanned, projectDir);
+  if (!server) {
     removePreviewSession(projectDir, stateHome);
     return false;
   }
+  // A saved PID can be reused after a crashed preview. The HTTP probe proves
+  // the project, but only the live server's own metadata proves which process
+  // owns it; never substitute the saved wrapper PID here.
+  const pid = Number(server.pid);
+  if (!Number.isInteger(pid) || pid <= 0) {
+    throw new Error(`preview ownership could not be proven for ${resolve(projectDir)}`);
+  }
+
+  const kill = dependencies.kill ?? stopProcess;
+  kill(ownedStopTargetPid(saved, pid, dependencies));
 
-  (dependencies.kill ?? stopProcess)(pid);
   const sleep = dependencies.sleep ?? delay;
   for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 25; attempt++) {
-    if (!matchingServer(await scan(scanStart), projectDir)) {
+    if (!matchingServerAtPort(await scan(scanStart), projectDir, server.port)) {
       removePreviewSession(projectDir, stateHome);
       return true;
     }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycleOutput.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycleOutput.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..780b4e876c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycleOutput.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import {
+  lifecycleFailurePayload,
+  lifecyclePayload,
+  writeLifecycleJson,
+  type PreviewLifecycleSession,
+} from "./previewLifecycleOutput.js";
+
+const session: PreviewLifecycleSession = {
+  state: "started",
+  mode: "background",
+  projectName: "demo",
+  projectDir: "/tmp/demo",
+  host: "127.0.0.1",
+  port: 3002,
+  pid: 42,
+  serverUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:3002",
+  studioUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:3002/#project/demo",
+  ready: true,
+  logPath: "/tmp/demo.log",
+};
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+describe("preview lifecycle JSON", () => {
+  it("versions a managed start result", () => {
+    expect(lifecyclePayload("start", session)).toEqual({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation: "start",
+      ok: true,
+      result: session,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ["status", { state: "not-running", projectDir: "/tmp/demo" }],
+    ["stop", { state: "stopped", projectDir: "/tmp/demo" }],
+    ["list", { state: "listed", sessions: [session] }],
+    ["kill-all", { state: "killed-all", stopped: 1 }],
+  ] as const)("versions the %s result", (operation, result) => {
+    expect(lifecyclePayload(operation, result)).toMatchObject({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation,
+      ok: true,
+      result,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("writes exactly one parseable JSON document", () => {
+    const log = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    writeLifecycleJson(lifecyclePayload("start", { ...session, pid: null, state: "reused" }));
+
+    expect(log).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    const [line] = log.mock.calls[0] as [string];
+    expect(JSON.parse(line)).toEqual({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation: "start",
+      ok: true,
+      result: { ...session, pid: null, state: "reused" },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("versions lifecycle failures with a stable code", () => {
+    expect(
+      lifecycleFailurePayload(
+        "start",
+        "conflicting-lifecycle-flags",
+        "--background and --foreground cannot be used together",
+      ),
+    ).toEqual({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      operation: "start",
+      ok: false,
+      error: {
+        code: "conflicting-lifecycle-flags",
+        message: "--background and --foreground cannot be used together",
+      },
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycleOutput.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycleOutput.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7f538f55e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/previewLifecycleOutput.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+export type PreviewLifecycleOperation = "start" | "status" | "stop" | "list" | "kill-all";
+
+export type PreviewLifecycleState = "started" | "reused" | "running";
+
+export interface PreviewLifecycleSession {
+  state: PreviewLifecycleState;
+  mode: "background" | "foreground" | "unknown";
+  projectName: string;
+  projectDir: string;
+  host: string;
+  port: number;
+  pid: number | null;
+  serverUrl: string;
+  studioUrl: string;
+  ready: boolean;
+  logPath?: string;
+}
+
+export type PreviewLifecycleResult =
+  | PreviewLifecycleSession
+  | { state: "not-running"; projectDir?: string }
+  | { state: "stopped"; projectDir: string }
+  | { state: "listed"; sessions: readonly PreviewLifecycleSession[] }
+  | { state: "killed-all"; stopped: number };
+
+export interface PreviewLifecyclePayload {
+  schemaVersion: 1;
+  operation: PreviewLifecycleOperation;
+  ok: true;
+  result: PreviewLifecycleResult;
+}
+
+export interface PreviewLifecycleFailurePayload {
+  schemaVersion: 1;
+  operation: PreviewLifecycleOperation;
+  ok: false;
+  error: { code: string; message: string };
+}
+
+export function lifecyclePayload(
+  operation: PreviewLifecycleOperation,
+  result: PreviewLifecycleResult,
+): PreviewLifecyclePayload {
+  return { schemaVersion: 1, operation, ok: true, result };
+}
+
+export function lifecycleFailurePayload(
+  operation: PreviewLifecycleOperation,
+  code: string,
+  message: string,
+): PreviewLifecycleFailurePayload {
+  return { schemaVersion: 1, operation, ok: false, error: { code, message } };
+}
+
+export function writeLifecycleJson(
+  payload: PreviewLifecyclePayload | PreviewLifecycleFailurePayload,
+): void {
+  console.log(JSON.stringify(payload));
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/server/portUtils.ts b/packages/cli/src/server/portUtils.ts
index ee9cb6f4a9..f62b6bb0eb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/server/portUtils.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/server/portUtils.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import http from "node:http";
 import { execFile } from "node:child_process";
 import { promisify } from "node:util";
 import { resolve } from "node:path";
-import { c } from "../ui/colors.js";
 import type { BrowserGpuMode } from "../browser/gpuPolicy.js";
 
 const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
@@ -285,24 +284,7 @@ export async function scanActiveServers(startPort = 3002): Promise<ActiveServer[
     const batchEnd = Math.min(batchStart + batchSize - 1, endPort);
     const ports = Array.from({ length: batchEnd - batchStart + 1 }, (_, i) => batchStart + i);
 
-    const results = await Promise.all(
-      ports.map(async (port) => {
-        const config = await probePort(port);
-        if (!config) return null;
-        const pid =
-          Number.isInteger(config.pid) && Number(config.pid) > 0
-            ? String(config.pid)
-            : await getProcessOnPort(port);
-        return {
-          port,
-          projectName: config.projectName,
-          projectDir: config.projectDir,
-          version: config.version,
-          pid,
-          browserGpuMode: config.browserGpuMode,
-        };
-      }),
-    );
+    const results = await Promise.all(ports.map((port) => activeServerOnPort(port)));
 
     for (const r of results) {
       if (r) servers.push(r);
@@ -312,6 +294,24 @@ export async function scanActiveServers(startPort = 3002): Promise<ActiveServer[
   return servers;
 }
 
