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+# State Tree Architecture (MANDATORY)
+
+All application state lives in a single hierarchical state tree. Components are pure renderers — they read from the tree via getter functions and dispatch actions. No component-local `$state` except DOM refs (`bind:this`).
+
+## Tree Structure
+
+```
+AppState (root)  →  app-state.svelte.ts
+├── theme, locale, appReady
+├── ui: settings, palette, search, wizard, notifications
+├── workspace
+│   ├── groups[], activeGroupId
+│   └── projects[] (per project ↓)
+│       ├── agent: session, messages, status, cost
+│       ├── terminals: tabs[], collapsed, activeTabId
+│       ├── files: tree, selectedPath, content, dirty
+│       ├── comms: channels[], messages[], mode
+│       ├── tasks: items[], dragTarget
+│       └── tab: activeTab, activatedTabs
+└── health: per-project trackers, attention queue
+```
+
+## Rules
+
+### 1. State ownership follows the tree
+
+Each node owns its children. A node NEVER reads siblings or ancestors directly — it receives what it needs via getter functions scoped to its level.
+
+```typescript
+// RIGHT — scoped access through parent
+function getProjectAgent(projectId: string) {
+  return getProjectState(projectId).agent;
+}
+
+// WRONG — cross-branch reach
+function getAgentForComms() {
+  return agentStore.getSession(commsStore.activeAgentId);
+}
+```
+
+### 2. Actions bubble up, state flows down
+
+Components dispatch actions to the store that owns the state. State changes propagate downward via Svelte's reactive reads.
+
+```typescript
+// Component dispatches action
+onclick={() => projectActions.setActiveTab(projectId, 'files')}
+
+// Store mutates owned state
+function setActiveTab(projectId: string, tab: ProjectTab) {
+  getProjectState(projectId).tab.activeTab = tab;
+}
+```
+
+### 3. One store file per tree level
+
+| Level | File | Owns |
+|-------|------|------|
+| Root | `app-state.svelte.ts` | theme, locale, appReady |
+| UI | `ui-store.svelte.ts` | drawers, overlays, modals |
+| Workspace | `workspace-store.svelte.ts` | groups, projects list |
+| Project | `project-state.svelte.ts` | per-project sub-states |
+| Health | `health-store.svelte.ts` | trackers, attention |
+
+### 4. Per-project state is a typed object, not scattered stores
+
+```typescript
+interface ProjectState {
+  agent: AgentState;
+  terminals: TerminalState;
+  files: FileState;
+  comms: CommsState;
+  tasks: TaskState;
+  tab: TabState;
+}
+
+// Accessed via:
+function getProjectState(id: string): ProjectState
+```
+
+### 5. No `$state` in components
+
+Components use ONLY:
+- `$props()` for parent-passed values
+- Getter functions from stores (e.g., `getProjectAgent(id)`)
+- Action functions from stores (e.g., `projectActions.sendMessage(id, text)`)
+- `bind:this` for DOM element references (the sole exception)
+- Ephemeral interaction state (hover, drag coordinates) via plain `let` — NOT `$state`
+
+### 6. No `$derived` with new objects (Rule 57)
+
+All computed values are plain functions. See Rule 57 for details.
+
+### 7. Initialization in `onMount`, never `$effect`
+
+All async data loading, timer setup, and event listener registration goes in `onMount`. See Rule 57.
+
+## Adding New State
+
+1. Identify which tree node owns it
+2. Add the field to that node's interface
+3. Add getter + action functions in the store file
+4. Components read via getter, mutate via action
+5. NEVER add `$state` to a `.svelte` component file