Background agents (#530)

a common place to track and add background agents

apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts

@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ import { getInstallationId } from '@x/core/dist/analytics/installation.js';
 import { API_URL } from '@x/core/dist/config/env.js';
 import {
   fetchYaml,
+  listNotesWithTracks,
+  setNoteTracksActive,
   updateTrackBlock,
   replaceTrackBlockYaml,
   deleteTrackBlock,
@@ -135,6 +137,14 @@ function resolveShellPath(filePath: string): string {
   return workspace.resolveWorkspacePath(filePath);
 }
 
+function toKnowledgeTrackPath(filePath: string): string {
+  const normalized = filePath.replace(/\\/g, '/').replace(/^\/+/, '');
+  if (!normalized.startsWith('knowledge/')) {
+    throw new Error('Track note path must be within knowledge/')
+  }
+  return normalized.slice('knowledge/'.length)
+}
+
 type InvokeChannels = ipc.InvokeChannels;
 type IPCChannels = ipc.IPCChannels;
 
@@ -832,6 +842,19 @@ export function setupIpcHandlers() {
         return { success: false, error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err) };
       }
     },
+    'track:setNoteActive': async (_event, args) => {
+      try {
+        const note = await setNoteTracksActive(toKnowledgeTrackPath(args.path), args.active);
+        if (!note) return { success: false, error: 'No track blocks found in note' };
+        return { success: true, note };
+      } catch (err) {
+        return { success: false, error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err) };
+      }
+    },
+    'track:listNotes': async () => {
+      const notes = await listNotesWithTracks();
+      return { notes };
+    },
     // Billing handler
     'billing:getInfo': async () => {
       return await getBillingInfo();

apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.tsx

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { BasesView, type BaseConfig, DEFAULT_BASE_CONFIG } from '@/components/ba
 import { useDebounce } from './hooks/use-debounce';
 import { SidebarContentPanel } from '@/components/sidebar-content';
 import { SuggestedTopicsView } from '@/components/suggested-topics-view';
+import { BackgroundAgentsView } from '@/components/background-agents-view';
 import { SidebarSectionProvider } from '@/contexts/sidebar-context';
 import {
   Conversation,
@@ -142,6 +143,7 @@ const TITLEBAR_BUTTONS_COLLAPSED = 1
 const TITLEBAR_BUTTON_GAPS_COLLAPSED = 0
 const GRAPH_TAB_PATH = '__rowboat_graph_view__'
 const SUGGESTED_TOPICS_TAB_PATH = '__rowboat_suggested_topics__'
+const BACKGROUND_AGENTS_TAB_PATH = '__rowboat_background_agents__'
 const BASES_DEFAULT_TAB_PATH = '__rowboat_bases_default__'
 
 const clampNumber = (value: number, min: number, max: number) =>
@@ -271,6 +273,7 @@ const getAncestorDirectoryPaths = (path: string): string[] => {
 
 const isGraphTabPath = (path: string) => path === GRAPH_TAB_PATH
 const isSuggestedTopicsTabPath = (path: string) => path === SUGGESTED_TOPICS_TAB_PATH
+const isBackgroundAgentsTabPath = (path: string) => path === BACKGROUND_AGENTS_TAB_PATH
 const isBaseFilePath = (path: string) => path.endsWith('.base') || path === BASES_DEFAULT_TAB_PATH
 
 const getSuggestedTopicTargetFolder = (category?: string) => {
@@ -327,6 +330,24 @@ const buildSuggestedTopicExplorePrompt = ({
   ].join('\n')
 }
 
