diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 82b0ce2e..1a2cad5a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,36 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [0.8.35] - 2026-05-13
+
+A post-0.8.34 cleanup release focused on prompt hygiene, context-pressure
+guidance, and keeping the next release branch clearly separated from the
+already-published v0.8.34 tag.
+
+### Changed
+
+- **First-turn prompt context is leaner and easier to audit.** The
+  generated project context pack now ignores hidden tool/cache state,
+  balances top-level directories before descending, and `/context`
+  shows named prompt layers instead of a single opaque system blob.
+- **Model-visible prompt policy de-conflicted.** The base and mode
+  prompts no longer forbid useful `deepseek` CLI diagnostics, no
+  longer require checklists for simple one-step work, and align
+  long-session compaction guidance around the 60% suggestion threshold.
+- **Context-pressure guidance now has one split rule.** Manual
+  `/compact` suggestions start around 60% during sustained work, while
+  automatic replacement compaction remains an opt-in hard guardrail near
+  80% so DeepSeek V4 prefix-cache economics stay intact.
+- **The Tasks sidebar now ages out stale live-tool noise.** Completed
+  active tool rows linger briefly and then leave the right rail; very old
+  running shell rows collapse to a single row instead of occupying the
+  whole Tasks panel.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **`auto_compact` settings help now reports the real default**, which
+  has been off since v0.8.11 to avoid unnecessary cache-prefix rewrites.
+
 ## [0.8.34] - 2026-05-13
 
 A polish, terminal-protocol, and internal-cleanup release. The model-facing
@@ -65,14 +95,6 @@ mega-files that had grown around the agent loop and TUI.
   (v0.8.6 era), `PROMPT_ANALYSIS.md`, and the redundant
   `DEPENDENCY_GRAPH.md` no longer ship in releases; `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`
   remains the canonical crate-layout reference.
-- **First-turn prompt context is leaner and easier to audit.** The
-  generated project context pack now ignores hidden tool/cache state,
-  balances top-level directories before descending, and `/context`
-  shows named prompt layers instead of a single opaque system blob.
-- **Model-visible prompt policy de-conflicted.** The base and mode
-  prompts no longer forbid useful `deepseek` CLI diagnostics, no
-  longer require checklists for simple one-step work, and align
-  long-session compaction guidance around the 60% threshold.
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -4078,7 +4100,8 @@ Welcome — and thank you.
 - Hooks system and config profiles
 - Example skills and launch assets
 
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.34...HEAD
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.35...HEAD
+[0.8.35]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.34...v0.8.35
 [0.8.34]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.33...v0.8.34
 [0.8.33]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.32...v0.8.33
 [0.8.32]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.31...v0.8.32
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index cacb5036..882f8491 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1160,7 +1160,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-agent"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "deepseek-config",
  "serde",
@@ -1168,7 +1168,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-app-server"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "axum",
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-config"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "deepseek-secrets",
@@ -1202,7 +1202,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-core"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
@@ -1220,7 +1220,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-execpolicy"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "deepseek-protocol",
@@ -1229,7 +1229,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-hooks"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-trait",
@@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-mcp"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "serde",
@@ -1252,7 +1252,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-protocol"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
@@ -1260,7 +1260,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-secrets"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "dirs",
  "keyring",
@@ -1273,7 +1273,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-state"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
@@ -1285,7 +1285,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-tools"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-trait",
@@ -1298,7 +1298,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-tui"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "arboard",
@@ -1361,7 +1361,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-tui-cli"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
@@ -1386,7 +1386,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deepseek-tui-core"
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deltae"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index c1e3e08a..20c227d5 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ default-members = ["crates/cli", "crates/app-server", "crates/tui"]
 resolver = "2"
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "0.8.34"
+version = "0.8.35"
 edition = "2024"
 # Rust 1.88 stabilized `let_chains` in `if`/`while` conditions, which the
 # codebase relies on extensively. Cargo enforces this so users on older
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index abeb7759..1ef47c5f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -241,34 +241,27 @@ deepseek --provider ollama --model deepseek-coder:1.3b
 
 ---
 
-## What's New In v0.8.34
+## What's New In v0.8.35
 
-A polish, terminal-protocol, and internal-cleanup release. The
-model-facing tool surface stays stable while v0.8.34 improves first-run
-skills, terminal notifications, prompt-cache visibility, MCP transport
-compatibility, and the maintainability of the largest TUI files.
+A post-release cleanup branch for the `v0.8.34` line. It keeps the
+model-facing surface stable while trimming first-turn context, clarifying
+context-pressure behavior, and reducing sidebar noise during long runs.
 [Full changelog](CHANGELOG.md).
 
