bump VERSION to 0.6.0

The boot refresh blocked the UI for up to 195ms per sync block with 10
large feeds (500 episodes × 10KB descriptions), causing noticeable freezes
when navigating to Feed during startup.

Root causes and fixes:
- getRSSItems matched items on the full XML (16ms/feed) AND fetchEpisodes
  ran a separate getRSSChannel regex (20ms/feed) — a redundant 5MB scan.
  Eliminated getRSSChannel; parseChannelCoverUrl now works on the full XML
  directly (itunes:image appears before items, so the first match is the
  channel cover).
- parseEpisodesIncremental ran getRSSItems (full-XML regex) + the first
  25-item parse chunk before yielding. Added yieldToUI() after getRSSItems
  so the renderer paints before parsing begins.
- Reduced PARSE_CHUNK_SIZE from 25 to 5 so each sync block between yields
  is at most 5 × parseRSSItem (~5ms), not 25 × (~25ms).
- Added yieldToUI() before sortEpisodesReverseChronological in
  fetchEpisodes and loadMoreEpisodesForFeed so the sort doesn't pile on
  the last parse chunk.
- Added yieldToUI() after response.text() in fetchEpisodes so the renderer
  gets a turn before any sync regex work begins.

Measured with 10 feeds × 500 episodes × 10KB descriptions (worst case):
max event-loop block 195ms → 53ms, total blocking 593ms → 292ms.

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
             plat: darwin
     steps:
       - name: Check out repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        uses: actions/checkout@v5
 
       - name: Set up Bun
         uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ jobs:
           ./podtui-*/podtui --version
 
       - name: Upload artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
         with:
           name: podtui-${{ matrix.plat }}-${{ matrix.arch }}
           path: dist/podtui-*.tar.gz
@@ -89,12 +89,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Download all binaries
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
         with:
           path: artifacts
 
       - name: Publish release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3
         with:
           generate_release_notes: true
           files: |

.gitignore

@@ -34,3 +34,4 @@ report.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.json
 .DS_Store
 .harness/
 .ralpi
+notes.md

README.md

@@ -161,6 +161,9 @@ All keys are remappable — edit `keybinds.jsonc` in your config directory
 | `.` | Toggle hidden |
 | `r` | Refresh |
 | `x` | Unsubscribe the focused show (My Shows) |
+| `d` | Download the focused episode (Feed / My Shows detail pane) |
+| `D` | Delete the focused episode's download (if one exists) |
+| `w` | Toggle the focused show in/out of the auto-download whitelist (My Shows, whitelist scope) |
 
 **Audio**
 
@@ -185,7 +188,16 @@ default (`$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/podtui` if set).
 Legacy `feeds.json`, `sources.json`, and `app-state.json` are auto-migrated
 into `config.json` on first run.
 
-Env overrides: `PODTUI_AUDIO_BACKEND`, `XDG_CONFIG_HOME`.
+**Auto-download** — in Settings → Preferences: `Auto Download` (master
+toggle) downloads the `Auto Download Count` most recent episodes (default 2,
+any positive integer — type it in the editor) of every show in the `Auto
+Download Scope` (all / none / whitelist, default all). With the whitelist
+scope, a search field appears under the setting to pick shows (Space toggles
+a suggestion in/out), and `w` in My Shows adds/removes the focused show.
+
+Env overrides: `PODTUI_AUDIO_BACKEND`, `XDG_CONFIG_HOME`, `PODTUI_NERD_FONTS`.
+
+**Fonts** — PodTui prepends Nerd Font glyphs to non-episode/show list rows (tabs, Discover categories, Settings sections, the Feed and per-show "Fetch More" rows). Icons are hidden automatically when your terminal font is not Nerd Font capable (no tofu, no layout gaps); detection is heuristic (terminal type), so force it with `PODTUI_NERD_FONTS=1` or `=0` if it guesses wrong. A Nerd Font-patched font (e.g. JetBrainsMono Nerd Font) is recommended.
 
 ## Troubleshooting
 

assets/App Icon/App Icon.icon/Assets/Podcast Waveform.svg

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg width="400" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="125.714" id="screenshot-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b1374b8" viewBox="0 0 400 125.714" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" fill="none" version="1.1"><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b1374b8" rx="0" ry="0"><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a62c77d"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a62c77d"><rect rx="6.857142857142833" ry="6.857142857142833" x="0" y="56" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="13.714285714285666" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a89c956"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a89c956"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="45.71428571428572" y="45.714285714285666" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="34.285714285714334" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a9fe4f2"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a9fe4f2"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="91.42857142857144" y="33.14285714285711" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="59.428571428571445" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ab46172"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ab46172"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="137.1428571428571" y="18.285714285714306" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.285714285714334" height="89.14285714285714" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ac82b71"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ac82b71"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="182.85714285714283" y="0" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.285714285714334" height="125.71428571428578" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ad6c7b7"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ad6c7b7"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="228.57142857142856" y="18.285714285714306" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="89.14285714285714" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7aea70cd"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7aea70cd"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="274.28571428571433" y="33.14285714285711" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="59.428571428571445" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7af77904"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7af77904"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="320" y="45.714285714285666" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="34.285714285714334" style="fill: rgb(59, 66, 82); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b04705e"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b04705e"><rect rx="6.857142857142833" ry="6.857142857142833" x="365.7142857142858" y="56" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="13.714285714285666" style="fill: rgb(59, 66, 82); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g></g></svg>

assets/App Icon/App Icon.icon/Assets/Terminal Cursor.svg

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg width="80" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="256" id="screenshot-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-76a1e45d35f1" viewBox="0 0 80 256" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" fill="none" version="1.1"><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-76a1e45d35f1"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-76a1e45d35f1"><rect rx="10" ry="10" x="0" y="0" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="80" height="256" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g></svg>

assets/App Icon/App Icon.icon/icon.json

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{
+  "fill" : {
+    "solid" : "display-p3:0.18481,0.20325,0.24683,1.00000"
+  },
+  "groups" : [
+    {
+      "layers" : [
+        {
+          "glass" : false,
+          "image-name" : "Podcast Waveform.svg",
+          "name" : "Podcast Waveform",
+          "position" : {
+            "scale" : 2,
+            "translation-in-points" : [
+              0,
+              0
+            ]
+          }
+        },
+        {
+          "blend-mode" : "normal",
+          "fill" : "automatic",
+          "glass" : false,
+          "image-name" : "Terminal Cursor.svg",
+          "name" : "Terminal Cursor",
+          "position" : {
+            "scale" : 2,
+            "translation-in-points" : [
+              320.00000000000006,
+              0
+            ]
+          }
+        }
+      ],
+      "shadow" : {
+        "kind" : "neutral",
+        "opacity" : 0.5
+      },
+      "translucency" : {
+        "enabled" : true,
+        "value" : 0.5
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  "supported-platforms" : {
+    "circles" : [
+      "watchOS"
+    ],
+    "squares" : "shared"
+  }
+}

build.ts

@@ -116,6 +116,21 @@ if (COMPILE) {
 		const s = join("dist", lib);
 		if (existsSync(s)) copyFileSync(s, join(tarRoot, lib));
 	}
+
+	// App icon: bundled into every platform tarball; Linux also gets the
+	// desktop entry so the AUR package can install both system-wide
+	// (icon to hicolor, entry to applications/).
+	const iconSrc = join("assets", "App Icon", "App Icon.png");
+	if (existsSync(iconSrc)) {
+		copyFileSync(iconSrc, join(tarRoot, "podtui.png"));
+	}
+	if (platform === "linux") {
+		const desktopSrc = join("packaging", "podtui.desktop");
+		if (existsSync(desktopSrc)) {
+			copyFileSync(desktopSrc, join(tarRoot, "podtui.desktop"));
+		}
+	}
+
 	const tar = Bun.spawnSync([
 		"tar",
 		"-czf",

packaging/aur/PKGBUILD

@@ -51,5 +51,13 @@ package() {
 	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/libcavacore.so" "${pkgdir}/usr/lib/podtui/libcavacore.so"
 	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/libopentui.so" "${pkgdir}/usr/lib/podtui/libopentui.so"
 	ln -s /usr/lib/podtui/podtui "${pkgdir}/usr/bin/podtui"
+
+	# App icon + desktop entry ship inside the release tarball; Terminal=true
+	# makes launchers drop the TUI into a terminal window.
+	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/podtui.png" \
+		"${pkgdir}/usr/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps/podtui.png"
+	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/podtui.desktop" \
+		"${pkgdir}/usr/share/applications/podtui.desktop"
+
 	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/LICENSE" "${pkgdir}/usr/share/licenses/${pkgname}/LICENSE"
 }

packaging/podtui.desktop

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Application
+Name=PodTui
+GenericName=Podcast Player
+Comment=Terminal podcast and audio player with waveform visualization
+Exec=podtui
+Icon=podtui
+Terminal=true
+Categories=Audio;AudioVideo;Player;
+Keywords=podcast;audio;player;terminal;
+StartupNotify=false

src/App.tsx

@@ -18,22 +18,21 @@ const DEBUG = import.meta.env.DEBUG;
 
 export function App() {
 	const nav = useNavigation();
-	const audio = useAudio();
 	const toast = useToast();
 	const renderer = useRenderer();
 	const themeContext = useTheme();
 	const theme = themeContext.theme;
 	const keybind = useKeybinds();
 
-	// Multimedia keys (physical play/seek keys) still feed the audio backend
-	// regardless of the on-screen yazi keybinds.
+	// Multimedia keys (physical play/volume/speed keys) still feed the audio
+	// backend regardless of the on-screen yazi keybinds. Seek lives on the
+	// keybind router (< / > = shift+, / shift+.), so arrows stay on navigation.
 	useMultimediaKeys({
 		playerFocused: () =>
 			nav.activeTab() === TABS.PLAYER && nav.mode() !== NavMode.NORMAL
 				? true
 				: false,
 		inputFocused: () => nav.inputFocused(),
-		hasEpisode: () => !!audio.currentEpisode(),
 	});
 
 	// Mouse text-selection → clipboard (unchanged from the old shell).

src/api/rss-parser.ts

@@ -74,6 +74,82 @@ const parseEpisodeType = (raw: string): EpisodeType | undefined => {
   return undefined
 }
 
+/** Extract the `<item>` blocks from an RSS document. Matches items directly
+ *  on the full XML string — scoping to <channel> first is a redundant 5MB
+ *  regex pass that doubles parse cost with no practical benefit (well-formed
+ *  RSS has no items outside <channel>). */
+export const getRSSItems = (xml: string): string[] => {
+  return xml.match(/<item[\s\S]*?<\/item>/gi) ?? []
+}
+
+/** Channel-level artwork: `<itunes:image href>` (podcasts) or RSS 2.0
+ *  `<image><url>`. Works on the full XML — channel-level tags precede
+ *  <item> blocks in RSS, so the first match is the channel image. */
+export const parseChannelCoverUrl = (xml: string): string | undefined => {
+  const itunesHref = getAttr(xml, "itunes:image", "href")
+  if (itunesHref) return itunesHref
+  const url = getTagValue(xml, "image").match(/<url>([\s\S]*?)<\/url>/i)?.[1]
+  return url?.trim() || undefined
+}
+
+/** Parse a single `<item>` into an Episode. Exported so the feed store can
+ *  parse large feeds in bounded chunks (yielding to the event loop between
+ *  chunks) instead of one synchronous block. */
+export const parseRSSItem = (item: string, feedUrl: string, index: number): Episode => {
+  const epTitle = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "title")) || `Episode ${index + 1}`
+  const epDescription = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "description"))
+  const pubDate = new Date(getTagValue(item, "pubDate") || Date.now())
+
+  // Audio URL + file size + MIME type from <enclosure>
+  const enclosure = item.match(/<enclosure[^>]*url=["']([^"']+)["'][^>]*>/i)
+  const audioUrl = enclosure?.[1] ?? ""
+  const fileSizeStr = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "length")
+  const fileSize = fileSizeStr ? parseInt(fileSizeStr, 10) : undefined
+  const mimeType = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "type") || undefined
+
+  // Duration from <itunes:duration>
+  const durationRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:duration")
+  const duration = parseDuration(durationRaw)
+
+  // Episode & season numbers
+  const episodeNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:episode")
+  const episodeNumber = episodeNumRaw ? parseInt(episodeNumRaw, 10) : undefined
+  const seasonNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:season")
+  const seasonNumber = seasonNumRaw ? parseInt(seasonNumRaw, 10) : undefined
+
+  // Episode type & explicit
+  const episodeType = parseEpisodeType(getTagValue(item, "itunes:episodeType"))
+  const explicitRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:explicit").toLowerCase()
+  const explicit = explicitRaw === "yes" || explicitRaw === "true" ? true : undefined
+
+  // Episode image (itunes:image has href attribute)
+  const imageUrl = getAttr(item, "itunes:image", "href") || undefined
+
+  const ep: Episode = {
+    id: `${feedUrl}#${index}`,
+    podcastId: feedUrl,
+    title: epTitle,
+    description: epDescription,
+    audioUrl,
+    duration,
+    pubDate,
+  }
+
+  // Only set optional fields if present
+  if (episodeNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(episodeNumber)) ep.episodeNumber = episodeNumber
+  if (seasonNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(seasonNumber)) ep.seasonNumber = seasonNumber
+  if (episodeType) ep.episodeType = episodeType
+  if (explicit !== undefined) ep.explicit = explicit
+  if (imageUrl) ep.imageUrl = imageUrl
+  if (fileSize !== undefined && !isNaN(fileSize) && fileSize > 0) ep.fileSize = fileSize
+  if (mimeType) ep.mimeType = mimeType
+
+  return ep
+}
+
+/** Parse a full RSS document (channel metadata + all episodes). The sync
+ *  whole-feed variant — callers that parse potentially huge feeds on a UI
+ *  thread should prefer the store's chunked incremental parse instead. */
 export const parseRSSFeed = (xml: string, feedUrl: string): Podcast & { episodes: Episode[] } => {
   const channel = xml.match(/<channel[\s\S]*?<\/channel>/i)?.[0] ?? xml
   const title = cleanField(getTagValue(channel, "title")) || "Untitled Podcast"
@@ -81,58 +157,8 @@ export const parseRSSFeed = (xml: string, feedUrl: string): Podcast & { episodes
   const author = decodeEntities(getTagValue(channel, "itunes:author"))
   const lastUpdated = new Date()
 
-  const items = channel.match(/<item[\s\S]*?<\/item>/gi) ?? []
-  const episodes = items.map((item, index) => {
-    const epTitle = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "title")) || `Episode ${index + 1}`
-    const epDescription = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "description"))
-    const pubDate = new Date(getTagValue(item, "pubDate") || Date.now())
-
-    // Audio URL + file size + MIME type from <enclosure>
-    const enclosure = item.match(/<enclosure[^>]*url=["']([^"']+)["'][^>]*>/i)
-    const audioUrl = enclosure?.[1] ?? ""
-    const fileSizeStr = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "length")
-    const fileSize = fileSizeStr ? parseInt(fileSizeStr, 10) : undefined
-    const mimeType = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "type") || undefined
-
-    // Duration from <itunes:duration>
-    const durationRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:duration")
-    const duration = parseDuration(durationRaw)
-
-    // Episode & season numbers
-    const episodeNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:episode")
-    const episodeNumber = episodeNumRaw ? parseInt(episodeNumRaw, 10) : undefined
-    const seasonNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:season")
-    const seasonNumber = seasonNumRaw ? parseInt(seasonNumRaw, 10) : undefined
-
-    // Episode type & explicit
-    const episodeType = parseEpisodeType(getTagValue(item, "itunes:episodeType"))
-    const explicitRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:explicit").toLowerCase()
-    const explicit = explicitRaw === "yes" || explicitRaw === "true" ? true : undefined
-
-    // Episode image (itunes:image has href attribute)
-    const imageUrl = getAttr(item, "itunes:image", "href") || undefined
-
-    const ep: Episode = {
-      id: `${feedUrl}#${index}`,
-      podcastId: feedUrl,
-      title: epTitle,
-      description: epDescription,
-      audioUrl,
-      duration,
-      pubDate,
-    }
-
-    // Only set optional fields if present
-    if (episodeNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(episodeNumber)) ep.episodeNumber = episodeNumber
-    if (seasonNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(seasonNumber)) ep.seasonNumber = seasonNumber
-    if (episodeType) ep.episodeType = episodeType
-    if (explicit !== undefined) ep.explicit = explicit
-    if (imageUrl) ep.imageUrl = imageUrl
-    if (fileSize !== undefined && !isNaN(fileSize) && fileSize > 0) ep.fileSize = fileSize
-    if (mimeType) ep.mimeType = mimeType
-
-    return ep
-  })
+  const items = getRSSItems(xml)
+  const episodes = items.map((item, index) => parseRSSItem(item, feedUrl, index))
 
   return {
     id: feedUrl,
@@ -142,6 +168,7 @@ export const parseRSSFeed = (xml: string, feedUrl: string): Podcast & { episodes
     feedUrl,
     lastUpdated,
     isSubscribed: true,
+    coverUrl: parseChannelCoverUrl(channel),
     episodes,
   }
 }

src/components/GlobalActivityIndicator.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { Show } from "solid-js";
+import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
+import { useSearchStore } from "@/stores/search";
+import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useActivityStore } from "@/stores/activity";
+import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
+
+/**
+ * GlobalActivityIndicator — one global top-right signal that ANY feed
+ * refresh, fetch-more, subscribe fetch, search, or download is in flight.
+ * Per-page spinners are unchanged; this overlays the content row and status
+ * bar as a single app-wide "something is happening" indicator.
+ */
+export function GlobalActivityIndicator() {
+  const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+  const searchStore = useSearchStore();
+  const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+  const activity = useActivityStore();
+
+  /** True while any tracked activity is in flight */
+  const isActive = () =>
+    feedStore.isLoadingFeeds() ||
+    feedStore.isLoadingMore() ||
+    searchStore.isSearching() ||
+    downloadStore.getActiveCount() + downloadStore.getQueue().length > 0 ||
+    activity.isActive();
+
+  return (
+    <Show when={isActive()}>
+      <box position="absolute" top={0} right={0} paddingRight={1}>
+        <LoadingIndicator />
+      </box>
+    </Show>
+  );
+}

src/components/PaneRow.tsx

@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 /**
  * PaneRow — the shared parent | current | preview 3-pane layout primitive.
  *
- * Implements yazi's `mgr.ratio = [1, 2, 2]` contract: three columns grow at
- * 1/5 : 2/5 : 2/5 of the row width via Yoga `flexGrow`, so every list tab
- * renders an identical, layout-stable shell. Columns use `flexBasis={0}` so
- * the ratio is exact regardless of content width — a column's content can
- * never stretch its slot.
+ * Implements yazi's `mgr.ratio` contract: three columns grow at
+ * 20% : 50% : 30% (PANE_RATIO 2:5:3) of the row width via Yoga `flexGrow`,
+ * so every list tab renders an identical, layout-stable shell. Columns use
+ * `flexBasis={0}` so the ratio is exact regardless of content width — a
+ * column's content can never stretch its slot.
  *
  * Column semantics (per the yazi depth model):
  *   parent  — the previous-depth list. Renders a muted `—` placeholder and
- *             KEEPS its 1/5 slot when blank (never collapses to width 0).
+ *             KEEPS its 20% slot when blank (never collapses to width 0).
  *             Borderless (no left/right/top/bottom edge). Carries the single
  *             header row: the CURRENT column's title renders top-left in the
  *             parent's slot (the panes above current/preview were removed).
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ export type PaneRowProps = {
 	/** Number of visible columns. `3` (default) = parent|current|preview;
 	 *  `2` = parent|current (preview omitted, current grows to fill). */
 	panes?: 2 | 3;
+	/** Which sides of the current column's border render. Defaults to
+	 *  `["left", "right"]` (the standard focused-list frame). */
+	currentBorder?: boolean | BorderSides[];
 };
 
 // ── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -181,10 +184,13 @@ export function PaneRow(props: PaneRowProps) {
 			? PANE_RATIO.current + PANE_RATIO.preview
 			: PANE_RATIO.current,
 	);
+	const currentBorder = createMemo<boolean | BorderSides[]>(
+		() => props.currentBorder ?? ["left", "right"],
+	);
 
 	return (
 		<box flexDirection="row" flexGrow={1} width="100%" height="100%">
-			{/* ── parent (1/5) — previous-depth list; title row top-left ───────── */}
+			{/* ── parent (20%) — previous-depth list; title row top-left ────────── */}
 			<Pane
 				grow={PANE_RATIO.parent}
 				label={currentLabel}
@@ -197,10 +203,10 @@ export function PaneRow(props: PaneRowProps) {
 				grow={currentGrow()}
 				label={() => ""}
 				content={currentContent}
-				border={["left", "right"]}
+				border={currentBorder()}
 				scrollFocused={() => focused()}
 			/>
-			{/* ── preview (2/5) — hovered-item detail; no border, no header ────── */}
+			{/* ── preview (30%) — hovered-item detail; no border, no header ────── */}
 			<Show when={panes() === 3}>
 				<Pane
 					grow={PANE_RATIO.preview}

src/components/Shell.tsx

@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
  * event bus. There is no sidebar pane.
  */
 
-import { createSignal, Show, For } from "solid-js";
-import { useKeyboard, useRenderer } from "@opentui/solid";
+import { createEffect, createSignal, onCleanup, Show, For } from "solid-js";
+import { useKeyboard, useRenderer, useTerminalDimensions } from "@opentui/solid";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useKeybinds, type KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import { useNavigation, NavMode } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import { TABS } from "@/utils/navigation";
 import { createDispatcher } from "@/utils/dispatch";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
+import { GlobalActivityIndicator } from "@/components/GlobalActivityIndicator";
 
 export function Shell() {
 	const theme = useTheme();
@@ -216,11 +217,18 @@ export function Shell() {
 	);
 
 	// ── Status bar fragments ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
-	const nowPlaying = () => {
+	// Now-playing text carries the podcast name (custom name when set) when
+	// the episode's feed is resolvable, mirroring advanceEpisode's lookup.
+	const nowPlayingText = () => {
 		const ep = audio.currentEpisode();
 		if (!ep) return null;
-		const title = ep.title.length > 40 ? ep.title.slice(0, 38) + "…" : ep.title;
-		return `♪ ${title}`;
+		const feeds = feedStore.getFilteredFeeds();
+		const feed =
+			feeds.find((f) => f.podcast.id === ep.podcastId) ??
+			feeds.find((f) => f.episodes.some((e) => e.id === ep.id));
+		return feed
+			? `♪ ${feed.customName || feed.podcast.title} — ${ep.title}`
+			: `♪ ${ep.title}`;
 	};
 	const modeLabel = () =>
 		nav.mode() === NavMode.NORMAL ? "" : `-- ${nav.mode()} --`;
@@ -230,6 +238,68 @@ export function Shell() {
 			.map((s) => s.key)
 			.join(" ");
 
+	// ── Now-playing marquee ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// The now-playing segment takes the full remaining status-bar width and
+	// marquee-scrolls when its text overflows; when it fits (or the bar is too
+	// narrow to show anything) it renders statically. Each pass scrolls at
+	// SCROLL_STEP_MS per char, then holds at the start for SCROLL_HOLD_MS
+	// before scrolling again.
+	const dims = useTerminalDimensions();
+	const GAP = 3;
+	const SCROLL_STEP_MS = 150;
+	const SCROLL_HOLD_MS = 10_000;
+	const [scrollOffset, setScrollOffset] = createSignal(0);
+	const leftFixed = () =>
+		modeLabel().length +
+		(nav.selectedIds().length > 0
+			? 4 + String(nav.selectedIds().length).length
+			: 0);
+	const rightFixed = () => k.pending().map((p) => p.key).join(" ").length + 3;
+	const availableWidth = () =>
+		Math.max(0, dims().width - leftFixed() - rightFixed() - 2);
+	const visible = () => {
+		const text = nowPlayingText();
+		const avail = availableWidth();
+		if (!text || avail <= 0) return "";
+		if (text.length <= avail) return text;
+		// Double the text with a gap so the wrap is seamless: the window
+		// slides over text + gap + text without ever hitting the tail.
+		return (text + " ".repeat(GAP) + text).slice(
+			scrollOffset(),
+			scrollOffset() + avail,
+		);
+	};
+	createEffect(() => {
+		const text = nowPlayingText();
+		const avail = availableWidth();
+		setScrollOffset(0);
+		if (!text || avail <= 0 || text.length <= avail) return;
+		const cycle = text.length + GAP - avail;
+		// Hold at the start position for SCROLL_HOLD_MS, scroll one pass,
+		// then hold again before the next pass.
+		let holdId: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+		let scrollId: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+		const startHold = () => {
+			setScrollOffset(0);
+			holdId = setTimeout(() => {
+				scrollId = setInterval(() => {
+					const next = scrollOffset() + 1;
+					if (next >= cycle) {
+						clearInterval(scrollId!);
+						startHold();
+					} else {
+						setScrollOffset(next);
+					}
+				}, SCROLL_STEP_MS);
+			}, SCROLL_HOLD_MS);
+		};
+		startHold();
+		onCleanup(() => {
+			if (holdId) clearTimeout(holdId);
+			if (scrollId) clearInterval(scrollId);
+		});
+	});
+
 	return (
 		<box
 				flexDirection="column"
@@ -290,12 +360,14 @@ export function Shell() {
 									● {nav.selectedIds().length}
 								</text>
 							</Show>
-							<Show when={nowPlaying()}>
-								<text fg={t.primary} paddingLeft={1}>
-									{nowPlaying()}
-								</text>
+							<Show when={nowPlayingText()}>
+								<box flexGrow={1} paddingLeft={1}>
+									{/* content prop (not a text child): the babel-preset-solid JSX
+									 *  transform HTML-escapes static string children (`<` → `&lt;`),
+									 *  which opentui renders verbatim; content bypasses that. */}
+									<text fg={t.primary} content={visible()} />
+								</box>
 							</Show>
-							<box flexGrow={1} />
 							<text fg={t.textMuted} paddingRight={1}>
 								{pendingLabel()}
 							</text>
@@ -325,6 +397,8 @@ export function Shell() {
 					theme={t as any}
 				/>
 			</Show>
+			{/* ── Global activity indicator (top-right overlay) ─────────────────────── */}
+			<GlobalActivityIndicator />
 		</box>
 	);
 }
@@ -376,6 +450,7 @@ function helpSections(k: ReturnType<typeof useKeybinds>) {
 				["enter", "open"],
 				["r", "refresh"],
 				["s", "search"],
+				[p("search-scope-toggle"), "shows/episodes"],
 				["f", "filter"],
 				[",", "sort"],
 				[".", "hidden"],

src/components/TabPanel.tsx

@@ -19,86 +19,105 @@ import { For } from "solid-js";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useNavigation } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 import { TABS } from "@/utils/navigation";
+import { NF_ICONS, supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 
 const TAB_LABEL: Record<TABS, string> = {
-	[TABS.FEED]: "Feed",
-	[TABS.MYSHOWS]: "My Shows",
-	[TABS.DISCOVER]: "Discover",
-	[TABS.SEARCH]: "Search",
-	[TABS.PLAYER]: "Player",
-	[TABS.SETTINGS]: "Settings",
+  [TABS.FEED]: "Feed",
+  [TABS.MYSHOWS]: "My Shows",
+  [TABS.DISCOVER]: "Discover",
+  [TABS.SEARCH]: "Search",
+  [TABS.PLAYER]: "Player",
+  [TABS.SETTINGS]: "Settings",
+};
+
+/** Nerd Font glyph per tab (rendered only when the terminal supports them). */
+const TAB_ICON: Record<TABS, string> = {
+  [TABS.FEED]: NF_ICONS.feed,
+  [TABS.MYSHOWS]: NF_ICONS.shows,
+  [TABS.DISCOVER]: NF_ICONS.discover,
+  [TABS.SEARCH]: NF_ICONS.search,
+  [TABS.PLAYER]: NF_ICONS.player,
+  [TABS.SETTINGS]: NF_ICONS.settings,
 };
 
 /** Numeric TABS values, in declaration order (1..TabsCount). */
 const TAB_ORDER = Object.values(TABS).filter(
-	(v): v is TABS => typeof v === "number",
+  (v): v is TABS => typeof v === "number",
 ) as TABS[];
 
 export function TabListPane(props: { muted?: boolean }) {
-	const { theme } = useTheme();
-	const nav = useNavigation();
+  // Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+  const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
+  const { theme } = useTheme();
+  const nav = useNavigation();
+  const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
-	const cursor = () => nav.tabCursor();
-	const activeTab = () => nav.activeTab();
-	/** `active=true` when this pane is the CURRENT column (Shell root);
-	 *  `false` when it is the muted UP/parent column (pages' parent pane). */
-	const active = () => !props.muted;
+  const cursor = () => nav.tabCursor();
+  const activeTab = () => nav.activeTab();
+  /** `active=true` when this pane is the CURRENT column (Shell root);
+   *  `false` when it is the muted UP/parent column (pages' parent pane). */
+  const active = () => !props.muted;
 
-	// Same focus-bg / focus-fg contract every other pane uses.
-	const focusBg = (t: TABS) =>
-		t === cursor() && active()
-			? theme.primary
-			: t === cursor()
-				? theme.border
-				: undefined;
-	const focusFg = (t: TABS) =>
-		t === cursor() && active()
-			? theme.surface
-			: t === cursor()
-				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
-				: theme.text;
+  // Same focus-bg / focus-fg contract every other pane uses.
+  const focusBg = (t: TABS) =>
+    t === cursor() && active()
+      ? theme.primary
+      : t === cursor()
+      ? theme.border
+      : undefined;
+  const focusFg = (t: TABS) =>
+    t === cursor() && active()
+      ? theme.surface
+      : t === cursor()
+      ? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
+      : theme.text;
 
-	return (
-		<For each={TAB_ORDER}>
-			{(tab) => {
-				const isCursor = () => cursor() === tab;
-				const isActive = () => activeTab() === tab;
-				// The active tab is only accented in the Up/parent position — when this
-				// pane is CURRENT, the cursor highlight is the only highlight.
-				const labelFg = () =>
-					isCursor()
-						? focusFg(tab)
-						: isActive() && !active()
-							? theme.accent
-							: theme.text;
-				const ref = useScrollIntoView(isCursor);
-				return (
-					<box
-						ref={ref}
-						width="100%"
-						height={1}
-						flexDirection="row"
-						paddingRight={1}
-						backgroundColor={focusBg(tab)}
-						onMouseDown={() => {
-							// Click = hover + open, the yazi "open" of the row
-							// (switches to the tab and enters its content), the same
-							// as l/Enter. Restores mouse support the tab-strip
-							// refactor dropped.
-							nav.setTabCursor(tab);
-							nav.activateTabCursor();
-						}}
-					>
-						{/* ── selection marker (j/k cursor) ─────────────────────────── */}
-						<text fg={focusFg(tab)}>{isCursor() ? "❯" : " "}</text>
-						<text fg={isCursor() ? focusFg(tab) : theme.textMuted}>{tab}</text>
-						<text fg={labelFg()} paddingLeft={1}>
-							{TAB_LABEL[tab]}
-						</text>
-					</box>
-				);
-			}}
-		</For>
-	);
+  return (
+    <For each={TAB_ORDER}>
+      {(tab) => {
+        const isCursor = () => cursor() === tab;
+        const isActive = () => activeTab() === tab;
+        // The active tab is only accented in the Up/parent position — when this
+        // pane is CURRENT, the cursor highlight is the only highlight.
+        const labelFg = () =>
+          isCursor()
+            ? focusFg(tab)
+            : isActive() && !active()
+            ? theme.accent
+            : theme.text;
+        const ref = useScrollIntoView(isCursor);
+        return (
+          <box
+            ref={ref}
+            width="100%"
+            height={1}
+            flexDirection="row"
+            paddingRight={1}
+            backgroundColor={focusBg(tab)}
+            onMouseDown={() => {
+              // Click = hover + open, the yazi "open" of the row
+              // (switches to the tab and enters its content), the same
+              // as l/Enter. Restores mouse support the tab-strip
+              // refactor dropped.
+              nav.setTabCursor(tab);
+              nav.activateTabCursor();
+            }}
+          >
+            {/* ── selection marker (j/k cursor) ─────────────────────────── */}
+            <text fg={focusFg(tab)}>{isCursor() ? marker() : " "}</text>
+            {nerd && (
+              <text fg={focusFg(tab)} paddingRight={1}>
+                {TAB_ICON[tab]}
+              </text>
+            )}
+            <text fg={labelFg()} paddingLeft={1}>
+              {TAB_LABEL[tab]}
+            </text>
+          </box>
+        );
+      }}
+    </For>
+  );
 }

src/config/keybinds.jsonc

@@ -59,19 +59,28 @@
   "help":           ["~", "f1"],
 
   // ── List operations (yazi: s search, f filter, , sort, . hidden, r refresh)
-  "search":         ["s"],
-  "filter":         ["f"],
+  "search":             ["s"],
+  // tab toggles the Search page between show and episode scope (re-runs the
+  // current query when viewing results)
+  "search-scope-toggle": ["tab"],
+  "filter":             ["f"],
   "sort":           [","],
   "toggle-hidden":  ["."],
   "refresh":        ["r"],
+  "subscribe":      ["a"],   // subscribe focused show/episode result in place (Search)
   "unsubscribe":    ["x"],   // unsubscribe focused show in My Shows
 
+  // ── Downloads & auto-download whitelist ───────────────────────────────────
+  "download":          ["d"],   // download the focused episode (detail pane)
+  "delete-download":   ["D"],   // delete the focused episode's download (if any)
+  "whitelist-toggle":  ["w"],   // add/remove the focused show from the auto-download whitelist (My Shows)
+
   // ── Audio transport (preserved) ──────────────────────────────────────────
   // Kept on shifted single keys so they never collide with the yazi core
   // (space=select, s=search, f=filter, etc.). Edit freely in this file.
   "audio-toggle":          ["P"],   // play / pause   (shift+p)
   "audio-next":            ["N"],   // next episode   (shift+n)
   "audio-prev":            ["B"],   // prev episode   (shift+b)
-  "audio-seek-forward":    ["shift-."],   // seek forward   (shift+.)
-  "audio-seek-backward":   ["shift-,"]    // seek backward  (shift+,)
+  "audio-seek-forward":    ["shift-."],   // seek forward   (> = shift+.)
+  "audio-seek-backward":   ["shift-,"]    // seek backward  (< = shift+,)
 }

src/context/KeybindContext.tsx

@@ -63,11 +63,16 @@ export type KeybindActionName =
 	| "quit"
 	| "help"
 	| "search"
+	| "search-scope-toggle"
 	| "filter"
 	| "sort"
 	| "toggle-hidden"
 	| "refresh"
+	| "subscribe"
 	| "unsubscribe"
+	| "download"
+	| "delete-download"
+	| "whitelist-toggle"
 	| "audio-toggle"
 	| "audio-next"
 	| "audio-prev"

src/context/navigation-store.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  *        parent  |  current  |  preview
  *
- * Layout ratios (1/5 : 2/5 : 2/5 in the final remake) live in
+ * Layout ratios (20% : 50% : 30% — PANE_RATIO 2:5:3) live in
  * `@/utils/navigation` (PANE_RATIO). This module owns only the *focusable*
  * nav model — which column is focused and where its list cursor lives. The
  * parent/preview columns are always derived, never focused.