+/** Probe exactly one port and return its self-reported HyperFrames identity. */
+export async function activeServerOnPort(port: number): Promise<ActiveServer | null> {
+  const config = await probePort(port);
+  if (!config) return null;
+  const pid =
+    Number.isInteger(config.pid) && Number(config.pid) > 0
+      ? String(config.pid)
+      : await getProcessOnPort(port);
+  return {
+    port,
+    projectName: config.projectName,
+    projectDir: config.projectDir,
+    version: config.version,
+    pid,
+    browserGpuMode: config.browserGpuMode,
+  };
+}
+
 /**
  * Kill all active HyperFrames preview servers by sending SIGTERM to their PIDs.
  * Returns the number of servers killed.
@@ -416,17 +416,9 @@ export async function findPortAndServe(
         return { type: "already-running", port };
       }
       if (detection.type === "mismatch") {
-        console.log(
-          `  ${c.dim(`Port ${port} in use by HyperFrames project "${detection.projectName}" — skipping`)}`,
-        );
         continue;
       }
     }
-
-    const pid = await getProcessOnPort(port);
-    if (pid) {
-      console.log(`  ${c.dim(`Port ${port} in use by PID ${pid} — skipping`)}`);
-    }
   }
 
   throw new Error(
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/AGENTS.md b/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/AGENTS.md
index 1762ea7a66..31ae625c33 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/AGENTS.md
+++ b/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/AGENTS.md
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ The domain skills (`/hyperframes-core`, `/hyperframes-animation`, `/hyperframes-
 ## Commands
 
 ```bash
-npm run dev          # start the preview server (long-running — keep it alive in background)
+npm run dev          # human-operated foreground preview (blocks until stopped)
+npx hyperframes preview --background  # agent-safe persistent Studio preview
+npx hyperframes preview --status      # verify the persistent preview is listening
+npx hyperframes preview --stop        # stop it when review is finished
 npm run check        # lint + runtime + layout + motion + contrast (one command)
 npm run render       # render to MP4
 npm run publish      # publish and get a shareable link
@@ -42,9 +45,11 @@ npx hyperframes lint --json     # machine-readable output for CI
 npx hyperframes docs <topic> # reference docs in terminal
 ```
 
-> **`npm run dev` is a long-running server, not a one-shot command.** It blocks until stopped.
-> In Claude Code, always run it with `run_in_background: true`. Never run it as a foreground
-> command — it will time out and the server will die, breaking the browser preview.
+> **Agents must use `npx hyperframes preview --background` for Studio handoff.** Do not rely
+> on a shell/tool `run_in_background` wrapper around `npm run dev`: that foreground process
+> remains owned by the invoking session and can disappear while the browser stays open,
+> leaving refreshes at `ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT`. Verify with `preview --status`, keep it
+> alive through review, and stop it explicitly with `preview --stop` afterward.
 
 > **Pinned CLI version.** These scripts pin an exact `hyperframes@X.Y.Z` so this project re-renders identically over time. Weeks later that pin lags fixes shipped since. To move up: `npx hyperframes@latest upgrade --project . --check` (shows the delta), then `npx hyperframes@latest upgrade --project .` to rewrite the pins. Always unpinned — the pinned script re-runs the old version against itself.
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/CLAUDE.md b/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/CLAUDE.md
index 1762ea7a66..31ae625c33 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/packages/cli/src/templates/_shared/CLAUDE.md
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ The domain skills (`/hyperframes-core`, `/hyperframes-animation`, `/hyperframes-
 ## Commands
 
 ```bash
-npm run dev          # start the preview server (long-running — keep it alive in background)
+npm run dev          # human-operated foreground preview (blocks until stopped)
+npx hyperframes preview --background  # agent-safe persistent Studio preview
+npx hyperframes preview --status      # verify the persistent preview is listening
+npx hyperframes preview --stop        # stop it when review is finished
 npm run check        # lint + runtime + layout + motion + contrast (one command)
 npm run render       # render to MP4
 npm run publish      # publish and get a shareable link
@@ -42,9 +45,11 @@ npx hyperframes lint --json     # machine-readable output for CI
 npx hyperframes docs <topic> # reference docs in terminal
 ```
 
-> **`npm run dev` is a long-running server, not a one-shot command.** It blocks until stopped.
-> In Claude Code, always run it with `run_in_background: true`. Never run it as a foreground
-> command — it will time out and the server will die, breaking the browser preview.
+> **Agents must use `npx hyperframes preview --background` for Studio handoff.** Do not rely
+> on a shell/tool `run_in_background` wrapper around `npm run dev`: that foreground process
+> remains owned by the invoking session and can disappear while the browser stays open,
+> leaving refreshes at `ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT`. Verify with `preview --status`, keep it
+> alive through review, and stop it explicitly with `preview --stop` afterward.
 
 > **Pinned CLI version.** These scripts pin an exact `hyperframes@X.Y.Z` so this project re-renders identically over time. Weeks later that pin lags fixes shipped since. To move up: `npx hyperframes@latest upgrade --project . --check` (shows the delta), then `npx hyperframes@latest upgrade --project .` to rewrite the pins. Always unpinned — the pinned script re-runs the old version against itself.
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.test.ts
index b3dc2afdf2..aebe4d0b6c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.test.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,52 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
 import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
-import { killProcessTree, killOrphanedProcesses } from "./orphanCleanup.js";
+import {
+  isProcessDescendant,
+  killProcessTree,
+  killOrphanedProcesses,
+  processIdentity,
+  windowsProcessTreeKillArgs,
+} from "./orphanCleanup.js";
 
 const IS_UNIX = process.platform !== "win32";
 
+describe("Windows process-tree cleanup", () => {
+  it("uses taskkill recursively and forcefully for the owned PID", () => {
+    expect(windowsProcessTreeKillArgs(4321)).toEqual(["/PID", "4321", "/T", "/F"]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("process-tree ownership", () => {
+  it("captures a stable birth token for the current process", () => {
+    const first = processIdentity(process.pid);
+    expect(first).toMatch(/^(?:linux|posix|windows):/);
+    expect(processIdentity(process.pid)).toBe(first);
+    expect(processIdentity(-1)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("proves ancestry through every intermediate wrapper", () => {
+    const parents = new Map([
+      [400, 300],
+      [300, 200],
+      [200, 1],
+    ]);
+
+    expect(isProcessDescendant(400, 200, (pid) => parents.get(pid) ?? null)).toBe(true);
+    expect(isProcessDescendant(400, 999, (pid) => parents.get(pid) ?? null)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("fails closed on missing or cyclic process metadata", () => {
+    expect(isProcessDescendant(400, 200, () => null)).toBe(false);
+    expect(isProcessDescendant(400, 200, (pid) => (pid === 400 ? 300 : 400))).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
 describe.skipIf(!IS_UNIX)("killProcessTree", () => {
   it("kills a process and all its children", async () => {
     // Spawn a parent that spawns two sleeping children
-    const parent = spawn("bash", ["-c", "sleep 60 & sleep 60 & wait"], { stdio: "ignore" });
+    const parent = spawn("bash", ["-c", "sleep 60 & sleep 60 & wait"], {
+      stdio: "ignore",
+    });
     // Let children spawn
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 200));
 
@@ -27,7 +66,9 @@ describe.skipIf(!IS_UNIX)("killProcessTree", () => {
 
   it("escalates to SIGKILL after grace period", async () => {
     // Spawn a process that traps SIGTERM
-    const proc = spawn("bash", ["-c", "trap '' TERM; sleep 60"], { stdio: "ignore" });
+    const proc = spawn("bash", ["-c", "trap '' TERM; sleep 60"], {
+      stdio: "ignore",
+    });
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 100));
 
     const exitPromise = new Promise<void>((resolve) => proc.on("close", resolve));
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.ts
index a34f01775c..ae630c0151 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/orphanCleanup.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { execFileSync, execSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 
 /**
  * Find and kill orphaned Chrome processes from previous crashed sessions.
@@ -34,11 +35,20 @@ export function killOrphanedProcesses(): number {
  * depth-first so children are killed before parents, preventing
  * re-adoption races.
  *
- * No-op on Windows — process groups are managed differently and
- * the pgrep/ps utilities are not available.
+ * Windows uses taskkill's tree mode because pgrep/ps are unavailable there.
  */
 export function killProcessTree(pid: number, signal: NodeJS.Signals = "SIGTERM"): void {
-  if (process.platform === "win32") return;
+  if (process.platform === "win32") {
+    try {
+      execFileSync("taskkill", windowsProcessTreeKillArgs(pid), {
+        stdio: "ignore",
+        timeout: 5000,
+      });
+    } catch {
+      // Process already exited or taskkill could not inspect it.
+    }
+    return;
+  }
 
   const descendants = getDescendants(pid);
   const allPids = [...descendants.reverse(), pid];
@@ -65,10 +75,111 @@ export function killProcessTree(pid: number, signal: NodeJS.Signals = "SIGTERM")
   }
 }
 