-- **Bundled DeepSeek-native workflow skills.** Fresh installs now get
-  first-party skills for delegation, skill creation, MCP/plugin setup,
-  documents, presentations, spreadsheets, PDFs, and Feishu/Lark.
-- **User skills stay visible.** `/skills` separates user-created skills
-  from built-ins so workspace and global skills do not disappear behind
-  the bundled catalog.
-- **MCP HTTP defaults are more compatible.** Streamable HTTP requests
-  default to `Accept: application/json, text/event-stream` and preserve
-  `Mcp-Session-Id` across requests.
-- **Terminal notifications cover more terminals.** Kitty `OSC 99` and
-  Ghostty `OSC 777` join the existing notification paths.
-- **Prefix-cache stability is visible.** The footer surfaces cache
-  stability so users can notice cache-busting changes before cost climbs.
-- **`edit_file` handles typographic punctuation drift.** With
-  `fuzz: true`, smart quotes, en/em dashes, and non-breaking spaces no
-  longer prevent a safe replacement when the file uses ASCII punctuation.
-- **Large internals are getting smaller.** Focused modules now own
-  auto-routing, Vim-mode handling, workspace context, streaming thinking,
-  notifications, file-picker relevance, formatting helpers, and key
-  shortcut predicates.
+- **First-turn context is leaner.** Hidden tool/cache state is excluded
+  from the generated project pack, and `/context` now names prompt layers
+  instead of showing one opaque blob.
+- **Prompt rules are de-conflicted.** Useful `deepseek` diagnostics are
+  allowed, simple one-step work no longer forces checklist ceremony, and
+  sustained sessions consistently suggest `/compact` around 60%.
+- **Automatic compaction stays conservative.** The 80% threshold remains
+  an opt-in hard guardrail so DeepSeek V4 prefix-cache behavior is not
+  disturbed by default.
+- **The Tasks sidebar settles down.** Completed live-tool rows expire
+  after a short linger, and very old running shell rows collapse instead
+  of filling the right rail.
+- **`auto_compact` help is honest.** Settings now report the real default:
+  off.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/crates/agent/Cargo.toml b/crates/agent/Cargo.toml
index 5deb9e28..6d848674 100644
--- a/crates/agent/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/agent/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ repository.workspace = true
 description = "Model/provider registry and fallback strategy for DeepSeek workspace architecture"
 
 [dependencies]
-deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.35" }
 serde.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/app-server/Cargo.toml b/crates/app-server/Cargo.toml
index 33cbed9f..bf2ec57c 100644
--- a/crates/app-server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/app-server/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@ description = "Codex-style app-server transport for DeepSeek workspace architect
 anyhow.workspace = true
 axum.workspace = true
 clap.workspace = true
-deepseek-agent = { path = "../agent", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-core = { path = "../core", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-execpolicy = { path = "../execpolicy", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-hooks = { path = "../hooks", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-mcp = { path = "../mcp", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-state = { path = "../state", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-tools = { path = "../tools", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-agent = { path = "../agent", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-core = { path = "../core", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-execpolicy = { path = "../execpolicy", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-hooks = { path = "../hooks", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-mcp = { path = "../mcp", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-state = { path = "../state", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-tools = { path = "../tools", version = "0.8.35" }
 serde.workspace = true
 serde_json.workspace = true
 tokio.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/cli/Cargo.toml b/crates/cli/Cargo.toml
index fa6cb1fc..3c175c88 100644
--- a/crates/cli/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/cli/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,13 +14,13 @@ path = "src/main.rs"
 anyhow.workspace = true
 clap.workspace = true
 clap_complete.workspace = true
-deepseek-agent = { path = "../agent", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-app-server = { path = "../app-server", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-execpolicy = { path = "../execpolicy", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-mcp = { path = "../mcp", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-secrets = { path = "../secrets", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-state = { path = "../state", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-agent = { path = "../agent", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-app-server = { path = "../app-server", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-execpolicy = { path = "../execpolicy", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-mcp = { path = "../mcp", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-secrets = { path = "../secrets", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-state = { path = "../state", version = "0.8.35" }
 chrono.workspace = true
 dirs.workspace = true
 serde.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/config/Cargo.toml b/crates/config/Cargo.toml
index 148db37c..2e7a4d81 100644
--- a/crates/config/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/config/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ description = "Config schema and precedence model for DeepSeek workspace archite
 