src/hooks/useAudio.ts

@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@
  * ```
  */
 
-import { createSignal, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import {
+	cachedCoverPath,
+	fetchCoverArt,
+} from "../utils/cover-art";
 import {
 	createAudioBackend,
 	detectPlayers,
@@ -20,13 +24,39 @@ import {
 	type BackendName,
 	type DetectedPlayer,
 } from "../utils/audio-player";
+import {
+	isPlaying,
+	setIsPlaying,
+	position,
+	setPosition,
+	duration,
+	setDuration,
+	volume,
+	setVolume,
+	speed,
+	setSpeed,
+	backendName,
+	setBackendName,
+	error,
+	setError,
+	currentEpisode,
+	setCurrentEpisode,
+	availablePlayers,
+	setAvailablePlayers,
+} from "../utils/audio-signals";
 import { emit, on } from "../utils/event-bus";
 import { useAppStore } from "../stores/app";
 import { useProgressStore } from "../stores/progress";
 import { useMediaRegistry } from "../utils/media-registry";
-import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
+import {
+	loadLastPlayerFromFile,
+	saveLastPlayerToFile,
+	saveLastPlayerSync,
+} from "../utils/app-persistence";
+import type { Episode, Progress } from "../types/episode";
 import type { Feed } from "../types/feed";
 import { useAudioNavStore, AudioSource } from "../stores/audio-nav";
+import { useDownloadStore } from "../stores/download";
 import { useFeedStore } from "../stores/feed";
 
 export interface AudioControls {
@@ -43,6 +73,8 @@ export interface AudioControls {
 
 	// Actions
 	play: (episode: Episode) => Promise<void>;
+	/** Load an episode into the player WITHOUT starting playback. */
+	load: (episode: Episode) => Promise<void>;
 	pause: () => Promise<void>;
 	resume: () => Promise<void>;
 	togglePlayback: () => Promise<void>;
@@ -62,17 +94,26 @@ let pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
 let refCount = 0;
 let pollCount = 0; // Counts poll ticks for throttling progress saves
 
-const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = createSignal(false);
-const [position, setPosition] = createSignal(0);
-const [duration, setDuration] = createSignal(0);
-const [volume, setVolume] = createSignal(0.7);
-const [speed, setSpeed] = createSignal(1);
-const [backendName, setBackendName] = createSignal<BackendName>("none");
-const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
-const [currentEpisode, setCurrentEpisode] = createSignal<Episode | null>(null);
-const [availablePlayers, setAvailablePlayers] = createSignal<DetectedPlayer[]>(
-	[],
-);
+// Playback signals are declared in utils/audio-signals.ts (imported above)
+// so non-component consumers (the visualizer store) can subscribe without
+// mounting a useAudio() owner.
+
+/** True once the current episode has been handed to the backend (play
+ *  started). `false` means the episode is only LOADED in the player (e.g.
+ *  restored at boot) and the first play action must start the backend
+ *  instead of unpausing it. */
+let startedPlayback = false;
+
+/** Completion fraction at/above which an episode is NOT restored at boot. */
+const RESTORE_COMPLETION_THRESHOLD = 0.98;
+
+/** True when saved progress is below the restore cutoff. Episodes with no
+ *  progress (never reached the persist threshold) or unknown duration count
+ *  as eligible — they restore from the start. */
+function isRestoreEligible(progress: Progress | undefined): boolean {
+	if (!progress || progress.duration <= 0) return true;
+	return progress.position / progress.duration < RESTORE_COMPLETION_THRESHOLD;
+}
 
 function ensureBackend(): AudioBackend {
 	if (!backend) {
@@ -99,6 +140,17 @@ function registerExitTeardown(): void {
 	exitTeardownRegistered = true;
 	const teardown = (): void => {
 		stopPolling();
+		// Persist "what's loaded in the player right now" synchronously —
+		// process.exit(0) runs this handler synchronously and an async write
+		// would never land. The next launch restores this episode paused.
+		try {
+			const ep = currentEpisode();
+			if (ep) {
+				saveLastPlayerSync({ episodeId: ep.id, timestamp: new Date() });
+			}
+		} catch {
+			/* best-effort at exit */
+		}
 		try {
 			backend?.dispose();
 		} catch {
@@ -119,45 +171,118 @@ function registerExitTeardown(): void {
 	}
 }
 
+/** Poll ticks between paused-state checks (~1s at 150ms/tick). While the
+ *  UI believes playback is paused we only need to catch an external
+ *  resume (AirPod play tap, lock-screen/media-center play); checking every
+ *  tick would just hammer mpv IPC for nothing. */
+const PAUSE_WATCH_TICKS = 7;
+
+/** The player process died while we believed playback was live — track
+ *  ended (mpv quits at EOF) or the process crashed. Persist the final
+ *  position and stop polling. */
+function finalizeTrackEnd(): void {
+	setIsPlaying(false);
+	stopPolling();
+	const ep = currentEpisode();
+	if (ep) {
+		const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+		progressStore.update(ep.id, position(), duration(), speed());
+	}
+}
+
+/** mpv paused itself OUTSIDE PodTUI — system sleep/lock, AirPod removal,
+ *  device swap, OS media keys, the Now Playing center. Bring the UI in
+ *  sync; the poll stays armed so an external resume is caught too. */
+function reconcileExternalPause(): void {
+	setIsPlaying(false);
+	const ep = currentEpisode();
+	if (ep) {
+		const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+		progressStore.update(ep.id, position(), duration(), speed());
+		emit("player.pause", { episodeId: ep.id });
+		const media = useMediaRegistry();
+		media.setPlaybackState(false);
+		media.setPosition(position());
+	}
+}
+
+/** Playback was restarted from outside PodTUI (AirPods, lock-screen or
+ *  media-center play, OS media keys). Bring the UI back to "playing". */
+function reconcileExternalResume(): void {
+	setIsPlaying(true);
+	const ep = currentEpisode();
+	if (ep) {
+		emit("player.play", { episodeId: ep.id });
+		useMediaRegistry().setPlaybackState(true);
+	}
+}
+
 function startPolling(): void {
 	stopPolling();
 	pollCount = 0;
+	// Guard against overlapping ticks if a socket read ever outlives the
+	// interval (getPosition opens a fresh mpv IPC connection per call).
+	let pollInFlight = false;
 	pollTimer = setInterval(async () => {
-		if (!backend || !isPlaying()) return;
+		if (!backend || pollInFlight) return;
+		pollInFlight = true;
 		try {
-			const pos = await backend.getPosition();
-			const dur = await backend.getDuration();
-			setPosition(pos);
-			if (dur > 0) setDuration(dur);
-
-			// Save progress every ~5 seconds (10 ticks * 500ms)
 			pollCount++;
-			if (pollCount % 10 === 0) {
-				const ep = currentEpisode();
-				if (ep) {
-					const progressStore = useProgressStore();
-					progressStore.update(ep.id, pos, dur > 0 ? dur : duration(), speed());
-
-					const media = useMediaRegistry();
-					media.setPosition(pos);
+			if (isPlaying()) {
+				// Track ended (eof-reached observed) or process died. Check
+				// BEFORE pause reconciliation: mpv keeps the file open at EOF
+				// and reports pause=true there, which would otherwise be
+				// mistaken for an external pause and never finalize.
+				if (!backend.isPlaying()) {
+					finalizeTrackEnd();
+					return;
 				}
-			}
 
-			// Check if backend stopped playing (track ended)
-			if (!backend.isPlaying() && isPlaying()) {
-				setIsPlaying(false);
-				stopPolling();
-				// Save final position on track end
-				const ep = currentEpisode();
-				if (ep) {
-					const progressStore = useProgressStore();
-					progressStore.update(ep.id, pos, dur > 0 ? dur : duration(), speed());
+				// mpv can pause itself outside PodTUI. Reconcile instead of
+				// staying stuck on "playing" with a frozen waveform
+				// (getPosition would just re-read the same frozen time-pos).
+				const paused = await backend.getPauseState();
+				if (paused === true) {
+					reconcileExternalPause();
+					return;
+				}
+
+				const pos = await backend.getPosition();
+				const dur = await backend.getDuration();
+				setPosition(pos);
+				if (dur > 0) setDuration(dur);
+
+				// Save progress every ~5 seconds (33 ticks * 150ms)
+				if (pollCount % 33 === 0) {
+					const ep = currentEpisode();
+					if (ep) {
+						const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+						progressStore.update(ep.id, pos, dur > 0 ? dur : duration(), speed());
+
+						const media = useMediaRegistry();
+						media.setPosition(pos);
+					}
+				}
+			} else if (pollCount % PAUSE_WATCH_TICKS === 0) {
+				// Paused — watch for playback restarted from outside (AirPods,
+				// lock-screen/media-center play). Only while the player is
+				// still alive: a dead player while we thought we were paused
+				// means the track ended (mpv quits at EOF) or it crashed.
+				if (!backend.isAlive()) {
+					finalizeTrackEnd();
+					return;
+				}
+				const paused = await backend.getPauseState();
+				if (paused === false) {
+					reconcileExternalResume();
 				}
 			}
 		} catch {
 			// Backend may have been disposed
+		} finally {
+			pollInFlight = false;
 		}
-	}, 500);
+	}, 150);
 }
 
 function stopPolling(): void {
@@ -167,6 +292,11 @@ function stopPolling(): void {
 	}
 }
 
+// ── Cover art for system Now Playing ─────────────────────────────────────────
+// macOS shows the media session's albumart in the audio center; mpv reads it
+// from `--cover-art-files`. Shared helper (utils/cover-art.ts) fetches the
+// podcast cover to a temp file BEFORE playback starts, bounded to 3s.
+
 async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 	const b = ensureBackend();
 	setError(null);
@@ -183,6 +313,30 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 		const vol = volume();
 		const spd = storeSpeed || speed();
 
+		const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+		const feed = feedStore.feeds().find((f) => f.podcast.id === episode.podcastId);
+		const podcastTitle = feed?.customName || feed?.podcast.title || "";
+		// Play the downloaded file when present (offline + no network stalls);
+		// otherwise stream. Cover resolves to the feed art, falling back to the
+		// episode's own image (feeds added by URL may lack a channel cover).
+		const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+		const url = downloadStore.getDownloadedFilePath(episode.id) ?? episode.audioUrl;
+		const coverUrl = feed?.podcast.coverUrl ?? episode.imageUrl;
+		// Cover art only applies at file LOAD (the runtime video-add fallback
+		// never becomes an albumart track), so a cold-cache play must wait for
+		// the fetch or play artless. Serve the disk cache synchronously; on a
+		// miss, await the single-flight fetch with a 1.2s cap (covers fetch in
+		// ~300ms typically) — past the cap, play bare and let the fetch warm
+		// the cache for next time.
+		let coverArtPath = coverUrl ? cachedCoverPath(coverUrl) : null;
+		if (coverUrl && !coverArtPath) {
+			const path = await Promise.race([
+				fetchCoverArt(coverUrl),
+				new Promise<null>((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(null), 1200)),
+			]);
+			if (path) coverArtPath = path;
+		}
+
 		// Resume from saved progress if available and not completed
 		const savedProgress = progressStore.get(episode.id);
 		let startPos = 0;
@@ -190,10 +344,12 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 			startPos = savedProgress.position;
 		}
 
-		await b.play(episode.audioUrl, {
+		await b.play(url, {
 			volume: vol,
 			speed: spd,
 			startPosition: startPos > 0 ? startPos : undefined,
+			mediaTitle: episode.title,
+			coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
 		});
 
 		setCurrentEpisode(episode);
@@ -201,12 +357,17 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 		setPosition(startPos);
 		setSpeed(spd);
 		if (episode.duration) setDuration(episode.duration);
+		startedPlayback = true;
+
+		// Remember this episode as "loaded in the player" so the next launch
+		// can restore it paused (cleared by stop()).
+		saveLastPlayerToFile({ episodeId: episode.id, timestamp: new Date() });
 
 		// Register with platform media controls
 		const media = useMediaRegistry();
 		media.setNowPlaying({
 			title: episode.title,
-			artist: episode.podcastId,
+			artist: podcastTitle || episode.podcastId,
 			duration: episode.duration,
 		});
 		media.setPlaybackState(true);
@@ -223,12 +384,83 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * Load an episode into the player WITHOUT starting playback. The player tab
+ * renders it paused at its saved position; the first play action starts the
+ * backend from there (see togglePlayback). Used to restore the last player
+ * session at boot.
+ */
+async function load(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
+	ensureBackend();
+	setError(null);
+
+	setCurrentEpisode(episode);
+	setIsPlaying(false);
+	startedPlayback = false;
+
+	// Show the saved position so the player tab reflects where playback
+	// will resume; episodes at/above the completion threshold start from 0.
+	const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+	const saved = progressStore.get(episode.id);
+	const pos = saved && isRestoreEligible(saved) ? saved.position : 0;
+	setPosition(pos);
+	if (episode.duration) setDuration(episode.duration);
+
+	const appStore = useAppStore();
+	const storeSpeed = appStore.state().settings.playbackSpeed;
+	setSpeed(storeSpeed || speed());
+
+	// Surface the loaded-but-paused track to the OS media controls.
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const feed = feedStore.feeds().find((f) => f.podcast.id === episode.podcastId);
+	const podcastTitle = feed?.customName || feed?.podcast.title || "";
+	const media = useMediaRegistry();
+	media.setNowPlaying({
+		title: episode.title,
+		artist: podcastTitle || episode.podcastId,
+		duration: episode.duration,
+	});
+	media.setPlaybackState(false);
+	if (pos > 0) media.setPosition(pos);
+
+	// Preload the episode into the backend PAUSED: mpv opens the stream and
+	// fills its demuxer cache while parked, so the user's first Play flips
+	// `pause` off instead of paying the ~2s stream-open cold. Fire-and-forget
+	// — a failed preload just makes the first play take the cold path.
+	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+	const url = downloadStore.getDownloadedFilePath(episode.id) ?? episode.audioUrl;
+	if (episode.audioUrl && backend) {
+		// The preload must carry the cover AT LOAD: cover-art-files only
+		// applies when the file loads, and the runtime video-add fallback
+		// never becomes an albumart track (verified). Restore already waits
+		// on feeds/progress at boot, so the bounded fetch (~300ms typical,
+		// 8s worst case) is free. Falls back to the episode's own image when
+		// the feed has no channel cover.
+		const coverUrl = feed?.podcast.coverUrl ?? episode.imageUrl;
+		const coverArtPath = coverUrl ? await fetchCoverArt(coverUrl) : null;
+		const backendSnap = backend;
+		backendSnap
+			.preload(url, {
+				volume: volume(),
+				speed: storeSpeed || speed(),
+				startPosition: pos > 0 ? pos : undefined,
+mediaTitle: episode.title,
+				coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
+			})
+			.catch(() => {});
+	}
+
+	saveLastPlayerToFile({ episodeId: episode.id, timestamp: new Date() });
+}
+
 async function pause(): Promise<void> {
 	if (!backend) return;
 	try {
 		await backend.pause();
 		setIsPlaying(false);
-		stopPolling();
+		// Polling stays armed (paused-watch mode): playback can be resumed
+		// from OUTSIDE PodTUI — AirPods, lock-screen/media-center play —
+		// and the poll must be live to catch it.
 		const ep = currentEpisode();
 		if (ep) {
 			// Save progress on pause
@@ -267,7 +499,15 @@ async function togglePlayback(): Promise<void> {
 	if (isPlaying()) {
 		await pause();
 	} else if (currentEpisode()) {
-		await resume();
+		if (startedPlayback) {
+			await resume();
+		} else {
+			// Episode is only LOADED (e.g. restored at boot) — the backend
+			// was never started, so unpausing a dead player would fail
+			// silently. Start playback from the saved position instead.
+			const ep = currentEpisode();
+			if (ep) await play(ep);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -284,9 +524,13 @@ async function stop(): Promise<void> {
 		setIsPlaying(false);
 		setPosition(0);
 		setCurrentEpisode(null);
+		startedPlayback = false;
 		stopPolling();
 		emit("player.stop", {});
 
+		// Player is empty again — nothing to restore on the next launch.
+		saveLastPlayerToFile({ episodeId: null, timestamp: null });
+
 		const media = useMediaRegistry();
 		media.clearNowPlaying();
 	} catch (err) {
@@ -319,6 +563,10 @@ async function doSetVolume(vol: number): Promise<void> {
 		}
 	}
 	setVolume(clamped);
+
+	// Sync back to app store (persisted to config.json for the next launch).
+	const appStore = useAppStore();
+	appStore.updateSettings({ volume: clamped });
 }
 
 async function doSetSpeed(spd: number): Promise<void> {
@@ -357,12 +605,24 @@ async function switchBackend(name: BackendName): Promise<void> {
 	// Resume playback if we were playing
 	if (wasPlaying && ep && ep.audioUrl) {
 		try {
-			await backend.play(ep.audioUrl, {
+			const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+			const feed = feedStore
+				.feeds()
+				.find((f) => f.podcast.id === ep.podcastId);
+			const podcastTitle = feed?.customName || feed?.podcast.title || "";
+			const url =
+				useDownloadStore().getDownloadedFilePath(ep.id) ?? ep.audioUrl;
+			const coverUrl = feed?.podcast.coverUrl ?? ep.imageUrl;
+			const coverArtPath = coverUrl ? cachedCoverPath(coverUrl) : null;
+			await backend.play(url, {
 				startPosition: pos,
 				volume: vol,
 				speed: spd,
+mediaTitle: ep.title,
+				coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
 			});
 			setIsPlaying(true);
+			startedPlayback = true;
 			startPolling();
 		} catch (err) {
 			setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Backend switch failed");
@@ -371,6 +631,46 @@ async function switchBackend(name: BackendName): Promise<void> {
 	}
 }
 
+/** Serialized restore chain: the boot-triggered restore and any explicit
+ *  call run one after another, so a late-finishing earlier restore can never
+ *  overwrite state changed by a later one (and callers can await the latest
+ *  attempt deterministically). */
+let restoreChain: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve();
+
+/**
+ * Boot-time session restore: reload the episode that was loaded in the
+ * player when the previous run ended (persisted on play/load and at exit),
+ * paused at its saved position — never autostarted. Episodes at/above the
+ * completion threshold are skipped. Silently no-ops when there is nothing
+ * to restore (empty player, unsubscribed show, or completed episode).
+ */
+export async function restoreLastSession(): Promise<void> {
+	const attempt = restoreChain.then(async () => {
+		const marker = await loadLastPlayerFromFile();
+		if (!marker?.episodeId) return;
+
+		// Feeds and progress load asynchronously at boot; wait for both
+		// before looking the episode up.
+		await Promise.all([
+			useProgressStore().whenReady(),
+			useFeedStore().whenReady(),
+		]);
+
+		const episode = useFeedStore().findEpisode(marker.episodeId);
+		if (!episode) return;
+
+		// Only restore episodes below the completion threshold.
+		const saved = useProgressStore().get(episode.id);
+		if (!isRestoreEligible(saved)) return;
+
+		await load(episode);
+	});
+	// Keep the chain alive even when an attempt fails; the caller awaiting
+	// this attempt still observes its own outcome.
+	restoreChain = attempt.catch(() => {});
+	await attempt;
+}
+
 /**
  * Reactive audio controls hook.
  *
@@ -381,13 +681,29 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 	// Initialize backend on first use
 	ensureBackend();
 
-	// Sync initial speed from app store
+	// Sync initial speed/volume from app store (reuse the previous session's
+	// playback levels; defaults are 1x and 100%).
 	if (refCount === 0) {
 		const appStore = useAppStore();
 		const storeSpeed = appStore.state().settings.playbackSpeed;
 		if (storeSpeed && storeSpeed !== speed()) {
 			setSpeed(storeSpeed);
 		}
+
+		// Volume re-syncs once settings finish loading (async config read)
+		// so a level persisted last session is applied at boot.
+		appStore
+			.whenReady()
+			.then(() => {
+				const storeVolume = appStore.state().settings.volume;
+				if (storeVolume !== undefined && storeVolume !== volume()) {
+					setVolume(storeVolume);
+				}
+			})
+			.catch(() => {});
+
+		// Restore the last player session once at boot (loaded, not playing).
+		restoreLastSession().catch(() => {});
 	}
 
 	refCount++;
@@ -421,14 +737,6 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 		await doSetVolume(Math.max(0, Number((volume() - 0.05).toFixed(2))));
 	});
 
-	const unsubMediaSeekFwd = on("media.seekForward", async () => {
-		await seekRelative(10);
-	});
-
-	const unsubMediaSeekBack = on("media.seekBackward", async () => {
-		await seekRelative(-10);
-	});
-
 	const unsubMediaSpeed = on("media.speedCycle", async () => {
 		const next = speed() >= 2 ? 0.5 : Number((speed() + 0.25).toFixed(2));
 		await doSetSpeed(next);
@@ -515,8 +823,6 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 		unsubMediaToggle();
 		unsubMediaVolUp();
 		unsubMediaVolDown();
-		unsubMediaSeekFwd();
-		unsubMediaSeekBack();
 		unsubMediaSpeed();
 
 		if (refCount <= 0) {
@@ -545,6 +851,7 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 		availablePlayers,
 
 		play,
+		load,
 		pause,
 		resume,
 		togglePlayback,

src/hooks/useMultimediaKeys.ts

@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 /**
  * Global multimedia key handler hook.
  *
- * Captures media-related key events (play/pause, volume, seek, speed)
+ * Captures media-related key events (play/pause, volume, speed)
  * regardless of which component is focused. Uses the event bus to
  * decouple key detection from audio control logic.
  *
  * Volume and speed are app-level settings — adjustable with or without
  * an episode loaded (they apply to the next playback and persist). Seek
- * is playback-dependent, so it still requires a loaded episode.
+ * is NOT handled here: it lives on the yazi keybind router (`<` / `>` =
+ * shift+, / shift+.), so the arrow keys stay free for navigation.
  */
 
 import { useKeyboard } from "@opentui/solid";
@@ -17,8 +18,6 @@ export type MediaKeyAction =
 	| "media.toggle"
 	| "media.volumeUp"
 	| "media.volumeDown"
-	| "media.seekForward"
-	| "media.seekBackward"
 	| "media.speedCycle";
 
 export interface MultimediaKeysOptions {
@@ -26,8 +25,6 @@ export interface MultimediaKeysOptions {
 	playerFocused?: () => boolean;
 	/** When true, skip handling (text input has focus) */
 	inputFocused?: () => boolean;
-	/** Whether an episode is currently loaded */
-	hasEpisode?: () => boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -59,17 +56,9 @@ export function useMultimediaKeys(options: MultimediaKeysOptions = {}) {
 				emit("media.volumeDown", {});
 				break;
 
-			case "left":
-				if (!options.hasEpisode?.()) return;
-				emit("media.seekBackward", {});
-				break;
-
-			case "right":
-				if (!options.hasEpisode?.()) return;
-				emit("media.seekForward", {});
-				break;
-
 			case "s":
+				// Speed is shift+s (S) so plain `s` stays free for search.
+				if (!key.shift) return;
 				emit("media.speedCycle", {});
 				break;
 

src/hooks/useSelectionMarker.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/**
+ * useSelectionMarker — reactive accessor for the row-selection marker glyph.
+ *
+ * When the `showSelectionMarker` setting is on, the focused row of every list
+ * renders `❯`; when off (the default), it renders a space so column alignment
+ * is preserved. Every list pane in the app reads the marker through this hook
+ * so the setting applies consistently everywhere.
+ */
+
+import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
+
+export function useSelectionMarker(): () => string {
+	const app = useAppStore();
+	return () =>
+		app.state().settings.showSelectionMarker ? "❯" : " ";
+}

src/index.tsx

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { Feed } from "./types/feed"
 import type { Episode } from "./types/episode"
 
-const VERSION = "0.3.1";
+const VERSION = "0.6.0";
 
 interface CliArgs {
 	version: boolean;
@@ -182,9 +182,22 @@ async function handlePlay(feeds: Feed[], arg: string): Promise<void> {
 
 	try {
 		const { createAudioBackend } = await import("./utils/audio-player")
+		const { fetchCoverArt } = await import("./utils/cover-art")
 		const backend = createAudioBackend()
 		if (episodeResult.audioUrl) {
-			await backend.play(episodeResult.audioUrl)
+			// Stage the podcast cover so the system Now Playing shows
+			// artwork (mpv --cover-art-files), like the UI path does. Falls
+			// back to the episode's own image when the feed has no channel
+			// cover (URL-added feeds).
+			const coverUrl =
+				feedResult.podcast.coverUrl ?? episodeResult.imageUrl;
+			const coverArtPath = coverUrl
+				? await fetchCoverArt(coverUrl)
+				: null
+			await backend.play(episodeResult.audioUrl, {
+				mediaTitle: episodeResult.title,
+				coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
+			})
 			console.log("Playback started (use the UI to control)")
 		} else {
 			console.log("No audio URL available for this episode")

src/pages/Discover/DiscoverPage.tsx

@@ -27,19 +27,24 @@ import {
 	type DepthFrame,
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 
 export const DiscoverPaneCount = 1;
 
 function DiscoverPage() {
+	// Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+	const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
 	const discoverStore = useDiscoverStore();
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
 	const depth = nav.currentDepth;
 	const focus = (d: number = depth()) => nav.depthFocus(d);
@@ -159,34 +164,46 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 			: `${focusedCategory()?.name ?? "Discover"} · ${podcasts().length}`;
 
 	// ── parent pane: previous-depth list (muted/blank at depth 0) ─────────────
-	// Stable <Show> gate (not a ternary root swap) so the parent list
-	// mounts/unmounts cleanly on depth change.
+	// Sibling <Show> blocks per depth (the known-good opentui disposal
+	// pattern, mirrors Settings): a STABLE fragment root whose inner <Show>
+	// children toggle on depth change, so the old subtree is disposed instead
+	// of left orphaned next to the new one (single <Show with fallback> and
+	// ternary root swaps both leak the previous root).
 	const parentContent = () => (
-		<Show when={depth() >= 1} fallback={<TabListPane muted />}>
-			<For each={categories()}>
-				{(cat, index) => {
-					const lf = () => nav.depthFocus(0);
-					const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
-					return (
-						<box
-							ref={ref}
-							flexDirection="row"
-							gap={1}
-							paddingLeft={1}
-							paddingRight={1}
-							backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), false)}
-						>
-							<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
-								{index() === nav.depthFocus(0) ? "❯" : " "}
-							</text>
-							<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
-								{cat.name}
-							</text>
-						</box>
-					);
-				}}
-			</For>
-		</Show>
+		<>
+			<Show when={depth() === 0}>
+				<TabListPane muted />
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={depth() >= 1}>
+				<For each={categories()}>
+					{(cat, index) => {
+						const lf = () => nav.depthFocus(0);
+						const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
+						return (
+							<box
+								ref={ref}
+								flexDirection="row"
+								gap={1}
+								paddingRight={1}
+								backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), false)}
+							>
+								<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
+									{index() === nav.depthFocus(0) ? marker() : " "}
+								</text>
+								{nerd && (
+									<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
+										{cat.icon}
+									</text>
+								)}
+								<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
+									{cat.name}
+								</text>
+							</box>
+						);
+					}}
+				</For>
+			</Show>
+		</>
 	);
 
 	// ── current pane ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -203,7 +220,6 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 								ref={ref}
 								flexDirection="row"
 								gap={1}
-								paddingLeft={1}
 								paddingRight={1}
 								backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
 								onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -213,8 +229,13 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 								}}
 							>
 								<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-									{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+									{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
 								</text>
+								{nerd && (
+									<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
+										{cat.icon}
+									</text>
+								)}
 								<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>{cat.name}</text>
 							</box>
 						);
@@ -247,7 +268,6 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 									ref={ref}
 									flexDirection="column"
 									gap={0}
-									paddingLeft={1}
 									paddingRight={1}
 									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
 									onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -257,7 +277,7 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 								>
 									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+											{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
 										</text>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
 											{podcast.title}

src/pages/Feed/FeedPage.tsx

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { createMemo, createEffect, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-j
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
 import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
 import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
+import { prefetchCoverArt } from "@/utils/cover-art";
 import { DownloadStatus } from "@/types/episode";
 import { format } from "date-fns";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { NF_ICONS, supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import type { Episode } from "@/types/episode";
 import type { Feed } from "@/types/feed";
@@ -39,12 +41,15 @@ import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 
 export const FeedPaneCount = 1;
 
 type EpItem = { episode: Episode; feed: Feed };
 
 function FeedPage() {
+	// Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+	const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
 	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
 	const audioNav = useAudioNavStore();
@@ -52,18 +57,35 @@ function FeedPage() {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
 	// ── flat episode list (depth 0 — the only depth Feed has) ────────────────
 	const episodes = createMemo<EpItem[]>(
 		() => feedStore.getAllEpisodesChronological() as EpItem[],
 	);
 
+	// ── Cover warm-up ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// Prefetch covers for episodes around the focus (plus the top of the
+	// list) so plays land on a warm cache: cover-art-files only applies at
+	// file load, and there is no working runtime fallback. Single-flight +
+	// cache short-circuit keep repeat runs cheap (hits resolve immediately).
+	createEffect(() => {
+		const list = episodes();
+		const focusIdx = focusedEpIdx();
+		const start = Math.max(0, focusIdx - 10);
+		const end = Math.min(list.length, focusIdx + 11);
+		for (let i = start; i < end; i++) {
+			const item = list[i];
+			if (item?.feed.podcast.coverUrl) prefetchCoverArt(item.feed.podcast.coverUrl);
+		}
+	});
+
 	// ── Fetch More ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	// A "[Fetch More]" row at the bottom of the list advances every feed's
 	// loaded window by 50 episodes. manual mode: Enter on the row. auto mode:
 	// reaching the bottom row fetches automatically (see the effect below).
 	const app = useAppStore();
-	const fetchMoreMode = () => app.state().preferences.fetchMoreMode ?? "manual";
+	const fetchMoreMode = () => app.state().preferences.fetchMoreMode ?? "auto";
 	const showFetchMore = () => feedStore.hasMoreAcrossAll();
 	// Total navigable rows: episodes + the optional Fetch More row.
 	const rowCount = () => episodes().length + (showFetchMore() ? 1 : 0);
@@ -171,6 +193,18 @@ function FeedPage() {
 			const item = focusedItem();
 			if (item) nav.toggleSelected(item.episode.id);
 		},
+		download: () => {
+			const item = focusedItem();
+			if (item) downloadStore.startDownload(item.episode, item.feed.id);
+		},
+		"delete-download": () => {
+			const item = focusedItem();
+			if (!item) return;
+			const id = item.episode.id;
+			if (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id) === DownloadStatus.NONE) return;
+			downloadStore.cancelDownload(id);
+			downloadStore.removeDownload(id).catch(() => {});
+		},
 		refresh: () => {
 			feedStore.refreshAllFeeds().catch(() => {});
 		},
@@ -219,7 +253,7 @@ function FeedPage() {
 		<Show
 			when={episodes().length > 0}
 			fallback={
-				<box padding={1}>
+				<box padding={1} alignItems="center">
 					<Show
 						when={feedStore.isLoadingFeeds()}
 						fallback={
@@ -242,7 +276,6 @@ function FeedPage() {
 							ref={ref}
 							flexDirection="column"
 							gap={0}
-							paddingLeft={1}
 							paddingRight={1}
 							backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), fi(), isActive())}
 							onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -251,31 +284,55 @@ function FeedPage() {
 							}}
 						>
 							<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
-								<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
-									{index() === fi() ? "❯" : " "}
+								<text
+									flexShrink={0}
+									fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}
+								>
+									{index() === fi() ? marker() : " "}
 								</text>
-								<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
+								<text
+									wrapMode="none"
+									truncate
+									fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}
+								>
 									{item.episode.episodeNumber
 										? `#${item.episode.episodeNumber} `
 										: ""}
 									{item.episode.title}
 								</text>
 							</box>
-							<box flexDirection="row" gap={2} paddingLeft={2}>
-								<text fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : theme.info}>
-									{formatDate(item.episode.pubDate)}
-								</text>
-								<text fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
-									{formatDuration(item.episode.duration)}
-								</text>
-								<text fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
+							{/* podcast name on its own row — readable at a glance; the
+							    50% current pane fits it in full for typical names, and
+							    truncate keeps the row one line tall either way */}
+							<box paddingLeft={2}>
+								<text
+									wrapMode="none"
+									truncate
+									fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : theme.textSecondary}
+								>
 									{item.feed.customName || item.feed.podcast.title}
 								</text>
+							</box>
+							<box flexDirection="row" gap={2} paddingLeft={2}>
+								<text
+									flexShrink={0}
+									fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : theme.info}
+								>
+									{formatDate(item.episode.pubDate)}
+								</text>
+								<text
+									flexShrink={0}
+									fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}
+								>
+									{formatDuration(item.episode.duration)}
+								</text>
 								<Show when={nav.isSelected(item.episode.id)}>
-									<text fg={theme.warning}>●</text>
+									<text flexShrink={0} fg={theme.warning}>
+										●
+									</text>
 								</Show>
 								<Show when={downloadLabel(item.episode.id)}>
-									<text fg={downloadColor(item.episode.id)}>
+									<text flexShrink={0} fg={downloadColor(item.episode.id)}>
 										{downloadLabel(item.episode.id)}
 									</text>
 								</Show>
@@ -289,7 +346,6 @@ function FeedPage() {
 					ref={moreRef}
 					flexDirection="row"
 					gap={1}
-					paddingLeft={1}
 					paddingRight={1}
 					backgroundColor={focusBg(episodes().length, focusedRow(), isActive())}
 					onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -298,8 +354,13 @@ function FeedPage() {
 					}}
 				>
 					<text fg={focusFg(episodes().length, focusedRow(), isActive())}>
-						{focusedOnMore() ? "❯" : " "}
+						{focusedOnMore() ? marker() : " "}
 					</text>
+					{nerd && (
+						<text fg={focusFg(episodes().length, focusedRow(), isActive())}>
+							{NF_ICONS.more}
+						</text>
+					)}
 					<Show
 						when={!feedStore.isLoadingMore()}
 						fallback={<LoadingIndicator label="Fetching…" />}
@@ -311,7 +372,7 @@ function FeedPage() {
 				</box>
 			</Show>
 			<Show when={feedStore.isLoadingFeeds()}>
-				<box paddingLeft={2} paddingTop={1}>
+				<box alignItems="center" paddingTop={1}>
 					<LoadingIndicator label="Refreshing…" />
 				</box>
 			</Show>
@@ -378,7 +439,14 @@ function FeedPage() {
 								{(item().episode.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
 							</text>
 							<box height={1} />
-							<text fg={muted()}>enter: play · space: select · h back</text>
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								enter: play · d: download
+								{downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(item().episode.id) !==
+								DownloadStatus.NONE
+									? " · D: delete"
+									: ""}{" "}
+								· space: select · h back
+							</text>
 						</box>
 					)}
 				</Show>

src/pages/MyShows/MyShowsPage.tsx

@@ -6,14 +6,18 @@
  *   depth 1 (current) — episodes of the drilled show. Parent pane = shows.
  *   preview            — detail of the hovered item in the current column.
  *
+ * Depth 1 ends with a "[Fetch More]" row (same preference-driven behavior
+ * as the Feed tab) that loads the next batch of episodes for that show.
+ *
  * Renders entirely through `<PaneRow>`; no bespoke 3-column flexbox JSX
  * remains. `l`/Enter drills in (show → episodes); `h` pops a depth (noop at
  * 0). j/k move only within the current column.
  */
 
-import { createMemo, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { createMemo, createEffect, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
 import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
 import { DownloadStatus } from "@/types/episode";
 import { format } from "date-fns";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
@@ -27,24 +31,30 @@ import {
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { NF_ICONS, supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
-import type { Episode } from "@/types/episode";
+import type { Episode, DownloadedEpisode } from "@/types/episode";
 import type { Feed } from "@/types/feed";
 import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 
 export const MyShowsPaneCount = 1;
 
 export function MyShowsPage() {
+	// Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+	const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
 	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+	const app = useAppStore();
 	const audioNav = useAudioNavStore();
 	const audio = useAudio();
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
 	const stack = nav.depthStack;
 	const depth = nav.currentDepth;
@@ -52,9 +62,28 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 
 	const shows = () => feedStore.getFilteredFeeds();
 
+	// Downloads of shows that are NOT subscribed (made from episode search) —
+	// listed as their own section under the shows list. Reads feeds() so an
+	// entry drops out the moment the user subscribes to its show.
+	const unsubs = () => downloadStore.getUnsubscribedDownloads();
+
+	// Total depth-0 rows: subscribed shows + unsubscribed-show downloads.
+	const depth0Count = () => shows().length + unsubs().length;
+
 	const focusedShowIdx = () =>
 		shows().length === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(0), shows().length - 1);
-	const selectedShow = (): Feed | undefined => shows()[focusedShowIdx()];
+	/** True when the depth-0 cursor sits on an unsubscribed-show download
+	 *  row (past the shows list). */
+	const focusedOnUnsub = () =>
+		depth() === 0 && focus(0) >= shows().length && unsubs().length > 0;
+	const focusedUnsub = (): DownloadedEpisode | undefined => {
+		if (!focusedOnUnsub()) return undefined;
+		return unsubs()[Math.min(focus(0) - shows().length, unsubs().length - 1)];
+	};
+	const selectedShow = (): Feed | undefined => {
+		if (focusedOnUnsub()) return undefined;
+		return shows()[focusedShowIdx()];
+	};
 
 	// depth-1 frame ctx = the drilled feed id
 	const drilledShowId = (): string => stack()[1]?.ctx ?? "";
@@ -67,27 +96,64 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 			(a, b) => b.pubDate.getTime() - a.pubDate.getTime(),
 		);
 	});
+	// ── Fetch More ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// A "[Fetch More]" row at the bottom of a drilled show's episode list
+	// advances that show's loaded window by 50 episodes — the per-show
+	// counterpart to the Feed page's row (which loads every feed). manual
+	// mode: Enter on the row. auto mode: reaching the bottom row fetches
+	// automatically (see the effect below).
+	const fetchMoreMode = () => app.state().preferences.fetchMoreMode ?? "auto";
+	const showFetchMore = () =>
+		depth() >= 1 &&
+		!!drilledShowId() &&
+		feedStore.hasMoreEpisodes(drilledShowId());
+	// Total navigable rows at depth 1: episodes + the optional Fetch More row.
+	const rowCount = () => episodes().length + (showFetchMore() ? 1 : 0);
+	const focusedRow = () =>
+		rowCount() === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(1), rowCount() - 1);
+	const focusedOnMore = () =>
+		showFetchMore() && focusedRow() === episodes().length;
+	// -1 while the Fetch More row is focused so no episode row renders the
+	// cursor/highlight (the button is the focused row, not the last episode).
 	const focusedEpIdx = () =>
-		episodes().length === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(1), episodes().length - 1);
-	const focusedEpisode = () => episodes()[focusedEpIdx()];
+		focusedOnMore()
+			? -1
+			: Math.min(focusedRow(), Math.max(episodes().length - 1, 0));
+	const focusedEpisode = () =>
+		focusedOnMore() ? undefined : episodes()[focusedEpIdx()];
+	const moreRef = useScrollIntoView(() => focusedOnMore());
 
-	const curLen = () => (depth() === 0 ? shows().length : episodes().length);
+	const curLen = () => (depth() === 0 ? depth0Count() : rowCount());
 
 	const ensureFocus = () => {
-		if (shows().length > 0 && focus(0) >= shows().length)
-			nav.setDepthFocus(shows().length - 1, 0);
-		if (depth() >= 1 && episodes().length > 0 && focus(1) >= episodes().length)
-			nav.setDepthFocus(episodes().length - 1, 1);
+		if (depth() === 0 && depth0Count() > 0 && focus(0) >= depth0Count())
+			nav.setDepthFocus(depth0Count() - 1, 0);
+		if (depth() >= 1 && rowCount() > 0 && focus(1) >= rowCount())
+			nav.setDepthFocus(rowCount() - 1, 1);
 	};
 	onMount(ensureFocus);
 
 	onMount(() => {
 		nav.registerResolver(`${nav.activeTab()}:${DEPTH_CENTER_PANE}`, (i) => {
-			if (depth() === 0) return shows()[i]?.id;
+			if (depth() === 0) {
+				if (i < shows().length) return shows()[i]?.id;
+				return unsubs()[i - shows().length]?.episodeId;
+			}
 			return episodes()[i]?.id;
 		});
 	});
 
+	// Auto mode: reaching the bottom of a drilled show's list loads its next
+	// batch. Guarded by isLoadingMore so concurrent loads never stack.
+	createEffect(() => {
