From 6830e1460d0f09ed48fc976efc6193e67d345faf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: imccyu <276526105+imccyu@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:27:26 +0800
Subject: [PATCH] refactor(session-controller): own Client Session generations

---
 .../src/client/contract/sessions.ts           |  79 ++-
 .../session-controller/src/client/index.ts    |  23 +-
 .../session-controller/src/client/scope.ts    |  46 +-
 .../src/client/sessions/lineage.ts            |   5 -
 .../src/client/sessions/manager.ts            | 187 ++----
 .../src/client/sessions/service.ts            | 544 +++++++++---------
 6 files changed, 413 insertions(+), 471 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/sessions.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/sessions.ts
index 08c13a208e..9b51f9066b 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/sessions.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/sessions.ts
@@ -14,13 +14,64 @@ import type { SessionSearchResultItem } from '../sessions/manager.ts'
 import type { SessionBinding, SessionListState } from '../sessions/service.ts'
 import type { SessionFace } from './session.ts'
 import type { ObservableSnapshot } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-store'
+import type { SessionReferenceSource } from '../index.ts'
 
 export type { AgentContext } from '../scope.ts'
 
+/** Known Session identity or durable direct-parent subagent address; an address owns no lifetime. */
+export type SessionTarget = SessionId | SubagentAddress
+
+/** One independent use of an exact Client generation, without Host Agent ownership. */
+export interface SessionReference extends Disposable {
+  readonly sessionId: SessionId
+  /** Shared binding; access fails after reference release or generation disposal. */
+  readonly binding: SessionBinding
+  /** This reference's cancellable wait for the shared initial `Session.open()` attempt to settle. */
+  readonly ready: Promise<SessionBinding>
+  /** Release once; the final reference starts local scope and history teardown. */
+  release(): void
+}
+
+/** Consumer identity and optional cancellation of one acquisition waiter. */
+export interface SessionRetainOptions {
+  readonly source: SessionReferenceSource
+  readonly signal?: AbortSignal | undefined
+}
+
+/** Local ownership counts, independent of catalog membership and never persisted. */
+export interface SessionRetainInfo {
+  readonly referenceCount: number
+  /** Positive source counts only; a source without references is absent. */
+  readonly retainedBy: Readonly<Partial<Record<SessionReferenceSource, number>>>
+}
+
 /** The sessions-service face injected as `ctx.sessions`. */
 export interface ISessions {
-  /** The useSessions standard feed (list rows + current selection; read face — writes stay inside the domain). */
+  /** Host catalog and local reference-source counts; navigation belongs to view owners. */
   readonly list: ObservableSnapshot<SessionListState>
+  /**
+   * Retain an exact Client generation and start its shared initial history opening.
+   * @param target - known identity or durable direct-parent address.
+   * @param options - required consumer source and optional independent waiter cancellation.
+   * @returns an owned reference immediately; await `reference.ready` when the initial open attempt must settle first.
+   */
+  retain(target: SessionTarget, options: SessionRetainOptions): SessionReference
+  /**
+   * Hold one reference through callback settlement, including synchronous and asynchronous failures.
+   * @param target - Session to acquire.
+   * @param options - source and acquisition cancellation.
+   * @param operation - callback using the reference only until its returned value or Promise settles.
+   * @returns the callback result after release; acquisition and callback failures propagate unchanged.
+   */
+  using<T>(target: SessionTarget, options: SessionRetainOptions, operation: (reference: SessionReference) => T | Promise<T>): Promise<T>
+  /**
+   * Observe local reference counts without retaining, creating a scope, or opening history.
+   * The returned source keeps stable identity across same-id generations and remains allocated
+   * until the Client root is disposed, even after its final subscriber leaves.
+   * @param id - explicit Session identity; Host existence is not implied.
+   * @returns a stable read-only source across same-id generations, with zero counts when none is live.
+   */
+  retainInfo(id: SessionId): ObservableSnapshot<SessionRetainInfo>
   /**
    * The `session.search` result bound the wire schema fixes, exposed to
    * presentation as injected data. Not per-connection state: every transport
@@ -30,23 +81,13 @@ export interface ISessions {
   /**
    * Create or adopt a Session on the Host.
    * @param opts - target workspace, directory, and optional preallocated identity.
-   * @returns the Session identity after its local binding is addressable.
+   * @returns the catalogued identity; retain it before borrowing its binding.
    */
   create(opts?: {
     workspaceId?: WorkspaceId
     cwd?: string
     sessionId?: SessionId
   }): Promise<SessionId>
-  /**
-   * Select a session as current.
-   * @param id - session id (must exist in the list; unknown ids fail loud).
-   */
-  open(id: SessionId): void
-  /**
-   * Open a healthy catalog child through its exact direct-parent address.
-   * @param address - catalog-derived parent and child ids.
-   */
-  openSubagent(address: SubagentAddress): void
   /**
    * Resolve an already discovered direct-parent address without opening it.
    * @param id - possible addressed child id.
@@ -66,8 +107,6 @@ export interface ISessions {
    */
   refreshSubagents(parentSessionId: SessionId): Promise<void>
 
-  /** Clear the current selection into the no-session view state. */
-  clear(): void
   /**
    * Refresh the Host-authoritative Session list.
    * @returns completion of the current or newly started Session-list refresh.
@@ -86,7 +125,7 @@ export interface ISessions {
   ): Promise<RemoteResult<{ items: SessionSearchResultItem[]; hasMore: boolean }>>
   /**
    * Fork a session from a completed-turn prefix of the source; on resolution
-   * the child is in the list store and `open()` can target it.
+   * the child is in the catalog and may be explicitly retained.
    * @param opts - source session id, the optional event seq anchoring the
    *   cut (the boundary is the first turn/end at or after it; an in-log
    *   anchor in an open turn is unavailable rather than clipped backward),
@@ -96,9 +135,9 @@ export interface ISessions {
    */
   fork(opts: { sessionId: SessionId; atSeq?: number; increaseTitle?: boolean }): Promise<SessionId>
   /**
-   * Resolve an Agent-scoped context view (use-and-discard).
+   * Borrow an already-retained Agent-scoped Context without extending its lifetime.
    * @param id - session id.
-   * @returns scoped ctx, or undefined for a session neither listed nor already scoped.
+   * @returns the live scoped Context, or undefined without a retained generation.
    */
   scope(id: SessionId): AgentContext | undefined
   /**
@@ -111,13 +150,13 @@ export interface ISessions {
   /**
    * Resolve the session face behind an Agent-scoped context.
    * @param ctx - an Agent-scoped context.
-   * @returns the session face, or undefined when the ctx is untagged or its scope was pruned.
+   * @returns the matching live Session, or undefined for an untagged, foreign, or ended generation.
    */
   sessionOf(ctx: Context): SessionFace | undefined
   /**
-   * Resolve the stable session binding (scope-addressed assembly feed).
+   * Borrow an already-retained Session binding without extending its lifetime.
    * @param id - session id.
-   * @returns binding, or undefined for a session neither listed nor already scoped.
+   * @returns the live binding, or undefined without a retained generation.
    */
   binding(id: SessionId): SessionBinding | undefined
 }
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/index.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/index.ts
index 4f9c84ea4a..03520f5da1 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/index.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/index.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { Context } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import type {} from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-agent/types'
 import type { ConnectionHandle } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-connection/client'
 import type {} from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-file-upload/client'
+import { typertOwnedValue } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-typert-protocol'
 import { createSessionControlStream } from './transport.ts'
 import { ClientSessions } from './sessions/service.ts'
 import type { SessionRemotes } from './sessions/remotes.ts'
@@ -48,7 +49,9 @@ export type {
   SessionFace,
   SubmissionHandle,
 } from './contract/session.ts'
-export type { ISessions } from './contract/sessions.ts'
+export type {
+  ISessions, SessionReference, SessionRetainInfo, SessionRetainOptions, SessionTarget,
+} from './contract/sessions.ts'
 export { MutableSessionEventSource } from './contract/events.ts'
 export type {
   AssistantLiveChunkEvent,
@@ -73,6 +76,17 @@ export type {
   SessionSnapshot,
 } from './contract/snapshot.ts'
 