+const buildBackgroundAgentSetupPrompt = () => [
+  'Help me set up a background agent.',
+  'In this flow, a background agent is the same thing as a note-based track block. Do not tell me they are separate concepts.',
+  'Do not propose a separate standalone agent, workflow file, or agent-schedule.json setup unless I explicitly ask for that.',
+  'Assume the default home for this setup is knowledge/Tasks/. If that folder does not exist, create it later when setting things up.',
+  'Start with a short, plain-English explanation of what a background agent is.',
+  'Do not make the explanation too terse.',
+  'Give 2 or 3 simple examples of the kinds of things a background agent could help keep updated.',
+  'Do not mention triggers, event-based vs schedule-based behavior, track blocks, skills, note paths, or other internal implementation details unless I ask.',
+  'In the first reply, tell me that you will create this in my Tasks folder by default.',
+  'Do not ask me where it should save or update results unless I explicitly say I want it somewhere else.',
+  'Then ask only what I want it to monitor or update and how often I want it to run.',
+  'Keep it concise and friendly, but not abrupt.',
+  'Do not give me a long taxonomy, a big list of options, or a multi-step breakdown unless I ask for more detail.',
+  'Do not create or modify anything yet.',
+  'If I confirm later, load the tracks skill, check for a matching note under knowledge/Tasks/ first, and create one there if needed.',
+].join('\n')
+
 const normalizeUsage = (usage?: Partial<LanguageModelUsage> | null): LanguageModelUsage | null => {
   if (!usage) return null
   const hasNumbers = Object.values(usage).some((value) => typeof value === 'number')
@@ -508,6 +529,7 @@ type ViewState =
   | { type: 'graph' }
   | { type: 'task'; name: string }
   | { type: 'suggested-topics' }
+  | { type: 'background-agents' }
 
 function viewStatesEqual(a: ViewState, b: ViewState): boolean {
   if (a.type !== b.type) return false
@@ -521,12 +543,13 @@ function viewStatesEqual(a: ViewState, b: ViewState): boolean {
  * Parse a rowboat:// deep link into a ViewState. Returns null if the URL is
  * malformed or names an unknown target.
  *
- * Shape: rowboat://open?type=<file|chat|graph|task|suggested-topics>&...
+ * Shape: rowboat://open?type=<file|chat|graph|task|suggested-topics|background-agents>&...
  *   file:             ?type=file&path=knowledge/foo.md
  *   chat:             ?type=chat&runId=abc123        (runId optional)
  *   graph:            ?type=graph
  *   task:             ?type=task&name=daily-brief
  *   suggested-topics: ?type=suggested-topics
+ *   background-agents: ?type=background-agents
  */
 function parseDeepLink(input: string): ViewState | null {
   const SCHEME = 'rowboat://'
@@ -551,6 +574,8 @@ function parseDeepLink(input: string): ViewState | null {
     }
     case 'suggested-topics':
       return { type: 'suggested-topics' }
+    case 'background-agents':
+      return { type: 'background-agents' }
     default:
       return null
   }
@@ -656,7 +681,13 @@ function App() {
   const [isGraphOpen, setIsGraphOpen] = useState(false)
   const [isBrowserOpen, setIsBrowserOpen] = useState(false)
   const [isSuggestedTopicsOpen, setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen] = useState(false)
-  const [expandedFrom, setExpandedFrom] = useState<{ path: string | null; graph: boolean; suggestedTopics: boolean } | null>(null)
+  const [isBackgroundAgentsOpen, setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen] = useState(false)
+  const [expandedFrom, setExpandedFrom] = useState<{
+    path: string | null
+    graph: boolean
+    suggestedTopics: boolean
+    backgroundAgents: boolean
+  } | null>(null)
   const [baseConfigByPath, setBaseConfigByPath] = useState<Record<string, BaseConfig>>({})
   const [graphData, setGraphData] = useState<{ nodes: GraphNode[]; edges: GraphEdge[] }>({
     nodes: [],
@@ -977,6 +1008,7 @@ function App() {
   const getFileTabTitle = useCallback((tab: FileTab) => {
     if (isGraphTabPath(tab.path)) return 'Graph View'
     if (isSuggestedTopicsTabPath(tab.path)) return 'Suggested Topics'
+    if (isBackgroundAgentsTabPath(tab.path)) return 'Background agents'
     if (tab.path === BASES_DEFAULT_TAB_PATH) return 'Bases'
     if (tab.path.endsWith('.base')) return tab.path.split('/').pop()?.replace(/\.base$/i, '') || 'Base'
     return tab.path.split('/').pop()?.replace(/\.md$/i, '') || tab.path
@@ -2660,6 +2692,8 @@ function App() {
     if (existingTab) {
       setActiveFileTabId(existingTab.id)
       setIsGraphOpen(false)
+      setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+      setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
       setSelectedPath(path)
       return
     }
@@ -2667,6 +2701,8 @@ function App() {
     setFileTabs(prev => [...prev, { id, path }])
     setActiveFileTabId(id)
     setIsGraphOpen(false)
+    setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+    setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
     setSelectedPath(path)
   }, [fileTabs, dismissBrowserOverlay])
 