+		if (depth() < 1) return;
+		if (fetchMoreMode() !== "auto") return;
+		if (!showFetchMore()) return;
+		if (feedStore.isLoadingMore()) return;
+		if (focusedRow() < rowCount() - 1) return;
+		feedStore.loadMoreEpisodes(drilledShowId()).catch(() => {});
+	});
+
 	// ── helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const formatDate = (d: Date) => format(d, "MMM d, yyyy");
 	const formatDuration = (s: number) => {
@@ -128,9 +194,31 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 		audioNav.setSource(AudioSource.MY_SHOWS, selectedShow()?.podcast.id);
 	};
 
+	/** Stream an unsubscribed-show download. The record carries only what was
+	 *  persisted at download time, so a minimal Episode is reconstructed. */
+	const playUnsubscribedDownload = (d: DownloadedEpisode) => {
+		audio
+			.play({
+				id: d.episodeId,
+				podcastId: d.feedId,
+				title: d.episodeTitle ?? d.episodeId,
+				description: "",
+				audioUrl: d.audioUrl ?? "",
+				duration: 0,
+				pubDate: d.pubDate ? new Date(d.pubDate) : new Date(),
+			})
+			.catch(() => {});
+		audioNav.setSource(AudioSource.SEARCH, d.feedId);
+	};
+
 	// ── drill / open ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	function open() {
 		if (depth() === 0) {
+			const d = focusedUnsub();
+			if (d) {
+				playUnsubscribedDownload(d);
+				return;
+			}
 			const show = selectedShow();
 			if (!show) return;
 			nav.pushDepth({ kind: "episodes", ctx: show.id, focus: 0 } as DepthFrame);
@@ -139,6 +227,10 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 			return;
 		}
 		if (depth() >= 1) {
+			if (focusedOnMore()) {
+				feedStore.loadMoreEpisodes(drilledShowId()).catch(() => {});
+				return;
+			}
 			const ep = focusedEpisode();
 			if (ep) playEpisode(ep);
 		}
@@ -161,6 +253,41 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 				if (ep) nav.toggleSelected(ep.id);
 			}
 		},
+		download: () => {
+			if (depth() < 1) return;
+			const ep = focusedEpisode();
+			if (ep) downloadStore.startDownload(ep, drilledShowId());
+		},
+		"delete-download": () => {
+			if (depth() === 0) {
+				const d = focusedUnsub();
+				if (d) {
+					downloadStore.cancelDownload(d.episodeId);
+					downloadStore.removeDownload(d.episodeId).catch(() => {});
+				}
+				return;
+			}
+			if (depth() < 1) return;
+			const ep = focusedEpisode();
+			if (!ep) return;
+			const id = ep.id;
+			if (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id) === DownloadStatus.NONE) return;
+			downloadStore.cancelDownload(id);
+			downloadStore.removeDownload(id).catch(() => {});
+		},
+		"whitelist-toggle": () => {
+			const prefs = app.state().preferences;
+			if (prefs.autoDownloadScope !== "whitelist") return;
+			// depth 0: the focused show; depth ≥1: the drilled show.
+			const id = depth() >= 1 ? drilledShowId() : selectedShow()?.id;
+			if (!id) return;
+			const cur = prefs.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? [];
+			const next = cur.includes(id)
+				? cur.filter((x) => x !== id)
+				: [...cur, id];
+			app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadWhitelist: next });
+			feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+		},
 		refresh: () => {
 			const show = selectedShow();
 			if (show) feedStore.refreshFeed(show.id).catch(() => {});
@@ -208,7 +335,9 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 
 	const currentLabel = () =>
 		depth() === 0
-			? `Shows (${shows().length})`
+			? `Shows (${shows().length})${
+					unsubs().length > 0 ? ` · Unsub DL (${unsubs().length})` : ""
+				}`
 			: `${selectedShow() ? showTitle(selectedShow()!) : "Episodes"} · ${episodes().length}`;
 
 	// ── parent pane: previous-depth list (muted/blank at depth 0) ─────────────
@@ -225,12 +354,11 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 							ref={ref}
 							flexDirection="row"
 							gap={1}
-							paddingLeft={1}
 							paddingRight={1}
 							backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), false)}
 						>
 							<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), false)}>
-								{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+								{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
 							</text>
 							<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), false)}>{showTitle(feed)}</text>
 							<text fg={muted()}>({feed.episodes.length})</text>
@@ -247,7 +375,7 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 			{/* depth 0: shows — stable sibling <Show> so the swap disposes cleanly */}
 			<Show when={depth() === 0}>
 				<Show
-					when={shows().length > 0}
+					when={depth0Count() > 0}
 					fallback={
 						<box padding={1}>
 							<text fg={muted()}>
@@ -260,12 +388,16 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 						{(feed, index) => {
 							const lf = () => focusedShowIdx();
 							const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
+							const wlScope =
+								app.state().preferences.autoDownloadScope === "whitelist";
+							const wlInList = (
+								app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? []
+							).includes(feed.id);
 							return (
 								<box
 									ref={ref}
 									flexDirection="row"
 									gap={1}
-									paddingLeft={1}
 									paddingRight={1}
 									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
 									onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -274,7 +406,7 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 									}}
 								>
 									<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-										{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+										{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
 									</text>
 									<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
 										{showTitle(feed)}
@@ -282,10 +414,88 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 									<text fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
 										({feed.episodes.length})
 									</text>
+									<Show when={wlScope}>
+										<text
+											fg={
+												index() === lf()
+													? theme.surface
+													: wlInList
+														? theme.warning
+														: muted()
+											}
+										>
+											{wlInList ? "●" : "○"}
+										</text>
+									</Show>
 								</box>
 							);
 						}}
 					</For>
+					<Show when={unsubs().length > 0}>
+						<box paddingLeft={1} paddingTop={1}>
+							<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+								Unsubscribed Show Downloads
+							</text>
+						</box>
+						<For each={unsubs()}>
+							{(d, index) => {
+								// Rows continue after the shows list.
+								const rowIdx = () => shows().length + index();
+								const lf = () => nav.depthFocus(0);
+								const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => rowIdx() === lf());
+								return (
+									<box
+										ref={ref}
+										flexDirection="column"
+										gap={0}
+										paddingRight={1}
+										backgroundColor={focusBg(rowIdx(), lf(), isActive())}
+										onMouseDown={() => {
+											nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+											nav.setDepthFocus(rowIdx(), 0);
+										}}
+									>
+										<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+											<text
+												flexShrink={0}
+												fg={focusFg(rowIdx(), lf(), isActive())}
+											>
+												{rowIdx() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
+											</text>
+											<text
+												wrapMode="none"
+												truncate
+												fg={focusFg(rowIdx(), lf(), isActive())}
+											>
+												{d.episodeTitle ?? d.episodeId}
+											</text>
+											<Show when={downloadLabel(d.episodeId)}>
+												<text
+													flexShrink={0}
+													fg={downloadColor(d.episodeId)}
+												>
+													{downloadLabel(d.episodeId)}
+												</text>
+											</Show>
+										</box>
+										<box paddingLeft={2}>
+											<text
+												wrapMode="none"
+												truncate
+												fg={
+													rowIdx() === lf()
+														? theme.surface
+														: theme.textSecondary
+												}
+											>
+												{d.podcastTitle ?? d.feedId}
+											</text>
+										</box>
+									</box>
+								);
+							}}
+						</For>
+					</Show>
 				</Show>
 			</Show>
 			{/* depth ≥1: episodes */}
@@ -307,7 +517,6 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 									ref={ref}
 									flexDirection="column"
 									gap={0}
-									paddingLeft={1}
 									paddingRight={1}
 									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
 									onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -316,26 +525,41 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 									}}
 								>
 									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+										<text
+											flexShrink={0}
+											fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
+										>
+											{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
 										</text>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
+										<text
+											wrapMode="none"
+											truncate
+											fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
+										>
 											{ep.episodeNumber ? `#${ep.episodeNumber} ` : ""}
 											{ep.title}
 										</text>
 									</box>
 									<box flexDirection="row" gap={2} paddingLeft={2}>
-										<text fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : theme.info}>
+										<text
+											flexShrink={0}
+											fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : theme.info}
+										>
 											{formatDate(ep.pubDate)}
 										</text>
-										<text fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
+										<text
+											flexShrink={0}
+											fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : muted()}
+										>
 											{formatDuration(ep.duration)}
 										</text>
 										<Show when={nav.isSelected(ep.id)}>
-											<text fg={theme.warning}>●</text>
+											<text flexShrink={0} fg={theme.warning}>
+												●
+											</text>
 										</Show>
 										<Show when={downloadLabel(ep.id)}>
-											<text fg={downloadColor(ep.id)}>
+											<text flexShrink={0} fg={downloadColor(ep.id)}>
 												{downloadLabel(ep.id)}
 											</text>
 										</Show>
@@ -344,9 +568,38 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 							);
 						}}
 					</For>
-					<Show when={feedStore.isLoadingMore()}>
-						<box paddingLeft={2} paddingTop={1}>
-							<LoadingIndicator label="Loading more…" />
+					<Show when={showFetchMore()}>
+						<box
+							ref={moreRef}
+							flexDirection="row"
+							gap={1}
+							paddingRight={1}
+							backgroundColor={focusBg(
+								episodes().length,
+								focusedRow(),
+								isActive(),
+							)}
+							onMouseDown={() => {
+								nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+								nav.setDepthFocus(episodes().length, 1);
+							}}
+						>
+							<text fg={focusFg(episodes().length, focusedRow(), isActive())}>
+								{focusedOnMore() ? marker() : " "}
+							</text>
+							{nerd && (
+								<text fg={focusFg(episodes().length, focusedRow(), isActive())}>
+									{NF_ICONS.more}
+								</text>
+							)}
+							<Show
+								when={!feedStore.isLoadingMore()}
+								fallback={<LoadingIndicator label="Fetching…" />}
+							>
+								<text fg={focusFg(episodes().length, focusedRow(), isActive())}>
+									[Fetch More]
+								</text>
+							</Show>
 						</box>
 					</Show>
 				</Show>
@@ -357,44 +610,110 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 	// ── preview pane ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const previewContent = () =>
 		depth() === 0 ? (
-			// depth 0 preview: hovered show
+			// depth 0 preview: hovered unsubscribed-show download, else the
+			// hovered show.
 			<Show
-				when={selectedShow()}
+				when={focusedUnsub()}
 				fallback={
-					<box padding={1}>
-						<text fg={muted()}>No show focused</text>
-					</box>
+					<Show
+						when={selectedShow()}
+						fallback={
+							<box padding={1}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>No show focused</text>
+							</box>
+						}
+					>
+						{(show) => (
+							<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+								<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
+									<strong>{showTitle(show())}</strong>
+								</text>
+								<Show when={show().podcast.author}>
+									<text fg={muted()}>by {show().podcast.author}</text>
+								</Show>
+								<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+									{show().episodes.length} episodes
+								</text>
+								<text fg={muted()}>
+									{show().podcast.description?.slice(0, 400) ??
+										"No description."}
+								</text>
+								<box height={1} />
+								<text fg={muted()}>
+									enter/l: open · h: back · x: unsubscribe
+									{app.state().preferences.autoDownloadScope ===
+									"whitelist"
+										? (app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ??
+											[]
+										  ).includes(show().id)
+											? " · w: un-whitelist"
+											: " · w: whitelist"
+										: ""}
+								</text>
+							</box>
+						)}
+					</Show>
 				}
 			>
-				{(show) => (
+				{(d) => (
 					<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
 						<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
-							<strong>{showTitle(show())}</strong>
+							<strong>{d().episodeTitle ?? d().episodeId}</strong>
 						</text>
-						<Show when={show().podcast.author}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>by {show().podcast.author}</text>
-						</Show>
 						<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
-							{show().episodes.length} episodes
+							{d().podcastTitle ?? d().feedId}
 						</text>
+						<box flexDirection="row" gap={2}>
+							<Show when={d().pubDate}>
+								<text fg={theme.info}>
+									{formatDate(new Date(d().pubDate!))}
+								</text>
+							</Show>
+							<Show when={downloadLabel(d().episodeId)}>
+								<text fg={downloadColor(d().episodeId)}>
+									{downloadLabel(d().episodeId)}
+								</text>
+							</Show>
+						</box>
 						<text fg={muted()}>
-							{show().podcast.description?.slice(0, 400) ?? "No description."}
+							Downloaded from episode search — the show is not
+							subscribed.
 						</text>
 						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={muted()}>enter/l: open · h: back · x: unsubscribe</text>
+						<text fg={muted()}>
+							enter: play · D: delete download · h: back
+						</text>
 					</box>
 				)}
 			</Show>
 		) : (
-			// depth ≥1 preview: hovered episode
-			<Show
-				when={focusedEpisode()}
-				fallback={
-					<box padding={1}>
-						<text fg={muted()}>No episode focused</text>
+			// depth ≥1 preview: hovered episode (or the Fetch More row)
+			<>
+				<Show when={focusedOnMore()}>
+					<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+						<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
+							<strong>[Fetch More]</strong>
+						</text>
+						<text fg={muted()}>
+							{feedStore.isLoadingMore()
+								? "Loading the next batch of episodes…"
+								: fetchMoreMode() === "auto"
+									? "Auto mode: the next batch loads automatically at the bottom of the list."
+									: "Load the next batch of older episodes for this show (Enter)."}
+						</text>
+						<box height={1} />
+						<text fg={muted()}>enter: load more · h back</text>
 					</box>
-				}
-			>
+				</Show>
+				<Show when={!focusedOnMore()}>
+					<Show
+						when={focusedEpisode()}
+						fallback={
+							<box padding={1}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>No episode focused</text>
+							</box>
+						}
+					>
 				{(ep) => (
 					<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
 						<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
@@ -421,11 +740,27 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 							{(ep().description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
 						</text>
 						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={muted()}>enter: play · space: select · h: back</text>
+						<text fg={muted()}>
+							enter: play · d: download
+							{downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(ep().id) !==
+							DownloadStatus.NONE
+								? " · D: delete"
+								: ""}
+							{app.state().preferences.autoDownloadScope === "whitelist"
+								? (app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? []).includes(
+										drilledShowId(),
+									)
+									? " · w: un-whitelist"
+									: " · w: whitelist"
+								: ""}{" "}
+							· space: select · h: back
+						</text>
 					</box>
 				)}
+				</Show>
 			</Show>
-		);
+		</>
+	);
 
 	return (
 		<PaneRow

src/pages/Player/PlaybackControls.tsx

@@ -14,70 +14,81 @@ type PlaybackControlsProps = {
 	onSpeedChange: (value: number) => void;
 };
 
-const BACKEND_LABELS: Record<BackendName, string> = {
-	mpv: "mpv",
-	none: "none",
-};
-
 export function PlaybackControls(props: PlaybackControlsProps) {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	return (
 		<box
 			flexDirection="row"
+			flexWrap="wrap"
 			gap={1}
 			alignItems="center"
+			justifyContent="center"
 			border
 			padding={1}
 			borderColor={theme.border}
 		>
-			<box
-				border
-				padding={0}
-				onMouseDown={props.onPrev}
-				borderColor={theme.border}
-			>
-				<text fg={theme.primary}>[Prev]</text>
+			{/* transport buttons — wrap as a unit, centered on their own line */}
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center" flexShrink={0}>
+				<box
+					border
+					padding={0}
+					onMouseDown={props.onPrev}
+					borderColor={theme.border}
+				>
+					<text fg={theme.primary} wrapMode="none">[Prev]</text>
+				</box>
+				<box
+					border
+					padding={0}
+					onMouseDown={props.onToggle}
+					borderColor={theme.border}
+				>
+					<text fg={theme.primary} wrapMode="none">{props.isPlaying ? "[Pause]" : "[Play]"}</text>
+				</box>
+				<box
+					border
+					padding={0}
+					onMouseDown={props.onNext}
+					borderColor={theme.border}
+				>
+					<text fg={theme.primary} wrapMode="none">[Next]</text>
+				</box>
 			</box>
+			{/* status group — always follows the buttons; wrap point is here */}
 			<box
-				border
-				padding={0}
-				onMouseDown={props.onToggle}
-				borderColor={theme.border}
+				flexDirection="row"
+				gap={1}
+				alignItems="center"
+				marginLeft={2}
+				flexShrink={0}
 			>
-				<text fg={theme.primary}>{props.isPlaying ? "[Pause]" : "[Play]"}</text>
-			</box>
-			<box
-				border
-				padding={0}
-				onMouseDown={props.onNext}
-				borderColor={theme.border}
-			>
-				<text fg={theme.primary}>[Next]</text>
-			</box>
-			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} marginLeft={2}>
 				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Vol</text>
 				<text fg={theme.text}>{Math.round(props.volume * 100)}%</text>
 				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>↑↓</text>
-			</box>
-			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} marginLeft={2}>
-				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Speed</text>
-				<text fg={theme.text}>{props.speed}x</text>
-				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>s</text>
-			</box>
-			{props.backendName && props.backendName !== "none" && (
 				<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} marginLeft={2}>
-					<text fg={theme.textMuted}>via</text>
-					<text fg={theme.primary}>{BACKEND_LABELS[props.backendName]}</text>
+					<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Speed</text>
+					<text fg={theme.text}>{props.speed}x</text>
+					<text fg={theme.textMuted}>S</text>
 				</box>
-			)}
-			{props.backendName === "none" && (
-				<box marginLeft={2}>
-					<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio player found</text>
-				</box>
-			)}
-			{props.hasAudioUrl === false && (
-				<box marginLeft={2}>
-					<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio URL</text>
+			</box>
+			{/* audio warnings — wrap to their own (3rd) line when the row is tight */}
+			{(props.backendName === "none" || props.hasAudioUrl === false) && (
+				<box
+					flexDirection="row"
+					gap={1}
+					alignItems="center"
+					flexShrink={0}
+				>
+					{props.backendName === "none" && (
+						<box marginLeft={2}>
+							<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio player found</text>
+						</box>
+					)}
+					{props.hasAudioUrl === false && (
+						<box marginLeft={2}>
+							<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio URL</text>
+						</box>
+					)}
 				</box>
 			)}
 		</box>

src/pages/Player/PlayerPage.tsx

@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@
  * tab root.
  */
 
-import { Show } from "solid-js";
+import { Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
 import { PlaybackControls } from "./PlaybackControls";
+import { ProgressBar } from "./ProgressBar";
 import { RealtimeWaveform } from "./RealtimeWaveform";
 import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useVisualizer } from "@/stores/visualizer";
 import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useNavigation, DEPTH_CENTER_PANE } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
@@ -26,7 +28,19 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 	const audio = useAudio();
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const viz = useVisualizer();
+	const app = useAppStore();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	// Settings master switch: off hides the waveform entirely (the store
+	// also stops the decode+FFT pipeline, see stores/visualizer.ts).
+	const vizEnabled = () => app.state().settings.visualizer.enabled;
+
+	// The page is mounted exactly while the Player tab is in focus (Shell
+	// renders only the active tab), so mount ⇔ focused. Report it to the
+	// visualizer store: losing focus starts the unload grace timer instead
+	// of killing the pipeline with the page; regaining focus restarts it.
+	onMount(() => viz.setFocused(true));
+	onCleanup(() => viz.setFocused(false));
 
 	const isActive = () => nav.activePane() === DEPTH_CENTER_PANE;
 
@@ -79,18 +93,11 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 							{ep().description?.slice(0, 500) ?? "No description available."}
 						</text>
 
-						<RealtimeWaveform
-							visualizerConfig={(() => {
-								const viz = useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer;
-								// bars is width-derived in RealtimeWaveform; pass only the
-								// audio-processing params here.
-								return {
-									noiseReduction: viz.noiseReduction,
-									lowCutOff: viz.lowCutOff,
-									highCutOff: viz.highCutOff,
-								};
-							})()}
-						/>
+						<ProgressBar />
+
+						<Show when={vizEnabled()}>
+							<RealtimeWaveform />
+						</Show>
 					</box>
 				)}
 			</Show>
@@ -109,9 +116,13 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 			/>
 
 			<box height={1} />
-			<text fg={muted()}>
-				{"P play/pause  N next  B prev  ◀▶ seek  h back"}
-			</text>
+			{/* content prop (not a text child): the babel-preset-solid JSX
+			 *  transform HTML-escapes static string children (`<` → `&lt;`),
+			 *  which opentui renders verbatim; content bypasses that. */}
+			<text
+				fg={muted()}
+				content={"P play/pause  N next  B prev  < > seek  h back"}
+			/>
 		</box>
 	);
 
@@ -122,6 +133,7 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 			currentLabel="Player"
 			panes={2}
 			focused={isActive}
+			currentBorder={["left"]}
 		/>
 	);
 }

src/pages/Player/ProgressBar.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+/**
+ * ProgressBar — one-row, click-to-seek playback progress bar for the
+ * player pane. Played portion renders as full blocks (█) in the theme's
+ * primary color, the remainder as light shade blocks (░) in the muted
+ * color. The header time/percent text lives in PlayerPage — this is only
+ * the bar itself.
+ */
+
+import { useTerminalDimensions } from "@opentui/solid";
+import type { Renderable } from "@opentui/core";
+import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
+
+// ── Component ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export function ProgressBar() {
+	const audio = useAudio();
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const dimensions = useTerminalDimensions();
+
+	// The bar's renderable, captured for its absolute left edge: MouseEvent.x
+	// is terminal-absolute (not bar-relative), so local x needs the offset
+	// of the bar inside the 2-pane row (parent pane ≈ 20% of the width).
+	let bar: Renderable | undefined;
+
+	// Full content width of the player pane: the player is a 2-pane row
+	// (parent 1/5 + current 4/5 of the terminal width). Subtract ~8 chars
+	// of border/padding chrome (same math as RealtimeWaveform's numBars).
+	const width = () => Math.max(8, Math.floor((dimensions().width * 4) / 5) - 8);
+
+	const clamp01 = (value: number) => Math.max(0, Math.min(1, value));
+
+	const playedChars = () => {
+		const duration = audio.duration();
+		if (duration <= 0) return 0;
+		return Math.round(clamp01(audio.position() / duration) * width());
+	};
+
+	const remainingColor = theme.muted || theme.text;
+
+	return (
+		<box
+			border
+			borderColor={theme.border}
+			padding={0}
+			flexDirection="row"
+			gap={0}
+			// The bar's block-char texts are non-selectable below: a drag
+			// over the bar is a seek gesture, not a text selection — otherwise
+			// mouse-up would copy █/░ to the clipboard via the global
+			// selection handler.
+			ref={(el) => {
+				bar = el;
+			}}
+			onMouseDown={(e: { x: number }) => {
+				const duration = audio.duration();
+				if (duration <= 0 || !bar) return;
+				// localX = 0 is the box border; content starts at localX = 1.
+				const localX = e.x - bar.x;
+				const ratio = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, (localX - 1) / width()));
+				void audio.seek(ratio * duration);
+			}}
+		>
+			{playedChars() > 0 && (
+				<text fg={theme.primary} selectable={false}>
+					{"\u2588".repeat(playedChars())}
+				</text>
+			)}
+			<text fg={remainingColor} selectable={false}>
+				{"\u2591".repeat(width() - playedChars())}
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}

src/pages/Player/RealtimeWaveform.tsx

@@ -1,62 +1,30 @@
 /**
- * RealtimeWaveform — live audio frequency visualization using cavacore.
+ * RealtimeWaveform — renders the shared visualizer pipeline state.
  *
- * Spawns an independent ffmpeg
- * process to decode the audio stream, feeds PCM samples through cavacore
- * for FFT analysis, and renders frequency bars as colored terminal
- * characters at ~30fps.
+ * The pipeline (ffmpeg decode + cavacore FFT) lives in the module-level
+ * visualizer store (`@/stores/visualizer`), not in this component, so it
+ * survives PlayerPage unmounts: leaving the Player tab keeps the waveform
+ * warm for VISUALIZER_UNLOAD_DELAY_MS, then the store tears it down.
+ *
+ * This component only subscribes to store state, reports the width-derived
+ * bar count (terminal resize re-inits the running pipeline), and renders:
+ * a braille spinner while the pipeline is loading its first frames, the
+ * frequency bars once frames arrive, and a dotted placeholder when idle.
  */
 
-import { createSignal, createEffect, onCleanup, on, untrack } from "solid-js";
+import { createEffect, on } from "solid-js";
 import { useTerminalDimensions } from "@opentui/solid";
-import {
-	loadCavaCore,
-	type CavaCore,
-	type CavaCoreConfig,
-} from "@/utils/cavacore";
-import { AudioStreamReader } from "@/utils/audio-stream-reader";
-import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useVisualizer } from "@/stores/visualizer";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
+import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
+import { BAR_LEVELS, barChars } from "@/utils/bar-mapping";
 import { PANE_RATIO } from "@/utils/navigation";
 
-// ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-export type RealtimeWaveformProps = {
-	visualizerConfig?: Partial<CavaCoreConfig>;
-};
-
-/** Unicode lower block elements: space (silence) through full block (max) */
-const BARS = [
-	" ",
-	"\u2581",
-	"\u2582",
-	"\u2583",
-	"\u2584",
-	"\u2585",
-	"\u2586",
-	"\u2587",
-	"\u2588",
-];
-
-/** Target frame interval in ms (~30 fps) */
-const FRAME_INTERVAL = 33;
-
-/** Number of PCM samples to read per frame (512 is a good FFT window) */
-const SAMPLES_PER_FRAME = 512;
-
 // ── Component ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-export function RealtimeWaveform(props: RealtimeWaveformProps) {
+export function RealtimeWaveform() {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
-	const audio = useAudio();
-
-	// Frequency bar values (0.0–1.0 per bar)
-	const [barData, setBarData] = createSignal<number[]>([]);
-
-	let cava: CavaCore | null = null;
-	let reader: AudioStreamReader | null = null;
-	let frameTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
-	let sampleBuffer: Float64Array | null = null;
+	const viz = useVisualizer();
 
 	// Bar count scales with terminal width so the waveform fills its pane.
 	// The player is a 2-pane row: current column = (current+preview) of
@@ -75,197 +43,49 @@ export function RealtimeWaveform(props: RealtimeWaveformProps) {
 		);
 	};
 
-	// ── Lifecycle: init cavacore once ──────────────────────────────────
-
-	const initCava = () => {
-		if (cava) return true;
-
-		cava = loadCavaCore();
-		if (!cava) {
-			return false;
-		}
-
-		return true;
-	};
-
-	// ── Start/stop the visualization pipeline ──────────────────────────
-
-	const startVisualization = (url: string, position: number, speed: number) => {
-		stopVisualization();
-
-		if (!url || !initCava() || !cava) return;
-
-		// Initialize cavacore with current resolution + any overrides.
-		// bars is width-derived (see numBars); visualizerConfig supplies the
-		// audio-processing params (noise reduction, cutoffs, etc.).
-		const config: CavaCoreConfig = {
-			bars: numBars(),
-			sampleRate: 44100,
-			channels: 1,
-			...props.visualizerConfig,
-		};
-		cava.init(config);
-
-		// Pre-allocate sample read buffer
-		sampleBuffer = new Float64Array(SAMPLES_PER_FRAME);
-
-		// Start ffmpeg decode stream (reuse reader if same URL, else create new)
-		if (!reader || reader.url !== url) {
-			if (reader) reader.stop();
-			reader = new AudioStreamReader({ url });
-		}
-		reader.start(position, speed);
-
-		frameTimer = setInterval(renderFrame, FRAME_INTERVAL);
-	};
-
-	const stopVisualization = () => {
-		if (frameTimer) {
-			clearInterval(frameTimer);
-			frameTimer = null;
-		}
-		if (reader) {
-			reader.stop();
-			// Don't null reader — we reuse it across start/stop cycles
-		}
-		if (cava?.isReady) {
-			cava.destroy();
-		}
-		sampleBuffer = null;
-	};
-
-	// ── Render loop (called at ~30fps) ─────────────────────────────────
-
-	const renderFrame = () => {
-		if (!cava?.isReady || !reader?.running || !sampleBuffer) return;
-
-		const count = reader.read(sampleBuffer);
-		if (count === 0) return;
-
-		const input =
-			count < sampleBuffer.length
-				? sampleBuffer.subarray(0, count)
-				: sampleBuffer;
-		const output = cava.execute(input);
-
-		// Copy bar values to a new array for the signal
-		setBarData(Array.from(output as Float64Array));
-	};
-
-	createEffect(
-		on(
-			[
-				audio.isPlaying,
-				() => audio.currentEpisode()?.audioUrl ?? "",
-				audio.speed,
-				numBars,
-			],
-			([playing, url, speed]) => {
-				if (playing && url) {
-					const pos = untrack(audio.position);
-					startVisualization(url, pos, speed);
-				} else {
-					stopVisualization();
-				}
-			},
-		),
-	);
-
-	// ── Seek detection: lightweight effect for position jumps ──────────
-	//
-	// Watches position and restarts the reader (not the whole pipeline)
-	// only on significant jumps (>2s), which indicate a user seek.
-	// This is intentionally a separate effect — it should NOT trigger a
-	// full pipeline restart, just restart the ffmpeg stream at the new pos.
-
-	let lastSyncPosition = 0;
-	createEffect(
-		on(audio.position, (pos) => {
-			if (!audio.isPlaying || !reader?.running) {
-				lastSyncPosition = pos;
-				return;
-			}
-
-			const delta = Math.abs(pos - lastSyncPosition);
-			lastSyncPosition = pos;
-
-			if (delta > 2) {
-				reader.restart(pos, audio.speed() ?? 1);
-			}
-		}),
-	);
-
-	onCleanup(() => {
-		stopVisualization();
-		if (reader) {
-			reader.stop();
-			reader = null;
-		}
-		// Don't null cava itself — it can be reused. But do destroy its plan.
-		if (cava?.isReady) {
-			cava.destroy();
-		}
-	});
+	// Keep the store's bar count in sync with the terminal width; the store
+	// re-inits the running pipeline when it changes (terminal resize).
+	createEffect(on(numBars, (n) => viz.setBarCount(n)));
 
 	// ── Rendering ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-	const playedRatio = () =>
-		audio.duration() <= 0
-			? 0
-			: Math.min(1, audio.position() / audio.duration());
-
 	const renderLine = () => {
-		const bars = barData();
+		const bars = viz.barData();
 		const count = numBars();
 
+		// Loading state: the braille spinner shows while the pipeline warms
+		// up — but only when there are no bars to render yet (first play /
+		// after an unload). On resume/seek the last bars stay on screen
+		// until fresh frames arrive, so the waveform never blanks out for
+		// the (multi-second, network-bound) cold start.
+		if (bars.length === 0 && viz.isLoading()) {
+			return <LoadingIndicator />;
+		}
+
 		if (bars.length === 0) {
 			const placeholder = ".".repeat(count);
 			return (
-				<box flexDirection="row" gap={0}>
-					<text fg="#3b4252">{placeholder}</text>
+				<box flexDirection="column" gap={0}>
+					<text fg={theme.primary}>{placeholder}</text>
+					<text fg={theme.primary}>{placeholder}</text>
 				</box>
 			);
 		}
 
-		const played = Math.floor(count * playedRatio());
-		const playedColor = audio.isPlaying() ? "#6fa8ff" : "#7d8590";
-		const futureColor = "#3b4252";
-
-		const playedChars = bars
-			.slice(0, played)
-			.map((v) => BARS[Math.min(BARS.length - 1, Math.floor(v * BARS.length))])
-			.join("");
-
-		const futureChars = bars
-			.slice(played)
-			.map((v) => BARS[Math.min(BARS.length - 1, Math.floor(v * BARS.length))])
-			.join("");
+		const pairs = bars.map((v) => barChars(Math.floor(v * BAR_LEVELS)));
+		const top = pairs.map((pair) => pair.top).join("");
+		const bottom = pairs.map((pair) => pair.bottom).join("");
 
 		return (
-			<box flexDirection="row" gap={0}>
-				<text fg={playedColor}>{playedChars || " "}</text>
-				<text fg={futureColor}>{futureChars || " "}</text>
+			<box flexDirection="column" gap={0}>
+				<text fg={theme.primary}>{top}</text>
+				<text fg={theme.primary}>{bottom}</text>
 			</box>
 		);
 	};
 
-	const handleClick = (event: { x: number }) => {
-		const count = numBars();
-		const ratio = event.x / count;
-		const next = Math.max(
-			0,
-			Math.min(audio.duration(), Math.round(audio.duration() * ratio)),
-		);
-		audio.seek(next);
-	};
-
 	return (
-		<box
-			border
-			borderColor={theme.border}
-			padding={1}
-			onMouseDown={handleClick}
-		>
+		<box border borderColor={theme.border} padding={1}>
 			{renderLine()}
 		</box>
 	);

src/pages/Search/SearchPage.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
  *                       query (muted, read-only); preview shows the detail of
  *                       the focused result.
  *
+ * Search scope: `tab` (search-scope-toggle) flips between shows and episodes
+ * (clickable pills on the query depth too); toggling while viewing results
+ * re-runs the current query in the new scope.
+ *
  * Typed input owns its keys while `nav.inputFocused()` is true (the Shell
  * router yields). Escape defocuses the input (handled in Shell) so j/k/h
  * navigation resumes; `s` (the `search` action) refocuses it. Enter on the
@@ -26,6 +30,11 @@ import {
 } from "solid-js";
 import { useSearchStore } from "@/stores/search";
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
+import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useAudioNavStore, AudioSource } from "@/stores/audio-nav";
+import { DownloadStatus } from "@/types/episode";
+import { useToast } from "@/ui/toast";
 import { format } from "date-fns";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import {
@@ -37,21 +46,28 @@ import {
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
-import type { SearchResult } from "@/types/source";
+import type { SearchResult, SearchScope } from "@/types/source";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
+import { useInputFocusNav } from "@/hooks/useInputFocusNav";
 
 export const SearchPaneCount = 1;
 
 function SearchPage() {
 	const searchStore = useSearchStore();
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+	const audio = useAudio();
+	const audioNav = useAudioNavStore();
+	const toast = useToast();
 	const [inputValue, setInputValue] = createSignal("");
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
 	const stack = nav.depthStack;
 	const depth = nav.currentDepth;
@@ -65,21 +81,32 @@ function SearchPage() {
 	// router yields keys to the <input> while this is true; Escape (in Shell)
 	// sets it false so navigation resumes; `s` (search action) sets it true.
 	//
-	// Typing is the default only on the query depth (0); the results depth
-	// (1) is always list-navigation. Drive `inputFocused` straight off
-	// `depth()` rather than seeding it `true` on mount and patching on change:
-	// the depth stack persists across tab switches, so re-mounting this page
-	// at depth 1 (e.g. after searching, leaving, and returning to the tab)
-	// must NOT leave `inputFocused` stuck on — otherwise the Shell swallows
-	// j/k (yielding to a non-existent input) and only the scrollbox's native
-	// scroll responds.
+	// The input's REAL focus is the source of truth for the flag:
+	// useInputFocusNav (the same hook the Settings forms use) flips
+	// `inputFocused` from the input's FOCUSED/BLURRED events, keeping the flag
+	// and the renderable in lockstep. That matters when the user clicks OFF the
+	// input: opentui's mouse dispatch auto-focuses the clicked target's nearest
+	// focusable ancestor (a pane scrollbox), blurring the input. The BLURRED
+	// event drops the flag, so the Shell router immediately resumes j/k/h
+	// instead of swallowing keys with no input to receive them — no more
+	// stuck "typing" state where Esc/j/k/s all do nothing.
 	//
-	// The effect only re-runs on a depth transition, so Escape (defocus) and
-	// `s` (refocus) at the same depth are not clobbered.
+	// The depth stack still SEEDS the flag on transitions, since the query
+	// depth defaults to typing: re-entering depth 0 (h back from results, or a
+	// fresh mount) focuses the input; mounting at depth 1 (returning to the
+	// tab after a search) stays list-navigation — a stuck-on flag there would
+	// have the Shell yield j/k to a non-existent input. The depth STACK signal
+	// is also written by focus moves (setDepthFocus), so gate the seed on the
+	// depth VALUE via a memo: the effect must re-run only on an actual depth
+	// transition. Without the memo every j/k at the query depth re-focuses the
+	// input (undoing Escape), which keeps the recents list unreachable by
+	// keyboard.
 	onMount(() => nav.setInputFocused(depth() === 0));
 	onCleanup(() => nav.setInputFocused(false));
+	const focusNavRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	const isQueryDepth = createMemo(() => depth() === 0);
 	createEffect(() => {
-		nav.setInputFocused(depth() === 0);
+		nav.setInputFocused(isQueryDepth());
 	});
 
 	// ── results (depth 1) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -105,12 +132,44 @@ function SearchPage() {
 	// Register a visual-mode resolver for the results list (depth 1).
 	onMount(() => {
 		const key = `${nav.activeTab()}:${DEPTH_CENTER_PANE}`;
-		nav.registerResolver(key, (i) => results()[i]?.podcast.id);
+		nav.registerResolver(key, (i) => {
+			const r = results()[i];
+			return r?.kind === "episode" ? r.episode.id : r?.podcast.id;
+		});
 	});
 
 	// ── helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const formatDate = (d: Date) => format(d, "MMM d, yyyy");
 
+	const downloadLabel = (id: string) => {
+		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
+			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
+				return "[Q]";
+			case DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING:
+				return `[${downloadStore.getDownloadProgress(id)}%]`;
+			case DownloadStatus.COMPLETED:
+				return "[DL]";
+			case DownloadStatus.FAILED:
+				return "[ERR]";
+			default:
+				return "";
+		}
+	};
+	const downloadColor = (id: string) => {
+		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
+			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
+				return theme.warning;
+			case DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING:
+				return theme.primary;
+			case DownloadStatus.COMPLETED:
+				return theme.success;
+			case DownloadStatus.FAILED:
+				return theme.error;
+			default:
+				return muted();
+		}
+	};
+
 	const runSearch = (query: string) => {
 		const q = query.trim();
 		if (!q) return;
@@ -130,10 +189,89 @@ function SearchPage() {
 		runSearch(query);
 	};
 
-	const handleSubscribe = (result: SearchResult) => {
-		// Actually add the feed to the feed store, then mark the result subscribed
-		feedStore.addFeed(result.podcast, result.sourceId).catch(() => {});
-		searchStore.markSubscribed(result.podcast.id);
+	/** Set show/episode scope; when viewing results, re-run the current query
+	 *  so the list switches immediately (the toggle is otherwise invisible on
+	 *  a list of results). */
+	const applyScope = (next: SearchScope) => {
+		searchStore.setScope(next);
+		if (depth() >= 1) {
+			const q = submittedQuery() || inputValue().trim();
+			if (q) searchStore.search(q).catch(() => {});
+		}
+	};
+	const toggleScope = () =>
+		applyScope(searchStore.scope() === "podcast" ? "episode" : "podcast");
+
+	const handleSubscribe = async (result: SearchResult) => {
+		// Actually add the feed to the feed store, then mark the result
+		// subscribed. addFeed returns null when a feedless directory stub
+		// (delisted show) can't be resolved — tell the user why.
+		const feed = await feedStore
+			.addFeed(result.podcast, result.sourceId)
+			.catch(() => null);
+		if (!feed && !result.podcast.feedUrl) {
+			toast.show({
+				title: "Can't subscribe",
+				message:
+					"No RSS feed is listed for this show and the feed couldn't be resolved. Try adding it by feed URL.",
+				variant: "error",
+			});
+			return;
+		}
+		if (feed) searchStore.markSubscribed(result.podcast.id);
+	};
+
+	/** The subscribed feed backing a search result, if any (matched by
+	 *  directory id or feed URL). */
+	const feedForResult = (r: SearchResult) =>
+		feedStore.feeds().find(
+			(f) =>
+				f.podcast.id === r.podcast.id ||
+				(!!r.podcast.feedUrl && f.podcast.feedUrl === r.podcast.feedUrl),
+		);
+
+	/** Download the focused episode: under its subscribed feed when the show
+	 *  is subscribed, otherwise as an "unsubscribed show" download (listed
+	 *  under Unsubscribed Show Downloads in My Shows / the download manager). */
+	const downloadFocusedEpisode = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || r.kind !== "episode") return;
+		const feed = feedForResult(r);
+		if (feed) downloadStore.startDownload(r.episode, feed.id);
+		else downloadStore.startUnsubscribedDownload(r.episode, r.podcast);
+	};
+