+/** Consumer-owned reference labels; extend this map through the package's canonical /client entry. */
+export interface SessionReferenceSourceMap {
+  /** Temporary Client Controller work, including fork-title preparation. */
+  controllerOperation: unknown
+  /** A Client Gateway invocation's synchronous Context ownership. */
+  gateway: unknown
+}
+
+/** Declaration-merge-extensible labels carried by independent Client references. */
+export type SessionReferenceSource = Extract<keyof SessionReferenceSourceMap, string>
+
 declare module '@deepseek-ai/cordis' {
   interface Context {
     /** Client Session object layer and Agent scope owner. */
@@ -125,8 +139,11 @@ export function apply(ctx: Context): void {
   ctx.effect(() => connection.generation.subscribe(connected), 'session-controller.client.generation')
   connected()
   ctx.typert.contexts.registerClient('agent', {
-    identity: candidate => sessions.scopeOf(candidate),
-    resolve: sessionId => sessions.resolveAgentScope(sessionId),
+    identity: candidate => sessions.sessionOf(candidate)?.sessionId,
+    resolve: (sessionId) => {
+      const reference = sessions.retainAgentScope(sessionId)
+      return typertOwnedValue(reference.binding.ctx, () => { reference.release() })
+    },
   })
   ctx.effect(() => async () => { await control.dispose() }, 'session-controller.client.control')
 }
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/scope.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/scope.ts
index 5e1dca62a3..3c9618d405 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/scope.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/scope.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,4 @@
-/**
- * Client Agent-scope primitive: mint a Cordis context tagged with the owning
- * Agent's identity. The mechanism mirrors the host `dsh-scope` architecture
- * (no-op plugin fiber + context tag + `Context.filter` routing predicate);
- * the shape deliberately diverges: the filter lives on the actx itself
- * instead of a separate carrier object, so scoped dispatch is plain cordis —
- * `actx.bail(actx, event, payload)` / `actx.emit(actx, ...)` — with no
- * wrapper. The host needs a detached carrier because its dispatch subject is
- * the business Agent object; client scope events carry only ids, so the
- * actx is the natural subject. The second divergence stands: the scope key
- * is the branded `SessionId` (value compared), not an object identity — the
- * agent and its session share one id (1:1, same axis; no separate AgentId
- * brand), and a client scope's identity IS that wire id. Third divergence,
- * deliberate: the client scopes the Agent IDENTITY, not a live Agent object
- * — a cold session's host Agent is already disposed while its client actx
- * stays alive for history viewing.
- */
+/** Client scope generations route local events independently of Host Agent residency. */
 import { Context as CordisContext } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import type { Context, Fiber } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import type { ClientRemote } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-api-gateway/client'
@@ -29,11 +13,15 @@ export type AgentContext = Omit<Context, 'remote'> & {
 /** Context tag written by {@link createScope}. */
 const kScope = Symbol('dsh.client.scope')
 
+interface ScopeIdentity {
+  readonly sessionId: SessionId
+}
+
 /** A minted Agent scope and its disposal boundary. */
 export interface AgentScopeHandle {
   /**
    * Tagged context: scope-owned registrations and scoped dispatch both go
-   * through it (passing it as the dispatch subject routes to this agent's
+   * through it (passing it as the dispatch subject routes to this generation's
    * tagged listeners plus every untagged one).
    */
   ctx: AgentContext
@@ -47,19 +35,20 @@ function agentScope(): void {}
 /**
  * Mint an Agent scope under `ctx`: a no-op plugin fiber whose context
  * carries the agent tag and the dispatch filter — untagged listeners are
- * admitted globally, tagged listeners only for a matching agent.
+ * admitted globally, tagged listeners only for the same Client generation.
  * Registrations through the returned ctx dispose with the fiber.
  * @param ctx - client root context the scope fiber mounts under.
- * @param key - owning agent identity (the routing tag; agent id === session id).
+ * @param key - durable Session identity carried by this generation.
  * @returns the tagged context and its backing fiber.
  */
 export function createScope(ctx: Context, key: SessionId): AgentScopeHandle {
   const fiber = ctx.plugin(agentScope)
+  const identity: ScopeIdentity = { sessionId: key }
   const scoped = fiber.ctx.extend({
-    [kScope]: key,
+    [kScope]: identity,
     [CordisContext.filter](listenerCtx: Context): boolean {
-      const tag = scopeOf(listenerCtx)
-      return tag === undefined || tag === key
+      const tag = scopeIdentityOf(listenerCtx)
+      return tag === undefined || tag === identity
     },
   }) as AgentContext
   return {
@@ -74,5 +63,14 @@ export function createScope(ctx: Context, key: SessionId): AgentScopeHandle {
  * @returns its agent identity (the session id), or undefined for root contexts.
  */
 export function scopeOf(ctx: Context): SessionId | undefined {
-  return (ctx as Context & { [kScope]?: SessionId })[kScope]
+  return scopeIdentityOf(ctx)?.sessionId
+}
+
+/**
+ * Read the exact generation identity inherited by a Client Context.
+ * @param ctx - scoped or root Client Context.
+ * @returns the generation identity, or undefined for an unscoped Context.
+ */
+export function scopeIdentityOf(ctx: Context): ScopeIdentity | undefined {
+  return (ctx as Context & { [kScope]?: ScopeIdentity })[kScope]
 }
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/lineage.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/lineage.ts
index 09551369b6..65e1501bd4 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/lineage.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/lineage.ts
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ export interface SessionListEntry {
   cwd?: string
   /** Current host-computed projection values for list consumers. */
   projectionValues?: Readonly<Partial<SessionProjectionMap>>
-  /** Finished running while not selected and not yet opened — the sidebar's green "done" reminder (clears on select or the next run). */
-  completed: boolean
   /** Lineage indent depth: root = 0; the UI just multiplies by the indent width. */
   depth: number
 }
@@ -38,12 +36,10 @@ export interface SessionListEntry {
  * follows the established input order; this projection never re-sorts a
  * hydrated list from mutable timestamps.
  * @param summaries - the host's session.list items.
- * @param completed - sessions with a pending completion reminder (manager-owned live fact; absent = false).
  * @returns display rows in render order.
  */
 export function flattenLineage(
   summaries: readonly TitledSessionSummary[],
-  completed?: ReadonlySet<SessionId>,
 ): SessionListEntry[] {
   const byId = new Map<SessionId, TitledSessionSummary>()
   for (const s of summaries) byId.set(s.sessionId, s)
@@ -70,7 +66,6 @@ export function flattenLineage(
     visited.add(s.sessionId)
     out.push({
       ...s,
-      completed: completed?.has(s.sessionId) ?? false,
       depth,
     })
     const kids = children.get(s.sessionId)
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/manager.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/manager.ts
index 4480402c4d..a3f414c6f0 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/manager.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/manager.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-// SessionManager: the instance cluster Map<SessionId, Session> (lazy-built, resident) + the frame
-// dispatch entry + list state, constructed and held by ClientSessions (one per browser client).
-// List data never enters zustand; React connects via subscribe/getListSnapshot.
+/** Host catalog, durable projection caches, and explicitly retained Client instances. */
 