 [dependencies]
 anyhow.workspace = true
-deepseek-secrets = { path = "../secrets", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-secrets = { path = "../secrets", version = "0.8.35" }
 dirs.workspace = true
 serde.workspace = true
 toml.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/core/Cargo.toml b/crates/core/Cargo.toml
index b70ee484..9edbf8e7 100644
--- a/crates/core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/core/Cargo.toml
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ description = "Core runtime boundaries for DeepSeek workspace architecture"
 [dependencies]
 anyhow.workspace = true
 chrono.workspace = true
-deepseek-agent = { path = "../agent", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-execpolicy = { path = "../execpolicy", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-hooks = { path = "../hooks", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-mcp = { path = "../mcp", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-state = { path = "../state", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-tools = { path = "../tools", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-agent = { path = "../agent", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-config = { path = "../config", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-execpolicy = { path = "../execpolicy", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-hooks = { path = "../hooks", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-mcp = { path = "../mcp", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-state = { path = "../state", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-tools = { path = "../tools", version = "0.8.35" }
 serde_json.workspace = true
 uuid.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/execpolicy/Cargo.toml b/crates/execpolicy/Cargo.toml
index 691f8c03..1b95a475 100644
--- a/crates/execpolicy/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/execpolicy/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ description = "Execution policy and approval model parity for DeepSeek workspace
 
 [dependencies]
 anyhow.workspace = true
-deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.35" }
 serde.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/hooks/Cargo.toml b/crates/hooks/Cargo.toml
index 901f71ff..db2063a3 100644
--- a/crates/hooks/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/hooks/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ description = "Hook dispatch and notifications parity for DeepSeek workspace arc
 anyhow.workspace = true
 async-trait.workspace = true
 chrono.workspace = true
-deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.35" }
 reqwest.workspace = true
 serde.workspace = true
 serde_json.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/tools/Cargo.toml b/crates/tools/Cargo.toml
index 07525aef..25dcefef 100644
--- a/crates/tools/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/tools/Cargo.toml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ description = "Tool invocation lifecycle, schema validation, and scheduler paral
 [dependencies]
 anyhow.workspace = true
 async-trait.workspace = true
-deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-protocol = { path = "../protocol", version = "0.8.35" }
 serde.workspace = true
 serde_json.workspace = true
 tokio.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/tui/CHANGELOG.md b/crates/tui/CHANGELOG.md
index 82b0ce2e..1a2cad5a 100644
--- a/crates/tui/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/crates/tui/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,36 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [0.8.35] - 2026-05-13
+
+A post-0.8.34 cleanup release focused on prompt hygiene, context-pressure
+guidance, and keeping the next release branch clearly separated from the
+already-published v0.8.34 tag.
+
+### Changed
+
+- **First-turn prompt context is leaner and easier to audit.** The
+  generated project context pack now ignores hidden tool/cache state,
+  balances top-level directories before descending, and `/context`
+  shows named prompt layers instead of a single opaque system blob.
+- **Model-visible prompt policy de-conflicted.** The base and mode
+  prompts no longer forbid useful `deepseek` CLI diagnostics, no
+  longer require checklists for simple one-step work, and align
+  long-session compaction guidance around the 60% suggestion threshold.
+- **Context-pressure guidance now has one split rule.** Manual
+  `/compact` suggestions start around 60% during sustained work, while
+  automatic replacement compaction remains an opt-in hard guardrail near
+  80% so DeepSeek V4 prefix-cache economics stay intact.
+- **The Tasks sidebar now ages out stale live-tool noise.** Completed
+  active tool rows linger briefly and then leave the right rail; very old
+  running shell rows collapse to a single row instead of occupying the
+  whole Tasks panel.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **`auto_compact` settings help now reports the real default**, which
+  has been off since v0.8.11 to avoid unnecessary cache-prefix rewrites.
+
 ## [0.8.34] - 2026-05-13
 
 A polish, terminal-protocol, and internal-cleanup release. The model-facing
@@ -65,14 +95,6 @@ mega-files that had grown around the agent loop and TUI.
   (v0.8.6 era), `PROMPT_ANALYSIS.md`, and the redundant
   `DEPENDENCY_GRAPH.md` no longer ship in releases; `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`
   remains the canonical crate-layout reference.
-- **First-turn prompt context is leaner and easier to audit.** The
-  generated project context pack now ignores hidden tool/cache state,
-  balances top-level directories before descending, and `/context`
-  shows named prompt layers instead of a single opaque system blob.
-- **Model-visible prompt policy de-conflicted.** The base and mode
-  prompts no longer forbid useful `deepseek` CLI diagnostics, no
-  longer require checklists for simple one-step work, and align
-  long-session compaction guidance around the 60% threshold.
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -4078,7 +4100,8 @@ Welcome — and thank you.
 - Hooks system and config profiles
 - Example skills and launch assets
 