+export function windowsProcessTreeKillArgs(pid: number): string[] {
+  return ["/PID", String(pid), "/T", "/F"];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return a process birth token suitable for detecting PID reuse. The token is
+ * diagnostic state only: callers must still prove the live server is a
+ * descendant before treating a saved wrapper as the owned process-tree root.
+ */
+export function processIdentity(pid: number): string | null {
+  if (!Number.isInteger(pid) || pid <= 0) return null;
+  try {
+    if (process.platform === "win32") {
+      const created = execFileSync(
+        "powershell.exe",
+        [
+          "-NoProfile",
+          "-NonInteractive",
+          "-Command",
+          `(Get-CimInstance Win32_Process -Filter 'ProcessId = ${pid}').CreationDate.ToFileTimeUtc()`,
+        ],
+        { encoding: "utf8", timeout: 2000 },
+      ).trim();
+      return created ? `windows:${created}` : null;
+    }
+
+    if (process.platform === "linux") {
+      const stat = readFileSync(`/proc/${pid}/stat`, "utf8");
+      const fields = stat
+        .slice(stat.lastIndexOf(") ") + 2)
+        .trim()
+        .split(/\s+/);
+      const startTicks = fields[19]; // field 22 overall; fields starts at process state (3)
+      return startTicks ? `linux:${startTicks}` : null;
+    }
+
+    const started = execFileSync("ps", ["-o", "lstart=", "-p", String(pid)], {
+      encoding: "utf8",
+      timeout: 2000,
+    }).trim();
+    return started ? `posix:${started}` : null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+type ParentPidLookup = (pid: number) => number | null;
+
+function processParentPid(pid: number): number | null {
+  try {
+    const output =
+      process.platform === "win32"
+        ? execFileSync(
+            "powershell.exe",
+            [
+              "-NoProfile",
+              "-NonInteractive",
+              "-Command",
+              `(Get-CimInstance Win32_Process -Filter 'ProcessId = ${pid}').ParentProcessId`,
+            ],
+            { encoding: "utf8", timeout: 2000 },
+          )
+        : execFileSync("ps", ["-o", "ppid=", "-p", String(pid)], {
+            encoding: "utf8",
+            timeout: 2000,
+          });
+    const parentPid = Number(output.trim());
+    return Number.isInteger(parentPid) && parentPid > 0 ? parentPid : null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Prove that `childPid` currently belongs to the process tree rooted at
+ * `ancestorPid`. The walk fails closed on missing, invalid, or cyclic process
+ * metadata so a stale saved PID can never authorize terminating a new process.
+ */
+export function isProcessDescendant(
+  childPid: number,
+  ancestorPid: number,
+  parentPid: ParentPidLookup = processParentPid,
+): boolean {
+  if (childPid <= 0 || ancestorPid <= 0 || childPid === ancestorPid) return false;
+
+  const visited = new Set<number>();
+  let current = childPid;
+  for (let depth = 0; depth < 64; depth++) {
+    if (visited.has(current)) return false;
+    visited.add(current);
+    const parent = parentPid(current);
+    if (parent === ancestorPid) return true;
+    if (parent === null || parent <= 1) return false;
+    current = parent;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 function getDescendants(pid: number): number[] {
   let children: number[];
   try {
-    const raw = execSync(`pgrep -P ${pid}`, { encoding: "utf-8", timeout: 2000 }).trim();
+    const raw = execSync(`pgrep -P ${pid}`, {
+      encoding: "utf-8",
+      timeout: 2000,
+    }).trim();
     if (!raw) return [];
     children = raw
       .split("\n")
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.test.ts
index 9b95a2d436..10b1340ecb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.test.ts
@@ -12,4 +12,22 @@ describe("studioProxyEnv", () => {
       HYPERFRAMES_AUTO_PROXY: "false",
     });
   });
+
+  it("identifies a detached Vite preview to the lifecycle scanner", () => {
+    expect(
+      studioProxyEnv(
+        true,
+        { KEEP: "yes" },
+        {
+          projectDir: "/tmp/video",
+          projectName: "video",
+          browserGpuMode: "software",
+        },
+      ),
+    ).toMatchObject({
+      HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_DIR: "/tmp/video",
+      HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_NAME: "video",
+      HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_BROWSER_GPU_MODE: "software",
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.ts
index cd19e4060b..2974f814bc 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/studioProxyEnv.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,23 @@
 export function studioProxyEnv(
   autoProxy: boolean,
   baseEnv: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env,
+  preview?: {
+    projectDir: string;
+    projectName: string;
+    browserGpuMode?: "auto" | "hardware" | "software";
+  },
 ): NodeJS.ProcessEnv {
   return {
     ...baseEnv,
     HYPERFRAMES_AUTO_PROXY: autoProxy ? "true" : "false",
+    ...(preview
+      ? {
+          HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_DIR: preview.projectDir,
+          HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_NAME: preview.projectName,
+          ...(preview.browserGpuMode
+            ? { HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_BROWSER_GPU_MODE: preview.browserGpuMode }
+            : {}),
+        }
+      : {}),
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/package-subpaths.json b/packages/core/package-subpaths.json
index 1485e4f022..ef217b46f8 100644
--- a/packages/core/package-subpaths.json
+++ b/packages/core/package-subpaths.json
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@
       "types": "./dist/audioAutomation.d.ts",
       "environments": ["browser", "bun", "node"]
     },
+    "./audio-gain": {
+      "source": "./src/audioGain.ts",
+      "runtime": "./dist/audioGain.js",
+      "types": "./dist/audioGain.d.ts",
+      "environments": ["browser", "bun", "node"]
+    },
     "./color-grading": {
       "source": "./src/colorGrading.ts",
       "runtime": "./dist/colorGrading.js",
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index 41077e31d1..c830528b9c 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -172,6 +172,12 @@
       "import": "./src/audioAutomation.ts",
       "types": "./src/audioAutomation.ts"
     },
+    "./audio-gain": {
+      "bun": "./src/audioGain.ts",
+      "node": "./dist/audioGain.js",
+      "import": "./src/audioGain.ts",
+      "types": "./src/audioGain.ts"
+    },
     "./color-grading": {
       "bun": "./src/colorGrading.ts",
       "node": "./dist/colorGrading.js",
@@ -478,6 +484,10 @@
         "import": "./dist/audioAutomation.js",
         "types": "./dist/audioAutomation.d.ts"
       },
+      "./audio-gain": {
+        "import": "./dist/audioGain.js",
+        "types": "./dist/audioGain.d.ts"
+      },
       "./color-grading": {
         "import": "./dist/colorGrading.js",
         "types": "./dist/colorGrading.d.ts"
diff --git a/packages/core/src/audioGain.test.ts b/packages/core/src/audioGain.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..394c046f1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/audioGain.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX,
+  AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN,
+  MAX_AUDIO_GAIN,
+  audioGainToFaderPosition,
+  audioGainToText,
+  audioFaderPositionToGain,
+} from "./audioGain";
+
+describe("audio gain fader", () => {
+  it("puts unity gain at the physical midpoint", () => {
+    expect(audioGainToFaderPosition(1)).toBe(0);
+    expect(audioFaderPositionToGain(0)).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("provides +12 dB of boost above unity", () => {
+    expect(audioFaderPositionToGain(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX)).toBeCloseTo(MAX_AUDIO_GAIN, 6);
+    expect(audioGainToText(MAX_AUDIO_GAIN)).toBe("+12.0 dB");
+  });
+
+  it("preserves a true silence endpoint below unity", () => {
+    expect(audioFaderPositionToGain(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN)).toBe(0);
+    expect(audioGainToText(0)).toBe("-∞ dB");
+  });
+
+  it("pins sub-floor gain to the fader's silence endpoint", () => {
+    expect(audioGainToFaderPosition(0.00001)).toBe(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN);
+  });
+
+  it("round-trips representative attenuation and boost values", () => {
+    for (const gain of [0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, MAX_AUDIO_GAIN]) {
+      expect(audioFaderPositionToGain(audioGainToFaderPosition(gain))).toBeCloseTo(gain, 6);
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/audioGain.ts b/packages/core/src/audioGain.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..41a98cf185
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/audioGain.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/**
+ * Authoring gain for a media clip.
+ *
+ * HTMLMediaElement.volume is limited to 0..1, but HyperFrames' Web Audio
+ * preview and FFmpeg render paths both support gain above unity. Keep the
+ * shared ceiling here so Studio, preview, and render cannot drift.
+ */
+export const MAX_AUDIO_GAIN_DB = 12;
+export const MAX_AUDIO_GAIN = 10 ** (MAX_AUDIO_GAIN_DB / 20);
+
+/** Studio fader coordinates. Unity is deliberately the physical midpoint. */
+export const AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN = -100;
+export const AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX = 100;
+
+const MIN_AUDIO_GAIN_DB = -60;
+
+export function clampAudioGain(value: number): number {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(value)) return 1;
+  return Math.max(0, Math.min(MAX_AUDIO_GAIN, value));
+}
+
+export function clampNativeMediaVolume(value: number): number {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(value)) return 1;
+  return Math.max(0, Math.min(1, value));
+}
+
+export function audioFaderPositionToGain(position: number): number {
+  const safe = Math.max(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN, Math.min(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX, position));
+  if (safe === AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN) return 0;
+  const db =
+    safe < 0
+      ? (safe / Math.abs(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN)) * Math.abs(MIN_AUDIO_GAIN_DB)
+      : (safe / AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX) * MAX_AUDIO_GAIN_DB;
+  return 10 ** (db / 20);
+}
+
+export function audioGainToFaderPosition(gain: number): number {
+  const safe = clampAudioGain(gain);
+  if (safe === 0) return AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN;
+  const db = 20 * Math.log10(safe);
+  const position =
+    db < 0
+      ? (db / Math.abs(MIN_AUDIO_GAIN_DB)) * Math.abs(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN)
+      : (db / MAX_AUDIO_GAIN_DB) * AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX;
+  return Math.max(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN, Math.min(AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX, position));
+}
+
+export function audioGainToText(gain: number): string {
+  const safe = clampAudioGain(gain);
+  if (safe === 0) return "-∞ dB";
+  const db = 20 * Math.log10(safe);
+  const rounded = Math.abs(db) < 0.05 ? 0 : db;
+  return (rounded > 0 ? "+" : "") + rounded.toFixed(1) + " dB";
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/runtime/init.ts b/packages/core/src/runtime/init.ts
index cd8bd8b2ea..39f3e3c718 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/runtime/init.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/runtime/init.ts
@@ -3146,7 +3146,7 @@ export function initSandboxRuntimeModular(): void {
         if (!(el instanceof HTMLMediaElement)) continue;
         const parsed = parseFloat(el.dataset.volume ?? "");
         const clipVolume = Number.isFinite(parsed) ? parsed : 1;
-        el.volume = clipVolume * volume;
+        el.volume = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, clipVolume * volume));
       }
     },
     onSetMediaOutputMuted: (muted) => {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/runtime/media.test.ts b/packages/core/src/runtime/media.test.ts
index bf697161b8..fc182c32da 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/runtime/media.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/runtime/media.test.ts
@@ -365,6 +365,25 @@ describe("syncRuntimeMedia", () => {
       expect(only).toBeCloseTo(0.55, 5);
     });
 