 import type { SubagentAddress, SubagentCatalog } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-subagent/client'
 import { SessionSeq, type SessionId, type SessionSeqCursor } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session/types'
@@ -24,6 +22,7 @@ import { Notifier } from './notifier.ts'
 import { ProjectionValueStore } from './projection-store.ts'
 import { Session } from './session.ts'
 import type { SessionRemotes } from './remotes.ts'
+import type { SessionTarget } from '../contract/sessions.ts'
 
 function sessionSeqCursor(value: number): SessionSeqCursor {
   return value === -1 ? -1 : SessionSeq(value)
@@ -48,8 +47,6 @@ export interface SessionSearchResultItem {
 /** Immutable session-list snapshot for useSessionList. */
 export interface SessionListSnapshot {
   items: readonly SessionListEntry[]
-  /** Selected Session id (validated against items; masked to undefined while its session is off the list). */
-  current: SessionId | undefined
   state: 'idle' | 'loading' | 'error'
   /** Arrival lifecycle (see {@link SessionListPhase}); `state` stays the pull-activity axis. */
   phase: SessionListPhase
@@ -57,7 +54,6 @@ export interface SessionListSnapshot {
   subagentsByParent: Readonly<Record<SessionId, SubagentCatalogSnapshot>>
   /** Background jobs per session; an absent key is an empty set. */
   jobsBySession: Readonly<Record<SessionId, readonly JobView[]>>
-  currentAddress: SubagentAddress | undefined
 }
 
 /** One parent-addressed durable catalog projected through the sessions snapshot. */
@@ -95,14 +91,6 @@ export class SessionManager {
   private readonly sessions = new Map<SessionId, Session>()
   /** In-flight Session disposals remain here after instances leave `sessions`, so manager disposal can await quiescence. */
   private readonly sessionDisposals = new Set<Promise<void>>()
-  /**
-   * Sessions that finished running while not selected — the sidebar's green
-   * "done" reminder (manager-owned, survives connection generations; cleared
-   * on select and session-removed, re-armed by the next completion).
-   */
-  private readonly completedNotifications = new Set<SessionId>()
-  /** Last-observed running bits per session; the true→false edge here arms {@link completedNotifications}. */
-  private readonly prevRunning = new Map<SessionId, boolean>()
   /** Per-session projection value stores, retained independently of instance arrival (the
    *  title-snapshot precedent, generalized): push frames land here whether or not the Session
    *  is instantiated (list rows read the 'title' key), and an instantiated Session adopts the
@@ -130,8 +118,6 @@ export class SessionManager {
    */
   private readonly jobsBySession = new Map<SessionId, readonly JobView[]>()
 
-  private selected: SessionId | undefined
-
   private listSnapshotCache: SessionListSnapshot
   /** Entry-identity cache (reference stability): list rebuilds reuse the previous entry
    *  object when every field matches — wire refreshes mint all-new summary objects, so identity
@@ -142,67 +128,31 @@ export class SessionManager {
     this.listSnapshotCache = this.buildListSnapshot()
   })
 
-  /**
-   * @param remote - generated Remote namespaces the Session cluster calls.
-   * @param restoredSelection - persisted real-Session selection candidate.
-   */
-  constructor(
-    private readonly remote: SessionRemotes,
-    restoredSelection?: SessionId,
-    restoredAddress?: SubagentAddress,
-  ) {
-    this.selected = restoredSelection
-    if (restoredAddress !== undefined) this.addresses.set(restoredAddress.childSessionId, restoredAddress)
+  /** @param remote - generated Remote namespaces used by catalog and history readers. */
+  constructor(private readonly remote: SessionRemotes) {
     this.listSnapshotCache = this.buildListSnapshot()
   }
 
-  // ---- Selection ----
-
   /**
-   * Select a listed Session or a retained catalog-addressed child.
-   * @param sessionId - listed or catalog-addressed Session id.
+   * Resolve an acquisition target without materializing a Session.
+   * @param target - known identity or durable direct-parent address.
+   * @returns the resolved identity with its explicit or catalog-derived history route installed.
    */
-  select(sessionId: SessionId): void {
-    const address = this.navigationAddress(sessionId)
-    if (!this.summaries.some(summary => summary.sessionId === sessionId) && address === undefined) {
-      throw new Error(`sessions.select: unknown session ${sessionId}`)
+  resolveTarget(target: SessionTarget): SessionId {
+    const id = typeof target === 'string' ? target : target.childSessionId
+    const address = typeof target === 'string' ? this.navigationAddress(id) : target
+    if (typeof target === 'string'
+      && !this.sessions.has(id)
+      && !this.summaries.some(summary => summary.sessionId === id)
+      && address === undefined) {
+      throw new Error(`sessions.retain: unknown session ${id}`)
     }
-    if (address !== undefined) this.addresses.set(sessionId, address)
-    this.sessions.get(sessionId)?.configureSubagent(
+    if (address !== undefined) this.addresses.set(id, address)
+    this.sessions.get(id)?.configureSubagent(
       address,
-      address === undefined
-        ? undefined
-        : this.catalogs.get(address.parentSessionId)?.parentAvailable,
+      address === undefined ? undefined : this.catalogs.get(address.parentSessionId)?.parentAvailable,
     )
-    this.selected = sessionId
-    // Looking at the session consumes its completion reminder (dot clears).
-    this.completedNotifications.delete(sessionId)
-    void this.refreshSubagents(sessionId)
-    this.notifier.notifyNow()
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Select a healthy child through its durable direct-parent address.
-   * @param address - catalog-derived parent and child ids.
-   */
-  selectSubagent(address: SubagentAddress): void {
-    const catalog = this.catalogs.get(address.parentSessionId)
-    const entry = catalog?.entries.find(candidate => candidate.id === address.childSessionId)
-    if (entry === undefined || entry.kind !== 'child' || entry.mode !== address.mode) {
-      throw new Error(`sessions.selectSubagent: ${address.childSessionId} is not a healthy catalog child`)
-    }
-    this.addresses.set(address.childSessionId, address)
-    this.sessions.get(address.childSessionId)?.configureSubagent(address, catalog?.parentAvailable)
-    this.selected = address.childSessionId
-    this.completedNotifications.delete(address.childSessionId)
-    void this.refreshSubagents(address.childSessionId)
-    this.notifier.notifyNow()
-  }
-
-  /** Clear the selection (the layout falls to the no-session view state). */
-  clearSelection(): void {
-    this.selected = undefined
-    this.notifier.notifyNow()
+    return id
   }
 
   /**
@@ -211,7 +161,7 @@ export class SessionManager {
    * @returns The direct-parent address, when navigation discovered one.
    */
   subagentAddress(sessionId: SessionId): SubagentAddress | undefined {
-    return this.addresses.get(sessionId)
+    return this.navigationAddress(sessionId)
   }
 
   /**
@@ -234,20 +184,22 @@ export class SessionManager {
   // ---- Instance management ----
 
   /**
-   * Drop a session instance (scope-prune companion: instance
-   * and scope share one lifecycle). The host session log is the durable
-   * truth — a later get() lazily rebuilds and open() backfills history.
-   * @param sessionId - the session to drop.
+   * Withdraw an exact Client instance before running its teardown callbacks.
+   * @param sessionId - identity to withdraw.
+   * @param expected - instance being released; a replacement is left untouched.
+   * @returns completion of the detached instance's stream teardown.
    */
-  async drop(sessionId: SessionId): Promise<void> {
+  drop(sessionId: SessionId, expected: Session): Promise<void> {
     const session = this.sessions.get(sessionId)
+    if (session !== expected) return Promise.resolve()
     this.sessions.delete(sessionId)
-    if (session !== undefined) await this.startSessionDisposal(session)
+    this.addresses.delete(sessionId)
+    return this.startSessionDisposal(session)
   }
 