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.34...HEAD
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.35...HEAD
+[0.8.35]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.34...v0.8.35
 [0.8.34]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.33...v0.8.34
 [0.8.33]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.32...v0.8.33
 [0.8.32]: https://github.com/Hmbown/DeepSeek-TUI/compare/v0.8.31...v0.8.32
diff --git a/crates/tui/Cargo.toml b/crates/tui/Cargo.toml
index 25c949ba..28887b54 100644
--- a/crates/tui/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/tui/Cargo.toml
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ path = "src/main.rs"
 [dependencies]
 anyhow = "1.0.100"
 arboard = "3.4"
-deepseek-secrets = { path = "../secrets", version = "0.8.34" }
-deepseek-tools = { path = "../tools", version = "0.8.34" }
+deepseek-secrets = { path = "../secrets", version = "0.8.35" }
+deepseek-tools = { path = "../tools", version = "0.8.35" }
 schemaui = { version = "0.12.0", default-features = false, optional = true }
 async-stream = "0.3.6"
 async-trait = "0.1"
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/compaction.rs b/crates/tui/src/compaction.rs
index d9e29c04..8ffd73ac 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/compaction.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/compaction.rs
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ impl Default for CompactionConfig {
             // v0.8.11: 50K was a 128K-era leftover that biased every
             // unconfigured caller toward "compact almost immediately on V4."
             // Bumped to 800K (80% of V4's 1M window) so the dead-code
-            // default no longer lies. Real call sites override this via
+            // default matches the hard automatic compaction guardrail. This
+            // is intentionally later than the model-visible 60% "suggest
+            // /compact during sustained work" guidance; automatic replacement
+            // compaction rewrites the cacheable prefix and remains opt-in.
+            // Real call sites override this via
             // `compaction_threshold_for_model_and_effort`.
             token_threshold: 800_000,
             model: DEFAULT_TEXT_MODEL.to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/handoff.rs b/crates/tui/src/handoff.rs
index ae64fcb9..5098ea0e 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/handoff.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/handoff.rs
@@ -7,8 +7,14 @@ pub const THRESHOLDS: [(f32, &str); 3] = [
         0.9,
         "Context at 90%: stop and write relay to .deepseek/handoff.md now",
     ),
-    (0.8, "Context at 80%: draft relay to .deepseek/handoff.md"),
-    (0.7, "Context at 70%: consider wrapping current sub-task"),
+    (
+        0.8,
+        "Context at 80%: urgent hard-limit pressure; compact or write relay now",
+    ),
+    (
+        0.6,
+        "Context at 60%: prepare relay or suggest /compact for sustained work",
+    ),
 ];
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 pub fn threshold_message(ratio: f32) -> Option<&'static str> {
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/models.rs b/crates/tui/src/models.rs
index 5aae3bb0..a5f52c6d 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/models.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/models.rs
@@ -263,7 +263,9 @@ fn deepseek_context_window_hint(model_lower: &str) -> Option<u32> {
 /// Derive a compaction token threshold from model context window.
 ///
 /// Keeps headroom for tool outputs and assistant completion by defaulting to 80%
-/// of known context windows.
+/// of known context windows. This is the hard automatic compaction threshold
+/// used only when `auto_compact` is enabled; model-facing guidance still
+/// suggests manual `/compact` earlier (~60%) during sustained work.
 #[must_use]
 pub fn compaction_threshold_for_model(model: &str) -> usize {
     let Some(window) = context_window_for_model(model) else {
@@ -279,7 +281,7 @@ pub fn compaction_threshold_for_model(model: &str) -> usize {
 /// Replacement-style compaction rewrites the stable prefix, which works against
 /// DeepSeek V4 prefix-cache economics. Reasoning effort must not lower V4's
 /// automatic replacement threshold; V4-family models use the same late
-/// 80%-of-window guard as `compaction_threshold_for_model`.
+/// 80%-of-window hard guard as `compaction_threshold_for_model`.
 #[must_use]
 pub fn compaction_threshold_for_model_and_effort(
     model: &str,
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/settings.rs b/crates/tui/src/settings.rs
index 0b65f932..c849b73d 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/settings.rs
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ impl Settings {
         vec![
             (
                 "auto_compact",
-                "Auto-compact near context limit: on/off (default on)",
+                "Auto-compact near the hard context limit: on/off (default off)",
             ),
             ("calm_mode", "Calmer UI defaults: on/off"),
             (
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs
index ae104996..6b030262 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs
@@ -987,6 +987,10 @@ pub struct App {
     /// virtual index can shift (orphan completions push real cells in
     /// between). Migrated into `tool_details_by_cell` on flush.
     pub active_tool_details: HashMap<String, ToolDetailRecord>,
+    /// Completion timestamps for entries still living inside `active_cell`.
+    /// The transcript keeps completed entries until turn flush, but the
+    /// sidebar can use these timestamps to let settled live rows expire.
+    pub active_tool_entry_completed_at: HashMap<usize, Instant>,
     /// Active exploring cell entry index (within `active_cell.entries`).
     /// `None` once the active cell flushes or no exploring entry exists.
     pub exploring_cell: Option<usize>,
@@ -1563,6 +1567,7 @@ impl App {
             active_cell: None,
             active_cell_revision: 0,
             active_tool_details: HashMap::new(),
+            active_tool_entry_completed_at: HashMap::new(),
             exploring_cell: None,
             exploring_entries: HashMap::new(),
             ignored_tool_calls: HashSet::new(),
@@ -2360,6 +2365,7 @@ impl App {
             self.exploring_cell = None;
             self.exploring_entries.clear();
             self.active_tool_details.clear();
+            self.active_tool_entry_completed_at.clear();
             self.streaming_thinking_active_entry = None;
             self.bump_active_cell_revision();
             return;
@@ -2375,6 +2381,7 @@ impl App {
         let base_index = self.history.len();
 