@@ -2685,16 +2721,26 @@ function App() {
       setSelectedPath(null)
       setIsGraphOpen(true)
       setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+      setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
       return
     }
     if (isSuggestedTopicsTabPath(tab.path)) {
       setSelectedPath(null)
       setIsGraphOpen(false)
       setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(true)
+      setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
+      return
+    }
+    if (isBackgroundAgentsTabPath(tab.path)) {
+      setSelectedPath(null)
+      setIsGraphOpen(false)
+      setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+      setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(true)
       return
     }
     setIsGraphOpen(false)
     setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+    setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
     setSelectedPath(tab.path)
   }, [fileTabs, isRightPaneMaximized, dismissBrowserOverlay])
 
@@ -2723,6 +2769,7 @@ function App() {
         setSelectedPath(null)
         setIsGraphOpen(false)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
           return []
       }
       const idx = prev.findIndex(t => t.id === tabId)
@@ -2736,13 +2783,21 @@ function App() {
           setSelectedPath(null)
           setIsGraphOpen(true)
           setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+          setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
         } else if (isSuggestedTopicsTabPath(newActiveTab.path)) {
           setSelectedPath(null)
           setIsGraphOpen(false)
           setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(true)
+          setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
+        } else if (isBackgroundAgentsTabPath(newActiveTab.path)) {
+          setSelectedPath(null)
+          setIsGraphOpen(false)
+          setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+          setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(true)
         } else {
           setIsGraphOpen(false)
           setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+          setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
               setSelectedPath(newActiveTab.path)
         }
       }
@@ -2773,8 +2828,13 @@ function App() {
     dismissBrowserOverlay()
     handleNewChat()
     // Left-pane "new chat" should always open full chat view.
-    if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen) {
-      setExpandedFrom({ path: selectedPath, graph: isGraphOpen, suggestedTopics: isSuggestedTopicsOpen })
+    if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen) {
+      setExpandedFrom({
+        path: selectedPath,
+        graph: isGraphOpen,
+        suggestedTopics: isSuggestedTopicsOpen,
+        backgroundAgents: isBackgroundAgentsOpen,
+      })
     } else {
       setExpandedFrom(null)
     }
@@ -2782,7 +2842,8 @@ function App() {
     setSelectedPath(null)
     setIsGraphOpen(false)
     setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
-  }, [chatTabs, activeChatTabId, dismissBrowserOverlay, handleNewChat, selectedPath, isGraphOpen, isSuggestedTopicsOpen])
+    setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
+  }, [chatTabs, activeChatTabId, dismissBrowserOverlay, handleNewChat, selectedPath, isGraphOpen, isSuggestedTopicsOpen, isBackgroundAgentsOpen])
 
   // Sidebar variant: create/switch chat tab without leaving file/graph context.
   const handleNewChatTabInSidebar = useCallback(() => {
@@ -2897,27 +2958,40 @@ function App() {
 
   const handleOpenFullScreenChat = useCallback(() => {
     // Remember where we came from so the close button can return
-    if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen) {
-      setExpandedFrom({ path: selectedPath, graph: isGraphOpen, suggestedTopics: isSuggestedTopicsOpen })
+    if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen) {
+      setExpandedFrom({
+        path: selectedPath,
+        graph: isGraphOpen,
+        suggestedTopics: isSuggestedTopicsOpen,
+        backgroundAgents: isBackgroundAgentsOpen,
+      })
     }
     dismissBrowserOverlay()
     setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
     setSelectedPath(null)
     setIsGraphOpen(false)
     setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
-  }, [selectedPath, isGraphOpen, isSuggestedTopicsOpen, dismissBrowserOverlay])
+    setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
+  }, [selectedPath, isGraphOpen, isSuggestedTopicsOpen, isBackgroundAgentsOpen, dismissBrowserOverlay])
 
   const handleCloseFullScreenChat = useCallback(() => {
     if (expandedFrom) {
       if (expandedFrom.graph) {
         setIsGraphOpen(true)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
       } else if (expandedFrom.suggestedTopics) {
         setIsGraphOpen(false)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(true)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
+      } else if (expandedFrom.backgroundAgents) {
+        setIsGraphOpen(false)
+        setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(true)
       } else if (expandedFrom.path) {
         setIsGraphOpen(false)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
         setSelectedPath(expandedFrom.path)
       }
       setExpandedFrom(null)
@@ -2927,11 +3001,12 @@ function App() {
 