   /**
-   * Stop owned timers and every remaining Session instance.
-   * @returns when every Session Remote iterator has completed teardown.
+   * Stop catalog requests and dispose every resident Session.
+   * @returns once catalog requests and every Session stream have stopped.
    */
   async dispose(): Promise<void> {
     for (const timer of this.catalogDebounce.values()) clearTimeout(timer)
@@ -256,6 +208,7 @@ export class SessionManager {
     this.openCatalogs.clear()
     const sessions = [...this.sessions.values()]
     this.sessions.clear()
+    this.addresses.clear()
     for (const session of sessions) void this.startSessionDisposal(session)
     await this.drainSessionDisposals()
   }
@@ -278,7 +231,7 @@ export class SessionManager {
 
   /**
    * Lazy build: return the existing instance or construct one (no auto-open —
-   * open is triggered by the container's select callback).
+   * the reference allocator opens history after binding the scope).
    * @param sessionId - the session to get.
    * @returns the resident instance.
    */
@@ -458,25 +411,9 @@ export class SessionManager {
           const baseline: SessionSummary[] = this.listPhase === 'pending'
             ? [...result.value.items]
             : mergeOrderedBaseline(established, result.value.items, summary => summary.sessionId)
-          // Seed first observations from the pull-time baseline BEFORE replaying
-          // in-flight mutations, then reconcile the reminders after EVERY
-          // replayed mutation: an edge that happens entirely between mutations
-          // (baseline idle → running → idle) must still arm, which a single
-          // sync on the folded result would collapse away.
-          for (const s of baseline) {
-            if (!this.prevRunning.has(s.sessionId)) this.prevRunning.set(s.sessionId, s.running)
-          }
-          let summaries = baseline
-          for (const mutation of mutations) {
-            summaries = applyMutation(summaries, mutation)
-            this.summaries = summaries
-            this.syncCompletedNotifications()
-          }
-          this.summaries = summaries
+          this.summaries = mutations.reduce(applyMutation, baseline)
           this.listState = 'idle'
           this.listPhase = 'ready'
-          // Covers the empty-mutations pull (a plain baseline carries no edge).
-          this.syncCompletedNotifications()
           // Push running/blank bits down to instantiated Sessions (the list is the authoritative summary source).
           for (const s of this.summaries) {
             const session = this.sessions.get(s.sessionId)
@@ -624,8 +561,6 @@ export class SessionManager {
   private recordMutation(mutation: SessionListMutation): void {
     this.listMutations?.push(mutation)
     this.summaries = applyMutation(this.summaries, mutation)
-    // Eager edge reconciliation — a snapshot-build-time pass would miss consecutive status frames.
-    this.syncCompletedNotifications()
     this.notifier.markDirty()
   }
 
@@ -702,7 +637,7 @@ export class SessionManager {
       this.markCatalogParentExpandable(summary.parentSessionId)
     }
     if (summary.parentSessionId !== undefined
-      && (this.selected === summary.parentSessionId || this.openCatalogs.has(summary.parentSessionId))) {
+      && this.openCatalogs.has(summary.parentSessionId)) {
       this.scheduleCatalogRefresh(summary.parentSessionId)
     }
   }
@@ -778,13 +713,15 @@ export class SessionManager {
     this.listMutations = null
     this.listInflight = null
     void this.refreshList()
-    const selectedAddress = this.selected === undefined ? undefined : this.addresses.get(this.selected)
-    if (selectedAddress !== undefined) void this.refreshSubagents(selectedAddress.parentSessionId)
-    if (this.selected !== undefined) void this.refreshSubagents(this.selected)
-    for (const parentSessionId of this.openCatalogs) void this.refreshSubagents(parentSessionId)
+    const parents = new Set(this.openCatalogs)
+    for (const id of this.sessions.keys()) {
+      const address = this.addresses.get(id)
+      if (address !== undefined) parents.add(address.parentSessionId)
+    }
+    for (const parentSessionId of parents) void this.refreshSubagents(parentSessionId)
   }
 
-  /** Debounce membership refetches while one parent catalog is selected or open. */
+  /** Debounce membership refetches for an explicitly consumed catalog. */
   private scheduleCatalogRefresh(parentSessionId: SessionId): void {
     if (this.catalogDebounce.has(parentSessionId)) return
     const timer = setTimeout(() => {
@@ -861,38 +798,6 @@ export class SessionManager {
     })
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Reconcile completion reminders against the latest summaries, eagerly after
-   * every mutation and pull (a snapshot-build-time pass would collapse
-   * consecutive status frames into one observation). A running→idle edge of a
-   * non-selected session arms its reminder; running disarms it; removal drops
-   * it. First observation only records the running bit — sessions already
-   * idle at load get no reminder.
-   */
-  private syncCompletedNotifications(): void {
-    const seen = new Set<SessionId>()
-    for (const s of this.summaries) {
-      seen.add(s.sessionId)
-      const prev = this.prevRunning.get(s.sessionId)
-      if (prev === undefined) {
-        this.prevRunning.set(s.sessionId, s.running)
-        continue
-      }
-      if (prev && !s.running) {
-        if (s.sessionId !== this.selected) this.completedNotifications.add(s.sessionId)
-      } else if (s.running) {
-        this.completedNotifications.delete(s.sessionId)
-      }
-      this.prevRunning.set(s.sessionId, s.running)
-    }
-    for (const id of this.prevRunning.keys()) {
-      if (!seen.has(id)) this.prevRunning.delete(id)
-    }
-    for (const id of this.completedNotifications) {
-      if (!seen.has(id)) this.completedNotifications.delete(id)
-    }
-  }
-
   private buildListSnapshot(): SessionListSnapshot {
     const merged: TitledSessionSummary[] = this.summaries.map((summary) => {
       // List rows read the generic 'title' projection key (host-computed unit
@@ -906,7 +811,7 @@ export class SessionManager {
         ...(projectionValues === undefined ? {} : { projectionValues }),
       }
     })
-    const fresh = flattenLineage(merged, this.completedNotifications)
+    const fresh = flattenLineage(merged)
     const items = fresh.map((entry) => {
       const prev = this.entryCache.get(entry.sessionId)
       if (
@@ -915,7 +820,6 @@ export class SessionManager {
         && prev.parentSessionId === entry.parentSessionId && prev.cwd === entry.cwd
         && prev.origin === entry.origin && prev.title === entry.title && prev.depth === entry.depth
         && prev.projectionValues === entry.projectionValues
-        && prev.completed === entry.completed
       ) return prev
       this.entryCache.set(entry.sessionId, entry)
       return entry
@@ -926,20 +830,13 @@ export class SessionManager {
     }
     const sameOrder = items.length === this.itemsCache.length && items.every((e, i) => e === this.itemsCache[i])
     if (!sameOrder) this.itemsCache = items
-    const selected = this.selected
-    const current = selected !== undefined
-      && (itemIds.has(selected) || this.addresses.has(selected))
-      ? selected
-      : undefined
     return {
       items: this.itemsCache,
-      current,
       state: this.listState,
       phase: this.listPhase,
       error: this.listError,
       subagentsByParent: Object.fromEntries(this.catalogs),
       jobsBySession: Object.fromEntries(this.jobsBySession),
-      currentAddress: current === undefined ? undefined : this.addresses.get(current),
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/service.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/service.ts
index d1d840c513..2f54a86447 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/service.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/service.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,4 @@
-/**
- * ClientSessions: root sessions service — list snapshot store (manager
- * projection; carries `current`, the persisted selection every
- * session-scoped surface keys off), Agent scope tree (mintScope pattern: no-op plugin
- * Fiber + ctx.extend scope tag; one scope per session, agent id === session
- * id), stable SessionBinding cache, breadcrumb-route projection.
- *
- * Scope lifecycle is stage-driven: a scope is minted lazily on first
- * resolution (pure — resolution has no side effects and is render-safe);
- * the event window and deferred teardown key off the STAGED session, which
- * follows `list.current` exactly. Staging is the open signal: the window
- * opens ⟺ the session is on stage (the stage is `current`; the staged
- * state can widen to a multi-pane list later). A session leaving the list
- * tears its scope down immediately unless it is the staged one, whose scope
- * survives frozen (read-only view) until the stage moves on.
- */
+/** Client catalog and source-labelled ownership of exact Session generations. */
 import type { Context, Fiber } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import type { SubagentAddress } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-subagent/client'
 import { SessionSeq, type SessionId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session/types'
@@ -23,13 +8,16 @@ import { SESSION_SEARCH_RESULT_LIMIT } from '../../types.ts'
 import type { SessionJob as JobView } from '../../types.ts'
 import type { SessionProjectionMap } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-projection/types'
 import {
-  createSnapshotStore, type SnapshotStore,
+  createSnapshotStore, notifySubscribers, type ObservableSnapshot, type SnapshotStore,
 } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-store'
 import type { RemoteFailure, RemoteResult } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-typert-protocol'
 import type { SessionEventSource } from '../contract/events.ts'
 import type { SessionFace } from '../contract/session.ts'
-import type { AgentContext, ISessions } from '../contract/sessions.ts'
-import { createScope, scopeOf as scopeTagOf } from '../scope.ts'
+import type {
+  AgentContext, ISessions, SessionReference, SessionRetainInfo, SessionRetainOptions, SessionTarget,
+} from '../contract/sessions.ts'
+import type { SessionReferenceSource } from '../index.ts'
+import { createScope, scopeIdentityOf, scopeOf as scopeTagOf } from '../scope.ts'
 import { SessionManager } from './manager.ts'
 import type { SessionRemotes } from './remotes.ts'
 import type { SessionListPhase, SessionSearchResultItem, SubagentCatalogSnapshot } from './manager.ts'
@@ -47,8 +35,8 @@ export interface SessionSummary {
   /** Coarse durable origin for navigation filtering; not a continuation capability. */
   origin?: 'subagent'
   running: boolean
-  /** Finished while not selected and not yet opened — the sidebar's green "done" reminder. Absent = false. */
-  completed?: boolean
+  /** Local ownership counts; Host metadata refreshes cannot overwrite them. */
+  readonly retainedBy: SessionRetainInfo['retainedBy']
   /**
    * Empty-log bit (host summary derivation mirror). New Session reuses a blank
    * one targeting the same workspace. Filtering stays with the consumer: the
@@ -61,17 +49,12 @@ export interface SessionSummary {
   projectionValues?: Readonly<Partial<SessionProjectionMap>>
 }
 