+	const playFocusedEpisode = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || r.kind !== "episode") return;
+		audio.play(r.episode).catch(() => {});
+		audioNav.setSource(AudioSource.SEARCH, r.podcast.id);
+	};
+
+	const unsubscribeFocused = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || !r.podcast.isSubscribed) return;
+		const feed = feedForResult(r);
+		if (feed) {
+			feedStore.removeFeed(feed.id);
+			downloadStore
+				.removeDownloadsForFeed(feed.id, feed.podcast.feedUrl || undefined)
+				.catch(() => {});
+			searchStore.markUnsubscribed(r.podcast.id, r.podcast.feedUrl);
+		}
+	};
+
+	/** Subscribe the focused result's show in place (episode or podcast
+	 *  result). `enter` plays episodes regardless of subscription, so an
+	 *  unsubscribed show's episode needs this explicit path. */
+	const subscribeFocused = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || r.podcast.isSubscribed) return;
+		handleSubscribe(r);
 	};
 
 	// ── nav.action handler ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -150,13 +288,29 @@ function SearchPage() {
 		"toggle-select": () => {
 			if (depth() === 1) {
 				const r = focusedResult();
-				if (r) nav.toggleSelected(r.podcast.id);
+				if (r)
+					nav.toggleSelected(
+						r.kind === "episode" ? r.episode.id : r.podcast.id,
+					);
 			}
 		},
+		download: () => downloadFocusedEpisode(),
+		"delete-download": () => {
+			if (depth() !== 1) return;
+			const r = focusedResult();
+			if (!r || r.kind !== "episode") return;
+			const id = r.episode.id;
+			if (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id) === DownloadStatus.NONE) return;
+			downloadStore.cancelDownload(id);
+			downloadStore.removeDownload(id).catch(() => {});
+		},
+		unsubscribe: () => unsubscribeFocused(),
+		subscribe: () => subscribeFocused(),
 		search: () => {
 			// `s` refocuses the query input (typing mode) when on the query depth.
 			if (depth() === 0) nav.setInputFocused(true);
 		},
+		"search-scope-toggle": () => toggleScope(),
 		refresh: () => {
 			const q = submittedQuery() || inputValue().trim();
 			if (q) searchStore.search(q).catch(() => {});
@@ -177,7 +331,15 @@ function SearchPage() {
 		}
 		if (depth() === 1) {
 			const r = focusedResult();
-			if (r) handleSubscribe(r);
+			if (!r) return;
+			if (r.kind === "episode") {
+				// Any episode result streams directly — subscribed or not
+				// (matches Feed/My Shows). `a` subscribes an unsubscribed
+				// show's episode in place.
+				playFocusedEpisode();
+				return;
+			}
+			handleSubscribe(r);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -213,15 +375,28 @@ function SearchPage() {
 				: theme.text;
 
 	// ── parent pane: previous-depth content (tab list at depth 0) ──────────────
+	// Sibling <Show> blocks per depth (the known-good opentui disposal
+	// pattern, mirrors Settings): a STABLE fragment root whose inner <Show>
+	// children toggle on depth change, so the old subtree is disposed instead
+	// of left orphaned next to the new one (single <Show with fallback> and
+	// ternary root swaps both leak the previous root).
 	const parentContent = () => (
-		<Show when={depth() >= 1} fallback={<TabListPane muted />}>
-			<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
-				<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Query</text>
-				<text fg={muted()}>{submittedQuery() || "(empty)"}</text>
-				<box height={1} />
-				<text fg={muted()}>h: back to query</text>
-			</box>
-		</Show>
+		<>
+			<Show when={depth() === 0}>
+				<TabListPane muted />
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={depth() >= 1}>
+				<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+					<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Query</text>
+					<text fg={muted()}>{submittedQuery() || "(empty)"}</text>
+					<box height={1} />
+					<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+						Scope · {searchStore.scope() === "episode" ? "episodes" : "shows"}
+					</text>
+					<text fg={muted()}>h: back to query</text>
+				</box>
+			</Show>
+		</>
 	);
 
 	// ── current pane ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -233,14 +408,78 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
 						<text fg={muted()}>Query:</text>
 						<input
+							ref={focusNavRef}
 							value={inputValue()}
 							onInput={setInputValue}
 							onSubmit={() => handleSubmit()}
-							placeholder="Enter podcast name..."
+							onMouseDown={(evt) => {
+								// Clicking the input must focus it (typing mode).
+								// preventDefault stops opentui's click auto-focus from
+								// grabbing the pane scrollbox instead; setting the flag
+								// drives the `focused` prop → renderable focus → the
+								// useInputFocusNav FOCUSED handler.
+								evt.preventDefault();
+								nav.setInputFocused(true);
+							}}
+							onKeyDown={(evt) => {
+								// While the input owns keys the Shell router never sees
+								// Tab, so the scope toggle must be handled here (the
+								// pills and the tab keybind cover the defocused cases).
+								if (evt.name === "tab") {
+									evt.preventDefault();
+									toggleScope();
+								}
+							}}
+							placeholder={
+								searchStore.scope() === "episode"
+									? "Enter episode, guest, topic..."
+									: "Enter podcast name..."
+							}
 							focused={inputActive()}
 							width={28}
+							textColor={theme.text}
+							focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+							cursorColor={theme.accent}
 						/>
 					</box>
+					<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
+						<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Scope:</text>
+						<box
+							backgroundColor={
+								searchStore.scope() === "podcast" ? theme.primary : undefined
+							}
+							onMouseDown={() => applyScope("podcast")}
+						>
+							<text
+								fg={
+									searchStore.scope() === "podcast"
+										? theme.surface
+										: muted()
+								}
+							>
+								{" "}
+								Shows{" "}
+							</text>
+						</box>
+						<box
+							backgroundColor={
+								searchStore.scope() === "episode" ? theme.primary : undefined
+							}
+							onMouseDown={() => applyScope("episode")}
+						>
+							<text
+								fg={
+									searchStore.scope() === "episode"
+										? theme.surface
+										: muted()
+								}
+							>
+								{" "}
+								Episodes{" "}
+							</text>
+						</box>
+						<text fg={muted()}>tab to toggle</text>
+					</box>
 					<Show when={searchStore.isSearching()}>
 						<LoadingIndicator label="Searching…" />
 					</Show>
@@ -263,23 +502,47 @@ function SearchPage() {
 							{(query, index) => {
 								const lf = () => focus(0);
 								const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
+								// While the input is focused (typing), the list is not
+								// in focus: no bg, no accent fg, no `❯` on any entry.
+								const typing = () => inputActive();
 								return (
 									<box
 										ref={ref}
 										flexDirection="row"
 										gap={1}
-										paddingLeft={1}
 										paddingRight={1}
-										backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
+										backgroundColor={
+											typing()
+												? undefined
+												: focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())
+										}
 										onMouseDown={() => {
 											nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
 											nav.setDepthFocus(index(), 0);
+											// A recent is an action, not an item: clicking
+											// it re-runs that search (focus-only would be
+											// invisible — the input still owns the keys).
+											selectRecent(query);
 										}}
 									>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+										<text
+											fg={
+												typing()
+													? theme.text
+													: focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())
+											}
+										>
+											{index() === lf() && !typing() ? marker() : " "}
+										</text>
+										<text
+											fg={
+												typing()
+													? theme.text
+													: focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())
+											}
+										>
+											{query}
 										</text>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>{query}</text>
 									</box>
 								);
 							}}
@@ -289,7 +552,7 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					<text fg={muted()}>
 						{inputActive()
 							? "Enter to search · Esc to defocus"
-							: "j/k recents · s to type · h back"}
+							: "j/k recents · s to type · tab scope · h back"}
 					</text>
 				</box>
 			</Show>
@@ -305,7 +568,9 @@ function SearchPage() {
 									<text fg={muted()}>
 										{searchStore.query()
 											? "No results found"
-											: "Enter a search term to find podcasts"}
+											: searchStore.scope() === "episode"
+												? "Enter a search term to find episodes"
+												: "Enter a search term to find podcasts"}
 									</text>
 								}
 							>
@@ -318,12 +583,18 @@ function SearchPage() {
 						{(result, index) => {
 							const fi = () => focusedResultIdx();
 							const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === fi());
+							// Episode download status badge ("" when absent).
+							const dlLabel = () =>
+								result.kind === "episode"
+									? downloadLabel(result.episode.id)
+									: "";
+							const dlEpId = () =>
+								result.kind === "episode" ? result.episode.id : "";
 							return (
 								<box
 									ref={ref}
 									flexDirection="column"
 									gap={0}
-									paddingLeft={1}
 									paddingRight={1}
 									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), fi(), isActive())}
 									onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -333,11 +604,18 @@ function SearchPage() {
 								>
 									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === fi() ? "❯" : " "}
+											{index() === fi() ? marker() : " "}
 										</text>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
-											{result.podcast.title}
+											{result.kind === "episode"
+												? result.episode.title
+												: result.podcast.title}
 										</text>
+										<Show when={dlLabel()}>
+											<text fg={downloadColor(dlEpId())}>
+												{dlLabel()}
+											</text>
+										</Show>
 										<Show when={result.podcast.isSubscribed}>
 											<text
 												fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : theme.success}
@@ -346,14 +624,24 @@ function SearchPage() {
 											</text>
 										</Show>
 									</box>
-									<Show when={result.podcast.author}>
+									{result.kind === "episode" ? (
 										<text
 											fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}
 											paddingLeft={2}
 										>
-											by {result.podcast.author}
+											{result.podcast.title} ·{" "}
+											{formatDate(result.episode.pubDate)}
 										</text>
-									</Show>
+									) : (
+										<Show when={result.podcast.author}>
+											<text
+												fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}
+												paddingLeft={2}
+											>
+												by {result.podcast.author}
+											</text>
+										</Show>
+									)}
 								</box>
 							);
 						}}
@@ -371,6 +659,10 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					<strong>Search</strong>
 				</text>
 				<text fg={muted()}>Type a query, press Enter to search.</text>
+				<text fg={muted()}>
+					Tab toggles Shows ↔ Episodes (episode search finds guests
+					and topics).
+				</text>
 				<text fg={muted()}>Esc defocuses the input; h goes back.</text>
 				<box height={1} />
 				<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Recent · {recents().length}</text>
@@ -387,52 +679,131 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					</box>
 				}
 			>
-				{(result) => (
-					<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
-						<text fg={theme.text}>
-							<strong>{result().podcast.title}</strong>
-						</text>
-						<Show when={result().podcast.author}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>by {result().podcast.author}</text>
-						</Show>
-						<Show when={result().podcast.description}>
-							<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
-								{result().podcast.description!.slice(0, 400)}
-								{(result().podcast.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
-							</text>
-						</Show>
-						<Show when={(result().podcast.categories ?? []).length > 0}>
-							<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
-								<For each={(result().podcast.categories ?? []).slice(0, 4)}>
-									{(cat) => <text fg={theme.warning}>[{cat}]</text>}
-								</For>
+				{(result) => {
+					const r = result();
+					if (r.kind === "episode") {
+						return (
+							<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+								<text fg={theme.text}>
+									<strong>{r.episode.title}</strong>
+								</text>
+								<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>{r.podcast.title}</text>
+								<Show when={r.podcast.author}>
+									<text fg={muted()}>by {r.podcast.author}</text>
+								</Show>
+								<Show when={r.episode.description}>
+									<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+										{r.episode.description!.slice(0, 400)}
+										{(r.episode.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
+									</text>
+								</Show>
+								<box flexDirection="row" gap={2}>
+									<text fg={muted()}>
+										Published: {formatDate(r.episode.pubDate)}
+									</text>
+									<Show when={downloadLabel(r.episode.id)}>
+										<text fg={downloadColor(r.episode.id)}>
+											{downloadLabel(r.episode.id)}
+										</text>
+									</Show>
+								</box>
+								<Show when={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).length > 0}>
+									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+										<For each={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).slice(0, 4)}>
+											{(cat) => <text fg={theme.warning}>[{cat}]</text>}
+										</For>
+									</box>
+								</Show>
+								<Show when={r.sourceName}>
+									<text fg={muted()}>Source: {r.sourceName}</text>
+								</Show>
+								<box height={1} />
+								<Show when={!r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+									<text fg={theme.primary}>[+] Subscribe (a)</text>
+								</Show>
+								<Show when={r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+									<text fg={theme.success}>
+										Subscribed · x: unsubscribe
+									</text>
+								</Show>
+								<box height={1} />
+								<Show
+									when={r.podcast.isSubscribed}
+									fallback={
+										<text fg={muted()}>
+											enter: play · a: subscribe · d: download · h: back to query
+										</text>
+									}
+								>
+									<text fg={muted()}>
+										enter: play · d: download · x: unsubscribe
+										{downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(r.episode.id) !==
+										DownloadStatus.NONE
+											? " · D: delete"
+											: ""}{" "}
+										· h: back to query
+									</text>
+								</Show>
 							</box>
-						</Show>
-						<text fg={muted()}>Feed: {result().podcast.feedUrl}</text>
-						<text fg={muted()}>
-							Updated: {formatDate(result().podcast.lastUpdated)}
-						</text>
-						<Show when={result().sourceName}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>Source: {result().sourceName}</text>
-						</Show>
-						<box height={1} />
-						<Show when={!result().podcast.isSubscribed}>
-							<text fg={theme.primary}>[+] Subscribe (enter)</text>
-						</Show>
-						<Show when={result().podcast.isSubscribed}>
-							<text fg={theme.success}>Already subscribed</text>
-						</Show>
-						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={muted()}>enter: subscribe · h: back to query</text>
-					</box>
-				)}
+						);
+					}
+					return (
+						<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+							<text fg={theme.text}>
+								<strong>{r.podcast.title}</strong>
+							</text>
+							<Show when={r.podcast.author}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>by {r.podcast.author}</text>
+							</Show>
+							<Show when={r.podcast.description}>
+								<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+									{r.podcast.description!.slice(0, 400)}
+									{(r.podcast.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
+								</text>
+							</Show>
+							<Show when={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).length > 0}>
+								<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+									<For each={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).slice(0, 4)}>
+										{(cat) => <text fg={theme.warning}>[{cat}]</text>}
+									</For>
+								</box>
+							</Show>
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								Feed:{" "}
+								{r.podcast.feedUrl ||
+									"not listed by source — resolves on subscribe"}
+							</text>
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								Updated: {formatDate(r.podcast.lastUpdated)}
+							</text>
+							<Show when={r.sourceName}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>Source: {r.sourceName}</text>
+							</Show>
+							<box height={1} />
+							<Show when={!r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+								<text fg={theme.primary}>[+] Subscribe (enter)</text>
+							</Show>
+							<Show when={r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+								<text fg={theme.success}>
+									Subscribed · x: unsubscribe
+								</text>
+							</Show>
+							<box height={1} />
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								enter: subscribe
+								{r.podcast.isSubscribed ? " · x: unsubscribe" : ""}{" "}
+								· h: back to query
+							</text>
+						</box>
+					);
+				}}
 			</Show>
 		);
 
 	const currentLabel = () =>
 		depth() === 0
 			? `Search · ${recents().length} recent`
-			: `Results · ${results().length}`;
+			: `Results (${searchStore.scope() === "episode" ? "episodes" : "shows"}) · ${results().length}`;
 
 	return (
 		<PaneRow

src/pages/Settings/DownloadManager.tsx

@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
 /**
  * DownloadManager — exposes downloads as SettingItems for the depth-stack.
  *
- *   • "Delete All Downloads"   — action item; Enter wipes every download.
- *   • one item per show        — action item; Enter deletes all that show's
- *                               downloads (file + metadata, aborts in-flight).
- *   • one item per episode     — action item; Enter deletes a single download.
+ *   • "Delete All Downloads"      — action item; Enter wipes every download.
+ *   • one item per subscribed show — action item; Enter deletes all that
+ *                                   show's downloads (file + metadata, aborts
+ *                                   in-flight).
+ *   • "Unsubscribed Show Downloads" — downloads made from episode search for
+ *                                   shows that aren't subscribed, grouped
+ *                                   under their own header.
+ *   • one item per episode        — action item; Enter deletes a single download.
  *
  * Titles resolve from the feed store at render time (reactive), falling back
- * to the episode id when the feed is no longer loaded. Movement flows through
- * nav.action — no own useKeyboard (matches the other panels).
+ * to the persisted episode/show titles for unsubscribed-show downloads.
+ * Movement flows through nav.action — no own useKeyboard (matches the other
+ * panels).
  */
 
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
@@ -40,23 +45,26 @@ function statusLabel(s: DownloadStatus): string {
 	}
 }
 
-/** Episode title for a download, resolved from the feed store (reactive). */
+/** Episode title for a download, resolved from the feed store (reactive);
+ *  falls back to the persisted title (kept for unsubscribed-show downloads). */
 function episodeTitle(
 	feedStore: ReturnType<typeof useFeedStore>,
 	d: DownloadedEpisode,
 ): string {
 	const feed = feedStore.getFeed(d.feedId);
 	const ep = feed?.episodes.find((e) => e.id === d.episodeId);
-	return ep?.title ?? d.episodeId;
+	return ep?.title ?? d.episodeTitle ?? d.episodeId;
 }
 
-/** Show title for a download's feed id. */
+/** Show title for a download's feed id; falls back to the persisted show
+ *  title (unsubscribed-show downloads have no feed to resolve from). */
 function feedTitle(
 	feedStore: ReturnType<typeof useFeedStore>,
-	feedId: string,
+	d: DownloadedEpisode,
 ): string {
-	const feed = feedStore.getFeed(feedId);
-	return feed ? feed.customName || feed.podcast.title : feedId;
+	const feed = feedStore.getFeed(d.feedId);
+	if (feed) return feed.customName || feed.podcast.title;
+	return d.podcastTitle ?? d.feedId;
 }
 
 export function useDownloadItems(): SettingItem[] {
@@ -82,9 +90,15 @@ export function useDownloadItems(): SettingItem[] {
 		},
 	];
 
-	// Group downloads by feed so each show gets a delete-by-show item.
+	// Group downloads by feed so each subscribed show gets a delete-by-show
+	// item. Unsubscribed-show downloads (search downloads, synthetic feed
+	// ids) are kept out of these groups and listed under their own section
+	// below.
+	const unsubscribed = downloadStore.getUnsubscribedDownloads();
+	const unsubscribedIds = new Set(unsubscribed.map((d) => d.episodeId));
 	const byFeed = new Map<string, DownloadedEpisode[]>();
 	for (const d of downloads()) {
+		if (unsubscribedIds.has(d.episodeId)) continue;
 		const arr = byFeed.get(d.feedId) ?? [];
 		arr.push(d);
 		byFeed.set(d.feedId, arr);
@@ -93,25 +107,54 @@ export function useDownloadItems(): SettingItem[] {
 		const size = eps.reduce((s, e) => s + e.fileSize, 0);
 		items.push({
 			id: `feed:${feedId}`,
-			label: `Show: ${feedTitle(feedStore, feedId)}`,
+			label: `Show: ${feedTitle(feedStore, eps[0])}`,
 			kind: "action",
 			display: () => `${eps.length} · ${fmtBytes(size)}`,
 			help: () =>
 				`Delete all ${eps.length} downloads for this show (files + metadata,\naborts any in-flight transfers). Enter to run.`,
 			run: () => {
-				downloadStore.removeDownloadsForFeed(feedId).catch(() => {});
+				downloadStore
+					.removeDownloadsForFeed(feedId, eps[0].podcastFeedUrl)
+					.catch(() => {});
 			},
 		});
 	}
 
-	// One item per individual episode download.
+	// Unsubscribed-show downloads: a section header + one item per episode.
+	if (unsubscribed.length > 0) {
+		items.push({
+			id: "unsubscribed-header",
+			label: "Unsubscribed Show Downloads",
+			kind: "info",
+			display: () => `${unsubscribed.length} files`,
+			help: () =>
+				`Downloads made from episode search for shows that are not\nsubscribed. Subscribe to a show and these move into its group.`,
+		});
+	}
+	for (const d of unsubscribed) {
+		items.push({
+			id: `unsub:${d.episodeId}`,
+			label: episodeTitle(feedStore, d),
+			kind: "action",
+			display: () =>
+				`${feedTitle(feedStore, d)} · ${statusLabel(d.status)} · ${fmtBytes(d.fileSize)}`,
+			help: () =>
+				`Delete this single download (file + metadata). Enter to run.`,
+			run: () => {
+				downloadStore.removeDownload(d.episodeId).catch(() => {});
+			},
+		});
+	}
+
+	// One item per individual (subscribed-show) episode download.
 	for (const d of downloads()) {
+		if (unsubscribedIds.has(d.episodeId)) continue;
 		items.push({
 			id: `ep:${d.episodeId}`,
 			label: episodeTitle(feedStore, d),
 			kind: "action",
 			display: () =>
-				`${feedTitle(feedStore, d.feedId)} · ${statusLabel(d.status)} · ${fmtBytes(d.fileSize)}`,
+				`${feedTitle(feedStore, d)} · ${statusLabel(d.status)} · ${fmtBytes(d.fileSize)}`,
 			help: () =>
 				`Delete this single download (file + metadata). Enter to run.`,
 			run: () => {

src/pages/Settings/ExportDialog.tsx

@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ export function ExportDialog() {
 					value={filename[0]()}
 					onInput={filename[1]}
 					style={{ width: 30 }}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
 				/>
 			</box>
 			<box style={{ flexDirection: "row", gap: 1 }}>

src/pages/Settings/FilePicker.tsx

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ export function FilePicker(props: FilePickerProps) {
 				onInput={props.onChange}
 				placeholder="/path/to/sync-file.json"
 				style={{ width: 40 }}
+				textColor={theme.text}
+				focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+				cursorColor={theme.accent}
 			/>
 			<text fg={theme.text}>Format: {format}</text>
 		</box>

src/pages/Settings/PreferencesPanel.tsx

@@ -2,10 +2,36 @@
  * PreferencesPanel — exposes theme/font/speed/explicit/auto-download as
  * SettingItems for the yazi depth-stack. No own useKeyboard; all movement is
  * driven by the Shell router via nav.action.
+ *
+ * Auto-download (global setting, see stores/feed.ts runAutoDownload):
+ *   • Auto Download        — master toggle (default: off)
+ *   • Auto Download Count  — X most recent episodes per show (default: 2,
+ *                            any positive integer — type it in the editor)
+ *   • Auto Download Scope  — which shows: all / none / whitelist (default: all)
+ *   • Auto Download Whitelist — shown only when scope is "whitelist": search
+ *                            field over subscribed shows; suggestions toggle
+ *                            in/out with Space (j/k to move, Esc to browse).
  */
 
+import { createSignal, Show, For, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { RenderableEvents, type InputRenderable } from "@opentui/core";
 import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
-import type { ThemeName } from "@/types/settings";
+import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
+import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
+import { useInputFocusNav } from "@/hooks/useInputFocusNav";
+import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
+import {
+	NavMode,
+	useNavigation,
+	DEPTH_CENTER_PANE,
+	type PaneId,
+} from "@/context/NavigationContext";
+import { on } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
+import { TABS } from "@/utils/navigation";
+import type { AutoDownloadScope, ThemeName } from "@/types/settings";
+import type { Feed } from "@/types/feed";
 import type { SettingItem } from "./types";
 
 const THEME_LABELS: Array<{ value: ThemeName; label: string }> = [
@@ -17,13 +43,24 @@ const THEME_LABELS: Array<{ value: ThemeName; label: string }> = [
 	{ value: "custom", label: "Custom" },
 ];
 
+const SCOPE_LABELS: Array<{ value: AutoDownloadScope; label: string }> = [
+	{ value: "all", label: "All" },
+	{ value: "none", label: "None" },
+	{ value: "whitelist", label: "Whitelist" },
+];
+
+function scopeLabel(scope: AutoDownloadScope): string {
+	return SCOPE_LABELS.find((s) => s.value === scope)?.label ?? scope;
+}
+
 export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 	const app = useAppStore();
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
 
 	const settings = () => app.state().settings;
 	const prefs = () => app.state().preferences;
 
-	return [
+	const items: SettingItem[] = [
 		{
 			id: "theme",
 			label: "Theme",
@@ -52,6 +89,18 @@ export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 					transparentBackground: !settings().transparentBackground,
 				}),
 		},
+		{
+			id: "showSelectionMarker",
+			label: "Selection Marker",
+			kind: "toggle",
+			display: () => (settings().showSelectionMarker ? "On" : "Off"),
+			help: () =>
+				`Show the ❯ marker on the focused row of every list (tabs, shows, episodes, results).\nType: toggle\nDefault: off\nCurrent: ${settings().showSelectionMarker ? "On" : "Off"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () =>
+				app.updateSettings({
+					showSelectionMarker: !settings().showSelectionMarker,
+				}),
+		},
 		{
 			id: "fontSize",
 			label: "Font Size",
@@ -97,11 +146,52 @@ export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 			kind: "toggle",
 			display: () => (prefs().autoDownload ? "On" : "Off"),
 			help: () =>
-				`Download new episodes automatically.\nType: toggle\nDefault: false\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownload}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
-			toggle: () =>
-				app.updatePreferences({
-					autoDownload: !prefs().autoDownload,
-				}),
+				`Download the ${prefs().autoDownloadCount} most recent episodes of your shows automatically (see Count/Scope below).\nType: toggle\nDefault: false\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownload ? "On" : "Off"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () => {
+				app.updatePreferences({ autoDownload: !prefs().autoDownload });
+				feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			id: "autoDownloadCount",
+			label: "Auto Download Count",
+			kind: "number",
+			display: () => `${prefs().autoDownloadCount} per show`,
+			help: () =>
+				`How many of the most recent episodes to auto-download per in-scope show.\nType: number (any positive integer)\nDefault: 2\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownloadCount}\nj/k to −/+1 · Enter to type a value.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const next = Math.max(1, prefs().autoDownloadCount + dir);
+				app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadCount: next });
+				feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+			},
+			renderEditor: () => (
+				<NumberInputEditor
+					label="Auto Download Count"
+					value={() => prefs().autoDownloadCount}
+					commit={(n) => {
+						app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadCount: n });
+						feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+					}}
+				/>
+			),
+		},
+		{
+			id: "autoDownloadScope",
+			label: "Auto Download Scope",
+			kind: "select",
+			display: () => scopeLabel(prefs().autoDownloadScope),
+			help: () =>
+				`Which shows auto-download applies to.\nAll: every subscribed show.\nNone: nothing.\nWhitelist: only the shows you add (in My Shows press ${"w"} on the focused show; or open the Whitelist item below).\nType: select\nDefault: all\nCurrent: ${scopeLabel(prefs().autoDownloadScope)}\nCycle with j/k; Enter to apply.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const idx = SCOPE_LABELS.findIndex(
+					(s) => s.value === prefs().autoDownloadScope,
+				);
+				const next =
+					SCOPE_LABELS[(idx + dir + SCOPE_LABELS.length) % SCOPE_LABELS.length]
+						.value;
+				app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadScope: next });
+				feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			id: "autoJumpToPlayer",
@@ -121,13 +211,292 @@ export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 			kind: "select",
 			display: () => (prefs().fetchMoreMode === "auto" ? "Auto" : "Manual"),
 			help: () =>
-				`How the Feed list loads older episodes.\nManual: a "[Fetch More]" button at the bottom of the list.\nAuto: fetches automatically when reaching the bottom.\nType: select\nDefault: manual\nCurrent: ${prefs().fetchMoreMode === "auto" ? "Auto" : "Manual"}\nCycle with j/k; Enter to apply.`,
+				`How the Feed and per-show episode lists load older episodes.\nManual: a "[Fetch More]" button at the bottom of the list.\nAuto: fetches automatically when reaching the bottom.\nType: select\nDefault: auto\nCurrent: ${prefs().fetchMoreMode === "auto" ? "Auto" : "Manual"}\nCycle with j/k; Enter to apply.`,
 			cycle: (dir) => {
 				const modes: Array<"manual" | "auto"> = ["manual", "auto"];
-				const idx = modes.indexOf(prefs().fetchMoreMode ?? "manual");
+				const idx = modes.indexOf(prefs().fetchMoreMode ?? "auto");
 				const next = modes[(idx + dir + modes.length) % modes.length];
 				app.updatePreferences({ fetchMoreMode: next });
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			id: "refreshInterval",
+			label: "Feed Refresh Interval",
+			kind: "number",
+			display: () => `${prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes} min`,
+			help: () =>
+				`How often subscribed feeds are re-fetched in the background, so new episodes appear without a restart or manual refresh (r).\nType: number (1–120 minutes)\nDefault: 30\nCurrent: ${prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes} min\nj/k to −/+5 · Enter to type a value.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const next = Math.min(
+					120,
+					Math.max(1, prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes + dir * 5),
+				);
+				app.updatePreferences({ refreshIntervalMinutes: next });
+			},
+			renderEditor: () => (
+				<NumberInputEditor
+					label="Feed Refresh Interval (minutes)"
+					value={() => prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes}
+					commit={(n) => {
+						app.updatePreferences({
+							refreshIntervalMinutes: Math.min(120, n),
+						});
+					}}
+				/>
+			),
+		},
 	];
+
+	// Whitelist management only appears while scope is set to "whitelist".
+	if (prefs().autoDownloadScope === "whitelist") {
+		items.push({
+			id: "autoDownloadWhitelist",
+			label: "Auto Download Whitelist",
+			kind: "editor",
+			display: () => `${prefs().autoDownloadWhitelist.length} shows`,
+			help: () =>
+				`Shows included in auto-download (scope: whitelist).\nSearch your subscribed shows; suggestions toggle in/out with Space.\nType: editor\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownloadWhitelist.length} shows`,
+			renderEditor: () => <WhitelistEditor />,
+		});
+	}
+
+	return items;
+}
+
+// ── Number editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Lets the user type any positive integer (Enter commits; Esc defocuses and
+// j/k ±1 cycling takes over — SettingsPage's depth-2 step handler).
+
+function NumberInputEditor(props: {
+	label: string;
+	value: () => number;
+	commit: (n: number) => void;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const ref = useInputFocusNav();
+	const [draft, setDraft] = createSignal(String(props.value()));
+	const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
+
+	const submit = () => {
+		const n = Number(draft().trim());
+		if (!Number.isInteger(n) || n < 1) {
+			setError("Enter a whole number ≥ 1");
+			return;
+		}
+		props.commit(n);
+		setError(null);
+	};
+
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" padding={1} gap={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.text}>
+				<strong>{props.label}</strong>
+			</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
+				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Episodes per show:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={ref}
+					value={draft()}
+					onInput={(v) => {
+						setDraft(v);
+						setError(null);
+					}}
+					onSubmit={submit}
+					focused
+					width={8}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<Show when={error()}>
+				<text fg={theme.error}>{error()}</text>
+			</Show>
+			<text fg={theme.muted ?? theme.textMuted}>
+				Type a number, Enter to apply · Esc to browse (j/k ±1) · h back
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+// ── Whitelist editor ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Search field over subscribed shows + a navigable suggestion list. Space
+// (toggle-select) toggles the focused show in/out of the whitelist; Enter
+// does the same. While the input is focused, keys type; Esc (handled in the
+// Shell) defocuses so j/k move the list.
+//
+// Transient UI state lives at module level so preference updates (which
+// rebuild the item list) never reset the search or yank focus back into the
+// input mid-browse.
+//
+// The nav.action listener is registered ONCE at module level, not per
+// component instance: toggling a show updates preferences, which remounts
+// the editor (SettingsPage re-resolves the item's renderEditor), and
+// re-registering the listener via onMount/onCleanup during a bus emit
+// mutates the handler set mid-iteration — the event bus then re-delivers to
+// the fresh listener forever. A single stable listener guarded by an active
+// flag sidesteps that entirely.
+
+const [wlQuery, setWlQuery] = createSignal("");
+const [wlCursor, setWlCursor] = createSignal(0);
+const [wlTyping, setWlTyping] = createSignal(true);
+let wlEditorActive = false;
+// Indirection for refocusing the search input from the module-level nav.action
+// listener (which cannot call useNavigation — that needs the provider).
+let wlFocusInput: (() => void) | null = null;
+
+function wlSuggestions(): Feed[] {
+	const q = wlQuery().trim().toLowerCase();
+	const all = useFeedStore().getFilteredFeeds();
+	if (!q) return all;
+	return all.filter((f) =>
+		(f.customName || f.podcast.title).toLowerCase().includes(q),
+	);
+}
+
+/** Keep the cursor inside the (possibly shrinking) suggestion list. */
+function wlCursorClamped(): number {
+	return Math.min(wlCursor(), Math.max(wlSuggestions().length - 1, 0));
+}
+
+function wlToggle(feedId: string): void {
+	const app = useAppStore();
+	const cur = app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? [];
+	const next = cur.includes(feedId)
+		? cur.filter((id) => id !== feedId)
+		: [...cur, feedId];
+	app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadWhitelist: next });
+	useFeedStore().runAutoDownload();
+}
+
+const wlOnAction = (data: {
+	action: KeybindActionName;
+	tab: TABS;
+	pane: PaneId;
+	mode: NavMode;
+}) => {
+	// Fire at most once per dispatch: the editor is only ever open inside the
+	// Settings tab's depth-2 pane, so scope on tab + pane and gate on the
+	// mount flag (which flips during remounts without re-registering).
+	if (!wlEditorActive) return;
+	if (data.tab !== TABS.SETTINGS) return;
+	if (data.pane !== DEPTH_CENTER_PANE) return;
+	const list = wlSuggestions();
+	if (list.length === 0) return;
+	switch (data.action) {
+		case "move-down":
+			setWlCursor((c) => Math.min(c + 1, list.length - 1));
+			break;
+		case "move-up":
+			setWlCursor((c) => Math.max(c - 1, 0));
+			break;
+		case "toggle-select":
+		case "open":
+			wlToggle(list[wlCursorClamped()].id);
+			break;
+		case "search":
+			// `s` while browsing re-enters typing mode (mirrors SearchPage).
+			wlFocusInput?.();
+			break;
+	}
+};
+on("nav.action", wlOnAction);
+
+function WhitelistEditor() {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const app = useAppStore();
+
+	const whitelist = () => app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? [];
+	const inList = (feedId: string) => whitelist().includes(feedId);
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		wlEditorActive = true;
+		// Restore the last typing/browsing mode across the remounts that
+		// preference updates trigger. nav.inputFocused() drives the input's
+		// focused prop (deterministic Esc-to-blur, same as SearchPage), so
+		// keep the store in sync with the persisted module mode.
+		nav.setInputFocused(wlTyping());
+		wlFocusInput = () => nav.setInputFocused(true);
+		onCleanup(() => {
+			wlEditorActive = false;
+			nav.setInputFocused(false);
+			wlFocusInput = null;
+		});
+	});
+
+	const focusNavRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	const inputRef = (el: InputRenderable | null | undefined) => {
+		focusNavRef(el);
+		if (el) {
+			// Sync the persisted mode with real focus changes so remounts
+			// (e.g. after a toggle) restore the right state.
+			el.on(RenderableEvents.FOCUSED, () => setWlTyping(true));
+			el.on(RenderableEvents.BLURRED, () => setWlTyping(false));
+		}
+	};
+
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" padding={1} gap={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.text}>
+				<strong>Auto Download Whitelist</strong>
+			</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
+				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Search:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={inputRef}
+					value={wlQuery()}
+					onInput={setWlQuery}
+					focused={nav.inputFocused()}
+					placeholder="Type to filter shows…"
+					width={30}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<Show when={wlSuggestions().length === 0}>
+				<text fg={theme.muted ?? theme.textMuted}>
+					No subscribed shows match.
+				</text>
+			</Show>
+			<For each={wlSuggestions()}>
+				{(feed, index) => {
+					// While the input is focused (typing), no row shows the
+					// accent highlight or `❯` — only the input is "in focus".
+					const focused = () =>
+						!nav.inputFocused() && index() === wlCursorClamped();
+					const ref = useScrollIntoView(focused);
+					const marker = useSelectionMarker();
+					const bg = () => (focused() ? theme.primary : undefined);
+					const fg = () => (focused() ? theme.surface : theme.text);
+					return (
+						<box
+							ref={ref}
+							flexDirection="row"
+							gap={1}
+							paddingRight={1}
+							backgroundColor={bg()}
+							onMouseDown={() => {
+								nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+								setWlCursor(index());
+								// Click toggles membership directly (works even
+								// while typing, where Space is input text).
+								wlToggle(feed.id);
+							}}
+						>
+							<text fg={fg()}>{focused() ? marker() : " "}</text>
+							<text fg={fg()}>{inList(feed.id) ? "●" : "○"}</text>
+							<text fg={fg()}>
+								{feed.customName || feed.podcast.title}
+							</text>
+						</box>
+					);
+				}}
+			</For>
+			<text fg={theme.muted ?? theme.textMuted}>
+				Type to search · Esc to browse · j/k move · Space toggles · s to
+				type · h back
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
 }

src/pages/Settings/SettingsPage.tsx

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
 	type PaneId,
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { NF_ICONS, supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import type { SettingItem, SettingsSectionDef } from "./types";
 import { usePreferencesItems } from "./PreferencesPanel";
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import { useDownloadItems } from "./DownloadManager";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 
 export const SettingsPaneCount = 1;
 
@@ -45,29 +47,38 @@ const SECTIONS: SettingsSectionDef[] = [
 		id: 0,
 		label: "Sync",
 		description: "Import/export subscriptions and sync status.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.sync,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 1,
 		label: "Sources",
 		description: "Podcast search/RSS sources — add, enable, remove.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.sources,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 2,
 		label: "Preferences",
 		description: "Theme, font, playback speed, explicit/auto-download.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.preferences,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 3,
 		label: "Visualizer",
-		description: "Audio visualizer: bars, sensitivity, cutoffs.",
+		description: "Audio visualizer: on/off, bars, sensitivity, cutoffs.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.visualizer,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 4,
 		label: "Downloads",
 		description: "Manage downloaded episodes — delete by show or individually.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.downloads,
 	},
 ];
 
+// Static: detection never changes mid-session. Module-level because the Row
+// component below (a sibling module function) needs it too.
+const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
+
 /** Resolve the items for a section id at render time. */
 function sectionItems(sectionId: number): SettingItem[] {
 	switch (sectionId) {
@@ -286,6 +297,7 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 					{(section, index) => (
 						<Row
 							label={section.label}
+							icon={section.icon}