   const currentViewState = React.useMemo<ViewState>(() => {
     if (selectedBackgroundTask) return { type: 'task', name: selectedBackgroundTask }
+    if (isBackgroundAgentsOpen) return { type: 'background-agents' }
     if (isSuggestedTopicsOpen) return { type: 'suggested-topics' }
     if (selectedPath) return { type: 'file', path: selectedPath }
     if (isGraphOpen) return { type: 'graph' }
     return { type: 'chat', runId }
-  }, [selectedBackgroundTask, isSuggestedTopicsOpen, selectedPath, isGraphOpen, runId])
+  }, [selectedBackgroundTask, isBackgroundAgentsOpen, isSuggestedTopicsOpen, selectedPath, isGraphOpen, runId])
 
   const appendUnique = useCallback((stack: ViewState[], entry: ViewState) => {
     const last = stack[stack.length - 1]
@@ -2988,6 +3063,17 @@ function App() {
     setActiveFileTabId(id)
   }, [fileTabs])
 
+  const ensureBackgroundAgentsFileTab = useCallback(() => {
+    const existing = fileTabs.find((tab) => isBackgroundAgentsTabPath(tab.path))
+    if (existing) {
+      setActiveFileTabId(existing.id)
+      return
+    }
+    const id = newFileTabId()
+    setFileTabs((prev) => [...prev, { id, path: BACKGROUND_AGENTS_TAB_PATH }])
+    setActiveFileTabId(id)
+  }, [fileTabs])
+
   const applyViewState = useCallback(async (view: ViewState) => {
     switch (view.type) {
       case 'file':
@@ -2997,6 +3083,7 @@ function App() {
         // visible in the middle pane.
         setIsBrowserOpen(false)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
         setExpandedFrom(null)
         // Preserve split vs knowledge-max mode when navigating knowledge files.
         // Only exit chat-only maximize, because that would hide the selected file.
@@ -3011,6 +3098,7 @@ function App() {
         setSelectedPath(null)
         setIsBrowserOpen(false)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
         setExpandedFrom(null)
         setIsGraphOpen(true)
         ensureGraphFileTab()
@@ -3023,6 +3111,7 @@ function App() {
         setIsGraphOpen(false)
         setIsBrowserOpen(false)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
         setExpandedFrom(null)
         setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
         setSelectedBackgroundTask(view.name)
@@ -3035,8 +3124,20 @@ function App() {
         setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
         setSelectedBackgroundTask(null)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(true)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
         ensureSuggestedTopicsFileTab()
         return
+      case 'background-agents':
+        setSelectedPath(null)
+        setIsGraphOpen(false)
+        setIsBrowserOpen(false)
+        setExpandedFrom(null)
+        setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
+        setSelectedBackgroundTask(null)
+        setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(true)
+        ensureBackgroundAgentsFileTab()
+        return
       case 'chat':
         setSelectedPath(null)
         setIsGraphOpen(false)
@@ -3045,6 +3146,7 @@ function App() {
         setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
         setSelectedBackgroundTask(null)
         setIsSuggestedTopicsOpen(false)
+        setIsBackgroundAgentsOpen(false)
         if (view.runId) {
           await loadRun(view.runId)
         } else {
@@ -3052,7 +3154,7 @@ function App() {
         }
         return
     }
-  }, [ensureFileTabForPath, ensureGraphFileTab, ensureSuggestedTopicsFileTab, handleNewChat, isRightPaneMaximized, loadRun])
+  }, [ensureBackgroundAgentsFileTab, ensureFileTabForPath, ensureGraphFileTab, ensureSuggestedTopicsFileTab, handleNewChat, isRightPaneMaximized, loadRun])
 
   const navigateToView = useCallback(async (nextView: ViewState) => {
     const current = currentViewState
@@ -3374,7 +3476,7 @@ function App() {
   }, [])
 
   // Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+L to toggle main chat view
-  const isFullScreenChat = !selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask && !isBrowserOpen
+  const isFullScreenChat = !selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBackgroundAgentsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask && !isBrowserOpen
   useEffect(() => {
     const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
       if ((e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey) && e.key === 'l') {
@@ -3452,15 +3554,17 @@ function App() {
     const handleTabKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
       const mod = e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey
       if (!mod) return
-      const rightPaneAvailable = Boolean((selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen) && isChatSidebarOpen)
+      const rightPaneAvailable = Boolean((selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen) && isChatSidebarOpen)
       const targetPane: ShortcutPane = rightPaneAvailable
         ? (isRightPaneMaximized ? 'right' : activeShortcutPane)
         : 'left'
-      const inFileView = targetPane === 'left' && Boolean(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen)
+      const inFileView = targetPane === 'left' && Boolean(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen)
       const selectedKnowledgePath = isGraphOpen
         ? GRAPH_TAB_PATH
         : isSuggestedTopicsOpen
           ? SUGGESTED_TOPICS_TAB_PATH
+          : isBackgroundAgentsOpen
+            ? BACKGROUND_AGENTS_TAB_PATH
           : selectedPath
       const targetFileTabId = activeFileTabId ?? (
         selectedKnowledgePath
@@ -3515,7 +3619,7 @@ function App() {
     }
     document.addEventListener('keydown', handleTabKeyDown)
     return () => document.removeEventListener('keydown', handleTabKeyDown)
-  }, [selectedPath, isGraphOpen, isSuggestedTopicsOpen, isChatSidebarOpen, isRightPaneMaximized, activeShortcutPane, chatTabs, fileTabs, activeChatTabId, activeFileTabId, closeChatTab, closeFileTab, switchChatTab, switchFileTab])
+  }, [selectedPath, isGraphOpen, isSuggestedTopicsOpen, isBackgroundAgentsOpen, isChatSidebarOpen, isRightPaneMaximized, activeShortcutPane, chatTabs, fileTabs, activeChatTabId, activeFileTabId, closeChatTab, closeFileTab, switchChatTab, switchFileTab])
 
   const toggleExpand = (path: string, kind: 'file' | 'dir') => {
     if (kind === 'file') {
@@ -3540,7 +3644,7 @@ function App() {
           }),
         },
       }))
-      if (!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask) {
+      if (!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBackgroundAgentsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask) {
         setIsChatSidebarOpen(false)
         setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
       }
@@ -3662,14 +3766,14 @@ function App() {
     },
     openGraph: () => {
       // From chat-only landing state, open graph directly in full knowledge view.
-      if (!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask) {
+      if (!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBackgroundAgentsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask) {
         setIsChatSidebarOpen(false)
         setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
       }
       void navigateToView({ type: 'graph' })
     },
     openBases: () => {
-      if (!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask) {
+      if (!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBackgroundAgentsOpen && !selectedBackgroundTask) {
         setIsChatSidebarOpen(false)
         setIsRightPaneMaximized(false)
       }
@@ -4253,7 +4357,7 @@ function App() {
   const selectedTask = selectedBackgroundTask
     ? backgroundTasks.find(t => t.name === selectedBackgroundTask)
     : null
-  const isRightPaneContext = Boolean(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBrowserOpen)
+  const isRightPaneContext = Boolean(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen || isBrowserOpen)
   const isRightPaneOnlyMode = isRightPaneContext && isChatSidebarOpen && isRightPaneMaximized
   const shouldCollapseLeftPane = isRightPaneOnlyMode
   const openMarkdownTabs = React.useMemo(() => {
@@ -4270,7 +4374,7 @@ function App() {
   return (
     <TooltipProvider delayDuration={0}>
       <SidebarSectionProvider defaultSection="tasks" onSectionChange={(section) => {
-        if (section === 'knowledge' && !selectedPath && !isGraphOpen) {
+        if (section === 'knowledge' && !selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBackgroundAgentsOpen) {
           void navigateToView({ type: 'file', path: BASES_DEFAULT_TAB_PATH })
         }
       }}>
@@ -4303,7 +4407,7 @@ function App() {
                 onNewChat: handleNewChatTab,
                 onSelectRun: (runIdToLoad) => {
                   cancelRecordingIfActive()
-                  if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
+                  if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
                     setIsChatSidebarOpen(true)
                   }
 