         let mut details = std::mem::take(&mut self.active_tool_details);
+        self.active_tool_entry_completed_at.clear();
         for (tool_id, detail) in details.drain() {
             self.tool_details_by_cell
                 .entry(self.tool_cells.get(&tool_id).copied().unwrap_or(base_index))
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/sidebar.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/sidebar.rs
index 9e01b21b..e8f74d29 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/sidebar.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/sidebar.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 //! reads from `App` snapshots; mutation lives in the main app loop.
 
 use std::fmt::Write;
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 use ratatui::{
     Frame,
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ use super::ui::truncate_line_to_width;
 /// does not prematurely hide the session+agents breakdown.
 const COST_EQ_TOLERANCE: f64 = 1e-6;
 const RECENT_TOOL_SCAN_LIMIT: usize = 24;
+const ACTIVE_TOOL_COMPLETED_ROW_TTL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(8);
+const ACTIVE_TOOL_STALE_RUNNING_ROW_TTL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(600);
 
 pub fn render_sidebar(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &App) {
     if area.width < 24 || area.height < 8 {
@@ -660,14 +663,80 @@ fn active_tool_rows(app: &App) -> Vec<SidebarToolRow> {
     let Some(active) = app.active_cell.as_ref() else {
         return Vec::new();
     };
-    let rows: Vec<SidebarToolRow> = active
-        .entries()
-        .iter()
-        .filter_map(sidebar_tool_row_from_cell)
-        .collect();
+    let mut rows: Vec<SidebarToolRow> = Vec::new();
+    let mut stale_running: Vec<SidebarToolRow> = Vec::new();
+    for (entry_idx, cell) in active.entries().iter().enumerate() {
+        let Some(row) = sidebar_tool_row_from_cell(cell) else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        match active_tool_row_visibility(app, entry_idx, &row) {
+            ActiveToolRowVisibility::Visible => rows.push(row),
+            ActiveToolRowVisibility::StaleRunning => stale_running.push(row),
+            ActiveToolRowVisibility::Hidden => {}
+        }
+    }
+    if !stale_running.is_empty() {
+        rows.push(collapsed_stale_running_row(stale_running));
+    }
     editorial_tool_rows(rows, usize::MAX)
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum ActiveToolRowVisibility {
+    Visible,
+    StaleRunning,
+    Hidden,
+}
+
+fn active_tool_row_visibility(
+    app: &App,
+    entry_idx: usize,
+    row: &SidebarToolRow,
+) -> ActiveToolRowVisibility {
+    if row.status == ToolStatus::Running {
+        return if row
+            .duration_ms
+            .is_some_and(|ms| ms >= duration_ms(ACTIVE_TOOL_STALE_RUNNING_ROW_TTL))
+        {
+            ActiveToolRowVisibility::StaleRunning
+        } else {
+            ActiveToolRowVisibility::Visible
+        };
+    }
+
+    let Some(completed_at) = app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.get(&entry_idx) else {
+        return ActiveToolRowVisibility::Hidden;
+    };
+    if completed_at.elapsed() <= ACTIVE_TOOL_COMPLETED_ROW_TTL {
+        ActiveToolRowVisibility::Visible
+    } else {
+        ActiveToolRowVisibility::Hidden
+    }
+}
+
+fn collapsed_stale_running_row(rows: Vec<SidebarToolRow>) -> SidebarToolRow {
+    let count = rows.len();
+    let oldest_ms = rows
+        .iter()
+        .filter_map(|row| row.duration_ms)
+        .max()
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+    let first_summary = rows
+        .iter()
+        .find_map(|row| (!row.summary.trim().is_empty()).then(|| row.summary.clone()))
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "open Activity Detail".to_string());
+    SidebarToolRow {
+        name: if count == 1 {
+            "run".to_string()
+        } else {
+            format!("run x{count}")
+        },
+        status: ToolStatus::Running,
+        summary: format!("long-running · {first_summary}"),
+        duration_ms: (oldest_ms > 0).then_some(oldest_ms),
+    }
+}
+
 fn recent_tool_rows(app: &App, limit: usize) -> Vec<SidebarToolRow> {
     let rows: Vec<SidebarToolRow> = app
         .history
@@ -1014,6 +1083,10 @@ fn format_duration_ms(ms: u64) -> String {
     }
 }
 