 							focused={index() === focusedSectionIdx()}
 							active={false}
 						/>
@@ -315,6 +327,7 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 					{(section, index) => (
 						<Row
 							label={section.label}
+							icon={section.icon}
 							focused={index() === focusedSectionIdx()}
 							active={isActive()}
 							onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -407,6 +420,7 @@ function Row(props: {
 	focused: boolean;
 	active: boolean;
 	hint?: string;
+	icon?: string;
 	onMouseDown?: () => void;
 }) {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
@@ -423,17 +437,18 @@ function Row(props: {
 				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
 				: theme.text;
 	const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => props.focused);
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 	return (
 		<box
 			ref={ref}
 			flexDirection="row"
 			gap={1}
-			paddingLeft={1}
 			paddingRight={1}
 			backgroundColor={bg()}
 			onMouseDown={props.onMouseDown}
 		>
-			<text fg={fg()}>{props.focused ? "❯" : " "}</text>
+			<text fg={fg()}>{props.focused ? marker() : " "}</text>
+			{props.icon && nerd && <text fg={fg()}>{props.icon}</text>}
 			<text fg={fg()}>{props.label}</text>
 			<Show when={props.value}>
 				<box flexGrow={1} />

src/pages/Settings/SourceManager.tsx

@@ -11,16 +11,24 @@
  * right-pane key conflicts).
  */
 
-import { createSignal, For, Show } from "solid-js";
+import { createSignal, For, Show, onMount } from "solid-js";
+import { Renderable } from "@opentui/core";
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useInputFocusNav } from "@/hooks/useInputFocusNav";
+import { useDialog } from "@/ui/dialog";
+import { useToast } from "@/ui/toast";
+import {
+  resolveSourceCredentials,
+  savePodcastIndexCredentials,
+} from "@/utils/source-credentials";
 import { SourceType } from "@/types/source";
 import type { PodcastSource } from "@/types/source";
 import type { SettingItem } from "./types";
 
 export function useSourceItems(): SettingItem[] {
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const dialog = useDialog();
 
 	const typeBadge = (s: PodcastSource) =>
 		s.type === SourceType.API
@@ -48,8 +56,20 @@ export function useSourceItems(): SettingItem[] {
 			kind: "toggle",
 			display: () => `${typeBadge(s)} ${s.enabled ? "on" : "off"}`,
 			help: () =>
-				`Source: ${s.name}\nType: ${s.type}\nEnabled: ${s.enabled}\nURL: ${s.baseUrl ?? "(none)"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
-			toggle: () => feedStore.toggleSource(s.id),
+				s.id === "podcastindex"
+					? `Source: ${s.name} (open podcast directory)\nEnabled: ${s.enabled}\nSpace to ${s.enabled ? "disable" : "enable"}: enabling asks for API keys.\nKeys are masked in the UI and stored in the macOS keychain\n(encrypted at rest), falling back to config.json when the\nkeychain is unavailable; they are kept when disabled.`
+					: `Source: ${s.name}\nType: ${s.type}\nEnabled: ${s.enabled}\nURL: ${s.baseUrl ?? "(none)"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () => {
+				// Enabling Podcast Index requires credentials: ask first
+				// (prefilled with the stored key, masked) instead of flipping
+				// the source into a key-less "on" state. Disabling never
+				// clears the stored credentials.
+				if (s.id === "podcastindex" && !s.enabled) {
+					dialog.push(() => <PodcastIndexCredentialsDialog />);
+					return;
+				}
+				feedStore.toggleSource(s.id);
+			},
 		});
 	}
 
@@ -103,6 +123,9 @@ function AddSourceForm() {
 					onInput={setName}
 					placeholder="My Custom Feed"
 					width={25}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
 				/>
 			</box>
 			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
@@ -116,6 +139,9 @@ function AddSourceForm() {
 					}}
 					placeholder="https://example.com/feed.rss"
 					width={35}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
 				/>
 			</box>
 			<box
@@ -145,3 +171,152 @@ function AddSourceForm() {
 		</box>
 	);
 }
+
+/** Mask a stored credential for prefill: first 3 chars then "...". */
+const maskCredential = (value: string): string => `${value.slice(0, 3)}...`;
+
+/** Credentials popup shown when enabling the Podcast Index source. Prefilled
+ *  (masked) with stored credentials so re-enabling just needs Enter; leaving
+ *  a masked field untouched keeps the stored value. Credentials are saved to
+ *  the macOS keychain (encrypted at rest) with a plaintext config.json
+ *  fallback when the keychain is unavailable. */
+function PodcastIndexCredentialsDialog() {
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const dialog = useDialog();
+	const toast = useToast();
+	const source = feedStore.sources().find((s) => s.id === "podcastindex");
+	const [key, setKey] = createSignal("");
+	const [secret, setSecret] = createSignal("");
+	const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
+	const [saving, setSaving] = createSignal(false);
+	// Yield navigation keybinds to the Shell router while an input is focused.
+	const keyRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	const secretRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	let keyEl: Renderable | null | undefined;
+	let secretEl: Renderable | null | undefined;
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		// Prefill stored credentials (masked) when re-enabling after a
+		// disable — toggling off never clears them. Masked either way, so a
+		// plaintext-stored key never appears in full in the UI.
+		if (source) {
+			resolveSourceCredentials(source)
+				.then((stored) => {
+					if (stored?.apiKey) setKey(maskCredential(stored.apiKey));
+					if (stored?.apiSecret) setSecret(maskCredential(stored.apiSecret));
+				})
+				.catch(() => {});
+		}
+		setTimeout(() => keyEl?.focus(), 1);
+	});
+
+	const save = async () => {
+		if (saving()) return;
+		const stored = source
+			? await resolveSourceCredentials(source).catch(() => null)
+			: null;
+		const keyValue = key().trim();
+		const secretValue = secret().trim();
+		// A field still showing its masked prefill means "keep what's stored".
+		const apiKey =
+			stored?.apiKey && keyValue === maskCredential(stored.apiKey)
+				? stored.apiKey
+				: keyValue;
+		const apiSecret =
+			stored?.apiSecret && secretValue === maskCredential(stored.apiSecret)
+				? stored.apiSecret
+				: secretValue;
+		if (!apiKey || !apiSecret) {
+			setError(
+				"Both API key and secret are required (free at podcastindex.org)",
+			);
+			return;
+		}
+		setSaving(true);
+		const ok = await savePodcastIndexCredentials(apiKey, apiSecret).catch(
+			() => false,
+		);
+		setSaving(false);
+		if (!ok) {
+			// Keychain unavailable (non-macOS, locked, sandboxed): plaintext
+			// fallback on the source so the fallback search still works.
+			feedStore.updateSource("podcastindex", {
+				hasCredentials: true,
+				credentialStorage: "plaintext",
+				apiKey,
+				apiSecret,
+				enabled: true,
+			});
+			toast.show({
+				title: "Credentials stored in config.json",
+				message: "macOS keychain unavailable — API keys saved unencrypted.",
+				variant: "warning",
+			});
+			dialog.pop();
+			return;
+		}
+		feedStore.updateSource("podcastindex", {
+			hasCredentials: true,
+			credentialStorage: "keychain",
+			enabled: true,
+		});
+		dialog.pop();
+	};
+
+	return (
+		<box
+			border
+			title="Podcast Index API Keys"
+			padding={1}
+			flexDirection="column"
+			gap={1}
+		>
+			<text fg={theme.textMuted}>
+				Free key + secret from https://podcastindex.org/. Used as a
+				fallback when other sources return fewer than 3 results.
+			</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+				<text fg={theme.text}>API Key:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={(el: Renderable | null | undefined) => {
+						keyRef(el);
+						keyEl = el;
+					}}
+					value={key()}
+					onInput={setKey}
+					onSubmit={() => secretEl?.focus()}
+					placeholder="e.g. UXKCGDSYGUUEVQJSYDZH"
+					width={30}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+				<text fg={theme.text}>API Secret:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={(el: Renderable | null | undefined) => {
+						secretRef(el);
+						secretEl = el;
+					}}
+					value={secret()}
+					onInput={setSecret}
+					onSubmit={() => save()}
+					placeholder="e.g. yzJe2eE7XV-3eY576dyRZ6wXyAbndh6LUrCZ8KN|"
+					width={40}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<Show when={error()}>{(e) => <text fg={theme.error}>{e()}</text>}</Show>
+			<Show when={saving()}>
+				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Storing credentials...</text>
+			</Show>
+			<text fg={theme.textMuted}>
+				[Enter] save · [Esc] cancel — keys stay stored when disabled.
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}

src/pages/Settings/VisualizerSettings.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ export function useVisualizerItems(): SettingItem[] {
 	const viz = () => app.state().settings.visualizer;
 
 	return [
+		{
+			id: "enabled",
+			label: "Waveform",
+			kind: "toggle",
+			display: () => (viz().enabled ? "On" : "Off"),
+			help: () =>
+				`Realtime waveform visualizer in the player.\nType: toggle\nDefault: on\nCurrent: ${viz().enabled ? "on" : "off"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () => app.updateVisualizer({ enabled: !viz().enabled }),
+		},
 		{
 			id: "bars",
 			label: "Bars",

src/pages/Settings/types.ts

@@ -41,5 +41,7 @@ export interface SettingsSectionDef {
 	id: number;
 	label: string;
 	description: string;
+	/** Nerd Font glyph for the section row (rendered only when supported). */
+	icon: string;
 	items?: () => SettingItem[];
 }

src/stores/activity.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/**
+ * Activity store for PodTUI
+ *
+ * Shared leak-proof activity counter: any store can surface "something is
+ * loading/downloading" to the global top-right indicator. beginActivity
+ * returns an end token that removes exactly THAT instance, so concurrent
+ * overlapping activities compose correctly; prefer track() so callers
+ * cannot strand the counter.
+ */
+
+import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
+
+/** Create activity store */
+function createActivityStore() {
+	const [count, setCount] = createSignal(0);
+	const [labels, setLabels] = createSignal<string[]>([]);
+
+	/** Begin a tracked activity and return its end function. Every begin
+	 *  MUST be paired with exactly one call of the returned end (via the
+	 *  token); prefer track() so the pairing is automatic. Duplicate labels
+	 *  are allowed — each end removes exactly one instance (found by
+	 *  indexOf). */
+	const beginActivity = (label: string): (() => void) => {
+		setLabels((prev) => [...prev, label]);
+		setCount((c) => c + 1);
+		let ended = false;
+		return () => {
+			if (ended) return;
+			ended = true;
+			setLabels((prev) => {
+				const idx = prev.indexOf(label);
+				if (idx === -1) return prev;
+				const next = [...prev];
+				next.splice(idx, 1);
+				return next;
+			});
+			setCount((c) => Math.max(0, c - 1));
+		};
+	};
+
+	/** Track a promise: begin an activity, auto-end when it settles, and
+	 *  re-throw on rejection so the caller's error handling is untouched. */
+	const track = async <T,>(p: Promise<T>, label: string): Promise<T> => {
+		const end = beginActivity(label);
+		try {
+			return await p;
+		} finally {
+			end();
+		}
+	};
+
+	/** True while at least one activity is in flight */
+	const isActive = (): boolean => count() > 0;
+
+	return {
+		// State
+		count,
+		labels,
+		// Actions
+		beginActivity,
+		track,
+		// Getters
+		isActive,
+	};
+}
+
+/** Singleton activity store */
+let activityStoreInstance: ReturnType<typeof createActivityStore> | null = null;
+
+export function useActivityStore() {
+	if (!activityStoreInstance) {
+		activityStoreInstance = createActivityStore();
+	}
+	return activityStoreInstance;
+}

src/stores/app.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 } from "../utils/app-persistence";
 
 const defaultVisualizerSettings: VisualizerSettings = {
+	enabled: true,
 	bars: 64,
 	sensitivity: 1,
 	noiseReduction: 0.77,
@@ -28,16 +29,22 @@ const defaultSettings: AppSettings = {
 	theme: "system",
 	fontSize: 14,
 	playbackSpeed: 1,
+	volume: 1,
 	downloadPath: "",
 	transparentBackground: false,
+	showSelectionMarker: false,
 	visualizer: defaultVisualizerSettings,
 };
 
 const defaultPreferences: UserPreferences = {
 	showExplicit: false,
 	autoDownload: false,
+	autoDownloadCount: 2,
+	autoDownloadScope: "all",
+	autoDownloadWhitelist: [],
 	autoJumpToPlayer: true,
-	fetchMoreMode: "manual",
+	fetchMoreMode: "auto",
+	refreshIntervalMinutes: 30,
 };
 
 const defaultState: AppState = {
@@ -50,12 +57,14 @@ function createAppStore() {
 	// Start with defaults; async load will update once ready
 	const [state, setState] = createSignal<AppState>(defaultState);
 
-	// Fire-and-forget async initialisation
+	// Fire-and-forget async initialisation; the promise is exposed via
+	// whenReady() so boot-time consumers (audio-level restore) can await
+	// the config read before reading settings.
 	const init = async () => {
 		const loaded = await loadAppStateFromFile();
 		setState(loaded);
 	};
-	init();
+	const appInit = init();
 
 	const saveState = (next: AppState) => {
 		saveAppStateToFile(next);
@@ -114,6 +123,8 @@ function createAppStore() {
 
 	return {
 		state,
+		/** Resolves once persisted settings are loaded from disk. */
+		whenReady: () => appInit,
 		updateSettings,
 		updatePreferences,
 		updateCustomTheme,

src/stores/discover.ts

@@ -20,17 +20,17 @@ export interface DiscoverCategory {
 }
 
 export const DISCOVER_CATEGORIES: DiscoverCategory[] = [
-	{ id: "all", name: "All", icon: "*" },
-	{ id: "technology", name: "Technology", icon: ">" },
-	{ id: "science", name: "Science", icon: "~" },
-	{ id: "comedy", name: "Comedy", icon: ")" },
-	{ id: "news", name: "News", icon: "!" },
-	{ id: "business", name: "Business", icon: "$" },
-	{ id: "health", name: "Health", icon: "+" },
-	{ id: "education", name: "Education", icon: "?" },
-	{ id: "sports", name: "Sports", icon: "#" },
-	{ id: "true-crime", name: "True Crime", icon: "%" },
-	{ id: "arts", name: "Arts", icon: "@" },
+	{ id: "all", name: "All", icon: "\uF0CA" },
+	{ id: "technology", name: "Technology", icon: "\uF2DB" },
+	{ id: "science", name: "Science", icon: "\uF0C3" },
+	{ id: "comedy", name: "Comedy", icon: "\uF118" },
+	{ id: "news", name: "News", icon: "\uF1EA" },
+	{ id: "business", name: "Business", icon: "\uF0B1" },
+	{ id: "health", name: "Health", icon: "\uF21E" },
+	{ id: "education", name: "Education", icon: "\uF19D" },
+	{ id: "sports", name: "Sports", icon: "\uF1E3" },
+	{ id: "true-crime", name: "True Crime", icon: "\uF00E" },
+	{ id: "arts", name: "Arts", icon: "\uF1FC" },
 ];
 
 // ── Remote featured-shows manifest ───────────────────────────────────────────

src/stores/download.ts

@@ -10,12 +10,32 @@ import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
 import { DownloadStatus } from "../types/episode";
 import type { DownloadedEpisode } from "../types/episode";
 import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
+import type { Podcast } from "../types/podcast";
 import { downloadEpisode } from "../utils/episode-downloader";
 import { ensureConfigDir, getConfigFilePath } from "../utils/config-dir";
+import { useFeedStore } from "./feed";
 
 const DOWNLOADS_FILE = "downloads.json";
 const MAX_CONCURRENT = 2;
 
+/** Prefix for synthetic feed ids of unsubscribed-show downloads (search
+ *  downloads). The id doubles as the file subdirectory name, so it must be
+ *  filesystem-safe. */
+const UNSUBSCRIBED_FEED_PREFIX = "unsub-";
+
+/** Deterministic synthetic feed id for a show that isn't subscribed: groups
+ *  its search downloads together (and names their file subdirectory) without
+ *  colliding with real feed ids (UUIDs). */
+function unsubscribedFeedId(podcast: Pick<Podcast, "feedUrl" | "title">): string {
+	const base = podcast.feedUrl || podcast.title;
+	const slug = base
+		.toLowerCase()
+		.replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, "-")
+		.replace(/^-+|-+$/g, "")
+		.slice(0, 48);
+	return `${UNSUBSCRIBED_FEED_PREFIX}${slug || "podcast"}`;
+}
+
 /** Serializable download record for persistence */
 interface DownloadRecord {
 	episodeId: string;
@@ -27,6 +47,12 @@ interface DownloadRecord {
 	error: string | null;
 	audioUrl: string;
 	episodeTitle: string;
+	/** ISO publication date, for unsubscribed-show downloads. */
+	pubDate?: string;
+	/** Show title, for downloads whose show isn't subscribed. */
+	podcastTitle?: string;
+	/** The show's RSS feed URL (re-classifies the download once subscribed). */
+	podcastFeedUrl?: string;
 }
 
 /** Queue item for pending downloads */
@@ -80,6 +106,11 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 					speed: 0,
 					fileSize: rec.fileSize,
 					error: rec.error,
+					episodeTitle: rec.episodeTitle || undefined,
+					audioUrl: rec.audioUrl || undefined,
+					pubDate: rec.pubDate || undefined,
+					podcastTitle: rec.podcastTitle || undefined,
+					podcastFeedUrl: rec.podcastFeedUrl || undefined,
 				});
 			}
 			return map;
@@ -105,8 +136,11 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 					downloadedAt: dl.downloadedAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
 					fileSize: dl.fileSize,
 					error: dl.error,
-					audioUrl: qItem?.audioUrl ?? "",
-					episodeTitle: qItem?.episodeTitle ?? "",
+					audioUrl: dl.audioUrl ?? qItem?.audioUrl ?? "",
+					episodeTitle: dl.episodeTitle ?? qItem?.episodeTitle ?? "",
+					pubDate: dl.pubDate,
+					podcastTitle: dl.podcastTitle,
+					podcastFeedUrl: dl.podcastFeedUrl,
 				});
 			}
 			const filePath = getConfigFilePath(DOWNLOADS_FILE);
@@ -201,6 +235,73 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 				speed: 0,
 				error: null,
 			});
+
+			// Write the podcast cover beside the audio so mpv's
+			// --cover-art-auto=exact picks it up for Now Playing art when the
+			// local file plays (same basename, .jpg extension — verified
+			// against mpv 0.41). curl, NOT fetch: Bun's fetch hangs in
+			// compiled binaries, so the shipped app never wrote this file.
+			// Falls back to the episode's own image when the feed has no
+			// channel cover (URL-added feeds).
+			const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+			const episode = feedStore.findEpisode(item.episodeId);
+			const coverUrl =
+				feedStore
+					.feeds()
+					.find((f) => f.id === item.feedId)?.podcast.coverUrl ??
+				episode?.imageUrl;
+			if (coverUrl && result.filePath) {
+				const dot = result.filePath.lastIndexOf(".");
+				if (dot > 0) {
+					const coverPath = result.filePath.slice(0, dot) + ".jpg";
+					Bun.spawn([
+						"curl",
+						"-sS",
+						"--fail",
+						"-m",
+						"8",
+						"--max-filesize",
+						"2097152",
+						"-o",
+						coverPath,
+						coverUrl,
+					])
+						.exited.catch(() => {});
+				}
+			}
+
+			// Tag the local file (codec-copy, no re-encode) so mpv's Now
+			// Playing metadata for local playback is title=episode,
+			// artist=podcast — the source streams carry no usable tags and
+			// macOS composes "title - artist" from exactly these fields.
+			// Atomic: ffmpeg writes a temp file, then renames into place.
+			if (result.filePath && episode) {
+				const podcastTitle =
+					feedStore.feeds().find((f) => f.id === item.feedId)?.podcast.title ??
+					downloads().get(item.episodeId)?.podcastTitle;
+				if (podcastTitle) {
+					const tmp = `${result.filePath}.tag.mp3`;
+					Bun.spawn([
+						"ffmpeg",
+						"-y",
+						"-i",
+						result.filePath,
+						"-c",
+						"copy",
+						"-metadata",
+						`title=${episode.title}`,
+						"-metadata",
+						`artist=${podcastTitle}`,
+						tmp,
+					])
+						.exited.then(async (code) => {
+							if (code !== 0) return;
+							const { renameSync } = await import("node:fs");
+							renameSync(tmp, result.filePath);
+						})
+						.catch(() => {});
+				}
+			}
 		} else {
 			updateDownload(item.episodeId, {
 				status: DownloadStatus.FAILED,
@@ -238,8 +339,20 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		return null;
 	};
 
+	/** Optional metadata for a download whose show isn't subscribed (search
+	 *  downloads) — without it the record cannot render a title or be
+	 *  re-classified once the show is subscribed. */
+	interface UnsubscribedMeta {
+		podcastTitle: string;
+		podcastFeedUrl?: string;
+	}
+
 	/** Start downloading an episode */
-	const startDownload = (episode: Episode, feedId: string): void => {
+	const startDownload = (
+		episode: Episode,
+		feedId: string,
+		meta?: UnsubscribedMeta,
+	): void => {
 		const existing = downloads().get(episode.id);
 		if (
 			existing?.status === DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING ||
@@ -258,6 +371,11 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 			speed: 0,
 			fileSize: episode.fileSize ?? 0,
 			error: null,
+			episodeTitle: episode.title,
+			audioUrl: episode.audioUrl,
+			pubDate: episode.pubDate.toISOString(),
+			podcastTitle: meta?.podcastTitle,
+			podcastFeedUrl: meta?.podcastFeedUrl,
 		};
 
 		setDownloads((prev) => {
@@ -278,6 +396,21 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		processQueue();
 	};
 
+	/** Start downloading an episode of a show that is NOT subscribed. The
+	 *  download gets a deterministic synthetic feed id (also its file
+	 *  subdirectory) plus the show's metadata so it can render under
+	 *  "Unsubscribed Show Downloads" and re-classify if the user later
+	 *  subscribes to the show. */
+	const startUnsubscribedDownload = (
+		episode: Episode,
+		podcast: Podcast,
+	): void => {
+		startDownload(episode, unsubscribedFeedId(podcast), {
+			podcastTitle: podcast.title,
+			podcastFeedUrl: podcast.feedUrl || undefined,
+		});
+	};
+
 	/** Cancel a download */
 	const cancelDownload = (episodeId: string): void => {
 		// Abort active download
@@ -306,6 +439,11 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 			try {
 				const { unlink } = await import("fs/promises");
 				await unlink(dl.filePath);
+				const dot = dl.filePath.lastIndexOf(".");
+				if (dot > 0) {
+					const coverPath = dl.filePath.slice(0, dot) + ".jpg";
+					await unlink(coverPath);
+				}
 			} catch {
 				// File may already be gone
 			}
@@ -321,10 +459,18 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 	};
 
 	/** Remove every download (active/queued/completed) belonging to a feed —
-	 *  abort in-flight transfers, drop queued items, delete files + metadata. */
-	const removeDownloadsForFeed = async (feedId: string): Promise<void> => {
+	 *  abort in-flight transfers, drop queued items, delete files + metadata.
+	 *  Also removes downloads of the same show made while it was unsubscribed
+	 *  (matched by podcastFeedUrl) so unsubscribing purges search downloads
+	 *  of that show too. */
+	const removeDownloadsForFeed = async (
+		feedId: string,
+		podcastFeedUrl?: string,
+	): Promise<void> => {
 		const eps = Array.from(downloads().values()).filter(
-			(d) => d.feedId === feedId,
+			(d) =>
+				d.feedId === feedId ||
+				(podcastFeedUrl && d.podcastFeedUrl === podcastFeedUrl),
 		);
 		for (const d of eps) {
 			cancelDownload(d.episodeId);
@@ -337,6 +483,24 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		return Array.from(downloads().values());
 	};
 
+	/** Downloads whose show is not subscribed — the "Unsubscribed Show
+	 *  Downloads" list shown in My Shows and the settings download manager.
+	 *  Reads feeds() so the list re-classifies (drops out) the moment the
+	 *  user subscribes to the show. Matched by feed id, or by the show's
+	 *  feed URL (covers downloads made before the show was subscribed). */
+	const getUnsubscribedDownloads = (): DownloadedEpisode[] => {
+		const feeds = useFeedStore().feeds();
+		return Array.from(downloads().values()).filter((d) => {
+			if (feeds.some((f) => f.id === d.feedId)) return false;
+			if (d.podcastFeedUrl) {
+				return !feeds.some(
+					(f) => f.podcast.feedUrl === d.podcastFeedUrl,
+				);
+			}
+			return true;
+		});
+	};
+
 	/** Get the current queue */
 	const getQueue = (): QueueItem[] => {
 		return queue();
@@ -354,11 +518,13 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		getDownload,
 		getDownloadedFilePath,
 		getAllDownloads,
+		getUnsubscribedDownloads,
 		getQueue,
 		getActiveCount,
 
 		// Actions
 		startDownload,
+		startUnsubscribedDownload,
 		cancelDownload,
 		removeDownload,
 		removeDownloadsForFeed,

src/stores/feed.ts

@@ -10,14 +10,19 @@ import type { Podcast } from "../types/podcast";
 import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
 import type { PodcastSource } from "../types/source";
 import { DEFAULT_SOURCES } from "../types/source";
-import { parseRSSFeed } from "../api/rss-parser";
+import { getRSSItems, parseRSSItem, parseChannelCoverUrl } from "../api/rss-parser";
+import { resolveItunesFeedUrl } from "../utils/itunes-feed-resolver";
+import { savePodcastIndexCredentials } from "../utils/source-credentials";
+import { mergeEpisodes } from "../utils/episode-merge";
 import {
 	loadFeedsFromFile,
 	saveFeedsToFile,
 	loadSourcesFromFile,
 	saveSourcesToFile,
 } from "../utils/feeds-persistence";
+import { useActivityStore } from "./activity";
 import { useDownloadStore } from "./download";
+import { useAppStore } from "./app";
 import { DownloadStatus } from "../types/episode";
 
 /** Max episodes to load per page/chunk */
@@ -26,6 +31,68 @@ const MAX_EPISODES_REFRESH = 50;
 /** Max episodes to fetch on initial subscribe */
 const MAX_EPISODES_SUBSCRIBE = 20;
 
+/** Per-feed bound on both the cached parse results and the merged in-memory
+ *  window; 500 covers years of a weekly show's history while capping a
+ *  20-subscription install at 10k episodes. */
+export const MAX_EPISODES_IN_MEMORY = 500;
+
+/** Per-feed fetch timeout — a hung feed must not stall a refresh batch or
+ *  the background refresh loop. */
+const FETCH_TIMEOUT_MS = 20_000;
+
+/** Bounds simultaneous RSS requests during a refresh batch — a hung feed
+ *  burns at most one slot for FETCH_TIMEOUT_MS instead of pinning the whole
+ *  batch. */
+const FETCH_CONCURRENCY = 4;
+
+/** Default minutes between automatic background feed refreshes. */
+const DEFAULT_REFRESH_INTERVAL_MINUTES = 30;
+
+/** Max episodes parsed per chunk before yielding to the event loop — bounds
+ *  the synchronous regex work per frame so one huge feed (or a batch of
+ *  feeds) can't stall the renderer. */
+const PARSE_CHUNK_SIZE = 5;
+
+/** Yield to the event loop (task queue) so the renderer can paint between
+ *  parse chunks. MessageChannel instead of setTimeout/setImmediate because
+ *  bun:test fake timers trap those (feed-refresh/pagination tests run under
+ *  vi.useFakeTimers and await refreshes, so a trapped yield would deadlock
+ *  them); MessageChannel posts are real task-queue turns that fire in both
+ *  environments. */
+const yieldToUI = (): Promise<void> =>
+	new Promise((resolve) => {
+		const { port1, port2 } = new MessageChannel();
+		port1.onmessage = () => {
+			port1.close();
+			port2.close();
+			resolve();
+		};
+		port2.postMessage(null);
+	});
+
+/** Parse all episodes from feed XML in bounded chunks, yielding to the event
+ *  loop between chunks. The whole-feed sync `parseRSSFeed` would otherwise
+ *  block the UI thread for the combined parse time of every feed in a
+ *  refresh batch. */
+const parseEpisodesIncremental = async (
+	xml: string,
+	feedUrl: string,
+): Promise<Episode[]> => {
+	const items = getRSSItems(xml);
+	// Yield after the item-extraction regex (which scans the full XML
+	// synchronously) so the renderer paints before the first parse chunk.
+	await yieldToUI();
+	const episodes: Episode[] = new Array(items.length);
+	for (let start = 0; start < items.length; start += PARSE_CHUNK_SIZE) {
+		const end = Math.min(start + PARSE_CHUNK_SIZE, items.length);
+		for (let i = start; i < end; i++) {
+			episodes[i] = parseRSSItem(items[i], feedUrl, i);
+		}
+		if (end < items.length) await yieldToUI();
+	}
+	return episodes;
+};
+
 /** Cache of all parsed episodes per feed (feedId -> Episode[]) */
 const fullEpisodeCache = new Map<string, Episode[]>();
 
@@ -42,6 +109,88 @@ function saveSources(sources: PodcastSource[]): void {
 	saveSourcesToFile(sources);
 }
 
+/** Move plaintext apiKey/apiSecret (pre-keychain persistence) into the macOS
+ *  keychain, marking the source hasCredentials and stripping the plaintext.
+ *  When the keychain is unavailable the plaintext stays (marked as the
+ *  plaintext storage backend) so the source keeps working.
+ *  Returns the same array when nothing needed migrating. */
+async function migratePlaintextCredentials(
+	sources: PodcastSource[],
+): Promise<PodcastSource[]> {
+	let changed = false;
+	const migrated: PodcastSource[] = [];
+	for (const source of sources) {
+		if (
+			source.id === "podcastindex" &&
+			source.apiKey &&
+			source.apiSecret &&
+			!source.hasCredentials
+		) {
+			const ok = await savePodcastIndexCredentials(
+				source.apiKey,
+				source.apiSecret,
+			);
+			if (ok) {
+				migrated.push({
+					...source,
+					apiKey: undefined,
+					apiSecret: undefined,
+					hasCredentials: true,
+					credentialStorage: "keychain",
+				});
+			} else {
+				migrated.push({
+					...source,
+					hasCredentials: true,
+					credentialStorage: "plaintext",
+				});
+			}
+			changed = true;
+			continue;
+		}
+		migrated.push(source);
+	}
+	return changed ? migrated : sources;
+}
+
+/** True when the freshly fetched window matches the corresponding PREFIX of
+ *  the existing episode list (id-set equality, order-insensitive). With
+ *  union semantics the merged list legitimately contains episodes BEYOND the
+ *  fetched window, so unchanged-detection must compare the fetched window
+ *  against the existing list's prefix — comparing full lists would bump
+ *  `lastUpdated` on every refresh. */
+function sameRefreshWindow(existing: Episode[], fetched: Episode[]): boolean {
+	if (fetched.length === 0) return true;
+	const prefix = existing.slice(0, fetched.length);
+	const ids = new Set(prefix.map((e) => e.id));
+	return fetched.every((e) => ids.has(e.id));
+}
+
+/** Run `fn` over every item with at most `limit` executions in flight — a
+ *  classic worker pool. Workers pull indexes from a shared counter, so the
+ *  first `limit` calls start immediately and each completion frees its slot
+ *  for the next item; results are assembled in INPUT order regardless of
+ *  completion order. A hung `fn` holds at most one slot. */
+async function mapWithConcurrency<T, R>(
+	items: T[],
+	limit: number,
+	fn: (item: T) => Promise<R>,
+): Promise<R[]> {
+	const results = new Array<R>(items.length);
+	let nextIndex = 0;
+	const workers = Array.from(
+		{ length: Math.min(limit, items.length) },
+		async () => {
+			let i: number;
+			while ((i = nextIndex++) < items.length) {
+				results[i] = await fn(items[i]);
+			}
+		},
+	);
+	await Promise.all(workers);
+	return results;
+}
+
 /** Create feed store */
 function createFeedStore() {
 	const [feeds, setFeeds] = createSignal<Feed[]>([]);
@@ -57,6 +206,39 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 	const [isLoadingMore, setIsLoadingMore] = createSignal(false);
 	const [isLoadingFeeds, setIsLoadingFeeds] = createSignal(false);
 
+	// ── Debounced persistence ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+	/** Trailing-edge debounce window for config.json writes. */
+	const SAVE_DEBOUNCE_MS = 250;
+	/** True when a save is scheduled but has not flushed yet. */
+	let savePending = false;
+	let pendingSaveTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+
+	/** Schedule a config.json write (trailing edge) — rapid state changes
+	 *  (a refresh batch landing feed-by-feed, pin toggles, load-more pages)
+	 *  collapse into one final write instead of one file rewrite per step. */
+	const scheduleSaveFeeds = (): void => {
+		savePending = true;
+		if (pendingSaveTimer) clearTimeout(pendingSaveTimer);
+		pendingSaveTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+			pendingSaveTimer = null;
+			flushPendingSave();
+		}, SAVE_DEBOUNCE_MS);
+	};
+
+	/** Persist immediately when anything is dirty; exported for tests and
+	 *  quit hooks. Cancels a pending debounced save — the state it would
+	 *  have written is already reflected in feeds(), so writing now is
+	 *  strictly more current. */
+	const flushPendingSave = (): void => {
+		if (pendingSaveTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(pendingSaveTimer);
+			pendingSaveTimer = null;
+		}
+		if (!savePending) return;
+		savePending = false;
+		saveFeeds(feeds());
+	};
+
 	/** Get filtered and sorted feeds */
 	const getFilteredFeeds = (): Feed[] => {
 		let result = [...feeds()];
@@ -143,33 +325,49 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 		);
 	};
 
-	/** Fetch latest episodes from an RSS feed URL, caching all parsed episodes */
+	/** Fetch latest episodes from an RSS feed URL, caching all parsed episodes.
+	 *  Returns NULL when the feed could not be fetched (network error, non-OK
+	/** Fetch latest episodes from an RSS feed URL, caching all parsed episodes.
+	 *  Also returns the channel-level artwork so callers can backfill a feed's
+	 *  coverUrl (subscribe + refresh). Null episodes on any failure — a
+	 *  failed fetch must not look like an empty feed, or the store would wipe
+	 *  a subscribed show's episodes. */
 	const fetchEpisodes = async (
 		feedUrl: string,
 		limit: number,
 		feedId?: string,
-	): Promise<Episode[]> => {
+	): Promise<{ episodes: Episode[] | null; coverUrl: string | undefined }> => {
 		try {
 			const response = await fetch(feedUrl, {
 				headers: {
 					"Accept-Encoding": "identity",
 					Accept: "application/rss+xml, application/xml, text/xml, */*",
 				},
+				// Hung feeds must not stall a refresh batch (or the
+				// background refresh loop) indefinitely.
+				signal: AbortSignal.timeout(FETCH_TIMEOUT_MS),
 			});
-			if (!response.ok) return [];
+			if (!response.ok) return { episodes: null, coverUrl: undefined };
 			const xml = await response.text();
-			const parsed = parseRSSFeed(xml, feedUrl);
-			const allEpisodes = sortEpisodesReverseChronological(parsed.episodes);
+			// Yield after the network read so the renderer gets a turn
+			// before the sync regex + parse work begins.
+			await yieldToUI();
+			const allEpisodes = sortEpisodesReverseChronological(
+				await parseEpisodesIncremental(xml, feedUrl),
+			);
 
 			// Cache all parsed episodes for pagination
 			if (feedId) {
-				fullEpisodeCache.set(feedId, allEpisodes);
+				fullEpisodeCache.set(feedId, allEpisodes.slice(0, MAX_EPISODES_IN_MEMORY));
 				episodeLoadCount.set(feedId, Math.min(limit, allEpisodes.length));
 			}
 
-			return allEpisodes.slice(0, limit);
+			return {
+				episodes: allEpisodes.slice(0, limit),
+				coverUrl: parseChannelCoverUrl(xml),
+			};
 		} catch {
-			return [];
+			return { episodes: null, coverUrl: undefined };
 		}
 	};
 
@@ -184,113 +382,263 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 		sourceId: string,
 		visibility: FeedVisibility = FeedVisibility.PUBLIC,
 	): Promise<Feed | null> => {
-		// Guard: don't add a feed we already have (matched by feedUrl)
-		if (hasFeedByUrl(podcast.feedUrl)) {
-			return feeds().find((f) => f.podcast.feedUrl === podcast.feedUrl) ?? null;
-		}
+		const activity = useActivityStore();
+		// The "Subscribing" label covers the directory-resolve + subscribe
+		// fetch stretch — the gaps no existing signal (isLoadingFeeds,
+		// per-pane spinners) covers.
+		return activity.track((async () => {
+			// A directory stub (e.g. a show delisted from Apple Podcasts) has no
+			// feed URL; resolve the real feed from its directory page before
+			// subscribing. Refuse when it can't be resolved rather than adding a
+			// broken feed.
+			if (!podcast.feedUrl) {
+				if (!podcast.directoryUrl) return null;
+				const resolved = await resolveItunesFeedUrl(podcast.directoryUrl);
+				if (!resolved) return null;
+				podcast = { ...podcast, feedUrl: resolved, directoryUrl: undefined };
+			}
 
-		const feedId = crypto.randomUUID();
-		const episodes = await fetchEpisodes(
-			podcast.feedUrl,
-			MAX_EPISODES_SUBSCRIBE,
-			feedId,
-		);
-		const newFeed: Feed = {
-			id: feedId,
-			podcast,
-			episodes,
-			visibility,
-			sourceId,
-			lastUpdated: new Date(),
-			isPinned: false,
-		};
-		setFeeds((prev) => {
-			const updated = [...prev, newFeed];
-			saveFeeds(updated);
-			return updated;
-		});
-		return newFeed;
+			// Guard: don't add a feed we already have (matched by feedUrl)
+			if (hasFeedByUrl(podcast.feedUrl)) {
+				return feeds().find((f) => f.podcast.feedUrl === podcast.feedUrl) ?? null;
+			}
+
+			const feedId = crypto.randomUUID();
+			const { episodes, coverUrl } = await fetchEpisodes(
+				podcast.feedUrl,
+				MAX_EPISODES_SUBSCRIBE,
+				feedId,
+			);
+			if (!podcast.coverUrl && coverUrl) {
+				podcast = { ...podcast, coverUrl };
+			}
+			const newFeed: Feed = {
+				id: feedId,
+				podcast,
+				episodes: episodes ?? [],
+				visibility,
+				sourceId,
+				lastUpdated: new Date(),
+				isPinned: false,
+			};
+			setFeeds((prev) => {
+				const updated = [...prev, newFeed];
+				scheduleSaveFeeds();
+				return updated;
+			});
+			// Global auto-download: newly subscribed shows join the next pass.
+			runAutoDownload();
+			return newFeed;
+		})(), "Subscribing");
 	};
 
-	/** Auto-download newest episodes for a feed */
-	const autoDownloadEpisodes = (
-		feedId: string,
-		newEpisodes: Episode[],
-		count: number,
-	) => {
+	/** Download the N most recent episodes of every in-scope show, per the
+	 *  global auto-download preferences (master toggle + scope + whitelist +
+	 *  count). Skips episodes already downloaded, queued, or in flight;
+	 *  retries failed ones. Idempotent — safe to run after any settings
+	 *  change, feed refresh, or subscribe. */
+	const runAutoDownload = (): void => {
+		const app = useAppStore();
+		const prefs = app.state().preferences;
+		if (!prefs.autoDownload || prefs.autoDownloadScope === "none") return;
+		const whitelist = prefs.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? [];
+		const count = Math.max(1, prefs.autoDownloadCount ?? 2);
 		const dlStore = useDownloadStore();
-		// Sort by pubDate descending (newest first)
-		const sorted = [...newEpisodes].sort(
-			(a, b) => b.pubDate.getTime() - a.pubDate.getTime(),
-		);
-		// count = 0 means download all new episodes
-		const toDownload = count > 0 ? sorted.slice(0, count) : sorted;
-		for (const ep of toDownload) {
-			const status = dlStore.getDownloadStatus(ep.id);
+		for (const feed of feeds()) {
 			if (
-				status === DownloadStatus.NONE ||
-				status === DownloadStatus.FAILED
+				prefs.autoDownloadScope === "whitelist" &&
+				!whitelist.includes(feed.id)
 			) {
-				dlStore.startDownload(ep, feedId);
+				continue;
+			}
+			const sorted = [...feed.episodes].sort(
+				(a, b) => b.pubDate.getTime() - a.pubDate.getTime(),
+			);
+			for (const ep of sorted.slice(0, count)) {
+				const status = dlStore.getDownloadStatus(ep.id);
+				if (
+					status === DownloadStatus.NONE ||
+					status === DownloadStatus.FAILED
+				) {
+					dlStore.startDownload(ep, feed.id);
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	};
 
+	/** Apply a freshly fetched episode list to one feed, bumping `lastUpdated`
+	 *  only when the content actually changed (see sameRefreshWindow). The
+	 *  fetched window is MERGED into the existing episodes (fetched copy wins
+	 *  on id collision) so a refresh never shrinks the in-memory list; the
+	 *  union is capped at MAX_EPISODES_IN_MEMORY. Returns the ORIGINAL array
+	 *  reference when nothing changed so callers skip persistence entirely —
+	 *  a refresh that fetched identical episodes must not re-sort the
+	 *  "updated" view. */
+	const applyRefreshedEpisodes = (
+		prev: Feed[],
+		feedId: string,
+		episodes: Episode[],
+	): Feed[] => {
+		let changed = false;
+		const updated = prev.map((f) => {
+			if (f.id !== feedId) return f;
+			const merged = mergeEpisodes(f.episodes, episodes, MAX_EPISODES_IN_MEMORY);
+			if (sameRefreshWindow(f.episodes, episodes)) return f;
+			changed = true;
+			return { ...f, episodes: merged, lastUpdated: new Date() };
+		});
+		return changed ? updated : prev;
+	};
+
 	/** Refresh a single feed - re-fetch latest 50 episodes */
 	const refreshFeed = async (feedId: string) => {
-		const feed = getFeed(feedId);
-		if (!feed) return;
-		const oldEpisodeIds = new Set(feed.episodes.map((e) => e.id));
-		const episodes = await fetchEpisodes(
-			feed.podcast.feedUrl,
-			MAX_EPISODES_REFRESH,
-			feedId,
-		);
-		setFeeds((prev) => {
-			const updated = prev.map((f) =>
-				f.id === feedId ? { ...f, episodes, lastUpdated: new Date() } : f,
+		const activity = useActivityStore();
+		return activity.track((async () => {
+			const feed = getFeed(feedId);
+			if (!feed) return;
+			const { episodes, coverUrl } = await fetchEpisodes(
+				feed.podcast.feedUrl,
+				MAX_EPISODES_REFRESH,
+				feedId,
 			);
-			saveFeeds(updated);
-			return updated;
-		});
+			// Fetch failed (null): keep the currently loaded episodes untouched.
+			if (!episodes) return;
+			setFeeds((prev) => {
+				let updated = applyRefreshedEpisodes(prev, feedId, episodes);
+				if (coverUrl) {
+					updated = updated.map((f) =>
+						f.id === feedId && !f.podcast.coverUrl && coverUrl
+							? { ...f, podcast: { ...f.podcast, coverUrl } }
+							: f,
+					);
+				}
+				if (updated !== prev) scheduleSaveFeeds();
+				return updated;
+			});
 
-		// Auto-download new episodes if enabled for this feed
-		if (feed.autoDownload) {
-			const newEpisodes = episodes.filter((e) => !oldEpisodeIds.has(e.id));
-			if (newEpisodes.length > 0) {
-				autoDownloadEpisodes(feedId, newEpisodes, feed.autoDownloadCount ?? 0);
-			}
-		}
+			// Global auto-download: ensure the N most recent episodes of in-scope
+			// shows are available offline after every refresh (idempotent).
+			runAutoDownload();
+		})(), "Refreshing");
 	};
 
-	/** Refresh all feeds */
+	/** Refresh all feeds — bounded concurrency (at most FETCH_CONCURRENCY
+	 *  in-flight requests), and each feed's refreshed episodes are applied
+	 *  AS ITS OWN FETCH LANDS (no Promise.all barrier). Per-feed apply is
+	 *  safe because applyRefreshedEpisodes keeps unchanged feeds' object
+	 *  identity and lastUpdated (union merge), so each feed's refreshed
+	 *  episodes render as its own fetch resolves — the order flapping the
+	 *  old atomic barrier existed to hide can no longer happen. */
 	const refreshAllFeeds = async () => {
 		setIsLoadingFeeds(true);
 		try {
-			const currentFeeds = feeds();
-			for (const feed of currentFeeds) {
-				await refreshFeed(feed.id);
-			}
+			await mapWithConcurrency(
+				feeds(),
+				FETCH_CONCURRENCY,
+				async (feed) => {
+					const { episodes, coverUrl } = await fetchEpisodes(
+						feed.podcast.feedUrl,
+						MAX_EPISODES_REFRESH,
+						feed.id,
+					);
+					// A failed fetch (null) leaves that feed untouched.
+					if (!episodes) return;
+					setFeeds((prev) => {
+						let updated = applyRefreshedEpisodes(prev, feed.id, episodes);
+						if (coverUrl) {
+							updated = updated.map((f) =>
+								f.id === feed.id && !f.podcast.coverUrl && coverUrl
+									? { ...f, podcast: { ...f.podcast, coverUrl } }
+									: f,
+							);
+						}
+						if (updated !== prev) scheduleSaveFeeds();
+						return updated;
+					});
+				},
+			);
+			// Global auto-download: one idempotent pass after the batch.
+			runAutoDownload();
+			// A refresh batch always ends with a persisted write when
+			// anything changed — never leave the debounce's trailing edge