+    it("sends boosted author gain to Web Audio while keeping the native element legal", () => {
+      const clip = createMockClip({ start: 0, end: 10, volume: 3.98 });
+      Object.defineProperty(clip.el, "readyState", { value: 4, writable: true });
+      let transportGain = -1;
+
+      syncRuntimeMedia({
+        clips: [clip],
+        timeSeconds: 1,
+        playing: true,
+        playbackRate: 1,
+        onElementVolume: (_el, volume) => {
+          transportGain = volume;
+        },
+      });
+
+      expect(transportGain).toBeCloseTo(3.98, 5);
+      expect(clip.el.volume).toBe(1);
+    });
+
     /**
      * The render bakes the lane at CLIP-LOCAL time: prepareAudioTrack already
      * cut the wav with `-ss mediaStart`, so its t=0 is the clip's start, and
diff --git a/packages/core/src/runtime/media.ts b/packages/core/src/runtime/media.ts
index 40ae5ec176..08d41ebf29 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/runtime/media.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/runtime/media.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { swallow } from "./diagnostics";
 import { interpolateVolumeGain, type VolumeKeyframe } from "./mediaVolumeEnvelope.js";
 import { elementVolumeLaneGain } from "./audioAutomationVolume.js";
 import { normalizePlaybackRate } from "./playbackRate.js";
+import { clampAudioGain, clampNativeMediaVolume } from "../audioGain.js";
 
 export function readElementPlaybackRate(el: Element): number {
   const authored = Number.parseFloat(el.getAttribute("data-playback-rate") ?? "");
@@ -162,11 +163,6 @@ function isUnplayable(el: HTMLMediaElement): boolean {
 
 const lastRuntimeAppliedVolume = new WeakMap<HTMLMediaElement, number>();
 
-function clampVolume(volume: number): number {
-  if (!Number.isFinite(volume)) return 1;
-  return Math.max(0, Math.min(1, volume));
-}
-
 /**
  * Drop every per-source sync baseline tracked for `el` — offset drift
  * samples, the seek-past-buffered-range retry latch, and the last
@@ -265,10 +261,10 @@ export function syncRuntimeMedia(params: {
           relTime = clip.mediaStart + ((relTime - clip.mediaStart) % loopLength);
         }
       }
-      const userVol = clampVolume(params.userVolume ?? 1);
-      const fallbackAuthorVolume = clampVolume(clip.volume ?? 1);
+      const userVol = clampNativeMediaVolume(params.userVolume ?? 1);
+      const fallbackAuthorVolume = clampAudioGain(clip.volume ?? 1);
       const previousRuntimeVolume = lastRuntimeAppliedVolume.get(el);
-      const currentElementVolume = clampVolume(el.volume);
+      const currentElementVolume = clampNativeMediaVolume(el.volume);
 