-/**
- * Session list store shape. `current` rides the same snapshot (arbitrated:
- * the single useSessions standard hook reads list and selection together —
- * sidebar highlighting and current-session consumers share one fact source).
- */
+/** Catalog metadata and local source counts; catalog membership owns no Client generation. */
 export interface SessionListState {
   /** Host-list order; addressed breadcrumb-only rows are excluded. */
   ids: SessionId[]
-  /** Host rows plus the current addressed subagent route used by navigation. */
+  /** Host/catalog rows plus local fallback rows for live Client generations; only `ids` expresses Host-list membership. */
   byId: Record<SessionId, SessionSummary>
-  current: SessionId | undefined
   /** Arrival lifecycle projected 1:1 from the manager snapshot (see SessionListPhase): empty-with-ready means "truly no sessions". */
   phase: SessionListPhase
   /** Direct durable catalogs keyed by their selected parent address. */
@@ -82,14 +65,6 @@ export interface SessionListState {
    * set, so consumers read absence rather than a sentinel.
    */
   jobsBySession: Readonly<Record<SessionId, readonly JobView[]>>
-  /** Current session's catalog-derived address, absent on ordinary navigation. */
-  currentAddress: SubagentAddress | undefined
-}
-
-/** Persisted navigation cell: address survives refresh for correct history routing. */
-interface SessionSelection {
-  sessionId?: SessionId
-  subagentAddress?: SubagentAddress
 }
 
 /** Structured session-create failure. */
@@ -170,15 +145,94 @@ function increasedForkTitle(title: string): string {
   return `${title} (1)`
 }
 
+/** Source labels are dictionary keys, including names also present on Object.prototype. */
+function freezeRetainedBy(counts: Partial<Record<SessionReferenceSource, number>>): SessionRetainInfo['retainedBy'] {
+  Object.setPrototypeOf(counts, null)
+  return Object.freeze(counts)
+}
+
+const EMPTY_RETAIN_INFO: SessionRetainInfo = Object.freeze({ referenceCount: 0, retainedBy: freezeRetainedBy({}) })
+
 interface ScopeRecord {
   fiber: Fiber
   ctx: AgentContext
   binding: SessionBinding
-  /** The concrete Session for runtime-internal entry points (staging open()); the binding carries only the outward face. */
   session: Session
+  retention: SessionRetainInfo
+  live: boolean
 }
 
-/** Root sessions service: list store, current selection, object-layer manager, scope tree, bindings, and breadcrumb routes. */
+interface RetentionObserver {
+  readonly source: ObservableSnapshot<SessionRetainInfo>
+  readonly listeners: Set<() => void>
+  published: SessionRetainInfo
+}
+
+/** A cancelled waiter releases only its own reference, not the shared opening. */
+async function waitForOpen(opening: Promise<void>, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<void> {
+  if (signal === undefined) return opening
+  const aborted = Promise.withResolvers<never>()
+  const onAbort = (): void => { aborted.reject(signal.reason) }
+  signal.addEventListener('abort', onAbort, { once: true })
+  try {
+    if (signal.aborted) onAbort()
+    await Promise.race([opening, aborted.promise])
+  } finally {
+    signal.removeEventListener('abort', onAbort)
+  }
+}
+
+class ClientSessionReference implements SessionReference {
+  private readonly released = new AbortController()
+  private readonly readiness = Promise.withResolvers<SessionBinding>()
+  readonly ready = this.readiness.promise
+
+  constructor(
+    readonly sessionId: SessionId,
+    private record: ScopeRecord | undefined,
+    private releaseReference: (() => void) | undefined,
+  ) {
+    void this.ready.catch(() => {})
+  }
+
+  get binding(): SessionBinding {
+    if (this.record === undefined || !this.record.live) throw new Error(`Session reference "${this.sessionId}" is released`)
+    return this.record.binding
+  }
+
+  attachOpening(opening: Promise<void>, signal?: AbortSignal): void {
+    const waitSignal = signal === undefined
+      ? this.released.signal
+      : AbortSignal.any([this.released.signal, signal])
+    void waitForOpen(opening, waitSignal).then(
+      () => {
+        try {
+          waitSignal.throwIfAborted()
+          this.readiness.resolve(this.binding)
+        } catch (error: unknown) {
+          this.readiness.reject(error)
+        }
+      },
+      (error: unknown) => { this.readiness.reject(error) },
+    )
+  }
+
+  release(): void {
+    const reason = new Error(`Session reference "${this.sessionId}" is released`)
+    const release = this.releaseReference
+    this.released.abort(reason)
+    this.readiness.reject(reason)
+    this.record = undefined
+    this.releaseReference = undefined
+    release?.()
+  }
+
+  [Symbol.dispose](): void {
+    this.release()
+  }
+}
+
+/** Host catalog and local reference allocator; view selection remains outside the Controller. */
 export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
   /**
    * The wire schema's own result bound, re-exposed for presentation plugins as
@@ -187,32 +241,15 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
    * reports the same number.
    */
   readonly searchResultLimit = SESSION_SEARCH_RESULT_LIMIT
-  /** List snapshot store (list RPC + host stream increments; re-pulled on reconnect) — the useSessions standard feed, current included. */
+  /** Catalog metadata and local reference-source projection. */
   readonly list: SnapshotStore<SessionListState>
   /** The object-layer instance cluster and frame dispatch entry. */
   private readonly manager: SessionManager
-  /**
-   * Persisted selection cell (the durable half of `list.current`). Private on
-   * purpose: reads go through the list snapshot; writes through {@link
-   * ClientSessions.open} / {@link ClientSessions.clear}. Projection
-   * validates it against the live list instead of destructively pruning, so a
-   * selection survives transient list states (reconnect re-pull) and
-   * resurfaces when its session returns.
-   */
-  private readonly selection: SnapshotStore<SessionSelection>
-
   private readonly scopes = new Map<SessionId, ScopeRecord>()
-  /** In-flight scope drops remain here after records leave `scopes`, so root disposal can await quiescence. */
+  /** Stable per-id sources retained for the Client root lifetime, including across generation replacement. */
+  private readonly retainObservers = new Map<SessionId, RetentionObserver>()
   private readonly scopeDrops = new Set<Promise<void>>()
-  /**
-   * The staged session id — follows `list.current` exactly, holding its last
-   * defined value across masked gaps (a transiently absent selection blanks
-   * `current` without moving the stage, so reconnect re-pulls and removals
-   * keep the staged scope's frozen view alive until the stage moves on).
-   */
-  private watched: SessionId | undefined
-  /** Removed-while-staged sessions whose teardown waits for the stage to move away. */
-  private readonly deferredRemovals = new Set<SessionId>()
+  private closed = false
 