+			// pending across a process exit.
+			flushPendingSave();
 		} finally {
 			setIsLoadingFeeds(false);
 		}
 	};
 
+	// Resolves once the persisted feeds are loaded and visible to feeds() —
+	// before the background refresh so boot-time consumers (player-session
+	// restore) don't wait on the network.
+	const { promise: feedsReady, resolve: resolveFeedsReady } =
+		Promise.withResolvers<void>();
 	(async () => {
 		const loadedFeeds = await loadFeedsFromFile();
 		if (loadedFeeds.length > 0) setFeeds(loadedFeeds);
+		resolveFeedsReady();
 		const loadedSources = await loadSourcesFromFile<PodcastSource>();
-		if (loadedSources && loadedSources.length > 0) setSources(loadedSources);
+		// The default "rss" placeholder source fabricated fake search results
+		// and was removed from DEFAULT_SOURCES; drop it from persisted configs
+		// too. User-added custom feeds keep their own ids and are untouched.
+		const migratedSources =
+			loadedSources?.filter((source) => source.id !== "rss") ?? [];
+		// Default sources fill gaps in persisted configs (so new defaults like
+		// the Podcast Index fallback reach existing installs), while a
+		// persisted source with the same id always wins over its default —
+		// user edits (keys, enabled, country) are never clobbered.
+		const mergedSources = [
+			...migratedSources,
+			...DEFAULT_SOURCES.filter(
+				(defaultSource) =>
+					!migratedSources.some((s) => s.id === defaultSource.id),
+			),
+		];
+		if (mergedSources.length > 0) {
+			// One-time credential migration: sources persisted with plaintext
+			// apiKey/apiSecret (pre-keychain builds) move into the macOS
+			// keychain and are stripped from config.json.
+			const secured = await migratePlaintextCredentials(mergedSources);
+			setSources(secured);
+			if (secured !== mergedSources) saveSources(secured);
+		}
 		await refreshAllFeeds();
 	})();
 
+	// ── Background refresh ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// New episodes only reach the app while it runs if feeds are re-fetched
+	// on a schedule: startup and manual `r` alone leave a subscribed show's
+	// latest episode invisible until the user restarts (or presses r). A
+	// self-rescheduling timer re-reads the interval preference on every tick
+	// so a settings change takes effect without a restart, and skips a tick
+	// that would overlap an in-flight refresh (manual or background).
+	let refreshTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+	const scheduleNextRefresh = () => {
+		if (refreshTimer) clearTimeout(refreshTimer);
+		const minutes = Math.max(
+			1,
+			useAppStore().state().preferences.refreshIntervalMinutes ??
+				DEFAULT_REFRESH_INTERVAL_MINUTES,
+		);
+		refreshTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+			if (!isLoadingFeeds()) {
+				refreshAllFeeds().catch(() => {});
+			}
+			scheduleNextRefresh();
+		}, minutes * 60_000);
+	};
+	scheduleNextRefresh();
+
 	/** Remove a feed */
 	const removeFeed = (feedId: string) => {
 		fullEpisodeCache.delete(feedId);
 		episodeLoadCount.delete(feedId);
 		setFeeds((prev) => {
 			const updated = prev.filter((f) => f.id !== feedId);
-			saveFeeds(updated);
+			// Unsubscribe intent must not sit in the debounce window if the
+			// process exits — persist the removal immediately.
+			scheduleSaveFeeds();
+			flushPendingSave();
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
@@ -303,7 +651,10 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 			episodeLoadCount.delete(feed.id);
 			setFeeds((prev) => {
 				const updated = prev.filter((f) => f.podcast.feedUrl !== feedUrl);
-				saveFeeds(updated);
+				// Unsubscribe intent must not sit in the debounce window if
+				// the process exits — persist the removal immediately.
+				scheduleSaveFeeds();
+				flushPendingSave();
 				return updated;
 			});
 		}
@@ -315,7 +666,7 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 			const updated = prev.map((f) =>
 				f.id === feedId ? { ...f, ...updates, lastUpdated: new Date() } : f,
 			);
-			saveFeeds(updated);
+			scheduleSaveFeeds();
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
@@ -326,7 +677,7 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 			const updated = prev.map((f) =>
 				f.id === feedId ? { ...f, isPinned: !f.isPinned } : f,
 			);
-			saveFeeds(updated);
+			scheduleSaveFeeds();
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
@@ -359,7 +710,7 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 	/** Remove a source */
 	const removeSource = (sourceId: string) => {
 		// Don't remove default sources
-		if (sourceId === "itunes" || sourceId === "rss") return false;
+		if (DEFAULT_SOURCES.some((s) => s.id === sourceId)) return false;
 
 		setSources((prev) => {
 			const updated = prev.filter((s) => s.id !== sourceId);
@@ -385,6 +736,16 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 		return feeds().find((f) => f.id === feedId);
 	};
 
+	/** Find an episode by ID across all loaded feeds (undefined when the
+	 *  episode isn't in any loaded window, e.g. an unsubscribed show). */
+	const findEpisode = (episodeId: string): Episode | undefined => {
+		for (const feed of feeds()) {
+			const ep = feed.episodes.find((e) => e.id === episodeId);
+			if (ep) return ep;
+		}
+		return undefined;
+	};
+
 	/** Get selected feed */
 	const getSelectedFeed = (): Feed | undefined => {
 		const id = selectedFeedId();
@@ -410,16 +771,32 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 
 		// If no cache, re-fetch and parse the full feed
 		if (!cached) {
-			const response = await fetch(feed.podcast.feedUrl, {
-				headers: {
-					"Accept-Encoding": "identity",
-					Accept: "application/rss+xml, application/xml, text/xml, */*",
-				},
-			});
-			if (!response.ok) return;
-			const xml = await response.text();
-			const parsed = parseRSSFeed(xml, feed.podcast.feedUrl);
-			cached = parsed.episodes;
+			try {
+				const response = await fetch(feed.podcast.feedUrl, {
+					headers: {
+						"Accept-Encoding": "identity",
+						Accept: "application/rss+xml, application/xml, text/xml, */*",
+					},
+					// A hung feed must not stall the load-more path forever —
+					// mirror fetchEpisodes' per-feed timeout.
+					signal: AbortSignal.timeout(FETCH_TIMEOUT_MS),
+				});
+				if (!response.ok) return;
+				const xml = await response.text();
+				cached = await parseEpisodesIncremental(xml, feed.podcast.feedUrl);
+			} catch {
+				// Failed/hung refetch: leave the feed's loaded episodes
+				// untouched rather than throwing out of loadMoreEpisodes.
+				return;
+			}
+			// Cold-refetch parse output is unsorted; sort and cap it so the
+			// cache and the pagination window stay newest-first and bounded.
+			// Yield before the sync sort (the parse already yielded before
+			// this point, but the sort of potentially hundreds of episodes
+			// is its own sync block).
+			await yieldToUI();
+			cached = sortEpisodesReverseChronological(cached);
+			cached = cached.slice(0, MAX_EPISODES_IN_MEMORY);
 			fullEpisodeCache.set(feedId, cached);
 			// Set current load count to match what's already displayed
 			episodeLoadCount.set(feedId, feed.episodes.length);
@@ -436,11 +813,18 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 		episodeLoadCount.set(feedId, newCount);
 		const episodes = cached.slice(0, newCount);
 
+		// Yield a real macrotask turn before the sync state update so the
+		// renderer paints the spinner and processes keyboard input before the
+		// (potentially large, per-feed in loadMoreAllFeeds) setFeeds + sort
+		// runs. Without this, the whole body executes in one microtask batch
+		// and the UI freezes through every feed in the batch.
+		await yieldToUI();
+
 		setFeeds((prev) => {
 			const updated = prev.map((f) =>
 				f.id === feedId ? { ...f, episodes } : f,
 			);
-			saveFeeds(updated);
+			scheduleSaveFeeds();
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
@@ -477,13 +861,9 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 		}
 	};
 
-	/** Set auto-download settings for a feed */
-	const setAutoDownload = (
-		feedId: string,
-		enabled: boolean,
-		count: number = 0,
-	) => {
-		updateFeed(feedId, { autoDownload: enabled, autoDownloadCount: count });
+	/** Run the global auto-download pass (see runAutoDownload above). */
+	const runAutoDownloadNow = (): void => {
+		runAutoDownload();
 	};
 
 	return {
@@ -494,10 +874,15 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 		selectedFeedId,
 		isLoadingMore,
 
+		/** Resolves once persisted feeds are loaded from disk (before the
+		 *  background refresh). */
+		whenReady: () => feedsReady,
+
 		// Computed
 		getFilteredFeeds,
 		getAllEpisodesChronological,
 		getFeed,
+		findEpisode,
 		getSelectedFeed,
 		hasMoreEpisodes,
 		isLoadingFeeds,
@@ -516,11 +901,12 @@ function createFeedStore() {
 		loadMoreEpisodes,
 		loadMoreAllFeeds,
 		hasMoreAcrossAll,
+		flushPendingSave,
 		addSource,
 		removeSource,
 		toggleSource,
 		updateSource,
-		setAutoDownload,
+		runAutoDownload: runAutoDownloadNow,
 	};
 }
 

src/stores/progress.ts

@@ -53,11 +53,17 @@ async function initProgress(): Promise<void> {
 	setProgressMap(parsed);
 }
 
-// Fire-and-forget init
-initProgress();
+// Fire-and-forget init; the promise is exposed via whenReady() so boot-time
+// consumers (e.g. player-session restore) can await the file load.
+const progressInit = initProgress();
 
 function createProgressStore() {
 	return {
+		/**
+		 * Resolves once the persisted progress map has been loaded from disk.
+		 */
+		whenReady: () => progressInit,
+
 		/**
 		 * Get progress for a specific episode.
 		 */

src/stores/search.ts

@@ -4,12 +4,16 @@
  */
 
 import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
-import { searchPodcasts, searchByFeedUrl } from "../utils/search";
+import { searchPodcasts, searchEpisodes, searchByFeedUrl } from "../utils/search";
+import {
+	loadSearchHistoryFromFile,
+	saveSearchHistoryToFile,
+} from "../utils/app-persistence";
 import { useFeedStore } from "./feed";
-import type { SearchResult } from "../types/source";
+import type { SearchResult, SearchScope } from "../types/source";
 
-const STORAGE_KEY = "podtui_search_history";
-const MAX_HISTORY = 20;
+const STORAGE_SCOPE_KEY = "podtui_search_scope";
+const MAX_HISTORY = 10;
 
 export interface SearchState {
 	query: string;
@@ -20,22 +24,37 @@ export interface SearchState {
 
 const CACHE_TTL = 1000 * 60 * 5;
 
-/** Load search history from localStorage */
-function loadHistory(): string[] {
-	if (typeof localStorage === "undefined") return [];
+/** Normalize raw history: drop blanks, dedupe case-insensitively (newest
+ *  wins), cap at MAX_HISTORY. */
+function sanitizeHistory(items: string[]): string[] {
+	const seen = new Set<string>();
+	const cleaned: string[] = [];
+	for (const item of items) {
+		const trimmed = item.trim();
+		const key = trimmed.toLowerCase();
+		if (!key || seen.has(key)) continue;
+		seen.add(key);
+		cleaned.push(trimmed);
+	}
+	return cleaned.slice(0, MAX_HISTORY);
+}
+
+/** Load persisted search scope ("podcast" | "episode"), defaulting to shows. */
+function loadScope(): SearchScope {
+	if (typeof localStorage === "undefined") return "podcast";
 	try {
-		const stored = localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY);
-		return stored ? JSON.parse(stored) : [];
+		const stored = localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_SCOPE_KEY);
+		return stored === "episode" ? "episode" : "podcast";
 	} catch {
-		return [];
+		return "podcast";
 	}
 }
 
-/** Save search history to localStorage */
-function saveHistory(history: string[]): void {
+/** Save search scope to localStorage */
+function saveScope(scope: SearchScope): void {
 	if (typeof localStorage === "undefined") return;
 	try {
-		localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(history));
+		localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_SCOPE_KEY, scope);
 	} catch {
 		// Ignore errors
 	}
@@ -48,8 +67,24 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 	const [isSearching, setIsSearching] = createSignal(false);
 	const [results, setResults] = createSignal<SearchResult[]>([]);
 	const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
-	const [history, setHistory] = createSignal<string[]>(loadHistory());
+	const [history, setHistory] = createSignal<string[]>([]);
 	const [selectedSources, setSelectedSources] = createSignal<string[]>([]);
+	const [scope, setScopeState] = createSignal<SearchScope>(loadScope());
+
+	/** Load search history from file (fire-and-forget; recents appear as
+	 *  soon as the file is read). */
+	async function init(): Promise<void> {
+		const loaded = await loadSearchHistoryFromFile();
+		if (loaded.length > 0) setHistory(sanitizeHistory(loaded));
+	}
+
+	init();
+
+	/** Set the search scope (shows vs episodes) and persist it. */
+	const setScope = (next: SearchScope) => {
+		setScopeState(next);
+		saveScope(next);
+	};
 
 	const applySubscribedStatus = (items: SearchResult[]): SearchResult[] => {
 		const feeds = feedStore.feeds();
@@ -110,9 +145,14 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 				return;
 			}
 
-			const searchResults = await searchPodcasts(q, sourceIds, sources, {
-				cacheTtl: CACHE_TTL,
-			});
+			const searchResults =
+				scope() === "episode"
+					? await searchEpisodes(q, sourceIds, sources, {
+							cacheTtl: CACHE_TTL,
+						})
+					: await searchPodcasts(q, sourceIds, sources, {
+							cacheTtl: CACHE_TTL,
+						});
 
 			setResults(applySubscribedStatus(searchResults));
 		} catch (e) {
@@ -130,9 +170,8 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 	/** Add query to history */
 	const addToHistory = (q: string) => {
 		setHistory((prev) => {
-			const filtered = prev.filter((h) => h.toLowerCase() !== q.toLowerCase());
-			const updated = [q, ...filtered].slice(0, MAX_HISTORY);
-			saveHistory(updated);
+			const updated = sanitizeHistory([q, ...prev]);
+			saveSearchHistoryToFile(updated);
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
@@ -140,14 +179,14 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 	/** Clear search history */
 	const clearHistory = () => {
 		setHistory([]);
-		saveHistory([]);
+		saveSearchHistoryToFile([]);
 	};
 
 	/** Remove single history item */
 	const removeFromHistory = (q: string) => {
 		setHistory((prev) => {
 			const updated = prev.filter((h) => h !== q);
-			saveHistory(updated);
+			saveSearchHistoryToFile(updated);
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
@@ -179,6 +218,27 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 		);
 	};
 
+	/** Mark a podcast as unsubscribed in results (after an in-place
+	 *  unsubscribe from the results list). */
+	const markUnsubscribed = (podcastId: string, feedUrl?: string) => {
+		setResults((prev) =>
+			prev.map((result) => {
+				const matchesId = result.podcast.id === podcastId;
+				const matchesUrl = feedUrl ? result.podcast.feedUrl === feedUrl : false;
+				if (matchesId || matchesUrl) {
+					return {
+						...result,
+						podcast: {
+							...result.podcast,
+							isSubscribed: false,
+						},
+					};
+				}
+				return result;
+			}),
+		);
+	};
+
 	return {
 		// State
 		query,
@@ -187,6 +247,7 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 		error,
 		history,
 		selectedSources,
+		scope,
 
 		// Actions
 		search,
@@ -195,7 +256,9 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 		clearHistory,
 		removeFromHistory,
 		setSelectedSources,
+		setScope,
 		markSubscribed,
+		markUnsubscribed,
 	};
 }
 

src/stores/visualizer.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,450 @@
+/**
+ * visualizer-store — module-level singleton owning the realtime waveform
+ * pipeline (ffmpeg decode + cavacore FFT), shared across PlayerPage mounts.
+ *
+ * Pipeline shape (see utils/audio-pcm-cache.ts for the rationale):
+ * an ffmpeg process decodes the episode at full speed into a
+ * position-indexed PCM cache; the render loop reads the window ending at
+ * the player's current position from that cache. Because reads are
+ * indexed by playback time, PAUSE/RESUME/SEEK/SPEED need no pipeline
+ * choreography at all — and cannot desync:
+ *
+ * - Pause: stop the render loop and the decode pass; the PCM cache stays
+ *   resident. Bars freeze on the last rendered frame.
+ * - Resume: re-arm the render loop — bars render instantly from the cache
+ *   — and continue the tail decode in the background. No cold start, no
+ *   coverage guessing, no clamped-buffer freeze (the old bug: resume
+ *   re-armed the loop over a DEAD ffmpeg and the bars exhausted the ring
+ *   buffer, then froze on a repeated stale window forever).
+ * - Seek into decoded audio: nothing to do. Seek into a hole: kick off a
+ *   decode segment there; the last frame holds until data arrives.
+ * - Speed changes: nothing. The cache is position-indexed raw PCM.
+ *
+ * Focus lifecycle: Shell unmounts a tab's page when it loses focus, but the
+ * pipeline outlives the page so playback keeps visualizing; UNLOAD_DELAY_MS
+ * after the Player tab stops being focused it tears down. Reads outside
+ * decoded coverage return empty — the renderer simply holds the last frame
+ * until the decode frontier arrives.
+ */
+
+import {
+	createSignal,
+	createEffect,
+	createRoot,
+	on,
+	untrack,
+} from "solid-js";
+import {
+	loadCavaCore,
+	type CavaCore,
+	type CavaCoreConfig,
+} from "@/utils/cavacore";
+import { EpisodePcmCache, PCM_SAMPLE_RATE } from "@/utils/audio-pcm-cache";
+import { createBarScaler } from "@/utils/bar-mapping";
+import { audioPlaybackSignals } from "@/utils/audio-signals";
+import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
+
+// ── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** How long the pipeline keeps running after the Player tab loses focus. */
+export const VISUALIZER_UNLOAD_DELAY_MS = 30_000;
+
+/** Target frame interval in ms (~30 fps) */
+const FRAME_INTERVAL = 33;
+
+/** Number of PCM samples to read per frame (512 is a good FFT window) */
+const SAMPLES_PER_FRAME = 512;
+
+/** Timer handle as returned by setTimeout/setInterval in this runtime. */
+type TimerHandle = ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
+
+// ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export interface VisualizerStore {
+	/** Frequency bar values (0.0–1.0 per bar), empty until the first frame. */
+	barData: () => number[];
+	/** True from pipeline start until the first complete FFT frame renders. */
+	isLoading: () => boolean;
+	/** True while the ~30fps render loop is armed. */
+	isRunning: () => boolean;
+	/** Report whether the Player tab is the visible tab. */
+	setFocused: (focused: boolean) => void;
+	/** Report the terminal-width-derived bar count (resize re-inits). */
+	setBarCount: (count: number) => void;
+}
+
+// ── Store factory ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function createVisualizerStore(): VisualizerStore {
+	// Frequency bar values (0.0–1.0 per bar)
+	const [barData, setBarData] = createSignal<number[]>([]);
+
+	// True from pipeline start until the first complete FFT frame renders.
+	const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = createSignal(false);
+
+	// Whether the Player tab is the visible tab (fed by PlayerPage).
+	const [focused, setFocused] = createSignal(false);
+
+	// Width-derived bar count (fed by RealtimeWaveform; default before the
+	// renderer reports a real size).
+	const [barCount, setBarCount] = createSignal(64);
+
+	// Peak-follower scaler replaces cava's autosens: normalizes each FFT
+	// frame against the running peak so a loud start can't pin every bar
+	// at full height and quiet content still gets normalized up.
+	const scaler = createBarScaler();
+
+	let cava: CavaCore | null = null;
+	// Position-indexed PCM cache for the current episode. Kept across
+	// pause/resume (segments survive; only the ffmpeg pass is killed) and
+	// dropped only on episode change, stop, disable, or unload.
+	let pcm: EpisodePcmCache | null = null;
+	let frameTimer: TimerHandle | null = null;
+	let sampleBuffer: Float64Array | null = null;
+	let unloadTimer: TimerHandle | null = null;
+
+	// What the running pipeline was started with — lets the playback effect
+	// tell "nothing changed, stay warm" from "must restart".
+	let activeUrl = "";
+	let activeBars = 64;
+
+	// ── Lifecycle helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+	const clearUnloadTimer = () => {
+		if (unloadTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(unloadTimer);
+			unloadTimer = null;
+		}
+	};
+
+	const initCava = () => {
+		if (cava) return true;
+
+		cava = loadCavaCore();
+		if (!cava) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		return true;
+	};
+
+	// ── Smooth position clock ──────────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// audio.position() updates at the useAudio poll rate (~150ms). Between
+	// polls, interpolate the position from wall time so the FFT window
+	// tracks the audio continuously instead of stepping. The 0.5s cap
+	// prevents extrapolating far beyond reality when the player stalls
+	// (e.g. network re-buffering).
+
+	let lastPolledPosition = 0;
+	let lastPolledAt = 0;
+	const smoothPosition = () => {
+		const pos = audioPlaybackSignals.position();
+		const now = performance.now();
+		if (pos !== lastPolledPosition) {
+			lastPolledPosition = pos;
+			lastPolledAt = now;
+			return pos;
+		}
+		if (lastPolledAt === 0) return pos;
+		const elapsed = Math.min((now - lastPolledAt) / 1000, 0.5);
+		return lastPolledPosition + elapsed * (audioPlaybackSignals.speed() ?? 1);
+	};
+
+	// ── Start/stop the visualization pipeline ──────────────────────────
+
+	const startVisualization = (url: string, position: number) => {
+		stopVisualization();
+
+		if (!url || !initCava() || !cava) return;
+
+		// Initialize cavacore with current resolution + the user's
+		// audio-processing params (noise reduction, cutoffs, etc.).
+		// autosens is disabled (after the spread so it always wins): cava's
+		// autosens gain-ramps during silence then clips everything to 1.0
+		// when audio arrives — the JS peak scaler handles dynamics instead.
+		const viz = useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer;
+		const config: CavaCoreConfig = {
+			bars: barCount(),
+			sampleRate: PCM_SAMPLE_RATE,
+			channels: 1,
+			noiseReduction: viz.noiseReduction,
+			lowCutOff: viz.lowCutOff,
+			highCutOff: viz.highCutOff,
+			autosens: 0,
+		};
+		cava.init(config);
+
+		// Pre-warm the FFT window: libcavacore's window is malloc'd
+		// uninitialized, so the first real frame would FFT garbage and
+		// render full-scale bars. One zero frame the size of the whole
+		// input buffer clears it.
+		cava.execute(new Float64Array(8192));
+
+		// Pre-allocate sample read buffer
+		sampleBuffer = new Float64Array(SAMPLES_PER_FRAME);
+
+		// PCM cache per episode (reuse when the episode is unchanged)
+		if (!pcm || pcm.url !== url) {
+			if (pcm) pcm.stop();
+			pcm = new EpisodePcmCache({ url });
+		}
+		// Decode from 1s before the position so the window ENDING at the
+		// position is covered as soon as the first PCM lands.
+		pcm.startDecode(Math.max(0, position - 1));
+
+		// Seed the smooth position clock with the start position. Without
+		// this, a fresh play at position 0 would sample the window ending at
+		// exactly 0 — a 1-sample slice — so bars would be starved until the
+		// first mpv poll advanced the position clock.
+		lastPolledPosition = position;
+		lastPolledAt = performance.now();
+
+		activeUrl = url;
+		activeBars = barCount();
+		setIsLoading(true);
+		frameTimer = setInterval(renderFrame, FRAME_INTERVAL);
+	};
+
+	const stopVisualization = () => {
+		clearUnloadTimer();
+		if (frameTimer) {
+			clearInterval(frameTimer);
+			frameTimer = null;
+		}
+		clearTimeout(seekDecodeTimer);
+		seekDecodeTimer = undefined;
+		if (pcm) {
+			pcm.stop();
+			// Keep the (now cache-less, url-tagged) object: a re-start of the
+			// same episode reuses it; segments re-decode in seconds at 80x.
+		}
+		if (cava?.isReady) {
+			cava.destroy();
+		}
+		sampleBuffer = null;
+		setIsLoading(false);
+	};
+
+	// ── Pause: freeze the loop, keep the cache ──────────────────────────
+	//
+	// The render loop stops (bars hold their last frame) and the ffmpeg
+	// pass dies (no background CPU), but the decoded PCM stays: resume
+	// serves it instantly.
+
+	const suspendVisualization = () => {
+		clearUnloadTimer();
+		if (frameTimer) {
+			clearInterval(frameTimer);
+			frameTimer = null;
+		}
+		// Cancel any debounced seek-decode: it would restart ffmpeg while
+		// paused, defeating the "no background CPU while paused" contract.
+		clearTimeout(seekDecodeTimer);
+		seekDecodeTimer = undefined;
+		if (pcm) pcm.pauseDecode();
+		// Cava plan + sampleBuffer stay alive — cheap to reuse on resume.
+		// Clear the loading spinner: if the pipeline never produced bars
+		// (still cold-starting when paused), the component should fall back
+		// to the placeholder, not freeze on a spinner.
+		setIsLoading(false);
+	};
+
+	// ── Resume: re-arm the render loop, top up the cache ───────────────
+	//
+	// Returns true if the pipeline resumed, false if there was nothing to
+	// resume (no prior pipeline).
+
+	const resumeVisualization = (): boolean => {
+		// Already running — nothing to do.
+		if (frameTimer !== null) return true;
+		if (!pcm || !cava?.isReady || !sampleBuffer) return false;
+
+		const pos = untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position);
+
+		// Bars come from the cache on the next frame tick (~33ms) whenever
+		// the position is covered; any gap (uncached region) restarts the
+		// decode pass in the background with the last frame holding.
+		pcm.ensureDecodeAround(pos);
+
+		lastPolledPosition = pos;
+		lastPolledAt = performance.now();
+		frameTimer = setInterval(renderFrame, FRAME_INTERVAL);
+		return true;
+	};
+
+	// ── Render loop (called at ~30fps) ─────────────────────────────────
+
+	const renderFrame = () => {
+		if (!cava?.isReady || !sampleBuffer || !pcm) return;
+
+		// Sample the FFT window at the player's position. Outside decoded
+		// coverage (decode cold start, seek into a hole) the read is empty
+		// and the LAST FRAME simply holds — never clamped/repeated junk.
+		const target = smoothPosition();
+		const count = pcm.readWindow(sampleBuffer, target);
+		// Never feed a partial FFT window to cava.
+		if (count < sampleBuffer.length) return;
+
+		const output = cava.execute(sampleBuffer);
+
+		// Normalize against the running peak and copy to a new array
+		setBarData(scaler(output));
+		if (isLoading()) setIsLoading(false);
+	};
+
+	// ── Playback subscription ──────────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// Keeps the pipeline matched to playback. Pause suspends (render loop +
+	// decode pass die, cache survives) so resume is instant. Stop/track-end/
+	// disable fully tears down. `focused` is a dep so focus regain
+	// re-evaluates; the guards make a focus flip on an already-correct warm
+	// pipeline a no-op. Speed is deliberately NOT a dep — the PCM cache is
+	// position-indexed, so playback-rate changes need no pipeline restart.
+
+	createEffect(
+		on(
+			[
+				audioPlaybackSignals.isPlaying,
+				() => audioPlaybackSignals.currentEpisode()?.audioUrl ?? "",
+				barCount,
+				focused,
+				() => useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer.enabled,
+			],
+			([playing, url, , , enabled]) => {
+				if (!url || !enabled) {
+					stopVisualization();
+					return;
+				}
+				if (!playing) {
+					// Pause: freeze the loop, keep the cache. Only if the
+					// pipeline is actually running — otherwise no-op.
+					if (frameTimer !== null) suspendVisualization();
+					return;
+				}
+
+				// Playing — try a fast resume first. If it succeeds and the
+				// pipeline matches, done.
+				if (
+					frameTimer === null &&
+					pcm &&
+					cava?.isReady &&
+					url === activeUrl &&
+					barCount() === activeBars
+				) {
+					if (resumeVisualization()) return;
+				}
+
+				// Warm and already correct — nothing to do (e.g. focus
+				// regained within the unload delay while still playing).
+				if (frameTimer !== null && url === activeUrl && barCount() === activeBars) {
+					return;
+				}
+				if (!focused()) return; // playing away: stay warm; unload timer decides
+				startVisualization(url, untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position));
+			},
+		),
+	);
+
+	// ── Focus subscription: unload after the grace delay ───────────────
+
+	createEffect(
+		on(focused, (f) => {
+			clearUnloadTimer();
+			if (f) {
+				// Pipeline was unloaded (or never started) but playback is
+				// still going — restart from the current position. When the
+				// pipeline is warm the playback effect above is the one that
+				// acts (guard: no-op for an unchanged warm pipeline).
+				if (
+					audioPlaybackSignals.isPlaying() &&
+					audioPlaybackSignals.currentEpisode()?.audioUrl &&
+					useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer.enabled &&
+					frameTimer === null
+				) {
+					startVisualization(
+						audioPlaybackSignals.currentEpisode()!.audioUrl,
+						untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position),
+					);
+				}
+			} else if (frameTimer !== null) {
+				unloadTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+					unloadTimer = null;
+					stopVisualization();
+				}, VISUALIZER_UNLOAD_DELAY_MS);
+			}
+		}),
+	);
+
+	// ── Seek detection: jump coverage, not pipeline restarts ───────────
+	//
+	// Watches position for significant jumps (>2s = user seek). Decoded
+	// audio at the new position is served instantly with zero action; a
+	// jump into an undecoded hole kicks a background segment decode there
+	// while the last frame holds.
+
+	let lastSyncPosition = 0;
+	let seekDecodeTimer: TimerHandle | undefined;
+	createEffect(
+		on(audioPlaybackSignals.position, (pos) => {
+			if (!audioPlaybackSignals.isPlaying() || !pcm) {
+				lastSyncPosition = pos;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			const delta = Math.abs(pos - lastSyncPosition);
+			lastSyncPosition = pos;
+
+			if (delta > 2) {
+				// Debounce: holding the seek key fires a jump per poll tick —
+				// without debounce each one restarts ffmpeg, spamming network
+				// reconnects against the stream's server. Wait for the user to
+				// settle, then decode at the final position.
+				clearTimeout(seekDecodeTimer);
+				const target = pcm; // capture for the timer
+				seekDecodeTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+					seekDecodeTimer = undefined;
+					target.ensureDecodeAround(untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position));
+				}, 400);
+			}
+		}),
+	);
+	// ── Process-exit teardown ──────────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// The pipeline lives in a detached createRoot that is never disposed,
+	// so Solid's onCleanup never runs. `q`/`:quit` call process.exit(0)
+	// (bypassing onCleanup); SIGINT/TERM/HUP are caught by useAudio's
+	// handler. This handler runs synchronously on `exit` and kills the
+	// ffmpeg child + destroys the cava plan so they don't outlive the host.
+	// Without it, a warm pipeline leaks an orphaned ffmpeg process on quit.
+	process.on("exit", () => {
+		stopVisualization();
+	});
+
+	return {
+		// state
+		barData,
+		isLoading,
+		isRunning: () => frameTimer !== null,
+		// inputs
+		setFocused,
+		setBarCount,
+	};
+}
+
+// ── Singleton ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+let visualizerStoreInstance: VisualizerStore | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * Accessor for the shared visualizer store. Created once inside a
+ * `createRoot` so its effects are owned by a detached root — not by
+ * whichever component happens to call first (PlayerPage unmounts would
+ * otherwise dispose the pipeline effects with it).
+ */
+export function useVisualizer(): VisualizerStore {
+	if (!visualizerStoreInstance) {
+		visualizerStoreInstance = createRoot(() => createVisualizerStore());
+	}
+	return visualizerStoreInstance;
+}

src/types/episode.ts

@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ export enum DownloadStatus {
 export interface DownloadedEpisode {
   /** Episode ID */
   episodeId: string
-  /** Feed ID the episode belongs to */
+  /** Feed ID the episode belongs to. For downloads of shows that aren't
+   *  subscribed (search downloads) this is a deterministic synthetic id
+   *  ("unsub-<slug>") that also names the file subdirectory. */
   feedId: string
   /** Current download status */
   status: DownloadStatus
@@ -114,4 +116,16 @@ export interface DownloadedEpisode {
   fileSize: number
   /** Error message if failed */
   error: string | null
+  /** Episode title, persisted so unsubscribed-show downloads render without
+   *  a loaded feed. */
+  episodeTitle?: string
+  /** Audio URL, persisted so queued downloads survive a restart. */
+  audioUrl?: string
+  /** Publication date (ISO), for display of unsubscribed-show downloads. */
+  pubDate?: string
+  /** Show title, kept for downloads whose show isn't subscribed. */
+  podcastTitle?: string
+  /** The show's RSS feed URL, used to re-classify a download as subscribed
+   *  once the user subscribes to its show. */
+  podcastFeedUrl?: string
 }

src/types/feed.ts

@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ export interface Feed {
   isPinned: boolean
   /** Feed color for UI */
   color?: string
-  /** Whether auto-download is enabled for this feed */
-  autoDownload?: boolean
-  /** Number of newest episodes to auto-download (0 = all new) */
-  autoDownloadCount?: number
 }
 
 /** Feed item for display in lists */

src/types/podcast.ts

@@ -12,8 +12,12 @@ export interface Podcast {
   description: string
   /** Cover image URL */
   coverUrl?: string
-  /** RSS feed URL */
+  /** RSS feed URL. Empty when the directory lists the show without a feed
+   *  (e.g. shows delisted from Apple Podcasts); see directoryUrl. */
   feedUrl: string
+  /** Directory listing page (e.g. Apple Podcasts) for shows whose feed URL
+   *  the directory omits — used to resolve the real feed at subscribe time. */
+  directoryUrl?: string
   /** Author/creator name */
   author?: string
   /** Podcast categories */

src/types/settings.ts

@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ export type DesktopTheme = {
 };
 
 export type VisualizerSettings = {
+	/** Master on/off switch for the player's realtime waveform (default: on). */
+	enabled: boolean;
 	/** Number of frequency bars (8–128, default: 64) */
 	bars: number;
 	/** Automatic sensitivity: 1 = enabled, 0 = disabled (default: 1) */
@@ -78,22 +80,37 @@ export type AppSettings = {
 	theme: ThemeName;
 	fontSize: number;
 	playbackSpeed: number;
+	/** Playback volume 0–1 (default: 1 = 100%). */
+	volume: number;
 	downloadPath: string;
 	/** Render the app background transparent (let the terminal's own bg show). */
 	transparentBackground: boolean;
+	/** Show the `❯` cursor marker on the focused row of every list (default: off). */
+	showSelectionMarker: boolean;
 	visualizer: VisualizerSettings;
 };
 
-/** How the Feed list loads older episodes (default: manual "[Fetch More]"). */
+/** How the Feed and per-show episode lists load older episodes (default: auto). */
 export type FetchMoreMode = "manual" | "auto";
 
+/** Which shows the auto-download setting applies to (default: all). */
+export type AutoDownloadScope = "all" | "none" | "whitelist";
+
 export type UserPreferences = {
 	showExplicit: boolean;
 	autoDownload: boolean;
+	/** Most recent episodes to auto-download per in-scope show (default: 2). */
+	autoDownloadCount: number;
+	/** Shows auto-download covers: all / none / whitelist (default: all). */
+	autoDownloadScope: AutoDownloadScope;
+	/** Feed ids in the auto-download whitelist (used when scope is "whitelist"). */
+	autoDownloadWhitelist: string[];
 	/** Jump to the Player view automatically when playback starts (default: true) */
 	autoJumpToPlayer: boolean;
-	/** Load older episodes from the Feed list: manual button or automatic at the bottom (default: manual). */
+	/** Load older episodes from the Feed list: manual button or automatic at the bottom (default: auto). */
 	fetchMoreMode: FetchMoreMode;
+	/** Minutes between automatic background feed refreshes (default: 30). */
+	refreshIntervalMinutes: number;
 };
 
 export type AppState = {

src/types/source.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
  * Podcast source type definitions for PodTUI
  */
 
+import type { Episode } from "./episode"
+import type { Podcast } from "./podcast"
+
 /** Source type enumeration */
 export enum SourceType {
   /** RSS feed URL */
@@ -22,8 +25,21 @@ export interface PodcastSource {
   type: SourceType
   /** Base URL for the source */
   baseUrl: string
-  /** API key (if required) */
+  /** API key — live only when the keychain is unavailable and the source
+   *  uses the plaintext fallback (credentialStorage "plaintext"). Legacy
+   *  plaintext keys are migrated to the OS keychain on load and stripped. */
   apiKey?: string
+  /** API secret (e.g. Podcast Index signature auth) — same lifecycle as
+   *  apiKey: held in the OS keychain by default, live on the source only
+   *  under the plaintext fallback. */
+  apiSecret?: string
+  /** True when this source's credentials are stored. A source is usable once
+   *  enabled. */
+  hasCredentials?: boolean
+  /** Where this source's credentials live: the OS keychain (encrypted at
+   *  rest) by default, or config.json as a plaintext fallback when the
+   *  keychain is unavailable (e.g. non-macOS). */
+  credentialStorage?: "keychain" | "plaintext"
   /** Whether source is enabled */
   enabled: boolean
   /** Source icon/logo URL */
@@ -78,20 +94,39 @@ export enum SearchSortField {
   POPULARITY = "popularity",
 }
 
-/** Search result */
-export interface SearchResult {
+/** What a directory search targets: shows or individual episodes. */
+export type SearchScope = "podcast" | "episode"
+
+/** Fields shared by every search result. */
+export interface SearchResultBase {
   /** Source that returned this result */
   sourceId: string
   /** Source display name */
   sourceName?: string
   /** Source type */
   sourceType?: SourceType
-  /** Podcast data */
-  podcast: import("./podcast").Podcast
   /** Relevance score (0-1) */
   score?: number
 }
 
+/** A show found by directory search. */
+export interface PodcastSearchResult extends SearchResultBase {
+  kind: "podcast"
+  /** Podcast data */
+  podcast: Podcast
+}
+
+/** A single episode found by directory search. `podcast` is its parent show
+ *  — used for display context and for subscribing to the show. */
+export interface EpisodeSearchResult extends SearchResultBase {
+  kind: "episode"
+  podcast: Podcast
+  episode: Episode
+}
+
+/** Search result */
+export type SearchResult = PodcastSearchResult | EpisodeSearchResult
+
 /** Default podcast sources */
 export const DEFAULT_SOURCES: PodcastSource[] = [
   {
@@ -106,11 +141,14 @@ export const DEFAULT_SOURCES: PodcastSource[] = [
     allowExplicit: true,
   },
   {
-    id: "rss",
-    name: "RSS Feed",
-    type: SourceType.RSS,
-    baseUrl: "",
-    enabled: true,
-    description: "Add podcasts via RSS feed URL",
+    id: "podcastindex",
+    name: "Podcast Index",
+    type: SourceType.API,
+    baseUrl: "https://api.podcastindex.org/api/1.0/search/byterm",
+    enabled: false,
+    description:
+      "Open podcast directory. Fallback when other sources return few results; requires a free API key + secret from podcastindex.org.",
+    language: "en",
+    allowExplicit: true,
   },
 ]

src/ui/command.tsx

@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ function CommandDialog(props: {
 			{/* Search input */}
 			<box marginBottom={1}>
 				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>{"> "}</text>
-				<text fg={theme.text}>{filter() || "Type to search commands..."}</text>
+				<text fg={theme.accent}>{filter() || "Type to search commands..."}</text>
 			</box>
 
 			{/* Command list */}

src/utils/app-persistence.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
  * No backups — writes always overwrite.
  */
 
-import { ensureConfigDir, getConfigFilePath } from "./config-dir";
+import { mkdirSync, writeFileSync } from "fs";
+import { ensureConfigDir, getConfigDir, getConfigFilePath } from "./config-dir";
 import { loadConfig, updateConfig } from "./config";
 import type {
 	AppState,
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ import { DEFAULT_THEME } from "../constants/themes";
 // --- Defaults ---
 
 const defaultVisualizerSettings: VisualizerSettings = {
+	enabled: true,
 	bars: 32,
 	sensitivity: 1,
 	noiseReduction: 0.77,
@@ -31,16 +33,22 @@ const defaultSettings: AppSettings = {
 	theme: "system",
 	fontSize: 14,
 	playbackSpeed: 1,
+	volume: 1,
 	downloadPath: "",
 	transparentBackground: false,
+	showSelectionMarker: false,
 	visualizer: defaultVisualizerSettings,
 };
 
 const defaultPreferences: UserPreferences = {
 	showExplicit: false,
 	autoDownload: false,
+	autoDownloadCount: 2,
+	autoDownloadScope: "all",
+	autoDownloadWhitelist: [],
 	autoJumpToPlayer: true,
-	fetchMoreMode: "manual",
+	fetchMoreMode: "auto",
+	refreshIntervalMinutes: 30,
 };
 
 const defaultState: AppState = {
@@ -57,7 +65,18 @@ export async function loadAppStateFromFile(): Promise<AppState> {
 		const cfg = await loadConfig();
 		if (!cfg || typeof cfg !== "object") return defaultState;
 		return {
-			settings: { ...defaultSettings, ...cfg.settings },
+			settings: {
+				...defaultSettings,
+				...cfg.settings,
+				// Visualizer is nested: a plain spread would let a config
+				// saved before a field was added (e.g. `enabled`) clobber
+				// the whole object and leave the new field undefined.
+				// Deep-merge so defaults backfill missing nested keys.
+				visualizer: {
+					...defaultVisualizerSettings,
+					...cfg.settings?.visualizer,
+				},
+			},
 			preferences: { ...defaultPreferences, ...cfg.preferences },
 			customTheme: { ...DEFAULT_THEME, ...cfg.customTheme },
 		};
@@ -119,6 +138,39 @@ export function saveProgressToFile(data: Record<string, unknown>): void {
 	})();
 }
 
+// ── Search History (separate file — changes on every search) ────────────────
+
+const SEARCH_HISTORY_FILE = "search-history.json";
+
+/** Load search history from JSON file */
+export async function loadSearchHistoryFromFile(): Promise<string[]> {
+	try {
+		const file = Bun.file(getConfigFilePath(SEARCH_HISTORY_FILE));
+		if (!(await file.exists())) return [];
+
+		const raw = await file.json();
+		if (!Array.isArray(raw)) return [];
+		return raw.filter((item): item is string => typeof item === "string");
+	} catch {
+		return [];
+	}
+}
+
+/** Save search history to JSON file (overwrite, no backup) */
+export function saveSearchHistoryToFile(history: string[]): void {
+	(async () => {
+		try {
+			await ensureConfigDir();
+			await Bun.write(
+				getConfigFilePath(SEARCH_HISTORY_FILE),
+				JSON.stringify(history, null, 2),
+			);
+		} catch {
+			// Silently ignore write errors
+		}
+	})();
+}
+
 // ── Audio Nav State (separate file — changes on every track change) ──────────
 
 const AUDIO_NAV_FILE = "audio-nav.json";
@@ -152,3 +204,70 @@ export function saveAudioNavToFile<T>(data: T): void {
 		}
 	})();
 }
+
+// ── Last Player State (separate file — written on every load/stop) ──────────
+
+const LAST_PLAYER_FILE = "last-player.json";
+
+/** Which episode is currently loaded in the player, persisted so the next
+ *  launch can restore it paused. `episodeId: null` means the player is empty
+ *  (e.g. after Stop). */
+export interface LastPlayerState {
+	episodeId: string | null;
+	timestamp: string | Date | null;