+fn duration_ms(duration: Duration) -> u64 {
+    u64::try_from(duration.as_millis()).unwrap_or(u64::MAX)
+}
+
 fn render_sidebar_subagents(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &App) {
     if area.height < 3 {
         return;
@@ -1489,9 +1562,10 @@ fn render_sidebar_section(
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::{
-        AutoSidebarPanel, AutoSidebarState, SidebarAgentRow, SidebarSubagentSummary,
-        SidebarWorkChecklistItem, SidebarWorkStrategyStep, SidebarWorkSummary, auto_sidebar_panels,
-        subagent_panel_lines, task_panel_lines, work_panel_empty_hint, work_panel_lines,
+        ACTIVE_TOOL_COMPLETED_ROW_TTL, ACTIVE_TOOL_STALE_RUNNING_ROW_TTL, AutoSidebarPanel,
+        AutoSidebarState, SidebarAgentRow, SidebarSubagentSummary, SidebarWorkChecklistItem,
+        SidebarWorkStrategyStep, SidebarWorkSummary, auto_sidebar_panels, subagent_panel_lines,
+        task_panel_lines, work_panel_empty_hint, work_panel_lines,
     };
     use crate::config::Config;
     use crate::palette::PaletteMode;
@@ -1504,6 +1578,7 @@ mod tests {
     };
     use ratatui::text::Line;
     use std::path::PathBuf;
+    use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
     fn create_test_app() -> App {
         let options = TuiOptions {
@@ -1728,6 +1803,100 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn tasks_panel_expires_completed_active_tool_rows() {
+        let mut app = create_test_app();
+        let mut active = ActiveCell::new();
+        active.push_tool(
+            "tool-1",
+            HistoryCell::Tool(ToolCell::Generic(GenericToolCell {
+                name: "read_file".to_string(),
+                status: ToolStatus::Success,
+                input_summary: Some("src/main.rs".to_string()),
+                output: Some("done".to_string()),
+                prompts: None,
+                spillover_path: None,
+                output_summary: Some("done".to_string()),
+                is_diff: false,
+            })),
+        );
+        app.active_cell = Some(active);
+        app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.insert(
+            0,
+            Instant::now() - ACTIVE_TOOL_COMPLETED_ROW_TTL - Duration::from_secs(1),
+        );
+
+        let text = lines_to_text(&task_panel_lines(&app, 64, 8));
+
+        assert!(
+            !text.iter().any(|line| line.contains("[x] read_file")),
+            "expired completed active row should leave the sidebar: {text:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tasks_panel_lingers_fresh_completed_active_tool_rows() {
+        let mut app = create_test_app();
+        let mut active = ActiveCell::new();
+        active.push_tool(
+            "tool-1",
+            HistoryCell::Tool(ToolCell::Generic(GenericToolCell {
+                name: "read_file".to_string(),
+                status: ToolStatus::Success,
+                input_summary: Some("src/main.rs".to_string()),
+                output: Some("done".to_string()),
+                prompts: None,
+                spillover_path: None,
+                output_summary: Some("done".to_string()),
+                is_diff: false,
+            })),
+        );
+        app.active_cell = Some(active);
+        app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.insert(0, Instant::now());
+
+        let text = lines_to_text(&task_panel_lines(&app, 64, 8));
+
+        assert!(
+            text.iter().any(|line| line.contains("[x] read_file")),