       let authorVolume: number;
       // An explicit volume lane owns the fader. It is checked before the probed
@@ -284,7 +280,7 @@ export function syncRuntimeMedia(params: {
       // there is one time base, and this is it.
       const laneGain = elementVolumeLaneGain(el, params.timeSeconds - clip.start);
       if (laneGain !== null) {
-        authorVolume = clampVolume(laneGain);
+        authorVolume = clampAudioGain(laneGain);
       } else if (clip.volumeKeyframes && clip.volumeKeyframes.length > 0) {
         // Keyframes probed from the GSAP timeline — same source as the renderer.
         // Use the interpolated envelope value directly; no need to track GSAP changes.
@@ -294,13 +290,13 @@ export function syncRuntimeMedia(params: {
         // and the playback rate — so it only coincides with the envelope's time base
         // for an untrimmed clip playing at 1x from t=0.
         const elapsedInClip = params.timeSeconds - clip.start;
-        authorVolume = clampVolume(interpolateVolumeGain(clip.volumeKeyframes, elapsedInClip));
+        authorVolume = clampAudioGain(interpolateVolumeGain(clip.volumeKeyframes, elapsedInClip));
       } else if (previousRuntimeVolume === undefined) {
         // First tick this clip is active. The transport has already seeked GSAP
         // to the current time (seekTimelineAndAdapters runs before syncRuntimeMedia),
         // so el.volume reflects the animated value — trust it rather than falling
         // back to data-volume, which would clobber the GSAP-seeked position.
-        authorVolume = currentElementVolume;
+        authorVolume = fallbackAuthorVolume > 1 ? fallbackAuthorVolume : currentElementVolume;
       } else if (Math.abs(currentElementVolume - previousRuntimeVolume) > 0.0001) {
         // GSAP (or user code) changed el.volume between ticks — track it.
         authorVolume = currentElementVolume;
@@ -309,10 +305,11 @@ export function syncRuntimeMedia(params: {
         authorVolume = fallbackAuthorVolume;
       }
 
-      const effectiveVolume = clampVolume(authorVolume * userVol);
-      el.volume = effectiveVolume;
-      lastRuntimeAppliedVolume.set(el, effectiveVolume);
-      params.onElementVolume?.(el, effectiveVolume);
+      const effectiveGain = clampAudioGain(authorVolume * userVol);
+      const nativeVolume = clampNativeMediaVolume(effectiveGain);
+      el.volume = nativeVolume;
+      lastRuntimeAppliedVolume.set(el, nativeVolume);
+      params.onElementVolume?.(el, effectiveGain);
       // Mute only when force-muted or the transport owns this element; an unclaimed
       // track stays audible via the HTMLMedia fallback.
       if (forceMuteAll || params.isWebAudioOwned?.(el)) el.muted = true;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.test.ts b/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.test.ts
index 35f935bc5a..725393ff98 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.test.ts
@@ -166,6 +166,15 @@ describe("WebAudioTransport", () => {
   });
 
   describe("schedulePlayback timing", () => {
+    it("keeps author boost above unity on the per-element gain node", async () => {
+      const { transport, mock, gen } = setupTransport(100);
+
+      await transport.schedulePlayback(mockEl, mockBuffer, 0, 0, 0, 1, gen);
+      transport.setElementVolume(mockEl, 3.98);
+
+      expect(mock.gainNode.gain.value).toBeCloseTo(3.98, 5);
+    });
+
     it("starts in-progress clips immediately with correct buffer offset", async () => {
       const { transport, mock, gen } = setupTransport(100);
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.ts b/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.ts
index e2e2dc66ed..92b812d0cf 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/runtime/webAudioTransport.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
 import { VOLUME_RANGE } from "../audioAutomation.js";
 import { swallow } from "./diagnostics";
 import { getDebugSurface } from "./globals.js";
+import { clampAudioGain } from "../audioGain.js";
 
 function normalizeRate(rate: number): number {
   if (!Number.isFinite(rate) || rate <= 0) return 1;
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ export class WebAudioTransport {
       sourceNode.playbackRate.value = safeRate;
 
       const gainNode = this._ctx.createGain();
-      gainNode.gain.value = volume;
+      gainNode.gain.value = clampAudioGain(volume);
 
       const elapsed = compositionTime - compositionStart;
       const scheduledAt = this._ctx.currentTime;
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ export class WebAudioTransport {
   }
 
   setElementVolume(el: HTMLMediaElement, volume: number): void {
-    const safeVolume = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, volume));
+    const safeVolume = clampAudioGain(volume);
     for (const source of this._activeSources) {
       if (source.el !== el) continue;
       try {
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.test.ts b/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.test.ts
index cac9b10ae8..891658b723 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.test.ts
@@ -257,6 +257,35 @@ describe("processCompositionAudio", () => {
     expect(filter).not.toContain("weights=");
   });
 
+  it("preserves authored clip gain above unity for quiet-source boosting", async () => {
+    const baseDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-audio-base-"));
+    const workDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "hf-audio-work-"));
+    tempDirs.push(baseDir, workDir);
+    writeFileSync(join(baseDir, "quiet.wav"), "stub");
+
+    const result = await processCompositionAudio(
+      [
+        {
+          id: "quiet",
+          src: "quiet.wav",
+          start: 0,
+          end: 2,
+          mediaStart: 0,
+          layer: 0,
+          volume: 3.98,
+          type: "audio",
+        },
+      ],
+      baseDir,
+      workDir,
+      join(baseDir, "out.m4a"),
+      2,
+    );
+
+    expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(capturedFilterScripts[1]).toContain("volume=3.98");
+  });
+
   it("lets an FX tail run past the clip, still bounded by the composition", async () => {
     // A reverb is still decaying when the clip's own audio stops. Trimming at
     // the clip boundary is what cut every tail short in the render.
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.ts b/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.ts
index e71d26587b..d3f146c560 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/services/audioMixer.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import {
 import { chainTailSeconds } from "@hyperframes/core/audio-fx-tail";
 import { applyAudioFxChain, AudioFxRenderError } from "./audioFxRender.js";
 import type { AudioVolumeKeyframe } from "./audioMixer.types.js";
+import { clampAudioGain } from "@hyperframes/core/audio-gain";
 
 export type { AudioElement, MixResult } from "./audioMixer.types.js";
 
@@ -60,8 +61,7 @@ export type { AudioElement, MixResult } from "./audioMixer.types.js";
 export const MIXED_AUDIO_FILENAME = "audio.m4a";
 
 function clampVolume(volume: number): number {
-  if (!Number.isFinite(volume)) return 1;
-  return Math.max(0, Math.min(1, volume));
+  return clampAudioGain(volume);
 }
 
 function formatFilterNumber(value: number): string {
diff --git a/packages/parsers/src/types.ts b/packages/parsers/src/types.ts
index 4820ba34fd..f402726c2b 100644
--- a/packages/parsers/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/parsers/src/types.ts
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ export interface TimelineMediaElement extends TimelineElementBase {
   isAroll?: boolean;
   sourceWidth?: number;
   sourceHeight?: number;
-  volume?: number; // 0-1 (0% to 100%), default 1.0
+  volume?: number; // linear gain; 0 is silent, 1 is 0 dB, values above 1 boost
   hasAudio?: boolean; // For videos - indicates if video has audio track
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.test.tsx
index 125f5a1830..e7ef34099f 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.test.tsx
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ describe("FlatMediaSection — cutout", () => {
 });
 
 describe("FlatMediaSection — volume/rate/media-start", () => {
-  it("renders volume at its stored percentage and commits a new value on drag", () => {
+  it("renders unity volume as neutral 0 dB at the slider midpoint", () => {
     const onSetAttribute = vi.fn();
-    const element = makeVideoElement({ dataAttributes: { volume: "0.5" } });
+    const element = makeVideoElement({ dataAttributes: { volume: "1" } });
     const host = document.createElement("div");
     document.body.append(host);
     const root = createRoot(host);
@@ -149,13 +149,16 @@ describe("FlatMediaSection — volume/rate/media-start", () => {
         />,
       );
     });
-    expect(host.textContent).toContain("50%");
+    expect(host.textContent).toContain("0.0 dB");
+    expect(
+      host.querySelector('[data-flat-slider-track="true"]')?.getAttribute("aria-valuenow"),
+    ).toBe("0");
     act(() => root.unmount());
   });
 