   /**
    * @param ctx - client root context (scope fibers mount under it).
@@ -222,61 +259,78 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
     private readonly rootCtx: Context,
     remote: SessionRemotes,
   ) {
-    this.selection = createSnapshotStore<SessionSelection>(
-      {},
-      { persist: { name: 'dsh.sessions.current' } })
-    const restored = this.selection.getSnapshot()
-    this.manager = new SessionManager(
-      remote,
-      restored.sessionId,
-      restored.subagentAddress,
-    )
+    this.manager = new SessionManager(remote)
     this.list = createSnapshotStore<SessionListState>({
-      ids: [], byId: {}, current: undefined, phase: 'pending',
-      subagentsByParent: {}, jobsBySession: {}, currentAddress: undefined,
-    })
-    // The manager owns wire truth; the store is its projection. Manager
-    // notifications are already microtask-batched.
-    const disposeManagerProjection = this.manager.subscribe(() => {
-      this.projectList()
-    })
-    // Stage follower: every current write (open() and projection alike)
-    // re-evaluates staging, so startup restore (persisted selection validated
-    // by the projection) and reconnect resurfacing open their window with no
-    // dedicated code path. Safe to run synchronously inside the store notify:
-    // the follower writes no list state — session.open()'s synchronous prefix
-    // touches only session-side state and its own microtask-batched notifier.
-    const disposeStageFollower = this.list.subscribe(() => {
-      this.followCurrent()
+      ids: [], byId: {}, phase: 'pending', subagentsByParent: {}, jobsBySession: {},
     })
+    const disposeManagerProjection = this.manager.subscribe(() => { this.projectList() })
     rootCtx.effect(() => async () => {
-      disposeStageFollower()
+      this.closed = true
       disposeManagerProjection()
       const scopes = [...this.scopes]
       this.scopes.clear()
-      this.deferredRemovals.clear()
-      this.watched = undefined
-      for (const [id, record] of scopes) this.startScopeDrop(id, record)
+      for (const [, record] of scopes) {
+        record.live = false
+        record.session.unbindScope()
+      }
+      const managerDisposal = this.manager.dispose()
+      for (const [id, record] of scopes) {
+        this.startScopeDrop(id, record)
+        this.publishRetention(id)
+      }
       await this.drainScopeDrops()
-      await this.manager.dispose()
+      await managerDisposal
     }, 'session-controller.client.sessions')
     rootCtx.reflect.provide('sessions', this, undefined)
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Select a listed or retained catalog-addressed session as current.
-   * @param id - listed or addressed session id.
-   */
-  open(id: SessionId): void {
-    this.manager.select(id)
+  retain(target: SessionTarget, options: SessionRetainOptions): SessionReference {
+    const { source, signal } = options
+    signal?.throwIfAborted()
+    if (this.closed) throw new Error('Session Controller is disposed')
+    const id = this.manager.resolveTarget(target)
+    const reference = this.retainScope(id, source)
+    try {
+      reference.attachOpening(this.manager.get(id).open(), signal)
+      return reference
+    } catch (error) {
+      reference.release()
+      throw error
+    }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Open a healthy catalog child through its direct-parent address.
-   * @param address - catalog-derived parent and child ids.
-   */
-  openSubagent(address: SubagentAddress): void {
-    this.manager.selectSubagent(address)
+  async using<T>(
+    target: SessionTarget,
+    options: SessionRetainOptions,
+    operation: (reference: SessionReference) => T | Promise<T>,
+  ): Promise<T> {
+    const reference = this.retain(target, options)
+    try {
+      await reference.ready
+      return await operation(reference)
+    } finally {
+      reference.release()
+    }
+  }
+
+  retainInfo(id: SessionId): ObservableSnapshot<SessionRetainInfo> {
+    let observer = this.retainObservers.get(id)
+    if (observer === undefined) {
+      const listeners = new Set<() => void>()
+      observer = {
+        listeners,
+        published: this.retentionSnapshot(id),
+        source: {
+          getSnapshot: () => this.retentionSnapshot(id),
+          subscribe: (listener) => {
+            listeners.add(listener)
+            return () => { listeners.delete(listener) }
+          },
+        },
+      }
+      this.retainObservers.set(id, observer)
+    }
+    return observer.source
   }
 
   /**
@@ -306,17 +360,6 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
     return this.manager.refreshSubagents(parentSessionId)
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Clear the current selection so the layout shows the no-session empty
-   * state (new-session affordance and the workspace preselection flow).
-   * Wipes the persisted selection too — a reload stays on empty until the
-   * user opens or starts a session. The staged scope keeps its frozen view
-   * per the masked-gap contract until the next open() moves the stage.
-   */
-  clear(): void {
-    this.manager.clearSelection()
-  }
-
   /**
    * Refresh the real Session baseline, reusing an in-flight pull.
    * @returns completion of the current or newly started baseline pull.
@@ -393,12 +436,8 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Create a session on the host. Resolution guarantee: by the time the
-   * promise resolves, the created session is in the list store and
-   * {@link ClientSessions.binding} resolves it — callers (New Session
-   * draft hand-off) may address the scope synchronously, without waiting a
-   * notifier flush. The synchronous projection below makes this structural
-   * rather than an accident of microtask ordering.
+   * Create a Host Session and publish its catalog row before resolving.
+   * Callers retain the returned identity before borrowing its binding.
    * @param opts - target workspace or directory and an optional preallocated id.
    * @returns the new session id.
    * @throws {SessionCreateError} with the requested id.
@@ -411,9 +450,8 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Fork a session from a completed-turn prefix of the source (same
-   * synchronous-addressability guarantee as {@link ClientSessions.create}:
-   * on resolution the child is in the list store and open() can target it).
+   * Fork a Session from a completed-turn prefix of the source and publish
+   * the child in the catalog before resolving.
    * @param opts - source session id, the optional event seq anchoring the
    *   cut (the boundary is the first turn/end at or after it; an in-log
    *   anchor in an open turn is unavailable rather than clipped backward),
@@ -444,33 +482,35 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
     this.projectList()
     const childId = result.value.sessionId
     if (sourceTitle !== undefined) {
-      const child = this.binding(childId)?.session
-      if (child === undefined) throw new Error(`fork child "${childId}" is not locally addressable`)
-      const renamed = await child.rename(increasedForkTitle(sourceTitle))
-      if (!renamed.ok) throw new Error(`fork child rename failed: ${renamed.error.code}: ${renamed.error.message}`)
+      const reference = this.retain(childId, { source: 'controllerOperation' })
+      try {
+        await reference.ready
+        const renamed = await reference.binding.session.rename(increasedForkTitle(sourceTitle))
+        if (!renamed.ok) throw new Error(`fork child rename failed: ${renamed.error.code}: ${renamed.error.message}`)
+      } finally {
+        reference.release()
+      }
     }
     return childId
   }
 