+            "fresh completed active row should linger briefly: {text:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tasks_panel_collapses_stale_running_tool_rows() {
+        let mut app = create_test_app();
+        let mut active = ActiveCell::new();
+        for (idx, command) in ["long one", "long two"].into_iter().enumerate() {
+            active.push_tool(
+                format!("shell-{idx}"),
+                HistoryCell::Tool(ToolCell::Exec(ExecCell {
+                    command: command.to_string(),
+                    status: ToolStatus::Running,
+                    output: None,
+                    started_at: Some(
+                        Instant::now() - ACTIVE_TOOL_STALE_RUNNING_ROW_TTL - Duration::from_secs(1),
+                    ),
+                    duration_ms: None,
+                    source: ExecSource::Assistant,
+                    interaction: None,
+                    output_summary: None,
+                })),
+            );
+        }
+        app.active_cell = Some(active);
+
+        let text = lines_to_text(&task_panel_lines(&app, 80, 8));
+
+        assert!(
+            text.iter().any(|line| line.contains("[~] run x2")),
+            "stale running rows should collapse into one sidebar row: {text:?}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !text.iter().any(|line| line.contains("long two")),
+            "second stale command should not take another row: {text:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn tasks_panel_does_not_double_count_running_shell_job_as_live_and_background() {
         let mut app = create_test_app();
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/tool_routing.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/tool_routing.rs
index 6f7d631b..d11f0a97 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/tool_routing.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/tool_routing.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ pub(super) fn handle_tool_call_started(
         // starts in a single ExploringCell entry.
         let active = app.active_cell.as_mut().expect("active_cell just ensured");
         let entry_idx = active.ensure_exploring();
+        app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.remove(&entry_idx);
         let inner = active
             .append_to_exploring(
                 id.clone(),
@@ -281,6 +282,7 @@ fn push_active_tool_cell(
     }
     let active = app.active_cell.as_mut().expect("active_cell just ensured");
     let entry_idx = active.push_tool(tool_id.to_string(), cell);
+    app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.remove(&entry_idx);
     let virtual_index = app.history.len() + entry_idx;
     register_tool_cell(app, tool_id, tool_name, input, virtual_index);
     app.mark_history_updated();
@@ -490,6 +492,7 @@ pub(super) fn handle_tool_call_complete(
                 }
             }
         }
+        refresh_active_tool_completion_timestamp(app, cell_index);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -646,6 +649,7 @@ pub(super) fn handle_tool_call_complete(
         if let Some(active) = app.active_cell.as_mut() {
             active.bump_revision();
         }
+        refresh_active_tool_completion_timestamp(app, cell_index);
     }
 
     // #455 (observer-only): fire `tool_call_after` hooks once the
@@ -668,6 +672,46 @@ pub(super) fn handle_tool_call_complete(
     }
 }
 