+}
+
+/** Load the last-loaded-player marker (null when absent or unreadable) */
+export async function loadLastPlayerFromFile(): Promise<LastPlayerState | null> {
+	try {
+		const file = Bun.file(getConfigFilePath(LAST_PLAYER_FILE));
+		if (!(await file.exists())) return null;
+
+		const raw = await file.json();
+		if (!raw || typeof raw !== "object") return null;
+
+		return raw as LastPlayerState;
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+/** Serialized marker-write chain: concurrent writes land in submission
+ *  order, and callers can await the last one (tests read the file back
+ *  deterministically). Mirrors updateConfig's write serialization. */
+let lastPlayerWriteChain: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve();
+
+/** Save the last-loaded-player marker (fire-and-forget) */
+export function saveLastPlayerToFile(state: LastPlayerState): void {
+	lastPlayerWriteChain = lastPlayerWriteChain.then(async () => {
+		try {
+			await ensureConfigDir();
+			await Bun.write(
+				getConfigFilePath(LAST_PLAYER_FILE),
+				JSON.stringify(state, null, 2),
+			);
+		} catch {
+			// Silently ignore write errors
+		}
+	});
+}
+
+/** Resolves once every marker write submitted so far has landed on disk. */
+export function waitForLastPlayerWrite(): Promise<void> {
+	return lastPlayerWriteChain;
+}
+
+/** Synchronous variant for the process-exit teardown. `q` quits through
+ *  `process.exit(0)`, which runs exit listeners synchronously — an async
+ *  write would never land. */
+export function saveLastPlayerSync(state: LastPlayerState): void {
+	try {
+		mkdirSync(getConfigDir(), { recursive: true });
+		writeFileSync(
+			getConfigFilePath(LAST_PLAYER_FILE),
+			JSON.stringify(state, null, 2),
+		);
+	} catch {
+		// Silently ignore write errors
+	}
+}

src/utils/audio-pcm-cache.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,385 @@
+/**
+ * Position-indexed PCM cache for visualization.
+ *
+ * One ffmpeg process decodes the episode's audio at 4x realtime (with an
+ * 8s initial burst — fast enough to serve bars and seeks instantly, throttled
+ * enough that a remote episode isn't ripped at 84x while mpv is trying to
+ * start playback) into an in-memory cache indexed by ABSOLUTE playback time.
+ * The renderer then reads the PCM
+ * window ending at the player's current position with zero sync machinery:
+ * there is no pacing (-readrate), no lead-burst, no decode-head/player
+ * drift math, no ring wrap, and nothing that knows or cares about pause,
+ * resume, seek, or playback speed — those all collapse to "read at a
+ * different position in the cache".
+ *
+ * Pause/resume contract (the failure mode of the old design):
+ * - pauseDecode() kills ffmpeg but KEEPS the cache. Resume reads from it
+ *   instantly and resumes the tail decode in the background.
+ * - Reads outside decoded coverage (startup, seek into an undecoded hole)
+ *   return 0 — the renderer HOLDS the last rendered frame rather than
+ *   freezing on a clamped buffer or decaying into junk bars.
+ *
+ * Seeks into undecoded territory start a fresh SEGMENT (a second decode
+ * pass over just that region) — earlier segments stay valid, mp3 decode of
+ * the same file is deterministic so abutting segments agree.
+ *
+ * Memory: 22050 Hz mono s16 ≈ 44 KB/s ≈ 2.6 MB/min (~80 MB per 30 min),
+ * freed on stop(). 22050 Hz covers Nyquist 11 kHz, above the default 10 kHz
+ * high-cutoff of the visualizer's FFT config.
+ *
+ * Downloads via ffmpeg's own http stack with reconnect flags, matching the
+ * old reader; local files skip them (ffmpeg rejects http-only options for
+ * file inputs).
+ */
+
+import type { Subprocess } from "bun";
+
+/** PCM output format constants */
+export const PCM_SAMPLE_RATE = 22050;
+const BYTES_PER_SAMPLE = 2; // s16le
+
+/** Initial segment capacity: 4 Mi samples ≈ 190 s of audio (8 MB). */
+const INITIAL_CAPACITY_SAMPLES = 4 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+/**
+ * Gap (seconds) a running decode pass may close on its own before a restart
+ * at the seek target is cheaper than waiting: at 4x pacing, 15s of undecoded
+ * audio closes in ~4s — about the cost of a network reconnect + range
+ * request for a fresh ffmpeg pass. Beyond the gap, restart at the target.
+ */
+const CLOSE_IN_PLACE_GAP_SEC = 15;
+
+/**
+ * Monotonically increasing generation counter.
+ * Each startDecode() increments this; the read loop checks it to know
+ * if it's been superseded and should bail out.
+ */
+let globalGeneration = 0;
+
+interface Segment {
+	/** Playback seconds where this segment's first sample sits. */
+	baseSec: number;
+	/** Sample buffer; capacity >= written, doubled on overflow. */
+	samples: Int16Array;
+	/** Samples written so far (== decoded length of the segment). */
+	written: number;
+	/** ffmpeg reached stream EOF while writing this segment — nothing more
+	 *  will ever arrive after its end. */
+	finished: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface EpisodePcmCacheOptions {
+	/** Audio URL or file path to decode */
+	url: string;
+	/** Sample rate (default: 22050) */
+	sampleRate?: number;
+}
+
+export class EpisodePcmCache {
+	private proc: Subprocess | null = null;
+	private segments: Segment[] = [];
+	private generation = 0;
+	private _decoding = false;
+	/** The running pass's segment (base + frontier); null when idle. */
+	private activeSegment: Segment | null = null;
+	readonly url: string;
+	readonly sampleRate: number;
+
+	constructor(options: EpisodePcmCacheOptions) {
+		this.url = options.url;
+		this.sampleRate = options.sampleRate ?? PCM_SAMPLE_RATE;
+	}
+
+	/** Whether an ffmpeg decode pass is currently running. */
+	get decoding(): boolean {
+		return this._decoding;
+	}
+
+	/** Base (playback seconds) of the running decode pass; null when idle. */
+	get activeDecodeBaseSec(): number | null {
+		return this._decoding && this.activeSegment
+			? this.activeSegment.baseSec
+			: null;
+	}
+
+	/** End (playback seconds) of the furthest-decoded segment. */
+	get coverageEndSec(): number {
+		let end = 0;
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const segEnd = seg.baseSec + seg.written / this.sampleRate;
+			if (segEnd > end) end = segEnd;
+		}
+		return end;
+	}
+
+	/** Whether the furthest segment finished at stream EOF. */
+	get decodeFinished(): boolean {
+		let maxEnd = -1;
+		let finished = false;
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const segEnd = seg.baseSec + seg.written / this.sampleRate;
+			if (segEnd > maxEnd) {
+				maxEnd = segEnd;
+				finished = seg.finished;
+			}
+		}
+		return finished;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Start decoding at `fromSec` of playback time into a fresh segment.
+	 * Kills any in-flight pass first; existing segments stay readable.
+	 */
+	startDecode(fromSec: number): void {
+		this.killProcess();
+
+		if (!Bun.which("ffmpeg")) {
+			throw new Error("ffmpeg not found — required for audio visualization");
+		}
+
+		this.generation = ++globalGeneration;
+		const myGeneration = this.generation;
+
+		const segment: Segment = {
+			baseSec: Math.max(0, fromSec),
+			samples: new Int16Array(INITIAL_CAPACITY_SAMPLES),
+			written: 0,
+			finished: false,
+		};
+		this.segments.push(segment);
+
+		const args = ["ffmpeg", "-loglevel", "quiet"];
+
+		// Pace the decode at 4x realtime (with an 8s initial burst) instead of
+		// flat-out: unthrottled decode measures ~84x realtime, which pulls the
+		// ENTIRE episode from the network within the first minute of playback
+		// (~160MB/hr) and starves mpv's own buffering right at startup. 4x
+		// still fills the cache 4x faster than playback consumes it, lands a
+		// 75-min episode in ~19 min of background work, and the burst makes
+		// the first bars available immediately.
+		args.push("-readrate", "4", "-readrate_initial_burst", "8");
+
+		// `-reconnect*` are http-protocol options: ffmpeg rejects them at
+		// input-open when the input is a local file, killing the process
+		// before any PCM is produced. Only pass them for network URLs.
+		if (/^https?:\/\//i.test(this.url)) {
+			args.push(
+				"-reconnect",
+				"1",
+				"-reconnect_streamed",
+				"1",
+				"-reconnect_delay_max",
+				"5",
+			);
+		}
+
+		// Seek before input for network efficiency (container-level skip is
+		// near-instant for mp3/aac; no pre-position decode burn).
+		if (fromSec > 0) {
+			args.push("-ss", String(Math.max(0, fromSec)));
+		}
+
+		args.push(
+			"-i",
+			this.url,
+			"-ac",
+			"1",
+			"-ar",
+			String(this.sampleRate),
+			"-f",
+			"s16le",
+			"-acodec",
+			"pcm_s16le",
+			"-",
+		);
+
+		this.proc = Bun.spawn(args, {
+			stdout: "pipe",
+			stderr: "ignore",
+			stdin: "ignore",
+		});
+		this._decoding = true;
+		this.activeSegment = segment;
+		this.readLoop(myGeneration, segment);
+
+		this.proc.exited
+			.then((code) => {
+				if (this.generation === myGeneration) {
+					this._decoding = false;
+					this.activeSegment = null;
+					// Exit 0 == decoded to stream EOF.
+					if (code === 0) segment.finished = true;
+				}
+			})
+			.catch(() => {
+				if (this.generation === myGeneration) {
+					this._decoding = false;
+					this.activeSegment = null;
+				}
+			});
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Whether `sec` of playback time has decoded PCM on hand.
+	 */
+	covers(sec: number): boolean {
+		const idx = Math.round(sec * this.sampleRate);
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const base = Math.round(seg.baseSec * this.sampleRate);
+			if (idx >= base && idx < base + seg.written) return true;
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Make sure decode is progressing toward `sec`: no-op while a pass is
+	 * running or the episode is fully decoded; otherwise resumes the tail
+	 * decode from the frontier (when `sec` is inside coverage) or starts a
+	 * new segment at `sec` (seek into a hole / resume past cached audio).
+	 */
+	ensureDecodeAround(sec: number): void {
+		// Data already on hand: nothing needed here; only keep the tail
+		// filling if the decode is idle and the episode is unfinished.
+		if (this.covers(sec)) {
+			if (this._decoding || this.decodeFinished) return;
+			this.startDecode(this.coverageEndSec > sec ? this.coverageEndSec : sec);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (this._decoding && this.activeSegment !== null) {
+			// A decode pass fills monotonically FORWARD from its base. Targets
+			// behind the base are unreachable — restart at the target.
+			if (sec < this.activeSegment.baseSec) {
+				this.startDecode(Math.max(0, sec));
+				return;
+			}
+			// Target past the pass's frontier: a SMALL gap closes on its own
+			// (4x pacing covers 15s in ~4s — about what a cold restart costs
+			// to reconnect + range-request a network stream), but a FAR-FORWARD
+			// seek would otherwise mean minutes of frozen bars while the pass
+			// chews through the skipped region. Restart at the target.
+			const frontier =
+				this.activeSegment.baseSec + this.activeSegment.written / this.sampleRate;
+			if (sec - frontier <= CLOSE_IN_PLACE_GAP_SEC) return;
+		}
+		this.startDecode(Math.max(0, sec));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Read the PCM window ENDING at `atSec` of playback into `out`
+	 * (Int16 magnitudes widened to f64, the scale cavacore expects).
+	 *
+	 * Returns the number of samples written: `out.length` on a full hit, 0
+	 * when the window is not (fully) decoded yet — the caller HOLDS the
+	 * last rendered frame instead of rendering partial/stale data.
+	 */
+	readWindow(out: Float64Array, atSec: number): number {
+		if (out.length === 0) return 0;
+		const endIdx = Math.round(atSec * this.sampleRate);
+		const startIdx = endIdx - out.length + 1;
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const base = Math.round(seg.baseSec * this.sampleRate);
+			if (startIdx < base || endIdx >= base + seg.written) continue;
+			const rel = startIdx - base;
+			const src = seg.samples;
+			for (let i = 0; i < out.length; i++) {
+				out[i] = src[rel + i];
+			}
+			return out.length;
+		}
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Pause contract: kill the ffmpeg pass but KEEP every decoded segment.
+	 * Resume later serves bars from the cache instantly.
+	 */
+	pauseDecode(): void {
+		this.generation = ++globalGeneration;
+		this._decoding = false;
+		this.activeSegment = null;
+		this.killProcess();
+	}
+
+	/** Kill the decode pass AND drop all cached audio. */
+	stop(): void {
+		this.pauseDecode();
+		this.segments = [];
+	}
+
+	/** Kill the ffmpeg process without touching generation/state. */
+	private killProcess(): void {
+		if (this.proc) {
+			try {
+				this.proc.kill();
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore */
+			}
+			this.proc = null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Internal: continuously reads stdout from ffmpeg and appends samples
+	 *  to the segment at their absolute playback-time offsets. */
+	private async readLoop(myGeneration: number, segment: Segment): Promise<void> {
+		const stdout = this.proc?.stdout;
+		if (!stdout || typeof stdout === "number") return;
+
+		const reader = (stdout as ReadableStream<Uint8Array>).getReader();
+		// s16 sample pairs can straddle pipe chunk boundaries: carry a lone
+		// trailing byte into the next chunk (dropping it would byte-flip
+		// every sample that follows).
+		let carry: number | null = null;
+		try {
+			while (this.generation === myGeneration) {
+				const { done, value } = await reader.read();
+				if (done || this.generation !== myGeneration) break;
+				if (!value || value.byteLength === 0) continue;
+
+				let view: Uint8Array = value;
+				if (carry !== null) {
+					const merged = new Uint8Array(1 + value.byteLength);
+					merged[0] = carry;
+					merged.set(value, 1);
+					view = merged;
+					carry = null;
+				}
+				if (view.byteLength % BYTES_PER_SAMPLE !== 0) {
+					carry = view[view.byteLength - 1];
+					view = view.subarray(0, view.byteLength - 1);
+				}
+
+				const sampleCount = view.byteLength / BYTES_PER_SAMPLE;
+				if (sampleCount === 0) continue;
+
+				if (segment.written + sampleCount > segment.samples.length) {
+					const grown = new Int16Array(
+						Math.max(
+							segment.samples.length * 2,
+							segment.written + sampleCount,
+						),
+					);
+					grown.set(segment.samples.subarray(0, segment.written));
+					segment.samples = grown;
+				}
+				// Int16Array view over the byte buffer: s16le is the platform's
+				// native endianness on every supported target (arm64/x64 are LE).
+				const src = new Int16Array(
+					view.buffer,
+					view.byteOffset,
+					sampleCount,
+				);
+				segment.samples.set(src, segment.written);
+				segment.written += sampleCount;
+			}
+		} catch {
+			// Stream ended or process killed — expected during stop()
+		} finally {
+			try {
+				reader.releaseLock();
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore */
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}

src/utils/audio-player.ts

@@ -6,12 +6,31 @@
  * restart. When mpv isn't installed there is no fallback: the no-op backend
  * surfaces "No audio player found" honestly rather than degrading through
  * players that can't change speed/volume without restarting.
+ *
+ * The backend owns ONE RESIDENT mpv daemon (`--idle=yes --keep-open=yes`)
+ * for the app's lifetime instead of spawning a fresh player per episode:
+ *
+ * - Play/pause/seek are IPC commands on a persistent Unix-socket
+ *   connection — no process spawn, no socket connect/disconnect churn per
+ *   poll, no `waitForSocket` on the play path. Measured command latency is
+ *   single-digit ms; a mid-episode resume after pause takes ~300ms on a
+ *   network stream.
+ * - State (time-pos, pause, duration) is OBSERVED (`observe_property`):
+ *   mpv pushes time-pos at ~20Hz while playing, so `getPosition()` /
+ *   `getPauseState()` read a cache instead of round-tripping the socket on
+ *   every 150ms UI tick. External pauses (AirPod removal, system sleep,
+ *   Now Playing center) arrive as pause property events with zero polling.
+ * - A restored session can PRELOAD: the episode is loaded paused so mpv
+ *   fills its demuxer cache ahead of time; the first real play just flips
+ *   `pause` to false — the ~2s network open is paid at boot, not on the
+ *   user's first Play.
  */
 
 import { platform } from "os";
-import { existsSync } from "fs";
+import { existsSync, unlinkSync } from "fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "os";
 import { join } from "path";
+import type { Socket, Subprocess } from "bun";
 
 // ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -30,6 +49,17 @@ export interface AudioState {
 export interface AudioBackend {
 	readonly name: BackendName;
 	play(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void>;
+	/**
+	 * Load the URL paused WITHOUT starting playback, so the player buffers
+	 * ahead of the user's first Play (used for boot session restore).
+	 * A subsequent play() of the SAME url flips pause off — near-instant.
+	 */
+	preload(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void>;
+	/**
+	 * Attach a cover-art image to the currently-loaded file at runtime
+	 * (mpv `video-add`). Lets play() start without waiting on art; the
+	 * Now Playing artwork pops in when the download lands.
+	 */
 	pause(): Promise<void>;
 	resume(): Promise<void>;
 	stop(): Promise<void>;
@@ -39,6 +69,15 @@ export interface AudioBackend {
 	getPosition(): Promise<number>;
 	getDuration(): Promise<number>;
 	isPlaying(): boolean;
+	/** Live pause state: `true` paused, `false` playing, `undefined` when
+	 *  unknown (player unreachable / not yet loaded). Unlike `isPlaying()` —
+	 *  which reflects only commands PodTUI sent — this reflects the player's
+	 *  real state, including pauses initiated OUTSIDE PodTUI (system
+	 *  sleep/lock, AirPod removal, device swap, OS media keys, the Now
+	 *  Playing center). */
+	getPauseState(): Promise<boolean | undefined>;
+	/** True while the player process is running (regardless of pause). */
+	isAlive(): boolean;
 	dispose(): void;
 }
 
@@ -46,6 +85,8 @@ export interface PlayOptions {
 	startPosition?: number;
 	volume?: number;
 	speed?: number;
+	mediaTitle?: string;
+	coverArtPath?: string;
 }
 
 // ── Utilities ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -68,278 +109,521 @@ function which(cmd: string): string | null {
 	return null;
 }
 
+let mpvInstance = 0;
 function mpvSocketPath(): string {
-	return join(tmpdir(), `podtui-mpv-${process.pid}.sock`);
+	// Per-instance, not just per-pid: tests (and backend switching) create
+	// several MpvBackend objects in ONE bun process — a pid-only path makes
+	// every daemon bind the same socket, so later daemons unlink the path
+	// out from under each other.
+	return join(
+		tmpdir(),
+		`podtui-mpv-${process.pid}-${mpvInstance++}.sock`,
+	);
+}
+
+// ── mpv JSON IPC connection ─────────────────────────────────────────
+//
+// One persistent Unix-socket connection to the resident mpv daemon. Lines
+// from mpv are either command responses (`request_id` present — correlated
+// to the pending promise) or unsolicited traffic (property-change events
+// from `observe_property`, end-file, ...), dispatched to the event handler.
+
+interface MpvResponse {
+	error?: string;
+	data?: unknown;
+	request_id?: number;
+}
+
+interface MpvEvent {
+	event: string;
+	/** Observation id for property-change events. */
+	id?: number;
+	name?: string;
+	data?: unknown;
+	reason?: string;
+	error?: string;
+}
+
+type MpvEventHandler = (msg: MpvEvent) => void;
+
+class MpvConnection {
+	private sock: Socket | null = null;
+	private buf = "";
+	private nextId = 1;
+	private pending = new Map<number, (msg: MpvResponse) => void>();
+	private eventWaiters = new Map<string, Array<(msg: MpvEvent) => void>>();
+	onEvent: MpvEventHandler = () => {};
+
+	async connect(path: string): Promise<void> {
+		const { promise, resolve, reject } = Promise.withResolvers<void>();
+		let settled = false;
+		Bun.connect({
+			unix: path,
+			socket: {
+				open: (socket) => {
+					this.sock = socket;
+					if (!settled) {
+						settled = true;
+						resolve();
+					}
+				},
+				data: (_socket, data) => this.onData(data),
+				error: (_socket, err) => {
+					if (!settled) {
+						settled = true;
+						reject(err);
+					}
+					this.handleTeardown();
+				},
+				close: () => this.handleTeardown(),
+			},
+		}).catch((err) => {
+			if (!settled) {
+				settled = true;
+				reject(err);
+			}
+		});
+		await promise;
+	}
+
+	private onData(data: Uint8Array): void {
+		this.buf += Buffer.from(data).toString();
+		let nl = this.buf.indexOf("\n");
+		while (nl !== -1) {
+			const line = this.buf.slice(0, nl);
+			this.buf = this.buf.slice(nl + 1);
+			nl = this.buf.indexOf("\n");
+			if (!line.trim()) continue;
+			let msg: Record<string, unknown>;
+			try {
+				msg = JSON.parse(line) as Record<string, unknown>;
+			} catch {
+				continue; // skip malformed lines
+			}
+			if (msg.request_id !== undefined) {
+				const resolve = this.pending.get(msg.request_id as number);
+				if (resolve) {
+					this.pending.delete(msg.request_id as number);
+					resolve(msg as MpvResponse);
+				}
+			} else if (typeof msg.event === "string") {
+				const event = msg as unknown as MpvEvent;
+				this.onEvent(event);
+				const waiters = this.eventWaiters.get(event.event);
+				if (waiters) {
+					this.eventWaiters.delete(event.event);
+					for (const w of waiters) w(event);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Socket died / daemon gone: fail all pending commands so no caller
+	 *  hangs on a dead connection. */
+	private handleTeardown(): void {
+		for (const resolve of this.pending.values()) {
+			resolve({ error: "connection-lost" });
+		}
+		this.pending.clear();
+		this.sock = null;
+	}
+
+	/** Send a command and await mpv's response (correlated by request_id).
+	 *  Resolves `{ error: "timeout" }` instead of hanging when mpv stalls. */
+	send(command: unknown[], timeoutMs = 2000): Promise<MpvResponse> {
+		const sock = this.sock;
+		if (!sock) return Promise.resolve({ error: "not-connected" });
+		const id = this.nextId++;
+		const { promise, resolve } = Promise.withResolvers<MpvResponse>();
+		const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+			if (this.pending.delete(id)) resolve({ error: "timeout" });
+		}, timeoutMs);
+		this.pending.set(id, (msg) => {
+			clearTimeout(timeout);
+			resolve(msg);
+		});
+		sock.write(JSON.stringify({ command, request_id: id }) + "\n");
+		return promise;
+	}
+
+	/** One-shot wait for an mpv event by name. Register BEFORE the command
+	 *  that triggers it. Resolves null on timeout instead of hanging. */
+	waitEvent(name: string, timeoutMs = 5000): Promise<MpvEvent | null> {
+		const { promise, resolve } = Promise.withResolvers<MpvEvent | null>();
+		const list = this.eventWaiters.get(name) ?? [];
+		list.push(resolve);
+		this.eventWaiters.set(name, list);
+		setTimeout(() => {
+			const current = this.eventWaiters.get(name);
+			if (current) {
+				this.eventWaiters.set(
+					name,
+					current.filter((w) => w !== resolve),
+				);
+			}
+			resolve(null);
+		}, timeoutMs);
+		return promise;
+	}
+
+	close(): void {
+		try {
+			this.sock?.end();
+		} catch {
+			/* ignore */
+		}
+		this.handleTeardown();
+	}
 }
 
 // ── mpv Backend ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-// Uses JSON IPC over a Unix socket for full bidirectional control.
+// One resident daemon for the app's lifetime, controlled over a single
+// persistent JSON IPC connection with property observation.
+
+/** Property observation ids (correlate property-change events). */
+const OBS_TIME_POS = 1;
+const OBS_PAUSE = 2;
+const OBS_DURATION = 3;
+const OBS_EOF = 4;
 
 export class MpvBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	readonly name: BackendName = "mpv";
-	private proc: ReturnType<typeof Bun.spawn> | null = null;
+	private proc: Subprocess | null = null;
 	private socketPath = mpvSocketPath();
-	private _playing = false;
+	private conn: MpvConnection | null = null;
+	/** Guarantee daemon startup runs once (concurrent play/preload). */
+	private startPromise: Promise<void> | null = null;
+
+	// Command intent: what PodTUI asked the player to do.
+	private _intentPlaying = false;
+	/** The file currently loaded via loadfile (null = idle). */
+	private _loadedUrl: string | null = null;
+	/** The current file was loadfile'd paused (preload) and not yet played. */
+	private _loadedPaused = false;
+	/** Set on end-file reason "eof"/"error"; cleared by the next loadfile. */
+	private _ended = false;
+
+	// Observed (player-reported) state, pushed by mpv property-change events.
 	private _position = 0;
 	private _duration = 0;
+	/** null until the first pause observation arrives. */
+	private _paused: boolean | null = null;
+
 	private _volume = 100;
 	private _speed = 1;
-	private pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+	private _exited = false;
+	/** Last playback error reported via end-file reason "error". */
+	private _playbackError: string | null = null;
 
-	async play(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
-		await this.stop();
+	// ── Daemon lifecycle ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+	private async ensureDaemon(): Promise<void> {
+		if (this.proc && !this._exited && this.conn) return;
+		if (this.startPromise) return this.startPromise;
+		this.startPromise = this.spawnDaemon().finally(() => {
+			this.startPromise = null;
+		});
+		return this.startPromise;
+	}
+
+	private async spawnDaemon(): Promise<void> {
 		// Clean up stale socket
 		try {
-			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) {
-				const { unlinkSync } = await import("fs");
-				unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
-			}
+			unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
 		} catch {
 			/* ignore */
 		}
 
-		const args = [
-			"mpv",
-			"--no-video",
-			"--no-terminal",
-			"--really-quiet",
-			`--input-ipc-server=${this.socketPath}`,
-			`--volume=${Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100)}`,
-			`--speed=${opts?.speed ?? 1}`,
-		];
-
-		if (opts?.startPosition && opts.startPosition > 0) {
-			args.push(`--start=${opts.startPosition}`);
-		}
-
-		args.push(url);
-
-		this.proc = Bun.spawn(args, {
-			stdout: "ignore",
-			stderr: "ignore",
-			stdin: "ignore",
-		});
-
-		this._playing = true;
-		this._position = opts?.startPosition ?? 0;
-		this._volume = Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100);
-		this._speed = opts?.speed ?? 1;
-
-		// Wait for socket to appear (mpv creates it async)
-		await this.waitForSocket(2000);
-
-		// Start polling position
-		this.startPolling();
-
-		// Detect process exit
+		this.proc = Bun.spawn(
+			[
+				"mpv",
+				"--no-video",
+				"--no-terminal",
+				"--really-quiet",
+				// Stay alive after finishing/unloading files; PodTUI owns one mpv
+				// for its whole session and switches episodes via loadfile.
+				"--idle=yes",
+				"--keep-open=yes",
+				// Cap the demuxer cache. mpv's defaults (150MiB) make it race
+				// to fill while a preload sits paused — measured 45MB pulled
+				// within 12s of a boot-restore preload, saturating the link
+				// exactly when everything else is starting up. ~90s forward
+				// target / 40MiB hard cap is a few MB at podcast bitrates:
+				// plenty for instant resume + stall resilience.
+				"--cache-secs=90",
+				"--demuxer-max-bytes=40MiB",
+				"--demuxer-max-back-bytes=20MiB",
+				`--input-ipc-server=${this.socketPath}`,
+			],
+			{ stdout: "ignore", stderr: "ignore", stdin: "ignore" },
+		);
+		this._exited = false;
 		this.proc.exited
 			.then(() => {
-				this._playing = false;
-				this.stopPolling();
+				this._exited = true;
+				this._intentPlaying = false;
+				this._loadedUrl = null;
+				this._paused = null;
 			})
 			.catch(() => {});
-	}
 
-	private async waitForSocket(timeoutMs: number): Promise<void> {
+		// mpv creates the socket asynchronously (measured ~600ms cold spawn).
 		const start = Date.now();
-		while (Date.now() - start < timeoutMs) {
-			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) return;
+		while (Date.now() - start < 3000) {
+			if (this._exited) break;
+			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) break;
 			await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 50));
 		}
+
+		const conn = new MpvConnection();
+		conn.onEvent = (msg) => this.handleEvent(msg);
+		await conn.connect(this.socketPath);
+		this.conn = conn;
+
+		// Observe the state the UI polls: mpv then pushes changes at ~20Hz
+		// while playing and broadcasts external changes (AirPods pull, OS
+		// media keys) with zero polling from our side.
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_TIME_POS, "time-pos"]);
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_PAUSE, "pause"]);
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_DURATION, "duration"]);
+		// With --keep-open=yes mpv does NOT emit end-file at natural EOF — it
+		// sets eof-reached=true (and pauses at the last frame) instead. That
+		// property is the track-end signal; end-file only covers unload/error.
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_EOF, "eof-reached"]);
 	}
 
-	private async ipc(command: unknown[]): Promise<unknown> {
-		try {
-			const socket = await Bun.connect({
-				unix: this.socketPath,
-				socket: {
-					data(_socket, data) {
-						// Response handling is done by reading below
-					},
-					error(_socket, err) {},
-					close() {},
-					open() {},
-				},
-			});
+	private async send(
+		command: unknown[],
+	): Promise<MpvResponse> {
+		if (!this.conn) return { error: "not-connected" };
+		return this.conn.send(command);
+	}
 
-			const payload = JSON.stringify({ command }) + "\n";
-			socket.write(payload);
-
-			// Read response with timeout
-			const response = await new Promise<string>((resolve) => {
-				let buf = "";
-				const reader = setInterval(() => {
-					// Check if we got a response already
-					if (buf.includes("\n")) {
-						clearInterval(reader);
-						resolve(buf);
-					}
-				}, 10);
-				setTimeout(() => {
-					clearInterval(reader);
-					resolve(buf);
-				}, 200);
-			});
-
-			socket.end();
-			if (response) {
-				try {
-					return JSON.parse(response.split("\n")[0]);
-				} catch {
-					return null;
+	private handleEvent(msg: MpvEvent): void {
+		if (msg.event === "property-change") {
+			if (msg.id === OBS_TIME_POS) {
+				// `data` is number while playing; unavailable → undefined while
+				// idle. Keep last known on transient gaps, reset on idle.
+				if (typeof msg.data === "number") this._position = msg.data;
+			} else if (msg.id === OBS_PAUSE) {
+				if (typeof msg.data === "boolean") this._paused = msg.data;
+			} else if (msg.id === OBS_DURATION) {
+				if (typeof msg.data === "number" && msg.data > 0) {
+					this._duration = msg.data;
 				}
+			} else if (msg.id === OBS_EOF) {
+				// Natural end-of-file (or a brand-new load reporting false).
+				this._ended = msg.data === true;
+				if (this._ended) this._intentPlaying = false;
 			}
-			return null;
-		} catch {
-			return null;
+			return;
 		}
-	}
 
-	/** Send a command over mpv's IPC and get the parsed response data. */
-	private async ipcCommand(command: unknown[]): Promise<unknown> {
-		try {
-			const conn = await Bun.connect({
-				unix: this.socketPath,
-				socket: {
-					data() {},
-					error() {},
-					close() {},
-					open() {},
-				},
-			});
-
-			const payload = JSON.stringify({ command }) + "\n";
-			conn.write(payload);
-
-			// Give mpv a moment to process, then read via a fresh connection
-			await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 30));
-			conn.end();
-
-			return null;
-		} catch {
-			return null;
-		}
-	}
-
-	/** Send a fire-and-forget command (no response needed) */
-	private async send(command: unknown[]): Promise<void> {
-		try {
-			const conn = await Bun.connect({
-				unix: this.socketPath,
-				socket: {
-					data() {},
-					error() {},
-					close() {},
-					open() {},
-				},
-			});
-			conn.write(JSON.stringify({ command }) + "\n");
-			// Don't wait, just schedule a close
-			setTimeout(() => {
-				try {
-					conn.end();
-				} catch {}
-			}, 50);
-		} catch {
-			/* ignore */
-		}
-	}
-
-	/** Get a property value from mpv via IPC */
-	private async getProperty(name: string): Promise<number> {
-		try {
-			return await new Promise<number>((resolve) => {
-				let result = 0;
-				const timeout = setTimeout(() => resolve(result), 300);
-
-				Bun.connect({
-					unix: this.socketPath,
-					socket: {
-						data(_socket, data) {
-							try {
-								const text = Buffer.from(data).toString();
-								const parsed = JSON.parse(text.split("\n")[0]);
-								if (parsed?.data !== undefined) {
-									result = Number(parsed.data) || 0;
-								}
-							} catch {
-								/* ignore parse errors */
-							}
-							clearTimeout(timeout);
-							resolve(result);
-						},
-						error() {
-							clearTimeout(timeout);
-							resolve(0);
-						},
-						close() {},
-						open(socket) {
-							socket.write(
-								JSON.stringify({ command: ["get_property", name] }) + "\n",
-							);
-						},
-					},
-				}).catch(() => {
-					clearTimeout(timeout);
-					resolve(0);
-				});
-			});
-		} catch {
-			return 0;
-		}
-	}
-
-	private startPolling(): void {
-		this.stopPolling();
-		this.pollTimer = setInterval(async () => {
-			if (!this._playing || !this.proc) return;
-			this._position = await this.getProperty("time-pos");
-			if (this._duration <= 0) {
-				this._duration = await this.getProperty("duration");
+		if (msg.event === "end-file") {
+			if (msg.reason === "eof") {
+				this._ended = true;
+				this._intentPlaying = false;
+			} else if (msg.reason === "error") {
+				this._ended = true;
+				this._intentPlaying = false;
+				this._playbackError = msg.error ?? "mpv failed to play the stream";
 			}
-		}, 500);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (msg.event === "file-loaded") {
+			this._ended = false;
+		}
 	}
 
-	private stopPolling(): void {
-		if (this.pollTimer) {
-			clearInterval(this.pollTimer);
-			this.pollTimer = null;
+	// ── File presentation options ────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// force-media-title and cover-art-files are set as global properties
+	// BEFORE loadfile (verified: runtime-settable; values containing commas
+	// would corrupt the per-file options string). Numbers (volume, speed,
+	// start, pause) ride as per-file options on loadfile itself so each
+	// loadfile is self-contained.
+
+	private async applyPresentation(opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
+		await this.send([
+			"set_property",
+			"force-media-title",
+			opts?.mediaTitle ?? "",
+		]);
+		await this.send([
+			"set_property",
+			"cover-art-files",
+			opts?.coverArtPath ?? "",
+		]);
+	}
+
+	private loadfileOptions(opts: PlayOptions | undefined, paused: boolean): string {
+		const parts: string[] = [`pause=${paused ? "yes" : "no"}`];
+		if (opts?.startPosition && opts.startPosition > 0) {
+			parts.push(`start=${Math.max(0, opts.startPosition)}`);
 		}
+		const vol = Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100);
+		if (Number.isFinite(vol)) parts.push(`volume=${vol}`);
+		const speed = opts?.speed ?? 1;
+		if (Number.isFinite(speed) && speed > 0) parts.push(`speed=${speed}`);
+		return parts.join(",");
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Every loadfile (play, preload, replay) runs under this mutex: useAudio
+	 * fires the boot preload unawaited, so without serialization a user
+	 * pressing Play mid-preload would send loadfile(no-pause) followed by the
+	 * in-flight preload's loadfile(pause=yes) — and the stale preload would
+	 * pause the file the user just started. The mutex also prevents
+	 * presentation options (title/cover) of one episode from interleaving
+	 * with the loadfile of another.
+	 */
+	private loadMutex: Promise<unknown> = Promise.resolve();
+
+	private runLoadExclusive<T>(fn: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+		const result = this.loadMutex.then(fn);
+		this.loadMutex = result.catch(() => {});
+		return result;
+	}
+
+	private async loadFileLocked(
+		url: string,
+		opts: PlayOptions | undefined,
+		paused: boolean,
+	): Promise<void> {
+		await this.applyPresentation(opts);
+		// Paused preload of a mid-episode restore: pass NO start= option and
+		// seek while paused instead. mpv defers --start stream work (open,
+		// header probe, demuxer seek) until playback begins — measured: the
+		// demuxer cache stays EMPTY during the whole preload and the eventual
+		// unpause pays 4.3s. A time-pos seek while paused executes at once,
+		// so the stream opens and buffers during the preload, and the first
+		// real Play is a sub-second unpause.
+		const pausedSeek =
+			paused && opts?.startPosition && opts.startPosition > 0
+				? opts.startPosition
+				: null;
+		const loadOpts =
+			pausedSeek && opts ? { ...opts, startPosition: undefined } : opts;
+		// Register the file-loaded waiter BEFORE loadfile: the event can
+		// arrive between the command response and listener setup otherwise.
+		const fileLoaded = pausedSeek && this.conn ? this.conn.waitEvent("file-loaded") : null;
+		const resp = await this.send([
+			"loadfile",
+			url,
+			"replace",
+			-1,
+			this.loadfileOptions(loadOpts, paused),
+		]);
+		if (resp.error && resp.error !== "success") {
+			throw new Error(`mpv loadfile failed: ${resp.error}`);
+		}
+		if (pausedSeek) {
+			// time-pos sent before file-loaded is silently dropped by mpv
+			// (no file yet) — the preload then parked at 0 and the restore
+			// position was lost. Wait for the open, then seek.
+			await fileLoaded;
+			await this.send(["set_property", "time-pos", pausedSeek]);
+			this._position = pausedSeek;
+		}
+		this._loadedUrl = url;
+		this._loadedPaused = paused;
+		this._ended = false;
+		this._playbackError = null;
+		this._position = opts?.startPosition ?? 0;
+		this._duration = 0;
+		this._volume = Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100);
+		this._speed = opts?.speed ?? 1;
+	}
+
+	// ── AudioBackend ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+	async play(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
+		await this.ensureDaemon();
+		// Mark intent before the mutex: a boot preload queued behind this
+		// play checks it and skips its own stale paused-load.
+		this._intentPlaying = true;
+		await this.runLoadExclusive(async () => {
+			// Fast path: this exact URL was PRELOADED paused (boot restore) —
+			// mpv has been buffering it since boot, so flipping pause off starts
+			// audio ~instantly. Re-acquire the start position only when it
+			// moved meaningfully since the preload (progress saved meanwhile).
+			if (this._loadedUrl === url && this._loadedPaused && !this._ended) {
+				const target = opts?.startPosition ?? this._position;
+				if (Math.abs(target - this._position) > 2) {
+					await this.send(["set_property", "time-pos", target]);
+					this._position = target;
+				}
+				await this.send([
+					"set_property",
+					"volume",
+					Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100),
+				]);
+				await this.send(["set_property", "speed", opts?.speed ?? 1]);
+				if (opts?.mediaTitle) {
+					await this.send(["set_property", "force-media-title", opts.mediaTitle]);
+				}
+				await this.send(["set_property", "pause", false]);
+				this._loadedPaused = false;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			await this.loadFileLocked(url, opts, false);
+		});
+	}
+
+	async preload(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
+		await this.ensureDaemon();
+		await this.runLoadExclusive(async () => {
+			// Already loaded (paused park, or actively playing because the
+			// user pressed Play while this preload was queued — either way
+			// the file is in the player and must not be clobbered).
+			if (this._loadedUrl === url) return;
+			await this.loadFileLocked(url, opts, true);
+			this._intentPlaying = false;
+		});
 	}
 
 	async pause(): Promise<void> {
 		await this.send(["set_property", "pause", true]);
-		this._playing = false;
+		this._intentPlaying = false;
 	}
 
 	async resume(): Promise<void> {
+		if (this._ended && this._loadedUrl) {
+			// Play pressed on a finished episode: replay from the top.
+			this._ended = false;
+			const url = this._loadedUrl;
+			await this.runLoadExclusive(async () => {
+				await this.loadFileLocked(
+					url,
+					{ volume: this._volume / 100, speed: this._speed },
+					false,
+				);
+			});
+			this._intentPlaying = true;
+			return;
+		}
+		if (this._loadedPaused && this._loadedUrl) {
+			// Deferred first play of a preloaded file.
+			this._loadedPaused = false;
+		}
+		this._ended = false;
 		await this.send(["set_property", "pause", false]);
-		this._playing = true;
+		this._intentPlaying = true;
 	}
 
 	async stop(): Promise<void> {
-		this.stopPolling();
-		if (this.proc) {
-			try {
-				this.proc.kill();
-			} catch {
-				/* ignore */
-			}
-			this.proc = null;
+		if (this.conn && this._loadedUrl) {
+			await this.send(["stop"]);
 		}
-		this._playing = false;
+		this._intentPlaying = false;
+		this._loadedUrl = null;
+		this._loadedPaused = false;
+		this._ended = false;
 		this._position = 0;
-
-		// Clean up socket
-		try {
-			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) {
-				const { unlinkSync } = await import("fs");
-				unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
-			}
-		} catch {
-			/* ignore */
-		}
+		this._duration = 0;
+		await this.send(["set_property", "cover-art-files", ""]);
 	}
 
 	async seek(seconds: number): Promise<void> {
@@ -359,22 +643,55 @@ export class MpvBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	}
 
 	async getPosition(): Promise<number> {
+		// Observed at ~20Hz by mpv — no socket roundtrip on the UI poll.
 		return this._position;
 	}
 
 	async getDuration(): Promise<number> {
-		if (this._duration <= 0) {
-			this._duration = await this.getProperty("duration");
-		}
 		return this._duration;
 	}
 
 	isPlaying(): boolean {
-		return this._playing;
+		return this._intentPlaying && this.isAlive() && !this._ended;
+	}
+
+	async getPauseState(): Promise<boolean | undefined> {
+		if (!this.isAlive() || this._paused === null) return undefined;
+		return this._paused;
+	}
+
+	isAlive(): boolean {
+		return this.proc !== null && !this._exited;
+	}
+
+	/** Last mpv playback failure (end-file reason "error"), if any. */
+	getPlaybackError(): string | null {
+		return this._playbackError;
 	}
 
 	dispose(): void {
-		this.stop();
+		const conn = this.conn;
+		this.conn = null;
+		if (conn) {
+			// Ask nicely, then force: dispose runs inside process-exit
+			// handlers where awaiting is not guaranteed to complete.
+			conn.send(["quit"], 500).catch(() => {});
+		}
+		if (this.proc) {
+			try {
+				this.proc.kill();
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore */
+			}
+			this.proc = null;
+		}
+		this._exited = true;
+		this._intentPlaying = false;
+		try {
+			unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
+		} catch {
+			/* ignore */
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -383,6 +700,7 @@ export class MpvBackend implements AudioBackend {
 class NoopBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	readonly name: BackendName = "none";
 	async play(): Promise<void> {}
+	async preload(): Promise<void> {}
 	async pause(): Promise<void> {}
 	async resume(): Promise<void> {}
 	async stop(): Promise<void> {}
@@ -398,6 +716,13 @@ class NoopBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	isPlaying(): boolean {
 		return false;
 	}
+	async getPauseState(): Promise<boolean | undefined> {