   /**
-   * Resolve an Agent-scoped context view (use-and-discard).
+   * Borrow an already-retained Agent-scoped Context.
    * @param id - session id (the agent identity — 1:1 same axis).
-   * @returns scoped ctx, or undefined for a session neither listed nor already scoped.
+   * @returns the scoped Context, or undefined without a retained generation.
    */
   scope(id: SessionId): AgentContext | undefined {
-    return this.resolve(id)?.ctx
+    return this.scopes.get(id)?.ctx
   }
 
   /**
-   * Materialize the Agent scope named by a validated Host Remote Event.
-   * The first successful Session-list baseline becomes authoritative for its
-   * lifetime; until then, transport streams may address the scope in either
-   * arrival order.
-   * @param id - Host-projected Agent identity (the matching Session id).
-   * @returns the identity-stable Agent Context.
+   * Retain a validated Gateway identity synchronously, without history or catalog I/O.
+   * @param id - Host-projected Session identity, possibly not yet catalogued.
+   * @returns a Gateway-source reference owned by the invocation.
    */
-  resolveAgentScope(id: SessionId): AgentContext {
-    return (this.scopes.get(id) ?? this.materializeScope(id)).ctx
+  retainAgentScope(id: SessionId): SessionReference {
+    if (this.closed) throw new Error('Session Controller is disposed')
+    return this.retainScope(id, 'gateway')
   }
 
   /**
@@ -492,61 +532,76 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
    * `agent.session`). Same service-method boundary as
    * {@link ClientSessions.scopeOf}.
    * @param ctx - an Agent-scoped context.
-   * @returns the session face, or undefined when the ctx is untagged or its scope was pruned.
+   * @returns the matching live Session, or undefined for an untagged or ended generation.
    */
   sessionOf(ctx: Context): SessionFace | undefined {
     const id = scopeTagOf(ctx)
     if (id === undefined) return undefined
-    return this.scopes.get(id)?.binding.session
+    const record = this.scopes.get(id)
+    return record !== undefined && scopeIdentityOf(record.ctx) === scopeIdentityOf(ctx)
+      ? record.binding.session
+      : undefined
   }
 
   /**
-   * Resolve the stable session binding (scope-addressed assembly feed). Pure
-   * resolution — no staging, no window side effects.
-   * @param id - session id.
-   * @returns binding, or undefined for a session neither listed nor already scoped.
+   * Borrow an already-retained binding without extending its lifetime.
+   * @param id - Session identity.
+   * @returns the live binding, or undefined without a retained generation.
    */
   binding(id: SessionId): SessionBinding | undefined {
-    return this.resolve(id)?.binding
+    return this.scopes.get(id)?.binding
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Move the stage to the list's current session: sweep teardowns deferred
-   * behind the previous occupant and pull the new occupant's history window.
-   * Staging IS the open signal — the window opens ⟺ the session is on stage
-   * — and open() is idempotent (an in-flight or completed open no-ops; a
-   * failed one retries the next time current is touched).
-   */
-  private followCurrent(): void {
-    const snapshot = this.list.getSnapshot()
-    const current = snapshot.current
-    // A masked gap (current blanked while the selection's session is
-    // transiently absent) holds the stage: tearing down on the gap would
-    // destroy exactly the frozen scope the mask exists to preserve.
-    if (current === undefined || snapshot.byId[current] === undefined || current === this.watched) return
-    this.watched = current
-    this.sweepDeferred()
-    const record = this.resolve(current)
-    /* v8 ignore next 3 -- defensive: current is always a listed id (open()
-     * validates and the projection masks absent selections), so resolve
-     * cannot miss; kept so a future current writer cannot crash the notify. */
-    if (record !== undefined) {
-      void record.session.open()
-      void this.manager.refreshSubagents(current)
+  private retainScope(id: SessionId, source: SessionReferenceSource): ClientSessionReference {
+    const record = this.scopes.get(id) ?? this.materializeScope(id)
+    const previous = record.retention
+    record.retention = Object.freeze({
+      referenceCount: previous.referenceCount + 1,
+      retainedBy: freezeRetainedBy({ ...previous.retainedBy, [source]: (previous.retainedBy[source] ?? 0) + 1 }),
+    })
+    const reference = new ClientSessionReference(id, record, () => {
+      if (!record.live) return
+      const count = record.retention.referenceCount - 1
+      const { [source]: sourceCount = 0, ...otherSources } = record.retention.retainedBy
+      const retainedBy = sourceCount > 1 ? { ...otherSources, [source]: sourceCount - 1 } : otherSources
+      record.retention = count === 0
+        ? EMPTY_RETAIN_INFO
+        : Object.freeze({ referenceCount: count, retainedBy: freezeRetainedBy(retainedBy) })
+      if (count === 0) this.retireScope(id, record)
+      else this.publishRetention(id)
+    })
+    if (this.list.getSnapshot().byId[id] === undefined) this.projectList()
+    this.publishRetention(id)
+    return reference
+  }
+
+  private retentionSnapshot(id: SessionId): SessionRetainInfo {
+    return this.scopes.get(id)?.retention ?? EMPTY_RETAIN_INFO
+  }
+
+  private publishRetention(id: SessionId): void {
+    const state = this.list.getSnapshot()
+    const row = state.byId[id]
+    const retainedBy = this.retentionSnapshot(id).retainedBy
+    if (row !== undefined && row.retainedBy !== retainedBy) {
+      this.list.set({ ...state, byId: { ...state.byId, [id]: { ...row, retainedBy } } })
     }
+    const observer = this.retainObservers.get(id)
+    const snapshot = this.retentionSnapshot(id)
+    if (observer === undefined || observer.published === snapshot) return
+    observer.published = snapshot
+    notifySubscribers(observer.listeners, '[session-controller] reference sources')
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Lazily mint the scope + binding for an eligible session. Eligibility and
-   * prune share one predicate: listed on the host or selected
-   * through a retained subagent address. Breadcrumb-only ancestors remain
-   * summary data and do not keep scopes alive.
-   */
-  private resolve(id: SessionId): ScopeRecord | undefined {
-    const existing = this.scopes.get(id)
-    if (existing !== undefined) return existing
-    if (!this.eligible(id)) return undefined
-    return this.materializeScope(id)
+  private retireScope(id: SessionId, record: ScopeRecord, disposeFiber = true): void {
+    if (!record.live) return
+    record.live = false
+    if (this.scopes.get(id) === record) this.scopes.delete(id)
+    record.session.unbindScope()
+    const sessionDisposal = this.manager.drop(id, record.session)
+    this.projectList()
+    this.publishRetention(id)
+    this.startScopeDrop(id, record, disposeFiber, sessionDisposal)
   }
 