-  it("commits a new volume value on slider track pointerdown", () => {
+  it("commits +12 dB of boost from the upper half of the volume fader", () => {
     const onSetAttribute = vi.fn();
-    const element = makeVideoElement({ dataAttributes: { volume: "0.2" } });
+    const element = makeVideoElement({ dataAttributes: { volume: "1" } });
     const host = document.createElement("div");
     document.body.append(host);
     const root = createRoot(host);
@@ -176,11 +179,10 @@ describe("FlatMediaSection — volume/rate/media-start", () => {
       value: () => ({ left: 0, width: 100, top: 0, height: 2, right: 100, bottom: 2 }),
     });
     act(() => {
-      volumeTrack.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("pointerdown", { bubbles: true, clientX: 50 }));
-      volumeTrack.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("pointerup", { bubbles: true, clientX: 50 }));
+      volumeTrack.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("pointerdown", { bubbles: true, clientX: 100 }));
+      volumeTrack.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("pointerup", { bubbles: true, clientX: 100 }));
     });
-    // starting volume 0.2 (draft=20); min=0, max=100, ratio=0.5 -> raw=50 -> commit(50) -> 50/100=0.5 -> "0.5"
-    expect(onSetAttribute).toHaveBeenCalledWith("volume", "0.5");
+    expect(onSetAttribute).toHaveBeenCalledWith("volume", "3.98");
     act(() => root.unmount());
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.tsx
index 997483e136..e2fbf547d7 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelFlatMediaSection.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ import {
 import { FlatSelectRow, FlatSlider } from "./propertyPanelFlatPrimitives";
 import { FlatToggle } from "./propertyPanelFlatToggle";
 import { AutomationToggle } from "./propertyPanelFxControls";
+import {
+  AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX,
+  AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN,
+  audioFaderPositionToGain,
+  audioGainToFaderPosition,
+  audioGainToText,
+} from "@hyperframes/core/audio-gain";
 
 // fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
 export function FlatMediaSection({
@@ -54,7 +61,7 @@ export function FlatMediaSection({
   const el = element.element;
 
   const volume = parseNumericValue(element.dataAttributes.volume ?? "") ?? 1;
-  const volumePercent = Math.round(volume * 100);
+  const volumeFaderPosition = audioGainToFaderPosition(volume);
   const mediaStart =
     Number.parseFloat(
       element.dataAttributes["media-start"] ?? element.dataAttributes["playback-start"] ?? "0",
@@ -215,13 +222,16 @@ export function FlatMediaSection({
             <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
               <FlatSlider
                 label="Volume"
-                value={volumePercent}
-                min={0}
-                max={100}
-                tier={volumePercent === 100 ? "default" : "explicitCustom"}
-                displayValue={`${volumePercent}%`}
+                value={volumeFaderPosition}
+                min={AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN}
+                max={AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX}
+                tier={volume === 1 ? "default" : "explicitCustom"}
+                displayValue={audioGainToText(volume)}
                 disabled={volumeAutomated}
-                onCommit={(next) => void onSetAttribute("volume", formatNumericValue(next / 100))}
+                centerTick
+                onCommit={(next) =>
+                  void onSetAttribute("volume", formatNumericValue(audioFaderPositionToGain(next)))
+                }
               />
             </div>
             <AutomationToggle
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelMediaSection.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelMediaSection.tsx
index 14b06f14d9..ba61c7f271 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelMediaSection.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelMediaSection.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ import {
 } from "./propertyPanelHelpers";
 import { Section, SegmentedControl, SelectField, SliderControl } from "./propertyPanelPrimitives";
 import { useTrackDesignInput } from "../../contexts/DesignPanelInputContext";
+import {
+  AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX,
+  AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN,
+  audioFaderPositionToGain,
+  audioGainToFaderPosition,
+  audioGainToText,
+} from "@hyperframes/core/audio-gain";
 
 // fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
 export function MediaSection({
@@ -47,7 +54,7 @@ export function MediaSection({
   const el = element.element;
 
   const volume = parseNumericValue(element.dataAttributes.volume ?? "") ?? 1;
-  const volumePercent = Math.round(volume * 100);
+  const volumeFaderPosition = audioGainToFaderPosition(volume);
 
   const mediaStart =
     Number.parseFloat(
@@ -250,14 +257,14 @@ export function MediaSection({
               <span className={LABEL}>Volume</span>
               <SliderControl
                 trackName="Volume"
-                value={volumePercent}
-                min={0}
-                max={100}
+                value={volumeFaderPosition}
+                min={AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MIN}
+                max={AUDIO_GAIN_FADER_MAX}
                 step={1}
-                displayValue={`${volumePercent}%`}
-                formatDisplayValue={(next) => `${Math.round(next)}%`}
+                displayValue={audioGainToText(volume)}
+                formatDisplayValue={(next) => audioGainToText(audioFaderPositionToGain(next))}
                 onCommit={(next) => {
-                  void onSetAttribute("volume", formatNumericValue(next / 100));
+                  void onSetAttribute("volume", formatNumericValue(audioFaderPositionToGain(next)));
                 }}
               />
             </div>
diff --git a/packages/studio/vite.config.ts b/packages/studio/vite.config.ts
index 97830c5d65..da670ed85f 100644
--- a/packages/studio/vite.config.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/vite.config.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
 import { readNodeRequestBody } from "./vite.request-body.js";
 import { watch } from "chokidar";
 import { createViteAdapter } from "./vite.adapter";
+import { previewConfigPayload } from "./vite.preview-config";
 
 async function loadRuntimeSourceForDev(
   server: import("vite").ViteDevServer,
@@ -84,6 +85,14 @@ function devProjectApi(): Plugin {
         return _api;
       };
 