@@ -4314,7 +4418,7 @@ function App() {
                     return
                   }
                   // In two-pane mode (file/graph/browser), keep the middle pane and just swap chat context in the right sidebar.
-                  if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
+                  if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
                     setChatTabs(prev => prev.map(t => t.id === activeChatTabId ? { ...t, runId: runIdToLoad } : t))
                     loadRun(runIdToLoad)
                     return
@@ -4338,14 +4442,14 @@ function App() {
                       } else {
                         // Only one tab, reset it to new chat
                         setChatTabs([{ id: tabForRun.id, runId: null }])
-                        if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
+                        if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
                           handleNewChat()
                         } else {
                           void navigateToView({ type: 'chat', runId: null })
                         }
                       }
                     } else if (runId === runIdToDelete) {
-                      if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
+                      if (selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen || isBrowserOpen) {
                         setChatTabs(prev => prev.map(t => t.id === activeChatTabId ? { ...t, runId: null } : t))
                         handleNewChat()
                       } else {
@@ -4375,6 +4479,8 @@ function App() {
               onToggleBrowser={handleToggleBrowser}
               isSuggestedTopicsOpen={isSuggestedTopicsOpen}
               onOpenSuggestedTopics={() => void navigateToView({ type: 'suggested-topics' })}
+              isBackgroundAgentsOpen={isBackgroundAgentsOpen}
+              onOpenBackgroundAgents={() => void navigateToView({ type: 'background-agents' })}
             />
             <SidebarInset
               className={cn(
@@ -4394,7 +4500,7 @@ function App() {
                 canNavigateForward={canNavigateForward}
                 collapsedLeftPaddingPx={collapsedLeftPaddingPx}
               >
-                {(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen) && fileTabs.length >= 1 ? (
+                {(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen) && fileTabs.length >= 1 ? (
                   <TabBar
                     tabs={fileTabs}
                     activeTabId={activeFileTabId ?? ''}
@@ -4402,7 +4508,7 @@ function App() {
                     getTabId={(t) => t.id}
                     onSwitchTab={switchFileTab}
                     onCloseTab={closeFileTab}
-                    allowSingleTabClose={fileTabs.length === 1 && (isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || (selectedPath != null && isBaseFilePath(selectedPath)))}
+                    allowSingleTabClose={fileTabs.length === 1 && (isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen || (selectedPath != null && isBaseFilePath(selectedPath)))}
                   />
                 ) : (
                   <TabBar
@@ -4455,7 +4561,7 @@ function App() {
                     <TooltipContent side="bottom">Version history</TooltipContent>
                   </Tooltip>
                 )}
-                {!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !selectedTask && !isBrowserOpen && (
+                {!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBackgroundAgentsOpen && !selectedTask && !isBrowserOpen && (
                   <Tooltip>
                     <TooltipTrigger asChild>
                       <button
@@ -4470,7 +4576,7 @@ function App() {
                     <TooltipContent side="bottom">New chat tab</TooltipContent>
                   </Tooltip>
                 )}
-                {!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBrowserOpen && expandedFrom && (
+                {!selectedPath && !isGraphOpen && !isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBackgroundAgentsOpen && !isBrowserOpen && expandedFrom && (
                   <Tooltip>
                     <TooltipTrigger asChild>
                       <button
@@ -4485,7 +4591,7 @@ function App() {
                     <TooltipContent side="bottom">Restore two-pane view</TooltipContent>
                   </Tooltip>
                 )}
-                {(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen) && (
+                {(selectedPath || isGraphOpen || isSuggestedTopicsOpen || isBackgroundAgentsOpen) && (
                   <Tooltip>
                     <TooltipTrigger asChild>
                       <button
@@ -4518,6 +4624,15 @@ function App() {
                     }}
                   />
                 </div>
+              ) : isBackgroundAgentsOpen ? (
+                <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 flex flex-col overflow-hidden">
+                  <BackgroundAgentsView
+                    onOpenNote={(path) => navigateToFile(path)}
+                    onAddNewBackgroundAgent={() => {
+                      submitFromPalette(buildBackgroundAgentSetupPrompt(), null)
+                    }}
+                  />
+                </div>
               ) : selectedPath && isBaseFilePath(selectedPath) ? (
                 <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 flex flex-col overflow-hidden">
                   <BasesView

apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/background-agents-view.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,250 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { Bot, Loader2 } from 'lucide-react'
+
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Switch } from '@/components/ui/switch'
+import { stripKnowledgePrefix, wikiLabel } from '@/lib/wiki-links'
+import { toast } from '@/lib/toast'
+
+type BackgroundAgentNote = {
+  path: string
+  trackCount: number
+  createdAt: string | null
+  lastRunAt: string | null
+  isActive: boolean
+}
+
+type BackgroundAgentsViewProps = {
+  onOpenNote: (path: string) => void
+  onAddNewBackgroundAgent: () => void
+}
+
+function formatDateLabel(iso: string | null): string {
+  if (!iso) return '—'
+  const date = new Date(iso)
+  if (Number.isNaN(date.getTime())) return '—'
+  return date.toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
+    month: 'short',
+    day: 'numeric',
+    year: 'numeric',
+  })
+}
+
+function formatDateTimeLabel(iso: string | null): string {
+  if (!iso) return 'Never'
+  const date = new Date(iso)
+  if (Number.isNaN(date.getTime())) return 'Never'
+  return date.toLocaleString(undefined, {
+    month: 'short',
+    day: 'numeric',
+    year: 'numeric',
+    hour: 'numeric',
+    minute: '2-digit',
+  })
+}
+
+function isKnowledgeMarkdownPath(path: string | undefined): boolean {
+  return typeof path === 'string' && path.startsWith('knowledge/') && path.endsWith('.md')
+}
+
+export function BackgroundAgentsView({ onOpenNote, onAddNewBackgroundAgent }: BackgroundAgentsViewProps) {
+  const [notes, setNotes] = useState<BackgroundAgentNote[]>([])
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
+  const [updatingPaths, setUpdatingPaths] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set())
+
+  const loadNotes = useCallback(async () => {
+    setLoading(true)
+    try {
+      const result = await window.ipc.invoke('track:listNotes', null)
+      setNotes(result.notes)
+      setError(null)
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to load background agent notes:', err)
+      setError('Could not load background agents.')
+    } finally {
+      setLoading(false)
+    }
+  }, [])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    void loadNotes()
+  }, [loadNotes])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let timeout: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
+
+    const scheduleReload = () => {
+      if (timeout) clearTimeout(timeout)
+      timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+        timeout = null
+        void loadNotes()
+      }, 200)
+    }
+
+    const cleanupWorkspace = window.ipc.on('workspace:didChange', (event) => {
+      switch (event.type) {
+        case 'created':
+        case 'changed':
+        case 'deleted':
+          if (isKnowledgeMarkdownPath(event.path)) scheduleReload()
+          break
+        case 'moved':
+          if (isKnowledgeMarkdownPath(event.from) || isKnowledgeMarkdownPath(event.to)) {
+            scheduleReload()
+          }
+          break
+        case 'bulkChanged':
+          if (!event.paths || event.paths.some(isKnowledgeMarkdownPath)) {
+            scheduleReload()
+          }
+          break
+      }
+    })
+
+    const cleanupTracks = window.ipc.on('tracks:events', () => {
+      scheduleReload()
+    })
+
+    return () => {
+      cleanupWorkspace()
+      cleanupTracks()
+      if (timeout) clearTimeout(timeout)
+    }
+  }, [loadNotes])
+
+  const handleToggleState = useCallback(async (note: BackgroundAgentNote, active: boolean) => {
+    setUpdatingPaths((prev) => new Set(prev).add(note.path))
+    try {
+      const result = await window.ipc.invoke('track:setNoteActive', {
+        path: note.path,
+        active,
+      })
+
+      if (!result.success || !result.note) {
+        throw new Error(result.error ?? 'Failed to update background agent state')
+      }
+
+      const updatedNote = result.note
+      setNotes((prev) => prev.map((entry) => (
+        entry.path === note.path ? updatedNote : entry
+      )))
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to update background agent note state:', err)
+      toast(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to update background agent state', 'error')
+    } finally {
+      setUpdatingPaths((prev) => {
+        const next = new Set(prev)
+        next.delete(note.path)
+        return next
+      })
+    }
+  }, [])
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex h-full flex-col overflow-hidden">
+      <div className="shrink-0 border-b border-border px-6 py-5">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Bot className="size-5 text-primary" />
+            <h2 className="text-base font-semibold text-foreground">Background agents</h2>
+          </div>
+          <Button type="button" size="sm" onClick={onAddNewBackgroundAgent}>
+            Add new background agent
+          </Button>
+        </div>
+        <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+          Notes that contain track blocks. Toggle a note inactive to pause every background agent in it.
+        </p>
+      </div>
+      <div className="flex-1 overflow-auto p-6">
+        {loading ? (
+          <div className="flex h-full items-center justify-center">
+            <Loader2 className="size-5 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+          </div>
+        ) : error ? (
+          <div className="flex h-full flex-col items-center justify-center gap-3 px-8 text-center">
+            <div className="rounded-full bg-muted p-3">
+              <Bot className="size-6 text-muted-foreground" />
+            </div>
+            <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{error}</p>
+          </div>
+        ) : notes.length === 0 ? (
+          <div className="flex h-full flex-col items-center justify-center gap-3 px-8 text-center">
+            <div className="rounded-full bg-muted p-3">
+              <Bot className="size-6 text-muted-foreground" />
+            </div>
+            <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+              No notes with background agents yet.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        ) : (
+          <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-border/60 bg-card">
+            <table className="min-w-full border-collapse">
+              <thead>
+                <tr className="border-b border-border/60 bg-muted/30 text-left">
+                  <th className="px-4 py-3 text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">Note</th>
+                  <th className="px-4 py-3 text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">Created date</th>
+                  <th className="px-4 py-3 text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">Last ran</th>
+                  <th className="px-4 py-3 text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">State</th>
+                </tr>
+              </thead>
+              <tbody>
+                {notes.map((note) => {
+                  const isUpdating = updatingPaths.has(note.path)
+                  return (
+                    <tr key={note.path} className="border-b border-border/50 last:border-b-0 hover:bg-muted/20">
+                      <td className="px-4 py-3 align-top">
+                        <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-1">
+                          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                            <button
+                              type="button"
+                              onClick={() => onOpenNote(note.path)}
+                              className="truncate text-left text-sm font-medium text-foreground hover:text-primary"
+                              title={note.path}
+                            >
+                              {wikiLabel(note.path)}
+                            </button>
+                            <span className="shrink-0 rounded-full bg-muted px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-muted-foreground">
+                              {note.trackCount} {note.trackCount === 1 ? 'agent' : 'agents'}
+                            </span>
+                          </div>
+                          <div className="truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                            {stripKnowledgePrefix(note.path)}
+                          </div>
+                        </div>
+                      </td>
+                      <td className="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-foreground/80">
+                        {formatDateLabel(note.createdAt)}
+                      </td>
+                      <td className="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-foreground/80">
+                        {formatDateTimeLabel(note.lastRunAt)}
+                      </td>
+                      <td className="px-4 py-3">
+                        <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                          {isUpdating ? (
+                            <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+                          ) : (
+                            <span className="size-4 shrink-0" aria-hidden="true" />
+                          )}
+                          <Switch
+                            checked={note.isActive}
+                            onCheckedChange={(checked) => { void handleToggleState(note, checked) }}
+                            disabled={isUpdating}
+                          />
+                          <span className="min-w-16 text-xs font-medium text-foreground/80">
+                            {note.isActive ? 'Active' : 'Inactive'}
+                          </span>
+                        </div>
+                      </td>
+                    </tr>
+                  )
+                })}
+              </tbody>
+            </table>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}

apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx

@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ type SidebarContentPanelProps = {
   onToggleBrowser?: () => void
   isSuggestedTopicsOpen?: boolean
   onOpenSuggestedTopics?: () => void
+  isBackgroundAgentsOpen?: boolean
+  onOpenBackgroundAgents?: () => void
 } & React.ComponentProps<typeof Sidebar>
 
 const sectionTabs: { id: ActiveSection; label: string }[] = [
@@ -491,6 +493,8 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
   onToggleBrowser,
   isSuggestedTopicsOpen = false,
   onOpenSuggestedTopics,
+  isBackgroundAgentsOpen = false,
+  onOpenBackgroundAgents,
   ...props
 }: SidebarContentPanelProps) {
   const { activeSection, setActiveSection } = useSidebarSection()
@@ -506,6 +510,7 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
   const isMeetingQuickActionSelected = isMeetingActionActive
   const isBrowserQuickActionSelected = isBrowserOpen && !isSearchOpen && !isMeetingQuickActionSelected
   const isSuggestedTopicsQuickActionSelected = isSuggestedTopicsOpen && !isBrowserOpen
+  const isBackgroundAgentsQuickActionSelected = isBackgroundAgentsOpen && !isBrowserOpen
 
   const handleRowboatLogin = useCallback(async () => {
     try {
@@ -679,6 +684,21 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
               <span>Suggested Topics</span>
             </button>
           )}
+          {onOpenBackgroundAgents && (
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              onClick={onOpenBackgroundAgents}
+              className={cn(
+                "flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-sm transition-colors",
+                isBackgroundAgentsQuickActionSelected
+                  ? "bg-sidebar-accent text-sidebar-accent-foreground"
+                  : "text-sidebar-foreground/80 hover:bg-sidebar-accent hover:text-sidebar-accent-foreground"
+              )}
+            >
+              <Bot className="size-4" />
+              <span>Background agents</span>
+            </button>
+          )}
         </div>
       </SidebarHeader>
       <SidebarContent>