   /** Materialize one scope after its caller establishes that the id may be addressed. */
@@ -562,21 +617,19 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
       ctx,
       binding,
       session,
+      retention: EMPTY_RETAIN_INFO,
+      live: true,
     }
     this.scopes.set(id, record)
+    ctx.effect(() => () => { this.retireScope(id, record, false) }, 'session-controller: exact generation')
     return record
   }
 
-  /** The one aliveness predicate shared by scope mint and prune: host-listed or currently addressed. */
-  private eligible(id: SessionId): boolean {
-    const { ids, current } = this.list.getSnapshot()
-    return current === id || ids.includes(id)
-  }
-
   /** Project the manager's list snapshot into the store (title derivation is display-only). */
   private projectList(): void {
+    const previousById = this.list.getSnapshot().byId
     const {
-      items, current, phase, subagentsByParent, jobsBySession, currentAddress,
+      items, phase, subagentsByParent, jobsBySession,
     } = this.manager.getListSnapshot()
     const ids: SessionId[] = []
     const byId: Record<SessionId, SessionSummary> = {}
@@ -586,7 +639,7 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
         id: entry.sessionId,
         displayTitle: displayTitleOf(entry.title, entry.cwd, entry.sessionId),
         running: entry.running,
-        ...(entry.completed ? { completed: true } : {}),
+        retainedBy: this.retentionSnapshot(entry.sessionId).retainedBy,
         blank: entry.blank,
         updatedAt: entry.updatedAt,
         ...(entry.projectionValues === undefined
@@ -598,71 +651,46 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
         ...(entry.origin !== undefined ? { origin: entry.origin } : {}),
       }
     }
-    if (current !== undefined && currentAddress !== undefined) {
-      const seen = new Set<SessionId>()
-      let address: SubagentAddress | undefined = currentAddress
-      while (address !== undefined && !seen.has(address.childSessionId)) {
-        const childId = address.childSessionId
-        seen.add(childId)
-        const child = subagentsByParent[address.parentSessionId]?.entries
-          .find(entry => entry.kind === 'child' && entry.id === childId)
-        if (child?.kind !== 'child') break
+    for (const [parentId, catalog] of Object.entries(subagentsByParent)) {
+      for (const child of catalog.entries) {
+        if (child.kind !== 'child') continue
+        const childId = child.id
         const displayTitle = child.label ?? childId
         const summary = byId[childId]
         if (summary === undefined) {
           byId[childId] = {
-            id: childId,
-            displayTitle,
-            parentId: address.parentSessionId,
-            origin: 'subagent',
-            running: child.activity === 'running',
-            blank: false,
-            updatedAt: 0,
+            id: childId, displayTitle, parentId: parentId as SessionId,
+            origin: 'subagent', running: child.activity === 'running', blank: false, updatedAt: 0,
+            retainedBy: this.retentionSnapshot(childId).retainedBy,
           }
         } else if (summary.displayTitle !== displayTitle) {
           byId[childId] = { ...summary, displayTitle }
         }
-        const parent = byId[address.parentSessionId]
-        if (parent !== undefined && parent.origin !== 'subagent') break
-        address = this.manager.navigationAddress(address.parentSessionId)
       }
     }
-    const persisted = this.selection.getSnapshot().sessionId
-    // No current (cleared, or masked gap) wipes the persisted cell — a reload
-    // stays on empty; the in-memory selection still resurfaces a masked id.
-    if (current === undefined) {
-      if (persisted !== undefined) this.selection.set({})
-    } else if (byId[current] !== undefined
-      && (persisted !== current
-        || this.selection.getSnapshot().subagentAddress?.childSessionId !== currentAddress?.childSessionId
-        || this.selection.getSnapshot().subagentAddress?.parentSessionId !== currentAddress?.parentSessionId
-        || this.selection.getSnapshot().subagentAddress?.mode !== currentAddress?.mode)) {
-      this.selection.set({
-        sessionId: current,
-        ...(currentAddress === undefined ? {} : { subagentAddress: currentAddress }),
-      })
-    }
-    this.list.set({ ids, byId, current, phase, subagentsByParent, jobsBySession, currentAddress })
-    this.pruneScopes()
-  }
-
-  /** Tear down scope + instance for no-longer-eligible sessions off stage; the staged one defers until the stage moves. */
-  private pruneScopes(): void {
-    if (this.list.getSnapshot().phase === 'pending') return
     for (const [id, record] of this.scopes) {
-      if (this.eligible(id)) continue
-      if (id === this.watched) {
-        this.deferredRemovals.add(id)
-        continue
+      if (byId[id] !== undefined) continue
+      const previous = previousById[id]
+      const snapshot = record.session.getSnapshot()
+      const address = this.manager.subagentAddress(id)
+      byId[id] = {
+        ...(previous ?? { id, displayTitle: id, updatedAt: 0 }),
+        running: snapshot.running,
+        retainedBy: record.retention.retainedBy,
+        blank: snapshot.blank,
+        ...(address === undefined ? {} : { parentId: address.parentSessionId, origin: 'subagent' }),
       }
-      this.scopes.delete(id)
-      this.deferredRemovals.delete(id)
-      this.startScopeDrop(id, record)
     }
+    this.list.set({ ids, byId, phase, subagentsByParent, jobsBySession })
   }
 
-  private startScopeDrop(id: SessionId, record: ScopeRecord): void {
-    const drop = this.dropScope(id, record)
+  private startScopeDrop(
+    id: SessionId,
+    record: ScopeRecord,
+    disposeFiber = true,
+    sessionDisposal = this.manager.drop(id, record.session),
+  ): void {
+    const drop = this.dropScope(record, disposeFiber, sessionDisposal)
     this.scopeDrops.add(drop)
     void drop.then(
       () => { this.scopeDrops.delete(drop) },
@@ -676,44 +704,12 @@ export class ClientSessions implements ISessions {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * One teardown for the whole per-session axis: the scope
-   * fiber (cascading every actx-registered effect: input shell, slash
-   * controller, popup, plugin stores, listeners), the session-keyed slot
-   * registrations and the Session instance itself — the host session log is the
-   * durable truth, a reopen lazily rebuilds and backfills via open().
-   */
-  private async dropScope(id: SessionId, record: ScopeRecord): Promise<void> {
-    // Release the Session's dispatch point with the scope it belongs to (a
-    // surviving instance — the live Intent — rebinds when resolve re-mints).
-    record.session.unbindScope()
-    await Promise.allSettled([
-      record.fiber.dispose(),
-      this.manager.drop(id),
-    ])
-  }
-
-  /** Run deferred teardowns whose session is no longer staged (called when the stage moves). */
-  private sweepDeferred(): void {
-    for (const id of [...this.deferredRemovals]) {
-      /* v8 ignore next -- defensive: only the staged id ever defers, and every
-       * stage move sweeps first, so the set cannot contain the id the stage just
-       * moved to; kept as a guard against future extra sweep call sites. */
-      if (id === this.watched) continue
-      // Eligible again? (A re-added id cancels the deferred teardown.)
-      if (this.eligible(id)) {
-        this.deferredRemovals.delete(id)
-        continue
-      }
-      const record = this.scopes.get(id)
-      this.deferredRemovals.delete(id)
-      /* v8 ignore next -- defensive: prune deletes a scope and its deferral
-       * together, so a deferred id always still owns its record; kept so a
-       * future teardown path cannot double-dispose. */
-      if (record !== undefined) {
-        this.scopes.delete(id)
-        this.startScopeDrop(id, record)
-      }
-    }
+  /** Await the already-withdrawn Session and scoped cleanup to quiescence. */
+  private async dropScope(
+    record: ScopeRecord,
+    disposeFiber: boolean,
+    sessionDisposal: Promise<void>,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    await Promise.allSettled([sessionDisposal, ...disposeFiber ? [record.fiber.dispose()] : []])
   }
 }