+      server.middlewares.use((req, res, next) => {
+        if (req.url !== "/__hyperframes_config") return next();
+        const payload = previewConfigPayload(process.env, process.pid, studioPkg.version);
+        if (!payload) return next();
+        res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json", "Cache-Control": "no-store" });
+        res.end(JSON.stringify(payload));
+      });
+
       // Runtime endpoint — prefer source build over dist artifact
       server.middlewares.use((req, res, next) => {
         if (req.url !== "/api/runtime.js") return next();
diff --git a/packages/studio/vite.preview-config.test.ts b/packages/studio/vite.preview-config.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..865de6cbf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/studio/vite.preview-config.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { previewConfigPayload } from "./vite.preview-config";
+
+describe("previewConfigPayload", () => {
+  it("identifies a detached Vite preview to the CLI lifecycle scanner", () => {
+    expect(
+      previewConfigPayload(
+        {
+          HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_DIR: "/tmp/video",
+          HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_NAME: "video",
+          HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_BROWSER_GPU_MODE: "software",
+        },
+        4321,
+        "0.7.109",
+      ),
+    ).toEqual({
+      isHyperframes: true,
+      pid: 4321,
+      projectName: "video",
+      projectDir: "/tmp/video",
+      serverBuildSignature: null,
+      browserGpuMode: "software",
+      version: "0.7.109",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not claim unrelated direct Vite sessions", () => {
+    expect(previewConfigPayload({})).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/studio/vite.preview-config.ts b/packages/studio/vite.preview-config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3fe0c38d1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/studio/vite.preview-config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+export type PreviewConfigEnv = Record<string, string | undefined>;
+
+export function previewConfigPayload(
+  env: PreviewConfigEnv,
+  pid = process.pid,
+  version = "dev",
+): Record<string, unknown> | null {
+  const projectDir = env.HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_DIR;
+  const projectName = env.HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_PROJECT_NAME;
+  if (!projectDir || !projectName) return null;
+
+  const browserGpuMode = env.HYPERFRAMES_PREVIEW_BROWSER_GPU_MODE;
+  return {
+    isHyperframes: true,
+    pid,
+    projectName,
+    projectDir,
+    serverBuildSignature: null,
+    ...(browserGpuMode ? { browserGpuMode } : {}),
+    version,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/skills-manifest.json b/skills-manifest.json
index f12b4ae853..dde66a3d0a 100644
--- a/skills-manifest.json
+++ b/skills-manifest.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
       "files": 138
     },
     "faceless-explainer": {
-      "hash": "c70b904aa68cf7e5",
+      "hash": "e5142b87a79e62dd",
       "files": 24
     },
     "figma": {
@@ -26,15 +26,15 @@
       "files": 121
     },
     "hyperframes-audio": {
-      "hash": "534cea75fe0f2bc6",
+      "hash": "3125dc33c1402c75",
       "files": 6
     },
     "hyperframes-cli": {
-      "hash": "e042fcaaa3f9767f",
+      "hash": "48a43f848bad1886",
       "files": 11
     },
     "hyperframes-core": {
-      "hash": "e9daaccaed05b8b4",
+      "hash": "62968dbb5b6930cb",
       "files": 19
     },
     "hyperframes-creative": {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
       "files": 152
     },
     "motion-graphics": {
-      "hash": "1434e22bb0259bbb",
+      "hash": "69dc088b8e0d22fe",
       "files": 23
     },
     "music-to-video": {
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
       "files": 30
     },
     "product-launch-video": {
-      "hash": "81953f054fcb9d91",
+      "hash": "11368bf71a32ba49",
       "files": 28
     },
     "remotion-to-hyperframes": {
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@
       "files": 70
     },
     "slideshow": {
-      "hash": "6a24a84b0c1a75f9",
+      "hash": "2029471821f6f371",
       "files": 2
     },
     "talking-head-recut": {
-      "hash": "2f5d99f823c48e75",
+      "hash": "214eda4c0f2bedb1",
       "files": 28
     }
   }
diff --git a/skills/faceless-explainer/SKILL.md b/skills/faceless-explainer/SKILL.md
index 3a519b3f48..3ba1891a9c 100644
--- a/skills/faceless-explainer/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/faceless-explainer/SKILL.md
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ If a command fails, surface stderr and stop — don't pile on recovery commands.
 
 After checks pass, pause for user review — the review loop's final look (`../hyperframes-core/references/review-loop.md` § 4): one question, on the Studio that has been open since Step 3 — render now, or what changes? (Autonomous: the one kept question, preview first or render.) Then deliver the MP4 with the contact sheet and the frame ids so revisions can target a single frame.
 
-Preview: `npx hyperframes preview`
+Preview: `npx hyperframes preview --background`
 
 Render only after user approval (autonomous mode: after the preview-or-render question):
 
diff --git a/skills/hyperframes-audio/references/diagnosis.md b/skills/hyperframes-audio/references/diagnosis.md
index e92e0166fd..63e34b6715 100644
--- a/skills/hyperframes-audio/references/diagnosis.md
+++ b/skills/hyperframes-audio/references/diagnosis.md
@@ -135,6 +135,41 @@ the ambiguity instead.
 
 ## Recipes
 
+### Compare loudness from the bytes the listener actually hears
+
+Do not call two clips equally loud because their Studio faders, waveform peaks,
+or cached asset metadata match. Those are controls and proxies, not a loudness
+measurement. Resolve the exact URLs used by preview/render, download or inspect
+those exact served bytes, and measure each decoded stream with FFmpeg's
+`ebur128` filter. Compare the integrated LUFS values.
+
+For a target loudness, the required move is:
+
+```text
+gain_db = target_lufs - measured_lufs
+linear_gain = 10 ** (gain_db / 20)
+```
+
+When both clips are local authored `<audio>` elements with stable ids, use the
+CLI instead of transcribing that arithmetic by hand:
+
+```bash
+npx hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio
+npx hyperframes normalize-audio --reference target-audio --target user-audio --write
+```
+
+The first command is a dry run. The second writes only the target's
+`data-volume`, after accounting for both existing gains and refusing a boost
+that would clip or exceed Studio's ceiling. Always choose the reference from the
+author's stated intent; the command does not guess which clip should define the
+mix.
+
+Studio's clip-gain fader uses `0 dB` / linear gain `1` at its physical midpoint
+and provides up to `+12 dB` on the upper half. After changing gain, measure the
+served preview/render bytes again. If a listener still hears a mismatch, trust
+the report and first verify the asset URL and bytes are current; do not explain
+it away with matching peaks or a stale proxy measurement.
+
 All verified with ffmpeg 8.1.1. `-hide_banner` keeps the output readable;
 `volumedetect` prints to stderr, so do not silence it with `-v error`.
 
diff --git a/skills/hyperframes-cli/SKILL.md b/skills/hyperframes-cli/SKILL.md
index b01ee482c1..1ead76589f 100644
--- a/skills/hyperframes-cli/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/hyperframes-cli/SKILL.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Run commands as `npx hyperframes ...` unless project instructions provide a wrap
 4. **Get fast feedback while editing:** run `npx hyperframes lint` after the first HTML pass and after structural changes.
 5. **Run the final gate:** run `npx hyperframes check`; it reruns lint before opening the browser. Do not prepend a redundant standalone lint invocation. Add `--snapshots` for annotated overview frames and finding crops.
 6. **Inspect sub-compositions:** when `index.html` mounts `data-composition-src`, capture midpoint snapshots and inspect each mounted scene.
-7. **Open the final Studio preview:** run `npx hyperframes preview`, hand the timeline project URL to the user, and ask whether to revise or render.
+7. **Open the final Studio preview:** run `npx hyperframes preview --background`, verify the URL returns HTTP 200, hand the timeline project URL to the user, and ask whether to revise or render. Keep it alive until review ends.
 8. **Render only after approval:** use draft quality for iteration and high quality for delivery.
 9. **Verify the output:** confirm the file exists, is non-empty, and has a plausible duration.
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ npx hyperframes lint
 