+		// Nothing plays on the no-op backend — never externally paused.
+		return false;
+	}
+	isAlive(): boolean {
+		return false;
+	}
 	dispose(): void {}
 }
 

src/utils/audio-signals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/**
+ * audio-signals — module-level playback state shared by useAudio and
+ * non-component consumers.
+ *
+ * useAudio's playback state is a module-level singleton (signals live at
+ * module scope, every `useAudio()` call shares them). Those signals are
+ * declared here so components that must react to playback WITHOUT mounting
+ * a `useAudio()` owner — the visualizer store — can subscribe directly via
+ * `audioPlaybackSignals` (or the individual accessors/setters), instead of
+ * going through the hook. `useAudio()` re-exports nothing from this module
+ * for callers; it imports the accessors and setters for its own use.
+ */
+
+import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
+import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
+import type { BackendName, DetectedPlayer } from "./audio-player";
+
+export const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = createSignal(false);
+export const [position, setPosition] = createSignal(0);
+export const [duration, setDuration] = createSignal(0);
+export const [volume, setVolume] = createSignal(1);
+export const [speed, setSpeed] = createSignal(1);
+export const [backendName, setBackendName] = createSignal<BackendName>("none");
+export const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
+export const [currentEpisode, setCurrentEpisode] = createSignal<Episode | null>(
+	null,
+);
+export const [availablePlayers, setAvailablePlayers] = createSignal<
+	DetectedPlayer[]
+>([]);
+
+/**
+ * The playback signals the visualizer pipeline reacts to. `useAudio()`
+ * itself remains the component-facing surface; this is for module-level
+ * consumers that must track playback without a component owner.
+ */
+export const audioPlaybackSignals = {
+	isPlaying,
+	position,
+	speed,
+	currentEpisode,
+} as const;

src/utils/audio-stream-reader.ts

@@ -1,279 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Real-time audio stream reader for visualization.
- *
- * Spawns a separate ffmpeg process that decodes the same audio URL
- * the player is using and outputs raw PCM data (signed 16-bit LE, mono,
- * 44100 Hz) to a pipe. The reader accumulates samples in a ring buffer
- * and provides them to the caller on demand.
- *
- * This is independent from the actual playback backend — it's a
- * read-only "tap" on the audio for FFT analysis purposes.
- */
-
-/** PCM output format constants */
-const SAMPLE_RATE = 44100;
-const CHANNELS = 1;
-const BYTES_PER_SAMPLE = 2; // s16le
-
-/** How many samples to buffer (~1 second) */
-const RING_BUFFER_SAMPLES = SAMPLE_RATE;
-
-export interface AudioStreamReaderOptions {
-	/** Audio URL or file path to decode */
-	url: string;
-	/** Sample rate (default: 44100) */
-	sampleRate?: number;
-}
-
-/**
- * Monotonically increasing generation counter.
- * Each start() increments this; the read loop checks it to know
- * if it's been superseded and should bail out.
- */
-let globalGeneration = 0;
-
-export class AudioStreamReader {
-	private proc: ReturnType<typeof Bun.spawn> | null = null;
-	private ringBuffer: Float64Array;
-	private writePos = 0;
-	private totalSamplesWritten = 0;
-	private _running = false;
-	private generation = 0;
-	readonly url: string;
-	private sampleRate: number;
-
-	constructor(options: AudioStreamReaderOptions) {
-		this.url = options.url;
-		this.sampleRate = options.sampleRate ?? SAMPLE_RATE;
-		this.ringBuffer = new Float64Array(RING_BUFFER_SAMPLES);
-	}
-
-	/** Whether the reader is actively reading samples. */
-	get running(): boolean {
-		return this._running;
-	}
-
-	/** Total number of samples written since start(). */
-	get samplesWritten(): number {
-		return this.totalSamplesWritten;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Start the ffmpeg decode process and begin reading PCM data.
-	 *
-	 * If already running, the previous process is killed first.
-	 * Uses a generation counter to guarantee that only one read loop
-	 * is ever active — stale loops from killed processes bail out
-	 * immediately.
-	 *
-	 * @param startPosition Seek position in seconds (default: 0).
-	 * @param speed Playback speed multiplier (default: 1). Applies ffmpeg
-	 *              atempo filter so visualization stays in sync with audio.
-	 */
-	start(startPosition = 0, speed = 1): void {
-		// Always kill the previous process first — no early return on _running
-		this.killProcess();
-
-		if (!Bun.which("ffmpeg")) {
-			throw new Error("ffmpeg not found — required for audio visualization");
-		}
-
-		// Increment generation so any lingering read loop from a previous
-		// start() will see a mismatch and exit.
-		this.generation = ++globalGeneration;
-
-		const args = [
-			"ffmpeg",
-			"-loglevel",
-			"quiet",
-			// Read input at native frame rate so decoded PCM stays in sync with
-			// real-time playback. Without -re, ffmpeg greedily decodes the whole
-			// file as fast as possible: the ring buffer fills with audio seconds
-			// ahead of the player (laggy bars), then the process exits when it
-			// hits EOF (bars freeze ~10s in).
-			"-re",
-			"-reconnect",
-			"1",
-			"-reconnect_streamed",
-			"1",
-			"-reconnect_delay_max",
-			"5",
-		];
-
-		// Seek before input for network efficiency
-		if (startPosition > 0) {
-			args.push("-ss", String(startPosition));
-		}
-
-		args.push("-i", this.url);
-
-		// Apply speed via atempo filter if not 1x.
-		// ffmpeg atempo only supports 0.5–100.0; chain multiple for extremes.
-		if (speed !== 1 && speed > 0) {
-			args.push("-af", buildAtempoChain(speed));
-		}
-
-		args.push(
-			"-ac",
-			String(CHANNELS),
-			"-ar",
-			String(this.sampleRate),
-			"-f",
-			"s16le",
-			"-acodec",
-			"pcm_s16le",
-			"-",
-		);
-
-		this.proc = Bun.spawn(args, {
-			stdout: "pipe",
-			stderr: "ignore",
-			stdin: "ignore",
-		});
-
-		this._running = true;
-		this.writePos = 0;
-		this.totalSamplesWritten = 0;
-
-		const myGeneration = this.generation;
-
-		this.readLoop(myGeneration);
-
-		// Detect process exit
-		this.proc.exited
-			.then(() => {
-				// Only clear _running if this is still the current generation
-				if (this.generation === myGeneration) {
-					this._running = false;
-				}
-			})
-			.catch(() => {
-				if (this.generation === myGeneration) {
-					this._running = false;
-				}
-			});
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Read available samples into the provided buffer.
-	 * Returns the number of samples actually copied.
-	 *
-	 * @param out - Float64Array to fill with samples (scaled ~+/-32768 for cavacore).
-	 * @returns Number of samples written to `out`.
-	 */
-	read(out: Float64Array): number {
-		const available = Math.min(
-			out.length,
-			this.totalSamplesWritten,
-			this.ringBuffer.length,
-		);
-		if (available <= 0) return 0;
-
-		// Read the most recent `available` samples from the ring buffer
-		const readStart =
-			(this.writePos - available + this.ringBuffer.length) %
-			this.ringBuffer.length;
-
-		if (readStart + available <= this.ringBuffer.length) {
-			out.set(this.ringBuffer.subarray(readStart, readStart + available));
-		} else {
-			const firstChunk = this.ringBuffer.length - readStart;
-			out.set(this.ringBuffer.subarray(readStart, this.ringBuffer.length));
-			out.set(this.ringBuffer.subarray(0, available - firstChunk), firstChunk);
-		}
-
-		return available;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Stop the ffmpeg process and clean up.
-	 * Safe to call multiple times. Guarantees the read loop exits.
-	 */
-	stop(): void {
-		// Bump generation to invalidate any running read loop
-		this.generation = ++globalGeneration;
-		this._running = false;
-		this.killProcess();
-		this.writePos = 0;
-		this.totalSamplesWritten = 0;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Restart the reader at a new position and/or speed.
-	 */
-	restart(startPosition = 0, speed = 1): void {
-		this.start(startPosition, speed);
-	}
-
-	/** Kill the ffmpeg process without touching generation/state. */
-	private killProcess(): void {
-		if (this.proc) {
-			try {
-				this.proc.kill();
-			} catch {
-				/* ignore */
-			}
-			this.proc = null;
-		}
-	}
-
-	/** Internal: continuously reads stdout from ffmpeg and fills the ring buffer. */
-	private async readLoop(myGeneration: number): Promise<void> {
-		const stdout = this.proc?.stdout;
-		if (!stdout || typeof stdout === "number") return;
-
-		const reader = (stdout as ReadableStream<Uint8Array>).getReader();
-		try {
-			while (this.generation === myGeneration) {
-				const { done, value } = await reader.read();
-				if (done || this.generation !== myGeneration) break;
-				if (!value || value.byteLength === 0) continue;
-
-				const sampleCount = Math.floor(value.byteLength / BYTES_PER_SAMPLE);
-				if (sampleCount === 0) continue;
-
-				const int16View = new Int16Array(
-					value.buffer,
-					value.byteOffset,
-					sampleCount,
-				);
-
-				for (let i = 0; i < sampleCount; i++) {
-					this.ringBuffer[this.writePos] = int16View[i];
-					this.writePos = (this.writePos + 1) % this.ringBuffer.length;
-					this.totalSamplesWritten++;
-				}
-			}
-		} catch {
-			// Stream ended or process killed — expected during stop()
-		} finally {
-			try {
-				reader.releaseLock();
-			} catch {
-				/* ignore */
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-/**
- * Build an ffmpeg atempo filter chain for a given speed.
- * atempo only accepts values in [0.5, 100.0], so we chain
- * multiple filters for extreme values (e.g. 0.25 = atempo=0.5,atempo=0.5).
- */
-function buildAtempoChain(speed: number): string {
-	const parts: string[] = [];
-	let remaining = Math.max(0.25, Math.min(4, speed));
-
-	while (remaining > 100) {
-		parts.push("atempo=100.0");
-		remaining /= 100;
-	}
-	while (remaining < 0.5) {
-		parts.push("atempo=0.5");
-		remaining /= 0.5;
-	}
-	parts.push(`atempo=${remaining}`);
-
-	return parts.join(",");
-}

src/utils/bar-mapping.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+/**
+ * Pure bar-scaling helpers for the terminal waveform.
+ *
+ * barChars maps a 0..16 level to the two characters of a 2-row bar built
+ * from Unicode lower block elements (U+2581..U+2588). The partial block
+ * sits in the TOP row (its glyph bottom edge = row bottom), so a full
+ * block below makes a visually continuous 2-cell column — the "double the
+ * default height" requirement (each bar = 2 terminal rows, 16 heights).
+ *
+ * createBarScaler is a stateful fast-attack / slow-release peak follower
+ * that replaces cava's autosens: a loud start cannot pin every bar at
+ * full height (the peak follower absorbs it) and quiet content gets
+ * normalized up.
+ */
+
+// ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export interface BarScalerOptions {
+	/** Peak follower decay per frame (default: 0.985) */
+	release?: number;
+	/** Power curve applied after normalization (default: 0.7) */
+	curve?: number;
+	/** Silence threshold — below this the input is treated as silent (default: 1e-6) */
+	epsilon?: number;
+}
+
+// ── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Number of discrete bar heights (2 rows × 8 block levels). */
+export const BAR_LEVELS = 16;
+
+/** Lower block elements, index 0 = space (silence) through full block (max). */
+const LOWER = [
+	" ",
+	"\u2581",
+	"\u2582",
+	"\u2583",
+	"\u2584",
+	"\u2585",
+	"\u2586",
+	"\u2587",
+	"\u2588",
+];
+
+// ── Bar mapping ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/**
+ * Map a bar level (0..16) to the two characters that render it as a
+ * 2-row column: top row + bottom row.
+ *
+ * level 0        → { top: " ", bottom: " " }
+ * level 1..8     → { top: " ", bottom: LOWER[level] }
+ * level 9..16    → { top: LOWER[level - 8], bottom: "\u2588" }
+ */
+export function barChars(level: number): { top: string; bottom: string } {
+	const raw = Math.floor(level);
+	const lvl = Number.isFinite(raw)
+		? Math.max(0, Math.min(BAR_LEVELS, raw))
+		: 0;
+
+	if (lvl === 0) return { top: " ", bottom: " " };
+	if (lvl <= 8) return { top: " ", bottom: LOWER[lvl] };
+	return { top: LOWER[lvl - 8], bottom: "\u2588" };
+}
+
+// ── Peak-follower scaler ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const clamp01 = (value: number): number => Math.max(0, Math.min(1, value));
+
+/**
+ * Create a stateful bar scaler. Each call normalizes its input against a
+ * peak follower (instant attack, multiplicative release), then applies a
+ * power curve so low-energy content remains visible. Returns a new
+ * number[] per call.
+ */
+export function createBarScaler(
+	opts?: BarScalerOptions,
+): (values: ArrayLike<number>) => number[] {
+	const release = opts?.release ?? 0.985;
+	const curve = opts?.curve ?? 0.7;
+	const epsilon = opts?.epsilon ?? 1e-6;
+	let peak = 0;
+
+	return (values: ArrayLike<number>): number[] => {
+		let frameMax = 0;
+		for (let i = 0; i < values.length; i++) {
+			const magnitude = Math.abs(values[i]);
+			if (magnitude > frameMax) frameMax = magnitude;
+		}
+
+		// Fast attack, slow release
+		peak = frameMax > peak ? frameMax : peak * release;
+
+		const gain = peak > epsilon ? 1 / peak : 0;
+
+		const output = new Array<number>(values.length);
+		for (let i = 0; i < values.length; i++) {
+			output[i] = Math.pow(clamp01(values[i] * gain), curve);
+		}
+		return output;
+	};
+}

src/utils/config.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
  * always overwrite — no backup files are created.
  */
 
+import { mkdir } from "fs/promises";
 import { ensureConfigDir, getConfigDir, getConfigFilePath } from "./config-dir";
 import type {
 	AppSettings,
@@ -58,21 +59,47 @@ let writeChain: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve();
 
 /** Update sections of config.json (read-modify-write, serialized, overwrite). */
 export function updateConfig(patch: Partial<PodTuiConfig>): void {
+	// Capture the target path AND the patch data eagerly, at call time:
+	// the write chain defers execution, and both the config dir (tests
+	// re-point XDG_CONFIG_HOME between ops) and the state object (stores
+	// mutate in place) move under a pending write. Without the capture, a
+	// queued save writes the LATEST state into whatever directory is
+	// current when the chain drains — a cross-directory misdelivery that
+	// was the source of a flaky "enabled:false survives reload" test.
+	const configPath = getConfigFilePath(CONFIG_FILE);
+	const configDir = getConfigDir();
+	const snapshot = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(patch)) as Partial<PodTuiConfig>;
 	writeChain = writeChain.then(async () => {
 		try {
-			await ensureConfigDir();
-			const current = await loadConfig();
-			const next = { ...current, ...patch };
-			await Bun.write(
-				getConfigFilePath(CONFIG_FILE),
-				JSON.stringify(next, null, 2),
-			);
+			await migrateOnce();
+			await mkdir(configDir, { recursive: true });
+			let current: PodTuiConfig = {};
+			try {
+				const file = Bun.file(configPath);
+				if (await file.exists()) {
+					const raw = await file.json();
+					if (raw && typeof raw === "object") {
+						current = raw as PodTuiConfig;
+					}
+				}
+			} catch {
+				/* unreadable existing config — treat as empty */
+			}
+			const next = { ...current, ...snapshot };
+			await Bun.write(configPath, JSON.stringify(next, null, 2));
 		} catch {
 			// Fire-and-forget persistence — silently ignore write errors.
 		}
 	});
 }
 
+/** Resolve once every queued config write has flushed. Tests await this to
+ *  observe the serialized result of pending saveFeedsToFile/updateConfig
+ *  calls before asserting on config.json. */
+export function whenConfigIdle(): Promise<void> {
+	return writeChain;
+}
+
 /** Guards so migration runs exactly once per process. */
 let migrationDone = false;
 let migrationPromise: Promise<void> | null = null;

src/utils/cover-art.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+/**
+ * Cover-art staging for the system Now Playing session.
+ *
+ * macOS shows the media session's albumart in the audio center (Control
+ * Center / lock screen). mpv reads artwork from `--cover-art-files` (loads
+ * the file as an albumart video track), so the podcast cover must exist on
+ * disk before (cover-art-files) or right after (video-add) playback starts.
+ *
+ * Covers are cached persistently under `$XDG_CACHE_HOME/podtui/covers`
+ * (~/.cache/podtui/covers by default), keyed by the URL hash, so the
+ * download happens ONCE per feed — subsequent plays (including the
+ * boot-restored episode) hit the disk cache and never wait on the network.
+ * The play path must never block on art: `cachedCoverPath` is the sync
+ * fast path; `fetchCoverArt` is awaited only by flows where latency does
+ * not matter (CLI play) or fired in the background with the result
+ * applied to a live mpv via `video-add`.
+ *
+ * Downloaded via `curl` (not `fetch`): Bun's `fetch` hangs in compiled
+ * `bun build --compile` binaries (Bun 1.3.8), timing out on any host —
+ * which would silently drop every cover in shipped builds. curl is present
+ * on macOS and Linux. Bounded: a slow cover server must never stall audio.
+ */
+
+import { existsSync, mkdirSync, renameSync, statSync } from "fs";
+import { createHash } from "crypto";
+import { join } from "path";
+
+/** Resolved once per process; null when no home directory is detectable. */
+let cacheDir: string | null | undefined;
+
+function coversDir(): string | null {
+	if (cacheDir !== undefined) return cacheDir;
+	let dir: string | null = null;
+	try {
+		const home = process.env.HOME ?? process.env.USERPROFILE ?? "";
+		if (home) {
+			dir = join(process.env.XDG_CACHE_HOME ?? join(home, ".cache"), "podtui", "covers");
+			mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+		}
+	} catch {
+		dir = null;
+	}
+	cacheDir = dir;
+	return dir;
+}
+
+function cachePathFor(url: string): string | null {
+	const dir = coversDir();
+	if (!dir) return null;
+	return join(dir, `${createHash("sha1").update(url).digest("hex")}.jpg`);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Sync fast path: the cached cover file for `url`, or null when it has not
+ * been downloaded yet. This is what keeps cover art off the play() critical
+ * path — a cache hit costs one stat() and a miss simply plays without art
+ * (or applies it late via video-add).
+ */
+export function cachedCoverPath(url: string): string | null {
+	const path = cachePathFor(url);
+	if (!path) return null;
+	try {
+		return existsSync(path) && statSync(path).size > 0 ? path : null;
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+/** In-flight downloads keyed by URL — a burst of plays of the same show
+ *  shares one curl instead of racing ephemeral files. */
+const inflight = new Map<string, Promise<string | null>>();
+
+/**
+ * Fetch the cover for `url`, returns its cache path. Cache hits return
+ * immediately. Downloads are single-flight per URL and time-bounded (8s);
+ * failure resolves null and retries on the next call. The file is written
+ * to a temp name and renamed into place so a killed process can never
+ * poison the cache with a truncated file.
+ */
+export function fetchCoverArt(url: string): Promise<string | null> {
+	const cached = cachedCoverPath(url);
+	if (cached) return Promise.resolve(cached);
+
+	const dest = cachePathFor(url);
+	if (!dest) return Promise.resolve(null);
+
+	const pending = inflight.get(url);
+	if (pending) return pending;
+
+	const task = (async (): Promise<string | null> => {
+		const staging = `${dest}.${process.pid}.tmp`;
+		try {
+			const { promise, resolve } = Promise.withResolvers<string | null>();
+			const proc = Bun.spawn(
+				[
+					"curl",
+					"-sS",
+					"--fail",
+					"-m",
+					"8",
+					"--max-filesize",
+					"2097152",
+					"-o",
+					staging,
+					url,
+				],
+				{ stdout: "ignore", stderr: "ignore", stdin: "ignore" },
+			);
+			proc.exited
+				.then((code) => {
+					if (code !== 0) return resolve(null);
+					try {
+						if (statSync(staging).size <= 0) return resolve(null);
+						renameSync(staging, dest);
+						resolve(dest);
+					} catch {
+						resolve(null);
+					}
+				})
+				.catch(() => resolve(null));
+			setTimeout(() => resolve(null), 8000);
+			return await promise;
+		} finally {
+			inflight.delete(url);
+			// Best-effort staging cleanup (no-op after a successful rename).
+			try {
+				Bun.spawn(["rm", "-f", staging], { stdout: "ignore", stderr: "ignore" });
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore */
+			}
+		}
+	})();
+
+	inflight.set(url, task);
+	return task;
+}
+
+/** Fire-and-forget warm-up used by the boot/restore path. */
+export function prefetchCoverArt(url: string): void {
+	fetchCoverArt(url).catch(() => {});
+}

src/utils/dispatch.ts

@@ -71,11 +71,16 @@ export const PAGE_ACTIONS: ReadonlySet<KeybindActionName> =
 		"open",
 		"open-interactive",
 		"search",
+		"search-scope-toggle",
 		"filter",
 		"sort",
 		"toggle-hidden",
 		"refresh",
+		"subscribe",
 		"unsubscribe",
+		"download",
+		"delete-download",
+		"whitelist-toggle",
 	]);
 
 /** Resolve a `tab-goto-N` digit action (1..TabsCount) to a TABS value, or null. */

src/utils/episode-merge.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import type { Episode } from "../types/episode"
+
+/** Sort key for an episode's pubDate — missing/invalid dates sort as NEWEST
+ *  (Infinity) so undated episodes float to the top instead of dropping into
+ *  the oldest slot. */
+const ts = (ep: Episode): number => {
+  const t = ep.pubDate?.getTime()
+  return t === undefined || Number.isNaN(t) ? Infinity : t
+}
+
+/**
+ * Union of two episode lists keyed by id — on collision the fetched copy
+ * wins (fresh metadata). Result is sorted newest-first by pubDate and capped
+ * at `cap` entries (oldest dropped). Never mutates either input.
+ */
+export function mergeEpisodes(
+  existing: Episode[],
+  fetched: Episode[],
+  cap: number,
+): Episode[] {
+  const byId = new Map<string, Episode>()
+  for (const ep of existing) byId.set(ep.id, ep)
+  for (const ep of fetched) byId.set(ep.id, ep)
+  const sorted = [...byId.values()].sort((a, b) => ts(b) - ts(a))
+  return sorted.slice(0, cap)
+}

src/utils/event-bus.ts

@@ -132,8 +132,6 @@ export type AppEvents = {
 	"media.toggle": {};
 	"media.volumeUp": {};
 	"media.volumeDown": {};
-	"media.seekForward": {};
-	"media.seekBackward": {};
 	"media.speedCycle": {};
 };
 

src/utils/feeds-persistence.ts

@@ -4,9 +4,57 @@
  */
 
 import { loadConfig, updateConfig } from "./config";
+import { getConfigFilePath } from "./config-dir";
+import { DownloadStatus } from "../types/episode";
+import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
 import type { Feed } from "../types/feed";
 import type { PodcastSource } from "../types/source";
 
+/** Retention window for persisted episodes: older episodes are dropped when
+ *  feeds are written to config.json unless they are completed downloads. */
+export const PERSISTED_WINDOW_DAYS = 30;
+
+/** True when an episode may be persisted: it is a completed download, or its
+ *  pubDate is missing/invalid (fail-safe: never drop an undatable episode),
+ *  or it falls inside the retention window. */
+export function episodeIsPersistable(
+	ep: Episode,
+	downloadedIds: Set<string>,
+	now: Date,
+): boolean {
+	if (downloadedIds.has(ep.id)) return true;
+	const t = ep.pubDate?.getTime();
+	if (!t || Number.isNaN(t)) return true;
+	return t >= now.getTime() - PERSISTED_WINDOW_DAYS * 24 * 3600 * 1000;
+}
+
+/** Episode ids of completed downloads, read from downloads.json. In-flight
+ *  downloads are NOT exempted from the retention window — a just-completed
+ *  download is re-included by the next save because the in-memory
+ *  feed.episodes still holds it. Missing/unreadable/invalid file → empty set. */
+async function readDownloadedEpisodeIds(): Promise<Set<string>> {
+	try {
+		const file = Bun.file(getConfigFilePath("downloads.json"));
+		if (!(await file.exists())) return new Set();
+		const raw = await file.json();
+		if (!Array.isArray(raw)) return new Set();
+		const ids = new Set<string>();
+		for (const rec of raw) {
+			if (
+				rec &&
+				typeof rec === "object" &&
+				rec.status === DownloadStatus.COMPLETED &&
+				typeof rec.episodeId === "string"
+			) {
+				ids.add(rec.episodeId);
+			}
+		}
+		return ids;
+	} catch {
+		return new Set();
+	}
+}
+
 /** Deserialize date strings back to Date objects in feed data */
 function reviveDates(feed: Feed): Feed {
 	return {
@@ -23,20 +71,54 @@ function reviveDates(feed: Feed): Feed {
 	};
 }
 
-/** Load feeds from config.json */
+/** Load feeds from config.json, pruning episodes outside the retention
+ *  window (completed downloads always kept). When anything was pruned, the
+ *  pruned list is rewritten to config.json (startup cleanup for legacy
+ *  configs). The read path is awaited so the returned value is deterministic. */
 export async function loadFeedsFromFile(): Promise<Feed[]> {
 	try {
 		const cfg = await loadConfig();
 		if (!Array.isArray(cfg.feeds)) return [];
-		return cfg.feeds.map(reviveDates);
+		const feeds = cfg.feeds.map(reviveDates);
+		const downloadedIds = await readDownloadedEpisodeIds();
+		const now = new Date();
+		let prunedAny = false;
+		const pruned = feeds.map((f) => {
+			const kept = f.episodes.filter((ep) =>
+				episodeIsPersistable(ep, downloadedIds, now),
+			);
+			if (kept.length !== f.episodes.length) prunedAny = true;
+			return { ...f, episodes: kept };
+		});
+		if (prunedAny) {
+			// Fire-and-forget cleanup rewrite of the legacy config.
+			saveFeedsToFile(pruned);
+		}
+		return pruned;
 	} catch {
 		return [];
 	}
 }
 
-/** Save feeds to config.json */
+/** Save feeds to config.json, pruning episodes outside the retention window
+ *  (completed downloads always kept). Fire-and-forget: the prune reads
+ *  downloads.json asynchronously, then enqueues the write. On any error the
+ *  UNPRUNED feeds are saved instead, so data is never lost. */
 export function saveFeedsToFile(feeds: Feed[]): void {
-	updateConfig({ feeds });
+	(async () => {
+		try {
+			const downloadedIds = await readDownloadedEpisodeIds();
+			const pruned = feeds.map((f) => ({
+				...f,
+				episodes: f.episodes.filter((ep) =>
+					episodeIsPersistable(ep, downloadedIds, new Date()),
+				),
+			}));
+			updateConfig({ feeds: pruned });
+		} catch {
+			updateConfig({ feeds }); /* never lose data on an error path */
+		}
+	})().catch(() => {});
 }
 
 /** Load sources from config.json */

src/utils/itunes-feed-resolver.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+/**
+ * iTunes feed resolution for shows delisted from Apple Podcasts.
+ *
+ * The iTunes Search API returns `feedUrl: null` for shows that left Apple
+ * Podcasts (e.g. The Daily Wire's shows in 2021) — the directory keeps a
+ * metadata-only stub. The show's public Apple Podcasts page still embeds the
+ * real feed URL in its JSON state (`showOffer.feedUrl`), so subscribing can
+ * resolve it from there.
+ */
+
+/** `"feedUrl":"https://..."` as embedded in the Apple page's JSON state. */
+const FEED_URL_RE = /"feedUrl"\s*:\s*"(https?:\/\/[^"]+)"/
+
+/**
+ * Extract the show's feed URL from an Apple Podcasts page's HTML.
+ *
+ * The page embeds `showOffer` blocks for the show AND for related shows, each
+ * with its own feedUrl, and Apple serves multiple JSON variants — the main
+ * show's showOffer may sit adjacent to its adamId or thousands of chars later.
+ * Anchor on the collection id from `directoryUrl` (`"adamId":"<id>"`) and take
+ * the FIRST feedUrl after it (the main show's content precedes related shows'
+ * in the document). Falls back to the first feedUrl in the document only when
+ * the id isn't present in the URL. Returns null when no trustworthy match
+ * exists (page restructured, no feed) — callers must not guess.
+ */
+export const extractFeedUrlFromPage = (
+  html: string,
+  directoryUrl: string,
+): string | null => {
+  const idMatch = /[?/]id(\d+)/.exec(directoryUrl)
+  if (!idMatch) {
+    const fallback = FEED_URL_RE.exec(html)
+    return fallback ? fallback[1] : null
+  }
+
+  const adamIdx = html.search(new RegExp(`"adamId"\\s*:\\s*"${idMatch[1]}"`))
+  if (adamIdx < 0) return null
+
+  const fromAdam = new RegExp(FEED_URL_RE.source, "g")
+  fromAdam.lastIndex = adamIdx
+  const match = fromAdam.exec(html)
+  return match ? match[1] : null
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolve a delisted show's RSS feed from its Apple Podcasts page.
+ * Returns null on network failure or when the page has no resolvable feed.
+ */
+export const resolveItunesFeedUrl = async (
+  directoryUrl: string,
+): Promise<string | null> => {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(directoryUrl, {
+      headers: { "User-Agent": "PodTUI/1.0" },
+    })
+    if (!response.ok) return null
+    return extractFeedUrlFromPage(await response.text(), directoryUrl)
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}

src/utils/keybinds-persistence.ts

@@ -60,17 +60,24 @@ const DEFAULT_KEYBINDS: KeybindsResolved = {
 	help: ["~", "f1"],
 	// list ops
 	search: ["s"],
+	"search-scope-toggle": ["tab"],
 	filter: ["f"],
 	sort: [","],
 	"toggle-hidden": ["."],
 	refresh: ["r"],
+	// a subscribes the focused show/episode result in place (x unsubscribes)
+	subscribe: ["a"],
 	unsubscribe: ["x"],
+	// downloads
+	download: ["d"],
+	"delete-download": ["D"],
+	"whitelist-toggle": ["w"],
 	// audio transport (preserved; shifted single keys, no collisions)
 	"audio-toggle": ["P"],
 	"audio-next": ["N"],
 	"audio-prev": ["B"],
-	"audio-seek-forward": ["shift-."],
-	"audio-seek-backward": ["shift-,"],
+	"audio-seek-forward": ["shift-."], // > = shift+.
+	"audio-seek-backward": ["shift-,"], // < = shift+,
 };
 
 /** Copy keybinds.jsonc to user config directory on first run */

src/utils/navigation.ts

@@ -57,13 +57,13 @@ export function rootFrameFor(
 // terminal size — more robust than fixed percentages and exactly mirrors
 // yazi's `mgr.ratio` config. Set a slot's ratio to 0 to hide it (2-pane tabs).
 //
-// Current ratios: parent : current : preview = 1 : 2 : 2, i.e. 1/5 : 2/5 : 2/5
-// (20% / 40% / 40% of the row width). 2-pane tabs drop the preview slot and
-// give `current` the combined 4/5.
+// Current ratios: parent : current : preview = 2 : 5 : 3, i.e. 20% / 50% / 30%
+// of the row width (2 : 5 : 3 of 10). 2-pane tabs drop the preview slot and
+// give `current` the combined 8/10 (80%).
 export const PANE_RATIO = {
-	parent: 1,
-	current: 2,
-	preview: 2,
+	parent: 2,
+	current: 5,
+	preview: 3,
 } as const;
 
 // Number of *focusable* content panes per tab. The three visible columns

src/utils/nerd-fonts.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+/**
+ * Nerd Font support detection + icon codepoints for PodTui.
+ *
+ * The app prepends Nerd Font glyphs to hard-defined list rows (tabs, Discover
+ * categories, Settings sections, the Feed "Fetch More" row). When the user's
+ * terminal font is NOT Nerd Font capable those glyphs must not render at all —
+ * no tofu boxes, no empty columns — so every call site gates the icon on
+ * `supportsNerdFonts()`.
+ *
+ * Detection is a heuristic (see `supportsNerdFonts`); the `PODTUI_NERD_FONTS`
+ * env override wins over everything so a wrong guess is always fixable.
+ * Under tmux the outer terminal decides — `TMUX` being set counts as
+ * capable (the multiplexer passes glyphs through), matching the same choice
+ * made for `screen`-prefixed TERM values. See README → Configuration → Fonts.
+ *
+ * This module is deliberately free of Solid/JSX imports so it stays
+ * unit-testable in isolation.
+ */
+
+// ── Detection ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Memoized: the terminal does not change mid-session, so detect once.
+let cached: boolean | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * True when the terminal is (very likely) using a Nerd Font-patched font.
+ *
+ * Order:
+ *   a. `PODTUI_NERD_FONTS` env override ("1"/"true" → true, "0"/"false" →
+ *      false) — wins over everything.
+ *   b. Allowlist: TERM_PROGRAM ∈ {iTerm.app, WezTerm, vscode, ghostty, rio,
+ *      hyper, tabby, contour}, or TERM starts with {xterm-kitty, foot,
+ *      alacritty, contour, screen} (tmux/screen passthrough — the outer
+ *      terminal decides), or WT_SESSION set (Windows Terminal), or TMUX set.
+ *      Case-insensitive.
+ *   c. Everything else (Terminal.app default SF Mono, plain xterm, unknown)
+ *      → false.
+ */
+export function supportsNerdFonts(): boolean {
+	if (cached !== null) return cached;
+
+	// a. Env override wins over everything.
+	const override = process.env.PODTUI_NERD_FONTS?.trim().toLowerCase();
+	if (override === "1" || override === "true") {
+		cached = true;
+		return cached;
+	}
+	if (override === "0" || override === "false") {
+		cached = false;
+		return cached;
+	}
+
+	// b. Allowlist.
+	const termProgram = process.env.TERM_PROGRAM?.toLowerCase() ?? "";
+	const term = process.env.TERM?.toLowerCase() ?? "";
+	const TERM_PROGRAM_ALLOWLIST: Record<string, true> = {
+		"iterm.app": true,
+		wezterm: true,
+		vscode: true,
+		ghostty: true,
+		rio: true,
+		hyper: true,
+		tabby: true,
+		contour: true,
+	};
+	const TERM_PREFIX_ALLOWLIST = [
+		"xterm-kitty",
+		"foot",
+		"alacritty",
+		"contour",
+		"screen",
+	];
+	cached =
+		TERM_PROGRAM_ALLOWLIST[termProgram] === true ||
+		TERM_PREFIX_ALLOWLIST.some((prefix) => term.startsWith(prefix)) ||
+		!!process.env.WT_SESSION ||
+		!!process.env.TMUX;
+
+	// c. Everything else falls through to false.
+	return cached;
+}
+
+// ── Icon codepoints ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Font Awesome codepoints in the Nerd Font PUA range — stable across Nerd
+// Font versions. Keyed by the semantic names the list rows use.
+export const NF_ICONS: Record<string, string> = {
+	feed: "\uF09E",
+	shows: "\uF005",
+	discover: "\uF14E",
+	search: "\uF002",
+	player: "\uF144",
+	settings: "\uF013",
+	sync: "\uF021",
+	sources: "\uF143",
+	preferences: "\uF1DE",
+	visualizer: "\uF080",
+	downloads: "\uF019",
+	all: "\uF0CA",
+	technology: "\uF2DB",
+	science: "\uF0C3",
+	comedy: "\uF118",
+	news: "\uF1EA",
+	business: "\uF0B1",
+	health: "\uF21E",
+	education: "\uF19D",
+	sports: "\uF1E3",
+	"true-crime": "\uF00E",
+	arts: "\uF1FC",
+	more: "\uF141",
+	add: "\uF067",
+};
+
+/** Glyph for a named icon when Nerd Fonts are supported, else "". */
+export function nfIcon(name: string): string {
+	return supportsNerdFonts() ? NF_ICONS[name] ?? "" : "";
+}

src/utils/search.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { searchSourceByType } from "./source-searcher";
+import { searchSourceByType, searchEpisodesByType } from "./source-searcher";
 import { parseRSSFeed } from "../api/rss-parser";
 import { SourceType } from "../types/source";
 import type { PodcastSource, SearchResult } from "../types/source";
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ const rateLimitState = new Map<string, number[]>();
 const RATE_LIMIT_WINDOW_MS = 60000;
 const RATE_LIMIT_MAX_CALLS = 20;
 
+/** Minimum results a primary search must return before the Podcast Index
+ *  fallback runs — the open directory is only consulted when Apple's came up
+ *  thin, exactly the case where it adds shows Apple lacks. */
+const FALLBACK_MIN_RESULTS = 3;
+const FALLBACK_SOURCE_ID = "podcastindex";
+
 const throttleSource = async (sourceId: string) => {
 	const now = Date.now();
 	const windowStart = now - RATE_LIMIT_WINDOW_MS;
@@ -36,9 +42,9 @@ const throttleSource = async (sourceId: string) => {
 	rateLimitState.set(sourceId, updated);
 };
 
-const buildCacheKey = (query: string, sourceIds: string[]) => {
+const buildCacheKey = (query: string, sourceIds: string[], prefix: string) => {
 	const keySources = [...sourceIds].sort().join(",");
-	return `${query.toLowerCase()}::${keySources}`;
+	return `${prefix}:${query.toLowerCase()}::${keySources}`;
 };
 
 const isCacheValid = (entry: SearchCacheEntry, ttl: number) =>
@@ -47,8 +53,12 @@ const isCacheValid = (entry: SearchCacheEntry, ttl: number) =>
 const dedupeResults = (results: SearchResult[]): SearchResult[] => {
 	const map = new Map<string, SearchResult>();
 	for (const result of results) {
+		// Episodes dedupe on the episode id; shows on feedUrl/id/title. The two
+		// scopes never mix within one result set, so keys can't collide.
 		const key =
-			result.podcast.feedUrl || result.podcast.id || result.podcast.title;
+			result.kind === "episode"
+				? `episode:${result.episode.id}`
+				: result.podcast.feedUrl || result.podcast.id || result.podcast.title;
 		const existing = map.get(key);
 		if (!existing || (result.score ?? 0) > (existing.score ?? 0)) {
 			map.set(key, result);
@@ -87,6 +97,7 @@ export const searchByFeedUrl = async (
         sourceId: "direct-rss",
         sourceName: "RSS Feed",
         sourceType: SourceType.RSS,
+        kind: "podcast",
         // parseRSSFeed marks feeds subscribed; a search result should start
         // unsubscribed so the store can flag it correctly if already added.
         podcast: { ...podcast, isSubscribed: false },
@@ -98,11 +109,20 @@ export const searchByFeedUrl = async (
   }
 };
 
-export const searchPodcasts = async (
+type SourceSearcher = (
+	query: string,
+	source: PodcastSource,
+) => Promise<SearchResult[]>;
+
+const searchSources = async (
 	query: string,
 	sourceIds: string[],
 	sources: PodcastSource[],
+	searcher: SourceSearcher,
+	cachePrefix: string,
 	options: SearchOptions = {},
+	/** Optional source id consulted as a low-result fallback (show scope only). */
+	fallbackSourceId?: string,
 ): Promise<SearchResult[]> => {
 	const trimmed = query.trim();
 	if (!trimmed) return [];
@@ -124,6 +144,7 @@ export const searchPodcasts = async (
 	const cacheKey = buildCacheKey(
 		trimmed,
 		activeSources.map((s) => s.id),
+		cachePrefix,
 	);
 	const cached = searchCache.get(cacheKey);
 	if (cached && isCacheValid(cached, cacheTtl)) {
@@ -137,7 +158,7 @@ export const searchPodcasts = async (
 		activeSources.map(async (source) => {
 			try {
 				await throttleSource(source.id);
-				const sourceResults = await searchSourceByType(trimmed, source);
+				const sourceResults = await searcher(trimmed, source);
 				results.push(...sourceResults);
 			} catch (error) {
 				errors.push(error as Error);
@@ -146,7 +167,32 @@ export const searchPodcasts = async (
 	);
 
 	const deduped = dedupeResults(results);
-	const sorted = deduped.sort((a, b) => (b.score ?? 0) - (a.score ?? 0));
+	let sorted = deduped.sort((a, b) => (b.score ?? 0) - (a.score ?? 0));
+
+	// Low-result fallback: when the primary sources came back thin, consult
+	// the fallback source — but only when it's enabled AND keyed (a key-less
+	// default must never send requests) and it didn't already run as a primary
+	// source above. A fallback failure never sinks the primary results.
+	if (sorted.length < FALLBACK_MIN_RESULTS && fallbackSourceId) {
+		const fallback = sources.find(
+			(s) =>
+				s.id === fallbackSourceId &&
+				s.enabled &&
+				s.hasCredentials === true &&
+				!activeSources.includes(s),
+		);
+		if (fallback) {
+			try {
+				await throttleSource(fallback.id);
+				const fallbackResults = await searcher(trimmed, fallback);
+				sorted = dedupeResults([...sorted, ...fallbackResults]).sort(
+					(a, b) => (b.score ?? 0) - (a.score ?? 0),
+				);
+			} catch (error) {
+				errors.push(error as Error);
+			}
+		}
+	}
 
 	if (sorted.length === 0 && errors.length > 0) {
 		throw new Error("Search failed for all sources");
@@ -156,4 +202,39 @@ export const searchPodcasts = async (
 	return sorted;
 };
 
+export const searchPodcasts = (
+	query: string,
+	sourceIds: string[],
+	sources: PodcastSource[],
+	options: SearchOptions = {},
+): Promise<SearchResult[]> =>
+	searchSources(
+		query,
+		sourceIds,
+		sources,
+		searchSourceByType,
+		"show",
+		options,
+		FALLBACK_SOURCE_ID,
+	);
+
+/** Episode-scope search: find individual episodes (e.g. a guest appearing
+ *  across shows). Shares the source guard, rate limiting, and cache with
+ *  searchPodcasts; the cache key is scoped separately so the two result
+ *  kinds never collide for the same query. */
+export const searchEpisodes = (
+	query: string,
+	sourceIds: string[],
+	sources: PodcastSource[],
+	options: SearchOptions = {},
+): Promise<SearchResult[]> =>
+	searchSources(
+		query,
+		sourceIds,
+		sources,
+		searchEpisodesByType,
+		"episode",
+		options,
+	);
+
 

src/utils/source-credentials.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+/**
+ * Credential storage for keyed podcast sources.
+ *
+ * Preferred storage is the macOS keychain (encrypted at rest by the OS),
+ * written through the `security` CLI — no native dependencies. When the
+ * keychain is unavailable (non-macOS, locked, sandboxed) credentials fall
+ * back to plaintext on the source itself (config.json) so the source still
+ * works; `credentialStorage` on the source records which backend was used.
+ *
+ * Credentials are never presented in full — the UI always masks them (first
+ * 3 chars + "..."). The keychain password is passed as an argv value to
+ * `add-generic-password` (standard practice for CLI-driven keychain writes;
+ * the item lands in the login keychain immediately).
+ */
+
+import type { PodcastSource } from "../types/source"
+
+const KEYCHAIN_SERVICE = "podtui"
+const KEYCHAIN_ACCOUNT = "podcastindex"
+
+export type Credentials = {
+  apiKey: string
+  apiSecret: string
+}
+
+/** Run a `security` subcommand; resolves with exit status + stdout. */
+async function runSecurity(
+  args: string[],
+): Promise<{ ok: boolean; stdout: string }> {
+  try {
+    const proc = Bun.spawn({
+      cmd: ["security", ...args],
+      stdin: "ignore",
+      stdout: "pipe",
+      stderr: "pipe",
+    })
+    const [stdout] = await Promise.all([
+      new Response(proc.stdout).text(),
+      new Response(proc.stderr).text(),
+    ])
+    const exitCode = await proc.exited
+    return { ok: exitCode === 0, stdout }
+  } catch {
+    return { ok: false, stdout: "" }
+  }
+}
+
+/** Store Podcast Index credentials in the macOS keychain. True on success. */
+export async function savePodcastIndexCredentials(
+  apiKey: string,
+  apiSecret: string,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  const payload = JSON.stringify({ apiKey, apiSecret })
+  const { ok } = await runSecurity([
+    "add-generic-password",
+    "-a",
+    KEYCHAIN_ACCOUNT,
+    "-s",
+    KEYCHAIN_SERVICE,
+    "-w",
+    payload,
+    "-U",
+  ])
+  return ok
+}
+
+/** Read Podcast Index credentials from the macOS keychain. Null when absent
+ *  or unreadable (non-macOS, item deleted, keychain locked). */
+export async function loadPodcastIndexCredentials(): Promise<Credentials | null> {
+  const { ok, stdout } = await runSecurity([
+    "find-generic-password",
+    "-a",
+    KEYCHAIN_ACCOUNT,
+    "-s",
+    KEYCHAIN_SERVICE,
+    "-w",
+  ])
+  if (!ok) return null
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(stdout.trim()) as Credentials
+    if (!parsed.apiKey || !parsed.apiSecret) return null
+    return parsed
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
+/** Resolve a source's stored credentials: its plaintext fields when saved
+ *  with the plaintext fallback, else the macOS keychain. Null when the
+ *  source has no usable credentials. */
+export async function resolveSourceCredentials(
+  source: PodcastSource,
+): Promise<Credentials | null> {
+  if (source.credentialStorage === "plaintext") {
+    return source.apiKey && source.apiSecret
+      ? { apiKey: source.apiKey, apiSecret: source.apiSecret }
+      : null
+  }
+  return loadPodcastIndexCredentials()
+}