+fn refresh_active_tool_completion_timestamp(app: &mut App, cell_index: usize) {
+    if cell_index < app.history.len() {
+        return;
+    }
+    let entry_idx = cell_index - app.history.len();
+    let Some(cell) = app.cell_at_virtual_index(cell_index) else {
+        app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.remove(&entry_idx);
+        return;
+    };
+
+    if history_cell_has_running_tool(cell) {
+        app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.remove(&entry_idx);
+    } else {
+        app.active_tool_entry_completed_at
+            .entry(entry_idx)
+            .or_insert_with(Instant::now);
+    }
+}
+
+fn history_cell_has_running_tool(cell: &HistoryCell) -> bool {
+    let HistoryCell::Tool(tool) = cell else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    match tool {
+        ToolCell::Exec(exec) => exec.status == ToolStatus::Running,
+        ToolCell::Exploring(explore) => explore
+            .entries
+            .iter()
+            .any(|entry| entry.status == ToolStatus::Running),
+        ToolCell::PlanUpdate(plan) => plan.status == ToolStatus::Running,
+        ToolCell::PatchSummary(patch) => patch.status == ToolStatus::Running,
+        ToolCell::Review(review) => review.status == ToolStatus::Running,
+        ToolCell::DiffPreview(_) => false,
+        ToolCell::Mcp(mcp) => mcp.status == ToolStatus::Running,
+        ToolCell::ViewImage(_) => false,
+        ToolCell::WebSearch(search) => search.status == ToolStatus::Running,
+        ToolCell::Generic(generic) => generic.status == ToolStatus::Running,
+    }
+}
+
 /// Build a finalized standalone history cell for a tool completion whose
 /// start was never registered (orphan). This preserves the contract that
 /// every tool result is visible somewhere; the alternative (silently
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/ui.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/ui.rs
index 44dadd61..9b22bb8a 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/ui.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/ui.rs
@@ -6192,6 +6192,7 @@ fn apply_loaded_session(app: &mut App, config: &Config, session: &SavedSession)
     app.tool_details_by_cell.clear();
     app.active_cell = None;
     app.active_tool_details.clear();
+    app.active_tool_entry_completed_at.clear();
     app.active_cell_revision = app.active_cell_revision.wrapping_add(1);
     app.exploring_cell = None;
     app.exploring_entries.clear();
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 7e7a4e4f..7b07741e 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Current boundary note (v0.8.6):
 - Other workspace crates are being split out incrementally, but they are not yet the sole runtime source of truth.
 - The LSP subsystem (`crates/tui/src/lsp/`) is fully wired into the engine's post-tool-execution path
   (`core/engine/lsp_hooks.rs`), providing inline diagnostics after every edit_file/apply_patch/write_file.
-- The swarm agent system was removed in v0.8.5. The active v0.8.34 orchestration surface is persistent sub-agent sessions (`agent_open` / `agent_eval` / `agent_close`) and persistent RLM sessions (`rlm_open` / `rlm_eval` / `rlm_configure` / `rlm_close`).
+- The swarm agent system was removed in v0.8.5. The active v0.8.35 orchestration surface is persistent sub-agent sessions (`agent_open` / `agent_eval` / `agent_close`) and persistent RLM sessions (`rlm_open` / `rlm_eval` / `rlm_configure` / `rlm_close`).
   No model-visible swarm tool remains in the active codebase.
 
 ## High-Level Overview
diff --git a/docs/TOOL_SURFACE.md b/docs/TOOL_SURFACE.md
index 9984519b..b1305c89 100644
--- a/docs/TOOL_SURFACE.md
+++ b/docs/TOOL_SURFACE.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ chosen over the available shell equivalent. Companion to `crates/tui/src/prompts
   for the same backing operation are a model trap — the LLM will alternate
   between them and the cache hit rate suffers.
 
-## Current surface (v0.8.34)
+## Current surface (v0.8.35)
 
 ### File operations
 
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ rg -n '"handle_read"|"rlm_open"|"rlm_eval"|"rlm_configure"|"rlm_close"|"agent_op
 rg -n 'handle_read|rlm_open|rlm_eval|rlm_configure|rlm_close|agent_open|agent_eval|agent_close' docs crates/tui/src/prompts crates/tui/src/tools
 ```
 
-The canonical v0.8.34 live names are:
+The canonical v0.8.35 live names are:
 
 - `handle_read`
 - `rlm_open`, `rlm_eval`, `rlm_configure`, `rlm_close`
diff --git a/npm/deepseek-tui/package.json b/npm/deepseek-tui/package.json
index 6afbc722..476826a6 100644
--- a/npm/deepseek-tui/package.json
+++ b/npm/deepseek-tui/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "deepseek-tui",
-  "version": "0.8.34",
-  "deepseekBinaryVersion": "0.8.34",
+  "version": "0.8.35",
+  "deepseekBinaryVersion": "0.8.35",
   "description": "Install and run deepseek and deepseek-tui binaries from GitHub release artifacts.",
   "author": "Hmbown",
   "license": "MIT",
diff --git a/web/lib/facts.generated.ts b/web/lib/facts.generated.ts
index 8d538409..7533be5f 100644
--- a/web/lib/facts.generated.ts
+++ b/web/lib/facts.generated.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export interface RepoFacts {
 
 export const FACTS: RepoFacts = {
   "generatedAt": "2026-05-13T06:15:45.167Z",
-  "version": "0.8.34",
+  "version": "0.8.35",
   "crates": [
     "agent",
     "app-server",