 # Required final gate; includes lint.
 npx hyperframes check
-npx hyperframes preview
+npx hyperframes preview --background
 npx hyperframes render --quality high --output out.mp4
 test -s out.mp4
 ffprobe -v error -show_format out.mp4
diff --git a/skills/hyperframes-cli/references/preview-render.md b/skills/hyperframes-cli/references/preview-render.md
index f5ed1f4e8e..db0e351ee2 100644
--- a/skills/hyperframes-cli/references/preview-render.md
+++ b/skills/hyperframes-cli/references/preview-render.md
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@ Serve, render, and share commands.
 ## preview
 
 ```bash
-npx hyperframes preview                   # serve current directory
-npx hyperframes preview --port 4567       # custom port (default 3002)
+npx hyperframes preview                   # foreground on a TTY; persistent in agent shells
+npx hyperframes preview --background      # explicit persistent session
+npx hyperframes preview --foreground --json # ready JSON, then remain attached
+npx hyperframes preview --background --port 4567 # agent-safe custom port (default 3002)
 npx hyperframes preview --selection --json # print the current Studio selection and exit
 npx hyperframes preview --context --json  # print compact agent context from Studio
 ```
@@ -19,11 +21,11 @@ When handing a project back to the user, use the Studio project URL, not the sou
 http://localhost:<port>/#project/<project-name>
 ```
 
-Use the actual port and project directory name; treat `index.html` as source-code context, not the preview surface. For example, after `npx hyperframes preview --port 3017` in `codex-openai-video`, report `http://localhost:3017/#project/codex-openai-video`.
+Use the actual port and project directory name; treat `index.html` as source-code context, not the preview surface. For example, after `npx hyperframes preview --background --port 3017` in `codex-openai-video`, report `http://localhost:3017/#project/codex-openai-video`.
 
 To land the user on the **Storyboard view** instead of the timeline, put `?view=storyboard` ahead of the hash: `http://localhost:<port>/?view=storyboard#project/<project-name>`. Hand this URL whenever the storyboard is the thing to review and nothing is assembled yet — before `index.html` exists, the timeline stage has nothing to show, so the bare project URL opens on an empty player.
 
-Two ways a handed URL turns out dead — check both before handing it back: the URL is missing its `#project/<project-name>` hash (Studio loads but has no project to open), or the server is not actually running. `preview` is a long-running process — start it from the project directory as a background task, and if that task reports it exited ("completed"), the server is down: restart it, don't hand out the link.
+Two ways a handed URL turns out dead — check both before handing it back: the URL is missing its `#project/<project-name>` hash (Studio loads but has no project to open), or the server is not actually running. Bare `preview` automatically creates a managed persistent session in a non-TTY agent shell; `--background` remains the clearest explicit form. Verify the printed URL returns HTTP 200, keep it alive for the whole review, and stop it explicitly with `npx hyperframes preview --stop` afterward. Use the printed URL as-is: HyperFrames URL-encodes project names that contain route metacharacters.
 
 ### Agent context from Studio selection
 
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ Failure modes:
 
 | Code                       | Meaning                                                                    |
 | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `preview-not-running`      | Start Studio first with `npx hyperframes preview`.                         |
+| `preview-not-running`      | Start Studio first with `npx hyperframes preview --background`.            |
 | `ambiguous-preview-server` | Multiple matching Studio servers are open; rerun with one listed `--port`. |
 | `preview-port-mismatch`    | The requested `--port` is not one of the matching Studio servers.          |
 | `no-selection`             | Studio is open, but the user has not selected an element yet.              |
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ Both `preview` and `play` can open inside an explicit Chromium-compatible browse
 
 ```bash
 # Open preview in an isolated Chromium profile
-npx hyperframes preview --browser-path /usr/bin/chromium --user-data-dir /tmp/hf-profile
+npx hyperframes preview --background --browser-path /usr/bin/chromium --user-data-dir /tmp/hf-profile
 
 # Same plus a CDP endpoint on :9222 (attach DevTools / Playwright / etc.)
 npx hyperframes play --browser-path /usr/bin/chromium --user-data-dir /tmp/hf-profile --remote-debugging-port 9222
diff --git a/skills/hyperframes-core/SKILL.md b/skills/hyperframes-core/SKILL.md
index 3e44a4e54a..1ee9f83549 100644
--- a/skills/hyperframes-core/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/hyperframes-core/SKILL.md
@@ -85,5 +85,5 @@ Use `hyperframes-cli` for command details
 
 - [ ] `npx hyperframes check` passes (0 findings across lint, runtime, layout, motion, and contrast)
 - [ ] Projects with sub-compositions: `npx hyperframes snapshot --at <midpoints>` and eyeball each frame
-- [ ] `npx hyperframes preview` for review (the user can edit anything in Studio's timeline)
+- [ ] `npx hyperframes preview --background` for review (the user can edit anything in Studio's timeline, and the server survives the invoking command)
 - [ ] `npx hyperframes render` only after the user approves
diff --git a/skills/hyperframes-core/references/review-loop.md b/skills/hyperframes-core/references/review-loop.md
index 7ae9d5e6df..8a9ecc3d67 100644
--- a/skills/hyperframes-core/references/review-loop.md
+++ b/skills/hyperframes-core/references/review-loop.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This is the shared process for any workflow that plans on a storyboard. The cont
 
 ## § 1 — The plan, on a live board
 
-Open the **storyboard board** before presenting the plan: run `npx hyperframes preview` from the project directory in the background, confirm it is serving, and open `http://localhost:<port>/?view=storyboard#project/<project-name>`. This is an early planning surface, not the final composition preview; it may open before composition checks. The plan appears as frame cards and refreshes as work lands.
+Open the **storyboard board** before presenting the plan: run `npx hyperframes preview --background` from the project directory, confirm it is serving, and open `http://localhost:<port>/?view=storyboard#project/<project-name>`. This is an early planning surface, not the final composition preview; it may open before composition checks. The plan appears as frame cards and refreshes as work lands.
 
 Present the plan as a proposal (shape: `hyperframes-creative/references/story-spine.md` § 3): open by echoing **"This video tells [audience] that [message]"**, then the frame table — one row per frame: frame · beat (type, duration) · on screen · why (its `narrativeRole`, traced to the message). Hand the board URL with it, noting feedback lands in both places — comment on the board or reply here, one revision loop — and that a board submit still needs one reply here (anything) to get picked up.
 
diff --git a/skills/motion-graphics/SKILL.md b/skills/motion-graphics/SKILL.md
index 90bf727088..e0302dbee9 100644
--- a/skills/motion-graphics/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/motion-graphics/SKILL.md
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ Choose proof times that show the opening state, signature move, and final hold.
 Ask one question: “preview first, or render?” If the user chooses preview, open Studio and return to the same approval gate after revisions:
 
 ```bash
-(cd "$PROJECT_DIR" && npx hyperframes preview)
+(cd "$PROJECT_DIR" && npx hyperframes preview --background)
 ```
 
 Render only after an explicit render answer:
diff --git a/skills/product-launch-video/SKILL.md b/skills/product-launch-video/SKILL.md
index 1fd786de99..464604cfdd 100644
--- a/skills/product-launch-video/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/product-launch-video/SKILL.md
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ If a command fails, surface stderr and stop — don't pile on recovery commands.
 
 After checks pass, pause for user review — the review loop's final look (`../hyperframes-core/references/review-loop.md` § 4): one question, on the Studio that has been open since Step 3 — render now, or what changes? (Autonomous: the one kept question, preview first or render.) Then deliver the MP4 with the contact sheet and the frame ids so revisions can target a single frame.
 
-Preview: `npx hyperframes preview`
+Preview: `npx hyperframes preview --background`
 
 Render only after user approval (autonomous mode: after the preview-or-render question):
 
diff --git a/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md b/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md
index fffa3f99b2..57df159ff6 100644
--- a/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ Studio/`preview` is useful for editing a composition, but it is not a clear fina
 {
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "npx hyperframes present ./composition",
-    "studio": "npx hyperframes preview ./composition"
+    "studio": "npx hyperframes preview ./composition --background"
   }
 }
 ```
diff --git a/skills/talking-head-recut/SKILL.md b/skills/talking-head-recut/SKILL.md
index a9c797ff52..275c7bf129 100644
--- a/skills/talking-head-recut/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/talking-head-recut/SKILL.md
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ Tell the user:
 **Optional live preview (on request only).** The clip plays unchanged inside `public/index.html` with the overlays on top, so it previews faithfully. **Don't open it during the run.** When the user asks, start a long-lived server **after** render and report the URL:
 
 ```bash
-(cd "$WORK_DIR/public" && npx hyperframes preview)   # or `npx hyperframes play` for a shareable link
+(cd "$WORK_DIR/public" && npx hyperframes preview --background)   # or `npx hyperframes play` for a shareable link
 ```
 
 Do not delete the work directory unless the user asks.